Althamea, Goddess of Time

[ILLYRIAN]

The characters of BTVS are copyright to Mr J. Whedon not me.
Althamea Flame is of my imagination. The story will end with the
birth of a special child, to her mother, Mrs Joyce Summers.
My apologies to the reader. This chapter was previously used
but altered to suit a new story.

ALTHAMEA, GODDESS OF TIME
CH 1 In The Beginning

Looking at the injured body of her friend.
"Faith is a good warrior, a good friend, I need her to return soon."
Looking over the battle field, she saw many of her warriors lying
dead. Those of her chosen were sorting through the bodies,
looking for signs of life. Occasionally she saw one of them plunge
her sword into a body; she hoped it was one of the enemy.
"This war has been happening for so long, how much longer can
it take," she said to herself.
Moving forward, rolling over the bodies, many of those were
once her friends.
Seeing a pile of bodies she began to push them to the ground,
then seeing who was near to the bottom.
"Buffy? what are you here for?" she asked.
Looking up, "I came to help our friend as she had fallen, then this
lot fell on us. I couldn't move them."
Kneeling to her, "Well you can move now, who did you come to
help?" asked Willow.

Buffy stood up and smiled to her.
"Who is she?"
Buffy rolled the body over then gave her a gentle kick.
"Up you get," she said.
Vi opened her eyes, looked at Willow then Buffy.
"There I was, in front line of our army, then I trip on a clump of
earth and hit my head on a rock. I was a bit dazed, that was all.
Then Buffy rolls me over, looks at me, rolls me onto my face again.
I felt her hands on my back then all of a sudden it felt like I had
the weight of the world on my shoulders."
"That's how you found us Willow," said Buffy.
"Willow! over here," called Amanda.
"What is it?"
"I've found one of yours that's ok, she just appears to have been
hit on the head."
"Is she one of the walking wounded?" asked Faith.
"Oh? back with us, are you Faith?" asked Vi.
"At least I didn't trip on a bit of sand," said Faith grinning at Vi.
The three of them go to Amanda.
"She'll be alright," said Amanda, "And she still wants to help."
"Give her a length of wood to help her stand, then she can help
us," said Willow.

When ever one of the enemies fallen was found alive they were
asked the same question. Did they want to join, or did they want
to be left to die, many chose life. Looking around, Willow saw
people in the camp. Going there, she met three of the bow men,
they had already started to celebrate the win.

"You three!, get on the battle field!, help them find our injured."
As they walked away, one of them commented to the weapons
maker how useless he was. "Don't pay any attention to them."
The weapons maker looked up.
"Who are you?" he replied.
"I am the new seer, the old one wanted me here, he told me I
would be moving here soon, I think he thought I'd know where."
"I am going some where?" asked Xander.
"No, but the army will be moving soon," said Althamea.
"Do you know where?"
"Of course, but don't ask me, you won't like the answer."
"You don't know where, do you?"
"Yes, but I would like to surprise you."

"Fair enough, mind you, you could be a help to me. The ideas I
have, I want to make them, but are they and will they be useful?"
"Oh yes, that weapon will become the armies weapon, and the
uniform will become part of why we are feared."
"I only planned it to be Willow's weapon," said Xander.
"She will use one, and so will everyone else," replied the seer.
"Hello Xander, who's your girlfriend, known her long?" asked Faith.
"I don't know her name."
"Like that is it," said Faith, interrupting him.
"No, she says she is the new seer, you'd best tell Willow. You
do know who Willow is don't you? seer?"
"Better than you, probably more than she knows about herself."
"Sounds like a seer!" said Willow, "Who is she."
"You are right, she is our new seer," replied Xander.

"Oh, we have a new seer!. What is her name?"
"I am your new seer Willow, I know of the future and the past.
The seer you had has left, you will see him again, but not as a seer."
"Ok, give me some good news then," said Willow.
"You will now of the end," said the see-er.
"The end of what?"
"The end, when time itself shall end and all that you see is no more."
"Sounds like a seer," said Buffy.
"Must be a seer, a good one!, I didn't understand a word of that."
"I did," said Vi.
"Oh yeah? what was that?" asked Faith.
"She said the word "˜I' several times."
"I is not a word, I.. is .. er.. of me," said Buffy.
"You nearly said I is a word, didn't you?"
"Shut up Xander."

"That is good news?, what about our enemies and your name?
what are you known as?" asked Willow.
"Your next enemy will be the Landohers, yet before you battle,
they will be your ally. You may know me as Althamea."
"As a name for a seer, I like that," said Amanda.
"About the other seer, when will he leave us?" asked Faith.
"He has already gone, I will not see him for many years, but I
will see him, you will see him as your leader, Buffy."
"Because he will not be a seer to her?" asked Amanda,
"Then what will he be?" asked Xander.
"I'm first!," said Willow, "You said you will not see him for many
years, how many?"
She looked to her new friends.
"Are you sure you want me to answer that?"
"We are sure," they replied.

"Willow not see him for another two thousand years."
"You....normal people do not live that long."
"Buffy, Faith, Xander, Vi, Amanda, Willow, none of you are
normal. I will be as nothing when you meet him."
They looked open mouthed at her, puzzled by her reply.
Althamea left them, going into her tent, leaving Garet to go back
to designing his new weapon. Willow went to sit in her tent,
looking at the game that Xander had made for her. As she
studied it she realised it could be used to see what a persons
thoughts were, how they might cheat or how they would trick
others. Noticing the light in her tent was becoming brighter she
looked up. A figure began to appeared to her. Willow stood she
wanted to reel back, but she held her ground trying not fear
who it was that would appear.
"As she who brings the new time told you, you will not see the
real me for a long time."
Willow remembered Althamea's words.
"She also told Xander, that the new weapon he is building will
not be yours but your armies main weapon."

Willow was suddenly alone, the brightness had gone.
Remembering what had been said her mind starting to race,
Willow walked from her tent, she went to see Xander, her
weapons maker. Standing inside the entry to his tents.
"What are you working on?"
He looked to her. "I have always thought that the bow and
arrows were a bit cumbersome to carry and use, I began trying
to make them smaller, but with the same effectiveness. What-ever
I did, I just couldn't do that, but instead of giving up I followed
one of the thought's I'd had. A bow is generally held upright, in
re-designing it I made it much smaller and much more easy to
carry but in doing so it lost much of it's distance but it has
greater accuracy in short distances."
"How could that weapon be carried?"

"By having two straps to hold it, one on the shoulder another at
the lower back. It can be held in with hands when ready to be
used, then it can be put over the shoulder. As it is smaller what it
fires are also shorter. I have made a rough working model,
although I am trying to make it stronger and easier to use."
"Then tell me when you have done that," said Willow.
"Before you go something else I considered which isn't a weapon
but it may help the army. If every-one was to wear the same
clothing in battle there wouldn't be any confusion as to who the
enemy is, so I've designed some battle wear."
"Do you see a need for it?"
"I've seen you all in the camp, you look like a bunch of people,
but if you all wore the same thing it would look as if there were
more of you. That being so, that is why I am making it," he said.
"Willow studied what he was holding."

"All of it is animal skin, so making any repairs are known to
most of us, there are two upper body pieces one to be worn over
the other. They are made to fit the wearer, the inner piece is to
go over the shoulders and around the body, the outer will cover
that, and the arms, it will give warmth at night."
"The swords that you carry will be at your sides, made to fit so
that the wearer has it where it is best for them."
"The colour of the battle wear is brown, your weapons are brown,
even the blades of your swords. The leg covers are of a stiff
leather they fit above the knee and the tunics leg covers are low,
sitting or standing still you could remain unseen in the trees.
You'd be able to trap your enemy, maybe even surround them."

"I will try them, I will send five warriors so that these tunics can
be made for them. Do you need others to make the battle dress?"
Two days later Willow, Buffy, Faith, Vi and Amanda walked from
the tent in the new battle dress
Willow noticed that many of her people were sat about. As the
weapons maker had said they looked like a gathering of people a
uniform would make them look like an army. It wasn't long before
all that saw them were making good comments about what was
being worn. Then when the cross-bow was used Willow heard
cheering behind her.
As Willow went towards him, Xander asked her for more help,
"The weapon does work well and I could hear the battle dress
was liked," said Xander.
"Didn't you think it would be?" asked Willow, "The one who
works the magic, I will send her, she of the beginning of the day."
Xander looked at her, "Yes, Dawn will be a good help."

The armies of twenty thousand under Willows control marched
to where their next battle would be, they only rested at night. For
fifteen days they marched, during the evening of the fifteenth day
the scouts interrupted Willow's evening meal telling her that the
enemy was camped just two hills further. Word was sent to
those in her camp that the battle would be the next day.
In the early morning her army was positioned so that the mornings
sun was in the eyes of her enemy. Walking over the hilltop and
then down into the long valley, her army stopped. Seeing her
enemy wearing exactly the same, she called her weapons maker.
As she waited for him, the leader of the other army walked towards
her, suspiciously, she did the same.
Facing each other they stopped. Willow freed her weapons and
laid them on the ground, her enemy did the same with her weapons.
Moving forward they reached a speaking distance to each other.

"Closer? asked Willow.
"Closer," she replied.
When they became close enough to touch each other, the air was
suddenly filled with flames.
"You tricked me!" exclaimed Willow, her enemy saying the same.
"The flames are mine," said Althamea.
They stared at her.
"To answer what you both are thinking, he wanted me to bring
you here, so that you will be united."
"But we are of separate armies," said Willow.
"Are you? both armies have the same tunic and the same weapons."
Willow looked, seeing both the armies, she turned to look at
Althamea, "This has been planned? why?"
"In a battle you would both lose many. Yet neither you or your
armies would be willing to leave here, that is why both of you
were chosen. He has chosen me to be the seer for both your
armies and in both your armies, your weapons makers have built
a new weapon and has designed a new battle dress."

