Chapter Fifteen
"Aren't you supposed to use a pocket watch?" Willow asked.
"That's what you see on television," Giles answered. "A real hypnotist doesn't need anything more than the power of suggestion."
"So what should I do?"
"I want you to relax. Find a comfortable position and relax."
"Should I lie down?"
"If you're more comfortable that way."
"Are they going to be here?"
"That's up to you."
Willow looked at the gang – Dawn, Anya, Xander and Tara.
"You won't let me say anything stupid in front of everybody, will you?" she asked Tara.
"Of course not."
Willow took an unsure breath, then lay down on the sofa in Buffy's living room. Giles sat in a chair next to her head.
"Now, Willow, I want you to close your eyes and take deep, slow breaths. And while you're doing that I want you to imagine you're on the shore of a large peaceful lake. The water is very still. There are no sounds other than the gentle whisper of a gentle breeze. Everything is calm and serene."
As Willow sank deeper and deeper into the relaxed state, lulled by Giles' voice, he watched her until he was sure she was ready.
"Willow?" he said quietly.
"Hmmm?" she replied.
"What do you see?"
"The lake," she said dreamily.
"And what else?"
"Not sure. Something's coming out of it."
"Is it a piece of magic parchment with writing on it."
"Don't think so."
"Look harder. You want to see it. You want it to rise out of the water and come to you. You have to know what is written on the page."
"I do?"
"Yes, it's very important that you know what it says."
"Oh, yes. Now I see it."
"Good! That's very good. Now is it close enough that you can read it?"
"Almost. Tara's bringing it to me."
"Excellent."
"There's writing on it, lots of writing. But I can't read it."
"Yes you can. You can read, and remember every word on the page."
"But I can't."
"Why can't you?"
"Because all I can focus on is Tara."
"You have to ignore Tara. You HAVE to concentrate on the parchment."
"But I CAN'T!"
"Why can't you?"
"Because Tara's naked."
Xander's eyes lit up in anticipation.
……………………….
"Not too much longer now," Xena said. "We should be in Amazon hunting grounds very soon."
"You know, Buffy, just before you arrived, Xena and I were talking about what would happen to my scrolls after I died. She said I would probably hand them down to my children, and they would pass them to their children, and so on. But if you say they were found in a cave, then I'm beginning to think that I'll never have those children."
"That's not necessarily so. Maybe your ancestors hid them. They might not have been in the cave very long at all. Maybe just a few hundred years. Or less."
"Maybe. But it seems like whenever I do meet someone, for some reason we can never be together. Mostly it's because Xena and I move on. There's always some place we have to go, or something we have to do so that I can't settle down. And for whatever reason, the guy always has to stay where he is, or he dies."
"Well, maybe someday you'll meet the guy who CAN travel with you."
"Maybe."
"So, how will we know for sure when we're in Amazon territory?" Buffy asked, changing the subject.
"Arrows will be shot into the ground in front of us," Gabrielle replied.
"And when they do, clap your hands over your head and keep them there until they drop down from the trees." Xena added. "That's so they'll know we aren't here to make trouble."
Buffy looked up into the trees, scanning and listening.
"In that case, those arrows should show up any time now. We're being watched."
"Are you sure?" Gabrielle asked. "I don't see anyone, and I'm an Amazon too."
"One of the perks of being a Slayer – particularly attuned senses. They're there. At least a half dozen."
"What's a dozen?"
"Twelve. So there are six of them, maybe a couple more."
The three of them continued deeper into the territory until the anticipated arrows landed in front of them. Immediately Xena, Gabrielle, and Buffy's hands went over their heads as five Amazon warriors dropped down from the trees to surround them.
"There are still three of them up there," Buffy said quietly. "Probably with arrows trained on us."
"I have no doubt," Xena replied.
"State your business here!" one of the Amazons said, confronting them.
"We come in peace," Gabrielle said, stepping to the front. "I am Gabrielle, and we seek an audience with Queen Ephiny."
The Amazon hesitated momentarily.
"Gabrielle," she said simply. "There are many Gabrielles. Who are you to . . . ?"
"No there aren't," Gabrielle said. "Gabrielle is a very rare name in Greece."
"She's your queen," Buffy interjected, as she took a couple of steps forward. "How about showing a little respect, here?"
The Amazon looked at Buffy with distain, then made a movement with her head. And immediately the sound of an arrow whizzing down was heard.
And just before it could penetrate Buffy's chest, she caught it in mid air, then dropped it unceremoniously to the ground.
"You can have the other two fire theirs if you like. They won't hit anything, except the ground."
Immediately, the Amazons on the ground raised their weapons.
"Stop!" Gabrielle exclaimed. "We're not here to cause trouble. But you WILL take us to Ephiny!"
The Amazon locked eyes with Gabrielle, and was about to say something when another one dropped from the tree.
"Alara," she said, "This IS Queen Gabrielle. I didn't recognize her at first. I've only seen her one other time."
"Very well," Alara said, obviously not very happy. "Follow me."
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