Title: Chapter 16 Destined By Fate – Forest
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns Buffy not me.
Notes: This could have gone two ways… I may post the other later. Thanks to everyone who listened to me whine. Thanks to all you that have reviewed. To Wayward Childe… intense huh? Neat!
Buffy ran. She ran with tears streaming down her face from both the pain of injuries and hurt she felt by leaving her rescuers. With many a backward glance Buffy gained the safety of the trees and began searching for Fxaul.
"Please," she begged the silent trees. "Please help them."
The trees considered her plea. Buffy was growing desperate and began yelling Fxaul's name.
"Please," the little demon appeared by her elbow, making her jump. "I do not want The Riddell to know that I am helping you."
"Help them!" Buffy screamed at him.
"Do you value them so much?" Fxaul asked, puzzled. "They said they didn't normally fight for the good."
"I owe them," Buffy looked ready to bolt back out into the army.
Fxaul nodded,
"I will help them. Follow this path. It will lead to a small cottage. Please wait there for us."
Buffy assessed him for a moment before nodding and setting off. The path disappeared behind her, hiding itself from the enemy. Fxaul placed a hand on the nearest tree and a sigh ran through the forest.
-
Spike tightened his grip on Asara. He couldn't put her down and therefore he couldn't fight so all he could do was try to stay ahead of the quickly advancing army. Locking his eyes on the trees he began counting his steps, a meaningless activity but it stopped him from screaming aloud in anger, frustration and hurt.
When the trees shimmered he thought the pain was blurring his vision but when the whole land shuddered he knew something was happening. Then he could smell it. A magickal energy swept down from the trees above him on the rise and the whole world stilled into a single smell. Spike remembered the smell from his childhood when he'd visited the country in the spring.
Life.
Spike shot a glance at Asara's face but it was slack and pale.
Come on luv.
Suddenly an answering magick of death swept out from behind them and Spike shuddered as the magicks fought around them but he made it past the first tree. Then the next until the forest swallowed them into its heart and the pounding of magicks stopped. Spike staggered, swearing as he caught his broken leg on a branch and Fxaul appeared at his side, stopping him from falling. He tried to take Asara from Spike but got a growl for his trouble. Nodding, Fxaul supported him whilst leading him to the hidden cottage and they found Buffy waiting outside.
"Come in," Fxaul ushered them in. "Put her there."
He pointed to a cot against one wall before sitting Buffy down on another. Spike laid Asara out and looked down at his body in shock. His t-shirt was soaked with Asara's blood and plastered to his chest and abdomen. Blood dripped off his duster and ran down his jeans to pool on the floor with his left leg swollen and the shin sticking out at an odd angle from the break. Despite this he sat down next to Asara and tried to tend her wounds.
Fxaul put a box next to him and pushed Spike to one side. This time Spike co-operated and moved. The demon set about pulling Asara's remaining clothes from her body, making Spike flash fang but he remained quiet as Fxaul remained professional. He started by cleaning off the excess blood and bandaging the front chest wound before turning her over.
Spike had not seen her back after being forced to drop her over the Citadel walls. He leapt off the cot, swearing at himself, forgot about his leg and hit the floor when his leg collapsed under him. Buffy helped him back up with her good arm and guided him back to the bed and his mate. She paled and quietly laid her hand on Spike's shoulder.
There was a hole punched through her left upper back, smashing the shoulder blade and her other shoulder blade had taken the brunt of the fall so that was crushed. Her lower back, just above the curve of her bottom, had landed on a boulder and was indented deeply, much more than normal.
"That's broken isn't it?" Buffy whispered.
Fxaul nodded, concentrating on the shoulders and open wounds to start with but to fix the shoulder blades he had to cut her back open and pick out bits of bones, broken beyond repair, before bandaging her up. He had to be very careful not to pierce her one working lung. Fxaul and Spike switched places so that Fxaul had better access to her back. Spike ran his fingers over her face, brushing hair from her face, watching her swallow breathing. Fxaul cut her back open and began pulling her backbone back to where it should lie and everyone was glad that she had lost consciousness.
