Sholto escorted Buffy into the hall. The Fey Hound bounded in behind her, refusing to leave its mistress. The houses found their tables moved into a large circle, no one sat higher than anyone else. A few brave souls grumbled, but quickly stopped when Buffy arrived. Everyone stood when she entered.
The Lord of the Host led her to the dais, and then left her to take his place before his own throne. Doyle and Kitto stood on either side, looking handsome in their wedding finery. Silence filled the room when Buffy raised her hand.
"We are not only celebrating a wedding, but also a new start. Merry is the first in what I know will be many pregnancies." The room exploded with excitement. She continued after they quieted down. Her voice was a soft whisper that wrapped around them in a comforting caress. "Let the feast begin."
A soft wind blew through the hall. Food appeared on tables as wine filled fine crystal goblets. Centaurs gathered in a corner where they quietly played hauntingly beautiful music. Every plate held each person's favorite meal.
"Ooohs!" and "Aahs!" filled the hall.
The newlyweds joined the feast after changing their clothes. Cheers greeted them as they took their places beside Buffy, with flushed happy faces.
She leaned over to whisper to Merry, "I take it you liked your rooms. You probably didn't notice much except the bedroom. Later tonight, there is a surprise for you. When you are ready to escape, let me know."
Merry's expressive eyes lit up. "What is it? You have done so much already. The rooms are more than enough. You don't need to give us anything else."
"That wasn't from me. The Sithin created those rooms for your new family. It wanted you to know you're welcome here. What's a wedding without a great gift from family? Every woman deserves to be spoilt on her wedding day."
They smiled at each other then turned to watch the entertainment. Each house sent their most talented performers. Buffy watched what seemed like an endless list of performers.
"Please, rescue me from one more performance," she softly whined causing Buffy to work hard to hide a smile.
Buffy stood, halting the singer mid-note. "I'm sorry, but the hour grows late. As you can imagine, the newlyweds have other matters to see to." She smiled at them, then swept Merry and Rhys from the room.
Doyle and Kitto hurried after them, anxious to see the surprise Buffy planned for their friends. They heard Merry beg Buffy for hints about the surprise. She responded with happy a laugh, but refused to say a word. They walked along the Sithin's hallways until they stepped outside. The Mound welcomed Buffy with a gentle breeze. It caressed her skin, reminding her once again of Lothlorien.
She headed for the forest, but stopped when she reached the edge. Buffy looked at the two men who were becoming her closest friends in this new world. "You two need to stay here. This is just for the newlyweds." They nodded in understanding. Neither liked it, but they didn't argue.
Merry and Rhys followed behind Buffy, wondering what they should expect. When they stepped into a clearing, they were speechless. To say that they stepped into a fairy wonderland was an understatement. A pallet created of multi-colored blankets surrounded by pillows lay beside a crystal-clear pond. Flowers of every color rivaled the blankets. Soft music serenaded them, but the musicians were invisible.
"What is this place?" Rhys asked, finally finding his voice.
Buffy smiled at him. "It was before the Mound. This," her hands swept around her. "is a memory from my childhood? I spent many hours in a place like this and thought you might want to start your new life here."
The newlyweds looked at her in wonder. A gift given in kindness was an oddity in the Unseelie world. Everything came with a price tag paid in flesh and blood. They smiled at each other then turned to their benefactress.
"We accept with pleasure. Thank you, Buffy, for everything."
She kissed them on the cheek leaving them to enjoy their first night together as man and wife.
Walking back through the forest, Buffy couldn't stop the melancholy feelings that overcame her. Seeing their growing love and the babe growing in Merry's womb tore at her heart. It reminded her of things she couldn't have. Things she longed for with Legolas.
Kitto saw her first. Silver tears streaked down her cheeks telling him that this day held bittersweet memories for her. He walked toward her, hoping there was some way that he could repay her kindness to him.
Buffy looked up to see large blue eyes watching her expectantly. "Hey, Kit." A black blur knocked her over. She started laughing when the Fey Hound licked her face. "Sam, I guess you are happy to see me? You are a good boy. Yes, you are." She scratched the animal behind its ear causing it to whimper happily.
"Are you okay, Lady?" The newest Sidhe looked at her seriously, not fooled by the display.
Doyle watched the two talking quietly. Something told him that he should leave them alone. He did what he did best - disappear.
A far away look came over Buffy's face. She seemed lost in thought, but eventually answered Kitto's question. "They are starting a new life. The babe will bring them even closer. I miss him so much, Kit. I feel like I can't breathe. Each breath is a struggle. I have to force myself to take the next one."
He knelt down on the grass beside her to gather her in his arms. Kitto felt her shoulders shake with her despair. "Isn't there anything that you can do? I mean with your magic, there should be something, right?"
