Title: Forever Yours
Author: Noelwing
Email: Noelwing
Summary: The tale of an English Lady, an Elfin Prince and the events between them that led to Nuada's decision to awaken the Golden Army. Nuada/OC. Pre HB2 universe.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of the HB2 universe. Any other characters are creations of the author and belong to her. As always, I apologize for any writing or grammar errors I may have missed.
Author's Notes: I tried to get to some of the romance or, at least, try to set it up. That was the point of writing this story to begin with so lets get to it already.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings include domestic violence and some adult situations in later chapters.
Chapter 11: One More Day in Eden
The iron ax plummeted through the air, splitting the small log perfectly in two pieces.
Alexander bent over, grabbed the two pieces and cast them into the pile with all the other logs to be used as fire wood.
The young Irishman stood up allowing his tired back a rest. He inhaled deeply the early English morning air. The fog was unusually light for this time of day and gave the illusion of a later hour.
Also unusual for the hour was the activity going on at the manor. The order came the night before to have the masters carriage made ready with the breaking of dawn. Lord Kanner had apparently, had enough time in the countryside and wished to return to London.
Alexander was one of the primary horse keepers and he, with help from a few others, woke early and prepared the master's carriage as bidden. None could avoid sparing the empty stall, the one that usually held Marcus, a passing glance.
Servants were preferred not think on anything that went on in the homes of their employers. Servants always joked that if their masters paid them to not think, they would be the wealthiest people on earth.
Any talk on what happened to Lady Sophia was kept in hushed, guarded tones. Today heralded the fourth morning of what, most likely would be the fourth day of her absence.
Having finished the task of prepping the master's carriage, Alexander set to work on chopping more firewood. Even with this task, his eyes were constantly drawn back to edge of the oak forest that edged the manor.
"Alex."
He turned to see his sister, Mary walking towards him. She was dressed in her black, servant gown with a green, woolen shawl wrapped around her shoulders. "I brought you some coffee."
Alexander smiled and accepted the hot, steel cup from his sister's hands.
"The cook wanted me to tell you that breakfast will be ready as soon as the master leaves." She pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders.
Alexander scoffed. "Do we have any idea when that might be?"
Mary rolled her eyes. "You know just as well as I do that I was ready for him to leave as soon as he arrived."
Alexander chuckled. Lord Kanner may have paid their wages but Alexander, like his sister, did not much like the man. Alexander was positive that most of the staff felt the same way. Alexander and his sister considered Lady Sophia to be the true master of the house.
The Irish twins had a special relationship and appreciation for Lady Sophia. Three years ago, Alexander and Mary had to leave Ireland to escape the poverty and famine that was consuming the isle. Their mother and father had long since died and they had no reason to stay. They simply did not have enough to make it across the sea to America like so many others. England was as far as they could go.
They roamed all over Yorkshire, looking for work and lodging only to be turned away time and again.
It was a harsh trial and Mary became very ill. Then they arrived on the door step of Lady Sophia. Alexander's first impression of her was that, for a woman of such status, she was surprisingly humble and gracious. She took them in, no questions asked and even saw to it that Mary received the care she so desperately needed.
Ever since then, the two of them had worked happily for their Lady. The Irish siblings felt they owed their lives to Sophia. Had it not been for her kindness, Mary most certainly would have perished. Alexander did not even want to think of life without his twin.
"I wonder if she is with him?" Mary's voice was especially cautious. The conversational prompt did not need to be heard by prying ears.
"Is it really possible that the crown Prince of Bethmoora resides in those woods?" Alexander and Mary were well aware of the other beings that inhabited the oak forest.
Bethmoora was believed to have existed in ancient Ireland. Alexander and his sister knew that Bethmoora was somewhere and everywhere. The fair-folk did not exist openly as they once did but that by no way meant they were not present at any given time and place.
When Alexander learned from Mary that Sophia had named her kidnapper as none other than the legendary Prince Nuada, he was speechless.
Alexander had never doubted the existence of the elf race but Prince Nuada's nature, as given by oral tradition passed down through the generations, was somewhat ambiguous. In some stories he was a noble hero. In others, he was a ruthless warrior.
"If she is with him, I hope he keeps her well." Alexander had wanted to go searching for her them moment he learned she was missing. But Mary had advised against it.
Alexander had already strayed into the prince's territory once before. Sophia had been able to persuade Prince Nuada to let him pass but Mary did not want to chance that Alexander might not be shown the same clemency a second time.
A sudden commotion outside the manor drew their attention back to it. Lord Kanner had finally emerged from the house and hour behind his own set schedule.
"Thank Mary and Joseph. I thought he would never leave." Alexander grumbled.
Mary concurred. She was certain that Lord Kanner was waiting for Sophia to come back. By now it was clear that she was not going to, at least, not while he was still present.
Mary found she could not much blame Sophia. She knew very well the harshness Lord Kanner could exude on some one at any time. Mary spied Kanner speaking with the head butler before disappearing into the carriage.
Mary wondered if Kanner was ordering the butler to send word to him the moment Sophia returned. Mary would not bother the poor man with it though. Like her, the butler was a man just trying to do his job. It was not the place of servants to question or intervene, for that matter, in the dynamics of the lives of those who employed them.
The twins turned there attention back to the oak forest. They prayed that now that the lord of the house was gone, Sophia might return.
Mary knew of the ambiguous nature of the fair-folk. But she also believed in their honor. She hoped that if her Lady and friend was indeed somewhere in that forest, that she was safe and not alone.
Marcus whinnied and trotted away from Nuada. The prince chuckled and chased after the feisty stallion. It was a chilly morning and the horse's breath came out in puffs like little clouds. They lingered for only a second before fading away.
"Marcus," Nuada called and clicked his tongue. He held a bundle of fresh grass in his hand and extended it to the horse. Marcus came over and nibbled from the prince's hand.
Nuada sighed and enjoyed the moment. It was a quiet and beautiful morning. Not a single cloud in the sky. There was only the sun and its warmth reaching down to the earth.
The verdant grass was dotted by crystal like drops of dew that sparkled in the sunlight. Dragon flies hovered from one blade to the next, their iridescent wings sending tiny pulses of sound through the air.
Marcus was accepting of Nuada's attentions but the prince was good at reading horses. He could tell that the one Marcus really wanted was Sophia.
When Nuada had first met Marcus, he knew right away that Marcus was loyal. It was not until he touched Marcus that he knew the depth of the love Marcus had for his lady. But there was sadness to.
