Title: Forever Yours
Author: Noelwing
Email:
Summary: The tale of an English Lady, an Elfin Prince and the events between them that led to Nuada's decision to awaken the Golden Army. Nuada/OC. Pre HB2 universe.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of the HB2 universe. Any other characters are creations of the author and belong to her.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings include domestic violence and some adult situations in later chapters.
Author's notes: I wanted my original character, Sophia, to be very much a product of her age. As such, she has been raised as a member of the Christian faith as many people in Victorian society commonly were. However, I am not trying to promote the Christian faith, or disrespect it for that matter. I just felt that I needed to say that, just so we are clear people.
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Forever Yours: Part 2
Captive
Nuala placed the tea cup she had been drinking from and stared at her brother. Shock and exasperation was plain to see on her face and Nuada could read those feelings even stronger in her mind.
"So that is how you met her?" Nuala said and quite bluntly.
"Yes but if you read me at all, you would know that it was never my intention to kidnap her. Unforeseen circumstances forced me to have to change my original plan. Unfortunately, my new plan required the use of a hostage. "
Nuala stared deadpanned. "Well, are we not the master of chivalry?" Nuada was more amused than irritated. Nuala was most likely right as usual.
During his narrative, the two siblings had proceeded to Nuala's chambers where she had made the tea they were now drinking. It comforted Nuada to be in his sister's sanctuary. Mostly because he knew no one would disturb them here and most importantly, because it was Nuala's space.
Nuada got up from the table and walked around his sister's chambers. He focused his attention on delicate mobile that hung over Nuala's bed. The mobile was three tiers in length and had metal leaves of silver and gold and jewels dangling from it. Nuada inhaled deeply and puffed a steady stream of breath making the leaves and jewels of the mobile chime with movement.
"I cannot believe you still have this. It has been so long." He said fiddling with the mobile nostalgically.
Nuala smiled, unlike most of the people of their father's court, she was aware of Nuada's sentimental side.
"I know it has been centuries but I remember the day you gave it to me as though it were yesterday."
Nuada smiled. He had made the mobile and given it to Nuala with his whole heart. It warmed him to know that she cherished his intentions as much as the gift itself.
"So tell me, did you really believe that taking the woman captive would make the men give into your demands?" Nuala asked with much curiosity.
"To be honest, I was unsure at the time. I was so vexed that I did not think clearly and acted too rashly. My only justification was that it was too late to turn back."
**********
Drip-drip-drip
The sound of dripping water, faint at first, grew louder and more consistent. As her hearing returned, so too did the rest of Sophia's senses. She was more aware of her discomfort than anything else. The whole right side of her body ached as though she had collided with a wall. Her head faired no better for the same ache in her body permeated every inch of her skull.
The journey to full conciseness brought with it more aches and pains. She felt a very heavy weight around her that was the bulk of her gown. It was completely soaked through but did not chill her. Instead, the many layers mingled with her body heat and created a humid, and even more uncomfortable, mass around her.
Her eyelids felt like heavy stones and opening them was a long battle. Finally though, she regained her vision and began to take in the area around her.
She lay upon a stone surface, not natural but structured. The stones were fashioned into bricks and were uneven from years of erosion and natural exposure. She looked up to see a ceiling with a gaping hole in it. Surrounding the edges of the hole were remnants of shingles, wood beams and yet more stone. From the sharp edges, water dripped like tiny waterfalls. Through the hole, Sophia was able to see the still cloud congested sky.
She shifted her gaze to more level ground and saw that the walls around her were dotted with many alcove arches. The design of the alcoves told her immediately that this structure had once been a small church or cathedral. Obviously, it had long been out of use.
Sophia eventually sat up and dangled her legs over the side of the alcove she had been lying in. This alcove had probably once been the place of a holy relic or image of some kind. Many old churches that dotted the country side were often plundered for building materials or for the artifacts that they housed. This structure had not been spared either.
However, there was one area of tranquility that Sophia spied. In an alcove on the wall opposite to her was a statue of the holy virgin. At her feet was a stone basin, probably and old baptismal pool or vessel for holy water.
Sophia jumped down and landed, albeit a bit unsteady, on the dirt floor. The steps needed to make it to the basin were wrought with dizziness but determination. Sophia managed to make it to the basin which was blessedly filled with water.
The Marian statue looked like the good mother she was always made out to be. Her arms were open and her face was serene, as if saying 'welcome my child'. Sophia's throat tightened with thirst at the sight of the rain water collected in the bowl. She plunged her hand into the bowl, cupping a gulp of water which she sipped quickly. The water refreshed her a great deal and Sophia thanked the holy mother for her kind gift.