Buffy thought over his words then almost slapped herself in the head. She forgot about her plans. Leaning back, she looked into his face. "Kit, would you help me be with Legolas? I promise that it won't hurt you. Uh, in fact it could be a nice dream for you."
Kitto's tried to make sense of her words. "I don't understand; what could I do? Why would I be dreaming about it?"
"It is hard to explain, but it goes something like this..." Buffy laid out her plans to her friend, hoping for his understanding.
He listened wide-eyed, but knew that no matter what it was that she asked that he would agree. Buffy changed his life for the better. He would do anything he could to help her while she learned to accept her time here.
A small figure walked beside a tall broad shouldered one. Dark ringlets mixed with golden tresses as two heads leaned close together lost in a quiet conversation. They entered large, imposing doors that sealed behind them.
Several eyes noticed this; one pair carried the bitter cold of a winter's day, while another held all the secrets hidden in the dark. They went their separate ways, lost in thought about what this could mean to them individually or as a whole.
Kitto lay on the bed mentally preparing for what was about to happen. He tried to relax, while Buffy softly hummed a whimsical tune. He watched her under his lashes, unable to deny her beauty.
Buffy pinned her hair up, while she walked to the bed. Her clothes faded away as she crawled toward Kitto. A small golden hand smoothed over mother-of-pearl skin that glowed brighter from the mere contact.
"Are you sure, Kit? I don't want to tease you or leave you feeling used."
"But, you are using me, Buffy. The difference is that, you asked first. No one ever did that before. I want to help, if you'll let me. I've never been in love. If I ever find it, I want what you have with him. Tell me what you need me to do."
His large midnight blue within black eyes held nothing but honesty and friendship. She smiled at him as she leaned forward lightly kiss his lips.
"You will find someone to love you, Kitto. And, once you do, she'll be lucky to have you. You're a good man, and a wonderful friend."
Her lips brushed over his eyelids, causing them to fall shut. Buffy blew a soft breath over his face. Kitto's body relaxed as his mind drifted off to sleep. Her hands tenderly caressed him. He was a beautiful man, with broad shoulders that tapered down into slender hips and long muscular legs. She straddled his hips as she laid her head on those broad shoulders, and slowly let breath out into the room.
Buffy opened her eyes and sat up. She looked around afraid to look down at the body still beneath her. Her curiosity won out as her eyes fell to the bed. Her breath caught and her heart pounded in her ears. Buffy swore the entire world could hear it pounding. Spread across the pillow was long blonde hair so pale it appeared white. Large blue eyes filled with loved and concern looked up at her.
"It worked. It really worked. Golas, you're here and I can touch you."
Her hands gently touched his face as she leaned forward to capture his lips with hers.
"Buff..."
He tried to speak but couldn't resist his wife anymore now than he could all those years ago. Legolas wrapped his arms around her pulling her closer. He breathed in her smell, unable to believe himself able to touch her after all this time.
They slowly explored each others mouths, relearning the tastes and textures. Buffy pulled back so she could look on her husband's beautiful face. Tears pricked her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She had cried enough lonely tears over the years. They were together here and now...
"What have you done, beloved? How did you do this?"
Long fingers brushed through her hair.
"Last time you said that we couldn't touch because your body couldn't crossover. So, well, I kinda borrowed one from my friend. He agreed to let me use his, while he dreams. Kit's such a sweetie."
Legolas looked at her sternly. He quickly relented, knowing that they would talk later, much later.
A naughty smile crossed Buffy's face. He took a ragged breath, but waited for her to set the pace. Buffy did just that as she went from slow to fast and back again, without any set pattern. This continued, until the man on the bed couldn't take the exquisite torture any longer. He flipped their bodies over, sliding into the small body that would always be home to him.
They sighed when the feeling of completeness filled them. Two halves were once again whole, no longer broken. She moaned as their bodies aligned perfectly. Her hands clutched at the bed trying to hold on, but knew she wouldn't last on much longer. Buffy's panted as sweat covered her body in a fine sheen. Legolas fell to the bed exhausted pulling her along with him.
Laying in each others arm, they basked in the afterglow of their love. They knew that they needed to talk in the limited time they had left, but neither wanted to disturb the peace. She played with his long hair, reminding them of happier times. Times when they were together.
"Beloved, you know that I wouldn't trade this time for anything in the world, but it can't happen again. The Valar may try to punish you for this. You need to do as they ask, beloved. If you keep trying to see me, they will punish these people. You said it yourself, a hundred years is not that long. We will be together when you finish. Nothing will ever separate us again, I promise."
He pulled her close to kiss her forehead. She sat up on the bed trying not to cry. Buffy took a deep breath.
"Golas, it is so hard. Why won't they let me rest? What did I do that was so bad?" Large silver tears fell down her cheeks.
"Buffy, you're the only person save them. Even though it isn't your fault, they're alive because of the spell. Could you deny Merry's child the chance to live, or her the blessing they denied us?"
