Magdar's purple eyes gleamed in the darkness of the chamber, lit only with candles and a few torches along the stone wall.  His eyes were on the figure near the glassless window, looking out on the misty mountains in the distance.

       "What news?"  The figure asked in a steely cold voice, turning to face her guardian, her silver-white hair seeming to glow in the darkness.  Her stormy-gray eyes, slightly tiltled up at the edges, found his in the darkness, resolve evident.  No matter the news, he knew, she had made her choice.

       "Majesty," He bowed his head slightly, his cloak hood slipping from his thinning head, "Intelligence has Darnog gathering his forces on the North Pass."

       Her eyes flickered towards the mountains once more, seemingly beautiful and innocent, but as of that moment, cloaking a deadly and dangerous enemy.

       "And my peace offering?"

       "His terms are as stands...my Liege, if I may..."

       "His terms are unacceptable."

       Magdar sighed in frustration, and she looked towards him, seemingly amused, "Speak freely, my friend.  I know you wish to voice your mind."

       He nodded curtly, straightening, "Darnog is a powerful force, Aislinn.  It is a fool's game to attempt to fight."

       "You suggest the House of Luka bow down to him then?  Allow him to pollute my kingdom with his influence?"

       "No, Aislinn," Magdar shook his head, "That is not what I suggest."

       "What do you suggest then?"  Candlelight flickered off the silver band running across her forehead, disappearing into her thick hair, past a pair of slightly pointed ears.

       "I have consulted the great books," Magdar informed her as she turned from him once more to look at the mountains, and he hesitated slightly, as if wondering if he should inform her of what he had found.

       "And?" She prodded impatiently as her General entered.

       Magdar looked towards the grizzled man, knowing he was a fine warrior who had weathered and won many wars.  The look in his eyes was not promising.

       "My Queen...I beg of you..."

       "I will follow beside you, General Lokarn.  As always," She interrupted, already knowing the argument, and Lokarn shook his head, looking towards Magdar for help, but the old man could only shrug.  He had no control over their ruler.

       "The books, Magdar, what of the books?" Aislinn reminded him in irritation.

       "It speaks of one from another place, far from here...one who will be skilled in the ways of battle and the dark ones.  And he will lead our armies to victory."

       Aislinn turned to face the old man, a thoughtful look on her elvin face, her slightly pointed chin wrinkling in concentration.  Lorkan took a moment to look over his Queen, reveling in her beauty, which men would easily fall to their knees and worship.  Or follow to their deaths, which they had done many times.

       "Find him...bring him here," She instructed.  "In the meantime, General, I want the crux of our forces at the North Pass, the rest protecting the outer villages..."

       "But the castle..."

       "Will not be protected above my people, Lorkan.  They are to come first before my...dresses..." She said the word with a slight tone of disgust, then straightened, "Bid my page to bring my armour and sword.  Have my horse ready, General.  I will be beside you and my army."

       General Lorkan bowed, "Yes, my Queen," he quickly exited as Magdar looked towards Aislinn.

       "A fool's game," He reminded her.

       She smiled almost sadly, "War always is, my friend."

       Spike groaned as the demon slammed a meaty fist into his gut, trying to pull his arms free from the other one pinning them to his side from behind.

       He had been ambushed in the graveyard, and as was wont to happen nowadays, he was getting the shit beat out of him for helping the Slayer.

       It wasn't that he wanted too, except that blood, booze and cigarrettes cost money, and since he had gotten the chip in his head, he was unable to kill to at least get a pack of smokes.  So, now, he was dependent on the Watcher's money, and the Slayer's protection from the bastards who sought out 'Spike the Traitor.'

       Spike spat out a mouthful of blood, glaring at the demon assaulting him, "Listen, mate...it's not like I like helpin' the Slayer...but the facts are..."

       WHAM!

       Spike's head flew back with the impact of the demon's punch, and he swore he could hear marbles rattling around in his brain like some kind of vampire version of a cartoon character.  "Ow..."

       "You're a turncoat, Spike.  Worse then Angelus!"  The demon hissed, and Spike glared at the mention of his Sire.

       "Fuck you!"

       The demon punched him again, and Spike groaned again, his head drooping.  He really hated Markana demons.  They were dirty cheats that fought dirty.  Well, he fought dirty too...but it really sucked being on the recieving end of a dirty fighter.

       The Markana holding him suddenly tensed, then started to scream in agony, letting go of the vampire, and Spike fell to the ground, feeling like he was going to heave, but reminded himself that was a biological impossibility.

       I sound like Spock when I have a concussion...he observed dazedly, lifting his head as the other Markana screamed in pain, frowning as he watched him start to melt into a large, foul-smelling puddle.

       Just before he passed out, he caught sight of a hooded figure shuffling towards him, and two purple, glowing eyes peeking out from beneath his cloak.

       Magdar watched worriedly as the remnants of the army limped back towards the castle, his eyes desperately seeking out his Queen. He turned when the door flew open and gasped as Lorkan carried an unconcious Aislinn in his arms.

       Her face was smudged with dirt and blood, and her armour and clothes were ragged and tarnished from battle. She smelled of blood, death and smoke, and he could see an arrow portuding from her shoulder.

       "I did not want to remove it without your healing abilities, Magdar," Lorkan said in explanation, "And I wouldn't let those battlefield butchers near her."

       Magdar nodded in approval and gestured towards the bed and Lorkan went to set her down on it, then froze, his eyes narrowing slightly, "Who is that?"

       "Hopefully, the Chosen One," Magdar said, looking at the white-blond vampire, his clothes strange to their world, but his hair almost similiar to their injured Queen's.

       Lorkan looked over the vampire doubtfully, reaching out to finger his leather duster, "Fine quality," He said aloud, then touched his red shirt, "Silk...he must be a lord."

       "In...a way," Magdar sat beside Aislinn, calling for a servant to bring hot water and rags.

       He gently eased his Queen to a sitting position, and her eyes shot open as he broke the arrow in half, then shoved it all the way through her body, making her body arch as she gasped in pain, her eyes squeezing shut.  She bit her lip to keep from screaming, teeth bursting through the skin of her lips and blood ran down her face to combine with the filth of battle.

       "Gods!"  She hissed as Magdar bound her shoulder, looking towards Lorkan, "How did we fare?"

       "Not well, my Lady," Lorkan ducked his head, "We're down to a quarter of our army...and Darnog's gained the northren sector of our kingdom."

       "Damn it!"  She pushed Magdar away, standing with a clink of armour, "I need to go back!"

       "There's nothing to go back too...we retreated..."

       "You what?!"  She nearly screamed at him, "Who gave you the order to retreat?!"

       "No one.  But to stay would've meant our deaths!"

       "So be it!  My blood matters not when my father's kingdom is in danger!"

       "Ow...fucking 'ell..."

       Aislinn tensed when she heard the voice and whirled, sword jumping into her hand as she brought it against Spike's throat as he sat up.

       Spike's eyes widened as he looked down at the blade, stained with drying blood, slowly following the metal up to the small, pale hand holding it, then over the chestplate bearing the crest of the House of Luka, then up to the elf-like features of Aislinn.

       "Musta hit my head harder then I thought," He muttered beneath his breath as Magdar touched Aislinn's shoulder.

       "He is the one."

       "He?"  She eyed Spike doubtfully, "You must be mistaken...he is no warrior."

       Spike's eyes narrowed, and in one swift moment, he dodged the blade, spinning behind Aislinn to aim a kick at Lorkan's chest and whirled Aislinn in front of him, knife pressed against her throat.

       Lorkan's eyes narrowed as he started to draw his sword, but Magdar held up his hands, "We are friends here, my Lord.  She meant no harm..."

       Aislinn let out a sharp gasp as the knife pressed against her throat, drawing a bit of blood. "Someone better explain what's goin' on, or Lucky here gets it!"  Spike growled at Magdar, "And tell the bull-dozer to take a step back before I slit her throat!"

       Lorkan obeyed at Magdar's nod, his hand still on the hilt of his sword.  It would be ironic to lose his queen to a stranger supposedly there to help them after she had just survived a vicious battle with their deadliest enemies.

       "My Lord, you are in the kingdom of Tiran-lee," Magdar said in a concilatory tone, "We have called on you to help us against the forces of Darnog...a most evil ruler of the Kingdom of Korah.  He wishes to make a conquest of Tiran-Lee...among other things..." He looked pointedly at Aislinn, and she growled in anger.

       "Let me go, you little..." Her words were cut off with a sharp hiss when the tip of his blade pressed farther into her pale throat.

       "Listen, darlin', you're not the one in charge here," Spike said, his eyes on Magdar.

       Magdar chuckled, "Actually, My Lord...that is Queen Aislinn of the House of Luka you are currently holding."

       "Good," Spike said, unpertubered, "Then I'm sure to get some bloody answers.  What the hell am I doing here?"

       "You are spoken of in prophecy, my Lord," Magdar told him, "You are to save Tiran-Lee and the other kingdoms from destruction."

       "Me?"  Spike arched an eyebrow, "You must've mistranslated something, mate, cause there's no way I'm saving anything.  Send me back!"

       "That...is impossible.  You must wait for the stars to be right, once more."

       "And when's that?"

       "One moon," Magdar answered, and Spike glared at him.

       "I'm stuck here for a month?!"

       "Once the new moon comes again, we can send you back to the exact moment you left..."

       Spike cocked his head slightly, "Considering I was gettin' the shit kicked out of me, any chance of goin' back about ten minutes earlier?"

       "Not without risk of changing time," Magdar answered, "For you will still be in that time..."

       Aislinn, meantime, had gotten tired of all their talk, and stomped her booted heel down on Spike's foot and the vampire yelped, loosening his grip a bit, "Bloody hell!"

       She moved out of his grasp and Lorkan was on him in a moment, sword drawn.

       "No, General!"  Aislinn snapped at him, glaring at Spike, "We do not need his help, but I will not shed his blood in my home."  She glanced at Magdar, scowling, "Keep him out of my sight till he is gone!  And call the other kingdoms to a meeting!  Darnog must be stopped before I lose more ground and lives to him!"

       With that said, she whirled and swept majestically from the room with a clink of armour and a swirl of her silver cape, and Spike scowled after her, "Bossy chit, ain't she?"

       Magdar sighed in disappointment, "I will show you your chambers, my Lord, then you may clean yourself up for supper."

       Spike glanced at him, "About that..."

       "I know of your unique tastes, my Lord," Magdar bowed slightly, "The baths are located in the lower half of the castle...Lorkan will escort you there."

       Spike growled shortly as Magdar gestured for him to follow, "And I'm missin' Passions, you know!  That just really pisses me off!"

       Lorkan eyed Spike with thinly disguised loathing as he led the vampire down to the baths, "You should be killed for threatening the Queen," He said angrily, "You are lucky she is a beautiful, kind woman."

       Spike snorted, "In my experience, mate, there's no such thing."

       "How many women do you know would go against tradition and common decency to fight a losing battle every day, risking her life against a foe we will never beat?"

       "Met a couple.  Killed them."

       Lorkan paused outside the door to the baths, his eyes narrowed, "If we lose, she will be the spoils of war, mate," He said, using Spike's endearment snidely, "Darnog will take her for his, and our kingdom will be finished.  The House of Luka will fall, and we will be under the power of the black one.  I will die first before I allow that to happen!"

       Spike eyed him cooly, "And I'm supposed to care?  I got enough problems in my own world without worryin' about you people.  I really just don't give a shit."

       Lornak shook his head, "She should have let me kill you," He muttered beneath his breath, leaving Spike to his own devices as he stalked off to have a word with Magdar concerning the vampire.

       Spike snorted again, shaking his head as he pushed open the heavy wooden door.

       Immediately, he was hit with the scent of steam, perfumes and burning candles as he went in, and he rolled his eyes.  "No indoor plumbing...perfect...great..." He muttered beneath his breath.  "Had to go back in time to the bleedin' Middle Ages."

       He heard a sound, and he immediately tensed, his eyes narrowing, almost expecting Lornak to appear out of the thick steam and try to make good on his threat.

       He moved cautiously farther into the room, then relaxed, catching the faint scent of blood and sweat, not an altogether unpleasant smell, with the underlaying essence of a female.

       He moved into the room, and against the far wall, saw a large, wooden tub filled to the brim with steaming water, and in it, Aislinn was leaning against the side, all but her head submerged in the soapy water.  

       Her eyes were closed, and she appeared to be sleeping, and Spike smirked as he stripped, and her head shot up when she heard him slip into the water.

       "Looked lonely, pet," He said with a light leer as she stared at him with shock, confusion and outrage, the emotions apparently warring with her.  He would bet a week's worth of blood that no one had treated her like that before.  She seemed like the epitome of a spoiled, palace brat.

       She quickly composed herself, subtly ducking a little bit more underneath the water as she glared at him, "That is a hanging offence, Lord..." She frowned, "What is your name?"

       Spike leaned back against the side, enjoying the feel of the warm water caressing his cool skin, and also the proximity of the beautiful woman across from him.  He was glad she couldn't see his reaction to her beneath the water, or he'd really be hanging.

       "Spike," He answered her, and she raised a white eyebrow, her gray eyes evaluating him almost coldly.

       "Spike," She repeated, "Such a strange name.  Where did you acquire it?"

       "Don't suppose you have trains here, do you?"

       She frowned in confusion, then shook her head, "I have never heard...of a train."

       Spike sighed, shaking his head, "Let's just say me...big, pointy metal sticks, all right?  Poked them through a couple people...got me that cool nickname."

       Aislinn frowned again, this time in disapproval, "And you're the Chosen One?"

       "Can we not call me that?  Bad, irritating memories," Spike replied, scowling.

       "Well, then, Lord Spike...would you mind leaving?  I am a bit busy at the moment."

       "Don't let me stop you," He gave her another leer, and her eyes narrowed as she leaned forward.

       He suddenly yelped as something pressed against his crotch, and his hand shot below the water, grasping her wrist with a gasp, "Please tell me that's a sponge," He said in a slightly high-pitched voice, "Or you're one freaky bird to be bringing weaponry into the bath."

       She pressed her dagger more firmly against him, causing the vampire to wriggle uncomfortably, "I am always in danger of assassination, Lord Spike.  A girl cannot be too cautious."

       "Could we please remove the extremely sharp knife from my bits and pieces?"

       "The only male allowed in the bath rooms with the Queen is a eunuch, my Lord.  I think it is fit if we remedy that misunderstanding."

       Spike twisted her wrist, grinding the bones together and making her drop the dagger beneath the water as he jerked her towards him, ducking her face beneath the water and holding her.

       She struggled, trying to push against his superior strength, and Spike kept a firm grasp on her hair as he pulled her back up, sputtering and glaring at him in fury.  "Now, that's no way to play nice," He chided her, and she shot her free hand out, punching him in the crotch and Spike howled, letting go of her.

       She darted out of the water and grabbed a robe from a peg on the wall, wrapping it firmly around her body as she yelled for the guards.

       Spike's head shot up as he was hauled out of the water by several large, smelly men, and he struggled against them as he was dragged out of the room, and down to the dungeons far below the castle.

       Nude as the day he was born, he was thrown into a cell with dirty, foul-smelling straw, and he looked up as the door slammed shut.

       "Well...she's a bit touchy..."

       "I cannot believe you did this!"  Magdar glared at Aislinn as she sighed, following him down into the dungeons.

       "He is not who you think he is, my friend. He is a murderer...and he's crude...and he broke into my bathing room!"

       Magdar sighed, "He is from a different world from us, my Queen.  Mayhap it is custom to do so in his world."

       "I highly doubt he tries to bathe with the Queen of his world," She said in a huff, "And he has only been here a few hours..."

