Part 6
"Is it too cold my Lady?" The girl asked spreading the sweet almond oil on Willow's nude body. She was too tired to reply, her mind and body relaxing under the gentle ministrations of the servant girl. The girl rubbed and kneaded the oil into her skin, taking away the anxiety Willow had been feeling all day. The girl flipped her over with strong hands. She forgot to be shy again, and was starting to find her nakedness a "normal" condition. If anything was normal in this situation.
Willow let her thoughts drift to the very real danger they were in. Giles didn't know half the spells Samas tried with her, because of how he reacted the last time she ran into him. She didn't tell him about the kind of person Samas really was. She wished she had the comfort of Giles right now, although not while she was lying here open to the world.
The girl had finished with the oil and was now brushing Willow's hair with long strokes. "You have hair the color of the sunset." she said admiringly.
Willow answered lazily. "Hummm?"
The girl plaited her hair quickly, "Now we put on the Mendhi." The other girl had been silently waiting with a bowl of henna. She was flipped over again and her hands were laid flat at her sides. The girl started slathing lemon juice on her hands and feet.
Just as she was going to put on the designs, she heard the stern voice of Mara. "No snake designs."
"But the Prince ordered..." the girl began.
"Who do you report to? Get out, I will do it myself." Mara shooed the girls out of the alcove. She woke up the drowsing Willow. "Now listen to me while I put on your henna, it is important."
Not fully awake, Willow tried to listen. "This is what we call Mendhi." Mara revealed the contents of the bowl to her. "It is a ritual decoration of the body, usually on brides before a wedding."
The paste was a dark color, earthy. It smelled like clay and rain until Mara poured a liberal dose of eucalyptus oil in it. "The designs we paint on ourselves have a special meaning." More lemon juice was dabbed on Willow.
"Mara?"
"Yes Little One?" Mara brushed her hand across Willow's forehead. The effect was oddly soothing. It helped her to find her voice. "I'm afraid."
"Yes I know. As long as you stay with your Master you will be alright."
"But, but I made a mistake! I got us here and now I can't get us back!" Willow started to cry.
"Shhh, shhh... lovely one" Mara cooed. "You will find your way."
"We're in trouble. And I don't know where Giles is... Can you tell me where he... he is? Please?"
Mara gathered Willow up in her arms. She put her lips as close to Willow's ears "You will listen and you will believe." Willow choked back her tears. "What you're afraid of, is what you don't know. One thing at a time. Sweetness, flowers wither and die on the vine. Now is your time to grow off the vine. You must save your handsome man, your Master."
"He is not...."
"Shhhhhh......." Mara's voice drifted to the very corners of the room. "I know."
She let Willow go and added some lemon juice to the paste and spooned it into a metal cone. "Now let me explain your symbols."
Willow let herself be carried along by her words. "This is the lotus symbol. It represents awakening." Mara painted the blooming petals ascending from a delicate stem. "It is the pure and devoted flower of the Goddess Lakshimi. And, " she pointed to Willow's navel. "The symbol of female sexual power."
"No one is likely to notice my female power." Willow said miserably.
Mara ignored her words and continued drawing mangos like little paisleys rioting up Willow's hips. "This is the symbol of virginity."
"How did you....."
"Little Orchid, you shy away and hide yourself. The Gods gave you gifts to share, not to squander." She stirred the henna mixture again, and added more oil to thin the paste.
"No one wants to share anything I have. Not Xander, not Oz..." Willow let the end of the sentence die, she was starting to become upset.
"Your Lord is very handsome, and respects you greatly."
"Giles?" Willow said incredulously.
She never thought of Giles as handsome. She thought of him as just... well, as just Giles! Not a man, but more like a person. He did understand her and always treated her as if she were smart in her own right. Oz was gentle, Xander funny, and Willow always thought of Giles as smart and belonging to Buffy. However, Giles was an adult and could make his own decisions. Could he pick her? Did she want him to?
She never realized she though of him in "that way". Sometimes, when he leaned over her shoulder, and she could smell his ordinary scent, and look closely at the stubble on his chin. In those short quiet times she felt he was a man, and not just a person. But to be with him, to kiss him...
