Watcher's Council

England

Wesley Wyndham-Pryce paced nervously in front of the large doors to the Watcher's Council chamber room.

Looking down his nose arrogantly, Quentin Travers spoke. "Relax Wesley, you were correct to bring that prophecy to our attention." Waving his hand in a dismissive manner he said. "You have nothing to worry about. I'm sure the council will forgive any past indiscretions."

Glancing nervously at the two large ex-SAS men guarding the doors, Wesley lowered his voice and said, "It's the wording of the prophecy, Quentin. It says if the Slayer or Slayers depart this earth. Not, if the Slayer or Slayers die."

Signing with exasperation Quentin said, "We've gone over this before Wesley. Lady Amelia Arden wrote the prophecy during Queen Victoria's reign. That annoying woman never wrote plainly. In all those prophecy's of hers, she always used poetic prose. 'Depart this veil of tears', 'Depart this earth'. It's the same thing."

Before Wesley could continue, the movement of the guards interrupted him. Responding to a quiet signalling buzz, the two guards opened the large doors to the chamber and stepped to the side.

Giving Wesley a last look of exasperation, Quentin lead the way into the Council Chamber. Directly in front of the large doors they had just entered was an area of open space. Across from which was a raised crescent shaped bench. Seated behind the bench were seven men. Three people were seated to both left and right, while in the centre, raised slightly above the rest, was seated the head of the Watcher's council.

Sir William Appleby, the head of the Council, tapped his gavel onto the table before him. "This meeting will come to order." He proclaimed. Fixing his gaze upon Quentin Travers and Wesley Wyndham-Pryce he nodded towards them. "Gentlemen, you may begin your report."

With his usually arrogant tone subdued by the presence of the council, Travers stepped forward to speak. "We have consulted with three separate seers and all are in agreement." Pausing for effect he continued. "The prophecy is correct. If, during the next three weeks, either one or both of the slayers die, then the girls chosen to succeed them will be respectively, Amanda Smyth or Amanda Smyth and Suzanne Bolton." When he finished, he stepped back and awaited the Council's reaction

The mood inside the Watcher's Council chamber room became one of barely concealed excitement. The gathered Watchers started began to speak excitedly to each other.

Sir William Appleby, slammed his gavel onto the table before him. "Order!" He cried out. He fixed a hard gaze upon Quentin and Wesley. "Gentlemen, are you saying that the next Slayers will be those particular girls, the ones the council have raised since infancy when we discovered their potential as future Slayers?"

Nodding his head, Quentin answered. "Yes, Sir William. But only if they die in the next three weeks. After that, the choice cannot be predicted."

Once again the chamber was assaulted by the raised voices of the watcher's. "Gentlemen, please. We have some preparation to address." Glancing down at Wesley, Sir William Appleby, with a thoughtful look on his face spoke. "I propose, that in reward for bringing this prophecy to our attention, that young Wesley here be appointed as Amanda Smyth's Watcher." Pausing to give each member of the council a significant look, he continued. "All those in favour?" Receiving confirming nods from all, he addressed Wesley. "I suggest you make your way to the school immediately. There is no telling how events should transpire. There is every possibility that the Slayer may be engaged in her last fight at this very moment." Bending a stern gaze on Wesley, he added. "I'm sure you would consider it an advantage to be there at the moment of awakening?"

Shaking himself from his dazed reaction, Wesley addressed Sir William. "Yes Sir William, I will leave immediately." Pulling his shoulders back he turned to the council and added. "I thank you for your trust and will carry out my duties as Watcher to the best of my abilities."

Waving a hand towards the door, Sir William said. "Yes, yes, now off you go." With a benign smile he watched Wesley leave the Council chambers. As the doors closed behind Wesley, the smile was wiped from his face. Turning to Quentin he ask in a stern voice. "He has no idea? He is unaware of the significant differences between his copy and the original document?"

Turning back from the door, Quentin faced the council and shook his head. "No Sir William, on each occasion we consulted the seers, it was the altered copy that he showed them. It was only after I sent him to prepare for our departure each time, that I showed the original document to the seers. There was no difference in their answer."

A cough from Sam Zabuto drew Sir Williams attention. "Differences? I was unaware that there were any differences."

Sir William pondered for a moment. "The Council at the time of Lady Arden prophecy decided that, significant passages, should be removed from all copies and that the original should be kept under lock and key."

"I would like to hear about these, significant passages." Zabuto declared.

Glancing around the council and noting their agreement with Sam Zabuto, Sir William proceeded to enlighten them. "There are three passages involved. The first difference is at the beginning. It is stated quite categorically that both slayers, will, depart this earth."

After the councils excited murmurs over this revelation, Sir William continued. "The second, near the end, states that it the actions of the council that will bring this about." A shocked silence spread around the chamber at this revelation.

"Gentlemen, I know this has come as a shock to you." He gave each member of the council a stern look. "However we may feel about this, there is no choice. This prophecy is not a branching prophecy. There are no choices given if one event happens instead of another. The events in this prophecy will take place." Once again giving the council a stern look, Sir William continued. "Given the current state of affairs, one slayer in a coma while the other is out of our control, we have no choice in the matter."

Smiling slightly, Sir William said. "Consider the advantages gentlemen. The next two Slayers will be girls trained since infancy by the council." Assuming a sad, but proud expression, Sir William addressed the council. "It is our sacred duty to enact the events of this prophecy. Once again we will shall guide the actions of the Slayer. In this case, two Slayers."

Noting the agreement of the council, Sir William dropped the false expression of sadness on his face and turned to Quentin. "I suggest that we send Quentin, with a small section of our guards, to Sunnydale. There he shall arrange for the departure from Earth of the two Slayers."

Sir William Appleby, after receiving the unanimous agreement of the Council, tapped his gavel onto the table before him. "So carried." He proclaimed. Fixing his gaze upon Quentin Travers, he nodded at him. "Quentin Travers, you may assemble your team and depart tomorrow."

About to dismiss Quentin, he was interrupted by Sam Zabuto. "Sir William, you mentioned three passages. You have informed us of only two."

With an expression of slight embarrassment, Sir William answered his unasked question. "The third passage was a message to us, the current council, from Lady Arden. In the final passage of the prophecy, which is fairly lengthy, she proceeds to call into question our paternity." With a sign of exasperation he continued. "She starts by calling us a 'Bunch of Bloody Handed Bastards' and continues on in that vein for nearly half a page."