Yep you read the subject line right - this update brings The Gift Of Sorrow to an end, though, at the beginning Kath and I did hint / suggest that this was in essence the beginning two parter of our very own 'Season Seven' so maybe, just maybe its not the end the series
Enjoy
Beth & Kath
Buffy closed the door of the small internal office behind her as she watched Giles cross around reluctantly and sit behind the desk. Anya in his extended absence had obviously made the office her own, the edge of the desk holding some of the shops more important pieces hidden among others of no use or value.
Breakfast had gone well and though she knew if she kept pointing it out she’d be pressing her luck seeing Willow eating as if she was actually enjoying it had been something that almost choked her too the point that she couldn’t finish her own meal. She suspected of course it had something to do with Tara’s careful arrangement of the little strips of bacon and the apparently ‘sassy’ eggs into a happy face.
“So any last minute Watchery advice on this whole plan?” Buffy turned and reached down picking up the plastic stress ball that Anya used as a paperweight, she squished it flat in her hand.
“Be careful.” Giles gave the short almost sombre reply.
“That’s it?” Buffy raised her eyebrows.
“Well I could bore you rigid with facts and figures.” Giles pulled off his glasses and cleaned them meticulously.
“I’ve missed the rigid.” Buffy sat on the edge of the desk.
“I’m sure you haven’t had the time.” The Watcher stood up moving over to the door as if worried Tara would have disappeared, cracking the door open he looked through to the shop before slipping his glasses back on.
“Do you think she can pull it off?” Buffy followed his gaze smiling as she watched Tara sitting on one of the benches brushing Willow’s hair.
“Madalene?” Giles checked they were talking about the same thing before answering.
“Yeah.” Buffy nodded not turning from the interaction. A soft sigh escaped her as for a moment she realized that there was no one in her life that filled that magnitude of emotion and devotion. “I have no magic sense, you’re the one with all the mojo.”
“Well hopefully this won’t have so much to do with mojo as it will with your ability to eliminate the staff and I am sure the Madalene that Anya presents us with after her ‘makeover’ will be a suitable stand in for The Dark One.” Giles’ tone was almost undistinguishable.
“You know what Anya has planned is scaring me more than the big stick.” Buffy finally looked back at the Watcher. “You’re being super quite, is there something you aren’t telling me?”
“Now Buffy when have I ever been anything less than open and honest with you.” The Watcher almost scowled at the Slayer, which in itself was unusual.
“Okay now you’re freaking me out, what is up?” Buffy turned and looked at him seriously. “Usually I’m getting the long drawn out facts and forty thousands years of history on the staff but you’re not saying anything, you’re all tight lipped like there is some big thing you’re not telling me.”
“I am not.” Giles raised his hand to his mouth frowning.
“Giles’ I really don’t have the nerves for you holding out on me. I need to know what you know.” Buffy pushed.
“I don’t know anything actually which is the problem.” Giles admitted leaning against the doorframe.
“Nothing?” Buffy’s voice dropped a bit softer being really surprised.
“Not really, no.” Giles shook his head.
“So I guess you’ll be bugging Mads for her useful books then?” Buffy leaned back against the wall.
“She has them?” Giles sounded sceptical. “I would be surprised if she did Buffy.” He admitted.
“Well she said all she’s done is research.” The Slayer qualified. “Trying to understand what she is, what she is about.”
“Well that I can at least partially answer for her.” The Englishman’s face softened slightly. “She’s a demon human hybrid.” He paused and looked back out to the shop. “As is Tara.” His voice grew darker.
“Yeah which means what to me?” Buffy sucked her tongue over her teeth feeling her stomach drop.
“It may mean nothing, it may mean everything.” Giles sighed again. “The Council were less than helpful Buffy.” He pushed away from the wall.
“Giles less with the cryptic more with the explanation.” Buffy moved a chair over and sat down.
“Tea?” He pointed to the small electric kettle. “Is there still any tea here?” He added frowning.
“I still don’t drink it.” Buffy shook her head. “But yeah Anya keeps it in the drawer for you.”
“Oh right.” Within a moment Giles had located it. “I mentioned to them something about the situation.” He began making his drink.
“In a covert don’t come to Sunnydale cause I am so in the mood to kick their ass way?” She underlined squishing the stress ball again.
“I’m afraid I might have approached the whole thing slightly wrong.” Giles played uncomfortably with the teaspoon.
“What?” Buffy’s jaw dropped.
“They want me to take Tara back to England.” Giles replied quietly.
“Mmmmm and you informed them not likely?” Buffy flipped her hand over and ground the squished ball into the table.
