Disclaimer: I do not own any work by Joss Whedon or JRR Tolkien. The Angel Institute and Academy are my own creation.
"Who put up the new spells Giles?" Willow asked.
"I did," Maril answered.
"Why?" Willow asked, looking at Giles and ignoring Maril.
"It was done on the Powers orders," Whistler answered.
"The Powers only want elvish spells around all New Watcher Council properties from this day forward. Maril changed all your wards and spells around our property in Cleveland last night, the Slayer Compound and the New Watchers' Council when we arrived this morning," Giles told her.
"I bet that took some doing," Buffy said.
"No it didn't Buffy," David replied. "Maril took down Willow's spells and wards instantly and put elvish spells in their place, and that was done in less than 20 seconds for each property."
Gasped in the room.
"What!" Willow said, finally looking at Maril.
"Your wards and spells were not that difficult Willow," Maril told her.
Willow didn't know what to say or think. She thought she was a very powerful witch and no one could get through her spells and wards. Now to know they were easily taken down came as a total shock to her. "You're a witch Maril?" Willow asked, still stunned.
"I practice elvish magic, along with my husband and Maglor and the three of us are also healers. My husband and I have been practicing magic for over 8,000 years," she answered.
Willow sat wide-eyed with surprise and didn't know what to say.
No wonder she took those wards and spells down so easily, Dawn thought.
"How long did it take you to learn your magic?" Dawn asked Maril, with a smile.
"It took us over 300 years to learn our magic properly," she answered.
"That must be some magic," Andrew said.
"It is," Giles replied, with a smile.
"Elvish magic is pure and white and also very powerful," Angela told them.
"The Powers gave you elvish and human magic?" Willow asked Maglor, trying to compose herself.
"It was God who gave him those gifts Willow. Angels don't have that kind of power," David told her.
"I thought...," she said.
"God gave Maglor the gifts he would need to survive on our world through my father," Angela replied.
Willow slowly nodded her head...still trying to take in all she'd heard.
xxx
"Willow and I can't use our magic Giles," Dawn said. "Can you tell us why?"
"This was the High Holy Ones doing," Whistler answered.
Murmurs and gasped in the room.
Willow's face fell.
Buffy turned and looked at her friend and suddenly pitied her.
"Does your magic feel different Dawn?" Maril asked.
"Yes it does," Dawn answered. "How do you know?"
"Dawn, The High Holy One wants you to learn elvish and wand magic from Maril," Whistler told her.
"What!" Dawn said, with a surprise look on her face.
"While you slept a few nights ago, the Lord took away all the magic Willow taught you and gave you the gift of elvish and wand magic," Giles told her.
"That's also when God made my magic dormant," Willow said, in a whisper, looking despondent.
"Yes," Whistler answered.
"Why?" Buffy asked Giles, with a look of concern on her face.
"I don't know why," he answered.
"I don't think it's a good idea Dawn," Buffy said.
"You can't tell me I can't learn this magic Buffy. I'm almost 18 years old," Dawn replied, with a look of defiance on her face.
"This isn't a request Buffy, this is God's Will," Angela told her.
"But...," Buffy said.
"There's a reason He wants Dawn to learn this magic. We don't know why, but He does; that's why He gave Maril the gift of wand magic and Latin. You have to let her go Buffy...Dawn's almost grown and will soon be leaving home to attend Oxford in September. You can't protect her all your life and she'll eventually have to learn to take care of herself. Normally it would take years to learn wand magic and even longer to learn elvish magic, as we've just heard. Everything the Lord wants Dawn to learn, He gifted to her while she slept," Angela told her.
Buffy knew Angela had a point and she had to let Dawn go and nodded her in the affirmative, because she knew she didn't have a choice.
"What will I learn?" Dawn asked Maril, with a big smile on her face. after she saw Buffy acquiesce.
"Here's a list of the courses the Creator wants you to learn," Maril answered, and the list appeared in front of her.
Dawn took the list and looked it over.
"What courses will you take?" Buffy asked, after seeing her sister's wide-eyes.
"Elvish transfiguration, human and elvish potions, human ancient runes, human divination (a crystal ball), human charms, human and elvish spells and human and elvish healing," she answered, excitedly.
