A/U : I do not own Game of Thrones (TV version or written) and I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer or any of the characters that come from these two wonderful worlds.
Darkness. That's all Faith could comprehend at that moment. Darkness pressing in on her, suffocating her. Screaming didn't help. She didn't even feel connected to herself. She was floating in an ocean of black and it was crushing her.
Suddenly the pressure eased and Faith could feel something hard against her back. With extreme effort she forced her head to move slightly. It brushed along the solid surface with a faint swish. Her muddled mind finally realised she was lying on the ground. As the fog began to clear, more feelings became to clear to her. Searing heat rising from below her and beating down from above her. The sound of wind rustling the trees. The faint chirping of an insect to the left of her. The murmured groan of a woman... Wait, what?
Her last thought broke through the last of the disorienting fog that was clouding her mind and she realised it was Dawn's voice she'd heard. They'd been together in the main office when... whatever the hell had happened actually happened. Through sheer force of will she peeled open her eyes and instantly wished she hadn't. Bright white light burnt into her eyes making her wince and turn away, rolling onto her side. When the white spots cleared from her vision she managed to make out the figure of a woman lying on the ground beside her. Despite not being able to see her face on account of the waves of brown hair spilling over her she knew it was Dawn. Pulling herself up to sitting she reached over and pushed Dawn's hair from her face, eliciting another grumble. She was still unconscious but she was alive. Once that was confirmed Faith took time to look over her surroundings.
They were in a clearing surrounded by tall grass that swayed in the breeze. She couldn't see much else through it but her super hearing hadn't heard anything other than the insect so she presumed it was just more grass beyond this clearing. She let out a sigh and ran her fingers through her hair, pulling it away from her face. Sweat beaded on her forehead and she wiped it away with the back of her hand. The heat here was unforgiving, the sun bright and brutal in the sky. Dehydration would be a real danger if they didn't find some civilisation soon. She moved up so she was crouched on her knees and started to reach out to wake Dawn before a glint of red caught her eye. The Scythe.
Faith scrambled across the dirt to reach it. The second her fingers touched the metal a vibration ran through her arms, spreading to the rest of her body. The Scythe was back where it belonged, in the hands of the Chosen One. Since the Fall of Sunnydale and the legacy of the slayers had been permanently altered, the Scythe had awoken in unbelievable ways. The Guardians had infused the weapon with the essence of the Slayer creating a somewhat sentient personality living within the Scythe. Granted, it was a personality that craved battle and blood but it was there. It was capable of great things, one of which was to amplify the abilities of the slayer wielding it. However this was nothing compared to what it did for Faith.
For some insane reason the Scythe had chosen Faith as its one true master. Giles had some crazy idea that it was because she was the Last of the Chosen and the Scythe believed she was the greatest of all the slayers past but Faith couldn't accept that. Possibly because she was too insecure to accept that she was meant for anything more than redemption but she didn't think it was because she had a destiny or something as stupid as that. Regardless of the reason, the Scythe was never more powerful than when it was Faith's hands upon its hilt and vice versa. She was virtually unstoppable when she connected with the weapon, though the energy source within it was not inexhaustible as she'd discovered when she'd ran across a whole state on a desperate attempt to rescue Angel from the Senior Partners. She'd arrived on the point of total exhaustion, in no fit state to rescue anyone and had forced the Scoobies to intervene to rescue both her and Angel. She'd had every version of the 'incredibly stupid behaviour' from nearly everyone in Cleveland and L.A about that one.
A whine from behind her drew her attention back to their current situation and she turned to see Dawn on her hands and knees, swaying with a hand on her head. Getting to her feet, Faith went to her side and crouched down to check her over.
"Oooo-WWWW! Did you get the number of the bus that hit me?"
Faith smirked.
"No bus, Little D, just... I have no idea what but that doesn't matter now. We need to figure out where we are and how the hell we're gonna get home 'cause we're definitely not in Kansas anymore."
Dawn's gaze moved from Faith's face to look around them and puzzlement swept across her expression.
"What the frick happened to the office?"
"Beats the hell out of me. I don't even remember what happened after you started talking about that Asgor guy."
Dawn's brow furrowed.
