Disclaimer: What? You want me to make a song and dance about it? Don't own them! God damn Mr Evil Joss Whedon!
Distribution: oh what the hell, take it but ask first!
Author note: Sorry about the lack of writing for this story but I had been thinking how I was going to play out this chapter to the next one.
Buffy entered the Inn with the Rider behind her and immediately Willow froze with Tara at the bar. Taking the lead Buffy walked over to Willow and Tara, all the while being followed by him. Both barmaids eyes continuously flicked from Buffy to the Rider. What was going on?
"Buffy, what are you doing up?" Willow asked "I didn't even see you leave"
"I sneaked out of the window" Buffy said.
"You sneaked out of the window? I thought you had a twenty foot drop to stables form your room" Willow hissed worriedly "Where's your bruises?"
"I heal fast" Buffy said "and drops like those don't hurt me"
"Oh. So how are you?" Willow asked.
"I'm okay" Buffy said.
"What about you Angel?" Willow asked the rider.
Buffy eyebrows shot up, remembering the rider was called Angel as he answered "Yeah, fine"
"What about big red?" Willow asked about the dragon.
"She's fine" Angel said.
"Is that her name" Buffy asked.
"Code name" Angel said nonchalantly.
Buffy rolled her eyes at him. Who uses code names these days? But then again Dragon Riders have to be careful to not to expose themselves to the public since Dragons and Dragon Riders were banned to set foot in Chantrelle.
"So what are you doing back?" Willow asked.
"Buff wanted me to stick around while she prepares for the trip to Aurelius" Angel said.
"WHAT!" Willow screeched with Tara.
Sitting in the library Buffy was being lectured by Giles while Angel was shown around the Inn by Willow since Giles had offered him a couple of jobs. At that moment Buffy envied Angel that he didn't have an angry landlord/boss/surrogate father breathing down her neck.
"Do you realise how dangerous the Land of Aurelius is?" Giles asked.
"I do Giles" Buffy said "But I need to go"
"You barely survived that fight from the Beast and know you want to go to the place were it could have come from" Giles said "This is absolutely foolish, you know that? And dangerous! Dangerous because no one is heard of ever again when they enter the place!"
"Giles I need to go there, I have a feeling that I have to go there" Buffy said "But Angel won't let me go until I'm properly trained" Giles frowned slightly "And I know for a fact that you know something about demons and maybe more, because this is all to do with them. So, tell me"
For a moment there was silence from Giles, he didn't know how to start the truth to her. Did she know what she was? Did she feel it? The connection from a legacy of the strength passed down, defending those in need? Did she? So he started the way he could.
"In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer" Giles said only to have Buffy looking at him peculiar.
"What's a slayer?" Buffy asked
"Endowed with the strength, the speed, the skills to hunt the demons. One girl in the world destined to save and protect the world. Your destiny" Giles said.
"My destiny? I rather be destiny free really" Buffy said "See then I won't have to deal with it"
"Buffy with this you'll have to" Giles said sharply.
"Why? Destiny entitles being someone's puppet" Buffy said "And I don't want to be that"
"I don't know what lifestyle you had before Buffy, but if you don't come to terms with it"
"With what? If you haven't notice I had killed something big and rocky and not nice" Buffy said "Look, I don't want destiny. I hate destiny"
"The slayer before you placed every single demon in this realm in another, including the hybrids" Giles said calmly "In doing so she was no longer needed and so her powers left her so she would become a normal mortal. She was the last to be called. If you do the same then you can return to your normal state" he paused for a moment before he said "But for now you have to go with destiny. Your whole physical being has been enhanced for this"
"My whole physical being has been enhanced because my mother died" Buffy said "I've been this way since then"
"I'm sorry about your mother Buffy but you have to understand, the reason for you to be this way isn't your mother" Giles said "Your previousesser lost her powers when the demons left now because they're back so have the powers in the form of you, although it is strange that you have been chosen for this task"
"What do you mean?" Buffy asked.