"Hail Mary," She said silently.
Being the daughter of a historian/archeologist, Sophia couldn't help but to be fascinated by the place she was in. But how did she get here? Her memories answered that question with more force then she would have liked. Her home had been attacked, Mr. Conroy had been killed most gruesomely and the creature, that horrible creature.
Also, there was that man. Whoever he was, it was clear that he had orchestrated the attack on her home-he was the one who had kidnapped her. But why had he done so and where was he now? Was that vile creature still around as well?
Though her mind asked the questions, Sophia really had no desire to find out the answers. All she did know was that they were not present at the time, thus, this was her chance to escape. Her eyes scanned the room she was in from one wall to another until she found and arch door.
Beyond this arch she found what must have been the cathedrals main chamber. Broken benches and forest debris lay strewn about everywhere. The floor looked more like a jigsaw puzzle of broken stone and earth with patches of moss everywhere. Like the room she had just emerged from, the ceiling of the main chamber was also caved in. At The end of the broken benches and rubble, was a large archway. Only one wooden door remained in place. Just outside of that door, oak trees were visible.
Gathering up her drenched and dirty skirts, Sophia made for the door. She was only a few paces away when a strange sound caught her attention. It was a sort of buzzing, fluttering sound; similar to the frantic flapping of a bird's wings. But there was another sound as well, like that of the drumming of fingernails on a wood surface.
The sound was coming from within a pile of wood bench and stone debris. Sophia edged closer and closer to the debris trying to see what was making that noise. 'It must be rats or something' her mind told her. But curiosity got the better of her still.
All at once, the source, or one of the sources, of the sound made itself known. Standing on top of one of the stone bricks was a grey colored, four-legged creature-definitely not a rat. The creature was only about the size of her hand but was still big enough to entice fear.
Sophia held completely still as the creature skittered around the rocks. Its head was shaped like a mushroom and had two beady eyes. Besides the four, crab-like legs, the creature also had two arms. But the most curious features were the two fleshy protrusions on the creature's back-wings, perhaps?
The creature was not without intelligence, for as Sophia observed it, the creature observed her right back. However, the little creature did not seem to be as nervous as she. Sophia took a tentative step back. The idea being not to make too hasty of an escape for fear that it would aggravate the tiny creature.
Her attempt at stealth was rewarded by the appearance of another creature, another and another. They all began to, literally, come out of the woodwork and every single one of them eyed Sophia with intense interest.
The sight of dozens of so many strange creatures drove away the last thread of rational thought that Sophia had and she turned to run. Instantly she collided with something hard and warm. Before Sophia's eyes was a thick, blue-gray colored hide. She craned her neck and saw the face of the creature that had attacked her home.
Her mouth opened but there was no shriek to be heard, her corset did not allow the proper intake of breath to produce a scream. She backed away from the creature. It did not advance upon her but continued to block her escape with its massive form.
Her feet suddenly stumbled on something and she nearly fell. She stumbled all over the pile of wood shingles and debris. Her clumsy treading had disturbed the pile of rubble the little creatures called home. The little creatures were none too happy about it either.
The creatures began to stampede towards her chirping wildly as they did. They opened and shut their toothy mouths; the chattering sound of their teeth clicking together was overwhelming. They charged forward snapping at the hem of her dress. Sophia's feet became entangled in the train of her overskirt and she fell back on the hard earth. The creatures still advanced on her, some were even in the folds of her petticoat scurrying about.
Sharp pain began stabbing into her flesh and she knew instinctively that the tiny creatures were biting her legs. The creatures meant to devour her; Sophia finally found breath enough to scream.
"Stop it, all of you!" The voice filled the air like thunder during a storm. The tiny creatures heeded the voice and recoiled from Sophia. She could feel their tiny legs crawling on her flesh as they moved. It was a sickening sensation but not nearly as bad as the feeling of them chewing one her.
She opened her eyes and watched the creatures as they scurried off. She followed one till it arrived at a pair of, booted, feet. The creature climbed up the person's leg and all the way up to his shoulder, it was the white haired man; the one who had kidnapped her.
The tiny creature perched, quite happily it seemed, on the man's right shoulder. The man scratched the creature's chin with his left index finger "She is not for eating," He said casually despite the ominous nature of his words. Sophia felt no more calm about the situation for it sounded as though the man could change his mind at any time.
In the light of day, Sophia could see far many more details about the man than she had been able to in the dark. However, the clarity of the light only added to the ferocity of his appearance. The most noticeable feature being was his eyes; amber-gold in color with black pupils. His white hair had the slightest kiss of blond color at the tips. All these features blended together into the most feral image she had ever beheld.
