CK_Mako wrote:
So apparently I had a technical issue where my comment never posted... So this will be short and sweet. Yay! Faith has finally arrived! Things will definitely get exciting from here on in with her causing havoc.
I love it when comments get eaten
Yes! Faith is finally here and she will be sticking around for quite a while. I wouldn't say that she is going to cause havoc, but things will definitely be interesting with her around
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Bellalocke wrote:
“T, I love you, but you are a dumbass.”
I could legit picture her saying this. I love fic that pair Faith as either of the girls' close friend.
The entire time that I was writing the first part of this chapter, I heard Faith, so I am really glad that I managed to channel her here. Faith in this story is not like she was in the early canon of the show. My hope here is to still capture that rebel, purveyor of shenanigans, and mistress of mischief that was shown or hinted at in the show, but use her powers for good as it were. I would like to think that this is how canon Faith would have been had she had a mother who cared. She will most definitely play an important role as a friend to both our girls.
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I am glad that between Solana and Faith, Tara was able to get the push to tell Willow. Letter writing is always a good way to convey information, especially hard information.
Cannot wait for the next one!
That makes two of us! The first hurdle has been cleared. Question now is, how many more are there to go? I hope you enjoy the next one!
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Author: Bellalocke
Description: With Tara’s past revealed shenanigans abound as the two witches become more comfortable with each other. A visit with Solana results in a history lesson on magic as well as more details about the Guardian herself.
Rating: R for Adult themes.
Ownership: Please do not cross-post this story without talking to me first.
Note: Tara, Willow, and other characters associated with BTVS belong to Joss, ME, and all other affiliates. Please don't sue me I am a poor IT contractor.
Spoilers: Aside from some dialogue here and there, none whatsoever. This fic is completely AU
Feedback: Always welcome and encouraged
Chapter 14 Part BTara woke up from the light nap that she had fallen into when Willow fell asleep. She smiled and started running her fingers through the redhead’s locks. Willow started to stir and the mild sounds of consternation that were uttered as she was pulled from sleep made Tara giggle. The lithe witch looked up into the azure eyes of her best friend and gave her a sleepy smile.
Tara gave Willow a shy lopsided smile. “Hey, you. Have a good nap?”
Willow was still groggy with sleep. “Great nap. You are so comfy. I love that smile.”
Tara blushed. “Ready to get up?”
Willow shook her head.
“Ok. But no more sleeping.”
Both women lay together for a while longer. Only once the sun was setting did Kathryn and Odessa come into the room to check on the two young witches. When they saw the women laying together with Tara humming a tune, they couldn’t help but smile.
Odessa hated to break the moment, but she imagined that Willow and Tara had to be hungry. “Would you two like some food?”
The blonde and the redhead looked up and smiled at the two older women. They climbed out of bed and held on to one another’s hand before following Odessa and Kathryn downstairs.
The smell of pizza brought back the memory of the night Kathryn and Odessa performed the protection ritual.
“Did we ever tell them the physical gymnastics we had to perform just to get them under the covers?”
Tara giggled. “I don’t think we did, but we should tell Faith so that she can join in on the fun. What do you think?”
“Revenge for all the times Kathryn has made me spit out soda or otherwise ruin perfectly good clothing? Yep, I am totally ok with this plan.”
Tara walked over towards Faith and waved her over. “Want some blackmail material on your mom?”
Faith’s eyes glinted with glee. “You know me, Tare. I’m always down for some good old-fashioned dirt and fun. What’d she do now?”
Willow and Tara spent a few minutes explaining the situation and what they had to do in to get her under the covers. Faith clapped her hand over her mouth as she laughed.
“Oh yeah, definitely going to use that soon.”
The two witches grinned as they followed Faith into the kitchen where Odessa and Kathryn were setting out plates around three boxes of pizza.
Faith, Willow, and Tara grabbed cans of soda from the fridge before sitting down. The women had just settled down at the table and filled their plates with pizza. The room was silent as everyone tucked into their food. What happened next is something that became the stuff of legend – argued, massively misinterpreted, and outright denied.
Faith, perfect as ever with her sense of timing, broke the silence. “So, mom, I hear you’re a real knockout in the sack.”
