Title: White as Snow (2/?)
Author: Teleri
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Buffy and her world belongs to Joss and Mutant Enemy. I'm just borrowing them for fun.
Summary: When Dawn starts have disturbing dreams, and murdered girls start turning up, Buffy has to face an evil out of legend.
Feedback: teleri_rhys@hotmail.com. Yes, please.
"So how are you taking this, luv?" Spike asked as he and Buffy walked towards the park.
"Taking what? Dawn channeling evil fairy tales or me being back from the dead for only 2 weeks?"
"I guess a little of both, pet." Spike smiled hesitantly at her. "You've been out of action for a bit, it's only natural that you be a little dodgy on the comeback. Plus, Nibblit's weirdness can't make it any easier on you."
Buffy looked at Spike, who was gazing at her with tenderness and a hint of protectiveness. "I'm fine. Now let's find a twisted freak."
"If that's what you want to do, pet."
Buffy turned on him and grabbed him by the lapels of his duster. "LOOK, *pet*, I have had just about enough of this. Yes, I died. I came back. I'm alive for the third time, I think I can handle this, what I can't handle is you guys treating me like I'm made of glass." She backed away from him and glared at him furiously. "I can't take you like this, all the affection, and the sweet mushy shit. Between you and Xander I feel like I can't breathe. And someone is always watching me, making sure I'm breathing or something. Since I came back you haven't said one snarky thing to me. Yes Spike, I need you around, you're someone I've come to depend on and I don't mind that. But, this - this *brooding* sensitive guy you've been lately, been there, done that, almost destroyed the world and got the t-shirt. I need my asshole Spike back. I *like* that Spike, you keep me from feeling fragile. You make me fight, you make me strong. With out Giles around, no one else will tell me I'm an idiot. No speaks up to question a plan. They all just look at me like I'm gonna go away again."
She stalked away from him and turned back, "Trust me, the whole being dead gig was no fun, and the coming back was definitely one of the weirdest gigs I've dealt with. That means a lot from a girl living on the Hellmouth, but I can cope. No one else will listen to me when I say that I'm gonna be okay, but you *have* to. The only way I'm gonna get through this and go back to being happy completely not-dead Buffy is for you people to stop treating me like I'm a ghost. I'm a living breathing girl, and I'm *not* going anywhere anytime soon. Okay, emotional outburst over now, please resume your regularly scheduled slaying." She finished and began striding towards the park.
Shaking his head at the outburst, Spike straightened his duster, lit a cigarette and stared at the Slayer's retreating back. They had been treating her like she was a china doll, and damn it, he was not brooding, just didn't want to loose her again.
"So, do you have a plan Slayer, or are just gonna yell at the guy until he gives up?" Spike smirked as he caught up with her.
"Don't know, yelling seems effective at this moment on the Big Bad." She smiled at him.
*******
"I think I have the translation. It actually makes a great deal of sense." Willow said as she got up from the computer. "With all the Snow White references, it's a logical translation. Plus she kinda said the words in Dawn's dream. It's a simple spell to bind a person's will to the caster."
"Well, spill Will, at this point I'm up for anything that sheds some light on this wacky crap." Xander said as he stretched out the kinks in his shoulders.
"Okay, the literal translation is 'As black as a raven, as red as fire, as white as snow. You are mine.' Basically she's using her physical attributes to tie the person's will to hers. Pretty devious."
Dawn looked up from her books, and said, "That's a cool spell, but it doesn't help us figure out who is killing these girls. I mean we already knew that Snow was a bad, so her spelling this guy doesn't seem too odd. We just need a way to get more info on her and the guy."
Tara stood up and said hesitantly, "I think I have an idea. Since Dawnie has the dreams that give us the back story on this thing, maybe if she goes to sleep we could get more information."
"Tara that's a cool idea, but I'm so wired right now, I don't think I'll ever sleep."
"Well, we could *put* you to sleep, you know, with a spell." Tara said over Xander's mumbles of objection and Dawn's raised eyebrows "It'd be perfectly safe, you could wake up when you wanted, it just be like the magical equivalent of a glass of warm milk or something." With a nervous smile, she played her final ace, "It'd cut down on the research."
With that, Dawn's disapproval vanished. "I'm game."
"Wouldn't Buffy fail to approve this? If she were to know?" Xander asked.
"Then she won't know." Dawn smiled.
With Dawn settled comfortably on the couch in the training room, Willow and Tara began to weave the sleep spell, their soft voices were the last things Dawn heard.
