Court was no longer in session.
That cursed factory, he would not reside there and play to his father's insane belief that it was an acceptable circumstance and not a laughingstock. A cruel joke made worse by the fact that the humans had no idea, the suffering they were causing to a noble race. Their ancestors must be delighted. That peace treaty; it was no more than our surrender, that ultimately lowered our status in the world, as the gods lost their faith in the Fae also.
How could they not, when those they had ordained by their grace to be their representatives on earth, proved weak and allowed for their influence to fade along with them and be replaced by whatever deity the humans have conjured for themselves now.
Did the Aiglin tree even exist or had it been butchered by an axe for firewood, which would make discovering it all the more challenging for any pilgrims, that still remain. Nuada didn't doubt the thought. Otherwise why else would the elves need to abandon their city. It didn't flourish because its source to do so could not transmit its blessing through the soil or the roots of trees, which veined the ceilings of the underground kingdom.
Sickness began, crops failed and fertility waned all more, yet they blamed it on the presence of the golden army.
It seemed a clever scheme by his father, to put the fault on that machinal army, rather than face his own mistakes head on. Better his people were brainwashed to fear the army rather than dispose the king who acted poorly on their behalf.
As a warrior trained, surrender was not a word to be mentioned.
It was beaten out of you and if overpowered, then honour could still be achieved in death. It would be deserved for you were meant to keep fighting, until the bitter end, when an enemy's blade finally found a fatal spot.
It was Corvin who taught Nuada that lesson, his departed brother-in-law. Yet fate had not been kind to him, for as good a warrior Nuada was, Corvin excelled even further.
Only, while Corvin had been riding hard in the rain to reach one of the Fae's encampments, the mud was thick from the heavy rainfall, disguising the claw traps beneath. A hundred elves dismounted, as these sharp contraptions snapped at their touch, dismembering their steads. It didn't matter how far they rode, some smashed into each other, trampling their brothers at arms, before they too got caught in the trap. If they could stand and prepare for the imminent ambush, they didn't make it far before they too were caught and all they could do was hiss at the pain and try to break free from the agonising iron chewing their limbs. How Nuada never heard the screaming he didn't know, for he couldn't imagine what they must have gone through, then to be robbed of a fighting death, for the humans appeared to fire arrows at the survivors.
They had been like pin cushions and it was only by Winks thick flesh that he managed to find Corvin in the massacre at all, while taking a few nips himself. Even through the rain, blood bathed Corvin from head to toe and oozed out of him easily, like pouring a pitcher. A bent arm, protruding bone. Arrows were buried at random places and his helm was indented from being rode over multiple times. It was his commanders' sash that identified Corvin to wink. It had clung to him desperately, with hints of the royal colours still unstained. As much as Nuada tried to prompt him, there was no way Corvin had the strength to speak. In fact, He wasn't sure that the elf knew it was his prince who loomed over him. He just twitched like an open nerve was being poked, managing to manoeuvre the arm that was left to him towards Nuada's weapon, nodding manically when he could actually touch it.
Nuada and Wink knew that it was what Corvin wanted. If he lasted this long as the sole survivor, he would not abide to the idea that he should live on while his men had died all around him. Besides, he was beyond all healing and Nuada would not have allowed an animal to suffer in such a state, let alone someone he loved; and his wife's brother at that.
Wink curled corvin against his chest and tilting his head forward, Nuada plunged his knife into the base of the skull.
Why wouldn't they want to avenge that. Why would they surrender and make Corvin's death and everyone else's meaningless?
Shaking hands with their murderers even.
Of all Balor's lessons, Nuada could not abide to that last one which went against his training as a soldier and spat at his men's sacrifice.
His father became a traitor to him on that day, committing treason to his own people and though he had loved him; Nuada refused to remain in the place that would become Balor's tomb for he would leave it, as a mark of his predecessors failings and a promise to the fae that he would not follow in his father's footsteps.
He delivered them, justice.
Now, however, he was meeting his council members in the storerooms beneath the troll market. Which wasn't much of an improvement, but patience was needed before he could return them to their rightful riches.
