Chapter 14
Wyngarde Castle
Kerry O'Reilly had been in her mistress's employ now for some 40 years. Often the thought had occurred to her that in all that time she had never aged from the young girl in her twenties as she was when she started, nor had she ever been asked to join her mistress in bed for an evening. She had been quite thankful for the former blessing, but even more thankful for the second. She was well aware of her mistress' particular desires and also of the fact that those who joined her for the evening rarely rose with her the following morning, other than to be carried out to the shallow graves nearby.
But she also knew, more than most, Morgana's horrific temper. She had been on the receiving end of it enough times to know that she did not suffer fools, insolence or disappointment lightly. Her temper was as volatile and as terrible as she was alluring and sensual. As Kerry had observed so much in her life, sometimes the most beautiful people are also the most evil, as if the beauty that covered them was bought at the price of the beauty within.
Kerry reflected on that sad irony as she viewed the scene in the courtyard below her. The soldiers and riders who had returned from their expedition to Avalon had been met with a less than warm reception from their mistress. That was to say, her feelings were less than warm, but her retribution was filled with fire and fury.
From what she had gathered, the men and women who had attacked the sacred burial site of Arthur had fought bravely, and had almost succeeded in their mission to take both the power of Avalon, and the sword Excalibur, back to Wyngarde Castle. But then the Entwined had appeared through a portal, with a Vampire Slayer and other warriors, and had beaten the soldiers back. The Coven from Devon that so often allied itself with Avalon, had been the source of much of the magical strength that halted the attack and caused their retreat.
Now Kerry watched in mounting horror as Morgana lashed out in fury at her soldiers. They were burned and scarred and bruised and demoralised. Morgana seemed incapable of stopping, incapable of finding reason to stop. Her rage seemed uncontrolled, her passion dictating her actions. Soldiers dropped like flies as she attacked again and again, waves of energy streaming from her fingers before transforming into flames and blades and shock blasts that tore into her subordinates without mercy.
At length, Morgana calmed her rage enough to stop. The hate in her eyes was still there for all to see but she had at least ceased her attacks.
"Now, next time I send you idiots to perform a task for me, I expect it to be completed. Or I assure you, the price of you failing will be death: either dying at the hands of the enemy, or dying very slowly at the hands of me."
"The Entwined arrived without warning, My Lady." Cried one of her men, trying to catch his breath and mop up the blood trickling from the cuts that adorned his face. "They came through a portal, rather than the lakeside. We had men waiting for them there. We did not know the Coven had a direct route to Avalon. We were caught unawares, and they were merciless in their attack. The Slayer, she is too strong for us."
He regretted his words almost as soon as they left his lips. The bolt when it hit him ripped through his nervous system as if it were sentient, and hungry for whatever morsels his nerves and blood and brain could gift it. He dropped as quickly as the attack came, though his demise seemed far longer to the victim than it did to the outside observers.
"And thanks to your collective incompetence I am without Excalibur and moreover, I have no way of gaining the power of Avalon without a direct assault. So be it, I will now have to kill those who wield it. If the Entwined cannot be siphoned of their power, then they will be destroyed with it. Assemble all the men, we will open a portal to the Coven at first light, and kill all who lie within."
Avalon
Tara had left the Coven with preparations for Nimue's funeral. She needed to come away, to give herself time to breathe, to digest everything that had been said and done over the past few days. It had made her faint, and she had gone to the only place where the world had ever made sense to her. She sat in the gazebo looking at the devastation the attack had left Avalon in. A single tear rolled down her cheek and dropped to the ground. There was no sound here, no birds sang, no wind blew. The others were all inside and the world was eerily silent, so much so that she could hear the faint splash of her tear as it struck the wooden gazebo floor.
Willow felt at a loss. She could feel her lover's pain, and yet she was unsure what to do. Correction, she corrected herself, I know exactly what I want to do right now, I just don't know if Tara wants me that close. She placed her right hand into Tara's left, her face one of compassion and worry.
