Part 11
Mara came in with a breakfast ray of sugared rice and eggs. The eggs were softly cooked until the were curdled, then mixed with goat cheese and spices. It was the perfect contrast to the sweet rice. Flat bread lingered on the side with a cheese and fruit spread. Tall frosty glasses of juice were also set on the low table in the room. "Wake up my Pets." she said softly. "Time to greet the day. "
Willow sleepily sat up and leaned back against the headboard. After a long restless night, she was in no mood to eat. Mara spread some of the fruit-cheese on the bread and poured a glass of juice. The other girls were busy chatting and devouring the food. "Eat little one."
"I'm not hungry." Willow lied, she was starving, but her stomach rolled and churned. "I want Giles."
"Oh ho! We are petulant today aren't we?" Mara put the bread down and her fingers suddenly snaked out and poked Willow in the ribs.
"Mara!" She tried to hide her face.
"Are you going to greet the day with a smile?" Mara climbed on the bed and started tickling her with abandon. Willow was laughing so hard she almost fell off the bed. Suddenly a pillow flew across the room and all four of them were soon laughing and jumping on the bed.
It was just the thing to break the hold on Willow and soon she and Mara were eating alone. The other girls left to see to their masters. "Well that's much better." Mara gestured with her bread. "You'll need to eat. You have a long day ahead."
"What about Giles?" Willow choked a bit. "I.. I mean my Master."
Mara laughed. "Don't worry Little Orchid. I know about you and your 'Giles'." She tried to say it just like Willow and grimaced when she got it wrong. "He is sleeping. I have one of my girls watching him."
"Girls?" There was a bit of jealously coloring Willow's tone.
"Now, now Little One. He's a man that's true. But he is devoted to you."
Devoted to you... That phrase echoed Willow's feeling for Giles as well. But from what she observed, Giles was more devoted to Buffy. He had to be for Buffy's sake. Willow assumed, as everyone did, that the natural outgrowth of that relationship would be romantic.
Willow always deferred to Buffy when it came to Giles. But for Giles to be devoted to her? That couldn't be possible. However, when she finally broke up with Oz, it was Giles that listened to her cry, late at night in the library. It was "tea and sympathy" for two weeks and almost every night. Now he was protecting her as a friend. Willow only understood that this was because they only had each other in this strange land.
When Willow finally looked up from her reverie, Mara was staring at her. "Decided that he cares for you yet?"
"No he.... He belongs to someone else. A friend of mine and she is in love with him."
Mara angrily took the spoon from Willow's hand and threw it on the table. "Stop it!"
"Huh?"
"I wanted this to be pleasant for you. Because I like you and could grow to love you easily." Mara stole a glance at the drawn curtain of the bedroom. She grabbed Willow's hand and pulled her into the small alcove tucked in the corner of the room. "You must listen to what I say now. Your life depends on it."
Willow was surprised at the harsh tone of Mara's voice. "The Prince needs a new Bride. I don't expect you to understand, but the cycle is ending and when the moon rises tonight, he must 'take' his bride."
Mara let the end of the sentence hang. Willow suddenly "got" it. "You mean me?"
She nodded. "He has to see to his succession."
"Oh my God! What am I supposed to do?"
"You must consummate your relationship with your master tonight!"
"C..c... Consummate?" Willow's eyes went wide when she realized what Mara was saying. "Giles?"
"Attend to me Little One. If the Prince has you, you might as well be dead. You must convince your master to save your life!"
Willow gulped, as Mara continued. "Today you're going on a tour of the Gardens. This will be the only time you'll be allowed to be with your master. After that you come back here to be... prepared."
"Okay." Willow understood. She only had a short time to confront Giles with the news.
" Tonight, I will try to keep the Prince occupied until you have a chance to get away. I will have a girl waiting to show you the way to another room. The Prince will have guards waiting for you in your Master's room." Mara leaned over and kissed Willow's cheek, then got up and walked back into the bedroom. "You have time for a bit more breakfast." she said, in a cheerful tone.
Willow just sat trying to get her mind around the fact that she was going to have to have sex with Giles. Last night was one thing, She was trying out some new found confidence, using her "womanly" wiles. Surprisingly she had an effect on Giles she never knew she could have. Way deep down inside, she wanted to have more than just a teacher/friend/student relationship with him. But, she didn't count on having to force him to accept her as a lover.
