Spring Games - Part 1

Disclaimer: Buffy doesn't belong to me. Neither does Angelus. (Pity. But I'll gladly give him to Buffy as long as they continue to inspire.) Joyce, Darla, Kate, Dawn and Tara aren't mine either. But since Joss allowed us to play with his toys anyway... let's get down to the rest of the official stuff.

Inspired by: Angharad's Gladiator-fic idea, Jo's "Hylekian Games" featured in "To Kill A Cat" and "Tyger, Tyger" (yes, these fics are here in the archive), the songs "The Mummers' Dance" by Loreena McKennitt and "Wild Boys" by Duran Duran. Thank you.

Summary: AU. A kind of Gladiator-fic without the fighting in the Arena, but there are still a floor/rug/bed/whatever and an unwilling virgin to be marked and claimed. All in all... smut (part 2) with a some plot (part 1).

Dedicated to: My twinly twinkie Lucey - here's the first part of your belated b-day fic. I wanted to give you pure smut, but my muse got bored on the flight and whipped me into submission, meaning there's some plot as well, but once we're past that... naughtiness ahead.

AN: Ostara (O-star-a) = Wiccan Holiday falling on the Vernal Equinox March 21 or 22. A reminder that light and dark are in perfect balance. BUT light is mastering the dark (days are growing longer while the nights are growing shorter).

When in the springtime of the year
When the trees are crowned with leaves
When the ash and oak, and the birch and yew
Are dressed in ribbons fair

"The Mummers' Dance" - Loreena McKennitt

Having fastened the clasp of the brooch that held her daughter's gown together at the shoulders, Joyce took a step back to look at Buffy. She was lovely. The red gown with the golden embroidery lining the seams was the perfect compliment to the creamy, sun kissed skin of Buffy's naked arms and shoulders. Her long, blonde hair was swept up on her head and a few stray curls framed her face and neck, highlighting the light pink blush of excitement that covered her cheeks.

"You truly are a vision." Joyce exclaimed and Buffy's green eyes sparkled even more at the compliment.

"Don't pout." Kate said, stepping in front of Buffy and showing her the two blood red roses she'd picked in their mother's garden. They were in full bloom and Kate tucked them into Buffy's hair.

Hearing the words and then seeing her own reflection in the mirror, Buffy beamed once more. "Thank you. You've outdone yourselves yet again."

"Of course." Darla chimed in. "With any luck the champion will choose you this time or you'll finally find someone among the rest. It's about time you get laid after all." She smirked as her sisters gaped at her candor and her mother admonished her.

"What? It's the truth!" She justified herself, then turned back to Buffy. "Get yourself a mate already so you can acquire some lovers!"

None of the other mated women could refute that, so they didn't complain about Darla's words this time. Joyce shook her head in disbelief though, wondering where her second eldest had learned her bluntness. It was bad enough facing it in the privacy of their rooms, but Darla didn't even stop it in public, even though she was of the royal house and should know better and set a good example. But it was too late now anyway.

Joyce sighed and turned to Buffy. "Remember to chose well and carefully, my dear, don't act in haste for he will be your eternal mate." She said and as was custom kissed her daughter's forehead in blessing before she stepped aside.

"May he be strong, virile and give you many children." Kate said and followed her mother's actions.

"It's ok, mom." Buffy said, then focused on her older sister again. "I don't mind the sex well wishes, but you already said that last year."

"And I still mean it. It's not my fault you didn't pick a mate and the champion didn't choose you." She stopped to contemplate, then added: "How about… may he have much experience between the sheets to keep you well satisfied?"

Darla growled. "I wouldn't have this trouble if you got yourself a mate already."

"I know." Darla replied without looking at her. "So… may he have lots of stamina and a big cock to fill you up."

"Darla!" Joyce cried, but her daughter ignored her and kissed her sister's forehead.

Just then their younger sister came bouncing into the room, talking without taking a single breath. "Are you ready? Tara said it's time. Everyone's already waiting. You all look so pretty. Why can't I dress up like that? Why can't I come with you?"

"Dawnie, sweetie." Joyce began. "I told you before you're not old enough yet. But when the time comes you'll be just as pretty."

The youngest grumbled, but her older sisters all giggled, so Dawn stuck out her tongue at them in response.

"And that's the reason why you're not old enough yet." Darla teased and left Buffy's dressing room.