       "A few hours where we lose more of his confidence!  We need him to fulfill the prophecy, Aislinn!  You must swallow your prodigious pride and apologize to him."

       "Me?!"  She squeaked, pausing, "He...he is the one..."

       "Aislinn..." Magdar gave her a look, "For the sake of your kingdom...grow up."

       She glared at him as a guard opened up the door to the cell Spike was being kept in, then averted her eyes, blushing furiously when she saw he was still nude.

       Spike glared at her, stalking towards the pair, "About bloody time!  I wasn't fancying spending the night in this rat-infested shit-hole."

       Aislinn wouldn't look at him, "I am sorry, Lord Spike," She said through clenched teeth, "I did not mean...to offend you."

       "Well, I'm very...very offended," Spike said in a huff as Magdar handed him a set of clothes and took a moment to pull on the hosing, jerkin and doublet, wondering where his duster was.  "And I expect you to make it up to me."

       She sighed, finally turning towards him once he was dressed, "And how my I do that, my Lord?"

       He smirked at her, looking her body up and down.  She was wearing a gray, silk dress that clung to her curves, and allowed the raise of her breasts to peek over the top.  Her thick, white hair was braided, and another silver band, interwoven with a thin string of gold, encircled her forehead, the gold string being farther braided into her hair.  A soft, gray cape trimmed with fur rested along her shoulders, and swept near her feet.

       Should be illegal to make royal bitches that beautiful, "Oh...I can think of a few things..."

       Aislinn flushed even further as her strange eyes narrowed, and was about to order for him to be kept in there, but Magdar gave her a look, moving to stand between the two of them, more for his protection then for hers.

       "Come, my Lord...we are to dine.  Will you join us?"

       "What?!  I do not want him at my..."

       "Aislinn..."

       "Magdar!"

       The old man leveled her with a glare, and she huffed as she whirled in a flurry of skirts and stalked out of the dungeon as Spike smirked smugly after her.  "Bitch."

       Dinner was made in complete silence, with just Magdar, Lorkan, Spike and Aislinn making up the table.

       Spike looked down at the food put down in front of him, then at the wine goblet a slightly ashen faced servant plopped down in front of him before hurrying away.

       Aislinn raised an eyebrow as he sniffed it, then eagerly guzzled it.  "Planning on getting drunk, then?"  She asked innocently, and he glanced at her, the blood leaving a thin moustache on his lips, and she shot a look at Magdar, who refused to meet her gaze.

       She let out a sound of disgust, standing up, "This is unacceptable!"  She snapped at her friend, "He is one of them, isn't he?"

       "He's a far different demon then those at the call of Dangor," Magdar assured her, "We do not have his kind in Tiran-Lee."

       Spike raised an eyebrow, "No vamps?  Want me to fix that for you?"

       "My kingdom has been clean of his kind for a long time, Magdar!  I have enough problems with the trolls trying to force their way into the kingdom, and now with Dangor..." She shook her head, "Whose playing a fool's game now?"

       "Hey, you know," Spike got to his feet, glaring at her, "I'm getting a bit tired of your whole attitude, your Majesty!  I didn't ask to come here, y'know!"

       "Good!  I didn't ask you to come either!"

       "Actually...you did, my Queen..." Lorkan broke in, and she glared at him.

       "I called for a warrior, General!  Not some yellow-bellied demon..."

       "Yellow-bellied?  Why, you spoiled...pompous...little palace twit!"

       She stepped towards him threateningly, and he chuckled, "Go ahead, little girl, give it your best shot!"

       She punched him in the face, and even though he was ready for the blow, he still fell back on his butt, clutching his nose.  "Good shot..." He muttered beneath his breath.

       She stepped towards him, ready to hit him again when someone came rushing in, "Dangor is at the gates!"

       She froze, paling, "Dangor?"

       The soldier nodded nervously, "He's alone, save his generals...he says he wishes to make a peace entreaty..."

       "It could be a trap," Lorkan warned her, and Aislinn nodded in agreement.

       "Undoubtedly.  Lorkan, Magdar, come with me.  We'll meet outside the gates.  There is no way I'm letting him into my home."

       The two men nodded, and the Queen disappeared for a few moments, coming back with a silver sword scabbard belted around her waist, and Spike glanced after them, then rolled his eyes, "Wait for me," He huffed, following.

       Aislinn turned in some surprise, "Now you're interested in helping us?"

       "I'm interested in bloodshed...and if he guts you, I want to be there for that," He said with a smirk.  Aislinn exchanged a look with Lorkan.

       "Give him a weapon," She instructed, and the general gaped at her,.

       "But, my Queen..."

       "I gave you an order, Lorkan," She said in a steely voice, and the general glowered at his feet as he snapped at the soldier to obey his Queen.

       The soldier handed over his sword to Spike, who strapped the heavy blade around his waist, and followed them outside.

       Dangor stood in a clearing just outside the castle, leaning against the side of his horse casually as he watched the four figures approach him.

       He was a large man, handsome in a brutal way.  He looked like the abusive boyfriend girls were always falling for back in Sunnydale, Spike noticed.  His hair was just as black as his eyes, and he saw the way he was watching Aislinn lustfully, and knew instantly that there was more to the war they were raging then just land.

       His generals consisted of several demons that Spike had never seen before.  They were huge with black, scaly skin, and six pairs of red eyes, a pair of them located in the palm of each hand.  Large, leathery wings lay folded against their backs, and he couldn't even begin to guess at the wing span, but had a hunch it was huge.

       Aislinn paused in front of Dangor, Lorkan and Magdar standing protectively at either side of her, while Spike stood behind, eyeing the strangers warily, while at the same time casing the clearing, sure there was going to be a catch.

       Bloody stupid...meeting him on non-neutral ground.

       "My dear Aislinn...you grow more radiant each day I see you," Dangor greeted her amiably, and she smiled charmingly.

       "And you grow even more disgusting, and when I think I cannot loathe you a bit more, you prove me wrong."

       Spike chuckled as Dangor scowled, glaring in his direction.  "And who is that, may I ask?"

       "Lord Spike," Magdar answered before Aislinn or Spike could, "He is a great warrior from afar."

       Dangor looked over the shorter man, his hulking frame two heads higher Spike's lean one, "He doesn't look like much."

       "You came with a peace offering, Dangor.  Let us hear it."

       "Same as before, my dear.  You in exchange for the safety of your people.  The towns that have already fallen to me are suffering for your...reluctance."

       "That's a little cliche, ain't it?"  Spike broke in, then mimicked Dangor's deep voice, "Marry me or I'll destroy you...bawahahaha...you people need a new script writer."

       "What is he babbling on about?"

       "Ignore him," Aislinn shot a scathing look at Spike before turning back to her mortal enemy, "And what part of 'no' are you not understanding?  It's fairly simple.  I will not, ever, ever give in to you.  And if Tiran-Lee falls, I will fling myself off the battlements before I allow myself to be taken by the likes of you."

       Dangor smirked at her, lowering his head slightly, "All right, my Queen...I did it nicely.  Next time we meet on the battlefield, you will die...after I'm finished with you."

       Aislinn lifted her chin proudly, "Then I will die...but I will bring you with me," She said confidently before turning and striding back towards her castle.

       Magdar and Lorkan followed her, but Spike remained where he was for the moment, his eyes narrowed, "I can't wait till she guts you like a pig," He said through clenched teeth, and Dangor smiled.

       "I know what you are, Lord Spike...a demon...one I haven't felt or seen before...you belong with us, truly.  Join with us...and you will find the awards...most lucrative."

       Spike scowled at him, "I can't be bought."

       "Everyone has a price, my friend," Dangor smirked in Aislinn's direction, "She will make a fine Queen, don't you agree?  Once I break that superior attitude out of her, that is."

       Spike raised an eyebrow, "You can't break a girl like that," Spike said as he started back towards the castle, "Believe me...I tried."

       When Spike finally made it back in the castle, the others were no where to be found, and he decided to do a little exploring.

       He followed labyrinth-like passages of stone and lit torches, sometimes stopping to peek in rooms, but couldn't find anything of real interest.  No gold, no silver...nothing of value...

       He took a guess where it had gone.  The only thing of value he had seen was the bands Aislinn wore about her forehead, which seemed odd.  He thought she would have been wearing some sort of crown.  Wars were expensive, and Tiran-Lee seemed like a small kingdom.  Undoubtedly, the valuables had gone to peddlars.

       He paused beside a window, reaching into his pocket and removing a pipe Magdar had given him.  He hadn't smoked one in a long time, and was really starting to wish the Marlboro Man was a dimensional traveler.

       He packed it with tobacco that smelled like cherry-wood, and lit it as he looked out on the waning night.  He saw something out of the corner of his eye, and turned a bit, watching as Aislinn detached herself from the shadows near one of the turret towers that marked each corner of her castle.

       Her hair was free, and blowing about her face as she wrapped her arms around herself, looking out on the night.  The wild, whiteness of her hair seemed contrasted with the velvet darkness, making her stand out more.

       His breath caught in his throat as she climbed up on the edge, Shit!  She's going to jump!

       Instead, she nimbly balanced along it, hopping from step to step as she walked along the battlement walls.  His eyes narrowed slightly as he stalked towards a door that led to the battlements to his left and went out.

       She lifted her head in surprise when she heard the door open, and quickly jumped down, turning her back to him without a word, but he had already seen the sheen of shed tears along her cheeks and hurried to catch up with her, "Hey, pet, wait up."

       She paused, her shoulders straightening as she slowly turned to face him, "May I help you, Lord Spike?"  She asked tensely, and he sighed.

       "Listen...we got off on the wrong foot an' all..."

       "You impugned my honor, sir.  If someone had come in, my reputation would have been ruined."

       "Yeah...right...well, can you blame me?  Haven't really been around women like you for a long time, so cut me some slack."

       "Are you telling me women on your world allow you to intrude on them when they are bathing?"  She asked shrewdly, lifting a white eyebrow, her silver band gleaming on her forehead.

       Cor...she really is beautiful...he shook his head at the thought, "No...not really...just wanted to get a rise out of you."

       "Very well...are you done?"  She turned her back to him, "I'd much prefer to be alone with my thoughts right now."

       Spike sighed deeply, "I'll do it."

       She looked over her shoulder, "Do it?"  

       "I'll fight...but...um...are you in the habit of...fighting at night?"

       "We try not too."

       "See...that's going to be a problem," Spike told her, "I'm a vampire...me...sun...we don't mix."

       "Is that all?"  She almost smiled, but her pink lips only trembled a bit.  Spike was almost disappointed.  He would have liked to see what she looked like when she smiled.  He had a feeling that wasn't something she did often.

       "I think it's kinda of a big problem."

       She removed a ring from her finger and handed it to him, "Magdar told me to give that to you."

       He looked down at the green jewel, his eyes widening, "Cor!  This is the Gem of Amara!"

       "It's the Gem of Arknak," She corrected, "He was a powerful sorcerer in my great-great-great grandfather's time.  Do you know what it does?"

       "Invincibility to the wearer...which means I can't be hurt by the sun..." He looked up at her, looking slightly conflicted, "Shouldn' you keep this?  I mean...you probably need it more then me..."

       "I'm not one to crave invincibility, Lord Spike," She answered softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her pointed ear, drawing Spike's attention to them.

       "Are you an elf?"

       She nodded, then amended her own response, "But I am an Elfling...still a child."

       "You...are a child?"

       She nodded, "I am two hundred years old...barely grown.  I am the last of my kind.  The last in the House of Luka."

       "What happened?"

       "Dangor happened...he wiped out the Elfin kind, Lord Spike...my father, three hundred years ago, angered him.  Tiran-Lee used to be a vast kingdom that reached to both Red Seas," She sighed softly, leaning her elbows against the battlements and looking towards the mountains, which was lit by the moon.

       "What did he do?"  Spike asked, lighting his pipe in the wind with some difficulty.  

       "He and my father were rivals for my mother," Aislinn answered, her eyes faraway, obviously not with him.  "My father won out...and that angered Dangor.  He vowed revenge.  I only live because Magdar banished him to the Mists...a sort of...purgatory, for over a hundred years.  He was released...and now, he set his obsession on me and my kingdom."

       "Sucks," Spike muttered, looking at her profile, noticing the hard lines seemed to have softened a bit, her eyes a little less cold and more dream-like.  Her long hair drifted in the breeze, and he shuddered slightly as it's softness brushed across his face.

       "Now Tiran-Lee is nothing but a memory of what once was," She said sadly, "Now, because of me...his darkness touches my land again..."

       Her tears appeared strange, almost a glowing, bluish sheen as they fell from her long, white lashes, dripping down her cheek.  Impulsively, Spike leaned forward and brushed them away with his fingertips, "You can't blame yourself, pet," He said when her wide, startled gray eyes shot towards him.  "It's obvious you're doin' all you can to protect yourself and Tiran-Lee."

       "But...if I would..."

       Spike shook his head, "Wouldn't matter...he'd do the same thing...at least you're putting up a resistance.  That's admirable...and what's more...it's what's right..."

       She closed her eyes, nodding slowly.  Spike hadn't removed his fingers from his face, and gently pressed his cool palm against her warm, perfectly smooth skin.  Her eyes opened as she looked up at him, and he started to lean towards her.

       Aislinn was up first thing in the morning and when she came out to the stable, saw Spike already there, waiting with her horse and one he had borrowed, a black one.  Fitting.

       The vampire didn't seem to notice her, his face lifted upwards towards the sky, a small smile on his face as the early morning light played across it.  

       She paused, taking a moment to observe him.  She couldn't help but admit he was quite handsome, and almost looked normal in his black leggins and jerkin, the doublet discarded in favor for the heavy leather duster he had been wearing before.  

       He seemed to become aware of her presence and dropped his eyes to look at her, "Thought you'd like some company."

       She shook her head, "I am well," She said almost uncomfortably, "I am only to visit my wounded."

       "Perfect," he mounted his horse, who snorted and stomped his feet, "I'm pretty good at the doctoring stuff myself.  I'm constantly getting wounded."

       "Why do I not find that surprising?"  Aislinn asked with a sigh, and mounted her horse easily, her dress foregone for green leggings, doublet and jerkin, as well as a cloak.

       She pulled the hood of the cloak over her head, then kneed her horse's side, "Ki!  Ki!"  

       Spike raised an eyebrow as she shot off, then looked down at the horse, kicking it's stomach.

       It promptly reared and tossed him off.

       Aislinn looked up as Spike rode into the camp half an hour after her.  Her clothes were already streaked with blood from attending to the wounded and dying.  

       She turned her attention back to her patient, trying to ignore the screams of pain from a tent behind her, where they were performing amputations.

       She closed her eyes, holding her hands out over the man's body, "Delictora nicus lini!  Goddess Heleth, I beseech you, bestow thy healing hands onto me..."

       Her hands began to glow a faint blue, and sweat popped up on her forehead as she continued to chant. "Delictora nicus lini!  Goddess Heleth, I beseech you, bestow thy healing hands onto me...touch this man and take his pain onto me..."

       Spike leapt from his horse as she suddenly screamed in agony, ripping herself away from the man, and Spike caught her before she could fall, gently laying her out on the ground, "Hey!  There's something wrong with her!"  He called, but he was ignored by one of the doctors, nicknamed 'Butchers' by the soldiers under their care.

       Lorkan suddenly appeared beside him as he glared at the soldier she had healed, then at Aislinn, "How many times must Magdar tell you?  Not till you're fully grown!"

       "He was dying," Aislinn coughed as she sat up, glaring at Lorkan, "And every life I save is worth the pain!"

       "Not if you die!"  Lorkan snapped at her, "No more!"  He suddenly looked sheepish when he remembered who he was ordering around, "My Queen...the fate of our kingdoms rest on your shoulders.  To lose you would only further demoralize the men."

