Dealing with Demons 2/?

[sparkysparky]

See   http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=sparkysparky&keyword=%2A&filter=all for previous parts

On the other side of the Mountains of Lost Angels was the Enchanted Forest, home to all sorts of magical creatures. In the center of the forest lived the King, a handsome young man named Alexander, Xander to his friends.

            At the same moment Prince Andrew of Sunnydalevale was making his decision to run away to the Mountains of Lost Angels, Xander had also decided to pay a visit there.  Unlike Andrew, however, this would not be Xander’s first visit to the Mountains; he often spent time there with his best friend, Willow and her werewolf mate Oz.  Willow was a very powerful White Witch and Xander often asked her advice.

            Today though, Xander had a different type of visit in mind. He needed to speak with King Angelus, King of Vampires, on the recent attack by G’Nath demons. King Angelus had a wide reputation of being both ruthless and wise, and had vanquished more then one tribe of G’Nath demons in his six hundred years as King of the Vampires.

            “Alexander, I do not believe it would be a wise idea to arrive unannounced,” Wesley, Xander’s High Mage and most highly trusted council, said as he watched Xander strap his sword to his belt. “King Angelus and his court are rumored to be most unpredictable.”

            “Don’t worry so much, Wes.” Xander patted Wesley on the shoulder and headed for the courtyard. “Willow says that as long as I follow proper etiquette, I shouldn’t get eaten.”

            “And that is most reassuring.” Wesley’s tone was more sarcastic then usual, and Xander knew he had a point.

            “Look, I’ll have Old Rusty.” He patted his sword. “Nothing will go wrong. I promise!”

            “Right, like nothing went wrong when you didn’t invite Anyanka to your twentieth birthday party.” Wesley shuddered as he remembered the invasion of tap-dancing frogs.

            “We had ended our engagement by that time. I didn’t think she’d want to come.” Anyanka had been Xander’s fiancée, until the former Justice Demon had decided to go back to her job.

            “Or the time you shot Faith’s favorite eagle.” There had been much shouting and near-strangulation that time.

            “My sister’s bird was trying to eat me! I had to do something! Besides, the girls forgave me.” Xander grimaced. “Eventually.” After months of groveling and shiny presents.

            “There will be no forgiveness if you accidentally insult King Angelus, or any of his Court. Only death.”

            “Don’t be so overdramatic, Wes.” Xander sighed in exasperation. “Look, if it will make you feel better, you can come with me. I could use company anyway. It’s a pretty boring ride from here to the Caves of Night and Day.” The Caves were all that stood between the Enchanted Forest and the Mountains of Lost Angels.

            Wesley look startled for a moment. He hadn’t been out of the Enchanted Forest in years, not since he first stumbled into them during his Rogue Demon Hunter days. “Well. Ok then. Let me get my things.”

            “Great, I’ll get the horses and meet you at the gate.” Xander practically skipped to the stables.

            He whistled a jaunty song under his breath, thinking of adventure, and daring, and maybe helping to rescue a couple damsels along the way. There were always damsels needing rescuing, or errant knights needing directions. 

            Soon Xander and Wesley were cantering through the forest, careful to stay on the marked path, as to avoid any unnecessary delays. There were many detours through the Forest, strategically placed not to let Questors finish their tasks too soon. It wouldn’t be proper if every Questor who entered the forest accomplished their quest at first go.

            “We should stop and see Willow and Oz when we pass by their cottage. There’s no full moon for at least two weeks, so we could have a nice visit before we continue.”

            “Yes, well, I do believe it might be best to go straight to the Mountains and then stop on our way back.”

            “You do believe it might be best?” Xander laughed.

            Wesley blushed and didn’t reply. The two friends traveled in silence for a few minutes and then Wesley said, “You never did explain why it was so necessary to ask King Angelus his opinion on ridding the kingdom of the G’Nath tribe. You and Faith seemed to do well enough on your own.”

            This was true, between the twins, the G’Nath demons had been easy to kill, but Xander knew from his reading on them that where there were twelve G’Nath, a thousand more were waiting to take their place. Faith was at this moment hunting them down and destroying them, with the help of their Captain of the Guard, Charles Gunn. This was one of the reasons Wesley had so readily agreed to accompany Xander, without Charles around to tease and flirt with, the castle would be very boring.

            A terrified scream reached the two travelers from beyond the hill in front of them.  Xander spurred his horse forward, Wesley close behind.

            When they reached the rise they saw a young brunette fighting off two rugged, bedraggle men, hitting them for all she was worth. Her hair was knotted, and her simple frock torn, making it obvious that the ruffians were up to no good.

            Xander pulled Old Rusty from his scabbard as he jumped from his horse, and rushed into the fray without a second thought. He lifted his sword and brought the hilt down on one of the men’s necks, the man fell sideways, allowing the young girl to finally get away.

            Xander advanced on the second man, trusting Wesley to make sure the first man stayed down. “Explain to me why you’re harassing this girl and I may let you leave here unharmed.” Xander was using his Ruler of the Realm voice, full of authority and it had immediate effect on the vagrant.

            “We just thought she was out for a bit of rough and tumble is all,” he whined. “But she just started screaming. How was we to know she wasn’t a whore?”

            “Get out of my kingdom, and don’t ever show your face again, or I might not be so lenient next time.” Xander’s face suddenly broke out in an evil grin. As the unwounded ruffian dragged his friend with him, Xander whispered to Wes, “Think you can do something about their libido?”

            Wes answered with an evil grin of his own, and after a muttered charm replied, “Taken care of, Alexander. There will be no more attempted assaults on their parts.”

            Xander nodded in satisfaction and looked around for the young girl they had rescued. He saw her hiding behind a tree, wide brown eyes looking at him distrustfully.

            “You can come out now. We won’t hurt you. Cross my heart.” Xander made the sign he and Faith always used to cement promises to each other, and smiled reassuringly at the girl.

            Who still didn’t move, or make a noise.

            “Um, well, I guess I should introduce myself to you. I’m Alexander, King of the Enchanted Forest.  And this,” he indicated Wesley, “is Wesley, my most trusted friend and advisor.”

            The girl just looked at them through the curtain of her hair, but did come out from behind the tree.

            Xander took this as a good sign. “Where are you from?”

            Silence.

            “Did you need an escort home?”

            More silence.

            “Alexander, perhaps she can’t speak,” Wesley suggested.

            “Yeah, I gathered that.” Xander motioned for the girl to come closer. “You can come with us if you’d like. We can get you out of the forest at least.”

            The girl nodded. Xander slowly reached out and took her hand, drawing her closer to his horse. “You can ride Lavelle, he’s a good horse.” He lifted her up in the saddle and then climbed on behind Wesley, as to not spook the girl. “Let’s go.”

 

 

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