The others followed suit and joined the rest of the household down in the hall. Joyce – as head of the house – urged Dawn and her cousins to behave and not get themselves or the servants that would remain behind with them into trouble while the adults were away. The children promised and took immediately off into the garden to plan mischief.

Her mate joined Joyce then and offered her his arm. Smiling, she took it and they left the palace first, followed by her daughters – order according to age – and their mates. Buffy and Tara – another one of her older sisters – brought up the rear and all the servants not taking care of the children left after them. They gave their well wishes to Buffy once they'd passed the gates of the royal palace and then departed for the Ostara celebrations in town.

Joyce and her family though immediately made their way to the Arena, where the Spring Games would take place. They were part of the Ostara festival, featuring fighting matches between the half-breeds guarding the town and land.

Ostara itself marked the beginning of spring, the time when the days grew longer and the nights shorter, when nature burst to new life and with it the people inhabiting the land. They celebrated the arrival of the new season with music, food, drinks and dance, and at the end of each day in the simplest form known to animal, man, half-breed and demon: the joining of male and female.

There were smiling faces everywhere, cheerful voices joining in merry tunes and unrestrained laughter, colorful garments blending together just like nature presented itself. Red though was reserved for the virgins among the Chosen Ones on this special day. It was not only a striking color for a dress, but also a symbol of the Chosen's status, drawing attention to the beauties watching the Spring Games and spurring the contestants into winning, for the Champion alone would be honored for his success with a mate, a Chosen virgin, of his choosing.

He and his chosen mate would then engage in the rites of fertility in the privacy of their very own chambers: the primal joining of their bodies, followed by the binding of the individuals as eternal mates – usually by blood.

But even if the other fighters had failed to become Champion, there was still honor to be found for them as well. After the Champion had chosen, the other Chosen virgins picked their mates from the non-winning fighters who had impressed them with their skill and thereby won their favor.

But even if a Chosen virgin didn't take a mate after the games, she and all her sisters gifted the contestants with small tokens and kisses to show their appreciation. They even bestowed their tokens upon the fighters before the Spring Games started because they knew that - although the fighting matches were non-lethal - serious injuries were no exception in a show of skill, strength and technique with different weapons or in hand to hand combat.

For this very reason Buffy had chosen roses from her mother's garden this year because they represented the beauty and danger of the Spring Games. Not knowing how many contestants would partake, she had brought thirty in all, each one of them a different color. But as she stepped onto the royal balcony a few feet above the sandy floor of the Arena, she realized she'd brought too many. There were only thirteen fighters.

She gasped in surprise and fear, then noticed the murmurs all around her, a crescendo mixing many different voices into chaos. Still she caught snippets of conversation, all regarding the vampire down in the Arena: astonishment that vampires still existed, open disgust for his looks and cocky attitude, fear of the unknown, admiration for his bravery, speculations as to why he was there because never before had a creature like him taken part in the games. It was unbelievable as it was frightening, rousing the spectators' temperaments. Buffy thought she would drown in it, but then her older sister Tara stepped in front of her, locked eyes with her and just like that the noise stopped, leaving her in blissful silence.

Until she gave her blessing: "Three time's a charm." Tara predicted and kissed Buffy's forehead before she left the royal balcony to join her mate – who had prepared the Spring Games – down in the Arena to bless the fighters.

It was Buffy's cue to open the games for she presented the royal house. She walked to the very edge of the balcony and leaned against the balustrade for support before she threw her tokens in a wide arc into the middle of the Arena. It was the signal for all the other Chosen virgins to bestow their gifts upon the contestants. Buffy though didn't observe the proceedings, she was too transfixed by the sight of her roses raining upon the fighters and what followed then.

The vampire snatched the virgin red rose from the air, mindless of the thorns pricking his skin and drawing blood. He closed his eerie golden eyes then, raised the blossom to his nostrils and inhaled deeply. But suddenly his eyes snapped open, immediately focusing on her.

Buffy gasped and froze on the spot, her nails digging into the mortar of the balustrade, hard enough to loosen a few small chunks.

And he lowered the rose to his belt buckle and tucked it under so that the petals brushed against the naked planes of his muscled stomach and the long, thorny stem rested right above the fly of his leather pants.

She blushed deeply at the sight and its implications, although she was used to quite a few bold moves from Darla. Embarrassed and a little enraged by his sexual boldness, her eyes snapped back to his, meaning to reprimand him for his behavior. But he just grinned, baring his deadly fangs, and saluted her.

The Spring Games - Part 1