Glad of the comfort and support, Tara embraced Willow. She knew that this might not be the healthiest thing to do, right here and now, to lean on someone when she was still unsure about their long-term future together, but it felt right. She wrapped herself around Willow, and allowed her soul mate to hold her fully.
Willow looked deep into Tara's eyes. She saw the pain and the worry and the fear and the sorrow that flashed within her clear blue eyes, and she wanted so much to take the pain away. With her right hand, Willow stroked Tara's cheek tenderly. Her eyes asked the question that she had been waiting to ask Tara since she first saw her. Willow's eyes pleaded, full of need, coupled with passion and concern. She saw Tara's eyes grant permission, as both of them moved their lips toward each other.
The kiss was tender and loving, passion was building between them both, but they kept it at bay. This was not the time for passion, they both knew it, but something in the kiss promised passion at some later point. Both felt hope rekindled, and love blossom in their souls once more.
Tara gazed at Willow. She had been so guarded about letting Willow in close, afraid of being hurt. But as she held her now she knew that she could never let this woman go, not in her heart. She loved her, and wanted to make it work. Althanea was right, she said to herself, we probably are destined.
Willow broke the embrace, against the wishes of her own heart. She looked at the woman in front of her, and knew in an instant why she loved her so.
"Are you going to be okay, Tara?"
Tara nodded, and gave a weak smile. "I will be. It will take time, but I will be. I think we better go inside now. Buffy will want to bring us up to speed on what is happening and I think it's time we dealt with this situation once and for all."
"Together?" Willow's voice was tinged with apprehension.
Tara nodded emphatically and embraced her once more. "Together. Always together."
Tressa had been a member of the Order of Avalon for some five years now. She had arrived at almost the same time as Tara, and had grown very fond of her home over the years. It now saddened her that with Nimue's passing, she was the only sole survivor of the attack who resided within the walls.
She led Buffy and Gabriel into the main altar chamber. It was a simple but elegant place, the altar was made of wood with ornate engravings adorning it, pictures of woodland forests and trees and rivers and gave the impression that it was the essence of tranquillity itself, preserved in visual form.
She walked behind the altar, pausing only to turn and signal her companions to wait. She placed her hands upon the Altar and let slip a silent prayer. Her companions could barely see her lips move, let alone hear the words, yet the concentration on her face was there for all to see. For the briefest of moments, illumination burst from her hands and she opened her eyes once more. She nodded to the two onlookers, motioning them to come to her.
Buffy was impressed by what she saw. The sword that Tressa lifted out from the compartment in the altar was a good four feet long and when she weighed it, it felt a little over 12 pounds in weight. It looked like a broadsword, but she had never handled one this light. Along it's blade, runes were etched with careful precision. As she swung the sword, feeling it's length and balance, she heard a low hum, similar to the sound of a finger caressing a crystal glass.
"Woah! Talk about powerful. I can feel it as I swing. Are these runes the same as on your sword?"
"Similar, but mine is nowhere near as powerful. There is one thing about this sword, Miss Summers, that you must remember at all times. The power you wield there is designed for one purpose: to inspire and lead. It is not some weapon of petty vengeance but a noble weapon to uphold noble ideals. When you wield it, you must be pure in your thought. Bloodlust, thoughts of vengeance, they won't allow you to use the sword in attack, the weight of the sword will be too much. Defence! Justice! Nobility! You must keep these in your mind and heart or the power of Excalibur won't be evoked, and the power is what you need to defeat Philippe."
"So, holding it above my head and shouting "I have the Power" or "By the power of Avalon" isn't going to be enough?"
"Not in so much as gaining the power in the sword, but it might delay your opponents momentarily as they lapse into shocked hysterics at your antics. As a battle tactic it is fairly unique and I doubt the enemy would be adequately prepared to deal with it. Personally I wouldn't try it but I am no tactician."
"Anyone ever tell you that your sarcasm is not funny". Buffy was annoyed at Gabriel's curt tone and yet she noted the attempt, at some level, to come across as humorous.
