FIC: REPOST: Militat omnis amans (Every lover is a warrior) Part 6c/?

["Beckett, Kevin" <kevin.beckett@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Militat omnis amans (Every lover is a warrior) Part 6c/?
K. Beckett (c) 2000 

Disclaimers:
Buffy, Willow and all of the other characters and places from the show
belong to Joss Whedon, WB and Mutant Enemy etal. Everyone and everything
else is mine. None of my characters are meant to resemble anyone living,
dead or un-dead, if you see yourself you are looking way too hard.

This story contains sexual acts between consenting adult women, and was
written in a jurisdiction where it was legal to do so. If this offends you,
don't read.

Rating: 
PG-13ish, not much sticky stuff this time folks, but lots of ritual action.

Other: 
The Latin and Gaelic are mine; I take the responsibility for any
translations of them. In addition, the descriptions of the rituals, spells
and other craft work come from my traditions, so please don't take offence
if something described here does not match your traditions or what you think
it should.

Archiving etc.: 
Ask and I will say yes.

Spoilers and other ramblings:
Everything up to the middle of season four - I diverge then.

Please note that things perceived by characters other than by the five
acknowledge senses have been enclosed in < >, in addition, the ritual I have
detailed in this chapter has been done in English, rather than the Gaelic
that would be usually used for the spoken parts.

mailto:kevin.beckett@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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Willow grounded herself, and cast the sphere that would protect them and the
mundane world from potential harm due to the magic they were about to
perform. As she was casting the sphere she was able to actually see the
manifestation of her abilities when a blue-tinged transparent dome appeared
over them. Willow began to pour the collected power into the sphere, and as
she did so, the dome started to become opaque.

"This is new," she commented allowed, "I've never seen the shield become
actually visible before."
"It's new to us too," Amana said with the awe in her voice very evident,
"I've never even heard of it happening."

Willow took up Grael's sword, which she had borrowed for the ritual, and
began the process of invoking the guardians. Starting in the East she
raised the sword and called out for the Guardian of the East to attend her
in her work, "Guardian of the Air, I beseech you to come near and watch over
our work tonight. You are the strength that is subtle, the giver of life
sustaining air; you are the one without whom we would perish. You, who are
the herald of Autumn, in whom we trust the bounty of the Earth." Willow
used the sword to etch in the air the symbol for the Guardian, as she did so
a pale yellow flame briefly followed the tip of the sword and for a moment
the symbol hung in the air, visible to all.

She then moved to the South and called for that Guardian to attend to her
with, "Guardian of the Fire, I beseech you to come near and watch over our
work tonight. You are the strength that burns, the giver of life sustaining
heat; you are the one without whom we would perish. You, who are the herald
of Summer, in whom we trust the growth of the Earth." As before, when Willow
traced the symbol in the air a pale red flame followed the tip of the sword
and briefly hung in the air before her.

As she approached the West she felt just a little bit apprehensive, very
unusual things were happening in this ritual, and she was not at all certain
of where it might all lead. However, she knew that she would have to finish
what she had started and so called to the Guardian of the West with,
"Guardian of the Water, I beseech you to come near and watch over our work
tonight. You are the strength that is fluid, the giver of life sustaining
water; you are the one without whom we would perish. You, who are the
herald of Spring, in whom we trust the rebirth of the Earth." A blue flame
hung in the air as Willow traced the symbol.

Finally Willow travelled to the North to call out the last Guardian with,
"Guardian of the Earth, I beseech you to come near and watch over our work
tonight. You are the strength that is solid, the giver of life sustaining
reserves; you are the one without whom we would perish. You, who are the
herald of Winter, in whom we trust the renewal of the Earth." With this
final invocation a green symbol was traced in the air.

Willow returned to the centre of the circle and prepared to ask the summoned
Guardians to bring forth their power for the work she was going to do. She
had given this some thought, and had decided to initiate Buffy as more than
a priestess, she was going to attempt to bind Buffy's magic with her
fighting abilities. She was going to initiate her as a warrior-mage, a
difficult procedure, but one she innately knew she would be able to
complete. She had not discussed this with Amana or Grael, she figured that
they would be against it, and since she was not feeling all that charitable
to them just now, decided they would learn when she started the ritual. 