“Well no...” Giles paused waiting for the Slayer’s anger to fall.
“She’s not going anywhere.” Buffy underlined with a firm voice.
“Buffy they just want to talk to her, perhaps do a little research.” Giles tried to argue.
“Giles whatever they want from her there is someone that she needs and who needs her a thousand times more.” Buffy couldn’t believe what the Watcher was suggesting. “And just cause we finally found yet another thing the Council has never seen doesn’t mean they are going to walk in and swoop her up to be an experiment.”
“I understand that right now is not a good time to take her anywhere.” Giles retorted. “But she might want answers Buffy and I cant give them to her yet.”
“If she wants answers we’ll get them for her cause someone out there has to know about all this cause apparently its been going for ages. But we don’t do anything unless she wants too.” Buffy leaned back in her chair.
“I understand your feelings on this matter Buffy...” The Watcher began but then he stopped. “No, you’re right.” He shook his head. “She’s where she belongs.”
“You said you found out something.” Buffy moved back to his original statement.
“I’ve found legends Buffy.” Giles slipped back into answer mode. “Stories that tell of people of a certain clan being almost indestructible, returning to life after dreadful injury. Sometimes taking years to return to their people and often not returning to their people at all, but taking themselves off into a new place to become legends elsewhere.” The Watcher relayed the information he had gathered.
“A clan?” The Slayer picked up on the words.
“Yes.” Giles nodded.
“Clans like as in cave people clans?” She made a confused face.
“A clan as in a related group of people.” Giles clarified.
“Oh right... not like the Cave Bear one with that tall woman from Splash.” She nodded again. “So what else was in the legends?”
Giles frowned momentarily in complete confusion before settling back onto the topic of his information.
“Not a lot.” He finally spoke and Buffy was completely perturbed by his lack of information, he usually had something even if it was wrong in the end.
“Well how far back do they go?” She pushed.
“Tracing the origin of the clan is proving to be quite difficult.” He went on to explain. “You see there are ancient references to such people in many cultures.”
“How ancient?” Buffy caught the word that the Watcher rarely used.
“Ancient Greece, the far East, Egypt.” He sipped at his tea.
“So they’ve been around for like ever?” Buffy chortled as she gave the simple answer.
“Well…” Giles paused trying to come up with some deeply intellectual reply. “Yes.” The small word was all he could manage.
“Giles, maybe I’m just the Slayer but how can a hybrid family with a few oh thousand years of history not have more than a crappy legend about people dying and coming back?” Buffy looked at him in disbelief.
“Probably because they don’t remember doing it.” Giles put forward logically. “The accounts of such events happening trail off dramatically as you get into relatively newer history. As a reference point I am talking the last three hundred years or so.”
“So recent.” Buffy grumbled.
“And of course there is the matter that such tales often revolve around groups of magic users, one must remember that witches went through a number of years of shall we say, bad press.” Giles tried to apply a catchy up to date phrase into his speech.
“Okay so much with the bad press and the forgettingness of the whole rising.” Buffy nodded realizing a little more how hard finding something must be.
“And add in the fact that of course, who would believe it?” Giles put forward honesty. “Without cries of Voodoo and zombies.” He put in the clause.
“No voodoo and no zombie.” Buffy felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up as she relieved the moment she’d peered around the caskets lid to see Tara’s angelic face.
“No, for a start Madalene doesn’t have the look of a zombie mistress.” Giles paused thoughtfully.
“Look Giles we went through the Madalene is the evil one phase around here, I for one want to put that one away.” Buffy spoke honestly. “I mean she doesn’t have to be doing this whole sacrificial lamb thing, she can’t even hold a crossbow right.”
“Actually that was me putting aside the thought of Madalene as anything but a helpful source in this matter.” Giles outlined clearly.
“I’m sorry, it’s just...” Buffy sighed softly. “I just don’t like the idea of anyone having their sights on Willow, not when she can’t even defend herself.”
“I know.” Giles put down his tea and crossed over to the chair where Buffy was sat he patted her arm lightly. “You can beat Maladic though.” He added confidently.
******
“How’s that sweetie?” Tara gently put the brush she had been using on Willow’s hair down on the table in front of them. She stroked her hand over the smooth red locks.
“Feels nice.” Willow nodded her eyes a little heavy.
“Looks like my precious is feeling sleepy, all that goodly food in your belly.” With a warm smile Tara reached out and carefully rubbed Willow’s stomach through the top she was wearing.
“I like it when you do that.” The redhead smiled with a slight giggle.
