FIC:If Destiny Wills 23

[Ralf Quimby <ralf.quimby@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

+++++++++++++ 
Title: If Destiny Wills (23/23) 
Author: Alex P.
Feedback: Please any comments or suggestions to: keeper444@xxxxxxxxx
Archive: Whatever or whoever Just tell me
Summary: Sequel to A Higher Power
Spoilers: Starts where Next Illogical Step leaves off. Still in college 
Still near future. 
Disclaimer: The characters of Buffy Willow Giles and any others from 
BTVS are the property of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy etc. No
infringement of any kind intended and no money made. 
Warning: Contains scenes of a loving relationship between two consenting
women. If you have a problem with that (why are you here?) or it is
illegal where you live (I suggest you move to my end of the
gutter...quickly) then PLEASE DELETE THIS NOW !!!!!
Rating: PG
Pairing: B/W

Notes: Alex wrote this and I Beta'd it. He can't get to the computer
right now, so I am sending it. Ralf
<>thoughts<>
++++++++++++
Title: If Destiny Wills (23/23)
Author: Alex P. this is the end at last!!!!!!!! 
++++++++++++

The three women's tear-fest was interrupted by a heavy knock on the door. 

"Who is it?" Willow asked a little more abruptly than she meant. 

"It is time to go, Sorceress." a deep voice answered from the other side of
the door. "I had hoped you were expecting me, the moon is rising." 

"Sorry." Willow said sheepishly, realizing how harsh she'd sounded. "I
hadn't noticed the time." 

"That's quite all right, my child." the priest returned, feeling an
affinity for this young, powerful, yet gracious witch he'd only just
recently met. "A certain nervous anxiety is to be expected on such a
momentous occasion." 

Her two attendants helped her on with her cloak and fastened it at the
throat with the pentagram fastener.

The priest handed her the staff she'd received from Teach Tu Dannan. Then,
while the two other women placed and secured a crown of Holly and Black Oak
leaves on the soon to be joined woman's head, the priest intoned an ancient
blessing. 

"Now shall we proceed." the older man said and led the way out the door.
"You will be blindfolded before we enter the sacred grounds. I hope this is
not a problem." 

"Of course not." Willow stated. "I've done my homework." 

That brought a smile to the priest's lips as he handed her a strand of rope
that hung from his belt.

The priest and the two attending witches each took up a torch that had been
placed outside the cabin and lit them from a small fire at the beginning of
the path that led through the woods to the clearing where the ceremony was
to be held. 

As she was led through the dense woods by her escorts Willow began to hear
a deep resonant chanting, in an ancient language she'd never heard before,
that grew louder with every step they took. There was also the sound of
drums and if her senses weren't fooling her someone was playing a flute.

It wasn't long before the witch could tell by the sounds and the feel of
the atmosphere that her party had reached the clearing.

Her blindfold was removed and she found herself standing at one end of an
aisle formed by people in either grey Druid robes or the black and silver
robes of Willow's friends' coven. Each was holding a flaming torch. Willow
hesitated for a moment in awe of the spectacle she beheld. Looking around
she noticed the scene took on an even more surrealistic appearance as a
thick white fog rose from the ground surrounding the clearing. She looked
to the priest that had escorted her to the area. 

"Your destiny awaits Sorceress." the man said, softly indicating that she
should proceed down the aisle. "Go forth and join with your beloved." 

Willow took the candle offered her by the priest, who then took his place
with the others forming the aisle. She walked slowly down the aisle hearing
the gasps as many of those gathered were seeing her for the first in the
green velvet silver trimmed gown and cloak given her by Brigit.

As she reached the center of the clearing Willow set her eyes on her lover
and as always was breathless at the sight, but this time more than normal.

Buffy too was wearing the clothing given her by the Morrigan, but the sight
of her lover in the leather tunic, short dark blue skirt and knee high
leather boots set the young witch's blood on fire. Buffy also wore a crown
of Holly and Black Oak leaves but, unlike Willow who wore her hair loose
letting the flaming waves cascade to her shoulders, the Slayer wore her
blonde locks pulled back into a french braid that hung down her back.
Thoughts of ravaging the blonde beauty filled the red head's mind and
reading her lover's thoughts Buffy favored her with a dazzling smile that
told the hormonal young woman that they both were feeling the same thing.

