Title: The Dark Chronicles of Willow and Tara – How Love Saved the World
Author: Bellalocke
Description: Tara finally escapes the prison and her tormentor that have held her captive for 13 years. After moving to England, she enrolls in University where she will meet the woman who will change her life and show her how love can save the world
Rating: This Chapter is rated R for Strong Language.
Content Warning: Abuse and sexual assault are referenced in this chapter. There are no graphic depictions of said events, and I made it a point to avoid triggering language regarding the subject.
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.
Author's Note: Chance, a fellow kitten, is my beta as well as my sensitivity reader. This story would not have been possible without him. Not only did he help me navigate the delicate elements of this story whilst not being triggering, but he also inspired me and helped me make this fic what it is. I owe you everything, brother.
Author's Note 2: This story contains elements of past traumas that are referenced indirectly and treated with as much care as possible. I did my best to tread lightly here since I do not want to trigger anyone.
Author's Note 3: Willow does not appear in this chapter, but I promise that I will get her into the story soon. Just bear with me. I also want to note that the first two chapters in the story will concentrate on Tara and Willow respectively. Don't worry, our girls will be meeting as soon as some of the exposition is covered.
Author's Note 4: This fic is framed around an old fic called Love in the Face of Danger that I started posting on the board well over a decade ago. After much thought, I decided to resurrect the ideas from that fic and turn it into something that is so much more.
Author Note 5: I truly hope that you enjoy reading this fic. Thanks for stopping by
As Always, I will try to be true to Willow and Tara.
Now on to the good stuff!
Chapter 1
This story is not just one of romance, but a tale of true bravery and facing fear in a shroud of lies only to find the truth and true love in the eyes of another. This is a story of magic and overcoming the direst of circumstances and difficult challenges that anyone could ever face.
Tara looked around the prison that had kept her captive for the last 13 years. With a deep breath and a silent prayer, she closed the door and walked away...
Once she was on the other side of town, Tara let out a sigh of relief and ran to the payphone in front of her. She took out some change, dialed the number scribbled on the piece of paper in her hand, and prayed for an answer.
"H-Hello?" A groggy-sounding voice answered.
"A-Aunt L-Lydia," Tara stuttered. "It's T-T-Tara. I need your help."
"Tara!" Lydia half-shouted. "Where are you? How...How are you calling me?"
Tara jumped at the sound of her Aunt's loud voice. " I'm at the t-train s-station. I r-ran away. I c-can get to y-you. W-Will you p-pick me up t-tomorrow at n-noon?"
"Yes," Lydia said. "I'll see you then. Tara... Be Safe."
Tara hung up the phone and walked into the train station. She purchased a one-way ticket to Tucson, Arizona.
Dear Goddess, I hope this works out. Please, don't let him find me.
As she boarded the train and the doors shut, Tara found a seat and felt a sigh of relief escape her lips. For the first time in 13 years, she felt a small spark of hope that one day she would feel safe once again. For now, that possibility lay with her Aunt Lydia helping her find her mother again.
Lydia Maclay looked into the crowd, hoping that she could find Tara in the sea of people. As she scanned the crowd for the third time, she saw a pair of blue downcast eyes that she knew belonged to her niece. Though it had been many years since she had seen Tara, Lydia recognized her instantly because Tara was the spitting image of her mother when she was younger.
"Tara," she said - her voice loud enough to be heard over the din.
Tara looked up and moved towards her. As she came into full view of Lydia, she could tell that the last 13 years had not been kind to Tara. She resolved to protect her with every fiber of her being, and do everything she can to get Tara to the UK where she can see her mother again.
When Tara was about 5 feet away, Lydia opened her arms, letting Tara walk into them. She wrapped her arms around Tara and embraced her for the first time in over a decade. Tara's first instinct was to flinch; she had not been embraced for as long as she could remember. Touch meant pain, and when her aunt wrapped her arms around her, she waited for the inevitable. Instead, she felt her Aunt embrace her gently, carefully, almost as though she were afraid that all of this was a dream.
Tara started to cry then; out of fear or shame or relief, she did not know. The young witch let herself be held and comforted as the tears continued to fall. Being touched without pain felt so foreign to Tara, and she was not sure that she would ever get used to being touched by anyone. Yet, somewhere in the back of her mind, Tara felt an intense need to be hugged, loved, and to have that feeling of belonging.
