Title: Of Courts and Consequences (2/?)

Author: Ravynsword

Date: March 19, 2004

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: See Chapter One



*****



Chapter Two



Rupert Giles had just finished putting away some papers he had found while going through some old boxes. In one of them was a picture taken during his rebellious teenage phase. As dark as those days had been, he had had some fun times. Most of them had been due to Annie, the girl in the photo with him. He had never known much about her, only that she drifted in and out of the band scene like smoke. Once, he had asked her about the pattern and where she came from. She merely said that her grandmother had needed time to cool off. He wondered what had become of the girl with the sly wit and an easy laugh.



Suddenly, there was a knock on his door. When he opened it, he found Xander Harris, the young man's mother, and people he had never expected to see again.



"Annie?" he asked in total shock. "Annie!" Giles yelled and scooped the Elven woman up in his arms before putting her down and stepping aside to let the party enter.



"Hello to you, too, Ripper. Or is it Rupert now?" Rhiannon asked with a faint smile.



"It's Rupert. Father finally talked me into entering the family business, so to speak."



"Glad to hear it. You never struck me as the gothic, death magic sort. Magic, yes, just not that tainted stuff Ethan Raine was always pushing you to use," she responded.



"What are you doing here? And what does Xander have to do with it?"



Rhiannon looked closely at Giles as he asked her his questions. Where Zachary Harris had nothing but black rage and hatred for the young man who wasn't his biological son, Rupert Giles appeared to care a great deal for the boy. The tone of his voice was that of someone who was concerned for his child. Interesting. Apparently Rupert had become a sort of surrogate father for the boy. It gave her some measure of relief to know that the young man had someone who had cared for him in the face of the creature he had called father.



"My grandmother needed some time to cool off after another one of my pranks. She told me to find an 'endeavor' that would keep me far from home for a while. I decided to find the long lost love of a dear friend of mine. I'm very glad that I did, although it was a near thing to leave Grania's husband living." Her voice on the last sentence made everyone in the room aware that, as far as she was concerned, the world would be better off without Zachary Harris.



Lavandel leaned over and whispered something in Rhiannon's ear. Her head shot up and she stared at Xander. Walking over to him, she knelt down and turned his head, first one way and then the other. After speaking quietly with him, he nodded. She motioned to Van and the three of them headed into the kitchen, leaving a very confused group in the living room of the apartment.



***



"Yes, Lavelle, I can restore them. I have to warn you, it will hurt like nothing else you've felt. I can also teach you the cantrip that will allow you to mask them when around others. Are you positive you want to do this?" Rhiannon was standing in front of the younger man as he fingered the tops of his ears.



"They really would have grown long like his?" he asked, pointing at Van. "And, can you please call me Xander? I'm not sure I'll remember to answer to Lavelle."



"Yes, La…Xander. They really would have grown like Van's. If you're sure?"



When Xander nodded, she went around to stand behind him and placed her fingers on the tips of each ear. He began to a feel a warm sensation, then a burning feeling, and finally it felt like someone was taking a white-hot knife to the tops of his ears. He bit his lip until it bled to keep from screaming. There was no way he intended to look like a coward in front of his new brother. After a few minutes, the pain started to fade and he looked up at the two Elves who were standing by the counter.



"Well?" he asked nervously. Van whistled. Rhiannon smiled.



"Let's just say, there's going to be a new favorite at court," Van said. Xander blushed. The idea that lots of women, of any type would consider him attractive wasn't something he was used to.



"Which court?" asked Rhiannon. "Your father's Seelie, when he wants to be there, but you spend your time at the Unseelie Court. Where do you intend to introduce him?"



"Hadn't thought about it, really. I just found out I have a brother. One that the ladies are going to be quite fond of, with those ears of his. Probably Seelie, it would be less shocking for him. That, and he doesn't have Unseelie blood in him. Come on, brother mine, let's go see how your mother is doing out there." Lavandel put his arm around Xander's shoulders and led him out to the living room.



In the living room, Seamus was speaking quietly with Grace Harris while Rupert Giles listened in amazement. His friends from his own teenage years were Elves! That explained the fact that they hadn't aged since he had last seen them nearly thirty years earlier. From what Seamus said, his Annie was actually part of the royal family, albeit the part that was always into mischief and getting tossed out of court to keep her from ending up in bigger trouble than she originally caused. They had paused briefly when they heard the whistle from the kitchen, but returned to their conversation when nothing else was heard. Now, they heard the door to the kitchen open and they turned to the newcomers.



"Xander!" Grace exclaimed. When she stepped over to her son, she tentatively stroked the newly elongated ears her son was sporting. "But…how?" she asked.



"Simple," answered Lavandel. "Rhiannon knows the spell that made them remember what they were supposed to be. Quite a handsome devil, if I do say so myself. He's got nicer ears than either Father or me. Alas, the ladies will no longer seek my favor, as there is one more magnificent at court." Lavandel put the back of his hand to his forehead and pretended to swoon. Giles looked at Rhiannon as she chuckled while stepping out of the kitchen after the brothers.



