Moonrise
Chapter 5
Her Best Chance
"So beautiful, even in death, that they could not find it within their hearts to bury her."
Nimue did not know how so much could go so wrong, so fast. The night before she was going to retrieve the light one her dagger had been taken. After investigation of who had informed Arthur of its whereabouts the dark one learned that it was her own sister. Arthur as stupid as he was believed every lie that the Blue Fairy had spread about herself. Now she was the slave of the same man who had driven her husband to the brink of insanity. For Elizabeth's sake she couldn't pull away from Arthur long enough to become suspicious. If she became the light one, Arthur could use Nimue to control or kill her. Unlike her dagger, only one person could wield Excalibur to control or kill the light, and that was the dark one themselves. Arthur could never know of her existence before the sword and dagger were separated. He had plans to use the dark one to kill all of his enemies. So many that it took her two days to do so before she could pull away. She hoped that Elizabeth was in the glade still waiting for her and that her adoptive mother didn't abandon her. She couldn't allow that or the terrifying scenario of being forced to hurt her happen.
Yet something bad had already happened. Word traveled fast through the sparsely populated highlands. The people spoke of an unspeakable tragedy, a horrific crime that had happened on the largest estate in the village. A chill had settled upon the forest. Even the wind itself echoed as it whipped, as if moaning in pain at what the world had seen. The church had ruled it an accidental slip of a shovel during a disciplinary trashing, but the animals and less sheepish humans knew the truth. Nimue deep down knew what that truth was, but could not accept it. It couldn't be true. Elizabeth wasn't…no. It could have been any farm. There was only one way to find out. As soon as she could get away, the dark one went to the dark mountains to investigate. Every animal she passed was either weeping uncontrollably, baring its teeth in anger at every human or wishing her condolences. Despite the tears threatening to fill her amber eyes she shook her head. Her heart hammered against her ribcage. "It's not true. Shenzi…please tell me it's not true.." She whispered to one hyena on their way back into the borders of the animal kingdom. The usually smart mouthed wild canine looked at her sadly and with sympathy that she definitely wasn't known for. "I'm sorry my lady. I really am."
Nimue shook her head in denial. Moving faster with magick she was in the place where her daughter was in an instant. The now full moon, casting an eerie ghostly pale green light from a lunar eclipse illuminated the bare boned trees. Dozens of stray cats were huddled around a hastily dug, unmarked hole in the ground outside the farm. Every animal was shedding tears, mewling in distress and grief. The cats and other animals nearby were huddled around a small amorphous silhouette. A river of ice flowed through the dark one's veins as the golden skinned woman approached the nightmarish scene. Horror hit her, sending her crumpling to the ground with her hand over her mouth and tears cascading down her golden face. A primal scream of maternal grief and shock filled the air. Lying there in state, battered, bloody and cold was the next light one. Screaming and crying, she looked upon the only one left in the world who had loved her. Lightning cracked in the air and fires began to climb higher in the pits and homes. A shockwave of energy traveled through the woods, flattening branches and cracking the earth. Screaming into the air, she looked upon her daughter's body. There were bruises everywhere. There was a blunt wound right at the base of her skull, her spinal cord severed. Lash marks cut deep into her back. The last expression on her face was terror and heartbreak. It was the face of a child whose father took her life.
Nimue had seen many bodies in her time as dark one, having killed many herself. However she had never seen the body of someone she loved. Merlin had turned into a tree. This was the most horrific thing she had ever seen. Nimue cried harder with each passing moment, the cats around her leaning against and pressing against her to try to offer warmth. "Let her be." One she cat told her mate. "Allow lady Nimue to share tongues with her daughter, to groom her one last time. As is proper. We cannot bury her yet." The lady in black stopped being the powerful dark one for those moments and scooped the already stiff shell of her child into her arms. "I wanna come with ye." She whimpered as she buried her face into her hair. "I wanna come with ye!" Her voice cried out more loudly in grief. But she knew this could not be done. It was too late to follow her now. Immortality may have been a blessing, but in that instance it felt like a curse. Until someone else killed her with the dagger, she would never see her child again. This was her doing. She blamed herself. She should have just taken her home. Light one or not. At least her last few weeks would have been happy. "I'm so sorry." The dark one sobbed. "I'm so sorry Beth." She cried her eyes out, the dark one's tears tuning the surrounding hay into fine strands of gold.