Willow, who regrettably was just taking a sip of soda, sprayed Odessa in the face as she laughed uncontrollably. Tara had the misfortune of being in the middle of swallowing a bite of pizza. She started choking so hard that Odessa had to forget the fact that Willow had just sprayed her with soda just seconds before and thump Tara’s back twice before the younger blonde could breathe again. Kathryn looked at the pandemonium that Faith had just caused. She knew she should be mad, but the situation was much too amusing. Willow looked at Odessa and tried to apologize but the elder blonde shook her head and smiled at Willow before looking over at the young brunette. Faith looked amused until she caught the daggers Odessa was throwing her way.
“What? Someone told me about the time that you two were knocked out to the point that they practically did a gymnastics routine to get you under the covers. Not my problem you took it the wrong way.”
The elder witches looked at Willow and Tara, both of whom did their best to look innocent, and failed horribly.
Willow was about to go into babble mode when Tara shook her head.
Kathryn was still regarding all four women quietly when she suddenly let out a thunderous laugh. Faith and the other witches looked over as the tall witch completely lost it and started giggling uncontrollably as she pointed at Faith and then at Willow and Odessa. Every time she tried to stop laughing, she would look at Willow and Odessa and start all over again.
By the time Kathryn was able to calm down and stop laughing, Odessa had had enough.
“I’m going to shower. I’ll deal with you three in the morning. Kat, if you know what is good for you…”
The elder blonde did not need to finish the threat since the tall witch hastily stood up and followed her partner upstairs.
Faith whispered to Willow. “Might be a good idea to stay downstairs and watch a few movies.”
Willow nodded and looked over at Tara. “Hey! We haven’t had a movie night in forever. Why don’t we watch a few tonight?”
Tara knew exactly what Faith and Willow were up to, but feigned ignorance for the sake of her own sanity.
“Sure. Faith, you pick first, and why don’t we have some ciders too? Mama said that Kat picked up two cases just for you.”
Faith grinned. “Sounds good. Red, you grab the ciders from the fridge while Tare and I discuss movie options.”
Willow nodded and went over to the fridge and grabbed three bottles. She found a bottle opener in the same drawer where the corkscrew for the wine was located. The redhead managed to impress herself and Tara when she cracked the three bottles open on the first try. Faith grabbed a box of pizza while Tara inserted the movie into the DVD Player. The three young women sat down on the large couch with Tara in the middle resting the pizza box on her lap.
“So, what are we watching?”
Faith grinned. “But I’m a Cheerleader.”
Willow perked up. “Tara, if you have never seen this movie, you are in for a real treat.”
“The movie is mine, so I doubt she had seen it.”
The blonde looked back and forth between the two. “Why am I up for a treat?”
“You want to tell her, Red, or should I?”
Willow grinned. “Go ahead, CSB.”
“CSB?”
Willow started to giggle. “Cleavage-y Slut Bomb or CSB for short.”
Faith chuckled. “So, why do you think I am a slut?”
Willow stammered. “Well, I mean here you are with the low-cut tank top and form-fitting jeans… You look like you could go home with just about anyone one you want. There is also the cleavage. It’s like you want people to look. There is also the makeup, the flirting, and the smile…”
Faith laughed. “You haven’t met many sluts, have you? I can see why you would think that, but I am in a committed relationship, and I don’t know you well enough to tell you how slutty I am with her. You are right though. The cleavage definitely helps with the image.”
Tara’s eyebrows shot up. “How did we get on the topic of Faith’s cleavage?”
“How many times have you stared, Tara?”
The blonde blushed furiously and turned towards Willow with a pleading look on her face.
The redhead wrapped an arm around the clearly embarrassed woman. “Hey! Leave my bestie alone. Plus, it’s kind of hard to not stare. I mean, how many times have you stared at Tara?”
Tara quirked an eyebrow. “How did we go from Faith’s cleavage to mine?”
Willow looked between the two women and their expectant faces and knew that she was in trouble. “I…uh…I…”
“How much have you been staring, Red?”
The redhead furiously blushed.
“Ok Red, it’s not like blondie and I are innocent in this either. Women look, and that is fine. For what it’s worth, I haven’t caught either of you blatantly staring, so at least you have stealth on your side.”
Tara laughed and desperately changed the topic. “So, do either of you find it weird that a whole bunch of lesbian witches and practitioners have managed to not only be under the same roof but also be super close?”
Willow and Faith shook their heads. “Not really. If anything, it just seems right for our reality.”
“So, Red, how long have you been fluent in lesbianese?”
Willow quirked an eyebrow. “Lesbianese? Oh, wait! I get it… uh well, I’ve known for a little over a year, but I wouldn’t say that I’m fluent… I haven’t even kissed anyone.”
