Title: And the Saints Boweth Before the King
Author: DOKChairman
Time/Spoilers: Takes place after the events in 'Grave'.
Summary: I could write a summary, but then it would give away everything. So no summary, but I'll give you a hint. The opening I put down for the story is indicative of some of what the story might be about. Not much of a hint, I know, but it's all you're getting.
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy own the rights to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all of its characters. I own nothing except the story, and the Anna Kournikova poster on my bedroom wall.
Author's Note: Someone brought up a very good question, it was Bolo I think, that I meant to answer in my last post, but didn't get around to it. He asked where Willow and Giles are. Well, in case it's not obvious, this story diverts from the Buffy cannon after the sixth season. This story is not meant to be my interpretation of what the seventh season will be like. This is a separate story, set in its own universe. However, I have read and heard reliable spoilers for season 7 that state that Willow and Giles are in England. In my story they are in England as well. They may eventually make it into my story, but I wouldn't count on it to happen very soon. It's not that I don't like them, well Willow had been getting on my nerves a lot lately, but I just don't think they fit in my story at the moment. The same goes for the Fangless Wonder.
Author's Note 2: In case anyone hasn't noticed, I'm a big fan of the medieval period. I got the idea for this story from reading Michael Crichton's excellent book Timeline. This is not meant to be a rehashing of his book, but I just liked the idea so much, I thought it might be fun to apply it to the Buffy universe. This story kind of brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "I'm going to get medieval on your ass!" Also, while I am writing about the medieval historical period, this is not meant to be historically accurate in any way.
Author's Note #3: I have finally completed my Farscape story. That means that I can now divert my total and complete attention to this story. Expect either longer posts or more frequent ones, I haven't decided which yet.
Author's Note 4: Warning! Time paradoxes abound in this story. If that is too confusing for anyone, I suggest watching a few episodes of Star Trek and all will be sufficiently explained. I do not have the time, ability, or inclination to explain how this is possible. All I know is that it happens, at least in my story it does. And sense I am the god of this little fic universe; I can create my own laws of physics.
Chapter 6: Back to the Future
Thomas pulled up a chair so that he could sit down before starting on his story. He could see that he had everyone's rapt attention. His comment about being over six hundred years old certainly interested them.
"You see Xander, I was born over six hundred years ago. In the year 1309 to be exact. I was born in the small province of Loria, in what is now called the country of Germany. Like most of the people in those days, I had the unfortunate circumstance of being born into a poor family. Life was not kind to the peasant in Medieval Europe. I was determined to not live the life of a pauper, and at the young age of seven, I ventured out on my own. Back then, the only realistic chance for a peasant to move up in the social class system, was through the military. At even a young age I knew what I wanted to do with my life, and I tried to apprentice myself to any knight who would take me. Thankfully, after only two years of moving from village to village, I met a man who was willing to take me into being a squire."
Thomas paused to adjust himself in his chair. "Little did I know, but the man who had taken me into being his squire was the captain of the royal guard of the king of Loria. The captain took me under his tutelage, and trained me in the ways of chivalry. By the age of fourteen I was accompanying my master into battle, and by the age of eighteen I had become a knight in my own right. I joined my master in service to the royal family of Loria, and swore my allegiance to them. I quickly became one of Loria's most accomplished knights, both in battle and in tournaments. To suffice it to say, my dream of not living the life of a peasant had been achieved. When the captain died in battle, the king chose me to assume his position as captain of the guard. It was during my new role as captain of the guard, that I met you for the first time Xander."
That statement caught everyone completely off guard. Xander responded first, stuttering the whole time. "W-h-h-at are you talking about? I have never met you before and I am definitely not over six hundred years old."
Thomas smiled at Xander, "I know that Xander. Let me explain what I mean. During my first years as captain of the guard, the kingdom of Loria was in a constant state of conflict. Loria may have only been a small kingdom, but it had the unfortunate circumstance of being situated near an area of mystical convergence. I believe you have one here as well."
This time Buffy interrupted, "Whoa, you mean a Hellmouth? You lived near a Hellmouth?"
Thomas laughed, "Ahhh, that is quite an apt name. A Hellmouth. Yes I suppose you could say that the kingdom of Loria was situated next to a mouth of Hell." Thomas's smile vanished and his voice turned dour and serious. "It certainly felt like we lived in Hell. During those few years before I met you Xander, were some of the hardest and most violent of my life.
"You see Xander, there was a man by the name of Jonas that was somehow able to control the forces of evil. He sent armies of his undead minions to attack the countryside and the villages of Loria's people. Jonas wished to use the mystical energies of the Hellmouth to give himself immortality. It was said that he suffered from a mysterious illness and that the only way he could live is if he used a spell to allow him to live forever. Unfortunately, in order to do his spell, he needed to open the portal and well I'm sure you know what that means.
The king did the best he could in stopping Jonas's forces, but we were only a small kingdom, and our army was small. We fought for several years but our forces were gradually dwindling. It wasn't until we were down to only seven knights that a ray of hope appeared. A man appeared in the kingdom and offered his services in defeating Jonas."
Thomas paused and looked at Xander carefully before he spoke, "That man that helped us defeat Jonas and save the kingdom of Loria was named Alexander. That man was you Xander."
To be continued……………………