"Not anyone who's opinion I valued. I apologise for the sarcasm, Miss Summers, but this situation is serious, and this sword is no power-up in a video game. The head of the Order of Avalon has entrusted this sword to you with her dying breath, and I think that deserves a modicum of respectful seriousness from you."
Buffy had never been talked to so abruptly in a very long time and she wanted to find it amusing, but instead nodded, noting that this man really didn't care whether she found him amusing or annoying. He wanted the job done.
"Defence! Justice! Nobility! So how will I know if the sword is responding?"
"You will know."
"Did it work for you?"
Gabriel shook his head. "No, the sword doesn't work for me."
"How come? I thought you were tight with Avalon?"
"Tight? Yes, I am very close to the order, but not a member of it. I am an ally. As for the sword, let's just say we never really connected."
"So you won't be trying to steal it from me then once we finish?" She had a huge grin on her face. It was met with a passive expression.
"I think you're safe. I may be hot-headed at times, but I'm not so insane as to tackle a Slayer with your reputation. Not whilst you're awake, anyway."
Buffy ignored the remark. She had determined that either Gabriel had the world's most deadpan sense of humour, or that he was unable to tell a good joke. Instead she focused her concentration back to the sword, getting a feel for it. Giles had spent hours with her over the years practising sword drills and exercises, drills and exercises she had passed down to the new generation, but had always found them tedious. But somehow, here and with this sword, the drills were enjoyable, at times exhilarating.
Giles entered the Altar chamber, and watched the Slayer practice. He smiled, pride drawn across the features that had, until that point, been quite haggard. Finally, he mused, all that tedious drill training has had a purpose.
He glanced at Gabriel, barely holding in his contempt. He saw the way that he was watching Buffy, the passive way he noted every thrust and swing, and worried for the briefest of moments that Gabriel was studying Buffy for some scheme later on. No, he thought and shook his head, he would never be that stupid. Besides, Buffy is more than a match for him.
Gabriel glanced at the elder Watcher, and sighed. He knew that some day, he was going to have an altercation with Giles, and he did not relish it. Not the fight so much, as he would enjoy that, but as much as he hid it, he respected Giles. But for now, the needs of the Entwined were more important than Giles and his feelings.
He glanced at the Slayer. So much depended on her and yet so much did not. She was a potent and necessary distraction, without whom the attack was bound to fail. But she was not the hero of this day, she wasn't strong enough to be.
Gabriel lifted his head and nodded as Willow and Tara entered the chamber. Now here be heroes, he thought, and they don't even know it. When he had been assigned this task, he had often wondered how they would rise to the challenge. What he had seen so far had impressed him far more than he was willing, or able, to make plain. But there were one or two items still to achieve, and he made a mental note to call Dash as soon as he could.
Giles coughed softly, subtle enough so as not to startle anyone but loud and firm enough to ensure he had everyone's attention. When he saw that he did, he spoke. "Our friends were eventually helpful. Took less time than I thought, especially when I mentioned letting them go back to Morgana or being treated for their wounds here, they seemed rather anxious to stay. We know where Wyngarde castle is. The castle is protected by powerful wards, strong enough to hide from any mystical means of detection. But the soldiers wear an amulet that allows them to be guided back to the castle. Althanea and her Coven will use the amulet to create a portal that will send us directly there."
Buffy nodded, this was good news. "Now all we need is a portal from the Watchers HQ to here in order that the Slayers in London can come with us. Morgana wants a fight, I'll give her a battle she won't believe!"
"Miss Summers, your main task will be securing the soldiers and ensuring that her forces cannot get in to help Morgana, especially Philippe. As for Morgana and Amy, that is for the Entwined to deal with. Morgana would kill you before you got to swing a sword, Miss Summers. Willow and Tara are needed to defeat her permanently. Ladies, are you ready?" Gabriel's voice was calm, but firm.
The couple nodded in unison, and all could see that they were holding hands. It was obvious to their old friends that their relationship was re-kindled.