Tara looked over at her. “Really? I mean, I find that strange.”
“Well, at my school, freak plus nerd plus lesbian does not exactly equal quality dating material. Plus, I want it to be special, and preferably with someone I am in a relationship with.”
Tara nodded. “I agree.”
The redhead and the blonde shared a smile while Faith shook her head.
I give it another three months before those two are kissing.“On that note, let’s get on with this movie! I need my Clea DuVall fix!”
Willow chimed in. “Natasha Lyonne is so much better.”
Faith rolled her eyes and Tara leaned into Willow’s embrace.
“To Tara’s first lesbian movie!”
Willow laughed. “Huzzah!”
Tara looked between the two women. “So…uh…how much cleavage is in this movie?”
Faith looked over at her friend. “Not as much as you would expect for a lesbian movie. Don’t worry, Tare, no nudity in this one, and the love scene is more sensual than overly sexualized.”
The blonde nodded and smiled in relief.
Faith grabbed the pizza box and got a slice for herself before setting it on the table beside her. She smiled when she noticed that Tara was cuddling with Willow on the chaise section of the couch.
Willow looked down at Tara and spoke softly. “You don’t deal well with sexuality in general, do you?”
“I am ok to a point. Like kissing is ok, but nudity… not so much. Makes me feel uncomfortable. I know, I’m weird, but it’s just how I feel.”
Willow ran her fingers through Tara’s silky blonde tresses. “Given everything, I think that it makes sense. I will keep that in mind when I look for movies for us to watch. There are a lot of really good lesbian movies out there, but most of them have nudity to one degree or another. I’ll just hold off on those.”
The blonde hummed softly and turned her attention to the screen. When she saw the opening scene of the movie, she had to laugh. Both Willow and Faith were right, lots of boobs, but it was funny more than anything.
Faith chuckled. “Did I mention that this movie is super campy? In the best way possible, of course.”
The two other women laughed before turning their attention back to the movie.
***
The night passed quickly for the three women. When the credits started to roll on the final movie, Faith looked over and noticed that Tara and Willow were fast asleep in each other’s arms. She smiled softly as she draped a blanket over them and dropped a kiss on top of each of their heads. She quietly made her way upstairs and into Tara’s bedroom. The brunette changed into a black A-shirt and soft cotton boxers to sleep in. She considered sleeping in Tara’s bed but decided that would not be ideal. She also didn’t want to sleep in Red’s bed either. The dark-eyed woman sighed and headed downstairs to her mother’s study.
I really need to talk to mom and Odessa about cleaning out the attic so that I don’t end up on couches when I come to visit. Plus, when Buffy stays here, privacy would be nice. Faith smiled when she thought about the short, blonde powerhouse. She did not doubt that Buffy had latent powers just like hers that would be awakened given the right environment. The brunette hoped that it would be soon after she arrived for the holidays. When she opened the door to her mother’s study, Faith was surprised to find her mom sitting on the couch. Kathryn beckoned her daughter over to the couch. The young woman laid down and rested her head on her mother’s lap. The position was all too familiar and one that she had grown up with. Kathryn bent down and kissed her daughter’s cheeks and forehead before running her fingers through Faith’s long and dark locks. The brunette closed her eyes for a moment before speaking.
“Can’t sleep?”
The raven-haired witch shook her head. “Given all things, you would think that sleep would not be a problem, but there is too much on my mind.”
“Talk to me, mama bear. I may not be an empath like you, but I know you well enough for that not to matter.”
Kathryn smiled down at her daughter.
Who does an empath talk to when they need to unburden themselves? Faith… she turned out to be better and so much more than I could have hoped for. She might not be an empath like me, but she is strong and amazing in her own right. She is the one person that I can talk to when I cannot talk to Odessa.“You’re amazing, my daughter. I am thinking about Tara and Willow. Des has some reservations about how things are now that Tara’s truth is out in the open. She thinks that there are things that Tara has not told her nor I about her past, and it worries her.”
Faith smiled as her mom continued to run her fingers through her hair and occasionally give her scalp a scratch. “What do you think?”
Kathryn cocked her head. “If Tara has things that she doesn’t want to tell Des and me, I believe that is ok. We know all that we need to know to help her and guide her. I think she told Willow, and that is what is binding them so close together. Des is worried that the relationship will turn romantic or non-platonic before either of them are ready.”