"Now these are vines. We call them a Kalpalata to create a link between the earth and the Gods." She painted vines down one of Willow's arms.
Mara ended with two Mandalas drawn on the palms of Willow's hands. "These you will keep hidden. they are your powers. This is my gift to you. May you not suffer what has happened to others." She looked away. Willow wanted to ask what, but kept quiet.
Mara made her stand, and she touched every one of the delicate designs with the tip of her finger. The henna traced on her skin gave her a curious feeling of liquidity, and lightness. Willow could feel a warmth rising from the floor to crash into the coolness coming from the ceiling. She fell over in a giddy rush. Mara caught her and made her sit for a moment. "Now, your henna is all set." She went over to the curtain, "You may come in now and dress her."
The women wrapped around her body, a swirling skirt of red and gold patterns. It sat low on her hips and moved like water when she walked. On top of that was a short jacket that barely covered her breasts. It was a simple costume, and Willow felt more dressed, than "dressed up". The finishing touches were a light color dabbed on her lips and a ring of kohl around her eyes making them stand out like beacons.
Willow stepped out from behind the curtain. The reaction she got made her blush hotly. The women gathered around her and this time there wasn't any laughing. They chattered and patted her, wanting to tell her how beautiful they thought she was. Mara stood back and smiled like a proud mother. "Soon the guards are going to be here to take you away."
Willow started with fear. "T..take me where?"
"Little Orchid, they are going to take you to your Master."
The guards were suddenly there carrying a platform filled with vines. Willow looked at it and thought she was more like a turkey being served at the party, rather than one frightened girl. "Follow your Master's lead. I will be right there if you should need me."
Willow, loaded onto the platform, disappeared through the archway.
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Part 7
The heat of the day had given way to the cool of the evening. It was not less humid, but the constant warmth of the sun was gone, and people were coming out to enjoy the evening's cool breezes. Giles let the breeze play on his skin, and followed the music as Mara told him to.
He emerged from the darkness of the evening into a room lit with a thousand candles. Low braziers dotted the room and smoke lazily trailed up to the ceiling. Immediately Giles was hailed by the reclining Prince. "Please my friend, sit here." he gestured to a low cushion between himself and the Vizier.
As he pulled his long legs underneath him, the Vizier handed him a flask. "Excuse me?"
"This will relax you My Lord." The flask was silver and Giles had the impression that relaxation was not the end result. "It is from the Prince's own reserve."
Rejecting the offer would mean an insult to the Prince, but accepting it could mean death to him. Giles made a great play of studying the sliver in the flask while gently unscrewing the top. He tipped it to see the mark on the bottom, and the liquid suddenly spilled out, mostly over the Vizier. "Oh my goodness! I am so sorry!"
The Vizier jumped up and wiped off the shimmering liquid. Prince Samas stared meaningfully at Giles. "How unfortunate for our visitor. Tsk, tsk, tsk." His lips pursed. "Well our special gift will have to wait until later." He stressed the word, "later".
Giles smiled like an idiot. However, inwardly he was thanking the gods for his ability to act. Setting the flask down by his feet, he shoved it under the cushion. On the edges of the room, Giles could see Mara drifting in and out. He caught her eye and winked, she bowed her head blushing. For some reason Giles was beginning to be full of himself. "Well my friend, when do we see your Little Goddess?" Samas' eyes had a carnivorous look.
"I'm not sure your Highness..." Giles was uncertain of a great many thing, including how to get out of this. He was pondering this when a clanging noise at the end of the room drew his attention.
There were a group of girls entering the room, dipping and undulating in a wave of coffee and cream colored bodies. Thin chains of gold were the only adornment, circling their necks, waists and ending up at a ring piercing the tender flesh of their nether lips. Giles stared in astonishment. "Ah beautiful aren't they my friend? Eh?" Samas' voice was oily, arrogant. As if he was enjoying Giles's discomfiture.
The girls were grabbed by rough men as soon as they bowed to the Prince. The next group were dancers in flowing diaphanous robes. They twirled and twisted throwing the smoke from the braziers into wild circles. After they bowed to the Prince, they were not taken but continued dancing.
The room was filling up with men of all kinds of classes. Mostly they stayed at the back of the room with each higher class climbing until one got to the Prince. "Quite a spectacle, eh my Lord?" The Vizier was talking to him but Giles was focused on the next group, the concubines.