“That’s good because I like doing it.” Tara repeated the action with a broad smile. “You have such a rubbable little belly.”
“The doctor says I’m too thin.” Willow recounted softly.
“Does he?” Tara frowned for the briefest of seconds.
“She... she sees me every Tuesday. Buffy told her I’d put on weight so they don’t make me get a tube.” Willow’s head ducked a little causing shiny red hair to ease forward to cover her cheeks.
Almost as if drawn to do so, Dawn looked up from her silent place at the table and looked across at Tara, meeting somewhat horrified blue eyes as she did so. The teenager nodded that it was indeed true.
“I’m so pathetic.” A hoarse ashamed voice pushed out of Willow’s body, hanging in stark contrast to her jovial mood before then.
“What?” The word escaped from Tara’s lips as a breathed whisper. Blue and brown eyes regarded the redhead in disbelief.
“I can’t eat, I can’t sleep. I can’t do anything without all the pills.” Willow turned a little her hair hanging further over her face as she tucked her hands into her lap.
“No Willow it… it isn’t like that.” It was Dawn’s edgy voice that replied. “The pills, they just help you do better.”
“Just little atoms running inside me to make things run right after I broke them, a little broken engine on the Willow car and no one has spare parts.” Willow reached one hand up cupping it to her neck as she clawed her fingers into her skin lightly.
“There is no Willow car.” Taking a breath Tara eased out of the seat and down onto her knees, hoping that she would at least be able to stay up on them for a while. She manoeuvred so that she was in front of the redhead. “You’re a salt shaker.” The blonde assessed blinking her blue eyes upward at green. Green eyes blinked away self-loathing as confusion set in instead. “You’re a salt shaker and I’m a pepper pot.” She clarified as she looked into Willow’s eyes.
“I give people high blood pressure and you make them sneeze?” Willow’s hand relaxed as she appraised her girlfriend’s face. Tara chuckled softly and shook her head.
“No, we were there a while ago, together, perfect matches, side by side on the dining table of life and then someone took the pepper away.” She continued her analogy. “And that left the salt and though the salt was still there, it wasn’t the same. It wasn’t broken, it wasn’t wrong, it was still salt but it wasn’t the same because it needed its pepper. Like it still did all the things salt should do but no one knew that because without the pepper it couldn’t do what it was meant to properly.”
“Was the pepper okay without its salt?” Willow dropped her hand and seemed to lean it down without looking in a search for Tara’s.
“How could it be?” Tara blinked slowly and smiled lifting her hand into Willow’s. “They need each other to be all they can be.”
Willow smiled a little as her hand was filled by Tara’s warm one. She bounced her leg for a moment as if something was brewing in her head again.
“What is it sweetie?” Tara encouraged her lover to talk.
“Dawnie can explain it better, but I have good and bad days. I think they’ll be more good days now.” Willow whispered briefly looking up to the teenager. “I don’t like the medication.” She whispered even softer as if it was something she shouldn’t say. She knew enough to know that neither of the Summers girl enjoyed making her take anything, in fact she’d pretended to be asleep once when Buffy had started crying and apologizing for having a particular pushy med time.
“But its important you take it, just until the doctors say we can stop.” Tara realised that this was something that had to be done right.
“Which is bound to be soon now.” Dawn echoed positively. Tara turned and nodded her encouragement to the teenager.
“Okay.” Willow nodded gently.
“You can’t disagree with Dawnie, you know that don’t you?” Tara grinned at the doe eyed youth and then at her lover. “Because she’s the ketchup.”
“What does that make Buffy?” Willow smiled more and even managed a slight giggle at the image.
“Mmmmm.” Tara paused thoughtfully realising she was running out of condiments.
“Oh that’s obvious.” Dawn piped up. “She’s the knife and fork.” The teenager made stabbing motions with her hand.
“Does that mean Xander’s a napkin?” Willow giggled more.
“I think my analogy just got out of hand.” Tara giggled with her.
“Oh and Anya, Anya is a spoon.” Dawn giggled along. “All scoopy-uppy, and Giles is the tablecloth cause he’s kinda square!” The teenager laughed loudly as Tara rolled her eyes and shook her head.
“We’re a whole Scooby table.” Willow grinned.
Suddenly the phone on the counter top began ringing. Dawn looked round instantly getting up and heading towards it.
“That’s probably Anya.” She announced knowing they’d made sure the demon was going to call before she returned. “I’ll get it, you two carry on.” She encouraged them to not pay attention to her.
Tara watched the teenager scoot to the phone and begin a conversation, obviously with the vengeance demon.
“Just what are we meant to be carrying on.” She asked turning back to look at Willow.
