Breathe: Her Next Breath by cjsplace

Breathe: Next Breath ~ 4

There was a knock on the door. Sholto opened it to admit Queen NicEven, Sage and her contingent of Demi-Fey. Niceven flew to Buffy bowing gracefully while floating in the air.

"Hello Nicci, sorry we kept your waiting, but it's been a busy morning. Um, please, have a seat." Buffy motioned to a small chair, but Niceven landed on the arm of Buffy's chair. She looked up at Buffy breathing in deeply before swiftly flying around. "I can smell you and your blood heavy in this room. May I taste, Lady?" Her little fangs flashed.

"Sorry, Nicci, that's not going to happen. Now back off and we'll have a nice little talk."

NicEven moved away hearing the steel in Buffy's voice. "Thank you, Nicci. Now, what did you want to talk to me about?"

"You took Andais' crown from her will mine remain on my head or follow her fate?"

Merry was surprised at the straight forwardness of the question. Of all the fey, NicEven was very good at twisting her words.

"It will remain on your head for now, Nicci, but things will be changing."

"What will happen to the Demi-Fey?" The tiny queen truly cared for her people.

"You will be told how everything will come about. The most important thing is that no one will be left out. The Demi-Fey will have as many rights as anyone other fey."

"I will not lose all nor keep all," NicEven said.

"Correct," Buffy answered.

"Who will gain what I lose Lady, you?"

"For a time, then it will be given to another of my choosing, for my purposes. Do you have a problem with this, Nicci?"

"No, Lady. I will serve you, as will all the Demi-Fey. I have been expecting you for some time now." She gave Buffy a mysterious smile.

Merry interrupted, she always forgot just how old NicEven was. "Why or how did you know about her, NicEven?"

"You Sidhe stay together here in Sithin as if all of fey resides within. Merry, you better than most, know there is more to us than this court. The Demi-Fey do not just listen to the fey. We still know how to listen to the flowers and trees. There has been unrest in the land for some time. They still speak of the Lady at her rest, speaking of the time when she will awaken and change our fates."

"Why have I never heard this before now? My father never spoke of it." Merry didn't like not knowing such large pieces of fey history. She thought her father told her everything. She realized that she knew very little.

"After the great wars when the Sidhe broke from the great ones, they wouldn't speak of anything related to them. Since they were the first children of the Lady, the strongest of us all, she wasn't mentioned either. She became a myth, a fairy tale. You remember those don't you Merry. They are built on the Lady's legend - her birth, her life, her sleep and her return. Have you never wondered why they speak of Mother Nature with fear and reverence?"

"Hey, I'm not Mother Nature" Buffy broke in with a protest

"Aren't you Lady?" NicEven's tiny eyebrow rose in challenge.

"No, she's like a really old. She supposed to be motherly, I'm not," Buffy reasoned with a pout on her face.

Just then, another knock sounded at the door. Sholto again opened the door. This time it was Kurag escorted by Barinthus.

"I have come to see the Lady. It concerns the Queen and rumors going around the Sithin." Barinthus bowed before Buffy.

"Hello Aquaman. Please join us, although it is getting a little crowded." Before Buffy could finish uttering the rest of the sentence, the room started to grow and change.

Barinthus almost fell, but Buffy caught him when the floor moved. Her chair grew larger more regal. Vines began to grow around the legs then up the wall behind Buffy, creating a canopy above her. Buffy looked up to watch them weave together into the Elven flower. Buffy's dress turned white and the symbols turned green.

"By the consort!" Barinthus swore watching the room change.

A gentle breeze carrying the scent of roses wafted through the room. The tinkling of the tiny bells, attached to the ends of Buffy's braids, was the only sound in the suddenly quiet room.

Buffy breathed in the sweet air, on her exhale Doyle heard her whisper. "Thank you, both of you,"

Barinthus stood over Buffy. Somehow, she didn't seem overpowered by his large frame. "Hello Kroger, how are you and your brother?" Buffy asked.

Kurag bowed in front of her, all of his eyes blinking. His queen glared at Buffy while she stroked her husband. "Lady, the Goblins are worried. There is much unrest since last night. They are fearful of what you will do to them, with them."

"I will tell you like I told Nicci; you will lose some power, but not all. The future of the fey depends on everyone finding a better way to co-exist. The Goblins are ahead of the other courts with your laws. Kroger, your insight and input along with all the courts will be listened to and respected. I will announce tomorrow at court what the future holds."

