Walking the Shadow Road
Book 2 of the Walking Series
By Bill Gopher and Iceflame55
Disclaimers – The characters of Buffy and company are owned by Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. Characters and places of the Middle-Earth are owned by the Tolkien estate. We're just borrowing them all for some fun, we promise to put them back when we're finished :D
thoughts
Chapter Seven
"Something's happening..." Tara said as she watched Buffy's aura swirl into a rainbow of mixed colors before settling down to a blue-green color.
"What's wrong Tara!" Willow called out as she looked at Buffy who was lying on the couch still, but she couldn't see anything wrong with her.
"It's her aura, it was in flux and then it settled down. I-I think we n-need to try to go into Buffy's dream world again..."
Willow frowned, "But we already know that something's keeping us out Tara."
"Maybe, but it doesn't mean we shouldn't try though and maybe whatever happened means the wards keeping anyone out are gone." Tara suggested.
"I'm not so sure about this Tara. I know you're worried for Willow's friend, but you could be risking your life..." Giles said with a definite frown.
"Will?" Tara asked nervously.
"If you think we should do it, then I'm with you." Willow said with a nod.
"Alright then." Tara said and moved the low coffee table and chairs away to give her enough room before pulling a piece of chalk out of her pocket and drawing a large circle around Buffy but leaving one part of the Circle open. "Willow?" Tara said and saw Wilow step through the opening to sit across from her before Tara closed the Circle and held out her hands towards Willow who placed her hands below Tara's, but touching. "Guardians of the Air, ward this Circle and let none of evil intent enter it. Heart, Mind, Spirit. We join these things together to aid one who is lost." Tara said the words, but she knew it was her Will and Mind that created the spell, the words were merely a guide to focus her mind. Tara nodded at Willow who closed her eyes and Tara did the same but concentrated on reaching Buffy. When she opened her eyes Tara saw she was standing in the middle of some sort of desert. A small scrub tree of some sort gave off some shade and Tara saw someone over there, but she was too far to see clearly who it might be. "Willow?" Tara asked out loud, still trying to figure out who was there lying by the tree.
"I'm here. This is Buffy's dreamworld?" Willow asked as she looked around and took in the barren nothingness of it all with the exception of the small tree she saw ahead. "It's a desert!"
"Yes it is," was Tara's reply and considered what that might mean. "Someone's over there by the tree but I can't see who it is, maybe it's Buffy..."
Willow didn't say anything she just took off running towards the tree only to stop suddenly when she was only a few feet away, her eyes wide in shock.
Tara caught up to her lover who was standing dead still and quiet, "W-..." Tara started to say when she stopped and saw the two women, one of whom was Buffy and the other girl who was taller and had dark hair who had to be Faith, were sitting down next to each other and Buffy's head lay resting in Faith's lap as Faith was running her hands through Buffy's hair and scalp and watching Buffy as she slept peacefully.
"Errr, hello?"
Faith saw the blonde girl and cursed silently at the interruption, "B? You need to get up, company's arrived," Faith said but Buffy just rolled over, snuggling closer to Faith's lap. "Look here B, as much as I'm quite content for you to stay where you are, you're giving poor Willow a heart-attack right now..."
"Hmmmm???" Buffy grumbled before sitting up and seeing Willow and Tara. "Tara, Willow, what are you guys doing here? I'm not complaining, just surprised is all."
"We came looking for you Buffy."
"Oh, well here we are. Uhhmmm, how'd you guys get here, anyway?" Buffy asked, rolling over so that her she was now sitting up but leaning against Faith.
Willow couldn't find her voice as she watched the scene in front of her, here was Faith of all people and Buffy was acting all 'snuggly' with her! "Maybe you want to tell me why you're all snuggly with psycho girl here? This is the person who stole your body, tried killing me on several occasions just to name a few things!"
Buffy felt Faith tense up under her and took Faith's hand in her own, giving it a brief squeeze before letting it go. "I don't have to tell you anything Willow," Buffy said sharply, "But I will. I think Faith and I are here because the First Slayer wanted us to work things out between us and considering we've been here for week or so it's not like we didn't have time to air all our dirty laundry out between us..."
"Buffy, you've only been unconscious for a few hours, not a week. But you still haven't told me why you're all over Faith..." Willow was going to say more but she felt Tara's hand touch her back softly and bit off what she was going to say.
"I'm not 'all over Faith', Willow and anything else is between her and me." Buffy said firmly. She wasn't sure where if anywhere things might go between her and Faith, but that was for them to figure out, not defend herself over them. Willow had to understand sooner or later that everyone gets a second chance and that included Faith too!
