Buffy stormed from the training room angry at the silver-haired Sidhe. Her clothes changed to fit her mood. They morphed into a red leather outfit, the red was so deep it looked black. Two triangles cupped her breasts, an intricate web of leather strings wrapped lovingly around her back, with the pattern repeating itself down her thighs. Honey golden skin glowed next to the dark leather. Three-inch stiletto heeled boots clattered along the marble halls. The interior dimmed to a warm candlelight as Buffy passed through, muttering to herself about stupid men with tinsel heads, who wouldn't know a chance for a better life if it bit them on their snotty noses.
Little did she know, the Mound decided to remove said thorn from its mistress' side, if only for a little while. Frost tried to go after Buffy, but found himself locked in a room with no exits. Whenever he tried to approach the doors, the Mound sent him shooting across the floor on his backside. He tried screaming, but his voice just echoed back at him.
He sat frustrated wondering how long his imprisonment would last. Frost cussed about stupid blondes without an ounce of sense. With a loud crack, he found himself sprawled on the floor. He turned to watch his chair reassemble from the shattered pieces.
"All right, I understand. I'll keep my opinions to myself. Do I get to leave anytime soon?"
Buffy continued her journey, not noticing the people she passed along the way. They took one look at her and hid in their rooms. She stormed outside to see the rolling hills, green grass and trees. The blue sky reminded her of Arwen's eyes. Taking a deep breath, she threw her head back and screamed at the top of her lungs. The Earth shook under her feet and fear raced down everyone's spine.
She dropped to her knees to bury her fingers in the grass. The cool earth soothed her angry heart. Its pulse rushed up to greet her in a soft lover-like embrace. The small forest animals slowly crawled forward to look at this strange creature. A dove landed on her shoulder to coo softly in her ear. Buffy rubbed her cheek against the gossamer feathers. Tiny squirrels ran to stand beside her hands begging for some attention. A doe followed by a tiny spotted fawn drew closer. Next, a mountain lion proudly stalked forward to lie behind Buffy's back to create a rest. The squirrels ran to each side peaking around at the predator, they knew at any other time would eat them for a snack.
Buffy laughed at their antics feeling the anger and stress melt away. Inside the Sithin, the doors reappeared allowing Frost to exit the training room.
Doyle, Sholto, Kitto, Sage and Barinthus stood at the Sithin's entrance, transfixed by the sight before them.
"She is Mother Nature, isn't she?" Sage asked, in a stage whisper.
The men inhaled in unison to breathe in Buffy's scent. She smelled of sunshine, the deep forest and vanilla. A strange mixture, but it comforted them.
Sholto moved forward with Kitto right beside him. They stopped to look at each other, then nodded in understanding. This tiny woman-child, with all her power, held a piece of their hearts. They gave it freely, in gratitude for her unconditional acceptance of them. Buffy saw them as men, even before she transformed Kitto.
The mountain lion growled at the intruders, until a small hand scratched behind its ears causing it to instantly calm. "Hello, you two. Sorry about the temper tantrum, but I was already upset and Frosty sent me over the edge."
"What upset you, Lady?" Sholto moved to stand in front of her. He thought she looked like an angry fairy. The sun turned her hair to a burnished gold while the dark leather caused her skin to glow warmly.
"I found something out last night. I work problems out better when train, so I went to try to and figure out what to do. Frosty decided that he'd interrupt right in the middle to yell at me for being irresponsible. It was the wrong time to butt into my business. I was so close to figuring out what to do, that it pissed me off."
Kitto saw that Buffy was holding something back. He didn't know if the blood bond they shared made him more sensitive to her feelings or he was getting to know her better. "Is Frost in need of Fflur's help?"
Buffy laughed at the sparkle in his eyes. "No, I just gave him a little haircut then left. He's…" Giggles burst from her lips and she leaned back into her fur chair. The Sithin putting Frost in time out popped into her head.
A unicorn appeared at the forest's edge. Everyone thought this mystical creature faded away long ago with other creatures like dragons.
"Sholto, stand behind me with Kit." Her soft voice ordered and they did so without question.