"We're ready." Said Willow. She could feel all eyes upon both Tara and herself. They were the key, the Entwined, without them this plan would fail. Willow felt the pressure, but with Tara beside her, she knew she would cope with the challenge ahead.
Althanea entered the room, shaken but resolute. "We are ready to assist you in any way we can."
"We need you to help Giles contact the Watchers Council in London and to open up a portal from there to here so that we can bring the Slayers that are there over here. We have the location of Morgana's home. Soon as the Slayers arrive, we open a portal and we hit her hard." Said Buffy.
"Two portals in such a small space of time will be difficult. Even if we do succeed, the Coven will be too weak to be of any real use to you." Replied Althanea.
"Giles, how close is the castle from here?"
"Two to three hours drive away. Not too far. I would suggest on a portal to bring the Slayers here and then driving to the area, using the medallion to guide us. This will also allow the Coven to rest and re-gather some of their strength."
"Sounds like a plan, Giles. Make the contact. Althanea, get your people ready to open the portal. Willow, Tara, get some rest. Gabriel?"
"I think I will take advantage of this small lull to make a call of my own."
"Okay, just don't be too long about it."
In a private chamber, Gabriel dialled his phone. He hated mobile phones, hated the term "cell phone" used by the Americans, but he had acclimatised himself to the term, having been in Massachusetts for so long.
"Good morning, White Circle Bookstore. How may I help you?" The voice on the other end was male, English and sounding exhausted.
"Dash, how's the shop?"
"We are reasonably busy. Your order came through, the books on Celtic myth and ancient languages. I didn't realise you had ordered quite so many."
"Need all the resource material we can lay our hands on. Did the history of Massachusetts come in?"
"Yes. Fairly weighty book, I might add. I am not exactly equipped to deal with these kinds of orders and run the shop. We need help."
"I will be back in the next few days. We will have a little help. Do we have the placements set up?"
Yes, two openings in Masterson high School, one for an IT Studies teacher, one for a Guidance Counsellor. We desperately need the paperwork though."
"The Watchers Council may be able to help there. Okay, there is possibly a ten-year old girl coming with them. I need you to evaluate the appropriate schools and choose one, preferably within safe distance of either the High School or the Shop."
"I wasn't told that babysitting a child would be part of the remit, Gabriel."
"Adaptation is necessary, Dash. The house ready?"
"Everything is set. Wards are in place. No one is getting into that place prior to the Entwined arriving."
"Good. We are going to settle the Avalon question once and for all. Then the offer will be made. I think they will accept. Soon as they do, we are coming to Masterson."
"Will see you then. Good luck."
"Bye."
Gabriel closed his phone. Everything was ready, almost. He was sure, once the offer was made, that Giles would help with the last outstanding detail. In fact, he was counting on it.
Tara entered the large room that had once housed the bunks. There had been some combat here and the bodies of some of the Order were strewn across the floor and beds, along with the corpses of the intruders. She crossed the room, sitting down on the bed that was once hers and taking everything in.
She had always been a passive person, partly by nature, mostly by nurture. Her upbringing had long taught her the fear and pain that violence brought to others. As such, even now, she was more interested in finding a peaceful solution to her problems. She instinctively felt the pain of others, and deep inside, felt a tinge of the pain she grew up with in every blow she witnessed.
In her time at Sunnydale, helping Buffy and her friends, she had learned that sometimes, you had to fight for those you loved, and for humanity in general. She was never comfortable with it but in a town like Sunnydale, you learned to fight or be a victim. So she had allied herself to Buffy and her cause, but mostly through her love for Willow.
But now she was being asked to take the role herself, alongside Willow, walking her own path. Buffy would be fighting her own battle and fighting it her way but this wasn't Buffy's fight, it was theirs. It was time to put aside the idea that she could live her life so steeped in violence and not fight back. But Tara decided one thing as she sat upon her bed and looked into her lover's eyes: She would not use violence unless no other avenue presented itself. Using violence as the first instinct had killed her and nearly destroyed Willow when she had tried to do likewise. She would not end up like Willow, afraid of being strong. Strength, Tara had always considered, was for upholding the weak, not for crushing.
