Warnings: HAU, M/M sex, violence, swearing, angst, possible humor, blatant use of movie dialogue, OOC, varying chapter lengths. Unbeta'd
Rating:Chapters 1-25 R (For swearing and violence) Epilogue NC17 (For M/M sex.)
Pairing: 100% S/X ( S&Oz, S&Oz&Giles, X&Oz&Giles FRIENDSHIP only)
Author: Naughty_Fae
Comments: Comment if you want to, though it would be nice to know someone is reading it.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, everything belongs to someone who is not me. I write for fun not profit.
Note 1: This is derived from the movie Ladyhawke and is dedicated to two of the most handsome actors ever: James Marsters and Rutger Hauer. It is also dedicated to the memory of Othello the magnificent Friesian stallion who portrayed Goliath.
Note 2: My heartfelt thanks go out to my dear friend Bmblbee, for holding my hand through the writing and posting process. *Hugs*
Note 3: This is a plot driven story. Chapters 1 to 25 Rated R for violence and language. Epilogue (Original writing, not part of the legend or movie) Rated NC17 for MM sex.
Note 4: This is fantasy human/medieval Spike, Oz and Xander and behave as such. Although BTVs names are used, they are NOT in Sunnydale personas.
Posted on Bloodclaim with the knowledge and support of Darkhavens *hugs*
Summary: When the Count D’Anjou forfeits all his land and wealth gambling, his son the handsome, eighteen year old Xander is sent to live with a cousin in Aquila. It is hoped that Xander's good looks and title will attract a wealthy wife. But Xander meets William (Spike) Navarre the handsome, dashing Captain of The Guard. They fall in love. They keep their illicit love from everyone but their confessor. When they are betrayed to The Bishop of Aquila he calls down a terrible curse on the lovers. Can Daniel (Oz) Osbourne a thief and escapee from Aquila's dungeons help Spike and Xander defeat the curse?
Chapter 5/25 + Epilogue (This is not a WIP. One Chapter will be posted daily, until complete.)
Rating: 1 -25 R, EPILOGUE NC17
Chapter 5/25+ Epilogue
Rating: NC17 Overall
Oz shrugged. "I managed to squeeze down a drain, dug my way through the mud and dropped into the sewers. I traveled along until I saw a glimmer of light and came out in the river." Spike sighed. The first part of the story just might be true, the boy was small and slight, he might just be able to fit through a drain. But the second half was more than improbable. He glowered. "I told you not to lie to me!" He snapped, reaching for his sword. "The sewers are impossible to navigate and the entrances have iron grilles across them with holes too small even for you to get through. If you'd made it into the sewers you'd have died there."
Full of indignation Oz scrambled angrily to his feet. "I swear Sir, I'm not lying! There was light and I could hear chanting from drains above me. There was a grille, but when I dived down part of it had rusted away at the bottom corner and I was able to swim through. I surfaced in the river outside the City walls." Spike's eyes narrowed and he pursed his lips thoughtfully. He was usually a good judge of character and although the boy was undoubtedly a thief and probably a liar; his indignation and pride in his story gave it the ring of truth. At any rate the boy was the only glimmer of hope he had, it would do no harm to take the boy with him for while and he might prove useful.
Spike studied the boy intently, Oz squirmed uncomfortably under the cool gaze. Oz was short, thin and wiry, not more than fifteen or sixteen. His hair was russet and his skin pale. His clothing slightly better than Spike would have expected and from the baggy size, stolen. He gentled his tone. "What is your name boy?"
"Daniel Osbourne Sir, people call me Oz."
"Oz?" Spike smiled, it seemed oddly fitting.
"Well Oz, climb up behind me and we'll ride on and find shelter for the night."
Oz hesitated. He didn't know the knight and had no real wish to travel with him. On the other hand he had saved his life and riding was better than walking; there might still be guards around and despite his brusque, cool manner he felt the knight would keep him safe. His mind made up, Oz shrugged. "Thank you Sir." He grasped the lowered arm and scrambled onto the horse behind the knight.
The hawk cocked it's head and looked at Oz curiously. "What a lovely hawk Sir."
Spike turned the horse toward a path leading into the nearby forest.
"Yes," Spike agreed. "a rare and beautiful creature."
"Does she have a name?" Oz sensed that making conversation with the taciturn knight was going to be difficult. Trees gathered around them and began to press in on all sides. The horse plodded along the path. "He, is called Xander. Now shut up or you can walk!" Spike warned.
"Yes Sir." Oz sighed, it was going to be a long ride.
They rode on in silence. The hawk ruffled it's feathers and dozed on it's master's hand. Now and again it woke, looked around, made a soft noise and the knight would pet it. The knight was obviously fond of the bird and Oz was intrigued, not so much by their shared affection but by the sex of the bird. Most flew the larger, female hawks to have a male bird was unusual, he found himself pondering on it.
"Ahead there, smoke." Spike commented. " Probably a woodcutter's. We will ask for shelter for the night."
Spike's voice broke his reverie. "There is still a couple of hour's light. Wouldn't you rather ride on Sir?"
"Don't argue with me boy!" Spike's tone was sharp.
Oz pouted. "Very well Sir."
They rode between huge piles of logs. Ahead was a small, wooden hut with smoke curling from the chimney and a plump woman in a ragged dress and apron at the door, there were a few ramshackle buildings and what appeared to be a barn.
A man, tall and thin in the poor garb of a woodcutter appeared. When he saw them he reached for his axe. Spike addressed the couple politely. "Good day Sir, Madam, my," He paused. " comrade and I seek shelter for the night for ourselves and our animals."
The woodcutter grasped his axe tighter and shook his head. "No. No shelter here."
"We will pay for it of course." The knight added.
Oz saw the couple hesitate. "We are not without coin and compassion for those in need," he jangled the coin in his purse. The man glanced at the woman and she nodded. "Over there, " the man pointed. "in the barn, you may sleep down there."
"Thank you." Spike urged his horse towards an old barn set some distance from the hut.
The barn proved to be better than it looked. There were several high sided stalls and a ladder up to a hayloft. Spike set the hawk on the half door of a stall and it watched as he led his horse into another, he unsaddled it and carried the saddle, his broadsword and crossbow into the adjoining stall. The saddle bag he hung on a nail and opened it.
He looked quickly around and finding himself alone, took out a small bundle of clothes. A pale tunic and tan britches secured with a leather belt. He held the clothes to his face and gently rubbed them with his cheek, closed his eyes and sighed as he thought of the wearer. Reluctantly he set them down. Next he took out a short pair of leather boots and a dagger and set them beside the clothes.