Once he'd finished that he turned Asara back over and pulled the blood soaked, torn scrap off her hand. Fxaul reset it and bound it tightly before turning to Spike.
"I need to sort your leg," he said, cleaning his hands.
"Slayer first," Spike said shortly. "More important."
"Did I hear you right?" Buffy grinned, trying to cheer him up but he didn't respond except to pull a blanket over Asara.
Fxaul shrugged and took Buffy back to her bed where he popped her shoulder back in and looked over her healing wounds before announcing she needed rest. Buffy looked down at her torn and dirty clothes and sighed.
"I have nothing that will fit you but I can wash those if you want," Fxaul nodded.
Buffy narrowed her eyes before nodding,
"Thanks."
The demon turned back to Spike as Buffy undressed and crouched down next to him. Spike pulled his jeans down as far as he could without moving his injured leg and Fxaul got his boots then the jeans off the rest of the way. Bracing Spike's foot against his leg and his foot on the bed, Fxaul twisted the bone back into place but Spike was so numb he didn't cry out. Spike dragged off the rest of his clothes and climbed into the cot, gently wrapping himself around Asara. Fxaul gathered up all the bloody clothes and took them away to wash them.
After about an hour Fxaul came back and watched the three sleep. Actually the two youngest slept but Asara's eyes were open and staring at him. Quietly he crossed the room to her side before bending over Spike and touching fingers to her temple.
Have I done this right?
Asara, somehow, knew he could do this so she wasn't shocked.
In what way?
Everything.
Yes. You have done the best you could do.
Will you survive?
I will try but I don't know.
Spike stirred slightly and Fxaul pulled back.
-
Spike was woken by the smell of food and he opened his eyes. The first thing he did was to check on Asara and Spike found her like before, swallow breathing, eyes closed. Kissing her softly Spike swung his legs out of bed, rubbing his eyes and yawning. He made eye contact with Buffy across the room and she smiled wearily at him. Spike looked away to see Fxaul bringing in a tray from outside and he could tell it held more than just solids on it. Fxaul set the tray down on the lone table between the cots, took a plate off it and gave it to Buffy. She looked down at what was on it and didn't recognise anything but her stomach told her that wasn't important. Fxaul nodded in satisfaction as she began eating and turned to Spike who was watching him with cautious eyes.
"I did not know what you can digest here," the demon brought a plate over. "Humans went extinct a long time ago."
Spike raised an eyebrow but took the plate and looked over the cups on it. Some he instantly dismissed by smell but the others didn't smell too bad so he picked one up at random and stuck his finger in it. He put the bloody digit in his mouth to taste it and spat the offending liquid out. Spike discounted several this way until he settled for one that tasted the best and drank the contents of the cup quickly. Fxaul watched his actions and brought him some more of the chosen blood until Spike told him to stop.
Buffy finished had her meal and sat regarding Spike as he stretched his leg. She had blushed for the second time when he'd thrown back the covers and she'd seen he was naked. Spike seemed completely oblivious to the fact that he was and Buffy wasn't surprised. It was just slightly off putting to see your mortal enemy naked. Well more a sort of mortal-enemy-that-saves-your-life, Buffy frowned. Wrapping her blanket around her, toga fashion, Buffy made her way outside to sit in the sun. She found their clothes drying in the sun and fingered the rips in them.
"Would you like some thread?" a voice behind her made her jump.
"I'm not too good with needles unless I ca, kill something with them," Buffy answered.
Fxaul smiled,
"Neither was I once upon a time."
Buffy nodded before cocking her head to one side,
"If you don't mind me asking, since you've done everything else for us why are you letting me patch the clothes?"
"You want something for your hands to do as you think," Fxaul produced a needle and a spool of thread.
"How do you know that?" Buffy asked.
"Experience," Fxaul gently pressed the objects into Buffy's hands and left.
She stared at the his back before sitting down cross-legged and picking up her trousers. Frowning in concentration she threaded her needle and started at one end of a rip but her thoughts strayed to the couple in the cottage at her back. They had come to get her and she had treated them like dirt, bugs to be squashed. Guilt swam through her and she cursed herself but Buffy still didn't understand why they had come to get her. Why them? Why didn't my friends come? Was there a choice? Buffy wondered. Were Spike and Asara here because they had been threatened rather than coming just for me? Spike had said that she was the first line of defence for earth against the demon that had taken her so did that mean Spike was a good guy now?