“I don’t know.” Willow shook her head. “What do you want to do?” She asked looking at Tara thoughtfully.
“Mmmmm…” Tara hummed softly. “How strong are you feeling?”
“I feel okay.” Willow nodded.
“Okay enough to take this rather weak blonde pepper pot for a walk say round the back room?” Tara poised knowing that if Anya was coming back to the shop soon it was her job to get Willow safely tucked in the back.
“Mighty Willow salt shaker.” The redhead smiled and squeezed the hand in her own.
“I love you.” Tara whispered tenderly.
“I love you too.” Willow whispered back leaning down to hug her for a moment before helping the blonde up to stand.
******
Anya poked her head in through the Magic Box door to take a quick peek around.
“Did you get Willow in the back?” She questioned to Giles who was the closest to the door as he paced around with a book.
“Tara did, some time ago.” Giles replied in a hushed voice.
“Good.” The demon nodded and stepped in. “Now we agreed no one else other than the unstable ones freak out, yes?” She checked looking around to everyone. “Cause I have to say even I would have trouble not thinking it was Willow.” She smiled proudly.
“Anya we need to get on with this.” Buffy hissed as she walked closer it was obvious that the Slayer’s tension was high.
“Fine, ruin my introduction.” Anya stepped back and motioned to somewhere past the doorway. “I present The Dark One.” She waved and stepped aside more.
It might have been a trick of the light or just a passing clouds shadow but the doorway to the magic box seemed to dim as a small slim figure filled it. Heavy boots echoed on the wood floor as confident steps took the figure in a bit further before black leather hips cocked to one side. A tight black coat buttoned stiffly up the slim body to a pale throat that was framed by pitch-black shoulder length hair. The spellcaster’s skin was powdered down to an almost luminous hue, with the hints of horrifying black veins peering out of translucent skin at her temples.
“Will I pass?” Madalene spoke in the deeper confident voice Anya had been practicing on her as she gazed at them all with midnight eyes.
Unwittingly Dawn had taken a step back on her entrance and Buffy had taken several to put herself more in front of the teenager. The Watcher however remained in his place taking a long slow look at the spellcaster.
“Contacts, a great demon who does makeup for horror flicks and costumes from that leather shop. Isn’t it just scary how good I am?” Anya gushed proudly.
“A remarkable job Anya.” Giles complimented the demon. “How is it?” he asked of Madalene while the Slayer and her sister just continued to stare.
“The contacts are distracting but manageable.” Madalene nodded letting her body pose relax and taking on a much more her position as she placed her arms behind herself. “And I’m now convinced I prefer a somewhat more conventional cotton wardrobe, so I wasn’t a biker before I died.”
“We should really be out of here quickly before Willow gets even the chance to see.” Buffy didn’t make any other comment other than to hurry along their departure.
“Definitely.” Madalene nodded and stepped back towards the door.
“Take an axe Buffy.” Dawn called crossing quickly to pick up the weapon she had moved out from the training room earlier.
“She’s a slayer Dawn not a lumberjack.” Anya chided as Buffy took the weapon.
“Lets just do this.” Buffy said quickly. “Giles, Anya, Dawn, stay right here.” She stressed as she left with the spellcaster.
******
“I’m trying to think of a way to make Xander pay for all the worry he has caused, I am sure if I were still human I would have at least three grey hairs because of him, I mean how selfish is that?” Anya stared at Dawn who looked up from where she sat reading a history textbook near the table.
“Anya, he didn’t get kidnapped on purpose it was a misunderstanding.” Dawn rolled her eyes. “I mean why would Xander purposely get kidnapped? Just so you’d realize your still in love with him just as much as he is with you?” She questioned looking down with a smirk.
Giles was stood at the counter browsing through the book he had briefly shown Buffy that gave them the basic illustration of Maladic and the Contoric staff.
“I am not!” Anya squeaked. “Giles, tell her, tell her to stop teasing me.”
“Giles, tell her it’s so obvious.” Dawn looked up pleading her point.
“I’m sorry what’s obvious?” He asked but without breaking his concentration on the text.
“That Anya still is all love struck on Xander.” Dawn filled him in.
“Hmmm most probably.” The Watcher didn’t seem at all interested either way.
“See Giles agrees, I win.” Dawn grinned broadly.
“Most probably what? Wait no you don’t that’s not an answer.” The vengeance demon pouted placing her hand firmly on her hip.
“Come on Giles tell her I’m right.” Dawn egged him to join the conversation more.
Everyone waited for a moment for the Watcher to speak, when he didn’t Anya jumped in again.