"Why have you done this to both our armies, was it you who
did the designs?" asked Willow.
"So that you can be one army. I was the instigator of the ideas,
the guiding light, but the designs were your weapons makers."
She stood still, facing Althamea.
"Who is she?" asked Willow.
"I am known as Willow," she said.
"That is my name," said Willow.
"The balance is in all, as now you are two, let you now be one."
As witnessed by the tens of thousands of warriors they became I.
"You both knew me as your Seer, yet now you know me as your
seer. I saw you as two, but now I see you as one."

"Althamea? you are surrounded by the fires of hell, why do you
not burn?" asked Willow.
Althamea grabbed Willow's hand, pulling it towards her, and into
the flames. As soon as she could Willow withdrew her hand.
Puzzled she looked at it.
"It is not burnt, I felt fear but not heat, why?"
"Because I am not surrounded by the fires of hell, I am covered
with the flames of life."
Willow stepped back seeing flame shoot from Althamea's hand
to a bush which burst into flames.
"What do you see?" asked Althamea.
"You have caused that bush to burn, to die," said Willow.
"No, the bush will burn, but it will not die. For from the flames
will come a new life. Just as you see the fire bring a heat that causes
a death, so can the flames bring a heat that will cause a life."

"So where is it, that lies in front of us er, me?" asked Willow.
"Your future is as the same army. The two armies will join and
together you will be one army."
"Then what are we to do?"
"Go to your warriors, tell them they are at peace with the army
they face. Tomorrow they will be one army and tomorrow they will
face one thousand vampires, who are the last of their kind on earth."
"These vampires, how do you know they are the last?" asked Willow.
"Do not see them as the last of the vampires, many more will be.
I have been told they are the last of them on the earth.
Your armies have been brought here, tomorrow you will face a
city that has demonic vampires. Your enemy will be them, now
go and prepare for the battle tomorrow, as one army."
"So what are we to face, what would be the best way to attack
them, if they are to be defeated, I need to know their weaknesses."
"They will attack even when they cannot win, they will always
think they can win," said Althamea.
"No need to surround the city then," said Willow.

"Okay, then we attack at first light, though I would like to have
knowledge of where their captives are being held."
"There are no captives, only more of them that will be."
"What is known of them?, their history?" asked Willow.
"Many times the one that led them, the devil, he had walked at
ease upon the surface of the earth. Many times he had stopped
and his forces had returned to hell to seek their comfort of home.
But, as he walked the earth, his forces below become stronger.
In the past seeing how weak the earth was, he has led his forces
out of Hell and onto the earth, but never being defeated he lost his
grip and saw all that he faced as willing to be defeated. He grew
tired of how easy it was to win and returned to his home, far from
the land of the living. Leaving many of those vampires to remain."

"Are these the ones we will face tomorrow?"
"Yes but they are not all of them. Those can be beaten another
day. But those you will face, they were in hell where they gained
strength and prowess. On the world they gained the thought that
they were invincible. As the time continued so did their will to
control, to be seen worthy of their leaders return, running with the
cover of darkness they slaughtered many, each of them feeding on
fear and blood, and whole towns were cleared. The vampires do
not know, but Charon has been freed from the curse that the devil
had put on him. The curse had been broken by his daughter
and one of the Goddesses."
"You talk of a battle, is there an end to the war?"
"To know the end has happened, then this will be part of the war,
until then what you must do will only be a battle."

As the evenings light faded from the land, what were two armies
now stood as one. Xander, standing at Willow's side,
began to slap at his battle dress.
"Why are you doing that?" asked Willow.
"I need to make myself ready, I am not a warrior like you."
"All warriors need to prepare themselves, they all need that little
something, some may say today's the day, others drink from a
certain cup. Some may say they don't believe in superstition.
Then when the battle is to begin, they shout as an army, or one of
them will shout for them all to do their best. It is all part of being
prepared, so what you just did, we all do one way or another."
He looked at Willow. Willow faced the army.
"Do as Xander has done. Let it be our battle cry," called Willow.
The army began to slap at their leather, soon the sound echoed.
"That works, I am thinking of what is to be done here," said Buffy.
"And the sound is good, it'll make our enemy concentrate on the
noise, not on what they should be doing," said Faith, she smiled,
"We now have a battle cry."

Listening to the noise, the army then began to march towards
the cities walls. As they neared a hundred paces from the walls
they stopped. Willow raised her sword, the army split into two,
archers ran forward, vases of burning oil were placed at their feet.
"Bring forth the cavalry," she called.
With the dying sun behind them, the cavalry waited until the
archers stopped then they began to pull stones from the wall,
as they did rooms in the city opened, the vampires in those rooms
rushed to seek cover.
"Come and fight us," shouted a vampire.
"Why? we are here to win, not to be hurt or killed by you. You
will not see another night, but know we will walk in your
dust," shouted Willow.

On the earth next to the city the lines of the Soldiers and the
Infantry began to form, the archers arrows rained down upon
the vampires again. As the sun set the vampires rose from the
ground and began charging at the lines. Those of Willows army
moved forward they all fired two shots with the cross bows,
dropped them over their shoulders, then as they ran they readied
their swords for battle. More lines formed, each five hundred
strong, when they had moved three paces another line formed,
as those began to run another line formed, the screams, shouts
and cries of battle floated to where Althamea and Dawn
directed the troops.

Trees fell, bushes crumbled under the weight of Willwarriors,
the ghosts of those who lived in the city collected the used arrows
and placed them in piles near the next lines.
Hour after hour they fought.
The lines formed, as they moved forward the dust from the
vampires lay, yet growing in depth, it littered the ground. Yet
still the warriors continued to join the battle, so many were they
that only the swords could be used.

Dawn and Althamea noticed that those staying to protect
them were starting to leave.
"What is happening?" asked Dawn.
Althamea climbed to the top of some nearby rocks.
Calling to Dawn, "We have them surrounded they have no-where
to run, the battle will soon be won."
When the cries of joy rose from the battle field the warriors began
to celebrate a win.
As the fires were lit for the evenings food Willow approached
Althamea and Dawn.
"This wasn't the end was it?"
"No, this has been the beginning," replied Althamea.

TO BE CONTINUED

 

[ILLYRIAN]

The characters of Buffy, Faith, Vi, Amanda and Willow are the
property of Mr J. Whedon. Althamea Flame is from my
imagination. Queen Boudicca and her warriors, the Tribes of the
Iceni and are from English History.

My apologies to the reader as this chapter has been previously
used, it has how-ever been altered to suit this story.

ALTHAMEA GODDESS OF TIME
CH 2 THE WORSHIPPERS PRISON ( of 6 )

Buffy, Faith, Vi, Amanda and Willow looked along the lush
green grassed valley, to the hills.
"Why are we here?" asked Amanda.
But none of them answered as no-one knew why.
"Okay, where are we?"
No-one knew the answer to that one either.
"So how can we do what we don't know we need to do."
"Is Amanda becoming a seer?" asked Buffy.
"Not that I know of," replied Willow, "Why?"
"I didn't understand anything of what she said."
"I did," said Faith, "She said the word "˜we' several times."
"We isn't a word it"˜s a .... oh bugger!"
"You were saying Buffy," said Faith, smiling happily to herself.
"Who are they?" asked Willow.

Looking across the valley they saw a tribe of people walking
towards them.
"Should we wait here until they get here?" asked Vi.
"No reason not to, we might find out where we should be going."
"That is if they know who we are. At the moment we don't even
know which way to go," said Buffy.
Finding a Laurel bush Willow gave them a branch of it each.
"We should do something useful until they get here."
Holding the branch up, "What will this do?" asked Faith.
"We can start a saying," replied Willow.
"What?" asked Faith.
"If we all sit on the branches I gave you, it can be said that we are
all sitting on our Laurels," said Willow.

"Do you think it will catch on," said Buffy.
"If it is used often enough it might," said Vi.
"Really? do you think so," said Buffy.
"Thinking about it, yes, you need to have a little faith...... oh no."
They fell about, laughing at Faith's misfortune.
"Get up you lot, they are nearly here," said an unimpressed Faith,
"What do you think you are doing any-way."
"Looking for a little faith."
When the tribe of strangers got to them they were surprised, as
most of them were in hysterics, except for one, she was sat
on her laurels.

"Who are you?" asked Faith.
"We are of the Tribes of The Iceni."
"Where are you going?"
"To join the army against the Roman invaders."
"What is the name of your army?" asked Faith.
"The army is ruled by Queen Boudicca."
Faith thinks about them, she see's that Willow is watching her.
"What do you think?" Willow agrees.
"This could be where we should be going."
"I don't think any of us know who you are or who you are against
but the use of the word invaders will be enough, can we join you."
"Where are you going now?" asked Buffy.
"To meet some of our army then to attack a small fort the Roman
soldiers are starting, and then to destroy them near St Albans."

As they walked, Buffy saw how they scoured the valley looking
for others of their kind, but also for some of the enemy. As they
neared the top of a hill they would crawl along the ground until they
were sure none of their enemy could be seen, then, and only then
would they continue on foot. Progress was slow but the tribes
people were eager to teach and to learn of their ways. In the
evening the tribesmen sought knowledge of the crossbow, great
interest was shown in it's design. But when Willow showed them
how it worked, they were amazed!.
Just after the next day started they began walking over hill and
through dale, it was only when the daylight showed itself that they
slowed the pace as they went over the hill tops. As they travelled
the friends they were making in the tribe directed where places
of possible interest were

The days past, the people of the tribe were happy, as they kept
meeting other that followed Queen Boudicca on the trail. On the
fourth day Willow suggested to Buffy and Faith that they make a
move on their own. Amanda and Vi agreed they were starting to
get the feeling that they were expected to join in the battles ahead.
Also when they first met there was only fifteen of them but now
there was more than a hundred and not all of them were the
trusting type. So that night they bade their farewells, six members
of the tribe they had first met took them to a hill top. They said
that they would point to where they could travel.