       Aislinn coughed again, not answering him as she stood, and Lorkan looked exasperated, "Damn it, woman!  I will ban your from the damn camp if I must!"

       Aislinn sent him a glare, "You can do no such thing!"

       "Maybe not...but I can resign as your general...then who would you have to lead this pathetic rabble?!  Him?!"  He jabbed a finger in Spike's direction.  "I doubt the boy could barely lift a sword!"

       "Hey!"  Spike glared at him, "I can rip your throat out in a second, mate."

       "Try it!"

       "If you two boys are done," Aislinn stood up shakily, "I have work to do..."

       Spike and Lorkan exchanged a look, and Spike shrugged, "Hell...I have no allegiance to no bloody crown," He said, then punched Aislinn in the face and she dropped to the ground, unconscious.

       Lorkan raised an eyebrow, "You punched the Queen of Tiran-Lee..."

       "Yeah...so...?"

       Lorkan smiled slightly, "Thank you, my Lord."

       Spike raked a hand through his hair, leaving a blood streak in his white-blond locks.  Somehow, he had been recruited into helping on burial duty, and he grimaced at the smell the hot sun was making worse by heating up the dead, already rotting bodies.

       He finally set aside the shovel, looking up as a very pissed off Elfin Queen stalked towards him, "You had no damn right!"  She shouted at him, drawing the attention of the rest of the burial crew.

       Spike leaned against his shovel casually, raising an eyebrow, "So?  I'm a vampire...evil, soulless beings...we rarely care if we have the 'damn right' or not."

       Aislinn glared at him, arms crossing over her chest, her face flushed with anger, unable to think of what to say to his blunt honesty.  He didn't even seem to care that her chin was throbbing like a bitch.

       "You should not interefere with matters that do not concern you," She finally bit out, and Spike raised an eyebrow, "You know, darlin', General Stick-Crammed-Up-Arse over there has a point.  You die like that, what was the bleedin' point of fighting the battle?"

       "General what?"  A funny look came over her face, and Spike realized she was trying not to laugh.  He leaned towards her, whispering.

       "Ya know...it wouldn't kill ya to smile once in a while, you uptight biddy."

       "Bi--biddy?!"  Aislinn glared at him, "Why...you smug...pompous...arrogant..."

       "Forgot incredibly sexy," Spike purred at her, and her gray eyes widened before she threw her hands in the air and stalked away from him.

       Spike chuckled, then glanced at the other diggers, who were staring at him in awe, unable to believe that he had just spoken to the Queen as if they were equals, "Wot?  Get back to work!"

       He is the most infuriating man I have ever met!  Aislinn thought to herself as she dressed for bed in her tent, practically grinding her teeth together in agiatation.

       She sat down at a small vanity, and started to brush the tangles out of her hair, yanking them out brutally in her anger.  She paused, looking in the mirror at her reflection, then touched her pointed ears.  Gods...I must look so strange to him...

       She rolled her eyes and stood up abruptly, shaking her head.  She needed to get out more, really she did.

       She pulled on a shift and cloak before glancing out of her tent before making a sprint for the woods, unaware of the peroxide blond watching her with a raised eyebrow.

       Aislinn slipped through the trees easily.  Her people had once emerged from this very forest, to come into the world of the humans and other creatures of myth.  The forest was a thousand miles wide and another thousand long.  

       Creatures still dwelled deep within its recesses, unicorns, nymphs and such others hidden away, remaining isolated from the onslaught of a cruel and senseless world.

       She wished her people had never left.

       The moonlight filtered through the thick leaves, casting shadows about the forest floor, dimly lighting her way.  She moved with a preternaturally grace, making no sound except for that of her breathing.

       Her feet were bare, and her simple cloth dress reach mid-thigh, allowing her to feel a naturalness she did not feel within the confines of her castle, or even on the battlefield.  Only the cloak hindered her, but she never went without cape or shawl.

       The Elfins were once people of the wood, but now they were no more.  Only she was left, and in the deep of the woods, she felt it more so then ever, but gained comfort from the naturalness of her surroundings.

       She paused, poised on a rock, her feet precariously holding her perch as she looked upwards in a break in the trees, the full moon gleaming down at her.

       She closed her eyes and gave her senses, her essence to the trees around her.  She could feel them breathing, could feel the small creatures stirring in the underbrush near her.

       She lifted her head higher, and her cry broke the tranquil silence, "Kiya nearla! KIIIIYYYYAAAA!"

       She felt the power of the trees, rocks and animals flow through her, and she lifted her hands to the air, spinning on the rock, her loose, white hair streaming out behind her in a snowy billow of silk.  

       "Nika!  Nika lousa nea!"

       She opened her eyes suddenly, sensing a presence that was not natural to the world about her,  but belonged to the darkness that had once cloaked her people in safety.

       She turned slowly to see Spike watching her from the shadows, his face clothed in shadow. She looked back up at the moon, unaware of the bluish tears that dripped down her face with a secret sorrow she herself did not understand.

       Once, Elfins were a great people, and now she was the last, a foolish child trying to win an already lost battle.

       She listened as Spike moved closer to her, slowly, almost warily, then the sound of his boots skidding along the rock, and the soft whisper of his black trench as he came to stand beside her.

       She looked towards him, his face finally lit up by the moon.  She slowly reached up and touched the scar forming a lop-sided cross through the course, black hair of his eyebrow.

       Spike caught her hand with his own, his blue eyes boring into her gray ones, the orbs completely unreadable as he kissed the inside of her palm.

       "They can hear me," She said softly, and Spike frowned in confusion.

       "Who?"

       She gestured at the area around them, "They all can...they used to speak with me...but our power is fading.  I die...and so goes my people.  Then the trees will follow, for an Elfin's life is tied into that of Kiya...the spirits of the forest."

       Spike let go of her hand and it fell limply to her side.  "They tell me to fight, to end Dangor...but I do not belive I can."

       "Why not?"

       "He is too powerful," She hopped down from the rock, her eyes still on the moon above her, "I will die, and then the Kiya will follow...then the unicorn...and nymphs...and sprites...they will follow, for their fates are tied into Kiyas.  Our world will be dark again.  We will be ruled by the dark ones, the goblins, the trolls, the Orcs...gone will be the ones of light.  The Healers will disappear, and then the humans will find sickness which they never imagined.  Sickness, plagues...they could never imagine it." Spike watched as her strange, blue tears dripped down her face, "I will give in to Dangor...they are worse things I can do."

       "No!"  

       She turned, surprised by the sudden ferocity in his voice. He was glaring at her, his eyes threaded through with yellow, "You will beat him."

       "Is it worth the death of everything for my honor and pride?"  She asked, "I will not destroy what is left of Tiran-Lee for a fool's game."

       "You'd be a fool if you sold yourself out.  Tiran-Lee will be destroyed still!  At least you can say you stood and fought to the end!  Let the Elves have their vengeance," Spike stepped towards her, "Let it be a battle between darkness and light."

       She frowned slightly, looking towards the trees as a breeze started, whipping her hair around her head, and she closed her eyes, inhaling sharply.

       Spike stepped towards her and lifted her chin up so that she would look at him, and she opened her eyes as his lips brushed a light kiss across hers.

       She looked at him in surprise before smiling slightly, and Spike grinned, "See...that wasn't so hard, now was it, pet?"

       She stepped away from him, still smiling as she turned and darted into the trees.

       Spike looked after her in confusion, "What in the 'ell is she doing?" He asked aloud, then jumped when a bright light buzzed his head.

       Soon, he was surrounding by a dozen little lights, and his eyes widened slightly, able to distinguish the shapes of women and men in the lights.

       One of them hovered right in front of his nose, and the faery cocked her head, as if contemplated before spinning in the air and going off in the direction Aislinn had gone.

       Spike raised an eyebrow, and follwed the Fae people further into the forest.  He soon came to a clearing and he saw Aislinn waiting in the middle, surrounding by a hundred Fae, and she was spinning in a circle, as if dancing with them.

       They swoped and glided around her as she let out a laugh, a sound that sounded sweeter then bells.  Her gray eyes fell on Spike and with a smile, she beckoned to him.

       He reluctantly obeyed, ducking whenever a faery came too near his head, "What's going on?"

       "Why, Lord Spike, it's the Eve of the Full Moon," She told him, "The Fae always come out to play."

       "Play what?  I think they've made you go daft," Spike said, thinking of the stories he heard of fae people playing tricks on other creatures.

       Aislinn cocked her head, "Why do you say that?"

       Spike raised an eyebrow, "This is..." Another faery buzzed his head, "Hey!  Cut that out!"  

       Aislinn laughed again as Spike looked towards her.  She was framed by the full moon and the bright, colored lights of the fae, and her hair seemed to glow in a prism of colors.  

       In short, she looked positively edible.

       Spike growled softly and went towards Aislinn as the Fae scattered before him, their flights falling into a circle that surrounded them.  Their lights were reflected in her eyes, making it seem as though they were continuously changing colors.

       Spike stopped right in front of her, then frowned as she dropped into a crouch, placing her hands, palm down on the grass.

       "The Fae are a good folk," She whispered softly, "They want to gift you."

       "Why me?"  Spike asked curiously, and she looked up at him.

       "You are the Chosen One, the one spoken of in prophecy...the one who once more bring peace and fortune to Tiran-Lee."

       "Don't see how I'm supposed to do all that, luv," Spike answered, looking perplexed.  "I'm just a bleedin' vampire."

       She smiled as her hands glowed faintly, and he watched as vines sprouted from nothing, curling themselves around her arms.  She smiled at him reassuringly, "The House of Luka will be restored, and the Elfin will be saved."

       "Elfling," He corrected, "You're the last."

       She nodded slowly, "For now," She answered cryptically, "The Kira speak volumes of you, my Lord."

       He shook his head, raising an eyebrow, "You are daft."

       "Perhaps...it is the call of the moon," She admitted as the vines unfurled themselves from her, and she straightened, her body beginning to glow ethereally with a yellowish light.

       Spike looked around as a faint, humming sound started, then realized the Fae were singing, dancing around  he and Aislinn, spinning and swoping gracefully.

       When Spike looked towards Aislinn again, she had discarded her cloak, and to his surprise, he saw two pale white wings, much like a dragon fly's, spread out behind her. "You have wings! You didn' tell me you had wings!"

       She smiled, "Elfins are merely larger forms of Fae, my Lord.  We are of the ancient union of Norlak and Bertna, the God of Fae and the Guardian of humans."

       "Name's Spike...and why didn't you tell me you had wings?!"

       "You did not ask," She answered simply, fluttering them slightly, "They're perfectly normal..."

       "Then why were you hiding them?!"  Spike asked, still gaping at her, and she sighed, shaking her head.

       "Because people stare at them!"

       Spike grinned sheepisly, "Oh...right..."

       She went towards him and cupped his face between her hands, smiling gently before closing her eyes, "Loilia norous beinan," She whispered in prayer before pressing her lips against his.

       Spike growled softly, wrapping his arms around her, careful of her wings as he deepened the kiss.

       When she pulled away to breath, her eyes were shining, and her lips were looking a bit swollen.  He growled again as he dug his hands into her silky, white hair, kissing her with a bit more ferocity, the sound of the Faeries sweet singing echoing in his ears.

       Sunlight was assaulting his eyes behind his closed lids, and Spike groaned, feeling like his head was on fire.

       He felt something soft tickling his face, and his eyes shot open as he lifted a strand of white hair away from his nose, eyes widening.

       Aislinn was lying against him, head pillowed on his chest, one leg resting in between his thighs.  And he was pretty sure that beneath the cloak covering their bodies, they were nude.  He lifted it, eyes widening even more.  Yep...defiinitatly naked...really naked...

       He first thought was that she was going to kill him when she woke up, the second was along the lines of, 'Yes!  I got lucky' and his mind did a little touchdown dance.  

       Aislinn murmured something softly, snuggling closer to him, and his arms instinctively tightened around her.  He felt her suddenly tense, and she sat up abrubtly, the cloak falling away from her so that he could see her pale wings and small, pert breasts.  Spike stifled a groan.

       "Oh my Gods!"  She gaped at him, then shrieked, pulling the cloak back over her, "What did you do to me?!"

       "Me?!"  Spike glared at her, "What in the bloody 'ell are you talking about?  You threw yourself at me!"

       "I did no such thing!"  She huffed, looking around for her clothes, then groaned when she saw them lying a good twenty feet away, "You...you took advantage of me!"

       Spike snorted, "Yeah...keep tellin' yourself that, baby.  But you weren't exactly protestin' when you were screamin' my name like a bleeding banshee--" The words were barely out of his mouth before his head was rocked by her backhand.  "Ow!"

       "Be quiet an-and...get my clothes!"  

       Spike rubbed his sore cheek, glaring daggers at her, "I don't know what bloody century you're livin' in, luv, but you don't hit a bloke then order him around in the next instant!"

       Aislinn glared at him, lifting her chin regally, "Do as I say...or...or..."

       "You'll what?!  Toss me in the dungeon again?  Please...I spent a month chained in a bathtub.  I think I can handle that rathole after that!"

       "Damn you, you infuriating man!" She snapped at him, "Then look away!"

       "Why?  Haven't got anything I didn't see plenty of last night," Spike leered at her, and her eyes narrowed.

       "You pompous ass!"

       "Good, insult me.  How'd you ever got to be queen is beyond me." Aislinn did a pretty fair imitation of a growl, and he chuckled, amused, "Got that silver spoon jammed up your arse far enough?"

       Aislinn made a noise of disgust as she stood, averting her eyes as she took the cloak with her, and Spike rolled his eyes before going to grab his clothes. She dressed quickly, then look about for her own cloak, grumbling beneath her breath about Chosen Ones and the damned Fae.

       "Whose side are they on, anyhow?"  She asked aloud, turning when Spike tapped her shoulder.  He handed her her cloak, ignoring her glare as he looked about, "Hope you know where we are, cause I'm not too sure I can find my way back."

       "Oh Gods..." Her eyes suddenly widened, "If we walk back into camp, they're going to think that we were...oh Gods..."

       "Luv, in case you don't remember, we were doing..." He cut off his reminder at her scathing look, "Right.  Well, bugger them.  Why do you care so much?"

       "A Queen is not supposed to be doing such things with someone who is beneath her!"  Aislinn snapped angrily, "I'm part of the monarchy!  The Gods only know who or what you are!"

       Spike glared at her as he jerked his shirt over his head, and grabbed his cloak from her, "I'm getting pretty 'effin tired of you, pet!  Someone oughta take that attitude and jam it down your fucking throat!"

       "You cannot speak to me thus!"  She pratically snarled at him, "You will respect me and my station!"

       "Sod that!"  Spike scoffed loudly, "No one tells me what to do...least of all some two-bit whore of a stuck-up little brat!"

       "Whore?!"  She fairly screeched, flying at him, nails extended.

       She crashed into him and he growled as they slammed into the ground, and she was punching him in the face for all she was worth.

       Spike felt his nose start to bleed, and he grabbed her wrists, then flipped them over so that he was straddling her.

       "Will you calm the hell down?!"  He said through clenched teeth, then howled, letting go of her as she managed to knee him in the crotch. She rolled away from him, standing with a dignified snort as she stood, brushing grass from her cloak and shift.

       Spike had his back to her as he cradled himself, groaning loudly, "You bitch!"

       Ailsinn winced slightly.  She was a warrior, and knew it was an extremely low-blow to kick a man in the 'jewels.'

       "My lord?"  She touched his shoulder, "I am sorry...I didn't mean..."

       "Get away from me!"  He hissed at her, and she drew up in anger.

       "I was trying to apologize!  You 're such a...a..."

