information and disclaimers in part one =20
----------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Dreams? 5/11
=20
All the way to the graveyard Willow had to fight to keep from skipping. =
It felt like a heavy weight had been lifted off of her mind. To make =
things even better, she was getting one of her biggest wishes fulfilled. =
After a brief search the two women found a small clearing, surrounded =
by large tombs that would prevent observers. It was a little smaller =
than Cassandra would have liked, but for a single lesson it would do. =
Neither one of them noticed Xander, who was doing surprisingly good job =
of tailing them.
=20
Now that the initial danger to Willow seemed to be gone, Buffy's =
thoughts had immediately centered on rebuilding her relationship with =
Angel and reclaiming Willow as her best friend. She alternated back and =
forth as to which was more important. The Slayer was willing to accept =
Willow's trust of Cassandra, but Xander wasn't willing to accept dreams =
as the basis of trust. He knew Angel felt the same way and felt a =
reluctant gratitude that Willow was friends with the vampire. Angel =
could provide some impressive protection. But it was daytime now, so =
Xander crept from tombstone to tombstone, getting mud stains on his =
knees, making sure that his friend was safe. =20
=20
Willow nearly started to dance when Cassandra told her that they were =
going to start with glamours and illusions. The only genuine magic =
text that Angel had been able to dig up had had only confusing and vague =
directions on making things appear other that they were. In a number of =
places the ancient book had seemed to assume more knowledge in the =
reader than either she or Angel could claim.=20
=20
"The bond is still there between us; it will make this easier. First, I =
want you to center yourself. " Cassandra waited a few minutes, then =
touched the younger witch over the link between them. Willow was calmer =
now, her mind open.
=20
"I'll create an illusion first. You watch my mind; follow how I =
do it," Cassandra instructed. She worked slowly to let Willow have time =
to observe. In the middle of the clearing a gray haze formed. For a =
moment it stayed nebulous and transparent, then formed into the tangled =
branches of a large hedge. Cassandra gestured to Willow, "Go ahead, =
examine it."=20
=20
Willow approached the illusion, aware of Cassandra's mind at the back of =
her own. The whole thing was incredibly lifelike. Its branches were =
even moving slightly in the cool morning breeze. She reached out to =
touch a single small leaf and then jumped when it was solid under her =
fingertips, smooth and flexible like a real leaf. A couple of leaves =
fell to the ground as if knocked off by her jump. Behind the mossy =
tombstone that was his hide out, Xander's jaw was hanging open.
=20
"It's best to copy an image you are familiar with; if someone is going =
to look at the illusion closely you need to get the detail right. The =
clearer the image is in your head, the better the illusion will be. I =
find these kind of magics are good for concealment or distraction."
=20
"It, it's solid," Willow's voice shook, "I thought illusions didn't have =
substance."=20
=20
"They don't, I shaped the air under the leaf you touched. Touch my mind =
again, and I'll show you." The lesson proceeded quickly from there. =
Willow's quick mind absorbed the patterns she saw in Cassandra's mind =
without difficulty. Over the next hour she created and discarded =
several illusions and cast and discarded a few glamours over her =
appearance. Unfortunately, the redheaded witch grew tired quickly, her =
excited energy finally running out, or she would have continued =
experimenting all day.=20
=20
"That's enough for now; you need to rest." Cassandra smiled at Willow's =
look of rueful disappointment. Her student clearly wanted to continue =
but felt too worn out to protest stopping. "Let's head over to the =
Mansion. It's close to here, isn't it?"
=20
"Sure, it's not far at all. I can't wait to tell Angel about this" =
Willow bubbled, some energy returning at the thought of telling her =
friend about her exciting morning..
=20
Xander continued to follow them as soon as his legs, numb from kneeling =
behind that tombstone, would permit him to. He caught up with them just =
as Angel let them in. Picking a spot near a window he settled in to =
continue listening.
=20
Angel was pleased that Willow was here. He had guessed that Giles would =
remove the debilitating binding spell, which would leave Willow free to =
begin training with Cassandra. He had brooded and worried about it all =
though the rainy night. Having Willow show up, a little tired but =
completely unharmed, made him feel much better. He firmly ignored the =
effect Willow's happy smile and sparkling eyes were having on him, as =
they dispelled the chill that always seemed to be with him. He pulled =
her to sit near him on the couch, across from Cassandra. Without =
thinking about it, he wrapped Willow's slender hand in his. Cassandra =
had to fight a grin when she noticed. =20
=20
"Not that I'm unhappy to see you," Angel grinned openly at the redhead, =
"but Giles said you wouldn't be here until this evening." =20
=20
The vampire was torn between renewed worry and delight at Willow's =
obvious joy as she described her morning's adventures. Angel didn't =
want to destroy her cheerful mood, but he still didn't trust Cassandra. =
He turned to look at Immortal with his mixed emotions clearly written on =
his face.