Nearing the top of the hill the girls began to feel uneasy, so much
so that they held their cross-bows and moved as if they meant it.
Suddenly Vi dropped to the ground indicating the others to do the
same. The men of the Iceni were confused, they had never seen
the signs that were being made. Willow took the lead, she
directed each of them, indicated where they should look. Vi went
to those of the Iceni, whispering to them what it was that they
were doing. To the right flank Faith drew their attention, she had
a visual on six people. Buffy watching the left flank could see five
more. The men of the Iceni were told to stay behind them. Faith
and Amanda stealthily moved through the undergrowth, not
making a sound. Buffy and Willow crept forward the dry twigs
they stepped on and broke didn't utter a sound. The four of
them released a barrage of arrows from the cross-bows dropping
six of them, two of them had climbed onto a rock and started
hacking into the men of the Iceni, as soon as Vi saw them she
fired her crossbow, killing both of them in an instant.

The remaining bore no threat to the girls and they were allowed
to go to their next life. As medicine men were sent for from the
Iceni in the valley below Willow inspected the rock.
"There is something about this rock, why were they standing
by it."
Faith laid her hands on the rock.
"There is something here!" she exclaimed.
The three of the Iceni that were seriously injured looked at the
rock. They were astounded when the wall of the rock opened
and a bright light escaped, lighting up the area. The medicine
men that were walking up the hillside began running, expecting a
new danger to their fallen friends. Standing over them they saw
a figure bathed in flames float from inside the rock, fearful of
what was before them they tried to protect the three of the them
that lay on the rocks, suffering great pain. A place was sought
for them. A cave was found, it would be shelter somewhere for
them to live their last minutes.
Bathed in a flames the Goddess of Time, Althamea went to them

"As a thanks to you, for what you have done for us." She
touched the three fallen and their injuries disappeared, even the
one that had his stomach ripped open. Looking to the girls.
"This happened before, yet then I stayed in the rock, you have
now changed what my future is, I now have a future. I give you
my thanks," said Althamea.
"Why were you here?" asked Willow.
"There was once a stone circle here, it is from those stones that
those devil worshippers created my prison."
"You are safe now though, there are no others near here?"
asked Willow.
"I am safe, although we should soon leave, we need to mve
further in time towards where you should be."
Those of the Iceni gasped as the flames enveloped the five girls
when the flames stopped, they had all vanished.
Not knowing what to think, not saying anything to each other the
people of the Iceni walked down the hillside.

TO BE CONTINUED

 

[ILLYRIAN]

Buffy, Faith, Vi, Amanda and Willow are the property of
Mr J. Whedon.
Althamea Flame, Suemanthia, Rosanna, Elspeth and Aldridge
are from my imagination. Zeus, Pandora, Pandora’s box and
Epimetheus are of Greek Mythology.
King Arthur, Lady Guenivere, Merlin are of English Legend.
The dragon’s Darla and Tammy are no-ones property, they
wanted to be known as being free.

ALTHAMEA GODDESS OF TIME
CH 3 KING ARTHUR ( of 6 )

Leaving his castle the King, his Queen, their entourage and the
kings guards were going to look at the buildings his father had
given to the nuns at Inavere. Travelling slowly through the
countryside the King rejoiced, at seeing the villages they passed
through were not having hard times. Reaching the nuns house of
Byavere, the King and his Queen were pleased the nuns had
continued to teach others how to heal the sick. Speaking to the
nuns the king was especially interested to meet a group of the
nuns that tried, to find plants of the forests that could ease a
person’s pain. They would then be mixed with other plants with
medicinal qualities to increase the number of ailments that could
be helped.

The Queen was given a special tour, she was shown how plant
life from the forest was kept separate from plants that grew in
the fields. She was told about an area where parts of plants
grown could be grown in a special garden.
Being told that the King had a headache, one of the nuns collected
several parts of several plants, she made him a specific hot drink.
Three minutes after drinking the warm, flavoured water his
headache was gone.
Realising this he asked if pain from other parts of the body could
be eased the same way. One of the nuns who had given him the
‘tonic’ told him that would depend on what part of the body was
affected. A ‘tonic’ would need to be made specifically for each of
the bodies parts. He was told a mixture was being tested to calm
pain of the teeth. They had found that it wasn’t the tooth but the
skin around the tooth that needed the mixture applied to it. A
different plant was ready to be used for broken teeth, it was
hoped that the pain of having a tooth removed could soon be
lessened.

Astounded by their cleverness he granted them more monies. He
promised that he would send word to the king of England, telling
him of what they had done for him and what they intended to do.
As the Queen spoke to the nuns, one of the teachers realised
who she was. She was the younger sister of the girl who once
helped them.
It was the first of the nuns who had begun to refer to her sister
Guen, as Guen of Inavere, as Guen came from the village of
Inavere. Through the weeks that followed, tales of Guen’s help
spread near and far. In some of the settlements they went to,
some of the villagers who had shortened the title so it was easier
to say (Guenivere). After Guen’s death many tales had started to
be told of Guen, it was almost as if she had held her own folklore.
Some said that her unborn sister was given the name that Guen
had earnt, yet no-one complained. As Guen’s friend, Rosanna
had said, ‘she would be remembered because of her sister‘.

Then the day came that King Arthur married. Guen’s name had
by then become legend, his marriage to the sister granted her the
title of Lady, she was known as The Lady Guenivere.
Going back to the castle a different way, so that other villages
could be visited, the Kings carriages stopped at a tavern. One
of his guards had told him that his horses could get a drink and
have some food there. He and his entourage made use of the Inns
hospitality, eating and drinking, making the best of their stay.
How-ever, unknown to them, several of his enemies from nearby
lands were there, they had known that King Arthur would be
there, their source had been one of the kings guards and they had
with them a hungry, notorious vampire. It had been instructed to
kill the King and anyone else it could. King Arthur didn’t know
of the threat to his life until some strangers walked into the tavern,
and then he only noticed them when his queen embraced one
of them. Going to see who they were.

“Visitors from another time,” she replied, thinking it was her
husband who had asked for them to be there.
“Who are you?” he asked.
Guen walked into the light, then she faced him.
“I know you, you’re the one of the legend, your dead!”
“Yes, but I have returned to save your life and that of my sister,
with my friends.”
“Guen, who are your friends?” asked Lady Guenivere.
“They have asked me not to say who they are, but they will be
known as the vampire slayers, they and I have been sent here to
kill the vampire that was sent to kill everyone here.”
“There is a vampire here?”
“Yes, it will be released to kill you all.”
King Arthur chose not to speak of his encounter with Guen and
the vampire slayers until the evening that he and Guenivere were
talking with his tutor, Merlin.

“There is something that happened a during the day, I still find it
hard to believe, I saw a friend I knew when I was many years
younger,” said King Arthur
“When was she known to you?” asked Merlin.
“I was but fourteen years old, I remember my Queen’s sister,
we would play in the fields together, it was Guen who helped
me become who I am today. She always had a few friends with
her,” replied King Arthur.
“Who were those friends?” asked Merlin.
“There was Rosanna, Elspeth and Aldridge,” said the King.
“Wasn’t Aldridge one who helped design part of the castle, he
was chosen to go to the kings castle to be in charge of those
who made repairs there?” asked Lady Guenivere.
“That is him, I know that Guen died almost nineteen years ago,
so how could I have seen her?”
“That is the Guen that the legend speaks of,” said The Queen.

The room they were in became filled with light. Merlin looked to
Arthur, “she has found many good friends since then.”
“How can a dead person find new friends?” asked the King
As the light faded they saw a woman bathed in flames, smiling to
them, “Guen and I are friends.”
“Merlin?, who is she?” asked King Arthur.
“This is the Goddess Althamea, Guen has a good friend.”
“How do you know of Guen?” asked The Lady Guenivere.
“She has been re-born to aid a Merlin, we are friends.”

Time seemed to stand still, then Althamea moved the girls to a
beach of stones, they looked to the entrance of a cave in the cliff.
“Well, after what I was told by the other druids that took us,
They had been looking into the existence of Zeus, when we
translated their findings, it was found they mentioned about
a woman sent to protect, to protect the world from evil.
The druids took that to be about Pandora’s box, but Suemanthia
questioned that; she took it to mean a woman sent to protect
the world - the Vampire Slayer.

So we did a bit more digging, Zeus had ordered a woman to be
created to tempt Epimetheus so Zeus could gain revenge on
Prometheus, Pandora. She opened the box that contained the
evils of Zeus’ world. It was then that Suemanthia found mention
of another, she was sent to help, because of what that wasn’t let
out the container,” said Althamea.
“So?” asked Buffy.
“So there is a link between what you are and Zeus.”
“Are you saying that Zeus started the line of Vampire Slayers?”
asked Faith.
“I have a copy of what is written what first made us aware, it
reads,

‘And in the most high of the mysteries, as brought forward by
Zeus, to stand guard against the evil’s that Pandora carried, yet
loosed by curiosity and freed to the lower world. She known by
me, but chosen by one of the Goddess of time. She the slayer of
demons known as the vampyres shall before certain terrestrial
present herself, and for all time shall fight, disturb and end those
once initiated with life, they who defile those initiated with life.
Hence, as ordered by I, Zeus shall exhort them not to be known
of, yet helped from the Oracles to her cause.
She is sent and chosen. Thus I speak:
It is not proper for us to behold her, till she is initiated with those
she will battle. And on this account, she will know of them by
pain of her womb of life, them who would end the freedom of life.’

“Yes, I am saying that Zeus exists,” said Althamea.
“That has completely befuddldid my brain, I need more than
that,” said Amanda.
“Ok?, so it says we are vampire slayers, what next?” asked Vi.
“You are here to see how Guen died and what killed her.”
“What? what do you mean ‘what’ killed her?” asked Faith.
“Guen wasn’t killed by a human, she was killed by an animal,
one that I thought was extinct,” said Althamea.
“You thought it is extinct, what is it known as?”
“A myth, a legend, a creature of peoples dreams and nightmares
even thought never to have existed.”
“But they did exist? so what are they called?” asked Buffy.
Thinking about how to tell them Althamea said.
“We will go back in time, to when Guen was about to die.”

