Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Angel, and Buffy the series.
Synopsis: This is the fourth story in the Soul series I am working on. In order the stories are The Price of a Soul, The Judging of a Soul, and, The Weight of a Soul. After a decision to save Cordelia from the visions put her in a coma she had to earn back her seer status by helping Angel on a mental journey. His soul in tact now, he fires her from A.I. and while the gang try to make sense of it, Cordelia's kidnapped from her home in order to fulfill a destiny in another dimension.
Chapter Four
Once Cordelia had stopped babbling and Angel and Spike had been brought out of their staring contest, Wes finally quieted them down and began the questioning to find out exactly what they could do. Taking his glasses off he cleared his throat, now that everyone was quiet. "So, there is a way to heal Cordelia, er, the Princess." He added off of Groo's look.
Groo for his part grinned and nodded, happy to be helpful really. Off of Cordelia's expectant look he turned to her to answer. "The visions the Princess gets can not be handled by a co- , human. I am sorry My Princess."
He gave a small bow and Cordy just shook her head and waved it off. "It's okay Groo. Just, just get back to the other thing. I can keep my visions and, you know, not die?"
He sighed, oblivious to the rest of them staring at him, more concerned at how much his Princess wanted this. Shaking his head he hoped to deter her. "Princess, to continue you would need to take on trials with a champion. They are long and hard. It is unknown if you will survive." He reached for her hands and tried for a smile again. "Am I not worthy of you and your visions? I can become worthy. Anything you ask."
Her face fell, she felt like a hell. He seemed nice enough and all, she just, wasn't what he really thought she was. With a sigh she looked down at their hands and up at him. Also oblivious to the looks of hurt and anger flashing across the faces of two vampires. "Groo. You're, you're great. I mean, a champion here and all, and, I'm sure you'll do a lot of good here but, I can't be your princess. I'm, not anyone's princess. I can, help people though and, I need the visions to do that. I, have a champion Groo. Actually, I kind of have a few." Cordy added with a smile to her friends. She made sure to let her eyes sweep to each of them in turn and even nodded to Wesley, who returned it and gave her a smile.
Spike and Angel exchanged a look. An unspoken communication that for now, there was a truce, for now at least, they would be the champions she saw them as. Faith almost blushed and lowered her head, looking up only when Wes put an arm around her waist and gave her a nod as well. Again he stepped forward. "Cordelia, is needed, we all need her and as she has told us, these visions are hers, and a part of her. She asked us to never try and take them away from her. So please, if you know of a way, we will do whatever we have to."
Groo looked at them all. A few raised chins towards him in a slight challenge, others crossed their arms. Dropping Cordelia's hands he looked at her and smiled, a hand going up to brush over her face. "I believe you are a Princess, but I do see that you are not mine."
He turned then to Wesley and nodded. "I believe you and that all of you will protect the Princess. But I do not know how to find these trials."
Spike finally growled and yanked his hands out of his duster. "She's not yours, yeah? So jus' tell us already!"
"Spike!" Cordelia gave him a quick wave to calm down but the Groosalug continued, this time glaring at Spike.
"I do not know how to find these trials. Only that the scroll will tell you all you need to know. The scrolls here are all kept by the priests."
Just as they were all getting ready to be disappointed another throat cleared and they turned to find Lorne grinning at them from the doorway. "Which I happen to know exactly where it is. So, how do I look?" He gave a small turn and Cordelia grinned at him.
"Perfect Lorne. I, am totally sorry about the whole, beheading things." She added with a small wince. Lorne waved it off and sauntered in as he grabbed her arms and then gave her a little spin.
"No need Princess, my but do you look the part! Delicious my little cream puff! Now, what is that I hear about needing a scroll?" He glanced around and loosened his tie a bit. "What do you have to do for a drink around here?"
"There's a scroll which seems to have the answer on keeping Cordelia alive and keeping her visions. One which we need." Wesley nodded to Lorne.
Cordelia bit at her lower lip. "Except, it's more complicated than that. They are going to do that whole, feast thing and then a battle and well, everyone is going to be around here, so we need to find a way to you know, not get caught?"
Faith finally perked up. "So, there's a dinner and ten after that, we need some sort of distraction right? I think I can handle that." She grinned, finally something she could do.