There was so many unanswered questions running round her head that she wasn't getting anywhere. She finished her trousers and started on her top, muttering to herself as she tried to resolve her doubts. Buffy worked her way through all their clothes, stitches getting neater without her noticing.
-
Spike winced as he rolled his ankle but watched Buffy leave, knowing that she'd have a lot of questions later after she had time to think. He ran his fingers down over his shin, checking to see whether he could feel the break.
You ok?
Spike's head snapped up and he turned to Asara. Her eyes were open and she regarded him with worried eyes.
"I'm fine luv," Spike stroked her hair and face, reassuring himself.
Asara's lips twitched as she tried to smile and Spike asked her a question,
"Hungry?"
No.
"You should eat something," Spike instructed.
How?
Spike frowned. Asara lacked the strength to chew, swallow. His eyes alighted on the blood which sat next to his feet and a brainwave struck him.
"I'm going to base this on my tastes," Spike explained, picking up the full one that Fxaul had brought him but that he hadn't touched.
He dipped one finger in and Asara opened her mouth enough to let him slip it in. Asara sealed her lips around the finger and Spike pulled it through them so that the blood was left behind. It was all the energy Asara had in her but Spike was patient and kept at it. They managed to work their way through half of the pot before Asara slumped back, eyes shutting as she struggled for breath. Even that little bit of effort had worn her out and Spike was scared for her, knowing that what she had taken wasn't enough to sustain her, let alone heal her.
"Asara luv? Will you do one thing for me?" Spike laid a hand on her cheek. "Stay awake."
I will try.
Spike put the cup down, slotted an arm under Asara's neck and tops of shoulders before pulling her into a sitting position. Her eyes didn't open but a muffled cry came from between her lips and Spike bit his lip, hating himself just a little more.
"I sat you up so you wouldn't drown," Spike explained, careful not to jostle her as he picked up the cup. "I just need you to finish this cup."
Asara opened her eyes to look at his worried face and wondered whether he knew that she couldn't feel anything but pain. Her world had shrank down to the different sorts of agony it was in. Sharp piercing pain where rough edges of bones cut into her, grating pain where bone rubbed together, deep aching pain of bruises and the worst one of all, the tearing pain of seeing what all this was doing to Spike.
He brought the cup to her lips and Asara hoped this wouldn't be the last time she'd feed. Spike watched Asara tilt her head back slightly before her lips open so he could start pouring the drink. The blood ran into her mouth and down her throat, triggering the gag reflex, but Asara simply didn't have the energy to cough so her body gave up and let the blood continue on its descent to her stomach.
Buffy came back in at this point and stopped in the doorway, dressed, to watch Spike care for Asara. She saw a new side to him. Normally all she saw from him was a cocky, brash man who deliberately made her life difficult, loved violence, smoking and sex but now she could see the emotions he usually kept hidden written across his face. Tenderness, love, worry as he cradled Asara. Buffy could just pick out the soft whisperings he was saying to the woman in his arms and she swallowed, praying for the first time that Asara wouldn't die.
Knocking the last drops of blood from the cup into Asara's mouth Spike set the cup down and knew he should lay her back down but he wanted to hold her. Asara's eyes were closed and her breath seemed to rattle in her lung but she was still awake. She had done what Spike had asked. Spike couldn't stand it anymore and buried his head in the crook of her neck and Asara could feel tears dampening her skin.
Spike, please, don't.
Spike fought his tears and raised his head.
"I love you," Spike kissed her gently before he hardened. "Don't you bloody die on me you hear?"
I hear.
Buffy walked over to Spike and he looked up at her, just a tiny bit of hatred flashing across his face before he blanked his features. She said nothing, just put their clothes, her blanket on the cot and wandered back to her bed. Spike reluctantly laid Asara back down, pulled on his clothes and covered Asara with two blankets. He bent down and kissed each closed eyelid,
"Sleep."
