Chapter One

Disclaimer: Buffy and Co is owner by Joss Whedon all rights remain with Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Dungeons & Dragons: Forgotten Realms’ by Wizards.
The Original characters are mine.

A/N: This is my first fan fic. Hope you like it.


Prologue

A busy café somewhere in London:

A long, brown haired man sits down at one of the café’s tables and says “How ya doing Mick?”

Mick grins at his old friend “I’m good, wasn’t sure if you’d show up or not, anyway how are you keeping but from the look of you very well, you’ve put on some muscle since we last met”.

The newcomer grinned. “Swinging a sword will do that to ya.”

“Darial, we have a problem. Do you remember the Slayer?” asked Mick with a concerned look.

“Buffy? Yes of course, why?”

Mick catches the eye of the waitress and indicates with a slight gesture to bring his friend a coffee then says to Darial “The ‘Powers That Be’ have engineered it so that she dies in a few days.” He holds his hand up to forestall Darial’s protest. “They leaked information to a Hell Goddess called Glorificus about a way to open up a portal back to her own dimension by using the Key. What they didn’t tell Glorificus is that the Order of Dagon has been working on a magical way of turning the Key into a human being, which they succeeded in doing by the way.” Mick watched Dar’s anger grow to almost boiling point.

Darial locked eyes with Mick and softly said “I take it you want me to kill this Glorificus…consider it done.”

Mick shook his head “No, I want you to recover the Slayer’s Scythe from a Vineyard in Sunnydale and let Buffy’s fight with Glorificus continue. She needs to do this, but, I’m not going to let her die, instead I’m going to send her to Toril and hopefully you’ll be able to help her adjust.”

Darial considers his friends request for a few moments while the waitress sets a cup of coffee down in front of him. Dar nods his thanks to the girl before he continues to study Mick. “Ok, I’ll do it, but why send her to Toril, it’s not like the place is over run with vampires, why not just let her live out her life here?”

Mick shook his head “I wish I could. The problem is that other higher and lower beings want to use her for their own purposes and one of those wants to use Buffy to give the First a foot hold on Earth. That’s something I simply can’t allow to happen, but I really don’t want Buffy to die. She’s given up so much to protect this world.” With a tinkle in his eye, he says “You never know, she just might find immortality.”

Dar ignored Mick’s baiting and replied, “Why are you asking me and not one of the other members of the family? Lea is more than capable of protecting Buffy, probably more qualified than I am, and besides he has a thing for small blondes.”

Mick studied his friend. “Well, James Lea has just gotten married.”

Dar almost fell off his chair at that statement. “He got married?! How did that happen? Who’s the poor sod that said yes?”

Mick grinned. “The poor sod that said yes was Aly, and she’s very happy.”

Dar grunted. “Well she always was looking for a fixer-upper, but feck Aly…She didn’t get a bang on the head, did she? Have you checked for a parasitic alien buried in her brain?”

Mick groaned quietly to himself “Aly was in her right mind. She’s been in love with him for ages...just don’t start. Yes, I could have called Natalia or any of them, but I thought you’d like to do it. Was I right? And you know as well as I, that had I asked Nat, she would immediately fall in love with Buffy and seduce her. And I’m not sure Buffy really needs another relationship right now. I don’t think Nat would be the best one to look after someone who’s on the rebound.”

“Yeah, isn’t that the truth. When she falls, she falls big time. Anyway, how is Nat? I haven’t seen her in, forever.”

Mick grinned, “She’s good, she’s just discovered the concept of friend’s with benefits. Oh and Lea made Louise CEO of Royston Industries, Savannah moved into the mansion, Tabs is still at the B&B. I think we’re going to need about a thousand tons of TNT to shift her out of it. Chen is still researching new spells. The last one he created he has called Chen’s Blazing Balls. It is a variant of the Fireball and Flaming Sphere spells. Elminster hinted that blowing up half the realms really wasn’t the smartest idea of Chen’s, but they worked it out. I think that’s about it, that’s worth mentioning.”

Mick’s face suddenly took on a serious look. “Dar, you must not bring Buffy back to this universe while she’s still the Slayer. If you do, it will seriously damage the balance between good and evil, and that will give the First a way to get that foothold I mentioned earlier. And try and keep her away from the portals that link to this world.”

