Ninea is inspired by The Queen of Blood, Nimue from Hellboy. She was the greatest of all Britain's witches. You can read more about her over here: wiki/Nimue
That's it for this week.
Sonnet 71:
"If you read this line, remember not
The hand that writ it; for I love you so
That I in your sweet thoughts would be forgot
If thinking on me then should make you woe."
- Sonnet 71, William Shakespeare
So quiet. So still. She could hear her own footsteps as she walked over the dirt road.
A gentle breeze blew as she passed through the village.
Empty and silent as the grave.
Her own words chilled her and she felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise.
She knew what had happened but she did not want to accept it. She could not accept it. Her steps quickened.
I will grieve later. Now I must focus. I have to remember my duties.
She tied her hair up and removed her Gong bow from the sling across her back. Then she slowly climbed up the hill that overlooked the Miao.
The green grass and the bright sunshine, made the scene before her seem so incongruous.
But it is happening. And it is happening now.
Suadh stood before the Miao at its steps. She said angrily, hands raised. "Turn back! Turn back, I say! You are not welcome here."
But the hooded young woman standing on the bridge, calmly replied, "Step aside, child. You are no match for me. Do you know what I am?"
"I do not care!" yelled Suadh. "I am a Guardian of this temple. I will not let you harm the Hokai!"
The Witch lowered her hood. Her blood red hair glimmered in the sunshine. "Call out your Hokai! Where is he? Still hiding in his Shrine!" She said with a loud laugh.
"Go back to the hell from whence you came, Witch!" yelled Suadh, looking very small, in front of the tall woman who was levitating slightly off the ground.
She crept nearer, able to see the Witch and Suadh better now.
The Witch smiled at Suadh. "So you do know what I am? Well, then step out of my way. Go shooo."
The Witch swished her fingers and a powerful gust of wind blew Suadh sideways, knocking her and the bird fountain over. The Witch then smacked her hands together and the wind beat down hard at the doors of the Shrine, trying to break them open. But they held fast.
Suadh stood up as the Witch made a loud sound of annoyance.
"Here now! Do not tell me, the Hokai only comes when a guardian calls him!" The Witch shrieked with anger and Suadh grinned tauntingly at her.
"Open the doors, girl!" yelled the Witch in a dark deep, unearthly voice and the sky grew dark. The wind blew against the doors with even more force and the entire Miao rattled slightly.
"Never!" Suadh struck a defensive pose and unsheathed her Dao. "To get to the Hokai, you must face me first!"
The Witch stared at her for a second and then said in the same fell voice. "I do not have the patience to fight with children. Arora! Take care of this girl!"
She gasped with horror as she saw Arora run at Suadh from the forest, Ji spear raised high.
Oh no! Arora! How could you?
Suadh was shocked too but she didn't remain shocked. Her friends clashed weapons and began to fight in earnest.
She lay down on her stomach and aimed her bow at Arora's head. But her hand shook at the thought of killing her friend.
I cannot. There is still hope. Maybe Arora is under a spell or something. I cannot hurt her! Perhaps I can just stop her...
She aimed for Arora's foot and shot an arrow. It missed her and Arora carried on fighting.
Then she decided to target the Witch instead, who was now ominously chanting, hands pointed towards the sky, which had turned dark grey with no clouds.
The Witch clapped her hands loudly and she saw a giant orange bolt of fire shoot from the sky and strike the ground hard, with a loud roar.
She aimed her bow at the Witch and fired at her but the wind was too strong and her arrows harmlessly drifted away.
The Witch was laughing now and as she laughed, the sky growled angrily and another bolt of fire zoomed down and hit the roof of the Shrine.
It struck the roof hard and one of the pointed horns at the roof's edge broke off and fell on Suadh and Arora still fighting below.
She screamed but Suadh managed to stand up, shaking the dust and debris off her. Arora stood up shakily as well. Then she saw Suadh lower her sword and extend a hand towards Arora, as if trying to reason with her.
Just then, another ball of fire hit the steps of the Miao. As the smoke cleared and in the ensuing fiery blaze, she saw Suadh fall to the ground.
She began to run, run like the wind, towards her friend blindly, uncaring for the bolts of flame falling around her. She avoided the bridge because of the Witch and jumped the narrow stream, to land on the other side.