He watched her until Fxaul walked in. Fxaul asked Spike and Buffy to come outside so he could show them something. Spike argued against leaving Asara but Fxaul promised she would be safe and that they really did need to see this. Eventually Spike agreed and Fxaul led the pair, Spike still limping slightly, to the edge of the forest from where they could see the citadel without being seen themselves. Over the plain and hill floor lay the army. It hadn't been dismissed, it hadn't gone back in the citadel and it was still very ready for war.
"I think we pissed him off," Spike remarked.
"Indeed," Fxaul nodded. "I believe I can get hold of what you need to open a portal to the planes and then Earth."
"Surely that means a lot of magick and the ability to control it," Spike frowned. "Neither me nor the Slayer are that way inclined."
"Opening portals requires little more than some words and herbs," Fxaul explained. "Closing them, on the other hand, requires a great deal of power. Portals draw energy from both the sides that they open onto so they want to remain open. Closing them means you have to break the bonds they have made but you will need to shut the one to Earth or you will have a backdoor in for The Riddell."
"You think Red can handle it?" Spike asked Buffy.
"Maybe, with Tara and Giles to help her out," Buffy shrugged.
"It'll have to do," Spike ran his fingers through his filthy hair, hating the fact that he couldn't shower.
"Very well" Fxaul nodded. "I will gather the ingredients."
They set off back to the hidden den but Spike decided to ask the one question that had been nagging at him for some time.
"Why are you helping us?"
"You do not deserve to have your world decimated like I have," Fxaul ran his fingertips over a tree trunk.
The forest sighed around them.
"Do you want to come with us?" Buffy questioned.
"It would take too long for me to gather the trees," Fxaul smiled sadly. "I will not abandon them."
"The trees would come?" Buffy frowned.
"Yes," Fxaul nodded. "In this world the trees never stayed silent. They talked to us, walked with us but people hated them for their knowledge and gentle spirits so the trees have withdrawn from them."
Spike and Buffy exchanged a look but wisely said nothing. Fxaul continued,
"Each one of you will have to learn what to do to open the portal. It requires two of you to cast together and Asara is not well enough to learn."
Spike shrugged,
"So we bloody learn."
"You will have to learn the incantation," Fxaul told Spike. "You cannot carry the ingredients. Only someone who lives can keep the ingredients fresh enough."
"Why?" Buffy asked.
"A living person is an endotherm," Fxaul said, as if it was obvious.
"A what now?" Buffy blinked.
"Endotherm," Fxaul glanced between to blank faces. "An endotherm regulates their own body temperature, an ectotherm does not. The ingredients need to be kept next to a constant warm source like a body but vampires do not produce heat because they are ectotherms."
"Riiight," Buffy rolled her eyes. "I really needed the biology lesson in vampire physiology."
-
A day later Asara was breathing with two lungs and didn't look so pale. She summoned enough energy to eat the meat that Fxaul brought and Spike prepared for her. With the extra nutrients in the meat Asara healed quicker and Spike stopped fussing so much when she started talking.
The next afternoon Spike was sitting on the cot next to Asara, jeans rolled up as he checked the mending break. Asara watched him before using her good hand to brush his fingers away.
"Fingers aren't sensitive enough," Asara shuffled over, still awkward with her shoulders unable to rotate.
Spike watched her squirm but knew well enough not to help. She was a stubborn as he was when it came to getting about on your own when injured. He watched her lean forward, her head blocked his view and then a hot tongue traced a path over his leg. Sucking in an unneeded breath Spike knew Asara was taunting him but that she was actually checking out the break. Her tongue was one of the most sensitive things he'd ever encountered; supple, strong, wet, hot. Spike broke off from that chain of thought as Asara raised her head.
"You should work out," she said. "It's not going to do any damage to it."
"I have been walking around," Spike had stayed still so he didn't have to leave Asara.
"Spar with Buffy," Asara suggested. "That'll help both of you."
"It would be a good excuse to kick his backside," Buffy commented from the other side of the room.
"You wish Slayer," Spike snorted.
"Gonna prove me wrong?" Buffy taunted.