       Spike turned his face towards her, his vampiric visage visible, amber eyes glowing in anger, "GET AWAY!"

       She let out a sharp cry, stumbling backwards, gray eyes widening. She could not believe she had touched such a thing!

       "What are you?!"  She asked in horror, and Spike turned his face away with another growl.

       She turned and fled into the woods as fast as her feet would take her, and Spike pressed the heels of his palms against his closed eyes with a groan, "Stupid bastard..."

       Magdar looked up as his Queen charged into the camp, hair and cloak streaming out behind her, looking extremely disheveled.

       She rushed right past the assembled search party, ignoring them as she retreated into her tent, and Magdar frowned, glancing at Lorkan.  "Where's Lord Spike?"

       "Maybe she killed him," Lorkan suggested, a little too hopefully, and Magdar sighed, shaking his head.  With Aislinn, that wasn't too casual a guess.

       He held off the search party as he went into Aislinn's tent to find her angrily pacing it, raking her hands through her long hair.

       "What happened?"

       "The Fae," Aislinn bit out, "The Fae happened.  I thought they were supposed to be on our side!"

       Magdar raised an eyebrow, "Did you anger Siofra in anyway?"  He asked, referring to the ruler of the Fae people.

       "No!  Of course not!"

       "I must have a word with her," He sighed, shaking his head.  It was much too dire a time for her people to be luring Aislinn into one of their gaming circles. He had a sudden thought as he looked towards Aislinn, "Were you alone?"

       She gave him a look, "Yes."

       "You're lying!  You were with the Chosen One!"

       "Oh...do be quld F" Aislinn shed her cloak.

       Magdar raised an eyebrow, but obeyed, "As ordered, the Kings are to assemble tonight in your castle," He told her.

       She hissed through her teeth, nodding, "Call my horse.  I will leave at once."

       "And Lord Spike?"

       "If he finds his way out of the woods, which, unfortunately, I believe he will, he seems to have a bad habit of turning up at inopportune times..."  

       "Aislinn..."

       "Keep him away from the others," She said with a sigh.  "I don't need him mucking up things any further!"

       "Yes, my Queen," Magdar bowed, "It is done."

       Spike didn't come trudging back into camp till night fall, grumbling beneath his breath about certain 'Royal bitches leaving him out in the forest too rot.'

       It didn't take a genius to figure out of whom he was talking about.

       "Where in the 'ell is she?"  Spike snapped as soon as he saw Magdar, "I'm going to bloody rip her head off and fucking drop kick it!"

       "She's gone back to the castle, my Lord," Magdar told him, "She is in a meeting with the other rulers surrounding Tiran-Lee."

       "Good," He growled, heading for the horses, "I hope they tell her she can stick this bleedin' kingdom where the sun don't shine."

       "My Lord...she wishes for you..."

       "Fuck what she wishes," Spike growled, mounting a horse, "And fuck this bloody kingdom!"

       He ground the heels of his boots into the steed, and Magdar sighed heavily, looking towards the other horses.  "I hate these beasts..."

       Aislinn was unable to believe what was being said to her.

       "This...is completely unacceptable!"  She reigned her anger with a prodigious effort, leveling her hard gaze on the other rulers in the room.

       She was dressed properly in a pure white dress that shimmered in the lamp light as she moved, and her wings were not hidden from few, and seemed to throw glimmer with their own essence, and her hair was braided in a halo surrounding her head, the only decoration the ever present silver band.

       "It's the way of things, Aislinn," King Torna said, standing up, "Why put my kingdom at risk of Darnog's wrath when all he wants is this small, insignificant kingdom?"

       "My father came to your aid during the Trinoldian wars, Torna.  There was risk of retaliation, but he still helped you!"

       Torna shifted uncomfortably, "Tiran-Lee isn't the stronghold it once was, Aislinn.  It's just not worth the lives."

       Aislinn's eyes swept across the table, looking at everyone in turn, but they all averted their eyes from her. She drew herself up proudly, nodding curtly, "Fortune favors the brave, gentlemen.  Too bad you're all cowards."

       She whirled and swept fromt the room, and the kings were left to look at each other uncomfortably before exiting.

       Aislinn watched them go from the doorway, closing her eyes as she swayed slightly on her feet. It's hopeless then...their support were my last resort...

       She slowly turned and disappeared into the confines of her castle, knowing preparations had to be made for their last battle.

       Spike stepped out of the shadows, frowning slightly, his anger deflated a bit.  He realized he had just watched, very possibly, the last hope being dissolved in an already lost war.

       Magdar found Spike in his bedchambers, lying on the bed and staring up at the ceiling.  He came in and closed the door before facing the vampire, "Aislinn is calling her army to the walls of the castle," He told Spike, but the vampire didn't acknowledge him.

       "The final battle is coming, and she insists that we make the final attack."

       "There is no we," Spike replied, sitting up, "I'm out.  This bullshit is really none of my business."

       "But...you are the Chosen..."

       "No, I'm not!"  Spike snapped at him, his eyes narrowing, "You obviously don't know what a vampire is!  I have no soul, no feelings...nothing!  I'm a monster, mate, so get used to it!"

       "In the woods, did you not pledge yourself to my Queen?"

       "It was sex, old man, that's all.  Just a couple of people shaggin' their brains out, then never talkin' to each other again.  Called a one night stand, where I come from."

       Magdar's eyes narrowed slightly, "You dishonour her, my Lord."

       "She dishonored herself, I was just there for the ride," Spike smirked at him, then lay back on his bed, "Let me know when my bloody month is up," He said, crossing his arms beneath his head, "An' how about sending up someone for me to drain?"

       Magdar let out a sound of disgust, "You are no warrior," He hissed, "You are as bad as Darnog himself."

       Spike flashed his true face at Magdar, "Nah, mate, I'm a hell of a lot worse."

       Aislinn slipped among the city nestled among the castle walls, hood over her head to hide her from sight.  Every doorway she passed seemed to be flying a black flag, signaling a death in that household.  So many dead...

       She sighed, drawing her hood farther over her face.  A few children scrambled towards her and held out their hands, begging for alms.  She pressed a few gold coins into their palms, all she had, and they went away when they realized that.

       Tiran-Lee had fallen a great deal in her rule.  In her father's time, children would not have been forced to beg on the streets for their daily bread.

       She moved closer to the wall as a group of soldiers passed by.  They were now occupying the walls, ready to move out at her orders, once she decided on a course of action.

       She tucked a strand of white hair behind  a pointed ear as she sidesteped puddles of refuse, thrown from the thatched homes around her, sighing again.

       Father, I have failed the people and Tiran-Lee...because of me, this is all that is left...

       Her face suddenly hardened as she squared her shoulders, and turned back towards the castle.  No more would she fail them.  She would do her duty as queen.

       "There is no discussion, Lorkan!"

       "I refuse to accept this, my Queen!"

       "Listen to him, My lady...he speaks the truth...this is extremely dangerous..."

       For nearly two days, the trio's voices had risen in argument over and over again, as they discussed their options, then erupted into a fight once more.  In all that time, all it boiled down to was...there were no more options, save one.  The one which Lorkan and Magdar were trying their damnedest to prevent.

       "How many more lives will I waste, Magdar?  Face it, the war is lost."

       "Just the battles, my Queen!"  Lorkan broke in, "The war is not yet over!"

       "It has to be, General!  No longer will the people suffer beneath me.  No longer will I send their men to die and leave their women and children without husband and father.  This is no longer my world or my kingdom, Lorkan.  Magick is dying.  Tell me you haven't felt it, Magdar."

       The old man shifted a bit uncomfortably, "True, the good is becoming a bit weaker..."

       "It's the humans' world now.  No longer will I interefere with them.  Let them have it.  I have no need for it."

       "Dangor..."

       "Will share my fate," Her lips were set in a grim line, and Lorkan's eyes widened slightly, realizing her intentions, "That's suicide."

       Aislinn raised an eyebrow, "Prepare my horse, Lorkan.  I will leave within the hour."

       Spike scowled, throwing an arm over his eyes as the door to his room opened, "Don' you people knock?"  He sniped, "I'm trying to sleep!"

       No one answered him, and he tensed as he heard the door close and lock.  Shit...what was she saying about assasins?!

       Spike sat up, his eyes narrowing as Aislinn slowly turned from the door, her eyes finding his.

       "I must ask you something," She said softly, and Spike relaxed slightly, cocking his head in puzzlement.

       "What? No snide, uppity comments?"

       She ducked her head almost shyly, "I am sorry, my Lord...I did not mean to offend."

       "Fine, same here," Spike replied off-handily, "What do you want?"

       "In your world...does...magick still exist?"

       Spike frowned, a bit confused by her question, "Well...yeah, I guess...there's witches...and demons and such..."

       "What about us?  Elves, I mean..."

       "Um...can't say I say I saw any of your kind.  Heard of them, but they're not supposed to exist anymore."

       She cast her eyes down, nodding slowly, "Very well.  Magdar will send you home once the time is right, Lord Spike.  Farewell."

       "What?  Now you're goin' to ignore me for the next three weeks?"  Spike asked irritably, and Aislinn shook her head, "I leave this day for the camps of Dangor."

       "You're what?!  That's suicide!"

       "So it is," She smiled indugently, lifting her head proudly, "But I will not enter the afterlife alone.  I will take Dangor with me."

       "You're going to kill yourself for him?"

       "For my people...and what Tiran-Lee once was," She bowed slightly, "I take my leave of you, Lord Spike, and pray that you reach your world well," She turned and glided back towards the door.

       "If I say I'll fight, will you change your mind?"  Spike asked suddenly, and she paused, looking over her shoulder.

       "I do this so there will be no more fighting.  The deaths will end with mine, my Lord.  As it should have long ago."

       Spike frowned, slightly troubled as she left him, then sighed, shaking his head, "Bloody 'ell..."

       Lorkan and Magdar stood by Aislinn's side as the Queen finished strapping her armour on, and settling her hood over her bound hair, nodding at her friends.  "You have been faithful, my friends.  I trust you to watch over Tiran-Lee in my stead."

       "My Queen," Lorkan dropped to his knees before her, and bowed his head in reverence, "Your will be done."

       She smiled sadly, touching his long, brown hair, "Stand, my dear Lorkan.  They will be no bowing before me from now on," She told him, and he slowly stood.  She touched his rough cheek, raising an white eyebrow as she looked into his eyes, "And no tears.  That is an order."

       He smiled, taking her small hand in his large one and kissing her palm, "As you wish, my Queen."

       Aislinn turned towards Magdar and the old man gathered her into his arms, squeezing her body with all his strength, "May the Gods speed your mission, my girl," He muttered in her ear, "And may they look mercifully onto Tiran-Lee from this day forward."

       "Thank you," She pulled away from him and kissed his cheek, "Protect Tiran-Lee with your strength and wisdom, my old friend."

       She mounted her horse, giving them a last wave as she wheeled the beast around and started towards the castle gate.

       The horse suddenly reared, and she looked up as a whistling filled the air, eyes widening as a large, flaming ball appeared over the walls.  It crashed into something out of her sight, and she hear a loud 'whoomph' followed by the smell of smoke.

       "Attack!  We're under attack!"  A sentinel belatedly screamed from a battlement, and then was pitched over the side, clutching an arrow portruding from his chest as he fell.

       Aislinn dismounted and ran up a set of stairs to the battlements, eyes widening.  An army of thousands was surrounding her castle, with Dangor at the head of it.

       "NO!"  She turned, screaming down at Lorkan, "Open the gates!"

       "If we do that now, we all die," a voice growled from behind her, and she whirled, seeing Spike looking out at the army, and he glanced at her, "They'll flood the place before you have a chance to say anything.  Then everyone dies."

       She nodded, knowing he was correct, then looked down at Lorken, changing her orders, "TO THE WALLS!  PROTECT ALL SIDES!  TIRAN-LEE WILL FIGHT!"

       Lorkan saluted her with a wide grin and hurried to assemble his men.

       Aislinn glanced at Spike as he smiled at her, unsheathing his sword, "Fortune favors the brave, huh, pet?"

       She smiled, despite herself, "Unfortunatly, the cowards are living longer lives."

       Aislinn swiped at her face, her forehead dotted with sweat from the heat and exertion of battle.  Down below, people were yelling as they tried to put out the fire caused by flaming arrows and balls of fire shot by Dangor's catapults.

       Smoke rose thickly in the air, choking the breath of the people trying to keep Dangor's forces from getting over the castle walls.

       Her skin was smudged with ash, dirt and blood and she flinched as a soldier screamed beside her, clutching his stomach as an arrow penetrated it.  She considered stopping to heal him, but by the time she was by his side, he was dead.  She said a short prayer, then straightened, wings fluttering as she loaded a bow, aiming along the arrow's shaft.

       Accurately, her arrow struck the chest plate of a soldier manning the catapult, and she swiftly reloaded and took out the other one before moving on.

       A grappling hook flew near her head, and her sword flashed into her hand, and she heard a scream as she cut the rope loose, sending whoever was climbing it to fall into the moat.

       "DOELA NIKKS!"  

       Aislinn's eyes shot towards the sound, and watched as Magdar let loose a ball of energy, taking out a group of horse-back soldiers, making them scream as they fell off their steeds and writhe on the ground in agony, and she nodded in approval at the old man.

       She whirled as something moved behind her, and stabbed her dagger into the throat of a great, black troll trying to clamber over the side, and he shouted as he fell backwards, scrabbling at the wall for purchase, but to no avail.

       "Trolls!  Watch for the damned trolls!"  Aislinn screamed at a group of soldiers watching the walls.  Damn things don't need ropes...damn, damn, damn...

       She loaded her bow again, narrowing her eyes as she expertly took out another soldier.

       She jumped when something slapped against her butt, and whirled, glaring at Spike, who was covered with blood, a wide grin on his face, "Bloody hell, but this is fun!"  He called over the noise of screams, and she let out a strangled sound of disgust.

       " Fun?!  People are dying!"  She snapped at him, and his face fell slightly. She stalked away from him, wings fluttering behind her as she sought out her general.

       He heard something that sounded like leather flapping in the wind, and his eyes shot upwards as one of Dangor's winged generals swooped from the sky.  He shouted and leapt at Aislinn, knocking her to the cold stone as the general let out a sharp cry of disappointment, pulling himself back up just before striking the wall and hovered high in the air, out of the way of the arrows.

       Aislinn rolled onto her back as Spike sat up, smiling wanly, "Thanks..."

       Spike nodded, starting to stand, then tensed as a troll jumped behind him, fastening onto his back and his sharp, jagged teeth ripped into the vampire's shoulder.

       "Spike!"  Aislinn rushed forward, then brought up her hands, "Delicta!"  

       The troll howled as a ball of fire struck him in the face, and Spike whirled, kicking the troll back over the wall to fall into the moat, then winced, slumping to his knees, clutching his torn shoulder.  "Shit!"

       Aislinn was by his side in an instant and pressed her hands against his shoulder, closing her eyes, muttering a spell beneath her breath.

       Spike tensed as a surge of power entered him, and he watched as her face grew paler, then ripped her hands from him as she fell weakly against him.  His shoulder itched from the scab healing over it, speedened by her healing powers, but it had weakened her, "Stupid bitch," He muttered, brushing a strand of damp, dirty hair out of her eyes, "I get the bleedin' gem on my finger...it wouldn't have hurt me."

       "Need you..." She coughed, the smoke embedded deeply in her lungs, "To fight...can't risk losing a warrior now."

       Spike straightened, lifting her in his arms, looking around.  All around him, trolls, demons and even some humans were overrunning the walls, overpowering what little manpower Tiran-Lee had left.  He held the weakened Queen against his chest as he started to sprint for one of the towers, hoping to at least get her out before the castle was completely overtaken.

