Alec hears the knock and, checking one last time in the mirror, he heads over to the door. He opens it, and gives Nettle a wide grin. "So how do I look?" he says turning arms wide. His long blue jacket contrasts nicely with the white puffed shirt and bell bottom pants, his black shoes shine.

All traces of frustration melting from her face, Nettle smiles and looks Alec over from head to toe. "Did I ever tell you that your impeccable good taste and unique style is what drew me to you in the first place?" Forgetting the time, she slides her arms around his waist and gives his backside an appreciative pat. Pulling away teasingly, she straightens the robes over her arm with care.

Putting his arm around her he leads her to the gremlin and lets her in. Plopping down next to her he gives her a quick kiss and starts the engine. "So tell me again, sugar. What exactly am I supposed to do...besides the most obvious..."

"Well, before the sabbat begins, we'll be removing our mundane clothing and putting on these," Nettle explains holding up the robes. "The first part will be the ceremony that we perform at every full-moon sabbat, so just do what I do. Veil's already obtained permission for you to be there...I hope you don't mind getting naked in front of a large group of strangers!" Nettle says with a gleam in her eye.

Alec chuckles as he turns the wheel heading for the meeting place. Giving Nettle a sideglance he winks. "I never ever wear anything *mundane*. I've been to Balador, sugar. I'm sure getting naked in front of a bunch of strangers will be no problem."

Nettle laughs and continues. "After the ceremony will begin the Union. I will be approached by a male Wiccan who will grab my wrist and announce that he's "claiming me," and the other females will also be "claimed" by a males. At this point, those males who wish to challenge the suitors will speak up. That means you, sexy! Just put your hand on top of the hand he's holding me with, and say, "I will fight you for her!" or something to that effect." Nettle gets a faraway look in her eyes as she unintentionally starts fantasizing again. Clearing her throat, she continues. "And then the fight will begin. It's supposed to be a test of physical strength-- there are strict rules about not bringing any types of guns near the circle, so leave your glocks in the car, all right?" Nettle pleads with a serious look on her face.

Alec looks over, "I'd have to physically fight any man who tries to claim you?" He says pulling over. He turns off the engine and turns to Nettle smiling. "No problem," he says giving her another kiss. He gets out and unholsters his weapons and drops them on the drivers side seat.

Nettle-- flushing with obvious pleasure-- jumps out of the car and takes Alec's hand, leading him to the area where the other Wiccans are undressing and putting on their robes. Greeting her friends with a smile and a wave, Nettle finds a spot where she and Alec can get ready. Placing the robes over the branch a tree, Nettle begins unlacing the front of her lace-up gown-- glancing up every so often to make seductive eyes at Alec. Kicking off her shoes, she lets her dress fall to the ground and pool around her bare feet-- leaving her naked. With a sigh of contentment, Nettle closes her eyes, raises her arms above her head, and stretches. Opening her eyes once more, she grins at Alec. "What're you waiting for, sweets?"

Alec stands there a moment watching Nettle disrobe. He smiles at her and then suddenly gets a serious look on his face as he closes his eyes. Nettle can feel Alec's mind touch hers and then quickly it's gone. He opens them again and disrobes quickly.

Handing Alec his robe, the couple put on their robes, and Nettle takes his hand once more and leads him through the trees toward a large clearing with an alter at its center. All the other Wiccans are standing in a big group off to the side, except for one man and woman who are standing by the alter, waiting for the last members to join the group. Nettle whispers to Alec, "I hope you enjoy the sabbat," and then she gets a mock-stern look on her face-- or what Alec THINKS is a mock-stern look, "but don't let me catch you staring too hard at the other women once we're in the circle!"

"Tsk tsk," he says waving a finger at her. Alec looks at the circle one by one, and then finally looking back at Nettle he nods. "When do we begin?"

Nettle sticks her tongue out at Alec and then whispers, "Right now, I think!" As if on cue, the sound of low drums begins to beat out a tribal rhythm, and the man and women in the clearing-- the high priest and priestess-- drop their robes and kneel in front of the alter. Nettle gently elbows Alec as she and the rest of the Wiccans drop their robes. The high priestess then picks up a bowl containing water, holds it above her head, and calls out a prayer of purification on the water. The high priest then holds up a bowl full of salt and repeats the intonation. The purification complete, the priest pours the salt into the priestess' bowl of water. Taking up his sword, the priest dips it into the salt-water, and the sword begins to glow with an un-earthly white light. Walking to the edge of the trees nearest the group, he traces a circle all the way around the clearing, but keeping open a 4-foot gap in front of the group-- the sword leaving behind a white, glowing trail. The priestess then joins the priest at the opening-- standing on the opposite side from him-- and the Wiccans begin filing through. As the females file through, the priest sprinkles their heads with the salt-water, takes them by the hand, and twirls them in a clock-wise circle before releasing them to walk through the gap-- faintly-glowing auras surrounding them. The priestess does the same thing with the males. Soon Nettle and Alec reach the opening.

As Nettle steps up to be purified, Alec notices the high priest give her an extra-big smile and kiss her hand as he takes it to unnecessarily guide her up to him. "Nettle, my dear, you're looking more radiant and beautiful than ever!" the priest says loud enough for Alec to hear. "What's your secret? A little pixie dust?" the priest laughs in a tone that grates on Alec's nerves. To Alec, the priest looks like a poster-boy for Hitler's Aryan Nation, with his blond hair, blue eyes, and height of about 6'2".

Smiling and blushing like a school-girl, Nettle laughs and glances over her shoulder at Alec. "Well, I'd have to give the credit to someone I just met recently," she gushes, and Aryan-man raises his eyebrows slightly. Looking over Nettle's shoulder with a tiny frown, he sees Alec, and gives him a look that seems to measure Alec up and warn him off at the same time. Regaining his previous gleaming smile, the priest sprinkles Nettle with the salt-water and takes her hand again. Turning her in the clock-wise motion, Alec can see that he's turning her slowly and letting his eyes run hungrily across her body.