Suadh! Suadh! Suadh! The name was the beat of her heart as she ran to her fallen friend, lying so still on the grass.
Arora backed away as she approached and she fell to her knees, trying to staunch the flow of blood pouring out of the deep wound on Suadh's chest.
So much blood, so much blood!
"No! Suadh! Hold on!" she said as Suadh just stared up at her, breathing faintly, brown eyes looking at her with a silent plea.
Then Suadh took her hand and whispered, "Take my sword... protect the Hokai... do not let them..."
She held on to the weak hand as the life left her friend, the light fading from her eyes, her body stilling.
From far far away, she heard Arora whisper in shock, "I did not mean to... I did not want to kill her... but she would not listen to me... Ninea needs the Hokai..."
She looked up at Arora standing in front of her, staring wide eyed at Suadh's body.
The words struck her to her very core. She saw a blue flame flash before her eyes and felt a rage begin to fill her. Somehow her hand closed around Suadh's fallen Dao and she slowly tightened her grip around it.
In a quick but deathly move from her kneeling position, she raised the sword upwards, slicing at Arora's face viciously.
Arora staggered backwards, clutching her eye and shrieking in pain. She was dimly aware that the Miao was completely on fire but she didn't care. All she wanted was to avenge Suadh.
She advanced on Arora, Dao raised and then suddenly, she was swept off her feet, pushed backwards hard, by an invisible force. She hit the grass hard and the breath whooshed out of her with the impact. Her back and head ached but she crawled to her feet shakily, only to see the Witch calmly clap her hands.
She saw a white hot streak of lightning hit the Miao and the entire building split into two with a loud crack. She moved quickly to one side, ignoring the pain in her body as wood and stone crumbled to the ground.
She glanced at the Witch and felt fear chill her to the bones.
The Witch was three feet off the ground, red hair floating about her eerily as she stood with her arms outstretched. Her eyes were closed lightly and two blazing orbs of red fire appeared in her hands, out of thin air.
She realised the Witch was aiming for the only thing left standing in the Miao, the tiny stone altar with its incense sticks.
"Is this the Mighty Hokai?" bellowed the Witch with glee, black eyes gleaming evilly in a deathly pale face. "A mound of stone with two sticks!"
Then she gasped and the Witch tilted her head curiously as a blue light emerged from the stone. It drifted up dreamily and a tiny shape began to form. It looked like a small round egg.
A soft voice whispered faintly on the air, Ninea, Witch Queen, leave me alone. Haven't you spilled enough blood?
The Witch smirked evilly and said, "I will suck the energy out of you till you are nothing but a shell, Hokai! I need your power to break open the Abyss!
Then without warning, the Witch lobbied an orb of fire at the blue egg. She watched, her heart in her mouth as the fire engulfed the egg, who absorbed it whole.
It quivered and shimmered like sparkling blue water and then stayed still. The Witch threw another orb in a rage and the same thing happened.
But she noticed a tiny crack had formed on one corner of the egg.
Time suddenly stood absolutely still as she looked at Suadh's body, laying on a bed of bloodied grass. She tightened her grip on the Dao, Suadh's sword, wide and sharp in her hand.
Then she looked at the egg and thought, I swore an oath to protect you... I could not save my friend but I can try to save you. Even if it is the last thing I can do...
She glared at the Witch. "You!" She stepped in front of the egg and saw the Witch widen her eyes curiously.
"Little crow..." The Witch murmured wickedly, "still alive?"
"Yes. I am alive." She moved one leg back and the other forward, calling on her training, nearly kneeling, her core tight, body poised forward slightly. She held the sword vertically in front of her face and held it perfectly still.
I can do this. I must do this. I must counter this evil!
She bellowed with all her strength at the Witch, "Face someone who can fight! Face me!"
She heard the Witch laugh derisively but she focused on her strength. She closed her eyes and saw a blue wall of flame. I am a Guardian of Hokai. I will fight to my last breath, to prevent this evil from harming the innocent, the weak, the helpless. Hokai, I will not leave you.
Curtains of blue flame danced inside her eyes. She opened them and saw bright orange fire head straight for her.
I feel no fear, only purpose.
She focused on the fire towards her and using her blade, she sliced down hard, cleaving the bolt in two.
The Witch widened her eyes at her. "So ... there is more to the little Crow, than what meets the eye."