He had stayed here often, alternating it between the railway so a few of his possessions remained. The owner it belonged to didn't care much for details on who Nuada was exactly. The prince had kept himself disguised by a heavy cloak, so they hadn't seen his face. As long as he chucked coin their way, they had no qualms with him staying there. Some of his possessions had even amounted here. A few drawings on the wall, books and blankets. In some way to have his council members here, it felt like an intrusion on his privacy, but he hadn't gotten used to being among people again yet and crowds now seemed to irk him. Even one of just six.
"majesty," they saluted, dropping to one knee.
He beckoned for them to stand and swiftly they did, gazes fixed straight ahead as he assessed them individually, saving Mahru for last.
"my wife slipped through your fingers then."
Mahru liked to talk, as if he were the voice of the council collectively, despite being the newest member in their ranks and with far less experience. He stood shorter than them all, slimmer, feminine almost. His thin lips had a natural smirk and his eyes were sharp with the prospect of calculating schemes. Any manners he displayed or show of respect, it was clearly forced as he didn't seem to relish in wanting to serve anyone but himself. He had climbed high on the social ladder though to be among these high elves, for his family name wasn't one Nuada had recognised when meeting them. His place here wasn't earnt, which made Nuada suspicious from the beginning and why he pushed for them to retrieve Nimue, though wink was already on the case.
"unfortunately, highness," he confessed, staring Nuada directly in the eye, from the corner of his; a sly expression. "She was not alone; seems her years have earnt Nimue peculiar allies. We underestimated her."
Nuada agreed with him about her 'peculiar allies' as he put it. When he was in the railway station, the prince had been aware that there were fools nearby playing with demonic sorcery. It had been a source of amusement to him and Wink and he had wondered how it ended, until Nimue showed him. He thought that they met their demise at their own hands, since you didn't meddle with such things without a price being paid, especially if the forces at hand found their conjuror unworthy.
But there was something about the Red demon who had been toyed with at that time and who he met on the roof top. Nuada believed Nimue hadn't shared all, where it had been concerned. Though nothing explained to him why her companions accepted being used by this BPRD. They didn't gain anything in return by the human's manipulation to fight their battles and would thrive so much better outside it and amidst their own kind.
Curious indeed.
"it was she who bested you in combat. Not her followers. Look at you all. Such fine uniforms marred by grime. That's no surprise, her skills are impressive. You must have antagonised her immensely because she does not fight less provoked."
Although with Nuada, she had been very competitive during the training sessions they shared together, when it had taken her fancy that is. She seemed to expel all her frustrations regarding her obligations as a princess out on him and sometimes he doubted the strength of his arm to keep her at bay. Nimue just lost herself in the art of wielding her weapon and some movements she made up to adapt to the position she found herself in and gain the upper hand. These he would take to the battlefield with him and it felt like she was there, protecting Nuada every step of the way. It didn't help that they both used to abuse their bond, to anticipate what the other was going to do and their sessions used to last for hours. Sometimes it would be sheer exhaustion if nothing else and still there would be no clear winner between them. Often wink took to watching them at it, mocking their fighting style as nothing but the frolicking of fairies, when he was all brute force and at the reminder of his friend, Nuada clenched his fist.
It seemed he had underestimated Nimue's determination. That somehow without him there, Wink would successfully appeal to his wife's better nature, due to the history of their friendship, that had never been troubled. This was the troll who had carried her brother's body safely home to her. However, she stabbed him where it hurt most and then made it out as though she were the one bleeding.
When he first heard the news that she had banished him, Nuada had been enraged that she would use wink to spite him and disregard all the three of them have ever been to each other. Nuada was even powerless to get his friend back when he needed him most, for the troll would not tarnish his name in disobeying Nimue. The loss in comfort of a friend whose loyalty was without question during this turbulent time, had maddened Nuada and as a result, he released the elemental.