Willow couldn't ask for a nicer, more gentle man. The kiss he bestowed on her last night was incredible! Suddenly the thought of more then just a kiss was appealing to her. But, last night he told her how he felt. "Please God, let him forget that I'm a girl and think of me as a woman.." she prayed.
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Giles awoke to the gentle splashings of a bath running in the other room. It reminded him of his full bladder. Tenderly he uncurled his aching limbs and walked into the bathing room. The bath was almost full and he turned off the water flow, before relieving himself. It was the most relaxed he had felt all night.
Closing his eyes, he wondered if the tub filled every morning. Mostly he thought of Willow... He wondered how she was doing, what she was doing and thinking. "Why am I so obsessed about this?"
"I don't know my Lord?"
Giles quickly covered himself, turning away from the sound. "Excuse me?"
Over his shoulder he saw a lithe girl standing there holding soap and towels. "I am sorry my Lord. Mara sent me to attend to you." she said simply. "You shouldn't hide. I am used to men."
"Well, I'm not used to girls popping in and out of my bathroom!"
Laughing she stepped over to him and grabbed his arm pulling him to the tub. "My Lord, we don't want chilly bathwater do we?"
Giles gave up, let her see him naked and stepped into the warm water. Why fight it when Mara's girls were so determined. Was this the reason Willow was so embarrassed?
The warm water closed over him. The girl started pouring in fragrant oils. Scents of bergamot and chamomile filled his head. "You are relaxing yes?" the girl had a lilting accent and light greenish eyes.
Giles floated, trusting this girl not to kill him. 'Ironic isn't it?' he asked himself, 'I fear young girls more than I fear demons.'
"My Lord is handsome."
"Do you mean me?" Giles asked, letting the girl pour water over his chest.
"Yes my Lord. You're quite different from the other men here."
He flushed a bit. "I... I belong to..." Giles stopped. Who did he belong to?
"My Lord there is no need to say." She picked up a towel and draped it over the large tub, trapping in the steam. "As Mara would say, you sit there and steep. I'm going to lay out your clothes."
This was the perfect tome to just think. The warm water combined with the aroma of fresh herbs, relaxed him completely. Giles had time to go over his dream by the light of the day. 'Time to face some truths about myself.' he mused.
Willow, it was simple. Giles figured it out. It was his loneliness combined with his normal male lust that made him want her, or so he thought. And the dream? He sighed, "Old boy, Ripper was the right age, but the wrong man."
"My Lord, time to come out." the girl whispered think he was napping.
She helped him out drying him lightly with a fluffy towel. 'I could get used to this.' he thought wryly, until she slapped him with the towel.
"Mara told me to bully you My Lord." she said, smiling when he turned to protest.
The girl pushed him out of the bathing room and on to a low couch draped with towels. She made him lie face down with his hands at his sides. "You fidget so my Lord!" she exclaimed when Giles kept asking what she was going to do.
First she kneaded the muscles in his back, buttocks and arms. He recognized the smell of the oil she used as sweet almond oil. While his mind was still tense and reacting, his body felt loose. He was asked to stand, the girl giggled. "My Lord is thinking of his Lady."
Giles confused, looked down at himself. and then blushed hotly. He had an erection and tried to hide it by grabbing a towel. The girl knelt down by his feet and brushing his hands away gently took the tip into her mouth. Surprised he stood for a minute fascinated by this girl's eagerness to please him.
Her rough tongue brushed against the underside of his cock. Giles knew he should stop her but oh, it felt so wonderful. It satisfied the arousal that had been building in him for two days. Looking down at the girl he could almost imagine that it was Willow's delicate lips encircling the head of his cock. 'Oh God, Willow!' What was he doing?
"My Lord, did I offend thee?" The girl asked, when he untangled her from his aching member.
"No... no." he said hoarsely. "I.. I am..."
"I understand you are saving your prize for your lady." she got up, "There's no offense in that. I have tasted your gift... she is fortunate."
That was enough for Giles. The Palace seemed to thrive on sexual energy. If he didn't get rid of the girl, he felt sure he would find himself making love to her. "I must get dressed and find my concubine, er Lady..."
