Author: JustSkipIt
Rating: R to NC-17
Feedback: Please leave feedback on the Waiting for Dani thread on the Kitten Board.
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy own Willow and Tara and the Buffyverse. I'm not saying this universe is totally original but I didn't steal it from any author or creator that I know of. No copyright infringement is meant by this fic and I will not make any money from it.
Distribution: Kitten Board, Through the Looking Glass, Mystic Muse. Everyone else, send me a note.

Being free and in fact restricted from responsibilities, Dani and I had a relatively private day leading up to our celebration. The staff and servants were more busy than usual with so many houseguests although the fact that nearly every noble man or woman brought a bound servant at least relieved much of the work. Oh, the kitchens still needed to prepare copious amounts of food and drink but the guests' servants mostly came to the kitchen or helped in serving the pre-celebration banquets.

The stables had been completed for two days and we hired extra workers from the nearest village to assist with the horses as each contingent arrived. Most of the visiting Estates sent one or two servants to the stables to care for their horses and sleep in the accommodations provided there.

Dani and I were sequestered from the guests although our family and Tadre came to the rooms throughout the day to visit, ask questions, or send messages. Tadre, in typical fashion, brought a scroll on ancient marking traditions and expected me to have it memorized for our lesson in five days. Anne and Faith as well as their girls took lunch with us and spent most of the morning in our rooms playing "Chest": a game of strategy utilizing icons to represent noble men or women and their servants on a grid of black and white squares. Only two people could play at once but we all crowded around to offer advice or criticize moves. Dani's tabulation of our "tournament" demonstrated her victory (this was no surprise) and Delia winning no games (again, this was no surprise). I surpassed my expectations by beating Faith to take second place and I would doubt that she was playing a true game, perhaps wanting to give me confidence on this day, but such a thing is not in her nature nor any of ours.

After a late lunch, the others returned to their rooms and rest and Dani and I lay down to do the same. I'll admit that our nap was well delayed by the exchange of many gentle and a few not-so-gentle caresses and kisses but we slept a few hours nonetheless. D'rs came to deliver a snack of fruit and cheeses and to wake us in the late afternoon. Asking my permission, she spoke to Dani privately in the foyer as I soaked in the tub. While I don't know what she said, I know that when she returned to bathe me, Dani's eyes shined wetly. "Are you ok?" I did not want to ask her a direct question as the matter was obviously private and she could not resist answering but I wanted to ensure that my girl was well.

Dani smiled and reached for the sponge. "Yes, My Lady. Thank you for asking." When she had done washing me, my girl took her turn and the fresh hot water allowed her a longer soak than usual. I reveled in the opportunity to return her attentions and she hardly protested the appropriateness of my actions.

We had just finished drying ourselves when D'rs and D'elam arrived to assist us in dressing and preparing our hair. Both wore elegant gowns carrying the Maclay theme and I complimented their presentation. Normally Dani would dress herself before attending to me but tonight we would both require assistance. Doris was more than capable and experienced at getting me into the most elaborate and complex set of undergarments, gown, and headpiece I had ever worn. My hair, she pulled into a sort of vertical twist and into that she wound a string of pearls and diamonds matching the headpiece. She, of course, accommodated my preference for a light application of makeup and when she had finished, stepped back to assess my appearance. She fell to one knee and bowed her head for three heartbeats, before speaking, "My Lady. You look perfect and do the memory of the Ladys Maclay, your mother and grandmother, proud."

Now it was my turn to feel tears wet my eyes and I thanked her even as she stood to dab at my eyes with a cloth to keep me from ruining my makeup. I embraced Doris lightly to keep from wrinkling my gown and kissed her forehead, thanking her for her service to our Estate and for helping me to grow into my Ladyship which she task claimed as an honor.

Then she took my hands and turned me to face the other side of my room. Dani stood by D'elam and I could see that their eyes also shined wetly. If the sight of my girl in her traveling clothes had taken my breath away years earlier, this took my breath and heartbeat away and made me feel that my legs would collapse under me at any moment. Her gown mirrored mine in style and decoration although where mine had jewels on the bodice, hers had fine embroidery which I knew had taken months to complete. Even Anne could not have produced such work as this. The opening on the right hip elegantly displayed her entire mark. Her hair, D'elam had left loose with tight wet-looking ringlets that framed her face. And her makeup was so well blended that it was not possible to tell that she was wearing any except to note that her appearance was even more stunning than usual. I had to breathe deeply and count to five in my head to keep from closing the distance between us and kissing her, no doubt smudging both our lip coloring and delaying our perfectly timed entrance. Her eyes were wide as she stared at my face and then took in the sight of my gown and headpiece. I thought I saw the slightest hint of a grin before she fell to her knees and bowed before me.