Tammy, Darla’s daughter was playing in the cave, knocking the
rocks from one side of the cave to the other. She had made up
a game for herself where she had to get them as close as possible
to a smaller one. Tammy was about to throw another one when
her mother moved her tail to stop her.
“Hush dear, I heard a noise.”
Tammy moved closer to her mother for protection and for
guidance. Her mother moved backwards, guiding Tammy to
stay near her. Darla listened from the darkness, searching as
another noise was heard.
“It is the human animals, get behind me Tammy,” said Darla.
While her mother was protecting her, Tammy did as she was told.

The sounds were becoming regular, and louder. This would be
the first time Tammy had seen a real human animal. Scared as
she was and feeling her mothers caution, Tammy peeked to try
and see the human animal. Suddenly feeling her mother take a
defensive stance, Tammy knew the human animals were close
but out of respect for her mother, Tammy kept hidden.
There were several noises, she heard voices but not what was
being said. She knew the human animals were close, curiosity
was getting the best of her, she really wanted to see them.
Expecting her mother to move her back Tammy inched to the
side; realising she was standing alone Tammy looked to her
mother; worried by the way her mother was ignoring her
Tammy moved closer.

Touching her mother, Tammy felt her mothers heart beat slowing.
Quickly Tammy went to look in her mothers eyes only to see
them closed, her mothers head lay motionless on the ground.
Tears formed in Tammy’s eyes, she heard the humans shouting.
Quickly turning she saw six of them, three of them ran closer to
her. Tammy rose on her hind legs and roared to them, trying to
safe guard her mother. Tammy opened her wings as wide as she,
could summoning as much energy as she could muster and blew
fire at the human animals. But her fire ball hit the wall, knocking
several rocks loose, water began to pour from the wall.
Tammy summoned her strength, she tried to make more fire but
only caused smoke. About to roar at the humans, she felt a
warmth on her neck.

Looking towards her mother she saw a human animal standing
beside her. Seeing the human animals eyes, then she thought how
her mother had looked at her. As the human animals hand gently
ran down her neck, the humans eyes showed the same look as
her mother had when she was protecting her. Tammy was
unsure what to do, suddenly she was aware of the other humans
running to her. Turning to protect her mother, they ran past her.
What were they doing?
Then six more appeared as if from no-where, she was in awe of
them. She watched the human animals, knowing they were
helping but not understanding what they were doing.
Her mother opened an eye Tammy saw her and nuzzled her head.

A human animal nudged Tammy.
He seemed to blow into another humans mouth then directed her
to do the same to her mother.
She started doing what the human animal showed her to do.
“Buffy, Faith, quick lift the front of the dragon up, Willow
start beating its chest, keep it’s heart going,” called Althamea.
Arthur and Guen helped Buffy and Faith, Rosanna helped
Willow. One of the human animals seemed to breathe fire onto
some rocks. Tammy felt a warmth in the cavern that she had
never felt before. Tears were rolling down her cheeks, then
suddenly she felt her mother move. Intently Tammy watched for
more movement, her mother rose, standing tall on her four legs.

Tammy saw that the human animals were happy, then the look
of confusion that her mother had. Tammy pressed her body close
to her mothers then went to the human animal who had stood by
her. Tammy watched as her mother went to drink from the wall.
As a few more rocks were dislodged Darla drank the water that
flowed from the wall. Tammy ran to be beside her mother.
Feeling a warmth to the human Tammy was happy to stand
beside it. Watching two of them, the darkness in the cave faded
as a fire was made by that human animal.
“Who are those people Althamea?” asked Amanda.
“They are Arthur, Guen, Merlin, Rosanna, Elspeth and Aldridge.”
Arthur looked to them, who are you? where did you come from?

“If I am right Arthur, you should ask when are they going to.”
“When? what do you mean, when?” asked Arthur.
“They are learning about themselves, they will be going to the
year two thousand and eight I think,” said Merlin.
“Nearly right, old friend,” said Althamea.
“How can they move through time?” asked Guen.
“They don’t, it is my friend who is taking them.”
“Then who is your friend Merlin?” asked Arthur.
“She is Althamea, Goddess of Time. I have missed you
what happened?” asked Merlin.
“I was held in a prison, they released me.”
“Them? who are they?” he asked.

“They are vampire slayers, she is Willow,” said Althamea.
“What! Willow? you mean she is the....”
“She will be.” Merlin dropped to his knees for Willow
Tammy watched, confused, then the humans began moving
rocks from the wall. Tammy noticed some of the rocks that
could be used for her game, so she moved them. Seeing the
humans reactions, she turned to her mother for guidance and saw
happiness in her mothers eyes. Tammy moved the remaining
rocks and looked to her mother. She stood back as more rocks
were loosened, this was becoming a game.
“Althamea when Merlin knelt to me, it wasn’t because of the
army was it?” asked Willow.

“No, it is for what you will become,” said Althamea, “And if you
accept that, I will kneel before you.”
The next day Darla helped the humans move rocks from what
was becoming another tunnel. Tammy saw lines in the soil on the
floor of the cave, puzzled by then she didn’t see one of the
humans walking towards her, the first she knew was seeing the feet.
The human knelt beside her and pointed to the water then to the
mark on the ground, the human then pointed to the entry to the
cave. Tammy held her foot to the tunnel, the human touched the
mark on the ground.

Tammy had unknowingly just showed herself to be a friend, to a
human animal. Tammy walked a few paces along the tunnel,
stopped then returned to the marks on the ground. Using the end
of her tail she did a bit more of the line but her tail flicked up,
caught a rock causing it to fall, it fell onto one of the human
animals. Tammy and her mother watched as the other human
animals blew into her mouth and pressed down on her chest
many times. Tammy watched not knowing what they were doing.
Then they stood back from her. Tammy cautiously went to her,
gently nudging her but there was no response. Tammy went
quickly to stand by her mother. The human animal was carried
from the cavern. She never came back.

Tammy didn’t know why, but she felt sad.
One of the human animals trying to make herself understood
where the line would be going to pointed to the water then
moving to the water, pointed upwards. Tammy wandered to the
water looked up and saw the sky. The human went back to the
ground markings, Tammy saw a picture in her mind of the sky.
The next day Tammy was determined to be more helpful moving
the rocks, throughout the day that was all she did. It was late in
the day, after much rock had been moved that Darla saw the
human cup her hands, filling them with water then letting Tammy
drink, Darla smiled and let a soft growl roll out of her mouth.

The humans stepped back from Darla, but Tammy knew the
sound. Her mother had purred for them, the human animals!.
Later Darla watched as Tammy played her game while the
human sat on a rock. It was after a few games that the human
stood up, shouted then two of them ran out of the cave.
Later a ladder was dropped into the cave where the water was,
in a net were three smooth round rocks.
One of the rocks was held towards Tammy, not knowing what to
do she stared at it. The human animals rolled it across the cave.
Tammy’s eyes lit up, she bounced about it like a puppy.

“And this means we can now pass food down to you, Merlin.”
“Thank you,” he replied


( Tammy still loves playing bowls, so if some-one wants a game?.
How ever I should warn you not to beat her by too many as she
is a bit temperamental, oh! and she breathes fire!. )

TO BE CONTINUED

 

[ILLYRIAN]

Buffy, Amanda and Willow are the property of Mr J. Whedon,
Faith the General of the Armed Forces of Byzantium might be
Mr J. Whedon's property in the future, (but he doesn't know yet).
The 9th line has a vague reference to a character from the
Dollhouse.
The Spanish Armada is of history. The town of Banbury and
the city of Plymouth are real as are the Rollright Stones.
The witch Dawn, Hope, and the story may be fictional though.

ALTHAMEA GODDESS OF TIME
CH 4 OF ENGLAND'S GLORY

Buffy looked at the others, she was about to ask what the now was,
but a figure suddenly appeared. The girls looked surprised by her
being there.
"Who is she?" asked Amanda.
"She is Faith, the General of the Armed Forces of Byzantium."
Faith looked at Althamea inquisitively.
"What is it?" Althamea asked the General.
"A warning, I have been asked to tell you not to go to far into the
future or what you say may be heard several times."
"Are they important to the struggle?" said Althamea.
"They will be," replied General Faith, "What were you told to do?"
"Show them their history."
"Then only show them what their history is," said General Faith.

"In the year fifteen eighty eight, by the cover of darkness, many
ships began their journey, it was the Spanish navy. They took their
army towards England, on the third night after the full moon in July
when all was dark. On a sea that gave them the tides they needed
and currents that allowed them to go the way they wanted to go.
One hundred and thirty two of their troop transport ships and
galleons fully laden, landed just south of Plymouth with three
hundred men on each and their supplies, in the five nights during
July that year. For two nights those ships brought two loads of
men, armour, food and horses. The army was gathering strength
until the fifty thousand strong army was ready.
Men from nearby villages were given the choice of life in their army
or death. All the nearby towns and villages were ransacked,
stripped clean of food as soon as the houses were empty of life.

The Spanish army moved on, their army growing, the stocks of
weapons were getting bigger. Any horses that needed training
were re-trained by them. After several days of equipping
themselves they began the ride towards London," said Althamea.
The navy, known as the Spanish Armada had gone on to act as
a diversion, they would be no match for the English navy, as many
that were in charge of the ships were Generals in the army.

"But the Spanish army made the destruction of the English
country-side seem like an art form, burning anything or killing
any-one, even the unwanted animals that they saw move. Towns
and villages or isolated houses that they encountered were stripped
of anything that they could carry, as before no life was left behind,
then as they left the towns behind smoke filled the skyline. The city
of Plymouth was avoided until the lands around the city were
stripped clean.

Then as evening fell one day hamlets near the edge of the city
were set alight, moving closer to the shipping area the buildings
were torched, people fled. Soon all the ships in the port were
emptied of their cargo as escape from the invaders was sought.
Flames spread through the houses, as the Spanish moved
closer the homes grew smaller and closer together, even in the
daylight the glow of burning homes could be seen for miles. Only
a week later, as Plymouth burned, the invaders looked elsewhere."
"With every passing day the army grew bigger with the supplies
that had been captured, those few citizens that tried to save
England were slaughtered. Occasionally as they moved on lone
figures were reported by their scouts as being seen on the hilltops
around them. Once, just after ransacking a big town one of the
figures was caught and killed. The following day she was seen again
on that hilltop."