"Well, they have been all kind of slayers from all different backgrounds but your previousesser was the Queen's great grandmother. I would have thought it would have been Princess Elizabeth calling" Giles said, missing Buffy's look as he began to go through his collection of demonology books.
"Thanks double G Granny" Buffy muttered.
"I'm sorry I didn't hear that" Giles said.
"I said 'Why the hell me?'" Buffy exclaimed, quickly lying and added for extra effort "I like my life now, I mean I want to find out why they're back put them back and carry on with my life and not have to deal with responsibility"
"If you want to put them back Buffy you'll need to be trained" Giles said.
"I know that Giles" Buffy said "So do you know anyone that can help me?"
"Yes" Giles said, pulling out a book.
"Good, who?" Buffy asked.
"Me"
"You?"
"Yes"
"You?"
"Yes Buffy" Giles said "You see, slayers need guidance in their calling and my grandmother trained me if the demons came back. She was a Watcher, so was her father and his father and his mother and so on. Watchers are those who guide the slayer in her duties of the chosen one"
"So…you're my Watcher?" Buffy said, raising her eyebrows at that.
"Yes, since the Council of Watchers no longer running I may as well be" Giles said "I don't need to tell you Buffy that I expect you to do your best when you train with me. Understand?"
"Yep" Buffy said "So, when do we start"
"Tomorrow" Giles said then handed the book in his hand.
The book clearly said 'Handbook for Slayers'. She looked at it before she looked at Giles.
"There's books" Buffy said looking in disbelief.
"A little homework" Giles said.
"There's homework? I have to do homework!" Buffy cried out in disgust.
"You may have fought the Beast and lived Buffy, but you still need to learn" Giles said "And, err, read"
"Thanks for the vote of confidence" Buffy drawled.
"What you have faced is only the beginning of our problems" Giles said.
"That's why I'm going with the rider to find out how much crap we're in" Buffy said.
Two Days later
The whole Village of Rosenberg were talking on how Jeff Pruitt died from that the Beast. Such a tragedy it was that he was crushed under one of the statues of the fountains, so as he was cremated the very next day and his ashes spilled in the rivers near by. But that wasn't what the villages were mainly talking about as Buffy passed them to her daily chores they would stop to either look at her or go up and hug her like there was no tomorrow. She was their protector and the Rider wasn't fairing out well either.
The villages would pester him to show the dragon or try and get everything out of him about his life and the land he came from etc. They called him Angel since he never gave out his name and because of his angelic yet mysterious look, it kept the women around the village drooling for him. In doing so he kept himself hidden in the Inn or in the kitchens were he out bested Jenny's cooking, it wasn't because he was afraid of women or gay, he just didn't like this amount attention. But he had noticed that while he had staying at the Inn Buffy had been avoiding him, so he went searching for why.
"So that's were you've been the whole time" Angel said "Working with the wood must be exciting" earning a blush from Buffy's cheeks.
She had been chopping a log into fire wood for the Inn before Angel came. She had been expecting him to be doing work and when he wasn't she was training with Giles. So evidently she had been avoiding him pretty well but he was no fool not to notice.
"What do you want?" Buffy asked, letting the axe rest against her side.
"Why have you been avoiding me?" he asked.
"I haven't" Buffy lied "Been busy"
"Huh, since I've been here you've been given less jobs to do" Angel said rolling his eyes "So how is the training between you and Mr Giles?"
"How the do you know about that?" she demanded.
"I can hear you and Mr Giles panting in your room," Angel said, watching her like a hawk.
"How would know if I'm training? I could be doing other things" Buffy blurted then turn red, closing her eyes "Did you get a bad imagery?"
"No" Angel smirked, then she began to chop the wood again "Since I really can't imagine you doing the dirty"
She froze just before she hit the log "Excuse me!" Buffy said, offended by that.
"Well, that's the truth babe" Angel smirked.
"I'm not a nun" Buffy annoyed threw the axe into a nearby tree "and I'm not a slut either" she turned around to face him.
"Nun, I can imagine. Slut, I can't" Angel said, though backing away from her he kept his cocky grin up.
"Oh really" Buffy said letting her spitfire side out, walking after him.