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Willow's heart was jumping and bumping in her chest. First she was worried that they would drop her, secondly she was afraid of what awaited her at the end of this parade. She often had to duck when they went through the arches that ringed the Palace. She was so nervous she failed to notice how lovely the evening countryside was, or how warm it was. The village lights twinkled and waved in the distance. The music playing had an irresistible beat.
Suddenly the guards stopped and Willow almost slid forward. The music was louder now and the girl ahead of her was giggling, while behind her another couldn't keep still. Willow was trying to keep herself calm. A light breeze swirled around her and she tipped her head back and breathed in its light scent.
Mara was talking to her. Whether in her head or through her designs, Willow didn't know. All she knew, was that she could hear her perfectly, "Little Orchid, just follow your heart..." The words echoed and echoed then all was still.
In the space of that moment her head cleared and her skin started to tingle. Willow looked down at her designs, they moved and flowed. A transformation was happening, and she was the center. Anxiety was deliberately replaced with excitement.
Whatever awaited her, she knew with perfect clarity she would overcome it. Mara worked magic in the henna designs. The other girls had snakes drawn on their bodies, a sign that they belonged to the Prince. Willow had traditional symbols. Mara painted confidence, awareness, and beauty on Willow. As a result it gave her a feeling she rarely felt, self confidence.
Mara got to the point of Willow's dilemma. She didn't make it go away, no that wouldn't solve the problem. She gave Willow understanding, and something to be grateful for...herself. The magic was believe in yourself and Mara strengthened it in every design. Still slightly nervous, but not as desperate, she whispered to the sky, "Thank you Mara."
Somewhere, deep in the Palace Mara answered. "My pleasure Little Orchid."
The Guards started up again through the archway to the Prince and hopefully, Giles.
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Part 8
Several of the concubines were walking, most were carried in on platforms and set before the Prince. He would kiss each one on the cheek as if to appraise them before sending them to their masters. It was to say that, 'I own you first, and by my grace you are given to this man for his pleasure'
Giles was searching for Willow and hadn't realized he was standing. They had been separated for a long time, and seeing the condition of the first group, his anxiety blazed anew. It was then he saw her in front of the Prince, but her attention was on himself.
They were looking at each other with wide surprised eyes. Willow couldn't help herself from staring at Giles. Without all the tweed hiding him he looked...looked... gorgeous! He was standing there looking for her. The pantaloons he wore, loose in some places, and tight in others, made her gasp. She could almost guess at the size and shape of him. Ironically Giles was appreciating her now exposed femininity
Without the jeans and overalls, Willow was beautiful. Her skin was luminescent, and her eyes were shining. She had... had.... curves and dips. Her braided hair was piled on her head revealing a long and graceful neck. She didn't wait for the Prince to kiss her and flew into the arms of Giles. He scooped her up in an embrace, holding her tightly.
There was sharp laughter from the men in the room, and the Prince tried not to look disappointed. However, there was a dangerous glint in his eyes when he noticed how Willow was painted. He whispered something to the Vizier then made a great play of taking Willow by the shoulders. "Well what do they call you my Goddess?" he moved in for his kiss.
"I... they... L.. Little Orchid.." Willow began.
Giles surprised by Samas' sudden capture of Willow stepped in. "Your Highness," his words were cold and measured. "She does belong to me.."
Samas released her reluctantly, but not without running his hands down her arms."Of course she does, for now."
"If you will excuse us." Giles bowed slightly.
He took her over to a cushion, far away from the Prince and sat her down. "What?" was the only thing he could manage to say.
Willow bowed her head and blushed. He'd never seen such a beautiful blush in his whole life. He knew he shouldn't be thinking this way of the girl. However, much to his surprise, Willow took his breath away, making him entertain thoughts he shouldn't. "Do I look okay?"
"Better," he said with a smile. "Than you looked as a ghost." there again came that adorable blush as she thought about the outfit she wore that Halloween Ethan had come to town. Willow was also stealing glances at Giles.
The small buttons closing his jacket did little to disguise his chest. Not as muscular as Angel, but not as thin looking as Xander or Oz, but definitely more solid. Willow suddenly wanted to touch the fine covering of hair there. He noticed her staring at him, and leant back. "You approve?"