"You're on," Spike grinned.
Asara yawned and Spike turned back to her. She leant into his chest, arms around his waist and Spike stroked her hair, cradling her head. Both heard Buffy leave and used the opportunity to reaffirm their ties. Asara tilted her head back and stared up at Spike.
"You scared me luv," Spike admitted softly.
"Not intentional," Asara smiled.
"No seriously," Spike cupped her cheeks between his hands. "I don't want to know what I would have done if I'd lost you."
"Gone home and looked after everyone hopefully," Asara answered.
"I'm not sure I could look at them and not see you, my failure to protect you," Spike's grip tightened.
"Hey," Asara whispered, seeing the look in his eyes. "You didn't fail. Nobody failed. Understand?"
Spike didn't answer her so she did the only thing she could think of. She kissed him. It was tender, loving and Spike returned the sweetness before breaking from her.
"Asara," Spike said roughly.
"I love you," Asara said.
"Oh god pet," Spike almost hissed. "You have no idea what you do to me."
Then Spike kissed her and it try to start as a gentle thing but Spike was too wound up, too emotional to control himself and it deepened. Asara left him pour everything he had into her until he was shaking before she truly answered him. When she returned the kiss it told Spike that she knew it wasn't his fault, that she knew he was strong and that she would always love him.
For the second time Spike broke away and Asara met his gaze. She had never seen the yellow eyes before her look so confused yet happy but, as always with them, was the want.
"I can't Spike, not yet," Asara sighed, miserable.
"I'm not asking you to," Spike answered.
"I know," Asara grumbled. "I want to, actually can but I won't be able to make it good for you."
Spike snorted,
"I don't think that's ever going to be a problem."
"Thanks," Asara smiled before mock frowning. "I think."
"Luv you are a fucking miracle in the bedroom," Spike stated.
Asara looked serious as she answered,
"Spike that was a very bad pun."
Spike grinned and kissed her again, keeping it as chaste as he could but this time Buffy interrupted them from the door by coughing.
"Are we going to fight sometime this century?" she asked when she had two sets of eyes on her.
Spike growled slightly and Asara grinned.
"I'm bloody coming Slayer. Keep your knickers on," Spike pulled his jean leg down, stood, kissed Asara on last time and followed Buffy out the door.
Asara watched them go and listened for the sounds of the sparring. When they started she levered herself to the side of the bed, swung her legs over the edge and stood. She got a close up of the floor as her legs crumpled under her, back still not completely functional. Gritting her teeth Asara crawled to the edge of the cot, hauled herself up and stood swaying.
"Walking, walking I can do," Asara muttered.
The only reason they hadn't left yet was the fact that Asara couldn't move properly through her own will power. Unable to lift her arms for balance Asara struggled to stay upright but somehow made it to the doorway. Leaning heavily on frame Asara watched Spike and Buffy spar in the clearing outside the cottage and smiled as she realised how very absorbed they were. Spotting one of the reasons she was walking Asara left the support of the door and made her way around the edge clearing, making sure she didn't get in the way of the fight.
"Asara!" Spike spotted her. "What are you doing bloody up?"
Spike ducked under Buffy's roundhouse kick.
"I wanted out," Asara answered.
"You're not bloody well enough yet!" Spike exclaimed, Buffy on the receiving end of a jab to the stomach.
"Spike," Asara warned as she ungracefully dropped to the ground.
"Yeah well you could of said something," Spike muttered.
Asara sighed as she relaxed in the patch of sunlight she had found. It felt so good to let the sun warm her through that Asara dozed, feeling better than she had for some time. Spike and Buffy worked until they were sweating before calling a halt, wiping themselves down with towels that Fxaul had brought them. Spike caught Buffy staring at him,
"What?"
"Still freaky weird that you're wandering around in the sun," Buffy commented.
Spike glanced up at the sky,
"It won't be around much longer."
Buffy sighed,
"I wish we could get going already. I know Fxaul's been real nice and stuff it's just that this place gives me the creeps."
"Right there with you Slayer," Spike muttered as he walked over to Asara.
"I can make it," Asara said abruptly.
"Luv," Spike sat down next to her.
