Title: Well of Realms Author: Nightmelody email: nightmelody@hotmail.com Season: post Chosen Summary: Yet another human-Spike- post Chosen fic. Pairing: S/B Rating: R Disclaimer: The Buffyverse belongs to Joss Whedon Chapter Eighteen Captured Spike and Dawn stood at the edge of the well, waiting. Dawn had changed her black leather for a floral bathing suit that belonged to Kate. She was holding on to Spike's hand, both excited and scared. "I wonder how I can open it. With Glory, it took blood." Spike nodded. "I remember. But I don't think this will be anything like that." They watched the witches perform the locating spell, and then it was time. A small fairy light hovered over the pool for a moment, and then dived in. Spike grabbed Dawn's hand, and they both gulped a breath of air before plunging into the pool. A small steely strong hand wrapped around Spike's leather weapon belt. Buffy leaped in, too. The fairy light took them away from the current, down, where the water turned dark green and murky, where breathing was becoming an issue. Spike hit a wall, and Buffy slammed into his back. Dawn ran into the wall, and it.. dissolved. The three of them were flung with a wave onto hard ground. Spike turned to Buffy, livid. "Bloody Hell, woman!. What were you thinking? We could be getting in to anything here! It's bloody dangerous!" Buffy narrowed her eyes. "I'm still a slayer. And I know it could be dangerous. That's my baby sister you have with you, you know. Plus I am not taking the chance of losing you now, you idiot!" "Uh, guys. Could you focus, please?" Dawn's tense voice got the couple's attention. They were surrounded by tall lean men with long white hair. Each held a sharp weapon, pointed at them. "You will come with us," One long haired man said. "Wait," said Buffy. "How come we can understand them?" "Part of the well's charm," Spike answered, as a captor reached down and took his axe. "Well, crap. And it survived the journey, too." They seemed to be in a garden, with very white gleaming walkways and flowers that weren't familiar. Their captors refused to answer any questions, and hurried them to a large white building where they were shoved into a small room. "You will give account of yourselves to King Jalar," said one captor as he smoothed some type of door in place. "Well, at least they don't have tusks and want to eat us." Spike said. "We don't really know that they don't want to eat us," Dawn pointed out. "Maybe they just want to clean us and marinate us first." She shivered. "Thanks for that mind picture, Dawn," Buffy sat down next to her. There was nothing to do but wait. The room was completely bare, all gleaming white stone It wasn't long, less than an hour, before their captors returned. "I wish I had something to wear besides this lame swimming suit," Dawn complained. "At least it drys quickly," Buffy said. "I still feel all squishy. And, is it my imagination, or are a lot of men gawking at us?" The corridor was full of tall white haired men, who seemed to be staring at her and Dawn, particularly. "So, what's are plan? Do we have a plan?" Spike asked, glaring at the men who were crowding the gleaming hallway, spilling out of doorways. "Um...No? Ask where Emma is and demand they give her back?" Buffy scooted a little closer to Spike and pulled Dawn closer, too. Some of the observers were starting to crowd. "Aren't you two gonna, like, fight our way out of here?" Dawn asked. "Isn't that what bad asses like you do?" "I don't think we can fight our way out of this," said Spike. "There are hundreds. But I probably can call the water if things get dicey." "Call the water? What's that?" Buffy asked. Spike glanced at the guards. "Tell you later." Buffy nodded. They were led into a cavernous chamber, all white but carved in intricate design. A throne on a dias was occupied by a man of middle years, with the long white hair, woven in an intricate design. Seated in a half circle behind him were a dozen or so men, mostly elderly. "O King Jalar, we bring you the invaders." The three of them were thrown at his feet. "Why have you entered the land of Aeld?" the king spoke. Spike spoke. "A woman was taken. We followed a locator to this place, this land of Aeld. We want to take her back home with us." "Liar!" thundered the king. "You have tried to breech our wards before!" "I have been to your wall before, but that was on another matter." Spike said. "You will tell me how you got through our wall, and why." "I am the new guardian of the Well of Realms. I was given a task, to find the pieces of an ancient scroll that is strewn throughout many worlds. The scroll would be of great value on my world, to prevent a series of disasters." "You come from a cusp world. A world in which demon, human and fair folk intermingle. Your world will never be serene." "True. But the disasters that have threatened us in these years have been of a magnitude that humans are in danger of being destroyed. And there are few fair folk in our lands now." Spike reached for Buffy's hand. "My wife has died twice, as the Chosen one, to stop apocalypses. And I died, not long ago, to stay the hand of the First Evil." An old man approached the king and whispered in his ear. The king turned his attention back to Spike. "Your world was recently saved by a demon. You are not a demon." "Not now. But I was at that time. A vampire." "And in this short time you have gained human form and a wife?" "We were allies before. She is--was--the slayer." "How did you break through our wards?" Spike looked at Buffy and Dawn. Would it put Dawn in danger if he told? "That would be me." Dawn stood up "You are little more than a child," said the king. "I am Dawn. I am the key--I open doors between worlds. And he's telling the truth! We only came because we're looking for Emma." "We do not have your woman!" "Please, sir, " Buffy spoke. " The woman we seek is very young, hardly older than Dawn. She is pregnant and near her time. And her small daughter was with her." The king reared back in his throne. "What color is her hair?" "It's light brown," said Spike. "She wears it in a long braid down her back." The king rose swiftly. "Take them back to their chamber to await my further instructions." He turned to the group of men behind him. "We retire to the council chamber, NOW!" "I'd say ol' King Jalar is a little hacked off." Spike said when they were back in their room. "And that may be a good thing. Because I don't think he's pissed off at us." While they had been gone fruit, bread and water had been set on a small table in the center of the room, along with several cushions. Dawn reached for an apple but Spike grabbed it out of her hand. "I wouldn't eat any of this. These folk--tall, thin, white hair, elegant craftsmanship, pomp and circumstance--We're dealing with the Fair folk. And they are notorious for putting enchantments in food. Didn't you ever read your fairy tales?"