By
Sam
Title: Triad chpt 8,
Email: shadowmage_draco@xxxxxxx
Rating: R
Disclaimer: BtVS belongs to Joss. In addition, DK2 is property of the coolest bullfrog, so with that I end the disclaimer.
Spoilers: My own little Buffyverse so spoilers really don’t apply but I might slip something in there so everything is fair game.
Archive: The usual suspects, anyone else just asks I’ll say yes.
Pairing: Willow/Tara/Buffy
Thanks: 1. To Kirayoshi for sending me the link for the ceremony I used. 2. To Alex for graciously helping me with the ceremony. 3. For Carol for giving me the idea to incorporate the glass breaking 4 To Coy for being an outstanding beta reader, offer of good advise, and offering way cool support. You guys totally rock.
Notes: Willow, Tara, and Buffy are joined. Please note that I couldn't find a ceremony involving three persons so I had to make some modifications to a traditional Wiccain ceremony. I hope I do not offend anyone by these changes as I tried to stay as close to a traditional cermony as possible.
Feedback: I love it, I need it, so please send..it means a lot to me.
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Sunnydale:
Everyone had assembled in the Summers back yard with the exceptions of the Triad and Giles. Vallen was dressed in shinny Eleven mesh armor and Kari wore a Golden mages robe. Around the perimeter of the yard where several Eleven warriors dressed in mesh armor and armed with short swords. They where the initial strike force who had arrived just a few short hours ago and had been immediately put on alter by Vallen to ensure that the joining ceremony was not interrupted .
Joyce Summers sat next to the Rosenbergs making small talk with Willows parents. She knew that they hand excepted their daughter being joined with Buffy and Tara but also like her was finding it harder to deal with as the ceremony grew closer. The fact that their where several armed Eleven warriors surrounding the yard didn't help any either.
Angels and Cordelia where seated two Rows behind The Rosenbergs and Joyce next to Xander and Anya, who was pestering her boyfriend as to when they where going to get married. The rest of the crowd was mostly composed of people from Willow and Tara's Wiccain group and a few of the gangs friends from high school.
Giles looked out the kitchen window at the small crowd as he waited for the three girls to come down from upstairs. He looked at the small circular altar Vallen and Kari had built. It contained everything they needed for the ceremony and had three silk pillows sitting in front of it and a offering to the elements at the four corners. He then looked past the alter ad out into the crowd, quickly noticing that Buffy's Dad and no one from Tara's family was present. Gile's clench his fist for a moment, Buffy and Tara didn't deserve that kind of treatment but if their perspective fathers where ignorant and two narrow minded to accept them they where better off.
Giles attention was quickly drawn away from the back yard when her heard the sound of three very nervous young women clearing their throats. He turned around and looked at his surrogate daughters, each of them dresses in a flowing white gown.
Giles wiped a tear from his eyes, he had never felt more proud of the three of them than he did now, "You all look radiant."
He walked over to them and gave each of them a Fatherly hug then handed Buffy a long wooden box, "The rings of the Triad are inside, Vallen says they are like a wedding ring, that they are a symbol of your love for one another."
Buffy, Willow, and Tara gave Giles a quick hug and followed him out into the back yard, and into their future. Everyone stood up when the three brides entered the area and made their way to the altar. Joyce and Sheila where both crying as they watched their daughters gracefully walk across the yard with Tara.
Buffy held on to both Willow and Tara's hands as they neared the alter. The three of them stopped outside the circle of rose petal and kissed each other tenderly. They then crossed the circle of rose petals and moved up to the alter.
Once at the alter the three of them kissed and took their seats on the satin Pillows. Willow and Tara took some oil and placed it on their fingers, they lightly touched Buffy's brow and made the sign of the Goddess, then lightly kissed the sign. Buffy then paced oil on her finger. Willow and Buffy then did the same process to Tara, followed by Tara and Buffy anointing and kissing Willow.
The three of them stood up from their pillows, holding tightly to one another hands. Buffy then let go of Willow and Tara and picked up a match that had been anointed before the ceremony, she lit it and Willow and Tara placed their hands on the slayers.
As they lit the Goddess candle, the three of them spoke together in unison.
"Oh Greatest Lady of finest grace,
We ask you to enfold this place.
Cleanse it pure as children's laughter,
Our vows to last forever after.
Oh thou Lady of Circle Three,
Come forth we say, here to be."
Buffy then moved the enchanted match over to the God candle and lit it, followed by the three of them once again speaking.
"Oh Gracious Lord of strength and power,
Stand by us on this blessed hour.
Consecrate our sacred place,
Your powers linked with Nature's grace.
Oh thou Father sacred of forest tree,
Come forth we say, here to be."