Lydia gently embraced her niece. At first, she feared that she had done the wrong thing when she felt her niece flinch as she wrapped her arms around her. The seconds felt like hours until she finally felt Tara relax into the hug and return it as best she could. Lydia's heart broke when she felt Tara start to cry. She held her, trying to infuse the embrace with as much love and tenderness as she could. Lydia hoped that she could bring some measure of comfort to the blonde. Lydia released Tara from the hug when she felt the young witch's tears begin to abate.
"I am so happy to see you, Tara."
Tara's face was still wet with freshly shed tears, but she managed to smile weakly and let her aunt direct her to the exit of the building.
"C'mon sweetie, let's get you home."
Tara could hardly believe she was with her aunt, far away from the monster that she had been living with. Her first two days in Tucson had been spent safely tucked away in her aunt's home, where she had slept most of the time. The ability to sleep came from the lack of demands that she had dealt with for as long as she could remember and the absence of pain that had been ever-present.
The first night Tara was home, Lydia had to fight the desire to stay with her niece to make sure that she could sleep through the night. Instead, she told Tara where she would be, and that if she decided that she did not want to be alone, to find her and she would stay with her. Tara nodded, appreciating that her Aunt was giving her the choice to have company instead of it being forced upon her.
Late into that first night, Lydia woke with a start as she heard a scream come like a bolt out of the blue. She rushed to the room where Tara was sleeping and saw her niece thrashing in her bed. Tara looked as if she was struggling against an invisible specter. Not sure if she should touch the young girl to wake her from her nightmare, Lydia knelt by the bed.
"Wake up, sweetheart," Lydia said softly. "You're having a nightmare. You are safe here and I swear he will never hurt you again."
Lydia kept repeating the words for a few moments before Tara finally stopped thrashing and woke up. Her face was flush, and her PJs and bedclothes were soaked with sweat. As she began to cry again, Tara noticed that her aunt offered her hand, but made no move to touch her.
"I'm sorry," Lydia said. "I don't know what you need, and I don't know how to wake you from your nightmares. I never want to scare you."
Tara sobbed as she took the hand her aunt offered her. The contact helped her ground herself, but did not provide enough of the comfort she had hoped to find.
"Hug me, please," Tara whispered, her voice hoarse from her nightmare.
Lydia slowly got up from the floor and lay beside Tara on the bed. As Tara turned towards her, Lydia gently wrapped her arms around her niece and held her.
"I will stay as long as you want me here," Lydia said.
Tara nodded, sinking into her aunt's arms. When the tears finally stopped, she continued to lay in the warm arms surrounding her. Embracing the darkness, the quiet, and the peace, Tara slid into a dreamless sleep. When she woke, Tara found that she was laying on her side in the bed, no longer in her aunt's arms. Instead, she found the woman lying beside her with her hand resting in the middle of her back. Tara smiled, appreciating the care that her aunt was doing her best to comfort her, not knowing what she needed. The blond found comfort in the fact that her Aunt had done everything that she could to assure her that physical contact would never be forced; that she would always be asked, and that it was ok to say no.
The young witch did not know what being safe felt like. Tara wanted to know what it felt like to not live in constant fear of being hurt. She was hopeful that with the continued help of her Aunt, and eventually her mother, she would someday know what it felt like to be safe and loved. A thought entered her head as she swung her legs out from bed and her feet hit the cold floor.
I need to find mom. I need to understand what happened, and why she could not take me with her.
With that thought, Tara got up from bed, grabbed some sweat pants and a t-shirt that her Aunt had lent her. She then went and took a shower, washing away the grime and the tears from the night before.
The peace and safety she found within Lydia's home would only last for another two days.
On the morning of the third day, Tara woke with a jolt. A foreboding feeling came over her as she got up from bed. The young witch walked out to the living room, where she found her aunt crouched down between the picture window and the front door.
"A-Aunt Lydia?"
When Tara saw her aunt in the living room, she could see that the older woman was peeking out of the window. She quietly turned around and went to Tara.
"Honey," Lydia whispered as she saw Tara move into the living room. "I need you to pack your bag quickly and quietly. We've had a change in plans."
Tara's eyes went wide with horror when she saw the shadow in the window. She willed her legs to carry her to her room. Once there, she quickly packed her bag with the clothes that her aunt had bought for her yesterday.
