Title: A Mid-Winter Night's Spell

Author: Caro Dee

Fandom: BtVS

Pairing: Willow/Tara

Rating: NC-17

Status: Complete

Archive: WWOMB

Feedback: Lovely. Yes.

E-mail address for feedback: <a href="mailto:carodee@popullus.net">carodee@popullus.net</a>

Disclaimer: These characters are not mine and I am making no profit on this.

Feedback address: <a href="mailto:carodee@popullus.net">carodee@popullus.net</a>

Notes: This story was written for the Slash Advent Calendar 2003 at: <a href="http://www.kardasi.com/Advent/2003">http://www.kardasi.com/Advent/2003</a>

I'd like to thank Goldsea and Mason for betareading and Syrenslure and Pesha for the canon details. All mistakes left are mine.

Summary: Willow and Tara cast a spell that turns out a little more powerful than they can handle.


<center>A Mid-Winter Night's Spell
By Caro Dee</center>

The battlefield was a disaster. Cho-K'reh demon body parts lay strewn all over the park. The purple blood, oddly beautiful in the illumination from the streetlights, lay spattered on the grass and playground equipment. Thankfully, no more children would be harmed. But they'd paid a price for it.

Tara limped painfully, held up by Willow, who wasn't doing much better herself. Buffy had a few bleeding cuts, but her slayer strength and healing had kept her from serious injury. A weary Giles was applying a tourniquet to Xander's leg, slashed by Cho-K'reh claws badly enough to need a trip to the hospital. 

"I hate this," Willow said vehemently, watching Xander try to be brave, but hurting too much for his usual banter. "I wish there was something more I could do."

Tara looked at her in surprise. "Well, um..."

Willow turned to look at her, eyebrows raised, and waited.

Encouraged, Tara continued, "Um, you could do a protection spell?"

Willow's eyes widened and then she smiled slowly, with a hint of mischief. "What a wonderful idea, Tara. That's what we'll do." 

Tara flushed and ducked her head. The pinched look on Willow's face was gone, replaced with an expression of cheerful planning. Willow was happy again and all was right with Tara's world.

* * *

"Do you think they'll like their Christmas gifts?" Willow asked, frowning over the display cases. This was the third store in the mall they'd gone to, the Christmas crowds were fierce, and she was getting a headache.

Tara smiled reassuringly and squeezed her hand gently. "I'm sure they'll like them. It's caring, thoughtful, and Willowy." She added, remembering the park and other times too much like it, "and it'll come in handy almost every day."

"Mmm," Willow asked, "What about this?" She pointed to a lovely filigree silver chain.

Tara considered it. "Not strong enough," she murmured. "That one?"

Willow tilted her head, examining the rope style chain thoughtfully. Tara was right, it did look stronger. How many? Willow, Tara, Buffy, Dawn, Anya...

"We'll take five of these bracelets," she told the waiting saleswoman. Tara gave her a startled look. "Well, Giles and Xander are going to want something heavier, more masculine. What about those over there?"

Tara leaned forward to carefully scrutinize the choices. Seven, that was good. Seven was a lucky number.

* * *

The Magic Shop was quiet. Only the sound of Anya making the cash register beep over and over and gloating with fiscal satisfaction disturbed the silence, as the two witches carefully searched through Giles' books.

"Tara!"

Tara looked up from the spell book she was examining, startled by the mischief in Willow's voice. "Hmmm?"

"What about this spell?"

Tara leaned over Willow's shoulder to read the spell. Her eyes widened. She flipped to the cover of the book. Tantric Spells of the Thessanti Sect. Oh my. She knew she was blushing bright red. Shyly, she looked up into Willow's twinkling green eyes and, not trusting her ability to speak, simply nodded.

Willow's face softened and she smiled as she leaned forward to kiss her. "It'll be fun," she whispered into Tara's mouth.

* * *

Tara entered their dorm room and closed the door behind her. Willow looked up from the pillow-strewn circle and asked, "Everything okay?"

Tara nodded, "Shannon will watch Miss Kitty Fantastico tonight. We can pick her up any time before 9:30 tomorrow morning."

