"Spike, get up. It's almost sundown."
"Yeah? And?" he grumbled into the pillow. Buffy prodded him in the side. "Piss off."
"You kiss your mama with that mouth?"
Spike groaned, "Not since Victoria was Queen," he mumbled.
"How about your girlfriend?" The smirk in Buffy's tone was audible.
"That better be a proposition," he said, lifting his head a little to look at her and seeing Riley and Sam standing behind her looking expectant. "Bugger all."
"We're hunting Ice-Giants, remember?" Buffy smiled.
"Yeah? I thought it was rabbit season," he grumbled, rubbing his eyes.
Buffy pinched the bridge of her nose and gave Sam and Riley a withering look. "Come on, we want to go over the plan with you. See if anything from your dream can help us out."
Spike rolled up to a sitting position and ran a hand over his jaw. "Alright, I'm up. What do you want now? You realize that this was a dream and I was fighting that thing in a blizzard."
"We're just looking for anything that might help us narrow down where it could be," Riley answered.
Spike closed his eyes for a moment trying to remember. "I saw a monster— and might've been a cave— sort of looked like that one we were in but I couldn't tell you if it was; could've been any cave. Did I mention the sodding blizzard?"
Riley laid out a map of the area on the little table, pointing to a spot. "This is the point where you appeared, and this is the cave we found you in where Shalva used to summer. These points here and here are other caves along this stretch of mountain; this one and this one here are relatively near spots where the creature was spotted. I'm thinking there must have been a reason you came out where you did," Riley related in clipped military fashion. "I've had my guys check the area, and so far there isn't much. There are some really old markings carved into the stone up there but they are too far gone to make out. What we can see looks similar to the markings made by the Yeti tribe. They are what drew Shalva to the cave in the first place."
"These Yetis, what do they look like anyway?" Buffy asked.
"Bigfoot, only with thicker white or gray fur," Sam answered with a shrug.
"They practice magic or divination or some such?" Spike asked.
Riley turned to face his wife, "Sam?"
"Communication isn't the easiest thing with these guys. It's like talking to a 'Wookie'. They do have stories of shamans from long ago, but I've always had the impression that their magic was lost somehow."
"Right…" Spike frowned.
"What are you thinking?" Buffy asked him.
"I'm thinking that 'helmet' is the top of one of these thing's melon, probably some important Yeti shaman or warrior or something."
"And these markings could be where the rest of this guy is buried… or maybe some kind of ritual," finished Riley.
"Bingo, Soldier-boy," Spike intoned dryly.
"What does it want with Spike? First the dream, and then it was like that thing at the museum was drawing him in," Buffy replied.
Spike shrugged, casting her a snarky grin. "Maybe it's the accent, Love."
"I'm serious, really getting tired of things attaching themselves to you," she pouted. "I think I'm just grumpy. I was really looking forward to our first Christmas together, in our new home. Seeing the castle lit up with all the lights and the festivities— and— everything, nice and quiet."
He wrapped an arm around her. "Since when have our lives ever been nice and quiet?"
"Yeah— good point— guess it's a good thing we can't have kids, huh?" she replied without thinking, but immediately looked down at the map, clearing her throat. "I think we should start by talking to this Shalva guy and then I think we're probably going to have to check out where we came in, I'd like to see these markings myself," she said. Spike gave her a sideways look but didn't respond.
Riley bit the inside of his cheek. "Agreed. I tried talking to Monk Shalva last night. He keeps going on about stories the old folks used to tell when he was a kid, but he's not making much sense. Talking about a 'breathless warrior' named 'Son of Shoe' or something."
"Wait a tic, do you mean 'Shanshu'?" Spike asked seriously.
"That's it! Any idea what it means?" Riley asked.
Buffy and Spike exchanged significant looks, and Spike nodded. "Yeah, I got a notion."
Buffy paled. "Spike, you don't think—"
He shook his head, not willing to give the topic more attention than necessary just yet. "What I think is that we just figured out why we're here. First 'Champion' now 'Breathless Warrior', I guess there are worse things to be called," he huffed.
"Feel like sharing with the class?" Riley asked.
"Spike and I are going to have to talk with Monk Shalva ourselves. It's important," Buffy answered coldly.
Sam seemed to register the change in demeanor and straightened her shoulders. "Not a problem. He's probably still up, Riley can take you now."
"'Off to see the Wizard' then…" Spike grumbled.
"Does that make you the Tin Man?" Buffy retorted.
"Let's not count our chickens just yet, Dorothy. It's probably just one of the trials. I gotta make up for lost time, Angel's been after this thing for years and has come to not. I only found out about it less than two years ago, no use gettin' all excited."
"Again, you want to fill us in?" Riley insisted.