"You are staring again. Did I not tell you last night that was impolite?" He spoke in that same controlled yet indifferent tone.
"Who are you? What are you and what are these…these things?" She had to force every word and the strain was reflected in her voice.
The man patted the creature sitting on his shoulder. "This creature is as ancient as the world itself. Your tongue is too primitive to pronounce its true name; it is more widely known as a tooth fairy."
"A fairy, that little thing is a fairy?"
"Yes, this 'little thing' here is a true fairy. I suppose this is a surprise since to humans, fairies are nothing more than harmless creature's that do not even exist." His tone became disdainful.
The man then indicated to the hulking creature that, until now, had kept its distance. The creature advanced and its cloven feet made only the slightest sound as it stepped. It amazed her that such a large creature could move with such stealth.
"You already know my body-guard and friend Mr. Wink."
Sophia's eyes widened. "Is he a fairy too?"
"No, Wink is a troll and very proud one at that." Wink, responding to his friend's compliment, bellowed and brandished his tusk filled mouth. The man's black lips curled in a smirk as he indicated to the troll. He chuckled slightly when he saw the woman eyeing Wink's mechanical hand quite fearfully.
Sophia could feel her body starting to shake again but had resisted the urge to faint so far. "And what might you be? Sophia spoke as steadily as she could and anticipated his answer.
"I lady, am one of the oldest children of earth. My people are the bearers of life eternal and our eyes saw the sun, the moon and the stars before your kind was even a whisper upon this world. We are the elf-kind and I am their prince; my name is Nuada."
Sophia's eyes went directly to Nuada's ears. She had read stories about elves as a girl, the descriptions varied but one detail remained constant; pointed ears. Sure enough, Nuada's ears sported pointed protrusions. But unlike the elves in the stories she had read, this elf was anything but harmless.
"No, you are demons, demons come to torment me." She pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.
"Demons," Nuada said contemplatively. Why humans shunned anything different from themselves had always remained a mystery to his kind. Humans came from the same earth, lived under the same moon and sun as the fey kind. But for humans, different was dangerous; different was evil.
"Why have you kidnapped me?" The woman began to tremble most fierce.
"That is not your concern. The creatures that dwell here obey my command but only within these walls. Try to escape and you will be at the mercy of the tooth fairies."
The tooth fairies chirped, clicked their teeth and flapped their wings at the potential of feasting on human flesh. Sophia cupped her hands over here ears trying to drown out everything. She lay down on her side and curled into a ball keeping her eyes shut tightly.
*********
Mary, like all the other servants, hustled about as they tried to clean up the shambles left from the break in the night before. Wood and broken glass lay strewn everywhere and intermingled with the remains of several artifacts that had not escaped the destruction.
Mary listened to the master and his associates while she worked. Some talked quietly as they worked to remove the body of Mr. Conroy while others pondered who their enemy was. Much to Mary's distress, no one had yet breathed a word as to what was to be done to rescue Mistress Sophia.
Richard Kanner stood in front of the gaping hole in the wall of his office. He hardly paid any attention to the activity going on behind him. Sitting on the desk behind him, ignored but not forgotten, was the black box that contained his latest prize. Richard had been proud to acquire it, but now he knew that he had purchased more than he expected.
"Richard." Came a voice laced by a typical London accent.
Richard turned to see the face of Louis Monroe, his long time friend and Chief Magistrate of London.
"I have never seen anything like that before in my life, the very Devil if you ask me." Mr. Monroe stroked his gray mustache as he spoke. Mr. Monroe was a round man with a pudgy face and gray hair.
"Yes, indeed." Richard's voice was soft and distant.
"Is there something you wish to tell me my friend? For years you have been a private collector of valuable things. Being so isolated, this house is an easy target. Yet this is the first time anyone has ever dared try to rob you.
"Whoever that man was, there were plenty of things for him to have chosen from. Anyone of which would have made him very rich. But he was looking for something in particular. Tell me, is their something different about one of the items you have?"
Richard smiled resolutely. Mr. Monroe's appearance may not have commanded much respect but he did not become Chief Magistrate for nothing. Richard answered his friend's questions without word by turning to the black box and opening it.
Mr. Monroe had seen many cultural artifacts in his life but even he was taken aback by the splendor that was suddenly revealed to him. The weapon had a unique appearance. But it was the power that seemed to emanate from the weapon that took his breath away.
"What do you know of it?" Mr. Monroe immediately asked, his investigative instincts coming into play.