"Are you sure you will be able to handle Morgana, Willow? I felt the dark in you. Can you keep it under control?"
"Tara, I want to be able to say "yes". I want to be able to re-assure you that I will never be that way again but the truth is I don't even know. All I know is that the darkness overtook me when I lost you and I re-gained control when you came back. That has to mean something."
"I hope so, because Morgana is playing for keeps with you, Will. She won't hold back, and she may be counting on you not holding back either. Promise me, Will, promise you won't let the darkness take you again."
Willow nodded. "Tara, I promise I will not let it if I have any say in it. But I cannot promise it won't re-surface without my consent." Willow wanted to kiss this angel that was in front of her. After all that had happened, her first thoughts were with Willow's safety. It was something the redhead was both grateful and saddened by. She felt unworthy.
Tara noted the thought. "You are worthy, Willow. You're worth it to me."
The two embraced, their love for each other crushing all barriers of fear and hesitation. It was a small moment, but one that lasted for what felt like both an eternity and a fraction of time.
A knock thundered on the door. "Ladies, the Coven have managed to procure 20 Slayers. Buffy is having a de-briefing in the Altar room. I have been asked to escort you both down." The voice was Gabriel's.
Tara opened the door and let Willow out first. "My lady. My Entwined." Tara smiled, for the first time it was one of genuine, relaxed joy than the nervous and fearful smiles of trepidation that had preceded them.
Willow feigned a curtsey, smiling like an over-excited Cheshire cat. Willow felt as though the world had finally returned to normality.
Gabriel shook his head, unmoved by the display of romantic affection by his charges, and led them back down to the main Altar room. The Slayers were there, with Buffy standing in front of them, on the podium. Giles, Dawn, Michelle, Althanea and Roger Wyndham-Price stood alongside her. With the Slayers were the survivors of the order and the Coven.
Buffy surveyed her team. "Good, everyone is here. Okay, we have four main problems. First are the men and women under Morgana's command. They are pretty strong and have a fair amount of magic to play with as well. So the Slayers will take out the guards whilst the Coven members and anyone from Avalon here who wants to come will take on the magical element. Second problem is Philippe. Seems that's where I come in. Third problem is Amy. She is pretty powerful and with a heck of a chip on her shoulder. Tara, you ready to take her one on one cos this might get ugly?"
Tara nodded slowly. "One thing, Buffy, I won't tell you how to deal with Philippe because that is your area of expertise. Afterwards, don't ask me about what happened to Amy, just accept that she got what was coming to her. I know that she was a friend once, but that was then, this is now. Amy is mine."
Buffy looked at Tara. There was a steely resolve, a determination and quiet anger to the blonde witch's voice and demeanour she was not used to. It took her by surprise, but she liked it. "Amy's yours then. Just remember to give me a warning if I ever get on your bad side."
There was a general chuckle from all around, a nervous laugh from those who remembered the shy witch of old but were well aware that whilst the goodness that was Tara was still there, there now existed a strength unfettered by fear and self-consciousness.
"Fourthly" Said Buffy, emphasising the word to re-focus attention, "We have Morgana herself. As Michelle and Althanea will be aiding with the taking down of the magical section of Morgana's army, Morgana becomes yours and yours alone, Willow. She is gonna be tough."
"I'm tougher. Morgana is afraid of me, or afraid of Tara and me. That's why she tried to rip us apart, tear me down. It hasn't worked. It will be a tough fight, but she hasn't got anything I can't handle. I just hope we never have to get into this kind of all-magic duel again."
"Once Morgana is defeated, the Court of Nightmares will spend a lot of time re-grouping. They won't attempt an outward assault like this one again. Plus, your magical talents will be best served in other areas. We will discuss that more when you return." Althanea seemed sure of herself as she answered.
"And exactly where do the Watchers, current and former, come into this?" Roger knew he was not the head of this show by any means, but he had been a leader all his life, and some habits were hard to shake.