Continuing her walk toward the altar where her lover waited Willow noticed
the two coven members that stood beside the Slayer. Remembering her time
with the two women that were accompanying her, she felt a momentary twinge
of jealousy knowing that they had touched her Slayer as intimately as Kati
and Timmra had touched her.

The feeling was gone almost as quickly as it came but not quick enough that
the Slayer didn't notice her lover's feelings and gave her Sorceress a
disapproving frown that fleetingly crossed her features. Willow felt a
small pang of guilt at her momentary lack of trust in her soulmate and
quickly mouthed an apology to her slightly hurt partner, who once again
gave her that all forgiving adoring smile that was reserved only for
Willow. 

As the witch approached the altar the priests and witches holding the
torches filed in after her forming a circle around the altar and the
wedding party.

When Willow reached her lover's side, Buffy leaned over and lightly kissed
her beloved's lips then side by side they turned to face the altar. A
frail looking old priest in a heavily decorated robe, leaning heavily on
his intricately carved staff, stepped up to the opposite side of the altar
from the couple and their sponsors.

He nodded to a younger man in a pure white robe. The young priest held a
large sword up and began walking around the outside of the circle.

On his first trip around all was silent. On the second trip he stopped at
the compass points as the priest or witch that stood there called that
corner. That's when the first strange event of the night happened.

The young priest's first stop was at the Northern point and as the priest
that was there called for the guardian of the element of earth, a huge
white wolf stepped out of the thick impenetrable fog and went directly to
the north point where he sat and, with his tongue hanging out in a canine
smile, looked expectantly at the old priest. 

The old man smiled and was heard to say "Welcome Icerunner." then indicated
for the young, obviously frightened, priest to continue. At the East corner
a grey wolf came out of the fog and, when seated, was greeted as Dawnchaser
the guardian of Air. From the South came the red wolf called Firewalker
guardian of Fire and from the West came Wavedancer the black wolf guardian
of Water.

The now pale and shaken young priest then began his third circuit of the
circle he began chanting the casting of the circle of protection, until he
ended up where he started. He then returned to the old high priest and
awaited his next duty.

The old priest turned and looked at the two young people in front of him
and with an amused twinkle in his surprisingly bright hazel eyes gave the
now even more nervous couple a friendly grin. 

"I would call that an auspicious start, wouldn't you?" he said with an
infectious chuckle. "It seems the powers want you two together so I'd
better get this dog and pony show on the road. An old man like me can't
afford to get the powers mad at him." 

Everyone around the alter heard him and they all couldn't help but let out
a tense chuckle, which was what he was shooting for.

Letting a serious expression come over his features he pounded his iron
shod staff on the ground 3 times to call everyone's attention. 

"You have come to this altar of your own free will to join with your chosen
mate." he turned and looked at Buffy and Willow who nodded their agreement
then he continued to the spectators. "Who sponsors and supports this union
of souls?" 

The four witches that had accompanied them started to step forward to vouch
for the couple but found they couldn't move or speak. The air between them
and the couple seemed to shimmer and bend then three figures stepped out of
a portal. 

"That would be our place." came the husky voice of the statuesque red head
who turned to Buffy and smiled mischievously. "Did you think this would go
by without our notice Slayer?" 

"Morrigan!" Buffy shouted, and grabbed the tall woman in a fierce hug
that would have broken a lesser person. "Gods I'm glad you guys came, but
we weren't sure it was allowed." 

Brigit walked up to a happily tearful Willow and kissed her lightly on the
cheek. 

"You are restarting a circle that we thought was gone for eternity." the
soft reassuring voice of Brigit began. "And with the two of you taking over
where we were forced to leave off, all those many generations ago, we
simply could not miss it."

"Now that all is as it should be, friend priest, let us begin." Lugh called
out, his deep voice reverberating through the night air. "Before these
women drown us in tears of joy."

