The Assasin

[Brandnew]

Title: The Assasin

Author: Brandnew

Disclaimer: Not mine...if they were there'd be more kissing...

Distribution: Just let me know first...

Feedback: Yes Please!

Rating: R, might change...I'll give ya a heads up if it does...

Summary: Willow is sent on a mission to kill a sorcerer but is caught off guard when said sorcerer is really a sorceress...





Chapter 1:





King Rupert of Astoria- a noble if aged man- sat on a throne of stone, presiding over his council; gathered

around a circle of fire. A heated debate was raging-or rather what was once a heated debate turned into

a common fist fight between men who were once considered nobles-true gentlemen indeed.



"Silence!" King Rupert demanded.



However, the quarreling did not cease, and Warren; a young boy who liked to fancy himself a warrior, stepped

forward, "My father calls for silence!"



The men's fists landed to their sides and the quarreling faded to grumbling and throwing each other hard looks.



"We've come together to put our differences aside" Rupert said with as much authority as he could put into his words, as war weary as the old man was. "It is not yet too late for us to unite aginst this tyrant."



"It is too late for us to unite against this tyrant-and win...your highness" a random voice called out , causing a stir in the crowd; men murmuring their aproval, a few brave (or drunk) men murmuring their disagreement



"Atticus' soldiers outnumber our combined forces ten to one...I am sorry , Rupert, but it is indeed far too late."



"Will you flee then, like frightened mice? Will you flee as if it meant you wouldn't die anyway? Will you flee as if

sooner or later Atticus would not bring death to your doorstep...as if there were somewhere left in the free world he could not find you?...No our only choice is to stand, and fight!"



There was silence now, the only sound other than the King's voice was the crackle of the flames that surrounded them.



That is until one of the men stepped forward, "Brave words my King; very inspiring- but, but what of the sorcerer? The witch at Atticus' side said to see with the eyes of the Gods...who can foretell the outcome of every battle; what of him?"



Another man arose after him, "As long as that damned sorcerer is with him, no mortal man can defeat Atticus; and I for one am not in much of a hurry to prove that hypothesis...uh, sire."



Rupert looked from face to face- these men where not cowards, they where warriors; men who bore the scars of conflict, the markings of war, brave men.



"And if this sorcerer- were to die? What then?" Rupert asked.



"Another of your schemes my lord? You are much too old..."



"You will show my father respect!" Warren called out, his face the perfect example of a man who thought too much of his own self.



The man who called out arose, This was Spike, this was the warrior of warriors; in this or any group.



"The truth respects no person- or title, *boy.*"



Warren stepped forward, boldly, as he was obviously no match for Spike "And what would you know of titles, you are nothing, I will be *King* one day, but you, you will remain nothing."



Spike's hand was barely a blur in the firelight; as it clamped itself on Warren's hand and squeezed...hard.

"If you are the King, *sire*, and I am the nothing, then why do *you* kneel before *me*?" Spike asked as if genuingly curious.



By now the prince was on his knees and howling in agony, as his guards stood there, amused, for a second before casually reaching for their swords; they had a job afterall.



A voice- quietly threatening, in a strangely confident yet low-key fashion-said, "So much talk...is this why Atticus has yet to attack you fools? Because you're all too busy killing each other?"



Past the guards, who reared away in surprise and a quiet fear, came a trio of hooded figures; they moved with a ghostly grace to stand in front of the King; and they might as well have been ghosts, the swords and other weapons clanking at their sides sounding eerily like the clanking of chains in the quiet, cold night.



They flipped back their hoods- at left and right were two warriors; both obviously female, the woman in the middle...the one who had spoken...



This was Willow, she was not the largest of the three, but she was obviously the leader of the small gang of assasins. Her pale skin turned a burnished copper in the firelight, her fiery red locks hung in wild curls and just reached the top of her shoulder, and her dark green eyes twinkled in amusement at their audiences shocked stares.



Spike let go of Warrens' hand, the boys' pain forgotten by everyone but the boy himself. When he spoke his voice betrayed a certain awe. "Amazons...I thought you were all wiped out years ago."



"They are the last of their kind," Rupert said, "and by their hands Atticus' sorcerer will die."

[WickedReds]

Me like... me like...

