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.

When I woke, Dani was still in my arms which surprised me solely for the unusual nature of it. Waking before her, an almost unheard of event and one which shocked me greatly given the events of the last 24 hours, I had a few minutes to watch her. She was as beautiful as I had always known but this moment was one of the few when I got to watch her at rest. She was always so busy, but right now, she was just my girl in my arms. I felt a smile lifting the corners of my mouth in spite of the pain starting to throb in my hand. What had happened last night was such a fog. Such a ... I didn't even know the word for it. It was most simply the most wonderful feeling that I had ever experienced.

There was a sharp rap on the door and Dani immediately sat up. She smiled and then turned to me, "Good morning, my Lady."

"Good morning, my Dani." I looked at her but blushed deeply and felt that I must look away.

"I'll answer the door, my Lady. I hope it is the healer." She pulled on her robe and left the bed chamber. I heard her open the door and quiet voices. Then she entered the room formally announcing T'dre and the healer. Both bowed to me and I felt some weirdness as I realized that I now out ranked T'dre. She was my master in artistry but I now had five marks to her four and was Lady of my estate.

"Good morning, Lady Maclay," the healer started, "how is your hand?" I admitted to it hurting and he immediately administered a draught of the herbs. With all three of them watching me closely I was not able to repeat my trick with the glass vial and I felt guilt that I could not comfort my girl as well as I would like when it was to be her time.

T'dre approached the bed and held my other hand as we recited a prayer for the work and the healing. "Can you feel the mark's magic, Lady Maclay?" Tadre knew as well I that I could feel the magic emanating from my hand. If I could not, she wouldn't have spent more than an hour in that first meeting with me. But I think she wanted the chance to take my concentration off the pain in my hand and remind me of my role. I was not only the Lady of the estate but an artist. I described the five successful aspects to the magic and evaluated the relative strength and purity of each for her. She accepted my report and nodded throughout, making no corrections. Then she bid Dani to attend to the visitors which my girl did with great haste and formality, inviting my father, Donnie, and Melanie into the room. Ritual required that only members of the estate already possessing their marks could attend an unveiling. In some rigidly formal unveilings only a member of the estate possessing equal marks can attend but in our household, we expanded this requirement. It was one tradition which fell to the Lord or Lady of the estate and the artist to agree upon.

Even though I knew it was coming, I felt sadness that Dani and the healer had to leave the room as soon as the attendees were settled. Once the door was shut, T'dre began her prayer and blessed me once again. My family members all fell to one knee to await the presentation of my mark and T'dre began to slowly unwrap the gauze. Neither myself nor T'dre could see the mark as we both had our eyes shut-a tradition which guaranteed that the first to see a mark were the attendees. She finished unwrapping my mark and I extended my hand toward my family. After waiting three heartbeats, I opened my eyes to be greeted with a clear view of all three of their marks and tears in Melanie's eyes.

"Lady Maclay," my father said with a bow followed by Donnie and Melanie. I responded to each with their formal names and titles. My father then turned to T'dre and congratulated her on her excellent artistry.

After that came a very informal few minutes spent receiving hugs and kisses from my family and Tadre as well as Faith, Anne, and Dani who were let in a few minutes later. Throughout the day, timed according to rank and proximity, I received visitor after visitor who formally addressed me and congratulated me on the mark. Each visitor brought a gift whether it was a cup of chocolate from one of the kitchen servants who knew how I loved the treat, a set of new handkerchiefs from D'Shel, or a new saddle from Donnie.

Tradition dictated that most gifts for the marks of a noble man or woman were crafts or found treasures rather than riches. Donnie had bought the saddle but had carefully worked the Maclay crest into it as well as impressions of Faith, Anne, and his hands. The intent of this tradition was twofold: it allowed everyone in the household from the lowliest servant to the Lord of the estate to present a gift and it emphasized the wealth of the noble man or woman. In effect, I was heir to the estate. My father was still my Lord but when he passed, may that be a very long time, I would be Lady and owner of our vast holdings. I would need and want for nothing for as long as I lived.

Of course, a theory such as that assumes that we only want for material belongings.

And so I wait.

But I must return to my tale.

The day seemed rushed and memorable yet forgettable as it turned into an endless parade of visitors interspersed by drug induced naps. With all the chaos I was again able to secure herbs for Dani in my valuable vial. I attended dinner in the hall with the rest of the household although Dani had to cut my meat for me. I believe that Tadre's requirement that I draw marks with both hands helped me to have the necessary agility to eat. By nightfall I felt considerably better although still in a bit of a haze. The only sadness of my day was that I had never had a moment to speak with Dani privately.

I wanted... In truth I did not know what I wanted. I wanted to speak to her, to ask her about the night before. Had I dreamed it? With the exception of our early morning blushes, she had been exactly as I would have expected all day: devoted to me and quite formal. She had not touched me more or less than usual nor shared any secret glances with me. Perhaps I had dreamed it? Or perhaps it did not mean... What did I think that it meant? That she loved me? I knew she loved me or at least believed she did and Creator knows how I loved her. Was this intimacy an extension of that? Or was it just her way of making me feel better? Could that be the case? Had it meant nothing to her? An act of service? There was no one I could speak to about this confusion and a part of me wondered if this could possibly be standard, normal for such an event.

It was well past dark when I finally found myself alone in my rooms with Dani. She got me ready for bed, changing me into my gown carefully to avoid touching my hand and washing and brushing my hair before disposing of the dirty water. Then she changed into her own sleeping clothes and climbed into bed with me. I watched her expectantly, the look of wonderment and fascination clear on her face as she gently lifted my wrist and set my hand in her lap. She refrained from touching the design but I could feel her eyes stroking each line. "Your marks fit you, My Lady," she finally whispered.

I lifted my other hand to stroke her jaw line. "They will fit you my beautiful one." She blushed a deep shade of red and looked toward the curtains for a long time. "Are you ok?" I finally asked.

She didn't look back toward me but she slowly nodded. "I don't like you to hurt, my Lady."

I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her in toward me. "It's ok, my girl. It's ok." I whispered it over and over as I kissed the top of her head until she fell asleep in my arms. I followed soon after and only realized as I was drifting off that I knew nothing more about what the night had meant than I did before.