“When it comes to her daughter, I guess she doesn’t understand that the behavior that both of them are displaying does happen among friends, albeit rarely, and that there is nothing to worry about. They look happy and content. I think we just need to leave them be and let things come as they will.”
The tall witch smiled. “Agreed. When did you get so smart?”
“Somewhere between the martial arts practice and learning to channel my own power.”
Kathryn laughed. “Maybe also between the time that you went to the States and fell in love as well?”
Faith smiled. “Maybe. I haven’t told her yet, and it may be a while until I do. I need to be sure.”
“That makes perfect sense, my sweet. All things will come with time.”
The young brunette yawned. She wanted to spend more time with her mom, but sleep was calling her.
“Sleep now, Faith. We’ll have time tomorrow. Just us, I promise.”
Faith nodded before she fell asleep. Kathryn carefully stood up and propped a pillow underneath her daughter’s head and covered her with a blanket. She softly kissed the young woman’s cheeks and forehead before leaving her study and quietly closing the door.
After she entered her bedroom, Kathryn quietly closed the door and divested herself of the clothing she was wearing. She carefully climbed into bed and snuggled up to Odessa. The blonde murmured soft words of happiness and the elder witches traveled to the land of nod together.
***
Willow was extraordinarily reluctant to open her eyes once she woke up. Her pillow was softer than usual; she wondered who had given it to her. When she noticed the gentle rising and lowering of her pillow, her eyes shot open in horror. She tried to move from her current position but found strong arms holding her in place.
“Shhhh. You’re fine, Willow. It’s super early. Go back to sleep.”
Willow slowly went back into a peaceful sleep as she felt fingers running through her hair and massaging her scalp. The next time she woke up, Willow felt Tara gently rubbing her back.
“G’mornin.”
Tara smiled at the sound of the redhead’s voice still thick with sleep. “Morning, Willow. How did you sleep?”
“So good. Do I have to move yet?”
The blonde chuckled. “Not at all. I am comfy if you are.”
“Very comfy. You sure this is ok?”
Tara looked down and gave her a soft lopsided smile. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Some people might get the wrong idea…. You and I know that we’re just friends, but they might think it is something else.”
The azure-eyed witch shook her head. “Don’t care about them. As long as we know what we are and are comfortable with what we’re doing, that is all that matters.”
Willow smiled when she felt Tara drop a kiss on the top of her head. The two witches lay together for a while more until they heard the soft footsteps of someone shuffling towards the kitchen.
Odessa looked at the two girls on the couch with an amused expression on her face. “Good morning, girls.”
Tara and Willow looked over at the source of the voice and smiled.
The young blonde spoke first. “Morning, Mama. Did you sleep well?”
Willow spoke next. “Morning. Want me to make coffee?”
Odessa nodded and the redhead moved out from Tara’s embrace and made her way to the kitchen. The blonde witch immediately missed the physical contact but supposed that it was for the best with her mama around.
The high priestess sat down on the couch and waited for Willow to finish brewing the coffee. “So, what are you two getting up to today?”
“After breakfast, we are going to go and pay Solana a visit, and then I was hoping that we could out to visit Maggie and Duke. What are you getting up to today, mama?”
Odessa smiled. “Solana invited you for a visit? Do you know how to reach her realm? As for me, I have some coven business to take care of that regrettably will take most of the day, but then I will not have anything to address during the holiday. I was hoping that we could spend some time just you and me at some point in time over the holiday? I was going to ask about today, but Kat and Faith are spending some time together and I don’t want to upset Willow so it can wait until a day when they will be home.”
Tara chewed her bottom lip. “I am a little nervous about meeting Solana, but I have a feeling it will go much better than our initial meeting. Can I just say that dragons are awesome, but also very scary?”
The elder blonde laughed. “Such is the nature of dragons. Solana really is the best match for Willow. I don’t think she could ask for a better guardian. At some point, Kat and I will need to sit both of you down and give a little history lesson regarding Solana and dragons in general.”
Odessa was about to speak further when Willow approached the two women with coffee as well as bowls of fruit salad.
“I saw some bagels and cream cheese in the fridge and was thinking about fixing one up for myself. Would either of you like one?”
Both women nodded. “That would be wonderful, thanks.”
Willow smiled and headed back into the kitchen.
Odessa smiled. “She really is something, isn’t she?”