"You will stay here. I can't afford to have you in the thick of things. Giles will help the Coven, as will Dawn. Gabriel will help myself and the Slayers take on the army. He is pretty handy with that sword of his." Replied Buffy. She didn't want to admit that the old man was a liability, but it was a cold, hard fact.
"Thank you." Said Gabriel, bowing slightly as if before royalty.
"Very well. Is there nothing I can do for this mission?" Roger felt defeated.
"Actually, there is something you can do for us, sir." Gabriel stepped forward. He took out a pen and notebook and scribbled down a few lines. "We need these items and fast. If this situation is to be taken advantage of, then these items are essential. They may not seem much, but they are crucial. I am sure Joseph will have done some of the work already, but we need that air of authenticity that a man of your stature and influence can bring to proceedings."
"Your request is highly unusual, Mr Caine, but I think I understand the situation. Yes, I will see to it that these items are obtained. Perhaps if the portal is still accessible I may return just now to get things started."
"We are too weak to open a portal so soon. We will take you with us across the veil, and then you will be able to contact the Watchers HQ by telephone." Althanea had known Roger for many years. She was saddened to see him now no more use except as a beauracrat, but he was old and with that age comes a time to accept that others were better placed to deal with certain situations.
"Then let's get out of here. Giles, soon as we get into reality again you organise us transport to Wyngarde. We hit it as soon as we arrive. We don't give Morgana a moment to re-group. If we do this right, we will take her and her minions out before we are even missed." Buffy made those the last words on the subject. She knew that some of the Slayers could die on this, but that was the nature of the job. She wasn't happy with Dawn going, but she was a Watcher now, and as such she had to be given the respect she deserved.
Willow and Tara looked at one another, their eyes saying the words their voices would not. "I love you. I will protect you. I will not leave you."
The group crossed the lake in small order, and landed safely across the veil. Those who had been a member of the mortal world prior to Avalon felt the upsurge of memories as they entered the mortal plane once more, but they quickly recovered.
Giles went into the nearest town, allowing all to catch their breath. He took Roger with him, thinking that he would provide the voice of authority should it be needed. They found a vehicle hire shop and, with a lot of persuasion and no small amount of palm greasing, managed to secure a bus for the trip north. Giles detested Large Passenger Vehicles, but he was more concerned about getting all the members of their army there in one go.
They returned with the bus, which was immediately covered with steel mesh and assorted runes thanks to the combined talents of the Members of Avalon, the Devon Coven, Willow and Tara. In no time it looked like a bus ready for war, or a trip into some dangerous neighbourhood.
"All right, everybody! All aboard the crazy train! Or Bus!" Shouted Buffy, trying to allow a little levity into the proceedings. It was met with muffled laughter.
Willow smiled at her as she entered the bus. "I thought it was funny. Good to see you haven't lost your knack for quips in a time of crisis."
"I don't know. As I get older it's gotten harder to keep the humour up. Guess it's all my time out of the field."
"Well, I appreciate it, and I know they will too." Willow indicated the other Slayers.
"Yeah, they are pretty strung out. What I got were the recently patched up. Those who nearly got killed and were about to be sent back out. So they have some combat experience, which is good. But they obviously weren't that good if they needed to be shipped back to London, which is bad."
"They will be fine with you leading them, Buffy." Tara had come up behind Willow, their fingers interlocking on instinct. "They won't fail you. I have a feeling."
"Well, I hope your feeling's right." Buffy smiled. She had often noticed in the past that Tara was blessed with a wiser head than her age should allow for. Right now, she was glad for the wise re-assurance the blonde witch promised.
Giles smirked, his mind concluding that the group looked as if it was some morbid coach trip to the seaside, rather than a group of heroes heading to a rendezvous with an enemy who would destroy the human race given half a chance. He climbed into the driver's seat, started the engine, and drove off. The medallion was on the dashboard in front of him, pointing the way.
The coach was full of fear and hope, trepidation and contemplation and yet, for all those dark emotions, one emotion rose above all others on the coach. That feeling was calm.