"You'll learn how to heal cuts, bruises and broken bones with your wand Dawn. All the words you use with your wand will be in Latin. When you use elvish magic, you'll either think and speak in Elvish, or both. A lot of elvish magic is used with either the mind or hand and you'll no longer need to consult a book to perform magic. All elves are closer to nature than humans and you now have the ability to listen too and understand tress; and you can now communicate with and understand many birds and animals. You can also hear what the wind and water are saying to you, and use the air to your advantage," Maril told her.
"Really!" Dawn said, practically jumping out of her seat.
"Yes," Anal answered, with a smile.
"Once you learn this magic, you'll remember it and won't need to be told twice," Maglor told Dawn.
"Elvish spells have different levels and the highest is level 40...and you'll learn a few level 40 spells," Maril said to her.
"It normally takes ten years to learn wand magic, however, you'll learn that magic in 3 years. By the time you head to Oxford , you'll have five years of wand magic under your belt," Angela told her.
Dawn's head was spinning and she still couldn't believe her good fortune.
"You cannot use any magic at Oxford – only when you're being trained. Your magic will also be dormant while you're away at school," Whistler told her. "The High Holy One has also gifted you with Elvish and Sindarin. Elvish is the language Aral and Maril speak and Sindarin is the language Maglor speaks. You can now speak, read and write in both languages."
Dawn was happy to hear that.
"Why?" Buffy asked.
"Dawn was gifted with Sindarin so Maglor could converse with someone in his own language," Whistler answered.
Maglor smiled at Dawn and she returned the smile.
"What language do you speak when you use elvish magic?" Kate asked Maglor.
"I can either speak Sindarin or Quenya," he answered.
"What language do you speak when you use human magic?" Elizabeth asked him.
"Latin," Maglor answered.
"Maglor's human magic is very different from the magic we practice," Giles told them.
"Is it?" Andrew asked.
"There's more than one way to practice magic," David answered.
"Dawn, please go over and stand in front of Whistler," Angela said to her.
When Dawn got up from her chair and walked over and stood in front of Whistler, he snapped his fingers.
"What was that about?" Willow asked, a little jealous of Dawn.
"Dawn's magic is no longer dormant and she can now use it," Whistler answered.
"Dawn," Maril said, standing up.
Dawn walked over to Maril, grinning from ear to ear.
"These are your wands," she said, when two wands appeared in her right hand. "I'll teach you how to properly access the power of the Key and show you how to control it with your wands. The Key's core can only be accessed with a wand because it's inside you and needs to be pushed out of you."
Dawn looked at the wands wide-eyed and hungrily and Maril handed them to her.
"I want you to close your eyes and concentrate," Maril said to her.
Dawn closed her eyes and could feel a tingling sensation flowing through her body and could actually see the Key inside her. The tingling sensation went all the way to the Key's core and suddenly, silver sparkles shot out of the wands and then the green energy of the Key.
Everyone in the room was surprised, except Whistler, Angela, David, Aral, Maril and Maglor.
"Wow, what was that?" Dawn asked, opening her eyes in surprise.
"You and your wands are now one and no one except me, you, Mr. Giles, Maglor, Aral and Members of the Angel Institute can touch theses wands," Maril answered.
"Not another human, including Buffy or the others slayers can touch those wands. If they do, they'll fall unconscious for a day, and when they wake up, they'll have no memory of the wand or wands," Giles told her.
"If a demon touches one, they'll die instantly. These wands are made for the Key, which is you Dawn, and they were made in heaven. If you lose one in a battle, it'll automatically come back to your hand, and you can also call them to you anywhere in the world. When you die, they'll instantly return to heaven," Angela told her.
"You'll also have great advantage in a combat situation with your new elvish and wand magic," David told her.
"No one can see your wands except the Watchers, slayers and Members of the Angel Institute," Whistler told her.
"You're very rare Dawn. Only a few people can use both types of magic," Aral said to her.
"Gee, I still can't believe this," Dawn said, still reeling.
"Those wands were made in heaven?" Andrew asked, stunned.
"Yes they were," Whistler answered.
Gasped in the room.
"When you're finished with your magical education, you're to carry one wand and both of your daggers with you at all times," Maglor told her.
"I will," Dawn answered.
"On occasion, you're need to use both your wands, that's why you have two of them," Maril told her.