Marcus had missed his lady in the few years that she had stopped riding him. Indeed, Nuada remembered that Marcus actually believed he had done something to displease his lady.
Nuada then, had wondered what had happened to make Sophia suddenly neglect such a good steed. At the time, he allowed his initial prejudices towards humans to cloud his judgment and block any possibility or reason for her behavior other than ignorant neglect.
That opinion was much changed now.
"No, you never did her any wrong." Nuada whispered reassuringly to the horse. "Your lady did not neglect you on purpose."
Marcus snorted playfully before trotting away. It was a clear sign that the horse wished dearly to be able to go out again today. It seemed a good idea to the prince but he was unsure of Sophia's condition. She was still healing and Wink had not yet returned. Leaving Sophia by herself, even to exercise Marcus was not an option.
Nuada looked to the oak trees that surrounded the grounds. "You knew so much about her, yet you did not tell me."
Nuada spoke to the trees in the most ancient language of the forest. The response of the trees was signaled by the fluttering of their leaves.
"We promised her..."
The prince nodded his head and pursued the trees no further.
The morning came to full bloom and the sun shone gloriously. It promised to be a good day. Nuada's mood piqued when he heard the sound he had been waiting for. It was the sound of very large, very heavy feet treading over damp earth.
Wink was coming back and he was close, very close.
He appeared at the edge of the cathedral grounds. He looked tired and was most likely hungry but otherwise looked to be unharmed. Nuada set off running towards him, overjoyed that his friend had returned safe and sound.
"Wink, good friend." Nuada called out as he met the troll at the edge of the cathedral graveyard.
"Did you wait up for me? You shouldn't have." The troll teased.
Nuada chuckled and slapped Wink's metal fist. "It is good to have you back. I trust you were successful in your pursuit?"
Wink nodded. "The Skin-walker is no more and I trust the message was well received by the other members of its pack. They should not be bothering us any more."
Nuada nodded his approval. Wink was back and the offending beast was dead.
"Your highness, tell me, how does the lady fair?" Wink implored.
"She is well. Her injuries were not as severe as they appeared."
The troll's sigh of relief sounded more like a deep, growl. "I do not suppose the Lady is well enough to go back to the river. I am most hungry and would love more fish."
Nuada chuckled. Poor Wink probably had not eaten since yesterday and there was nothing left of the rabbit Nuada had caught last night.
"The lady is probably at her prayers. She may not yet be fully recovered but for you, I believe, she would be happy to help."
Nuada dismissed himself and headed back to the ruined cathedral. "Marcus, be a good friend and keep the troll out of trouble." The prince called before darting off.
Wink growled. He was sorely tempted to launch his mechanical fist after the elf.
"Hail Mary, full of grace..."
She spoke softly and knelt before the statue of the Holy Mother. Sun light shone through the many holes that dotted the ceiling of the prayer chamber. Illuminated in all its glory were the cloves of ivy that grew all around the image of the holy mother.
The green vegetation grew around and covered her robes in living green. Embraced by the vegetation, she appeared one with the earth, living with it rather than apart from it. It suited her.
Sophia finished her prayer but did not rise. She had not seen all that was within this old structure. Of what she had seen though, this statue apparently, was the only thing to have withstood the test of time and exposure.
She was only a statue but Sophia felt a strong affinity for her. This was the room Sophia had awakened in when Nuada had brought her here for the first time. Even then, when she was afraid, this statue had been there for her, watched over her and listened to her prayers.
Sophia stood up and touched the face of the Goddess. It may have been cold, inanimate stone that her fingers were touching. What she reached for though, was the spirit, wisdom and love that the stone image represented.
"Lady?" Nuada said softy as he entered the chamber.
Sophia turned to see Prince Nuada standing behind her. He was still dressed in his black tunic and trousers and the only piece of armor about him was his sword girded to his side.
"Have I interrupted?"
She shook her head. "No, you have not."
Nuada's eyes stayed fixed upon her and Sophia found herself staring right back. She wondered what he must think of her now. Never before had she told another person what she had been through in her life.
She had divulged everything to Nuada. It was not her intention to tell him so much but once the details came out, she could not stop. Maybe he did not care, maybe he did? Whatever he may think, she no longer felt like she carried her woes alone anymore.
"Wonderful news, Wink has returned." It was difficult for Nuada to speak indifferent. He was happy and greatly relieved that Wink had returned so soon and safely.
The joy was mutually shared by Sophia but, for her part, it was laced by pity. Wink's return meant that Skin-walker was dead. There was nothing she could do, it was best to just accept the situation and move on.
Sophia readjusted the tartan riding quilt around her shoulders. Cedric fluttered down from wherever he had been hiding and perched on her shoulder. "Is Mr. Wink alright? He is not hurt is he?"
"No my Lady, he has returned safe and sound. It is actually your welfare he wishes to know."
She approached Nuada and stopped just a foot in front of him. Nuada gauged her appearance. She was a full head shorter than he was and the way the quilt was wrapped around her shoulders made her body look smaller. Her brown locks were tangled and in need of a good brushing. There were faint smudges of dirt on her face and hands and her feet were completely dirty.
The dress, which was actually an under garment, was soiled with dirt and blood and was beginning to fray in some areas. She looked a far cry from the well groomed, silk covered woman he had first come to know her as. She looked humble but he, in no way, saw her as diminished.
"I feel a little stiff but other wise well." she said, not quite certain if Nuada was actually listening to her.
Nuada startled. He had was so deep into his musing he had nearly forgotten his question to her.
"I wonder, do you feel well enough to leave here? Wink is hungry and he wants more fish." His words were hurried and sounded a bit awkward.
Sophia smiled and laughed. "I imagine he would be hungry. I could do with some breakfast myself." She decided to ignore his uncharacteristic awkwardness.
Cedric clicked his teeth and fluttered his wings. "Yes, yes, you can have some too Cedric." She patted his head.
Nuada stepped aside and indicated for her to follow him out. Sophia walked out to the main chamber to see Wink standing over by the wall at the other end of the room.
"Mr. Wink," Sophia called out.
"Lady," Wink turned around and Sophia walked to him and pressed herself against his chest. His left arm came around her in an embrace. Sophia nearly disappeared against Wink's robust body. Being that close to him made her appear so tiny and fragile. Nuada knew he need not worry. Wink, though one of the strongest of his kind could be as gentle as a parent to a child.
"I'm so glad you're back safe and sound."