       He was almost to the tower door when he was hit from behind and he was falling over into the courtyard.  He turned in mid-air, gasping when he landed on his back, his head slamming into the ground.  

       His arms slipped loose, and Aislinn groaned as she slid out of his arms, rolling onto her stomach.

       Spike watched dazedly as the winged general landed next to them, and tried to sit up, but the general placed a clawed foot on his stomach, forcing him back to the ground, the heavy foot crushing his ribs.

       "Stay...away...from...her..." He ground out, and the general let out a half-laugh, half-growl as scaly hands closed around his head, and he met Aislinn's dazed, wide eyes as the demon twisted his head, and she closed her eyes against the loud snap of his neck, tears squeezing from beneath her pale lids as the general stepped off of Spike.

       She reached for her sword, but the demon kicked it out of her grasp before punching her in the face and knocking her out.  He lifted her up, snorted at Spike's still body, then shoved off the ground, wide, leathery wings beating against the air as he returned to his master.

       Aislinn groaned as she started to come too.  She almost smiled as someone slowly stroked her bare arm, but forced it back, putting a stern tone to her voice, "You know, Lord Spike...that's a hanging offense..."

       She gasped as her hair was suddenly grabbed and her eyes shot open as she was jerked upward, and they were widened as she was forced to stare into Dangor's face, his eyes narrowed in fury, "And who is this Lord Spike?"  He growled at her, and her eyes narrowed.

       "You bastard!"  She hissed at him, her hand flying to her thigh, and he chuckled, letting go of her as he stood.

       "Looking for this?"  He asked, holding up a thigh-sheath that contained her dagger.

       She glared at him as she stood up, clad in a shift that they had given her after stripping her of her armour, which was resting in the corner of Dangor's tent.

       She pulled the collar of the dress around her, holding it protectively about her throat.  "I was to make peace with you, Dangor...but you then attacked my castle."

       Dangor shrugged, "You lost your chance, my dear.  I still would have destroyed it.  It's sad, really.  Tiran-Lee is such a pathetic piece of land nowadays.  Not even worth the time of the other kingdoms." She tensed slightly as the dark-haired man smirked at her, "Pity, really, the way you've failed your entire kingdom.  Now it's gone," He stepped towards the door of the tent and opened it, letting her look out on her castle.  Entire walls had fallen, and a tower teetered, ready to topple at any minute.

       His soldiers were ushering people out of the smoking ruins, wooden yokes about their necks, holding their hands and heads prisoner, and they were linked by chains about their feet.

       Tiran-Lee had fallen...and she was now looking on it's new ruler, who was smiling cruelly at her, his dark eyes roving over her body.  She took a step back as he let the curtain fall, and he leered at her as he strode towards her, pinning her arms to her side.

       "We shall return to Korah...victorious, and with you as my Queen..."

       Her eyes narrowed as she spat in his face, and he smiled as he wiped at the spittle, then backhanded her, and she fell onto her hands and knees, her eyes never leaving his, the gray orbs glowing with defience.  "I will die first!"  She hissed at him, and he chuckled.

        "I have no doubt of that," He said, then gripped her forearm and yanked her back to her feet.  "However, if you kill yourself, my dear, the rest of your people follow.  I will not rest to every single citizen of Tiran-Lee is dead.  Understand?!"

       She eyed him cooly, before nodding slowly, and a smile crossed his face as he kissed her cheek, "Wonderful, darling.  I am glad that we are on the same level."

       "You're beneath me, Darnog, you will never be on the same level," She answered calmly, "You're not even on the same level as Yoak dung."

       Darnog grabbed her chin and squeezed it till she cried out, his eyes burning in his face, "You will speak to me with respect, my dear...or I'll be forced to remove your acid tongue from your mouth.  I don't want you for your speaking abilities anyhow."

       She tore her chin from his grasp, then spat on the ground at his feet, "You will pay for this, Darnog.  I will make sure of it."

       "Face it, Aislinn...you've lost.  Tiran-Lee is no more...and you belong to me," He smiled, "We shall leave at once for Korah.  I think you shall like it there.  It'll be...your home away from home..."  He whirled and swept out of the tent.

       Aislinn closed her eyes taking a deep breath before collapsing to her knees and burrowing her face in her hands, starting to weep.  Not for her, but for her dead kingdom, and for the warrior that hadn't needed to get involved, and now lay dead because of her.

       "He has no heartbeat."

       "Of course he doesn't, you fool!  He's dead!"

       "Then what are you..."

       Lorkan jumped as Spike's eyes suddenly opened, stumbling backwards, "Gods!  He lives!"

       "Ah...Christ..." Spike touched the back of his head, where a burning, throbbing sensation was emanating from where he had smacked it on the stones in the courtyard.  Aislinn!

       He got to his feet, and Magdar reached out a hand, steadying him, "You must rest, my Lord..."

       "Where is she?!"  Spike snapped, looking around the low hut, frowning slightly.  What the fuck?  Where's the castle?

       "Dangor has taken her," Lorkan said bitterly, glaring at Spike banefully, "So much for the Warrior.  Tiran-Lee has fallen, even with your help."

       Spike made to lunge at him, but Magdar held him back with a hand against his chest, and Spike growled at Lorkan.

       "I tried to protect her..."

       "Yeah, and got your neck snapped in the process!"

       "Stop it!"  Magdar shouted at them, "Tiran-Lee has fallen, our people enslaved, our Queen taken!  We do not have time for you two to start a fight!"

       "Sorry, Magdar."

       "Sorry, mate."

       Magdar nodded, satisfied, "Dangor has left for Korah.  It is a four-day journey, but he has an army following him, so he will be slower then us."

       "Um...mate...?  Don't shoot little balls of fire at me or nuthin', but...how many soldiers do you have left exactly?"

       "There's just the three of us.  The rest deserted, taken prisoner, or were killed."

       "Right...great...gotta love those odds.  Three against an entire army."

       "Odds are not important, Lord Spike," Magdar answered, "Aislinn fought tooth and nail against the odds."

       "Yeah, and look at her now.  She's 'bout to become Mrs. Bond Villain."

       "Who?"

       Spike rolled his eyes, "Never mind...but's it's impossible, mate.  We can't possibly beat this guy.  I'm just a goddamn vampire, for Chrissakes!  I'm not a Chosen anything!  I don't even care about what happens to this pissant kingdom of yours!"

       "But you care about Aislinn," Magdar replied surely, and Lorkan looked towards Spike, eyes narrowing slightly.

       "That thing has feelings for our Queen?"

       Spike didn't answer him, only leveled him with a glare before saying, "And how do you suggest we go about gettin' her back?  Knock on the bloody doors of Korah and say, 'Give us the girl or we'll throw rocks at you?'  If so, I hope his dungeon's a whole lot more posh then yours, cause we're goin' to be rottin in it for a long time."

       "I will go for her," Lorkan said, straightening his back and looking towards Magdar, "I will not let that bastard touch her!"

       Magdar nodded, his eyes on Spike, "General, please excuse us."

       Lorkan hesistated for a few seconds, then exited the hut, and Magdar turned towards Spike again, "Will you come with us?  She's counting on you."

       "She's misplaced her trust, mate," Spike growled shortly, shoving past him and running out of the hut and past Lorkan.  He plunged into the woods surrounding him, and when he was a good distance away, sure he was alone, he stopped, looking up at the darkening sky, and howled with all he was worth before falling to his knees with a snarl, "GOD-FUCKING-DAMMIT!"

       Lorkan and Madgar's eyes shot towards the woods at the primal roars coming from deep within it's depths as they mounted their horses, and the beasts shied fearfully at the sound.

       Magdar turned sad, wrinkled eyes on Lorkan before nodding and spurring his horse forward, praying that they weren't too late for their Queen.  Gods help us all...

       Spike moved deeper and deeper into the forest, lost with all he was worth.  He had tried to find his way back to the hut, but had only ended up turned around and going in circles.  Finally, he had picked a direction and just kept going straight, not knowing the nature of the forest's depths.

       He had walked for three days, weakness starting to overcome him.  He was unable to hunt, since the chip in his head would activate if he tried to harm something other then a demon, and bloodlust was nearly driving him mad with hunger.

       Not to mention the guilt eating away at him.

       Once in a while, he'd see little lights moving among the trees and would follow them till they disappeared, the faeries choosing to remain away from the demon, and he growled in frustration.  Sure, now they don't want anything to do with me...bloody great...

       And the Powers help him, everytime he saw the lights of the Fae, he was reminded of that one night with Aislinn, the Queen seemingly bared of all worries and responisibilites, laughing with him as they tumbled about in the tall grass playfully.

       The way her hair had shimmered in the glow of the Fae, their intoxicating song seeming to make her skin taste sweeter beneath his cool lips, her smell seemingly more fulfilling then any Slayer blood he had ever drank of.  

       He'd give his unlife to find out if it was the same when they were not under an enchantment.  Damn faeries...he thought, knowing that it was their fault that he felt guilty about abandoning her to her fate.  And for the way he wanted nothing more then to touch her again, and feel her soft, warm body beneath his once more, only without a spell hanging over their heads.

       He growled, ducking his head beneath a branch, then sat down on a rock, resting his elbows on his knees, turning his eyes upwards, "Even in other fucking dimensions, you have to bloody fuck up my life!"  He snapped at the sky, "Well, sod off, you smug bugger!"  

       He suddenly tensed, sensing movement behind him, and his hand shot to his neck as something sharp pricked it.  He came away with a feathered, wooden dart, eyes widening slightly as he turned, seeing someone emerge from the shadow of the trees, holding a pea-shooter, their face covered by the facial bones of a human skull.  The figure was dressed in form-fitting green breeches and doublet, and Spike's world began to waver as he removed a dagger from his boot, approaching the blond vampire.

       Then Spike plunged forward, his vision going black, and the last thing he was able to see as the figure knelt above him, dagger flashing in the moonlight, was pointed ears beneath the hood.

       Aislinn was looking out the window of her 'prison' out on the mountains that broke the border between Tiran-Lee and Korah.  She winced slightly, remembering that Tiran-Lee no longer existed.  It all belonged to Korah now.

       She knew soon that Dangor would come for her.  Their farce of a wedding ceremony would begin within the week, and she would finally lose what little of herself that she owned to the bastard.

       She swiped at her eyes, wiping away the bluish tears that threatened to spill over once again.  She had cried more in the last few days then she ever had in her life, even when her father and mother were killed.

       She looked down on the courtyard, tensing when she saw Lorkan and Magdar being led in, the general fighting against his captors with snarls of outrage, trying to break free.

       They live!  She felt like rejoicing, but knew that now, it was truly over.  They were her last hope.

       Magdar looked upwards, finding her eyes, mouthing something, but she couldn't tell what it was.  Just then, Lorkan smashed the back of his head into a soldier, and she screamed as another one drew a sword, and drove it into the man's back.

       "LORKAN!"  

       He looked up at her, then smiled as the soldier removed his sword, and she averted her eyes as the soldier brought it down, severing his head from his body.

       She stumbled backwards from the window, collapsing into a heap on the floor and screaming out her grief, tears streaming freely down her face.

       Spike felt himself being jostled roughly, and he groaned as his eyes opened.  There was an immediate scuffling away from him, with cries of alarm.  He shook his head as he sat up, rubbing his neck with a growl as he looked around.

       Once more he was in a low hut, but it appeared different from the last one, instead of having thatched roofing, it was made of moss and twisted branches, as were the tables and chairs in it.  He was laying on a bed with bedding made of moss as well.

       He looked towards the figure in the corner, and seeing the same person who had attacked him in the forest, their face still covered with the upper half of a skull, obscuring their features, their companions wearing identical ones, but some with markings on the skin exposed.

       Their hoods were all drawn and Spike's eyes widened slightly, seeing their pointed ears.  However, they all seemed different from Aislinn.  Their wings were different colors, no white visible on them, and their hair was all short, different colors, like red, brown, black, blue and even one with forest green hair.

       "Are you elves?"  Spike asked, rolling his eyes when they didn't answer him, instead turning towards each other and whispering.

       "He is the one spoken of in legend..."

       "He cannot be..."

       "He will rise from death...he has no heartbeat...he is the one..."

       "You know," Spike interrupted, drawing their looks back towards him, "I'm gettin 'effin tired of people telling me I am the bloody 'Chosen One!'"

       "He speaks strangely...he is a stranger too!"

       Spike shook his head as the one that had shot him removed his mask, revealing the tell-tale elfin features, his blue eyes shining in his tanned face, "I am Zenon, Chief of the Huik Elven Clan.  We are honoured by your presence in our village, Sire."

       Spike sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose, "There's more of you?"

       "There are exactly one hundred clans in the great forest, all located deep within the depths, where humans cannot find us," He told Spike, "We have legends that tell of one such as you.  They say you will come and bring us back to our rightful place among the world, and that you will destroy the evil one."

       "Dangor being the evil one?"

       "Shhh!"  Zenon looked at the others, who had began to fearfully murmur among themselves, "Do not speak his name!"

       Spike shook his head slightly, superstitious elves...just what I bloody need...

       "Did it ever occur to you to fight him your bloody self instead of waiting around for some freakin' legendary nobody to show up and bail your arses out?"

       "We cannot win without you."

       "Goddamn it!"  Spike glared at him, "While you fuckers were out here campin', Aislinn's been fighting a bloody losing war, and she didn't wait around for some bloody white knight to help her!"

       "We have offended you, Sire," Zenon bowed, "We are sorry..."

       "Fuck this shit...could you just point me towards the nearest dimensional portal?  I just want to fucking go home and forget about you goddamn elves with their bloody weird ears and beautiful gray eyes...and I didn't say that!"  Spike growled, raking a hand through his hair, "ARRGGHH!"

       Zenon was looking at him in puzzlement, "You have seen an elf with gray eyes?"

       "Elfling," He corrected without thinking, looking towards Zenon, "Said she was a child in your years."

       "An Elfling with gray eyes?!"  Zenon looked towards the others, who were listening with wide, amazed eyes, then back at Spike, "This elfling...what did she look like?"

       Spike cocked his head in puzzlement, "Pure white hair...white wings...kinda see-through..." He smiled slightly, his eyes looking far into the distance, "Pale skin...paler then mine...and so bloody soft...kinda tasted like chocolate..." He shook his head, clearing his head of his thoughts and scowling, "What's it too you?"

       "An ancient one," Zenon breathed softly, "We thought they were only myths..."

       "Wait...you think she's a bleedin' myth?"

       "We thought the last had been killed off by the evil one..."

       "Naw...she's the Queen of Tiran-Lee...was the Queen...Dan-the evil one has her now."

       Zenon's face fell, "Then she is dead."

       "He took her for his Queen," Spike's scowl deepened, "He's probably bloody tryin' to shag my woman now...bloody bastard..."

       "Then all is lost," Zenon sighed, and Spike's eyes shot towards him.

       "Wot?!  You're not even goin' to try and help her?!"  He snapped angrily, aware he was being a hypocrite.  Hadn't he just done that himself?  Run instead of helping her out after she nearly killed herself trying to heal him?

       "Fuckin' wanker," He muttered beneath his breath, looking at the elves, "First things first, I'm bloody starvin'...I need some blood.  Don't care what kind right now, not too picky at the moment."

       Zenon paled, "Blood?"

       "Yeah, and then...the other clans...we're going to need them all."

       "Why, Sire?"

       Spike smiled darkly, his eyes lighting up, "We're goin' to go save the girl, mate."

       Spike slowly pulled on the clothes the elves had given him, his thoughts elsewhere as he buckled a sword to his waist, his fingers brushing against the soft, tanned doe-skin of his breeches, and the rough fabric of his loose, white shirt.  He raked a hand through his hair, then downed the rest of his deer blood, almost smiling at the memory's it evoked.  When he was little, he had always loved to eat venison, and hadn't had it in nearly two hundred years.