“It’s so typical of you to go all pithy when real answers are needed and they are needed. I need to know if you think Xander is still in love with me, I mean its important, I could be standing on the brink of happiness, and no one has told me.”
“Dawn, get me Ruggards New mythology off the shelf.” Giles suddenly walked forward putting the book he held down on the table.
“Of course he loves you.” Dawn stood up and moved over to pick up the book and hold it out to him. “I mean he’s never not loved you he just got scared.”
“No, no down here.” Giles pointed to the table top where he wanted it “And the 18th century African tribal legends book.” It was subtly clear that the Watcher was beginning to get a little edgy by his body language and voice tone.
Dawn put the book down and moved over to skim the African section before getting the desired book and moving back.
“What is it?” She questioned feeling her anxiety rise.
“Scared, why would he be scared? I’m not scary.” Anya ploughed on regardless. “I offered him bliss, wedded bliss, with me for an eternity.”
“You’re not scary Anya, he was scared of turning into his father and hurting you, bringing your children bad memories.” Dawn looked at the demon. “You don’t get it do you? The only reason he backed out was cause he loved you so much he was petrified of hurting you for that whole eternity thing.”
Giles silently scanned through the books dawn had retrieved for him, flicking through the pages and creasing them to lay open on the table top.
“But that... that’s...” Anya began apparently mystified.
“Oh dear lord.” Giles flat voice cut through even Anya’s stupor.
“What?” Dawn looked down over the books not at all feeling reassured by his tone or words.
Pulling off his glasses Giles pointed to the illustrations on each of the open pages with them tapping each page lightly several times with the metal arm. Dawn waited impatiently for him to clue them into what was wrong.
“I think we may have made a grave error.” He pushed a book a little closer to the teenager and Anya who had drawn up along side Dawn.
“What is that?” Dawn pointed to the sketched drawing of a tall dark pole.
“That is the Contoric Staff.” Giles replied
“You said that was the Contoric.” Dawn pointed to the other drawing where the stick was small enough to be held in someone’s hand, where in contrast she doubted the other one was really moveable.
“Its the size of a small tree.” Anya frowned and stared at the array contrasting images too.
“Buffy needs a bigger axe.” Dawn pointed out her voice a bit squeaky.
“Buffy needs a chainsaw.” Anya whispered back with a frown.
******
Madalene let out a slow breath as they rounded a dark alley and the Slayer pointed to a pair of ajar metal loading doors that seemed to be their invitation into the warehouse.
“This is going to turn out fine right?” Madalene questioned in a tight voice as she straightened out the tails of her tight jacket.
“Piece of cake.” Buffy quickly wiped her hands and gripped the axe tighter. “You’re the big bad witch and I’m the mindless minion. We go in there get Xander and leave. Its all puppies and popcorn before supper.” Buffy paused to think about the sentence. “Not puppies with popcorn.” She stressed.
“I was starting to get worried maybe I’d missing something.” Madalene laughed tightly showing her nervousness.
“No, I mean thinking logically this Maladic guy knows your big mighty witch. He’s not going to want to do anything dumb, though I’m still gonna crack his staff.” The Slayer pointed out.
“That’s the plan.” Madalene nodded reaching up to carefully scratch under her left eye without disturbing the makeup or her contact.
“Okay? You ready?” Buffy gave the spellcaster what she hoped was an encouraging smile.
“I really hope I took drama in high school.” She took another breath and changed her body position as she took on the persona that Anya had described to her. “Open the door.” She instructed in a firm and condescending voice.
“Ah my honoured guest has arrived, it was so nice of you to return my little minion before it was necessary.” A deep disembodied voice called out to them as the minion from the shop scurried out and pulled the doors open wider.
“Well I didn’t find a reason to be rude.” Madalene stepped through pushing her body into a firm swagger. “Though if my Slayer broke his skull I hope you don’t hold it against me.”
“Your Slayer?” A low chuckle of laughter rumbled around the room as simultaneously the walls plumed with bright blue light that erupted from mounted torches. The illumination revealed the large warehouse was empty with Xander more or less in the same place looking basically, nothing worse than bored.
“Buffy are you mine?” Madalene asked in a slightly ruffled voice. Her head cocked to one side as she didn’t turn to the Slayer but kept her eyes on the dark hooded figure.
“Yours Oh Dark One.” Buffy tried to keep her voice a monotone.
“Yo hey Buffy...” Xander perked up in his place, though soon settled again when he caught sight of Madalene or was it Willow? Cause if it was Willow they were in more trouble than he’d bargained for.