I love fics like this... i'm all about AU and it being in these times... i want more



-reds



my banana dances for smut

Smutbunny Anthem: *sung to tune from Goldfinger* Smutbunnies...they'e the bunnies, the bunnies that love the smut...and Willow's butt. They surf for smut fiction...always lookin' for the next naked sweaty fix...of Tara's tits.- Written By Cameron(tarawhipped) For Us Smut Bunnies

[watersong84]

Oh man! This is great! Who are the other two Amazons - Buffy and Faith? Maybe...?



The writing is increadible - and very much in tune with the setting, which i LOVE!



Anyway, This is wonderful. Please continue .

[DreamsToDream]

Oh This Sounds So Good! With Willow Being An Amazon And Assasin, How Hot Is That, Well Not That Assasins Are Hot Cuz Yuck Wut An Aweful Job But...Oh And The Supposed Sorcerer Is Actually A Sorceress?? Hmmm Wonder Who That Could Be ....Perhaps A Hottie With Blonde Hair??? ???



Anyways, Please Continue Cuz It Sounds Good

D2D





Dreams To Dream In The Dark Of The Night, When The World Goes Wrong, I Can Still Make It Right...- Dreams To Dream



Oh Wouldn't It Be Wonderful If I Turned Out To Be A Homosexual?!! - Stewie Griffen Family Guy

[Disastered]

Great start! Tara as a possibly sinister witch. Willow as a sinister (I don't think an assasin can not be sinister) amazon. Plus lots of other btvs characters. It's nice to see Willow as the amazon this time. It's her turn to be the exotic woman in skimpy clothing, not that I wouldn't love Tara as an exotic woman in skimpy clothing too. Willow trying to kill Tara should definately make the relationship interesting. I can't wait for more!

Jack :TV? I love tv. "Buffy" is my life. So into Willow being a les.

[Brandnew]

I'm glad you guys liked it! I was kinda nervous with this one cause I don't usually write fics like this so I didn't know if I did a good job or not...anyways I really, really appreciate the feedback, thanks so much! You guys rule!

And let me know if I'm doing good...







Chapter 2: The Sorcerer?





The desert location, where the encampment of Atticus' army was last known to be, meant a full day's ride through hill country.Starting at dawn, the next day, the assasins made their steady way through the rugged, rocky terrain; Buffy and Faith on horseback, Willow- a massive sword slung over her shoulder, and a bag of rubies (payment from King Rupert) tied to her side- astride an albino camel.



As the morning turned to afternoon, the rocks gave way to sand; from the crest of a dune, they saw Atticus' city of tents; whose numbers could rival even the stars it seemed. And yet the three assasins advanced, a tiny assault force against an army of thousands. They approached, noting the positions of the various sentries perched on their individual dunes; warriors surrounded

by torches on staffs stuck in the sand.



'Poor strategy', Willow thought as she dismounted, 'sure the torches provide warmth and close-by light, but the flames would blind the guards of any advancing trespassers...like me...'



The three of them, all very light-skinned for Amazons, darkened their faces with black war paint, to better blend into the night.



The nearest sentry yawned...who'd want to attack the horde that had conquered all but a small corner of the world? Maybe that's why upon hearing a strange, whirring noise he merely frowned and turned curiously, just in time to meet the iron bola- flung by Faith- that

came flying out of the darkness to wrap around his head; the iron ball at either end knocking him at either temple.

Thwap! Thwap! (That was the sound it made.) The sentry tumbled to the sand, both eyes wide open, landing flat on his back, looking for all the world as if he were just lounging there, to consider the night sky.



Willow looked to the left, where- some distance away- a neighboring dune bore a single sentry; again a bored guard who stood at the center of torches speared into the sand, his vision bedimmed by the light of the flames. The assasins' low whistle might have been some exotic nocturnal bird...



...and not a signal which spurred Faith on to further action.



Again a bola whirred through the night air to wrap itself around the head of a guard, who flopped backwards onto the sand. And again, a low whistle pierced the quiet night: Faith signaling "all clear."



Willow slipped into the darkness, Buffy and Faith following slowly behind; eyes open for anything that might stumble out of the shadows, and if they did their job correctly, into their death. The trio stood and studied a corridor of sorts, between rows of tents.



"That one," Willow whispered, and pointed. Faith and Buffy nodded in agreement, seeing immediately why their leader had singled out this particular tent- this shelter was unlike any other in the camp, a dome-shaped good-sized tent, decorated with symbols of astrology and

ideograms of the occult.



Clearly the home of a sorcerer...



They moved stealthily across the open area between tent rows, the only sound the soft snick as they drew their knives and closed in on the sorcerers' tent.