The Witch nodded at her regally but she wasn't fooled. She braced herself and glanced back slightly, at the bright blue egg which was glowing faintly.
"Run, Hokai, run..." she whispered. "I shall keep her at bay as long as I can. Run."
The soft voice whispered to her gently, I will not leave you either, little Crow. I will help you.
"How?"
I am within you and around you, friend, use my energy, focus on your enemy.
The Witch blew a stream of blood red fire onto her, shrieking viciously. She focused and felt a gentle warmth flow through her. She tightened her grip on the Dao and felt the warmth flow through it like an antenna.
She bellowed with all her might, "You shall Not pass, Witch!"
And instinct told her to rotate the sword in one hand, forming a blue shield of light, that blocked out the Witch's fire.
How... how can I do this... how am I doing this?
You are a Guardian, said the Hokai simply, the power was in you all along.
Through the shield of blue light, she could see the Witch shriek in rage and she smiled.
That was good. said the gentle voice. Why don't you try hitting her back? Ooh oh look up!
She looked up to see a fiery ball rain down on them and she raised the Dao high, using the shield as an umbrella.
The fire bore down on them mercilessly but she held firm, gritting her teeth with the effort.
Use her own fire against her, little Crow. Move the energy. Feel its essence and move the energy. It is all flowing through you.
She obeyed the voice and swiftly lowered the sword, to fling the red fire back at the Witch.
The Witch gasped loudly as she tried to dodge her own fire.
Now I must strike!
She closed her eyes and willed the blue fire within her, to form a sharp spike. Then she opened her eyes to see a blue pulsing Qiang of light, pulsing and glowing in her hand. She sheathed her Dao.
Then she aimed the spear at the Witch and threw it with force. It struck the Witch in the shoulder and she screamed in pain.
Now you have got the hang of it! The Hokai roared in her ear, nearly deafening her. Fire at will.
She kept firing at the Witch, multiple Qiangs forming seamlessly in her hands. Her firing was making an impact, she could see the Witch tiring, even though she was blocking some of the spears.
A strange tear of darkness had formed above the Witch, through which light and dark was seeping through.
The Hokai whispered, She is trying to escape. Not long now, little crow. You are doing well.
Then one Qiang struck the Witch clean through the chest. The Witch gasped and fell backwards heavily, letting out a long moan of pain.
She raised her hands in victory and heard the Hokai hiss desperately, Look to your left, little Crow, to your left!
But it was too late. She cried out as she felt a spear pierce her side, the pain unbearable. She turned and felt another jab pierce her stomach. Clutching herself, feeling her flesh torn and blood seep from her, she fell to her knees, pain racking her body. Then she looked up at greenish grey eyes, one of them bleeding from a slash across it, boring into her with a cold rage.
Arora said slowly, "I am sorry but you have your oaths and I have mine. Do not get up."
Then Arora walked away towards the Witch. She tried to get up but could not, the pain was too much. She tried to lift her sword or summon another arrow, she tried desperately to focus her energy.
Do something... I need... I need to do something!
Sssshhh, whispered the Hokai, sssh little Crow. It is alright. Do not worry.
Her vision was fading. She could hear her heartbeat slow in her ears as she struggled to keep her eyes open. She dimly realized that Arora and the Witch had disappeared.
The Hokai began to chant, Keeeeen Krorooon Nueeeert Nueeert Uhmmmmmm
She blinked and lay down, staring up at the clear blue sky, feeling the crisp grass beneath her.
"I just want to sleep..." she whispered, feeling a deep sense of peace.
The Hokai stopped its chanting, to whisper, You came to my aid, friend. Let me help you now. Shush.
She was quiet as the Hokai kept chanting and then she saw blue fire move towards her face, from her toes, like a bright burning stream of water.
Close your eyes. whispered the Hokai.
She felt fire enter her nose and enter, her filling her with light. She felt energy flow through her, picking up speed and surging like a mighty river.
You are not going to die today, little Crow. I will not let that happen.
The pain disappeared and she opened her eyes and sat up. Then she passed her hands all over herself.
She exclaimed in awe, "The wound on my stomach! It is gone! The one on my side as well! Hokai! How did you do this?"
Then she noticed the empty egg shell before her.
Something whooshed around her with a gleeful yell and she screamed.
It feels good to fly around!
