Chapter 5 (simultaneous time period with Chapter 6)
Faith and Angel left just after midnight. The others were a little subdued when,
once the pair had gone, Giles informed them that there was more to be talked of,
and things that urgently needed to be done. Dawn had fallen asleep again, and on
Giles' instruction, Spike carried her back into the office and laid her in what
he hoped was a comfortable position on the couch. He was about to leave when, on
an afterthought, he bent over her and kissed the top of her head.
Sleep tight, pet.
Poor kid, he thought to himself; this is all going to be a bit much for her.
Back in the living room, which was what it had become, the others were sitting
around Giles, who was clearly about to enlighten them further.
'So Giles, how did you get these texts from the council? You did get
them, right? That's how you know.'
'Yes, yes I did get them, in the end, but it took some days and nights of debate
and discussion with several senior members of the council before they would let
me even look at them. They refused to let me take them away, however I managed
to take photocopies of them. I must say, they aren't half as pleasing to look at
as the originals, but we must do with them what we can.'
'So what do we do? I mean, when we have the divine echo and everything? Is it a
recitation or what?'
'Actually Willow, it's a variety of things. There are many rites that seem to
need to be performed simultaneously - this is, I believe another reason to feel
that the prophecy applies to Buffy.and indeed to all of you. Willow, you and
Tara almost have a script here - look.'
Giles handed Willow some folded sheets of photocopied paper.
'This is.this is Old English, right? I hardly recognise some of it
though.'
'You're right. It predates the academic version of Old English by
some centuries, however. Exactly when it was written I can't be sure until I've
taken a closer look at it. Don't worry, we shall need to
translate and go through it together well before it must be spoken.'
'I have a question. Not about. Old English though.'
'If it's about food Xander, I'm afraid it'll have to wait. There are things.'
'No, actually, I was just wondering what it was you said we were going to do.'
'Ah. Well, you see, we have to.well I suppose I should say. what we need to do
is. in short. I'm afraid we're going to have to.to.to dig up Buffy's body.'
All looked at him, aghast.
'It's a part of both the prophecy and the ceremony. And it will
have to be done soon. I'm afraid I shall need all of you to help. It won't be
pleasant business but.be brave.and we may yet be able to
get this mess sorted out. But I think it best if you don't tell Dawn what we
have to do. I don't think she is capable of dealing with
this.just yet.'
'What, we're just going to break into the graveyard and get
straight into it, like, drag her up coffin and all.because I don't know it.I
mean. it's not very.I mean, we've all seen dead people now and
everything but it doesn't seem right just to.'
'Willow remember.remember why we have to do this. Buffy isn't dead. you know she
isn't, so we're not really digging her up. it's like a shell.think of it like
that.'
'That's very astute of you Tara. Perhaps it would be best if we could all keep
that in mind.'
Willow felt for her girlfriend's hand and gave it a quick squeeze to show how
glad she was that she understood their predicament at last.
'It might just be me being hasty here, but don't you think it would
be best if we got on with this as soon as possible, cos I really don't want to
spend any longer thinking about this than I have to. So if we
could just get on and do what we've got to do.and.are we going to have to bring
her back here?'
'I'm afraid, Xander, that's exactly what we'll have to do. If you're all
happy.well perhaps happy is the wrong word.if you're content to go soon rather
than later. we shall set off at sunset tomorrow.'
'We can't do it tonight?'
'I don't believe we have time enough. Besides, we need to equip
ourselves.'
'We brought stakes.'
'Actually I was thinking more of a shovel or two.'
They talked a little longer but, subdued by the nature of the task that awaited
them, they decided to get some rest.
______
At sunset, Giles, accompanied by Willow, Xander and Spike, set off to accomplish
their task. Tara had stayed behind with Dawn, that she might be saved the trauma
of seeing Buffy until the others had at least made her a little more presentable
than she might now look. They held a fearful silence from the door of the
warehouse to the slayer's graveside, broken only by an occasional cough or
choke, usually from Willow, who was feeling horrifically apprehensive and
dreadfully unhappy. Even Spike complied with the mournful and subdued
atmosphere, for he was experiencing it himself a little more than he felt he
ought.
The weather had been bad the previous night, and the ground was soft and
yielding underfoot. As they formed a silent ring around where Buffy presumably
lay, Xander raised his spade.
'We ready?'
'Erm.yes. Yes, I suppose we are. Willow - please.keep an eye out for
any um.unwanted guests.'
'S.sure. All eyes.out.'
If we're done with the cordialities, let's just get on, shall we.
Xander, Giles and Spike took turns to shovel the wet, heavy earth away. It took
them some time, and when the depth of the hole reached four, then five feet,
Xander lowered himself into the hole to clear away remaining inches.
'I found coffin. Oh god.oh god I'm standing on it.oh, get me out. I'm
sorry Buffy.urgh.'
Giles and Willow helped a rather pale Xander out of the pit.
'How should we.lift her out?'
Spike sighed.
Leave this to me.
Willow never worked exactly how he managed it, but Spike dived into the hole,
and, after much scrabbling and cursing - which, she thought, was not entirely
appropriate in a place of worship, by the way - she saw the coffin rise,
apparently unsupported. It was pushed out, almost onto her feet. She jumped
back. Spike emerged, even filthier than he had previously been. They moved to
stand by the coffin.
'Ready?'
No-one answered, but all four of them set to undoing the bolts and screws that
fastened the coffin lid together. At last, all were free. Taking a deep breath,
Giles swept away the lid.