"Keep watch out here, I'll signal if I need your help." And with that Willow took her her knife and cut through the tent.



It was as if she'd stepped into another world, a strange, shadowy, yet golden tent-chamber where elaborate drapes and tapestries hung. Bending to a crouch, Willow unslung her sword, and cleared a hanging tapestry; realizing she was not alone. A figure with its back to her, in a long flowing hooded cape, began to swivel around to her, with an unnatural fluidity, as if floating.



The sorcerer.



Gripping the swords' handle the master swordsman took aim, as the figure turned fully to her...



...and the sorcerer, it seemed, was a sorceress...

[WickedReds]

okay... tara... go figure... i liked what u did to get them in very stealthy... more soon cause me likey...



-reds



my banana dances for smut

Smutbunny Anthem: *sung to tune from Goldfinger* Smutbunnies...they'e the bunnies, the bunnies that love the smut...and Willow's butt. They surf for smut fiction...always lookin' for the next naked sweaty fix...of Tara's tits.- Written By Cameron(tarawhipped) For Us Smut Bunnies

[amazonaa]

This is very interesting. I like it.



More soon, please.





brittney







~Good friends help you move. Real friends help you move the body.~

[angel of salvation]

ooooooooo

Me like this a whole lot! Yay! More please, want to read more!



Jess xxx

'You're my angel of salvation, and hope, and strength...your my multi-angel'-Jay (My baby)

.:~*My anime site*~:.

[Brandnew]

Hey again you guys, I'm glad you still like it, cause if you didn't I'd probably stop writing it...and that's no fun cause I like writing it!...anyway! I hope you continue to like it cause this is probably gonna be one long fic...so um...tell me what you think, still good?



Chapter 3: Change Of Plans



As fully concealed as the figure had been with it's back to her; now was it fully revealed. Barely clad, much of her alabaster skin exposed, her form was slender yet shapely, high firm breasts half-concealed by a glittering halter. An open face of such breathtaking beauty, she was sure she must be dreaming- wide-set sapphire eyes as large as they were deep, delicate nose, pouty perfect lips, all framed by long, golden hair.



Considering this vision, was it then so hard to believe that, Willow loosened her grip on her sword, hesitating if for a moment, in silent open-mouthed awe? Well she did, (as skilled an assasin as she was) entranced, thunderstruck by such a rare beauty.



This moment of hesitation though, was enough for the sorceress to pull a large tassel, and ring a huge gong; situated at one side of the room, as if at guard, sending waves of sound radiating across, it seemed to Willow, the entire world.



Barely a half a second passed it seemed, and Willow was upon the sorceress; the hand wielding her sword at the sorceress' throat and the other keeping both hands in place at her waist, "Quiet time now," she whispered threatingly into her ear, dragging the girl behind one of the various hanging tapestries, using it as a make-shift curtain, keeping them both hidden.



A guard in helmet and leathers stepped inside the tent, carefully "Miss, you called?"



"Talk and die," Willow whispered to her captive before propelling her outside of their tiny fortress, the sword pressed to her back, unseen by the guard.



"Leave, Theo...I-I no longer require your services," the sorceress said, her voice hushed, half hoping the young man would see past the subterfuge.



Theo looked to the sorceress, and he might have inquired further, had it not been so late and had he not been so tired, "Right then," and with that he turned

to leave.



The young man hadn't taken a step before a sword had sliced into his back and through his chest; killing him painfully and quietly.



Willow stepped through the tapestry, and once again held the sorceress close to her, turning first to look at the guard, lying dead in a bloody mess on the ground

and then to Faith, "I thought I said wait for my signal."



Faith quirked an eyebrow at her, "I was presumptuous."



"We're killing more people than we were payed to."



Faith ignored her leader, as her eyes and attention settled instead on her beautiful captive, "and who do we have here?"



"Yes," Willows' breath tickled the sorceress' ear, "who *do* we have here?"



"T-T-T-Tara" the girl gasped, chilled by the ice-cold expression of the dark haired assasin; it's not that the girl had never seen death before, she'd grown up in a

country torn by war, and was living through it now, not to mention the destruction she saw in her visions daily; death almost seemed to follow her, as if enamoured

with her, but she'd never seen anyone like it...she'd never seen anyone kill...and like it.



"W-w-w-well, T-T-T-Tara...any last words?" Faith asked, before she charged at her, sword swinging.



Faith's blow would have surely hit her target, connecting with Tara's chest and slicing through her heart, killing the girl instantly...