"Wait, how could the same person be seen again?" asked Buffy.
"You will all be vampire slayers, you will all be chosen ones,
through time there has been many that have been chosen, and of
them, many return," said Althamea.
"The army was now so big that no forces had been met that came
close to stopping them. Occasionally whole herds of animals
where slaughtered, just to feed them all."
"Watching the invaders movements for a week had been the guards
of the Queen of England, reports of the movements were sent to her
daily, also was the ground they travelled. The Queen was amassing
a massive army near London.
Troops from towns and cities had been sent but they were no
match, many times the invaders faced an enemy, and many times
that enemy was defeated. English bodies lay strewn on the wayside
behind them, their horses armour and weapons helped the invaders.

On the seventeenth night after the landing, the great stone circle of
Stonehenge lay before them, and a camp was made."
"The passing of the stone circle would mean, that the first part of
their campaign was over, they thought that soon they would be
heading for London. But that night as the camp grew in size, a
lone figure strode into their camp, it was the General you met,
with her weapons intentionally removed, she was taken to the
leader of the Spaniards. I remember that she stood tall, she told
them they would not be allowed to get any nearer to Stonehenge.
The soldiers while congratulating her for her bravery, ridiculed her
saying that nothing could stop them. Their leader threw her lifeless
body from their camp. She visited their leader a few hours later
that evening, in his tent she told him that she had asked him to
return from where he came, and how she returned to give a final
warning, they should be gone by morning. As he went to kill her
she vanished, leaving the words.

You should be gone from here by time the sun has topped the
stones of Stonehenge."
"As the mornings light awoke the Spanish army. The fires in their
camp created warmth and cooked many more animals. The Kings
guards while continuing looking at the army were very concerned.
Two of the guards rode to London, warning the Queen of what
she faced. After they had gone a guard at rest from his night's
watch shouted for them all to face behind them. Two hundred
knights in gleaming armour neared their camp. Their leader was a
King, he charged towards them, they passed straight through the
tents, the Queens guards stared at the charging knights, a guard
called to his Captain.
"I know that shield," he said, "It is the colours of King Arthur."
Those dead knights raised their swords, pushing the horses to a
full gallop they shouted insults to the invaders."

"How did the Spanish invaders react to those dead attacking them?"
"It didn't even compare to what happened next, a thousand years
of the dead rose to protect England's glory. Look at the country
here, imagine every square inch covered with the dead. Then the
Goddesses of the Stone, of England's glory rose from the ground.
Those Spanish, they had looked at England, then they were facing
the French countryside. The Queens guards, had to report what
they had seen. I found out, from my spies that the Queen did not
believe what her guards told her, but her doubts grew. With the
passing of time those doubts increased, as the Spanish were never
seen anywhere in England, ever."
"I never imagined the army of the dead to be so big," said Willow.
"They are much bigger now, just think of all the wars there has been
think of how many dead there is now compared to what there was."

"Have you ever needed to help some-one, so that your future could
be helped?" asked Althamea, "You are learning of your history, if
you knew what the future held would you try to change the past?"
"Could that happen?" asked Faith.
"The general Faith knows it can, she called for one of hers to do it.
She called for the one named Hope to save another, her name was
Dawn, she lived not far from the town of Fenny Compton in a
cottage with multitudes of flowers. A kindly person she was always
ready and willing to help anyone that chose to ask her. Many of the
farmers in the area would seek her help when their body ached
from the strenuous work that they had to do. She would make
a mixture of plants and beeswax and rub the ointment on the skin.
Then the next day he would awake, the pain and soreness would
have gone. She often gave them the remainder of her mixture, so
that if the soreness returned they could apply the mixture them-
selves.

Unknown to Dawn a local woman had been accused of being a
witch. She was afraid for herself and her daughter. She said she
would help her accusers by telling them who was a witch. The
local church people took great pleasure in being horrible to the
unprotected women. One day a woman in the village was targeted
as being a witch, considered to be in league with the devil, purely
because of a small birthmark that was below her left eye. The
woman who was in fear of being tortured went to see Dawn, she
explained what was happening. Dawn took the pulp from a piece
of wood that she was going to use as firewood, ground down
the dried pulp, then added beeswax and dried it again in a baking
tray. When it was as a powder she bid that the woman spread it
lightly on her face, while it would not make the birthmark fade, it
would cover it.

Dawn told her to come back as she was due to make a mixture
for several farmers to ease their aching muscles, that same mix
would help her mark begin to fade. But her helping other people
was seen as a threat by the doctor, Dawn was being
mentioned as the woman responsible for him getting less money.
He was one of those who congregated the church, so the church
leaders declared that Dawn was a witch, one person who Dawn
had helped was also been thought to be a witch, she had
confessed and put her signature to her confession. Dawn had
laughed at that, mainly because the person had been unable to
write. Late one night a band of men on their dark horses rode
hard towards the village of Long Compton. Several of the church
people had been watching Dawn. A new woman was noticed in
the town, who had been seen trying to help the witch escape.

That woman had been seen to appear and disappear, so she
was obviously in league with the devil.
For days and weeks she was held in the goals cells. Many times a
day she had been tortured, her prosecutor's only stopped the
torture when they thought her body was unable to accept any more
pain. They that had been chosen to get a confession from her, even
though they had killed many times she always behaved as though
she hadn't been tested by them. Even the finger nails that had
been ripped from her body were there the following day as if
nothing had been done. She had been left to rot in a dungeon for
several weeks, but she still stood at the door waiting for them
when they went to get her. She had been left underwater until it
was thought that she should have died yet when she was cut from
the chair she stood up and asked them what was next.

Upon deciding that she was surely of the devil they burnt her as
a witch, in front of the village, and her bones were crushed, but
when they went to bury her ashes there she was waiting for them."
"That just isn't right," said Vi, "That cannot happen."
"When we get to where and the when of where we are going you
will learn of a saying, 'That there is more in heaven and hell than
you can understand"˜."
"You mean that actually happened?" asked Buffy.
"Sort of, it hasn't happened yet."
Fearful of her, the torturer asked her.
"Nothing that we have done to you has a lasting effect, why are
you here? would it stop you if we buried you?"
"No, I would return."
"Why?"

"So that Dawn will live," said Hope, "so that she will fulfil her
destiny."
"What destiny is that?" asked her torturer.
"That she will be ready."
"Why does the devil want her ready? ready for what?"
"The devil wants her dead, it is we who want her to remain alive.
She is an immortal, we protect her, she will always protect her.
Seventy one years ago she told us that the devil had risen, we
were readied ourselves and we defeated her forces."
"Why didn't you defeat the devil?"
"Your kind believes in her, believes her to be so, so she lives on."
"And the devils forces?"
"When we know of them they will be defeated."
"Why are you here? why do you think that we want to stop you?"

"We are here to stop the evil, your kind does not want to stop us,
but sometimes the ones we protect are hunted by your kind."
"Our kind? what kind is that?"
"The human kind."
Dawn had been forgotten until the night at the end of the year
when she and three young women rose from the stones.

Buffy, Faith, Willow, Vi and Amanda appeared outside the stone
cir, as they watched those in the circle.
"Remember this place as we will be coming back here soon,"
said Althamea.
"What is this place called?" asked Willow.
"This is the Rollright stone circle, there will be a glow in the sky,
when we return here, near to the town Banbury," said Althamea.


TO BE CONTINUED

 

[ILLYRIAN]

Buffy, Faith, Vi, Amanda and Willow are the property of
Mr J. Whedon. All other characters are from me.
All names and places, dates etc: were correct, at some point

Two chapters that were previously written and used have been
altered to fit this story.

CH 5 THE SILVER RAINBOW ( of 6 )

Like most of the week-ends, the parks in the small market town
were almost full. Towns people were looking at the goods on the
stalls in the market. In the centre the stone cross unexpectedly
exploded into a thousand fragments, shops, cottages, the horse
and carts were all peppered with the heated rock from the stone
cross. The only sound heard was the broken buildings crashing to
the ground. Dead people lay all around, some still holding the
rope to dead dogs.

Where the cross once stood, there was now a girl of about twenty,
except for the dark stone like skin, the sinewy ribbed wings, and
that icy stare from those horrid burning red eyes she looked normal.
Almost at a panic Karen said of the vision of she had just seen
of a great evil having just risen. Hope ran to the kitchen to see
what had just made all the noise.
"Who?, why are you here?"
"Haven't we seen her before?" asked Buffy.
"Yes, but while it was only a few days ago for you. For her it was
about fifty four years ago."
"Buffy, is she trying to say we're the forgotten ones?" asked Vi.
"Yes Vi I think she is, Althamea where and when are we?"
"This is the year sixteen forty two, the first battle of the English
civil war has just happened, but that isn't why you are here."

"We are not here though, I mean we are in that we can see all
around, ... but they can't see us," said Faith.
"There is a reason for it to be like this. It will be to dangerous for
you to be here. The devil is about to rise, this is so that you know
you are not alone."
"But we are here just to watch what happened, aren't we?"
"Yes, sort of."
"What do you mean by sort of ? Althamea," asked Amanda.
"Just suppose this is a computer game, one where you can call
upon what-ever you can think of to win, but you can only call
upon what is of this time. I want to see what you can do, you are
in charge of the army."
"When do we begin?" asked Faith.
"You already have begun," replied Althamea.

"So, the devil has risen, ooh do we have any cheats?" asked Buffy
"No, no cheats," said Althamea.
"Well that isn't correct, if this game hasn't been played before,
what-ever we do will be the game, not be a cheat," said Faith.
"I like that line of thought," agreed Buffy.
"Yes, I see I'm going to have to watch you Faith," said Althamea.
"So, check the legend, see where the devil's army is," said Buffy.
Vi and Amanda scrolled through the legend.
"Here it is, right now her army is in a hill about just east of Banbury,
near the town of Bloxham, an area known as Hob's Hill," said Vi.
"Hob?, that's a familiar of the devil isn't it?" asked Faith, "The
witches, get them to create a barrier around the area."
"Shouldn't we allow the people to get out first Faith," said Buffy.
"What are the villages west the Banbury?" asked Faith.
Vi and Amanda look to the legend again.

