Andais returned with Cel, trailing behind her. "I believe that is still my throne." Fflur healed her chin, but told the queen, she would always carry a scar.
Buffy assessed the dark haired woman, and found her wanting. "Do you have somewhere more private for us to talk?"
Andais realized the events had spiraled out of control. "I will dismiss everyone. We will meet in my private drawing room in one hour. Merry, see to our guest." She regally turned her back on them to address 'her' court.
Following Merry from the room, Buffy caught the eye of several of the court. Kurag, the Goblin King, stepped forward. "Do you come to rule us all, Lady? To set us once again, one on the other in war." Others about him hissed, it wasn't proper to ask questions of the fey.
"No, I didn't come to cause a war." Buffy looked Kurag straight in the eyes, but didn't say another word. He bowed gracefully stepping back. "Merry, would you lead me outside, please?"
Merry led them through the ever-changing walls of the Sithin, drawing closer to its entrance. She wondered if her aunt would allow them to exit, and if she did would she allow them to return.
Buffy felt Merry's anxiety as they stood at the opening. "I just want to step outside for a moment to get some air."
Merry sighed in relief. "We will wait for you here."
Buffy nodded walking out into the waiting moonlight. She breathed in the cool crisp air letting it out slowly with a sigh. Looking into the night sky, she saw a night hag fly over. Buffy grinned then sucked in a breath pulling the hag from the sky. She landed with a hard thump at Buffy's feet.
She stood up, dusting herself off. "What have you done?" The hag screeched, in a high shrill voice. "My Lord Sholto will punish you for this."
"Tell him to come to the Mound, right away, I have need of him."
"Who are you? Why should he to do your bidding?" The hag's face wrinkled in disgust at the thought of her lord doing this woman's bidding.
"Tell him, the Lady calls him."
Her eyes grew large with fright. She fell to her knees trying to kiss the hem of Buffy's dress. "I meant no disrespect. You will not punish Gertil, will you?"
"Just do what I ask, and quickly, before more trouble starts. Let me help you on your trip." Buffy threw her into the air. Once the hag caught her balance, Buffy filled her lungs with air and blew out hard. Gertil went shooting through the air like a rocket. Let's go see how Andy's doing.
Buffy walked back into the Sithin, and felt it welcome her. "Where are we going?"
"Did I hear someone scream?" Doyle wasn't sure what to think about this situation.
"Merry, aren't you going to introduce me to your band of Merry Men?" Buffy giggled causing everyone to look at her. No one was sure how to take her. She stood before them gowned as befitted her rank, giggling like a teenager.
"Oh, excuse me, this is Doyle, Frost, Rhys, Nicca, Kitto and Galen." She pointed at each man.
"What about me, Merry?" A Demi-Fey dressed in yellow fluttered around them.
"This is Sage." He hovered in front of Buffy's face, his wings moving rapidly in excitement.
"Tink, want to get something off your chest?" She smiled at the tiny little man.
"Queen NicEven requests a formal audience with the Lady as soon as possible."
Buffy tried to keep a straight face at Sage's proud bearing. "Tell Nicci it will have to be tomorrow, my meeting with Andy is going to take a while. Come here Tink." Sage flew closer to Buffy, wary of this unknown creature. Fey rulers weren't known for their kindness. "Turn around a sec."
Sage reluctantly turned with shaking wings. "Buffy!" Merry started forward to help her blood surrogate.
Buffy rubbed her hands down her dress then over his wings. They watched in wonder as sparkles fell from her hands onto Sage's wings. It stuck to the darker veins causing his wings to glimmer in the light whenever they moved.
"What happened? What did she do to me?" His voice trembled in fear.
"I marked you as my messenger. Nicci can't punish you because I won't meet with her until tomorrow. Looks pretty, huh?" Buffy tilted her head to the side admiring her handiwork.
Merry moved closer staring at Sage's wings. He looked more like a fairy or a Christmas ornament than a Demi-Fey. His wings sparkled every time they fluttered. "They are beautiful, Sage."
"Thank you, Lady." Sage circled Buffy's head in swirl of gleaming yellow.
"You are welcome, Tink, go tell Nicci my answer."
Merry looked at Buffy confused by her actions. "Why did you do that?"
"I didn't want him punished for something that wasn't his fault. I could do something about it, so I did." Her casual tone let them know this was her natural thought process. "Let's go see Andy and Drac."
