**Placeholder for story still to be added: Three years have passed since the death of her first husband. During that time Tamara found her soul-mate, had a child, and became a widow for the second time in her life. Black Iris's Boarding House has been her stability during all that time, and she has expended much energy in adding to the wards and protections of the house and the surrounding property. A new section of property was walled in, encompassing not only Tamara's greenhouse, but a new stable and a heavily shielded magical workshop. With several of her magically gifted friends in Arden, she has decided it is time to enhance the protections with ritual magic, as opposed to her normal instinctive, off-the-cuff style of spellcasting...**
She pulled a box out from under the bed that had not been opened for many years. The gypsies who had found her after the destruction of her people said that the contents had been at her side when they found her. While they had lied about when they had found her, now that her memories were fully restored, she remembered them well. Opening the shielded box, she unwrapped several items that gave off an aura of ancient power.
Placing the silver headband on her head, she adjusted it so that the double-terminated quartz crystal was centered on her forehead, directly under the silver/white lock of hair that she had acquired during her first meeting with the demons. Then she placed the matching crystal-studded armbands on her bare forearms. A silver neck torque went around her neck, the two ends each having a small crystal set in them. Bending down, she placed the silver anklets around her ankles, and then settled the crystal dagger at her hip. Grabbing up several colorful scarves that were also in the box, she affixed a corner of each to her belt, so that they dangled almost down to her bare feet. Removing her plain black bodice, she put on a buttery soft black leather bodice, fingers brushing over detailed silver embroidery. The neckline of the teal green silk peasant blouse underneath it also glinted with matching embroidery. Unbraiding her red hair, she let it fall in a shimmering cascade down her back.
She walked out into the back yard carrying a small black box she'd borrowed from Taki. She set the box down on the edge of the porch, pushed a few buttons, and walked to the middle of the clearing, having set enough of a timer delay to get prepared before the music started. It would have been nice to have music from her own land, but none survived except for in her memories. At least she had found several pieces that were close, and good for working ritual magic.
Taki promised that the "stereo" would not interfere with her casting, and she trusted the elven cybermage when it came to the interaction of this odd "technology" and magic.
The silver/white lock of hair on her forehead glowed eerily in the evening twilight, as did all of the silver and crystal jewelry she wore. She sat in the middle of the yard, motionless while "Ancient Legend" by David Arkenstone played. Slowly during the piece, she centered and grounded herself, and dropped all of her active shields, leaving only the passive ones in place. As her shields dropped, those watching could see her begin to glow a gentle blue. Then the song ended, and she stood gracefully.
As the first, long, deep, throbbing note of Jean Michel Jarre's "First Rendezvous" was heard, the front left carven dragon gate-posts began to glow. At a second similar note, the right-hand post mirrored it. The subsequent two notes sounded and the two posts in the back also started glowing. As woodwinds joined the throbbing base notes, the glow began to run along the old wall as well, until all of the shields that she had placed upon the house were awakened. Meanwhile, she was starting a slow ritualized dance in the middle of the clearing. As the sounds of stringed instruments were also added to the music, the older shields on the house began to slowly awaken into the visible range, slowly running along the contours of the house, and the grounds. As the music segued into "Second Rendezvous", it started to pick up speed, and she moved into a twirling dance in the clearing. Sparks of light flew from her fingers, merging with the shields. Then the shields started running around the length of the new wall, adding and encompassing it in the glow.
With a small crescendo, sparks leapt to the newly-made stable as well, and it began to glow. By the time the piece had ended, all existing protections had been extended to cover the new area as well.
Then the real magic began. With the opening haunting woodwind notes of "Hall of the Stars" by Andreas Vollenweider echoing through the area, all donated energy links ended up in the visible range, and she began to twist and twirl, the magic twirling with her, as she shaped additional protections to her will. Her hair began to stick straight out her bare feet seemed to barely touch the ground as she wove the multicolored magics of her friends into a coherent whole. Reaching out a hand, she Reached and took the magics from the old shielding in one hand, and the newly-created magic in her other hand. She joined the two together in a gentle pulse of light. Scarves and hair flying about her, she threw the spell like a net to encompass the entire property and watched as it settled into place. Realizing that her friends had been more than generous with their gifts of energy, she used some of the remaining energy to place stronger shields on those of the residents who were unable to place them upon themselves. Three of the small shield-spells disappeared in the night, seeking out the absent RhapsdyBlu, BlackIris and SassyChile.
Coming to herself as the music stopped, she looked tiredly around, and her still-glowing eyes widened at the sight of Niami walking towards the center of the yard, in formal robes and regalia, cloaked with a regal dignity. Bowing her head in respect, Tamara backed out of the middle of the yard, leaving the hobbit high priestess of Hestia to do her work.
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