"Who dare let an oou in an elven court!?" A royal's voice rumbled through the room as the weary traveller approached the elven woman, kneeling down at the blonde elf's feet. The older woman rose from her chair, her chest puffed out proudly as she strode towards the man knelt at his knees. The guards stood next to him, escorting him through the hall as their golden armour's reflection gleaming from the sun that was peeking through the missing bricks of the ruins. "Get this filth of out of here or I will have your heads, all of you!"
"Hweal, this oou is here to speak to you." The guard bowed as Nimue's temper flared further at the mere presence of the sickness inducing man in front of her. "He has important news regarding the war."
"Nothing a oou has to say is important." The elf spat down at the man who was still kneeling down. "Get out before I remove your head and I will send it to the King himself." Nimue's anger continued to boil inside, wanting to raise her fist to obliterate the man into dust.
"M-My name is Nathaniel. Nadri the Lonely…She's joined me in our fight against the King." Nathaniel's voice was shaking with a dark fear as the woman's furious energy wrapped around her. The elven woman let out a loud, lilted laugh. She cackled away as if she had been told a hilarious joke. "Excuse me, er, Princess but I am not in jest."
"Impossible. That dragon is one of the King's. There is no way a King's dragon would help us. Get this fool out of this court, I mean it!"
"Nimue." Nathaniel shot up from the ground and one of the guards instantly held a shining golden blade across his throat, sharp enough that just one movement would have slashed open his throat and his blood would be spilling down on the jade tiles.
"You dare to address the Hweal?" The guard roared in Nathaniel's face, still holding the blade close. Nathaniel raised his hands above his head, eyeing the guard closely through the soldier's headpiece. The helm was partially broken, antlers stuck out of each side of the helmet and decorated with shattered pieces of crystal. The golden plate was scuffed with marks from a sword, similar to the other guards in the room.
"I am telling the truth! I found Nadri in the mountains and we are prepared to take the castle alone if we have to." Nathaniel flared, narrowing his eyes at the leader of the elves. Nimue raised an eyebrow towards Nathaniel, almost impressed at his tenacity and just the gall to raise himself to such a superior being compared to himself. "She was a prisoner to protect his gold. I have freed her and we want to liberate the Kingdom."
"Lower your weapon, Jadyr." Nimue clicked her fingers towards the guard who instantly lowered his weapon without protest. Nimue wiggled her finger, indicating for him to follow her further into the throne room. She approached her oak detailed throne, lowering herself back down as she looked to the man who stood before her, his hand resting on his belt. "So, where is Nadri the Lonely One, hm? After all those years spent up in the mountain, I imagined she'd be eager to meet others." She gave a bitter smile, getting herself comfortable.
"She is close if there is trouble." Nimue snorted.
"Nathaniel, my dear, where do you hail?"
"Blackwood, my lady. Since I was a boy." Nathaniel could feel Nimue's intense, grey stare burning through his soul.
"That's a long way from the mountains, is it not?" Nimue questioned further, resting one leg over the other, covered by her flowing white dress that was etched with silver threaded leaves along the bottom of the material. "A mere oou traveller – Nathaniel from Blackwood – plans to take on the King."
"The King driven you out of the city, we need allies on our side."
"And what do we get from that, hm? Another man in charge of our fate? You have done nothing but supress us and our kind."
"Do I at least get a blessing from the Gods before you begin to interrogate me? An offering of bread and salt at least guarantees my safety." Nathaniel retorted back, offended. Nimue leaned forward in her throne, the sunlight casting over the beautiful features of her sculpted face. The birds tweeted above in the nests along the ruins of the roof, bright sunlight sparkling through the hidden ruins that the elves were currently hiding out in.
"Does it?" Nathaniel gulped. "I want to see your dragon. Call her to me."
"Nadri!" Nathaniel raised his voice, waiting anxiously for Nadri to appear through the trees. The ruins were broken in above them, the open sky waiting. They could hear the flapping of large wings, a rumbling heard throughout the sky as the mythical creature itself flew low, slowly hovering down into the open ruins.
