Part 13
Tara entered the tent with Buffy at her heels. Two young girls followed them in and rummaged through some bags, pulling out warm clothes for their honored guests. Tara finally ushered out the awe struck girls so she and Buffy could dress, chuckling when she heard one say, "She really is Amilia's grand daughter? She's the Chosen One?" "Yes," The other girl whispered, "Hurry, before we make her mad." They darted off to where some other girls were standing, no doubt to talk about being so close to the girl of the prophecy.
"How do you get used to the "Chosen One" thing, Buffy?"
Buffy laughed. "I don't think I have. I just do my job and don't think about it. If I do think about, I feel like I'm being weighed down or something. Hand me that shirt? Thanks. Gods it's cold here. It had be an iceburg we went to? Why no tropical paradise island?"
Tara grinned as she finished bundling up. "And miss the chance to fight off snow demons? It'll be like a new challenge for you." Buffy rolled her eyes, "Ugh! Please, spare me. Challenges I don't need. Food, however, I could use lots of. Don't think they have any mocha around here do you?"
Tara tied the last strap on her boots, having to shift her dagger handle out of the way. It felt weird, yet comforting to be carrying such a weapon. It was beautiful. "Willow would be jealous." She thought to herself sadly. Buffy finished dressing and looked up, catching her friends look. "Come on. Let's eat then go kick some ass. We'll have Willow back with us before sundown tomorrow." Tara gave her a half smile, then nodded in agreement. They stepped out of the tent as a huge beast came tearing towards them.
Buffy sighed, "Guess this means no food." She shoved Tara out of the way, then flipped into the air, lashing her feet out to catch the beast in the head. She landed hard on the ground, while the creature roared in anger. Buffy quelled. "If this is a snow demon, lets NOT find any more." She kicked at its legs, trying to shove it off balance. The beasts fangs clashed and it roared again, swiping a taloned hand at the Slayer, catching her on the shoulder.
Tara held her hands to the sky, chanting, A ball of flame formed hovering over her. With a final word, she made a shoving motion at the monster and the ball of flame was flying through the air, smashing into him and exploding over his body. The beast screamed in pain and began thrashing wildly. Buffy scrambled away as the beast began to fall to the ground. It continued to thrash for a little longer than lay still, its corpse smoldering.
"Tara?"
"Yes, Buffy?" Tara whipped away a bead of sweat from her brow, looking nervous.
"Remind me to never piss you off."
*********
Willow slowly opened her eyes. Torches cast dim, flickering shadows through the corridors that reached ominously through the cells. She shuddered involuntarily as memories came crashing back. She tried to swallow, but found her throat was bone dry. Weakly, she pulled herself up to a sitting position. Her hand brushed against something, and she jerked her hand away, then looked. A small lavender flower lay there. She slowly picked it up and smelled it. It still smelled of the pure outdoors. Willow realized she hadn't been alone, at least not the whole time. A memory nagged at her but thirst caused her to stop trying. She located a cup and a bucket of water. It looked kinda…old, but she decided the old adage must be true, beggars can't be choosers. Making a sour face, she dipped the cup and brought it to her lips. She found that extreme thirst could indeed allow you to drink anything. Well, almost. She spit the last mouth full out.
She sat down next to the bucket, and leaned against the wall. Her eyes closed, and she fell asleep, still holding the flower. She awoke again a few hours later when a harsh voice yelled at her. She jumped awake, and looked around. Her eyes focused on the cell door, where a robed man stood. He pointed again at an object laying near her feet. "Put that on."
Willow retrieved, groaning a little as her side pulled. It had healed faster than she had expected (Unless I've been here longer than I thought," she thought to herself.), but it was still tender. She pulled the cloth and unfolded it. "A robe? Why do I have to - ?"
"Put it on, or do you require assistance?" He leered.
"N-no. I'll do it." She answered quickly, afraid he might enter the cell. He continued looking at her a moment more, then moved back down the corridor. Willow breathed a sigh, her hands shaking. She didn't want to be here. "Why couldn't this be bad dream and I just wake up next to Tara?" She wiped away a tear with the back of her pale hand, then put the robe on over her clothes. "Until I see a medical degree, the clothes stay on." She drank some more water, the curled up on the floor and tried to go back to sleep.
**********
The rebels made their way over a frozen waste land. For the past couple of hours, Tara had been unable to stop shaking, the howling wind cut her like a knife. She gasped as her foot slipped out from under her and fell into the snow. Buffy quickly hauled her back up, and they continued walking, the slayer's arms around the witch to try and help warm her.
When they finally stopped to rest, the two girls huddled together. "C-cant w-we have a f-fire?" Tara lamented. Doran, one of the rebels handed the girls a mug of cider and a piece of dried meat. "They'd see us. We are very close. A few more hours and we'll be at the stronghold."
"Where's a Motel 6 when you need one?" Buffy whined. Tara sneezed, causing some of the cider to splash out of her cup and on to her hand. "Bugger." She sniffled. "Hey," Buffy nudged her, "Maybe we could send a note and postpone all this until summer. You know, we could come back when it's not so cold."