“Watch your tone.” Madalene turned raising a finger to the Slayer. “You know what happened the last time you mocked me.” She licked her lips as she moved over to Xander putting her body between him and Maladic.
“Sorry.” Buffy replied more normal, realising her slip.
“And my little carpenter, always getting himself in trouble. I swear you’re such a tiresome little toy sometimes.” Madalene made sure to catch Xander’s eyes praying he’d realize what they were doing at least enough to play along.
“Well yeah, that’s me.” Xander grinned manically trying to catch Buffy’s eye but the Slayer seemed too intent on looking around to pay him any attention. Flicking his eyes back to look at the dark figure before him he caught Madalene’s eye before she turned away.
“Allow me to return him to you now.” The cloaked figure nodded slightly at Xander who instantly bounced up onto his feet.
“That would be preferable.” Madalene turned back to the mage. “You see I like them to keep their free will makes breaking them over and over so much fun but they are mine and I don’t like sharing.”
“Yeah she no like sharing, big time.” Xander stressed still grinning a little too much.
“You honour me Dark One, I have so much I would wish to discuss with you.” The cloaked figure seemed to not bother with Xander’s prattle or Buffy’s apparent obsession for looking around.
“I honour few and punish many.” Madalene looked at the Slayer and then back at the totem. She could feel the negative energy pouring off it as if its power to drain magic licked out like flames in a forest fire. Always looking for more, always looking for fuel.
Buffy followed Madalene’s eye and then screwed up her face and shook her head moving her hands together symbolising something much smaller.
“You’d be surprised Maladic how hard it is to break a Slayer.” Madalene pointed out closing her eyes briefly to feel the area around her. The large totem pole that was sitting a few feet behind Xander was the only thing other than the mage giving off magic in the room. Despite the Slayer’s contradiction there were no other options.
“Oh contraire.” The Mage shook his head. “I believe it is just another of your impressive talents. Ah I see you sense my staff.” There came another low chuckle from the Mage.
“Yes, it has a soothing aching pulse to it.” Madalene nodded as she shook her dark hair out, trying not to focus on the new shortness of it.
Moving but not walking, at least there came no footsteps from the figure, Maladic moved closer to the large ebony column.
“Oh yes, like a heartbeat, a thousand heartbeats.” The mage cast his gaze up and down the pole for a long moment. “Would you like to touch it?” He asked his voice low. “To feel its pulse?”
Madalene turned to look at him and a truly depraved amused laugh emanated and echoed through the room.
“Oh Maladic, would you think me so foolish?” She tsked at him. “You say I have talent though you tempt me as if I am a rank amateur.”
Raising pale, almost skeletal like hands to his hood Maladic chuckled softly as he pulled back the loose dark material to reveal a face as pale as Madalene’s, lined with darker, thicker veins that twisted cruelly all over his face almost like a complicated three dimensional tattoo.
“I see for myself you are no amateur.” He spoke quietly. “And you cannot blame an old man for trying.”
“No more than you can me for seeing the truth.” Madalene’s voice went deeper.
“I feel that you have judged me wrongly.” Maladic glided silently around from beside the staff as he regarded Madalene carefully. Buffy eased herself slowly round closer towards Xander and the staff.
“I come not to take from you, nor to harm you or your minions.” Maladic shook his head. “The show of the insects and the snake were just little parlour tricks to prove to you that I was worthy of your attention.” He explained.
“Then what is it you come for dear Maladic?” Madalene moved in a lazy saunter to the side in an attempt to distract him from Buffy’s movement.
“I come to honour you and to present you with the Contoric Staff.” The mage bowed his head slightly.
“You wish to simply give up a power such as this?” She motioned to the totem.
“I am an old, old man and you are a mere child. I have seen this word change over the millennia and have toyed with it in so many ways but I am tired.” With his words the mage seemed to grow less and less strong and upright. “I have waited, until the darkness shone again in one, one strong enough to wield the power it offers, one who’s soul is as tainted as my own.”
“You offer me a gift that is unequalled on this earth.” Madalene quantified trying to bury down the nausea the idea raised in her stomach.
“It will grant you power, that not even you dreamed of. And I know your dreams are vast.” The old Mage nodded.
“And with this gift, what is it you wish I do for you?” Madalene took a step towards him casually trying to draw him closer. She knew Buffy was going to need a miracle to take the totem down in one slice and with the mage so close that slim chance was made even less. Again a low laugh rumbled out from the man.
“Your acceptance is enough, when you accept I will let my own power be absorbed into the staff, my body will not survive any longer than the transferral.” He informed her.