She heard the being whoop with joy as it flew quickly and rapidly around her in a large circle.
"Slow down! Stop! What are you doing?"
The being came to a screeching halt and landed on the grass in front of her.
She stared in wonder at the tiny blue thing, floating lazily above the grass. It had a long thin snout with sparkly dark blue eyes and whiskery tendrils sprouting from its nose and jaw. There were two tiny horns right at the back of its head, with cow-like ears.
"Hokai... are you a lizard?" She asked curiously, forgetting to be awed.
The being sat down hard on the grass. She noticed it had the lower body of a cat, lightly furred. It huffed a cloud of blue smoke at her.
I am no earthly form, young Crow. But... it raised its bushy dark blue eyebrows at her, I am Not a lizard! It shook its feathery tail at her.
She laughed and asked, "How did you do that?"
The Hokai shrugged and licked a paw. I have the power of healing through light. But it is not all powerful, I cannot bring back the dead or missing limbs. Besides you were young and the wounds were deep but small. You have seen me do this, before.
At the mention of the dead, she felt her eyes fill with tears. She glanced sideways at her fallen friend lying on the grass.
The Hokai huffed loudly and said sadly, I am sorry, little Crow. I truly am. I was very fond of the Lioness, she was such a chatterbox when she was in my house, that I was much entertained by her presence.
She let the tears fall freely as she gave the Hokai a watery smile. "Suadh loved being a Guardian. So did I."
The Hokai said softly, "Come... let us give your friend a fitting farewell."
She stood up and the Hokai said, "Pick her up and place her in the broken Miao."
She lifted Suadh tenderly, struggling because of Suadh's height and the Hokai swiftly came to her aid, gingerly catching Suadh's legs.
The Miao was nothing but rubble and they placed her right in the center, on a pile of wood and stone.
Step back please.
She did as it said and watched wide eyed as the Hokai started to chant. The broken wood pieces and stone debris around the Miao began to float in the air magically and then the Hokai clapped its paws with a soft sound.
In a whirlwind of materials, the wood and stone came together to form a small square structure with a little door. The Hokai drifted around the structure, chanting all the while and a bright blue cloth of fine silk, appeared out of nowhere, to drape around the square.
The Hokai came back to stand next to her and she saw that the bird fountain had been restored.
It puffed blue smoke into the air and whispered gently, Suadh died with great honor, protecting what she had sworn to protect. For that I will remain grateful. So I give her my house.
A small sign appeared on the grass alongside the bird fountain. It read, Here lies a great warrior, the Lioness of Hyperonia.
Then it was her turn. She knelt on the green grass and said, "Suadh was the best warrior, our little village had. But she was more than just that. She was chosen to be the Lioness because she had nobility and generosity and compassion."
She placed her hands, palm down on the grass and whispered softly, "She was also my dearest friend. And I will cherish every memory I had with her."
She closed her eyes tightly, feeling sadness wreck through her and she heard the Hokai whisper in her head, Accept your sadness, embrace your grief. Let it flow from you.
She did so, memories filling her mind, thinking of all the times, the fun and sorrows she and Suadh had shared together. Her palms began to tingle. She felt tears fall from her eyes and she let them fall freely.
When she had calmed down, she opened her eyes and stood up and stared. For the square structure was now surrounded by small white flowers, blooming delicately.
"From where did they..." she whispered in awe as the flowers moved gently with the breeze.
From you... said the Hokai. Your tribute to your friend... came from your grief.
She moved closer to the square structure and placed Suadh's Dao gently before the door.
"Rest in peace, my friend..." she whispered to the door, placing her hand on it.
Then she silently walked away from the structure and crossed the bridge. The Hokai drifted alongside her.
She stood at the top of the hill and looked over the once vibrant village, now eerily silent and empty. Then she looked back at the clearing with the stone structure.
She felt like crying again, especially because of the sweet way the Hokai had tilted its head and was looking at her.
"There is nothing left for me here..." she whispered sadly.
It coughed out a puff of smoke and said, I too, have nothing left. I lost my home and my village. I am like you, alone.
She asked, "What about the Witch?"
It huffed. The Witch is not dead. She may return to this earth or not, I cannot tell but... there is always going to be evil like hers. And you and me can stop it.
She shook her head. "How can I stop evil like that? You saw what happened back there."
