WandW24

Smitty's remark fired up everyone. There is just nothing a Northern barbarian loves more than the thought of a ceremony, unless it's the thought of a party. Even the threat of war couldn't scare them now. They roared liked a pride of lions and advanced on me, grinning and swearing. Even Sun Eagle looked almost pleasant, though I managed to turn away before the bastard could try and get friendly with me.

This Asher prick, though, seemed the opposite of delighted. And that suited me right down to the ground.

Then I shook my head and goggled at Smitty. "What the-----Bonded? Now? I thought it was a big ceremonial whoop-te-do, and you're saying ten minutes?"

"Right now." Her face was grim. "The ceremony usually takes hours, but that's all padding really. Romance. We're looking for the magic this time, elf-boy, you'll have to skip all the lovey-dovey stuff for now. The important part can be done in less than five."

"This is a mockery!" It was the damned Asher-guy, sticking his nose in. He looked totally insulted, and maybe even a little nervous. And what a pain in the ass it was to actually agree with him!

"This sucks," I had to remark, very coldly indeed. "I've waited all this time and now I'm gonna be ripped off. Is that what you're saying?"

I wasn't even sure why I was so angry. I mean, this was a good thing, right? I could skip a few days, be Bonded to Carson almost instantly. We could be banging each other's brains out in twenty minutes or less.

I glanced at him. He appeared as stunned as if he'd been belted with a hammer. I couldn't really tell if he were pleased or the opposite. He mainly seemed to be fighting off a heart attack. He sure hadn't been in cahoots with Smitty on this one.

He looked past me to stare Smitty right in the eyeball. "I know the ceremony well enough. Especially in this shortened state. May I have the honor of performing it, Witchlady?

Now she was the poleaxed one. She just goggled at him, until a faint smile twitched at his mouth. "Or perhaps you believe the magic will not come, if it is I who seals their Bonding?"

He was beyond impressive. A slim, ice-bright figure studying her coldly. It was like all of time stood still, waiting for her answer.

She shook herself, and then met his gaze as if they had spoken somehow beyond what was said. "No. I don't believe that at all, kid."

She handed him something. I couldn't see what it was, but at the gesture his head raised, almost arrogantly. He was still in my Ozzy teeshirt. He should of looked silly, with that angelic face made even softer by the chin-length foam of front hair cupping it. The slim fragile body looked even frailer in the slightly too-big tee. His bare arms seemed a little too thin, as if he had no muscle at all, only satin skin and touchable flesh.

He raised the crystalline, black-bladed knife into the air, and met my eyes. His own eyes were silver metal, cold and distant. All the pain I'd seen earlier was gone, or maybe pushed far back out of the way so it couldn't distract him. "Let this ceremony of joining begin."

It was this fop Asher again, and despite agreeing with his viewpoint for some reason I wasn't even sure of, I couldn't help staring at him. When it came down to it, why was he so insulted? Why was it any of his business, come to that? He looked almost, well, past nervous. Even a little scared. I hadn't pegged him as a real religious guy afraid of offending the gods, but maybe I was wrong. It was the only reason I could think of.

Smitty ignored him. She focused on me, and actually grinned a trifle. "Wouldn't have considered you so romantic, McIntyre. Don't worry. We'll do the whole celebration and the feathers-in-the-hair stuff after all this war shit is laid to rest. You'll get your mush fix, I promise you."

"Mush fix!" I glared at the woman, totally outraged. "You saying I'm a mushy person? That would be the other guy, the dark one over there! And---feathers in the what?"

Do'nar was laughing, Smitty was laughing. Carson wasn't laughing, but he looked a bit bemused. Even smiled at me, a sexy, dark smile. Was that what I'd been looking like, pissed because the romantic part of my wedding had been brushed aside? It wasn't true, dammit. I was the opposite of mushy!

"This ceremony will just raise the power between you," Smitty soothed. "We gotta do that fast, McIntyre. And believe me, I don't lightly cheat these guys out of a party."

"It's an abomination to do this for such a reason!" Damn, what was with this Asher guy's attitude? He was starting to get majorly annoying.

Do'nar apparently agreed. He pinned the guy with a look. "Since you are not of the Tribes, Sir Kaine, be damned if I see why you are so worried about the decorum of it."