"It's probably nothing," Spike scoffed.
"I don't know, I'm thinking there might be something to this nothing," Buffy huffed, turning to Riley and Sam, she continued, "There's this ancient prophecy, which talks about a vampire with a soul getting to live out a human life."
"Probably a load of piffle. Have you looked at me? Seen my résumé, Buffy? What makes you think it's me?"
"Because I know you. I believe in you, William," she soothed.
"There you go with the 'William' bit again," he said in a low tone.
"Yes, because it seems to be the only thing that gets through that thick skull of yours."
"Hah! I knew 'Spike' couldn't be your real name!" Riley nearly shouted.
The rest of them just stared at Riley blankly.
"Well yeah you ninny. What? You think my blessed mother named me 'Spike'? I had a surname as well, you prat."
Buffy turned to him with a smirk. "Now really, who's the Pratt here?"
"Watch it, Slayer," he grinned.
Buffy bit her bottom lip teasingly. "Be good and maybe I'll let you punish me for it when we get home."
"And that's an image I did not need," Riley replied gruffly, turning to his wife, "Let's go ask Monk Shalva if he's up for company."
"Good call."
"Depending on what he can tell us, we'll probably need to get a move on pretty quick. We'll start with your arrival point and work from there. Buffy, Spike, and I will head out up the mountain. Sam will be coordinating from the communications tower. Let's gear up and head out people. We'll go talk to Shalva and let him know you're coming and meet outside in ten."
When the Finns had left, Spike cleared his throat. "Everything alright, Love ?" he asked, pulling on his cold weather gear.
"Yeah, fine. Unless you count the fact that there is no flamethrower. Oh, and the man I'm in love with won't admit that there's even the slightest chance that we could have stumbled into a situation that could potentially lead him to becoming human and leading a normal life."
"We're not normal, and you're a sodding immortal. They can keep it! We either live together or we die together. I have no desire to leave you on your own to pick up the pieces for all eternity," he spat.
"Spike— I— I just… it's a lot to think about and—"
"I told you already, there just isn't any reason to get all chuffed about it until we get more information. There's a 50/50 chance it's even talking about me, hell less now we got Ruby in the mix and she can have it for all I care. I thought we were on the same page, fighting evil side by side as long as we can, right? I mean I know the littlest Finn threw you but don't go getting ideas that's going to be us anytime soon!"
Buffy couldn't help it, she laughed. "Oh God Spike, is that what you think? I mean yeah I guess seeing them like that, hiding it, has thrown me a little. But more in the way that I couldn't imagine feeling like I had to hide it and yet I kinda get it too. Don't get me wrong, if things did change then yeah, I don't know maybe I'd change my mind but only if we both made that decision."
"So you're not wishing it was you? Or that I was about to become a real boy, putting a bun in your oven and what all?"
Buffy looked at him aghast. "Even if the thought had crossed my mind, even for a second; what kind of life could we offer a kid? I stand by what I said before. Vampire boyfriend/bond mate/whatever we are, or not."
Spike pulled on the borrowed sweater, looking at her carefully. "Just making sure, Pet. It's the 'not' I worry about."
"Well don't," she said as she watched him pull on his boots. "I just want us to be together and if you became human and decided you wanted a family, then maybe I'd be willing to try to give you one but it's not something I'm losing sleep over. The idea of having kids and watching them grow older than me is kind of wiggy. Not to mention the thought of losing you again— I just can't."
"I hear you, Luv."
"I just got a little thrown for a minute. So can we get back to the mission? I need 'Action Spike' not 'Complicated-Boyfriend-Spike' if we're going to take care of this thing and get home for Christmas. Then I'll be happy to have all the Boyfriend-Spike I can handle. Are we good?"
"We're good. I could do with some violence."
Buffy kissed him before he opened the door letting her out into the chilled night ahead of him. It wasn't as cold as it had been the previous evening. They made their way across to another small cabin situated a bit apart from the others. Riley knocked on the door.
A moment later a boy probably around Dawn's age greeted them. "Thank you, Finn, for bringing them to us, he is anxious to meet the newcomers."
"No problem Imay, thank you for being here to translate," Riley answered.
"It is but one of my duties I am grateful to complete. Shalva has asked to speak with them in private. I am sorry, Finn, my friend, but you will have to wait out here."
"Right; you heard the man. I'll be right here" Riley said in clipped tones.
As Buffy went past Imay who was holding the door; she was greeted by a very old man sitting on the floor in the middle of the room. Upon seeing her he went into a bow so low that his arms stretched out in front of him as he spoke. She didn't understand the language but it was clearly some form of honorable welcome.
Not knowing what else to do, Buffy gave him a respectful bow in return. Apparently, it was the correct response because he gestured for her to sit down on a cushion on the floor with him.