Morrigan sniffed and shot a withering at her friend and ancient mentor, to
which he returned a knowing and compassionate smile. 

"We have come to sponsor these new Sisters of the Soul." Morrigan announced
proudly. "And to promise our support and the support of all that follow our
path." 

The old priest nodded his head and for a moment was at a loss for words.
Even he ,who thought he'd seen everything, had to admit that in all his
years not once had a legendary god figure actually come to a ceremony.

Now here in this quiet little burg three of the most famous of the ancient
Celtic legends had come to sponsor a lesbian couple. He shrugged his
shoulders and swore to himself to get good and drunk before he tried to
comprehend what was happening.

The old priest picked up a razor sharp two edged dagger from the alter and
held it in front of him over the altar. Willow reached out her hand and
placed it palm up under the blade and Buffy placed her hand palm down over
the blade lacing her fingers with those of her love.

Morrigan picked up a long green and white ribbon and tied it around their
hands so that they held the knife tightly between their palms.

Facing each other Buffy and Willow gazed deeply into the eyes of the person
they loved most in the world and simultaneously began the ritual they'd
learned by heart from the Book of Souls. 

"I give you that which is mine to give" 

The voices of the two lover's recited harmonised, their expressions showing
that they meant every word they were saying. 

"I am free but I shall serve you in those ways you require 
and the Honeycomb will taste sweeter coming from my hand" 

The words were at once ancient and timely

"I pledge to you that yours will be the name I cry out in the night" 
"Yours will be the eyes into which I smile each morning."
"I pledge to you the first bite of my meat, and the first drink from my
cup." 
"I pledge to you my living and my dying each equally in your care." 
"I shall be the shield at your back and you at mine." 
"I shall not slander you nor you me." 

"I shall honor you above all others and when we quarrel we shall do so
in
private, and tell no strangers our grievances." 

"This is my joining vow to you."

"This is a joining of equals."

"A joining of sisters."

The old priest looked at the two young women and quietly scanned them with
a knowing eye and judged that these two women were entering this union
seriously and with their eyes open, free of illusions.

He then looked at the three rather imposing figures standing behind them
and with a nod from Lugh he began the blessing. But this was one he'd never
done before.

This binding was far more than any he'd ever done before, the power present
at this ceremony was at a frighteningly high level, giving him pause at
what the two young women had insisted upon. However he remembered that this
was no ordinary joining and felt compelled to carry out their wishes. 

He cleared and in a voice that belied his age intoned the words that had
been given him. 

"These promises you make,
By the Sun and the Moon
By Fire and Water
By Day and Night
By Land and Sea 
With these vows you swear by the God and Goddess 
To be full partners each to the other 
If one drops the load the other will pick it up 
If one is discredited the other her honor
will be forfeit, generation upon generation 
until she repair that which is damaged 
and finds that which was lost 
Should you fail to keep the oaths you pledge,
The Elements themselves will reach out and destroy, 
erasing all evidence of your existence." 

As the old man recited his final words a swirling vortex of neon green and
pure white light rose from the ground at Buffy and Willows feet and grew
until it surrounded the five figures at the front of the alter.

The spinning lights rose into the night sky the colors swirling and mixing
intensifying growing stronger and brighter with each word spoken until it
covered the sky over the clearing blocking out the moon and stars. The
light became so bright people were forced to shield their eyes and were
unable to look directly at the couple and their sponsors.

Then as the light reached it's peak, Brigit reached up and quickly pulled
the dagger out from between their tightly bound hands. Blood flowed freely
from the bone deep cuts across the palms of the Slayer and her Sorceress,
mixing and running onto the ground at their feet. As the blood flowed their
voices rose in unison loud enough for all to hear. 

"With this we are joined
Body to body
Mind to mind
Blood to blood
Two halves of the some soul
Now and for eternity
Friends, lovers, soulmates, Sisters" 

With a blinding flash the light disappeared. As if to signal the end of the
ceremony all four wolves got up and howled eerily then turned and trotted
into the trees, disappearing into the quickly dissipating fog.

