Time moved differently in the land of magick Nimue was still as young and beautiful as ever. She remained by the side of her mistress in a gown which covered her breasts, but left her midriff bare followed by a long skirt. Her eyes were rimmed with dark make up and her skin was as pale and sparkling as Mab's a single purple braid woven into her long raven locks.
'It's time.' Mab whispered staring into the crystals as Nimue peered over her shoulder seeing the man trapped within the cell.
'You know what to do.' Mab rasped.
Nimue smirked and nodded vanishing in a clap of thunder.
When Merlin finally came to he was in a slimey dark suffocating cell the only light coming in from the top grate water trickling down the walls he rubbed his head in pain.
'Hello Merlin.' Nimue greeted appearing from nowhere in his cell.
Merlin's eyes widened at first he thought it was Mab so he had to double check but this woman was younger than the Queen of the old ways in fact she was,
'Nimue.' Merlin whispered.
A bright smile spread across Nimue's glossy lips. 'Merlin.' she eagerly approached him but he recoiled.
'What is wrong?' she asked looking hurt.
Merlin could smell Mab on Nimue the scent was unmistakable.
'Oh Nimue what has become of you?' his eyes drooped with sorrow.
Nimue frowned in offence.
'Forgive me but it is you who is rotting in a cell stinking of your own filth I however am perfectly fine.' she told him coldly.
'Dont lie to me! I can smell her on you.' Merlin bellowed.
Nimue tilted her head her long raven locks falling to the side.
'Then I must smell divine.' she purred stroking his cheek but again Merlin recoiled.
'Do not fail me.' Mab's voice rasped within her head Nimue did not want to fail her mistress her features clouded with worry.
Merlin watched her with soft eyes mistaking the look for sadness over what she had become he reached out gently cupping her cheek.
'I thought you were dead Nimue,' he whispered. 'all these years you were the only woman Ive ever dreamt of. You're father was heartbroken he has been searching for you day and night all this time.' he told her in a pained voice.
Nimue looked confused.
'It's not been that long just the one year.' she corrected.
Merlin stared at her and cupped her face in his hands.
'She didnt tell you.' he looked angry. 'Tell me what?' Nimue pressed.
'It's been over twenty years Nimue.' he told her gravely.
Nimue's eyes widened and she stumbled back against the cell wall. 'No it cant have been. I would have noticed.' she protested.
'Time moves differently in the land of magick, Mab should have told you, Im sorry.' he pressed a hand on her forearm.
Nimue looked down at the ground for a while then looked up at him.
'Come with me, to the land of magick.' she pleaded Merlin looked shocked.
'Have you not heard how Mab just tricked you?' he tried again.
Nimue nodded.
'Yes but Merlin she is not what you think I promise you have got it all wrong. I cant stay here anymore Id be burned as a witch. Please Merlin, please just come with me.' she pleaded.
Merlin closed his eyes. 'Nimue dont make me do this.' he was under no doubt that Nimue was under a spell of Mab's she had to be. It was the only thing that made any sense.
Nimue cupped his face pressing a kiss to his lips as tears rolled down her cheeks. 'There was a reason I vanished Merlin, my father told me I had to marry a man of Vortigern's choosing. I refused him because my heart already belonged to another it belonged to you. Mab offered me a chance to escape that fate and I took it. I love my father truly I do but I couldnt bare life without you, the moment my eyes found you something inside of me changed. Please dont let my sacrifice be in vain.' her expression was pained.
Merlin looked troubled for along while but staring into Nimue's eyes he saw the girl he rescued all those years ago not Mab's creation.
'I will return to the land of magick with you Nimue.' he kissed her back knowing it would be only way to break Mab's spell and they vanished in a clap of thunder.
They appeared before a glorious empty throne in the land of magick.
Merlin looked around seeing the empty room.
'When did you learn magick?' he murmured.
'Lady Mab taught me she's been so kind Merlin,' Nimue pressed. 'Nimue….she's-'
'Merlin listen, Mab has shown us a great kindness by sparing me, by sparing our love.' she said desperately.
Merlin smiled bitterly. 'She doesnt care about love Nimue.' he sighed Nimue was naive her body had barely aged her mind was yet young a childlike useless against Mab.
'No,' Nimue agreed. 'she cares about you, she loves you and you are her son.'
Merlin rolled his eyes in annoyance.
'Merlin!' she hissed in a voice that reminded him scarily of Mab. 'If you truly think so low of her, at least look at it from my point of view. I would have been sold to some ugly old lord and raped till I bore his children! If Mab hadnt stepped in could you imagine my life?!' she demanded angrily.
Solemnly the wizard nodded and gently squeezed her shoulder feeling guilty.
'You're right, Im sorry, I understand why you opted to be free of such a life.' he sighed. 'Where is Mab?' he questioned the sooner he freed Nimue the better.
'Right here.' the goddess rasped from the doorway one hand on her hip the over resting on the door frame she smiled brightly her eyes were glinting with triumph.
'Well done Nimue, you have pleased me.' she slowly sauntered over and ran her fingers through the younger woman's locks.
'Thank you mistress.' Nimue was practically purring at Mab's touch and the fire inside Merlin reignited, it was disgusting Mab has made his Nimue her….pet!
'Something wrong Merlin?' Mab asked innocently with a smug look on her features as she remained by Nimue's side, she couldnt have angered him any more if she tried.