Tara wore a soft lopsided smile on her face. “I’ve never met anyone like her, mama. She honestly is the best person I have ever met. I really don’t know what I did to deserve her or her friendship. Some days, I don’t feel as if I deserve her.”
“But you do, Tara. You are so incredibly brave and strong, and honestly, you are the best person that I have ever met. I consider myself lucky to know you and to call you my best friend. I care for you so much; never doubt that.”
Odessa could not help but smile. If this is how these two were going to be as best friends, she could only imagine what it was going to be like once they fell in love.
“Willow’s words hold wisdom, honey. Think of it this way: both of you are incredible women, and you very much deserve each other and all the gifts that you bring one another.”
Tara nodded and wore a small Mona Lisa smile on her face as she looked into the kitchen and watched Willow dance around as she fixed bagels for the three of them. She quietly chuckled and shook her head as she watched the redhead’s antics.
Odessa looked at her daughter and could not help but feel hope for the first time that her daughter would find happiness and healing within her growing relationship with the woman who would someday be her beloved. The path to happiness would not be short, nor would it be easy, but it would be salvation for them and the rest of the world.
The high priestess pulled herself from her thoughts when the redhead brought a plate with the toasted bagels as well as a cup of coffee for herself.
“Anyone need more coffee?”
Odessa patted Willow’s arm. “Sit down and enjoy your cup, I will get more for Tara and me.”
Willow smiled and sat down next to Tara. “Is the coffee ok?”
“Wonderful as always. Someday, I will need to convince you to share your secret with me.”
The redhead grinned. “If I told you that, then what reason would you have to keep me around?”
Tara carefully put her cup of coffee as well as the plate of bagels at a safe distance before turning on her friend and tickling her.
The blonde laughed. “Take it back!”
Willow giggled. “Never! Not until you tell me your reason to keep me around.”
Tara continued to tickle the redhead. “Because you are my friend and who else am I going to tell all of my secrets to?”
Willow’s emerald eyes met the azure blue ones. “Really? All of your secrets?”
Tara nodded.
“I take it back.”
The blonde gave Willow a soft Mona Lisa smile and bent down to hug the redhead.
Odessa gave the young witches privacy as they shared the moment. In many ways, instances such as these, while playful also addressed some of the fears and the doubts that both women held. It was moments such as these that would serve to strengthen the bond between Willow and Tara as well as prepare their hearts for all the things to come. Their friendship would certainly raise some eyebrows because it would be as unconventional as they were, but the elder blonde did not doubt that neither witch would pay any mind to what other people said. Odessa smiled as she turned her attention back to the cups of coffee that she was working on.
Willow knew that theoretically, she should not be comfortable with Tara laying on top of her, but that was as far from the truth as one could get. She felt as comfortable as she ever had in her life.
“You ok? Am I too heavy?”
Willow smiled. “I’m great, and no, you’re not too heavy. Am I really your secret keeper?”
Tara quirked an eyebrow as she rolled off the redhead and moved to hold her. “Secret keeper?”
“You know, the one person you trust so much that you can tell them all of your secrets and do not doubt that they will keep them safe?”
The azure-eyed witch nodded. “Yes. Willow Rosenberg, powerful witch, best friend, spaz extraordinaire, and my secret keeper.”
Willow gave Tara a shy smile. “You’re mine too.”
The witches continued to lay until the moment passed and Odessa came back with fresh cups of coffee for all of them.
The young witches finished their coffee and bagels in short order. When they stood up and went to grab their cups and dishes, Odessa stayed their hands. “I got them. You two better head to the altar room. You don’t want to keep Solana waiting.”
Willow and Tara smiled as they hurried off.
***
‘Sol, you with me? Tara and I are in the altar room.’‘Join hands with her and try to reach out to her mind with yours. It should feel similar to when you cast together.’Willow took Tara’s hand within her own. “So, you know how we reach out to each other when we cast?”
Tara nodded.
“We need to reach out to each other’s minds in almost the same way.”
The blonde nodded and closed her eyes. A few moments later, she felt a gentle touch in her mind, as if the person reaching out was trying to say hello. Tara smiled and opened up her mind.
‘Tara, can you hear me?’
‘Yes. This is amazing! How are we doing this?’
‘I will explain that to both of you when you have come to my realm. Now, Tara, do you remember how it feels whenever you travel to Tor’s domain?’
‘Yes.’
‘Good. You are going to fall into a similar state with Willow, but you will allow her to lead. Understand?’