"Mu rolur that I would have no part in this." Nadri's intimidating voice grumbled, the guards around the ruins weary with their weapons raised and pointed at the dragon.
"The princess asked." Nathaniel shrugged aimlessly as he looked back to the purple scaled beast. Nimue stood bravely in front of the dragon, lifting herself up from her chair and stared in wonder.
"Tell your dein to lower their swords, fahliil." Nadri lowered her head, teeth on show towards the leader of the free folk. Nimue continued to gaze up at Nadri and smirked, impressed. "Amused, fahliil?" Nadri blew threw her nostrils, the wind kicking up along the floor and Nimue's dress rustled around her feet. She continued to stand proudly, unfazed by Nadri's attempt at intimidation. Nadri wasn't the first dragon that she had come across, there were worse things in the forest outside of the ruins than a docile dragon.
"I am disappointed that you are with this oou."
"I wouldn't have been able to kren stin otherwise, fahliil." Nadri's large amethyst eyes looked around at the guards who were still pointing their swords at the beast. She huffed at them, swishing her tail threateningly towards the small, measly men.
"Hweal Nimue and you address me as such." Nimue reprimanded immediately with a sharp, bitter tone. "And I believe that you, a dragon of the old ones, would have taken your leave of that mountain very easily without this oou. Don't waste your freedom with a light that can be so easily snuffed out, Nadri the Lonely. This is a war that may not be won and souls are on the line. You should think if your soul is worth risking." The female elf told her with a matter of fact tone. Nadri snorted, shaking her head. Nimue turned back to the royal guard. "Jadyr." Nimue ordered, ignoring Nadri's thundering tone. The guard returning to her side briskly, presented for orders.
"Hweal?" Nimue looked back on Nathaniel and the dragon that stood broadly in her presence before turning back to her royal guard.
"Get our guest bread and salt, and share a blessing with the oou. We have much to talk about."
The last time Nadri went up to a rooftop she was stolen away back into a dark domain to be tortured for days on end. Now, Nadri was standing on the rooftop of an apartment that belonged to Robin and previously Emma's true love, Baelfire. She was looking out into the city beyond her that she had been brought to, the buildings were an extraordinary marvel to her. The skyline was patched with unique skyscrapers that Nadri had never seen before. The lights twinkling all over the city blending with the stars in the night sky. She got to see this new realm - the land without magic. Nadri was cooped up on the furniture that was placed under a fairy light decorated pergola, holding a mug of cinnamon hot chocolate in her hands that Henry had made for her when they got back to the apartment.
Her mind was brought to the thought of seeing Nimue and leaving her in the fate of Hyde. Nadri hadn't met another from their land, it gave her a sense of hope in this new world. Nimue's words still haunted through her mind.
'Embrace your rebirth.'
She had been so obsessive with how she was fitting in with this new world, trying her hardest to focus on speaking like the others, learning all of these new things that not for one moment had she thought of what it actually all meant. Nadri had been reborn, not just thrown into the deep end and being told to swim with the sharks. She had to realise that being reborn meant more than being saved, it was embracing this brand-new soul and being a person that she could never be before. It wasn't about making up for the past but enforcing a future. Her soul wasn't going to be at risk anymore, not to misery, not to heartbreak and certainly not to anymore wars.
"Hey, love." Killian's voice was heard as he stepped through the door that led back down to apartments below in the building. Nadri looked over at him, smiling sweetly and she was greeted with his handsome, charismatic grin. "It's been a day, huh?" Killian hummed, approaching her. He came over and joined Nadri on the patio sofa, Nadri shuffling up further to make some room.
"It's been something." Nadri remarked, still smiling as she sipped at her hot chocolate, the cinnamon flavours dancing around her mouth pleasantly as she sighed with content. "This is nice."
"It's not rum." Nadri let out a lilted laugh at Killian's distaste.