"Thank you, Lady. Merry, I come for the return of my halfling," Kurag announced.

"Sorry, no halfling here," Buffy said

"He is here. Kitto was seen to come in this very room." Kurag demanded.

"Oh, Kitto is here but he isn't a halfling anymore."

"What is going on here? You promised I could taste his flesh since he's tasted the princess, " the Goblin Queen whined, Kurag back-handed her against a wall.

"Lady, Kitto belongs to Goblin."

"Nope, not anymore, he's not Goblin; he's Sidhe, full Sidhe. Kitto, come here, please," Buffy called out.

From behind Frost, Kitto stepped forward proudly to stand beside Buffy. "Yes, Lady." His now deep voice answered.

"But that is impossible. How did this happen?" Kurag asked, looking at Kitto in wonder and anger.

"The Lady made it so. The Goblins have no say over a Sidhe by law. I am no longer yours to use in any manner," Kitto answered.

Merry blinked, seeing a side of him she never knew existed. He was magnificent to watch as he proudly looked down at Kurag. She felt her heart beat a little faster and a heavy feeling of want settled low in her womb. Merry was happy about her child, but couldn't keep her thoughts from her previous lovers.

These pasts months of being touched, tasted, teased, nibbled, and pounded by these men; a different one each night or sometimes two, only once had there been three. That night Merry remembered well, sometimes she dreamed of it only to awaken wet and wanting. Now after feasting with such different lovers, she wondered if they would fall in love or end up hating each other. They all loved each other already. She came the closest to falling in love with Frost. Looking at him under her lashes, she didn't think she could have lasted the long years with him.

Frost watched Buffy as she gently took Kitto's hand quieting him. He felt uncontrolled rage at the action. Moving forward as if he meant to interrupt the meeting, Sholto stepped in front of him.

"Were you to interfere it could appear that you do not accept your new brother. Kurag would take that to mean that Kitto is still Goblin property. Do not go where you have not been invited."

Doyle pulled Frost away to a quiet corner. "What are you doing, old friend?"

"I am not sure anymore, doesn't this anger you? Doesn't she anger you?"

"The Lady has done nothing to anger me. Why are you? I know you hoped the babe was yours; I am sorry, but you were not the only one, Frost. At least now, each of us has a chance at a life with a mate of our own if we choose it. A lot of what she says makes sense now that I stop to think of it. We also have no choice; not just because of how powerful she is but because our fate is tied to hers." Doyle's black eyes tried to read his friends face.

"She is an arrogant child playing at a game. I remember the old ones, Doyle. They weren't good or benevolent. No, you just wait there is something more to this."

"Yes there is Mr. Freeze, if you and the Shadow will join us we can continue." Buffy's voice hit his ear in a soft whisper like a lover's mummer. Frost felt it down his spine as it wrapped around him, keeping his back to the room he looked at Doyle. "She wants us to go back over; I'll be there in a moment."

Doyle looked at his friend then glanced down, his bright white smile gleamed in the room. "Of course, join us when you get your 'temper' under control. I'll tell the Lady."

Frost took a few deep breaths willing his body not to respond. He just hoped he wasn't glowing, all this from just a whisper across the room. I can only imagine what she could do lying in a lover's arms whispering in their ear. Frost hardened painfully at that thought and started glowing brightly. Pulling from deep inside, he sent the cold throughout his body until it was finally under control. He went to join the others standing to the back, the farthest away from Buffy.

"Tomorrow we will have a grand ball and announce Merry's baby news, as well as my own. Then we can start having round table discussions with all the court leaders. Once the Unseelie Court is united, I'll move onto the Seelie Court, then last but not least join the two. Aquaman, would you and Sho consider taking seats for the discussion. Sholto obviously, as the Lord of the Host, but also he sees a lot in a little time. Where as you," she smiled up at Barinthus, "know a lot more of the history and workings of why everything came about."

Barinthus smiled at Buffy. "I would be honored, Lady. What of Merry and Rhys?"

"I've already told them how much I'll be relying on them. This can't be a one-sided affair. Everyone has to be represented and have a say in their new way of life. Kind of like Congress or something. I'm tired of talking is there somewhere to, well I guess that is kind of a dumb question, huh. Sorry, not used to all this yet. Is there anyone here who likes to spar?" Buffy smiled at them.