"When will I start my magical training?" Dawn asked, after she sat down in her chair.
"You'll be attending the Angel Academy for the Gifted and Talented in Virginia, which is a magic school," Giles answered.
"It's the one David and I attended," Angela told her.
"I thought you guys were angels in human form," Willow said, perplexed.
"We're human Willow with angelic power and magic," Angela replied.
"We start our magical training and martial arts training at the age of 5. Our angelic power is not activated until we turn 21, and in some cases, when we're older...and we know instantly how to use it," David told her. "Aral, among others, teach us weaponry."
"Their weapons also come from heaven," Giles told them.
"They do?" Buffy asked, surprised, looking at Angela and David.
"Yes they do, and like Dawn's wands, our weapons will return to heaven after we die," David answered.
More murmurs in the room.
Giles then told them about the Angel Academies and Grade Schools world-wide.
"Did the two of you attend both schools?" William asked.
"Yes we did," Angela answered.
"Did you use your magic?" Dawn asked.
"NO!" they said in unison, rather loudly.
"Their magic is rendered dormant when they leave the schools and they have no memory of it until they return. They cannot use any magic until they turn 18 and graduate from the Academies. The High Holy One wants them to grow up as normal children, which they do. They don't find out who they really are until they turn 21, when their angelic power is activated," Whistler told them.
"Why?" Willow asked.
"You never put that kind of power in the hands of children," David answered.
"That makes sense," Buffy said.
"What other courses did you study besides magic? Peter asked.
"The usual academic courses, such as math, science, languages, history, etc., and many of us attend college afterwards," David answered.
"Are gifts also vary and some of us are doctors, teachers and the like. David and I are part of the warrior class," Angela told them.
"There were magic schools I could've gone to?" Willow asked, looking at Giles.
"These magic schools are only for them Willow," he answered.
"What type of magic did you learn?" Margaret asked Angela and David.
"Angel magic," David answered.
"Their power and magic comes from angels and their magic is the purest and deadliest in existence," Whistler told them.
Murmurs and gasps in the room.
"Do you use your magic?" Andrew asked.
"Only when we have to," David answered.
"We use our power most of the time and on rare occasions we use both, " Angela told them.
"You'll find students your own age at the Academy and you'll make life long friends. They also know you're the Key," Giles told Dawn, with a smile.
"How long will I have to study and when do I start?" Dawn asked Maril.
"You'll start tonight and we leave for the Academy in two days, and I'll teach you both magics for the next five months. After you've completed your term each Spring at Oxford, you'll return to the Angel Academy for three months for more magical training. I'll keep your wands at the Academy," Maril answered.
"I'll test you to see what weapon best suits you and teach you how to wield that weapon properly, along with a set of daggers," Aral told Dawn.
"You'll also have a martial arts instructor at the Academy," Giles told her.
"Your classes will begin at 7:00 a.m. and will end at 6:00 p.m., with two breaks and lunch in-between. From 7:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., Maril will teach you magic; from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., lunch; from 1:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m., Aral will teach you weaponry; from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., you'll have martial arts instructions; dinner at 7:00 p.m., and lights out at 10:30 p.m.," Giles told her.
"You'll only have Sundays off," David said, smiling.
Dawn laughed.
"That's quit a load," Henry said.
"Dawn has a lot to learn in a short amount of time," Angela replied.
"The Angel Institute will provide you with whatever you need, such as clothes, shoes, sweats, etc. The only thing you'll need to bring with you is your purse, passport and money," Giles told her.
"Look at the elvish script on the wands and tell me what it says Dawn," Maril said.
"Key," she replied, smiling.
"That is correct," Maril said.
"Let me see," Buffy said, and Dawn showed her the elvish script.
Aral said something to her in Elvish and Dawn responded in kind.
Maglor then said something in Sindarin and she responded in Sindarin.
"Come to me and bring your wands," Maril said, and stood up from her chair.
Dawn got up from her chair and walked over to Maril, who took her wands from her and put them on the table.
"I told you elves are very attuned to natural and as part of your magical training, you'll need a bird. Hold your hands together like this," Maril told her.
Dawn cupped her open hands together, palms up and everyone listened as Maril said something in Elvish – which only Aral, Angela, David and Dawn understood – and watched as a small beautiful white bird appeared out of nowhere in front of Dawn and landed on her open palms.