...it *would* have, had Willow not countered it with her own sword.



Faith smirked, withdrawing her sword, "I was presumptuous again...she not our sorcerer?"



Willow giggled, withdrawing her own sword, "oh she's our sorcerer all right."



"And she's not lying on the floor in a pool of her own blood next to her pal...Theo was it? Why?"



"Because," Willows words were again breathed into the sorceress' ear, as if she were addressing her and not Faith, "I have plans for this one."



"Huh, mixing work with your libido...i like it. Are you gonna share?" Faith asked, again eyeing the sorceress.



She turned to Faith, as if just now noticing she was in the room, "change of plans, we're headed for Xanders'."



"We're not gonna get payed the other half of those rubies from ol' Rupert are we?" Faith asked tiredly.



"Oh we'll be getting much more then that...now help me make sure our little sorceress here will be sound asleep for the whole of our new journey."

[tarawhipped]

This just keeps getting more intriguing. No surprise that Willow doesn't kill Tara, but what's she gonna do with her now? I like your Willow. She clearly is not your average "kill crush destroy" assassin like Faith, which suggests she's either got a stronger sense of ethics, or her own agenda. Either way it makes for a really layered character, and she's both fascinating and intimidating and creepy.



Can't wait for more!

-Cameron

---

What should I be but just what I am? - Edna St.Vincent Millay

[watersong84]

Wehew! I like it so far. Hehe, no kill the sorceress! Willow *was* a tiny bit... mean... to Tara though, but I suppose in relativity she was being very nice, saving her life and all.... I'm curious to see where this one goes.

[amazonaa]

Interesting.



More soon, please.







brittney







~Good friends help you move. Real friends help you move the body.~

[photographer02]

sounds interesting...please continue???



photographer02

[angel of salvation]

interesting much!! keep going I wanna fiund out what happens next, please.

Its intreging (or how ever you spelt it lol) wanna read more....



Jess xxx

'You're my angel of salvation, and hope, and strength...your my multi-angel'-Jay (My baby)

.:~*My anime site*~:.

[WickedReds]

i wonder what willow is planing???



-reds



my banana dances for smut

Smutbunny Anthem: *sung to tune from Goldfinger* Smutbunnies...they'e the bunnies, the bunnies that love the smut...and Willow's butt. They surf for smut fiction...always lookin' for the next naked sweaty fix...of Tara's tits.- Written By Cameron(tarawhipped) For Us Smut Bunnies

[Brandnew]

What's up? Ok first, like always THANKS FOR THE FEEDBACK, it gets me off my lazy bum and writing...so thanks! It is very much appreciated...anyway here's the update...tell me what you think, good, bad, so-so...whatever...







Chapter 4: The *Camel* Knows How to Behave...







When the young sorceress came to, the sun was setting on the horizon. She realized she must have been unconscious for many hours, because the moon had been replaced not by the blinding morning sunshine, but by the oranges and purples of late afternoon, and she knew at once she was immobilized...though she did seem to be moving.



Her vision, low to the ground, took in the view of desert sand and rocks; the occasional skull and...hooves. So she was slung upon something it appeared. She felt very uncomfortable, yet knew better than to complain, a small groan the only evidence of her discomfort.



"So it seems our sorceress has awakened."



She recognized the voice as the brown-haired one...the red-haired one's voice was much softer. She looked up to the direction of the voice, her neck straining; she saw the brown-haired one on a horse trotting softly and to her right was a blonde-haired one on a similar looking horse.



"We're stopping."



This was the red-haired one, she knew instantly. She felt the...horse?...No it wasn't a horse; she'd ridden horses before and those were most definetly not a horses' hooves. Well, anyway, she felt them come to a stop, and heard more than saw the others follows suit.



A second later she felt arms encircling her waist, and felt herself being carried to a sitting position on the ground; her ankles were bound together- it appeared to be by leather- as were her wrists; positioned at the small of her back.



She looked at them nervously as they went about setting camp, and wondered what they wanted with her.



She sensed rather than saw- her eyes permanently fixed on her bound ankles- the red-haired one take her seat next to her atop a thick, blood red blanket.



Willow looked to the girl...Tara, so obviously shaken, and reached up to brush her long hair away from the side of her face, and the girl looked sharply at her; her face looked startled...she was probably offended, Willow thought ruefully, though she continued to brush her hair away and slipped a golden hooped earring from her lobe.