"Really" Angel said.
"So you can't see me doing 'the dirty', why?" she challenged him.
"Well for starters you're too much of a good girl and Mr Parker kept on asking how you were in the sack" Angel said with a twinkle in his eyes.
Buffy fumed at that. When she took over Parker's old job he kept on pestering her since she was fresh meat and she would always turn him down. Good thing too since what he tried to do to Willow.
"Why the hell did he ask you that?" she nearly yelled.
"Well first you and your body looks so wickedly delightful, who wouldn't want that by their side in bed?" Angel said with a shrug when he stopped walking backwards and so she did.
Buffy had to fight to show how surprise she was, she was small, a little skinny and she barely wore any feminine clothing because of her job and because of the outlands making sure no curves would be shown and her hair was constantly tied up in either a ponytail or a plait. She didn't wear makeup; she didn't have the time to put it on. What made her even more surprise was the fact Angel said it like he meant it, this totally wrong because he maybe handsome he was annoying too.
"Why else?" she asked crossing her arms to regain her composure.
"He had most of the women here" Angel said.
"Tell me something new" Buffy said as she raised an eyebrow at that.
"Well the Villagers think there's something going on between us" he said.
"Your making that up" Buffy said, backing away slightly.
"Why would I make something up? I'll only get a smack from you" Angel said.
"Hey I don't go for violence!"
"Keep on telling yourself that but the thing is you do and you just happen to be very crap at it" Angel said, seeing a spark going through her eyes he continued "Very very very crap at it actually, I mean a snail can pull a punch better than you but I guess the problem is that you are all petite and blonde. Too delicate for violence"
"I'll show you violence!" Buffy fumed.
She threw a fast punch in his face, knocking him back, she kicks his chest then jumps up and dose two scissor kicks in his face. As soon as she lands she dose a quick spin kick that turns into a spin punch then spin kick. Then Buffy tries to hit him again only to find he's holding the fist firmly in his hand.
"Nice" Angel said cheerfully "My turn"
He pulls her into him just as kicks out and lets go as soon as the force drives her backwards into a tree. She shook her head and couldn't help but notice lots of leaves were falling down because of that. Standing tall she spots a rake on the floor, kicks it up in the air she catches it perfectly in her hands. She ran towards him with the rake held high and makes a swipe…through air.
"Behind ya" Angel taunted.
Quick as lightning she turned and slammed the end of the rake in his gut before kicking up in his face. Twisted her body effortlessly she jumped and gave him a double kick spin that would make anyone jealous. Each blow hitting there target precisely as Giles had taught her and at that moment she made a promise to the watcher that if she came out of this whole Aurelius thing alive she was going to buy him a present he'll never forget. She made another swipe this time connecting to something but only the sound of ripped clothing could be heard. At that moment she stopped. She didn't want to kill him just show him not to mess with her. Angel looked at her before he looked at the damage. Only his clothes were torn, not his flesh.
"Getting frisky are we Buff?" Angel said his eyes twinkled.
"Pervert!" Buffy shouted.
She made another swipe to hit him only to have the rake caught by his firm hand.
"Cheater" Angel said.
He made a lighting strike smack of the rake against her causing her to let go of it. He spin it around his hand professionally before throwing it away, like it wasn't useful. Running at full speed Buffy jumped and soared into the air at him. He pulled her down with him as he fell backwards onto a pile of leaves with her straddling him. Just as she was about to pull back a fist and hit him she felt something cold and sharp against her neck. She didn't see him pull out his boot knife to her delicate throat. She froze at moment and slowly looked into his eyes.
The annoying twinkle in his eyes was gone and replaced by something she thought she would never see. His eyes turned into dark lusty pools of warm chocolate that made her want to swim in. From that moment she held her breath when he leaned closer towards her and those deep lusty pools became bigger and bigger the same time her resistance was getting smaller and smaller. His warm breath seem to circle her lips and as their noses touch lightly they both felt electricity dancing beneath their skin in need and excitement. She didn't want to admit it but she did want him, more now she was close to seal the deal but like always her pride got the better of her as she pulled away from him with the knife still on her throat. He looked at her, almost puzzled then for a moment Buffy thought she saw a smirk crossing his features as if he knew and was going to give chase. But like a moment it was gone and the twinkle in his eyes were back.