"Who is Drac?" Galen couldn't help but ask.
"Your dark prince dude reminds me of Dracula. Both have major egos, but no real guts, they play on fear."
"You knew Dracula? He wasn't just a horror story?" Galen's eyes went wide with intrigue.
"I met him once, but I don't know if he is real anymore."
Merry led Buffy toward the sitting room but the walls kept changing, until Buffy finally got angry. "All right, I have had enough of this. Where are we going again?"
"The queen's private sitting room, but we won't reach it until she wants us to. Andais controls the Mound."
Not bothering to correct her, Buffy stopped walking. "Well, I will just have to convince it to show us the shortest route." She bent down and pulled her dress up showing nicely muscled legs, as a Sidhe should. Her hands went to her boots removing several fine stilettos hidden in the seams.
"By the goddess, you are a walking weapon," Frost exclaimed.
"You have no idea," she murmured. Doyle standing closest heard her quiet response. "Step away from the wall." Buffy sunk two stilettos into the stone only an inch apart, then several feet down repeated her actions. Pulling the dagger from her side, she drew a large rectangle deep into the wall. At a midpoint on the right side, she inserted a fifth stiletto, but left it sticking out partially.
She puffed on her fingers, then turned the single stiletto. The wall groaned before opening like a giant door. Everyone looked inside to see the queen's sitting room on the other side. Andais and Cel, deep in conversation, looked up in shock.
"After you," Buffy motioned them to go ahead of her.
Andais' anger grew with each new person that walked through 'the door.' Buffy's entrance caused her whole body to shake in rage.
"Are we late? Have you been waiting long?" Buffy's voice was honey-sweet, but her eyebrow quirked in a challenge. "I am expecting someone. I hope they get to take the short route."
Andais bristled at the sensor in Buffy's voice. "Who are you expecting? Who could you possibly know? The Lady slept for millenniums?"
"He should be here soon, and I never said I was the Lady. I said that is what they called me. The Lady was Galadriel, my mother." Her fingers unconsciously touched Nenya, which drew Andais' notice.
A ring of power, it couldn't be. They were destroyed long ago. "Niece, I heard whispers in the air. Is it true, do you carry a babe under your breast?"
Cel's face paled as he stared at his cousin. No, I will not lose everything that is rightfully mine. Buffy could see the wheels turning in his mind.
"Yes aunt, it is true." The reality settled on Merry's shoulders. I will lose them, all but him. What will happen to the others? Will Andais take them back? Will she step down as she promised? Can they bear to return to that life after knowing freedom, passion, friendship and...love? I did, I do love them all, each in their own way, for different reasons, in different ways. But him, will we have a good life? Will he make a good consort?
"I asked you a question girl?" Andais snapped.
"I'm sorry aunt, what did you ask?"
"How far along are you and who is the father?" She scowled at Merry wondering what was going through her niece's head.
A knock sounded at the door before Merry could answer. Sholto entered, in all his glory, with his long pale hair trailing behind him. The Lord of the Host was a beautiful man. The one person, in all the lands, who not only served the Ruler of the Unseelie, but determined who would rule.
"Sholto, what brings you here?" The Unseelie queen felt an icy finger of fear race down her spine.
He bowed to Andais before turning to Buffy. Sholto went down on one knee with his head bowed in humble supplication. "Lady, I am ever at your service. The Greenlady heard of your arrival and welcomes you back. How may I serve you?"
"Please get up, I hate all the bowing and curtseying. I guess we have to do this, all official like though, so here goes. Sholto, as your duty and position demands, do you recognize my right to rule?"
Everyone held their breath and waited for Sholto's answer, Andais most of all. She would choose her successor, not have her crown snatched from her head.
"Yes, Lady that is your right. By all that you are, it is true," he calmly proclaimed.
"My word is law here and anywhere else in the kingdoms of fey and magic?" Buffy clarified for the audience.
"WHAT!" Buffy gave Cel a look that could freeze the blood in his veins. He stepped back, watching his worst nightmare unfold.
"Lady, your word is law for those touched by magic."
Buffy looked at the people in the room seeing doubt, anger and fear in their faces. "If I put someone in place as Regent, with new laws, could anyone deny my right?" Buffy's last formal question echoed in the room.
"No, the land of fey and magic is yours to do with as you please." Sholto gave her an understanding smile.
"What gives her that right, Sholto?" Andais approached them, a challenge clearly written on her face.