She had convinced herself it was for Winks sake, but he refused to believe it. Beneath all the raw emotion, she chose to do what she did as revenge. The only thing that had calmed him down, was that he couldn't ignore that she did actually save Wink's life.
He rather wink was alive and out there somewhere, than dead and it was that which allowed Nuada to forgive her.
"sire, if you would allow me to say as much; but as a council member I must convey my concern over the princess's wellbeing."
Mahru leant in as if it hushed his string of sentences from the others, "The look in her eyes, something was not right. It would explain why she would behave in this manner. Wild she was, hardly a disposition a member of the royal family should carry. We all feared for our lives, but out of respect and shock we avoided causing harm. I admit the Skolga was a questionable action; but I did so to spare my fellow council men. Perhaps the death of the king finally pushed her over the edge. If she has the crown piece…"
Nuada dared him to carry on.
"then maybe we should face the issue that a more final action, would best suit Nimue. she has after all, proven herself a danger to her own kind. If the people got wind of this, I doubt they would wish to welcome her back into the world we are planning to rebuild. Better she meets her end the same as our departed king Balor. A mercy really…"
Nuada had been sure to remain stoic, his hands crossed and relaxed behind his back, registering this statement word for word, "I see..."
Suddenly, he snapped his fingers and in the blink of an eye, Mahru's silent brothers swooped in and restrained the ignorant pup. He had commanded it before this meeting took place, that they prepare for Mahru's punishment and he had not suspected a thing, causing further insult to injury. Did he truly think that he would get away with his lies and deceit and manipulate Nuada in the process, to test whether he might in a sense rule through him and attain power.
Was this surely the best way to capture his new kings' attention, Nuada tisked with the elf held on either side, with Tomway using Mahru's braid to wrench his head back.
"you are so young. You do not know that to inflict pain onto someone's mate, is to inflict it onto their counterpart also. Now unfortunately for you, I happen to be your king and though the crowns relationship with Nimue has become somewhat strained I'll admit; she is still your queen. You throw around the word treason so freely. Little did you see your own. I felt it you know; the Skolga. Not to the same lengths as she did, but it was enough to knock the breath out of me. Do you enjoy inflicting pain Mahru?"
It was that or he didn't want to be beaten by a woman.
"I only want to serve you my lord! I want out of squalor; I want the same as you!" he desperately screeched, feeling the burning in his arms and ache in his neck.
"but you have no honour. So, here is your punishment."
With a flick of his wrist, Mahru was exposed plenty enough for Nuada to slit his throat and as his strength waned with his life's blood pouring out of the gaping wound, the other council members allowed him to drop and bleed out on the floor.
He could rot there for all Nuada cared and would continue to pay the coin for Mahru to do so.
"I trust none of you objected to this," he asked, discarding the knife he had used, instead of cleaning it off.
"no, your majesty," they answered in syncretisation, returning to their positions.
"But hear us now," Tomway interjected, reclaiming his post as head of the council, "we ask that you relieve us of any action that puts us at odds with our lady. She is our queen as you said yourself. What transpired in the market, it has made it clear to us, that this fight is between you and her."
Nuada couldn't deny the logic. He had just proven he was willing to kill anyone who considered to harm her, while she evidently wasn't going to hold back either against outside interference.
In any case, he knew precisely where Nimue was now.
He nodded, just as some scuffling could be heard and a metallic clanging.
All the elves turned to the stairwell, watching as the tiny Messengers that pestered the market above, came cascading down the steps. These were some Nuada knew quite well and had worked for him in the past, by relaying news of the outside to him as recently as telling him who had tooth fairies for sale.
'prince!' they were squeaking over each other, made worse by the fact they had more than one head, so it doubled their number.
Whatever they had, it was shimmering gold and they just about stopped themselves from running it through all the blood and instead started heaving it upwards for Nuada to grasp.
'lady elf had it'
'she dropped it!'
'its gold, like a crown!'
'we found it for you!'
On and on they went, but it was clear from the start that this wasn't the crown piece, however as Nuada inspected it closely, he smiled when he realised what he actually possessed.
"how careless of you Nimue."