Full Circle

As Luthor recounted the events that had transpired in Eridu, Olofin diligently worked on treating the Maia’s injuries. He was saddened to hear the news concerning his mother. Unlike Luthor, the half-elf would never have confronted his mother in the manner that the old man had done. It had been bound to backfire.

“Drink, Luthor?” asked Olofin. He felt that the occasion definitely called for a tall glass of spirits.

“Yes, please.” The old man watched the half-elf closely as he poured the clear liquid into two large crystal goblets. He was anxious to hear Olofin’s thoughts regarding the situation with his mother yet as of now, he remained tight-lipped on the subject. “Thank you,” said the Maia when he received his drink. “So, what do we do now?”

Olofin took a seat across from him. He looked thoughtfully at Luthor before replying, “I think that we should carry on as usual.” The Maia’s jaw dropped when he heard that. Buffy’s son narrowed his eyes at the old man. “You tried to turn my mother into a boar, Luthor. I cannot imagine what you were thinking when you came up with that idea. That was, without doubt, the most imbecilic thing that you could’ve done. You’ve only aggravated the situation.” He took a long drink. “Let mother’s choice for king stand, for my heart tells me that he won’t rule Kish very long.”

“Are you saying that we should allow Etana to ascend to the throne even though he doesn’t qualify for the post?” queried a baffled Luthor. “He has not been prepared for the kingship nor has he a wife.” He paused for a moment as he collected his thoughts. “Do we stand idly by while Bella aids another in breaking the laws of Sumer? Or do we unite with Marto… ”

Buffy’s youngest child snickered. “Marto will side with mother, Luthor; you should know that by now. Why do you think his kingdom lies close to hers while we’ve been allotted lands hundreds of miles away?” asked Olofin. He didn’t allow the Maia the opportunity to reply. “Our views differ from theirs, that’s why. No, my friend, things must run their course.”

“Do we do nothing then?”

“I’ll speak with mother, but I don’t think it will do any good.”

Olofin slept very little that night. He had mixed feelings regarding the inevitable meeting of his mother’s young, mortal lover. The half-elf understood that the life span of Man was short, but at fifteen, Etana most certainly was a child. For heaven’s sake, the boy was one hundred and fifteen years younger than he was!

The following morning, as Olofin was finishing breakfast with members from his Household, Kat materialized beside his chair in the dining hall. The half-elf chuckled at the lioness’ unexpected appearance.

“You and Kit are on top of things, aren’t you,” he commented, as the cat placed her paws on his lap. “I deem the time has arrived for me to see nana.” The half-elf rubbed Kat’s head, he knew that she would be his mode of transportation to Eridu. It appeared that Buffy’s lions were doing everything in their power to help end the strife between Luthor and the Slayer. After he had finished eating, Olofin climbed onto Kat’s back, and the two vanished from the dining hall in Borsippa.

They reappeared, only moments later, in the huge entrance hall of Eanna. The Valkyries welcomed the half-elf warmly before escorting him to a private sitting room where he would meet with his mother. Olofin waited for more than an hour, the lions his only companions.

“Good morning, honey,” greeted Buffy, as she entered the room. Her son was lounging on the carpeted floor in front of the crackling fire with the kitties on either side.

“Morning,” he replied, a dismal look on his face. He was nervous about confronting his mother about the events of the day before. Apparently, the Slayer intuitively understood the purpose of his visit.

“You’ve already spoken with Luthor, I take it,” she said as she stretched out on the couch.

“I know about everything,” he whispered, not wanting to meet her gaze, “including the mortal.”

“Oh,” she answered, her discomfort obvious. “So, Luthor sent you here to scold me or what?”

Olofin looked up at his mother; his eyes glistened with tears. “You’re a grown woman, I cannot tell you what to do. I admit that it doesn’t please me to learn that you have been unfaithful to my father, but that’s your business, not mine.” He absently stroked Kit, averting his eyes. “Luthor feels that you have undermined his authority in Kish, and I happen to agree.”

“Color me surprised,” she murmured with a roll of her eyes. Buffy felt that those two always ganged up on her. At that moment, the door to the chamber swung open. One of her priestess’ came in carrying a tray of hot tea. The maiden placed the tray on the table, poured them each a cup and then exited the room without saying a word. “Come sit,” she said, as she shifted to a sitting position and patted the cushion next to her. “Drink some tea with me.”