Doyle's obsidian eyes grew large when he saw the unicorn stride forward then bowed its golden horn to Buffy. Her small hands moved from the point to just beneath large doe-like eyes. He swore they were communicating. Watching Buffy closely he heard her speak in a soft lilting language that although he didn't understand it the unicorn did. The majestic creature shook its head then turned to run back into the forest.
"Why did it leave, Buffy? Did we scare it off?" Kitto was saddened by the unicorn's leaving.
"No, Kit, just wait and you'll see where Moon Shadow went. Promise me that you will stay still no matter what happens." Buffy looked at her two friends. Her Lothlorien green eyes asked them to trust her.
They nodded then looked back at the forest waiting patiently for what would come out next.
Frost went to speak to Merry. She was the only woman ever to melt his cold heart. He felt an icy chill thinking about a life without her. He didn't want to be alone again, but didn't know if he could or would trust another woman. Frost knocked on the door, only opening it after he heard a shout for him to enter. The scene before him created yet another shard of ice to form.
Merry rested on the bed with Rhys' arms wrapped around her. His hand lay on her womb as if he could feel the babe beneath. Frost took a deep breath to steady his thoughts.
"What's the matter, Frost?" The worry in Merry's voice filled the room.
"Sit down and tell us what is going on." The white haired Sidhe hid the sympathy he felt for his friend.
Ignoring the invitation, Frost paced the room. His silver hair swung behind him like a shining cape. Merry enjoyed looking at this beautiful man. She kept her features calm not to upset Rhys. They were learning to accept the changes in their lives. It still felt strange to know that she was tied to the man beside her for the rest of her life, not to mention raising a child with him.
"It's that woman, the Lady!" He spat the name then looked around expecting the Sithin to punish him. When nothing happened, he continued to rant. "Do you know that she gave Kitto the Hand of Visibility?"
"That's wonderful!" Merry clapped like a happy child. "Kitto deserves it and if anyone can handle the responsibility he can."
"Merry, you are too young to know what you are talking about. The ancient hands are best left dead. Their past wielders became corrupted." He threw his hands in the air. "She comes into our lives and turns everything upside down, and we are expected to just accept it like good little soldiers. I won't, I tell you. No one with that much power can be trusted."
"You don't trust me anymore do you? Not since, I came into my second Hand of Power. The Hand of Blood is an old power, so I can't be trusted, right? For being too young to understand, I think I see who and what you are, Frost. All the others wanted to be my child's father just as much as you. Buffy comes along with more power than I will ever have and you are jealous. You realize that even if you were the father you'd never have what you crave. Get out, you need to leave before I do something we will both regret.
She stood in front of him looking like a living flame. The heat in her eyes caused the much taller Sidhe to take a step back. "I didn't mean that I don't trust you. But why would she give someone so inexperienced so much. She turned Kitto into a full Sidhe from her blood alone. If she was going to give someone that much power it should have at least been…" Frost stopped his angry tongue before he dug himself deeper into a hole.
"You. That is what you meant, isn't it? Go away, GET OUT!" Merry screamed causing Rhys to move quickly across the room to gather her in his arms.
Everyone turned when they heard banging on the door. Frost answered it hoping the short reprieve would allow Merry to calm down.
Sage swooped into the room, too excited to notice the air thick with tension. "Merry, you have to come, hurry up before they all go away. You won't believe it, if you don't see it with your own eyes." The Demi-Fey's excitement was contagious. They hurried to follow him as he shot through the Sithin. Skidding to a halt at the entrance, they couldn't believe what they saw.
Every type of fey surrounded Buffy. Merry gasped when a black blur shot from the forest straight at the small blonde. Her tri-colored eyes looked at the fey creatures waiting for their chance to speak to the Lady. They were all shapes, sizes and types. Races that were natural enemies happily stood side by side. Mordes known for their viciousness proudly displayed their true form. Normally they only showed their ten-foot tall bodies with long hideous claws in the heat of a battle. A Satyr played beautiful music on a harp. Those listening didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Two small fey men stood not far away. They were Ravens with the ability to shift into their namesakes. Ravens were known for their near perfect memory. A man with a green beard and thick brown skin almost blended into the background. He only stood out in contrast to the brown men beside him, who were at least a foot shorter than his four feet frame. Everything about the little men was brown - hair, eyes and skin. They looked like toadstools compared to the Mordes, who stood behind them.