       He slipped a dagger into the doe-skin boots that reached just above his knees as Zenon came in, "The clan leaders are wary of your plan, Sire, but they are willing to follow the Chosen One."

       "Good," Spike muttered, wondering if he was getting in way over his head as he turned to face the Chief, fidgeting with the gem on his finger.  "A lot of your are going to die."

       "We know this, but legend says you will bring us victory, Sire, and we will die for you to bring us back to our place in the world.  We are tired of hiding in the trees."

       Spike bit back a snide comment about the way they had been hiding.  Aislinn was right, fortune favored the brave, but these cowards were living longer and healithier lives.  But could he really blame them?  They had fled from the extermination of their people.

       An elf appeared at the door, shooting Spike an awed look, "Siofra has come, Chief Zenon.  She wishes for her people to come and help the Chosen One."

       "Who's Siofra?"  Spike asked, heading out of the hut, then froze, his eyes widening.  He was surrounding by a vast city, all built high above the ground in the trees.  Suspension bridges spanned the area, connecting every hut, and a series of ropes and pulleys connected the elves to the ground.  Thousands of elves moved about the place, or were flying above the trees.  If this was just one clan, he'd love to see the others.

       A hundred clans...and if they have as many people as this...we outnumber Darnog, ten to one.  

       "Siofra is the Queen of Faeries, Sire," Zenon answered, and Spike scowled.

       "The Fae...great...I got an ax to grind with them."

       Zenon frowned in confusion and Spike looked down as a little elf girl with green hair bounced up to him, her forest green eyes wide and shining as she held out a bouquet of flowers to him.  Spike couldn't help but smile at the angelic child as he took it and the girl smiled brightly back at him, "My momma says you're goin' to save us," She said in a soft voice, and Spike looked up as a group of elves began to gather on the wide platform across the trees from him.

       "Don't bet on it,' He said, and the girl scampered off, unperturbed.

       He watched as a thousand points of light rose from the forest floor, and then small flashes as the Fae materilized, appearing about two feet tall, their wings iridescent, and their skin glittering as if sprinkled with stardust.

       A woman with long, flowing blond hair approached him, wearing Greek-like robes of white and soft violet.  She held out a small hand to him, and Spike knelt down to kiss it, a little awed by the beauty of her.

       Siofra smiled at his look as she withdrew her hand, "I am sorry for the trick my Fae have played on you, my Lord, but they did not know who you were."

       "Tell that to Aislinn."

       Siofra nodded, a tinkling sound like waterfalls in the spring, "She is full of pride, that one, but a good heart, she has," Siofra leaned towards him, "And very beautiful."

       Spike scowled, taking a step away from her, "Whatever.  You knew of these people, didn't you?  And you knew of Aislinn...why didn't  you tell her they still existed?"

       "Because, my Lord, it is not the way of things.  We do not interfere in the course of fate.  You were the one who is meant to bring Tiran-Lee back to it's great glory, and you are the one who will finally break Darnog's black power over us."

       "Yeah, right...keep tellin' yourself that," Spike scoffed, and Siofra smiled.

       "You doubt yourself?"

       "Well...yeah.  I'm not a Chosen anything.  I'm just a vampire."

       "Here, you are a miracle, my Lord.  Human and demon in one.  Lover and killer.  Coldness and heated passion.  Braggart and modest.  You are a contradiction of all things, my Lord.  You're truly special, though you do not see it yourself.  However, we see it...and she does..."

       "She doesn't," Spike muttered, "I'm just a demon to her..."

       Siofra nodded slowly, glancing at Zenon, "The Chosen One is blinded," She told him, "But he will do us proud."

       Zenon nodded, "Was there any doubt?"

       Spike shook his head, "I must have a magnet in my pocket that attracts insane people," He muttered beneath his breath, glancing at Zenon.  "Prepare the troops.  I need every man and weapon you can muster,"  He turned towards the elves and Fae listening in, and shouted, "Tomorrow at daybreak, we storm Korah!"

       His decree was meet with raucous cheering, and he couldn't help but feel a rush of pride.  Well, well...look who's the undead General Colin Powell...Dru would be laughing her arse off if she could see me now...

       Spike leaned against the railing of a suspended bridge, looking down at the thousands of fires burning below him, listening to the loud laughter that carried up to him.  Thousands of Faery lights danced among the fires and trees, lighting the area.

       He turned when he heard someone approaching him, and nodded curtly at Siofra, the woman only coming up to his thigh as she stood beside him.  "You fear tomorrow, my Lord?"

       "Nope," Spike answered, "Death's only a worry of the living."

       "I am terrified myself," She said with a sigh, "But for Aislinn.  She's frightened to death."

       "Doubt it," Spike replied, "She's not afraid of anything."

       "That is where you are wrong, my lord," Siofra said and Spike looked down at her.

       "Come again?"

       "She's terrified, my Lord.  She's alone, and thinks she is the last of her kind.  If I know her correctly, then she is planning a last ditch effort.  She will kill him, and then die herself, but she will never stop fighting, even if she thinks no one will come for her."

       "And you know this how?"  Spike asked, raising an eyebrow.

       "She's speaking with the Kiya now.  Giving her prayers to them, but she is too far in the dark lands of Korah, where the fields are stained with blood."

       Spike turned towards her, looking slightly disgusted, "Why didn't you tell her there were more of her kind?"  He asked, "She thinks she's alone."

       "Lorkan is dead, and Magdar taken prisoner.  She is alone, my Lord."

       "Lorkan?"  Spike paled slightly, "That bloody beast was killed?"

       Siofra nodded, "She watched him as he was stabbed in the back and then beheaded."

       "Jesus Christ," Spike ran a hand through his hair as Siofra watched his face carefully.

       "Why do you guard your heart so well, my Lord?"

       "Whatzat?"  Spike looked at her, looking a bit confused, and Siofra smiled to herself.

       "You are afraid to love, aren't you?"

       "News flash, pet.  I'm a demon.  I don't love," He knew the words were a lie the minute they were out of his mouth.  He was an oddity among his kind.  He loved with his entire being, even without a soul.

       Drusilla hadn't loved him, but had only clung to him, because she was all she had.  That wasn't love, not from her end anyway.  His love for her had been all-consuming, obsessive even.  And it had nearly killed him when she had turned her back to him, when he needed her the most.

       Spike shook his head slightly, "Why are you telling me this?"

       Siofra sighed softly, "Gods help me from the stubborn and blind.  You and Aislinn both are blinded by your own grief."

       Spike snorted, "Are you tellin' me that I like that spoiled brat?"

       "No...I'm telling you that it is far more then that."

       Spike glanced at her with another snort, "Listen, ducks, whoever's giving you your info is daft, alright?  I just want to get her out 'cause I owe her one.  Plus, that old bugger is the only one who can send me back."

       "I can send you back," Siofra answered, then held up her hands.  Spike turned as a portal of glowing green energy lit up behind him, and through it, he could see Restfield Cemetary.

       "Go then, my Lord.  Go home."

       Spike stepped towards the portal, reaching a hand towards it.  So close...just step through it, mate...nothing's stopping you...

       He let out a short growl, whirling and stalking past Siofra, "This means nothing!"  He called over his shoulder irritably, "Just already said that I'd do this!"

       Siofra smiled, bowing her head slightly, "As you say, Lord Spike...as you say..."

       Dangor ran a hand through his shoulder-length, black hair, dark eyes gleaming as the guard unlocked the door.

       He stepped into the dark bedroom, grinning as he looked around as the door closed behind him, "Aislinn, love...where are yo--ow!"  He slammed against the door, clutching his nose.  

       Aislinn's eyes were narrowed as she whirled on her heel, driving her foot into his chest and he grunted in pain as he snagged her ankle and yanked it, sending her careening off balance. She rolled as she hit the floor, coming back into a defensive position, head cocked as he glared at her, "Stop this foolishness right now, Aislinn.  You're not helping your position by doing this."

       "No," She agreed, "But the prospect of beating you to death does leave me with a strange sense of satisfaction."

       Dangor charged towards her, and she nimbly sidestepped him, her hand going to his belt and liberating his dagger from it.

       He turned back towards her and she tucked the dagger against the inside of her arm, then twisted it so he could see the gleam of metal. "The desperate are those that have nothing to lose, Dangor.  You killed my friends, my people and destroyed my kingdom..."

       "Wrong, my love," He cautiously approached her, knowing she wouldn't hesitate to use the dagger on him, "I still have the old man.  Unless you want to watch me gouge his eyes out, I suggest you give that back to me."

       She smiled suddenly, "Come and get it."

       Dangor's eyes widened when she turned the blade in on herself, "NO!"  He lunged at her, but she drove it into her abdomen, eyes widening at the searing pain.

       "Fuck...you..." She gasped out one of Spike's phrases, idly wondering what it meant as she slumped to the ground.

       "No!"  Spike shot up in bed, then tripped over the covers as he tried to get out.  He crashed into the ground, smashing his chin, and he swore, gaining his feet.  "Siof---"  

       He jumped when the woman was at the doorway suddenly, and she was looking in at him worriedly, "Our time runs short, my Lord."

       "Call them, now!"  He snapped at her, "We're going now!"

       Spike stood on the platform, looking down at 'his' army.  Siofra and Zenon stood on either side of him, waiting, as if he knew what to do.  "Let's go," He said, turning to find a rope to climb down.  To his surprise, every elf and faery under his command lifted into the air and took off towards Korah.  Only Siofra and Zenon stayed behind.

       He glanced at Siofra, "Yo, Tink...sensing a bit of a problem here.  Anyone got a horse?"

       Siofra raised an eyebrow, "Well...if you want to reach the battle before it's over, you might want something a bit faster."

       "And that would be?"

       Siofra smiled almost evilly.

       "This isn't what I had in mind," Spike muttered beneath his breath, looking a bit green as he tried to hold his breath.  The stench of rotting meat and sulfur was strong.  However, he had a pretty good hunch that Dangor would shit himself when he saw him coming.

       The red dragon on whose neck he was clinging to roared, his scaly skin rippling beneath the lean vampire's body.  "Siofra!  I'm going to kill you for this!"

       The faery Queen appeared beside him as a tiny, golden light, and he could faintly see her smiling face, "It was the only alternative, my Lord.  Be grateful that Markla was so willing to help.  Most dragons tend to remain loners."

       Spike snorted, "Couldn't 'e have taken a bath first?"

       Siofra sighed, shaking her head as she looked towards the horizon, shuddering slightly, "Korah."

       Spike followed her gaze, eyes narrowing when he saw the faint outline of Dangor's great, black citadel in the distance.  "Rock and roll," He muttered beneath his breath, then rolled his eyes, "That was lame, mate...you have to get out of Harris' basement."

       "She's not responding to the healers, my Lord," a servant cringed before Dangor, "It's her elven nature...we cannot do anything for her unless she wills it..."

       "Then make her will it," Dangor growled, staring at the prone body of Aislinn, the dress he had given her covered with her light blue blood.  Poultrices were being pressed against her stomach wound, but it only slowed the blood flow, not stopped it.  In a matter of an hour, he was sure she would die.

       "Bring me the old man!"  Dangor snapped, and the servant hurried away to carry out his orders.

       After a few minutes, Magdar, ruffled, filthly and a bit roughed up by the guards, was shoved in the room, and he let out a sharp cry when he saw Aislinn lying on the bed and rushed to her side, "Aislinn, my child!"  He glared at Dangor, "What did you do to her?"

       "She did it to herself, old man!"  Dangor shouted, "Now fix her!"

       Magdar looked down at her, then nearly groaned, conflicted, "She's put a healing block on herself.  I cannot..."

       "You will do it, old man, or you die!"  Dangor snapped at him, and Magdar took a deep breath, Gods forgive me..."Leave us."

       "No...I won't..."

       "You want her to live?  Then leave!"  Magdar shouted rebelliously, and Dangor's eyes narrowed.

       "No tricks.  She dies, you die."  He turned and stalked out, slamming the door behind him.

       Magdar turned back to Aislinn, and knelt by her side, placing a hand on her cool forehead, "Aislinn...my child...I know you can hear me...&quxact She didn't move, and he sighed, closing his eyes, Forgive me, my Queen..."It's not hopeless yet...Spike still lives...he will come for you, I promise.  He's gone for help, Aislinn.  So, please...let me help you.  Don't die before the battle is won..."

       He suddenly smiled, feeling the barrier lift and pressed his hand against her abdomen, focusing his energies on her injury.  A green glow emanated from his palm, and spread across her wound, closing it up.

       She gasped, her body arching off the bed as her eyes shot open.  She slumped down to the mattress again, her breathing shallow as she looked at Magdar, tears lining her face, "He's coming?"  She asked in a small, lost voice, and Magdar looked away.

       "Aislinn...I'm sorry...but..."

       "INCOMING!"  

       Aislinn shot to her feet as the sound of yells filled the corridor and rushed towards the window, eyes widening.  "Magdar!  Look!"  

       The old man joined her at the window, his own eyes growing wide in wonder.  As far as the eye could see, a winged army of elves and faeries filled the skies.  And at the head of it, Spike was riding atop a great red and golden dragon, sword held aloft as he screamed orders at his army.

       Aislinn turned to Magdar, who was smiling widely, his eyes on the warrior, "He's going to save Tiran-Lee," She breathed, "Just like you said..."

       They both whirled when the door slammed open and guards swarmed in, grabbing Aislinn by the arms, "Take her down below!"  Dangor shouted, drawing his sword, his eyes narrowed as he looked at Aislinn, "Your friend is a hard one to kill...but this time, I won't fail."

       "Yes, you will," Aislinn answered confidently, and he strode towards her, then backhanded her.  She carried her head with the blow,  still smiling, "What's wrong, Dangor?  Can't stomach defeat?"

       "Shut up, bitch," He snarled at her, then gestured at the guards, "Take her, now!"

       Spike's eyes were narrowed to tiny slits as they approached the castle.  He glanced at Siofra, then at Zenon before raising his sword, and yelling, "Split up!  Surround all sides!  No one is to escape!"

       The army obeyed, and Spike grinned suddenly, "Come on, you smelly bastard.  Let's blow this fucking place sky-high..."

       The dragon made a rumbling sound and Spike chuckled as a wall of fire shot out of the dragon's mouth, incinerating the sentries.  "I gotta get me one of these!"

       "Where in the hell did he get a DRAGON?!"  Dangor boomed, then turned to his winged warriors, "What are you waiting for?  Get up there and kill him!"

       He screamed orders at his other soldiers, as he turned and ran up a set of steps leading around a tower, eyes narrowed.

       He ducked as an elf flew at his head, then whirled, his sword slicing into the elf's belly, and sending him falling to the ground and continued upwards.

       Spike ducked low as an arrow shot past his shoulder, kicking the dragon's side, "Get closer, mate!" He shouted, watching as soldiers picked off elves with crossbows and arrows, swearing beneath his breath.  When the dragon was near a tower, Spike ran up the long neck, and then leapt of its great snout, rolling as he struck the stone.

       He looked back up at the dragon, who was watching him with glowing, amber eyes, "Get the ones along the walls!  They're taking out my men!"  He shouted, and the dragon nodded once before flapping away, nearly blowing the vampire away with the wind his wings kicked up.

       He unslung the bow about his shoulder, then reached into his quiver, firing at a black flying demon, and it gave a shriek as it careened into a wall with a sickening splat.

       "SPIKE!"  

       Spike looked down over the side, seeing Aislinn down in the courtyard, being dragged towards a pair of doors.  His eyes narrowed as he sighted along his arrow, taking out one of the guards with a well-placed hit.  Aislinn whirled on the other, slamming a fist into his face before stealing his sword and driving it into his chest.