Olofin complied with his mother’s wishes. He sat beside her and took a sip of the steamy beverage. “Do you still love him?” he queried in a small voice.

“Who? Your father?” The half-elf nodded. “Of course I do. I’ll always love your father.”

“Then why are you with that… er, Sharru-kin?”

“It’s complicated.”

“What’s complicated?”

“Me. My heart… I can’t help how I feel. It is what it is… ” Buffy let out a heavy sigh. “I really don’t feel comfortable talking about this with you.”

“Fair enough,” replied her son uneasily. He really didn’t want to stir up any hostile feelings with his mother. Yet he had to address the issue at hand. “You do realize that Sharru-kin must take a wife if he’s to ascend the throne in Kish, or do you plan on rescinding that law?”

Buffy shifted her gaze to the dancing orange flames within the fireplace. She wasn’t eager to discuss Sharru-kin with her son in any capacity. “I will not revoke the law, Sharru-kin will have a wife by the time of the coronation,” she answered softly.

Olofin fixed his eyes on his mother; she seemed distant, lost in her own thoughts. “Do you intend on being his wife?”

She faced her son. “No, I’m already married to your father. I have no intention on taking another husband.”

They both fell quiet. The purring of the kitties and the occasional popping sound from the burning firewood seemed amplified amid the silence. The Slayer hated the thought that her young lover had to take a wife. Just the mere mention of it aroused feelings of jealousy within her. While the idea of exempting Sharru-kin from the law appealed to her, she knew that others, in time, would make the same demands. She couldn’t show any favoritism. Furthermore, the main purpose of the law was to keep the bloodline of Brolach going.

“I know your mind, mother,” her son finally said. “You’ve been having the mortals breed so that you can wage your war on Marduk… You have foreseen Sharru-kin leading your armies to great victory.”

Buffy chuckled. “I see that you’ve been speaking with the twins. Yes, I intend on attacking him. Marduk’s going down, and I’m gonna be the one to do it. It’s what I’m supposed to do, its Eru’s will.” She smiled.

“And is it Ilúvatar’s will that you bed the child king?”

The Slayer felt her face flush, her grin turned into a sneer. It was time to end the conversation. “I really don’t have time for this,” she replied, rising to her feet. “I’m sorry, son, but my schedule’s pretty full. Let Luthor know that if he crosses me again… he’ll be sent to the Deeper Well, but not as its Lord, but as a prisoner.” She gave Olofin a peck on the forehead before leaving the chamber.

“NO! I refuse to do it!” exclaimed Sharru-kin when Buffy told him that he must take a wife.

“But you have to,” countered Buffy.

“I love you. You’re the only one I wish to be my wife.”

“It doesn’t work that way. I already have a husband, you know that.”

“Then take me as your second husband. I will gladly wed you.”

“I can’t.”

“How can you expect me to marry a woman that I do not love, that I do not want to be with?”

Buffy grasped the young man’s hands tightly in hers. “This has nothing to do with love. It’s about preserving the noble bloodline of your forefathers… ”

“I beseech you: change the law! You’re the Holiest of the Holy - your will rules!” The young man looked imploringly at the Slayer.

“It’s not that simple. I can’t go enacting laws and then changing them at will.” Actually, she could. What bothered her was the fact that her young lover was trying to dictate policy. That annoyed her. The Slayer’s expression turned serious, her tone unyielding. “I refuse to argue about this any more. You will take a wife, and you will bear children with her.” She furrowed her eyes at Sharru-kin. “Just because I share my bed with you, doesn’t mean you’re my equal. You’ll do as I command or suffer the consequences.”

The young man fell to his knees in supplication. “I most humbly apologize, my beloved. I will… I will do as you wish. Can you find it in your heart forgive me, most beautiful one?”

Buffy smiled, her expression softened. “Of course,” she replied joyfully, pushing a few strands of stray hair from her lover’s face. “And to prove it, I’ll grant you, my dear Sharru-kin, the choice of choosing any of my fair priestesses as your bride.”

The young man nodded in defeat. The matter was settled.

Three days later, Sharru-kin wed one of Buffy’s golden-haired mortal priestesses in Kish. While she blessed the union and wove a spell of fertility upon the couple, she did not attend the nuptials. Instead, she mourned the event by getting drunk with Marto in Ur. The thought that she had to share her lover with another was not the happiest of thoughts, but she had no alternative. Sharru-kin had the makings of an exceptional warrior-king and Buffy had no doubt that that quality would pass to his offspring.