Something passed over that too-handsome face that I really didn't care for. In fact, it was so wicked and inhuman I wasn't really sure I'd seen it. Then, he was shrugging indifferently and I was sure I'd imagined it.

"Do as you like," he said, and was his tone nasty? Being scolded by Do'nar hadn't pleased him one bit. "It seems a ramshackle method of handling the wedding vows of the High King, though!"

Jalin stared at the man, and he didn't seem intimidated in the least. He was coldly burning, a pale icy flame of hatred and contempt. What the hell? Where did he know this guy from? I'd somehow gotten the impression only Carson and Do'nar were acquainted, and that from battling beside him. Jalin was too young for that, just barely named a man of the Tribes. Still not a warrior; you had to kill your man in battle for that to happen. They had a damn ceremony for everything in the Tribes, I tell ya.

So how could Jalin be staring at this drip as if he knew him all too well, and hated the sight of him?

"You have no part in this," he breathed, and the man stilled, and studied him carefully. As if examining a snake that might strike unexpectedly.

"Not yet," the boy said coldly. Damn, this was getting weirder and weirder. "Not till later, to my sorrow. But this ceremony will go forward. Over your dead body, if it must."

Asher raised an eyebrow. Do'nar's remarks had irritated him; Jalin's seemed to charm him somewhat. Though damn if I knew why.

"You are a fierce one, kitten," he said, laughing and stepping back with raised hands. "I yield to you. It was not my place."

"Got that right," I muttered under my breath. He looked at me, and damned if he didn't seem charmed by me as well.

It was strange. I much preferred this bird's dangerous expressions to his pleasant ones. They seemed more honest, or something.

Then Jalin was approaching me with the knife, Carson had stepped forward to be beside me. Holding me, supporting me. Oh, hell, I had seen this in a movie too now hadn't I?

Charitably, Jalin slashed the palm of Carson's hand first. My lover didn't flinch a bit. Then the kid was waving that blade at me and I had turned pea-green already.

He did so, with no further ado. It hurt like a bastard. At least the sound of all the warriors cheering drowned out my craven curses of anguish.

"As your blood joins, may your spirits join," Jalin said firmly. "Bonded you are, by blood and by love. The gods are with you."

Carson reached for my hand, and clasped it tightly in his. I felt that cold-eyed bastard Asher watching us carefully, even through the pain as our blood mingled. May I repeat I did not like this guy? It may have just been the jealousy thing, but I was beginning to doubt that.

Liked it even less, when he smiled slowly and tilted his head. As if he knew what I'd now realized, with a kind of horrified disbelief.

Maybe we'd been joined officially, though in the sketchiest ceremony you could think of. And maybe it was okay for us to boink now at any hour of the day or night. Carson at least was staring at me in a burning, sinful manner that suggested he couldn't wait to have me totally naked on the sunniest spot he could find. Just for the difference factor.

But I was a wizard, and I had a problem even beyond this Asher's guy's strange pleasure in what had happened in our abbreviated ceremony.

I wasn't given much time to ponder over it, though. Something else had certainly risen during that painful little ceremony, if not power. I guess it was just the fact of us being "legal?" Whatever it was, Carson stepped closer to me with flame in his eyes, swept me into an irresistible embrace. And just about kissed the shit outta me.

His barbarians were hooting gleefully by the time he let me go to drag in some air. Do'nar was actually dashing a tear from his eye, sniffling loudly and without a bit of embarrassment. I guess he didn't need a real elaborate ceremony to get sentimental over a wedding.

But why the hell hadn't power risen between us again? The first time we'd boinked, the rush had nearly knocked me unconscious. The Betrothal ceremony had kicked it up another notch. I'd thought Bonding was supposed to be even more powerful!

And why hadn't Smitty noticed? She was looking grimly pleased. Carson sure hadn't scoped on it, he was staring at me now after that really passionate kiss like his next move would be to get me horizontal in front of every grinning fool there.

I eyeballed him surreptitiously, kind of wondering what his reaction would be to Carson's display of---well, affection didn't quite cover it, the boy was horny as a cat in heat for me suddenly and not even bothering to hide it.