"Your majesty, she is the reason the fey came into being. Your magic, your power is from the Lady."
"Now that we've taken care of the formal stuff. Here's what is about to happen and why. The way you live is the reason you're fading. Your power plays are stupid and childish." Andais tried to interrupt. "Speaking here, Andy, so stick a sock in it. I've come to find my heir, but it looks like I'm going to have to do some housecleaning first."
Buffy started pacing, causing her gown to flash different colors. A predatory grace colored her movements. She sent out waves of power, which seemed ready to explode at any moment.
"What are you going to do, Buffy?" Merry's hand slid unconsciously down to her stomach.
"Several rules need to say hasta leveesta, baby. Once they are gone, they will never be brought back. They were stupid to begin with, and the first lucky one will be the geas."
Andais' face flushed with anger. Buffy looked over at the angry queen, and put a finger in front of her lips. "Shush." Andais found herself unable to utter a single sound. "You need to listen to the truth, Andy. The fey are weakening with almost no children being born. Merry was the last one, correct?" Buffy raised an eyebrow; Andais shook her head in answer. "So, in all your queenly wisdom, you thought it was a good idea to keep twenty available men celibate. They have been your slaves for almost 600 years. Once you were pregnant, the free ride was over. They should have been released to find their own mates. You don't get to hold your guards hostage. Being a guard is supposed to be an honor, not a lifetime of punishment. You are guilty of gross negligence. Your people should have been your primary concern. Andy, the choice is yours, you can take your punishment, like a queen, or I will punish you myself." Buffy stood before them, with cold hard eyes filled with disgust at Andais' abuse of power.
"Are you going to just stand there and allow her to take everything?" Cel's sanity shattered. He called on the Hand of Old Blood. It could draw the blood from an old wound, draining a person's body. Everyone felt the surge of power, then saw him shoot a red beam straight at Buffy.
It hit her as everybody watched in horror, she giggled. "Stop, that tickles, quit it."
Corned his eyes lit on Merry, he pushed his power toward her, but Buffy appeared before him. No one saw her move across the room. "If you want to hurt fine me, but there's an innocent child in there. Give us a kiss good-bye, Celly." Buffy drew his head down to hers, when their lips touched she took a deep breath. She blew the air back down his lungs until it filled his body. A scream tore from his throat, then he just exploded in a bright red light. Nothing of Cel, Prince of Old Blood, remained.
"What did you do to my son?" Andais stared at the spot where Cel stood only moments ago.
"I merely gave him everything he dished out over the years in one big dose. I gave him all the cruelty, pain, rape, hate and evil that you taught him was his birthright."
"Are you going to kill me too?"
"No, I didn't come here to kill people. I have fought enough for a million lifetimes but there was no choice. His mind was gone. Cel targeted the baby, and for an innocent, you will be amazed at what I will do and have done. No, Andy, your punishment won't be death, but you might wish it were," Buffy said, cryptically. She smiled to herself, thinking the stupid Powers weren't the only ones who could do cryptic.
"What happens to my throne?"
"Was it still yours? Weren't you giving it to Merry, now she's preggers or was that a lie?"
"No, I didn't lie. If she is with child then I will step down."
Buffy barked out a harsh laugh. "Andy, you should work on your cryptic crap you're not good. You didn't tell her when, did you? So, exactly how old would Merry be before she sat her cute butt on your throne? I'm guessing gray haired granny and her kiddo ends up ruling. After you shape them the way, you want them, give 'em a few tips from Great Auntie Andais."
Merry's face turned hard with anger. She was tired of being a tool tossed about for everybody to use. "Is that true, Aunt?"
"Merry, why would you believe this stranger over me your own kin? My word is always true, I am Sidhe."
"Now, tell the whole truth. Saying you are a Sidhe is shorthand for saying as what you can get away with."
"Fine, yes, why would I give my thrown to a human? You were useful for a broodmare, not a queen. You aren't even immortal," Andais shouted, in frustration.
"Sorry to cut short family hour but there is the matter of a choice for Andy here. What do you choose punishment here in the Sithin or by me?"
"I will take the punishment. I will survive. I still have royal blood in my veins. What will it be?"
Buff looked at Merry and the others in the room. "Will someone get the head dungeon dude?" Doyle left to bring back Ezekial. "Merry, please sit down this is going to be a long night. You and I still have to talk."
What does Buffy want with me? Merry's head pounded from the stress as Doyle and Ezekial returned.