Alec keeps his gaze on the priest as he twirls Nettle. He walks through the opening and reaches for Nettle's hand. The priest shoulders him out of the way and nearly yanks Nettle "I claim this one!" he says in a loud voice and then gives Alec a stay away look. The priest begins to lead Nettle away from Alec. "We'll see about that," Alec mutters under his breath as he walks quickly towards them.

Gasping in surprise, Nettle tries to keep her balance as she's lead hastily away from Alec. She suspected the high priest might try to claim her tonight, but had no idea at the force and determination with which he'd attempt to do it. The rest of the Wiccans turn in surprise, and seeing that the high priest has begun the Union by claiming Nettle, the males begin fanning out to claim their "maiden." Attempting to slow the high priest down, Nettle digs her bare feet into the earth and smiles winningly up at him. "Well, you don't waste any time, do you? Don't you think you should wait to see if anyone is going to challenge you?" Looking behind her, Nettle lets out a quiet sigh of relief when she seems Alec coming up on them with determination.

The priest smiles, "No one would be *stupid* enough to try," he says loudly as he smiles at her. He puts his hand on Nettle's shoulders as he begins to guide her down to her knees.

"I'll fight you for her," comes Alec's voice from behind him. The priest barely looks back in annoyance. "There's plenty of other women."
"Then you'll have no problem getting one after I take her." Alec says.
The priest releases Nettle's shoulders and turns to Alec. He smiles a smile that is all teeth.
"This should be quick," he says advancing. Alec cocks his head and smiles back.
Alec takes one step back and turns quickly on his heel, bringing up that other leg. The priest walks right into the kick as Alec's foot connects with his chin. The priest hits the ground fairly fast, and Alec nods.
"You were right, that was quick." Alec takes Nettle's hand and smiles at her, "I win, baby....where's my prize?"

Nettle's grin is as wide as the Grand Canyon when Alec turns back to her. "Pity," she says, "and he looked like he was going to be a rough one!" Curtsying with her hand in Alec's, Nettle replies, "Young Lord, most fair of face and strong of body, you have won my hand tonight...and my heart." Nettle looks up at Alec almost shyly, if that can be possible!

Alec smiles and kisses Nettle, suddenly he moves quickly as the priest stands and walks quickly towards the two. His face is a mask of anger and envy.
"I'm not finished yet..." he scowls.
Alec looks at the man and smiles as he closes his eyes once again. The priest stops and groans looking down as his night is spent on the grass below him. "You're finished now..."
The priest looks down dumbfounded and then back at Alec, then back down again. "But...but..."
"Hey don't worry...I hear it happens to every guy..." Alec smirks.

Backing Alec up against a tree with her hands on his shoulders, Nettle whispers, " I reward you with my soul, and my body," and with that, leaps up and wraps her legs around his waist, and her arms around his neck, and kisses him both tenderly and passionately. Veil-- looking over from where she and her "Young Lord" have chosen to lie-- can't help but let out a cheer, having seen everything while the suitors were fighting!

Afterwards...
Alec lays with his head against the root of the tree. He lights a joint and takes a drag, looking down at Nettle's head laying upon his shoulder, he smiles, "Does the fighting happen often?" he asks offering her the joint.

Sighing happily from the bottom of her soul, Nettle turns her face up towards his. Waving the joint away, Nettle replies, "No thanks, lover, I wanna feel this afterglow in every nerve of my body!" Addressing Alec's second question, she answers, "There are always at least 2 or 3 fights each time-- I think the men do it more to impress the girl, or live out a kind of knights-and-maidens fantasy. I've always considered it a very potent form of fore-play." Nettle props herself up on one elbow and gives Alec a very deep kiss while running her free hand across his chest. "Nice trick with the high priest! I doubt he'll try to claim me for a while now-- probably never if you're there! What did you think of the sabbat-- it being your first?"

Alec puts his hand on top of hers and smiles, "I liked it, especially the prize." He says smacking Nettle's bum. He takes another drag and then stamps out his joint.

Continuing the deep kiss, Nettle climbs on top of Alec playfully without releasing his lips, and presses her body flat against his. After kissing for a few more minutes, Nettle feels a tap on her shoulder. Looking up regretfully, she sees Veil there in a robe with her arms folded-- a bemused expression on her face. "OK, you two! Take it back to the chantry! The only sex permitted in the circle is the representative union of the goddess and god, and by the look in your eyes, religion is the last thing on your mind!"

Laughing, Nettle replies, "Oh, all right, Veil! Just give us a couple minutes to get ourselves together, OK?"

Veil grins. "All right." Turning to Alec, she says, "Very impressive defeat of the high priest, Alec! Impressive, and-- well-- creative! You put that arrogant boy in his place! Come back to our sabbats any time you want!"

Alec stands and nods, "You got it, baby, yeah I'll return."

Veil turns and makes her exit through the trees with a wave over her shoulder, leaving Nettle and Alec alone once more.

Alec unfolds his clothes and puts them on, watching Nettle do the same. Looking over his shoulder he sees the priest putting on his clothes and occasionally favoring them with a glowering look.
"Be right back sugar." He says walking over to the priest.
The priest steps back abit when Alec reaches him.
"Sorry to do that to you, old son." he says. The priest frowns and nods.
"It's part of the ritual...no hard feelings I suppose." He says.
"Good, then next time we'll have no problems," Alec steps closer, "Will we?"
The priest glowers and nods, Alec smiles at the man and returns to Nettle.
"I'm starved, how about a bite?"

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