"Honestly, not very much. The one who put it up for auction seemed happier to be rid of it than he was over the price it fetched. I never even found out what the chap's name was."
Monroe's brow furrowed. "After last night, it would appear that you have acquired far more than you bargained for. I still cannot believe what I saw last night.
"What I still don't understand is that the weapon was right there in front of that man; or whatever he was. He could have just taken it. Instead he kidnapped your wife and left you with an ultimatum."
Richard slammed the black box shut. The sound of stone slamming against stone was heard by all in the room. "Mr. Monroe, I have no intention of making any kind of deals with criminals."
Mr. Monroe gasped. Surely he would not abandon a lovely woman such as Sophia to whatever cruel devices her kidnapper might conceive.
"This is what we are going to do. I will gather the servants together as well as several of my hunting dogs. A rifle will be given to each man and we are going to go out and find my wife. No one steals anything from me and gets away with it!"
Mr. Monroe nodded enthusiastically and the men proceeded out of the room. Richard called for a regiment of servants to help make preparations for their venture. In his hand he carried with him the black box that contained the kidnapper's goal.
Mary squeezed the handle of her broom. Her master's initiative gave her no hope. The master was taking more care in protecting that silly artifact than he was in finding her Mistress and friend. No doubt Lord Kanner would make sure that his treasure was locked away properly before doing anything else.
More worrisome still was that it would take at least a day to muster all the necessary fire and manpower and provisions for the search party. Every hour lost could potentially bring Sophia closer to her end.
A warm hand squeezed Mary on the shoulder. She looked to see the face of Alexander, her twin brother. "He is going about it all wrong. A large search party will take too much time; it may be too late already?" He said solemnly.
"What can we do?" Mary whispered.
"I still have da's old rifle. It is not much but it is something. I will go into the woods and try and find Lady Sophia myself."
"How can you be sure that you can find her? What even makes you think the kidnapper is even in the woods to begin with?"
Alexander gestured his sister to lower her voice. "Keep it down. Look you and I survived in those woods for a time. You know it is the perfect haven for anyone."
Mary embraced her brother and kissed him on the cheek. "Be very careful. By heaven there was talk of monsters."
"Ai sister, but we owe Sophia our lives. She took us in when no one else would. I have to try." Alexander pulled back and looked into his sister's eyes.
"It will take at least a day for the master and his cronies to prepare. I will leave right now. I'll take some supplies and a horse and begin looking. Until I return please pray for me."
Mary wiped a tear away from her face. "God's speed and Goddess' wisdom be wit you."
*********
Wink kicked a wood beam out of his way. Lumber was not his preferred building material. He, like most trolls, preferred stone. This structure that the humans had once used as a house of worship was made with good stone. He had quested with Nuada for eons now. They slipped in and out of the human world and as such, they had had to take refuge in some sorry places. But as far as sanctuaries went, Wink did not believe this one to be so bad.
Already his mind conjured ideas of what he could do with the stone that made up this structure. Humans were crafty but limited in their ingenuity with earth materials. Their structures, even when properly cared for, only lasted for so long. Therefore, the room for improvement alone would be enough to challenge the troll.
A feint groan distracted wink. The human woman still lay on the ground; she looked as though she were asleep by now. Her presence was a grim reminder that his and Nuada's presence here was not permanent.
They had come to reclaim the Royal Spear of Bethmoora; that was all. Now, instead of the spear, they had a human captive and Wink was completely confused. The troll knew if he wanted answers, he was going to have to talk to Nuada. He would ask, not as a vassal to liege-lord, but as one friend to another.
Wink left the human where she lay and exited the old doorway. His keen, troll hearing instantly picked up the sound of a blade slicing through the air. Nuada was practicing with his sword and Wink knew to be cautious. After their apparent failure Nuada would need to vent his frustration.
It was not long before he found the elf practicing in a clearing. Nuada was in the middle of an athletic routine of tumbles and flips. Each stunt included a lethal swing of his sword. Wink shook his head; there was only one way to get Nuada's attention when he was like this.
Wink leaned to the ground and with is metallic fingers, summoned a stone from the earth. At his bidding, the earth yielded a small rock which wink collected. Carefully, he positioned the stone and prepared to flick it at Nuada. He took aim and let the stone fly. As he expected, Nuada turned and intercepted the small stone. With one fluid swing of his sword, he batted the stone away.
"Yes Mr. Wink, is there a problem?" Nuada sounded slightly annoyed at having been distracted from his exercise. But he felt no real anger, he could never be mad at his best friend.
