Chapter 2
Buffy, being closest, crouched down next to the figure. It appeared human, at least. However, the clothes it wore, a muddy brown tunic and tights, 'obviously not someone from this dimension' thought Buffy. The figure groaned and opened its eyes, staring straight into the cool green eyes of the Slayer. It spoke, a deep, but feminine voice, "ow, my head. Sending you back, they said, help them, they said. How about fixing me first, I say."
It was a she, and she sat up, slowly, her eyes not leaving those of the Slayer, who stared right back.
The woman looked down at herself, "oh great, dress me up like a Robin Hood extra why don't you." Buffy smiled at the comment, Dawn giggled. Again, the woman looked at Buffy, "help me up Slayer." Buffy looked puzzled at the reference to her job, but offered her hand anyway. Curiosity getting the better of her. The woman stood, and looked around, wincing, she moved her hand to her left side, where a large gash rent her clothing and skin, seeping deep purple blood.
'Obviously not quite human,' thought Buffy, helping her to a chair by the table. The others looked on with trepidation.
"You know who I am," Buffy stated, "but who, or rather what, are you?"
"Lissa," she stated shortly, wincing again as her hand pressed to her side. Giles rushed to the back of the shop, disappearing into the training room, to appear moments later with a first aid kit.
"May I take a look?" He asked, opening the tin. She nodded assent and tore into the side of the tunic, exposing a deep wound, about five inches long, with black tendrils creeping out of the gash. Buffy blanched, having seen wounds like this before.
"Looks nasty miss or mrs or…?" She stated.
"Just Lissa," her questioning gaze met the frank violet ones of the wounded woman.
"You need a hospital, er healer," Giles stated, placing gauze and tape over the wound.
"No healers, too many questions, like what am I? Anyway, they can't help, it's fatal." She said is matter of factly and Anya, stood away from the table, gasped.
"Lissa?" Warily, she walked around the table towards the woman, who seemed to recognise her.
"Anyanka? Someone here to seek vengeance on, or just out for a bit of mayhem?" The statement was bitter.
"I don't do that any more, I help people." Anya stated firmly. "Right on, and next you'll tell me you've got a house, a car and couple of cats," again the bitter comment.
"You still haven't told me what you are?" Buffy butted in, aware of the tension between the stranger and Anya.
"Lissa, last of the Elves." Lissa stated, looking round the table. Anya smiled and nodded at the Scoobies. She had obviously known all along. She woman pulled long wavy brown hair back and pushed it behind her ears, pointed ears. Giles and the rest of the Scoobies stared, open mouthed at her. Buffy merely raised her eyebrows.
"Now I truly have seen it all. An Elf," she looked at Lissa and gestured to the box, "and I take it that the sword in here," she opened the box, taking out the sword and pouch, "and this pouch, is yours." Lissa's expression showed pure relief, as she reverently accepted the sword and pouch. Quickly she strapped the sword to her back and the pouch to her belt.
"My thanks to you, Slayer. It is indeed mine." She withdrew the sword, its metal glinting in the electric light, displaying the etchings on the blade. The scoobies crept closer, Willow reaching her hand towards the sword.
"Back witch, you are tainted!" Lissa swept the sword round, its point poised at Willow's throat.
"whoa there Elf lady," Xander stepped between Willow and the sword. "She's getting better."
"Kill her or clean her then, or she'll be of no use to us whatsoever," Lissa seemed almost vicious in her statement, care seemed to have left this Elf a long time since.
"What do you mean, clean her or kill her?" Giles was looking askance at the Elf.
"She's tainted, has bad magic within her. Get rid of it or her, or it will out and kill you all," Lissa stated again.
"Oookay," Xander said, "clean her how? But if you try and kill her, I'll get in your way." Xander's tone was deadly as he stood between his best friend and the stranger.
"You don't know how, do you?" Lissa said, matter of factly. "I'll do it then, but not now, now I need to rest. Tomorrow will be fine. In the meantime, she stays here with me. She's too dangerous." Xander stepped in front of an obviously scared Willow.
"Then I stay too," he said.
"As you wish."
"I think I had better stay also." Giles looked askance at the Elf. "No need, I will set up wards." 'Wards,' Buffy thought, 'again with these wards, what is she going on about?'
"Very well, come along Buffy, Dawn, Anya, let us leave this Lissa to rest here. We'll meet here again tomorrow morning," Giles looked at his watch, "about 7, alright with you?"
"Gotta patrol first, Giles," Buffy stated.
"Very well, report back tomorrow as early as you like," Giles stated. Buffy raised her eyebrows at this, before walking out the door, herding Dawn in front of her.
As soon as the door had closed behind them, Lissa turned and faced Xander and Willow.
"We'll sleep at the back," Xander stated, "there are mats there." Lissa nodded assent before reaching for the pouch of stones at her waist. Quickly, she opened it , pouring out the small oddly coloured stones into her palm. Then she began walking towards the corner nearest the front door. With a whisper, she laid down the first stone, a black one in the corner, then repeated the movement at the other three corners of the building. She started again, this time with the white stones, repeating the whole procedure again. Then, she moved to the centre of the building, by the table, whispered another chant and clapped her hands together. Xander and Willow watched, worried looks on their faces, as the stones by the front door slid together and melted into one single grey block.
"The wards are set, no one may enter or leave until the wards are disabled," Lissa stated to Xander, ignoring Willow completely.
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Hi there, am still writing chapter 3, where things are getting a bit more interesting. Please, please send some feedback. I like to know that what I've written is being read. BFN .... Rowan