Buffy then handed the cacle to Willow and her and Tara placed their hands on Willws as they all faced to the north and Willow lit the candle the earth.
Willow then sofetly spoke the words of the northern watchtower,
"We call the Northern sign of Earth,
Whose care is constant from our birth.
Blessed art thou, Oh Northern Stones,
Sign of life, essence of bone.
Oh thou soul of all forms we see,
Come forth we say, here to be."
They then turned to the East and Willow handed the match to Tara who lit the candle of Air and spoke the words of the Eastern watchtower,
"We call the Eastern sign of Air,
Who's blessed breath of life we share.
Blessed art thou, Oh Eastern Winds,
From which the freedom of life begins.
Oh thou perpetual breath of ecstasy,
Come forth we say, here to be."
The Trio once again turned and now faced South as the match was handed back to Buffy who lit the candle of fire and recited the words of the southern watchtower,
"We call the Southern sign of Fire,
Whose passion burns as heart's desire.
Blessed art thou, Oh Southern Sun,
Giver of life and shining one.
Oh thou flashing flame of eternity,
Come forth we say, here to be."
Finally the turned to the West and the final watchtower, the three of them held on to the enchanted match together and lit the reaming candle and recited in unison the words of the fourth watchtower,
"We call the Western sign of Sea,
Whose movement brings tranquillity.
Blessed art thou, Oh Western Water,
Giver of the Willow daughter.
Oh thou inscrutable depth of Sea,
Come forth we say, here to be."
They then moved back towrds the altar and took their seat then spoke as one voice,
"Elements gathered, blessed be,
Of purest nature and harmony.
To grace us with your blessing divine,
Permit the love gathered here to shine.
Of Circle Three, so mote it be."
Buffy leaned over and affectingly kissed Willow then Tara, the two Wicca then Kissed one another tenderly, Holding hands they then recited the chant to open the circle,
"All called here this blessed hour,
Stand within this Circle bower.
Watchers of the Towers old,
Your strength protect this sacred hold.
Lord and Lady this Circle cast,
Blessing of the gods long past.
Through Star and Circle of the Three,
Spoken now, so mote it be."
Buffy Willow and Tara then stood up and Kari who was presiding over the ceremony handed them a broom. The three of them clutched the broom in their hands and swept the area around them as they performed together the chant to purify their hearts,
"This broom is used,
The Witches tool,
To sweep away past hurts so cruel.
Of times and ages past gone by,
This broom, abolish the need to cry.
All pain and sorrow from thorns of love,
Be gracefully lifted from above.
Let no transgressions from the past,
Affect these hearts, bound to last.
Through Circle of Three, so mote it be."
The returned the Broom to Kari and kissed each other tenderly before returning to their satin pillows. The held on to each others hands as they recieted together,
"Oh Lady Moon and Lord of Sun,
We ask your blessing as three become one.
Of lover's links, a symbol bound,
Of love eternal, and new faith found.
We make a pledge, One year and a day,
These rings our link to promises made."
The three of them opened up the box Giles had given Buffy and each of them took out a ring and placed it in oil and spoke in unison,
"Oh blessed oil of roses sweet,
Consecrate these rings as loves heart beats.
And together bind these precious three,
Their journey beings, a life that's new.
Through Circle Three, so mote it be."
Willow And Tara then turned and faced Buffy. They took the silver ring that had a dagger and crossbow etched in it indicating the warrior from the oil and placed it on Buffy's finger.
Willow stared lovely into Buffy's eyes and tenderly spoke to her, "For the longest time I watched and admired you as you protected us from everything that was evil. I saw all the scarifies that you made, the price you had to pay, but today marks a new life. Today you will never have to face the darkness alone again. I'm going to be there for you Buffy, to help you, to hold you and to love you. I'll never let you fall."
After Willow was done speaking she wiped a tear from Buffy's eye and then kissed her on the forehead and nodded to Tara.
Tara then gazed into Buffy's eyes, "Buffy I love you and Willow so much. I was happy when I was with Willow and you where a friend, but something was missing. When We found you I knew what it was. Together the three of us make each other whole, and I can't imagine now living without either one of you."
Tears of joy where starting to stream down Buffy's and Tara's cheek as the blonde Wicca tenderly kissed the slayer. The two of them removed a second silver ring from the oil, this one having the symbols of the watchtowers etched in it and placed it on Willow's finger.
"Willow you have always been a friend, but know I know that you are more than that. You're a soulmate. I'll always be there for you, I want let anything happen to you or Tara and I promise to love both of you with all my heart," Buffy softly replied before affectionately kissing Willow.