Tara continued to look at the other girl, startled and confused, her mind could not wrap around the way she had touched her; so softly...with an infinite gentleness that should've been impossible for a killer. An assasins' hands were meant to be rough and calloused, not soft...an assasins' touch was meant to be deadly and hard, not gentle.



Willow turned to Buffy- who was currently laying on her blanket, hands folded behind her head, and staring wistfully towards the sky- and threw the golden earring at her, which the girl caught with her face, "what was *that* for?"



"I need you to ride out as far from our way as you can and throw that on the ground somewhere; a gift for our search troops."



"By myself?" Buffy asked tiredly, already beggining to refold her blanket.



Willow thought a moment, "take Faith with you, I'll be fine with our sorceress."



"Yeah, I'm sure you will..." Faith muttered as she too began to refold her blanket.



The two of them mounted their horses and rode off, the earring hidden safely inside a pouch tied to Buffy's saddle.



Tara's gaze shifted, as she felt the assasin's eyes on her, her own vision falling anywhere but that of her kidnappers'. Rock...skeleton...sand, repeat.



"What's the matter, my sorceress, do you think you'll find your King out here in the middle of nowhere, somewhere? Tell me, do you miss your beloved?"



Tara looked at her, her eyes flaring with anger for the first time since she'd been there, and spoke with as much pride as a woman bound by her wrists and ankles and quite possibly risking her death in a lonesome desert could afford, "Atticus is not my beloved, not my lover...I am a sorceress, not a harem girl."



Willow might have laughed at that had the girl not been so obviously indignantly sincere.



"A-apologize to me..." she demanded; if she were to be killed here by the soft, gentle hands of this assasin she might as well die with her dignity.



Willow looked at the sorceress, spraweld on the sand, disheveled but no less fetching in the golden light of sunset..she might have been an angel. "I am sorry..." she said softly, "truly I am."



Tara swallowed slowly, her eyes searching the assasins' face for any sign of sarcasm or insincerity but she found, surprisingly, neither, in the other girls sweet, open face. Such a contrast, she mused quietly to herself, when you considered what the girl did for a living.



They stayed staring at each other for a time- neither knew how long it had been but it seemed the golden light of sunset had turned to an ivory moonlight- and then without much preamble Willow layed back on her blanket; arms under her head staring straight up at the stars for a while before her eyes drifted closed.



At first Tara didn't think the girl was asleep, but as the time passed and the bright green eyes refused to open, it seemed that yes, the assasin was asleep.



In as bold a maneuver as Tara could think to perform she dragged her body; wriggling and sliding on the unforgiving sand as quietly as she could, and came to a stop at a large rock, not quite three feet, but it would do for her intentions. Turning to a seated position to the back of said rock she rubbed the thick leather of her wrist's binds against the rough and sharp edge of the rock.



Willow covered her mouth with both hands; she could barely contain her laughter at the scene that had unfolded before her very open eyes just a few moments ago. The truth was she was not asleep, merely lost in her own mind, plans and dreams playing out before her. She'd felt the sorceress' movement and opened first one eye then the other; that's when her laughter first started to build; there was the other girls' cute bum wriggling from side to side as she performed what looked to be some strange...worm- dance...either way it had gotten her all of fifteen feet from camp for her troubles. Willow's eyes twinkled at the sorceress now...resourceful girl...she liked it. But that didn't mean she'd be letting her escape though.



Tara didn't see the assasin approach, or hear her for that matter; she'd felt her though, and even though she gave a last few halfhearted attempts at breaking the binds she knew the gig was up, as they say. She slowly looked up to meet the green eyes, the assasins' expression unreadable.



"I am an assasin," Willow said slowly, "sent by King Rupert of the noble kingdom of Astoria to kill you...and yet now I find myself in a position where you are of more use to me alive than dead; try not to make me change my mind, my sorceress...it'd be quite unfortunate if I did, don't you think?"



Tara nodded her head slowly, thinking of what she could possibly have that this woman would want.



"Good then we agree...back to camp now."



Tara waited patiently for a few moments, for the assasin to offer some of assistance, "c-can you h-hep me...um please?"



Willow smirked at her, "well you didn't seem to have any trouble wiggling your way over here...I assume it won't be a problem for you to wiggle your way back."



Tara blinked up at the other girl for a few seconds...surely she was joking; but the assasin only stood there, still smirking, her arms folded at her chest, and Tara, poor Tara, began her wiggle all the way back to camp. She heard the other girl begin to walk slowly behind her, giggling softly at her predicament, and felt her eyes fixed lewdly on her bum- the skirt she'd been wearing by now torn to shreds to where it barely qualified as a rag in Tara's opinion- 'honestly what a rude and horrid woman' Tara thought, her cheeks burning hot with both her exertion and her embarrasment.



