Fitz's hands were shaking with excitement as he directed Daisy's cult in dragging what was needed out into the muddy courtyard. He dropped his hands to his hips, elbows sticking out to the sides. "B-be careful w-with that!"
"They've got it." Daisy grunted as she carried the entire tesla coil, that was seven feet tall, out of the lab and out into the open courtyard. She set it down carefully, before stepping back. Restrained excitement radiating off of her. "What's next?"
He grabbed the chainmail glove he'd made and stepped to her. "W-we ground you and t-the glove."
"You're using me as your lighting rod?" Both of Daisy's brows shot up.
Fitz caught her hand and slid the glove on. "Y-you're chance of s-survival if this goes wr-wrong is much b-better than mine."
"Thanks Fitz, real comforting." She flattened and then clenched her fist before opening it up again. "Very cool. So what do I need to do once it gets going?"
His eyes flicked to where the bike power generating contraption was being set up under Crann's watchful eye. Right, he'd double check that once he was done getting Daisy prepped. "I a-assume Lincoln and y-you did electric safety?"
"Hacker, I built my own computer rig in a van. I know how not to die from electric shock." Daisy rolled her eyes. "Also Ward made me do every SHIELD safety course on the books after the whole Miles thing."
Fitz winced slightly, Ward really had been a dick about the Miles thing. "Y-you'll be good t-then."
"Again, comforting." Daisy fell serious. "What do I need to do?"
He gave a nod. "R-right, well you need to create a-"
Fitz adjusted the next slurry in the tray under the pole he'd set up to conduct the electric field through the mixture. Everything had to be perfect. Just to distill enough raw chemicals to create these slurries had taken months. He didn't have time to do it again. This was his one chance to prove they were in the same reality, and hopefully to learn enough for him to know how to make a signal.
He stepped over connecting the next wire. "I t-think we're ready." Fitz looked up at the crowd that had gathered. "C-can you get t-them back?"
"I've got it." Daisy leaned back, a wave of vibrations bubbling out from her, avoiding the tech, and pushing everyone back enough to be safe. "STAY BACK!" She looked back to Fitz ignoring the startled people. "Ready when you are." Daisy bounced on her toes.
Fitz breathed in and then stepped out of range of the experiment. He turned to the idiots on the bikes. "Peddle."
The four men on the stationary frames started pedaling.
He looked to the coils, his fingers twitching as he watched. Come on, come on, and then there, he heard and saw it as the coil powered on. He was deaf to the sounds of shock and awe as the cacophony of metallic cracking filled the yard, the panic as lighting flickered around the head of the coil.
Daisy stepped forward as expected, holding her hand out, the lighting drawn to the metal of her glove. She stepped back slowly. The tendril of lightning following her hand. She came to a stop as the electricity could no longer reach her hand.
"Pedal f-faster." He ordered the suckers on the bikes. Their breathing turned heavy, but they picked up the pace, and the electricity stretched further, ever attracted to Daisy's hand.
Daisy took four more steps back before turning to him. "Ready for me to duck out?"
"D-do it." Fitz nodded, the field was large enough now.
Daisy used a light push to shoot herself back a few yards and out of the range of the coil. She laughed as she pulled the glove. "Holy shit Fitz, you did it." She beamed at him.
Fitz nodded, eyes not tearing away from the coil. "Five minutes." He watched as the lighting flickered, reaching out and he vibraited. This was it. They'd be home in a month, maybe two. He felt joy, effusive and effervescent suffusing his being. He'd done it. Despite being in the god forsaken dark ages, in a lab that smelled like horseshit, he'd done it!
He waved absently, eyes riveted to his machine still filling the courtyard with its distinctive sounds. Who knew how the sounds of a tesla coil would nearly bring him to tears. "Y-you can stop pedaling. " He barely waited for the men to stop, and the power to fade, before he was jogging to the chemical slurries.
Everything went utterly silent in his head as he looked at them. It was...nothing moved in his head. For perhaps the first time in his life his mind was completely blank. Nothing.
There was a rushing in his ears, everything that wasn't his slurries vanishing from his vision. They were wrong. He didn't need to get them under a magnifying glass. Test them in any further way. Because they were wrong. Utterly, and completely wrong in every way that mattered. They'd reacted wrong. Wrong. Wrong!
He wet his lips with the tip of his tongue. It was...they were in a different reality, not galaxy, planet, no measurement of space. They were in a different universe entirely. It shouldn't have been possible. But here he was, and here it was. Incontrovertible evidence that...that it was over. That it would take...years...if it was even possible. Years.
Fitz had had dozens of tests lined up and prepared for his various slurries, but it wasn't needed. A simple visual check and it was all wrong. So wrong there was no point to days and days of work he'd done. Worthless. It was all worthless. He was worthless. What was even the point if he couldn't get to Jemma? She could be in danger, dying and he wouldn't know! And why?