=20
Cassandra decided to take advantage of his confusion and keep him from =
shifting fully into his protective and suspicious mode -- the one =
involving fangs. "I would like you to be involved in Willow's =
training." Noticing that this had only deepened the confusion on his =
face, she continued, "Not the magic part of it. I'll handle that. I =
want you to train her in martial arts; Mr. Giles told me that you are =
quite skilled."
=20
"Why?" Angel had to admit that he liked this idea. It implied that, =
whatever else Cassandra intended, she didn't want Willow getting hurt. =
It also supplied him with the perfect excuse to continue spending almost =
every waking moment with Willow.=20
=20
"It's best if Willow is in optimal physical condition for training -- =
makes it easier to concentrate and maintain a spell." Cassandra turned =
her compelling gaze on Willow, "You got tired far too fast this morning. =
It's just a side effect of the binding spell -- exercise will help get =
your strength and endurance back. I'm also a bit nervous about you =
living on a Hellmouth -- you need to be able to defend yourself. It =
takes concentration to defend yourself with magic, and it takes quite a =
bit of time to achieve that kind of concentration."
=20
Angel liked that Cassandra was worried for Willow's wellbeing. It made =
him feel much better about this whole training deal. He also remembered =
that he had been sent help by higher powers before -- it did happen. =
However, the brooding vampire wasn't willing to let go of all of his =
suspicion just yet. "What kind of magic are you planning to teach =
Willow?"
=20
Willow sat quietly during Angel's questioning of Cassandra. While she =
wasn't happy about his obvious distrust, she knew that it was the only =
way he would be reassured about the Immortal. Anyway, he was asking =
the very things she wanted to know herself. That and having his large, =
cool hand wrapped around hers was incredibly distracting. It was hard =
to stay annoyed when he was sitting so close to her. <Goddess, he's =
wonderful. Bad Willow! Think magic. >
=20
"I started with illusions because they are good for building =
concentration. <If I keep him completely involved in Willow's training, =
he won't be able to interfere -- well, interfere as much. > "They are =
also a fairly safe place for a beginner to start." < Ah, you like =
caution don't you. > "I like to use illusion for self-defense since =
it's generally non-confrontational." Cassandra noted that Angel's face =
relaxed just a fraction. <Although that could have more to do with the =
fact that he's still holding her hand. > "We'll move on to more complex =
exercises, such as matter control and healing, after I'm sure Willow has =
mastered illusion and has the concentration necessary."
=20
Her practical, cautious, and sensible approach to training Willow went a =
long way to easing Angel's worries. The vampire visibly relaxed. =
Willow quietly breathed a small sigh of relief. <Thank Goddess! > =
Cassandra once again had to suppress a grin at the intensely protective =
behavior. Outside the window, Xander was also allowing himself to =
relax. This Cassandra person sounded all right, and she wasn't trying =
to take Willow away or separate her from her friends.
=20
Cassandra continued talking. <Best if we get all of the introductory =
things out of the way now. > "I think it would best if you told me what =
magic experience you already have, Willow. As your teacher I should =
know what your experience level is." <That and I want to know what that =
major magic I picked up off you during that Quickening was. It was more =
than the soul restoration. >
=20
Willow leaned forward a bit from her perch on the couch. " I can float =
small objects and move them, and I restored Angel's soul last year." A =
look of deep pain flashed over Angel's face. He quickly suppressed it, =
but Cassandra noticed. < A lot of bad memories there; better move on. =
>=20
=20
"Yes, Mr. Giles told me about that. Anything else?"
=20
"Um, well, I've been able to do a few small spirit walks, to other =
dimensions. I can't do it very well. Most of the time I can't do it at =
all."
=20
"It takes practice. It can also be dangerous. I would rather you don't =
try to do it again until you are more advanced and we've had a chance to =
train in that area."
=20
"OK." Willow blushed a little; she didn't have much magic experience at =
all.
=20
"Willow I want to be honest with you. When I touched your mind through =
the link, during the Quickening we shared, I picked up the residue of =
some major magic. Too big to be even the soul restoration. Mr. Giles =
didn't mention any other major spells. I need to know -- it will give =
me a better idea of what your capabilities are." Cassandra was =
interested to note that both of her companions tensed when she asked =
this question. The young witch's grip on Angel's hand tightened until =
her knuckles went white. <So there is something the Watcher doesn't =
know about. I knew it! ---- Why are they so nervous? > =20
=20
"Um, there was something else," Willow spoke very softly, almost =
whispering, and looked unwilling to continue.