When they finally reached camp-a millenia later, it felt to Tara- the by now exhausted girl lay tiredly on her kidnappers' blanket, breathing heavily. She saw Willow smirk down at her again before sitting next to her, and gave her a fixed glare.



"C'mere Bella," Willow called softly, as her albino camel-she'd had it with her since she was a child, never having been a horse-person herself- awoke and trotted over slowly to her, she turned to Tara, "see- *she* knows how to behave," she turned to stroke her camels neck, "don't ya girl...yes you do.." she cooed softly before reaching into a pack in the saddle and pulling out bread and a goatskin pouch filled with water. She turned to Tara, "dinner's ready."



So they ate in silence, splitting the bread and passing the water between them. When they were done, Willow again layed down on the blanket, eyes closed.



"Are you so eager, my sorceress, to return to your lord and master?" Willow asked softly, opening one eye to look at her.



"He is not my master...and if I never saw him again it'd be a millenia too soon." Her soft eyes narrowed and her chin crinkled in contempt.



Willow turned to look fully at the sorceress now, "yes...it seems there are worse things, out there than me, after all." With that she turned away from the sorceress and again closed both her eyes, truly asleep this time.



For a long time, Tara sat and studied her captor, wondering what kind of woman this was, after all. For all her visions and magic and intuitiveness, this woman was a mystery she doubted she had even begun to solve. She layed next to her and closed her own eyes, to enter into an uncomfortable dreamless sleep.

Have a life... just don't forget to bring a towel!-Me

[WickedReds]

i really what to know what Willow wants with her???

Anyways... i'm guessing they will slowly fall into luuvvveee...



-reds



Mein Banane tanzen für Schmutz

Smutbunny Anthem: *sung to tune from Goldfinger* Smutbunnies...they'e the bunnies, the bunnies that love the smut...and Willow's butt. They surf for smut fiction...always lookin' for the next naked sweaty fix...of Tara's tits.- Written By Cameron(tarawhipped) For Us Smut Bunnies

[photographer02]

It's getting really interesting!!

Please oh please...continue as soon as possible?



photographer02

[robotguru]

I've been bad, really bad. I've read this from the start and not left any feedback.



Anyways, this is shaping out to be real good, i hope you carry on with it.

------------------



There can be no rainbow without rain, you cannot know true happiness until you know sadness first.

[onyxsundrops]

Okay, so I'm late... nothing new. Very interesting story you have here. I like your Willow, she's assertive('mean') when she needs to be, yet somewhat caring too. It seems that she views Tara has her possession, so I'm wondering how all of this will play out when (or if) it comes down to giving Tara up to whomever... or possibly setting her free? Anyway, great update.



Yvonne

[angel of salvation]

Great update, wanna know what happens next, so please update soon! must know more!



Jess xxx

'You're my angel of salvation, and hope, and strength...your my multi-angel'-Jay (My baby)

.:~*My anime site*~:.

[Artemis]

Cool story! It's like The Scorpion King, with Willow and Tara - and the feel of a good old-fashioned swords-n-sorcery tale, like Conan or something like that. I love stories like that - real big adventure Please continue



Also, with your permission, I'd love to host this story on Through the Looking-glass (alia.customer.netspace.net.au/glass.htm ). If you'd like an email address to go with it, you can email me at alia@netspace.net.au - or if you prefer I can link back to this thread instead. Please say yes?

Chris Cook

Through the Looking-glass

A Willow and Tara for every world.

[hells bells]

i have a weakness for knights and armour and o my god...the arthurian tales....so really....knights in armour and o hopefully horses? okok..i know willow's afraid of horses but would there be any chance of tara being on a horse? lol...in armour?!?!? lol...i think i'd be in heaven then



but anyways don't mind me trying to influence your creative mind here....keep it up...knights, amazons...armour...and maybe horses and i'm a happy female



Jun.

-Make a darkness outside me, to match the darkness within-

Edited by: hells bells at: 10/25/04 10:39 am

[Brandnew]

WickedReds: What does Willow want with Tara? That would be the question wouldn't it? Just keep reading! I promise to let you know soon...I'm not teasing I swear!



photographer02: I'm glad you think it's interesting, and I'll try to not keep you waiting too long.



robotguru: You've been very, very bad! J/K! No worries! And I'm glad you like it!



onyxsundrops: No worries on the lateness! And I'm glad you like my Willow, the way you described her is totally what I was going for. And thanks!



angel of salvation: Thanks! Don't worry I won't keep you waiting too long.