Oh no oh no oh no, he can't have found out where I was already! It's only been two days. I can't go back. Please, please do not let this happen to me. If I go back, I will die.
Lydia dead bolted the door. As soon as she heard Tara close the door to her room, she met her in the hallway, and bid the blonde to follow her to her bedroom where she quickly packed a bag.
"Don't worry," Lydia said, her brows furrowed. " I am not going to let that bastard get you."
Tara only nodded. Fear was gripping her body with its icy cold fingers. She wanted to do something, but she could hardly breathe. Her body jumped when she heard loud banging on the door.
Both women moved from Lydia's bedroom and out to the living room, trying to make their way to the back door in the kitchen.
"Tara!" the voice yelled. " Get your ass out here, you fucking slut."
"Tara," Lydia said. "Don't listen to him. I've already called the police. They are on their way. We just need to hold him here."
Tara could only nod as she found a corner to huddle in within the kitchen.
Tara's father began to charge against the door, trying to break it down.
"Lydia, " Tara's father said. "Just open the door and hand her over and nobody will get hurt."
"You stay the hell away from her," Lydia roared.
"Don't make me call the police," Tara's father said. "I will have you arrested for kidnapping."
"Good luck with that, asshole," Lydia yelled. "I already called them, and you will never find her again."
Tara's father charged the door again, splintering the threshold. The cops arrived a moment after. Not wanting to wait around, Lydia and Tara slipped out the back. Both women got into the car, and Lydia floored the gas, as soon as the door was shut. The car shot out of the driveway and down the street with a roar.
Not taking any risks, Lydia headed to the airport immediately. Knowing how Tara's father was, Lydia knew she had to get the young witch as far away from him as possible. Knowing that she did not have the proper means to protect the girl, Lydia planned on taking her to the one place where she knew the both of them would be safe for a time.
"Honey," Lydia said. " We're flying to Boston. You'll be safe there."
"A-Are you sure?" Tara asked, her body still shaking.
"Absolutely," Lydia said. "I have friends there who can protect you, and we can get your last name changed there."
Thank the Goddess Odessa told me about the coven that can protect Tara until we get everything sorted and she can go to the UK to live with her mother and have even more protection.
Both women arrived at the airport about 15 minutes later. After rushing to find parking, Lydia led Tara to the ticket counter to buy tickets on the next flight to Boston. Tara and Lydia had to run through the concourse to catch their plane. As they sat down in first class, Lydia ordered a cup of tea for them both. Tara slumped in her seat and cried as the plane took off. Just as she had started to feel safe, he had ripped it all away from her again.
Will I ever know what it is to have peace and safety?
When they arrived in Boston, Lydia took Tara to the house belonging to a gentleman by the name Jakob, who was the high priest of the Boston Branch of the Coven that Odessa Maclay led.
When they exited their cab, Tara saw a man waiting for them a few feet away, Tara's first instinct was to run. She looked to her Aunt.
"It's OK," Lydia whispered, sensing her trepidation. "He is my friend, and he will not hurt you, I promise."
As Tara nodded, Lydia guided her towards the man who opened the door and welcomed both women.
After shutting the door, the man turned towards both women. Lydia moved towards the man and gave him a hug. She hoped the friendly gesture would show Tara that she had been telling the truth.
Releasing the embrace, the man looked at the young witch, making sure to not look her in the eye for more than a moment.
"Hi, Tara," Jakob said softly. "My name is Jakob, but you can call me Jake. Your Aunt and your mother have told me a great deal about you."
"I promise that you will be safe here," he said. "I am sorry about what happened in Tucson, and the scare that you had. He will not find you here."
Tara nodded her head, still not sure what to make of the tall man with jet black hair and green eyes. His presence and countenance were so different from her father. Despite this fact, Tara was still not entirely comfortable with the man.
Sensing her hesitation and discomfort, Jake nodded in understanding. "I am going to take you to my wife, the high priestess of the coven. She has been friends with your mother for a very long time and will guide you through the preparations needed to ensure your safety."
Tara did her best to smile up at the man as thanks for his understanding, but her hair still obscured most of her face. As Jake led her down a long hallway, Tara noticed the rich mahogany accents on the wall, accompanied by pops of color. The red and the gold accents are what stood out to her the most. Tara also recognized the light but the persistent smell of Sandalwood and Nag Champa incense.
