This didn't turn out like I expected- but still. It is my first CoM fic so please be nice.
Also- with Nimue keep in mind Edward Scissorhands. It is NOT a crossover fic but I loosely based Nimue's appearance on Edward.
Oh- and.. This is set after 'The Healing in the Vines' but BEFORE 'Magic Steps' - :)
Disclaimer: If I was Tamora Pierce, don't you think I'd be out there making millions instead of posting Fanfiction here? That's what I thought! xD
Please tell me of any spelling mistakes or such- I don't yet have a Beta reader... :(
Happy reading! And please review!
Chapter One- Ivy.
Briar knew that Niko was arriving, as he heard the flowers in their garden welcoming him and his magic after many moons away.
However, he couldn't identify the other magic source that came through the gate with Niko.
He reached out an arm to Rosethorn, who was sat at the end of the table, back to the door.
She nodded, chewing thoughtfully on a thick buttered slice of bread.
'What is it?' Asked Sandry silently to Briar.
The door opened, revealing a tall man with silver hair; and behind him, an unfamiliar young girl who tried her best to remain unseen.
"Niko!" Lark called, standing up to welcome their guest.
"Niko!" Sandry and Tris exclaimed, also standing up to hug their friend and teacher.
Daja smiled, as did Briar, except the latter was more interested in finding out who the girl was.
"Hey." He laughed, after being hugged by the girls.
"What took you so long? We were worried." Sandry told Niko.
Niko laughed, "Well." He brought an arm behind him, forcing the young girl forward.
She must have been about fifteen, a year younger than the four; and looked thoroughly petrified. She had her shoulders hunched forward, and her eyebrows were locked together in a permanent expression of confusion and fear. She wore an unusual combination of a knee length dress and breeches, Briar noticed. A dress code found only in the most northern part of Emelan.
"I'd like to introduce you to your new house mate." Niko chuckled, seeing the faces of not only the four, but Lark and Rosethorn as they realised what Niko had said.
"But- Niko. I, we-" Rosethorn protested, before Niko waved away her complaints with a stern "Moonstream's orders."
Lark looked the girl over. She had dark black hair, which was messy and hid most of her face. But Lark could see her pale skin- too pale she thought, and large, topaz coloured eyes.
She was a hand shorter than Lark, and was shivering slightly. Lark couldn't tell if it was her imagination or not, but she seemed to be huddling close to Niko- for warmth or comfort she couldn't tell.
Lark took a step forward to welcome the child, and envelope her in a friendly hug.
The girl squealed and flinched away from Lark, moving behind Niko.
Rosethorn hid a smile as Lark looked to Niko.
"Um..." Niko started to explain, once more drawing out the girl from behind him with caring arms.
If anyone had had any doubts about the girl shivering before, there were no doubts now. She was twitching all over, with goosebumps visible on her neck and arms. Niko held her still, his hands on her upper arms.
She flinched and jumped when he placed his hands on her, but made no attempt to move.
"Nimue is... well. She's had a rather traumatic experience." Niko said, being very careful with his wording.
"Sandry, remember when you were locked away before coming here?" Niko asked of the blond girl.
She nodded slowly.
"Well, you were locked away for less than a month. Nimue has been locked away for just over a decade."
'That's why she's so pale' thought the dark-skinned Daja.
Lark reached out to comfort Nimue, but again she shied from her touch.
"Why-?" Lark began, before a look from Niko stopped her.
He nodded to the table, "May we?"
Tris went to fetch extra plates, and Niko guided Nimue to the bench, next to Rosethorn.
Niko began to recount how he came across Nimue, whilst Rosethorn studied the frightened girl.
She had her hands clasped in her lap, and was studying the table intently.
She jumped and hunched her shoulders forward in unease and fear when Tris leaned around her to put her plate on the table.
Nimue moved her head a little and looked behind her, and followed Tris around the the room as she went back to sit down, then, as if someone called her name, looked up and around- searching for something.
Rosethorn watched as she smiled slightly, and appeared to relax. She turned around to see the source of the child's contentment- and saw, on the ceiling, a patch of Ivy that had worked its way into the house.
"Um... Niko?" Daja interrupted, looking at Rosethorn.
The woman raised an eyebrow, and blinked at Daja.
"Niko!" Daja repeated, turning to him and glaring at him across the table when he didn't respond.
"Yes?" He replied sweetly.
"Look, Goldeneye." She told him, trying to give him a message without giving it away.
The three children nodded, and Tris simply placed her glasses upon her head and smiled.
"Oh Tris- that's not fair." Sandry whined, rubbing her eyes.
Lark exchanged a look with Rosethorn.
Niko smiled, and nodded. "Oh." He said.
"Make her stop it." Sandry pleaded.
Rosethorn placed her hand on Briar's shoulder, and allowed their magic to mingle. Through Briar's eyes she saw herself, then as he turned his head. Rosethorn saw Nimue, and a strong beam of bright white and green magic that flowed from her to the Ivy on the ceiling. 'No- from the Ivy to her' Briar corrected her.
Rosethorn took her hand back, and thought.
"Um, Nimue?" Niko asked delicately.
The girl's head snapped to him, and she looked at him with wide eyes.
"Could you maybe stop the uh-" He gestured to the string of magic.
She looked down ashamed, and the link between her and the plant stopped.
The four young mages gave a collective sigh.
"So are you a plant mage?" Rosethorn asked sharply of the teenager.
Nimue looked to Niko for an answer.
"No..." He said slowly, narrowing his eyes.
He chewed on a slice of bread and ham thoughtfully, before standing up and pacing.
"Then, how did you-?" Briar asked.
Nimue looked away from Briar, guilty and upset; tears in her eyes.
Rosethorn frowned. True- she hated caring for people; but all the same didn't like to see them upset.
Sandry called to Briar two seats down, and asked for the tomatoes silently. As he passed them up to her he realised that Nimue still had nothing on her plate, and she was making no effort to put anything on it either.
He silently voiced this to the girls, who all shrugged it off, but Tris.
As Niko was still pacing, Tris was next to Nimue, and she slid up the bench, so she was right next to her.
Nimue briefly looked up at Tris, who had put her glasses back on. She then went back to inspecting her plate.
"Hey." Tris said bluntly, smiling at the small girl. Tris noted how thin she was, and how she shivered still. "Eat something. It'll make you warmer." She suggested.
Nimue shrank back and shook her head, wary of the red-head.
Rosethorn had put a hand out to stop Nimue falling off the bench, and when Rosethorn's gentle hand brushed Nimue's back the girl jumped, her hands flying to just under her chin, and gently clasping each other.
"She doesn't eat..." Niko muttered, still pacing furiously.
Nimue swivelled around on her seat towards Niko, frowned worriedly at him. She pressed her lips together, and swallowed.
Niko sighed, and smiled tiredly at her. He stopped pacing and held out his hands.
Within her blue eyes Nimue smiled, and she with a wary look at Rosethorn and Lark, she carefully got up and encased herself within Niko's arms.
Lark frowned, and took a vicious bite from her salad.
Sandry petted her arm; knowing it was Nimue's accepted affection from Niko and not from her that spurred this.
Nimue moaned slightly, a high pitch, uncomfortable whine; and Niko in turn looked down at her.
Nimue looked away from his curious eyes, and blushed furiously.
"Your still hiding." He concluded.
She still refused to meet his eyes.
"Come on," He coaxed. "Show us who you really are."