"Annie?" asked Giles. He took his glasses off and wiped the lenses, a nervous habit he had acquired during his stay on the Hellmouth. "Or should I say, Rhiannon?"



Rhiannon looked down, not quite sure what to say to the man who had been the young mortal she had been so fond of. She looked around the cozy apartment, noticing the details that told her more about what type of person he had become than he would ever have guessed. Her rebellious young friend had become a good man with a purpose in his life. With a deep breath, she faced him, head held high.



"Rupert Giles, I am Rhiannon Zephyr MacUriel, daughter of Aurora, granddaughter of Titania, Queen of the Seelie Court and Oberon, King of the Unseelie Court of the Fae. When you were young, I had been banished, again, from my grandmother's court for some prank or other. I considered telling you then, but with Ethan pushing for more dark magics and the fact that I won't grow older, I thought it was better that way. I never expected to see you again. Much less when I was out looking for the lost love of a Seelie Court bard."



Before Giles could respond to what she had told him, there was the noise and commotion that always accompanied the entrance of any combination of the Scooby Gang. The four girls stopped dead in their tracks when they saw the group clustered in the Watcher's living room. Sundown was less than thirty minutes away, so they were congregating at his apartment to split up into patrol groups for the evening. The girls knew Giles and recognized Xander's mother, but had no idea who the other four people in the room were. Suddenly, the youngest gasped, pointed, and yelled out.



"ELVES! There are ELVES in Giles' house! They're tall! How did they get here? Who are they? Why are they here?" She zipped around the strangers, holding her hand out, but stopping just short of touching the long ears on most of the strangers. All at once, she went completely still.



"Xander?" she asked. The young man she had known literally all of her existence stood in front of her with another man who looked very much like him. What had shocked her most of all was his ears. They were longer than any of the other elves, except for the dark haired woman.



"Hey, Dawnie," he answered in a quiet voice. The other three looked at him, only then realizing who he was. "Um, everyone, I'd like you to meet Lavandel, my older brother. You know when you wish that your dad wasn't your dad? Well, my wish came true. I guess Zachary married mom before I was born, but my real father is somewhere else. And this is Rhiannon, and Seamus, his friends."



"Rhiannon…and Seamus?" asked Anya. She stared closely at the Elves. Then she started chuckling, until it became a full-out belly laugh. "Xander, do you realize who these beings are?" Xander, Buffy, Willow, and Dawn all shook their heads in confusion.



"She's the Royal Rebel, and Seamus is one of her guards! Everyone on at least three planes knows who she is. Whenever she has to spend time at Queen Titania's court, she acts up and gets bumped out of there. Her sisters are well behaved, but she's turned wine into ink, a walking stick into a slinky, and all sorts of little pranks. Although I don't know if Lord Alsdir has gotten over his ears being turned tie-dye colored! It was the sixties, after all. Her older sister is Queen Titania's heir apparent, her little sister is King Oberon's heir presumptive, and she's heir apparent to her paternal grandmother's court. She usually has two guards, though. Where is the other one?"



"Right here," came the answer from the door. Everyone turned to meet the newcomers. A tall man with ebony colored hair strode quickly over and took Grace Harris in his arms. When it didn't look like they were going to let go anytime soon, Ashe cleared her throat.



"Sorry," he answered, "but it has been twenty years since I've seen her lovely face. I could not help myself. Ashe would give me no details but that I must come quickly on the behest of Lady Rhiannon." He nodded towards her.



Rhiannon stepped over to Lavellan, Lavandel following her, pulling Xander along with him.



"Bard Lavellan, well met. Not only have we found your love, but a surprise. May I introduce Alexander Lavelle…your son." She stepped aside so that Lavandel could push Xander forward. The two looked at one another warily. Finally, Lavellan stepped up to Xander and placed his hands on his shoulders. With tears in his eyes, he embraced the young man.



"My son," he whispered. "My son...and my elder son helped return you to me. What have I done to be so blessed?" Holding one arm out, he included Grace in the embrace. Everyone else in the room looked on with smiles. All of them happy for their friends.



"Oi, what's with all the water works? I can't get through to get me drink!" came a Cockney-accented snarl from the door. Ashe spun around and looked for some sort of weapon when she realized what she was facing. Standing in the doorway, was a slender blonde man who had no heartbeat. She knew they were on the Hellmouth, but didn't expect to see a vampire in Giles' home. Before any damage could be done, Dawn came bouncing over to him and gave him a hug, which startled the members of the Fae courts.



"Spike! Guess what! Xander has a different dad, and he's an ELF! Come look, he has long ears and everything!" Bounding with enthusiasm, Dawn dragged the vampire over to the newly reunited family while the Elves looked on in confusion. Spike looked at the little family, thought the ears were an improvement on the whelp, and turned to head into the kitchen for his blood. On the way there, he stopped cold. He had bumped into someone, and it was like touching an electric wire. The British vampire stepped back and looked at the person he had collided with.



