FF//RoL II: Revelations and Realizations (7/?)

[keeper444@xxxxxxxxx]

Hi again,
That's right I'm back, so lock the windows and bar the doors. Anyway
here's the next chapter. 
I hope that at least some of you are enjoying the ride, I'll try to keep
it interesting enough to hold your attention, in the hope that I'm not
already boring you to death with my humble scribblings.
Alex
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Full disclaimers can be found in part 1 at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buffywantswillow/message/8661
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Revelations and Realizations (7/?)
By: Alex P.
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The sun of Teach Tu Dannan was nearly straight over head when the two 
young lovers came out of the trees strolling hand in hand into the 
clearing, talking and laughing together, like millions of other young 
people in love throughout history. 

No one would know just by looking at them that the fate of mankind 
all too often rested on their soft skinned shoulders. The laughing 
blonde pointed toward the central fountain and the two slightly older 
looking women that were sitting on one of the benches holding each 
other with their foreheads together apparently deep in some 
conversation.                       

The blonde whispered something into the redhead's ear causing the 
young witch to laugh and blush brightly, as she slapped the blonde 
playfully on the arm.
They joined their friends at the picnic table and after a few words 
of greeting began attacking the trays of food sitting on the stone 
table. They were ravenous and ate like it was their first meal in 
days.

"Glad ta see ya' took it upon yerselves ta join us Slayer darlin'." 
Morrigan quipped with a mischievous twinkle in her laughing green 
eyes, "Did ya' and yer lovely Sorceress get yerselves lost or were 
ya' just sidetracked dear girls?" 

Both young women blushed a bright crimson at their friend and 
mentor's gentle, good-natured teasing. Unlike their first visit both 
Buffy and Willow had been tutored by the tall woman with the wild red 
hair and easy smile that flashed whenever she was pleased with her 
students. 

Morrigan had been smiling a lot, she had been instructing them in
fighting 
techniques both individually and as a team and they had improved 
immensely under the watchful eyes of the warrior. She was very proud 
of both her students and it showed in the way she lovingly teased and 
tormented the young couple while they wolfed down their food. 

As Willow spent time learning a warriors skills from Morrigan so too 
had Buffy spent time learning new skills from the small gentle blue 
eyed blonde, Brigit. 

While the Slayer would never possess the diversity and finesse of the 
Sorceress Willow, she learned that she was a powerful elemental force 
and as such she was able to call upon the five base elements to do 
her bidding at will. 

Once Brigit taught her how to call forth and control these powers, 
Buffy had proved to be an amazingly powerful elemental mage. Brigit 
had also taught both young women how to combine their mystic 
abilities to support and strengthen each other during their battles 
against the forces of the Darkness. 

No longer would either woman have to worry about some of the things 
that had plagued them in the past because of waning strength during a 
fight.

She had given them a very stern warning about using powers before 
they were sure of the powers and limitations of that power. Brigit 
gave both young women a long lecture about how they had used the 
untried power on Spike and his minions at the warehouse, she was sure 
they were very clear on why after she gave them an extremely vivid 
description of what the consequences could have been if that 
particular skill had backfired on them.

Even Lugh had taken the time to teach them several highly useful new 
skills, even how to travel through the veils between the realms. He 
informed the two young women that now they had no excuse not to come 
visit more often so that Morrigan and Brigit would stop worrying him 
about seeing their two young friends. 

The biggest surprise to Buffy was the ancient Druid's dry and rapier 
sharp wit, which he used quite often to get his point across to his 
sometimes hardheaded students. He also introduced Willow to several of
the other Druids that called Teach Tu Dannan home.

>From them Willow acquired many new talents some not even Lugh knew 
how to use. All the residents of the sanctuary realm felt the renewed 
energy and sense of purpose that filled the environment because of 
the presence of the two young champions.

What was not common knowledge was that when Buffy, Willow, and 
Nightrunner had formed their pack, the three of them had fulfilled 
yet another prophecy. 

This one held a very special meaning for the Druids of the small 
community that only Lugh and a few of the elders knew. It was to be 
revealed that night. Lugh had made sure that all four of the women 
knew that they were expected to attend a special very formal dinner 
in the great hall in the evening so they decided to just spend the 
day resting and enjoying each others company.