Wink began to speak. His speech was a series of grumbles and other un-soothing sounds that to any other ears would not be classified as a language. But Nuada understood the troll perfectly.
"My friend, I do not understand why you did not take the spear. It was right there in front of you. Instead, we have taken a human hostage."
"I know my friend. I have not been entirely fourth coming with you and I am sorry for that." Nuada sheathed his sword and approached the troll.
"I could not take the spear because it is not mine to take, I know this now."
"What do you mean? The spear is yours by birthright." Wink persisted.
"It was until my father the king surrendered it to the humans." Even after all these millennia, the bitterness Nuada felt at watching his inheritance given away as a peace offering stung like a fresh wound.
"Like the crown piece of Bethmoora, my father turned over several other royal properties to the humans to prove his conviction at maintaining a lasting peace with them. Yet father always knew I would try to reclaim it from the humans."
Wink realized all at once the predicament his friend was in. He also understood why they needed their human hostage.
"There is an enchantment upon the blade. An enchantment that is as strong now as the day it was cast. Because of it, I cannot take what was given to the humans by the elves. It must be returned to me."
Wink understood everything now. The woman was merely a bargaining chip that, if all went well, would be given back in exchange for the spear. It was not a bad strategy, just not an ideal one.
*********
The day passed, a night to, and still Sophia was a prisoner. She shivered and pulled the velvet fabric closer to her body. She had bedded down for the night in the same alcove in which she had first awakened. Her petticoat served as a crude bed and her corset she used for a pillow. The velvet overskirt she used to cover herself and, for once, she was grateful to Richard for giving her the dress. Though, she never thought she would use the dress like this.
The morning had come with its usual blanket of mist that clustered outside and wisped through the battered cathedral. The view through the collapsed roof showed clouds with the possibility of rain, lingering still. At least she had shelter enough in this old building. It was one thing to be grateful for given her current situation.
Gratitude crossing her mind, it came as now surprise that the first thing she looked upon was the statue of the Virgin Mary. Sophia, despite the protests of her stiff muscles, got up from her shelter and went to the statue.
She wrapped the velvet overskirt around her shoulders to preserve at least some of her modesty. Without the corset and petticoat, she was clad only in her chemise undergarment. It was considered indecent for a woman to walk around, even in her own house, without being fully dressed in her corset and gown. But Sophia felt no shame as she knelt before the holy virgin. Besides, was Mary not a woman like her self?
"Hail Mary, full of grace," Sophia began to pray. She crossed her self and shut her eyes. His face, Nuada's face, appeared instantly.
'We are the elf-kind and I am their prince; my name is Nuada.'
His words echoed in her mind. He was an elf, or that is what he claimed to be. Modern science and logic had long dismissed the existence of such creatures. Christianity had also denounced magical beings; condemning such things as demons. Given the treatment she had received thus far from Nuada and his cohorts, the judgment of demon seemed more than fair.
A slight, scampering noise brought Sophia out of her musings. A tooth fairy suddenly appeared before her-speak of the devil.
She scowled at the little creature, a gesture the fairy found most amusing. It snapped its teeth and chirped at her. She had not lost her fear of the little creature. But she did not feel like letting the little nuisance get the better of her.
She raised her hand and slammed it down hard on the stone surface just in front of the creature. The little tooth fairy gave a small shriek and scampered off. Sophia smirked; so the little creature was not so tough without all of its little friends. However, her satisfaction ended as quickly as it had begun. If Nuada did not get what he wanted, there would be no chance of escaping the little creatures.
"You are awake."
Sophia cringed. There was no mistaking that voice; Nuada had returned. Sophia looked up to see him standing over her looking down at her. She turned away from him to glance at the statue of Mary 'Holy mother give me strength' she thought before acknowledging his presence.
"What do you want?"
"I thought it would please you to know that there is quite a bit of activity among the men of your home. It would appear that they a launching a search party for you."
Sophia could not help the feeling of hope that rushed through her nor did it go unnoticed. Nuada's expression went from indifferent to smug. "Do not grow too hopeful woman. The men will not find you whilst you are my prisoner. The enchantments I have surrounding this place will see to that."
The momentary break of eye-contact proved that he had successfully dashed any hopes the thought of potential rescue might conjure in his hostage. He needed to keep her under control until he achieved his goal.
"Never the less, the men are playing right into my hands," He produced a bottle of ink as well as well as a piece of paper and a quill.
"I want you to write a letter to your husband. I have conditions for your release but they will be more convincing coming from you." He thrust the writing materials in front of her.
Sophia's face contorted. "You want me to write my own ransom note to my husband? If I do not; what then? You will kill me I suppose."