The lovers would not be reunited until his coronation on New Year’s Day. When Buffy laid eyes upon Sharru-kin’s wife, she was delighted to see that her aura revealed that the young woman was already with child. Impregnating his bride so quickly meant that her mortal lover was welcome back into the Slayer’s bed. In nine months time, the newlyweds would welcome the first of five heirs to come.

The crowning ceremony took place in the grand chamber at Ekishnugal, Luthor’s temple in Kish. Buffy’s elation over the whole event caused her to make peace with the old Maia at the start of the evening.

“Let bygones be bygones,” she told her dear friend. “We both erred in judgment and it would be tragic for us to toss aside our friendship over some… misunderstanding. I think we understand one another now. I don’t foresee any more problems, do you?”

“No, of course not.” Luthor had taken Olofin’s words of wisdom to heart: he would defer to Buffy in all instances when reason did not work. The Maia didn’t much like the person that she had become and it didn’t help matters any that the Slayer only surrounded herself with people that her son referred to as ‘yes men/women.’

Never before had a so many people attended a coronation of a king. Not only was the temple full, but also the streets, courtyards, and gardens that surrounded the holy shrine. People even congregated on the rooftops in hope that they might catch a glimpse of the new king that had become the protégé of the Vala of Love.

At the beginning of the ceremony, Luthor’s high priest said a prayer of thanks to Ilúvatar, followed by one to Buffy. As the Sumerians and guests fell to their knees singing her praises, she leaned towards Sharru-kin and said, “See how they love me, how they adore me… ” The Slayer sounded like some giddy teenager. “Their love for me is so great that they’d willingly sacrifice themselves for me… ”

“As they rightly should,” answered her mortal lover, taking her hand in his. “You’re the Supreme God in this world. You should be exalted above all others, for you are the greatest of the Powers.”

Buffy smiled at his words. “That’s why I love you so: you’re wise beyond your years.” He kissed the top of her hand. “We have one hell of a ride in store for us, my beloved. I promise you that the kingship of Kish is only a stepping stone to bigger and better things for you. For us.”

Luthor, who sat to Buffy’s right, raised his eyebrows when he overheard that comment. Her words brought to mind what Olofin had told him weeks before, that Sharru-kin would not rule Kish very long. The old Maia was curious as to what the Slayer had up her sleeve.

With her mortal lover now king, Buffy spent most days with him in Kish, working on combat tactics. At night, they would teleport to Eanna or her palace in Uruk, where they would remain until morning. Poor Adare, Sharru-kin’s wife, would seldom spend much time with her husband throughout their marriage.

Over the next three months, Sharru-kin had a massive growth spurt - his height grew to a staggering seven feet seven inches, making him the largest man in Sumer. He was an enormous, intimidating man who towered over all his subjects. Yet he also proved to be a compassionate leader, and was often called upon to mediate disputes between his kinsmen.

While Buffy was proud of the progress Sharru-kin was making, she loathed spending so much time in Luthor’s realm. It was a small city when compared to the likes of Eridu, which was the heart and soul of Sumer. In the capital city, one could find bazaars, hospitals, schools, bath houses, theaters, inns, banks, and an assortment of government buildings. It was reminiscent of cities in ‘modern’ times prior to the industrial age, except perhaps in appearance. Aside from the two temples, the two-tiered city had a very dwarfish feel to it, especially when it came to its architecture. It was a place that sparkled with the energy of its people, and the place that Buffy longed to be. Since the prophecy had been fulfilled, she no longer avoided contact with the mortals in her realm. She embraced them. She loved them. And she vowed to protect them as long as they remained true.

When early spring rolled in, Sharru-kin desired to spend more time in Eridu, helping the elves tend to the gardens of Eanna. To him, it was the fairest place that he’d ever seen in his young life. The Green-elves were impressed by the young man’s enthusiasm, so much so, that they had shared some of their own secrets in the art of gardening with him. The elves would become the biggest proponents in having the young king learn the ‘Sacred Language of the Gods’ - Sindarin. Not only that, but once they came to love the young man, they would christen him with an elvish name, the only king of Sumer to ever receive such an honor.