It had turned out to be a very enjoyable time, spent in conversation 
along with some good natured bickering between Buffy and Morrigan 
that kept the other two amused. 
Then late that afternoon they split up and returned to their rooms to 
prepare for the evening. From what Morrigan had teasingly told Buffy 
the formal Druid dinners were very rare, because they were so stuffy 
and boring that even the most serious and officious of the Druids 
found them tedious and irritating.

When the Slayer and Willow entered their rooms they found two new 
outfits laid out on the bed for them. Buffy picked hers up and 
groaned. 

It was a duplicate of the clothing that Morrigan was wearing when 
they first met, it consisted of a stiffly starched white Irish linen 
shirt with long sleeves that ended in French cuffs and a knee length 
heavy wool skirt with a wide heavy leather weapons belt. There was a 
brand new pair of knee high, black, heavy soled boots that Buffy was 
sure would give her blisters before the night was over because of the 
stiffness of the new leather. 

There was also a leather tunic with three quarter length sleeves that 
was decorated with silver and steel, it was to say the least that the 
tunic was very heavy and it was obvious to Buffy how uncomfortable 
this formal Slayers' "uniform" was going to be.

On the other hand Willow was thrilled with her formal attire. There 
was a floor length, forest green, satin and silk gown with a high 
collar and a pair of butter soft kidskin slippers. She was also given 
a new green cloak with the usual spell embroidered in silver thread 
around the edges, it was held together at her throat by a pentangle 
clasp. 

It was obvious to Willow as she examined both outfits, that a lot of 
time and thought went into making the hand sewn formal clothing. 

"Really Buffy," Willow scolded her wife gently, "Listening to you now 
it's hard to believe that you are the same woman that used to argue 
with Cordelia about who had the better fashion sense. I mean these 
are beautiful clothes and our friends worked very hard to make them 
for us. What you don't understand is these people do not use magic to 
provide things like this, they consider it to be too sacred to be 
used to provide such mundane items. That means every cut and stitch 
in these outfits were done by hand."

"I'm sorry Wills," the contrite blonde mumbled, ashamed of herself 
for whining about the clothing, "I didn't realize how special these 
gifts were. I guess I've gotten used to wearing only my old grubbies 
or the comfortable leathers Morrigan gave me when we first came here. 
Hey! Are you telling me that Morrigan made those leathers for me?"

"That's right sweetheart," the witch explained "It was her way to 
welcome you here as a friend, a sister and a student. She wouldn't 
let me tell you before but I really think you should know considering 
how often in the last year those hunting leathers have saved your 
life. That reminds me, I need to thank her too."

Sure that her mate had understood the full gravity of the gifts of 
clothing that they had received and the true nature of their mentor's 
affection for them, she hustled her lover into the bathroom to be 
cleaned. 

There was of course the mention of the wisdom of conserving resources 
by showering together, but Willow vetoed that idea informing her 
eager lover that if they were going to make it to their dinner on 
time they would have to forgo the "fun and games" until later that 
evening.

It was a pouting Slayer that was hurried into the bathroom that 
evening, and Willow couldn't help but giggle at her lovers' antics. 

Despite Buffy's attempts to do otherwise both young women were ready 
on time and were waiting patiently for their friends to come get them 
for the formal dinner.

The entire affair was quite mind-boggling for the two guests of 
honor. For one thing it wasn't every day that two college students 
were sitting and talking to beings that were thousands of years old 
and were once considered gods, and more than willing to share their 
extensive knowledge with the two young women. 

It was quite an experience for both women but especially for Willow, 
she was meeting people that she had read about in Giles' books while 
doing research. She went from one small group to another engaging the 
Druid scholars in deep conversations all with her Buffy trailing 
along behind her beaming at her wife and smiling indulgently as 
Willow tried to include her in their talks. 

Finally after the meal was consumed and everyone was settled with 
their after dinner wine Lugh stood and signalled for everyone's 
attention.

"My ancient brothers and sisters, and of course our beloved 
students," the big shaggy green eyed man began "As you know it has 
been our honor and privilege to have had the Slayer and her mate, the 
Great Sorceress, here with us these past few months. As we all can 
attest to their presence here has brightened all our lives and given 
us a new sense of purpose and for this we all thank them."

There was a murmur of agreement from everyone at the table, and Buffy 
noticed that Nightrunner had joined them, taking her place between 
her and Willow.