******
The villagers thought her a witch, and to be honest she most likely was. She was not a pretty woman and had used some small spells to attract her husband's eye, but she truly loved him and he had loved her, even after she had stopped renewing the spells. He welcomed her into his home, made her a lady and treated her like the mother of his daughter. It would have been like a fairy tale, except for the daughter. She had tried everything to appease the girl, but Eira absolutely hated her. She had given her dolls, told her stories and in one moment of weak desperation, she had even taught the girl some spells. In that moment she had created a monster. How was she to know the child had no moral compass? From the moment she could cast a will spell, she was an unstoppable force. By the time she was 12 she had tormented a string of local village boys and had even propositioned a knight who had a horse she wanted. The Lady of Gwynedd did everything she could to show the girl that it was better to not force people to do her will, but to no avail. Recently boys had been turning up in the village with no clothes, covered in gashes and no memory of what had happened to them. Usually the days the boys turned up, Eira was not seen until late in the evening. Her father was under her spell as well and had no idea what evil his daughter was becoming. Finally the Lady Gwynedd had come up with a plan to save the girl and all the farm boys in the village. She had a cousin in the south that was skilled in magic and he also happened to be a Marcher Lord looking for a wife. He had met Eira and shown to be immune to her charms, and decided that she would make a good wife after some training. Lady Gwynedd did not relish the thought of his training, but knew that it was the only way to deal with Eira.
Unfortunately, her plan had failed. The girl had run off and she had sent her loyal huntsman after her. Tomas was good man, with a plain little wife and a plain little daughter that made him so very happy. He was also the best tracker in all of Wales. He would find Eira and bring her back.
*****
Buffy and Spike walked through the park with all senses on full alert for anything out of the ordinary. So far they had seen and staked only one vampire and no hint of someone who was killing the girls.
"So do you think the new girl on Charmed is gonna work?"
"I have no idea, I just can't get into that show. I mean, one of the sisters is in love with a demon, I don't get it." Spike smirked, "But those ladies are easy on the eyes, I will give them that."
"Pig."
"Card carrying, luv, card carrying." he smiled at the Slayer's laughing face and then paused, gesturing for her to be quiet. Then they both heard it, a small whimpering noise coming from a patch of trees. Nodding in agreement, Buffy pulled a stake and quietly moved towards the noise and Spike followed.
Just beyond the trees, in a small clearing, a tall man dressed in browns and greys was standing over a young girl. Her eyes were wide with fear and she was struggling in his grasp. As they struggled, moonlight glinted off the knife in his hand.
******
Dawn rolled over in her sleep.
"My lady, the Huntsman has returned."
"Send him in," The Lady Gwynedd said as she straightened her gown. "Tomas, I do hope you have good news."
As the man entered, she knew that she was going to be disappointed. He was disheveled and dirty and was carrying a small wooden box before him. "I'm sorry my lady, I have failed you."
"Is that – her heart?" She gasped.
"No, she – she ensorcelled me and I fear she may have killed a girl to retrieve this heart." The huntsman hung his head as he recounted his story of the following evening.
As he finished he looked at his lady and swore, "I vow that I will not leave this earth until I have taken that foul creature's heart from her black breast."
"I know, and I will help you dear Tomas. Eira has grown too powerful and far too dangerous to allow to remain among the living." The lady gestured towards her herbs, "I feel responsible for her actions and I will be responsible for her demise. I should never have sent you to do my job."
At that moment, a nauseous green smoke started to come from the box in the Huntsman's hands. The lady moved to take it from him, but he had already started to open the lid of the box. He inhaled in shock at the sight of the heart fizzing and spewing an evil green fog, taking a large amount of the toxins into his lungs. The fumes quickly overtook him and he fell to the ground coughing violently. Seizing the box, Lady Gwynedd threw it onto the roaring fire and flinched back from the sickening wet-sounding explosion that came from the box.
Turning to the Huntsman, she quickly began spells to neutralize the poisons that were cutting off his air supply. His lips were already turning blue and his frantic clawing at his throat had slowed. With a final word, the Lady finished her spell and watched, as it took no effect. Looking at her with eyes filled with pain, the Huntsman mouthed, "Kill me."
Wiping away tears of frustration, she took his knife from his belt and began another spell. "Please forgive me Tomas," she said as she slit his throat and watched his life's blood drain away. She then took the knife and proceeded to cut out his heart.