Asara opened her eyes,
"No I mean it. We need to get out of here."
Spike didn't dispute that fact he just asked how she intended to get down the two storey drop in the astral planes.
"With difficulty," she grinned before sobering. "I don't know."
"We'll manage," Buffy stated.
"Slayer stay the hell out of this," Spike snapped.
"The woman knows what she can do and if she wants to leave, we leave," Buffy shrugged.
Spike glanced down at the determined expression on Asara's face and then up at the equally unwavering expression on Buffy's face. He sighed.
"I can't believe I'm saying this," he muttered before saying louder. "Alright so we go tomorrow."
Buffy nodded,
"Great. I'll go tell Fxaul."
Spike watched her leave whilst Asara watched him. She met his gaze when he turned back to her and caught the look of worry that flashed across his face.
"Roll over," Spike instructed suddenly.
Asara quirked an eyebrow at him but did as he said, knowing he was testing her. She rolled away from him, onto her stomach, keeping her shoulders as still as she could but Spike caught glimpses of pain flashing across her face. When she had stilled he pushed her top up so he could see her injuries. Spike traced the faint line across her lower back, the wounds edges still raised but healed enough to negate bandages prior to working his way up her body to her shoulders. Those wounds were worse than the back one and when he pushed down on her shoulder blade the whole bone shifted precariously but despite all this Asara was lulled into a light doze. His hands on her never ceased making her feel, whether it was love, need or simply calm.
Spike leant over her, lips going to her ear but Asara spoke first,
"Will I do?"
"Just about," Spike whispered. "When we get home I'm going to have to check you over much more thoroughly."
Asara shuddered slightly,
"Are you going to be gentle with me?"
"Only if you deserve it," Spike ran a finger down her spine.
"Ooookay," Buffy interrupted them. "If you two get groiny now I'm leaving you here."
"Why Slayer?" Spike sat up. "Oh I get it. You're missing out."
"Shut up Spike," Buffy glared.
"You could join us," Spike leered at her.
"No she bloody well can't," Asara prodded his side.
"Jealous pet?" Spike grinned at his mate.
"What'd'ya think?" Asara rolled onto her back then sat up slowly. "Course I'd be jealous. I'd be jealous of any woman, let alone one you used to love."
Silence reigned.
"Oh shit," Asara looked up at Buffy.
"Love?" Buffy squeaked. "Spike used to love me?"
"In a moment of insanity," Spike admitted.
"Moment my arse," Asara snorted before biting her lip. "I'll shut up now."
"When… when did you first realise?" Buffy asked weakly.
"Remember when Captain Cardboard nearly died because of his chip?" Spike raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah 'cause you stole the doctor to get your chip out," Buffy argued. "Whoa. You're saying I try to kill you yet again and you fall in love with me?"
"I didn't exactly want to Slayer!" Spike protested.
"When did you appear on the scene then?" Buffy shot a puzzled look at Asara.
"A couple of weeks after that. Bumped into him in a bar, trying to drown himself," Asara smiled at Spike as she remembered first spotting him. She had never told him that she'd liked him from the first moment she'd met him but noticing his misery she'd hidden it well.
Buffy realised at that moment that she knew so very little about the couple in front of her. They helped her out, kept their part of town free from problems and they had even saved Dawn from the tower as she fought Glory. Spike had fallen from the tower, pushed by the scary little old demon but Asara had made the demon follow him.
"Look," Spike stood. "This isn't the time."
Asara climbed unsteadily to her feet. Down was so much easier than up. Buffy frowned then made up her mind.
"We are so finishing the conversation when we get back to Sunnydale," she announced.
"Can't wait," Spike muttered grumpily.
-
Buffy clutched the bag of herbs to her chest and watched the open plain with trepidation. Nothing moved out there but that meant nothing. Everyone hoped that they'd moved far enough away from where The Riddell's army was camped not to bump into any patrols but it was very likely that The Riddell had set up surveillance around the whole forest. The three escaping needed to be clear of the forest to open the portal because the tearing of the fabric of space would damage the trees if done within the forest. Asara sniffed the breeze, still unable to find a threatening scent and cast a worried expression Spike's way.