"I shall help you dress and take you to her." She picked up the jacket.
'Good, not a moment too soon.' he thought, looking at the girl's nubile body.
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Part 12
She stood before the assembled concubines. Mara had outdone herself this time. Willow, on the Prince's orders was to be dressed in white. However, white, next to Willow's skin created too stark a contrast, so Mara picked a subtler shade of cream.
The clothing was based on the outfit that she wore last night. The skirt hugged her hips, and the short shirt just covered her breasts and had short sleeves. It left her midriff bare right down to the top of her hips. Willow spun around, the skirt twirling around her ankles.
While the other girls were telling her how nice she looked, Mara clasped a thin gold chain around her waist. It had an emerald that hung down, flirting with Willow's navel. It made her more aware of her body than ever. Every movement she made, even breathing, made the jewel float against her stomach. "This tickles!"
"Now Little Orchid your master has been washed, fed and dressed." Mara pointed to girl lingering at the doorway. "Sira will show you the way to the Garden. Your master waits for you there." Mara's last touch was to swirl a long scarf around her, and give her a push out the door.
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The girl, whom Giles had found out was named Sira, dressed him in the style of clothing he wore last night, pantaloons and the three button jacket. Except today his clothes were a rich blue and silver. His glasses had been taken away and his hair brushed by Sira until his scalp hurt. She promised to come back later to give him a haircut. For the sake of his dignity he hoped it was just a trim.
He sat on a low stone bench by a fish pond. The gardens stretched out over the horizon, and were framed by high cliffs. Waterfalls jutted out from the stones and fell over high distances. The heat of the day had not reached the shaded ponds, so where Giles sat it was cool and misty.
He listened to the ebb and flow of the garden, attuning himself to the task at hand, getting out of here alive. He hoped Willow would be along soon. Giles didn't like the thought of going to find her. The Palace must have thousands of rooms.
The short breakfast of sweet rice, tea, and bread was not settling easily in his stomach. The hard knot of arousal and desire that had been there since Willow's dance wouldn't go away. "She can't know how much I want her." he mumbled rubbing his face.
"Want who?"
Giles looked up quickly. She was there whole, happy and smiling at him. His resolve not to flirt with her faded. She was beautiful in this half morning light. "Why Miss Willow you're gorgeous!" he said, smiling back.
She giggled and curtsied. "Care to chase me around a desk Mr. Giles?" Willow unwrapped some of her scarf and sat down beside him.
"I wasn't last night." She pulled off more of the scarf. The action, revealing more of her body this way, accelerated Giles arousal. He looked away from her. He didn't want to frighten her with his arousal.
"Giles? Are you okay?" She touched his leg, and he twitched.
"Yes, yes...." He swallowed hard
Willow didn't know what to do, he seemed unhappy to see her. She, on the other hand was extremely glad to see him.
She whipped off the rest of the scarf and stood in front of him. "Why won't you look at me?"
Giles slowly turned his head. In her "outfit" her body was exquisite. He hadn't realized, but he stopped breathing. The skirt rode low on her hips and the short shirt almost covered her breasts. His eyes were drawn to the pendant hanging from her waist. It made a contrast to the light colored skirt and the brown henna designs. "You... you are beautiful." he whispered
"Really?" She was almost giddy. He thought she was beautiful. It made her head swim with confidence. Willow opened her mouth, thinking this was the perfect time to ask him, or rather tell him what the plans were and what they had to do.
Giles was about to pull her down back on the bench, to stop her from making a wreck of his nervous system. It was bad enough his body reacted everytime she showed up in an outfit like this, but he was slowly being driven mad by her "sensual" attitude.
"Stand for the Prince!" came a sharp shout. Giles jumped to his feet as Samas, the Vizier and several guards came into the garden.
Willow instinctively clung to him as she watched the Prince approach. All her self confidence drained from her like water down a drain. As soon as the party got to them, the guards split, one half to Giles, the other picking Willow up and putting her down in front of Samas. "There isn't that much better my dear?" He asked, putting his arm around her. "You look lovely in this light."
The Vizier encircled Giles' arm tightly, leading him after the Prince. "My my, your concubine looks well on the arm of my Prince?"
"No, she would look better on mine." Giles said simply.