"Not bad" Angel said "Needs a little practice especially on those punches, kinda sloppy"
"You baited me" Buffy growled.
"Yep just to see how good you were" Angel said as he pushed her away from him.
"You could have just asked" Buffy said.
"Had to see you in action with your emotions in the game" Angel said "Most fights are won through those pesky feelings"
"Really" Buffy growled.
"Really" Angel said.
"Thanks for the tip" Buffy seethed as she got up then ripped the axe of the tree and left, leaving Angel watching her in a bemused smirk.
Willow opened the door to Buffy's room then walked up to Buffy's cupboard when she heard some muffling sound and panting. Cupboard was converted into a training room for a slayer; Willow enchanted it so that there was more room to workout. Four gymnastic poles in a row, horse stall, gymnastic rings, a workout mat, a bull's-eye ring for archery and knife throwing and standard punch bag that was being beaten the crap out of it by a petite blonde that had a little drawing of someone very familiar on it.
"Angel giving you a hard time?" Willow smirked.
"Oh yeah, one real hard time" Buffy snarled delivering upper-cuts into the punch.
"Wow he really hit a nerve" Willow commented, Buffy was extremely pissed.
Buffy paused before she started her hell against the punch bag "I know that"
"So how did he annoy you?" Willow asked "Just for future reference since I don't wanna end up as a Buffy-punching-bag"
Buffy stopped and turned to her friend "He baited me into fighting him"
Willow blinked at her "He what?"
"He wanted to see how good I was so he baited me into fighting him" Buffy said.
"That's a little un-nerving" Willow commented "But then again where you're heading in a weeks time he might need to know if you can take care of yourself"
"I can take care of myself" Buffy said.
"Maybe on the lands of Chantrelle but in Aurelius? It's a different ball game Buffy" Willow said "There hasn't been any word from that place for years and it's not a nice place anyway"
"Where is the Land of Aurelius Will?" Buffy asked.
"In the East" Willow said.
"There has been word that something is going on" Buffy said.
"Do you know what?" Willow asked curiously.
"No my dad-" Buffy cut herself off "I just heard that something is going on"
"You must really get around since you're an outlander" Willow said.
"Why do you say that?" Buffy asked.
"Well only word about anything is sent directly to the King before the people" Willow said.
"Oh" Buffy said.
"What happened to your dad?" Willow asked.
"Nothing" Buffy said looking at Willow warily "Why you ask?"
"Oh cause you mentioned him and well you stopped, I thought there would be a problem with him" Willow babbled.
"There is, he expected me to do what he said and unlike Giles he barely was there for me" Buffy said.
"Oh" Willow said "I'm sure he loved you"
"Yeah he did, but he was too busy to take notice" Buffy said depressingly.
"Well what happened to the fight between you and Angel?" Willow asked.
"I kicked his ass…and he kicked mine" Buffy said "He's good, frighteningly good. He was sneaky too"
"Sneaky?"
"He pulled out a knife and I didn't even see it" Buffy said.
"Are you alright?" Willow asked, alarmed at that.
"Yeah, but I used a rake on him" Buffy said.
"You didn't hurt him, right?" Willow asked looking at Buffy like she was a madwoman.
"Barely hit him, he's annoyingly fast" Buffy grunted.
"Fast?" Willow asked.
"Yeah"
"Fast as you?"
"Yeah"
"But he can't be" Willow said
"Why?"
"Well dragon riders are human"
"And I'm not?"
"No, slayers have the essence of demons in them or at least that's what Dad says" Willow explained "You are human you just have the oomph to slay demons"
"So how come if I have this 'oomph' he is just as strong and fast as I am" Buffy said.
"Maybe being bonded with a dragon" Willow said with a shrug "But that can't be right, the bond wouldn't do anything only that they stay together until death. That's what the books and what the watchers written down in their journals say about them"
"I think dragon and riders are just suppose to be mystery" Buffy said "I mean do you know the weakness of a dragon?"