She paled at the thought of the tiny innocent babe fading away. Kissing her way up his body, she looked at wise blue eyes.
"You win. No more talking about what I have to do. I only want to talk about what I want to do."
"What do you want to do?" His voice was a husky whisper.
"I want to lick every inch of your luscious cock. I want to suck it down my throat as far as it will go."
She licked one pointed ear causing him to shiver.
"Do you think you might want those things as well?" Buffy purred, nipping his ear between tiny pearl teeth.
"Yeees." He hissed out.
Legolas grabbed the bed when those same tiny teeth decided his nipples were tasty morsels.
Buffy continued her journey of exploration. She sent Legolas screaming over the edge into a pit of pleasure. All too soon, Legolas felt a tugging at his center.
"They are pulling me back, beloved. Before I leave, promise me one thing."
"Anything."
Buffy tried to hold him for as long as she could.
"Find someone to comfort you. Don't spend all your time alone, Buffy. You're Elven, and know that we aren't solitary creatures. I await you on the other side, until you task is complete. I'll help you to forget everything that happened, while we were apart. Once we are back in each others' arms again we will have eternity to wash away the pain of our separation."
"I can't believe you'd that of me. I can still visit you from time to time, and that's enough for me."
She crossed her arms, giving him a stubborn glare.
"No, beloved, they won't allow you to see me, until you complete your task. This is the last time we'll see each other, until we are together forever."
They clung to each other as he slowly fading from sight.
"GOLAS!" Buffy's screamed. Her shouts shook the Sithin's walls.
Kitto jumped up, looking around disoriented.
"What's happening? Buffy, what's wrong?"
He pulled her into his arms at the exact moment that the doors flew open. Doyle and Sholto led the others inside. The men stopped short when they realized that Buffy wasn't alone.
Sholto moved toward the bed disregarding the others. "Lady, are you all right?" He noticed the tears, her puffy eyes and the way that Kitto held her. It wasn't a lover's caress. It was a friend comforting a friend.
"Could you please send them away? It was just a bad dream." Buffy turned to Kitto. "Thank you for last night Kit. It meant more to me than you will ever know."
He smiled at her happy to help. "I'm here any time you want, just let me know."
A haunted sadness filled Buffy's emerald eyes. "Thanks, Kit, but that won't be necessary. It was a one-way trip. They won't let him see me again not even to speak. He told me to try to find a lover while I'm here, but how do I do that Kit? I love him so much. How can I be with someone else who isn't him?"
Kitto rubbed her shoulders giving comfort in the Sidhe way. He felt like a big brother even though Buffy was older. "Legolas sounds like he loves you as much as you love him. He doesn't want you to be lonely. I think he is just asking you not to cut yourself off from the possibility while you are here."
Sholto returned to the large bed. He looked at Kitto still comforting Buffy. "Is there anything that I can do to help, Buffy?" His autumn colored eyes showed his concern for the woman he admired.
Buffy moved away from Kitto. She scooted off the bed. Gossamer robes appeared to cover her as she started pace the floor, lost in thought. Legolas' face appeared before her eyes. His bright blue eyes filled with love just before he disappeared from sight. Can I do what he wants me to do? Can I live in this world without him? Can I find comfort in arms that aren't his? I can't do this now.
She moved toward the pond. Stepping into the cool water helped to clear her head. The waterfall opened from the ceiling to wash her hair. Her audience watched her transfixed. They felt as if they were peeking into Buffy's mind. It helped them see her more clearly than they already did.
Kitto dressed quietly while Buffy's words played over in his mind. His heart broke for her. Merry showed him kindness, but Buffy showed him what love meant. He never knew that love like Buffy and Legolas experienced even existed. Kitto would never tell her, but he wasn't pleasantly dreaming last night. Well, it was pleasant. He felt everything the lovers did during the passionate interlude. The tenderness, passion, protectiveness, and love that each person felt for the other was beyond anything that Kitto ever knew in his thousand years. From this moment forward, he pledged to help this tiny woman create a life for herself as she worked to create an entire world for others.
A bright smile greeted the two men chasing away the morning's previous occurrences. Buffy scratched a smooth black head resulting in a happy bark from Sam. "You are a good boy, aren't you, Sam. Just like another Sam, I knew a long time ago. He was the most loyal friend that anyone could ever have." She kissed the hound's nose.
"Sorry about this morning guys. The lovebirds are honeymooning, but we have work to do. Sholto, would you ask the others to meet me in my sitting room? I want to talk to them first, before calling a formal meeting with the other courts when Merry returns. We have to get the Council meetings going. I want the Unseelie Court united, before Merry has the baby."
Sholto looked shocked at the announcement. Bringing the different courts to heel in a few short months seemed an impossible task. He knew that if anyone could achieve this miracle, it would be this powerful woman-child.