His eyes narrowed. "That is entirely in your hands. Do as I say and you needn't come to any harm. However should you choose to be uncooperative there will be only one outcome."
The tooth fairies chirped and flapped their wings as if trying to drive the point home. Sophia despaired; like she really had a choice at all in this situation. Furthermore, Nuada was clearly misguided in his assumption that the search party he claimed to be in operation was looking for 'her'.
Like a defiant child, Sophia pushed the writing paraphernalia away with her hands. Her actions clearly infuriated Nuada, as she expected they would. However, her expectations did nothing to quell her fear.
"So you choose to be defiant. It will gain you nothing." Nuada's fingers curled around the hilt of his sword.
"I stand to gain nothing by cooperating either. I hate to tell you, but I fear you are wasting your time. My husband, Richard, clings to his precious possessions harder than and Irishman to his whisky."
"What do you mean to say?" Nuada replied curtly.
Sophia snapped to her feet and looked Nuada in the eye. For the moment, any fear she had of him was overshadowed by her anger. "Richard will not trade one of his treasures for me. So if that is your goal than I fear your course is lost."
"Fascinating, as his wife are you not counted among your husband's treasures? A possession at the very least, surely?"
Had Nuada not been the sharp warrior that he was, the blow the women meant to deal him most certainly would have succeeded. Nuada captured her wrist and held it firmly, nor did he forget about her other hand.
Though his grip rendered both her hands useless, she continued to struggle. She did not care if he were an elf, or a demon for that matter. His last remark had angered her beyond rational.
The woman was feistier than Nuada could have imagined. It was amusing but only slightly. He had let the woman have her way for far too long and he had to remind her of her place. He tightened his grip on her wrists and with one quick thrust he pushed her to ground.
The woman, though not hurt, was momentarily stunned and made no further attempt to combat him. Nuada remained at the ready in case the feisty woman tried to assault him again. Several minutes went by and still the woman remained on the ground quiet and dejected.
Nuada did not much care for whatever dynamics existed between the woman and her husband, a man she identified as Richard. Yet her proclamation that the man would not trade the spear for her life unnerved him greatly. His first thought was that the woman was trying to save her life by spinning a web of lies to discourage him. In the back of his mind however, the terrible possibility of her words being truthful remained. He knew all too well the greed of men could be very, very great.
"What do you want it for?" The woman asked breaking the tense silence between them.
"That is not your concern. Just do as I say." Nuada replied curtly having no desire to let the situation get out of control again.
The woman eyed him with pure contempt. Something no one, much less a human, had ever dared to do before. "You just want it all to yourself don't you? Tell, what is such a treasure worth to you? You are just like my husband."
The white skinned man was kneeling mere inches in front of her before she even realized it. Sophia only had time enough to see Nuada's fist clenched, ready to strike, before she shut her eyes and braced for the impending blow.
The woman shrieked and flinched away from him. It would be all too easy for Nuada to silence her with his fist. Based on her reaction, it was a method that she was well familiar with. The bruise slightly coloring her face (which he only now noticed) was further testimony. However, the threat of a blow was enough for Nuada to regain control. He need not base himself further.
Sophia braced for Nuada's strike, but it never came. Cautiously she opened her eyes to see Nuada standing over her once more. Gone was the malice her comment had evoked in him but his face was no less intense.
"It would be wise not to hasten your own demise by insulting my honor. Now will you cooperate or continue to tempt fate? The choice is up to you."
Sophia scoffed at Nuada's choice of words-like she really had any choice in this situation. At this point, the only comfort she found for herself was looking forward to the moment when Nuada found his plan a failure. At least then, she would have the pleasure telling him a fond 'I told you so' before she died.
Sophia heaved a frustrated sigh and took the quill into her hand. "What do you wish for me to write?" She said sounding quite defeated.
"My words exactly as I say them."
Sophia did exactly that. Nuada's demands were simple: Richard was to agree to hand over the spear in exchange for her life. Nuada also instructed her to close the letter with a plea to agree to the terms so that she might live.
Her bitterness grew with every letter the quill produced. Not because she was writing her own death warrant but Richard's release to be with his mistress. Oh if Nuada only knew.
Nuada stood silently by while he waited for the woman to finish the note. While she worked, Nuada used the time to reflect on his actions. Nuada had killed many humans in the past but only in the heat of battle. This woman however, had done him no wrong and kidnapping her and holding her under threat of death was a grave dishonor.
His thoughts were interrupted when the woman raised her hand. "It's done," She said.