Chapter 1

Buffy launched herself off the tower’s platform and spread her arms out just as she hit the magical energy from the portal. She was expecting it to hurt but instead it felt invigorating, then out of the corner of her eye she saw a humanoid made out of pure golden light, hanging in the middle of the portal. The words “Don’t worry, Dawn and your friends are going to be fine” entered Buffy’s mind as she continued to fall through the portal. Buffy prepared herself to meet death, only death seemed to be taking its time. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of ‘THUD’ followed very quickly by “Ouch”. Buffy opened her eyes to find herself looking at mud and gravel just in front of her nose. This really didn’t feel like death, being dead wasn’t supposed to hurt, and shouldn’t feel like a stone jamming in to her pelvic bone.

A wailing sound drifted from the west followed by the sound of drums. Buffy groaned as she picked herself up from the ground. “That doesn’t sound good…in fact it sounds very much of the bad,” she muttered to herself. She then did a quick inventory of what she had on her; a dagger, a stake and some loose change. Not the best stuff to have when you’ve just arrived in some kind of Hell dimension. She paid more attention to her surroundings. Buffy found herself standing on the side of a rocky mountain path that looked like it had been made by the local wildlife. The sun was high in the sky, making it possibly early afternoon. Just as Buffy was taking into her surroundings, a smallish creature wielding a very rusty but sharp looking axe charged at her from lower down the path. Buffy instantly went into Slayer mode and launched into a spinning kick, snapping the creature’s neck, killing it before its body hit the ground. Several feet away, more of the creatures raced up the path towards Buffy. The Slayer dispatched them quickly, only to discover that the ones she had just killed were replaced by another ten. “Oh great, there are hundreds of them.” Just as Buffy was mentally prepared herself for a major battle, several of the creatures suddenly grew arrows from their foreheads. The creatures stopped charging Buffy and looked around to see others of their kind lying dead on the ground. The creatures started to run back down the path as another volley of arrows took out the ones closest to the pretty human girl.

Buffy looked around to see where the arrows had come from. She noticed a man carrying a long bow coming down the mountain. Her superhuman eye sight told Buffy that it wasn’t a man but something else. He was inhumanly graceful, hardly disturbing the loose shingle underfoot as he made his way towards her. The fact he had pointed ears very similar to Vulcans on Star Trek. There was something familiar about the figure and then it hit her who he was. “Darial! Is that you?”

His face broke out into a grin “Hey Buff, who else would it be?” Dar chuckled and then lifted her into a hug. “Long time no see.”

Buffy gasped “Air, I need air.” Darial laughed as he put her back down on to her feet. “It’s good to see you. You’ve grown since we last saw each other.”

Buffy blushed. “You’ve changed too, you’ve grown all muscley.” Buffy’s face grew a deeper shade of red. She’d forgotten how Darial made her feel all small and girly. Buffy quickly changed the subject. “So where am I and how did I get here? Well, I know how I got here, but where is here…I’m going to stop talking now.”

Dar grinned then said, “You’re on a world called Toril, or Faérun to most of its inhabitants, which means home and it’s my home too. Anyway we’d better make a move away from here before those goblins come back in greater numbers and try to overwhelm us; personally I don’t want your first day here to contain a slaughter.”

Buffy looked around and raised an eyebrow. “I think we’re a bit late for that.”

Dar chuckled, “This isn’t a slaughter by this world’s standard, and this is a mere skirmish.”

Buffy nodded and then looked back to Darial. “So, how come your ears are all pointy?”

With a grin he responded “I’m an Elf. Pointed ears and stunning good looks are part of the package.”

Buffy blushed again. “Your not that good looking,” she lied. “You didn’t have pointed ears when we last met.”

“Yes I did, I just covered my Elfishness with a magical glamour, having pointed ears on Earth tends to raise way too many questions unless you’re at a sci-fi convention. “Which, by the way I’ll never ever attend. Anyway, we really do have to leave this area pretty sharpish.” With that Darial reached down and grasped Buffy’s hand then said “The first couple of teleports can upset the stomach.” With that the world disappeared then reappeared around them.

Buffy fell to her knees and felt the contents of her stomach decorate the muddy ground in front of her. Darial knelt down beside her, offering her a piece of cloth to wipe her face and then a canteen of water to wash her mouth out. Handing the canteen back Buffy said, “Thanks, but a bit more notice would have been nice.”

