Title: "Her White Knight" (5/?)
Author: TheQueenly1
Pairing: Giles and Buffy!
Rating: PG for this chapter. Other chapters may have different ratings.

Disclaimer: As far as I know, all characters from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" are owned by their creator, Joss Whedon. No infringement of copyright is intended or should be inferred. The original characters in this story are mine, however.

Summary: Buffy and Giles are sent back to the thirteenth century, and in the trials and travails they experience, they discover their love for each other.

Spoilers: At least up to "After Life." It is AU after that.

Notes: This story was written in response to Challenge # 4 here at the ODD website, "The B/G Knight Challenge." [Brackets] are used to indicate unvoiced thoughts. *Asterisks* are used for emphasis.

Feedback: Would be greatly appreciated! Many thanks to those who have sent in feedback thus far!

Buffy took another sip of wine. It tasted like pretty good stuff, not that she was any expert, but Giles had still warned her not to have too much of it, as she wasn't used to drinking alcohol.

She, Giles, and this Sir Geoffrey de Wyndham guy had all gone to his quarters after the sword fight, the one in which Giles had kicked Sir James' butt after the latter had attacked him without any kind of provocation. Buffy had been about ready to kick some butts herself if someone didn't start giving her some answers, but Sir Geoffrey had been a very gracious host and not only assured them that he would tell them what they wanted to know, but had some pretty tasty food made available, too. Buffy had never eaten leftover roast pheasant and grouse before, nor had she ever eaten honey with her bread, but it all tasted a heck of a lot better than that nasty gruel Eleanor had served to her earlier.

Eleanor...well, it seemed that she was part of the problem. Sir Geoffrey explained to Buffy and Giles that Sir James was "smitten" with Lady Eleanor; they had known each other since they were children, and Sir James hoped to marry her. He hadn't had much of a chance even before, since he was a vassal of Duke Edward and owned only his horse, his armor, his weapons, and not a whole lot else, but it was probably safe to assume that now he had no chance in the marriage market with the Duke's daughter at all. Eleanor was now a major landowner, or would be when her dad died. Normally her brother would have inherited the castle, the land, and the whole enchilada, but the dragon had taken care of that, and as the Duke's only child still living, Eleanor would get everything when her father went off to his eternal reward.

Buffy didn't see what that had to do with Giles, and said so.

"Sir James hath heard rumors that Duke Edward wishes to marry his daughter to Sir Giles," Sir Geoffrey explained.

Buffy almost choked on the wine, and not from the alcohol content. "No way! Giles, you can't marry her!" The Slayer slammed down her cup and glared at him with anger--and something else--in her eyes. "How can you even think about it?"

"Buffy--"

"No! You're my Watcher!"

Sir Geoffrey took on that semi-embarrassed, anywhere-but-here expression people get when a married couple begins to argue in front of them. He kept silent.

"Buffy, of course I'm not going to marry her," Giles said kindly. "The idea is preposterous. I cannot stay in this time."

"Is that the only reason?" Tears filled her eyes. Maybe she'd had too much to drink after all.

Giles seemed startled. "No, of course not."

"I know she's crazy about you."

"Buffy, please. You're being ridiculous. At any rate, if Eleanor's father would not permit her to marry Sir James because the young man has no property, why on earth would the Duke want her to marry me?"

"Oh, so you've thought about this?"

"My Lady Buffy, Sir Giles, if I may," Sir Geoffrey said quietly. "Sir Giles, Lady Buffy's observations art not without truth. Lady Eleanor be much enamored of thee, and her father would not be adverse to such a union."

"See?" Buffy said triumphantly. "He agrees with me."

Sir Geoffrey smiled slightly. "Difficult though it be for me to contradict as beauteous a maid as thee, my lady, I must point out that thy Watcher be an honorable and gentle man, devoted to thee. He would not shirk his duty, no matter what the prize."

[He was thinking about leaving me before we came here,] Buffy thought but did not say aloud. There were some things too personal to mention in front of others. Besides, saying it out loud seemed to make her fear more real. So depressed was she by the thought of Giles' leaving that she almost missed Sir Geoffrey's next words.

"Duke Edward, while not determined on the plan, be contemplating the thought of marrying his daughter to Sir Giles. Before the death of her brother, Eleanor had no land to bring to her marriage, but now that she will have the entire dukedom as her dowry, the Duke knows he must choose an especially strong and stalwart man as her husband. Sir Giles hath slain the dragon, which was more than any of the Duke's knights--including myself and his own son--was able to do. But," Sir Geoffrey added quickly, seeing Buffy's expression, "Sir Giles will of course not marry Lady Eleanor, nor will either of you, I trust, remain in this time and place long enough for the matter to be of great concern."

"Okay, then," Buffy said, relaxing. She was so relieved she did not notice Sir Geoffrey's thoughtful look as he studied her and her Watcher. She added; "How did Giles and I get here, anyway?"

"I brought thee here," Sir Geoffrey said levelly. "By use of strong magick."

"You did? What--you just got bored one day, decided to turn your hand to a little time-travel?" Buffy demanded.

Giles reached out and took her hand gently, comfortingly, in his own. "Buffy, please calm down. Sir Geoffrey and I already discussed this while you were recovering from the dragon's attack."

"Well, he didn't discuss it with me," she snapped. "You didn't either, for that matter." She turned her indignant gaze back on the other Watcher. "Well? What was so important that you had to yank me and Giles from our own time and place, and dump us down here, with fire-eating dragons and crazy knights who try to kill us?"

"I needed the help of a Slayer," he said simply. He glanced at their joined hands. "And a Slayer be always more powerful when she be with her Watcher."

"Yeah?" Buffy's tone was not exactly unfriendly, but not agreeable either. "What's the big problem that only Giles and I can solve?"

Sir Geoffrey's companionable mood vanished, and he leaned forward, his eyes hard, his expression fanatical. Only once before had Buffy ever seen anything like it; on the face of a man called Merrick, the day he told her she was the new Chosen One, born to slay vampires, and that he was her Watcher.

"I need your help to rescue my Slayer," Sir Geoffrey said.

NEXT