3/ The Feast

Great was our joy at heroes forthcoming

Great was our fear that at end they would fail

For many the champion pledged foes undoing

Many the champion to Woden's hall went



Our lord, most noble, begged them consider

Begged fearless Buffy to think again

For slight she seemed, in face of evil

Warrior, sword maiden, but yet a mere girl



Fie on your fears, the Slayer responded

My path is allotted, tread it I must

To face the demon, in combat mortal

To see the sun's rise or dreaded Walhal



So resolved was the Slayer, to face the darkness

Supported by allies, supported by friends

Our hearts were uplifted by this resolution

That in spite of fearing, we cast off our gloom



So gold inlaid tables were brought from the shadows

Chairs were produced for the warband to sit

Servants were bidden to fill their glasses

And to ensure their every need met



While Skalds sang the songs of mighty deeds doing

Of grandsires, of fathers and of honoured kin

The warriors feasted, and toasted the harpers

The warriors drank deep of autumn's ale



Not all were enamoured to see the Slayer

One of that number made great outcry

Challenged the hero, to prove her mettle

To show she was worthy, to brave the foe



Gauntlet was thrown at feet of Joyce daughter

Girded for battle the arrogant knave

He mocked the Slayer and all her companions

Swore they would be craven at the night's end



Laughing the Slayer accepted the challenge

Mocking, she noted that for one so brave

No songs were sung, boasting of his prowess

No harpers called for to tell of his tales



Short was the battle, ere Buffy triumphed

Lustily warriors hailed her name

Cheering her valour, praising her beauty

Lifting their alehorns in noisy wassail



Buffy stood modest, accepting their praises

Then showed her worth, a hero was she

She helped up her challenger, tongue not now mocking

Praising his bravery and might in arms



Unferth now spoke, repenting his folly

Truly shield maiden had proven her worth

Raising his sword, calling Woden and Thunor

He pledged to Buffy, to fight by her side





As one the mad throng repeated the swearing

To stand by the Slayer against the dark

Our lord did her honour, gifts freely giving

The seat of high honour, the finest ale



So through the evening we drank and we feasted

Refought our battles, told of deeds

Mighty and valiant were all at that feasting

Midgard's finest warriors, afraid of no foes



A skald came to the table of our noble lord

Begged to sing praises of Slayer's warband

To tell of their doing and of their prowess

Of great undertakings and of their renown



Many the songs he sang through the evening

Long were the tales of deeds mightily done

Of Xander's bold conquests, Of Willow's enchantments

Of Giles's great learning, Of Tara's love



The warriors hushed as he told of the demons

Of Anyanka and Wilhelm once children of Hel

But how love of the noble Xander and Buffy

Had opened their hearts and turned them to good



Quiet were we as he finished his telling

Awed by his mastery of prose and song

Then led by our lord we gave him our praises

Not just in words but also with gold



The fires were dwindling, shadows drew nigh

The feasting was over, battle approached

For surely the sounds of our celebration

Would waken the monster, would enrage the foe



Then from the tower, the watchmen brought warning

The demon was coming and not alone

Wroth at our feasting and great with anger

He called on kinsmen to lend him aid



For he had guessed that a hero was with us

One of the mighty who preyed on his kind

Then roared he his challenge for hero to face him

And so we prepared for bloody war