=20
=20
Cassandra gave her a reassuring smile, "Whatever you tell me doesn't =
have to go beyond this room if you don't want it to."=20
=20
Outside Xander strained to hear everything. <Willow, my Will, has =
another secret! What now! As if being best friends with Deadboy wasn't =
bad enough. >
=20
Willow looked at Angel, took a deep breath, and then stumbled back into =
speech. "I um, I was the one, uh . . . Angel didn't get back from Hell =
on his own. I brought him back."
=20
Cassandra couldn't help it, her jaw dropped. "You went to Hell -- and =
came back -- and you lived through it!! > Her normally clam voice =
shook. The Immortal was in shock. This was a bit more than she had =
expected to hear. "How?!"
=20
"Well, I found part of a spell on the Internet, and I was able to find =
the rest of it in one Giles' books. It seemed fairly simple, so I tried =
it. I don't really remember much after the first couple of minutes -- =
it's a big blur. When I came to here, Angel was back and still =
unconscious. Everyone was out of town, so I was able to get him to my =
house. I hid him in the basement and told everyone I had the flu. I =
tied Angel up until he was sane again." This entire speech was given in =
a soft, wavering voice. This had clearly been a frightening time for =
the young woman.=20
=20
<You shouldn't have tried that alone, child. Why did you? > Cassandra =
thought.=20
=20
"Why didn't you tell anyone?" The Immortal kept her voice gentle and =
non-judgmental.
=20
Angel chose to be the one to answer. Cassandra was surprised to see =
blood tears hovering in his eyes. "Angelus caused a lot of pain when he =
was free. The others were just as likely to want me dead. Willow =
risked more than Hell itself when she came after me. Her friends =
reacted poorly to my return."
=20
Willow dropped Angel's hand and turned to hug him fiercely. His voice =
had been full of guilt over the trouble he'd caused her. The first =
couple days after his reappearance was discovered had been brutal. Her =
friendships with Buffy and Xander had nearly ended, and Angel had nearly =
been staked several times. Then he had saved Giles from a demon. =
Things had returned to 'normal' with amazing speed. Except, Angel =
hadn't responded to Buffy's attempts to renew their love, and Willow had =
remained the person closest to him.
=20
Cassandra struggled to deal with her shock. <She just had to be living =
on a Hellmouth. > The situation got more complex every time she blinked. =
<No wonder these two are so close. > =20
=20
"How did the others find out he was back?"
=20
"Oh, Angel dusted some vamps who tried to hurt me, and Buffy over heard =
some other vamps talking about Angel being back from Hell -- with his =
soul. She followed him to my house." Willow stopped talking, the =
expression on her face making it clear that she did not want to talk =
about that period anymore. =20
=20
Outside, Xander had fainted.
=20
Cassandra noticed that it was getting dark; the magic lesson and ensuing =
conversation had taken quite a bit of time. Abruptly, she remembered =
she still needed to find somewhere to live besides the hotel. She =
needed to have an address to give the moving company. "I need to be =
going," she looked at Willow, who was beginning to look very tired. "Do =
you know of a good realtor?"
=20
"Um, yeah. Why?" Willow asked sleepily.
=20
"I need to find a place to live -- preferably suitable for training and =
convenient."
=20
"Why not live here?" Angel interjected smoothly. <That way I can keep an =
eye on you and Willow. > "After all you want me to train her too. =
There's plenty of room for your stuff, and it's convenient but private.
=20
Cassandra knew he had ulterior motives for offering a place to live. =
However, his given reasons were good ones, and it would save her the =
bother of buying a place. It would also prevent the vampire from trying =
to keep her away from Willow. =20
=20
"Thank you, Angel; that is a generous offer. I accept. I will see you =
tomorrow. Make sure you get plenty of rest, Willow." Cassandra pulled =
on her coat and left.
=20
Angel watched the Immortal leave. He didn't move to see her out because =
Willow was leaning on him, half asleep. He watched her for a moment, =
reveling in the patterns the firelight made on her red hair. In one =
smooth movement he scooped her off the couch and walked to his =
guestroom. Willow had taken naps there before. "I'll call Giles to =
come pick you up." Willow mumbled a barely audible assent. He tucked =
her under a blanket -- she was already sound asleep. Before his brain =
could catch on to what he was doing, Angel leaned forward and softly =
kissed her forehead. Then he went to call Giles.
to be continued . . .