I was expecting jealousy, and it was there all right. In spades. But I hadn't expected the other thing.

He'd known it. That pathetic, worthless ceremony! As meaningful as graveyard dirt. The mere idea of Wizard and Warrior, he'd known to be a stupid idea even before this. Meaningless dribble to gull peasants and drunken dreamers. Tales of heroes, forsooth!

And he'd been proven right at last. It was a fallacy. A charade. Stories written to charm children by the fireside, right before the real world came and cut their throats from ear to ear.

"The power often rises, between the two. But a Bonding comes not so often. For when the Bond between them is sealed by the gods, too much power may rise. And that Bonding will warp Time, bend Space. The very Land will wake beneath their hands like a Beast too long asleep, avid to eat its enemies. Only in the direst necessity, have Wizard and Warrior bonded in truth. Gods grant we never live in a time where it be needful."

He almost----no. He wasn't disappointed. It didn't hurt a bit; to give up another useless belief. He was delighted! Was the stronger for it.

He tilted his head, met the eyes of the elf. That one could never hide his thoughts. Oh, he tried, behind heavy glasses, a thick mustache. And he was far from a fool, unfortunately.

Yet perhaps----he was just a bit too complacent, in his power. And eyes that expressive would always betray him.

Worried, elf? You look it, in spite of the calm you try to project. There is too much fire in you, to face the world with such a look of frost. Your very essence melts it and betrays you to me.

Asher's thoughts skewed sharply, as his gaze traveled to the Nightwolf. No. I was wrong. Something did happen in that ceremony. But what? It's not just that he desires you. That thread is between the two of you always, waxing and waning like the twelve moons but never entirely dormant.

The small pinch of jealousy was almost painless, so great was his curiosity as he studied the Warchief's avid expression. I know that look from somewhere----yes!

I was still trying to remember where I'd seen Asher's look before when Carson stepped forward. Reeled me in.

And his hand was between my legs, greedily stroking. Which took me a little aback, because that wasn't like Carson really. He was always hot for me, and he would snarl people outta his way to get his privacy, but generally he waited till he had it. Going for the big one in front of the whole tribe just wasn't like him. Especially, with people there he barely knew.

Maybe it was the bonding thing. Goddamn! Was he chomping on my neck here? Was he gonna knock me down to the floor of this political tent and bone me? Damn if I thought so!

I pulled away hard, and punched him right in the stomach as I had a hundred times before when he pissed me off. Once again, it barely shook his world. In fact he growled as if it was a sweet invitation, and reached for me again.

He stalled. Stared into my eyes. Some of the madness seemed to dissolve, with that look. Some of it.

I pulled away, and scurried off. Dodging all the well-wishers, dodging even Jalin. Who didn't seem to want to deal with me anyway. Oh God, I was so confused!

Without even thinking I'd rushed into Carson's tent, not the smaller one we all shared. Began to strip, maybe at first intending to get into battle leathers. We have to do the spell tomorrow, Jalin. Get me some wheels. I 've dicked around enough. Spell, I'm in no shape for anything! Gotta rest.



