Scottish Ficathon
Jan. 29th, 2006 08:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lady_windermereOk first chapter to the Scottish ficathon, starts a little dry, but gets a bit more lively at the end!
Title Giles’s Redemption Chapter One
Author woman_of_
Pairing Giles/Ethan eventually
Rating NC17
Disclaimer Joss is the creator, just playing with the scenarios he created
Synopsis Giles goes on a retreat to consider events post NFA
Warnings Guilt and Angst laden, with M/M relationships. Un-beta-ed
Title Giles’s Redemption Chapter One
Author woman_of_
Pairing Giles/Ethan eventually
Rating NC17
Disclaimer Joss is the creator, just playing with the scenarios he created
Synopsis Giles goes on a retreat to consider events post NFA
Warnings Guilt and Angst laden, with M/M relationships. Un-beta-ed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Giles sat back in the train carriage, it had been a long day travelling, and he had left his car at his home in Bath. The ferry to Iona was only for passengers, and so he had decided to take the train and ferry for his journey. Now he was seated in one of the four seated compartments of the train, with a small table in front of him. The train seemed full of young people with backpacks. The West Highland Line was a gateway to the Highlands, and his destination was Oban. He would stay the night there, board the early ferry to Mull, and take a bus to the west side of the island to board another ferry to Iona.
Settling back he sighed, two long days of travelling for four days of retreat. Iona was famed for is’t solitude, and spirituality. He was not sure that was what was needed. Perhaps just somewhere quiet to sort out his thoughts. While his mind was in such turmoil he was of no use to the Watchers Council, especially with the rebuilding and location of slayers they faced at present It might be worth taking six days away, even if two of those days were spent travelling.
The train left the station, and Giles felt his eyelids get heavy. The other three seats had been occupied with people who seemed local. They were chatting about the shops they had visited in Glasgow, and the items they had bought. This seemed suitably boring, but made Giles feel secure. Just like the Scoobies, they were more interested in shops and mails than any greater worries. Keeping in fashion seemed a world wide occupation.
They made good progress, until the train stopped at a station further north. Giles had enjoyed his window seat, and the views from the tracks. Then they stopped and the carriages where disjoined. One half of the train went to Oban, while the other went to Fort William.
Giles watched it all with a disinterested eye. Having made up his mind to go on a retreat, he was now anxious to start. The delays and overnight stay were only to be endured. The train continued on it’s way but seemed slow.
Eventually they reached Oban, and Giles offloaded his luggage, making his way past the pier to the hotel, which seemed basic. It was little more than a Bed and Breakfast, with a very small bar at the top of the stairs from the main street. Giles contemplated having a whiskey at the bar, but decided to find some food. The only restaurant he could find seemed intent on serving him Mexican food, but was cheap. Deciding he was only there for a day, and he didn’t know what the food at the retreat would be like, he ordered a steak, medium, and a glass of Teachers.
Oban seemed quiet, and the main street catered for the tourists. An early night would be nice, and the street seemed quiet where the hotel was located. Giles trod wearily up the stairs and had a night cap. No-one seemed inclined to talk, which suited him, as he made his way to his room and went to bed.
The next morning Giles was greeted by a lovely spring day, as he dressed and ate breakfast making ready to get to the ferry to Mull, he sighed for small mercies. It was not windy, therefore the trip on the ferry should not be rough. He was never the best seaman, and had been dreading the trip across the island.
After making good progress on the ferry and then the bus, he found himself at a small pier waiting for the passenger ferry to Iona. They had a kiosk selling sandwiches and rolls, with cups of coffee. Giles started to miss the city life, and the variety that goes with it.
As the ferry came into port, Giles wondered what he had let himself in for. A retreat yes, but this Spartan lifestyle was not for him. He wondered if he would go mad within the allotted time.
As he disembarked at the island, he felt resigned to his fate. The main street seemed to comprise one tearoom, a pub, a hotel and one shop. To his right was a jetty, with some boats bobbing about, a ruin then up the hill the abbey and graveyard. The rest of the island seemed to be a few houses and farms. Yes Iona was famed for its solitude and tranquillity, but for a big city man like himself, he thought he would go mad within a day, not find inner peace. He looked round and found a few other people with luggage and a lost look. Hefting his suitcase and holdall he made his way up the hill towards the Abbey with determination. The other pilgrims, as he thought of them, followed like lambs. He smiled at the thought he might be a shepherd yet.
