FIC: Si Vis Amari 1c/?

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

Si Vis Amari, Ama (If you want to be loved, love) 
by Kevin Beckett

Part 1c
See part 0 for header information.


Willow and her team were now gathered deep within the house. The 
doors and windows had all been shut tight, and the house had been 
magically sealed, offering greater protection than mere mechanical 
locks could. It was time to begin the serious work of the night.

Willow had converted part of the old basement into a massive circular 
work area. The old floor had been removed, the earth beneath had 
then been covered with an intricate mosaic of slate, oak, maple and 
other rare wood. All man-made lighting had been removed from the 
area, along with all electrical wiring.

Notwithstanding the lack of 'modern' sources of illumination, the area 
was brightly lit by several lanterns that were adding their light to 
the four massive freestanding candelabras that were located at the 
cardinal positions.

As had been done in her previous workroom, one area had been converted 
to a study area for Willow, complete with her desk from home and a 
comfortable easy chair. Willow entered the room, and sat down with a 
soft sigh, worrying, as was her habit, about the work to be done.

Willow looked around at the thirty or so friends and family, who were 
busy with the final preparations for the evening, and reflected on 
other changes that had occurred over the last few months. 
Specifically she was thinking about the change in her working group, 
all frivolity was gone, and everyone who now worked with Willow was 
focused and dedicated to the tasks at hand. She had, not without some 
protests, also changed the structure and way in which she conducted 
rituals; the biggest of those changes was about to be tested for the 
first time, on this world. 

Some of the people were friends from her earlier circle; others were 
new to the group, and all of her family, both adults and children were 
present. Willow looked at the diverse group thinking, "what a motley 
crew we make," as she reflected on the variety of ages, experiences 
and skills that the group composed. Willow felt a slight pressure on 
her thoughts, and she realized that her familiar Shadow-Cat was trying 
to communicate. She relaxed and looked through the cat's eyes, 
realizing that she had been shut out of the basement. Willow 
concentrated, and then with a thought caused the basement door to 
open, to allow the cat to enter; Willow then closed the door behind 
the cat, who moved to take her accustomed spot on the archmage's lap. 

Taking a deep breath she thought, <ready to go lover?>

<You bet. Don't worry, you'll be fine.>

<Always one thought ahead, aren't you?>

<That's why you love me.>

<Not the only reason.>

Willow turned to the group and said, "it's time."

Everyone immediately turned and joined their leader, some sitting on 
the floor, others standing in a loose semi-circle in front of her.

Willow waited until they were settled before continuing, "blessed 
be."

"Blessed be," replied all of her companions.

"We are gathered at this time and this place to celebrate the birth 
of the year," said Willow, beginning the ritual introduction to the 
evenings work.

She went on to explain to the group how this celebration marked the 
end of one year, and the beginning of the next and how they would be 
spending some of their time that evening helping the souls of those 
who had died in the previous year find their way to the Summerland, 
where they would rest before being reborn.

Willow then continued to outline what they would be doing, more to 
confirm in her own mind that she hadn't forgotten anything since her 
group had been practicing for this ritual for the last month. She 
indicated that since this was one of the lunar quarters, and therefore 
one that was dedicated to the Goddess, that they would be looking for 
support and assistance from her. Finally, she came to the major 
change for the ritual. Breaking with 'tradition' she was going to 
combine their work that night with an opportunity to search the 
magical realm for signs of demon tampering.

Willow stood and said, "ok folks, places."

Everyone took their places within the circle that had been permanently 
inscribed on the floor of the work area. One of the biggest changes 
that Willow had introduced was in the way she organized her group. 
Drawing upon her experience on the other earth she relied less upon 
male / female balancing, instead she balanced the circle based on 
ability, experience and working familiarity. Her choice of a ritual 
partner reflected this, and had been one of the hardest things for her 
former circle to come to grip with; it had lead to several of them 
leaving, crying sacrilege. Willow worked with one of her spouses, 
tonight she was working with Aiofe, Bridie and Buffy would partner to 
the east. Amana and Grael were in the west, Xander and Anya in the 
north with Giles and his partner Steven to the south. The sixteen 
other members of Willow's group took up their places between the 
cardinal points, they were the newer members and their primary job 
would be to provide energy and support to Willow and Aiofe.

Everyone was in their ritual robes, each tied with brightly coloured 
silk ropes. Some of the ropes were made up of one colour, others two. 
Willow was the only one with a pure white rope, signifying her 
unprecedented abilities as an archmage.

Willow began the evening's work by casting the triple circle, the 
raising of the protective sphere, followed by the invocations to the 
Guardians. As she was calling them, the Guardians manifested 
themselves just outside of the circle.

"This is a first," thought Willow, "at least on this world."

"I hope this doesn't mean trouble," thought Aiofe, unknowingly 
echoing Willow's thoughts.

The rest of the circle, other than the ones who had been on the 
alternative earth with Willow, were stunned by the visible presence of 
the Goddess's earthly protectors. They had all been told that this 
had occurred to Willow before, but knowing and seeing often provoke 
different responses.

"It's ok everyone," said Willow reassuringly, "they are here to 
help, just like always. Its just that it looks like they are just a 
little bit more here tonight."

The next part of the ceremony went without any problems, or any 
additional surprises, as Willow and Aiofe prepared the circle for the 
major work of the evening.

After leading everyone through their meditation and breathing 
exercises, Willow turned to them and said, "Now is the time."

"Now is the time," replied the assembled witches.

"Now, we gather to pay respects, and to aid the departed.