       She wrenched it out, then unslung her cloak, freeing her wings, and Spike watched as she fluttered them, flying up towards him with a bit of effort, the appendages not getting that much use.

       She landed on the tower beside him, and to his surprise, she flew into his arms, burying her face against his chest, "I lost Magdar...and Lorken's dead..."

       Spike wrapped his arms around her, looking up as another demon fell beneath the elves, and then as a group of Fae took out soldiers with small, poisoned arrows, the venoumous tips so potent the men screamed and died as soon as they hit, falling to the ground to writhe in agony.

       The dragon circled the castle, taking out anyone foolish enough to take aim at him, and smiled, looking down as Aislinn lifted her head a bit, her eyes slightly wide as she stared up at the elves.  "I thought I was the last..."

       "Apparently, you're just misinformed," He told her, and she looked at him, smiling almost shyly.

       "I knew you would come."

       "Almost didn't," He admitted, but her smile only widened as her hand came to rest on his neck, and he swallowed heavily before pressing his lips against hers, feeling her soft mouth part beneath his.  He deepened the kiss as he tightened his hold on her, his hand digging into her thick, loose hair, angling her head for better access to her warm, moist mouth.

       He pulled away after a few moments, and she was breathing heavily, her eyes shining.  His hand moved from her hair to her cheek, and he stroked her soft, elven face before leaning back in for another kiss.  He suddenly tensed, then snarled, letting go of her to grab at the arrow in his back.  

       He wrenched it out as he faced Dangor, grinning darkly as he repeated words he had said to Buffy the first time he had wore the Gem of Amara, "Oh, do it again...it tickles...but in a good way."

       Dangor's eyes widened slightly as Spike tossed the arrow aside, drawing his sword, and the dark haired man did the same, "Shootin' a bloke in the back...tsk, tsk...what would your mother say?"

       "Probably killed his mother," Aislinn muttered, her eyes narrowing, "He's mine."

       Spike glanced at her, and saw the hatred burning in her eyes, and wordlessly handed her his sword.

       Dangor smiled, spinning his blade in his hand, "So, my dear...you really wish to end your life like this?"

       "Always, Dangor," She flipped her hair over her shoulder, and Spike watched worriedly as the two warriors rushed each other, swords clashing together.

       She shoved Dangor back, shooting a look at Spike, "Find Magdar!" He hesitated, then shook his head, and Aislinn shouted, "NOW!"

       "Bossy chit," He muttered beneath his breath, then sprinted for the stairs.  Aislinn turned back towards Dangor, her eyes narrowed, "Let's finish this, Dangor."

       He took a small bow, smirking at her, "If you insist, my love," He said, then slashed his sword at her and she cried out when he caught her arm, and she blocked a slice towards her head.  Damn it...

       Spike sprinted down the stairs alongside the tower, stopping when he came to a door.  He quickly kicked it down, then delved deeper into the castle, swearing beneath his breath.  The place was huge and he had no idea where he was or where Magdar could possibly be.

       I could spend a hundred years down here and still not find him...

       He took a wild guess and decided that Magdar would more then likely be in the dungeons, and took another set of stairs, following it till he hit the very bottom.  He winced at the smell of human offal emanating from the corridors, covering his nose.  That definitely has to be the dungeon, he thought, shaking his head slightly.  He was glad he had been thrown in Aislinn's instead of Dangor's, for hers were a lot cleaner by the scent.

       Spike sighed, removing a dagger from his belt as he headed towards them, there better be major payback for this shit.

       Aislinn grunted as she blocked a heavy blow from Dangor, growing increasingly tired.  She should have known better then to fight so soon after being injured.  She was still suffering from blood loss and exhaustion from her wounds.

       Dangor sensed this and sneered at her, "Maybe you shouldn't have senthat, your little white knight," He mocked her, "He seemed to be able to handle a bit of fighting."

       "Why..." She spun, driving a foot into his stomach, forcing him to stumble back a few feet, "Don't you give up, Dangor?"  She asked, swinging low at his legs, and he jumped to avoid her sword, "You've already lost."

       "Just the battle, my dear, not the war," Dangor said, ducking as an faery buzzed his head, and swatted his hand out, sending the tiny being flying into the ground, and Aislinn's eyes widened slightly when he stomped on it, grounding his boot against the tiny body.

       Aislinn pratically growled as she flung herself towards him, and Dangor laughed as he side-stepped her, grabbing her arm and using her momentum to send her skidding towards the edge.  She slid half-off before stopping herself, and rolled as his sword slammed into the ground next to her, narrowly missing her small body.  

       Above them, the battle raged on.

       Spike moved silently through the dungeon in full-vamp face to see through the darkness only broken by periodic torches.  He kept to the shadows, avoiding the few guards still left down below.  "Magdar..." He called lowly, "Magdar...ya old prick...where the fuck are ya...?"

       "Lord Spike?"  

       Spike grinned, moving towards a bolted door, peeking in the small window, "How'd you guess?"

       "No one else would dare call me old," Magdar answered with a worried smile, "Where's Aislinn?"

       "Hopefully, beating the shit out of the grand wanker," Spike said, looking down at the padlock, "Shit...wouldn't happen to have something on you to get this lock loose, would ya?"

       "No...but..." A loud thack interrupted him, and Spike looked towards his side, seeing a battle-ax embedded in the door, and then looked over his shoulder as a huge, ugly, hair-covered demon came towards him, "What the fuck is that?!"

       "Ogre!"

       "Oh...bloody great!"  Spike wrenched the battle-ax out of the door, and turned to face his foe, his nose wrinkling up, "Christ, but you're one smelly bastard!"

       "Lord Spike!  Don't let him touch you!"  

       "Why?  Does that bloody stench rub off?"

       "No, he'll turn you into stone."

       Spike rolled his eyes, "Well, of bloody course he will!"  I really hate this place...

       The battle was in their favor, at least the one being waged above the turrets.  A group of soliders rigged a giant spear shooter, trying to take out Spike's dragon, but were fried before they got a chance to use it.  

       Down below, Dangor was steadily driving Aislinn towards the edge of the tower, and the girl was exhausting all her strength trying to drive him back, light blue sweat running down her face.  He's too strong...she thought, just barely avoiding a slice towards her exposed stomach, and lost another foot of ground to him, and she looked over her shoulder as the edge crept steadily closer.

       Spike ducked as the foul ogre took a swipe at him, his face a little ashen from the stench emanating from the hairy beast.  It was like trying to fight a pile of rotting meat.  The ogre picked up a heavy, human femur and smashed it down on Spike's shoulders, and the vampire yelped, dancing away from him in pain, "Son of a goddamn bitch!"

       "Lord Spike!  Watch out!"  Spike yelped again when a human skull crashed into the back of his head, "Oh!  I see how it is!  Throwing things, you big, sissy girl!"

       The ogre growled, apparently not liking being called a sissy and lunged towards Spike, who just managed to duck under an outstretched arm, bringing his heavy battle-ax down onto the ogre's back, severing his spine.  The ogre made a gurgling death rattle before lying still and Spike breathed a sigh of relief before using the ax on the lock on Magdar's prison door.

       "Let's go," He ordered, hefting the ax, and Magdar followed after the vampire, worry evident on his face.  He just hoped Aislinn was doing well against Dangor.

       "Give it up, Dangor," Aislinn panted, weakly feinting, "You've lost!  Your castle has fallen to our forces!"

       Dangor chuckled, a deep, dark rumbling sound as his black eyes flashed, "You would think so, wouldn't you, little girl?"  He queried before lifting his arms, and screaming up at the sky, "OYLI KIEA SNORUS PHENITE TIANIATELI!"

       Aislinn's eyes widened as the ground and castle seemed to shake and off in the distance, a wide, black chasm broke open the earth.  The elves and Fae all paused, watching as a great, black horde of what appeared to be giant insects spewed forth.

       "Goddess..." She breathed, "You have opened the gates of Phenos!"  Phenos was the resting place of the most evil and heinous of demons, and Dangor had them all at his command!

       "The battle isn't lost yet, child, but you are sure to lose the war now!"  He crowed at her, and Aislinn whirled, sword flashing, "Not yet, Dangor!"  She sprinted at him, a new life coming to her fight as she whirled and sliced at him, and he had a hard time trying to keep up with her.

       Winged creatures rose up into the sky and the elves and Fae screamed as they were attacked, but they did not retreat as they fought bravely against the hideous opponents.

       Spike and Magdar dashed out of the confines of the castle and into the courtyard, their eyes widening when they saw Dangor's renewed army, "Holy shit!"  Spike yelled, watching as dragon-fly like creatures beset the red and gold dragon and began tearing into his flesh as the beast roared in anguish, attempting to fry them, but once they were burned, another set attacked him.

       "Where's Aislinn?"  Magdar asked, and Spike looked upwards, seeing a flash of white, "Still alive," He said in relief, then glanced at Magdar, "Do something about those black bastards...I'm goin' after her!"

       Magdar nodded, knowing Spike's poweress was needed elsewhere and hurried to find Siofra to help him with the binding spells needed to close Phenos.  

       Spike sprinted towards the tower and climbed the steps two at a time, the sound of their swords clashing reaching his sensitive ears.  Come on, mate...little faster...

       Aislinn's blood was pounding in her veins, her adrenaline pumping through her at an alarming rate.  She moved fast, not taking time to think about her moves, just reacting to instinct.  However, her energy spurt was waning, threatening to deplete her severely.  

       Dangor was laughing as he started to drive her back, but then an elf screamed as he fell from the sky and the pair leapt apart as the body crashed in between them, spear clattering out of the dead warrior's grasp.

       Aislinn mourned briefly, but turned her attention back to her attacker, her gray eyes blazing with fury and determination.  She would die, most probably, but she would die as a warrior should.

       She screamed out  a battle cry that would make a mortal man's blood run cold before flying at Dangor, her sword clashing against his.  The two blades scraped against each other, the iron shooting off sparks that singed their hands.  Aislinn brought her knee up into his gut, then ducked a punch, using her momentum to trip him up.

       Dangor slammed into the ground and her sword was at his throat in an instant, and he glared at her as he let go of his.  She kicked it away, watching as it skid over the edge, then glared at him, "Do you give, Dangor?  I have no wish to kill you, but you will be imprisoned."

       Dangor nodded slowly with a baneful look, his eyes narrowed, "Yes, my Queen..." He hissed, and Aislinn's arched an eyebrow, "Call off your army."

       "Aislinn!"  Spike rounded the steps, and she looked over her shoulder at him, a bright smile crossing her face.  

       Dangor's hand shot out, taking grip of the dead elf's spear, and before Spike could warn her, he had it in his hands and he drove it upwards into her chest.  Her eyes widened as she looked down at him, her mouth opening in a silent scream and Dangor used the spear to flip her over his head.  

       "NOOOO!"

       Spike howled as her small body went flying over the edge, her wings fluttering in the wind as she fell.  Dangor sprung to his feet, grabbing up Aislinn's dropped sword, smirking at Spike as the vampire's true face came forth, amber eyes glowing in fury.

       The demon in him fed off the anger, using it to lend the vampire even more strength as he lunged at Dangor, knocking him to the ground.  The two men struggled for possession of the sword, and Dangor managed to roll them, punching Spike in the face repeatedly before getting the blond to loosen his grip on the blade, then jumped to his feet, weapon held at ready.

       Dangor smirked, "What are you waiting for, boy?  Come and get it."

       Magdar watched in horror as the white figure struck the court yard floor.  He rushed to Aislinn's side, groaning when he saw the spear protruding from her chest, and the way her neck lay at an odd angle, "My Queen...oh...God...my Queen..." He moaned softly, touching her cooling skin.  

       Siofra landed next to him, her eyes wide, "Aislinn..."

       Magdar looked upwards, tears streaming from his wise eyes.  "It is up to the Chosen One now..."

       Dangor was becoming slightly worried.  Several times he had sliced at the enraged vampire, but he didn't falter in his attack, seemingly unaffected by the blows.  

       Spike was fighting without a weapon, but that did not deter him.  All he could see was red.

       Spike snarled at him, ducking another swing, then slammed a fist into Dangor's face, sending the man staggering back a few steps, closing towards the edge.  Dangor teetered on his feet before falling into a defensive stance, his eyes narrowed.  "Is that the best you got?"

       Spike smiled, his fangs flashing and Dangor's eyes widened somewhat, "Rule number one, mate," Spike growled dangerously, "Never mess with a vampire's mate...it makes us...cranky."

       Magdar gathered Aislinn's broken body into his arms, weeping as he rocked her back and forth, "My girl...my little girl..." He sobbed, burying his face in her hair, then froze as he heard a soft sigh of breath, "Kiya tori...hear me...come to me..."

       Magdar lifted his head to see her blood-stained lips moving as she whispered, "Kiya...Kiya ule norkus..."

       He glanced up at Siofra before picking up Aislinn's words, "Kiya, strengthen us, hear us call you...hurla kiya nikas...we are one with the Ancients...spirits guide us..."

       Dangor hissed in pain when Spike knocked him to the ground, fangs raking across his arm.  He managed to kick Spike back, then froze, looking upwards as voices filled the air around them, "What the...?"

       "KIYA NORKA SEINA FORLA!"  The elves and Fae called from the skies, and Spike's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze on Dangor as he solemnly joined in with his armies chant.

       "We are one with the Ancients, with the Ancient magicks.  Show us the path..."

       "The Chosen One leads us...let him take us to our promised victory...I call upon the Kiya, spirits of the forest, guardians of the skies and rivers...lend us your life force..."  Aislinn's body shuddered slightly as she closed her eyes, and Magdar stroked her hair before kissing the top of her head, "Go to him, my child..."

       Aislinn almost smiled as her gray eyes closed, and Magdar wept silently as a light, blue light rose from her body, and lifted into the air, spreading out among the magikal beings flying above.  Every elf and faery paused when touched by the soft, warm light and exchanged looks as their voices rose higher.

       "Kiya, for the Chosen One, we fight!"

       Spike drove a boot into Dangor's face, driving the man back another couple of feet.  He looked upwards as the hair on the back of his neck stood up, sensing something wrong with the air around him.  He frowned watching as a blue light surrounded the elves, fae and black warriors above him.  "What the...?"

       "Oh...damn..." Dangor's eyes widened as he took a step back, and Spike's eyes shot back towards him, and seeing the man was distracted, lunged forward at him, and grabbed the sword blade, the metal slicing into his hands, pain unheeded as he wrenched it loose.

       Dangor let out a sharp cry, scrambling for a new weapon, but saw none.  Spike advanced on him, sword held aloft, and Dangor stumbled towards the steps, then smiled, seeing the ax Spike had dropped when Aislinn had been thrown off the tower.

       He grabbed it, and when he heard Spike behind him, rolled, slamming it into the vampire's abdomen.  Spike grunted in pain, the sword, coming down and stabbed it down through Dangor's chest, the blade slamming into the stone below him with a squeal.

       Dangor's eyes widened as he convulsed, and then he was still, eyes open and blank.

       Spike rolled onto his back, ax still embedded in his stomach, and with a howl of pain, yanked it loose, and slung it aside, trying to not look at the pieces of long dead intestine clinging to the blade.

       He pressed a hand over his stomach, staring upwards at the sky, watching as the strange blue light formed a web among the fae and elves, connecting them all as they continued to chant.  Without thinking, he joined in with them, closing his eyes, trying to stave off unconciousness.

       "Kiya, Kiya nearla..." He breathed softly, echoing Aislinn's words in the woods, "Nika...nika lousa nea..."