A black pelted she cat approached her and nuzzled her head. "Lady Nimue. I am so sorry. I am Moonpelt, medicine cat of villageclan." She bowed her head. "I knew Goldenheart. That was the name we gave to your daughter. It was because of her that my litter survived. My clan had punished me for making me leave with my kits. Medicine cats aren't supposed to have them. Your daughter fed us out of her own kill. And I…watched as she gave her life for us. She fought valiantly until she could no longer. We are both creatures of nature. Both of us are shamans who follow the great goddess, your own matriarch. Is it not bravery that wins the light one their crown? Surely there is another way…" the cat cocked her head. Nimue's breath hitched. "What…are you saying, sister cat?" The grieving woman of darkness looked at her wearily, but with an eyebrow raised in intrigue. "Cats when they become leaders receive nine lives. When they lose a life, it is restored. If she became the light one she would become a clan leader…if she were a cat."
Nimue's eyes widened. Her breast beat with anticipation and her mind worked like a well oiled machine. Turning away from her poor child's body she quickly reached into her satchel and pulled out a leather bound volume to a spell that not even she had attempted. It was avoiding breaking a law of magick only through a small loophole. Shaking with anticipation and distant hope, she ran her fingers over the lines. Breathing heavily, she looked out into the distance with determination. She was getting her daughter back. She was getting her light one. She would do nothing else. She would love nothing else. She set to work on getting what she needed.
The spell called for whatever lost organs that were needed to survive to be replaced by that of gods. Elizabeth in order to be viable would need brain matter, bone marrow, and blood. Nimue chose two gods to call upon. She set about contacting them. Setting two Norse statues on the ground, she placed the runes of the Elder Furthark around them in a circle, enclosing it with candles. She placed offerings of gold at their statues. Kneeling on the ground and lighting incense, she called them forth. "Loki, the trickster, the shapeshifter, god of mischief, fire, and stories…Freya, goddess of war, love, witchcraft, and cats, hear my plea for help." She closed her eyes as a tear drifted down her cheek, the incense rising higher and streaming into the sky. She lowered her gaze towards the ground. She had no idea if they would actually listen, but she had to try. Taking a deep breath, she tried to remember that it was not the time for her to be the powerful dark one. It was a time to be vulnerable. Normally she would never ask anyone for help. She hated it. This wasn't about her anymore. "A terrible crime has been committed against nature. The new light one. My…my child…" she choked out a silent sob. "...was killed by her biological family. Her father took her life in cold blood. It was an unjust death. I wish to use the Rite of Spring, the spell to reverse a wrongful death to give her another chance. Please help me. Please help the earth. Help her. Please." She stared at the ground, feeling not like a dark one, but a broken woman. Right now, she was no better off than a hobbled old spinner. "I'll do anything. From one mother to two mothers…"
She felt heat on her face. A flash of light sparked in rumbling storm clouds overhead. They twisted and spiraled, the clouds shimmering with the colors of the rainbow. She immediately stepped back and just in time, and because she knew better turned away. A flash of light and power made heat explode against her face. And then it was gone. The smell of scorched earth filled the air. "Rise, dark one." A smooth silver tongued male voice spoke softly but with domination into the air. It was a voice that could sway the very hardest in their conviction. One of mischief and smooth as silk. Another voice spoke, beautiful and feminine, but no less firm. Her words carried power in every syllable, her Nordic accent giving the impression of a warm fur blanket mixed with the seductive and at the same time carried the silent threat of war.
Opening her eyes and rising to her feet, she beheld two beings standing amidst a circle of an intricate Asgardian design burned into the earth. One was a tall, pale skinned male with slight feminine features mixed through his mostly male form, black shoulder length hair and intense emerald eyes that bore into her soul, dressed in leather, golden armor with hints of green and a flowing green cape. The other was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen, her honey colored hair glowing around her shoulders, beautiful startling grey eyes staring at Nimue in the way cats stared at unlookers. She was well muscled, both beautiful and strong. She too wore armor over her dress, a fur cape stretched around her string shoulders. She spoke in that soft yet confident voice. "We have heard of this unspeakable crime, dark one. I must confess that we do not often mix in the affairs of the mortal realm, not even in the enchanted forest of Vanaheim. Or at least. We are not supposed to." Her accusatory eyes darted towards Loki, who rolled his eyes in return. "Not now, Freya." He grumbled.
