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Part 23
William paced around his room, something nagging at the back of his mind about that afternoon. What had happened to him? And why did everything seem out of place? He began to recount his actions of the day, only to be interrupted by the arrival of his father.
“William, so you are back. I just spoke to the grooms in the stable, and they said that they hadn’t seen you since this morning.”
“The grooms? Why would they…? Oh, my horse. My horse!” William walked toward the door, now filled with a sense of urgency.
Angelus stopped him at the doorway. “What is it, my son?”
“My horse. I left her in the forest. I… I have to find her.”
“William, what’s wrong with you? You seem… distracted. Why did you leave your horse in the forest?”
“I… I didn’t mean to. I was out riding this morning, as I always do. And I decided to meet the Princess, as everyone insists that I do, and…”
“You were so overwhelmed by her beauty and intelligence that you weren’t thinking strait, and so you left your horse at her cottage. I understand. She tends to have that effect on people.”
“No! I never met with her. I never even saw her. I came across this young woman… Darla. Claimed she was the princess’ handmaid and brought a fruit basket from Rosenberg for her. We were going to see her together, and she gave me an orange, and…”
“And what?”
“I don’t know. The next thing that I remember clearly is running into Xander as he was leaving the castle. I told him what I’d seen on my way home, and he went running back inside like he’d seen a ghost or a demon or something.”
“Hmm… Perhaps Lieutenant Summers can she some light on this.” Angelus opened the door and called to one of the guards stationed just down the hallway. “Graham, inform Lieutenant Summers that I wish to speak with her, immediately.”
“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but she is not here.”
“What?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. She left about a half an hour ago, claiming that the Princess of Rosenberg’s life was in danger.”
“In danger? When she returns, then.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Angelus closed the door and returned to William’s side.
“It seems that some foul force is at play. I want you to go to the cottage where the princess is staying and see what has happened. Assure the girl that her safety is our first priority. If you have to, drag her back here with you. I won’t have her harmed again while she is here.”
“Yes, Father.” William started once more for the door.
“Oh, and William?” He stopped and faced Angelus.
“Don’t forget your horse this time."
* * * * *
“This isn’t real.” Xander sat by Willow’s head while the others knelt around the still body of their royal companion. Despite several attempts to revive her, Willow still lay motionless on the ground. They had moved her from beneath the window to the front lawn in hopes that the air, sun, and space would help restore her to them, but nothing affected her. Even Anya’s charms and healing spells failed to do anything.
“I can’t feel anything. Arms, legs, anything.” Buffy leaned over to brush a strand of hair from the princess’ face.
“She was truly the finest of us all.”
“Way better than me.”
“Much, much better.” The others all nodded their heads in agreement with Giles.
“It’s all my fault,” Anya whispered from beside Xander.
“No, it’s me.” Buffy stood and began pacing as she explained her reasoning. “I’m the one who told her to meet the prince. Sheila knew she was here, and she wouldn’t have known that if I hadn’t convinced Angelus that the two of them should meet.”
William approached the building that had acted as a home for the princess who refused the safety of the castle and saw seven figures huddled around something on the ground. “What’s going on?” The others looked up, their grief evident on their faces. “Jeez, who died?” He remembered what Graham had said about the princess’ life and realized that the something was not a something, but a someone. “Oh, no. Who died?” Buffy silently led him to kneel in her place beside the Princess of Rosenberg. “Willow?” Confused, he looked to the others. “What is she doing here?”
“She’s dead, your highness.”
“No, she can’t be. What was she doing here in the first place? Visiting your beloved princess too?”
“What are you talking about? She *is*…”
“Cordy, hush.” Faith gestured for the girl to hold her tongue. “What do you mean, too?”
“There was another girl here to see the princess today. Do all the princess’ guests end up dead?”
“Another girl?”
“Yes, from Rosenberg. Her name was Darla. Here is she?”
“We haven’t seen her.” Faith thought for a moment. “Did the queen send her?”