Cordelia stopped, tilted her head and then turned, looking at them slowly. The look causing a mirror of confusion and worry on the faces around her. Without looking, she raised a hand and slapped at Groo's arm. For his part he frowned and rubbed at his arm. "It's a battle, like, for you right Groo?"
Still not understanding her, everyone exchanged looks and Groo answered. "Yes Princess. I must remain undefeated for you and for the comshuk tonight. So I will take any challengers in battle."
Realizations started to dawn and Wes smiled. "So while he is out there, a good battle, a challenger that he can not defeat, that can not defeat him, should get everyone's attention."
"I'll do it." Two voices perked up and everyone turned to Spike and Angel who were both growling at each other. Before it got worse Wes nodded and took over again.
"You both will. Just remember, to make it last but for no one to actually die. While you are distracting, Faith, Lorne and I will go for the scroll. Lorne will know the way and Faith will be needed if perhaps we run into guards." Nodding Faith shrugged figuring this was the best option.
Cordelia took a deep breath. "What about the um, comshuk? How um, do I get out of that?"
Lots of nervous glances and Lorne smiled, patting her arm. "One step at a time crumbcake. One step at a time."
With decisions made, all they could do now was go to the feast, and hope the plan, worked.
AA
As expected, the feast was subdued. While the Groosalug ate, and quite a lot, the rest of them seemed to just pick at the food. Cordelia, seated at the main table, kept throwing looks at her friends. She wasn't sure what she was looking for. Reassurances? Support? The truth was, she was scared. This was the closest she had come to an answer. They still didn't know for sure it would work, but she was afraid. Afraid it would, afraid it wouldn't, afraid they wouldn't find out.
It was a smile here and there, a nod from her friends, they were trying to show they were there for her. They had always tried to be there. Well, everyone but Angel. She hadn't thought of it but he had fired her. Had refused to see her or talk to her since she'd left the Hyperion. So why was he here now? She could have kicked herself for not even thinking about it until now.
Her eyes distant as she thought about it, they finally cleared and she looked over to him. A small blink of surprise to find he had been watching her this whole time. Ignoring the others around him, not even pretending to pick at the food, and his eyes. They weren't the puppy eyes he used when worried about something or pouting, and it wasn't a glare. She wasn't sure at first what it was and tilted her head as if asking and he lowered his eyes a moment before looking at her again and while she didn't realize all he was trying to convey, she did understand part of it. He was apologizing. Her face softened and she smiled at him.
Jerking in her seat, a horn sounded and someone stood to give a speech. It wasn't long but it was easy to understand. It was time for the fight, time for challenges. Groo stood up and smiled, more grinned, as people cheered and clapped. Once it settled down he came to her and took her hand, pulling her to her feet. Cordelia smiled at him nervously. "I fight for our Princess. For her, I remain undefeated. Only the strongest for our Princess. Are there any to challenge me?"
He almost gave away the plot as he stared directly at Spike and Angel. Cordelia winced hoping that it wouldn't look too obvious. Spike rolled his eyes and Wes shook his head but Spike rose from his seat first. "Yeah, think I'll take that bet."
Angel raised his chin and stood, but looked at Cordelia as he answered. "I will challenge the Groosalug."
There were whispers and some annoyed sounds and Cordy frowned, unsure what that meant, but a glance around and Wes was giving her a look, Lorne giving the sign for stretching it and she perked up. "The Groosalug is undefeated! Challenges accepted. He will defeat both interlopers at once!"
Wes closed his eyes at her and she gave him an unsure smile. It didn't' matter, as it seemed to work. There were cheers and demons in robes came to grab Angel and Spike and pulled them away to ready them. People were rising and heading out. Then it was all chaos. She tried to find her friends but everyone was being pulled in one direction. She finally caught sight of Faith and Wesley sneaking out behind Lorne and then her arms were grabbed and she was being taken to watch.
Pulled to a seat outside she yelped worried about her friends in the direct sunlight but as Angel and Spike walked out, trench coats gone but weapons in hand she sighed relieved. No flames, no smoke. Well that was a good start. The weapons, worried her and she glanced back to the castle and said a silent prayer that everything would work out. This time, let no one get hurt, not for her. With a smile she turned back to the fight and tried to put on the best performance she could.
A/N: Not as long, and I apologize, but I want to make sure the major plan is put out there before they try for their escape and hopefully a cure! Well, if all goes well, of course when does it for our AI gang?