Ezekial ignored Andais instead he bowed before Buffy. "Punish Andais for her crimes against the fey. She should feel everything she levied on her guards for the next six years. Zeke, use your talents, each year should feel like a hundred, she needs to understand that she was wrong. When she returns to court, Andais will hold no rank or power. She will be a citizen like any other fey."
"You said you wouldn't punish me, you lied. My rank and privilege come to me through birthright. You can't remove them."
"Everyone please step outside, except for Sholto, Merry and Ezekial," Buffy ordered. The men wanted to resist, but feared it could make it worse for Merry. "Nothing is going to happen to her, promise. This is family business." They reluctantly left. Each glancing back at Merry until the door closed.
Buffy rounded on the tall black haired woman. "This is your last chance, Andy. I can strip away your Sidhe blood leaving nothing but the shell."
Andais stepped back. "That is impossible. How?"
"Do you need to ask, after everything that's happened? The only way you will know is to choose but it is a one-way street. It can't be undone, ever!" Buffy was growing impatient; she was already tired of this world. Who would think I would be tired. I already slept like a kabillion years, damnit. Damn the Valar or the Powers or whatever they call themselves here. I'm sick of this fight, this never-ending fight. "Well!" Buffy's voice was cold and hard colored by her thoughts.
Andais knew a fear she never imagined existed. Her body shook and her voice trembled with it. "I accept my punishment and loss of rank." She could barely force the words from her mouth.
Buffy nodded then looked at Ezekial. He stepped forward, and in one smooth move stripped the jewelry and gown from Andais' body. Quicker than a man his size should be able to move, a knife flashed and Andais' beautiful raven hair lay on the floor at her feet. She cried out, realizing Ezekial administered the humiliating punishments Andais herself created. He grabbed her arm roughly dragging from the room. Andais tried to resist, but Ezekial backhanded her breaking her nose. Blood gushed down her face and onto her chest. Doyle instinctively stiffened at seeing Andais treated in such a manner. The former Ravens weren't sure how to handle this turn of events. Some felt protective, others triumphant, then as one they turned away to look at the door waiting to return to Merry's side.
Sholto waved the men back into the room. He quietly walked back to stand beside Buffy who sat beside Merry. "Please, everyone, sit down and relax. Hopefully, the rest will be good news."
They positioned themselves around Merry like a wall of protection. It made a funny picture, all these men protecting a tiny redhead from a tiny blonde.
"Merry, can I touch your stomach again? I promise it won't hurt the baby."
"Yes." She wasn't sure why but she trusted Buffy. Her instincts kept her alive this long, she just hoped her luck would hold.
Buffy placed her right hand on Merry's still flat stomach. She spread her fingers out. Nenya started glowing, then stopped. When she removed her hand, the ring of power no longer gleamed a pure white. It was a pale iridescent blue.
"What are you doing to her?" Kitto asked, his large blue snake eyes looked at Buffy full of curiosity.
She smiled down at him, he reminded her of Frodo. "I am saying, hi to my heir."
"Lady, tis true, the babe is the one you seek?" Sholto asked, reverently.
"Yep, guess I'm the honorary grandma several hundred times. Merry, your child is who I came for," before Buffy could finish.
The men closed around Merry. "You will not take her child!" Frost growled his filled with ice. He grabbed her arm with a freezing touch.
"Would you chill, Mr. Freeze? Before you guys went postal, I was trying to say I'm here to protect and train the child. When he or she is ready and I have cleaned up most of the crap then they will rule. I don't want a kingdom; I want peace. Too finally, rest forever, but I can't until I put my heir on the throne. You want to let me have my hand back or are you going to ask me on a date?" Frost dropped her arm not realizing he still held it.
"What of Andais' throne and Merry's rule? Who will rule here?" Rhys asked.
"No one."
"What? You would leave us without a ruler. That is madness," Doyle shouted, uncharacteristically.
"You guys are quick out of the starting gate. No wonder it took you so long to get her pregnant." Sholto and Galen snorted. "I'm tired, so please sit down, shut up and just look pretty for a little while." Merry hid her smile, she wanted to say that herself several times these past few months.