Nothing we can do luv. We can't stand here all day.
They had chosen to travel during the day because the night offered no advantage to them. It could even take it away from them. In the day they may not be able to hide so well but Buffy could see better and it reduced the chances someone could sneak up on them.
Spike moved out into the clearing, silent and extremely wary but nothing moved. Asara followed him out, still unsteady but careful about being soundless and Buffy brought up the rear, glancing behind every fifth step. As they neared the place that they had come into this world Asara slowed and lifted her nose to the breeze.
Spike there's a patrol coming. Get moving there's time to open the portal before they get here.
Spike caught Buffy's attention and mimicked throwing the herbs. She nodded and Spike gritted his teeth before he began speaking softly, trying to avoid the sound carrying.
"Ziffern edilloc arual ylevisolp."
Buffy open the bag and found the first herb. Taking it out she crumbled it at their feet.
"Zaremski yttik Suaemitab nibor."
The next was a powder she cast to the four winds, careful to get them in the right order. Asara was standing some distance from them, watching the next hill, sure of where the patrol would appear.
"Wasiak leinathan tiano Dnakmaras."
Buffy placed a thin, willowy herb at their feet and the first glimmerings of magicks moved.
"Kika citamgine cavanaugh thuomylp."
Buffy set another branch over the top of the first one and a wind so strong it nearly blew them off their feet sprang up.
"Correale ere sorca Earth!" Spike said the last four words.
Buffy dropped the last herb onto the two at her feet, jumped back as they exploded. The fire that started flared up a brilliant blue and the wind twisted it into a perfect circle that deepened into the familiar beautiful sight that they had hoped for.
"Asara come on!" Spike yelled, turning to his mate.
Asara didn't move.
"Slayer go!" Spike ordered.
"Not without you!" Buffy shook her head.
"We'll be right behind you," Spike told her.
Buffy grabbed his arm,
"Thank you."
Spike stared at her before gruffly shook himself free,
"Scat."
Buffy stepped forward and into the portal. Spike ran for Asara,
"Come on luv."
Then Spike spotted what she had been staring at. It wasn't a patrol. It was the whole army and the couple got their first site of The Riddell.
"Holy fuck!" Spike swore.
"You cannot escape!" a voice boomed across the valley.
Spike and Asara winced as the noise seemed to cut into their brains but Spike didn't stop to think. He picked Asara up, ignoring her gasp of pain and ran back towards the portal. The magick Spike had felt before on the hill as they had fled from the city flared into life around them but this time there was no life magick to protect them from it. Spike moved as if in deep water but he moved forwards nevertheless.
Asara watched over his shoulder as The Riddell appeared where they had stood moments before and the image would forever be burned into her mind. He wasn't a shape, he couldn't be described except in one way; terror. Everything you were scared of, anything that you could be scared of, your worst nightmare and things you couldn't even imagine, he was. Hope drained from Asara, Spike felt it and threw himself into the portal.
Time seemed to slow as the magick behind them fought to keep them from leaving but forwards they fell, straight into a ground covered in grass.
"What happened to the rocks and mist?" Spike asked.
"Spike!" Asara screamed, pushing him off her.
It was the middle of the day and the sun beat down on them, making Spike smoke. Spike yanked his coat over his head and looked wildly around for some sort of shelter. Asara would have looked too but she could see through the portal as it bent and twisted, The Riddell's magicks pulling it towards him. It began folding in on itself and as suddenly as it had appeared the portal vanished, taking a huge lump out of the surrounding countryside. Spike instantly dived into the newly formed crater, into a cave in its side and patted out a small fire on his hand. Asara looked around them.
"Where are we?" Spike asked. "This ain't Kanas."
"No," Asara agreed.
They certainly weren't in Sunnydale, there was no sign of Buffy and Asara stood to get a better view. Memories came flooding back.
"I know where we are," she said in a harsh whisper.
"Where?" Spike caught the barrage of emotions from Asara.
She climbed down to him,
"We're in England. We're in my parents territory. We're in the place I was banished from. We're in the place where if I'm caught I will be killed. I'm home."