"No one knows, only a rider does" Willow said "So who won in your little fight?"
"Neither of us, I pinned him but he had the knife to stop me doing anything else" Buffy said "Cheater"
"And this is coming from the girl who used the rake on him" Willow pointed out.
"Hey who side are you on?" Buffy asked playfully.
"Yours but only when your nice" Willow said with a wink.
"Thanks Will" Buffy said.
Willow suddenly bit her lip in concern "Buffy I think you should know that when I saw you fight that big rocky Beast I was kinda afraid you would die. I was really scared when you fainted, so be careful when going to Aurelius okay, I don't think I could handle you dead"
"I will be Willow" Buffy said reassuringly.
"Well if anything does happen at least you'll be with a doctor" Willow said.
"Doctor?" Buffy asked, puzzled by that.
"Angel" Willow said.
"Angel's a doctor?" Buffy said.
"Well when you fainted he took care of your wounds and bruises" Willow explained "He put all kinds of herbs and stuff and took care of you. He didn't leave until he was happy with the result and even then he made sure one of us keep an eye on you every hour. He maybe a jerk Buffy but he's nice jerk"
"Oh great now you made me feel bad" Buffy moaned.
"Guess your have to say thanks then" Willow said.
It had taken another two days for Buffy to pluck the courage to thank Angel. Pride and embarrassment was the main factors why it had taken her that long but Willow always a persuasive girl to come across so she gave in. But every time she to go up to him he was busy, another reason why her thanks was late. Now, though, spotting him outside doing something it was time. So she walked from her room, through the closing restaurant, through the kitchens and as soon as Buffy stepped out of the Inn she heard it. Big Red had returned and was doing when she first heard it. Singing beautifully across the land. And as Buffy look over to the edge of the forest she the Dragon Rider sitting down on a log, singing as he craved something from wood. Buffy walked over to him, her nerves on the edge as the gap between them became smaller and smaller with each step she took.
"My young love said to me
My mother won't mind
And my father won't slight you for your lack of kind
And she step away from me and this she did say
It will not be long love till our wedding day"
She heard the him sing and she smiled. He wasn't such a bad singer.
"She step away from me
And she went through the fair"
He stopped at that moment then looked at her.
"Why did you stop?" Buffy asked.
"You're here" Angel said, then went back to his carving.
"You embarrassed about your singing?" Buffy asked, a little confused and annoyed.
"It's not as good as my sister's but I'm not embarrassed" Angel said "I just don't sing around company"
"Why?" Buffy asked.
"I just don't" Angel said, he blew pieces of wood away from his little wooden model before looking at her "And what is it that graces me with your presence Buff?"
"I wanted to say thank you" Buffy said.
"For what?" Angel asked.
"For tending to me after 'the fight' and that you did a good job" Buffy said.
Angel was quiet for a moment, looking at her as if she was easy to read like a book "Your welcome" then went back to his carving.
"What are you making?" Buffy asked after a moments silence except for the noise the knife made against the wood.
"I'm carving" Angel said.
"Carving what?" Buffy asked, a little frustrated he wasn't letting up.
"My sister" he said quietly but quiet enough for Buffy not to detect a sad note in his voice.
"Can I see?" She asked gently.
"It's not finished" Angel grumbled as he handed it her slowly to her outstretched hand.
Buffy looked at it and couldn't help but gasp in adoration. She looked at him and then back at the wooden figure. It was carved in such love and care that knew that if she ran finger across it she wouldn't get a splinter and the face. That beautiful smiling face, it was so like that some part her thought that the figure might come to life. She could see the similarities of the beautiful girl to Angel. She felt she could become best friends with this girl the way she looked, it was probably hard not to.
"What's her name?" Buff asked.
"Kathy" Angel said then sighed as he gently took the figure from her hands.
"Did something happen to her?" Buffy asked worriedly.
Angel was silent confirming Buffy's dread. Poor Angel.
"I'm so sorry Angel" Buffy said.