Tiny Sprites fluttered around Buffy's head looking like beautiful butterflies. Each carried a bow and quiver strapped to their backs. Deformed little people known as Spriggins watched over their animal charges. Two Urisks stood in front of Buffy. Their normally scary appearance of long faces, hairy legs, green skins and large black eyes were transformed by large smiles of joy.
The blur of black stopped mere inches from the tiny blonde causing the Urisks to shrink back in fear. It was a Fey Hound. They were known for being hostile, attacking without the least provocation. They were also extremely loyal. The midnight black hound stared deep into green eyes then calmly lay beside her, putting its head in her lap. Buffy patted it like a tiny puppy.
She returned to her conversation with the Urisks. The two men basked in her attention not used to anyone treating them with respect, rather than fear. She touched small green cheeks, then waited for the next one to step forward.
Sprites wove blossoms into her knee-length blonde hair. Their wings tickled her skin when they flew too close. The last one to come forward was the Morde. Getting down on bended knee, his deep voice caused the ground to vibrate. Only Sholto, Kitto and Doyle could hear what this fierce being said to Buffy.
"We have waited for your return, Lady. How may we serve you?" The Morde bowed his head once more.
"I came to unite the fey, all fey. Each of you will be equals in the new laws. The laws will govern everyone from the largest to the smallest - Seelie and Unseelie alike. There will be one court and one ruler - my heir. The Valar asked this of me and I have accepted the task to train him to fulfill his destiny. There is a place for each of you in the world of fey. The fey are vanishing and have been for years. You can become if not what you once were, something better. There are too few of you for all this in-fighting."
A sprite landed on Buffy's knee. Her face was heart shaped, with eyes resembling stars, a rosebud mouth and iridescent wings that opened and closed like a happy butterfly. "Is there a place for us in this new world, Lady?"
Buffy touched the beautiful wings causing the tiny being to purr as loud as the mountain lion. "Yes, everyone no matter how small."
A woman with flowing robes stepped forward, wherever the sunlight touched her body it faded from sight. "What of us, Lady? Are my people welcome in this new world? Or is our fate to stay the same where blood is willingly shared in order to steal our gift?"
"It is a Leanan Sidhe. They never come this close to the Mound." Galen looked at the woman used as to frighten young Sidhe. They drank blood and if their victim survived then they wrote inspired poetry and literature until the effect wore off.
"What is your name?" Buffy asked softly. This woman reminded her of Angel. Surprised that her past life could work its way into her memory at this moment.
"I am Danira, the leader of my people." The Leanan Sidhe stood proudly before them all. Her moonlight white hair folded into the flowing robes she wore. Her face was the palest, purest white that Buffy had ever seen. Pure black eyes ringed in silver looked into green ones, the women simply stared at each other. They couldn't help but notice that they were polar opposites in appearance. Buffy was sunlight and warmth while Danira was cool moonlight.
"Your creation was not your fault." She saw the tall woman sigh. "But you are not to kill anyone for their blood." Buffy's voice rang out in the glade. She put up her hand to stop the outburst from the other woman. "There are other ways for you to survive. I will teach you. Many here enjoy blood play and won't mind sharing with you. Add to that the ones who want to write, you get the picture."
Danira nodded in agreement. Being an accepted part of the court again was too much of a temptation to pass up.
Barinthus looked at Merry with a soft smile. "Merry-girl, your court will be like no other. Even when Danu walked among us, the fey wouldn't agree to an alliance. The Lady is doing something no one thought possible. All fey coming together under one court, one rule was an idea never imagined. Even when she said that was her purpose for being here, I still could not see how she could do this. Watching her communicate with Mordes, Spriggins, Urisks, Applemen, Ravens, Sprites and a Leanan Sidhe, I believe that she will do what she said. There will be one court for us all." He shook his blue hued head like his thoughts held so much wonder that he couldn't contain it all.
Merry looked at her father's most trusted friend and couldn't agree more. She felt Rhys give her hand a soft squeeze. They talked long into the night about the kingdom their child would rule one day. She turned to look at the father of her child then back to Buffy who laughed merrily at the antics of the Sprites buzzing around her head.
"She is an amazing woman isn't she? It is so sad to see the loneliness in her eyes. Buffy needs friends and I plan to be one if she'll have me."