Blinking his fists clenched. The tree. The stupid, fucking magical tree had done this. Brought them here. And it was going to send him back or he'd cut the damn thing down with an axe if he had to. He grit his teeth. He grabbed the thin pan of chemical slurry and upturned it, sending the thing crashing to the side. Turning on his heel, he marched straight for the magic tree.
Fitz shoved whoever it was that was between him and his path straight towards a tree. He was going to have answers from. He had to use two hands to shove someone else out of the way again. He didn't care. Didn't even properly see anyone's face. It didn't matter. "Get out of my way." His voice was tight, cold. How dare some fucking being of whatever power do this? How dare.
If he'd had powers they'd have been consuming him and the world around him. But he didn't, he just was immolating within his own rage. The cold bit into him, and he barely noticed as his feet ate up the ground beneath his feet. He burst through the wooden doors and out into the gods' wood.
His eyes lit on the white tree, it's dumb bleeding face. The oppressive silence was the worst. And he was going to break it. He was going to break it into a thousand pieces. He came to the front of the damned tree with it's smug face, it's great branches thicker than him branching out into a thick giant of a tree. And he just...He opened his mouth and screamed. "RHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
He slammed his open palms against the white bark on either side of the face. "WHAT D-DO YOU WANT!"
Fitz's lips pulled back from his teeth, slamming his palms into the bark again. "DO SOMETHING!" He pulled back, turning, his hands running through his hair. Turning he pointed at the tree with one finger, his other hand on his hip. "Y-you brought us here. That h-had to be you. Which m-means you can send us back. SO DO….DO IT!"
"Fuck you." He snapped at the tree that wasn't moving, not even a brush of wind. "SEND M-ME HOME, OR I'LL C-CUT YOU DOWN!"
Fitz's fist clenched so hard his nails bit into his skin, he slammed the meat of his fist into the tree. "DO SOMETHING! Y-YOU BROUGHT US HERE! SO T-TELL ME WHAT TO DO! WHAT DO Y-YOU WANT!" He slammed his fist into the tree again, and again.
He kept slamming his fist into the tree. The number of times a blur in his head. Counting? What was that? He just hit the unresponsive wood again, again, again. He kept hitting the tree till his hand was throbbing agony, blood dribbling down the white bark from his hand, his breathing coming only in sharp gasping pants.
Sinking to his knees, Fitz raised his arm and swung for the trunk again. "J-just do something!"
A hand caught his wrist, halting the movement.
Fitz looked up, following the line of his own arm to the one holding him back. Along to Daisy's face. She was looking at him with an expression with the weight of the world.
"Are you done?" Her voice was solid, unwavering.
He ripped his gaze away from her. "Why won't it d-do anything? It ...brought us here."
"I've fought a death match against powerful things for you before. And I'll do it again. But is this a fight you truly want?" Daisy's voice was just...matter of fact. "Or are you done."
Fitz panted, he fancied he could taste his own spit in his mouth. "I j-just want to go home."
"Fitz, are you done?" And he knew it was the last time she'd ask him that. He felt that more than knew it.
He looked at the tree, it's face unchanged, his own blood dripping down the side of its face. And he just...he felt defeated. He nodded. So he let Daisy pull him to his feet and away from the tree.
He felt her hand on the back of his neck, directing him away. Absently he noted they weren't alone in the wood here, but he just...didn't care. So he let Daisy lead him away. Because he'd lost, and he had nothing left.
/
Sansa knew she wasn't the only one reeling from the demonstration in the courtyard followed by what could only be called a breakdown. It'd been a lot. She'd have been afraid of retribution from the gods if Daisy hadn't neatly brought it to an end. There'd been moment, as Daisy had guided Fitz away from the heart tree, when she'd paused and looked at the tree before nodding to it, before continuing on her way. She'd half looked like she and the tree had had a silent understanding at that moment. And they'd all breathed easier.
It was...Fitz's genius was more than proved. He'd made and controlled lightning. Bent it to his will. And all that brilliance had shone through, illuminating the cracks fracturing his mind. She wondered what he'd have been like if his mind had been whole?
There was heavy silence to the air. Despite that, she had tasks to see to in the wake of all this to keep fear from spreading. Sansa waved to her senchal. "Ser Flint, ensure no one doubts that her Holiness interceeded, before her companion could give fatal insult." Sansa was grateful that Fitz had damaged himself rather than the tree. If he'd harmed the heart tree she didn't know what she'd have done.
"Aye...what...my apologies, I'll see to it my Lady." Ser Flint dipped his head, weight leaning on his cane.
Sansa couldn't risk more disquiet than this would already cause. Her own disquiet was irrelevant. "Ask your question."
