A/N: Sorry for the long delay. I promise I'm still working on this rather diligently, I just have a few other projects going on right now as well. Hopefully this one makes up for it.

Time

"No way you've got to be joking. This is incredible!" Callum grinned at Buffy and Faith who were a lot more wary.

"I assure you, I do not jest."

"You said 'former queen', so you know that Camelot is gone, right?" Faith asked.

Her shoulders drooped, "I said former Queen because I abdicated the throne when I was released from my marriage bonds to Arthur."

"Oh, right… that makes sense," Faith said, a little embarrassed.

Guinevere eyed Faith, "You have tasted blood."

"We all have. Comes with getting clocked in the jaw."

"True, but we both know that's not what I meant. I believe we may be a kin of sorts, perhaps you should come inside."

With that, Lady Guinevere turned to lead them into her cottage. Buffy caught Faith's eye, before following her. A silent agreement passed between the two of them that something wasn't right.

"Please, have a seat," she said, gesturing towards a large rough hune table with bench seats. The cottage was quaint and clean. The walls were plastered, and smooth, crisscrossed with dark coloured beams, a style that screamed old world and yet was in pristine condition. There were dried flowers and herbs hanging from several places. Buffy had almost expected the floor to be dirt, but it wasn't. It was gleaming hardwood from what she could see, although that was difficult to tell thanks to the fact it was mostly covered with rugs. Some of which looked like animal pelts. Others were clearly handmade, woven out of some sort of cloth or perhaps wool. A set of dark wooden stairs lead up to a second floor.

Overall the place had a somewhat whimsical feel which was only emphasized by things that seemed almost purposefully out of place. Everything screamed medieval times. However, there were certain things that she wouldn't have expected such as the wood burning cook stove in the kitchen, rather than a simple cooking fire. Buffy supposed that it might be possible that this was simply a mark of Guinevere's wealth and status, however, that didn't seem to add up. It was a rather large cottage that seemed like it had been built for a large family instead of a couple living on their own. It was certainly far too large for a single person.

Guinevere busied herself, arranging small cakes, or maybe they were scones, onto a plate and placed them on the table. As the three of them sat down, "Would you care for tea or a glass of water?" She looked at each of them expectantly. Buffy couldn't help noticing the way she kept glancing at the sword.

"Please tell me, how did Camelot fall?" Her hand gripped convulsively, her eyes unblinking, and Callum held the sword a little tighter, uncomfortable under her intense stare.

Callum shifted in his seat, "Well, it happened a long time ago. There's some debate. A lot of people don't even believe that it really existed at all, your highness."

"Oh my dear boy, it's been years since anyone has called me that," her voice had grown weary. She suddenly sounded very old indeed. She sat down, taking one of the scones and breaking off a small piece. "How did you come in possession of my husband's sword?"

"Oh that would be me. My boyfriend and I came across it. I'm what we call a Slayer, so is Faith. It's sort of our job to look into this kind of weird stuff."

The former queen nodded solemnly, "Oh yes, Slayers of course. I should've known the line would have continued. Although how, I should like to know."

"How do you know about Slayers?" Faith asked.

"The same way you do, I suspect."

"Wait what?" Buffy sputtered and was almost relieved to hear Faith sounded just as shocked as she did.

"You? You're a Slayer?"

"Yes of course. It was one of the many reasons why Arthur initially thought he should want me as his queen. He of course didn't know I was a Slayer. He did know I was a strong willed woman and unafraid of the battlefield unlike so many women. He liked that I was not a timid, fragile flower. I thought perhaps he would make a fine match, such a strong king. How foolish I was," she shook her head, "I'm afraid that is neither here, nor there. Pray tell me, how the two of you came to me today. I was under the impression that there could only be one Slayer and since I have been here all this time I did not think there could be another."

"Yeah that's sorta—" Buffy started but was cut off.

Guinevere continued musing as though she couldn't hear Buffy. "In my experience, the Powers that Be, always find a way," she paused and thought for a moment, looking wistful, "Oh dear, unless…" she tapped her cheek thoughtfully, "Perhaps the time the Wizard Merlin brought me back from death with the kiss of life was enough to call my replacement."

"Yeah that's sort of how Faith got called."

"Suppose that doesn't really surprise me. Merlin had told me that I had died in that moment and that it was enough to break my marriage bond to Arthur. I always suspected he only told me that to ease my mind about leaving with Lancelot, however now I wonder otherwise."

Callum leaned on his elbows, clasping his hands in front of himself. His curiosity edging out his unease. "That's fascinating,'' he said eagerly, "so you really did run off with Lancelot. Wow. And then what? You just got married and moved here?"