"Spar with what?" Galen asked intrigued.

"Fist, feet, swords, knives, whatever, I just want to work out the kinks."

"We are, were, Ravens, Lady. We have protected the Queen for almost a thousand years." Doyle answered proudly, his back straight and his shoulders squared.

"Okay, so, where do you usually train? We can go there or here, I'm guessing?" Buffy got up, as she stood her dress changed into cream leather pants. They hugged her body and rode low on her hips, above it she wore a green blouse made from intricate scarves wrapped around her torso. Around her neck was Arwen's necklace, it fell gracefully down her chest pointing to a hint of breast that peaked out as she walked. The boots she wore, the first night were on her feet, only now they were cream colored. Her hair was one long intricate braid, which on the sides recreated Nenya's design.

She opened a set of doors and walked into a huge room set up for any type of fighting imaginable. "Any takers?" Her eyebrow rose in challenge and a Mona Lisa smile graced her face.

Barinthus walked forward as did Sholto and Kitto. Merry whispered furiously to Rhys. "You must stop him, Rhys; he doesn't know how to fight. Doyle has barely begun his training."

"Merry, he is a man much older than he looks. It wasn't that he couldn't fight; it was that his will was dead. Leave him be." He looked at her calmly.

She realized that she couldn't interfere in Kitto's life anymore. Her mouth snapped shut as she watched from the sidelines. She tried to look at Kitto without Rhys knowing.

"Are there rules, Lady? Will you punish us if we best you?" Galen teased from the sidelines.

"You sit over there and crow at me, Peter Pan. The answer is no, unless of course you're asking me to spank you."

Galen's face took on such a look of lust at that thought, Buffy started laughing. It raced down their spines although they were better prepared for it. Every one of them started to glow at the sound.

"Do we beg her to stop that or beg her to continue? I swear at this moment I know not which," Doyle said uncharacteristically. Merry looked at him in surprise, the smile she was only now getting used to was showing. "Yes, Merry, I find her very desirable for many reasons. Now that it isn't forbidden for me to voice those opinions, I may even shock you." Doyle turned back to see all three men with swords.

Buffy stood in the center of them; her long sword held casually in her hand. Doyle saw her muscles move almost of their own accord. Sholto swung at her from the right, which she blocked as Barinthus came from behind. She seemed almost to stand on her head, suspended above the floor, as her feet hit his chin, knocking him back. Her feet continued around as she crouched low spinning in a circle outward from Kitto's blow. Buffy seemed to grow from the floor as she spun out of her crouched position.

Doyle asked Rhys, not taking his eyes off the action on the floor. "Was that what you saw? Her fighting like this?" He asked in a hushed whisper.

"No, it was more than this. She is playing, I would guess. What I saw was as if she moved without thought or sound. There were large beasts surrounding her in every direction, and in the blink of an eye, she killed everything in her path."

"Then there couldn't have been that many," Frost said, as he watched her flip over Sholto's head to disarm him.

"The bodies would more than fill this room," he answered. Rhys had controlled the armies of the dead but what he saw frightened him.

"Why is she so powerful? It doesn't make sense." Frost couldn't control the rage boiling up inside him.

"Because the Valar screwed up, but hey that's not my fault and you wouldn't be here if they didn't." They gasped thinking she was behind them. Turning they saw only Barinthus remained in the fight with her.

He tried to use his size as an advantage, but found it difficult. Whenever he swung, she wasn't there but beside him or behind him. Buffy spanked him with her sword as she answered them. She pushed up with her sword, this time, meeting his mid-strike. Pushing with all his strength, he couldn't budge his sword. Barinthus looked down at her glowing face with a smile and dropped his sword.

"You are very good Lady. It has been an honor." He bowed over her hand, kissing the inside of her wrist.

Buffy pouted at him, then smiled. "Fine, but it's not fair to give in so easily."

"What did you mean they screwed up?" Frost stomped over, grabbing her arm.

Sholto went to pull him away when Buffy shook her head. "You want to let me go, Tinsletown?" Her voice though quiet sent a shiver down everyone's spine.

"What did you mean?" he demanded.

"Asked you nice." Buffy grabbed him by the front of his shirt, pitching him across the room. He slid across the floor. As they watched, the floor titled causing him to go out the doors, then they sealed into a solid wall behind him.

"Oops, didn't mean to get everyone in on it," she grinned.