"There won't be an Unseelie throne or a Seelie throne. Only one will rule over all the fey. One kingdom, one ruler, my heir will inherit my right to rule and my ring of power to ensure it. If you understand just nod your heads." They all nodded, Buffy had to bite the inside her mouth to keep from laughing at them. "The next step is for Merry to tell proud poppa, that he is a proud poppa. I will talk with them about their child's future, which is only right. If you didn't catch it before geas are no longer legal. Royal guards will volunteer their time. No one is a slave to anyone else; the other guards will be notified that they have been released from duty. The rest of you can, uh, go and do whatever or whoever you want, within reason of course. Merry, her consort and unborn child will still need protection but that is up to you. I will protect them as well."
"What of you, Lady? Don't you need a guard as well?" Sholto asked. He would not allow any harm to come to Buffy.
Buffy's laughed bitterly. "I wish Sho, I wish. No, unfortunately, I can't die, no matter what happens until my duty is done. Damn them. Sho and I will leave you alone so you can discuss your plans and Merry can digest it all. Could we meet in the morning, I guess here? Just Merry and the baby's father after that I have to meet with Nicci and Kroger. The day after tomorrow we will announce everything to the court. Congratulations Merry, I always wanted a baby but they wouldn't allow it." No one understood her last bitter comment.
Sholto escorted Buffy from the sitting room. They walked through the Sithin's too quiet halls. Understanding hit Buffy, after they walked along in silence for several minutes. The Mound didn't know who to obey. It was drawn to her affinity to the Earth, but its partnership with Andais was still in place.
"Sho, what should I do about the Mound? Do I connect it to me?" She bit her lip pondering all the angles. Buffy knew what she wanted the future to hold. How she accomplished it, she wasn't sure. "Let's take a walk outside and stretch out legs." Hooking her arm in his, they walked along the halls toward the front entrance.
"Why are you so sad, Sho? Don't you have anyone in your life?"
Her question startled him. The fey didn't ask direct question. It was an unspoken rule. "Lady, only my hags will have one such as me."
"Why? Is it because of what's under your shirt? Do you ever give anyone a chance or just assume they will feel that way? I knew someone like you once. He never thought he deserved love because of what he was. When he had it, he threw it away. Maybe you should give people a chance, Sho, lots of 'em will surprise you. Everyone has flaws, some are on the outside for everyone to see, others are hidden. They are just as real to either person. If you are willing to look beyond, to what's inside, that is when you find it."
Sholto listened, mesmerized by her words. "Find what, Lady?"
"Love, happiness, joy, peace, your other half, your mate..." Her voice held something wistful and sad.
"Did you, Lady? Find it, I mean?"
"Oh yes, Sho, I was fooled once, but when I found the real thing, it was like - paradise." Her face glowed with memories of the long years of living and loving with Legolas.
"What happened?" The question slipped out before he realized it.
Her hazel eyes clouded with sadness, looking more grey than green. Sholto felt his heart break for her. The pain radiating from those eyes spoke a thousand words in a single glance.
"He died. They only gave us a thousand years before they took him and left me here to wait." The anger in her voice sent shivers down his spine. "I'm sorry, Sho, we need to do something before it grows worse, too many lives are at risk."
Stepping outside, Buffy opened herself up the Mound. She cursed when she saw the evidence in front of her, almost wishing that Andais chose differently.
She smoothly sunk her sword into the ground at the Sithin's entrance. Kneeling down, she cupped her hands around the ruby and blew. Catching the breath as it left her mouth, capturing it close to the stone. It started to glow as if she lit a match. Moving her hands away, she blew causing the light to flare.
Light flowed from the stone, with one last blow it shot out to enclose the Mound in a dome of warming light. Everything took on a rosy tint inside the Sithin, those within looked on in wonder. It was like a world seen through rose-colored glasses. The light gently faced away.
Buffy slowly got to her feet with Sholto's help. "Can you take me to my room, Sholto? I'm tired." She leaned against him.
Sholto gently picked her up carrying her inside. Looking down at her, she looked like a small child rather than a powerful being. He quickly walked through the halls to Andais' former rooms. The doors opened and his eyes widened in wonder. It looked like a fairy wonderland. The bed folded back when he approached causing him to smile. This room was created to welcome the Mound's new mistress.
Laying her on the bed, he pulled her boots off, only to have them disappear from his hands. Buffy sighed, a soft breath. Sholto watched in wonder. Her clothes and weapons disappeared, to be replaced by the softest, sheerest material he had ever seen. It caressed her skin lovingly as the covers settled themselves around her.