It swooshed around her and said softly, I saw a young girl take on a powerful magician, irrespective of the odds against her, doing her best to protect something that could not protect itself. Is that not brave? Evil prevails when good people do nothing. You could have let me die. What am I to you?
She said softly, "I could not just let you die. I took an oath."
The Hokai tilted its head at her and twitched its ears. Is an oath the only reason you saved me?
She smiled at it and said, "It was not just that... I did not want the Witch to hurt you."
Then she was taken aback because the Hokai moved close to her and rubbed itself tenderly against her stomach. She could feel its light touch her.
You and me together make a very good team. I am just a young spirit, I still need a Guardian. More importantly, it looked up at her, I need a friend. Like you. Don't you want to be friends?
She laughed at the wide appealing eyes it made at her and patted its horned head. "I do... I too need a friend..."
It whispered thoughtfully, I can teach you so much, young Crow and in return, you can show me so much too. I am very eager to learn.
It extended a hairy small paw at her and said, At least let us go together to the next village and see what happens. Agreed?
"Agreed." She shook the paw, feeling her palm tingle as they touched.
She picked up her bow and slung it across her back. Then she and the Hokai began to walk away from the village.
The little being ran on all fours beside her.
"What is your name, little Crow?" It asked curiously.
She smiled and whispered her name.
Tony opened his eyes, not knowing how to feel.
I feel so incomplete... I wanted to know her name. I wanted to... Her friend... Suadh... I have never heard that name before.
He sat up and looked around, rubbing his eyes. He was sitting in the library, a giant historical book in his lap.
I must have been reading... and drifted off to sleep.
Then Tony heard the sound of women laughing and talking. He grimaced, just recalling that Pepper and Magdalene were having a hen party. And he widened his eyes in horror.
If they catch me here, I will be dragged into one of their endless cooking discussions! I must flee!
He stood up quietly and looked around. My room! Yes, I can hide out there! Wait! If I go up the stairs, they will surely see me from the kitchen.
Then Tony saw the large library window and had an idea. He quickly climbed out of it and crouching low, crept under the kitchen window.
If I reach the stables, I can saddle up Balthazar and ride off!
He was nearly clear of the kitchen, when it opened slowly and someone leaned out.
Tony glanced upwards, resigning himself to his fate when he grinned. For it was his Pepper smiling down at him.
She raised her eyebrows at his crouched pose and he placed his finger against his lips, to signal that she should keep quiet.
Pepper nodded and he jerked his head to the left, to gesture at the stables.
She smiled and he crept away, determined to reach the stables.
Once Tony was inside, he closed the door and leaned against it, exhaling with relief.
Balthazar nickered at him and he smiled, stepping over to pat his horse. Tigliath was contentedly sleeping in a stall on a large bale of hay. He opened one amber eye at Tony and then closed it quickly.
The stable door opened and Pepper stepped in, grinning widely.
"I saw you, Tony Stark and I caught you!"
The dream had left Tony with an indelible, lingering feeling of sadness, of regret, of friendship lost.
In his mind's eye, he saw the white flowers by the grave, blowing softly in the wind. He saw the sheathed sword and the bird fountain.
Then the image of Pepper flying up to the stars in the blackness of the night, sadly looking down at him, flashed through his mind. And then Pepper falling off a cliff without a sound.
His heart clenched hard at the painful memories.
Pepper was standing there, she was saying something, pushing her hair back from her delicate face. But he didn't hear her.
In three steps, Tony closed the gap between them and pulled her into his arms, holding her to him. She stopped talking and he burrowed his head in her neck and just hugged her tightly, his arms around her back.
Pepper kept absolutely quiet and he felt her arms move around him, hugging him back. Tony swallowed, trying to get rid of the huge lump in his throat. He took a deep breath and smiled faintly as Pepper's intoxicating lily fragrance filled his lungs.
They stood like that for a long minute, Tony reluctant to let her go. She asked softly, "Tony... did you have another dream?"
He just nodded and Pepper started to rub his back, tightening her grip on him. "It is alright, Tony... it is alright... we are going to figure this out. We have to."
"I will not let that Witch hurt you, Pepper... I will not...", Tony muttered tightly to himself, aware that he was confusing a dream with reality.
Then he kissed the side of her face and kept hugging her, comforted by the feel of his lady in his arms.