	NC-17 Before going off to battle? Damn right you need to have sex. Firehawk Well, had I thought these guys had been loud before? Jesus. Smitty's remark fired up everyone. There is just nothing a Northern barbarian loves more than the thought of a ceremony, unless it's the thought of a party. Even the threat of war couldn't scare them now. They roared liked a pride of lions and advanced on me, grinning and swearing. Even Sun Eagle looked almost pleasant, though I managed to turn away before the bastard could try and get friendly with me. This Asher prick, though, seemed the opposite of delighted. And that suited me right down to the ground. Then I shook my head and goggled at Smitty. "What the-----Bonded? Now? I thought it was a big ceremonial whoop-te-do, and you're saying ten minutes?" "Right now." Her face was grim. "The ceremony usually takes hours, but that's all padding really. Romance. We're looking for the magic this time, elf-boy, you'll have to skip all the lovey-dovey stuff for now. The important part can be done in less than five." "This is a mockery!" It was the damned Asher-guy, sticking his nose in. He looked totally insulted, and maybe even a little nervous. And what a pain in the ass it was to actually agree with him! "This sucks," I had to remark, very coldly indeed. "I've waited all this time and now I'm gonna be ripped off. Is that what you're saying?" I wasn't even sure why I was so angry. I mean, this was a good thing, right? I could skip a few days, be Bonded to Carson almost instantly. We could be banging each other's brains out in twenty minutes or less. I glanced at him. He appeared as stunned as if he'd been belted with a hammer. I couldn't really tell if he were pleased or the opposite. He mainly seemed to be fighting off a heart attack. He sure hadn't been in cahoots with Smitty on this one. "Hawk." Jalin's cool, clear voice slashed through the hubbub like a knife. I met his crystal gaze and felt myself still, for some reason. "It is right. It must be done now." His voice was soft. And incredibly sad. He looked past me to stare Smitty right in the eyeball. "I know the ceremony well enough. Especially in this shortened state. May I have the honor of performing it, Witchlady? Now she was the poleaxed one. She just goggled at him, until a faint smile twitched at his mouth. "Or perhaps you believe the magic will not come, if it is I who seals their Bonding?" He was beyond impressive. A slim, ice-bright figure studying her coldly. It was like all of time stood still, waiting for her answer. She shook herself, and then met his gaze as if they had spoken somehow beyond what was said. "No. I don't believe that at all, kid." She handed him something. I couldn't see what it was, but at the gesture his head raised, almost arrogantly. He was still in my Ozzy teeshirt. He should of looked silly, with that angelic face made even softer by the chin-length foam of front hair cupping it. The slim fragile body looked even frailer in the slightly too-big tee. His bare arms seemed a little too thin, as if he had no muscle at all, only satin skin and touchable flesh. He shoulda looked like what Do'nar had called me, a sex toy. And he did. But also, he looked, well, dangerous as hell. He raised the crystalline, black-bladed knife into the air, and met my eyes. His own eyes were silver metal, cold and distant. All the pain I'd seen earlier was gone, or maybe pushed far back out of the way so it couldn't distract him. "Let this ceremony of joining begin." Before I could nervously inquire what the big-ass knife was for, someone else was speaking. "This is against all your so-honored Tribal tradition!" It was this fop Asher again, and despite agreeing with his viewpoint for some reason I wasn't even sure of, I couldn't help staring at him. When it came down to it, why was he so insulted? Why was it any of his business, come to that? He looked almost, well, past nervous. Even a little scared. I hadn't pegged him as a real religious guy afraid of offending the gods, but maybe I was wrong. It was the only reason I could think of. Smitty ignored him. She focused on me, and actually grinned a trifle. "Wouldn't have considered you so romantic, McIntyre. Don't worry. We'll do the whole celebration and the feathers-in-the-hair stuff after all this war shit is laid to rest. You'll get your mush fix, I promise you." "Mush fix!" I glared at the woman, totally outraged. "You saying I'm a mushy person? That would be the other guy, the dark one over there! And---feathers in the what?" Do'nar was laughing, Smitty was laughing. Carson wasn't laughing, but he looked a bit bemused. Even smiled at me, a sexy, dark smile. Was that what I'd been looking like, pissed because the romantic part of my wedding had been brushed aside? It wasn't true, dammit. I was the opposite of mushy! "This ceremony will just raise the power between you," Smitty soothed. "We gotta do that fast, McIntyre. And believe me, I don't lightly cheat these guys out of a party." "It's an abomination to do this for such a reason!" Damn, what was with this Asher guy's attitude? He was