"There is long, Small and Fenny Compton, why?" asked Amanda.
"And the Rollright stone circle, ( scrolling to see what is said about
the area ) the local villages are said to have lots of witches, in fact
some kings men are said to be the stones, tricked by a witch."
"What did she gain from it?" asked Faith.
"Her life, they threatened to kill her. She said for them to point to
the village, but from where the stones are now there is a ridge in
the way so they couldn't see the village, clever witch with good
local knowledge," said Vi.
"Right then, we'd best have the covens from there to make a
barrier, get them here."
Residents of Bloxham were beginning to leave their town, the
strange and the unusual was starting to happen, even the animals
were leaving the town. Caged birds, even the ones that appeared
to be happy had escaped at the first opportunity. In Bloxham,
places that sold milk began to get complaints that the milk was off.

Fruit and vegetables, fresh from the field visibly went mouldy.
Then it suddenly started to happen
Storm clouds formed over the town but no storm activity was
spoken of. People in the hamlets of Banbury wondered what was
happening as winged demons flew to the tracks that coursed from
the towns, the sky around Banbury began to turn red, people
passing near unseen demons were viciously attacked, occupants
of wagons didn't stand a chance. Towns people in the markets
grouped together, helplessly looking to each other. The winged
demons moved towards the town, destroying anything that moved.
"Buffy! get the ghost of King Arthur and his two hundred knights."
The ghosts of King Arthur and two hundred of his soldiers charged
at full gallop past them.
"Get Guen and the sword Excalibur, she can be in the army."
"Excuse me guys," said Vi, "But we don't have an army yet."

"That's a good point," said Faith.
"I know, all the dead that went up against the Spanish, but as an
army," said Buffy.
"And that other me, the General Faith, she could be in charge."
"There is another thing there, if she is a general, what is she a
general of?"
"Well spotted, she is a General of the Armed Forces of Byzantium
Vi, that army is as big as you will need, but you'd best be quick
as the town of Banbury now belongs to the devil."
"Tell the coven's to put a field of protection six miles around the
towns of Banbury and Bloxham, but inside the circle," said Buffy.
"The devil's forces are spilling onto the earth," Althamea told them.
Faith The General of the Armed Forces of Byzantium took form.
"General, take your troops, guard the fields of protection," said Vi.

"We can send in the big boys," said Amanda.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Guen died by the two dragons Darla and Tammy," said Amanda.
"If we are controlling the game, how about making it that the devils
forces are attracted to the dragons, but to get to them they would
need to pass over the salt way, an old fighting ground," said Faith.
"Will a bit of salt stop them all?"
"So make it the track that salt was transported on, and salt slows
the demons, some of them it stops completely, and the dragons
will be attracting the demons there."
"Any other places where they could try to get to?" asked Amanda.
"Yes, as I said before about the first battle of the civil war, at Edge
Hill near Kineton," said Althamea.
"So let's get them there," said Buffy.

The dark clouds over town faded, filling the land with light. Winged
demons looked up and around at the brightness, in confusion they
tried to comprehend what was happening. Howling winds burst
from the north, uprooting trees, blowing walking demons into the
air. The dragons rose into view, demons felt them and rushed to
them, as waves upon wave of arrows darkened the sky, the bodies
of demons began to litter the ground.
Shrill cries of pleasure lifted from the ground as the dead carved
the existence from the demons.
The leader of the evil knowing it's forces were not enough, called
her faithful to follow her. The dead began to group together to get
in her way. Showers of blood sprayed down onto those fighting on
the ground, from near by the devil felt a presence, she flew to the
next fighting fields, rising above the hordes she flew to the heights.

Taking her infamous appearance, five times her size she appeared,
her body shone red almost matching the burning red eyes. The
hoofed feet burnt into the ground releasing clouds of steam, as she
moved her very skin made the air around her burst into flames.
Around her, Buffy caused a gown of a shrinking silver rainbow to
form. Unable to move in the heavy burnt air the devil glared, her
being shrank, pushed in by the forces around her. As she shrank,
the force around her left a gap which she used, and she escaped
heading for Edge Hill. She called those of hers to follow her, flying
close to the ground, darting in between trees and bushes she
evaded those trying to follow her.
"Well, that wasn't very clever," said Althamea, "You've lost her,
what now?"
"They've been doing this longer than us," said Amanda and Vi.

"Faith!, we control the game, so state the odds," said Vi.
"Okay, so the devil escaped the first battle ground, now we need
to find her, she only had about a hundred and fifty follow her."
"Who can we call to help us?" asked Buffy.
"Seek the help of others?, how about we go to the police?. We
still need something else though," said Faith.
"Something that epitomises goodness," said Amanda.
"We could use Angels, but that seems a bit corny," said Vi.
"So how about the unicorns, and as demons have wings, the
unicorns should have wings," said Buffy.
"Don't forget to have soldiers on them, 'cos having a winged
unicorn that speaks, we are bound to call it Ed," said Vi.
"We need a base to work from and a name for the base?, lets see
we are in olden England so hamlet?" asked Buffy.

"That sounds to small, Mansion is a bit to posh, how about a
manor," suggested Amanda.
"Combe is a good English name isn't it? something Combe, Manor
girlscombe manor? not really," said Vi.
"Well an old word for a girl is maiden, hmm, Maidenscombe
Manor? it does have a ring to it," said Buffy
"So where are the enemy? asked Vi.
"I always liked the town of Leamington Spa, but that was in the
year two thousand and eight," said Vi.
"Well, we are in control, the initial fight is over, we aren't at
Edge Hill, so why not, plus in that time we have!"
She pulls from her pocket.
"Mobile phones! and best of all, shoe shops!"
"We know what town they are in but we will still have to find them,"
said Vi.

"So put Vi or me at Maidenscombe Manor, you do the ground
work and I'll organise who to send," said Amanda.
"So let's start with this bit then," said Buffy.
She opened her mobile phone and rang Amanda.
"Can you ask the police if they have any problems here."
Amanda rang the police station in Leamington.
"Is that Detective Petra Rivers?"
She heard the phone click a few times.
"Hello, you were calling me?"
"Detective Petra Rivers, it's Amanda. The problem we have at the
moment, we really want your help."
"Ok," replied Petra, "What is it?"
"We are trying to locate some demons, have you had any strange
or weird things happen lately?"
"There was a few bodies found in the river this morning."

"That could be what we are looking for, was there anything about
them which is odd?"
"There was one thing, the only marks on the body, all of them, was
two puncture marks on the neck, and the bodies had been drained
of blood, is that what you mean?" asked Det. Rivers.
"That could is more like it, where were they found?"
"In the River Leam, by the weir between Priory Terrace and
Jephsons Park."
Amanda rang Buffy, "Go to the River Leam, some bodies were
found there this morning, victims of vampires next to a weir."
"I'm just looking at a map of the area, the weir is right underneath
a footbridge, thanks, I'll get back to you."
So Buffy, Faith and Vi went to the footbridge, on the way there Vi
thought about the last battle.
"You know, the best person to run a battle is some-one who has
done it before."

"I thought that Althamea wanted us to run the show," said Buffy.
"We are running the show," said Faith.
"So why isn't Willow with us?" asked Vi.
Suddenly Willow was walking with them.
"Lead the way Willow," said Faith.
"Okay, Vi, have a look around towards the town from the foot-
bridge, let us know how it feels, Faith tell me what the river is like."
Vi went for a wander back to the road, looked each way, decided
to go where the shops were. Getting near to the shops she felt pains
in her stomach and she could hear a soft hoarse growling, she
followed the sound which seemed to come from a church. As she
neared the steps she could hear the growling clearer. Searching to
see where the sound was coming from, she pin pointed the sound,
it was the gargoyles. Instantly she rang Willow.

"I've found the devil, it is in the church here," said Vi.
"How do you know?" asked Willow.
"The gargoyles are still growling, that means that evil has crossed
the threshold but it hasn't come out."
Willow motioned for Faith to run back to them.
"What is it!" called Faith.
"We have them," said Willow her voice getting quieter as Faith
got closer, "They are in the church. You and Buffy work out what
will be needed to attack the church en-mass, I'll organise for the
humans to be defended."
"Are you sure, we lost the last battle," said Faith.
"So? lose a battle, it is winning the war that counts," said Willow.

"Amanda, it's Willow, we have found them, contact the police
I want the roads near where the bodies were found to be closed,
that is the Priory road junction. The flying unicorns, get five of them
on The Terrace bridge, tell the police to close Bath, Victoria
Spencer and Church Streets. I don't want any cars to get in our
way, best have a couple of them unicorns at each road blocks as
well. There maybe only a hundred and fifty to deal with, but I'm
not sure so send as many of the dead as you can, armed with
cross-bows.
What's that Buffy? oh right, Amanda tell the police they've got
four minutes or we do it. Now get our support here!"
Dialling the police Amanda wished she had them on speed dial.
"Petra! it's Amanda, the church on the junction of Priory and
Victoria its got a load of demons in it, close all roads near there
you've got two minutes or we do it, "˜cos we are going in."

"Just wait there, I'll be pushing my luck getting those roads
closed, oh crap, I'll do what I can," said Petra.
"Althamea!, it's Willow, everything is looking good, now, will you
help me?"
"I'm not running the game, you say what you want."
"I want the humans out of the church, that thing you do, with the
flames of life? can you do the fires of hell? that'll get them out of
the church, then the dead going to help won't be stopped."
"Consider it done," said Althamea.
As the police cars screeched to a halt blocking the roads the
winged unicorns landed behind them. The dead, armed with
cross-bows guarded every exit from the church.
Screams echoed from inside the church then the doors were
thrust aside as the screaming people ran from the church.