The Vizier laughed and kept propelling him forward. "You know, we are famous for our gardens." he said, trying to keep him from concentrating on Willow. "You'll be able to view them from the top of the gorge."
"Gorge?"
"Yes at the top." the Vizier pointed to a spot above them where the rocks jutted out before the water spilled into a great pool.
Ahead of them, Willow and the Prince were walking. Samas motioned for her to go up the stony path. Suddenly she stumbled, her skirts too long for climbing. "Drat!" she rubbed her knee.
"My dear, allow me." The Prince swung her up in his arms. Willow let out a tiny squeal and Giles peeled the Vizier off of him and darted forward. "You are light in my arms." Samas said clasping her to him. "You could float away. But I would catch you my little Butterfly." He smiled and she felt his breath on her cheek.
"Your Highness?" Giles was instantly next to him, his arms ready to grab Willow. "I must save you the trouble of carrying her."
If she was scared, she didn't show it. But, her sigh of relief made the Prince look at her strangely. "My Prince I am sorry," the Vizier began, catching up to them.
Samas waved them off. "That is alright. I will carry this Flower on my own." He then turned to Giles who wanted desperately to take Willow from him. "Your concern for my health is touching. For that you shall have my most beautiful concubine this evening for your pleasure."
The Vizier held Giles to his spot as the Prince carried Willow up the path. "The Prince will get his way. Remember you are a guest here."
"And if I insist?" he glared at the Vizier, his voice low and dangerous.
"You will feel the Prince's wrath. He seems quite taken with your little one. It is best to let him have her. You could have the choice of the kingdom." He clapped Giles on the shoulder.
Giles was not about to let this man tell him what to do. How ironic that Ripper wanted to come out and play when he or his were threatened. And Willow was now definitely his. "We'll see..."
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Part 13
Willow was having a hard time with the Prince and kept trying to look back at Giles. "My Orchid, you struggle so."
"I can walk." She tried to be stern, but her voice came out breathy and weak.
"Ah yes, but I love how you struggle. Will you carry on this way when we're alone?" Samas asked casually.
"Huh?"
"Will you run from me when we're alone?" His hand lingered in the crevice of her bottom. "If so I will relish the chase." he bent his head, his lips resting on her face.
"Please don't!" Willow was frightened. She knew from Mara that the Prince intended to make her his bride. She wished she had more time to tell Giles what the plan was.
"My Little dove, tonight you will shine from the heavens."
"What is tonight?" Willow wriggled in his arms more so his hands would not rest on her private parts.
"This is our secret." he nuzzled against her neck. "You and I will be more... intimate. I will taste of your sweetness."
As the ramifications of what he intended hit, Willow felt despair swallow her up. He wasn't the man she wanted to be with. That man only saw her as a child. She couldn't prevent the tears from falling. Samas licked the salty dampness from her cheeks, believing she cried in terror. He looked forward to the night.
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The Prince and Willow were so far ahead of Giles and the Vizier, they almost disappeared in the mists that swirled around the path. The stones were slightly wet from the constant fall of water and there were times when Giles feared he would pitch into the misty whiteness. Suddenly he realized he and the Vizier were alone.
The Vizier looked nervous, jumpy. Every twist and turn of the path he looked back at Giles with wide eyes. His whole attention was now concentrated on the Vizier. Willow he could hardly afford to worry about now, he was sure the Vizier was going to try something.
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The view from the top of the garden was spectacular. Miles and miles of land stretched out below. The bright green of the jungle hurt Willow's eyes and she involuntarily hid her head against Samas' chest. "Little One, I adore you when you are shy." he said, using his free hand to caress her hair.
The guards were clustered around him as planned, leaving the Vizier alone with Giles. The Prince sighed with happiness. Everything was unfolding nicely. Looking down at the squirming girl in his arms, he relished the thought of teaching her the ways of love. Conquering her would make him most powerful.
Once her master was taken care of there would be no obstacles to his plans. He set her down on the rocks, and made a great show of the view. "This could be your world." he said putting his arm around her waist.
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The Vizier stopped and was leaning against the side of the cliff. The view was dizzying. The waterfall was close to the edge of the path and was spraying the two men lightly. Down below, Giles could see the blue-green pool the waterfall was emptying into. It wasn't more than a twenty or thirty foot drop, but from their vantage point it seemed higher.