"Not precisely. We were married soon after we departed, yes. However we first lived in a little village where no one knew me by sight. We lived quite happily for many years, in fact. Until the people in our village realized I no longer seemed to grow older and they became frightened of me. We then moved to another village where I pretended to be my husband's daughter until we came here."

"Wait. Is that how you're still alive? When did that happen, when did you stop aging?" Buffy asked in a rush, earning a scathing look from Faith.

"What are you talking about, B?"

Buffy ignored Faith.

Guinevere gave Buffy a quizzical look. "Oh yes, of course. Merlin said it was part of being a Slayer, the 'pull of death' he called it. I had left the life of a Slayer behind when I left Arthur you see. I no longer wished to fight the Dennisons of evil. I wanted nothing more than to live a simple, quiet life with the man I loved. My desire to be with him outweighed my desire to fight the darkness and once I no longer felt the pull of death the only time I ever fought such creatures was when they would come to our village."

"So you just took early retirement?" Faith, asked incredulously.

Buffy couldn't ignore the tinkling of warning bells going off in her head. There was something in Guinevere's tone and mannerisms, a sort of strange detachment that she found utterly unnerving.

Guinevere canted her head towards Faith as though she were a bird trying to figure out something she didn't understand. It struck Buffy that maybe she really didn't understand the question, especially when she proceeded to ignore it, and Faith. Instead she turned her attention towards Buffy. "I imagine that is precisely why I am alive. I believe you had another question."

"Yeah, when did it take effect, when did you stop ageing?"

Faith looked confused but Buffy still wouldn't let her interrupt, she needed answers, they all did.

"I don't have any idea, truth be told. It was soon after we left Camelot I suppose and I no longer felt the pull. I simply attributed that to being free of my previous duties. I didn't even notice at first but it must have been sometime after my 25th year. It had been several years before it became apparent that no lasting harm could befall me and that I seem to be staying forever young. With Merlin's help we eventually came here, to a place where he could guarantee my safety. He simply moved our home to this place."

"What happened to your husband?"

"He left one day on one of his adventures, leaving me with everything I could ever wish for in this enchanted place. He said he would return but he never did. I've always suspected the worst."

Buffy frowned, she felt sorry for her. She was starting to wonder if maybe what really had her hackles up was simply recognizing the grief this woman must have felt at being left alone. She knew that grief could do strange things to people but maybe that wasn't all. Guinevere seemed to be full of old world manners but there was nothing behind the eyes. Nothing but the occasional flicker of something that reminded her eerily of Angelus but that Buffy couldn't quite pinpoint, which only intensified the feeling of detachment she conveyed. If this is what an extended life does to the soul it begged the question; is it more of a curse than a blessing? This was apparently the one Slayer in all of history who had lived past the expiration date and she didn't seem any better for it. Guinevere was clearly a lonely soul. She had lost her husband, possibly many others if they had children now she thought about it. How did that work anyway? Or was this what happened when a Slayer abandoned her calling?

She looked around the room at some of the out of time items dotted around. Gifts from family in the real world? But then how did the demons get the sword? How long had she been here? Alone. Buffy thought about her own little chosen family she had created for herself. Giles, Willow, Xan, Spike, hell even Faith. Faith who had become sort of like a close cousin. She glanced up at her, catching Faith's eye and she could tell that her thoughts were running along the same path as Buffy's.

Faith stood up suddenly, stretching, and drawing Guinevere's attention to herself. "Mind if I take a look around? I just need to stretch my legs." She didn't wait for an answer before she strode towards a fireplace in what looked like a sitting room. There were a number of curious items on top of the mantle that had caught her eye. She took her ax with her as though it was her security blanket.

Guinevere nodded, "By all means. I live a rather quiet life here. I can't remember the last time I had visitors."

Now that did sound strange considering the concealed entrance literally had a lock on it. Buffy's unease was growing quickly. And where the hell was Spike anyway?

Outside in the cave, Spike was struggling desperately with the raft. The current caused by the waterfall seemed to be directing the raft in the opposite direction he needed to go to get to the ring. It took him several minutes before he was able to get close enough but once he did, the raft easily slid up right next to the wall next to the ring.

"Sure Buffy, whatever you want Buffy. Hell if she ain't got you by the short and curlies, William, old boy. This sodden little excursion had better be bloody worth it!" he grumbled loudly as he finished tying the raft to the ring.

He sighed as he straightened up, "Definitely taking this out of her sweet little ass later," he smirked and made his way over to the opening his companions had disappeared through.