‘Perfectly.’Both witches sat in the center of the pentagram and held hands as they entered the trance state that allowed them to astral project to the realm of their guardians. Willow took a solid hold on Tara’s consciousness and led her slowly but surely to Solana’s realm. When both witches opened their eyes, Willow smiled as she found herself in the all too familiar room that she had come to when she first visited Solana.
“Are you ready?”
Tara was still gaining her bearings. “It is so different here. Where do we go now?”
Willow turned Tara around and showed her the door that led to the cavern. When she opened it up, the redhead saw Solana waiting for her in the center of the cavern.
“Willow, kindly show Tara to the stream and have her drink as you do.”
The redhead nodded and held on to her best friend’s hand as she led her over to the stream. “Drink as much as you can. It will make things easier whenever we go back.”
Tara nodded and drank until she could no more. She wasn’t sure how, but she knew that the stream was magically imbued, likely by Solana herself, and served many purposes. She took a moment to look around the cavern and was taken back by how big it was as well as how large the craggy hole at the top of the cavern was. The space was warm and light, but not as harsh as one would think for being in the realm of fire. The two witches walked over to where Solana was standing.
The scarlet dragon embraced Willow in an enveloping hug accompanied by a chest rumble and ended with Solana touching her forehead to Willow’s. The guardian turned and regarded Tara with a warm smile and offered her a hug as well. The blonde was surprised when she accepted the hug but was glad she did. When Solana rumbled her chest, Tara immediately felt any anxiety she had melt away. The dragon was incredibly old, older than any spirit she had ever come across, and with that age came the ability to calm others. Solana stepped back from the blonde and turned back to Willow.
“Should we show her?”
Willow nodded. “I think she needs to see.”
Solana nodded as Willow guided Tara back a dozen paces.
“The calm that you feel right now, hold on to it, and know that no harm will to you.”
Tara nodded her head and kept her eyes on Solana. She gasped when the guardian started to transform into her original form. The blonde had never seen such a sight in her life and was fearful for a moment until Willow squeezed her hand. Solana was larger than she could have possibly imagined. If Willow were ever able to summon her guardian to any realm in her original size, the level of her power would be a force of nature.
Once she was done with her transformation, Solana laid down and let the two witches approach her. Willow immediately reached out and stroked the top of the dragon’s head. Tara was more tentative with her touch and opted to stroke the crest located above Solana’s eye. She couldn’t help but smile when she looked into the dragon’s magenta eyes.
“You are so beautiful and magnificent. Thank you for inviting me into your home. It truly is an honor.”
Solana rumbled once more before she began to shrink back down to her humanoid form. Once returned to her humanoid state of being, she led both witches to a fire pit with a well where they could rest their feet.
“I see our visit being lengthy, so I encourage you to drink from the stream as often as you can.”
Both witches nodded.
“I cannot tell you how pleased I am to have you both here. I can already see the bond between the two of you strengthening and growing. I will explain to you why this is imperative at a different time, just know that the bond between the two of you is extraordinarily important, and you must not let anyone hinder it or make you second guess yourself.”
Willow and Tara smiled as they sat close and held hands. Willow spoke first. “Is this kind of feeling and bond common among some witches?”
Solana shook her head. “It is exceedingly rare which is why so many do not know what to do when they see it. Often, they assume that the two witches are in a romantic relationship, and while that is always an option, as it is with all friendships, the bond that you two share exceeds any bond that most witches will ever experience. What is most important is that both of you trust each other implicitly and learn to work as one.”
Tara nodded. “Sometimes when we cast, it already feels like we do that. What is strange is the fact that my primary elemental affinity is the diametric opposite of Willow’s. We have been trying, but we have yet to figure out how to make them work together.”
“What do you think of when it comes to earth and fire?”
Tara answered first. “Lava.”
Willow followed. “Meteoroids.”
Solana smiled. “Correct. Fire and Earth can be used to create lava or meteoroids, both of which are very destructive forces, yes? All the elements can work together in harmony, even those that are supposed to be opposites. You simply have to visualize what the two elements can make together. Do either of you know the history or origin of magic in the world?”
Willow and Tara shook their heads.
“Stupid humans! Sorry, not you two, but your elders are idiots. Back in the days of the old, the history and the origin of magic was the first thing taught to young witches. This is due to the fact that in understanding the origins, witches were better able to understand and harness magic. Are you ready to listen to the first part of the tale?”
Both young women nodded.
“Good. Go and drink some more water from the spring while I make this area more suitable for comfort.”