In early fall Adare gave birth to Sharru-kin’s first child, a son. Buffy took a special interest in the child, loving the infant as if he were one of her own. She intended to groom the boy for the kingship herself.

It was at that time that the Slayer decided that she was ready to make her first strike against Marduk. She wanted to test Sharru-kin’s abilities against the might of Lagash, the only neighboring city of the renegade Vala in those parts. Once they had conquered that city, they could move on to the rest, taking them down one by one.

The young man was dismayed that his Vala lover would not be accompanying him and his troops. Buffy felt it was important that Sharru-kin prove his worth to his mortal followers. He alone would lead the men from Eridu and Kish into battle. Only mankind was to engage the enemy. Those from the Slayer’s Household would merely observe their progress from the cooling terrace of Eanna. For the first time ever, Buffy would turn the wall of water into a magical screen so that all could witness the prowess of the King of Kish.

The element of surprise is a key factor in determining the outcome in any war. And that’s where the Sumerians had the advantage. Buffy wasn’t about to have her men march across the plains to Lagash. That would alert Marduk and his people, thus destroying their advantage. No, she would teleport the armies as she had done in the last war.

Looking at the impressive form of Sharru-kin clad in armor nearly took her breath away. If Buffy hadn’t known his lineage, she most certainly would have thought that he had giant blood in him. Her smile widened as she pictured his menacing form on the battlefield. She knew that he had to ability to inflict fear into the heart of the enemy.

The young man fell to his knees before the Slayer. “O’ most Holy One, bestow upon me your blessings, your strength, so that I may achieve victory in your glorious name.”

Buffy closed her eyes before placing her hands on his head. A flash of white light emanated from her hands, gradually swathing Sharru-kin in its warmth. “I’ve placed a spell of protection on you, my beloved,” revealed the Slayer before planting a kiss on the young man’s forehead. “Make me proud.”

She escorted the king and his many officers outside the Halls of Eru. Thousands of men stood in formation in the courtyard, eager to begin the assault of the enemy. With a wave of her hand, Buffy’s armies were instantly transported outside the city of Lagash. She immediately teleported herself to the cooling porch where many members of her Household were congregated, waiting on the Slayer to cast her spell on the wall of water so that they could watch her men in action. When the spell had been activated, she took her seat amongst her friends and watched the scene unfold before their eyes.

The early morning raid caught the inhabitants of Lagash off guard. The bells of the city rang out, warning the residents of the sudden attack. The men of the Lagash scrambled to the top of the wall, and attempted to hinder the approaching troops by shooting flaming arrows at them. Little effect did that have on the Sumerian soldiers; mere arrows could not penetrate the mail and armor wrought by the dwarves and Maiar.

Within thirty minutes, the Sumerians’ battering ram had breached the wall that encircled the city, allowing them to flood through the gap like a wave crashing upon the shore. At the front of the pack was none other than Sharru-kin. He was so intimidating that many men fled in fear when their eyes fell upon his monstrous form. Those that had the courage to stand up him were cut down with ease. Sharru-kin’s strength was so great, his weapon so superbly wrought, that he was able to cleave his blade through the mail of the enemy like a knife through butter. He was unstoppable.

In less than two hours, the battle was over. The lord of Lagash had raised his white flag and surrendered. Buffy was pleased that her lover’s first campaign had proved successful. That victory gave him such self-confidence that he was eager to continue striking down the enemy cities. And the men that accompanied him were more than willing to follow that magnificent warrior-king that had conquered an entire city in record time.

Sharru-kin’s success delighted the Slayer. She and her Household celebrated with mugs of mead as they continued to watch the events in Lagash. She was anxious to see the lord of Lagash bow down in servility to the King of Kish. The Slayer sprayed her honey-flavored beverage from her mouth when she saw who the lord of that realm was: it was none other than Lutz, minion of Morgoth. He was the Maia shape shifter that had given her and Sauron shelter in the city of Numeira when she had first encountered the deviant mortals of that city. While he now resembled a dark-haired mortal, the Slayer had no doubt that it was he, she easily recognized his four immortal concubines.

“Inanna, what is it?” queried Orchal, as he wiped the mead from his face. He, unfortunately, was in Buffy’s line of fire when the mead spewed from her mouth.

