They travelled out into the world that they had found themselves in after narrowly escaping the fate that could have been left in the hands of who they knew to be the Warden. They were led out into the middle of a portside town, an enclosure of multi-storey buildings of an older era surrounded the streets and the crooked cobblestone paths. The settlement was beautiful leaving Nadri in awe, observing the beautifully crafted birch wood rooftops and sandstone walls of the buildings. The hustle and the bustle of the market that Nadri, David, Zelena and Killian had strolled into was buzzing, voices loud with excitement and bartering along the stalls that had been set up.
Nadri's eyes darted between the crowds of people, star struck at their appearance. Some groups of men held broadswords and devilish hats with magnificent feathers that matched their privateer uniform. Other men were dressed in white thawbs, women in beautifully designed Arabian floor length dresses that were detailed with gold and pink embellishments. Nadri was fascinated, so much so that she felt out of place in what she was wearing, this town was full of so many varying identities and cultures all thrown into one place.
"Bloody hell." Killian finally pulled himself from his bewitchment of gazing around the market, walking past a peddler who had set a long line of different artefacts along his stall. The stall on the other side of him was selling what looked like divergent types of gems and crystals that peaked Nadri's interest at the shiny gleam they had to them.
"What is this place? It's like all of the realms at once." David commented, a young woman brushing past him in a hide leather armour, growling at him lowly in passing as he just barely missed catching her shoulder. "It's different that's for sure."
"I love it." Nadri immediately said before their extra companion could say anything. Her voice was full of excited curiosity of wanting to approach all of the stalls to see the trinkets that they had laid out. It was strange to see so many realms all brought into one place but Nadri almost felt at home to be around so many different stories. "There's so many-"
"Shiny things?" Killian cut her off with a sly smile, knowing how her previously materialist mind worked. She still had her dragon mentality, sparkling things caught her eye too easily.
"You're closer than you think. This land is a refuge filled with outcasts from all over. Each forced to flee their problems. Each finding safe haven here." The Groundsman answered, hands comfortably in his pockets as he walked along with them.
"Forced to flee from what?" Nadri looked up towards David as he continued to question this new land, the group still walking through the market. Nadri occasionally stopping to peer over what was on offer on the stalls and Killian had to tug at her hand to remind her that they had to keep going.
"Well, the reasons are as varied as the populace, and everyone has their own tale. That's why this place has come to be known as "The Land of Untold Stories.""
"It's a tad ironic of a name, no, given that this land is seemingly filled with stories." Killian quipped sarcastically, raising his eyebrow.
"Perhaps." The Groundsman chuckled timidly. "But there's only one story we need to worry about right now. That's our own."
"Right, and that story better end with us getting back to our world." Killian said with a firm tone again, glimpsing over his shoulder to see that Nadri had wondered off to a stall. "Darling?"
Her bright eyes were glued to the bright and colourful garments that were laid out neatly on the table. She reached out, feeling the different types of materials that she had never felt before. Some were thin, like water between her fingers, some were made of a scratchy cotton that she scrunched her nose up to.
"Can't find what you want, dear?" A young man's articulate voice spoke up from behind the stall. Nadri met his eyes and the welcoming smile on his face. Pointed ears were prominent underneath the straight white hair that ran down his chest. His face was made of dainty features, fairy like. "I can see that you are new to this realm, omthel soul." Nadri couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the language that left the man's tongue. "Where do you hail from?"
"You speak the language of the elves? I haven't heard such a language in a very long time." Nadri gave him a warm smile. She remembered back to her encounter with the elves of the woods who wanted to take the city back from the King that reigned a terror over them, casting those out who did not resemble anyone that was a mortal man. "My land is long gone now, fahill." The elven smiled.
"Then you must be new, omthel soul. Many elves fled here after our war." He continued, placing a hand on the hip of his expensively detailed light armour and gave a thoughtful expression to what Nadri was wearing on her body. "Your clothing is not appealing to the eyes."
Well. Elves weren't known for their tactful words.
Nadri couldn't help but let out a nervous giggle, pulling her cardigan together to cover herself more.