Author: Teleri
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Buffy and her world belongs to Joss and Mutant Enemy. I'm just borrowing them for fun.
Summary: When Dawn starts have disturbing dreams, and murdered girls start turning up, Buffy has to face an evil out of legend.
Feedback: teleri_rhys@hotmail.com. Yes, please.
"So how are you taking this, luv?" Spike asked as he and Buffy walked towards the park.
"Taking what? Dawn channeling evil fairy tales or me being back from the dead for only 2 weeks?"
"I guess a little of both, pet." Spike smiled hesitantly at her. "You've been out of action for a bit, it's only natural that you be a little dodgy on the comeback. Plus, Nibblit's weirdness can't make it any easier on you."
Buffy looked at Spike, who was gazing at her with tenderness and a hint of protectiveness. "I'm fine. Now let's find a twisted freak."
"If that's what you want to do, pet."
Buffy turned on him and grabbed him by the lapels of his duster. "LOOK, *pet*, I have had just about enough of this. Yes, I died. I came back. I'm alive for the third time, I think I can handle this, what I can't handle is you guys treating me like I'm made of glass." She backed away from him and glared at him furiously. "I can't take you like this, all the affection, and the sweet mushy shit. Between you and Xander I feel like I can't breathe. And someone is always watching me, making sure I'm breathing or something. Since I came back you haven't said one snarky thing to me. Yes Spike, I need you around, you're someone I've come to depend on and I don't mind that. But, this - this *brooding* sensitive guy you've been lately, been there, done that, almost destroyed the world and got the t-shirt. I need my asshole Spike back. I *like* that Spike, you keep me from feeling fragile. You make me fight, you make me strong. With out Giles around, no one else will tell me I'm an idiot. No speaks up to question a plan. They all just look at me like I'm gonna go away again."
She stalked away from him and turned back, "Trust me, the whole being dead gig was no fun, and the coming back was definitely one of the weirdest gigs I've dealt with. That means a lot from a girl living on the Hellmouth, but I can cope. No one else will listen to me when I say that I'm gonna be okay, but you *have* to. The only way I'm gonna get through this and go back to being happy completely not-dead Buffy is for you people to stop treating me like I'm a ghost. I'm a living breathing girl, and I'm *not* going anywhere anytime soon. Okay, emotional outburst over now, please resume your regularly scheduled slaying." She finished and began striding towards the park.
Shaking his head at the outburst, Spike straightened his duster, lit a cigarette and stared at the Slayer's retreating back. They had been treating her like she was a china doll, and damn it, he was not brooding, just didn't want to loose her again.
"So, do you have a plan Slayer, or are just gonna yell at the guy until he gives up?" Spike smirked as he caught up with her.
"Don't know, yelling seems effective at this moment on the Big Bad." She smiled at him.
*******
"I think I have the translation. It actually makes a great deal of sense." Willow said as she got up from the computer. "With all the Snow White references, it's a logical translation. Plus she kinda said the words in Dawn's dream. It's a simple spell to bind a person's will to the caster."
"Well, spill Will, at this point I'm up for anything that sheds some light on this wacky crap." Xander said as he stretched out the kinks in his shoulders.
"Okay, the literal translation is 'As black as a raven, as red as fire, as white as snow. You are mine.' Basically she's using her physical attributes to tie the person's will to hers. Pretty devious."
Dawn looked up from her books, and said, "That's a cool spell, but it doesn't help us figure out who is killing these girls. I mean we already knew that Snow was a bad, so her spelling this guy doesn't seem too odd. We just need a way to get more info on her and the guy."
Tara stood up and said hesitantly, "I think I have an idea. Since Dawnie has the dreams that give us the back story on this thing, maybe if she goes to sleep we could get more information."
"Tara that's a cool idea, but I'm so wired right now, I don't think I'll ever sleep."
"Well, we could *put* you to sleep, you know, with a spell." Tara said over Xander's mumbles of objection and Dawn's raised eyebrows "It'd be perfectly safe, you could wake up when you wanted, it just be like the magical equivalent of a glass of warm milk or something." With a nervous smile, she played her final ace, "It'd cut down on the research."
With that, Dawn's disapproval vanished. "I'm game."
"Wouldn't Buffy fail to approve this? If she were to know?" Xander asked.
"Then she won't know." Dawn smiled.
With Dawn settled comfortably on the couch in the training room, Willow and Tara began to weave the sleep spell, their soft voices were the last things Dawn heard.
