The screams from the wraith pierced through her soul, she felt the pounding in her head increase tenfold. Her heart started pacing and she felt the adrenaline begin to rush through her body. She felt the something rise inside her, a tension, a need. She closed her eyes tighter and tried to shut it out, but the feeling intensified. The screams continued, she could no longer stand it she pulled her hands away from her ears and forced her eyes to open, everything inside her was telling her she needed to get up, she needed to stop the screaming, she needed to slay.
She stood up and moved towards the door, Strider reached out and tried to stop her by placing his hand on her arm, she turned and pushed him. He hit the wall with a thud and looked at her in surprise. She turned towards the door again only to find Faith standing in her way. She felt the need to face the creatures burning inside her, and she moved towards Faith not wanting to hurt her but prepared to move her out of the way. Faith raised an eyebrow at her continued approach but refused to move.
'I can't let you go out there B'
Buffy didn't reply, just kept moving towards the door, Faith looked at her worried, Buffy's expression held something that hadn't seen since the battle with the first, determination and fire. Her every movement expressed the slayer and Faith couldn't help the small trickle of sweat that crept down her spine. On a good day she could hold her own with Buffy, but as the years progressed and she went to prison, Buffy had kept fighting tougher opponents and had always come out on top. Now Buffy was moving towards her with a predatory glint in her eye and Faith was the only thing standing between her and her prey.
As soon as Buffy got within reach she moved to push Faith aside, but she found herself blocked. She swung a punch at Faith and which was also blocked. Realising this was going to take time she didn't have Buffy made a choice. She didn't want to hurt Faith so she backed off. Faith stayed in position knowing it couldn't be that easy. Buffy turned and looked at the window; the shadows were still within reach she could still stop them. She took one look at Strider who was now standing next to the window and smiled.
He looked at her confused, she held his gaze for a moment 'I am sorry' she said in a quiet voice. He looked at her questioningly. She smiled again then looked towards the window. Before either he or Faith could react she took off full pelt and dived through the glass.
She landed on the other side and rolled into a crouching position, she waited. A moment later the Nazgul echoed their final screams of frustration at not finding the hobbits and fled the building. Buffy was waiting for the right moment to attack, they were almost within her reach when she felt a body land on the ground beside her, she ignored their presence and concentrated on her prey, the Nazgul came to the opening of the building and ran to their mounts. This was Buffy's moment to attack. She flew in their direction vaguely aware of the other person following her. The first wraith spun just as she attacked, it was caught off guard and she pummelled it to the ground, she turned just in time to block a sword thrust from another wraith. Blocked the blade and knocked the weapon out of its grasp with her other arm. Then kicked the wraith away from her. She then spun and kicked another in what she guessed was some kind of head, it was spun back a few feet. Buffy took this chance to look around, on her she then realised she was surrounded. Four of the wraiths were moving towards her swords in hand. She waited for them to make the first strike, they all attacked at once, she blocked kicked, punched and threw but it seemed no matter what she did they kept coming. All the while her mind was repeating one motto, slay. She a sword out of what seemed the leaders hand and smashed her fist at what should have been his face. The impact made the wraith scream; as soon as she pulled her hand back she felt an intense pain run through her hand and up her arm. She fell to the ground on her knees from the pain, realising this was a death sentence she forced herself up and fought off the oncoming attacks with one hand. She soon realised this was a battle she couldn't win. Seeing a fallen sword on the ground she picked it up. As she was about to attack with it a bright light landed at her feet blocking the wraith in front of her, then another landed behind her. Soon their was fire surrounding her, the Nazgul screamed and fled. Buffy felt her knees give way and she fell to the ground. The burning in her arm was steadily making its way through her body, she could feel it spreading. The fires died and she forced herself to keep her eyes open. She knew if she slept she was going to be in trouble. Her body felt like it was burning and her mind started to wander. She pushed through the fog and concentrated on staying awake.
Soon after the wraith fled she felt a cool hand rest on her forehead. She looked up to see Strider standing over her, his face filled with concern.
Faith then stepped in her line of vision and looked at Buffy then Strider.
'What happened, what's wrong' she asked him her voice sounding on the verge of panic.
Not taking his eyes off Buffy he replied 'She struck the leader of the Nazgul in the face, they are not made of flesh, but the contact she had was enough. The effect is spreading like poison through her body'
Faith looked ready to scream 'Can you do anything?'
Strider moved his hand from her forehead and rested it on her shoulder 'Can you sit up' he asked her
It took Buffy a moment to realise he was talking to her and she fought to stay conscious. Slowly and carefully she reached her hand up and placed it on his arm, using him for support she carefully pulled herself up into a sitting position. Strider placed his arm around her and supported her weight.
