Title: Protector Of The Weak
Author: Jmaria
Rating: PG-13 to R (for language and some mild naughtiness)
Disclaimer: Not mine. Joss owns all things BtVS, and somebody else owns K.A.
Spoilers: Season 7, and the movie King Arthur
Summary: Baby names, bitter words, ordinary threats, and strange meetings.
A/N: I've been re-reading this, and dear God, have I been borrowing. Now, when I say that, I mean I've been shoving movie quotes throughout this whole thing or have been using them when I write a scene (like their in my head while I'm writing):
2. Marching Orders - Monty Python and the Holy Grail - Knights who say Ni, singing knights, killer bunny(the most obvious one, because I said it was from that)
4. Into the Woods We Go - Hope Floats - blow the stink off you
- A Knight's Tale - Jocelyn goes to William (Dawn goes to Dagonet, even though I couldn't remember the movie, just the now infamous quote)
5. Through Hell and High Water - Fellowship of the Ring - get them up. ("Dagonet, get them up")
- Shaun of the Dead - "You've got red on you." (Dawn to Arthur)
6. Grief In Battle - Scooby-Doo - spirit-thingy (Daphne says it, then Buffy says it)
Oh, and I completely forgot that I used the alternate ending for the last scene in 467. I also didn't write Tristan's death scene for two reasons. 1. I nearly killed me to kill Dagonet and would have finished me off if I had to do the same thing with Tristan, and 2. It really didn't fit into the whole Dawn/Guinevere/Arthur/Lancelot flow I was having.
Question: Boy or Girl? Just wondering what you all think about it.
8. Lullaby
Dawn stalked through the halls of the Council headquarters. She could not believe this. She'd been pulled through time by the powers, had fallen in love, had fought in two serious battles, gotten pregnant, and lost her love. You'd think her friends and family would understand that she was a big girl and could take care of herself. You'd think they'd tell her the truth, not lie to her or omit certain facts about what had happened while she was gone. They still treated her like she was a little girl. She was going to be a mother soon.
She pushed Giles' door open, narrowing her eyes at the older man. She expected this from Buffy, but Giles? He was always telling her how she needed to act like an adult. Now he was shielding her too?
Willow was in there with him, talking quietly about something when she entered. Giles stared at Dawn for a second before gesturing for her to come into the room.
"What can we do for you, Dawn?" He asked, flipping through some papers on his desk, and nonchalantly slipping them in his top desk draw. The one with the lock.
"You can stop hiding things from me." Dawn said, hands on her hips.
"Dawnie -" Willow started, but Dawn held up a hand.
"No. Why didn't you tell me that the Powers had a hand in sending me home?"
"Where did you hear that?"
"From me." Buffy said, entering the room with Xander. "She wouldn't let me explain. She -"
"I want to know why I wasn't told." Dawn demanded, cutting Buffy off. "It involves me and my child. It's important that I know what you found out about it."
Giles sighed heavily. He'd known that Dawn would find it out eventually. She was a smart girl. He sat down in his chair, hoping she would sit as well. She did.
"When we discovered you missing, we called in Willow."
"I know this already."
"Do be patient and let me continue." Giles said pointedly.
"Go ahead." Dawn said.
"She was able to find an emotional signature of yours, which told us that you were fifteen hundred years in the past. It also told her that something very strong sent you back there, using the Key's energy."
"Using the key's energy?" Dawn asked. "They tinkered with me?"
"Yes. They wanted to send you back." Giles said softly.
"We don't know why they did it, Dawnie." Willow said, putting her hand on her shoulder. "Whistler wouldn't tell us why. He said he didn't know."
"Then why am I back?" Dawn demanded, her face becoming blank.
"We - Willow, she saw your shadow in the past. She said you were trapped in the middle of a war. We didn't want anything to happen to you." Buffy sighed. "We just wanted you to be safe, to be home. Didn't you want to come home?" She demanded.
"Yeah - and no." Dawn said quietly. "I found a place there. I made friends and family there. I had a purpose."