Wink chuckled. "I am too, my lady." Wink released her. He took note of the bandages on her wrist and shoulder. "How are your injuries?"
Sophia demonstrated her fitness by bending her right wrist and rotating her left shoulder. "I think my injuries looked worse than they really were. I feel that with Nuada's care, they have healed very nicely."
"Oh really," Wink's sardonic tone was directed at the prince.
Sophia looked to see Nuada standing just behind her. His arms were crossed over his chest. His amber-gold eyes glowered at the troll. Wink returned the stare. If Sophia had not already spent so much time in the company of the two males, she would have felt frightened being in the middle of their stare-off.
"Wink, you should be proud. His highness took excellent care of me. So whatever it is you taught him, he learned very well."
Nuada turned his gaze to her. He still bore the same glower he had for Wink. Sophia was able to read him well enough by now to know that there was no real malice behind his stare.
"Wink, why must everyone always take your side?" Nuada said dejectedly.
This time, the troll burst out laughing. "Just lucky I suppose."
They were not able to set off right away. Nuada took a few minutes to prepare a satchel with a few travel necessities including what was left of the healing salve he had made for Sophia-in case it was needed. He did not don his armor but he did gird his sword to his side and secured the spear to his back. He was further armed by a small dagger which he concealed in the right sleeve of his tunic.
The last thing to be done was tacking Marcus. Sophia had given the riding quilt to Nuada so that the horse could be tacked properly and went to retrieve her own clothes. A choice she regretted almost instantly.
She held up the bodice of her gown and was instantly repulsed by it. The garment smelled of dirt and blood. The skirt only faired a little better but it was made with heavy brocade and it would weigh her down.
"My lady, are you ready to leave?" Nuada called from outside.
"Yes, I shall be right there." Sophia responded. Grimacing, she put her arms into the sleeves of the ruined bodice and slipped the boots onto her feet. She did not even bother to button the bodice. Without the corset, it would not button easily-if at all.
Nuada buckled the girth securing the saddle to the horse. Marcus stamped his front hoof and bobbed his head up and down.
Nuada went over and stood so that that his shoulder was directly under the point where the horse's head connected to its neck. His arms came up and pulled Marcus' head down.
"Another minute and we'll be off." he patted the horse's neck.
Sophia stepped out from the old cathedral walls. She could see Wink, Prince Nuada and Marcus at the edge of the grave yard. She treaded carefully towards the trio.
Wink acknowledged her with a nod of his head. Nuada seemed very preoccupied with Marcus. She smiled at the touching scene before her.
Nuada gave Marcus one last pat on the neck before acknowledging Sophia. "Are you ready?" He asked pulling fourth the reigns.
Sophia nodded. She placed her foot in the stirrup and braced herself to get onto the horse. To her great relief, the pain from her injured shoulder was minimal and she was able to get in the saddle without help. Though, she knew that without even looking that Nuada was there, waiting to offer his help had she needed it.
"Well, let us be off then," Wink waved his iron hand through the air, an indication for them to follow.
Other than the chirping and activity of birds on the bows or the occasional gust of wind, the journey was quiet. Sophia wondered if they were going back to the same place as the day before.
She knew Wink wanted fish and she would be happy to help collect them. But the thought of going back to that place, so close to where the attack happened, was like having to face that fear again all too soon.
"Lady, there are other places along the river for us to go. You need not fret." Nuada had sensed a kind of nervousness building in Sophia. He had no intention of going back to the same place as yesterday. He berated himself for not telling her sooner.
She nodded her head thankfully. She also exhaled and her tense shoulders relaxed.
Their journey had taken them into a more open area where sun light touched the ground everywhere. Sophia could actually feel the sun light warming her head and shoulders. The lapping of running water grew ever louder.
The good weather only added to the beauty of the place they had come to. The river cut through the forest like the Atlantic divided the continents. A perfect plot of trees lay on each side of the wide river.
The grassy soil gave way to a bed of water smoothed stones. The gray stones led to the shallow part of the water where fish could easily be seen milling about.
Nuada selected a spot that would be sufficient for a campsite. He brought them to a place that mostly soft earth and very little stone. It was just dry enough to build a fire and the spot's proximity to the trees would provide cover.
"Let's settle here." He announced. He immediately began collecting stones for the fire pit he was to build. Wink sniffed the air, being extra careful for any scents of beats that might bring danger.
Sophia brought Marcus to halt and took in her surroundings. "This place is so lovely. I had no idea it was even here." She had lived on this land for so long but only in the last several days had she come to realize how much of it she had not seen.
A trout broke through the surface of the water. Wink eyed the fish with blatant hunger. Sophia leaped down from the saddle landing on the river worn ground. "I had better get to work then."
She shrugged the polonaise bodice off her shoulders. It suddenly occurred to Nuada to examine her injuries before letting her go into the water. He moved to address her but the sight of her dark hair falling over her bare shoulders stifled his words.
She draped the bodice over her left arm. "Your Highness, is there a problem?" She asked, suddenly becoming aware if him staring at her.
Nuada blinked his eyes and cleared his throat. "I would just like to un-bandage your first. If they have healed enough than you may go into the water without worry."
"Oh," She shrugged. "Alright."
She held still while he removed the bandages. To his delight, her wounds were closed and mostly healed. Sophia was even more impressed than he was. And like yesterday, he tended her with the same tenderness and care that no human Doctor had ever bestowed upon her.
Satisfied that her injuries were healed enough, he sent Sophia on her way to healed Wink catch fish. He remained behind to build a fire.
Sophia and Wink applied the same fishing technique as they had the day before. Wink would drive the fish into the shallows and Sophia would catch them in the skirt of her chemise.
They were in luck today for this area of the river was inhabited by much larger fish. Larger fish meant they did not need to catch as many to gain their fill. But the larger fish also had larger fight in them.
Sophia would cast the fish onto the river bank only to end up chasing after them as they flopped there way back to the water.
Nuada had the fire built and well going. He turned his attention to his friend and their ward. Apparently, the fishing was not going well. With no one to secure the fish they caught, the creatures escaped.
A particularly large fish came heading her way. It had to be a Salmon of some kind for it was too large to be a trout. Wink had his 'eye' on it as well. Both moved in.
Wink stomped his enormous hooves in the water churning up mud and air bubbles. The fish panicked and headed away from the commotion and towards Sophia. She leaned down, dipping her skirt into the water like a net.