"Well that goofy hat has got to go!" she laughed. Giles unwound it, and brushed his hair back. "That's much better." He smiled again, relieved that she was with him and alright.
"What happened to you?" Giles asked putting his hand on her arm pointing at the designs.
"I am with the concubines. It was the Head woman, Mara who did this to me. She said it would protect me from the Prince." she said impulsively hugging him again to show how glad she was to see him.
Giles wished she wouldn't do that so often. He felt that familiar ache in his loins when Willow touched him. He hadn't realized how much he needed her until this moment, and had to be honest with himself, he was lonely without her. "Listen Willow, we have to try to remain together."
"I know. Where are we? How do we get back?" She was almost crying. He had this incredible urge to take her in his arms, and kiss her. Unshed tears and quivering lips usually brought out the most paternal of feelings. In this case, it was fuel to the fire of his arousal for her. The parts of him, the teacher/friend part and the "man" part of him battled for dominance. And it was arousal, the hair, eyes, and body of Willow appealed to him, and it had been a long time since he had felt this way for anyone.
Giles put his hands in his lap to hide his "need" of her. "I haven't been able to ask anyone. I'm sure Mara knows, but is afraid to tell me."
"I will try to find a focus, if you will try to find the right spell."
He smiled at her, and the way she quickly grasped the need for freedom. "I will certainly try. Are you truly alright? They haven't... hurt you?"
She bowed her head, and looked away. Now she was very embarrassed. The one question she did not want to answer, and he asked it! "Bloody hell!" Giles started to get up and stride towards the Prince, thinking that she had been abused.
"No Giles!" Willow grabbed his arm. "No, its not like that.. they.." How could she tell him something so... so embarrassing to her? He had that determined look on his face that she knew well. It was his "Ripper" face. But if she didn't say anything, they could be in more danger than ever. Willow sighed, 'Pride be damned. I have to tell him.' "Please sit down." she whispered.
He did, slowly and grasped her hand. "If they have... abused you in ANY way.."
"They didn't do anything to me. They undressed me and washed me off." here she hesitated.
"Willow what aren't you telling me?" His face was near to hers, his breath playing lightly in her hair, their hands touching. She lowered her eyes a bit, and looked at his lips and tilted her head. Giles was wondering why he suddenly couldn't breath very well, and why her lips parted as if she was going to kiss...
Prince Samas clapped his hands and the room fell silent. It broke the spell between Giles and Willow. "Now our lovelies should show us their gifts." The other girls swarmed in the middle of the room.
The Vizier moved forward and grabbed Willow by the arm propelling her into the gathering as well. "The Prince has given his orders." he said harshly.
While Willow stumbled into the other girls, Giles caught the Vizier's arm tightly. "One more hand on her and I will have to convince you to be a gentleman." The grip tightened and the Vizier nodded slowly, not willing to find out what was behind that constricted smile.
The music began slowly and each of the girls moved towards her master. The tune was teasing and retreating. Willow just stood there looking at Giles. He moved his hands as if to say, dance! The Prince is watching!
"Let your mind go and your body will follow." Mara was whispering words of encouragement in her mind and it made Willow jump slightly. "Oh God its hopeless." Giles mumbled when he saw her jump.
"Your girl does not know how to dance for you?" Samas said sarcastically.
"She... She does... rather..." Giles stammered. Samas nodded knowingly and was about to say more...
The concubines pushed and pulled at her, and soon she was spinning around. The music swelled and dipped. and in spite of herself, she followed the cadence. Willow knew this was her time to act, to make Samas see how she belonged to Giles and to Giles only.
She was gravitating to Giles with hesitant steps. She spun and twirled towards him in ever shorter circles. The music turned low and sensual, with gentle beats echoing through the room. Hands reached out for her and she deftly spun away. It was Giles she wanted. Everything else faded away, people, the room, the Prince. She was alone with him and the music.