"You have a purpose here!" Buffy cried. "You have family here, you have friends here -"
"I had love there!" Dawn yelled, turning to her sister. "I had people who depended on me."
"Dawnie -" Buffy started.
"Dawn, when I saw you last, there was someone behind you." Willow interrupted. "We thought you were gonna die. So we made Whistler bring you back. Your friends, the knights? Do you want to know what happened?"
"Lancelot and Tristan died." Dawn said sadly. "I saw that much."
"The rest lived. They - they were grieving. I could see them." Willow said. "There was three men standing, one kneeling and a woman."
"They made it through?" Dawn whispered. The others had lived.
"Yep."
Dawn felt relief soar through her. Not all of them had died. There was hope. But just as she began to feel that relief, the words sunk in. The Powers had messed with her, and they hadn't asked why?
"Why did they send me back?" Dawn asked calmly.
"We -we don't know." Willow looked over at Buffy and Giles, who nodded in agreement.
"You didn't think to ask?"
"No, we did - but Whistler didn't know."
"I want to meet with Whistler." Dawn decided then and there that she would know why she was sent back. And if they could tell her anything.
"He's left already." Buffy said.
"Track him down like you did the first time."
"Dawnie -"
"You're not changing my mind about this."
Dawn sat at the bar, two days later, waiting anxiously for the balance demon to meet with her. He'd given them this address for her to meet him at, probably to make sure he kept as far away from Buffy as possible. She'd only brought one other person with her, and that was Willow. Out of all the Scoobies, Will seemed to understand what she was going through best. That was probably due to the fact that she'd 'seen' the battle and that she'd gone through something similar when Tara had died.
Dawn sighed, twirling the straw in her glass. She looked around the crowded pub, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. Willow watched her from the corner she was sitting in. Whistler had been very clear on saying he would only talk to Dawn.
"Anything else, miss?" The bartender asked., coming to stand in front of her.
"What?" She looked up at him for a minute. "No, I'm good."
"You're glass is empty."
"Oh, um, another water then. Can I get lemon in it?"
"Sure thing." The blonde man smiled at her, taking the cup and filling it with more water. "Do I know you from somewhere?" He asked.
"I don't think so." She said, rolling her eyes. Was he trying to pick her up?
"Are you sure? You look really familiar. Have you been in here before?"
"Nope, first time." Dawn said, getting annoyed by him. She finally looked at him, ready to snap. "Look, I'm waiting for a friend of mine, so if you don't . . ." She trailed off.
Dawn looked at him, harder. There was something there, something eerily familiar. He was blonde, with short hair. He had a baby-face, bright happy eyes, and a scruffy chin. Dawn frowned in confusion. She knew his face. Her mouth dropped open, forming a small o as she realized where she knew him from.
"Gawain?" She whispered.
Willow watched as Dawn stared up at the hottie at the bar. Hottie? Where had that come from? And why was Dawn talking to him? Willow squinted her eyes, trying to see his face. Her eyes widened in shock as she recognized him. She'd seen it on a battlefield, with three bodies piled up at his feet. He'd been one of the knights.
Gavin Mitchell had been watching the girl since she'd walked in, trying to place a name to the face. It was weird, seeing her and not being able to place her. It was then, with the whispered name, that he did. She'd been in a dream, long ago. He used to dream of being a warrior, and in those dreams he saw many things. But this woman had been in it often enough. That and a feeling of pain.
"No, it's - I mean, I'm Gavin. Gavin Mitchell." He stared at her. "Your name - it wouldn't be Dawn?" He said, unnerved that she'd called him by the name he'd always had in those dreams.
"Yeah."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes! Gawain- I mean, Gavin - where do you know me from?" She leaned forward, grabbing his arm. She looked so hopeful, needing to hear the answer from him.
"It's strange, but I used to have these dreams as kid. You were in them, with a man. You were always together."
"What was his name?" She asked, tears sparkling in her eyes.
"Dag - or something. He - but something bad happened to him."
"Ga-vin, have you seen him? Here, like you've seen me?" Dawn asked, her heart soaring. If Gawain was here, in this time, Dagonet and the other knights might be as well.