Nuada watched from the water's edge. He could not help but to applaud the combined efforts of the human and troll. Their current quarry would not give up though. Sophia caught the fish in her skirt but it thrashed and struggled about.
Sophia wailed and did her best to close her skirt around the fish. She lost her footing and stumbled down to her knees. With one arm, she stopped her self from falling over completely. The other arm she used to keep hold of the fish.
Nuada's fingers closed around the hilt of his spear. "Throw it here!"
Nuada's voice carried over the roar of the water. Sophia snapped up and cast the fish his way. "Catch it!"
The fish landed on the river worn stones just at the waters edge. The point of the spear cut through the air and hit the gills. The fish's head, cut clean from the body, bounced away.
Nuada skewered the fish on the end of the spear and held it aloft for his two companions to see.
"Congratulations, your highness, nice to see you earning your place." Wink teased.
Sophia shook her head. "The two of you, really. Must you always prod each other so?"
Nuada shrugged. "It is just how we fair-folk express our affection for each other" He turned to take the fish over to the fire.
"Don't you mean just how the two of you express your affection for each other?"
"She knows us too well." Wink chuckled.
With Nuada's help, no other fish escaped. The fish were cleaned and set upon sticks to cook over the fire. They all sat around the fire waiting for their meal.
Everyone ate very well that day. The cast away fish innards were good fair for Cedric. The smell drew out the other tooth fairies that, until then, had been hiding. It pleased Sophia to see that nothing went to waste.
Wink was the heartiest of warriors but the fatigue of his mission the night before was beginning to catch up with him. The gargantuan troll stretched his arms into the air and let out a massive yawn that sounded more like the roar of a beast. He inhaled deeply and reclined on the ground.
"Poor thing," Sophia commented. "Who knows what he had to go through last night."
"Yes, I suspect he may sleep for the rest of the day." Nuada smiled softly as he spoke. Maybe the two of them did not always see eye to eye, but Wink was one of the most devoted friends he had ever had. Nuada hoped he would rest well.
Once the thunderous snoring began, Nuada knew he need not worry.
Sophia smiled thoughtfully at her sleeping benefactor. She had every confidence in his strength but everyone needed to rest.
She sat silently while Nuada removed the riding equipment from Marcus. Nuada was so patient with that giddy animal. Marcus pawed at the earth with his hoof and nibbled the prince's shoulder every chance he got.
Not once did the elf prince bestow any kind of disciplinary action upon the horse. He simply patted the animal's neck and finished taking off the bridle. Once that was done, he gave Marcus a strong push on his shoulder. "Go," He said, softly releasing Marcus to go off into the grass and feed.
Nuada cast the bridle to the ground with the rest of the tack equipment. He turned his attention to Sophia. She had fallen asleep to. She lay in the space in between Wink's arm and torso. Her head rested upon the troll's massive bicep, her dark locks spilling over the arm to the ground like a dark waterfall.
Nuada added some more wood to the fire and made sure it was secure and would not get out of control or burn out anytime soon. He unfolded the riding quilt next and, as stealthy as he knew how, draped it over Sophia's slumbering form.
A soft moan was all the action elicited from her. A dark curl of hair fell across her face. Nuada's lips pulled up into a smile that melted the souls of even the oldest trees, to bare witness to it. He knelt down and with one graceful sweep of his ivory fingers he brushed those strands of hair behind her ear.
"Sleep well." He whispered, brushing his hand over her hair as he did.
The grass, new born to this spring reached upwards and shone verdant in the sun light. The blades played in the wind and though they be not visible, Nuada could feel the presence of many fey spirits welcoming the new life that sprung from the earth.
Nuada had traveled, not too terribly far from where he had left his sleeping companions so his self training would not disturb them. He feared not for Sophia's safety. Wink may have been asleep but no creature, fey or human alike, would dare risk waking him for anything.
For some time the only sound that rivaled that of the soft breeze was Nuada's spear slashing through the air. Muscles strained, his feet danced upon the soft earth and the silver blade gleamed in the sun light.
The techniques he practiced were so embedded in his body memory that he barely had to think about them anymore. The majority of his thoughts were focused on one thing: perfection.
One might ask what could be defined as the perfection of the sword. Nuada could only think of one answer and that was Scathach. Hers was the finest blade Bethmoora had ever known. Nuada spent hours watching her and how she gave herself so completely to her art.
The world disappeared when she practiced with the blade. Nothing was able to disturb her. Not a person, not the wind or anything else.
Even the rain found it could not disrupt her focus. So sharp was her focus that she was able to isolate a single, tiny droplet of rain and slice it into two.
Nuada slashed the blade through the air, slicing a leaf in two pieces. The remains spiraled to the ground. It was the closest he had ever come to matching the skill of his long gone weapons master.
Nuada had tried many a time to match her but never felt he had come close. Scathach had tried to teach him everything she knew. Many would agree that he had learned well by her.
"You can never be her..."
The point of Nuada's spear pointed down to the grass. Those were words Wink had once told him. Nuada conceded it the truth; there could only ever be one of each person. If he could be her equal, that would be enough.
He brought his right wrist to his forehead and wiped away the sweat there. He slowly became aware of his deep, labored breathing. The passing breeze chilled the sweat on his body.
His thoughts had been so jumbled he had not been aware of how far he was pushing himself. He needed to relax and refocus himself. It also occurred to him that he could do with a good washing as the smell of fish was still on him.
Fish may be among the most nourishing of fare but Nuada found the smell it left behind to be most unwelcome. Nuada retracted his spear back to its half form. Carrying the weapon at his side, he headed back to the water.
A short pass of time later would find the prince lying upon a large slab of stone in the water, like an island, sunning himself. Nuada's little island was farther away from the banks, away from the churning of the shallower water. The water was deeper the surface was so calm.
He dipped his ivory fingers into the water, rippling the reflection of heaven above. Of all the earth's elements, water was the one the prince most revered. Water was never the same. It was always changing. If water was ever trapped, it either escaped by carving its way through or swelling until it overflowed its obstacle.
Or, water could evaporate into the air; go from earth to heaven. Their, it would linger in the clouds until it saw fit to fall back down to the earth in the form of rain.
Movement on the banks snared his attention. His fist clenched as though to grasp his spear: a habitual reaction born from years having to fight for one's life at any given time.
It was a white clad figure, kneeling at the water's edge: Sophia.
