Part 9: Soul's Binding

In a room in the mansion, familiar and druids were meeting.

Darkmoon's tail lashed in anger as he glared at the druids, and said, "All I'm asking is if it's possible for you to change it enough to do what we want!"

There was a hesitant pause, before one of the druids said, "It's possible. But it will take us a few days before its ready."

"There's also another change I want you guys to make in it as well," Buffy said from where she now stood in the doorway, Angel behind her.

"And what sort of change would that be, Slayer?" a male druid asked.

"Bind me to Angel as well. Like how Darkmoon is and will be."

In the stunned silence that followed, Darkmoon asked, "Are you sure?"

Buffy's expression lost all its humor, as she said firmly, "I've never been more serious in my life."

"Also," Angel said quietly, "this way there is more than one to keep my soul bound."

"Do you understand what this means?" another druid solemnly asked Buffy.

"That I cannot die? That I will remain the age I am forever, as long as Darkmoon, Angel, and I live? Oh, I'm very aware."

"Buffy and I have spent a lot of time talking about this," Angel said. "I came to a realization. If Buffy is mortal, and dies. I would not want to be alive. She is my life. My Beloved. It is for her, that I have become as I am now."

"And I cannot be without him. In this existence...or the next. So we came to a compromise: We would stay together -- alive -- in this one, and stick by each other no matter what."

The druids and familiar gazed at the Slayer and vampire, moved beyond anything they had ever felt. It was a druid who finally said what they were all thinking.

"Then it shall be as you wish."

Three days later, Buffy leaned back against Angel as he read to her by the fireplace. They were interrupted by a male druid coming into the room, clearing his throat to get their attention.

"My Lord and Lady," the druid said solemnly, "we are ready."

Within the high school library -- at that very same moment -- the Watchers and Slayerettes were meeting.

"Are you sure, Willow," Giles asked in alarm.

"Yeah," Willow said nervously, "ask Oz even."

As all attention focused on him, Oz nodded, then said, "It's true. I heard the druids talking about binding Buffy, Angel, and that familiar of his to each other."

"Did you happen to hear when," asked a Watcher.

"Tonight. In fact," Oz paused, and looked at the clock behind him, "right now"

"We must stop them!" another Watcher exclaimed.

With those words, all the Watchers -- except for Giles -- left the library. The Slayerettes looked at each other, then at Giles.

"Giles," Xander said with concern, "as much as I don't like Deadboy. Not even I would dare get in the way of this. They've been through too much. They need to be together. I can even see that now."

After a moment of silence, Giles nodded, then said, "Agreed."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Willow said quickly. "Let's stop those Watchers!"

Under a new moon, Buffy, Angel, and Darkmoon stood, the five druids surrounding them. Four druids stood each on a main compass point, with the fifth in the center with the others. Each person in the center stood on a minor compass point, facing inward.

As they were about to begin, shouting could be heard in the distance.

"We may not have time for ceremony," a druid said.

"Agreed. Take on only the protection. We will do the spell, while you defend us," Darkmoon said grimly.

The male druid who had spoken nodded his understanding, and began.

"Heavens above, Earth below, hear us, and aid our cause.

"I who stand upon North. I who represent Earth, seek your aid. Give me the ability to protect those who we seek to bind together."

A female druid spoke next, saying, "I who stand upon East. I who represent Fire, seek your aid. Give me the ability to protect those who we seek to bind together."

A male druid then said, "I who stand upon South. I who represent Water, seek your aid. Give me the ability to protect those who we seek to bind together."

A female druid called out next, as the voices grew nearer, "I who stand upon West. I who represent Wind, seek your aid. Give me the ability to protect those who we seek to bind together!"

The last druid spoke solemnly, saying, "I who represent the Spirits, seek your aid. Give me the ability to protect those who we seek to bind together."

When all the druids had spoken, a white light surrounded them, as they moved to stand in a circle surrounding those they would protect, facing outwards. As they evenly spaced themselves apart from each other, the light that surrounded them grew brighter...spreading out, until it surrounded them like an impenetrable wall.

"Right," said Darkmoon. "Let's get this done."

At those words, Darkmoon grew, taking on his guardian form. In a growling voice, he said, "I, Darkmoon, bind myself to my master. I bind myself as his familiar, guardian...and keeper of his soul. I, Darkmoon, bind myself as well, to the Slayer Buffy. May I not die, unless they die. May they not die, unless I die."

A blue-white light surrounded Darkmoon, Angel, and Buffy, making the vampire and Slayer gasp as the familiar growled. When the light disappeared, Buffy spoke.

"I, Buffy, bind myself to the souled vampire Angel. I bind myself as his lover...and keeper of his soul. I, Buffy, bind myself as well, to the familiar Darkmoon. May I not die, unless they die. May they not die, unless I die."

The light returned, brighter than before, surrounding the three. So great was the power of the light this time, that it brought Angel and Buffy to their hands and knees. A moment later, they stood, as Angel then spoke.

"I who was known as Liam Kells as a human, I who was known as Angelus as a soulless vampire, I who am known as Angel as a vampire with a soul, bind myself to my familiar, guardian, and keeper of my soul. I bind myself to him as his master. I bind myself, also, to the Slayer Buffy. I bind myself to my lover, and keeper of my soul. May I not die, unless they die. May they not die, unless I die."

At the ending of those words, the light returned, blazing white. So great was the light that it outshone the light of the magical wall protecting them. When it disappeared, the vampire, familiar, and Slayer lay on the ground unconscious.