“Then I accept your offer to inherit the staff and know from now on it will be always known as Maladic’s staff for all who fall by it to my will.” Madalene made a slight bow out with her arms.
“As I knew you would dear dark heart. With the staff you can twist and shape the world to your hand, everything you desire, you can have, you could even bring her back.” Maladic dropped his voice low.
The comment took away the spellcaster’s moment of relief almost immediately.
“Then I am more in your debt then you know for the only thing this putrid earth could ever offer me of any real worth is her return.” Madalene tried to catch her words very carefully as she watched the old mage move back to the staff and place his hands upon it.
“May the darkness inside you remain strong forever.” He bowed his head a little.
“And oblivion honour all your deeds.” Madalene held her breath as she watched his move.
“Recieve l’alimentazione.” The mage uttered the words and a brilliant flash of blue grey light erupted from the staff. Thick dark trails curled up and round the mages body, like roots from a tree all leading up into the main body of the staff before dissipating away to drop the wasted body of the mage to the floor.
As his words whispered through the room Madalene could feel the drain and physically she was forced to step back the edges of it licking out at her even more now as the Contoric consumed the mage’s energy.
“Buffy!” Xander motioned with a chopping motion to the still Slayer. He was completely creeped out by what was going on. After all how often did a big bad guy every just give up his prize killing thing? But hey it had happened and he wasn’t about to complain.
Buffy made a move to step forward when she saw Maladic energy shift slightly within the roots as it was absorbed.
“Il mondo era una volta bello.” His voice whispered as haunted eyes formed within the roots to gaze sightlessly past the Slayer, past Madalene towards the still open doors of the warehouse.
Buffy stood stock still for a long moment just expecting, waiting for something big and bad to happen. She waited and waited and only when nothing had for about a whole minute she looked at Madalene.
“What did he say?” She looked down at the dead mage’s cloak.
“B-B-Buffy...” Madalene’s voice shook with fear as a font of tears welled in her dark eyes and cascaded onto her cheeks. “Break it, break it now... thousands of screams... thousands of them... make it stop.”
“Oh God yeah, right.” Buffy jumped into action taking a large swing at the column nearly chopping through half of its width in one swing.
Xander hurried over to Madalene to more or less catch the spellcaster as she pitched forward obviously in acute anguish.
“Could you like hurry up with the chopping Buffy?” He encouraged.
“Look, its a lot bigger than a walking stick.” Buffy growled and sent a second and a third chop into the dense staff.
“We’re here, we’re here to save the day!” Anya came rushing in suddenly the clicking of her heels metering out her quick awkward run as Giles followed behind her brandishing a chainsaw, his hand ready on the pull start to spring it to life.
“The Contoric is not a walking staff it’s more like...” Giles looked around breathing hard only to have his eyes fall on the large pole.
“A Grecian pillar.” Buffy took a final swing and the column toppled to the ground in two pieces. She dropped the axe and dusted her hands together proudly.
Xander held the distraught spellcaster for a moment assuming as the totem fell that the pain inside her would subside.
“Ah Buffy?” He looked up when nothing within Madalene’s taunt body seemed to ease.
“What....” Buffy scanned over to Xander frowning deeply when she took in Madalene’s state. “Giles...” She flicked her eyes back to the Watcher.
“Oh yes well.” He lowered the chainsaw. “There was an African reference to power conduits such as this only being disabled when damaged to truly destroy them they have to be completely obliterated.”
“Giles exactly how are we going to destroy a huge long....” Buffy began but stopped as Madalene screeched the answer
“BURN IT!” Madalene looked up and screamed wordlessly as another wave of eternal torment slid through her body.
“I’m going with burn it.” Xander fumbled to try to do something to help as the brunette pitched forward more.
“Of course the perfect solution.” Giles nodded to the idea. “Buffy if you will just...” He glanced towards Madalene.
“I hear you and I’ve got her.” The Slayer hurried over and scooped Madalene into her arms to get her further from the source of her anguish. “You get the demon.” She winked at Xander as she carried Madalene toward the daylight.
Xander looked over to Anya as he rose up and stuck his hands in his pockets.
“Well rescue me then!” The vengeance demon demanded when he didn’t immediately do something.
“Right here.” Xander swooped over almost feeling more nervous now then he did facing the Mage as he offered her his arm. Anya pushed hers through Xander’s and more or less marched him out of the warehouse.
Giles stepped forward and beginning a slow circle of the two parts of the pole and the mage’s body he slipped the slim book out of his breast pocket and began a low chant as he walked.