“I don’t know, probably. But why is Willow dead?”
“Because someone from Rosenberg wanted her dead. Most likely her mother, the Queen.”
“The Princess’ mother wants Willow dead?”
“Yes.”
“But why?”
“I don’t know. I think it was because she wouldn’t marry Oz.”
“Who’s Oz?”
“Some minstrel that she was betrothed to. But she was in love with some village boy, so she ran away to stay here to escape her mother’s wrath.”
“Who, Willow or the Princess?”
“Both. Willow is the Princess of Rosenberg.”
“No she’s not. She’s a servant in the castle in Rosenberg, but she’s no princess. She worked in the gardens.”
“What makes you think that? She’s told everyone here that she’s a princess. Even your father believes it.”
“Then there’s more to this than she’s told. The girl before me is the one that taught me to make things grow. And in exchange, I taught her the art of woodcarving. See?” William pulled out the small carved fairy that had been his first gift to his beloved.
“That’s such a coincidence,” Cordelia piped up. “Spike taught Willow how to carve things.” William started at the mention of his old nickname.
“Wait a minute… you’re Spike?” Faith asked.
“The one and only,” he answered softly. “And
I take it that my beloved Willow is the Princess I’ve been avoiding all
these weeks?”
“Duh. What do you think we’ve been telling you?”
“Cordelia,” Jesse warned.
“I know. Tact. Sorry, your highness.”
“Accepted, milady.” William pulled Willow’s hand to his lips and planted a soft kiss on the back before lowering it back to her side. “What a fool I’ve been! I refused to meet the Princess because of the love I had for Willow, when they were one and the same. My beloved has been here the whole time, and I was blind to it.”
“You didn’t know,” Anya comforted the grief-stricken prince.
“I know I have no right to ask, but I do have one request.”
“Ask, and it is yours, my Prince. We can deny you nothing.”
“Let me take her with me.”
“What?” Seven voices cried out together.
“Let me take Willow back to the castle so that she may be buried as suits her station. I could not protect her in life; let me at least guard her in death.”
“Well, I… that is, we… Are you sure?”
“Please.” That simple plea, and the honest desire written on William’s face erased all doubt of what should be done.
“All right. But we want to be there for the funeral.”
“Thank you.” The others backed away as William
reached forward and scooped the girl into his arms. She felt impossibly
light as he lifted her. As he turned to go back to the castle, he
sidestepped to avoid another collision with Xander and jostled the princess
slightly. A small piece of fruit dislodged itself from her throat
and with a gasp, Willow filled her oxygen-starved lungs. Startled,
William nearly dropped her, but managed to maintain a grasp on both his
senses and the now living princess. Green met hazel as here eyes
opened to gaze into his own.
“Spike?”
“Yes, Willow?”
“Are you really here?”
“Always, pet.”
“How did you find me?”
“It’s a funny story, pet. But it’s one that can wait until later. Now I have to take you to the castle and introduce you to my father as my intended bride. That is, of course, if you agree.”
Willow stared into William’s eyes as he set her on her feet. “Of course I agree. I never want to be parted from you again, Spike.”
“Your highness, may we… Erm, that is, we would like to…”
“Yes, Giles, you are all invited to the wedding. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Nor would I.” Willow smiled at her friends, then turned back to William. “But why did they call you ‘your highness?’”
“Willow,” Buffy began. “May I introduce you to his Highness, Prince William of Sunnydale. Prince William, the Princess Willow of Rosenberg.”
“You mean… *you’re* Prince William?” William nodded. “You mean I spent all this time avoiding you when we could…?”
William nodded sheepishly. “I did the same thing. We’re really too stubborn for our own good.”
“Yes, but think of it this way. Your father is no match for the two of us.”
“Somehow, I don’t think that will be a problem.” While the others watched, he kissed her softly, then they walked together toward the castle in Sunnydale, where they lived happily ever after.
THE END
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