All the shops lining the roads near the church emptied of customers
wanting to see what the commotion was. Then, as if from nowhere,
the dead appeared running to protect the humans. A hundred and
forty of the armed dead broke ranks, running into the church. Wails
of those in pain were heard coming from the church, screams of
dying demons echoed. Then bursting from the church ran fifteen
vampires, flames igniting their bodies as they ran into the sunlight.

Then all was silent.
"You all did good, you worked together and you worked by your
selves when you needed to, and you won. Just one problem, I'm
never playing Faith at a computer game," said Althamea.

TO BE CONTINUED

 

[ILLYRIAN]

Buffy, Faith, Vi, Amanda and Joyce are the property of our God,
or Mr J Whedon as he is more normally known as.
All other characters are mine.
Long Marston, the Rollright stones, Warwick, Banbury they all
are true.

CH 6 PROTECTING JOYCE'S MUM ( of 6 )

They heard a single church bell being rung, a slow ominous sound
full of foreboding. Looking into the solitude, of the quiet all around
them. The distant rumblings of explosions littered the skies.
"All is dark, even those the cottages seem to have black curtains
on the windows, why?" asked Vi.
"This is England, you are in nineteen forty one, during the second
world war. This is the time of the Battle of Britain."
"Why are we here Althamea?" asked Amanda, "And why isn"˜t
Willow with us?"
"She will be, or her future self will be."
"There is a woman you all need to protect," said Althamea.
"To change the future," said Buffy.
"No, to make the future stay the same."
"What do you mean by that?" asked Vi.
"The woman was saved from injury during her life, so she will
always be," said Althamea.

"She was lucky, wasn't she," said Vi.
"As were your ancestors, or do you think that your entire line
would have been ignored."
Looking to Althamea.
"I had never even thought of it before," said Vi.
"If your fifteenth time great grandmother had died before she bore
your ancestor, you would not exist. We had to keep all your
people well, safe from injury so that you could be a Chosen One."
"So who is the woman?" asked Buffy.
"Buffy, she is your grandmother," said Althamea.
"But I didn't have any-one in England, not that I know of."
"If you go back far enough you did, but your grandmother was of
the opinion that all was safe here, she is wrong," said Althamea.
"It must have been safe for her, she lived didn't she?" asked Vi.

"She lived because we helped her, many times. Only now, it is
you Buffy that will save her," said Althamea.
"That's a thought, you must know who all the slayers are till
the end of time. So that their ancestors can be saved," said Faith.
"That is nearly the truth, there are other slayers, but you here
will be some of the last slayers."
"We are here to save Buffy's grandmother, what else?"
"To see that mankind can defeat you, to know that the distant
relatives you have can affect your life if they are not cared for."
"So what else should we do?" asked Amanda.
"Of Buffy's ancestors?, you also need to find a will so that her
mothers aunty can live a normal, uneventful family life."
"What needs doing first?" asked Buffy.

"Your grandmother is lost, she had taken refuge near the town
of Banbury, only she is now at the Rollright stones praying for
our protection from the bombs, you will need to help her."
"If we can't?" asked Vi.
"Then a higher being will appear to her."
"Not such a good idea, what of the other?" asked Buffy.
"To meet and speak with the dead, one of the dead is a relative."
Buffy looks to Faith, Vi and Amanda.
"Vi and I will care for your grandmother, you and Faith should
deal with the dead," said Amanda.

"Tea and cookies all round," said Buffy, "Now what can I do for
you, this might not be the best place for a young boy or girl."
"Hmm, I noticed that," replied Mrs Jennings.
"Yeah, sorry about that, what I mean is we have had a couple of
dead people who drop by to say hello," said Siobhan.
"My children will be ok, they have learnt about ghosts. My name
is Mrs Jennings, my husband was arrested recently for stealing
some food from a supermarket, I've been told that normally
nothing would have happened, but because our rented property
burnt down we haven't got anywhere to live, well, they had no
choice. To top that off, when he goes to court in two weeks if I
haven't found a fixed address he will be sent to prison. The reason
why I am here is my grandfather is said to have made a will but it
has never been found, you are my last chance, sorry."
"Write down any details that you think might help us, we'll do
what we can," said David.

"The other thing?" asked Mrs Jennings.
"Payment? I thought that as you are down on your luck, any
money you have might be needed elsewhere at the moment, but
if we find the will we'll arrange payment then."
"David isn't it? thank you."
"Teas and Biccies," said Siobhan.
Buffy leant close to Faith, "Are we in some-ones body?"
"Sorry dear, we've finished, and they were just about to leave I
think," said David
"Oh, you poor dears having to go out into the cold, tell you what,
have you got any holes in your pockets?, you do know the best
way to find out don"˜t you?, put at least three cookies in each side,"
said Siobhan.
"You lucky things!, what do you say to the nice lady,"
said Mrs Jennings
"You hear that David?, I'm a nice lady!"
Siobhan poked her tongue out, turned then walked of the room.
"We'll let you know when we have some progress."

"I think we are in some-one else's body, why?" asked Faith.
"If they know what they are doing, we need to take a back seat,
see what they do and learn from it," said Buffy.
"I'll leave this phone number in case you need to get in touch
with us," said Mrs Jennings.
"Thanks," said David, then going back into the kitchen, he sat
down opposite his dad.
"Hello dad, I hope you are feeling well," said David
"What is it?"
"I may have just taken on a job that we might not get paid for,"
said David, as politely as he could.
"So what is the new case about?"
"Trying to find a will."
"Considering the grovelling, there's a catch?" asked Mr Smithers.

"Trying to find a will that hasn't been found by experts. It was
written during WW2. Oh and we've got two weeks to find it if
we want to get paid."
"That fits with what the other two are doing, who does that body
belong to?" asked Faith.
"His name is David, I'm in a mans body!" said Buffy, sarcastically.
"You are lucky!, this body belongs to Siobhan. Thing is, she died
over a hundred and twenty years ago."
"Oh, good, glad there's no pressure then," said Mr Smithers.
"There's three here who don't need to get paid," said Siobhan.
"Oh right, so you don't want that bed?"
Siobhan looked angrily at David.
"Would you like to say that again David?" asked Mr Smithers.
"Have you found out anything about Edwards children yet?"

"See that dear? that's how to change the subject," said Erica,
"Good timing too!"
"So Dad, seems I am looking at beds tomorrow either that or
trying to find a will."
"Edward dear, did you hear that? My ears must be blocked, did
David say looking or buying?" asked Siobhan.
"If any-one says that was subtle I'll hit them."
Siobhan looks then smiles to David.
"With a dry sponge, of course," explained David.
The next day David and Mr Smithers went to London, to the
war museum. As they went in they followed the signs that led to
a what they were looking for. WW2 RECORDS ROOM
After a few hours of searching through the record.
"That sign is still there, it hasn't changed yet. Don't suppose
you've found anything yet, have you?" David asked hopefully.

"No, nothing yet, I keep getting turned back to his name," replied
Mr Smithers.
"I keep looking at the sign, for something to do. Are we doing
this wrong? could we be doing this all wrong?" asked David.
"I'll tell you what I am doing and what I've been doing. Well,
we've got his name, where he was based, we have a few details
of the last mission he was on."
"Sounds ok so far, tell me more about his last mission," said David.
"A report came in from the coast about two main groupings of
planes, some at high level and some at a lower level. He was one
of six who were sent up from his base, they were directed to fly
behind the enemy so that they could attack with the sun behind
them, the next reports were of them returning."
"Who returned then, or how many?" asked David.

"Four returned, one was reported being hit and one went missing,
no-one knows where it went."
"Was Mr Jennings one of the returned, or the one that was shot
down?"
"No."
"That is where we are. So he was in the plane that went missing,
the experts have tried to find him, without any success."
"Correct so far David, thing is the experts couldn't find him, I keep
going over what is known to have happened," said Mr Smithers.
"Then let's look at this from another place, even from outside the
box. Plus we have something no-one has had before," said David.
Mr Smithers was thoughtful, "What have we got?"

"Me," said David, "lets face it, they followed the rules because
they knew what the rules were. Now us, we don't even know
what the rules are, so lets bring in the guesswork, our instinct, our
intuition. Going from that perspective, we have how much fuel he
had and where he attacked from."
"Ok David, on the map he would have been in this direction when
he attacked, the experts agreed that he went down in this area
[he draws a circle] and went missing."
"So lets say he didn't go down, let's assume that he went through
the lot of them, he hit one or even all four planes that went down
in the initial attack."
"Fair enough David, but there's no proof of that."
"I know, but that is us not going by the rules of prediction, based
on what is known, that is our intuition," said David.
"He's got that right, we always work on our intuition," said Faith.

"Right pick up the rules book and use it to prop up the table. So
what do you think may have happened?"
"He went through them, hit on or two of them causing damage
but he was hit and his plane suffered damage."
"Hmm, let's go with that, so he went in, turned, banked, what-ever.
That way, his bit at the back of the plane, the, er, tail?. The bit
that helps them turn quickly, that was damaged."
"Ok, right, given that he had this much fuel he could have gone,
oh crap, to any of these airfields," said Mr Smithers.
"No!, take that circle, add the direction we think he was going in,"
said David, "Which gives us these airfields."
"Now which one, let's say that he was losing height, given that an
airfield might be at various angles, the maps he would have had
would have shown these airfields. Of these ones only this one has
room for bombers. So we go for that one," said David.

"Yes, um that one is Long Marston, I've got conflicting reports
here. One says it closed as an RAF base, the other has it as a
USAF base, ooh the CIA as well," said Mr Smithers.
"I don't think we need bother with the USAF aspect "˜cos that
was at a later date," he continued.
"Good, let's get out of this lovely room, get the others and go to
Long Marston. There is another advantage which makes me think
it's falling into place," said David.
"What is that?"
"It isn't far from Warwick, that'll keep the girls happy," said David.
"A smile? it's been a couple of hours since I've seen one of them.
That's a thought, is there enough time to get a psychic?"
"Why?" asked Mr Smithers.
"We talk to ghosts, but we've no experience at attracting ghosts."