The Watchers in the room gasped, including Willow.
"She's beautiful," Dawn cried.
"How do you know it's a she?" Aral asked.
"I just know," she answered, smiling.
"She's a magical bird and she'll be with you for the rest of your life... and she'll always come to you when you call her," Maglor told Dawn.
"Really," Dawn said, with a big grin on her face.
"She's yours and you have to name her. The only language she understands is Elvish, so the name must be in that language," Maril told her.
Everyone watched as Dawn thought for a moment. "Ama," she said, softly to the bird in Elvish, who flapped her wings and cooed at Dawn. "I understood what she said to me," she cried to everyone.
"What does Ama mean?" Buffy asked her sister.
"Beautiful," Dawn answered.
"Tell Ama you'll meet her outside," Maril said.
Dawn said something to Ama in Elvish and she disappeared in what looked to everyone like stardust.
"We'll now go outside for another magic lesson," Maril told her.
"Great," Dawn said, with a grin, and picked up her wands and headed out the door with Maril.
"That was elvish magic?" Andrew asked, in awe.
"Yes it was," David answered.
Willow had never seen magic like that and wanted to learn it.
"This meeting is over," Giles said. "Buffy stay a moment, and Willow, I want to see you in my office at 7:30."
She nodded her head in the affirmative and departed the conference room with the others.
xxx
"What is it Giles?" Buffy asked, with her arms folded over her chest.
"I'm sending Andrew to the hellmouth in a month for further training and he'll be there for six months and then return here. Robin will still be the Head Watcher on the hellmouth," he answered.
"They're not going to like it," she said, with a smirk on her face.
"They already know. I told them last night," he replied. "The Angel Institute will provide the Watchers' Council with one of their private jets, should we need one," Giles told her.
"Thank you," Buffy said.
Angela and David smiled at her.
"Angela is here to deliver a message to Willow from the Powers and Maglor will also be in the meeting," Giles told her.
Angela told Buffy the message the Powers wanted delivered to Willow and Whistler confirmed what she told her.
"That's why her magic is dormant?" Buffy asked.
"Yes," Whistler answered.
"When Willow used Osiris, she didn't know there was a doom attached to that spell," Angela told Buffy.
"Do you want to attend the meeting?" Giles asked.
"Yes," Buffy answered.
"These are for you Buffy," Angela said, and took the box from her lap and slid it across the conference room table.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Open it and find out," Giles said, with a smile on his face.
When Buffy opened the box, her breathe caught when she saw two of the most beautiful broadswords she'd ever seen and two magnificent daggers. There were also two pairs of leather elvish knee high boots. Buffy unsheathed each weapon and tested their weight and balance, which she thought were perfect. She especially liked the daggers and noticed the script on each weapon. "These are beautiful, thank you," she said. "What does the script say?"
"Buffy, Slayer of Demons," Aral answered.
Buffy smiled and then tried on the boots, which she thought were very soft and comfortable and felt as if she was walking on air. She put the black pair on and the brown pair in the box with her new weapons.
"Do you want your old boots?" David asked.
"No," she said, and watched as her old boots disappeared.
"Don't ask," Giles said, when she started to open her mouth. "These are gifts from the Elves."
"You and Faith are the Chosen Ones, that's why the two of you received your own personal weapons," Angela told her.
"Mr. Giles was given an elvish sword, axe and a lovely set of knives," David told Buffy.
"Tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., Maglor, Angela, David, Whistler and I will arrive at the Slayer Compound. Since Maglor is the new Watcher, I want him to meet the rest of the slayers. David will then give the slayers their new weapons and remove the old ones from the armory," Giles told her.
"All the slayers will receive their own daggers and two pairs of elvish boots," Angela told Buffy.
"The slayers are to carry their daggers with them at all times," Maglor told Buffy.
Buffy nodded her head and saw the look of a warrior on his face.
"If a slayer dies in battle, their weapons, along with their daggers will automatically return to the Slayer Compound," David told her.
"You can tell them the story of the Angel Institute and who the Powers are, but not about Willow," Giles said.
"I'll tell them tomorrow morning after breakfast and we'll be waiting for you at 11:00 a.m.," she said.