Morrigan and Brigit gave the girls goodbye hugs and stepped back allowing
Lugh room to step up to the newly joined couple and lay his hands on their
shoulders. The three looked into each others eyes theirs shining with
unshed tears of pure joy, his with pride in these two brave young ones
entering into a war that had begun before time and would continue on long
after they were gone, facing it unflinchingly, head-on with full knowledge
of the consequences of their choice even when other so called great
warriors would cower in fear. 

"Be well young ones." Lugh said, his voice thick with unaccustomed
emotions. "We will be together again, if not in this life than the next." 

With that he joined the two women and opened the portal. 

"Do we leave them like this." Brigit asked not happy with leaving her one
time student and her Slayer to their own devices 

"Worry not dear one." Lugh reassured "We have yet to meet their wizard. He
has yet to reveal himself." 

That said the two women followed him through the portal that vanished as
soon as they were through it.

The attendants hurriedly went to the couple and untied the ribbon that held
their hands together so they could bandage the wounds from the dagger. To
their amazement when the women examined the couples palms and washed off
the remaining blood, there were no open cuts, only matching scars that
crossed their palms, obliterating their lifelines.

After discussing it with the old high priest, Buffy and Willow along with
the four coven members that had seen and heard everything, decided that it
would be best not to discuss the unusual occurrences the had happened that
night.

The old priest made both of them promise that after everything settled down
the three of them would sit down and have a long talk about their sponsors.

That problem dealt with, the party followed their guests to another area
where there was a large banquet hall that had once been the mess hall for
the camp site and began the festivities that traditionally went with a
proper joining ceremony.

At Buffy's suggestion, she and Willow acquired the keys to one of the
cabins and claimed fatigue after back to back parties. After suffering the
inescapable snide remarks and lame sexually suggestive jokes at their
expense the two lovers slipped away from their celebrating friends, old and
new, and hurried through the primeval woods to one of the well equipped
cabins.

They stopped on the front porch and Buffy followed Willow's gaze up into
the night sky and the slowly setting moon. 

"What's up Wills?" Buffy asked nuzzling her partner's neck, knowing full
well the effect it had on her passionate lover. "Don't cha wanna go inside
and get re-acquainted, babe." 

Kissing her way up the red head's neck until she reached the ear, she took
the sensitive lobe between her teeth nipping it lightly causing the already
aroused witch to moan loudly. 

"Still wanna star gaze, witchy-poo." the blonde seductress purred into her
lover's shell like ear. "You know there's a really nice hot tub in there
just waiting for us to finish communing with nature and start
honeymooning." 

With a sexually charged growl Willow spun around in Buffy's arms and
claimed the Slayers lips with her own.

Buffy ran her tongue over her lover's lips, demanding entrance that was
gladly given. Tongues swirled around each other exploring their lover's
sweet mouths.

Buffy coaxed Willow's tongue into her mouth and sucked on the squirming
flesh as she held it in place with her teeth forcing a whimper of surrender
from the red haired witch.

Lifting her lover Buffy carried her partner into the cabin and kicked the
door shut behind them.

Shadows of clothing flew across the window shades. Squeals and giggles of
delight soon were overcome by moans. Growls and screams of undiluted animal
pleasure filled the air around the cabin, it's occupants safe and secure
guarded by state of the art security systems and by ancient and powerful
magiks that held back the terrors of the night.

A pair of malevolently glowing eyes watched the cabin, listening to the
hateful sounds of the two women that the owner of the eyes despised more
than anything else in the universe and felt actual jolts of pain because of
their pleasure.

It had tried earlier to enter the grounds but was driven back by the area's
sacred status. That too heightened his rage over the very existence of the
two women. 

<>Just wait, you whores of the light.<> it thought, it's mind seething with
it's insane rage. <>You are alive because that bastard Kresis interfered
with the mistress. It won't happen next time.<> 

AND THERE WILL BE A NEXT TIME!

++++++++++
Fin
++++++++++

There it is. Isn't he a great writer?