Tara tried to smile, but it must have been frozen. She settled for a sigh. "Think they have indoor heating?" Buffy continued. "Maybe after we kick their asses we can move in. Oh sure, we'll have to totally redecorate. Those Big Bads never know what's in any more. All browns and oranges and funny shaped designs. Ghastly."
Tara chuckled then took a sip of her cider. "I w-wouldn't h-have m-made it th-this f-far without you, B-Buffy. Th-thank you." Buffy looked over at her. "Tara? Can I ask you something?" "S-sure." Buffy finished her cider and set the mug down. "Don't be made but I'm just curious. Are you stuttering because your nervous? Or cold?"
Tara laughed. "I'm c-c-cold!"
Buffy winked at her. "I figured. Just wanted to make sure, cause if you were nervous, might mean you knew something and I was starting to get nervous."
"H-hey, you cant get nervous," The wiccan shivered, "O-only m-me. You Slay. I hide."
"Hmm, somehow I think I got the wrong end of this deal." Buffy sighed dramaticly, then groaned as she noticed the rebels getting up. "Guess break time is over. More trudging." Buffy helped Tara to her feet. "I think by the time we g-get there, I'm going to be so p-pissed at b-being so so c-cold…I'm gonna just b-burn them all to c-c-inders." Tara swore, flapping her arms against her sides to try and generate some heat. "Well, at least we'll be able to warm up then."
**********
Willow was jerked to her feet and slammed against the wall. Her eyes shot open angrily, "Gods! Can you be more rude?" The priest who had jerked her from her fitful slumber held her against the wall with one hand. With his other hand, he started to stroke her hair. Willow tried to push him away, her heart beating faster. "Get away from me!" She demanded. He slammed against the wall again, causing her to cry out.
His lip curled up in snarl. "Don't worry. You're to remain clean until the ceremony. After that…." He trailed off. "Come." He snapped, pulling Willow behind him as he turned to walk out of the cell. Willow stumbled behind him as she was pulled along. She tried to summon a spell, but she could no longer feel the source of her power. It left her feeling empty, but not near as empty as when she thought of never seeing Tara again.
With a free hand, she wiped the tears away then focused on trying not to fall. "You don't have to drag me-!" The priest stopped and turned on her causing her to gasp in surprise at his sudden change of direction. "Be silent, Bitch. You do not speak unless ordered. Do you understand?"
"Y-yes." Willow answered meekly.
He glared at her, then continued dragging her down the corridor. They finally reached a huge cavernous room that was full of torches and candles. Willow had to blink as her eyes tried to adjust to the sudden brightness. The priest pushed her to the ground roughly. "Stay." Willow had to fight the impulse to bark at him. Getting beat up was not something she wanted at the moment. She stayed where she was, and tried to look around. A lot of other priests and priestesses were roaming around, some chanting, some carrying incense.
Willow's eyes landed on a huge stone alter, where a scaly demon stood holding a huge knife. Willow hoped that he wasn't waiting for her. She looked at the priest who had dragged her there and remembered what he'd eluded to. "Maybe I do want that knife to be fore me." She thought helplessly. As footsteps approached her, she turned her head to see four priestesses advancing on her. None of them looked particularly pleased. She swallowed hard, then averted her eyes as the first woman began speaking.
"Why are you here?" The priestess demanded.
Willow wondered if she was talking to her. When the priest kicked her in the side, she had her question answered. She gasped and tried to breath. "Broken, she can not tell us anything, Keth. Not so hard next time, please." Willow held her side and looked towards the women. The priestess returned her look, and raised her eyebrow. "Well?"
"I – I was brought here. I guess."
"Is she dumb?" One woman's voice demanded. "Probably hit in the head." Another said. "Keth, how many times did you – " "Hey! I didn't hit her." Keth defended himself.
"Hello! Still here." Willow interrupted. She regretted it the second the words flew from her lips, but she hated being talked about like she wasn't there. "And I'm not dumb. I was brought here. That's why I'm here. I was minding my own business, getting a little fruit for breakfast when wham! Some black red glowy eye thing grabbed me."
The head priestess stared at the girl, impressed with her spirit. "And where do you think you are? Do you think we're…the good guys?" Willow raised her own eyebrow, "Gee. How many good guys throw women in cells and leave them to bleed to death? No, I'd say you're probably the bad guys. Or the ones who are trying to be bad guys. Aren't the bad guys usually in charge?" She ducked the hand that struck at her but the woman was fast, and Willow was unable to miss the second.
She was lying on the ground now, the priestess hovering angrily over her. "Struck a chord did I?" Just then Keth's foot caught her the side again and she cried out, rolling to her side. She clenched her teeth together, fighting to keep the moans of pain inside. "You want to play games, witch? Fine. We'll see who is left standing when we are done with you." The priestess stood, and the other women moved around her and forced Willow to her feet.
"G-games? Like gin-rummy?" Willow asked as she was led away. When no one said anything, she added, "I'm not going to like your games, am I?" The priestess to her left chuckled softly. It wasn't a nice chuckle.