Willow let out a long scream.
___________________________
Faith and Angel left just after midnight. The others were a little subdued when,
once the pair had gone, Giles informed them that there was more to be talked of,
and things that urgently needed to be done. Dawn had fallen asleep again, and on
Giles' instruction, Spike carried her back into the office and laid her in what
he hoped was a comfortable position on the couch. He was about to leave when, on
an afterthought, he bent over her and kissed the top of her head.
Sleep tight, pet.
Poor kid, he thought to himself; this is all going to be a bit much for her.
Back in the living room, which was what it had become, the others were sitting
around Giles, who was clearly about to enlighten them further.
'So Giles, how did you get these texts from the council? You did get
them, right? That's how you know.'
'Yes, yes I did get them, in the end, but it took some days and nights of debate
and discussion with several senior members of the council before they would let
me even look at them. They refused to let me take them away, however I managed
to take photocopies of them. I must say, they aren't half as pleasing to look at
as the originals, but we must do with them what we can.'
'So what do we do? I mean, when we have the divine echo and everything? Is it a
recitation or what?'
'Actually Willow, it's a variety of things. There are many rites that seem to
need to be performed simultaneously - this is, I believe another reason to feel
that the prophecy applies to Buffy.and indeed to all of you. Willow, you and
Tara almost have a script here - look.'
Giles handed Willow some folded sheets of photocopied paper.
'This is.this is Old English, right? I hardly recognise some of it
though.'
'You're right. It predates the academic version of Old English by
some centuries, however. Exactly when it was written I can't be sure until I've
taken a closer look at it. Don't worry, we shall need to
translate and go through it together well before it must be spoken.'
'I have a question. Not about. Old English though.'
'If it's about food Xander, I'm afraid it'll have to wait. There are things.'
'No, actually, I was just wondering what it was you said we were going to do.'
'Ah. Well, you see, we have to.well I suppose I should say. what we need to do
is. in short. I'm afraid we're going to have to.to.to dig up Buffy's body.'
All looked at him, aghast.
'It's a part of both the prophecy and the ceremony. And it will
have to be done soon. I'm afraid I shall need all of you to help. It won't be
pleasant business but.be brave.and we may yet be able to
get this mess sorted out. But I think it best if you don't tell Dawn what we
have to do. I don't think she is capable of dealing with
this.just yet.'
'What, we're just going to break into the graveyard and get
straight into it, like, drag her up coffin and all.because I don't know it.I
mean. it's not very.I mean, we've all seen dead people now and
everything but it doesn't seem right just to.'
'Willow remember.remember why we have to do this. Buffy isn't dead. you know she
isn't, so we're not really digging her up. it's like a shell.think of it like
that.'
'That's very astute of you Tara. Perhaps it would be best if we could all keep
that in mind.'
Willow felt for her girlfriend's hand and gave it a quick squeeze to show how
glad she was that she understood their predicament at last.
'It might just be me being hasty here, but don't you think it would
be best if we got on with this as soon as possible, cos I really don't want to
spend any longer thinking about this than I have to. So if we
could just get on and do what we've got to do.and.are we going to have to bring
her back here?'
'I'm afraid, Xander, that's exactly what we'll have to do. If you're all
happy.well perhaps happy is the wrong word.if you're content to go soon rather
than later. we shall set off at sunset tomorrow.'
'We can't do it tonight?'
'I don't believe we have time enough. Besides, we need to equip
ourselves.'
'We brought stakes.'
'Actually I was thinking more of a shovel or two.'
They talked a little longer but, subdued by the nature of the task that awaited
them, they decided to get some rest.
______
At sunset, Giles, accompanied by Willow, Xander and Spike, set off to accomplish
their task. Tara had stayed behind with Dawn, that she might be saved the trauma
of seeing Buffy until the others had at least made her a little more presentable
than she might now look. They held a fearful silence from the door of the
warehouse to the slayer's graveside, broken only by an occasional cough or
choke, usually from Willow, who was feeling horrifically apprehensive and
dreadfully unhappy. Even Spike complied with the mournful and subdued
atmosphere, for he was experiencing it himself a little more than he felt he
ought.
The weather had been bad the previous night, and the ground was soft and
yielding underfoot. As they formed a silent ring around where Buffy presumably
lay, Xander raised his spade.
'We ready?'
'Erm.yes. Yes, I suppose we are. Willow - please.keep an eye out for
any um.unwanted guests.'
'S.sure. All eyes.out.'
If we're done with the cordialities, let's just get on, shall we.
Xander, Giles and Spike took turns to shovel the wet, heavy earth away. It took
them some time, and when the depth of the hole reached four, then five feet,
Xander lowered himself into the hole to clear away remaining inches.
'I found coffin. Oh god.oh god I'm standing on it.oh, get me out. I'm
sorry Buffy.urgh.'
Giles and Willow helped a rather pale Xander out of the pit.
'How should we.lift her out?'
Spike sighed.
Leave this to me.
Willow never worked exactly how he managed it, but Spike dived into the hole,
and, after much scrabbling and cursing - which, she thought, was not entirely
appropriate in a place of worship, by the way - she saw the coffin rise,
apparently unsupported. It was pushed out, almost onto her feet. She jumped
back. Spike emerged, even filthier than he had previously been. They moved to
stand by the coffin.
'Ready?'
No-one answered, but all four of them set to undoing the bolts and screws that
fastened the coffin lid together. At last, all were free. Taking a deep breath,
Giles swept away the lid.
Willow let out a long scream.
___________________________