"I'd like that Merry. I want to create a better world, but the most important thing is to protect and prepare your child. Please know that I'm not going to overrule you when it comes to being his parents, but I only have so much time to teach him what he needs to know. If I can be Aunty Buffy and help him become the king that he needs to be, then it is all good." She smiled at the open jaws. They kept moving their eyes from where she stood in front of them to where she sat only seconds before. "Better shut those guys wouldn't want you to swallow a bug."
Doyle looked at her taking in the relaxed stance and the way that her eyes twinkled with mischief. He looked deeper seeing the sadness that she kept hidden. If ever given the chance, Doyle promised to try to erase that sadness. "Buffy are you feeling better? If you ever want to talk I am willing to listen." His voice was the softest of whispers but he knew that she could hear him.
Buffy smiled at the dark Sidhe. She knew they were going to become good friends. A blindingly bright smile crossed her face. Thank you Doyle, I can always use another friend.
His dark eyes subtly widened when he heard her voice in his head. This woman was full of surprises. He couldn't wait to explore them all. Doyle knew that she was devoted to her mate but that didn't mean that she had to be alone for the next hundred years. He only hoped that she would be open to considering this as well.
"Merry, we need to get you two married as soon as possible. I can protect you and the baby, but your pregnancy won't be a normal one. Rhys, I'm sure that you want to be married before your son arrives."
The couple looked at each other with shock tinged with more than a little bit of fear. "What do you mean, it won't be a normal pregnancy? Is there something wrong with the baby?"
Buffy put a finger to Merry's lips to stop her panic attack. "Nothing is wrong with him. The problem is that we have to get everything settled here, so that we can move onto the Seelie court. You are too vulnerable in your present condition. I don't want anyone to think that harming you will stop what is going to happen with or without their help." She glared at Frost. "There are going to be so many changes, that the baby needs to be safe. Once he is born, I can place a spell that will protect him from harm. You can take care of yourself, especially since you came into your second hand of power. But, if you use either hand it will harm the baby, he needs your strength to grow. I figure that he'll be here in about three months." Buffy saw Merry's face pale. "Don't worry; he won't be premature. We just need him to get here, so that he won't be in any extra danger."
Buffy took Merry's hand, and escorted her back into the Sithin. The men just looked on in confusion. What just happened here? None of them were sure, when the same idea struck them. They hurried after the women, not wanting to be left out of whatever would happen next.
Frost reluctantly brought up the rear muttering under his breath. Doyle looked at his old friend with concern. "You have to let this go, my friend. Nothing that you or anyone can do will change what is meant to be. If you were thinking straight you would see this is a blessing, not a curse."
Today was Merry and Rhys' wedding day. The entire court worked hard to get a royal wedding in place in only a few days. No one questioned why the rush, all they knew was that the Lady wished it, so they were happy to do anything to make her happy. The rumors about what happened two days ago ran rampant among the Unseelie court.
Buffy floated in her pond thinking about the day's events. Trying to make sure it would be a happy day for the couple helped her ignore her own problems. Thinking about her wedding to Legolas brought an idea to mind. She thought about the joy of that day and wanted to give Merry the same feeling. Her eyes closed picturing it in her mind. She saw herself in her mother's dress led by father towards the man she planned to spend eternity with, Legolas. He took her breath away, with his pale golden hair hanging long down his back, held back by his Elven crown. He wore pale silver-green that caught the dappled evening sunlight. His eyes glowed with passion and love when he saw her walking toward him. The dress was Elven in design but made of a material that looked like sheer moonlight. The shadows of Buffy's body showed as she walked toward her lover, her mate, her future. Galadriel's crown graced her brow but her hair hung long and free to her knees looking like pure molten gold.
She shook her head to get back to the matter at hand. Closing her eyes this time she thought of her wedding dress and seconds later the dress lay on her bed softly glowing. She stood up and the waterfall poured down on her from the ceiling washing away the soap from her body. A soft smile graced her lips. Her hair immediately wove itself into an intricate design. A dress of the deepest Lothlorien green covered her body. It was form fitting until it got to her hips where it flared out to fall in delicate folds to her feet. Her wedding ring matched the dress perfectly and even though it was low cut, she wore no other jewelry but Nenya.