Loki continued her thoughts. "However, we could not ignore the crime that has been committed. It's an unspeakable crime against nature. This time I have permission to interfere by the Queen of Asgard, Frigga. Show us the body." Frigga nodded in agreement and took Nimue's hands within her strong ones, gripping them gently. "I know this is hard for you. But we must see her." Nimue sighed, sucking in a breath, trying not to show how much her limbs shook as she walked to the mourning place of the cat clan. Those grieved mews would haunt her forever, more than screams of the dying. The cats stepped aside but they all bowed down to Freya, and were cautious of Loki. They dipped their heads and tails towards the goddess and respectfully nodded as Loki came through the clan. The immortals stalked towards the girl's twisted body and they did something that Nimue didn't expect. Loki fell to his knees and started hysterically sobbing. Her eyes widening, Nimue's breath caught as Freya approached and also burst into tears. "This could be Sleipnir. Or Ragni or Narvi…" Loki choked out softly as his hand cupped Elizabeth's cold cheek. Freya nodded in agreement, placing her hand over her now cold stiff one. "Or one of my daughters."
Loki shook his head and anger began to blaze in his emerald eyes through his tears. His voice became a growl and his silver tongue turned deadly, like the venom of a snake. "This is humanity." His voice was soft at first but no less sharp. "I need to rule them, Freya." The goddess sighed and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Loki. Not now." "NO!" He snapped, turning around on his heels. Patches of blue were spreading across his face. His shaking hand pointed near the girl's body. "Look at this, Freya! Look at this! We give them their freedom and this is what they do with it! They're killing their own children! I need to rule them! They need to be r…" "Loki! That's enough!" Freya snapped, gripping his hand. He was breathing heavily. He closed his eyes and let his anger fade. Freya spoke again. "What matters now is that we correct this crime. We must do what we can." Nimue watched this unfold, standing rooted on the spot. Hope was starting to build in her chest. A flame was beginning to build in her heart. Freya and Loki turned towards her. The goddess spoke in a kind tone, her sympathetic eyes on hers. "We will help you, dark one. But all magick comes with a price. If this works, I'm afraid that the girl will not be completely healed. Her body will have to remain in this ill state. Forever." Nimue froze and closed her eyes, as if the pain the child felt in life was now hers. To be ill for eternity…she had to stop and think about her quality of life if they moved forward. Her dark heart sank as Loki continued Freya's thoughts. "And the nervous system damage, I am the god of lies, my dark woman, but I shall not lie this time. I must be honest with you. I will give the child part of my brain matter and repair her spinal cord, but her nervous system cannot be completely repaired. She will have problems with her coordination. And." Loki closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Her pelvis is damaged. They broke it when she was only a babe. Between that and those memories, and her nervous system being what it is…the child will be incontinent."
Nimue's eyes watered again. Yet she knew that Elizabeth deserved a second chance. As fractured as it would be, she had to let her daughter decide. She had seen her do amazing things physical limitations or not. The dark one closed her eyes, brushed a strand of hair out of lifeless face. She had to give her her best chance. "We will go forward." "And we need to consult the god who reigns over the afterlife where she lies." Loki spoke again. "I have been in contact with my sister, Hela. She isn't with her. Nor is she in Valhalla. Perhaps it's Hades." The black pelted cat came up to Freya again and she bent down to speak with her. "My goddess. If I may. I know where the dark one's daughter went." Nimue's breath caught in her throat. "Where is she? Where's Elizabeth." Tears began to sting her eyes once more. The black cat and all the animals looked towards the river of stars that sparkled in the sky above them, stars that seemed to stretch out into eternity. The black cat focused her eyes upon the stars. "She is where animals go. With the kings of the past. She is on her way to Starclan."