He tried to leave the room without waking her. The night's surprises continued when Andais' black doors turned green. They resembled the color of springtime leaves with white symbols scrolling along the edges. A white flower stood where the two doors met. The same exact flower of Buffy's ring. The doors turned into a solid wall, protecting the treasure hidden within.
"By the goddess, may the Lady's benevolence be shown to this court? Nothing would save us if she decided to destroy us all," he prayed.
Andais screamed, confusing Ezekial. He hadn't even touched her yet, he wondered if her mind was already broken.
"No, no, no, its mine. She can't have it," she mumbled.
"Ah, you don't like that the Lady took away all that was yours. That is good, thank you, Andais. I will use this knowledge well." Ezekial gave her a cruel smile as he stripped the rest of her clothes off.
Buffy woke the next morning feeling rested. The covers rolled back when she moved to get out of bed. She walked around her room with a wistful smile on her face. The room was a replica of the one she had on Valinor after Legolas' death. She couldn't bear to stay in their room after he died, so she moved to her parent's room. A large bed carved of wood from the forest of Lothlorien. An intricate design of flowing vines that recreated Nenya hung overhead.
In one corner of the room stood a bubbling pool, Buffy dropped her gown and stepped into the warm water. It felt like an embrace from an old friend. Smiling to herself, she leaned back against the soft ground at the pool's edge.
Today should be fun. I wonder who won the daddy pool. Merry has a nice selection to choose from. Buffy understood not wanting to hurry up and get pregnant. So, let's see will it be Dark and Studly, Mr. Freeze, One-Eyed Jack, Peter Pan, or Nestles Quick? Mmm, I'm gonna have to go with Dark and Studly or One-Eyed Jack.
She heard a knock on the door, and called out 'Enter.' Two doors appeared dissecting the symbol in half. Sholto and Sage entered, then stopped short. Their eyes took in the sight before them. Buffy stood under a cascade of water. A prism of crystal encompassed her body as the pure water flowed over her golden skin. Her skin glowed, a soft amber hue when she lifted her arms to wash her knee-length hair.
The two men watched the suds slide down her body to the pool below. "Where did than come from? I never heard of a pool with a waterfall in the Sithin before." Sage's head cocked to one side while his sparkling wings fluttered.
"The Mound has a new mistress. This must be someplace that she remembers."
"You mean it made it for her? Like a gift or something? Could it always do that?"
"Andais could change the size and layout of the Mound but no to my knowledge never anything like this. The Mound itself never has either," Sholto answered, never taking his eyes off Buffy.
"They are two different things. Hello Sho, Tink." She stood before them completely dry with her hair in Elven braids.
"How did you do that?" Sage looked at her long hair completely dry and styled.
Buffy laughed, "It's hard to explain, Tink. A long time ago, I wove a powerful spell. The magic stayed inside me, until it was time to use it. When I did it kinda saturated me. As long as it is for me, my needs seem to happen like a waterfall and bubbles for my hair, when I step out I'm dry. It used to bug my mate a lot, he had long hair too. He hated that I didn't have to trouble with mine like he did."
"But couldn't you just, you know, wish it dry for him?" The little Demi-Fey tried to understand everything she was telling him.
"I could but there is always a price. I learned that the hard way. Magic and power shouldn't be abused for trivial things. What happens for me was a side effect. If I used strong magic for small things, it makes it weaker and I pay a heavy price."
"By the consort, you mean," Sholto exclaimed as the pieces fell into place for him.
"Yes, Lord of the Host, you are a very smart man. I think you sell yourself too short."
"What, what did I miss?" Sage all but stomped his foot in frustration.
"Tink, you are a riot. How old are you six, seven hundred, a thousand? But, you pout, stomp and shout like a child," Buffy giggled at his antics.
"I'm sorry, Lady," his voice quivered.
"You're not in trouble just stating a fact. Now as soon as I dress, I'll be ready to meet with Merry and bachelor number one."
"Huh?" They looked at each other not understanding what she was talking about. When they looked back, Buffy stood before them gowned in a long dress of Lorien green. It fit tightly at the bodice with crystal buttons that resembled her ring. Then as if they were thrown haphazardly across the dress, the design repeated itself. It wasn't until she walked that they saw the flowers moved across the material as if they were alive, drifting on a puff of air.
"Let's get this show on the road. I think if we walk through those doors, we will be back where we agreed to meet." Buffy pointed at another set of doors on the right side of the bedroom. "This is kinda fun like a treasure hunt. So, let's see what is behind door number two."