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Part 15
“Did you hear about Aura and Parker?” Cordelia chirped, full of fresh gossip.
“No,” Buffy muttered sullenly.
“Aw, come on B. She’s just upset because her matchmaking efforts didn’t work out.” Faith explained.
“Right. And I’m sure that it has nothing to do with the fact that Parker ignored her for, well, everyone else.”
“Does the entire castle know that he blew me off? What is his problem, anyway? Would it kill him to show a little interest in… Willow!”
“What? Now you’re trying to hook the Princess up with the ‘Royal Poophead?’ That’s really bad form, even for you.”
“No, look. Willow.” Buffy pointed to where the redhead lay sprawled across the yard.
“Oh Goddess. Not again.” Anya whispered as the others ran to the fallen girl.
* * * * *
“William, I have tried to be patient with you, but I’m not getting any younger. One day soon, you will take over the throne, but royal law dictates that you must be wed before that happens. Your mother and I have discussed it, and we decided that your coronation will be held on your next birthday.”
“But that’s…”
“Now let me finish. Allowing time for a proper courtship, and the actual wedding, of course, we have determined that if you have not chosen a bride by the year’s end, we will arrange a marriage for you. We want nothing more than your happiness, but you must think you your duties as a prince.”
The prince’s eyes flashed silver. “Now there’s a deadline on love? If I haven’t found my one true love in three months, I have to spend the rest of my life with someone I don’t even care for?”
“That’s not what we want, my son. But you must think about your country. And your future. In time, I’m sure you will learn to love her.”
“So you’ve already given up hope of me finding anyone? I’m glad you have such faith in the one who will rule your kingdom when you’re gone,” he spat.
“Well, you made it fairly clear that you would love none other than the girl in the garden, and since she neither returns you love, nor is a suitable match for one of your station…”
“And what if I refuse to marry the girl you choose?”
“You will not.”
“But if I do?”
“You will forfeit all rights as a prince and be forced to leave the castle with no title, land, or wealth.”
“In other words, if I don’t do what you say, you’ll disown me.”
“That’s not what we want.”
“But that’s what you’ll do.” William stared at his father, waiting for him to deny the accusation. When he received no response, he turned to leave the room. “I’m going riding. Perhaps I’ll meet my bride in the woods. But in case I don’t, maybe you should start looking for another son to succeed you.”
* * * * *
“Come on, Willow. Wake up.” Xander shook her shoulders. “Please wake up, Will. We need you.” The others had tried unsuccessfully to rouse their friend.
“You mean you need her to fix your dinner. Honestly, Xander, can’t you think about something other than your stomach?”
“Shut up, Buffy.”
“What did you say, Faith?”
“I said, shut up, B. Why, do you have a problem with that?”
“Yes, I believe I do. Where do you get off telling me what to do? If it weren’t for me, you’d still be a scullery wench.”
“Oh, don’t start this again,” Anya moaned. “Buffy, Faith appreciates what you did for her, but it doesn’t change the fact that this is your fault and you’re not helping anything by goading Xander.”
“Sure, take *their* side. Wait. What do you mean this is my fault? I’m the one who tried to get her to come with us this morning.”
“Yeah, but you’re also the one who assured her that her mother wouldn’t find out that she was alive.”
“How was I supposed to know that Angelus was going to write to the Queen before I could speak to him?”
“Well, if you hadn’t been so insistent that she meet the Prince, against her will, none of this would have happened.”
“Guys.” Jesse spoke softly.
“I only wanted to make her happy. That’s more than you were doing.”
“Guys,” he repeated himself a little louder.
“What do you call the garden I gave her?”
“Dirt.”
“That was low, B.”
“I don’t really care, *F*. And what’s with the initials anyway?”
“Well, at least that *dirt* made her smile.”
“Guys!” Jesse shouted.
“What?” the three feuding females turned toward the interruption.
“Willow’s waking up.”
While Buffy was arguing with Faith and Anya, Xander had continued trying to awaken his friend. In the midst of his attempts, he had begun to softly stroke her hair, which had dislodged the poisoned comb. A few moments later, her chest began to rise and fall with her slow breaths. As the girls turned their attention back to the princess, her eyes fluttered open and she looked around.
“What happened?” she asked, confused.
“You died, again.” Cordelia answered.
“Oh. Again?” The brunette nodded. Willow looked past her friends and down the road. “Spike?” she called out softly and then fainted.
* * * * *
Prince William galloped down the road from the palace. There was a path nearby that led through the woods to a clearing he enjoyed. As he neared the path, he slowed to a trot, and then to a walk. He was almost there when he heard a commotion coming from one of the houses. He turned to investigate and saw that it was the house occupied by Buffy Summers, her friends, and the Princess of Rosenberg. It appeared that the Princess had fainted and the others were making the appropriate fuss. Disgusted, he turned away but stopped when he caught a flash of red hair.
“Willow?” he asked the air. “No,
it couldn’t be.” He turned the horse back to the path and continued
his ride.
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