"No."
Dawn's hopes crashed. She tried to calm herself, but it was so hard. Why would they bring Gawain back and not the other knights? Or had they brought them back, and the knights hadn't met yet? Thoughts raced across her mind as she let go of Gawain's hand.
"Sorry." Gavin said.
"It's not your fault." Dawn slipped a hand into her back pocket. Pulling out a small business card with her name and number on it, she quickly jotted down her cell phone number. "If you do, or if you see anyone else who was in these dreams, could you call me? It's very important that I find them. Feel free to call me if you remember anything at all about these dreams."
"You're not completely freaked out that I just came up to you and said I knew you from a dream?" Gavin asked curiously. "It's kinda out there."
"Nope." She gave him a small smile. "I'm not easily freaked. It seems like I know you from a dream too."
Gavin smiled at her, nodding. Then he turned away, going to serve the customers who were getting annoyed with him. With a muttered, I'll be back, he turned away from the girl who seemed so familiar. Dawn closed her eyes. There was hope. There was a chance she could find Dagonet in this life, in this time.
Whistler watched from the shadows as the bartender left her then. It was good that she saw one of them. It would make things easier to explain. He, with one eye on the mega-witch in the corner, slipped through the heavy afternoon congestion of the pub, slipping into the empty bar stool.
"Dawn Summers?" He said, catching her off guard.
"Yeah?" She spun around to face him. "You'd be Whistler, then?"
"Hole in one." He grinned at her. "So, you wanted to talk."
"Yeah. To the Powers. Buffy said you didn't know the details on my 'big project', so talking to you would be kinda pointless." Dawn snapped.
"True. But you can always ask me. I might know something."
"I really doubt that." She paused, thinking for a second. "You chose this place. Was it so that I could see Gawain?"
"Don't you mean Gavin?" Whistler chuckled. "He's not Gawain anymore. Gawain died a thousand years ago."
"But he remembers. Which means they were reincarnated. Is -"
"I don't know."
"But you knew about Gawain!" She cried.
"Keep your voice down, Key."
Dawn felt like screaming. This was pointless. He didn't know anything she didn't already know. After all the Powers had put her through, now he was telling her to be quiet?
"I knew about that one, only because they told me."
"Why did they send me back? Was I even supposed to come home?" She tried to keep the anger out of her voice.
"Yes, you were. Your sister just made us bring you back sooner. Which was a good thing, cause that Saxon had your number."
"So I didn't have a choice in the matter at all?"
"Oh, no. You had a lot of choices. We just didn't see you making certain choices that you did."
"Like?"
"Like fighting for one. As far as we all knew, you'd be running away at each of the battles. You chose to fight." Whistler said. "Threw us all for a loop."
"What?"
"Well, for the most part, you're not a warrior. Your the scholar. You really haven't got any great super powers that you can use, and hadn't ever truly been in that kind of situation."
"I thought you didn't know a lot about my 'big project'." Dawn snapped, getting angrier by the second.
"That's what I do know. I can't explain any more, cause I don't know any more." Whistler paused, glancing back at the witch. "But if you come with me, I can take you to somebody who does."
"You can?"
"Yeah, but the witch has to stay."
"Why?"
"Cause she does."
"Fine."
Whistler slipped from the stool, waiting for her to follow. Dawn took one last sip from the glass and followed. Whistler looked over to the witch one last time as he led Dawn out through the back door. Grinning, he snapped his fingers, brining the pub back to life. The Key didn't know he'd done it, and neither would the witch.
Across the pub, Willow stared in confusion at the now empty stool. Dawn had been there a second ago, talking to the bartender. Where was she? Jumping up, she made her way to where Dawn had been sitting. She tried to get the attention of the bartender.
"Excuse me? Did you see where the girl sitting here went?"
"Dawn? She left?" Gavin asked.
"You know her then?"
"Yeah- it's a long story."
"You were a knight in a past life?" Willow asked.
"No. . . but I had a dream I was - wait, how did you know that?" Gavin demanded.