Tara then looked at Willow and wiped a tear from her eye, "My love, you where the first one to show me what true love is, you've taken me to heights I never thought I could reach and given me strength and courage I didn't know I had. Today the three of us start a new life together and I vow that I will do everything in my power to make you and Buffy as happy and loved as possible."
Tara then kissed Willow on the forehead and watched as her two lover removed the final ring from the oil.
Tara's silver ring was almost identical to Willows except for the order the watchtowers where in. She let out a soft sigh as Buffy and Willow slid the ring carefully on her finger and knew that her moment had arrived, together the three of them would know perfect love.
"Tara before I met you I thought I would never be able to love again but you not only showed my that I could but you showed me what true love is. You are a friend, a soulmate, and so much more. I love you with all my heart and will never let you fall. I promise to be their for you through thick and thin and to give you all I can give, then more, "Willow replied before kissing Tara's forehead.
Buffy then tried to hold back the tears of joy that where building in her body, she gazed in to Tara's eyes and slowly began to speak, "Tara I love with with all my heat and soul. You and Willow are my world. I promise to always be there for you, always to love you, and to give you all can then some. I really didn't know what love really was until you and Willow showed me and know that I do I promise I'll always hold you up, I want ever let you fall, and I'll never let you go."
After Buffy lightly kissed Tara the three of them wipped the tears of pure bliss from their eyes and turned back towards the alter. The reached out and touched the cakes that were lying on the altar,
"Oh blessed grain and precious wine,
Symbols of the life divine.
A gift from both the Land and Lord,
Blessed with their sacred sword."
After that they poured some whine into a sloid gold chalice and made the sign of the pentacle over its rim,
"Cup of life and drink divine,
Blessed with the Witches sign.
Of Circle Three, blessed be."
They once again took turns kissing each other then turned and faced the alter,
"In freedom we take this Oath of Love,
To accomplish our will on Earth as Above.
We promise to swear, and infinitely aspire,
To unite as one, our hearts desire.
By Fire and Water we will partake this hour,
The Holy sacrament of Magick Power.
And so shall we work our will to unite,
And attain the Quintessence of the Rite.
This Oath we promise, this Oath we swear,
As we enflame ourselves with prayer.
In the name of the Lord and Lady Three,
As we will, so mote it be."
Willow, Buffy, and Willow then turned on their pillows so that they where facing each other. They hen wrapped a silk cord around their wrist in a loose knot and together in unsion recieted the spell of hand binding,
"Since time of Ancient in Love of old,
This ritual passed on its special hold.
To bind the hands and lives of three,
A Triad whose love is ever true.
One year and one day they shall be tied,
This time together we will bide.
As lovers in wedded bliss,
Vows spoken and sealed with a kiss.
At the end of such time if no child is born,
We are free to split the following morn.
Now fast our hands and bind them tight,
And pray for love, an ever burning light.
Through Lord and blessed Lady Three,
This spell is cast, so mote it be."
After they finished the three of them kissed yet again then slid the cord off their wrist and placed it on the alter ensuring that the knots remained intact as a symbol of their never ending oath to each other. The three of them once again spoke together,
"This we proclaim: That we are Bound.
In mystic love and freedom profound.
Our divided souls are wed in ecstasy,
We are joined in love and liberty.
This we proclaim: That three are now One.
In the Sun and the Moon our will is done.
We shall now celebrate with wine and cake,
This blessed union, which we undertake."
They then partook of the cakes and wine on the altar, taking time as they ate the ritual feast to bask in the newfound union that had created and share in the love the three of them held. After the cakes and wine where gone they carefully set aside the remaining crumbs as a offering to the watchtowers and took a moment to reflect on the life they were starting out together.
After a couple of minutes the three of them placed their hands on the ground and once again spoke as one voice,
"Circle open,
But not unbroken,
Power down, into the ground."
They then stood up and faced the alter holding hands,
"Oh Lord and Lady of Heavenly grace,
We thank you for this honoured place.
With greatest blessing and honour bound,
We thank you for this day all round.
With happiness and grateful hearts,
We bid you thanks and bid you part.
North and South, East and West,
We thank you for your blessed best.
Depart this open Circle now,
Your greatness blessed, with heartfelt bow.
With all our thanks, Blessed be."
They then blew out the candles, swept up the rose petals and collected the candles.
Giles and Ira got up from their seats both men openly crying and handed the three young women each a crystal glass.
Kari waited for the newlyweds to exchange their final kisses of the ceremony then announced to the crowd, "The warrior and the Sorceresses have been joined, I give to you the Triad."
With that Willow, Tara, and Buffy tossed the glasses to the ground and stomped on them in the traditional Jewish manner and the crowd exploded into applause as the three of them rushed of to consummate their vows and undying love for one another.
TBC……