starting to get majorly annoying. Do'nar apparently agreed. He pinned the guy with a look. "Since you are not of the Tribes, Sir Kaine, be damned if I see why you are so worried about the decorum of it." Something passed over that too-handsome face that I really didn't care for. In fact, it was so wicked and inhuman I wasn't really sure I'd seen it. Then, he was shrugging indifferently and I was sure I'd imagined it. "Do as you like," he said, and was his tone nasty? Being scolded by Do'nar hadn't pleased him one bit. "It seems a ramshackle method of handling the wedding vows of the High King, though!" Everybody looked a little uncomfortable at this remark, even Smitty. Jalin stared at the man, and he didn't seem intimidated in the least. He was coldly burning, a pale icy flame of hatred and contempt. What the hell? Where did he know this guy from? I'd somehow gotten the impression only Carson and Do'nar were acquainted, and that from battling beside him. Jalin was too young for that, just barely named a man of the Tribes. Still not a warrior; you had to kill your man in battle for that to happen. They had a damn ceremony for everything in the Tribes, I tell ya. So how could Jalin be staring at this drip as if he knew him all too well, and hated the sight of him? "You have no part in this," he breathed, and the man stilled, and studied him carefully. As if examining a snake that might strike unexpectedly. "Do I not?" His words sounded strange, almost playful. "Not yet," the boy said coldly. Damn, this was getting weirder and weirder. "Not till later, to my sorrow. But this ceremony will go forward. Over your dead body, if it must." Asher raised an eyebrow. Do'nar's remarks had irritated him; Jalin's seemed to charm him somewhat. Though damn if I knew why. "You are a fierce one, kitten," he said, laughing and stepping back with raised hands. "I yield to you. It was not my place." "Got that right," I muttered under my breath. He looked at me, and damned if he didn't seem charmed by me as well. It was strange. I much preferred this bird's dangerous expressions to his pleasant ones. They seemed more honest, or something. Then Jalin was approaching me with the knife, Carson had stepped forward to be beside me. Holding me, supporting me. Oh, hell, I had seen this in a movie too now hadn't I? Charitably, Jalin slashed the palm of Carson's hand first. My lover didn't flinch a bit. Then the kid was waving that blade at me and I had turned pea-green already. "Hawk----" "Ah, gawd, just do it already!" I kinda croaked it out. He did so, with no further ado. It hurt like a bastard. At least the sound of all the warriors cheering drowned out my craven curses of anguish. "As your blood joins, may your spirits join," Jalin said firmly. "Bonded you are, by blood and by love. The gods are with you." Carson reached for my hand, and clasped it tightly in his. I felt that cold-eyed bastard Asher watching us carefully, even through the pain as our blood mingled. May I repeat I did not like this guy? It may have just been the jealousy thing, but I was beginning to doubt that. Liked it even less, when he smiled slowly and tilted his head. As if he knew what I'd now realized, with a kind of horrified disbelief. Maybe we'd been joined officially, though in the sketchiest ceremony you could think of. And maybe it was okay for us to boink now at any hour of the day or night. Carson at least was staring at me in a burning, sinful manner that suggested he couldn't wait to have me totally naked on the sunniest spot he could find. Just for the difference factor. But I was a wizard, and I had a problem even beyond this Asher's guy's strange pleasure in what had happened in our abbreviated ceremony. Or rather----what hadn't happened. There hadn't been a shred of magic in it. And I hadn't felt any power rising between us at all. Something was just as wrong as hell here. I wasn't given much time to ponder over it, though. Something else had certainly risen during that painful little ceremony, if not power. I guess it was just the fact of us being "legal?" Whatever it was, Carson stepped closer to me with flame in his eyes, swept me into an irresistible embrace. And just about kissed the shit outta me. His barbarians were hooting gleefully by the time he let me go to drag in some air. Do'nar was actually dashing a tear from his eye, sniffling loudly and without a bit of embarrassment. I guess he didn't need a real elaborate ceremony to get sentimental over a wedding. But why the hell hadn't power risen between us again? The first time we'd boinked, the rush had nearly knocked me unconscious. The Betrothal ceremony had kicked it up another notch. I'd thought Bonding was supposed to be even more powerful! And why hadn't Smitty noticed? She was looking grimly pleased. Carson sure hadn't scoped on it, he was staring at me now after that really passionate kiss like his next move would be to get me horizontal in front of every grinning fool there. "You're mine now," he whispered, only for me. "Nothing can change that. Neither gods nor demons." Nobody had noticed the failure of the ceremony