"My Lord." the Vizier said leaning over to Giles, "The view is most spectacular from here." His hand snaked out and soon Giles was perched close to the edge.
"I believe that you should also see this view." Giles grabbed the tall man by the hand and pulled him to his side. "Ironic isn't it, that we are both so interested in this view."
"My Prince says it is the waterfall that makes it wondrous." The Vizier directed his gaze to the spiraling water above them. When Giles looked, the Vizier pushed him off the edge of the cliff.
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Willow was leaning over the stone barrier trying to look down the path for Giles. "Where is my Master?" she asked
"Your Master is right here before you." Samas was staring at her, lust plainly visible on his face. "Wouldn't you like to be mine?"
"I belong to Giles." Willow backed up against the cliff face. "He should be here."
"Ahh but he isn't watching his beautiful property is he? Could it be that he tires of you?" The Prince said, confidently. "I however, would never tire of you." He reached out and grabbed Willow by the waist. "Allow me to show you."
Her head tipped back and he dragged his wet lips against her collar bone. "Please, don't!" she cried, pushing against his chest.
Samas let her go, laughingly calling a guard over to him. "Show me her gifts." he said casually.
The guard lifted Willow off the ground by pulling her arms above her head, while another guard slowly lifted up the hem of her skirt.
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Giles reached back and grabbed at the Vizier. He was tipping over the edge, but managed to hold on to part of the Vizier's jacket and they both fell over the lip of the path. He pitched downward grabbing onto the ledge as he felt the Vizier's jacket rip in his hand.
The Vizier had also grabbed part of the ledge. "What in the Bloody Hell do you think you're doing!" Giles roared grappling with the taller man with one hand.
Growling the Vizier raked his long nails down Giles' free arm. the scratches were deep and bloody, and Giles' grip on the ledge was slipping.
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Part 14
"Ahh this is nice." the Prince sighed. Willow was bare to him for she wasn't given any underwear. She struggled, her feet hanging in the air. She was held fast and tight by the guard and Samas was edging closer. If he touched her there, she knew she would go crazy.
"Let me down, please?" her voice quaked.
"No." He reached out and touched the red triangle of hair between her legs. "This is what I want and I intend to have it." he laughed, licking his lips.
Willow couldn't help herself and screamed.
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With his hands slipping on the wet rocks Giles tried to inch away from the struggling Vizier. It was then he heard Willow scream and it froze his heart. The Vizier suddenly doubled his efforts to pull him from the cliff face. This was supposed to happen, Giles was meant to die as Samas caught and ravished Willow. He lifted his leg to gain a foothold on the rocks. He had to get to Willow. Her screams echoed against the rushing water of the falls.
"No!" The Vizier screamed, as Giles tried to push himself up. "You can't have her! She belongs to the Prince!!"
"Sod off!" Giles planted his other foot in the Viziers face and he lost some of his precious grip.
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"I know how to break through a woman's defenses." Samas pulled the sash from his waist. "Spread her legs." he ordered the guards with a wave of his hand.
"B.. But my Prince, the moon?" the guard exclaimed.
"This is just a taste, tonight I feast!"
The guards pulled her legs apart. Willow screamed and screamed. "Little One, your screams increase my resolve." Samas' cock sprang from his pantaloons, hanging heavy from his pelvis, brown and hairy.
He reached out and parted her labia with his fingers and touched the moisture there. "You are sweet, untouched..." he licked his finger and then ran it over her lips. "It is a shame your Master isn't here to enjoy this."
Samas, growled softly and was poised to impale her on his thick member, when quite as suddenly he went soft. "ARRRHHGG!" Giles and the Vizier heard the Prince's cry of rage.
"You Bitch!!" he yelled, backhanding her with his strong fist. The unexpected movement made the guards let go of Willow and she pitched over the side.
Her screams echoed around the valley. Down she fell, crashing into Giles and the Vizier knocking them off their precious perch as well. All three of them fell into the large pool at the bottom of the falls.
Giles was the first to surface, shedding his jacket quickly. Brushing the water off his face, he looked for Willow. She hadn't come to the surface. He dived under, his eyes stinging against the murky water. Where was she? Giles desperately searched the water for her, diving once more until his air ran out.
