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Part 6
A month passed, and while Willow did appear happier when she worked in her garden, an air of unhappiness still hung around her. Despite warnings from the others to not get involved, Buffy decided to take matters into her own hands an paid a visit to the King of Sunnydale.
"Lieutenant Buffy Summers of the Royal Guard to see you, Your Majesty."
"Thank you, Luke. Show her in."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Luke left the Throne room and escorted the petite blonde from the hallway to the edge of Angelus' dais. Bowing, he stepped backwards before turning and exiting once again.
"Your Majesty, I - "
"Buffy," he cut her off. "You forget your place. No one speaks without permission in the presence of the king."
"I apologize, Your Majesty, but - "
"What is it? Are we being attacked? Are the soldiers not following orders? Is Faith giving you trouble again?"
"No, Your Majesty. Nothing like that. It's just - "
"Well, then what is it that has caused you to come to see me?"
"It's your son, William."
"My son, *Prince* William?"
"Yes, my king."
"And what about him?"
"I'm not one to gossip, Your Majesty, but I couldn't help but hear that His Highness is in search of a bride."
"And you came to offer yourself? How sweet. But do you really think yourself worthy of him?"
"No! I mean, I do, but I'm not here to 'offer myself,' as you put it, but to tell you of someone 'befitting his station' and living quite near by."
"Really, now? You have my attention. Please continue."
"As you wish, my King. It just happens that the Princess of Rosenberg is living within the borders of Sunnydale. And she, like your son, is the victim of a broken heart."
"How interesting."
"Yes, and I think that what she needs is someone to take her mind off of her lost love. Who, if you ask me, wasn't worthy of her in the first place."
"And why do you say that?"
"Well, he was a common village boy, not even a courtier. But she grew up with him and their friendship turned to love. Or, she thought it did. But her parents didn't approve, so she was forced to end it. And she came to stay with us."
"Well, this is good news. William has been… reluctant to renew his search, and there is a decided lack of eligible nobility to present to him, but if we could perhaps, arrange for them to meet…"
"Without them knowing that we arranged it…"
"Exactly. Your capacity for strategy is truly amazing."
"Well, great minds think alike. Or so I've been told."
"Very well. We'll arrange the details later. I'll be in touch."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Buffy curtsied and left the throne room to return to her military duties.
Rather than waiting for the two to meet and risk them not falling in love, King Angelus decided to make the arrangements himself. He wrote a letter to Queen Sheila explaining that he was thrilled to host her daughter in his kingdom as she had done for his son in the past. He suggested that a union between the two kingdoms be formed and sealed with their children's marriage. Certain that his proposal would be met with enthusiasm, Angelus sent the letter immediately.
The communication from Sunnydale was appreciated, though not for the reasons Angelus had anticipated. As Sheila read the correspondence, she called out to the messenger. "Percy, wait. Do you realize what this means? Willow can't hide from me now. I know where she is." She began pulling various books and bottles from the shelves of her room. "I want you to take a message back to Angelus. Tell him that I am delighted with his news and am preparing to journey to Sunnydale to work out the details of the wedding contract and the alliance between our kingdoms."
"Yes, my Queen." Percy turned and left the room.
"But in reality," she continued to her reflection in the mirror, "I will be going in order to rid myself of her forever. It was good fortune that brought the letter to me first, and not to the King. If he knew that she had run away, or if this news had gotten out to the people… Well, I guess I'm just lucky that no one notices anything. Ira's sweet, but dense. As much as he dotes on that girl, you'd think he'd notice that he hadn't seen her in weeks. Ah well, all the better for me.
"Now, how to disguise myself? A visiting Royal? No, she would wonder why I wasn't staying in the palace. Unless she's… no, if she were staying in the palace, I would have heard sooner. A travelling magician? No, that's no good either. She doesn't trust magic. I know… a peddler-woman. Who would suspect a little old lady to be dangerous? But what to sell… They probably have everything they need. Sunnydale is self-sustaining. But she is a Princess. They wouldn't have the finery that she is used to available to the common public. Things like fine ribbons and laces wear out quickly, too. Laces, that's it! Bodice laces. We always did have the finest lace-makers. As delicate as a spider's web, but strong as the coarsest wool. And add a simple spell…"
Sheila gathered a handful of her best laces in an assortment of colors and brought them to a worktable. Opening a thick, leather-bound book, she began chanting over them. She then dipped them one by one into a flask of iridescent liquid. As she replaced the ribbons on the table, they glowed briefly and then returned to their normal appearance.
"Perfect," the evil Queen murmured as she admired
her work. "Self-tightening laces. Seemingly harmless, but once
tied, they constrict and force the air from your lungs. And without
air," she continued, swallowing the potion she had been mixing, "you die."
Sheila laughed at the reflection of the kindly looking beggar that stared
back with her own ageless eyes.
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