"I have something you might like. Only for a beautiful soul like yourself." The elf moved around to the back of the stall, Nadri could hear the rustling and thudding of boxes being moved around. A hand touched her shoulder, jumping suddenly at Killian's presence by her side.
"By the Gods, Killy." She exclaimed, squinting her eyes up at him. "Did you fly(?)" Killian eyed the stall, seeing the sparkling bracelets and belts of the clothing on the stall.
"Shiny things?" Killian pressed his lips together as he looked over at the carefully sewn clothes. They were so well put together that they must have taken weeks to make individually. "C'mon, love we need to go." Killian urged her, referring back to the group that were waiting in the middle of the market square. Nadri made a face of disappointment, looking down at the garments before turning back to Killian. They went to leave, only for the elf to appear back from behind the stall.
He placed the mannequin next to his stall. A dress was fitted tightly onto it and Nadri couldn't help but stop and stare at its beauty. It resembled the one she had spent all of her human life in only the best was made from a gorgeous shade of navy blue material. Heavy metal skulls decorated the bottom of the plated corset that was fitted for a perfectly curved woman. A corset was tight around the top of the dress, the chest line shaped for the top of a woman's chest and made with a layered scaled pattern. The scales went up to the shoulders and then around the neck of the dress. It was an amazing piece of work, Nadri was stuck in wonderment as the armour gleamed back at her devilishly. It was piece of beauty that deserved to be worn into battle.
"By the Gods…" Nadri approached it, the silver metal buffed to a perfection that Nadri could see her reflection in. "You crafted this, yourself?"
"Of course!" The elf clapped his hands together. "A halfling's work does not compare to the elves. It needs many more tweaks but I spend many eanmtloop on this project."
"It's beautiful." Nadri admired.
"Oh! A oou." The Elvish man looked in disgust at Killian's sudden presence. Killian cocked an eyebrow at the elf's tone, the rest of their group soon venturing over to the stall to see what was going on. "And more oou." The elf was forcing a smile for Nadri.
"Got something to say mate?" Nadri nudged Killian, shooting a look up at him as his face turned to thunder towards the elf.
"Ruveyzun, elves don't take kindly to mortal men. War between men and the elves is a long and horrific one."
"You are well informed, my dear." The handsome faced man spoke, impressed with her knowledge.
"Can I just remind you that we aren't on a shopping spree, love?" Killian told her again, this time a bit firmer. "We need to get going."
"If you are in a hurry, omthel soul, I am happy to make sure it is here when you return. It is detailed on the scales of one of the greatest beasts that flew through Asari. Only the finest materials have been used. I can only say you would do this as a oou would say – justice." The elf elaborated, showing off the prized armoured dress as he continued to entice Nadri into buying the outfit however one word out of that sentence brought her into a state of shock.
Asari.
Her home.
"Asari?" David repeated from behind Killian and Nadri, Zelena standing next to him aimlessly bored. Nadri remained speechless, her face running pale at the name of her realm. "Aren't you from there?"
"Oh, by the Gods!" The elf clapped his hands together, bouncing on his feet with an excited grin. "I knew you were no oou. You must wait here, I know someone who would be delighted to meet you, please wait before travelling on."
"We can't. We're in a hurry to get back to our own realm." David cut in as the elf began to wander off, stopping him in his tracks. David looked at Nadri who was still processing the information that anyone could have survived the city that she imagined would have been burned to the ground over so many years.
"We have to go to my home, i-it's just up the street. I'm sure she will be fine here." The Groundsman spoke timidly from behind the group and Killian began to shake his head in protest.
"We can't. What if that madman comes into town?"
"Killian…" Words finally came from Nadri's mouth, barely audible over the voices conversing in the marketplace. "I need to do this on my own. I will be right here. I can handle myself." Nadri reassured him, assertive with courage.
"I know you can love but I-"
"If I need you, Ruveyzun, I'll find you." Nadri reached up to peck his bearded cheek sweetly. Killian's tense face softened, Nadri reeling back to find him with a small smile on his lips. "I love you, go."