Darial gently helped Buffy to her feet. “We’re about half a mile away from a small village called Shadowdale. It’s a lovely place and the people are really nice. It’s an easy walk from here that will give you the chance to get your land legs back,” Darial said with a friendly smile. “The forest around us is known as the Elven Forest or the Cormanthyr. It was one of the home forests for my people before they decided to bugger off west, to a group of islands known as Evermeet. Personally, I think it was a mistake, but in their great wisdom…”

Buffy looked around the forest as she walked beside Darial, listening to his descriptions of the places around her. Even though his voice and presence were comforting, she still felt lost and unsure of herself. She couldn’t even blame him, as it was her decision to jump and save her sister, as well as the rest of the world. But at least she had someone she knew and liked, even though she hadn’t seen him since her second year at Sunnydale High. She glanced up at him. He’d bulked up massively compared to how he was when they had first met. His eyes had gained the same haunted look that she was used to seeing in the bathroom mirror every morning, in her own reflexion. This was one of the many drawbacks of so many battles. Buffy decided she’d save the awkward questions until the next day, but right now all she wanted to do is find a comfy bed and get a decent sleep. Her next plan of action was to find out as much as she can about what had happened to her, and why one of the few people whose head she wouldn’t take off, was waiting for her when she arrived in this strange place.

Darial lead them to what looked like an old stone barn, one she’d seen in pictures of the European countryside in those glossy magazines that sat unloved on the table within a dentists waiting room. Dar grinned at her and said “This is the Old Skull Inn, one of the best places in Faérun. It also has really comfy beds.”

Buffy did a double take, looking in Dar’s direction. Her mind ticked over with thoughts, one after the other. ‘Did he read my mind? When could Darial read minds? Oh god, did he hear my thoughts on how hot he was?’ Buffy’s face went scarlet and she tried to hide it from him. Damn his Elfish hotness and his mind reading. Darial opened the door for her and she headed into the Inn while trying to calm her nerves down.

As they entered, Buffy noticed that a couple of the rough looking men noticed Dar and their faces drained of blood. They got up from their chairs, and ran out of the Inn, in what she could only describe as abject terror at the sight of her companion. ‘Who was Darial, and why did these quite obviously, really tough men, run like frighten children from someone who had always been kind and gentle to her?’
Buffy sighed to herself as she felt the exhaustion finally start to creep into her muscles. The adrenaline had worn off and now the post battle fatigue had started to settle in.

Darial lead her to the bar and while he nodded and smiled to people he obviously knew. Buffy tried to take in her surrounds, but she was too tired and the room was too busy for her to take much in. She heard Darial ask if some rooms were available, but she didn't get the names of the rooms. It was at that moment Buffy saw the room go dark.

Buffy slowly started to crumple. Darial quickly grabbed her before she hit the floor, then tenderly lifted her into his arms. He smiled apologetically to Jhaele. "Sorry, let me get Buffy into bed and I'll come back down and settle up with you."

Jhaele smiled back to Darial. "That's ok, Dear, take your time. I know your good for it. Do you need any food or drink sent up to you?" With that she handed the room keys over to Darial, who took the keys with his teeth. Jhaele chuckled good naturedly.

Darial smiled gratefully. "Thank you. Would it be possible for some venison stew and a jug of mead? And thanks again." Darial then headed for the stairs with Buffy resting lightly in his arms. He quickly headed to the room known as Warm Fires, the most comfortable at the Inn. Once at the door, he gently put Buffy's feet down so to free up his right arm to open the room door. Unlocking the door, he nudged it open, then lifted Buffy back into his arms, giving the door a gentle kick to open it wider. Taking Buffy to the bed he laid her down on the sheet. He then quickly checked her over, making sure she wasn't seriously sick. Darial then lightly placed his fingers over her forehead and quietly spoke a few unintelligible words. Buffy seemed to slip into a deeper sleep. He then tenderly undressed Buffy down to her underwear, then adjusted her position so she was in a far more comfortable position. Darial then knelt beside the bed and started to slowly run his hand over Buffy's body, the hand producing a cross between silver sparks and silver fire that flowed into Buffy's body. As the fire passed through her body, the bruising and damage from her fight with Glorificus quickly disappeared, as if they were never there.

A knock on the door brought Darial's attention away from Buffy. He quickly covered her with the feather duvet and opened the door. "Hey Dora, oh thank you." Darial took the large tray from her hands. "Thanks. Tell Jhaele I’ll be down shortly."

"Yes my Lord", Dora said as she quickly curtsied and beat a quick retreat back down the hall.

Darial kicked the door shut, and then placed the food tray on the side table. Then he headed towards Buffy, and checked her over before placing a light kiss on her forehead. "Sleep well."