Finding someone to guide them to rooms, he realised they were in a hostel, with basic bedrooms shared toilet, kitchen, and a sitting room. Yes they were meant to rough it. Perhaps it was a penance rather than a retreat. Then maybe he needed penance, he had been racked with guilt over his treatment of Spike and then Angel. Perhaps he had been too quick to see the demon, and not acknowledge the soul. The two champions had needed guidance, and he had only seen the errors of judgement, without being aware of the full extent of the dangers.
Deciding to wonder round his home for the next four days, he was attracted to the Abby itself. On a table were some candles and candlesticks. The sign said that you were to light the candle to forgive those who took a life. Giles realised that maybe he was in the right place. That is what he should aim for. He had not forgiven Angel for Jenny, even if it was his soul-less self. Then had been too quick to side with Robin Woods against Spike. He needed to forgive, and then maybe he could forgive himself for being so blind, and not offering what aid the council could give in overcoming the Black Thorn, and standing by the souled demons at the conflict. Indeed he should have offered what help he could to save their innocent companion Fred.
Yes he had much to atone for.
As Giles entered further into the Abby he saw the pews facing the alter, the racks in front for the Hymn books, and high roof. The stained glass window reflected the light on the floor. Taking a seat, he felt no need to pray, all his life he had dedicated himself to facing evil, but not in a Christian way, no he had fought it, not prayed against it.
The figure of a monk, in full habit sat beside him, and started talking softly to him. Not much more than a whisper.
“You seek guidance my son”
“I’m not sure you can give me guidance in the affairs which trouble me” Giles answered, with caution.
“Come, we are not as sheltered as you may think. We may have seen more of the world, and the evils in it than our Spartan existence now indicates.”
“I have much to consider. Things are not as black and white as I have been lead to believe. I thought I knew the grey
areas. Maybe I was wrong.”
“Things are not as simple as we first thought. Many occurrences may be good, which first spawned from bad.” The monk agreed.
“Yes, and maybe those who were bad, evil in fact, may become good. That is the point of redemption. Who is a human to judge.” Giles asked.
“That is the decision of greater minds than ours.” The monk gently conceded.
Giles got up and walked out the door, as he considered the words from the holy man.
The monk also rose, taking of his habit and hanging it up, he walked outside. The men on the roof called to him. “Rayne, get up here. We may have given you refuge but you will earn your keep. Ethan Rayne smiled, things could be getting interesting on the isle, as long as Giles didn’t find out he was there. He climbed the scaffolding to the roof.
Hope you like it!
ETA
Should have said the Master List to all the Scottish Ficathon's is here
Title Giles’s Redemption Chapter One
Author woman_of_
Pairing Giles/Ethan eventually
Rating NC17
Disclaimer Joss is the creator, just playing with the scenarios he created
Synopsis Giles goes on a retreat to consider events post NFA
Warnings Guilt and Angst laden, with M/M relationships. Un-beta-ed
Title Giles’s Redemption Chapter One
Author woman_of_
Pairing Giles/Ethan eventually
Rating NC17
Disclaimer Joss is the creator, just playing with the scenarios he created
Synopsis Giles goes on a retreat to consider events post NFA
Warnings Guilt and Angst laden, with M/M relationships. Un-beta-ed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Giles sat back in the train carriage, it had been a long day travelling, and he had left his car at his home in Bath. The ferry to Iona was only for passengers, and so he had decided to take the train and ferry for his journey. Now he was seated in one of the four seated compartments of the train, with a small table in front of him. The train seemed full of young people with backpacks. The West Highland Line was a gateway to the Highlands, and his destination was Oban. He would stay the night there, board the early ferry to Mull, and take a bus to the west side of the island to board another ferry to Iona.
Settling back he sighed, two long days of travelling for four days of retreat. Iona was famed for is’t solitude, and spirituality. He was not sure that was what was needed. Perhaps just somewhere quiet to sort out his thoughts. While his mind was in such turmoil he was of no use to the Watchers Council, especially with the rebuilding and location of slayers they faced at present It might be worth taking six days away, even if two of those days were spent travelling.
The train left the station, and Giles felt his eyelids get heavy. The other three seats had been occupied with people who seemed local. They were chatting about the shops they had visited in Glasgow, and the items they had bought. This seemed suitably boring, but made Giles feel secure. Just like the Scoobies, they were more interested in shops and mails than any greater worries. Keeping in fashion seemed a world wide occupation.
They made good progress, until the train stopped at a station further north. Giles had enjoyed his window seat, and the views from the tracks. Then they stopped and the carriages where disjoined. One half of the train went to Oban, while the other went to Fort William.
Giles watched it all with a disinterested eye. Having made up his mind to go on a retreat, he was now anxious to start. The delays and overnight stay were only to be endured. The train continued on it’s way but seemed slow.