Killian unwillingly left Nadri to go and join David and Zelena to the Groundsman's home further into town. Nadri could tell his was weary, antsy that she was being completely left alone but Nadri needed him to trust her. She wanted to know more, she wanted to speak to the elves that remained from Nathaniel's reign over Asari and the city.
She wanted to feel closure from her own realm.
The elf who ran the stall, Vesryn, led Nadri down to the docks further on from the market square. She followed eagerly behind as they passed sailors sitting on the wooden pier of the docks, Vesryn happily greeting those who he walked past and received happy smiles back. Vesryn continued on leading Nadri and they got down to a separate pier where a figure of a woman looked out onto the calm waters of this realm.
Vesryn stopped suddenly, kneeling down on the wooden blanks before the woman. Nadri raised an eyebrow as she turned around, tightly curled hair trailing long down her waist gently blew in the sea breeze. Pale grey eyes set handsomely on a thin, charming face. Elf ears poked through her hair and a glistening tiara sat gracefully on her head. The fancy, white layered dress she was wearing left the top of her shoulders uncovered, but covered the sides and flows down into a delicate jewel neckline. The dress reached all the way down to her feet and was the same length all around.
Nadri instantly kneeled down when she realised who was before her, her head bowing down gracefully. The woman in front of her stood proudly, a beaming smile down on the dark-haired woman.
"Hweal Nimue, I present you-"
"Nadri, Liberator of the Elves." Nimue's voice was soulful, full of royalty. "We have met before, dear." Nimue nodded to Vesryn and he pulled himself up gracefully, extending a hand to Nadri to help her stand. "What a joyous day for us to meet in this realm."
"This is Nadri, Hweal?" Vesryn asked as Nimue approached them, still holding a proud and joyful smile at the sight of Nadri. She came closer, inches away from Nadri's face. They had never met in this form, the last time that Nimue and Nadri met was before Nadri stormed through the skies of Asari to burn down the King's keep.
"Have you not acknowledged her omthel soul? No mere mortal has these." Nimue's hand came up to Nadri's, her long slender fingers touching her cheek as she gazed into her amethyst like eyes. "Only a dragon has the eyes of the mountain jewels."
"Ahnok, Nimue." Nadri greeted the elf princess, her hand dropping from her face before holding her hands together in front of her. "It has been a long time."
"She speaks." Nimue mused. "The last time we met, you were a dragon, no?" Nimue grinned at the shorter woman, looking over the details of the human in front of her. "You can leave us, Vesryn."
"It was a pleasure to meet you, Nadri." Vesryn bowed his head, bidding his farewell to Nadri.
"Find Nadri a garment more suiting to her personality, this grey is wundril." Nimue scrunched her face up and Nadri couldn't help but laugh, looking down at her outfit. "I cannot apologise for my honesty, you already know that, Nadri. My question is why I am not looking at a mystical beast but…"
"A mere joor?" Nadri raised an eyebrow with a chuckle, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked out to the sea. It was endless with no horizon in sight. The sunlight sparkled off the waves, forging its own sea-song. The murmuring of the waves were hypnotic, she could see why Nimue was looking out to the waters and why Killian just loved the ocean so much. "I died, Nimue." Nadri turned back to the elf next to her. Nimue's features saddened, looking down at the ground before looking back to Nadri.
"Necromancy has a price, Nadri. But the price is not this."
"It wasn't necromancy, no sorcerer could attempt to resurrect a Dovah. Nathaniel…made a deal that I would have to suffer at his mercy as feeble woman." Nadri explained, feeling the cool breeze against her skin. "I was enslaved. I was murdered and I suffered so much more. I spent many lifetimes in the Underworld…I was given a second chance." Nadri took in a deep breath, exhaling slowly. "Asari was left in ruins. Your home…your birth right gone. It was all to free the city and in the end it didn't matter."
"It is not gone." Nimue answered her fears, resting a hand on her shoulder with a squeeze. "Do you not wonder why I am in this land? I left the throne, Nadri. I did not want to rule over a city that was built by that mad King Nathaniel. I did not want to finish my story yet, I wanted to take my people somewhere safe. We have been here until a ship arrives to take us to a new realm." Nimue took her hand away, still keeping the friendly smile on her face.