Before he could step through, he felt a cold wet hand on his shoulder. He turned his head towards it. Nothing. He looked up to the cave ceiling to see if water was dripping down, but he didn't see anything that could've caused it.

The feeling returned and skimmed down his arm, gripping his bicep firmly this time. There was no mistaking it now, he looked down at his arm and saw what appeared to be a disembodied hand, made entirely out of water digging into the taught muscle..

"What the hell?" He murmured before he was forcibly thrown back from the door, and into the water.

Spike struggled against the suddenly churning water. Eventually he was able to pull himself to the surface, and popped up like a cork. The water suddenly stilled as he began to tread. Looking around, he saw nothing.

"Alright then. Who the bloody hell did that? Show yourself."

Out of the water came a figure. Shimmering as though made of water itself, "Hello vampire," said a hollow voice in, "What is a creature like you doing in a place like this?'' it asked.

"Bloody hell, I'm one of the good guys, if you haven't noticed!"

The watery figure defined itself a little more, becoming that of a naked woman, as it twisted its way towards him. Spike continued to tread.

"You have no business here."

"I bloody well beg to differ. I've got plenty of business here, Slayer business, in fact."

"I'm sure you do. How came you to know of the Slayer within?"

"Slayers, you nit. And I came with them. Two Slayers in fact and you don't see me dead. Do you? Not dusty am I? Even have it in mind to marry the one."

The water spirit cocked its head towards Spike as though trying to understand his words, "Do you take me for fool?"

"This ain't getting us nowhere." He grumbled as he pulled himself back up onto the stone ledge, mostly ignoring the water spirit. "If I was going to hurt anybody, why the hell would I bring the two most experienced Slayers in the world with me?"

"Because of the Slayer within of course. She is why you are here is she not?"

"A Slayer? In there? We're here for treasure. What are you talking about?"

"Lancelot's greatest treasure was his wife. The lady Guinevere. This is her safe haven. I am the guard."

"Guard and how come you let those three in and how come you're only showing yourself now?" he asked.

"Because you have only tried to get in now. I am here to guard against creatures of the night, not visitors carrying the key."

"I am an alley. You stupid bint!!!" Spike, growled.

"If you are an ally as you claim then tell me, what is the gift of a Slayer."

"Riddles is it? Not a very good one. You don't think I know my future wife's gift? Death is her gift."

"Is that gift given or received?"

"That's a trick question, it's both."

"Do you know what happens when a Slayer fails to receive this gift?"

"Fancy, I got a good idea. Girl, get's to live forever, more or less."

"Very good, vampire. And do you have any idea what happens when all of her loved ones are gone?"

There was a sickening clawing at the inside of his head and he swallowed hard, "Are you telling me there is a lonely, insane Slayer in there, and that my girlfriend and our mates are in there with her?"

"You sound genuinely concerned."

"Damn right I am! I've seen firsthand what a whacked out Slayer looks like! I still got the scars to prove it!" He gestured to the very thin scars, running in a perfect line around each of his forearms, "Bloody thing cut my hands off. had to have them put back on."

If Spike didn't know any better, he would say that the water spirit raised an eyebrow at him although it was hard to tell seeing as the creature was composed of nothing but water. "What happened to this Slayer, you faced?"

Spike shrugged, "You'd have to ask my lady. She took care of things. Sent her to some hospital or other to get help. I don't really know, I haven't seen her since."

"I fear there is no such help for the Slayer within. She is calm now, but it won't last long."

"Are you going to let me in or not?"

"I will give you this chance, vampire. If I find you have initiated violence upon my charge I will come after you."

"Yeah, yeah like that ain't nothing I've never heard before. Can't make any guarantees if she comes at me. You know that right? I won't be held accountable for self defense."

The water spirit considered this, "I imagine that is how you have stayed alive. I will allow it," the spirit sounded dejected.

"So can I go and see what my mates are up to? Figure out what they've got themselves into in there."

The water spirit inclined her head, "You may pass," she said, slipping into the water, "I fear the time has come."

"Oh sure, leave with an ominous message. How much more cliché can you get?" He huffed as he went along with caution until he came to the archway, "Bloody hell if that ain't sodding strange. Through the looking glass we go," he mused, taking a few steps into the forest clearing. The magic was almost tangible and it set his teeth on edge.

"Where did you say you found my husband's sword?"

"Oh, huh yeah I don't think I got to that. My boyfriend and I took out a demon a couple of weeks ago, he had it. I was just going to keep it until we figured out it wasn't just a regular sword."

"This 'boyfriend', he is your intended, yes?"

"Yes, he is."

"And he has not escorted you?"