Once she was up she looked at Strider, trying to figure out what had happened. The pounding in her head had eased and the compulsion she had felt to slay was gone. She looked up at Faith and frowned in confusion.
"What Happened?'
Faith seemed to relax a little at the sound of her voice, but her expression remained grim 'You went a little haywire B'
Buffy shook her head in frustration 'that's not what I meant, what the hell am I'
Faith looked at Buffy in surprise; then her expression changed to concern 'Not now B, we have to get you out of here first' and she looked at Strider for confirmation. Strider nodded in agreement.
'Faith go inside and gather the hobbits and supplies I will secure Buffy and get a horse'
Faith nodded and ran off towards the prancing pony.
Buffy felt anger and frustration rise within her, she remembered every bit of what happened from the moment the Nazgul arrived. She remembered how it felt and what she did. But what she knew more than anything was that she was not human. The speed and strength she had used where not normal for a human. She felt raw power run through her and a primal urge to rid the world of the ring wraiths.
She was tired of not remembering, she was tired of having questions and she was tired of Faith protecting her from the truth. But most of all she just wanted to sleep but knew it would result in her death.
She pushed Striders hand away from her and tried to stand, he reached out to help her but she ignored him. Once on her feet she blinked her vision clear and turned to the man beside her. He was taken back at the fury in her gaze.
'Don't you have a horse to steal' she snapped
Striders flinched slightly then his expression hardened, he simply nodded and walked away. Buffy made her way to a post and leaned most of her weight upon it. The burning inside her body had become worse, she was starting to realise that her body was fighting the poison. All she needed to do was give it time.
Faith returned with the four hobbits and the supplies they made their way to Buffy and waited for Strider. Faith stood beside her.
'Are you ok B' she asked
Buffy felt the anger rise again but pushed it away "I will be' she said softly, she then turned and looked Faith straight in the eye 'but as soon as we get to wherever we are going I want you to explain a few things' Buffy tone was hard and Faith felt worried for Buffy. The truth wasn't going to make her feel any better.
Faith nodded 'ok, but I will warn you, you wont like it'
Buffy face hardened 'I have a right to know what I am'
"You are the same as me' Faith said softly trying to calm her friend.
Buffy closed her eyes and sighed she placed her hand over her eyes then opened them again and looked at Faith, she looked tired 'And what is that'
Faith looked at her for a long moment battling what to say 'a slayer' she whispered so that only Buffy would hear.
Buffy's mouth dropped and a confused expression spread over her face 'Sorry a what' she asked Faith in a strained voice.
Faith dropped her head and ran her hand over her face 'you are a slayer Buffy'
Buffy stared at Faith with a question in her eyes, she looked confused, angry and scared all at once, and Faith felt concern for her friend but knew they had more pressing matters to deal with. She looked at Buffy and tried to look and sound calm.
'I will explain everything later I promise, but right now, we need to move'
Buffy just nodded and slowly closed her eyes.
At that moment Strider came back into view with two horses following after him. As he got closer he noticed the weary stance Buffy was taking and the concerned expression on Faiths face.
Deciding to deal with it later he approached the two slayers 'Faith load the supplies up onto the chestnut pony' Faith nodded and with the help of Sam she started packing their stuff onto the horse.
Strider turned to Buffy 'Have you ridden before?'
Buffy opened her eyes and looked up at him 'I don't know' she said
Strider felt a little silly at asking the question 'Sorry, I didn't think' he watched as she started shaking her head
"it's ok, Do you want me to ride the horse my body fights the poison out of my system'
Strider's expression turned grave 'Buffy, I don't want to alarm you, but your body wont fight this on its own, you are going to need elfish medicine to get through this'
Buffy again shook her head 'You don't understand, I can feel it moving through my body right now, but with every second it spreads my body fights it, slowly the poison is getting weaker, in a few hours it will be gone'
Strider had to stop himself from expressing the frustration he felt at her words, she seemed so convinced but he knew the effect the Nazgul could have on a person and he wasn't about to start playing with her beliefs just yet, as long as she wasn't giving up he was happy to go along with her for the moment. He nodded at her and looked towards the horse.
'I am going to help you up ok, I will keep be leading you so all you have to concentrate on is staying on'
Buffy nodded and moved away from the post so that he could lift her onto the horses back, he did so and easily.
Strider felt surprised at how light she was in comparison to the strength she had shown in fighting the Nazgul, both of these girls were a wonder to him and he felt like he was only beginning to scratch the surface.
Once up on the horses back Buffy thanked Strider and focused herself on getting herself adjusted in the saddle. Faith and Sam had packed up the other pony Bill and they were ready to head out. By the time they made the outskirts of Bree, the sun was beginning to break over the horizon.