Willow and Tara got up from their seats and went over to the stream. They drank from the stream once again. When they walked back over to the fire pit, the witches noticed Solana had moved a big couch as well as a large armchair near the firepit. The dragon had also lit a fire in the pit since twilight was soon approaching. Willow sat down on the couch and patted her lap. Tara smiled and laid down on the couch placing her head on the redhead’s lap. Willow began to run her fingers through her hair while they waited for Solana to begin.
“Sol, before we begin, can I ask a question?”
The guardian nodded.
“How old are you? Tara and I have been wracking our brains and we cannot figure it out.”
Solana smiled. “You will find out as I tell you the story of the origin of magic. Fair?”
Willow nodded and continued to run her fingers through Tara’s golden tresses.
“Magic, as we know it, did not originate in this realm. The exact place where magic came from has been lost with the sands of time. What is known is that the creator of this universe saw fit to bring magic to this realm. This happened around the time that your gods were in the infancy of their power. The earth had just been created and Gaea was made to be the keeper and guardian of the new planet. During this time, Titans, Druids, Sirens, and Valkyries still walked the earth. Each of these races had magic of their own that had been gifted to them. At some point in time, the creator made the last two races that would be present in this realm: Dragons and Humans. Both were created so close together that they formed strong ties to one another and worked in harmony. When the dragons came into being, the creator gifted magic, as you know it today, to the Mother of Dragons. She was given the ability to gift that magic not only to the different dragon families that were created but to humans as well. She had a rare and unique gift: the power of creation. This was how she brought her children into being. When the bond between humans and dragons became apparent, the Mother decided that she would gift magic to certain families who demonstrated the care and respect needed to responsibly harness magic. She decided to wait for many generations before she introduced magic to humans, and at that, the power was introduced slowly. The Mother of Dragons decided to gift magic to twelve human families, just as there were twelve dragon families because they proved their loyalty to the dragons as well as their respect for the gift.”
Solana turned to Tara. “Your family is one of the original families that magic was gifted to which is why you have so many powerful witches within it. Willow, your family was not granted the gift of magic, but somewhere along the way, one of your ancestors inherited the gift, likely because they were the result of a union between your family and one of the original families. In cases such as yours, the gift can skip generations, but the potential for magic still exists within you. Nobody has ever been able to figure out why this is, but I suppose that there must be some mysteries in the world and questions that will never have answers. Now, to answer your question about my age. My sisters and I are four of the original dragons born from the Mother of Dragons. Effectively, I am as old as magic in this realm, give or take a few centuries. I cannot give you an exact age since you tend to lose track after your first couple of eons.”
Solana barked out a laugh while Willow sat slack-jawed and unable to speak.
“I know that all of this is hard to wrap your mind around, so I believe that I will stop the lesson for right now. Just know that both of you are incredibly special, and you have a critical role to play in this world.”
Willow finally found her voice. “Why did you choose me? I mean, you are immortal and one of the most powerful beings on the planet. So, why me?”
Solana regarded her young charge with a softness and tenderness that the witch had never seen before. “You are incredibly special, Willow, as are you, Tara. Both of you possess gifts that you have yet to discover but will with time. I chose you because you alone are worthy. I decided this when you demonstrated your intelligence, your empathy, your willingness to give all of yourself to those you care for and love, and most of all your open-mindedness and respect for all those around you. I think Tara will agree with me when I say that you are unlike any human that I have ever met. Believe me, I have met a lot of them, and you are truly unique and a gift to this world. The same is true of you, Tara. You are incredibly loving, giving, and powerful. Despite the amount of power that you hold, you demonstrate an unbelievable amount of respect for that power and the gifts that you have been given. I can confidently say that given training and time you will be the most powerful witch that your family has ever seen.”
Both witches sat and considered all the information that they had been given.
The dragon regarded both witches. “I know that this is a lot and that you have been given quite a bit to consider. I want you to understand that I am giving you this information so that you better understand the gifts that you have been given. That said, you do not have to do anything different than you have been. Live your lives as you have so far, seek comfort and solace within one another, and most importantly, follow your heart. The last thing that I will say is this: remember to have fun, live life, and do not let the quest for knowledge and power in the realm of magic consume you; doing so will only bring you to ruin. I will share more with you as the need arises. For the time being, enjoy each other and the gifts that you have outside of magic. Now, drink some more water before you head home.”