For a Slayer she is really old fashioned, Buffy thought to herself, "He's around. I'm sure he will be here soon."

"Funny how these things happen," the former queen replied as though she wasn't at all interested in what Buffy was actually saying. Instead her full attention was on the sword, "I must say I am glad you found it. I haven't seen it in years," Guinevere reached across the table where Callum had laid it. She picked it up and placed it back down on the table in front of her. Her fingers skimmed the blade. It's been far too long since I've wielded such a weapon."

"It's pretty impressive. I can't believe it's in such great shape given its age," Callum interjected. He was still in awe of the situation he found himself in.

"Age means little. Time means nothing," Guinevere murmured in a deadened tone. It made the hair on Buffy's neck stand up. Where the hell was Spike?

"Oh I don't know. A lot can happen in a short period of time."

"Perhaps it seems so when you are young. For me time seems to stand still."

"When was the last time you were outside?" Callum asked.

"I'm frequently outside, it is where I found you."

"No, I mean—"

"You have a really nice place here, Gwen," Faith interrupted. She shot Callum a warning look and for the first time he seemed to realize there was more to the situation than he originally thought.

Callum looked to Faith and Buffy who both seemed relaxed at first glance but were ready to attack if needed. He was no novice when it came to brawls or fights in the ring but the context of the situation had thrown him off his guard. He suddenly felt very foolish and straightened up, tensing a little. Guinevere was still examining the blade with her fingers.

"It must get lonely around here." He said, trying to keep the conversation light.

"I have my goats and the chickens. I go on hunts."

"What do you hunt?" Callum asked conversationally and Buffy was a little nervous to hear the answer.

"The many descendants of the animals, Merlin and my husband, brought to live in the wood here. Deer, rabbits, squirrels, waterfowl, and the like. It keeps me entertained most days and puts food on my table."

"That sounds nice," Buffy replied mostly because she didn't know what else to say. Hunting furry animals wasn't her thing, but the idea of a Slayer without something to kill or hunt? Well, the idea didn't settle well with Buffy at all. She didn't need to hunt deer and squirrels. What she needed were vampires and demons. Things with teeth and claws. Things that got her blood pumping and sated the Slayer within. She should have been out in the world, but for some reason she was here. That alone would be enough to make anyone crazy.

There were times when she thought about how it must've been for Faith in prison. True, Faith was there of her own freewell. Trying to get herself under control, and putting forth a considerable effort into rehabilitating herself, but at least she had other humans to fight, if the need arose.

Buffy and Faith had both made great strides to truly understand what it was to be a Slayer and it was something they tried to convey to their students. A chill ran through Buffy as she attempted to wrap her head around what hundreds of years of relative isolation could potentially do to a Slayer. Especially one who seemed to have taken more time to suppress her nature rather than embrace it.

The woman in front of her had clearly done just that. Going against everything her instincts told her to do. She had stayed cooped up for far too long. She needed to go out. She needed to kill. She needed to fight. Instead, she was sitting still. Stagnant. Now it was too late.

Guinevere stood holding the sword and her three visitors tensed. "Oh I have missed this," she crooned as she ran the sword through the air with swift practiced movements. There was a look of manic glee in her eyes. Buffy had seen that look before.

Buffy stood as well. She moved slowly but made a frantic gesture towards Callum from beneath the table. "Well, we really only wanted to return the sword and—"

"Oh you mustn't leave, we have only just met. Please stay, I can put on a kettle, it's no trouble at all," she said quickly as she laid the sword back down on the table and gilded swiftly over toward the pump sink (another thing out of place) and started to fill a cast iron kettle. Something about the movement and her sudden change in tone reminded Buffy of Drusilla.

Guinevere was still at the sink when there was a knock at the door. Buffy's heart leapt.

"Oh my! More company. This is a very unusual day."

Buffy moved to the door, "That would be my guy."

"Lovely."

"Just don't be freaked out though. He's going to need an invitation because he's a—"

"Vampire!" Guinevere let out an inhuman shriek. Something had changed in her. Her face suddenly seemed gaunt and a hungry look consumed her features. Suddenly she was charging towards the door grabbing the sword from the table with a practiced swiftness.

"Hey Queenie!" Faith yelled as she threw a carved wooden figurine, it didn't stop Guinevere but it was enough to distract her, if only for a moment.

"Insolence!" She seethed, "That is a vampire!"

"Well spotted," Spike mumbled, "Nice visit with the lunatic Slayer you're having then?"

Faith dodged a powerful swing of the sword and managed to punch Guinevere in the jaw. Guinevere came down on the back of Faith's head with the pummel of the sword.