"We gather to respect and aid.

"We ask for safe passage, and speedy return.

"We ask for safe passage and return.

Willow continued the litany, asking the Gods for their assistance in 
speeding the passage of all those who had died in the previous year 
through the void to the Summerland, where they would wait for re-
birth. Once they had completed their litany, Aiofe went to the south 
edge of the circle while Willow took up her station at the north. 
They paused preparing themselves for the next part of the ritual.

Simultaneously the two high-priestesses concentrated and then using 
the power of their minds as a focus opened two gates in the protective 
circle. The other members of the circle then started a multi-part 
chant, which was designed to call forth the departed souls and help 
them on their passage.

As her companions began their song Willow looked deep into the magical 
void, seeking the Summerland. Finding it, she then created a magical 
corridor between it and the Earth, which would allow the safe passage 
of the departed.

Willow, her body taut with concentration, returned her awareness to 
the material world and kept a mental count. When she had reached one 
hundred slow breaths she looked across the circle at Aiofe and nodded. 
Both women then relaxed their concentration and allowed the gates to 
close.

Returning to the centre of the circle Willow then said, "it is done. 
Our task, our duty, has been completed.

"Now is the time to celebrate the birth of the year, to thank the 
Gods for the bounty of the last year, and to ask them to watch over us 
during the next."

At those words the guardians, who had remained visible outside of the 
circle, flared and began to pulsate.

"What the," thought Willow, <Buff, any ideas?>

<Nope love. Last time this happened was when I had my little 
'conversation'.>

"Ok folks," said Willow, "let's remain calm, and we will deal with 
whatever happens."

As it turned out, nothing untoward happened for the remainder of the 
ritual, and as they neared the end of their night's work, Willow let 
out a sigh, and said, "well folks, I know we are all exhausted, and 
are looking forward to our beds, but we have just a little more work 
to do."

Willow then asked Buffy and Bridie to join them in the centre of the 
circle. Amana moved over to cover their spot in the east once they 
had left. 

Willow embraced her lover and said, "keep an eye on me, ok?"

"Always."

Willow lay down on the floor, the other three witched circling her, 
and holding hands. She said, "ok folks. I'm going to search to see 
if our 'friends' have been busy. Aiofe and the others here are going 
to keep an eye on me, so that I can come back; I need the rest of you 
to keep the circle focused and intact until I get back."

Willow concentrated, and began a series of deep breathing exercises. 
Once she had excluded all outside sources of distraction she 
translated her awareness completely into the magical realm, trusting 
her spouses to be able to bring her home. 

For nearly twenty minutes Willow searched the various pathways and 
nodes of the realm, which surrounded the Earth. She looked for 
obvious signs of tampering. Aside from the obvious activity around 
the various hell mouths, she saw nothing untoward. This both 
reassured and bothered her. 

Thinking, "maybe they aren't ready yet," she translated back to the 
material realm and slowly sat up, the exhaustion evident on her face.
Willow turned to her spouses and mouthed, "nothing," before slowly 
getting to her feet.

She turned to the circle and said, "I could see no signs of meddling, 
however, that does not mean we can be less vigilant. It just means 
that they may not be active in the magical realm, only the material." 

"Now, " continued Willow, "let's wrap up for the evening."

Willow and Aiofe then led the group in the closing prayers, and just 
before they finished their work Willow turned to each of the 
guardians, bowed low, and said, "thank you for your attendance. We 
take note, and are grateful." As she said the words each guardian 
disappeared.

"We'll," said Giles, as he and Steven grabbed their coats, "is 
there ever going to be a non-event filled ritual?"

"Don't think so," said Willow, as she scooped up her daughter from 
the bassinet where she and the other three had spent the evening, 
"but it was mostly a light show tonight, no pyrotechnics."

"But," said Grael, "it does mean something, its just that we don't 
know what yet."

"Great," said Willow, "just freaking great. What now?"

"Whatever it is," said Buffy, scooping up her lover in her arms, 
baby and all, "can wait until we get some sleep and some food; not 
necessarily in that order."

"No kidding," agreed Bridie, as she and Aiofe headed upstairs with a 
very sleepy Samantha, and three sleeping little girls.

"But," pleaded Willow.

"No buts lover," replied Buffy, "this time our glorious leader is 
going to follow instructions and get some rest before we try to figure 
out what is going on. After all, its not like demons are overrunning 
the town now is it?"

"No," said Willow, burrowing her head in Buffy's neck, "I just hate 
not knowing."

"No kidding," said Amana and Grael, as they followed the younger 
women upstairs.

Back in the workroom Giles looked around, to check that all of the 
flammables had been extinguished, before heading up the stairs. Just 
as he was half way up, he suddenly turned back and peered into the 
gloom. Seeing nothing he thought, "must be one of the cats," as 
turned back and finished climbing the stairs.

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It was late morning on the Saturday following Samhain and Willow had 
still not been able to figure out just what had happened that night. 
She had discussed the events in detail with Amana, Grael and Giles, 
but none of her mentors had any insight into what was happening. 

Giles finished his eighth cup of tea, looked around at Willow and the 
five other people, which formed her so called 'war council' and said, 
"it's going to be one of those things that we have to have patience 
for." Seeing the look of protest growing in both Willow and Buffy's 
faces he continued, " I know, patience isn't either of your strong 
points, but, we just don't have enough to go on."

"Mom," said Sam entering the room.

"Yes," said Buffy.

"I think you should see this."

"See what?"

"The news on the TV thing."

Finis Part I
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To be continued in part II