"As much as we have enjoyed having them here as guests it is time 
that they became more than just guests." Lugh announced, all eyes 
riveted on him "It is common knowledge that they have bonded with our 
friend Nightrunner and with her they have formed a new pack. In doing 
this the three of them have fulfilled a prophecy long forgotten by 
all but a very few of us. This bond has linked them directly to the 
revered Old Ones and so has made them residents of Teach Tu Dannan. 
No longer will they be referred to as guests, while that title is an 
honorable one it none the less makes them outsiders in our 
community.  This is no longer true and it is time that they take 
their rightful place among us as the Clan of the Wolf and from now on 
are to be treated with the same respect and honor of any other of our 
group."

The rest of what their friend had to say was lost to the cheers and 
shouts of congratulations from everyone gathered in the hall. Both 
young women were surprised and overjoyed at the announcement, their 
two closest friends were hugging them and all four had tears of joy 
flowing freely from many eyes. 

Once things settled the group at the table broke into smaller groups 
around the room. Lugh had given both Willow and Buffy Clan badges in 
the shape of a wolf's head made from silver and had put a loose 
collar on Nightrunner that also had a wolf's head medallion hanging 
from it. 

Willow pulled Buffy from group to group until tired of being 
a "third" wheel Buffy finally excused herself telling Willow to `call 
when she was ready to leave' the Slayer went outside under the trees 
to relax while her lover made nice with the party guests.

It wasn't long before Nightrunner had joined Buffy and was laying 
beside her enjoying it while Buffy absent-mindedly scratched the big 
wolf's ears. A light breeze blew across the tree line bringing a 
mischievous smile to the Slayers lips.

"Do you think you're going to sneak up on me, Morrigan darlin'?" 
Buffy said quietly as she scratched the huge black wolf's ears. "We 
were beginning to feel kind of crowded in there. Besides that's Wills 
kind of thing not mine or Nightrunner's, so we left it to our beloved 
pack-mate to handle it."

"Aye, I can sympathize wit ya' Slayer, darlin'" the tall red haired 
warrior laughed "I usually leave that kind of thing to my sweet 
Brigit myself."

Morrigan sat down on the grass next to her smaller student, and 
friend. They sat silently for a while enjoying the quiet music of the 
night and the comfortable companionship for a moment. 

Suddenly Buffy knew that something was wrong.

The blonde and the wolf were up and running back to the dinning hall 
where they'd left the witch that was their pack-mate only a fraction 
of a second ahead of Morrigan.

The deadly trio burst into the crowded hall weapons drawn and ready. 
Three sets of worried and angry eyes surveyed the room, all three 
simultaneously lighting on the huddled figure of Willow being 
comforted by Brigit.

Faster than the human eye could follow all three were at the two 
women's side. Buffy knelt down and gently took her weeping lover from 
Brigit cradling her tenderly in her powerful arms while stroking the 
Sorceress' soft red hair lovingly and rocking her slightly. 

She whispered words of love, protection and reassurance softly into 
her wife's ear in an effort to comfort her and learn what the source 
of her distress was.

Making a decision Buffy stood up still cradling Willow protectively 
in her arms. She looked to Morrigan, who nodded understanding the 
Slayer's intention and agreeing completely.

"Come on my friends," The wild Irish warrior said in a clear 
commanding voice that would not tolerate any argument "we will be 
needin' through here. We're takin' this child to the safety of her 
rooms."

The ancients knew better than to question the woman and cleared a path 
to the outside door. Buffy saw her four-legged friend waiting by the 
door.    

"Make sure the way is clear, my sister" she said softly, "our pack-
mate needs us now."

The huge wolf let out a yip of agreement and disappeared into the 
trees. Buffy ran out the doors and was soon fading into the night 
still carrying her lover as if she weighed nothing. Nightrunner ran 
ahead.

Morrigan followed knowing that Brigit would join them as soon as she 
had finished consulting with Lugh and some of the other Druids that 
might have an insight to what had struck their student so hard and so 
fast that none of them had sensed it coming.

Someone had some rough questions to answer and she knew her beloved 
mate wouldn't stop until she had some satisfactory answers for Buffy.

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END 7
TBC
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So do you think it's worth continuing or not?
~A~