He watched her body with fascination. In comparison, Willow's body was soft and supple in ways that Buffy's was hard and muscular. As she ran her hands up her stomach to her breasts, she fixed her eyes to his. He found himself wanting to touch that skin, to run his hands across her wonderfully soft stomach. Then she leaped forward and touched him, it was like fire on his skin. Giles instinctively reached out to hold her, and she danced away from him. 'Not yet, not yet. You will have your chance to act the lover.' she thought, mildly shocked at her thoughts
In time with the music she swayed and pitched. Giles was in tune with her every movement. He could easily imagine her body close to his, hands running over her skin, lips caressing her face and neck. He was reminded of how long it had been. Could he.. with Willow? 'Oh God what am I thinking?'
There was power in her dance, a sexual kind of power. The evidence was the effect on Giles' body. He tried vainly to cover his erection. If he was acting for the Prince's sake, then he was doing a hell of a job!
It wasn't his mind that was doing the thinking, it was his body. Her movements created in him sharp, agonizing arousal. This was not a girl anymore...
Now she reached for him, running her hands over his chest, hips, again and again. Her hands edged closer and closer to his rising erection. "So close... So close... "Giles murmured, caught within her ecstasy.
The music stopped and Willow was kneeling in front of him, arms wide open, and her head tipped back, eyes shining. Instinctively Giles gathered her up in a crushing embrace, and kissed her. All the pent up sexual energy was released. Their tongues mingled, almost violently. Neither was thinking of the roaring crowd nor the direct gaze of the Vizier and the Prince.
When Willow came to herself again she was enfolded in his arms, Giles' mouth on hers. She pushed against his chest. "No, no please." was all she whispered.
His mind told him that his body betrayed him, and used Willow. This was all too much, he lost control of himself and his faculties. He let her go abruptly and backed away from her, horrified. Willow put out her arms, to tell him that she didn't mean what she said. But he was already looking away from her and she felt lost.
Willow was miserable, Giles misunderstood her. She felt energized in his arms, but not in front of an audience. Here they were exposed to the Prince's scrutiny. And Willow knew well what her dance had done to Giles. She could feel his erection when he held her, and she wanted that connection.
"Well done my dear!." Samas grabbed her.
"Th..th..thank you." She said breathlessly.
Samas turned her around, and held her close to him with his arm draped around her front, facing Giles. "Now we see why you've been so evasive." Samas rubbed his stiff cock against her ass. "She is charming." he breathed in her ear. "I can't wait to taste her....sweetness."
Giles didn't move, and Willow tried not to struggle against Samas, but found herself trying to move away from him. If she couldn't count on Giles protecting her from the Prince. However, Samas had issued him a challenge, deliberately taunting him. "Your Highness, " he began, his face passive. "I'm afraid I have to disappoint you. This girl belongs to me." Giles pulled her to him.
"We'll see..." Samas said letting her go. "We'll see.."
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Part 9
"What are you doing?" she wailed
"Getting you away from that pervert!" Giles said, hauling her down the hallway to his sleeping quarters.
Willow was still smarting from his rebuff . "Well if that's the case, then I might as well stay with the concubines."
"I'm a man, Willow. What did you expect, flaunting yourself like that?" He shoved her arm away. "If you don't prefer me, then go back to the Prince. I'm sure he'd appreciate your... charms." He turned and left her there in the hallway.
At this point he wanted more to get her away from himself than the Prince. He lost control of his emotions, and felt sure that Willow was disgusted with him. Jealousy raged within him. The Prince looked at Willow like she was a gourmet meal, ready to be eaten. "This is ridiculous!" He strode back and grabbed Willow's arm. "I can't leave you here."
Once safely inside the room, he more or less threw her on the bed. "What in the bloody hell were you doing tonight?"
"I was doing what you wanted me to do!" She sat up on the bed. "What was I supposed to do, stand there like a lump?"
Giles walked up and down the room. "For Gods sake girl where are your brains? If you had that effect on me, what do you think you were doing to the Prince?"
Willow said nothing, and retreated to the back of the bed, with her legs pulled up. 'What was he yelling at her for?' she thought.
Looking at her, curled up in the corner of the bed, Giles suddenly realized what he was doing. It had come down to this, jealousy. He was jealous of the Prince's attentions to her and could not understand it himself. Guilty feelings, combined with his raging arousal made this a difficult situation. He was taking it out on her, when she was just following his orders. Sighing, he sat on the edge of the bed. "I'm sorry... I... I lost control and I should be blaming myself."
