Birthright

Chapter 2

That pretty much set the tone for the journey and neither rider really
conversed. In fact Spike spent most of his time looking around, seeing the barren fields with a sprig of plant life here and there. He watched silent peasants in simple home-spun clothing tending to their fields and feeding the animals. Until they came to the first city.

His companion informed him it was the next one they would be stopping in but it did give him a chance to look around while their horses were watered. Children playing on the cobblestone street, much like the street of his youth in London. Merchants selling their wares from small wooden crops and a shop or two from the simple to the elegant. It reminded him of home a hundred years ago, maybe more when he spied a few armored soldiers dressed up like middle age knights.

“ Buy a flower, sir?”

He looked down at a young girl, her violet eyes shining up at him hopefully. She was dressed in simple, dirty clothing, her brown hair just as unkept. She was maybe seven, but it was the way she looked up at him, more than her appearance that reminded him of Dawn. Swallowing the sudden lump in his throat,” I’m sorry, pidge...I do-“ He started as he felt Ariana press a gold coin into his hand, before smiling softly back down at the girl,” Here you go, luv.”

She grinned up at him and happily handed over the flower, pocketing the coin in a hidden pouch in her skirt. She kept looking up at him for a moment before sticking a thoughtful finger in her mouth,” What’s your name?”

The word ‘Spike’ buzzed through his brain for half a moment, but the truth escaped his lips,” William.”

She giggled softly,” Mine’s Megan.”

He turned slightly to see Ariana re-approaching with the horses. Smiling back down at the enchanting child before him,” Have to go, sparrow. You run on home.”

Grasping the reigns and ready to mount,” Don’t have a home...take me with you?”

“ Here! No beggars now move along, girl!”

Megan shrank a bit and started off, stopped when Spike scooped her up while getting on his horse,” I’ll have you know my daughter’s no beggar. She just likes to play in the mud a bit.” He took the flower in his hand and ran it through her hair before turning his attention back to the intruder.

Spike gave the knight an evil glare, not watching as Megan happily settled in the saddle behind him and threw her arms around his waist, face pressed to his back. The knight opened his mouth to speak harshly but was stopped as Ariana came up to Spike’s left her face nearly blank. But it was obvious she was recognized, or the united front they presented deterred him, for he quickly left the scene without further incident.

Ariana turned, gave Spike a curious look with one raised eyebrow, but started her horse off without saying a word. The blond grinned happily, feeling the welcome warmth squeezing his middle and started his own horse. He felt a sudden flashback, remembering Dawn holding onto him while they sped on his motorcycle and his smile slipped a little. It was the day Buffy was torn from heaven. It was the best and worst day of his life.

Feeling a tug on his shirt pulled him from his memories,” We’re fallin’ behind.”

Giving her hand a gentle squeeze, he gave his horse a prod and caught up. She reminded him of Dawn but this wasn’t Dawn and he wasn’t about to use her as a substitute. Still mulling over Megan’s name, they quickly caught up with their riding companion, who pointed to a village a few miles down,” We’ll stop there for tonight.” Spike nodded to her, resigning himself to waiting this little adventure out. And it’s not like he had much of a choice in the matter.

*

Spike practically crashed on the bed, not having felt this good in a long time. Though he hated to admit it, it had been a long time since he’d had a decent bath. But his hostess seemed to be determined he was given every luxury. She paid for the bath, a change of night clothes, even went so far as to fetch him blood. And it wasn’t pig’s blood. With a happy hum he stretched out on the soft cotton sheets, his toes curling as the fire burned brightly a few feet away, warming the room.

Now this reminded him of home, simple pleasures that his crypt had forced him to leave behind. In Sunnydale he’d felt like he was slowly dying, slowly returning to the grave but here, for the first time in so long he felt alive. The door to his room opened a crack and he lifted his head, smiling slightly as curious violet eyes peering back at him. Giving a mock sigh, seeing the hope on her face,” Alright sparrow, come on.”

With a happy grin she ran through the door and leapt for the bed, he easily catching her. It took his proverbial breath away how gorgeous she really was. Her hair, clean, was a shining corn gold, and her skin was almost porcelain white. Much like his own, her violet eyes accentuating her otherworldly features, for he didn’t miss her pointed ears. His mouth formed the question but it was already being answered,” She’s an elf.” He looked over his shoulder at Ariana who just shrugged, pulling her own hair back to display her own pointed ears,” Takes one to know one, I suppose.”

Smirking,” So, s’pose you have to be one to have all those neat little parlor tricks you can do.”

Shrugging,” Not really...but my kind were far better educated in the arts than any other.” A saddened expression crossed her face,” But that was a long time
ago...since then we have been virtually wiped out.” Nodding at the girl curled up along Spike’s side contentedly and fast asleep,” That’s the first elf, young or otherwise, I’ve seen in years.”

“ Why?”

Leaning against the doorframe, relaxing into the conversation,” Perhaps because we are immortal like your kind but the humans here are not. Perhaps because of our abilities. Or more than likely the Barons feared that our long memories and even longer life span would allow for an uprising.” She didn’t miss his covered yawn, which she could tell shocked him since he didn’t need to breath,” But, I’ll let you sleep...see you in the morning, William.”

Spike let his body relax into the bedding, silently wondering what was happening to him. He didn’t yawn, except when he wanted to. And he was never tired at night, now suddenly he was as exhausted as any day-dweller. She’d said things here worked differently...but how much?

*

Buffy sent a glare guaranteed to melt glass, silently willing her friends to get it together. What she ended up with was herself researching. Willow was focused on all things Tara and Xander on Anya. Which just left herself and Dawn since Giles still wouldn’t return her phone calls from England. But Dawn would be staying with a friend tonight so she was left with a mountain of books and not a clue where to begin. It was still early morning so she had a full day ahead of her.

Except that wasn’t true. She had to work a double shift today. And then there was the fact that she hadn’t been grocery shopping in a week and her witchy friend had left her a note of what they were out of. Which ticked her off just a bit since the Wiccan lived here and ate her food but didn’t do a thing for helping with the bills. Sighing to herself, she sat down and opened a book, deciding she could spend an hour researching before she had to get her day started.