Merlin stared at her with fury clear in his eyes as Mab slowly walked behind Nimue gracefully leaning over her shoulder and letting her hands hover above her head as though presenting Nimue like a trophy. The young woman stayed perfectly still smiling at Merlin with her glistening violet eyes.
'Perhaps a cat has gotten a hold of his tongue, Nimue?' Mab rasped causing the young woman to chuckle.
'He's just shy.' Nimue flashed a smile and went over to Merlin nuzzling into his side. 'Arent you Merlin? Why dont you tell Queen Mab? Dont be rude.' she lightly scolded.
Merlin remained glaring at the smirking witch, despite Nimue fluttering around him like a baby bird.
'Thank you.' Merlin grumbled.
The Queen's brow creased with confusion and she leaned in a little tilting her head.
'Sorry my sweety I didnt hear you?' Mab rasped.
Nimue laughed lightly taking Merlin's hand she leaned up and pressed a kiss to his cheek, causing him to soften a little as he glanced down. Nimue looked so beautiful when she smiled seeing her so happy brought a great joy to his heart which was battling with the darkness the presence of his mother caused him.
'Thank you for making Nimue happy, for keeping her safe my Queen.' he spoke in a louder voice.
Mab was grinning like a cheshire cat at Merlin's words she had him exactly where she wanted him after all his years of oaths, and defiance here he was.
'Merlin.' she rasped. 'Merlin.' she slowly approached him. 'It brings me such happiness to hear you say that, you are mine Merlin. I would do anything for you, my son.' she touched his cheek causing him to flinch slightly at her touch.
Merlin couldnt have looked any more furious who was she to call herself his mother! He'd had two, the one who gave birth to him and the one who raised him. Not this crone!
Nimue seemed only partly aware of the tension or at least was pretending that she didnt see it at all. Before either of them could say anything else Frik appeared from nowhere beside them all with his hands clasped over his middle.
'Ah! Master Merlin how nice of you to rejoin us once more.' the gnome said in a delighted tone.
'Frik.' Merlin greeted solemnly nodding his head at the gnome.
Frik's goggling eyes darted around the room he gulped feeling the awkwardness of the situation.
'Perhaps master Merlin is hungry after his stay in that awful cell?' Frik suggested.
Mab turned on her heel and left towards the dining room Frik followed as did Nimue who dragged Merlin along. Arriving the table was stacked with food little faeries fluttering around it, Mab took her seat at the head of the table sitting gracefully her focus on her two pets. Nimue sat to Mab's left immediately beginning to pick at the food.
Merlin sat beside the young woman staring at the food in suspicion as though trying to detect if it was spelled to make him Mab's puppet as well. Mab smirked in amusement she leant over Nimue her hand reaching to a plate of berries before picked one up and slowly popped it into her mouth whilst staring into the wizard's concentrated eyes. After chewing the fruit in an almost painfully slow act her tongue darted out licking the juice from her lips.
'They are delicious my dear you should eat something.' the goddess rasped.
Merlin kept his eyes trained on her every movement when Nimue stroked his cheek causing him to focus on her instead.
'Eat something my love.'she let the pad of her thumb brush over the stubble on his cheek.
Merlin sighed and did as he was asked though he felt like an animal the way Mab was staring at him with the utmost fascination.
Mab then vanished into thin air but the wizard was aware she was still watching his every move. Despite himself Merlin found himself really digging into the food after so long starved, and before that only living on what he'd made with his own hands this really was a treat. Nimue chattered away to him speaking of the time they'd first met or exchanging stories with Frik about what had happened in her life since. It could have almost been a normal date of two old lovers meeting up well if you could look past the random gnome, and the goddess observing them. Frik sitting at the opposite side of where Mab had sat he relaxed into the seat after several glasses of wine. He lazily threw food into his mouth chomping on it which was beginning to really annoy the fae Queen who was watching them in her crystals.
'Did I ever tell you the joke about the-' 'Frik!' Mab rasped in his head cutting the gnome off before he could begin yet another humourless joke the gnome fell quiet shrinking back in fear.
Frik cleared his throat and and wiped his mouth nervously.
'Ah yes well perhaps I shall tell you another time. Lady Nimue you are looking tired may I escort you both to your chambers?' he asked retaking his butler persona with a hiccup.
Nimue flashed a smile and inclined her head.
'Why thank you my kind sir.' she teased and stood up and steadied the gnome who looked ready to fall over due to his intoxication.
'Master Merlin, I trust your old chambers will be suitable for you?' Frik asked the wizard.
Merlin nodded also getting to his feet.
'Id imagine so but Im going to stay up a while longer.' he sighed heavily.
Nimue gave and understanding smile she walked over to her, her lilac gown clinging seductively to her body, her pale hands cupped his face the pad of her thumb sweeping across his flesh.
'I am glad you are here with me Merlin.' she whispered and leant in kissing him sweetly.
Merlin returned her kiss closing his eyes and for a brief moment in time all of his troubles seemed to melt into the nothing.
'Nimue?' Merlin spoke gently but then paused before continuing. 'Have pleasant dreams.'
Nimue grinned up at him she let her hands slide down his arms then gently squeezed his hands. 'You too master Merlin.' she flashed a smiled then left with the drunken gnome.
The wizard sat back down and propped his elbows on the table as the fire continued to crackle melodically in the background he pressed his face into his hands.