Now I did cross the floor extending my hand to pull her toward me. "You look so beautiful, my girl." I lightly brushed my fingertips through her hair being careful to not muss her makeup.

For perhaps the first time ever, I heard Dani's voice falter as she had to swallow three times. "My Lady..." She took my right hand and turned it over, kissing the palm reverently in a way that made most coherent thought leave my head.

I was startled from my trance by D'rs's voice. "Lady Maclay. Do you need any further assistance?"

"No, thank you." I nodded to both D'ris and D'elam.

They bowed before turning to leave my chambers. "We must join the Estate. D'rek will fetch you just before sunset."

They left in that silent way of closing doors that servants are taught but that I have never mastered. I continued staring at Dani for a moment before pulling away from her hands to reach my bedside table. I returned with a square velvet box and searched for the right words. "I know that it is not traditional to give a present to one's own servant but you are so much more than my servant. I love you with each and every beat of my heart. Will you accept and wear this necklace tonight, my love?" I popped open the box and then blinked as the emeralds and diamonds seemed to shimmer and cast beams of light around the room.

My girl opened and closed her mouth a few times as she stared at the piece before lifting her eyes to mine again. I felt that my entire being, my heart and soul, were open to her and that she could give me The Creator's very joy or darken my life forever with but one word. Perhaps she saw the depth of emotion in my face for she did not delay any longer. "Tara. My Lady. I would be honored to wear this jewelry and will think of your love only when I do so." She bowed slightly as my heart soared.

She turned around and I fastened the necklace around her neck, selfishly allowing my fingertips to brush her collarbones and the sides of her neck as I pretended to fumble with the clasp. I placed the most gently kiss on the side of her neck and then ensured that I had not left a mark before turning her to face me once again. The emeralds, true to my hope, sparkled and highlighted her eyes while the diamonds pulled all attention to this vision. She reached up and ran her fingertip over the stones at the front of the piece and was about to speak when we heard a knock at the door. "Excuse me, My Lady."

D'rek bowed and announced that it was time for us to join my father. He extended his elbow to me and led us from my rooms. In the main dining room we reached the portraits of my ancestors. I asked their leave for a few minutes and left Dani and Derek to stand in front, first of my grandmother and then my mother's portraits. I offered my prayers and supplication that I would do their memories proud as I served our Estate as the 28th Lady Maclay. I sensed Dani silently moving toward me to tell me that we had to go and concluded my silent devotion. I nodded to both of them and retook D'rek's arm and we continued down the hall. The house was empty as I had known it would be.

All of the guests, both noble and servant as well as very few free men and women, would be gathered in the courtyard. After a few minutes walk through the corridors, we arrived at the door to my Father's rooms. D'rek led us in and we found my father near the balcony. We exchanged formal greetings and my father smiled as broadly as I had ever seen. He swore that if it were not for our attire and presentation, he would embrace us both quite exuberantly. He, of course, was presented as regally as were we including his sword at his side and the headpiece which matched my own. Rather than questioning my choice he commented that Dani's necklace was a wonderful addition to her presentation and that it complimented the light in her eyes. He glanced out the doors to the heavens and told us that my mother would be proud of us. I forced my eyes to resist tearing up for fear of marring my appearance and nodded my thank you.

I could see that the twilight had passed and it was now full dark outside his balcony. He smiled once again and stepped onto the balcony, D'rek a half-step behind him. A complete hush fell over the crowd in an almost eerie manner before my father had stopped moving. His voice resounded so that I had no need to amplify it for him. "The Ladys Maclay have been: Lady T'rese Maclay who gave Lady T'nol Maclay who gave Lady A'mel Maclay who gave Lady C'therine Maclay who's son married Lady D'anna Maclay who gave Lady C'therine Maclay who gave Lady H'pe Maclay who gave Lady S'an Maclay who gave Lady A'ria Maclay who gave Lady C'therine Maclay who gave Lady T'rese Maclay who's son married Lady E'beth Maclay who gave Lady B'th Maclay who gave Lady T'bitha Maclay who gave Lady F'cis Maclay who gave Lady P'mela Maclay who's son married Lady R'reta Maclay who's son married Lady W'nnie Maclay who gave Lady C'therine Maclay who gave Lady D'nli Maclay who gave Lady E'beth Maclay who's son married Lady S'th Maclay who gave Lady T'solde Maclay who gave Lady C'therine Maclay who gave Lady R'ael Maclay who gave Lady T'my Maclay who's son married Lady T'rese Maclay who gave Lady T'ra Maclay who took as her mark-bound servant D'ni."