"What did he see to cause him to lose his mind?" The stoic man looked awed, a tremble of awe still to him.
She swallowed, because she knew enough to guess. "That they are not from our world of gods, but a different one altogether. It would seem the old gods drew them from far further away than expected."
"I don't rightly understand." His brow furrowed.
Sansa allowed her face a few seconds of openness. "Neither do I."
"Ah." Ser Flint relaxed ever so slightly. "Well, I'll see to it no one gets the wrong idea then." He gave a nod before limping off to his task.
Sansa let the near oppressive air weigh on her for a long moment. Breathing deeply she looked at the face tree over her shoulder one last time, and then left for the yard.
She was relieved to see Crann Snow directing several members of Daisy's men in helping clear away the creation of Fitz. They seemed to have an appropriate care for their work.
Moving on she returned to the relative warmth of the inner halls of Winterfell. She wasn't stopped on her path to Maester Wolkan's rooms.
"My Lady, are you well?" Brienne asked from her silent place behind her shoulder as they walked.
Sansa felt as if she was floating over still waters, the turbulence below. "I'm well, however I believe her Holiness's companion broke his hand."
"Are you certain it's safe to be near him?" Brienne asked carefully. Or well as carefully as a woman as blunt as Brienne probably could ask.
She answered plainly. "I have confidence you could protect me if necessary."
"Thank you my Lady." Her square features held pride at the faith in her ability. Faith she'd earned through loyalty and at the end of her sword.
Sansa knocked on her Maester's door before opening it and stepping inside. She raised a single brow at the sight of Wolkan holding the fussing Bolton babe. "I see her Holiness did not bring Fitz to you?"
"Ah, pardon my...well pardon for not being prepared for you my Lady." Wolkan had a certain sleep deprived air to him, spit up on one shoulder of his robes, screaming babe in his arm doing it's best to strike it's caretaker, and hair a mess of uncombed strands.
She wondered at the fact she felt some small measure of humor at the sight instead of anger. Stepping forward she plucked the Bolton babe from his arms and tried not to show her distaste for the child. "Do you require aid?"
"Thank you, he grabbed a small bottle of tincture and upended the mixture into a bottle of what looked like still frothing goats milk. He stirred quickly, as he then tied white fabric around the top. "Sorry about this my Lady, the boy's wet nurse took ill two nights ago and well." He neatly lifted the child back into his own arms and gently stuffed the fabric into the babe's mouth. "May I assist you in some way?"
Sansa remained calm, placid even. "I had wished to speak with her Holiness. However, as she's not here I will leave you in peace."
"I believe she'd have gone to her tower." Wolkan offered only to pause...the babe eagerly drinking from the contraption stuck in its mouth. "If I may, I had never thought man could not just influence but create the very elements." There was awe in his voice.
She didn't disagree, it was madness. "We have yet to see a fraction of what our guest is capable of creating with his hands." Of that she was sure. "I expect your and Crann's notes on the creation we saw today."
"Of course my Lady." He bobbed his head.
Sansa let her eyes linger on the baby for a long moment, and then she left in a swish of skirts, her loyal sworn sword on her heels.
Sansa hadn't actually been to the Broken Tower since it'd been fully repaired and then refurbished for Daisy's cult, or as it was beginning to be called Order of the Shield. Which had a certain ring to it. Over the door was a metal plate engraved with Daisy's eagle, each of the four corners was stamped in relief of the weirwood leaf with a direwolf upon it. They were separated from the eagle, but clearly important. For the indication of exactly who and what the order was within the tower it was shockingly understated.
As she stepped through the solid oak door and into the tower itself she found that that was true of the inside as well. It was clean, the walls bright white, and stone immaculately swept. The foyer and first landing was neatly organized and clearly meant to just be walked through. Sansa moved smoothly up the stairs to the floors held by the Order. She barely kept a slightly twitch of amusement from escaping as the men in what was clearly the barracks floor spotted her. They half tripped over themselves to straighten.
A man with stringy, straw colored hair gave a clumsy bow, clearly attempting to hide a card game behind him. "Lady Stark, can we help ya?"
"I assume her Holiness is here?" Sansa asked of the man.
"Oh Aye!" He beamed at being useful which...oh of course they thought their god was courting her. "Her Holiness is in her quarters. I can escort you there, M'Lady?"
"That would be kind of you, please." Sansa wondered at how peaceful it was in here, card games, neatly made beds, white plaster walls that reflected the soft light, men trying to mend their own ripped clothing, just so very different from what she'd have expected from what was essentially army barracks.
The straw haired man's shoulders fell back as he practically floated with pride at being able to assist her. "Right after me then." He happily waved in the correct direction, and began to lead them further up and into the tower.