"I worried so much. I liberated the city and I felt so much guilt that I couldn't keep it that way." Nadri muttered tearfully, trying to wipe away the water as soon as it exited her eyes.
"When the news reached the forest of Nathaniel's death we knew we had our chance. I have learned a lot in this new realm, a lot of languages and made friends with many races. Humans…well…my feelings may never change." Nimue laughed sweetly. "You have been given a new way of life, my dear. A new face. Embrace your rebirth. If you ever come by this realm again, find me by the sea."
"And if you've gone already?" Nadri raised an eyebrow, still staring at the elf next to her. She simply shrugged with a Cheshire grin.
"Then I will have found a new realm for you to find me in." Nadri shook her head with a daft, sad smile. "As much as I have a distaste for those who singled us out, I think human suits you."
"Well, we can't all be immortal now can we?" Nadri quipped and Nimue returned it with a chuckle, leading her back towards the market. Nadri composed herself as they walked on along the docks and back to the walkway where she assumed that Killian and the others would have returned waiting for her.
"Before you leave, please see Vesryn. Take something from home with you." Nimue stated, looking over to see Vesryn at his stall selling his wares to other residents from the Land of Untold Stories. Vesryn peaked his head up, seeing his princess as well as Nadri and gave them a quick wave before going back to peddling.
"I will." Nadri nodded, feeling the tears behind her eyes again but she shook her head, making a grumbly noise before laughing. "I'm still trying to get used to this."
"Emotions are complex things, human bodies are strange. I have heard that human women menstruate and I imagine that's unpleasant."
"Menstruate, what's that? Some sort of ritual of castrating a man?" Nimue couldn't help but fall into a guffaw of laughter, lilted laughter that shook her body. Nadri hadn't experienced any changes in her human body since being back on Earth but since she had only arrived back a few days ago, she still wasn't sure what worked and what didn't. There was no need for any of it down in the Underworld, she was already dead.
"I think they wish it was like that. Humans can be so overly dramatic." Nimue calmed her laughter, tears threatening to stream down her face from laughing so hard in the first place. "I will see you soon, Nadri. I wish you fair travel back to your realm."
"Thank-you, Hweal Nimue." Nadri and Nimue shared one last, longing look as they both shared a silent goodbye. Nadri left Nimue's presence, the elf turning back around to where she was first found and Nadri continued on back to the Vesryn's stall where she had expected to meet Killian.
Vesryn began to strike up a conversation with Nadri, offering her the armour that had been made previously. Nadri was about to accept, knowing that the plain clothing that she was wearing did not match her personality in the slightest. She heard the voices of her fellow friends, looking up to see that they were hurriedly rushing through the crowds of people to get to her.
"How did it go?" Nadri carefully questioned, seeing the worried looks on their faces. Killian approached her, resting a hand on the middle of her back and lowered his voice to her ear.
"We need to leave. Right now." Nadri eyes widened, looking at him. "The warden is the gardener or t-the gardener is the warden-"
"W-what?" Nadri stuttered, not quite understanding what was happening. She glanced to the gardener that was with them who seemed completely unnerved. "I don't understand."
"This is Doctor Jekyll and his split personality is chasing us." Nadri stared blankly at Zelena, still not understanding.
"It's from the storybook, the case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, fighting evil urges and now they're separated." David explained in better terms. "Let's keep going, find somewhere to hide." David urged them and Nadri looked up towards Vesryn who waited behind the counter patiently. He nodded to Nadri.
"I appreciate meeting you this day, Liberator of Elves." Vesryn bowed his head in pleasantries. "Safe travel to your realm. I'm sure we will meet again." He lowered his head again and Nadri bid goodbye to the elf, being led away by Killian and the others.
"What was all that about love?"
"I'll explain later, raaviir. What is going on? How come the warden – Hyde – doesn't look like Jekyll?" Nadri questioned them, more towards Jekyll who shuffled his glasses up his nose nervously, glancing around to make sure they weren't being followed by his split personality.