"It's a good thing it isn't yours then." Nadri took another sip and Killian stretched an arm out on the back of the sofa, inviting her in to cosy up next to him. She leaned back, being snuggled into his presence. "Is it finished?" Her quiet voice enquired, doe-like eyes looking up at him innocently.
"I hope so, love. David and Zelena are out looking for the crocodile. We couldn't find him afterwards."
"The man is a prakem." Nadri murmured with disgust, holding the mug between her hands as it rested on her lap.
"How are you feeling now, darling?" Killian looked down at her and kissed into her hair lovingly. Nadri shrugged, faltering, not quite sure how to talk about how the day had just gone on. She was held captive again, met old friends and then left those old friends in the realm that they had escaped to because of her failure to stop Nathaniel. She had a lot on her mind, a lot to say, just not all night to do it. "If you don't want to talk about it, love it's alright. I just…I worry about you."
"You worry about me a lot, raaviir." Nadri spoke, noticing that Killian's tone had turned quite serious. "What is it?"
"I worry about you because I love you, Nadri. We went to Hell and back only a few days ago." Nadri sat up, leaving his embrace and she placed the mug down on the patio table. "I put you straight back into harm's way again after telling you that you would be safe." Killian looked down guiltily, his crystal eyes staring down at the ground with a stone face. "I don't doubt your strength but I feel like I need to-"
"That wasn't your fault, Killy. None of this was." Nadri shook her head, her voice sympathetic to Killian as she reached and rested her hand on his hook. "If we did not fall into that realm I would never had gotten closure from Nimue about Asari. It closed a lot of chapters for me in my own story, Killian."
"If that Hyde had got hold of you-"
"Then I would have slit his throat, believe me." Nadri firmly stated, Killian glancing back up at her from the ground. Nadri reached forward, her other hand reached up to his face, fingers lifting his chin to make him look at her. "You have done nothing but protect and love me, Killy." Nadri was certain and firm in her voice towards the pirate. "I will always be by your side in battle."
"Are you sure about that, love?"
"Until my last breath, raaviir. I will swear it by the Gods if I have to." Nadri flashed her pearly whites, Killian couldn't help but start smiling back at her radiance. "You don't need to protect me, lokaal, I will always fight. You saw it for yourself."
"I'm worrying too much aren't I?"
"I don't know what too much worry is but what I do know is that you are protecting me from getting hurt again. What Nimue taught me was that I have reborn and I should embrace that, I can't keep spending this life being scared of these new places and new foes. I am a Dovah and I will always be a Dovah. It's about time I start acting like that instead of relying on others to fight my battles." Nadri explained with a smile and Killian reached up to her cheek, caressing her sweetly. She nudged into his touch, feeling his fingers stroke against her silky smooth skin. "It took a long time to realise that fact and I guess I just had to go back and remember that I didn't need to rely on anyone in the first place."
"I am proud of you, darling." Killian came forward and gave her a longing, gentle kiss. "And I love you." A mumble came out against her lips and she grinned back.
"I may argue the fact I may love you more."
"You don't want to get in that argument, Ruveyzun." They laughed, sharing one last kiss before Nadri snuggled into his chest to continue their cuddle, Killian's arms wrapping tightly around the smaller woman and didn't give a second thought to letting go. All he wanted now was to go home, he wanted to carry Nadri over the threshold, cook her something that she had never tasted before in her life and treat her like the queen that she was to him.
"If I have learned anything today it is that tomorrow morning I'm going to spend the day with you in the Jolly Roger." Nadri giggled, receiving another kiss on the head from Killian. "No visitors, at all. No chance of being sent to a different realm, no chance of anymore magical explosions…just us in the ship." Killian promised her as he kissed her cheek again, the longing beard tickling along Nadri's face making her giggle against him at the feeling against her skin.
"You are getting this off first. Your hair is looking…um…volg…wild." Nadri admitted, reaching up to run a hand through his thick, dark locks and pulling the fringe down past his eyes. Killian huffed, shaking his head as Nadri teased him, her hand going down to his jaw and running her fingers through his beard that had beginning to grow out even more.