Merry tried to hide her nervous energy when she heard a knock on her door. She called out "Enter" not even noticing Buffy walking in carrying a dress.
"It will be a beautiful ceremony, don't worry Merry. I brought you something and hope that you will like it. If you don't want to wear it I understand, but I hope that you will. It started two marriages that were happy and filled with love. It was my mother's dress and I wore it when I married Legolas. We had fifteen hundred years together." Buffy laid the dress on the bed.
Merry gasped. It was the most beautiful dress that she had ever seen. Her hand reached out to touch the material, but stopped as if she was afraid that she might harm it. "Are you sure that you want me to wear this? Isn't it an heirloom."
"That is why you should wear it. We are family after all, even if the connection is distant. I want your marriage to start off right. The next few years will be hard and you two will need to rely on each other. Your family has to be the most important thing above anything else. Hold onto it tightly, because you never know what you have until you lose it. I'll leave you to get ready. After all I'm the one performing the marriage, never been a preacher before." Buffy kissed her cheek then quietly left the room.
She went to check on the arrangements. When she stepped outside a happy smile broke out on her face. The Sprites worked wonders. Braided garlands graced a bower where the ceremony would take place. The wedding would take place in an hour and Buffy didn't want anything to ruin Merry's special day.
The guests stood waiting for the ceremony to start. Buffy moved to the center of the bower. Rhys appeared next with his best men, Galen and Doyle, dressed in varying shades of leather. Doyle wore his normal black looking every bit like the Darkness, he was called. Galen's pale green leather complimented his hair and eyes. Rhys captured everyone's attention. His outfit was a white so pure that it looked silver in the sunlight. Oddly, his white hair and skin didn't look washed out, instead he looked like what he soon would be - a ruler. He proudly took his place beside Buffy.
She smiled at him as they waited for Merry to join them. Buffy knew from the guest's gasps that the bride had just been spotted. She fought the tears that threatened to spill when she saw the glow on Merry's face. Barinthus escorted the woman who was as close to a daughter as he would ever know. His deep blue leather ensemble matched the deepest hue of his living mantle of hair. Beside him walked a vision in a moonlight gossamer dress. Merry's Sidhe Red hair burnished brightly in the sunlight, while her tri-colored eyes sparkled with excitement. She walked beside Barinthus showing the crowd a glimpse of the woman who would rule in her child's place.
She took Rhys' hand. He looked at her beautiful face with a love that she didn't know that he felt. A hope for a marriage based on more than duty filled her heart. The feelings that she could no longer deny swept over her. Merry let her hopes fill her eyes when she looked at him. The couple stared at each other for several minutes until a soft noise brought their attention back to the matter at hand.
Buffy smiled at them then looked at everyone. Her voice rang clear in the glade. "We come here today to join Merry and Rhys. Their marriage will be the beginning of a new way of life for all fey. Their child will one day lead you. Merry and Rhys, I give your marriage my blessing. I hope that your love for one another will only grow stronger throughout the years to come."
A garland of blossoms resembling her ring of power appeared in Buffy's hands. She wrapped it around the couple's joined hands. "From the past to the present looking always toward the future." Petals filled her hands. She threw them into the air. They turned into white doves just like the one that appeared when they fought the Nameless.
The crowd cheered when the newlyweds walked back into the Sithin. They went to the new rooms that the Mound and Sithin created for them, only a hall away from Buffy's rooms.
Kitto, Sholto and Doyle noticed the tears filling Buffy's eyes. The men looked at one another, then moved forward to escort the tiny blonde back into the Sithin. A blur of black appeared by her side growling at them menacingly. They stopped dead in their tracks, not daring to take on the Fey Hound.
Buffy patted the hound's head causing it to instantly quiet. "Shush boy, they are friends, show them that you are sorry." The black creature whined but seeing its mistress' stern looked stepped forward. It held out a hand for the Sidhe warriors to shake. Buffy laughed when they shook hands seeing that none of them, the hound included wanted to do this.
"Let us escort you back inside for the feast. I understand that we are to be entertained by the most gifted of every court. It should be a sight to see." Sholto offered his arm, which his friend happily accepted. The four walked back inside, followed by the Fey Hound along with the many other creatures of the forest.