       He opened his eyes when he felt fingers stroking his cheek, and saw Aislinn's vague form, bathed in the soft blue light.  She was smiling as she knelt over him, pressing her fingers over his wound, and he felt the power suffuse him as his wound began to heal, continuing to speak the strange tongue.  "Kiya seka loikas seina..."  She softly spoke with him, "We of the light and night call upon thee...connect us as one and help us to be strong..."

       Above him, he watched as the blue web was suffused with what appeared to be red lightening and the elves and fae seemed to freeze in place, a great, connected cry being torn from their throats.

       Spike reached for Aislinn, and his hand closed on hers as the light seemed to grow.  The black warriors started to scream as the red lightening mingled with the blue light, forming violet beams that shot from each elf and fae, striking the outsiders and causing them to fall from the sky and to the ground.  Spike slowly stood up, watching as the warriors made their escape back to the chasm from which they came.

       When he looked over his shoulder, Aislinn was gone, and he frowned, looking down over the side as the chasm closed with a loud clap and the elves and fae returned to normal, looking down dazedly.

       His eyes widened when he saw Magdar down on the ground far below, cradling Aislinn's body in his arms. He rushed down the steps, nearly plummating the last twenty feet and slid on his knees towards the pair, his eyes wide in shock, "Aislinn?!"

       "She's gone," Magdar said softly, stroking her blood-stained hair, the strands a dark blue.  

       Spike shook his head, "No...I saw her..."

       "Her life force," Siofra told him softly, and he looked up at her, his eyes narrowing.

       "Fix this..."

       "I cannot.  She is dead."

       "FIX IT!"  He snarled at her, but Siofra could only shake her head, and Spike reached for Aislinn, gathering her frail, broken body into his arms, "Come on, baby...enough weird shit has happened enough...so...wake up..."  

       She didn't answer him, her lips only frozen in a small smile that he hadn't seen often enough, her body limp and cool to the touch.  He stroked her face, as if trying to coax her awake, murmuring beneath his breath, "Come on, luv...come on...just bloody wake up...just open those fucking eyes of yours...come on..."

       Magdar looked up at Siofra, his expression tortured as the elves from the forest began to land on the ground around them, forming a circle around the pair.

       He stood with Aislinn in his arms, looking at Siofra, his face hardening, though his cheeks were stained with tears of blood.  "Before...she said you wanted to gift me..."

       Siofra cocked her head slightly, then nodded slowly, "Yes...your gift is to be sent back home."

       "I want a different one," He said, his voice sounding harsh from unshed tears, "I want this, Siofra."

       Siofra arched an eyebrow, "What do you wish, my Lord?"

       "An exchange, Siofra...I know you can do it.  Her for me.  Take my life force instead."

       "It cannot be done."

       "IT CAN AND YOU WILL DO IT!" He roared at her, and she took a step back.

       "That which is dead has no life force," She explained, and Spike's shoulders slumped slightly as he looked down into Aislinn's relaxed face.

       Magdar rested a hand on his shoulder, "You did all that you could do, my lord."

       Spike collapsed to his knees, brushing Aislinn's hair from her face, "No...I didn't..." He said in a choked voice, burying his face against her throat and holding her close to his body, feeling her lack of warmth acutely.

       The elves surrounded them exchanged a look, then clasped hands.  Spike felt a change in the air, sensing it becoming charged and he lifted his head, watching as the elves' wings fluttered, their eyes closed.

       They spoke no words, but their wings began to flap furiously as they concentrated, and Magdar frowned slightly, glancing at Siofra, who was smiling secretly, "What is going on?"

       She laughed, pressing a finger against her lips before lifting into the air, reverting to her normal, tiny form, and the fae intermingled among the elves, circling their heads.

       Spike slowly stood again, still holding Aislinn in his arms, confused as he looked around at them, and then exchanged a puzzled look with Magdar.

       A rainbow of lights surrounded the elves and rose in the air, hovering above their heads before shooting towards Spike.  He instinctively tightened his grip on her, holding her protectively as he watched the light encircling them mistrustfully.

       It touched and stroked at his skin, and he closed his eyes, inhaling sharply at the warm feeling it invoked inside him, and he looked down as he felt Aislinn's body stiffen.  She gasped as the wound in her chest closed up of it's own accord, and her gray eyes fluttered open, the orbs soft and liquid as she looked up at him, then at the elves surrounding them.

       He half-sobbed, half-laughed in relief, and pressed his lips against her forehead, and she smiled, closing her eyes tiredly, "Did we win?"

       "Yeah, pet..." Spike assured her, "We kicked his ass."

       Aislinn stood before her people, human, Fae and Elven alike.  Her hair was bound atop her head with gold netting and a silver and crystal crown was nestled among her thick locks.

       At her side stood Magdar, Siofra and Zenon, the lesser leaders of the newly united Tiran-Lee, the lands of Korah added to the kingdom.

       She was dressed in robes of velvet and silk, her skin shimmering with a thin dusting of white glitter, and she was smiling genuinely, her wings uncased for all the world to see, no longer worried about people staring.  She was no longer alone in the world.

       "Before we begin," She started, and everyone grew hushed in the great hall, her castle having been mostly rebuilt with the help of her subjects.  "I would like to take a moment and mourn the loss of those that were faithful to Tiran-Lee and fought to keep her safe."

       The room remained silent for several minutes, then someone shouted out, "It's gettin' depressin' back here, pet!"

       Aislinn rolled her eyes, glancing at Magdar, and saying loudly, "You brought him here."

       There were spatterings of laughter and she smiled in Spike's direction before continuing, "From now on, I hope to make this kingdom a peaceful and prosperous one.  I wish no more to make war, unless absolutly necessary.  Korah has fallen, and Dangor is dead!  His tryanny and blackness shall no longer touch our beautiful lands!  And with his death, brings a new era to Tiran-Lee.  One of which the old ways will not be forgotten.  No longer are the Elven an extinct race.  We have come back from the depths of the forest, and will once again interact with the humans, and our healing powers shall once again be gifted to the world."

       She smiled again as the applause started, then waited for it to end, "We have one person, among many, to thank for this.  And since he has remained silent for a record five seconds..."

       "Hey!"

       "Never mind," Aislinn rolled her eyes again, "Thanks to Lord Spike's bravery and level-headedness in the midst of battle, we have have finally defeated Korah and brought Tiran-Lee's glory days back!  Lord Spike, stand and be recognized."

       The cheers were deafening, almost threatening to bring the walls of Tiran-Lee back down on her subjects as Spike mounted the platform, looking a bit embarresed by all the attention as he knelt on one knee before Aislinn, bowing his head.

       He instinctively tensed as Aislinn drew a sword, and tapped him twice on each shoulder, "I hereby knight thee in the further service of Tiran-Lee, Lord Spike," She said, and Spike looked up at her as she offered her hand, and took it, giving it a light kiss before standing.  

       "And also, in honor of your bravery, you have earned the highest medal available in the service of the crown," She smiled as she slipped a ribbon around his nesk, where a five-pronged star, highly decorated in silver and gold was hung.  "Words cannot express my gratitude, Lord Spike, Savior of Tiran-Lee."

       The cheers grew louder and Aislinn smiled, leaning towards Spike, "But perhaps actions can."

       Spike's eyes widened slightly as Aislinn laughed, taking a step away from him and looking around, "Well? What are you waiting for? Let the celebration begin!"

       Spike grinned as his fingered his medal as he went up to Aislinn, who was speaking with Siofra.  She saw Spike and smiled, excusing herself as she turned to face him, "Enjoying your celebration, Lord Spike?"

       He chuckled, raising an eyebrow as a woman flashed him a come-hither look, "I don't think I've ever been hit on this many times in my life."

       Aislinn laughed, a sound that was like music to his ears, and she gestured for him to follow her.  She led him out into the courtyard, where it was quiet, and they were alone for the moment.

       "Well, Lord Spike...what are your plans now?"

       "Get drunk, find someone with a fag, and hopefully shag my brains out," He raised an eyebrow at the last, and Aislinn shot him a confused look.

       "What is shag?"

       "Well...never mind then."

       Sheturned to face him fully, "What I mean, Lord Spike, is that once you return to your world, will you once again be torturing people with your namesake?"

       "Can't do that anyway.  I got a chip in my head.  Humans are safe around me."

       Aislinn looked mildly disappointed, "But there are others like Darnog in your world, is there not?"

       Spike thought of Angelus, then slowly nodded, "Knew a few meglomaniacs personally, pet.  Why?"

       "Will you do nothing to protect your world then?"

       "They already have a Chosen One where I come from, pet.  Doesn't help me much, since she's born to kill my kind."

       Aislinn sighed deeply, "It is as I thought then..." She turned away from him, and Spike frowned.

       "Hey, now...what's that supposed to mean?"

       She shook her head, "Never you mind..."

       Spike grabbed her arm, and forced her to face him, "Tell me, Aislinn."

       "You have learnt nothing, have you?"  She asked a bit harshly, "Nothing here has taught you anything."

       "Taught me what, exactly?"

       "Without defenders, the realm of white magick will die, Lord Spike," She answered, "There is a protector for humans, is there not?  But what of the good people of the Kila?  The Fae, elven, Drikas, Dragons...and others of the Kila?  Who protects them?"

       Spike rubbed the back of his neck, "Is that what your Chosen One does?  I'm a male, bloody Slayer?  But for demons?"

       "Not just demons, Spike...the good ones.  The ones that wish to protect the Kila.  I imagine they will call it something else in your world."

       "Yeah," Spike thought of Willow and Tara, white magick witches.  If anyone would know, it would be them.  He sighed, shaking his head, "And give me one good reason why I should do that?"

       Aislinn pulled out of his grasp, "If you need a reason, then you are not as noble as you would have us think."

       Spike rolled his eyes, grabbing her arm before she could take off, "Does your pride prevent you from asking for my help?!"

       "I don't beg!"  

       "No, I don't imagine you do," Spike said with an amused smile, "And I'm not asking you too.  Three simple words, pet.  Spike, help us.  That's all it takes."

       She took a deep breath, then said with clenched teeth, "Spike, help us."

       "A little less forced, luv."

       She let out a sound of disgust, and he laughed, "All right, all right...guess that's all I'm goin' to get out of you, you stubborn bint," He said with a grin, "I'll do it...just cause you asked so nicely."

       Aislinn smiled almost shyly, "Thank you, my lord."

       Spike chuckled, not letting go of her arm just yet, "I've got four words for you now."

       "Oh, watch me wait with baited breath," She said sarcastically, and he raised an eyebrow.

       "Can I kiss you?"

       She looked at him in surprise, then nodded without thinking.  He smiled as he wrapped an arm around her waist, and crushed his lips to hers.

       Spike and Aislinn watched, their hands linked, as Magdar opened the portal, and the old man turned, resting a hand on Spike's shoulder, nodding at him, "Thank you, my friend," He said, before taking leave of the couple to say their last good-byes.

       Aislinn peered into the portal curiously, seeing Restfield Cemetary, only moments after Magdar had taken Spike from Sunnydale.

       In the distance, a police siren wailed, and she jumped in surprise, glancing at Spike, "Your world is a strange one, my Lord," She said in awe, and Spike chuckled, tightening his hold on her hand.

       "Ditto."

       She looked up at him, smiling sadly, "Well, my warrior, it is time."

       "Yeah..." Spike muttered, and she sighed.

       "I wish..." She shook her head, falling silent, and Spike turned towards her, lifting her chin and kissing her forehead.  

       "You know I don't belong here, and you said yourself you can't leave."

       She nodded, "I know...my people...need me..."

       "Yeah, they do.  You're royalty and all...and I'm Gods know what."

       She groaned, shaking her head, "Must you remind me of that?"  She asked, and Spike chuckled, kissing her chin next as tears filled her eyes.

       "Hey now, none of that, luv.  No tears."

       She rolled her eyes, "Like I would cry over you," She teased softly, and Spike wrapped his arms around her, brushing his lips across hers before deepening the kiss, hungrily devouring her mouth.  Behind them, the portal began to waver, and Spike broke away, resting his forehead against hers briefly, stroking her soft face.  

       She pressed something into his hand, and he looked down at a silver palm-guard, the middle decorated with a large, red stone.  "What's this?"

       "I do not know, but Siofra said you will know what to do with it when the time comes.  It is her gift, as promised."

       "Thought I already got it," He muttered, pressing his lips against her forehead before pulling away, looking towards the portal, "Not much time."

       Aislinn shook her head, her hands entwining with his as he kissed her one last time.  "Love you," he murmured beneath his breath, and she smiled at him.

       "As do I, Lord Spike."

       "You know...you could at least call me by my name," He said with a light scowl, and she left softly, resting her hands on his chest.

       "I love you, Spike," She said, then gave him a shove.

       He yelped as he fell through the portal, cloak billowing out around him as he struck the soft grass of Restfield Cemetary.  He stared up through the portal as Aislinn lifted a hand towards him as it closed, and he slumped back to the ground, throwing an arm over his eyes.

       He heard footsteps, and then a very familiar voice saying, "Jeez, Spike...when I said to join the nineties, I didn't mean the 1690s."

       Spike lifted his arm, scowling at Buffy and Giles, who were both giving his apparel odd looks, then sighed, remembering his vow to Aislinn as he sat up.  "Slayer, shut up, and Watcher..."

       The two exchanged a look, and Giles raised an eyebrow in Spike's direction, "I need a fag, a lot of drinks...and a real, hot shower...with no bloody buckets or perfume involved...and then I got one hell of a story to tell you..."

Epilogue

       Spike twisted the Gem of Arknak, known as Amara in his world, laughing as Willow babbled about something, concerning their latest big evil.

       It had been over six months since his misadventures in Tiran-Lee, and he had yet to push his beautiful Queen from his mind.  

       He was surrounded on all sides by Scoobies, now considered one himself, but only after proving himself against Adam.  Apparently, the palm thingy Siofra had gifted him with was an energy drainer, and had worked like a charm against the cyborg-human-demon.  After that, he had officially joined their circle, and had even become friends with them.

       However, none of them believed his story, and thought he was just trying to cover for why he wanted to start helping them.  

       Giles asked him a question, and he looked up, "Um...sorry...wasn't paying much attention."

       "Keep up the broodin', deadboy, and we'll start calling you Angel," Xander threatened and Spike rolled his eyes at Willow and Tara, who giggled.

       "I am not brooding."

       "Sure you aren't," Buffy teased, punching the vampire in the arm, "Still thinking about your elf chick?"

       "No...and her name's Aislinn."

       "What?  Not pet, ducks, or luv?"  Willow asked, and Spike rolled his eyes.

       "Fine...laugh at the crazy vampire...but I'm tellin' you...she's..."  

       They all jumped up as a portal suddenly opened up in the middle of Giles' living room, and he grinned as Aislinn stepped out, wings extended.  "She's right here."

       "Holy God," Giles breathed, staring at her wings, and Aislinn raised an eyebrow at Spike.

       "We have a bit...of a problem..."

       "Already?"  Spike rolled his eyes, grabbing his duster from the back of the couch, then glanced at the Scoobies, "Anyone up for a good dimension jump?"

       Buffy stuttered for a few minutes before grabbing her weapon bag, and Willow and Tara exchanged an excited smile, "I think we're all in."

       Spike grinned as he strode towards Aislinn, wrapping his arms around her, then kissed her throat, "Missed you," He muttered, and she smiled down at him.

       "We got a month to get re-acquintated, my love."

       Spike chuckled as he took her hand, and went to step through the portal, the Scoobies on his heels, "When this is done, you're goin' to spend a month in my world."

       She laughed at him, then nodded, "Count on it, my Lord."

       "It's Spike, for chrissak--"  She smiled evilly, shoving him back through the portal, and he landed on the other side with a yelp.

The End

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