The pair finally reached a heavy wooden door that had metal brackets, and a lock that looked as though it could only be opened with a skeleton key. Lydia squeezed Tara's shoulder to comfort her niece.
"Jake and I will be here outside of the chamber should you need anything, "Lydia said. "You can trust her. She is a childhood friend of both your mother and I, and she is safe."
Tara turned towards her aunt and looked up at her with an adorable half-smile upon her face. Lydia smiled as Tara turned around preparing to enter the room.
Jake knocked softly on the door. After a moment, Tara heard a lock release and the door creaked open ever so slowly. She straightened her shoulders and mustered all the courage she could, unsure of who and what she was about to face. After she entered the chamber, Tara reflexively turned around and shut the door. When she turned to face the large chamber, Tara's gaze fell upon a tall and beautiful woman.
The high priestess noticed the gaze upon her and turned towards Tara with a warm smile on her face. As Tara approached the woman, the smell of Sandalwood and incense heightened. The young witch looked up at the high priestess, who had raven black hair and glacier blue eyes.
"My name is Galatéa," the high priestess said as she gestured towards a chair in front of a table; inviting Tara to sit down. Galatéa circled around Tara to sit in the chair opposite of her. Tara could not help but notice the grace present in the high priestess' movement. She also found herself awash in the calm comfort that Galatéa projected. The magical power that the priestess emanated was intense. However, Tara found the power to be comforting. She was astounded by how good it felt to be in the presence of magic in all its wonder once again.
Galatéa poured a cup of tea for Tara before filling her cup. The smell of black tea and bergamot infused Tara's senses and brought a smile to her face. The young witch recalled a vague memory of her mother drinking the same tea.
"E-Earl Grey," Tara said. "M-Mom used to drink this all the t-time."
Galatéa smiled. "I see that more memories of your mother are coming back to the surface. That is a good sign that the damage done to you is not permanent or irreparable."
Tara looked at Galatéa with confusion for a moment.
'My physical injuries have long since healed,' Tara thought.
Sensing Tara's confusion, Galatéa clarified her statement. "The magical injuries that were inflicted upon you."
"I-I d-d-don't r-recall him ever d-doing anything that w-would cause t-those."
Galatéa nodded in understanding; feeling sad at how bad the girl was stuttering. "His methods were subtle and took place over a long period of time. He was trying to break your will for his own designs."
Both women sat in silence afterward as they finished their tea. Tara took some time to let the High Priestess' words sink in.
"Those injuries are the reason that you are in here today," Galatéa said. "They need to be repaired so that you can start truly healing, but also so that it will make it harder for you to find him."
"W-Why?"
"His magic is tied up in those injuries," Galatéa explained. "Which is why he found you as fast as he did."
Tara nodded; she was completely floored learning what had been done to her without her being aware. What alarmed her the most was the fact that her father had magical power of his own. She realized now that he had done all that he could to quash the power that was held within her, and it made her unbearably angry.
Galatéa motioned for Tara to come over to the altar that was on the opposite side of the room. As Tara approached, she saw the high priestess light a bundle of dried herbs with the Goddess candle of the altar.
"Sage," she said. "I am going to make specific patterns of smoke around your body to help purify it. This is also known as smudging."
"Ok," Tara said. "I-I am v-vaguely familiar with the p-practice."
Galatéa nodded. "Then you know that I will ask you to do so in the same fashion."
Tara smiled as energy thrummed through her body. "O-Of course."
After the two witches were smudged and purified, Galatéa opened a drawer in a chest near the altar and pulled out a container of salt and a chalice of water, while she grabbed a candle and a stick of incense. Galatéa beckoned Tara to join her in the center of a large pentagram in the middle of the room.
The young witch joined Galatéa in the center of the pentagram.
Galatéa took some of the salt and placed it in a small metal bowl. Afterward, she took the container of salt and used it to create a circular barrier around the pentagram.
"Are you familiar with calling the corners?
"N-No," Tara confessed.
The elder witch smiled. "It is a process used to consecrate the space where we are standing and provide protection while we perform spells. The salt around the pentagram is what determines the boundary for the consecrated space. You must not pass it until the ritual is complete."
Tara nodded her understanding.
"Normally, I start with calling the North corner first, but since you are not familiar with the words, we will start with the east," Galatéa stated. "Listen carefully. You will repeat most of the words aside from the direction and the element. One last thing, I want to explain to you the items that represent the elements."
"Y-Yes, please," Tara gave a half-smile.