My cue was obvious and I stepped onto the balcony, my hand extended in front of me, on the voicing of my name, Dani a half-step behind me. I knew the assemblage bowed to me for the full three seconds but I did not look at them and in this moment my girl bowed to no one. I felt exhilarated by this knowledge.

Wordlessly, I extended my powers to instantly extinguish every lantern both within and without the house. A few attendees gasped but most waited patiently for my display. As I concentrated on my mark, a few wisps of light began to extend and float from my hand out over the crowd. In repeated tests, Tadre and I had decided that a slow movement demonstrated the highest level of precision and elegance and would give the audience time to admire the display. Moving like smoke, the light wound and gathered in a globe in front of the balcony before beginning to coalesce into an exact replica of my mark. When the image was formed, I began to brighten the light so that it glittered and shone, illuminating the crowd who craned their heads to take in my artistry. I held the complete image for three heartbeats and then an additional three to honor Dani's mark. Slowly the glittering lights could be seen to flap their tiny wings and lightening bugs dispersed to circle the courtyard. The first flew to the lanterns in the courtyard and reaching them, lit the lanterns. Next were the lanterns at the bottom of the tall stairs to the formal entry. Slowly I lit each escalating progression of lanterns in turn so that the stairs were completely illuminated. The crowd gasped as my father, D'rek, myself, and D'ni were instantly transported from his upper balcony to the top of the stairs as the seven lights on that platform lit. Nearly simultaneously I lit every lantern in our Estate including those so abundant in the cavernous ballroom at our backs so that the glow burst from behind and around us.

For a heartbeat the crowd was silent and then the air filled with the sounds of a dignified applause. I had been warned by T'dre that nobles were not given to vulgar displays of appreciation and that I should be very proud indeed by any acknowledgement of my magical display. This, indeed, was high enough praise for me and I could feel my heart beating with the strain of the magic. It felt as if Dani's was beating right with mine, two hearts in one chest and I did not have to turn and look at her to know that she felt proud of my display.

Between her Ladyship, her magic, and her relation to us, T'solde earned the first position in the long procession through our receiving line. My father and she extended marks and then she moved to me as we both displayed our marks. I could see that she had tears in her eyes and she leaned forward to kiss my cheek. "Lady T'ra. You honor your mother and mine." I gulped and nodded, surprised at the intensity of the lump forming in my throat over her simple words. I could not hear the words or blessing she gave my girl next as I was already showing marks and greeting her husband, Lord Martin. He moved to my right and touched his mark to Dani's and I found another lump forming, this one in my stomach. It was a symbolic gesture and one of respect for both his position and Dani's mark but I still found myself almost offended by the familiarity with which he touched her. I only comforted myself with the memory of my father's assurance that Lord Martin would not be interested in taking marks-rights with Dani.

I could detail and list every greeting, blessing, and marks exchange to come but it would take longer perhaps than my story has so far and I know this is growing long. Suffice it to say then that the procession was extensive and exceedingly formal as befit the import of the occasion. T'solde and her husband were followed by no less than thirteen Lords or Ladies of five marks, each arrayed in great finery and accompanied by a bound servant no less well presented. I swelled in joy with each blessing and greeting and suffered my own unmistakable but well-hidden jealousy as six more Lords touched their marks to my Dani's own. I may have known this would happen but it engendered no less a visceral repulsion in me for its foreknowledge.

I kept repeating to myself that no Lord could take marks rights with my girl during this celebration. While Dani was now an adult and available for marks-rights, it was beyond tasteless to share marks-rights with a servant during her presentation. Any nobleman taking advantage of his hosts in such a way would find invitations lost in transit, lodgings drafty, marriage proposals denied, and an assortment of other indignities that would surely lower his Estate's position within the generation. It was, more simply put, something which did not happen.