'So she is awake now' Nuada thought casually. He watched while she dipped her hands into the water, rubbing them together. She cupped water in her hands and splashed her face with it. She then combed her nimble, wet fingers through her dark locks, draping them over her right shoulder.
Sophia was not sure of how long she had slept. With as groggy as she felt, she thought she had slept through the whole day. The sun light had waned but not enough to be considered evening. It was sometime afternoon at the latest.
Wink however, was still sleeping like a baby. She had no desire to disturb him and so came to the water to wash up. The smell of fish was all over her and she rubbed her hands together in the cold, river water in an attempt to get rid of the smell.
The bank was lined with large slabs of rock, burnished smooth by years of exposure to the water current. The slab she sat upon dipped into the water forming, almost, a wading area. The stone was lightly gray in color and its edge gave way to slightly deeper water.
Sophia scanned the surface of the water. It seemed so much calmer than it had this morning. Maybe even the wild water needed down time. It was very peaceful though.
Sophia pulled her knees to her chest and rested her folded arms upon them. Her thoughts inevitably began to drift back towards the manor. Cedric had taken on the role of spy and relayed the information that Richard had left.
Sophia was not surprised that he was gone. It may very well be a ploy to lure her back to the manor. And if she did return, surely one of the staff would inform him of it right away. And then, what would happen?
The wind blew, causing something in the corner of her left eye, to move. She looked to see what looked like a black piece of fabric hanging from a tree limb.
Curiosity piqued, she stood up and went to investigate. The closer she got the more familiar the fabric looked. It was a black shirt; it was Prince Nuada's shirt. Just below the shirt, leaning against the trunk was his gilded spear.
The neglected shirt did not bother her so much as the spear. It struck her as very unusual that Nuada would just leave it unattended, for any length of time.
Though nothing about the scene before her justified panic, she felt it anyway.
"Your highness..." She called.
"Over here!" Nuada shouted. He did not know what had caused her to worry but he answered her all the same.
Relief filled the pit that had formed in her stomach. She shut her eyes and let the elation take her over. She turned in the direction his voice had come from. Her breath caught in her throat.
The elf was lounging on a large slab of rock in the middle of the river. He was clad only in his loose fitting black trousers. His white hair was damp and clung to the curves of his defined shoulders. That muscle definition continued all over his torso.
His skin looked even whiter in the sun light. As solid as marble yet finer than anything Michelangelo had ever created. Yet the skin was scathed with scars here and there. Flaws that actually added to his beauty.
The vision of alabaster perfection slipped from the rock and into the water. The surface stirred while he made his way to her. She stepped to the edge where he would surface, her eyes never leaving the swimming form.
"Why all the commotion? I have not gone far from you."
Those were his first words when he broke the surface. He rested his elbows on the rock but only his head and shoulders were above the water.
His words broke her out of her trance. She shook her head for good measure. "I found your shirt and your weapon left behind and unguarded."
"Yes, your point my Lady?" he spoke calmingly but the he could not disguise his smirk. When had it become so fun to tease her?
"It's dangerous out here." She countered. "What if you were attacked and not able to defend yourself?"
"I assure you Lady, my defenses do not lie in weapons alone."
She crossed her arms over her chest. "Right. So what if a bunch of vagabond thieves came along, found your spear and took it as spoils? You would have lost your spear again and then where would you be?"
He shrugged. It was not an impossible scenario. "Point well taken now will you please settle down."
She looked at him, grudgingly almost, before settling down on the slab of rock. "Forgive me. After all that's happened I have just become so paranoid."
He nodded his head. "It is alright Lady. Best be too cautious than none at all."
She only nodded her head.
"So how is Wink?"
"He's alright. I left the old chap to his sleep. Best I thought not to bother him so I came here for a wash up."
"That makes two of us." Nuada ran his fingers through his damp locks.
"Seems more like you are here for a swim." She did him the courtesy of looking at him while she spoke but as soon as she could, she looked away. Even so much as seeing one of his exposed shoulders caused her insides to quake and her face flush.
"Do you swim?"
His question startled her out of her wits. "What?" Her frame trembled nervously.
Nuada planted his hands on the submerged shelf and hoisted himself out of the water. He seated himself down on the same stone shelf. The water there was only ankle deep: no longer was there a barrier between Nuada's shirtless frame and her curious eyes
"Why so nervous? I simply asked if you swim. So do you or don't you?"
Her cheeks flushed at his proximity. She could feel the strain of her eyes wanting to take in his glorious physique. She clenched her fists in her lap and averted her treacherous eyes.
"No, of course I don't swim!" She finally spit out.
Nuada cocked an eyebrow "Why? Are you afraid of the water? I find it so odd that humans can live on an island nation such as this one, yet hate of the water is so prevalent."
She shrugged her shoulders. "Ironic, isn't it?" She quietly gathered her thoughts before continuing.
"I do not think people hate the water. It is just that water is a tricky element. We can use it to travel via boats, we can use to grow our food and clean our homes. But water can hurt us to.
"A terrible rain can flood our fields. A person could drown in even the tiniest of puddles. Water is something we cannot control and thus, it reminds of our limitations as humans.
"So, best leave the flying to the birds and the swimming to the fish. Or, in this case," She dipped her fingers in the water and flicked them at Nuada sending tiny droplets his way. "I'll leave the swimming to you."
The prince turned his head away playfully. "So no care to come in and experience the water for yourself then?"
She gasped. "What, me, go in the water? Did not here a thing I just said?"
Nuada cocked his head. The more he got to know this woman, the more enigmatic he found her to be. "Yes my Lady but you did not answer my question as to whether or not you swim."
She grunted indignantly. "I shall put it in simple terms then: of the thousands of people who live on this island without knowing how to swim, I am one of them. There! Satisfied?"
To her surprise (and irritation) Nuada threw his head back and chuckled. "Now I am truly mystified." He cast his mischievous gaze skyward.
Her nose wrinkled and her disgruntled face snapped in his direction. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"
He looked back at her as though he expected her to already know. Regrettably, it was human nature to seldom see the obvious.
"Since I have known you, I have seen you steal from your husband, you've befriended flesh eating fairies and you fought for your life, and won, against one of the most vile members of my race. "
Her eyebrows wrinkled. "I have not forgotten any of that your highness. I fail to see your point."
He plunged himself back into the water. Bubbles foamed and frothed at the surface for a few seconds before his head popped back up. He shook his head clearing water and strands of hair clear of his face.
"My point is that you have done so many brave things. I do not see why you would let a fear of water prevent you from swimming."