"B... But I liked it...." she whispered. "I... didn't want you to stop. And everyone was looking."
"I took advantage of you. It won't happen again."
"So you didn't like it? You hated it?" how pitiful she sounded.
Giles groaned and quickly covered the distance between them. His arms went around her, and she curled up against him. They lay there for a long time not saying anything. It was comforting, and safe for Willow. The smell of him, the feel of his warm skin next to hers. She fit to him easily. "I didn't hate it, quite the contrary." he smiled. "I embarrassed myself."
Willow snuggled closer to him. "You didn't..."
"Willow," Giles realized that this was starting to become rather... intimate. He pulled away from her. "I am your teacher. I could be your father!"
"You could never be my... " she yawned long . "My father."
It was getting too late to discuss this anyway, and Giles was also becoming tired. "Lets talk about this tomorrow." he got up as she settled down on the bed.
"Don't leave me!" she said, raising her arms to him.
"I will be right here Willow." Giles pulled the blanket over her. "I will be right on the other side of the bed." He stretched out on the top of the covers. "Don't worry."
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"She is fertile." The Vizier handed the Prince a goblet. "And incredibly powerful. Did you see how her man reacted to her?"
"She has to be mine... Where are they now?
Looking away the Vizier knew that if he informed the Prince that they were in Giles' sleeping quarters, he could very well lose his life. However, it was a moot point, Samas knew very well where they were, and he knew what kind of man Giles was. "Integrity." he snorted. "They are together, but he won't try anything. He is cowardly."
"You sound as if you know him My Prince." the Vizier said, pouring another goblet full of sweet honey wine for Samas.
"I know him. He should've been dead by now, that stupid girl!" Samas was referring to the botched attempt to kill Giles while he was taking his bath. It irritated Samas greatly. He ordered the girl executed. Mara prevented that by stealing the girl away.
"Tomorrow he will be dead, and the Little Orchid will be mine. " he drained the goblet in one gulp. "See to it. I want him dead!"
"Yes My Prince."
"And, separate them now! I want to be the only man who gets to explore her wonderful garden."
"Yes My Prince."
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It was Willow's screaming that woke Giles. He leapt off the bed in time to see Willow hoisted over the shoulders of a Palace guard. "What in the Hell do you think you're doing?!"
"Giles!" Willow screamed into the hallway, her arms outstretched, her face white. "Please!" Then she was gone.
He tried to follow her, pushing aside the guard that stood in the doorway. Savagely the guard punched him in the stomach and pushed him down the stone steps that led into the sleeping quarters. Giles rolled over into a crouch and attacked the man. They hit the door frame and fell out into the hallway.
Giles fell heavily onto the stone floor. Before he could get up again, the guard picked him up and threw him back into the room.
Giles held his arm across his waist breathing in spurts. "She belongs with the concubines." the guard poked him with his spear to accentuate his words. "You will see her in the morning, and not before!"
He lay there, seething with anger and desperation. He felt cool hands on his head and body, lifting him. Mara guided him to the bed, slowly. Giles walked like an old man grunting as he sank down. "My Lord," she said forcing him to lay back. "Can you hear me?"
He nodded, yes. "That's a blessing." A damp cloth was pressed against his forehead. It smelled like fresh herbs, and citrus. "I am going to see to your girl. Be quiet, and don't move." Her voice was stern, motherly.
Giles laid there eyes closed, listening to himself breathe. His lifeline to Willow was Mara. He was not in control of either his emotions nor his environment. It was clear to him now that Willow that was the connection. Perhaps it wasn't an errant Willow-Spell but a deliberate attempt to being them here. Samas' appearance would suggest that this was so. Giles settled down a bit more, the softness of the bed felt good against his bruised ribs and stomach.
The compress was easing the pounding in his head, but not the speed of his thoughts. What to do about Willow. His performance this evening was disgraceful. Yet rather than disgusted, she'd enjoyed his attentions, encouraging him to do more. He was jealous of the attentions Samas' gave her almost to the point of being proprietary. Willow did not belong to him or any other man. But dammit, she did not belong to the PRINCE!