Sansa spotted a woman in men's clothing whacking a man over the head and pointing out where his stitches were wrong. It was possibly the strangest thing she'd seen that day...and her tolerance for unbelievable events had reached levels that were frankly concerning. A different age and her sudden willingness to believe anything would have made her mad as a Targaryen.
As they reached the correct floor it was easy to tell the majority of the floor had been turned into a hall of learning. The tables and benches with paper laid out for the men's lessons. At the far end was Joran standing guard by a door with Daisy's eagle alone carved into it. The man stepped away from the door, slightly towards them before bowing to her. "Lady Stark, can I aid you?" He straightened looking at her curiously.
Sansa appreciated what she'd seen of Joran, he'd proven to be devotedly loyal to Daisy since that first day the Bolton's had been struck down. And she'd always have...perhaps the slightest of soft spots for the panicked man with the blood of his fellow men at arms on his person; who'd not slept for three days in service to securing Winterfell. It'd been too bad, though understandable he'd sworn himself to Daisy instead of House Stark. "Joran, I was wishing to speak with her Holiness."
"Ah, she's on the roof." He gestured to the narrow staircase further up.
Sansa glanced at the door. "Why guard her rooms then?"
"She instructed me to ensure Fitz does not leave until he's slept for ten hours. He is also not to be left unescorted from now on, and she is to be informed of what he chooses to do." Joran explained automatically.
It would seem she had yet more stairs to climb. "I will leave you to your task then." She looked at Brienne. "Remain here, I'm not in any danger from her Holiness."
Brienne's jaw ticked slightly, but she tipped her head in acknowledgement. "My Lady."
"Thank you." Sansa gave the faintest of smiles to her sworn sword, and then turned and took to the stairs. It didn't take her long to come out into the open. The cold air nipping at her exposed face, the tower nearly impossible to see with the inky blackness of the night. But there was enough light from below to show the dark outline of Daisy sitting on the balustrade of the tower. Her heart ached for her.
Sansa walked to where the other woman sat. She had no doubt her presence had already been noticed. Instead she simply asked what she'd felt compelled to find her...friend and ask. "Do you wish to speak of it?"
Daisy was quiet for so long Sansa nearly thought she wouldn't say anything. But finally when she did speak there was a crack to her voice. "I miss cereal." She shifted slightly. "It's stupid, it's just a dumb shitty breakfast food. But I miss Captain Crunch cereal and that's all I can think about."
"Missing home is never stupid." Sansa felt the faintest flickers of fear, but ignored the tightening in her stomach and climbed up onto the bullastrade besides Daisy. A strong but gentle grip caught her arm, ensuring she remained balanced as she moved so her feet were hanging off the side as she sat beside her. It was certainly undignified, but well who'd see?
Daisy's barely legible face looked at her in the dark. "Don't you have work to do? I mean Fitz's coil had to have freaked out like...everyone."
"It did." Sansa wouldn't insult her by minimizing that. "As did his display by the face tree."
Daisy's hand let go of her arm. "Then why are you here?"
"Because they'll still be alarmed in the light of a new day." Sansa was fairly ambivalent to the unease the sights of the day might have caused. As the sun rose, and no one was harmed it'd pass. Or rather seeing Fitz and Daisy the following day would ease tensions. A week of no changes and arrival of more Lords for the looming Moot and it'd be…. not forgotten, but it wouldn't remain terrifying either. She continued to speak when Daisy didn't respond. "I am sorry your path home will be longer."
Daisy huffed slightly. "It's stupid, I'd guessed this would be the result. The vibrations here are...so close to home but not quite. I could have guessed."
She wondered what would help? Because her friend or maybe confidant was in pain. "I am sorry you've been taken from your home."
"That's most idiotic part." Daisy scoffed, a certain wet quality to her voice that was alarming to hear. "I don't even have a home. It's so different here, the way you dress, talk..just..it's bafflingly different. The air feels different to me. And my friends, my team, my whole world is out there and anything could be happening to them and all I can think about is how I want Captain Crunch cereal." She laughed but it was without humor. "How pathetic is that."
Sansa didn't have anything to say to that. Because what was there? The awful helplessness of knowing those you loved were in danger and you couldn't even see their faces. It was one of the worst sensations Sansa had had the misfortune to know. So she did what she'd wished someone could have done for her. She reached out and laid her hand over Daisy's and just squeezed her hand and remained beside her.
It was funny, for all the power Daisy's hands contained they were remarkably human. And she so clearly felt everything as deeply as any human. So this was what Sansa could do. And it mattered. She knew it because Daisy turned her hand over, linking their fingers and squeezing back ever so gently. Her hand warm, the soft rub of hard won callouses evident to the touch. And so they sat there silently in the dark, and Sansa let her companion grieve for the delay of hope and home.