The final pair in this procession were of an Estate we had never interacted with before-Lefleur. They had traveled long from a Northern land and I smiled to see features so like my own Dani's. The Lord's hair was still a bright red although the Lady had brown hair like Faith's. His eyes could have been her own and her hand identified her as a second-generation magic user while his hand showed that his mother had been a magic user of great power.

Following the five mark nobles came those with four-marks, led by Melanie and Donnie who showed little restraint in gathering both myself and Dani into hugs. D'le and D'elam at their sides beamed with pride before the four of them took their places to Dani's right in the receiving line. Next T'dre, no less excited for us than my brother and step-mother although she managed to restrain her joy somewhat before greeting Donnie and Melanie and moving into the ballroom. T'dre was followed by T'solde's oldest son and daughter with their four marks and so on and so forth.

One of the four mark men, a Master Riley Finn, was presented so well for battle that one could have imagined he expected to be greeted with tigers and ruffians just inside the doors. His formality stood him in good steed if he seemed a somewhat more proud than was necessary in such a gathering.

Curiously the final girl in the four-mark group was a young woman of perhaps fifteen summers who already possessed her marks. This in itself was not particularly unusual as you may remember that I intentionally delayed my own mark-taking for years to spare (or delay) Dani's pain. Her mark identified her Estate as Lefleur and she was shown to be the child of both Lord and Lady, next Lady in that line. I had to read and re-read her hand to verify that what I suspected was true. This girl, in spite of her magical ancestry, was not an active magic user. She carried the magic, much like Anne and Faith, but was not an active user. I might have thought that she had an older sibling who had not survived childhood but if that were the case she would have had only three marks. No. This reading made clear the reason for her parents' position at the end of the five-mark procession and her position trailing her group. One of her parents had squandered their magic. Either her father had fathered another daughter prior to her birth or the Lord was not in fact her father. Her features were similar to his and I stared for a long moment, aware that she blushed under the scrutiny of my study before she moved on to be received by Dani.

There were not many more four mark men and women than five mark but the processional swelled with numerous three-mark members. The din from the ballroom began to grow as nobility inside visited and mingled as they waited for the ballroom to fill and the feast to begin. One unfortunate consequence of the receiving line was that there were no house servants inside to serve our guests but this was a given for this type of gathering and our attendees purported themselves well. The fact that their own servants could easily bring them ale, wine, and crudités from the tables lining the walls certainly helped.

Marks became less elaborate as did the attire of the noble men and women and their servants as the three mark, two mark, and finally single mark nobility passed. My sisters with their intended servants headed those without noble mark nor bond and they showed no restraint in their embrace of myself and my lovely girl before entering the ballroom. Anne, no doubt, felt grievously denied the opportunity to meet the four mark nobles before this and set about to greet everyone in the room.

Immediately following the yet unmarked nobles was a woman I did not immediately recognize. At her side was another woman, again one I did not know and I studied them for a long second after my father placed two gentle kisses on her cheeks and on that of her companion. She extended her right hand showing only the letter "D"-a freed servant's mark. My glance went to her hip as she bared it for my inspection.

I knew that I could not maintain my composure as I realized the identity of this woman. D stood for her taken name-Desiderata-taken after being freed in heartbreak the day after my mother died. I slowly touched my mark to hers and stared into her eyes, noting the way her face seemed to be blurring around the edges. I am sure that some in the ballroom were shocked but without conscious thought, I dropped to one knee and kissed her palm. I felt without seeing Dani's simultaneous movement to her knees and stayed there three heartbeats. We stood as one and I felt Desiderata gather me in her arms. Not until now did I wonder if my show of respect to my mother's former servant had cost our Estate prestige but my father's nod was nearly slight but readable.

"Lady Tara, may I present my companion. Phoebe." I extended my mark toward the woman Desiderata had indicated and noted that she had none.

I grasped Desiderata's hand as well as Phoebe's for a long second. "Please honor me with your presence at my table tonight."

Both women bowed quickly. "As you wish, Lady Maclay," and then moved along. Directly behind them was Gael who was technically free although he worked for only our Estate and then a mass of our and other Estates's house servants waiting to get inside the building and fulfill their responsibilities. I don't mean to imply that they were disrespectful in their urgency but I felt it as well as them and the line moved along rather quickly from there.