"I spoke for at least half an hour after that. Are you telling me you weren't listening to any of it?"
Faith shrugged and Dawn's expression darkened before she continued talking. "Faith! If I'm going to be your watcher you need to listen and learn from me. Slaying isn't all about sharp objects and demon guts."
Rolling her eyes Faith straightened to standing and held her hand out to Dawn, pulling the other woman to her feet.
"Lecture later. Right now I need to focus on figuring this out instead of listening to you moan... I mean teach."
She could tell Dawn was dying to say more but she kept quiet, making Faith grin at her petulant expression. With a chuckle and a shake of her head she turned round on the spot once, her bearings no closer to being gotten so she simply picked a direction and headed that way, Dawn following closely behind.
They walked for a few hours, the scorching sun making their journey a constant uphill battle. Faith was extremely uncomfortable in the heat but Dawn wasn't a slayer, let alone one with a magical power boost. After the first hour her feet were dragging, kicking up dirt and dust that swirled in her face and made her throat feel like sandpaper. After the second hour Faith support her with an arm round her waist and into the third hour Faith was carrying her. Panic began to well up within the Slayer's chest. The entire time they'd walked from the clearing they hadn't seen a single building, another person or even an animal bigger than a lizard. She had no idea what to do and Dawn was going to be in serious trouble soon.
"Bleh bleh."
Faith looked down at the semi-unconscious figure in her arms that had uttered those strange words and had the terrifying thought that the heat had driven one of them insane. Dawn coughed then, a rasping, grating sound that made her wince.
"That way." She whispered her voice like sandpaper across stone. She raised a weak arm to point across to the left of the way Faith had been heading.
"You sure Dawn?"
"Go."
She didn't argue.
Dawn was officially a goddess in Faith's eyes. The direction she had pointed them in had led to an oasis. An actual oasis. She'd trodden carefully, refusing to rush head long into the inviting depths of clear blue until she was certain it wasn't one of those mirage things Xander had told her about after he'd come back from Africa. Once she'd established it was real, she ran to the water's edge and lowered Dawn carefully to the ground. She poured as much water as she dared into their mouths, moaning at the sensation of cool crystal liquid slipping down her throat. Dawn was awake and sitting up now though still weak from the day's exertions. They had decided to remain there for the time being until Dawn regained enough strength to continue on.
They were just discussing possible plans when Faith heard a sound in the distance. Of all the strange noises she'd heard in the wilderness that day this one didn't belong. Hoof beats drumming on the ground. Someone was coming. She stood, her fist clenching around the handle of the Scythe. She could feel its elation at the prospect of spilling blood and the sensation began to creep over into her psyche, the Slayer within awakening with a roar. She fought for control, pushing back the beast and finding her inner calm like Willow had taught her. Her eyes focused on a small cloud of dust in the distance. One rider coming fast. She angled herself between the horseman and Dawn, noting possible points on the battlefield that could help or hinder her if this came to a fight.
After a few moments the rider was close enough to make out clearly. His armour glinted in the sun and his face was fixed with an expression of determination. Her whole body was tensed and there were two slayers in her mind screaming at her to put him down before he had chance to even raise the large sword she could see at his side. Soon he was pulling his horse to a halt a few metres from where she stood. She watched him warily, a darkness in her eyes that he'd be foolish or suicidal to dismiss. He dismounted and her fist clenched involuntarily on the Scythe. He noticed the minute movement and froze for a second before he began to move forward. Faith raised the Scythe in warning and he halted, holding his hands up in submission. She was confused to see him smile.
"I knew I'd find you both here. I doubted at first, yet I believed and here you are."
"Umm... what?"
That was Faith's articulate response, causing his smile to widen.
"You are supposed to be here as I was supposed to find you. I was sent to take you back to the Dothraki so we can fulfil our destinies."
The Scythe had heard enough and was sending her visions of this man's blood and guts littering the floor beside his still writhing body. She ignored it.
"I have a lot of questions and I want answers. You tell me what I want to know and you don't end up with my blade in your skull, okay? Now who the hell are you?"
To her surprise he bowed his head like she was royalty.
"My lady, my name is Ser Jorah Mormont. At your service."