Callum grabbed Guinevere from behind, lifting her off the ground. The sword dropped. Guinevere kicked violently and managed to get enough leverage to flip Callum over. He landed on the floor hard. Guinevere screamed again, "Vampire!"

Spike's eyes widened almost comically as Buffy turned to engage the mad woman. Faith shot Callum a glance as she recovered from the blow and joined Buffy against her.

"He's a friend. A good vampire!" Faith huffed as she kicked her back into Buffy.

Buffy managed to get Guinevere's sinewy frame into an arm lock, "Listen. Please just- calm down. He's not just a vampire. That's my boyfriend. The one who found the sword with me. He—"

"Vampire!!!" She screeched again. Her face was more drawn and gaunt than before. This time she threw her head back to headbutt Buffy. The force of it made Buffy release her grip on her and fall back a little.

Guinevere and Faith grabbed for the sword while Buffy gripped Guinevere by her dress, pulling her back away from Faith.

"Forget it! Get your boy and let's get out, leave nuts-o-plenty to her own devices would you!" Spike spat, pounding his fists on the barrier blocking him from the fight.

"Can't. Do. That." Faith grunted as she managed to get the sword. Buffy continued her fight against Guinevere, toppling over the table. Faith tossed Buffy the sword which she caught. In a swirl of fabric Guinevere kicked Buffy's arm before she was able to adjust her grip and the sword went flying.

Guinevere rolled for the sword, picking it up as she went and lunged for Faith.

Faith gave a jerk of her head in challenge as she blocked a strike from the sword with her ax.

Buffy kicked Guinevere and grabbed her long flowing hair, "I don't normally stoop to hair pulling. But for you I'll—"

Buffy's quip was cut short with a knee in her gut.

Faith took advantage of the renewed fight by dragging a semi-conscious Callum towards the door. Once over the threshold, Spike pulled Callum out into the cool grass and started slapping his cheeks to revive him. Callum groaned.

"Can you sit up, mate?"

Callum sat up, "I've taken some hits before but, shit." He rubbed his palm against the back of his head where it had smacked against the floor.

Spike patted him on the shoulder and went back over to the door where Buffy was still trying her best to subdue Guinevere, or at least disarm her.

"Buffy get out of there already!"

"I can't leave her with the sword!" Buffy replied as she dodged another attack from the fury of Guinevere's insane rage. Faith was back in the fight now but Guinevere still held her own.

"How exactly do you plan to get it off of her? Chick might be like 1,000 but she hasn't. Lost. A. Step." Faith punctuated each word with a hit.

"Oi! Ya barmy bitch! Bit of big bad is what you want ain't it? Well come get me!"

"Spike! Are you delusional?! I'm trying to keep her inside!"

"Yeah? And how's that working out? Least out here—"

Guinevere rushed towards Spike at an ungodly speed. Buffy barely had time to twist herself around towards Spike. The sword plunged straight through her, the threshold barrier and into Spike as well; pinning them together.

"Spike?" Buffy sputtered. Her eyes were wide.

A look of horror overtook him as he pushed himself against the threshold, away from her and off of the blade. Not caring for the gaping hole in his own body.

He was looking aghast at Buffy, the sword sticking straight through her, "God no, Buffy, you daft bird. It wouldn't have hurt me. God what did you do?"

"Buffy!" Faith lurched towards Guinevere in a rage. "You bitch!" She screamed. Wielding her own ax she sent Guinevere's head rolling in a single stroke.

Guinevere's lifeless body fell to the ground, "No harm my ass!" She snapped before she was at Buffy's back. "God B…" she held Buffy steady as she gripped the sword, "This is going to hurt," her voice trembled as she pulled the sword out of her. Buffy collapsed into Spike's arms as they both sank down to the ground, the threshold having died with its occupant.

The sword clattered from Faith's hand and Callum rushed towards them. He gingerly pushed past Buffy and Spike huddled on the floor, heading straight for Faith wrapping her in his arms before she too collapsed. They knelt there next to Spike and Buffy, their eyes fixed upon the sight in front of them. Spike cradled Buffy to him much in the same way he had held Ruby. Except that Buffy had a large bloody gash through her chest and Spike was rocking with her in his arms.

"Buffy? Oh God, Love, no, not again, not again. Please don't do this, not again," tears were streaming as he held her.

Buffy reached up to him gripping his cheek, "Look at me. I love you, you idiot."

"You are not going to do this to me again, do you hear me? Not again. Stay with me. I can't do this without you. Buffy, please…" he held her to his chest crying as she closed her eyes.