Galatéa returned the smile. As she began the explanation, she felt the power within Tara grow, even if the young witch did not realize what she was doing.
"The salt you are holding represents earth, which is always located to the north in the circle. Air is represented by a burning stick of incense and is always located to the east," Galatéa explained. "The candle represents fire which is located to the south, and the chalice represents water located to the west."
Tara nodded her head.
"Before we place these vessels in their appropriate positions, we must imbue them with our magical energy," Galatéa continued. "Are you aware of how to do so?"
"N-No," Tara replied.
"Come child," Galatéa smiled softly." I will teach you how."
Galatéa approached Tara slowly, and gently placed her hands over Tara's.
"I want you to imagine a ball of white light that starts in your chest. You can close your eyes if you need to. Then I want you to imagine the white light traveling from your chest to your hands and throughout your body," the elder witch spoke." You should feel warm. Once you have done this, I want you to imagine the light escaping from your hands and push it into the container."
"O-Ok," Tara said as she closed her eyes.
Emptying her mind, Tara focused on the warmth within her chest and visualized a well that was filled to the brim with white light. Slowly, she moved the energy until it was spread throughout her body. Her feet were rooted to the ground and the crown of her head open to the sky. The then saw herself pushing the light into the salt itself.
Galatéa watched as the young witch became bathed in a soft golden glow and imbued her energy into salt itself instead of the metal bowl. As she gazed upon Tara, she noticed the smallest whisp of a red thread that extended from her chest and pointed to the west. The elder witch smiled as Tara's power and connection to her soulmate manifested itself far more quickly than she had expected.
Tara imbued her energy into the chalice in the same manner that she had used for the salt, all while keeping her eyes closed. Once the elements had been imbued, Tara opened her eyes and gasped as she saw herself bathed in a warm golden glow as well as the thin red tendril that extended from her heart westward. She then looked over to Galatéa and noticed that the witch was surrounded in the same golden glow, though the energy seemed to move of its own accord instead of remaining still as hers had.
Galatéa once again opened her eyes and was pleased to see that Tara was maintaining the external manifestation of her power. As Tara had done so earlier, Galatéa imbued the incense and candle with her magical energy. Once done, the high priestess instructed Tara on where to place the bowl of salt. The witches moved clockwise within the circle of salt.
"Tara," Galatéa spoke. "It is extremely important to always work and move clockwise within the circle. Doing otherwise can cause…complications. As such, I will be calling upon the elements of air and fire first. Once I am done with the invocations, you will call upon the elements of water and earth. Once this is done, we can begin the actual ritual."
"T-This is a lot of w-work for one r-ritual," Tara spoke softly.
Galatéa looked at Tara and held her gaze. "What we are about to do is an advanced ritual, and one that can be dangerous without the proper protections."
Tara's eyes widened with a hint of fear.
"Worry not, dear," the high priestess spoke. "I am familiar with this ritual, and you will be safe, I promise."
Galatéa did not have the heart to tell Tara that she had to perform the same ritual with Odessa after she escaped.
The damage he caused to my dearest friend was so extensive, I am surprised she survived for as long as she did
Galatéa turned her attention back to Tara. "Are you ready to begin?"
Tara took a deep breath. "Yes."
Galatéa smiled, "Listen closely. All hail the guardians in the watchtowers to the east, land of air and clouds. We invoke thee and ask for your diligence and protection."
Tara watched as what appeared to be a tiny little dragon spirit appeared above the incense.
The high priestess smiled and continued. "All hail the guardians in the watchtowers to the south, land of fire and smoke. We invoke thee and ask for your tenacity and protection."
Tara noticed that a spirit that appeared to be an animated flame appeared, looked upon Galatéa, and twitched its mouth into a toothy grin.
"It is your turn now," Galatéa inclined. "Don't worry about the words that you use for the imagery for the land of water and earth, it will come to you as you speak the words."
Tara nodded and took a breath. "A-All hail the g-guardians in the w-watchtowers to the w-west,l- land of w-water and s-storms. W-We invoke t-thee and ask f-for your intelligence and p-protection."
"A-All hail the g-guardians in the w-watchtowers to the N-North," Tara spoke. "L-Land of Earth and T-Trees. W-We invoke t-thee and a-ask for your s-strength and protection."