"I've already done the silencing spell." Her smile widened as she watched Tara blush. "Any... noise we make won't disturb the rest of the dorm."

Tara nodded and began taking off her clothes, knowing that the blush extended all the way down and that Willow was watching her fondly as she undressed as well.

It was one thing to snuggle and please her lover in the dark; quite another to do it as part of a spell with the lights on. *Stop it!* she told herself sternly. This is important. This is for all Willow's friends. *And Willow too,* her mind added. Willow was at constant risk, as well. Feeling determined now, she entered the circle.

When Willow was ready, they began lighting the candles that marked the outer edge of the circle. Being the more powerful witch, Willow activated the circle and Tara felt when the magical barrier snapped into place, good and solid.

Sitting in the center of the cast circle, eyes locked and holding hands, they began the Thessanti demon tantric spell.

*Oenu mahe rochan
Porta klugta grenasuri
Porta frey sehoanu
Elora grohe batara*

They both turned towards the bracelets set out on the velvet pillow. Each witch held a hand over the bracelets and chanted again, "Elora grohe batara." The bracelets began gleaming. Then they broke apart and Tara moved back to allow Willow to lie down in the center of the circle.

Willow's slender body lay stretched out, the pillows placed beneath her hips spreading her open to Tara's gaze. Tara's eyes traveled from the elegant line of her inner thighs to the rosy lips of her cleft dusted with red hair, then along the soft swell of her belly up to where her small, round breasts with the sweet nipples hardened under Tara's rapt gaze. Her eyes flew up to meet Willow's and her breath caught as always at the love shining there. Her heart stuttered and sang with joy. Willow was so beautiful, so wonderful! Tara felt her own face break out into a helpless, adoring smile and Willow's face caught and reflected it.

Willow held out her arms and Tara moved forward, crawling over her to settle skin to skin against her Willow. She brushed her mouth softly against Willow, teasing her gently, relishing the sudden intake of breath and eager response.

Reluctantly, Tara broke the kiss. This was not their normal lovemaking and Willow's mouth needed to be free for chanting the spell that gathered the magic they were conjuring here. As Willow began chanting rhythmically, Tara worked her way down the soft, pale body beneath her, hands and lips caressing and arousing.

*"Elora Grohe Batara."*

She cupped Willow's smaller breasts in both hands and tongued one nipple that tightened into a firm, crinkled nub in her mouth. For a moment, Willow's voice faltered in the rhythm, then her voice steadied and continued. Tara smiled against her breast and moved to suckle the other one, nipple already peaked and eager.

*"Elora Grohe Batara."*

Tara lifted her head to catch Willow's gaze and then moved further down, the long, heavy spill of her hair trailing over Willow's skin. She knew how much Willow liked her hair and sometimes spent a while teasing her with it. But not tonight.

Tonight belonged to the magic.

Tara settled into place, brushing her soft cheek against the even softer skin of Willow's inner thighs. From this close, she could smell Willow's arousal and see the glistening moisture from between her pink lips, already turning darker with the swell of blood. Gently, she pulled the lips apart and ran her tongue from opening to clit, ending with a kiss on Willow's clit, smiling at the sharp hiss of breath momentarily interrupting the chant.

*"... ... Elora Grohe Batara."*

Normally, she'd tease and draw it out, but she could already see the sex energy swirling in Willow's aura and feel the prickling of the gathering magic on her skin. So she took Willow's clit between her lips and began a delicate flicking with her tongue.

This time Willow was prepared and, although her hips bucked, the chant never faltered.

*"Elora Grohe Batara."*

Good Willow, thought Tara, pressing more firmly with her tongue. The swirling rose-colored sexual energy began to deepen, slowly darkening towards red, and sparkles of magic danced around them. The spell was working just as it should.

*"Elora Grohe Batara."*

Without losing her own rhythm, Tara slid two fingers into Willow's wet center. Crooking her fingers slightly, she pressed upwards and began a firm, rubbing pressure, her hand moving in and out. Willow's thighs clenched and her voice rose shrilly.