Galen was howling with laughter as Rhys tried to keep a straight face.

"It won't punish him, will it?" Merry asked. She watched with a growing concern for her former lover.

"No, Merry, I just wanted him to back, the hell, off. Someone needs to give that boy a talking to, he rubs me the wrong way. What exactly is his problem?"

"I don't think he knows where he belongs anymore. He belonged to Andais forever, then he was with me. Now, he has a choice, but for some reason, I think he blames you for that." Merry tried to explain her theory on Frost's behavior.

"You mean he wanted to go back to Andy and her torture salon? Man, you people sure have a weird sense of security. Look, I'm sorry if everything is different for him but it is for everyone else too. Frosty is going to have to become a real boy sometime."

"Would you explain to us what you meant?" Doyle asked.

"Sure, we might as well get comfortable. It will take a little while to tell."

Buffy walked back through the doors that appeared before her and was once gain dressed in her white and green gown. The others watched in awe and confusion then followed her back into the salon. They found Frost sulking in a chair as they all sat down. Ignoring the silver-haired man, Buffy started explaining how she and they came into existence.

"That's the whole deal, if the Valor hadn't sent me to the other Earth and put me in a Slayers body, none of this would have happened."

"The world you went to, it had a different type of magic?" Merry asked.

"Yeah, it was more white or dark, you know eye of newt, that kind of stuff. Middle Earth was closer to your version of Earth. There are a lot of similarities, so, I'm guessing this one evolved from it naturally..."

"And you Lady, don't forget, you changed everything," Sholto said.

Buffy looked at them with a sad smile on her face. "Yes, I guess I'm to blame for it all. I will see everyone tomorrow for the ball." Buffy walked out of the room, before anyone could say a word. The doors sealed into a solid wall behind her.

"I guess she wants to be alone." Kitto's eyes followed Buffy as she walked away. She changed his whole life for no reason other than to make him happy. He would stand beside her for eternity if she asked.

Buffy dreamed that night not of the child or danger but of a lover. He had white glowing skin, but she couldn't see his face, only his arms as they held her. She was on top riding him as they moaned in pleasure, his hands on her breasts. Looking down there was no face only shadow. Buffy woke up feeling oddly sated as if a lover shared her bed and body last night.

Slipping into her pool, she tried to understand the dream but it would slip away from her each time. Buffy walked out of the water. Her mind still distracted when she heard a knock on the door. "ENTER"

She started pacing, not even bothering to look up. Someone cleared their throat, there they all stood, including Merry, dressed for the ball. The time had passed as her mind worried through her dreams. "Sorry, I was thinking something through. Is it time to go?"

"Yes, Lady, are you going like that," Barinthus asked.

"Please say yes," Galen muttered. His and every other man's eyes drank in the beauty of her naked body.

"Just a sec." She looked at them dressed in their finery and started walking toward them.

"Yes!" Galen crowed, Merry slapped him on the arm.

"That is a very pretty dress, Lady. You look beautiful, almost as beautiful as you do without." Kitto smiled at her and she returned it with one of her own.

She wore a dress the color of moonbeams. It shimmered silver but as she moved, it burnished gold. Her crown was once again on her head and at her breast was a large pearl, the size of a baby's fist. The dress moved caressing her body, at times taking on the illusion of being almost transparent.

"Rhys, if you would escort us. We can show a united front."

"It would be an honor, Lady, to have the two most beautiful women at court on my arms." He held out an arm to each as they walked out the door.

"I was hoping she'd wear the other outfit," Galen grinned.

"We all were, boy, we all were." Barinthus' eyes followed the regal figure in front of him.

Sage flew up to them. "Damn, I missed it didn't I? I can smell it on you," Sage pouted. "Was she in her pool this time, too?"

"What pool?" Doyle asked. Honestly, he hadn't noticed much but long blond hair and lots of golden skin. He could have been standing in a pool and not known it.

"There is a pool and a waterfall comes out of the ceiling. Lord Sholto and I saw it yesterday." His grin brightened at the memory.

"No, she was just pacing her room deep in thought"

"Oh" Sage said, flying a little way off.

"In the nude," Galen crowed. Sage flew right into a wall, sliding down to the floor. Galen helped him up. "Yep, that's how we felt too." He whistled as he walked on, hurrying to catch the others.

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Breathe: Next Breath ~ 4