Artemis: Thanks! And...yay!...I'd totally love it if you hosted my story on Through the Looking-glass! I love both your websites! Oh! Do I get a cool banner thingy, do I? Please!?



hells bells: I know what you mean! I heart all of those kinds of stories, I think they're so awesome! And Tara on a horse in armor?...oh that is *way* sexy...





Chapter 5: Home Sweet Home



His sorceress was missing. Outside of his majestic tent; his warriors knew nothing of this- they knew only of bellydancers in their skimpy oufits and good food being eaten and enough wine so that every man and his horse could enjoy and later on in the morning, regret. A fine time being had by all- a celebration- after all, had they not been victorious in all their battles, where they not the rulers of all but a small portion of the world they would soon make theirs anyway? Yes...ignorance was indeed bliss.



But Atticus was not ignorant; they were clearly vulnerable now, there was no longer the advantage of premonitions or magical aide. These men, who had taken his sorceress, were

no doubt sent by Rupert, and he'd inevitably attack. Probably soon, not today, but soon.



"Take sixteen of our best men," he said from his intricately carved throne, to his most trusted warrior, kneeling before him, "track them down and kill them...I want the girl

brought back unharmed..."



The young man nodded curtly, "yes my lord."



"Bring the girl back to me," Atticus repeated slowly, his voice low and seeming to echo through the tent as if they were in a deep cavern, "or it will be your head."



The young man looked up slowly and swallowed, fear tingling up his spine and dread settling in his belly, "yes my lord."



"You are dismissed then...enjoy the celebration."



The warrior again nodded, slowly, and got to his feet, very much doubting he'd 'enjoy the celebration.'



"Oh and Riley?"



The young man turned, "yes my lord?"



"Make haste with this mission boy."



"Yes my lord" he said, his jaw clenching tightly in a resolution bourne from complete loyalty .



***



Miles away, deep within the vast and empty -save for scorpions, snakes and two quietly sleeping women- desert, the young sorceress was unaware of the conversation being

had about her, she was, however, very aware of the soreness all throughout her back and shoulders. Stubbornly holding on to the last vestiges of an uncomfortable sleep, she held the thick blanket tighter to her own body and snuggled deeper into that warm, soft and solid place.



If she had been more clear-headed at the time she would have noted that her wrists and ankles had been set free sometime during the night; but she was too preoccupied, however,

with keeping the sunlight away from her face.



Lying to the left of her Willow was in a similar state; though she had, had a better sleep, having spent more time during her life sleeping on the ground than in an actual bed and therefore accustomed to waking with a stiff back and shoulders. And it was not the sun, that eventually woke her but the sound of movement. She blinked her eyes rapidly to disperse the last remnants of sleep, and gently disentangled herself from a very clingy sorceress, turning to see two rapidly approaching shadows cloaked within a massive cloud of dust...



Buffy and Faith had returned it seemed.



Meanwhile Tara, had very suddenly woken; her senses returned to her seemingly all at once; the blinding sunlight and the thumping of horses' hooves against the desert sand hurling her back into consciousness, albeit a dizzy one. Slowly regaining her composure, she stretched leisurely and yawned before two bright blue eyes opened widely in surprise and looked down queerly at her wrists as if never before having seen them.



"You-you untied me?"



"No the desert fairies did- of course it was me."



"Oh. Why?"



"Where would you run to?" Willow asked her, "and how far do you think I'd let you go?"



Tara sighed, "n-not very far."



"Right then. Time to get up now. Are you hungry? Eat now if you are, we're not stopping anymore. You can feed yourself now, and you know where the food is; but be careful not to

scare Bella, she'll kick you if you do and it hurts very much when she does- so be gentle."



Tara stared at Willow very much like she had done the night before, for a second, before deciding it was pointless to just stand there dumbfounded by the woman once again; and she walked to the camel, deciding to eat though she was not hungry.



Some minutes later, a very tired Buffy and an equally weary Faith made their entrance, their horses going from a hard gallop to a light trotting and finally stopping in front of the camp, they dismounted and flopped to ground; Faith cursing lightly under her breath.



"What's wrong then?" Willow asked, while casually folding the blanket.