“The lord of Lagash is one of Morgoth’s cronies; I’ve met him before.” Her companions gasped when they heard that revelation. Everyone had assumed that Marduk was the power behind the throne of that region, not Melkor Bauglir. Even the Slayer was taken aback by that. But that’s not what set her off against Lutz, it was something altogether different.

She saw the Maia lord offer the young King of Kish his bevy of beauties in exchange for mercy. The whores then threw their arms around the dumbstruck mortal, planting kisses all over his armor-covered chest (they couldn’t reach any higher) and gloved hands. Big mistake! As the members of her Household turned their gaze to Buffy, they saw her eyes burning with anger.

Buffy immediately vanished and reappeared in her bedchamber at Eanna. She went to the copper trunk, unlocked it, and dug through the various weapons that were stowed there. She used her telepathic abilities to inform Sharru-kin that she would be arriving in a matter of moments. The Slayer’s voice broke the spell that the women were weaving about him. In his ire, the King of Kish flung back his arm, sending the women flying several feet.

“Bind them,” ordered Sharru-kin as he sat upon Lutz’s throne. While several men placed the women and Lutz in fetters, others began collecting the booty of their conquest. The mortal king was anxious to see his beloved in his moment of triumph.

Only a few moments later Buffy arrived, dressed in full royal regalia. When she entered the chamber, all her people dropped to their knees. Those that held the prisoners pulled them forcefully to ground as a sign of deference to the true King of the East. The Slayer glanced around the sun-drenched room, taking in her surroundings while the men of Sumer offered her words of praise and adulation. She approached Sharru-kin who remained on bended knee beside the vacated throne of Lutz. She cupped his blood-streaked face with her hands before pressing her mouth against his, giving him a well-deserved victory kiss.

“Well done, lover,” congratulated the beaming Slayer. “I’m so proud of you.” She then gestured for all to rise. Sharru-kin gallantly assisted her onto the throne before taking his place to her right. He stood there, a tall and menacing figure, eyeing the captives with contempt. “Bring forth the prisoners,” she ordered.

“Inanna, dear Inanna,” began Lutz in his deep and gravelly voice. He spoke like they were old friends, stunning the Slayer. “I’m so glad that you have come. Surely, the Mistress of Angband will show mercy on the one that succored her in her hour of need.” The Maia looked much different since the last time she had seen him. Back then, he looked like a middle-aged man, now he resembled a young man: dark wavy hair hung to his shoulders, his beard and mustache well groomed, his green eyes sparkling with wisdom.

“And why would I show mercy on a servant of Morgoth?” she queried, half amused.

Lutz looked affronted. “Do you not judge a man by his deeds? What wrong have I done to you, my Lady?”

“You’re a minion of Morgoth! How many times do I have to repeat myself?” she asked with a roll of her eyes.

“I am not merely a servant of Melkor,” replied Lutz, “I am also a servant of yours as well.” Buffy looked skeptically at the Maia. “By all rights, you are still the wife of my Lord… ”

“I am not Melkor’s wife!” she interjected angrily.

“I mean no disrespect, but you are. You had exchanged vows with him long before the elf; your union with the Noldo is invalid.”

Buffy quickly left the comfort of the throne and marched menacingly towards the Maia. “For your information, he bewitched me,” she countered. “Using magicks on someone in order to wed them doesn’t qualify as a binding agreement; both parties must be in their right frame of mind. Our marriage is, was, and always will be null and void.”

“In your eyes, perhaps, but not when it comes to the laws of Arda.”

“Don’t give me that ‘laws of Arda’ shit,” she spat back. “Since when do any from Melkor’s Household follow the laws set by the Valar?” She didn’t let him answer. “They don’t! They manipulate them along the way… or disregard them altogether.”

“Like you, my Lady? I see that you’ve done the same thing… That’s further evidence of the special bond that you have with Melkor, you and he are very much alike.”

Those words stung the Slayer. She was nothing like Melkor. Yes, she tweaked some of the laws, but only for the betterment of the mortals. She didn’t hold any hostage, they were free to go wherever they wished, whenever they wished. She took it upon herself to nurture the race of man, to make them stronger, more powerful. Only those that betrayed her trust suffered her wrath. She was a good King. No, a great King.

It’s the will of Eru, she reassured herself. I‘m only carrying out His will. Yet a nagging voice in the back of her mind said, ‘He did not sanction the love affair with Sharru-kin. That was your own doing. The mortal was in awe of you, as one would be with any of the Powers. You took advantage of the situation for your own selfish purposes.’