He surfaced again almost crazy with grief at the thought that he lost her. But, there she was, twenty feet from him grappling with the Vizier.
She tugged at him, yelling for Giles. He closed the distance between them quickly. "Giles help the Vizier. He can't swim." she disappeared beneath the water.
Giles reached for Willow first, as she was sinking. He grabbed a handful of her hair, pulling her out of the way of the Vizier before he took her down with him. Willow gasped for air, and held on to Giles as tightly as she could. She looked back, and cried out as the Vizier sank beneath the water for the last time. Willow turned her eyes to Giles, who rained kisses on her face grateful that she was alive.
It was then he knew that he could not lose her, not now, not for a lifetime. Love for her welled up in him until it overflowed and drowned his common sense. But it was agony too, he could not have her the way he wanted to, she was too young. But he vowed that he would be by her until she left him for a man her own age. "Giles, Giles! I'm okay!"
Willow floated in his arms and they moved towards the edge of the pool. The Prince had already moved to the far end of the garden. Mara, looking upset, was suddenly there by the side of the pool. Several women with towels and blankets were ready to receive them.
Giles helped Willow out first and she fell into the arms of Mara crying. He stroked her hair as she cried into the older woman's chest. "What happened?" she asked, over the muffled sobs.
" All I know is the Vizier tried to kill me." he replied, wiping his face with a towel. "She was hit by the Prince, and we fell into the pool."
"The Vizier?" Mara looked at the water. "Did he, did he..."
"Yes Mara, I'm sure he drowned."
She handed the crying Willow to one of the women with stern instructions to take her back to the concubine quarters and to not let her out of their sight. "You must also go back to your sleeping chamber, I will send Sira along to help you."
"Mara, where are you going?"
"To the Prince, the Vizier was my son." She ran down the path.
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Part 15
Willow was asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow. The events of the day took all her strength. The other girls left her alone. It was late in the afternoon, when Mara woke her. The remnants of a Giles infected dream tugged at her mind as she rubbed her eyes. "Wake up Little Orchid, time to get ready for the feast." she said, softly
Looking at the older woman, Willow's face clouded... the Vizier. She remembered Giles telling someone that the Vizier had died, and that he was Mara's son... That memory was half formed, and a little unsteady. Mara pushed her to the bathing chamber. She was not her cheerful self, but she did not "manhandle" Willow either. Mara was just as kind, and just as concerned as she was before.
Willow let the water run on her for at least a half hour. Her thoughts did not quiet, and she remained in a state of nervousness. The Prince had tried to rape her! She choked back her tears, trying to become calm.
The girls toweled her off. Willow ceased to feel naked around these women. They treated her with respect, not laughing or playing with her as they did when she arrived. Or was it the fact that she was learning to accept her body the way it was and didn't feel embarrassed about it?
In any case, when she stepped in front of the older woman she was clean and pink. She started brushing Willow's hair. The brush rubbed against her scalp with long, even strokes. Willow tried to calm down, but all she could see was the brown face of the Vizier disappearing beneath the water. Certainly Mara knew... Did she? "Um ... Mara?"
"Yes Little One?"
"Did... Um... Did you know..." Willow couldn't make herself ask the question.
"Are you asking me if I knew the Vizier died?" Mara asked, her voice tight with emotion.
Willow's eyes welled up and spilled hot tears. "I'm... I didn't know... I'm so sorry..." She bowed her head softly crying.
Mara stopped brushing. this girl was a wonder, more concerned over her son, then the real danger to herself. "Little One, yes its true the Vizier was my son. However," she made Willow look into her eyes. "Sometimes you find that you don't love your children anymore. Their lives take a different path, and you wonder if they were ever yours... I have cried over the death of my son ages ago. This man, the Vizier, was evil, much like the Prince. He died from his own actions, and we should thank the Gods for his passing.
Willow smiled as Mara wiped her tears with the corner of a towel. "My Sweet, I would not have any harm come to you. He was my flesh, you are my heart." she laughed and kissed Willow on the cheek and was equally rewarded by an enormous hug.
Willow sniffled a bit when Mara returned to brushing her hair. "Little One, are your mother and father still living?"
"Yes, still."
"Are you close to your mother?"