*"Elora Grohe Batara!"*

The sparkles of magic brightened and began clustering along Willow's skin, like stars against Willow sky. *So pretty* flickered through Tara's mind and she began sucking even more enthusiastically. Willow writhed under her loving tongue, and the magic continued gathering.

Even if the dark, red pulsing in her aura hadn't made it clear, Tara knew, from the gasping in her voice and trembling of her thighs, that Willow was close. She sped up the tempo of her hand and began the steady nibbling that always brought Willow to climax. She was ready for the sudden clench of thighs around her head and gazed up along the length of Willow's shaking body to the ecstatic tension on her face as, eyes squeezed tight, head thrown back, she continued to chant faster and faster.

*"Elora Grohe Batara. Elora Grohe Batara. Elora Grohe Batara."*

Magic sparkled and clung, outlining her in a glittery diamond shell. More sparkles continued to appear and home in on her. Willow's aura pulsed frantic waves of red, coming faster and faster, until...

*"Eeloraaa Groheee Bataraa-aaa-AAAAH!"*

A sudden bright flash blinded Tara and Willow's body went wild, spasming, undulating, her voice rising and rising. Tara grabbed at Willow with her free hand, twining around her waist, to keep contact with Willow's sex as she continued to pleasure her as hard and steady as she could, refusing to slow down, continuing the stimulation.

*"...elora grohe batara elora grohe batara elora grohe batara elora..."*

Spots danced in front of her eyes, but she could see the tiny, brilliant lightning flashes of magic exploding all over Willow and, from the prickling intensity, over her, as well. Reluctantly, she ignored it; *her* pleasure wasn't fueling the spell. That could come later.

As her orgasm ended, Willow sighed, her thighs relaxing slightly, and the light display dimmed momentarily, but as Tara kept on sucking and rubbing, Willow's trembling continued and deepened again.

The magic sparkles began flickering again and darting around with what Tara could only call enthusiasm. They skittered over both Willow's and Tara's bodies, tickling and tantalizing. Tara refused to be distracted from her task, although she could feel the moist pulsing between her legs and couldn't help pressing her thighs together rhythmically. She moaned and threw her arousal into licking Willow, laving her tongue over and over Willow's hard little clit, stroking into her hot, moist center.

*"Ah... ah... elora grohe batara elora grohe batara elora grohe batara elora..."*

Willow's voice was almost sobbing with ecstasy as she forced the spell chant out. Her thighs clamped tightly around Tara, her hands were flung out and scrabbling desperately at pillows, her hips jerking and lunging up to meet Tara's eager ministrations.

Trying to hold onto Willow in the midst of her frenzy, it took a moment for Tara to realize that Willow had begun to float in the air. Scrambling to her knees, Tara kept her grip, mouth and hand still connecting her to Willow. White and red light flashed like strobe lights, faster and faster.

Tara felt herself begin to rise as well, pulled along with Willow. They began to spin, slowly at first and then faster and faster. Willow's arms and legs were flung straight out, her hair standing out electrified, voice deep and echoing as she continued chanting the spell.

*"...elora grohe batara elora grohe batara elora grohe batara
elora..."*

Whirling faster and faster, the room spinning in front of her eyes, Tara pulled in her knees to avoid breaking the circle and releasing the magic. The entire circle was filled to the brim with sparkling light. Magical energy skittered along her nerves, diving into her chakras, opening and spinning them. Incredibly aroused, Tara nevertheless had only eyes for Willow, whose chakras were emitting a dark blood-red light.

*"...elora grohe batara elora grohe batara elora grohe batara elora..."*

Beginning to sense that something was wrong, Tara stopped pleasuring Willow, pulling away and grabbing hold of her waist with both hands. Willow kept right on shaking and spinning just as violently, and Tara realized that the spell was stimulating her now, continuing the sexual pleasure in order to grow.

"Willow! Willow! Stop!"

Willow's eyes opened for a brief moment and she smiled blissfully at Tara, the spell still spilling from her lips. With a shock, Tara saw that Willow's eyes were entirely dark red, almost black. She hadn't realized Willow was that strong. No wonder the spell was feeding off her; Willow must be a feast for it.