"Nuada, I told you already, I don't know how to swim." She whinnied.
"And I tell you, you didn't know how to fight but you did anyway. You may not know how to swim but you can still get in the water."
She thought on his words for a second before responding. "It's not about knowing how to do something, it's just about doing it." She voiced her thoughts out loud.
"Yes." The way he smiled made his eyes gleam with something, almost innocent in nature. It made him irresistible.
Nuada extended his hand out to her. She inhaled deeply when his fingers, chilled by the water, rested upon her own. Unbidden, her own fingers entwined his with his.
"I promise I will not let you drown."
She let him pull her closer to the water. She inhaled deeply squeezed the prince's hand and plunged forward.
"That could have gone better." Nuada pulled her back to the surface and she spit and sputtered trying to reorient herself. He had thought to pull her directly to him and let her dip in slowly. Instead she had plunged forward, surprising him. He should well know by know that this woman never did anything he might think she would.
She stopped struggling enough to come back to her senses. "Well, I am glad you're amused." Her slender fingers clawed the damp locks of hair away from her face and somewhat back into place.
She took several minutes to regain control of her breathing. She could feel herself shiver from both nerves and the water's chill. She willed herself to calm down and focused on the hands that held her so securely.
"It's alright, I've got you." He brought her to him. Her arms instantly, albeit hesitantly, came around his shoulders and secured around his neck. He could feel her trembling and he held her tighter.
"Just relax. Let the water carry you." Nuada tuned himself to her every movement; down to the slightest muscle twitch. He could feel her shiver, could feel the stiffness in her body fade. Soon, she was relaxed and calm.
"Alright, I'm going to move away from here. Hold on to me." Her response was little more than a whimper. It was indiscernible if that whimper was a 'yes' or a 'no'. Nuada made ready to kick off: if her response was a 'no', he was about to find out.
The water caressed the two of them as Nuada motored through it. His arms came away from her waist to propel the two of them. Sophia trembled at the loss of those arms holding her so securely.
Every time his arms moved, his shoulder would brush against her face and hair Feeling muscles working under bear skin that was warm and combated against the water's chill lulled her into a state of calm she could not comprehend.
The water was deep enough now to where Nuada's feet no longer touched the bottom. The water carried the two of them in its gentle embrace. The sun was just above and its light penetrated all the way to the bottom.
"Sophia; look where we are." She opened her eyes and observed. They were in the middle of the river floating in the water's hold.
Sophia hummed at the sight below her. The bottom seemed like a different world and just as fascinating. She kept one arm secured around Nuada's shoulders while she used the other to maneuver so that she could better observe.
The bottom looked, she guessed, eight to ten feet deep there were many tiny stones colored in shades of white, gray and brown that speckled the bottom like a natural mosaic.
Most wonderful were the plentiful trout. Their silvery bodies gleamed as they glided through the liquid universe.
Nuada adjusted his hold so that she was positioned bridal style in his arms. "This is not so frightening, is it?" he asked, allowing the water to support them as it might.
"No," She replied softly. "It's wonderful."
The two of them were so close. Her eyes were inevitably drawn to his face. The look of his scars, his black lips and his amber eyes remained fierce. When had they begun to become beautiful?
Her pale, nimble fingers combed through several strands of his hair. Nuada shut his eyes and sighed at the tender touch. Like a noble maiden fair tending her warrior love, she tucked those strands behind his right ear where they belonged.
"Have you ever been in love your highness?" she asked unabashedly.
He considered the question a few seconds before speaking. "I do not know how to explain it so that you can understand. Elves, the fair folk, we do not love as human kind do."
"Try." Sophia waited with quiet anticipation. Her right arm remained draped over his shoulders while her left arm floated just below the surface.
He looked into her eyes before speaking. "I cannot say that I have been truly in love Sophia. When seeking a companion, elves seek nothing less than the one whom we might spend the rest of our lives with.
"Humans claim the same, and forgive me my honesty, it all too often seems that humans are hardly successful. Always they pursue mates for reasons other than life companionship."
She nodded. "I am not going to argue with you. My intentions for marriage were no more pure than Richard's. But it is not always so. I believe full well that, had their lives not ended so untimely, my mother and father would still be together."
He smiled warmly. "And together they would have something as rare as a Phoenix in winter and just as glorious."
His words touched her deep inside. Never had any one she had heard been able to express the concept of love everlasting as beautifully as Nuada just did.
"For most, making the love last and endure is the challenge. My challenge is being able to find it."
She eyed him quizzically.
"I am in exile and have been for many centuries now."
"Exile?" the word pierced straight to her heart. What could Nuada, a person she now believed to be so noble, have possibly done to deserve exile?
"Be calm," he said in response to the look of sudden panic in her eyes. "I am in exile of my own free will. It is not because of penance for any wrong doing."
She listened without judgment or fear while he spoke his piece. His father, King Balor, ended a great war by striking a truce with humanity; an act Nuada did not agree with. He did not trust humans to uphold their part of the bargain and feared for his kind. He saw the bargain with humanity as the beginning of the end for his people.
To avoid becoming broken by his father's rule, Nuada went into exile so that he could grow and refine his battle craft and leadership unhindered. Wink joined him sometime later. Life in exile was difficult but as long as he had his friend, it did not have to be lonely.
The realm of Bethmoora was ever on his mind but he would not return until he had become the warrior he knew his people would need someday. Still, he could not suppress the desire to return anymore than he could forget the loved ones that still dwelt there.
It was a romantic notion, there was no denying it. No matter the reasons though, there was immunity to homesickness. "You could just go home. I do not believe your people would think less of you."
His amber eyes fell under their shadowy lids. "I believe you my Lady. Indeed it would do my heart much glad to return to my people."
She tucked another damp lock of hair behind his ear. "But returning means you would have to submit to your father's truce."
He nodded. "Yes. I know my father had his reasons for making the truce. I do not blame his reasons but I do not believe it was the best choice for my kind. Am I wrong to believe we deserve more than to dwell in shadow: practically forgotten by the world?"
She did not know what to tell him. She traced the right side of his face softly with her delicate finger tips. Nuada sighed at the affectionate gesture.
"Sometimes I wonder if I am just running from the inevitable. That being the possibility that the fair folk are destined to fade away."
She shrugged her shoulder. "Aren't we all just running from possible inevitabilities? Cedric checked on the manor this morning; Richard has left."
He waited quietly for her to continue.
"I am sure he has gone back to London. For how long, I have no idea. He will come back though and when he does..."