Willow thought for a moment, she had a hard time defining "close". She could safely say she knew her mother well. However, she could not talk to her about boys, dating, and how she felt about Giles. Buffy didn't even know how Willow felt about Giles. All of them would go through the roof if they knew. But that's just it, Willow knew that all of them paid attention to her when they needed her, like a pet. She knew her answer. "My mother is modern, busy... focused. I guess we're not so close."
Mara sighed. It was always the same with her girls. No one to talk to, no one to confide in. Willow needed encouragement if she was ever going to grow up into a woman.
"What's going to happen tonight?" Willow suddenly
"Well," Mara bent over to grab the silver clips to put in Willow's hair. "First there'll be a feast. All manner of food will be served. You and your master will be seated with the Prince. Then there will be dancing. You will be asked to dance for your master again."
"And then?"
Mara was uncertain of how to explain to her what was going to happen after the dance. This was when the Prince was going to announce their nuptials. Mara found out after she learnt of the Vizier's death, that the Prince was going to force Giles into giving up Willow, or be put to death for killing the Vizier. There seemed to be no other way than to just tell her bluntly. "Little One, please now no tears. I need your attention."
"Okay." she replied ready to accept the worst.
"After the dance, the Prince is going to announce that you're to be married to him." Willow thought this was going to be. After what he tried today, she shivered at the thought of Samas touching her again.
"During the dance, you and your master will disappear. There will be much confusion. You'll have to lead him out of the Great Hall. Sira will be there to guide you. After that, the rest is up to you."
Willow knew what the "rest" meant. But judging from today, she was going to have to be very convincing. The brief moments they had in the garden were not enough to tell him how she felt. Then afterwards, they were separated and she couldn't tell him what the Prince had attempted and he seemed to want to go away. "Can I ask you something?"
"My Love, you can ask me anything."
"I have never... I mean... I'm a.. a..."
"Are you trying to tell me that you've never been with a man?" Mara grinned. "Oh Sweetness I envy you, your first time. And its with a man you love."
Willow blushed and smiled, thinking that she loved Giles and it was growing deeper everyday. She hoped that he felt the same and didn't think of her as an object of lust. But why would he? He'd known her for a long time... Oh dear, what if he... what if he? "But What if he hates me?" Willow said in a rush. " What if he sees me without clothes on and thinks I'm ugly? What if he just won't do it? What if he thinks I'm yucky or gross. What if he thinks I'm a baby?" Mara tried to stem the tide of Willow's questions. "What..." and her voice dropped to a harsh whisper. "What if it hurts?"
Mara smiled a knowing smile. "Hasn't anyone talked to you about this before?"
"Well Buffy... and books.. I know all about it from books. You see the hymen..."
Mara put a finger to Willow's lips to shush her. "Do you love him?"
"I can't imagine life without him." she said quietly. "I love him."
"Then you're afraid when you show him your true self, he will treat you with dishonor?"
Willow looked lost, and forlorn. "I'm afraid."
"That much is certain." Mara was at once stern but motherly. "Now attend to me Little One, when you are with the man you love it is not "sex" it is love."
"I know that..."
"Should I be having this conversation with your master then?" Mara put her hands on her hips and smiled.
"No! I would die!" Willow hunched up her body.
Mara tickled her until she relented. They both sighed, "But what if...."
"Shhh... When you love someone, you worship him with your body, as he worships you with his. Its messy, sweaty, and when it is over you will feel like you have conquered the world. You know the feeling yes? Haven't you touched yourself?"
"Well? I... um..."
The laughter that spilled from Mara was infectious. "You silly girl!"
Again they were both laughing and poking each other. Willow almost fell off her seat and Mara was wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. "Sweetness, trust yourself. Making love is not dirty, you won't be 'spoiled'."
Willow's eyes were shining in the low light of the late afternoon. Mara went on. "You will be enriched. Being with the person you love, and giving yourself wholly to him, or her is a precious gift. You honor the Gods by creating and giving love. And you benefit yourself by loving."
Willow hugged Mara tightly. "I'm so grateful."
"My Sweet I am going to be sad to see you leave. You make me wish I had daughters instead of sons." She gave Willow's hair a final pat.
"Well we must stop talking, or you'll never be ready for the feast and the feast will never get cooked!"
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