How he wished Mara would return, if only to tell him that Willow was alright and not lounging in the arms of the Prince. If she were older... Giles' thoughts strayed to her performance this evening and the reaction it generated within himself. She was beautiful, sensuous, graceful. If he had been honest with himself, he would have made sure Willow did not leave him this night. Her soft body, created a strong longing, an ache for her he was trying to quench. Giles heard Mara return to his sleeping chamber. It was time for some answers.
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Mara calmed down the hysterical Willow as best she could. But her misery was too strong for her. She ended up putting Willow in her own chamber, and drugging her heavily. There she could be sure that the Prince would not disturb her. He hadn't "disturbed" Mara in a very long time.
It took a while for the drug to work. She kept pleading for Giles, and was sure that he was dead, or wounded. Mara told her over and over again that he was fine, and laying on his bed. She promised Willow that she would go to him and help him.
When she was sure Willow was sleeping deeply, Mara waved her hands over her tear-stained face, mumbling words until Willow relaxed. "I don't know what to do, little one." she whispered to the sleeping girl. "The Prince intends to have you. The cycle will begin again, and more lives will be damaged."
Looking at Willow's pale face, her hands opening and closing like little flowers, Mara decided it was time to tell Giles the whole story, if only to protect others. She left two of her girls with her, sleeping on either side and left to see to Giles. Mara hoped that he would believe her.
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Part 10
Mara came into the room holding two bowls which she set on the trunk at the end of the wide bed. Peering at Giles who seemed asleep, she prepared to leave. "Please stay." he said opening his eyes.
"My Lord?"
Giles struggled to sit up. Mara assisted with strong hands while deftly removing his jacket. Large red and purpling bruises marked his stomach and chest. "Oh God." He groaned as she propped him up with the bed pillows.
"Oh dear... How can you play the lover like this?"
"I don't want to be the lover." he replied, but Mara ignored him, busying herself with mixing together the contents of the two bowls. "Mara, why am I being cast as 'the lover'?"
When she turned towards him she had one paste filled bowl in her hand. "My Lord I ask you to be patient, I'll tell you what I can."
She took a healthy dollop of paste and applied it to Giles' skin. Immediently it started to burn like fire. He gasped sharply. "Bloody hell..."
"The fire will ease shortly." Mara said pushing his hands away. As soon as the words left her lips the burning sensation became a pleasant warmth.
"Is Willow alright?" Giles asked, relaxing against the pillows.
"She was upset My Lord. She is sleeping in my chamber tonight."
"I would rather have her here with me." He closed his eyes, letting Mara rub the strong smelling paste on his body.
"My Lord you're not in any condition to protect her right now."
His eyes popped open. "Madam!"
"Now, now." she interrupted him. "How can I explain things to you when you keep moving like that?" She was mothering him. "You must be strong enough for tomorrow night. Then you must play the lover."
Giles was exasperated. "I don't want to play the lover!
She stood away from him, hands on her hips. "Why not?"
"I am too old, good God, she is almost my daughter!"
"Are those your only reasons?" Mara regarded him with a stern look.
"She doesn't l... love me." he said the words almost forced from him. "And sex without love..."
"My Lord, for a smart man, you are very ignorant."
"I am not ignorant! I have many degrees...."
"And you are still ignorant. The Palace is full of men, and the one your lady calls out for is you." Giles was suddenly silent. "And then she jumps in your arms every chance she gets..."
Mara was trying to be kind, but her patience with him was wearing thin. "You love her, and are afraid that she thinks you are too old and too perverted."
He sighed and put his head back. It was like Mara punched him in the stomach harder than any guard could do. Yes, he desired Willow. Looking back he remembered he couldn't wait to see her in the Library. Giles actively looked for that flash of red hair and green eyes, saying things to make her smile. Willow smiled easily and laughed openly. She talked to him like he was an equal. He tried to show her the same consideration. Yes, he wanted more from Willow than she could give him. "I'm perverted for wanting her." he said bitterly.
"Oh yes, you are a wrinkly old man. Ready for the cane are we?" She reached out and tweaked his cheek teasing him. "I think this is ready to come off." She started scraping the paste off with a towel.
"Mara, why are we here?" Giles grabbed her wrist and held it firmly.
The laughter faded from her eyes. "The Prince needs a new bride."