"We ran into some desert pirates on the way, huge guys, real barbaric-like," Faith gasped out, with a smile on her face as if recalling some sweet long-ago memory of a first kiss.



"You mean *you* ran into them" Buffy shot at her.



"There were only a few," Faith defended herself indignantly.



"A few...hundred."



"A *few*...they just happened to have some friends I knew nothing about."



Willow sighed, "you two just make friends everywhere you go don't you?" She then attached the blanket to Bella's saddle and turned to them, "well at least you're alive."



"Barely," Buffy muttered, her reply aimed at Faith.



Willow reached over and and grasped Tara's hand gently, splitting the untouched bread the sorceress held in two and bringing her portion to her own mouth.



Buffy and Faith both stared at the scene with unreadable expressions, "you untied her then?" Faith was the first to ask though the question was on both their minds.



"Yes," Willow answered simply, choosing not to elaborate and if she had seen the queer looks the two of them shot at her you couldn't tell. She chewed thoughtfully for a second before turning to them, "where did you leave the earring?"



"In the hand of one of the dead brutes," Buffy answered.



"We figured we'd blame *them* for it, a battle between Atticus' minions and the desert pirates," she turned to Buffy with a dimpled smile, "kinda makes ya wish we'd stayed around for it huh?"



"Two birds with one stone and all that," Buffy said tiredly.



Willow nodded her approval, "good job...but battle weary or not we're off after we eat."



Faith's and Buffy's only response was a long, simultaneous groan that seemed it could've woken up the vultures.



***



Time seemed slothlike and sluggish under the flaming desert sun, Tara noted. They were going through a corridor of sorts between two towering mountains, and she could tell they were close to where ever it was they were headed by their slowing down. It seemed they had been travelling since the world began and all she had ever known were desert and rocks and the unflattering smell of camel.



Though they were now riding slowly she still held on tightly to the redhead seated in front of her, having already learned her lesson.



"Get on now, it's time to go," she had said, ever the leader. And Tara had, with a little help from her, afterwards she had hopped on taking her seat in front of Tara.



Then she turned to her, "hold on tightly," she had said. And Tara had held on, loosely though, ever aware of what the woman was...though *who* she was continued to elude her.



And the redhead had said nothing as Tara had thought she would, merely pulled on the reigns and off they went; Tara almost falling had she not tightened her grip on the assasin's waist.



And she had turned to her flashing her impish little smirk before saying, "High morals aren't worth much after you've fallen off the camel."



And she had merely glared at her, having no snappy comeback of her own.



The mountains now seemed to expand and curve making a huge circle as they met in the middle. And in the center of this circle there was a large rock, she noticed, that seemed odd there, looking as if it didn't fit in with the rest of the picture.



That's when they, finally, had stopped and dismounted; the redhead helping her off the camel.



"Home, sweet home."



***

Have a life... just don't forget to bring a towel!-Me

[tarawhipped]

Oh no! Riley's on the case! However will Willow outsmart him?! I can't wait to see him go up against Buffy and Faith--should be a hoot.



The relationship between Tara and Willow is an interesting one. I like Tara's haughty attitude toward her captor, and Willow's condescending bemusement. It'll definitely make for some sparkage soon, I'm guessing. And this was a great line:

Quote:

---

High morals aren't worth much after you've fallen off the camel

---

Can't wait to see what happens now that they've arrived at Xander's (who apparently lives under a big rock? )



-Cameron

[WickedReds]

Eww Riley... anyways nice update... i smell sparks flying with our girls... well i think there are sparks... hehe... Xander under a rock... ... thats funny...



-reds



my banana dances for smut

Smutbunny Anthem: *sung to tune from Goldfinger* Smutbunnies...they'e the bunnies, the bunnies that love the smut...and Willow's butt. They surf for smut fiction...always lookin' for the next naked sweaty fix...of Tara's tits.- Written By Cameron(tarawhipped) For Us Smut Bunnies

[angel of salvation]

Riley!

This is going to be interesting...

oooo, do I detect sparks? or something cloe to it? I wonder.

Great update

Please write more soon!



Jess xxx

'You're my angel of salvation, and hope, and strength...your my multi-angel'-Jay (My baby)

.:~*My anime site*~:.

[southernworm]

I've been reading this fiction from the beginning and I like the way you've written everything especially their behavior toward one another. But I have to say that I like Willow's character the most so far. -I'm blabbering-. Fantastic story.



southernworm



P.s. Xander living under a rock?

[photographer02]

Good good...great update!!

please continue?



photographer02