in a magical sense, except me. And Asher. Asher had noticed, all right. I eyeballed him surreptitiously, kind of wondering what his reaction would be to Carson's display of---well, affection didn't quite cover it, the boy was horny as a cat in heat for me suddenly and not even bothering to hide it. I was expecting jealousy, and it was there all right. In spades. But I hadn't expected the other thing. He was studying the both of us. Me, too. As if he wanted to screw us both senseless. Then eat us up alive. It was a look I'd seen somewhere else, oddly enough. I just couldn't remember where, ASHER He'd known it. That pathetic, worthless ceremony! As meaningful as graveyard dirt. The mere idea of Wizard and Warrior, he'd known to be a stupid idea even before this. Meaningless dribble to gull peasants and drunken dreamers. Tales of heroes, forsooth! And he'd been proven right at last. It was a fallacy. A charade. Stories written to charm children by the fireside, right before the real world came and cut their throats from ear to ear. "The power often rises, between the two. But a Bonding comes not so often. For when the Bond between them is sealed by the gods, too much power may rise. And that Bonding will warp Time, bend Space. The very Land will wake beneath their hands like a Beast too long asleep, avid to eat its enemies. Only in the direst necessity, have Wizard and Warrior bonded in truth. Gods grant we never live in a time where it be needful." The silly things he'd read. And almost believed. Nothing had risen between them. Sickening slop. There were no heroes. Never had been heroes. Never. Oh god Oh gods above and below, what a farce they all believed in! Nothing. He almost----no. He wasn't disappointed. It didn't hurt a bit; to give up another useless belief. He was delighted! Was the stronger for it. He tilted his head, met the eyes of the elf. That one could never hide his thoughts. Oh, he tried, behind heavy glasses, a thick mustache. And he was far from a fool, unfortunately. But not surprising. Nightwolf could never love a fool. Yet perhaps----he was just a bit too complacent, in his power. And eyes that expressive would always betray him. Worried, elf? You look it, in spite of the calm you try to project. There is too much fire in you, to face the world with such a look of frost. Your very essence melts it and betrays you to me. How beautiful your eyes are. You, also realize that nothing happened. I could almost pity you, elf. Asher's thoughts skewed sharply, as his gaze traveled to the Nightwolf. No. I was wrong. Something did happen in that ceremony. But what? It's not just that he desires you. That thread is between the two of you always, waxing and waning like the twelve moons but never entirely dormant. The small pinch of jealousy was almost painless, so great was his curiosity as he studied the Warchief's avid expression. I know that look from somewhere----yes! Blood hunger. Asher couldn't help smiling. I always knew my beautiful one held a Darkness, close to his heart. Oh, foolish elf! I really do pity you, now. KEITH I was still trying to remember where I'd seen Asher's look before when Carson stepped forward. Reeled me in. Sucked me in, actually. That was a kiss you could live on for days, food and drink. Magic. And his hand was between my legs, greedily stroking. Which took me a little aback, because that wasn't like Carson really. He was always hot for me, and he would snarl people outta his way to get his privacy, but generally he waited till he had it. Going for the big one in front of the whole tribe just wasn't like him. Especially, with people there he barely knew. Maybe it was the bonding thing. Goddamn! Was he chomping on my neck here? Was he gonna knock me down to the floor of this political tent and bone me? Damn if I thought so! I pulled away hard, and punched him right in the stomach as I had a hundred times before when he pissed me off. Once again, it barely shook his world. In fact he growled as if it was a sweet invitation, and reached for me again. "Alone," I said briefly, before he could fire up and grab me again. He stalled. Stared into my eyes. Some of the madness seemed to dissolve, with that look. Some of it. I pulled away, and scurried off. Dodging all the well-wishers, dodging even Jalin. Who didn't seem to want to deal with me anyway. Oh God, I was so confused! Carson. Oh, baby. Why didn't it work? Maybe we're really, truly on our own, this time. Maybe we're dead motherfuckers. Without even thinking I'd rushed into Carson's tent, not the smaller one we all shared. Began to strip, maybe at first intending to get into battle leathers. We have to do the spell tomorrow, Jalin. Get me some wheels. I 've dicked around enough. Spell, I'm in no shape for anything! Gotta rest. Screw the battle leathers. I threw myself into the heavy black furs of Carson's bed. Totally naked. Shoulda known. Maybe on some level I did know. I came awake to his arms around me. His cock inside me. His lips, avidly sucking at the wound on my palm. He came even as I drew breath to ask what the hell did he think he was doing.