Nuada pulled her closer. He could feel her tremble and knew it was not the from the mountain cold water that surrounded her.
"What do you think he will do?" He asked bluntly.
She shook her head and sighed contemplatively. "I really have no idea what he plans to do with me after all I've done. All I know is that he will never forget it.
"I cannot foresee the future any more than you can so I've decided I'm not going to worry about it. I will just wait let the future unfold as it will."
"Is that wise? You have spent so many years already, just waiting. In all that time nothing has come to you." Nuada did not mean to be condescending. It was in his nature to be contingent, to always be prepared.
"You came. That has to mean something." Her eyes held a level of intensity made potent by the hope he could see in them as well. Last night she revealed all the shadows of her past to him. Nuada realized that no longer was haunted by her past, nor would she ever be again.
Because from the moment they had first met, he had changed her forever.
She pressed her forehead against his. The contact was close enough for the prince to feel her eyelashes flutter against his skin.
"I remember the world now and it's more amazing to me than ever before. It's more wonderful because I know you are in it."
The two of them fell into silence. The chill of the water was still there but no more did it bite at her skin. In the water she felt weightless. It may not have been flight but it could most certainly be called the next best thing.
Nuada could feel her limbs grow lax. Her arms slowly withdrew from him and she reclined into the water. Her head sank till her face was like a little island. She entrusted herself entirely to him.
Nuada watched her in her state of near meditation. He waited at the ready but said nothing for fear of breaking her moment of peace. For the moment, she was floating entirely on her own.
Evening came quickly. So much so that Nuada thought it best to remain by the river till morning. Traveling through the woods at night came with many perils, but that was only half the reason. Wink was still fast asleep and Nuada had no wish to wake him. Better endure a night of camping rather than suffer the wrath of a cranky troll.
Nuada rebuilt the fire. He made it much larger for the extra warmth and longer burn time. When Sophia asked leave to attend to her prayers, he granted it. Though, he asked her to only go as far as the light of the fire would remain within sight. He wanted to allow her privacy, but she was still under his protection.
He kept his senses, especially his hearing, focused as far as they could reach. His hearing sorted out the rippling of the water, the ceaseless choir of countless crickets and other night singers all the way back to the crackling fire in front of him.
His meditation on the nightly noises was interrupted by the sounds of groggy stretching. Wink was getting up; his yawning was a sound that would frighten a pack of wolves.
"Sleep well, my friend?" Nuada asked. He pulled a leftover fish from the wrappings in his pack and cast it over to Wink.
The troll rubbed his flesh fingers over his face. "Yes, but maybe a bit too long." he picked up the offered fish and took a bite.
"Fret not, you deserve it." Nuada encouraged.
"Where is Sophia?" Wink asked, looking but not finding her.
"The lady is at her prayers."
Wink nodded in response and swallowed the last bite of his fish.
"Wink, my friend, I really hoped the two of us might speak." Nuada waited with baited breath for his friend to respond. The troll finally waved his metal hand in air; an invitation for Nuada to begin.
"First, I want to apologize for the way I spoke to you the other day." his shoulders slumped slightly at the admission of his shame. "You were only trying to caution me-"
"Dissuade you more the like."
Sophia assumed her usual position of prayer; kneeling on the ground. In her mind she, visualized the Holy Mother, or tried to. Out here, in the woods, in the presence of so much natural spirituality, images of human idols seemed out of place.
Any minister would have punished her for her blasphemous thoughts. Of course, she had spent the afternoon in the water, in nothing but her under garments on, in the arms of Prince Nuada who wore no shirt: what were a few blasphemous thoughts then?
She finished her prayers and headed back to camp. The signal fire was within her sight, she had not gone far just as Prince Nuada had instructed. She treaded carefully using the fire as her focal point. The closer she got, she realized that Wink was not only awake, but appeared to be in conversation with Nuada.
"Do not tell me what you must do. I know the sacrifices rulers must make at times but this is beyond that." it was very rare that Nuada pushed Wink to the point of anger. In Wink's mind, Nuada was using his royal duties as an excuse to carry out a personal vendetta.
"Wink, how can I hope to have the faith of our people when I have not overcome this great challenge?" Nuada answered back.
"The only way our people would lose faith is if you were dead. I joined you in exile because I believe in your cause and because you are my friend. I never dreamed I would have to pull you back from insanity."
Under any other circumstances, such a statement would have made Nuada howl with laughter. But this was serious. Nuada needed his oldest and dearest friend now more than ever.
Sophia pushed her back against a tree, hiding from sight. She did not mean to eve's-drop but their voices were raised to tones unfamiliar to her. It would have been impossible to ignore them even if she tried.
"Trust me, my friend, I am frightened by this too. But I have no choice-"
"Of course you do. My friend, no one is saying you have to do this. Not your father, not the people and certainly not me. To the people you are enough as you are. When will you be enough for yourself?"
Nuada's face contorted into something feral, horribly angry. Only humans existed in a perpetual state of un-satisfaction, of in completeness. How dare Wink, his friend, compare his desires to those of greedy and insatiable humans?
"I will fight the dark elemental and I will be victorious."
Sophia's fingers dug into the bark. Nuada had become something unrecognizable. She pressed closer to the tree. Not wanting to hear anymore but too afraid to draw attention to her self by moving.
Nuada, frustrated but having spoken his piece, turned away and disappeared into the dark woods.
Wink sighed heavily. It was a sound that would have seemed more like a mournful groan to anyone else but Sophia could tell he was deeply upset. She did not understand what had just transpired before her. It was clear though that there was something terribly wrong between the two, steadfast friends.
"Lady, come from the shadows." Wink bid softly.
She relinquished her embrace of the tree and inched forward toward the camp. Her fingers clutched at the edges of the riding quilt and pulled it tighter around her shoulders. She had all the nervousness and apprehension of a child afraid in the face of an angry parent.
Wink spoke first. "How much of that did you hear?" he said, cutting to the point.
Her first instinct was to try and play like she had not heard anything. Wink was no fool and it would be wrong to lie to him.
"Only enough to understand something is very wrong." she dropped her eyes regretfully.
"Please do not think any of it has anything to do with you." He said no more on the subject. It was late and time she slept anyway.
Like a parent beckoning their child, he extended his arm and invited her to come and sit next to him. She came without hesitation.
She leaned her torso over Wink's massive leg and made herself comfortable. It was not long before the melody of the crackling fire and the warmth of the troll's body began to lull her into sleep.