"Good point, ring Simon, see if we can get one for tomorrow
evening. As far as I remember one of the phone numbers that
Mrs Jennings put on the list was Simon's home phone, that'd
give us a head start, save a lot of explaining and he could keep
Mrs Jennings happy, knowing something's happening," said David.
Tidying the desk, putting away the detailed records.
"Where do we go tonight dad?."
"Let's book in at Warwick?, Simon would be able to ring us back
easier, the girls and Edward will know exactly where to go, it'd
be easier all round, I dare say that Mrs Fischer will appreciate our
company, plus we'll have a relaxed atmosphere there."
Packing the car the next evening, Mrs Fischer came to them
carrying several packages, she gave the bigger ones to Siobhan,
Erica and Edward.
"And just for you two," she said.

"Ooh, a doggy bag," said David smiling.
"No, they get the doggy bags, I am friends with some people who
have a B&B in Stratford upon Avon. They will give you a key if
you are likely to get there later than midnight, and there's rooms
for all of you and the psychic, all they want in return is for you to
have breakfast there, a couple of photos with them and, they want
your signatures!" exclaimed Mrs Fischer.
"Why would they want our autographs?" asked Mr Smithers.
"I may have mentioned something to a few people about being
invited to David's and Siobhan's wedding," said Mrs Fischer.
"Who did you tell?" asked David.
"That's one thing to learn," said Faith.
"What's that?" asked Buffy.
"It seems we are famous," said Faith.
"True, but I hope we don't stay in these bodies to long."

"Why's that Buffy?"
"Didn't you here, these bodies are going to be married! the
wedding night? I"˜m a man."
"But this Siobhan, she is a ghost?" asked Faith.
Buffy watched through David's eyes as they went onto the airfield.
"Have you noticed Buffy, when we talk they don't here us."
"They don't?, well that's good, I was worried about that."
Pulling onto the airfield they drove to where the psychic was.
"What do you intend to happen here?" asked Ruby.
"I don't think any contact will be made, but I'm hoping that this
will bring them out of hiding," said David.
"I did a quick check on the internet, there's no mention of any
plane sounds. Strangely though the control tower is usually
mentioned as being haunted," said Erica.

"That is not surprising really, if you wanted to make it hard for
planes you'd destroy the runway or the control tower."
"I can do the control tower if you'd like," suggested Ruby.
"No need, if they are to get over that last hurdle to come back,
all they'll need is some help," said Siobhan.
"How will you know if we've done enough though?"
"The usual, hearing planes, people walking through walls."
"I never understood that, I mean why would a ghost walk through
a wall?" asked Erica
"It all depends where they are going," replied Edward.
"True, but they are meant to be reliving what they did when they
were alive. I don't think they would have walked though a wall."
"That's a point, mind you that could be why they died."
"Oh yeah!, right!" exclaimed Erica, laughing, "But I couldn't
imagine the coroner saying to the judge, I think the cause of death
was him trying to walk through to many walls."

"Don't you mind? making fun of the departed?" asked Ruby.
"Siobhan? she didn't say the dear departed," said David.
"Oh dear. Make a start Ruby please, please?" asked Mr Smithers.
To begin with Ruby tried calling on any spirits to contact her, then
asked her spirit guide to help her. After three hours the sound of
an aeroplane was heard rumbling overhead.
"Do you want one of us to see if there's anything there?"
"Not really," said David..
"Why not?" asked Ruby.
"For one thing, it'll be the talk of the town in a few days time and
for another, it"˜s the pilot we need to see," said David.
"What type of planes were based here?" asked Mr Smithers.
"Why ask that?"
"I have an idea of the type of noise. For instance that sounded like
a propeller engine."

"Can you tell what sort of plane that was just from the sound?"
"Depending on us knowing the sound, was it a single, twin or
multiple engine plane he flew?"
"That check I did, it said they had Wellington's and Beaufort's
here, they were bombers, what was the one we just heard?"
"That was a Hurricane, and they were a single engine plane."
"So, that narrows it down quite a bit, we just need to find him,
and then the will," said David.
"What?" asked Edward.
"Flight Lt. Jennings flew a Hurricane."
"Right, let's hope he put about the house in the will," said Edward.
"These people are good at what they do, aren't they Buffy?"
"Yes, it shouldn't be to much longer."
"If he didn't he might change it, this is his granddaughter we're
talking about?" asked Mr Smithers.
"I think we should concentrate on the food being stolen for his
granddaughter and great grandkids," said David.

"That does sound better, but I don't understand? how can he
change the will," said Ruby.
"You can contact the dead through your spirit guide, we prefer
to meet the dead person," said David.
"So you only wanted me as a magnet to the ghosts here?"
"Yes, see, if it turns out that a will was made but hasn't been
found and we don't need to disturb their rest, then good.
Everything can go back to the way it was."
"And there's the other thing, their last memories might not have
been good ones," said Ruby.
"Now we're going to the psychological side."
"What do you mean by that David?" she asked.
"Something we have never understood properly, but if Freud was
a ghost he'd still be trying to understand it."
"You've lost me," said Ruby.

"A person loses an arm, but comes back as a ghost with two
arms. Yet they have the memory of losing the arm," said David.
"Yes, that would be the spirit of the person."
"But they come back because of unfinished business, then there's
the headless ghosts."
"So where does that put us?" asked Ruby.
"Contact is ok, helping them is ok, but there's no need to stir up
bad memories just for the sake of it."
"Did anyone else just get the shivers?" said Erica.
Ruby, David and Mr Smithers look at Erica
"Ruby?, can a ghost get the shivers?" asked Mr Smithers, "and
what would cause a ghost to get the shivers?"
"If the gates to the next life were just opened?" said Ruby.
"Has anyone got a photo of this person?. As that plane we heard,
I think that was a plane landing," said Mr Smithers.

"Why do you say that?"
"Look over there, in the corner of the room."
Looking to the corner of the room, they all saw who they had
been trying to contact.
"Hello, your granddaughter asked us to find you," said David.
"Is she here?" asked Flight Lt. Jennings.
"No, sorry, she asked us to find you for her. There has been many
times that contact with you has been tried, but never successfully."
"What does she want from me?"
"You didn't make a will that mentioned the house you and your
wife lived in, or if you did, the will was never found."
"Why are they still looking for it?" asked Flight Lt. Jennings.
"Your granddaughters husband faces prison, he stole food from
a supermarket, for her and your great grandchildren. Finding that
will might help them stay as a family."

"I made a will, it was put in the safe here."
He walks towards them. Lifts up an imaginary rug.
"The door has gone!."
He bends to look below the floor.
"But the room is still there, I won't be long."
He walks down steps that used to be there. And returned a few
minutes later with the will.
"There are some papers here that the RAF should get," he said.
"I will make sure they get them. One thing, your grand kids might
like some more pictures of you, do you mind?" asked Mr Smithers.
"A group photo would be good," he said.
"Mr Smithers, I'll take the pictures," said Edward.
After the photo's had been taken.
"I'll be going back now, one of those papers gives details of my
being here and of when and how I died," said Flight Lt. Jennings.

Once again a plane with a single engine was heard to roar past
them along a runway. The sound faded away.
"Oh, they just found the will, it will let the daughter have a place
to live," said Buffy.
"So."
"By them having a trouble free life, my mum or my gran won't
want to help them," said Buffy.
"Right, so that will make your life easier. I wonder, seeing how
everything is connected, it isn't just going back in time and
altering it, it could be doing something wrong in the present and
changing future happenings," said Faith.

"What the?, what now?" asked Faith.
They were suddenly in a field near some trees, all was dark
around them. Suddenly a large explosion caused part of the area
they were in to light up.
"Over there, I saw some people, come on," said Buffy
As they got closer.
"Isn't that Vi?" asked Faith.
Getting closer to them.
"Oh you're back already, that's good," said Amanda.
"What do you mean already, we have been gone three nights."
"You left here about two minutes ago!" said Amanda.
"Then you haven't found my gran yet?" asked Buffy.
"Um yes, she is in the circle," said Vi.
Buffy looked to Faith

"Where we were, we were in another's body, but we could talk
to each other without them hearing us," said Buffy.
"So?" asked Vi.
"I see where you are going," said Faith, "What if it is the same
here, we can help here but she won't know it."
"I will walk up to her, then around her. See if she knows I am
there."
Doing as she said Buffy walks around her gran with no response.
They join her
"So how else can we help your gran?" asked Vi.
"We are all vampire slayers, we can move faster, carry heavier
objects and we can see in the dark," said Faith.
"We can see in the dark?" asked Vi.

"Think about it, there is no moon, id of night. So how
can I see that field, and I bet if you go to that ridge, you could
see the cottages in the village."
"Oh yeah, I'd never thought of that," said Amanda.
"But if she can't see us how can we get her to do things?"
"Vi, weren't we told that she is praying to a higher being? "˜cos
we could make her think she is being guided by a higher being."
"How's that Faith?" asked Amanda.
"Of course, if we cause the leaves to move, your gran will follow
them path towards the cottages," declared Vi.
They started clearing the leaves to make a path heading for the
village, as they were past the trees a plane flew over the hill to their
right dropping its bombs. Parts of trees were sent in all directions.

They stopped and looked at the carnage.
"Buffy quick, your gran is way ahead of us," shouted Faith.
"We don't need to, look at the circle," replied Buffy.
As they went back to the circle they saw it was Althamea.
"How did that help us?" asked Buffy.
"It didn't help you Buffy, it helped your gran. She never had the
confidence she would have had if she had seen a higher being but
she will have a better confidence knowing she isn't alone, and
that will help you."
Buffy realised her friends were not with her.
"The higher being? where has my gran gone? I am missing
something aren't I?" asked Buffy.

"As for the higher being, I think you know who that will be. As
for your gran? she is being helped by a young couple even as we
speak, and they will have a son, one day soon. As he is growing
up he will hear this tale several times. It will affect him, he will
want to be either some-one who sells the produce of the earth or
to be a pilot."
"Hmm, just one more thing Buffy, would you like to see
yourself being born?" asked Althamea.

THE END