"Because I saw you - oh, never mind! Did you see where she went? She's pregnant, and I don't want anything bad to happen to her." Willow cried, her voice getting high and panicky.
"She's pregnant? Is that why she's looking for that guy?"
"Part of it. Did you see?"
"No. I only turned away for a minute."
"I have to find her, or Buffy is gonna kill me." Willow looked around the pub, but there was no sign of Dawnie.
Gavin watched as the emotions played across the red-head's face. She was really worried about the girl. He was as well, but he couldn't explain it. It was then that he finally made the decision.
"She probably went out the back door, it's closer." Gavin quickly undid the ties of his apron, tossing it to the other bartender. "Oi, take over for me."
"I'm still on my break!" The other man cried.
"I don't care. I gotta go." Gavin popped the counter up, slipping out from behind the bar. He took the red-head's arm in his and led her through the crowd. "My name's Gavin Mitchell by the way."
"Willow Rosenberg." Willow said, following him. "Nice to meet you."
"Same here. Let's see if we can find Dawn."
"Good plan."
Dawn followed Whistler as he led her into the cavern. She wasn't sure how they'd gotten there so fast, but she guessed it was through his powers. She felt her heart pound against her chest as she neared the glowing doorway.
"This is it."
"What?"
"This is where you get to talk to the Powers. Or their direct line, to be more accurate."
"Direct line?"
"Yeah, someone that's tapped into the powers." Whistler said, holding the door open for her. "I can't go with you." He said.
"Figures." Dawn said, taking a deep breath as she walked through the doorway into the glowing white room.
Whistler watched as it slammed shut behind her. Sighing, he turned and headed out of the cave. He had a feeling she'd be in there a long time.
Dawn blinked, trying to see. The light was so bright, how could anybody see clearly. There was one person in the room, her back to the light. Long dark hair flowed over her shoulders, and she wore a white gown. She looked like a Roman noble woman.
"Miss Summers, it is unfortunate that you are here."
"What?"
"You should not be here."
"Why not?"
"Because you failed your mission." The woman said disdainfully.
"What mission?"
"Your mission to conceive the right child."
Whistler groaned when he saw witch and the bartender. Could they ever just let a demon do his job? No, they had to be annoying and question his motives. He held up a hand for them to stop.
"Whistler! Where's Dawn?" Willow yelled. "What did you do with her?"
"If anything happened to that girl, I'm gonna -" Gavin started to threaten the demon.
"Look, she wanted answers I can't give her. So, she's meeting with the Powers."
"Meeting with the Powers? I thought you had to become a Higher Being to meet them."
"You do, but not in order to meet a direct liaison."
"Am I supposed to be following this?" Gavin demanded.
"No." Willow said distractedly. "Are they going to tell her why they sent her back?"
"That's the plan." Whistler sighed. "I think."
"The right child?" Dawn cried, her hand going to her stomach.
"You not only compromised yourself, but you also failed to capture the heart of the right knight." The woman continued.
"What?"
"The key is weak in human form." She said disgustedly. "You were to conceive the child told of in prophecies."
"What child and what prophecies?" Dawn demanded.
"When the key is made flesh, it shall carry the one to unite the nations. Born of the Dark knight's blood, formed in the host of the Key. The child will unite all in the battle against the immortal." The woman recited, bored. "You let yourself get attached to the wrong knight, conceived the wrong child, and have probably damned the world."
"I let myself? Were you ever even human once? It's not something you can choose to do! I loved Dagonet!"
"Yes, we all saw how you grieved for him." The woman rolled her eyes at her. "Touching."
"Don't mock my grief!" Dawn yelled. "Part of me died that day!"
"If you'd chosen correctly, it wouldn't have." The woman sneered.
"You bitch!" Dawn yelled, charging at her.
Suddenly there was a bright flash of white light, that stopped Dawn in her tracks, blinding her for a second. When she could see again, the woman was gone. In her place stood a short, curly haired brunette haired woman. She gave Dawn a big smile.
"Hey, Dawnie." Cordelia Chase smiled, walking over to the younger woman.
