'Home?...Home?!' Mab rasped angrily her eyes burning with rage as she rounded upon Frik causing the gnome to whimper in fear.
Mab's eyes suddenly changed as a new thought flashed into her mind her glossy lips curved into a perfect smile and she made her way over to her crystals gazing into them.
'Home is where the heart is.' she rasped as she watched a vision of the young girl Merlin had saved in the woods. Nimue wiped her tears bitterly as she strode through the grounds of her father's garden. She loved her father with all her heart and though headstrong was always a loving and obedient daughter yet on this particular occasion she'd found herself unable to comply with the Lord's wishes.
"It is not safe for you to be here with me you must marry a husband of King Vortigern's choosing it is the only way he will be sure of our loyalty and I of your safety!" her father had shouted. Nimue had never looked so furious in all her life. 'No! I will not let that tyrant decide who I share my marriage bed with!' she screamed back. Lord Ardent's eyes darted around the empty room and though they were alone he shakily tapped his finger to his lips. 'You mustnt speak ill of the king Nimue you dont know who could be listening!' he whispered in a harsh voice. Nimue rolled her eyes and was about to shout again when her father grabbed both her arms. 'Daughter please! Im sure the king will choose a worthy nobleman.' he offered hoping this would sooth her.
'I dont care who hear's! Let Vortigern know! I hate him! He is a tyrant and I hate him and he will not choose my husband!' she growled angrily pulling away from him. Lord Ardent had slapped his daughter hard at this point causing her to stare at him in shock before fleeing even though he'd tried to call after her to apologise.
Nimue came to a tree and slid down the trunk to curl up at the roots and cry not caring that she was ruining her beautiful gown sometimes she hated being the daughter of a lord. Keeping her face buried in her hands she could feel the presence of another watching her silently.
'Go away!' she shouted not looking up assuming her father had sent a handmaiden out to fetch her back inside.
'So unfair isnt it.' an other worldly rasping voice spoke causing Nimue's head instantly to jolt up her eyes widened at the sight.
A woman stood not far from her, she was certainly no handmaiden in fact she was like any other woman Nimue had ever seen in her life. Long flowing dark hair, with dark make up painted around her wolf like eyes, skin as pale as the moonlight and the way she held herself it was obvious the woman was high born. Yet Nimue had never saw any highborn woman wear clothes like hers, the black corset and long purple skirt. 'Who are you?' she asked never breaking eye contact with the strange woman.
'I am Mab, Queen of the old ways.' she rasped an amused smile appearing on those glossy lips of hers.
Nimue felt afraid she had heard tales about the creatures of the old ways they had been told to frighten her and they certainly worked. Yet then she remembered back in the woods, that boy Merlin who had saved her he surely had magick and he had done her no harm. Perhaps the priests were wrong? Maybe not all of them were wicked.
'My name's Nimue.' she breathed still staring at Mab in awe as she got to her feet dusting off her dress.
'Yes.' Mab agreed slightly shocking her.
'How do you know…?' she begun but Mab only raised her eyebrow in amusement once more causing the young woman to feel annoyed.
'What are you doing here Queen Mab?' she demanded.
Mab tilted her head pretending to look confused.
'You called me here.' she rasped.
Nimue frowned she then shook her head.
'I did not do any such thing my lady I didnt even know who you were.' she said firmly.
Mab slowly circled Nimue making the younger woman feel uncomfortable.
'You prayed that your father would not make you marry a man of Vortigern's choosing, did you not?' she queried.
Nimue continued to frown in confusion.
'Yes...' she said slowly. 'But I did not pray to you I was praying to god.' she explained watching the other worldly woman circle her.
Mab came to a halt staring at her and Nimue felt a pang of fear, would Mab be angry with her for having prayed to the christian god? Would she harm her?
'Oh?' Mab looked around the gardens and Nimue subconsciously took a step back.
'What?' Nimue looked confused.
'I was just looking for this christian "god" who has supposedly came to your aid. Is he hiding from us?' Mab asked sarcastically.
Nimue's cheek burned with embarrassment and she shifted uncomfortably. 'No he's...he didnt come.' she admitted. 'The priests say he responds by giving us inner strength to deal with our hardships he does not appear.'
Mab smirked rolling her eyes.
'It sounds to me like this god is a creation of man to control others. But I am here Nimue, I have answered your prayers.' she rasped.
Nimue couldnt help but agree with Mab's logic the woman had come to her aid slowly she knelt down bowing to the fae Queen.
'Help me Queen Mab, help me make my father see sense.' she begged the goddess. 'I dont want to marry a man of Vortigern's choosing.' she felt a tear run down her cheek.
Mab stared at Nimue deep in concentration she walked forwards and gently cupped her cheek she wiped her tear away with her thumb. Nimue's insides constricted feeling Mab's touch was like being touched by raw magick it was breathtaking.
'I think I have a solution.' Mab rasped a malevolent glint in her eyes as the girl nuzzled into Mab's willing hand her eyes closed in relief.
'Your father just needs to remember how precious you are to him, you will come to my land for a few days during which he will change his mind about forcing you into marriage.'
Nimue slowly opened her hope filled eyes looking up at Mab. 'You really think so?' she whispered.
Mab nodded smiling confidently. 'Oh yes.' she rasped and removed her hand from the girls cheek. Nimue instantly regretted the loss of contact with the Queen she pouted slightly.
'You agree to come to my lands and live peacefully for a few days?' she rasped.
Nimue nodded yet now felt a little uncertain without Mab's touch she didnt feel quite as seduced by the idea however she was not given the chance to change her mind.
The faerie Queen and her companion disappeared in three bright flashes of light.