She did not understand why Wink and Nuada were not getting along. And she feared what she had heard: what was a dark elemental? Why was Nuada so obsessed with it?
The morning came with uncharacteristic swiftness. It was like the wheels of time began to hasten events, whatever they may be, along.
Both woman and troll had awakened to find their group still short by one. It made the morning even harder for Sophia. She had decided it was time to return to the manor. It was not an easy choice to make. In the few days she had been away from the manor, she had experienced much, some good and some bad but all revealing in some way.
But first things first: Wink was hungry for more fish and she could not refuse him.
Wink noticed that she was more quite than usual. He figured that what she had witnessed the night before was bothering her. He wished he could explain everything to her. He needed someone to confide in and believed in her enough to know she would at least listen.
He was not so certain that was a good idea. One part was that he was not sure how Nuada would feel about such an action. Now of course, Wink could do what ever he wanted, but his loyalties to Nuada were strong and the matter should remain in between them.
The other half was that Sophia had her own monsters to deal with. Wink was wise enough to know that by telling Nuada's plans could frighten her.
"Wink, will Nuada be returning at all today?" She asked unexpectedly.
He noticed her reference to time frames. How well she had come to know his highness and knowing that after last night, his next appearance was anyone's guess.
"I am truly uncertain my Lady." He said defeated.
She sighed. "That's a pity, I would have liked to have said goodbye." when she heard his surprised she gasp she was prepared but no less saddened.
"Sophia, are you saying you mean to return to your home? To that brutal man?"
"Richard has gone back to London, Cedric told me so. And yes, it is time I went back."
"My lady, please don't think because of matters between his highness and myself that you are unwelcome."
"I know that Wink. You and his highness have been very good to me. These last few days I have spent with you, even in times of danger, have been the best I have had in a long time.
"But I have people at the manor who care about me, and I them. I can't stay away forever."
Wink felt, a little bit, like he was talking to Nuada. One more person who placed what seemed like non-existent obligations upon themselves.
"If those people really cared about you, would you not think they would want you to be safe? He asked.
"You could stay here, in the oak forest. Even after his highness and I are gone the trees would be your shelter and the tooth-fairies would provide you with game. You could live out the rest of your days in the companionship and safety of the fair folk."
His words were so endearing. How romantic it would be to leave the human world and its struggles behind.
"Stay here; in the forest?" the possibility sounded even more romantic when spoken aloud. "And become the wild woman of Yorkshire."
It did Wink well to laugh. "If that is what you wish to become. My point is that no one would ever find you here. Hide in these woods and you will be safe."
"Safe: maybe. But not sound."
Wink merely shrugged, unsure of what she meant.
"I've been hiding my friend, for a very long time now. I am still uncertain of what to do. All I do know is that if I never confront my demons, I will be able to move forwarding life."
The troll found he could not argue with her. He did not know what her demons were but he understood her need to conquer them.
The act of tacking Marcus and dressing into the remains of her gown was a quiet endeavor. Wink asked if he might escort her, at least as far as the edge of the manor grounds, and she gladly accepted.
They traveled at a good pace and it was the later part of the afternoon when they arrived at the outskirts of the property.
"This is as far as I dare go my lady."
"No worries my friend, I had not planned on going to the front door myself." the staff would be surprised enough just to see her return. She knew as much as Wink would have liked to have stayed with her, she could not risk him being seen.
The troll really was not good with 'goodbyes'. He just looked at her, struggling to find something to say.
"I'll not forget all the kindness you have shown me, I swear." she reached out a hand to the troll. Wink extended his flesh hand in return. Her hand was only big enough to accommodate one of his fingers. "You, the tooth fairies, even his Highness have my thanks."
"I shall tell him you said so."
She withdrew her hand. "Please take care of Nuada." Her plea came from the deepest part of her heart. There was some part of her now that was not at ease. Nuada was up to something and she worried for him.
"You may as well ask for the moon, but I will do my best."
The two friends finished their goodbyes and headed off, with somber steps, in their own directions.
Sophia could not resist glancing back one more time. Wink had already disappeared back into the forest. He was out of sight but not gone.
Sophia made her way to the barn. She had no other plan other than to show up and deal with it all one thing at a time.
She dismounted from Marcus and walked him to the barn. Being back on the grounds felt strange. She had not been gone long but everything looked, and felt so different.
The barn doors were open and standing several yards away from the barn's gaping doors was a familiar figure.
Alexander busied himself with piling up old, dirty, uneaten straw so that it could be taken away later and burned. Gripped in his teeth was the stem of an old pipe the billowed smoke with every puff.
"Now Alexander, what is the rule about smoking too close to the barn?"
The young Irishman spit the pipe out and coughed loudly. His cheeks turned rosy with embarrassment of being caught smoking around so much flammable material. When he saw it was Sophia, he inhaled deeply only to cough again.
"My lady," he choked out before coughing again.
Sophia ran and embraced him. She paid no mind to the smell of pipe tobacco that clung to him.
She and Mary were reunited soon after. The two women embraced fondly. It was not too long before word of her return spread through the house. There would indeed be consequences but for now, Sophia paid them no mind.
She was back now. Perhaps not home, but back and for the time being, safe.
Mary spirited her away to a room, tucked away in the kitchen areas. It was an older room (probably a room reserved just for the cook at one point in the manor's long history) with a stone fire place and one window.
Sophia used it as her own private bathing room. She stood in the small tub in front of a burning fire while she poured the water from the jugs Mary had left for her over her body. The fire kept her warm while she washed and scrubbed the dirt and grime away.
Soon any evidence that she had been out in the woods was completely gone from her body. No one would even think that she had been viciously attacked for those wounds were completely healed. Not even the slightest mark remained.
The only evidence of her experiences in would remain forever in her heart and mind.
It was all still with her.
Nuada was still with her.
Ok kids, it has been a long time in between updates and I hate to say that his could possibly be the last. As much as I have enjoyed writing this story, a lot has changed in recent months. I will always be a fan of Prince Nuada but I have now gone from the Court of Bethmoora to join the ranks of Loki's army (come on, I know I'm not the only one out there).
It remains to be seen if I will begin writing Loki fic. Hell, I am even thinking of ways to give him a cameo in this story. I still dwell on this story a lot and still cling to the possibility that I may finish one day. But if any one wants future updates, I need to know about it. So please, send me your reviews and let me know if this story still generates any interest for anyone.