Just a few moments later a rather sooty Giles joined them and it was obvious that within the warehouse the staff was burning brightly down to ash.
******
Buffy glanced over her shoulder at Giles as she unlocked and pushed open the door to the Magic Box. Anya and Xander had taken Madalene to Anya’s apartment to de-dark her, which left just the two of them to wander back into the store. On the way over with the chainsaw Anya and Giles had dropped Dawn off at a friends while Willow and Tara were kept safely within the Box, under both physical and magic lock and key.
“Thanks for the back up.” She smiled at her Watcher as her carried in the chainsaw and laid it lightly on the table. Buffy put her axe down along side it.
“I’m sorry that I was ill-timed in my research.” He retrieved a handkerchief from the coat he’d left behind and wiped at his glasses.
“Better late than never right.” Buffy smiled a little stronger.
“Though an explanation on how you defeated him would explain much of what we came in on.” Giles prompted gently.
“We didn’t.” Buffy shook her head and shivered. “We got things kinda wrong.” Without thinking Buffy took several long steps across the shop and stood looking through the door that led into the back room. She looked for a long moment at Willow, who was asleep curled up into Tara’s body. The blonde was also sleeping as she gave no sign to the Slayer she’d heard them come back.
“In what way?” The Watcher grew more curious.
“In the Willow way.” Buffy continued to look at her sleeping best friend.
“I think I’ll need you to qualify that.” Giles acknowledged softly seeing the play of emotions across the Slayer’s face.
“He didn’t want to hurt her Giles.” Buffy took a slow breath. “He wanted to pay homage to her, the staff…” She paused glancing at the Watcher. “It was a gift, for her.” She looked back at Willow.
“Oh.” The surprised noise emanated from the Watcher before his face dropped more. “Oohhh.” He dragged out the word again obviously reaching higher levels of understanding. “I knew she was powerful but I had no idea she had achieved that level of innate recognition.”
“This isn’t about recognition.” Buffy snapped irrationally angry. “They’re talking about Willow, my best friend, a legendary mage from who knows where seeks out and sacrifices himself and all the evil horrible things he’s ever done, to her. What does that make her Giles?” Buffy scowled and stared at the Englishman.
“That makes her a very lucky young woman as she had friends who loved her enough to risk everything to bring her back from that blackness.” Giles’ voice was sombre.
“Lucky?” Buffy’s voice cracked with a sob. “Look at her Giles, curled up asleep like a little child, clinging to Tara like she’s some life raft in this huge ocean of life. That’s lucky?” Buffy sniffed and let tears roll down her face.
“Buffy listen to me.” Giles moved over gracefully reaching to close the door before he reached up to hold her arms lightly at near her shoulders. “I have spent many hours analysing all the moments that I should seen hallmarking what was to come, I above anyone am to blame for every encouraging her in witchcraft but there is no way to change that now. The only thing we can do is support her and Tara for that matter.”
“I know and I will.” Buffy nodded. “As he died, that mage, Maladic, he said something.” She sniffed as her tears subsided a little.
“What did he say?” Giles asked his attentive brain knowing the knowledge might hold some clue.
“Il mondo era una volta bello but its ok, cause I think I’ve worked out what it means I wasn’t asleep for all my classes.” Buffy replied swallowing down her tears. Giles blinked more than a little surprised that she was even attempting a translation. “It means something like, my life was beautiful once, doesn’t it?” She looked at the Watcher for confirmation and she was rewarded with a slow nod.
With another shudder Buffy pulled herself free of her Watchers grasp and turned again to look at the door.
“What if its her destiny Giles?” She whispered as if the very words themselves could make the unthinkable happen.
“Rubbish.” Giles shook his head refusing to believe it was even possible. “I have no idea why Tara has been returned to her Buffy but that alone convinces me that Willow was not meant to go down that path.” He shook his head.
“Her life was beautiful once.” Buffy continued to whisper.
“I won’t allow it.” A crackle of emotion bled into the Watcher’s usually starchy exterior.
“What if we can’t stop it.” Buffy said chillingly.
Fade to Black… End of Episode One… Grrr, Argh.
by bowieinberlin » Wed Jul 03, 2002 12:02 am 
You brought tears to my eyes twice, with this update. First, when Giles hugged Tara, then again when Tara was talking to Willow at the end. So very touching and beautiful. I just love the way you write Tara, even Willow. So lovely, thank you.
Poor guy. 
at: 7/3/02 6:41:32 pm
That was lovely. Giles' reaction to seeing Tara again was so wonderful. 
at: 7/3/02 8:38:39 pm
that was great...i can't wait for more.... 