"Willow?"
"She is young, powerful...innocent." Her voice was full of unsaid emotion. "You must make her yours before the Prince has a chance, or you will lose her forever!"
"Make her mine?"
"You have to! Or she will suffer. Believe me My Lord I know this firsthand."
Giles let her wrist go, keeping a hold of her hand. "You were a bride of the Prince." he said softly.
"Yes."
"And you suffered."
"Yes." She snatched her hand away and rubbed off the rest of the paste. Where there had been bruises, there was now smooth unblemished skin. Giles contemplated this while Mara gathered up her medicines. "I will see that the Prince is occupied tomorrow night while you woo your Lady."
"Mara?" Giles still had many unanswered questions.
"Love will set you free." she said, ignoring his query. "Sleep well My Lord." and left the room.
"Sleep?" he mumbled, looking around. "Impossible."
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"It was like floating in the arms of heaven." Giles was talking to her, but she couldn't see him.
"What was?" she asked, trying to find out where his voice was coming from.
"Your kiss..."
"Giles?"
"Yes my Sweet?"
"I... I can't see you..." she called. There were clouds, vines and falling water in the way.
"I'm over here." he called back.
Suddenly Willow was on the edge of a long waterfall. She hastily backed away until the cliff face stopped her. Willow turned to climb and found herself in the arms of the Prince. Laughing, he causally ripped her bodice off, and fondled her breasts roughly. "You are ripe enough to eat." he cackled.
Willow struggled against him, "You won't escape. You will be mine when the moon rises." He nipped a bit at her neck. "Your Master will die and your," he dragged his hands over her abdomen, "Innocence will be a gift to me."
"No!" She screamed loud and long, bursting out of his arms. Her feet carried her right over the falls. "Giles!"
"My Love, I am here." She fell into his arms and together they floated down the length of the falls.
Willow hid her face against his neck. "Please take me home."
"We are home." They had floated into Giles' living room.
"Oh thank God!" she turned to kiss him, but he was gone. Willow woke up crying.
********************
Giles was having a different sort of dream. It was no less traumatic than Willow's. The fever pitch of his visions made him throw back the covers. In them, he was roaming through a household full of rooms. He was looking for something, but didn't know what it was and every room turned out to be empty.
A ghostly voices echoed around in his head. "Oh Ripper... yes... oh yesssss."
He ran to the source of the voice. "Oh God... Oh yes... Harder... ohhh." It was Willow's voice, heavy with passion.
To Giles, the door to the room Willow was in seemed too far away while it was only a few feet from him. When he reached it, he didn't have to go through, Willow was there on a low bed naked. A man was holding by the hips, rutting into her. The smooth line of her back was arched, her face a mask of pain, and ecstasy.
Giles stood still trying to see the identity of the man. His vision cleared. "Oh god, no..." It was himself, or rather the younger "Ripper" version.
His strokes were harsh, brutal, slamming into her with no emotion or thought. It was pure animal. Was that how he viewed himself? Was that how he knew himself to be when he was younger? Poor Willow was no longer enjoying it. With every push of Ripper's body into hers, she gasped in pain, tears running down her face.
"Ripper" pulled her up to caress her body. Hands flowed down her body tenderly fondling her breasts before lavishing sweet attention to her sex, delicately parting her lips with his fingers. Willow's cries of pain subsided into burbling coos and sighs. To Giles this was like music. It was his own face he saw then, tenderly bringing her pleasure.
It was heavenly, and Giles could feel her body against his, soft and yielding. A longing for her filled his soul. Willow was smiling moving against him until she looked back... Screams echoed around the room. The "Dream Giles" recoiled in horror as the real Giles leapt forward to comfort.
Willow thrashed and jerked, crying and beating on the Dream Giles screaming, "You pervert!"
"Its alright! Willow stop!" He cried. "I won't I promise! When he got to her in that slow dream way, she was still fighting. Giles pulled her off the bed and they fell to the floor.
Samas was suddenly towering over them. Willow clung to Giles shaking. With one giant hand he scooped them up and squeezed. Giles awoke with a jolt gasping for breath. It was still full night, and in the dark room he curled up into a ball miserably recounting the dream, dreading the morning.
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