Buffy sat with a nod and turned towards the door where Spike was still waiting for an invitation. He pressed a hand against the invisible threshold which made the old man smile. He got up with surprising ease for a man who looked like he was far too old and frail to walk.
He got very close to Spike, examining him through the barrier.
Spike shot Buffy a questioning look just as the old man took a few steps back, bowing again and speaking very quickly. There must have been an invitation in there because the threshold gave way making Spike stumble in comically.
Monk Shalva, who was pleased by this development, laughed heartily and quickly gestured for Spike to sit down next to Buffy. Imay closed the door and took a seat next to Shalva, he too bowed to each of them. "Welcome, travelers. I am Imay, I will be your translator. This is Monk Shalva. He has been waiting for you both for a very very long time."
"Ah huh, and would you mind starting the translation-fest by telling us what all that was?" Buffy asked, gesturing towards the door.
"All I managed to catch was 'Shanshu', what do you know about that?" Spike added.
"Ahh yes, of course! In all the excitement I'm afraid I made a blunder. Yes, Miss Summers, Shalva was greeting you as it is written in an accent legend. The legend foretells a Breathless Warrior known as 'The Shanshu' who will defeat the 'Demon of Ice' that terrorizes our lands every hundred years. 'The Shanshu'-," Imay gestured to Spike, "-will be accompanied by his golden-haired 'Warrior Bride' who is both his opposite and equal with the strength to outmatch even the 'The Shanshu'."
Buffy blushed slightly as Spike took her hand. "We haven't got around to the 'Bride' part yet but the rest is pretty accurate," she said.
"Warrior Bride could be worse, Pet, kinda like it myself," Spike murmured.
"Right," she said, squeezing his hand, and turned her attention back to Shalva and Imay. "What can he tell us about this Demon and the Shanshu prophecy?"
Imay translated her question.
Shalva listened with intent, nodded, and began to speak, Imay translating as he went. "It is said that 'The Shanshu' will defeat the Demon by touching its heart with the power of his soul."
"Hope you don't think I'm gonna go all pillar of fire a second time because if that's the case I'm out of here!" Spike retorted, angrily.
Imay gave him a puzzled look. "We know nothing of a 'pillar of fire', Shanshu, you must help us, there is no one else who can."
Buffy and Spike exchanged looks, "Actually there is, mate. Two others that fit the bill, in fact," Spike answered simply.
There was a pause in the conversation while Imay translated again.
Shalva spoke, shaking his head vehemently.
"No other has been bound to the Bride," Imay answered.
"Yeah, and what about Angel? He's been under the impression this thing is about him for years now," Spike countered.
Shalva picked up an ancient sheaf of papers bound in very thick red thread. The old man brought it to his lips speaking softly against the pages and opened it out on the floor in front of him, there on the page was the Shanshu prophecy.
Spike looked up at him. "I've seen this trick before."
"You have?" Buffy asked.
"At Wolfram and Hart, Wesley had a whole stack of books that could pull up any other book, prophecy, or pretty much anything you asked it to."
"This does not just call forth a copy but the true document from anywhere in the world," Imay replied. "If you need more proof, then perhaps you should take a closer look at this."
Spike leaned forward. "Yeah? What's this bit? What's Angel's signature doin' here, that wasn't there before. What is this rubbish?"
"It means that this 'Angel' has signed away any claim he could have had on the prophecy."
"There is only one vampire this prophecy could refer to now and that is the one who sits in our presence, with his Bride," both men stopped talking as Shalva looked Buffy over carefully, "I see no other lover in her path. This woman's future is long, twisted, murky, and difficult to see but one thing is clear as daylight. She is with her final lover, there will be no other. The bond of the Asmodeus Demon can not be undone."
Shalva stopped speaking as he turned his gaze towards Spike, he waited for Imay to finish translating before he started again.
"You, Shanshu, you are even harder to read. Your heart belongs to the Bride, the light of that love radiates from your very soul; it is the source of your power."
"Not sure how to take that one," Spike murmured, turning to Buffy, caressing the back of her hand with his thumb. Buffy looked down, apparently unaware that they were still holding hands. She gripped his tighter but didn't reply for a long moment.
She finally cleared her throat, looking up at the old man and his translator. "So this Ice Demon, is this just a trial or will this fulfill the requirements of the prophecy?"
"You are asking if he will be the same warrior you love," Shalva said, speaking through Imay.
Buffy looked at Shalva with wide eyes, nodding.
"Your future together is long and complex. You fear he will lose his ability to fight and will grow old and frail as you once feared for yourself."
"Yeah…" she murmured in a voice that was barely audible.
"That is not the way of the prophecy."