"Everyone sees their worst self differently... Some as a mirror image, others as a literal monster. However the mind conjures it." Jekyll spoke, keeping up the pace as they got back through the market and out into the enclosed streets with the rows of houses.
"Well, perhaps next time, try an aggressive bunny rabbit." Killian snapped, glaring towards Jekyll.
"Alright you guys, calm down." David told them off like small children squabbling. They roamed the narrow streets, cobblestone warrens off in every direction. It was like being lost in a maze. They were led around the corner, being met with a dead end. The group huffed, looking up at the stories of windows that were laid in the buildings - no way up.
"We could ruknaar…climb. Maybe use the um-"
"-Gutters-"
"- Gutters to one of the windows." Nadri gestured, David back seating her vocabulary.
"I don't think it's going to work." David put his hands on his hips, analysing the height to the closest window. He was the tallest in the group, even if someone stood on his shoulders there was no way that he was going to be able to reach the ledge.
"Did you really think that you would be able to escape this place so easily?" Hyde's unnerving voice was heard creeping from behind them. David stepped forward, hands balled into fists with Zelena and Killian behind him as backup. "You know…I can imagine that someone like you, young lady, would be quite valuable to my research." Nadri felt Hyde's black eyes burning a hole through her, the shadow cast along the streets darkened the side of his face that had the jaggered scar embedded in his face.
"You may frighten this mere men, strange one. But you do not frighten me." Another voice was heard in the mixture of the group, a glowing presence appearing from behind Hyde. The beastly man turned around anxiously to see the elf that was standing behind him.
"Nimue." Nadri stepped forward and Nimue raised her hand, creating a protective barrier between Hyde and the group. She went closer, stopped by the invisible brick wall that had appeared in front of her, her hands resting on force. "Nimue!"
"And who are you?" Hyde raised a curious eyebrow towards Nimue, interested in her pointed ears.
"Hweal Nimue of the Free Elves of Asari - someone more powerful than you, strange one. Now if you please, my dear-" The blonde began to gathering a white, pure energy within her palm. "I would like you to turn around and step in the other direction."
Nadri watched on in a hopeless anxiety, feeling the force field hum beneath her fingertips as they laid on it. She waited on bated breath, waiting for Hyde to attack Nimue. She was hit on the shoulder by a falling object, the said object dinging off her cardigan and it hit the brick floor with a chime.
"Do you think magic could harm me, elf?" Hyde threatened as the metal began to fall from the sky heavier, the group looking around at the small coins clattering on the pavement. Nadri raised her hands above her head, watching out from almost getting hit by one of them.
"What is this kromaar?" Nadri furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, still watching out from the coins. All of a sudden a portal began to open up beneath their feet where the coins had fallen, a blue magical spiral twinkling from below, the wind blowing up around their faces as the lightning crackled.
"It's a wish portal! Let's get out of here!" Zelena shouted over the lightning, grabbing David roughly by the arm to pull him towards the portal. They both jumped in head first, Killian approaching the portal as the wind continued to rage on.
"We need to go love!" Killian yelled from the portal's edge, his hair blowing around from the storm inside. Nadri looked back on Hyde and Nimue, Hyde looking at them in a violent desperation of wanting to keep them captured. "Nadri!" Nimue threw a magical force around Hyde as he stepped forward, struggling to keep him one place as he took a strong stride forward, as if he was stuck in a thick mud.
"I will keep him from following you, my dear. Leave this place." Nimue told her through the wall of magic, grey eyes like a furious storm at sea as she used the ancient magic. Nadri tore her eyes away from the elf sadly, heading towards Killian with a run up and they launched themselves into the portal as it sharply closed behind them.
The next thing that Nadri felt was cold, icy water around her feet, soaking her shoes. She blinked her eyes open, her mind feeling like it was spinning around a wild pace. Nadri found herself in another unfamiliar place, looking up to see crowds of people watching them, cheering and clapping as she tensely straightened up. They were met with familiar faces; Emma Swan rushing forward to greet her father gratefully, Regina and Zelena giving each other a half hug and Nadri was met with Henry's beaming smile up at her and Killian.
They were back in their realm at last.