Eventually they reached Oban, and Giles offloaded his luggage, making his way past the pier to the hotel, which seemed basic. It was little more than a Bed and Breakfast, with a very small bar at the top of the stairs from the main street. Giles contemplated having a whiskey at the bar, but decided to find some food. The only restaurant he could find seemed intent on serving him Mexican food, but was cheap. Deciding he was only there for a day, and he didn’t know what the food at the retreat would be like, he ordered a steak, medium, and a glass of Teachers.
Oban seemed quiet, and the main street catered for the tourists. An early night would be nice, and the street seemed quiet where the hotel was located. Giles trod wearily up the stairs and had a night cap. No-one seemed inclined to talk, which suited him, as he made his way to his room and went to bed.
The next morning Giles was greeted by a lovely spring day, as he dressed and ate breakfast making ready to get to the ferry to Mull, he sighed for small mercies. It was not windy, therefore the trip on the ferry should not be rough. He was never the best seaman, and had been dreading the trip across the island.
After making good progress on the ferry and then the bus, he found himself at a small pier waiting for the passenger ferry to Iona. They had a kiosk selling sandwiches and rolls, with cups of coffee. Giles started to miss the city life, and the variety that goes with it.
As the ferry came into port, Giles wondered what he had let himself in for. A retreat yes, but this Spartan lifestyle was not for him. He wondered if he would go mad within the allotted time.
As he disembarked at the island, he felt resigned to his fate. The main street seemed to comprise one tearoom, a pub, a hotel and one shop. To his right was a jetty, with some boats bobbing about, a ruin then up the hill the abbey and graveyard. The rest of the island seemed to be a few houses and farms. Yes Iona was famed for its solitude and tranquillity, but for a big city man like himself, he thought he would go mad within a day, not find inner peace. He looked round and found a few other people with luggage and a lost look. Hefting his suitcase and holdall he made his way up the hill towards the Abbey with determination. The other pilgrims, as he thought of them, followed like lambs. He smiled at the thought he might be a shepherd yet.
Finding someone to guide them to rooms, he realised they were in a hostel, with basic bedrooms shared toilet, kitchen, and a sitting room. Yes they were meant to rough it. Perhaps it was a penance rather than a retreat. Then maybe he needed penance, he had been racked with guilt over his treatment of Spike and then Angel. Perhaps he had been too quick to see the demon, and not acknowledge the soul. The two champions had needed guidance, and he had only seen the errors of judgement, without being aware of the full extent of the dangers.
Deciding to wonder round his home for the next four days, he was attracted to the Abby itself. On a table were some candles and candlesticks. The sign said that you were to light the candle to forgive those who took a life. Giles realised that maybe he was in the right place. That is what he should aim for. He had not forgiven Angel for Jenny, even if it was his soul-less self. Then had been too quick to side with Robin Woods against Spike. He needed to forgive, and then maybe he could forgive himself for being so blind, and not offering what aid the council could give in overcoming the Black Thorn, and standing by the souled demons at the conflict. Indeed he should have offered what help he could to save their innocent companion Fred.
Yes he had much to atone for.
As Giles entered further into the Abby he saw the pews facing the alter, the racks in front for the Hymn books, and high roof. The stained glass window reflected the light on the floor. Taking a seat, he felt no need to pray, all his life he had dedicated himself to facing evil, but not in a Christian way, no he had fought it, not prayed against it.
The figure of a monk, in full habit sat beside him, and started talking softly to him. Not much more than a whisper.
“You seek guidance my son”
“I’m not sure you can give me guidance in the affairs which trouble me” Giles answered, with caution.
“Come, we are not as sheltered as you may think. We may have seen more of the world, and the evils in it than our Spartan existence now indicates.”
“I have much to consider. Things are not as black and white as I have been lead to believe. I thought I knew the grey
areas. Maybe I was wrong.”
“Things are not as simple as we first thought. Many occurrences may be good, which first spawned from bad.” The monk agreed.
“Yes, and maybe those who were bad, evil in fact, may become good. That is the point of redemption. Who is a human to judge.” Giles asked.
“That is the decision of greater minds than ours.” The monk gently conceded.
Giles got up and walked out the door, as he considered the words from the holy man.
The monk also rose, taking of his habit and hanging it up, he walked outside. The men on the roof called to him. “Rayne, get up here. We may have given you refuge but you will earn your keep. Ethan Rayne smiled, things could be getting interesting on the isle, as long as Giles didn’t find out he was there. He climbed the scaffolding to the roof.
Hope you like it!
ETA
Should have said the Master List to all the Scottish Ficathon's is here