Both witches nodded and headed for the stream once again. Once they drank as much as they could, Willow and Tara returned to Solana.
The dragon looked down at both witches with a kind smile. “One last thing. Tara, now that you have been here, you will be able to travel here of your own volition. You are always welcome as is Willow.”
Both women smiled and thanked Solana.
The fire dragon leaned down and gave the young witch a hug along with a chest rumble and touched her forehead to Willow’s. She then turned towards Tara and did the same. The blonde witch was surprised when Solana touched her forehead to hers.
“I know that you are curious what that greeting and farewell mean. I will take a moment to explain certain customs for dragons. A hug is normal to give to those who you are close to and care for. The rumble of our chests is different for dragons and humans. For humans, it is meant to calm the person as well as convey comfort and caring. Touching one’s forehead to another is something reserved for the closest people in our lives. It is akin to a kiss and our way of saying I love you. Which I do; I hold a great deal of love and respect for you both. Do you understand?”
Both witches nodded and hugged the dragon again before touching their foreheads to hers.
Willow and Tara smiled at the guardian before returning to the altar room.
***
Willow looked at Tara. “Would it be ok if we rested for the day? That was quite a lot to take in.”
The blonde nodded. “Of course. Shall we go to my room?”
Willow nodded and both witches made their way to Tara’s room. They lay down on Tara’s bed and fell asleep holding one another.
Sometime later, Odessa looked in on the two witches when she came home from the coven headquarters. The golden glow of magic surrounded the two even as they slept. She could see the red thread that linked the two of them become stronger and more defined as their bond grew. The elder witch did not doubt that things are as they were always meant to be. She walked into the room and covered both of her young charges with a light blanket and gave them both a kiss on their temples before walking out of the room and closing the door behind her.
Kathryn met Odessa in their bedroom. “Everything ok, Des?”
The elder Maclay nodded. “They are learning and growing. I think their love will be the most powerful thing that the world has seen. We must support them and not interfere no matter how much we may want to. They must come to each other willingly and of their own volition; we cannot push them together. The fact that they have been nearly inseparable physically as well as mentally since the bond was established is a good sign.”
“Do you think they’ll be able to fulfill their purpose?”
Odessa laid down in bed and pulled Kathryn down to her. The two witches lay together for a long time.
“I have faith in my daughter. She will guide Willow and together they will accomplish what we have not been able to in all the years that we have been fighting this battle.”
Kathryn nodded. “I have faith in them too.”
Odessa looked at her soulmate. “You know, your bond with Willow is growing. She means a great deal to you, doesn’t she?”
A lone tear fell from the raven-haired witch’s eye. “She is one of the daughters I was meant to have but was never gifted with. Willow is still a gift to me even though she was not borne from my body. Have you seen her and Faith?”
“Given time those two will be thick as thieves. I was expecting there to be more tension between the two of them given the circumstances, but Willow’s capacity for patience, love, and understanding was perfectly demonstrated in how she treated Faith despite the pain that came from their initial meeting. She was simply happy that Tara had another friend to be there for her and help her through things when she could not be there. The depth of that girl’s love for my daughter is astounding. I don’t think Tara has quite comprehended it just yet, but when she does, that will be another moment where she turns a corner and heals more than she has before.”
Kathryn smiled and kissed Odessa’s forehead softly. “I cannot tell you how grateful I am that I could be there for you in your time of need, and how grateful I am that you loved me too.”
“How could I not love you? You gave me the strength to leave and stayed with me when I worked through the pain and the regret of not being able to save Tara too. I don’t know that I will ever be able to forgive myself.”
The tall witch held her partner close. “I know, my love, but Tara has forgiven you…she was never mad at you to begin with and that is all that is important. She is here with us now, and it is because of you that she does not feel alone in what happened to her and that she is safe.”
Tears streamed down Odessa’s face. “She should have never experienced what she did at the hands of that monster. I know what it was like and how it felt. At least I knew how relationships should function before I met that bastard. Tara has so much more to work through, and as much as she loves Willow, she will have great difficulty navigating the intimacy that comes with a close relationship like the one she has with our resident redhead. I fear that she may never get there.”
“My darling, you are right, she never should have experienced what she did. I regret that we could not save and protect her too; it is a regret that both of us will carry until we depart the Earth. The only thing that we can do now is help her navigate the intimacy that will come. You will be able to help her more than you think. Don’t worry, it all will come with time.”
The two witches held each other for a long time until they finally succumbed to sleep.