******
The villagers thought her a witch, and to be honest she most likely was. She was not a pretty woman and had used some small spells to attract her husband's eye, but she truly loved him and he had loved her, even after she had stopped renewing the spells. He welcomed her into his home, made her a lady and treated her like the mother of his daughter. It would have been like a fairy tale, except for the daughter. She had tried everything to appease the girl, but Eira absolutely hated her. She had given her dolls, told her stories and in one moment of weak desperation, she had even taught the girl some spells. In that moment she had created a monster. How was she to know the child had no moral compass? From the moment she could cast a will spell, she was an unstoppable force. By the time she was 12 she had tormented a string of local village boys and had even propositioned a knight who had a horse she wanted. The Lady of Gwynedd did everything she could to show the girl that it was better to not force people to do her will, but to no avail. Recently boys had been turning up in the village with no clothes, covered in gashes and no memory of what had happened to them. Usually the days the boys turned up, Eira was not seen until late in the evening. Her father was under her spell as well and had no idea what evil his daughter was becoming. Finally the Lady Gwynedd had come up with a plan to save the girl and all the farm boys in the village. She had a cousin in the south that was skilled in magic and he also happened to be a Marcher Lord looking for a wife. He had met Eira and shown to be immune to her charms, and decided that she would make a good wife after some training. Lady Gwynedd did not relish the thought of his training, but knew that it was the only way to deal with Eira.
Unfortunately, her plan had failed. The girl had run off and she had sent her loyal huntsman after her. Tomas was good man, with a plain little wife and a plain little daughter that made him so very happy. He was also the best tracker in all of Wales. He would find Eira and bring her back.
*****
Buffy and Spike walked through the park with all senses on full alert for anything out of the ordinary. So far they had seen and staked only one vampire and no hint of someone who was killing the girls.
"So do you think the new girl on Charmed is gonna work?"
"I have no idea, I just can't get into that show. I mean, one of the sisters is in love with a demon, I don't get it." Spike smirked, "But those ladies are easy on the eyes, I will give them that."
"Pig."
"Card carrying, luv, card carrying." he smiled at the Slayer's laughing face and then paused, gesturing for her to be quiet. Then they both heard it, a small whimpering noise coming from a patch of trees. Nodding in agreement, Buffy pulled a stake and quietly moved towards the noise and Spike followed.
Just beyond the trees, in a small clearing, a tall man dressed in browns and greys was standing over a young girl. Her eyes were wide with fear and she was struggling in his grasp. As they struggled, moonlight glinted off the knife in his hand.
******
Dawn rolled over in her sleep.
"My lady, the Huntsman has returned."
"Send him in," The Lady Gwynedd said as she straightened her gown. "Tomas, I do hope you have good news."
As the man entered, she knew that she was going to be disappointed. He was disheveled and dirty and was carrying a small wooden box before him. "I'm sorry my lady, I have failed you."
"Is that – her heart?" She gasped.
"No, she – she ensorcelled me and I fear she may have killed a girl to retrieve this heart." The huntsman hung his head as he recounted his story of the following evening.
As he finished he looked at his lady and swore, "I vow that I will not leave this earth until I have taken that foul creature's heart from her black breast."
"I know, and I will help you dear Tomas. Eira has grown too powerful and far too dangerous to allow to remain among the living." The lady gestured towards her herbs, "I feel responsible for her actions and I will be responsible for her demise. I should never have sent you to do my job."
At that moment, a nauseous green smoke started to come from the box in the Huntsman's hands. The lady moved to take it from him, but he had already started to open the lid of the box. He inhaled in shock at the sight of the heart fizzing and spewing an evil green fog, taking a large amount of the toxins into his lungs. The fumes quickly overtook him and he fell to the ground coughing violently. Seizing the box, Lady Gwynedd threw it onto the roaring fire and flinched back from the sickening wet-sounding explosion that came from the box.
Turning to the Huntsman, she quickly began spells to neutralize the poisons that were cutting off his air supply. His lips were already turning blue and his frantic clawing at his throat had slowed. With a final word, the Lady finished her spell and watched, as it took no effect. Looking at her with eyes filled with pain, the Huntsman mouthed, "Kill me."
Wiping away tears of frustration, she took his knife from his belt and began another spell. "Please forgive me Tomas," she said as she slit his throat and watched his life's blood drain away. She then took the knife and proceeded to cut out his heart.