She gathered in the power and called out to the Guardians, "Guardians, I
beseech you to lend me your strength as we work together to initiate our
sister and supplicant into the mysteries of the great work. May you help us
to bring to her the knowledge and understanding she will need in order to
complete her responsibilities here. For she is to be that which is
whispered, that which is feared by all of our collective enemies and that
which is the curse of demon kind everywhere. She is to be the demon-bane,
the slayer, the warrior-mage."

Both Amana and Grael were startled by the invocation, and by the events that
had happened so far in the ritual. They knew the power that Willow had, and
had been prepared for an intense ceremony. However, the visible
manifestation of the shield, and the visible symbols of the Guardians were
beyond their expectations. They were surprised by Willow's decision to
initiate Buffy as a warrior-mage, but, unlike what Willow had been thinking,
were not against the idea and were willing to wait a little longer before
asking any questions.

As Willow finished her invocation four pillars of light appeared outside of
the circle; in the North a pillar of green appeared, in the East a
translucent yellow one. To the South, a pulsating crimson pillar, and in
the West a shimmering blue pillar joined the others.

At this point all of the participants in the circle paused, and Amana
decided that waiting for answers was no longer an option asking, "Willow,
what is going on here?"
"I don't know," the equally confused arch-mage replied, "has this ever
happened before?"
Not in recent history," replied Frankel, "only in our legends has this ever
happened before."
"Oh," Willow replied softly, "well, I've started and I guess we had better
finish. Is Daithi ready with Buffy?"
"Yes he is," replied Grael, "I hope you have no other surprises for us
tonight dear. I mean seeing actual manifestations of the Guardians is
surprising enough."
"I'm not planning any, and to be truthful, I am as surprised as everyone
else."

Willow began to centre herself again, in order to focus her mind on the task
ahead. When she felt ready to continue she took Aiofe by the hand, went
over to the Northeast edge of the circle, and called out, "Summoner, is the
initiate ready?"

Buffy and Daithi had been standing quietly by the fireplace meditating in
preparation for their parts in the ritual. Daithi had watched with surprise
the visible demonstrations of the power being raised, and wondered briefly
if all of this was a good idea. The disruptions being made in the magical
universe was certain to be a flag to any demons in the area that something
was going on. He tightened his grip on his sword, and kept a closer eye on
the windows and doors to the tavern. He also hoped that his guardsmen were
also alert and keeping an eye on things outside.

Buffy had been quietly watching the proceedings, thinking about the upcoming
ritual and trying to remember all that would be required of her. She and
Willow had had several discussions both here and in Sunnydale about the
initiation. But at no time had Willow mentioned anything about visible
domes or pillars of light. She wasn't worried as she had complete faith and
trust in her lover and in her abilities. Still when the call came to the
Summoner she felt her heart race, just a little bit.

"Yes," he replied as he first blindfolded her, and then bound her hands in
front of her; he then grasped her by the arm and brought her before the
circle. Willow cut a gate in the circle saying, "then bring her forward and
allow her to enter our sacred circle." As she did so, blue flame chased up
the edge of the sword and remained visible in the air, outlining a door in
the shield. Daithi pushed Buffy forward so that she was standing on the
edge of the circle, when Willow suddenly raised her sword and placed the
point of it at Buffy's heart. "Better for you to fall upon my sword now if
you come here with anything but love in your heart. Do you come in peace
and love?"
"I do," replied the slayer.
"Then enter of your own free will, for once upon this path you may not
return. Summoner, remain behind to protect us and guard this gate in the
sacred circle."

Willow stood aside to allow Buffy to enter into the circle, as she did so
Daithi turned so that his back was to the circle and he was blocking the
gate with his body. He unsheathed his sword and brought it to rest with its
point over one shoulder and the blade cradled diagonally across his body.

Willow now prepared to administer the blessings and the oaths; while she did
so, the other members of the group silently meditated and prayed for their
new sister on the path. Willow cut off Buffy's ritual robe with her sword,
before handing it to Aiofe. She then led the now naked slayer to the centre
of the circle. She knelt down in front of her while Aiofe took up her place
behind Buffy with the sword resting on Buffy's shoulder, the edge pressed
hard against her neck.