Rhiannon was talking to Rupert Giles when she felt someone bump into her. She turned to demand an apology and was lost in the clearest ice-blue eyes she had ever seen. A spark shot through her, and it felt like someone had placed iron bands on her soul. Even though she could feel Rupert shaking her shoulder, she couldn't tear her eyes away from the blue in front of her. The spell was only broken when she felt someone bite her hand.



"Hey, what in the four winds was that for?" she yelled at Seamus. He shrugged, dropped her hand and stepped between her and the vampire.



"You were entranced," answered Ashe. She sounded nervous. She was, very much so. The only time she had seen anyone entranced like that was either sorcery, or soul mates. Ashe wasn't sure which she would prefer. Either way, it didn't bode well for them at court.



"I was not entranced," protested Rhiannon. When she saw all of the others staring at her, she sheepishly shrugged. "Okay, so he has interesting eyes. So what?" Ashe and Seamus just rolled their eyes, while Lavandel and Lavellan both had speculative gleams in theirs.



"Do you think…" the son asked in a whisper.



"I don't know. The only one I know of is in Los Angeles. Could there be two?" replied his father, in the same low tone.



Spike decided he didn't want to know what the bunch was babbling on about, so he continued on to the kitchen for his dinner. He hated having to drink bagged blood, but accepted that he would have to if he wanted to survive. What did he care if the Watcher had Elves visiting him? Not like he had any need for the skinny magical things. Unseelie weren't too bad, usually causing the same kind of trouble he used to, back in the day. Seelie ones were a pain in the ass. Always the magical version of 'holier-than-thou'. He still felt like a low current was running through his body. He didn't want to know why, just drink his breakfast, go on patrol, and maybe catch a game of poker in the back room at Willy's.



When he had finished his blood and rinsed the mug, he went back out into the main room.



"So, what's the split tonight?" he asked, bouncing on the balls of his feet. The sooner he got out of there, the sooner he was rid of those long-eared freaks.



"Right," said Giles. "Buffy, you, Spike, and Dawn take the east side of town. Willow, you, Anya, and Xander take the west side of town. The only one with a new burial is Sunnyside Acres." Spike nodded, grabbed Dawn's elbow and headed out the door. Willow and Buffy looked at each other before heading out the door themselves, leaving Giles to explain to Grace Harris and his other guests where the teens were headed out to.



***



"Spike, will you stop fidgeting!" hissed Buffy. The Slayer was getting irritated with the vampire. He wasn't the calmest person at the best of times, but tonight it was like someone had dumped itching powder in his crypt.



"Am not," he hissed back.



"Sure you are, Spike," said Dawn. The youngest of the Scoobies pierced the vampire with a thoughtful stare. "It started after you bumped into the Elf. What happened? It was like the rest of us didn't exist."



"You're imaginin' things, Niblet. Pointy-ears didn't have nothin' to do with anything. Smells o' the Bright Court, they ain't wanting nothin' to do with the likes o' yours truly." He stalked off, lighting a fresh cigarette. Spike was feeling unnerved, but didn't want to admit it to anyone else until he figured out a way to make it stop. The vampire only got a couple of more steps through the cemetery before he dropped to the ground, clutching his chest. The two girls were at his side immediately.



"Spike," called Buffy. "Spike! What's wrong?" Tears of blood were making tracks down the demon's face. The Slayer looked around and made a quick decision. She and Dawn helped Spike mostly to his feet and began to drag the groaning vampire back to the Watcher's apartment. When they got there, they were shocked to find the woman they had been introduced to as Rhiannon also in tears. Her friends were attempting to restrain her.



"What happened?" Dawn asked Willow when she noticed the other girl there.



"Rhiannon and Lavandel decided to join us on patrol. We bumped into a group of people just as a demon killed them. It was really gory. She started to howl and her eyes started that weird glowing. No one's been able to tell us what's going on, yet."



"Death. Death…and pain," moaned Rhiannon. Tears, too bright to look at, streaked down her face. "There will be vengeance. A demon stole their lives, and demons will pay!" There was a cold and hollow tone to her voice. Everyone looked at Anya, hoping she would have some idea of what was happening.



Before she could say anything, Rhiannon tore herself from the grip of her friends and bolted out the door. Buffy and Dawn were shocked to see Spike right on her tail.



***



Spike had no idea why he was following the dark-haired Elf. All he knew was that the farther he was from her, the greater the pain he felt. Up ahead, he saw her stop in a deserted section of the city park. Not even demons and vampires bothered to hang around this section. It had trees around the area, but the central section was empty. Nothing for mortals to have fun in, nowhere for demons to really hide. The wind began to reach gale force, but only where she stood. Leaves were torn from the trees and writhed in the winds that whipped around the Fae lady. Not understanding the impulse that made him do it, the blonde vampire slowly walked up to the dark Elf, her eyes glowing as she chanted in some unknown language. When he reached out to touch her, it was like touching a live electrical wire. He understood the words and saw her hair grow streaks of ruby red in among the black, her eyes changing to match. The look on her face was one he never, ever wanted directed at him. Before he could question anything, they both collapsed to the ground.