Nuada plucked the note from her finger tips and inspected it quickly. The woman had done exactly as he had bid her to. Surely this would be enough to force her husband into action. Nuada knew that if he could not count on the man's love for his wife than perhaps he could play on the man's pride. Surely the woman's husband would wish to remain honorable in the eyes of those he knew and not a fool who could not protect his wife.
Sophia expected him to come and snatch the note away from her but he merely, even gently, plucked it from her fingers. He did not even spare her a glance as he left her.
Once alone, Sophia returned her attention back to the statue of Mary. Now that Nuada had his ransom note he could put the second part of his plan into action. Thus Sophia's doom had come that much closer.
"Holy mother, please welcome me," She sobbed. "I will be seeing you very soon I believe." Her only hope now was that perhaps Nuada would be merciful enough to grant her death by his blade instead of the heinous tooth fairies.
**********
Nuada made his way, effortlessly, over the ruins of the dilapidated building. He spied Wink at the decaying wall that surrounded the old house of worship. The troll appeared to be on guard. Nuada quickly joined his friend and scanned the surrounding area. His eyes, sharper than those of a troll, cut through the thick fog and spied a human, a man, on horseback.
"How long has he been out there?" Nuada asked.
"I could smell him before I could see him," Wink responded. "He is alone but not unarmed."
Nuada's eyes went directly to the weapon the man carried with him. Not an honorable sword but one of those damned contraptions the humans called a rifle.
"What shall we do about him?" Asked the troll, poised to carry out any order his mast might give him.
Nuada considered his options. It would be easy enough to dispose of the human but he was no real threat. Nuada had cast a glamour spell of invisibility about their lair making it unnoticeable to human eyes.
"SPOHIA…LADY SOPHIA," The man cried out at the top of his lungs.
"He has come seeking the woman," Nuada said. Letting the man go now was not an option.
When she heard his voice, Sophia thought she was dreaming. But it was there, someone was calling for. But who could it be? With her velvet overskirt still wrapped around her shoulders, she began to creep through the ruined building. The voice grew louder and clearer. It was laced over with a heavy Irish accent and Sophia knew immediately who it was.
"Alexander. Good brave Alexander." She said reverently.
She peeked outside the archway that had once been the doorway into the cathedral. Immediately, she saw Nuada and the troll standing on the wall not more than twenty yards away. Alexander had unwittingly drawn their attention and that of the tooth-fairies as well.
The awful creatures moved in one massive heard clicking their teeth and flapping their wings as they moved. "No, not Alex," Sophia gathered the hem of chemise and ran toward Nuada. He was the only one who could stop this.
Nuada could hear the tooth-fairies massing for the attack. With a wave of his hand, the creatures charged over the wall and into the grass. The man had yet to sense the danger and by the time he did, it would be too late.
"My lord, are you sure this is wise?" Wink asked. He did not much care that the human was in the wrong place at the wrong time. But if he was the kind of man whose disappearance would not go unnoticed, it could be problematic.
"He has come seeking the woman thus his disappearance will send a clear message that my threat to her is very real."
Before wink could voice his agreement, he turned his head to see his master's captive come running towards them.
"No, please don't hurt him?" She screamed. Nuada remained as motionless as a marble statue, even as she stopped right at his side.
Sophia swallowed hard trying to catch her breath. "Let him go, please I beg you." By now she could see Alexander riding Marcus, her horse. The animal began to rear and Alex struggled to control the nervous stallion.
"It would appear as though your husband has sent someone to search for you in his place." His tone was cold and mocking.
"No, Alexander must have taken this upon himself. He can't harm you so please, let him pass."
Nuada made no indication that he even listened to her words let alone cared about them.
The stallion stopped in its tracks and neighed. Alexander spoke soothing words to try and calm the very nervous stallion. It was the tooth-fairies and their ever nearing presence that was making Marcus nervous. Alexander as of yet, was completely oblivious to his impending doom.
"ALEXANDER…RUNAWAY…RUN…" Sophia cried out hoping that Alexander would hear her.
Wink cringed. This woman had the voice of banshee. His master however, remained uninspired. If anything, he looked slightly amused by the woman's feeble attempts to warn the man. The woman could scream all she liked but her voice would not penetrate the aura of glamour that shielded their hideout.
Sophia screamed at the top of her lungs but her voice did not reach Alexander. "Why can't he hear me?" Her despair deepened with every progressive step the fairies made towards her friend. She did the last thing she could think of to save him.
With no regard for how he might react, Sophia reached out to Nuada and took a hold of his hand. "I will give you that bloody spear. But please, let Alexander go, please…"
Nuada's amber eyes flickered and his face turned to her. This could be a chance to make things far easier on him self and achieve all the same.