“I’m nothing like Melkor,” she finally said. “I’m better than him. He’s beneath me.”

“In some respects, you’re absolutely correct. It has taken Melkor millennia to achieve what you have in decades. Look at what you’ve accomplished over the years, Inanna. You have dominion over Ainur, Elves, and Men, and one cannot overlook your affinity with the Dwarves. You have done what others have not: you’ve united the races of Arda under one banner, and I daresay that was no easy feat.

“You are a formidable opponent whom I have no desire to cross in any way.” He took a step closer, the chains of the fetters clanged as the Maia boldly entered Buffy’s personal space. “I am not the enemy; I’m your ally,” he said with conviction. “Since you’ve ousted Illyria from the throne, you have taken your rightful place: to rule the race of man. As Melkor’s Queen, it is my duty to serve you, to aid you in overthrowing Marduk, for he has no place in Middle-earth.”

The Slayer stood there for a few moments before cracking a smile. Shaking her head, she folded her arms and looked amusingly at the Maia. “You expect me to welcome you, a servant of Melkor, into my fold with open arms,” she remarked with a laugh. “Boy, oh, boy, this is my lucky day!” she added sarcastically, looking over her shoulder at Sharru-kin.

“Indeed it is.”

“Listen, Lutz, I appreciate what you did for me in Numeira, really I do. But I find myself in a rather precarious situation right now. I don’t trust you. I can’t trust you.” She furrowed her brows, studying the Maia carefully. “By all rights, I should kill you on the spot.”

“I beg you not to do that,” said the Maia coolly.

Buffy continued to scrutinize Lutz. “Unbind him.” As one of the mortals undid the fetters, freeing the servant of Morgoth, the Slayer grabbed a chair and placed it behind the Maia. “Sit!” she ordered. She gestured for the guards to back off while she circled the man like a predator stalking her prey. “I have ways of determining whether you speak the truth, my dear Maia, did you know that?”

“I… I would assume so, my Lady,” replied Lutz uneasily.

She stopped behind the man, placing her hands on his shoulders. She felt the Maia’s muscles tense at her touch. “I’m not a bad person, you know. Sometimes I think I’m misunderstood, but I guess that’s the price one pays for glory.” Buffy walked around Lutz until she came face to face with him, her left hand remained on his shoulder. “Everyone expects me to take things at face value, but when you’re a powerful King, you can’t do that. You have to dig deeper, see what makes those cogs turn.” She placed her hands on either side of his head before taking a seat on his lap, straddling him. “Let’s see what makes yours turn.” Buffy pulled out a dagger from her cloak pocket, slowly unsheathing it in front of the nervous Maia’s face.

“W-what are you doing?” he queried, his eyes bulging, his body trembling. The Slayer was enjoying tormenting the Maia.

“Fear drives us to do things… things that some may find unconscionable.” Buffy teasingly waved the blade slowly before Lutz’s face, his wide eyes followed the movements of the weapon.

“I suppose that’s true,” he responded, his voice full of dread.

The Slayer let out a hearty laugh. “Don’t worry, darling, I have no intensions of killing you… yet.” She carefully pushed his hair aside; his carotid artery throbbed in his neck.

“What are you going to do with that?” he asked, his eyes still fixed on the dagger.

Buffy wrapped her arms around the Maia’s neck, and moved inches from his face. “Your blood will reveal whether your friend or foe. Surely, you don’t expect me to take you at your word. I’m not that stupid.” She placed the tip of the blade on the artery. “Just a little prick.” Lutz closed his eyes tightly; he winced when he felt the metal pierce his flesh. Buffy then pressed her mouth to the open wound, sucking the blood from the Maia’s neck. Her touch titillated him. Lutz moaned softly, wrapping his arms loosely around her waist.

Images of the Maia’s past flashed in her mind as the warmth of his life force ran down her throat. The Slayer saw that he spoke the truth yet she also saw his greatest weakness, which would lead to his downfall. She ran her tongue over the puncture mark, healing it instantly. Much to the annoyance of Sharru-kin, Buffy remained seated upon Lutz’s lap. The Maia opened his green eyes; they lingered on her lips as she provocatively licked the droplet of blood from the tip of the blade.