"Now what's that mean? Supposed to complete these trials and become human again ain't I?" Spike asked.
"I believe there has been a mistranslation. A simple but significant one."
"Which is?" Spike demanded.
Imay hesitated as Shalva continued. The boy seemed to ask a few clarifying questions before he completed his translation. "He says that the prophecy refers to a life AS a human. Not human."
"Excuse me?" Spike gaped.
"It is that simple word 'as' that has been misunderstood. In this case, it means 'like' or 'similar to' it does not mean he will turn 'back into' a human. It means he will live as one with his bride and they will be bonded in the day as well as the night. There are many more trials ahead, this is but one. Significant yes, but certainly not the last."
Buffy let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Thank you, Shalva, and thank you Imay for your help."
Imay shook his head as Shalva spoke again. "Monk Shalva says, it is I who should thank you, Miss Summers, for you and your love, are the key to everything."
Buffy wasn't sure how to take that, so she simply bowed respectfully, releasing Spike's hand for the first time since they had entered the little dwelling.
Spike copied her with a little uncertainty. He was too stunned to react at all.
The old man had hit them with a bomb neither of them knew what to do with.
Back outside Riley was growing impatient by the time Buffy and Spike finally joined him. "Well? What did you find out? Anything we can use?"
Spike and Buffy exchanged a meaningful look before Buffy finally answered him, "Honestly I don't even know where to start."
"What do you mean?" Riley huffed.
"That guy's a bit intense. We got what we needed and then some," Buffy explained.
Riley shifted his stance, adjusting a strap on the side of his coat. "Does any of it have to do with this ice giant?"
"It's a demon, Spike has to— touch its heart with his soul…" Buffy replied in a tone that conveyed just how much she didn't like the way it sounded.
Riley gaped at them both in surprise. "What the hell does that mean?"
"Don't know if it's literal or poetic," Spike scoffed as he lit up a cigarette.
Buffy watched him. There were so many things they needed to talk about but now just wasn't the time.
Are you going to be alright, Babe? Buffy asked him.
Spike shook his head, expelling a plume of smoke. Let's just get on with it. Figure it out as we go, yeah?
She frowned, watching a muscle in his jaw twitch as Riley motioned for them forward and the three of them set off towards the place the snowmobiles were kept.
"At least now we know why we're here and we have a better idea of what we have to do, right," Buffy asked him hesitantly.
He took another drag of his cigarette as they walked, and cleared his throat. "Till death do us part, Love."
She snorted a laugh at that, happy to break some of the tension. "Yeah well, I'm still gonna need a ring, Mister."
"Whatever the lady wants," Spike replied with a half grin.
"Is that… Did you two just—- are you getting married?" Riley sputtered.
Buffy shrugged. "With everything that's happened since we got back together, some might say we already are. Shalva sure seems to think so. He called me Spike's 'Warrior Bride', but I want a wedding. Dress, flowers, the whole shebang. You hear me, Spike?"
"Won't be having 'Wind Beneath My Wings' for our song, I'll tell you," he retorted with a broad grin.
Buffy rolled her eyes as they continued to walk across the compound. "Why do you even remember that?"
"We were planning our wedding, spell or no spell, that song sort of sticks out," Spike answered.
Riley stopped, turning to Buffy. "You said you were just giving me a hard time! You mean to tell me that you really were planning on getting married to a guy named 'Spike'— to him?"
Buffy rolled her eyes again. "It wasn't like this… the way we are now," she huffed dramatically, "that was one of Willow's more wacky spells; we weren't in our right minds."
Found out you were the best snog I'd ever had though… Spike replied through their link and smirked as they neared the makeshift garage where the snowmobiles were kept.
Riley seemed grateful for a reason to drop the subject and get back to business. He stopped gesturing toward the mountain. "Looks like a clear night, no telling what it will do the further up we get but at least it's not bad down here. Means we shouldn't have too much trouble getting there at least."
Spike turned in the general direction they would be going and tried to make out their destination. Even with his exceptional eyesight, he couldn't see it, of course, and he sniffed the air. "I don't know about that Finn, smells like snow to me."
"Aww come on Spike, you had to say it didn't you?" Buffy chided lightly.
He shrugged. "Still better than the night we came, that's for sure."
"Ready to set out?" Riley said in a serious tone.
Buffy and Spike gave him twin nods of agreement.
"The snowmobiles can handle the terrain most of the way," Riley continued. "We will have to go it by foot after a good distance up there and do a bit of climbing up to the cave but it's pretty minimal. Your gear is already loaded onto your snowmobile."
Spike threw a leg over the snowmobile, took a seat, and started the engine. "Oh yeah, this'll be fun."
Buffy chuckled, gave a micro shrug, and got on with him, holding on tightly. "Let's go."