He chuckled sadly "That's what she used to call me" Angel said "She called me her guardian angel since I always protected her, not much of a guardian angel if she's…" he trailed off.
"It wasn't your fault" Buffy said.
"Wasn't it?" Angel said he looked at that figure, like he was begging fro her forgiveness "I was her big brother, I'm suppose to protect her. It's what big brothers do"
Going before her better judgement she asked "What happen?"
He swallowed "My father and I was arguing. He wanted me to marry Lady Darla, a woman who was rich enough to buy three brothels and it's tenants, she was a woman that could spread her legs faster than you could say 'whore'" making Buffy cringe in sympathy "Anyway I said a few things and my father said a few things and I left house to get some fresh air when I came back…I don't think I have seen so much blood in my life. Dragons and Riders dead. Everyone in the Town dead. Including my family" he looked at her "There wasn't enough places to bury them all in the graveyard and my dragon had to burn the rest of them. I don't think she'll get over that"
"You say it like she's a-"
"Being?" Angel said "She is. She has a mind of her own, pain in the ass at times but always good company"
"Do you have conversations Dolittle?" Buffy joked.
"Not in the same way I would talk to you" Angel smirked making Buffy shocked.
"You…you do?" Buffy said.
Angel smirk grew into an affectionate smile "How do you think Rider and Dragon get on so well?"
"I thought you guys have like a man and dog relationship" Buffy said "You know you give out command and the dragon does what you say"
"That only happens when I'm on the saddle when I'm off it's a complete different ball game" Angel said "Dragon would go off to hunt or just for a walk, she likes to stretch her legs"
"Big Red likes walks, let me guess after a candlelight dinner?" Buffy grinned as she sat down next to him.
"Funny" Angel said sarcastically then grinned "And oddly true, she always walks after a big meal. It's a dragon thing"
"You two must be quite a team" Buffy said.
"Only when need be" Angel said.
"So, if your name isn't Angel, what is it?" Buffy asked with her head tilted inquisitively in a playful manner.
Angel looked at her for a moment before he shifted closer to her and whispered in her ear "I'll tell you mine" he breathed in her scent "If you tell me yours"
Buffy froze before she looked back at Angel, shock evident on her face.
"How did you…"
"It takes two weeks to travel to Rosenberg from Moonlight city on horseback and what dear Mr Parker said about your appearance in Rosenberg and the disappearance of the Princess" Angel said "It doesn't take a genius to figure that one out but then again no one here put two and two together and no one has my nose" he takes a sniff "Jasmine, Lilies and royalty, that little extra I couldn't figure out until our little fight, when you were sweating; it helped a lot"
"Please don't tell anyone" Buffy begged.
"I won't" he said casually.
"You kidding me" Buffy said
"No" Angel said
"Just like that, you won't" Buffy said sceptically.
"Well they are giving out a thousand pieces of gold if someone finds you and turns you in safely" Angel said as he carried on carving "But I don't have any use for that money, so no"
"Why not?" Buffy asked.
"Dragon scales, blood and teeth are worth more then that" Angel explained "Powerful ingredients for spells, really powerful spells. One of which I used to heal you"
"But slayers-"
"Heal fast I know, but when the Beast wounds you it…kinda stays that way" Angel said "You lost a lot of blood, that's the reason why you fainted"
"I didn't even know I was bleeding" Buffy said "Must have been the adrenaline"
"Fighting does have that perk about it" Angel said "So…other than leaving the castle not to get married, I'm assuming there's another reason to this"
"Your never going to let that go are you?" Buffy groaned
"Highly unlikely" Angel said truthfully.
"Well-"
"ANGEL, BUFFY!" Willow shouted as she ran to the pair.
"What is it?" Buffy said as she stood up instantly with Angel beside her.
"The soldiers, they're here" Willow said
TBC…
Soooooooooooooooooo sorry about the lack of the update, I swear I'll be good from now on.
Anyway reviews are nice, very nice so please give them to me.
Lyrics: I don't know what the song is called so whoever owns them don't sue and well if anyone who happens to know Irish folk songs can you please tell me. I really like to know.
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