“That wasn’t so bad now, was it?” she queried seductively. The Maia was captivated by her mouth; he longed to kiss her lips, to taste her. Unable to speak, he shook his head. Buffy smiled, immensely enjoying the effect that she had on Lutz. “You’re into some kinky stuff,” she uttered teasingly, increasing his hungering for her. “I wouldn’t have expected that from you.” She chuckled, her tone then turned serious. “Swear your allegiance to me, Lutz. Tell me that I’m the only one you’ll follow.” She gently caressed his cheek while she spoke. “Assure me that you’ll put no other lords before me and I’ll pardon the deeds of your past.” Her lips remained parted, the Maia could smell the sweet scent of mead on her breath.

“I swear, Lady Inanna, that I will be loyal to you… and only you,” he whispered breathlessly. “I will gladly forsake all my old alliances if you will take me as your humble servant, for you have won my heart.”

“Your words are like music to my ears, my dear Lutz.” Her face lingered only inches from his. Did she want him to kiss her? Her lips were so inviting that the Maia couldn’t resist the temptation any longer. Lutz made his move. Parting his lips, he inched closer to her, pulling her tighter in his arms. Buffy immediately pulled away and climbed off his lap. That was not the reaction that the Maia was hoping for.

The Slayer glanced at Sharru-kin and smiled. He remained perfectly still beside the throne, frowning at his beloved’s behavior. She winked at him as she walked back to the throne and took a seat.

“Did I offend you?” asked the frazzled Maia, disappointed that she was no longer on his lap.

She smiled coyly. “Sharru-kin isn’t fond of the intimate nature of my method of obtaining information from men,” she said looking up at the still scowling young man. “The last thing I want to do is to cause my honey any pain.” She took the king’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze while fingering the dagger in her other hand. Buffy then turned her eyes back to the Maia. “Talk is cheap, Lutz. Actions speak louder than words.”

“I… I don’t understand,” he answered, slightly confused.

“Well,” she began, crossing her legs. “Perhaps some symbolic gesture to show that your intentions are true… an act of some sort, but not a sexual one.” She looked at him thoughtfully. “What would you do to show your devoutness to me that you wouldn’t do for Morgoth? That’s what it’ll take to win me over.” She smiled at the Maia waiting for his response.

“May I approach your throne, my Lady?” he asked courteously.

“Why, of course.” The smiled widened on her face, she was anxious to see what kind of offering Lutz would make.

The Maia ambled up to her seat. He fell to his knees; he stretched his arm out before him, placing it on Buffy’s hand that still held the weapon. “May I?”

“May you what?” she asked with an inquisitive look on her face.

Lutz smiled. “May I borrow that magnificent dagger of yours?” The Slayer nodded. He took it from her hand. Sharru-kin instinctively grasped his sword, not knowing what the Maia had in mind. “I will demonstrate my affection for you, my Lady. You are indeed the greatest of the Powers and worthy of sacrifice. I will do for you what I would never do for Melkor.” The Maia rose to his feet and walked over to the four women, who remained shackled.

Buffy looked up at Sharru-kin. “I’ve gotta see this.” She was expecting Lutz to perhaps cut off a finger or something like that. In a hundred years, she would never have imagined what the Maia did next. Everything happened so fast that no one really had the time to react. Shock has a way of doing that to people.

“I am sorry ladies, but it seems that our journey ends here,” he said before plunging the blade into the first woman’s chest. Everyone, aside from Lutz, gasped in shock. Before Buffy realized what had happened, all four women lay dead in a pool of blood on the stone floor. The Maia’s actions floored the Slayer.

“He’s a madman!” shouted Sharru-kin in disgust.

Buffy sat there, absolutely stunned, as Lutz approached her, wiping the blood from the dagger on his breeches.

“Does that not prove my devotion to you, most beloved one?” he queried as he fell on bended knee, offering her the weapon.

She took the dagger with a shaky hand. “I’ve gotta say, Lutz, I wasn’t expecting that, not by a long shot. They are Ainur, they’ll only return to Melkor in Angband.”

He shook his head. “They are bound to me, my Lady. You may claim their souls as my tribute to you.”

Buffy nodded her head. She was still a little dazed by the whole ordeal. “Okay, Lutz. I’d say you proven yourself. You have destroyed that which made you weak.” She smiled. “Welcome to the family.”