Tara looked around the circle and noticed that the consecrated area was surrounded by a white wall of energy. She noticed that a spirit in the shape of a siren floated above the chalice of water, and a Tree took residence over the bowl of salt.
Galatéa looked around the circle and was pleased to see that Tara had managed to call the water and earth spirits with enough power that they manifested themselves in the circle. Each of the spirit guardians faced towards the outside of the circle and kept watch.
"Tara," Galatéa stated. "Now we are going to begin the healing ritual. I am going to perform a spell that will make the injuries visible. I know it may be scary, but we need to do this, so that the healing energy can be directed to specific points, OK?"
Tara agreed, and Galatéa spoke. "Notae apparent."
The blond felt a dull ache for a moment before it disappeared. She gazed upon her body and saw jagged orange and black marks appear across her body. Though she could not see them, Tara knew there was a big mark at the top of her head as well as on her throat. As she continued to look, Tara noticed that there were large marks on her arms, her chest where her heart lay underneath, and near her groin. Tara shuddered as she noticed that particular marking.
Galatéa had to stop herself from shedding tears as she saw the same mark that caused Tara to freeze and shudder, knowing its significance, and feeling extraordinarily sad that Tara had to experience the event that caused the mark to appear in the first place. The high priestess noticed that all the markings appeared to be deep, but the mark near Tara's groin appeared especially deep and angry.
The high priestess stepped a little closer to the young witch before performing another invocation.
"Gaea, mother of all and goddess of earth, I ask that you lend me your power so that I might heal your daughter and cloak her in love and light."
Galatéa's hands glowed with green light. The high priestess stepped closer towards Tara. She held out her hand and slowly started to move it towards the top of Tara's head. She looked down at the young witch asking permission to touch her. Tara's face broke into a half-smile as she agreed to the contact. As Galatéa's hand touched the top of her head, Tara felt a rush of cool energy followed by a slight tingling. The elder witch held her hand to the top of Tara's head for a few minutes.
When the hand of the priestess finally moved away, Tara felt like a vice that she never knew was there, had been removed. Over the next half hour, Galatéa moved her hand to the different marks, and healed the magical curses. Finally, the only remaining mark was the one that Tara feared most.
"I know this is the most difficult mark, Tara," Galatéa spoke softly. "It is the deepest mark, and the one that hurts the most."
Tara inclined her head.
"I want you to help me with this one, ok?"
"O-O-Ok," Tara said as tears silently fell from her eyes and down her cheeks.
"Place your hand over the mark," Galatéa said compassionately.
Tara moved her hand down to the mark and gasped as she felt how hot the mark was.
"I am going to put my hand over yours, Ok?" Galatéa reassured the young witch
Tara nodded. "S-Should I d-direct m-my energy like I did b-before?"
Galatéa nodded as she began to infuse Tara's energy with the healing force granted to her by Gaea.
Tara felt the cooling energy spread over her skin and more deeply than any of the other marks. The energy felt like an icy balm that was somehow washing away her fear, her shame, and her pain at the abject horror that had caused the damage.
With the mark finally healed, Galatéa removed her hand from Tara's.
"Now we begin the last part of the ritual," the elder witch said. "I am going to inscribe marks for protection on your arms. You will see them any time that you are in a consecrated circle, but otherwise, they will not be apparent. These marks will not hurt and will provide you with protection and help to keep your father away."
"I-If it h-helps k-k-keep him as f-far away f-from m-me, then I g-gladly accept these m-marks," Tara said without an ounce of hesitation.
Galatéa smiled and moved in front of Tara's right arm. Once her shoulder was in view, Galatéa took her finger and carefully drew a triquetra, imbuing it with more healing energy. As she began to cast the most powerful protection spell she could, the tree spirit of earth moved into view and traced the mark. Moving to Tara's left arm, Galatéa drew Yggdrasil, the World Tree, upon Tara's arm. Once again, the tree spirit approached the mark and traced it, blessing the mark with a seal from Gaea herself. By the end of the spell, Galatéa was sweating from the amount of energy she had expelled into the marks.
The elder witch moved slowly while closing the circle and thanking the spirits for their blessings and protection. As the spirits began to leave, the earth spirit approached Tara once again and circled around her face and hands before disappearing with a pop. Galatéa smiled and then hugged Tara in a tight embrace. Tara happily returned the hug and felt lighter than she ever had since her mother left. She knew the following months would not be easy, but she had hope, and that was enough.