"You would do that? You would return my property in exchange for this man's life?"
Sophia's weary body pulsed with the hope that she had gotten through to Nuada. "Yes, it's a promise, I swear to you. So please, call off the tooth-fairies." She tightened her grip on his hand.
Nuada simply raised his free hand. He spoke no words but it was clear that he ordered the fairies to stop their attack. The vicious fairies, though angered at being cheated out of a meal, began to withdraw. Void of the malicious chattering of the fairies, the only sound to be heard was Sophia's rampant breathing.
With the threat of the fairies neutralized, Marcus calmed down allowing Alexander to regain control. He patted the horse's neck for a moment before resuming his search. He scratched his head in confusion at what had caused the horse to fright in the first place.
Sophia was so relieved she felt faint. Her body shook with adrenaline and chills. In her rush to Nuada, the overskirt had fallen off leaving her arms and shoulders completely exposed. The only warmth she felt was from Nuada's hand, which she still clung to.
Nuada looked into the eyes of the trembling woman. With the enchantment upon the spear he could not simply take it. The spear had to be handed to him by human hands and this woman was offering to do just that. It was too good of an opportunity to spoil.
"Very well, I will allow him to go unharmed." The woman looked up at him, her gray eyes shining with unshed tears.
"Thank you. Alexander is the twin brother of my dearest friend. He is all she has in this world."
At that statement, something flashed through Nuada's eyes and suddenly, he did not appear so malicious.
"Do I have your word that you will return to me what is rightfully mine?" His voice was soft, softer than she thought one like him capable of.
"Yes. It's a promise." She felt a slight tug in her hands; Nuada wanted to withdraw his hand. She allowed him to do so and watched, completely entranced, as his white hand floated through the air to her chin. She was amazed by how gentle he was as he tipped her face up to meet his gaze.
His smoldering eyes radiated his potential for danger and commanded every respect. "I will come to you later then."
Nuada moved so quickly Sophia barely had time to know what was happening. Without another word, Nuada grabbed her by her arms and flung her beyond the old wall. The fog enveloped her and she collided with the ground just as quickly. She landed hard upon the cold, damp earth.
She lay motionless on the grass for a minute before trying to stand. Her first thought was of the ravenous tooth-fairies and she launched up from the ground so fast that she nearly fell over from vertigo. She looked frantically about for the little creatures but they were no where to be found.
Stranger still, she could not see the ruined church either. It was as though Nuada had thrown her far, far away from the building. How was that possible though? She had only fallen a few feet.
"SOPHIA…"
Alexander's booming voice momentarily brought her out of her pondering. Remembering that she was not restrained by her corset, Sophia inhaled to her heart's, or much rather her lungs, content and called out to him.
"ALEXANDER…"
Alexander brought the horse around; did he just hear his mistress' voice? To verify he was not dreaming he called out to her again.
"My lady, is that you?" Alexander dismounted and scanned with both his eyes and ears for any sign of his mistress. He spied movement in the fog. It was faint at first but grew more defined as the apparent figure closed the distance between them.
"Alexander," Sophia cried as she appeared out of the fog like a specter. She looked horrible and was dressed in only her chemise and covered in dirt.
Sophia threw herself into his arms. Alexander could feel her shaking and she was as cold as ice. Like any gentleman, Alexander quickly removed his black, wool coat and covered her with it.
"My lady, are you alright?" He asked in a concerned voice.
"We have to get out of here," Sophia spat. Her eyes were wild with fear and her body trembled fiercely.
"But my lady, what about…" Alexander was cut short when Sophia dug her finger nails into his shoulders.
"Now, we have to get out of here now!" She was practically screaming at him-by heaven Alexander had never seen a woman more distraught.
Alexander pulled her over to the horse and helped her onto the animals' back. Once he was confident she was secure, he too mounted into the saddle. Sophia clung to his back, again insisting that they get away as quickly as possible.
Nuada and Wink remained where they were. Wink had never seen his friend behave in such a way before. Nuada had never believed in the promises of humans yet he had accepted the promise of a woman. If Wink had not seen with his own eyes, he would never have believed it.
Though Wink trusted Nuada, he couldn't help but to question the elf's decision. "My lord, is it wise to let her go? She may decide to betray you later."
Nuada had no argument with the troll's suspicions. Indeed letting her go could prove to be a mistake later. But should that turn out to be the case, he already had a solution in mind. "I understand my friend but do not worry. If she tries to double cross me in anyway then it will be the tooth-fairies she will answer to."