With an anguished mumble of "sorry," Tara turned her head and bit down hard into the soft meat of Willow's thigh. Willow's scream of pain was instantly echoed by a shriek of frustration that could only be heard on other magical dimensions.

Abruptly they were falling and the magical energy, flailing and writhing, was drawn into the waiting bracelets. Silence. They landed with a thump and Tara was grateful for the many pillows they'd placed there. Calling Willow's name, she frantically crawled up her body, peering into her face. A dazed Willow opened eyes that were once again ordinary green eyes and whispered, "Why?" Then, she fainted.

Tara almost collapsed with relief that Willow was okay. Gazing down at her unconscious lover, sprawled over the scattered pillows, Tara was suddenly aware of her own body and her own neglected needs. Her throbbing arousal swept over her and, biting her lip in excitement, Tara reached for her clit and began rubbing herself swiftly. The pleasure was instantaneous and piercing and it was only a matter of moments before she reached a sweet, sharp orgasm, trembling and moaning helplessly.

She lay there gasping for breath against Willow's shoulder. Then, slowly, laboriously, she got to her feet and took care of what was necessary -- sealing the spell into the bracelets, undoing the circle,  putting away the more dangerous magical items. Finally, she was done and, grabbing the quilt from the bed, she lay down with Willow and pulled the covering over them both. Throwing a protective arm and leg over her sweetheart, Tara gave one last sigh and fell asleep. 

* * *

Tara held out the coffee mug and guided a groaning Willow's hand to it.

"Oh Goddess, I feel like a truck ran over me. Even my hair aches!" Willow buried her nose in the coffee and swallowed gratefully. Lowering the mug, she peered flirtatiously up at Tara and smiled, sliding a hand up Tara's thigh. "It was worth it though. Wasn't that spell simply incredible? I can't wait to try it out again."

"Oh no, Willow," Tara said, earnestly. "That spell is way too dangerous."

"What do you mean? I had it under control the whole time."

Tara gave her a disbelieving look. "But I *saw* it. The spell took over and it was draining you dry. If the spell hadn't ended, it would have used up all your life force."

Willow scoffed, "Oh, please. Magic doesn't work like that. It's just a tool."

Tara reached out and cupped Willow's face. She needed her to understand. "Willow, I'm serious. You almost *died* last night. We can't do that kind of spell again."

A flash of sullen rebellion and then Willow smiled brightly. "Sure, Tara. If you say it's dangerous, of course, we won't do it again."

Tara smiled back, still feeling somehow uneasy. But Willow had promised, so everything was fine.

* * *

Dawn squealed and ran to the couch to show off her present to Joyce. The girls' mother was still recuperating from her operation and too tired to do much more than smile warmly at the children, Giles, and even Spike, sitting in the corner by the Christmas tree, sneering with vampire disdain. Buffy hovered over her family, fiercely protective and smiling gratefully at Willow.

"Silver? Why not gold? Or white gold? Ow, Xander. That hurt!"

Xander grinned and said, through gritted teeth, "Anya, when we get a gift, we say, 'Thank you, Willow and Tara.'"

"Oh, yes. Thank you, Willow and Tara. The spell is lovely and the chain is nicely economical. Well done. Ow! What was wrong with that?"

"Look, Anya. Mistletoe."

"Mmm-mmph."

Spike's response was, "Oi! Where's mine?" He opened his gift and declared the bottle of scotch much superior to that "...witch mojo of Willow's. Probably turn a fellow into a newt or something."

"Ah." Giles gave them a sharp look as he handled his gift gingerly. "Yes, well... this is very powerful, indeed. Yes, good. Everyone should certainly wear theirs when they go out on patrol. Thank you, Willow. Tara." Clearing his throat uncomfortably, he pulled out a handkerchief and wrapped it around his bracelet, dropping it into his pocket.

The next time Tara saw him wearing the protection charm, she couldn't help noticing the extra sealing and dampening spells. It was several weeks before she could stop blushing whenever she met his eyes.


<center>END<center>