"You better make the most of it then, love." Killian lowered his voice in her ear, a seductive undertone apparent. His voice always sent chills down Nadri's spine, she could listen to his mixed British accent all day. Every time he spoke her heart would flutter, as if she had a zoo of butterflies in her chest.
"Whatever do you mean, Ruveyzun? I am an innocent woman." Nadri feigned offence and Killian couldn't help but let out a throaty laugh at her words, cuddling her tighter. "Can you take me away? We can find those beaches."
"Of course love." Killian smirked, already imaging how the next few days on the ship would be like, he had imagined it for himself already in the Underworld. He had planned their whole life together, sailing the seas with her by his side, the sea breeze blowing through her everlasting curls, her smile radiating everywhere they went. "I'm sure that they can live without us for a few days…how about we go tomorrow night?"
"Sounds tozeinvu."
"This is cosy." Regina's uncomfortable voice was heard from the doorway of the roof, clearing her throat. They both looked up towards the sorceress standing there in her dark jacket, a red button up underneath and a pencil skirt. Her red lips were shut together with a reluctant thoughtful expression as if she had something more to say. Nadri internally rolling her eyes knowing that Regina's presence would only spur another argument between the two women. Nadri pulled away from Killian's embrace again and brought herself up off the sofa, Killian following her. "Nadri-"
"I have heard enough from your sister." Nadri's violet eyes blankly stared through Regina, the older woman closing her hands together apprehensively. "We have a long journey tomorrow and I have had a very…strange day to say the least. I'd like to spend tonight not worrying if I am going wake up elsewhere."
"I'm sorry, Nadri." Regina finally blustered out as Nadri and Killian went to turn away and head back down to the apartment that they were going to be in for the night. "I am…I am missing Robin. He was my true love, I'm sure you could at least understand." Regina continued on, her eyes full of hopelessness. Nadri turned to Killian, giving him a soft smile and urged him to go on without her. He gave Regina one last warning look before heading back down to the apartment.
Nadri exhaled, pulling her cardigan around her tightly as she saw Regina's face scrunch up as if she was trying to hold back tears.
"I was angry with you and Killian for being here and not him...I wanted to kill you both with my bare hands to send you straight back." Nadri's expression hardened, crossing her arms more tightly in defence. "I will never forget Robin's sacrifice. And now I'm alone, again. I battled a darkness for so long that Robin's love just squashed it and now I am fighting it every moment since he's been gone. I'm sorry for blaming you when it wasn't your fault, it was Hades. Hades is at fault for this and I'm sorry for being angry at the wrong person." Regina took a deep breath, her green eyes glistening with tears. Nadri swallowed, feeling the sadness wash through her at Regina's heartbreak. "Surely you'd feel the same if this was Killian."
"I would burn the world to ashes, Regina." Nadri admitted, looking up at the mayor of Storybrooke. "There wouldn't have been anything left. I'd have set cities on fire just out of anger, I would bargain other souls for his and until there was nothing left on this earth but smoke and craters, maybe then I would accept his dinok. I prepare myself for the day that I lose him to be met with darkness that will hold me until I met Killian again. The darkness is not a fight you want to lose your soul for but I know what it's like when it teeters you on the edge."
"I'm sorry for how I've been towards you, I can't imagine it is easy being in this place after being in that torture chamber."
"I met an old friend today who made me realise something a very long time ago that I did not realise until today. Dovah cannot be contained, they cannot be controlled. I broke out of Hades bonds even when it shouldn't have been impossible. I have been trying to be human when I should just be who I am. What I know of your past Regina, that is not who you are. Not really." Nadri handed her warm, genuinely friendly smile towards Regina. Regina couldn't help but let out a tearful grin, thankful for Nadri's kind words and hearing out her apology instead of storming off and leaving it on a shelf. "It's getting cold, are you coming back in?"
"I just need some time." Nadri nodded, happy to leave her alone to her thoughts.