Gavin listened to the two people. This wasn't making any sense. They were talking about powers and Dawn going back somewhere. He put his head in his hands, closing his eyes.
In the back of his mind, he could see Dawn embracing the other man, the one she was looking for. He could see her shooting arrows across a frozen lake, and feel her hit him. He looked up. Had he actually lived through those things? And if he did, why were the memories racing back to him now?
Dawn stared in shock at the former Sunnydale cheerleader. Last she'd heard, Cordelia was dead. Dawn took a step back.
"Cordelia? I thought -"
"That I was dead?" Cordelia smiled. "Well, I am. The Powers thought you'd need someone more - nicer than that Super Bitch."
"So they sent Queen C?" Dawn asked, confused.
"Yep. I've been through two demonic pregnancies, got screwed over by the PtB, and know you."
"My pregnancy isn't demonic!" Dawn cried defensively.
"No, it's not." Cordy said softly.
"She - she said I chose wrong. How was I supposed to choose?" Dawn asked, tears coming to her eyes again.
"Europa's kinda - well, she didn't exactly make wise love connections. She hooked up with a bull and had his babies." Cordelia sighed. "We both know that love can't be controlled. After all that happened with our groups over the years, you'd think they know better than try to force one of us to not fall in love."
"Cordelia, I saw Gawain! He's alive. Is - is Dagonet here too?"
Cordelia gave her a sad look. Dawn felt panic flow through her. They were keeping something from her. Cordelia put her arm around the younger woman.
"There's something I need to tell you, Dawn." Cordelia said softly. "The others, all of them - they got the chance to live again."
"And Dagonet?"
"He didn't." Cordelia said. "You weren't supposed to fall for him. All of that was set up so you would fall for -"
"Who?" Dawn hissed. "Who was I supposed to fall for?"
"Lancelot. He's the Dark Knight."
"Why not Dagonet? What was so wrong with him that he didn't deserve to be loved?" Dawn yelled, tears streaming down her face. "Why didn't he get the chance to live again?"
"Dawnie, he was offered something better." Cordelia said, taking her by the shoulders. "Don't make me have to smack you, Dawn."
"But - "
"Look, he made a choice. He made a lot of choices. At the time, he didn't want to live in a world you weren't in. He didn't know."
"And the baby? Are the powers going to take it from me too?" Dawn spat, falling to her knees.
"No." Cordelia said simply. "They won't. You've lost too much to lose that too. But you're being given another mission. You have to get as many of the knights back together, Dawn. It is so important that you do this. You've already gotten Gawain, you just need the other five and Guinevere."
"I'm supposed to find them? How?"
"I can't tell you any more than that." Cordelia stood up, extending her hand to the younger girl. "My time's running short here, and Willow's waiting out there for you."
"Wait," Dawn said softly. "If you see him, will you tell him I love him?"
"Sure." Cordelia smiled. "I saw the one's you had to pick fro, and hello salty-goodness. You have good taste, kid."
"Wait, Cordy!"
"What? You asked for one thing, and I already promised!"
"It's - the little boy, Lucan. What happened to him?"
"He grew up, became a warrior like Dagonet. He married, had a family, and died an old man." Cordy smiled. "Named his first born son after Dagonet, and his first daughter after you. He married Bors' youngest daughter. You should be going now, Dawn."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Dawn stumbled out of the doorway. Willow was at her side immediately. Dawn felt the tears there, pouring down her cheeks. She'd never see Dagonet again. She'd see the rest of them, but never him.
"Dawnie? What's wrong?"
"He's really gone." She whispered. "I can never get him back."
Gawain - Gavin - whatever his name was in this time was sitting on a box in the alleyway behind the bar. He was signing under his breathe.
"Land of bear and land of eagle. Land that gave us birth and blessing. Land that called us ever homewards. We will go home across the mountains. We will go home, we will go home. We will go home across the mountains. Hear our singing, hear our longing. We will go home across the mountains. We will go home, we will go home." Gavin looked at her. "I remember."
A/N: Dun, dun, dun. So, there's one more chapter left. What more can I possible throw in there? Better question is - what do you think?