"Well you're alright, which is a plus in the 'good things' column, but when are you two leaving here?"
"Soon I think, now that things have been worked out mostly between Faith and me." Just as Buffy finished saying that she saw a figure walking out of the desert, quickly both she and Faith stood up, moving just ahead of the two Witches and expecting a battle only to see it was her Mom walking towards them. "Mom?"
"No, as the young Witch was borrowed to speak for her because you knew her, so now I have borrowed this form to use while you are here."
"So what do you want then?" Faith asked this time.
"To warn you, here my presence can be felt, but that is all," Joyce said as she looked at the two Slayers. "There is a dark presence that is here watching you two carefully, what happened here between you will prevent the dark one from one goal, but there are still more options for it. You both must be on your guard for when the dark one's presence is revealed. For now I have done what I can to aid you two. But you both have many dark choices ahead of you... I will leave you two with this one last thing; separate, you two are vulnerable, but together very little can stop you."
"Why are you telling us this?" Faith asked, her arms crossed and a suspicious look on her face.
"I have my reasons, what you must do is prepare for what is coming for it will be here soon..." Joyce turned around and walked back into the desert, her form wavering as she walked, her image shimmered until it seemed to disappear completely.
"Well that was weird, does anyone else think our lives are about to get really complicated?" Buffy asked and saw Willow raise her hand. "Well how do we get out of here now? Any ideas Will?"
Willow looked over at Tara and both women nodded, but it was Tara who spoke up. "Y-yes. S-Since there's nothing keeping you here anymore visualize yourself back in the living room and then tell yourself your waking up now, since it's a dream and your mind you should just wake up."
"And me blondie?" Faith asked
"I-I-I t-think it's th-the same..." Tara said nervously as she felt the waves of energy coming off of Faith.
"And what about you two? How are you getting out of here?" Buffy asked this time.
"Oh that's easy, don't worry about it Buffy."
Buffy only raised one eyebrow, "If you say so, but how about you get back to your bodies and I'll see you in a few minutes." Buffy said and saw Tara and Willow nod, only to disappear a few moments later. Buffy turned back to Faith, "Are you ready?"
"Sure, just dying to wake up back in prison let me tell you,"
"We'll get you out, just don't forget what I said about your choices Faith, I meant it." Buffy said firmly.
"I won't and don't forget about the kissage, because I want to continue it sometime..." Faith said with a big 'shit eating grin'.
Rolling her eyes, "Like I was going to forget? But I meant it, I need time..."
"I know and you'll have all the time you need B. No pressure or groping....well no pressure." Faith said with a smirk. "See you in a bit B." Faith said as she lay down on the ground and closed her eyes.
Buffy watched as Faith faded away before disappearing entirely. "I guess it's my turn and Buffy was lying down on the sand, closing her eyes and picturing herself on the love seat with the blanket covering her legs. I'm waking up now! Buffy thought firmly and when she opened her eyes she saw Giles and Willow looking down at her with worried looks on their faces. "Err hi?" Buffy said but neither one of them moved, "Okay now, personal space is being invaded, shoo yourselves back..."
Giles stepped back, feeling relieved that Buffy was awake. "How are you feeling?"
"I'd feel better if Willow would let me sit up." Buffy said pointedly.
"Sorry Buffy." Willow said and moved back enough to give Buffy some room. "So, are you...okay?" Willow asked with a worried look on her face.
Smiling, "Never been better, thanks." Buffy said as she sat up and realized she *did* feel better than she had in quite a while. "How about the rest of you guys? Any weirdness dreams or was it just me?"
"We all had some kinda strange dreams Buff, but what happened to you? Willow did her witchy thing and said you were being kept in some dream world or something?" Xander asked as he walked out of the kitchen just behind Joyce.
"I don't know anything about being kept in my dreams," Buffy said "It was just really *strange*." Buffy saw Willow take a breath and was about to say something when she shot Willow a *look* that said 'not now' and Willow stayed silent. "Well I don't know about anyone else but I'm starving after that little dream escapade."
"Well that's good honey, because I made pancakes." Joyce said as he put the plate of freshly cooked pancakes on the dinner table as Xander went about setting plates out.
"Pancakes!? Awesome! You're the best, Mom!" Buffy said and got up, walking over and giving her Mom a giant hug.
"Giles, are you staying for munchies?" Xander asked as he quickly found a seat.
"Yes, what about it Mr. Giles?"
"No, but thank you Mrs. Summers. I believe I'll be returning to my flat for some actual sleep." Giles said to Joyce, ignoring Xander's question
Continued in Chapter Eight