Finally, my father took my hand and we entered the ballroom followed by Dani and Derek and then Donnie, Dale, Melanie, and D'elam. Activity slowed and quieted for a moment but resumed immediately. Father and I, Derek and Dani took our places at the head table and other members of my family took their positions at other tables. Other guests could see the name cards on tables and were directed there by their own servants who, no doubt, had spotted their placement upon entering the ballroom. It was no mistake that Anne, Faith, and Donnie all shared tables with at least one if not more potentially appropriate suitors. Our own table boasted my father and myself, T'solde, three other Lords, two other Ladys, Desiderata and Phoebe, as well as the mark-bound servants of those at the table.

Our house servants were in fine form as they began to wheel large carts bearing the soup course to all 12 tables simultaneously. In no more than three minutes, the entire room had their first course in front of them. Before I lifted my fork, I stood and addressed the room, giving glory to Faith for her successful hunt. If any were surprised at an unmarked woman taking this glory, they did not show it and I saw a few heads nod in her direction. I delayed no further before lifting my fork to take the first sip of soup and the inactivity was broken.

I'll not bore you with a course-by-course detailing of the meal. Suffice it to say that the dishes were elegant and elaborate and delicious and I believe that both the quantity and the quality of all made up for the late dinner. I visited in turn with all at the table but perhaps longest with Desiderata who entranced and entertained us with stories of my mother, both after her maturity and in her childhood. When Melanie circulated past our table she confirmed all the wild tales with a sparkle in her eye. I hardly noticed Dani giving subtle clues to the kitchen staff with each course change.

When the meal was completed, the tables were quickly removed from the ballroom. The bards providing dinner entertainment (and mostly being drowned out by the din of so many in one room) were replaced with a grand band who assumed the dais as the tables were cleared. Per tradition, my father extended his hand and we danced the first tune by ourselves. Next, my father danced with Dani as I danced with Lord Martin. I found myself paying dual attention to my movements with my uncle and my father's hand on Dani's hip. Again that nagging and violent jealousy coursed through my veins at the sight of his mark covering hers. At the change of songs the dance floor filled and although the procession of highly marked noblemen continued their attentions to myself and my girl, I could hardly concentrate on their conversation.

I knew that we were nearing the end of the limited number of five-mark nobles but still I found myself hardly able to concentrate on my dancing partner. "Lady Maclay?"

I looked back into those green eyes. "Oh. I am so sorry, Lord Lafleur."

"That is quite alright. I was complimenting the dinner." He paused and looked more closely at me. "I particularly liked the sauce on the duck. I ... We used to have something similar but ... I haven't tasted the like in many years. Do you have one servant who specializes in sauces?"

It is not in my nature to prevaricate but his question struck me as being somehow dangerous. I felt that he was asking something different from what his words said. "Our kitchen staff are all capable of creating the most delectable concoctions. Perhaps you will try one of the deserts." I waved my hand vaguely at the tables lining the walls and offering every style of chocolate and sugars one could imagine.

I watched him take his turn dancing with my girl as I began dancing with Master Finn, seeing Anne looking possessively angry out of the corner of my eye and breathed a sigh of relief at the end of Five-mark Lords to dance with Dani. While the rest of my night was taken up with a specific procession of Lords and high-marked nobles as was Dani's it seemed that everyone else was having a very grand time dancing the evening and eventually night away. Anne and Faith as well as their girls twirled around the room barely taking breaks for drinks of ale and wine. Donnie, it appeared could have squandered his birthright with half a dozen young women were he so foolish. In fact, everyone danced and danced from our house servants to my Father and Melanie. Desiderata, I noted danced well but seemed to prefer to sit and visit with Phoebe and a host of others. Many of our guests had known my mother and therefore Desiderata before my mother's death. I saw her laughing and joking with many of them as if they were exchanging stories of my mother's youth.

One point in the evening found me taking a drink at the same moment as my girl. I brushed a curl off her face. "Please let D'Shel know that her sauces have brought us praise tonight."

"Of course, My Lady." Dani took a sip of her drink.

"I see our next partners waiting for us." Before Dani could answer I bent my head to whisper in her ear. "I would so very rather dancing with you."

Dani smiled as she brushed her fingertips over the necklace. "As would I, My Lady." We turned and rejoined the festivities.

The celebration continued into the darkest hours of the night. The crowd dwindled steadily after a few hours as attendees became tired or otherwise interested in leaving the ballroom. When Dani and I departed, only Anne and Delia remained of my family. I stopped to pointedly tell my sister and Master Finn goodnight and noted the way he jumped to attention. It was gone 1:30 as Dani and I left the ballroom and regained my rooms, my body still humming with excitement.