Page 80 of Swords and Curses

Nimue knew how angry Merlin was going to be and wished there could've been another way. She hoped Eli could withstand his fury without his heart being broken. She swallowed the pain in her chest and composed herself, smearing dirt on her face as she tried to wipe the tears from it. The queen would've felt the portal being used, and no doubt, the trees around her would be reporting back.

Nimue climbed to her feet, taking note of all the changes that had occurred during her time away. The trees that had still been richly colored with golds and reds were now stripped of nearly all their leaves. The grass was frostbitten and dying, and the wind that had always smelled of autumn now had the unmistakable aroma of ice and wood smoke.

She didn't have long to wait before three riders appeared in the woods, their bows trained on her. She stopped walking, holding her hands up in surrender.

"If you have weapons, now is the time to reveal them," a golden-haired knight demanded. "The queen will not take it well if you bring anything from the man world into her court."

"I am as you see me. Please, take me to her. There is much I need to report, and it is of some urgency." Nimue bowed.

The golden-haired knight nodded to another rider who trotted up beside her and pulled her up behind him.

"You'd best not be lying. The queen is not easily pleased of late." Something in his voice made her look up at him. He was uneasy as he stared at the dead trees around them.

So she hasn't told them what is going on.

Nimue nodded, and they galloped down the white stone roads towards the entrance to the Court. As the forest flashed past them, Nimue watched the dead trees come back to their autumnal state the closer they came to the seat of the queen's power.

Soldiers were guarding all the gateways into the Court, but whether it was to keep people from getting in or out, Nimue could only guess. The common Seelie would be starting to worry. Most would've never seen a winter before or understood why their lands were suddenly dying.

As they crossed into the dark barrow, Nimue felt all her glamours strip off her. Her scars bothered her much less now that Merlin had seen them and kissed each one so tenderly. She allowed herself one last smile in the darkness where none of the others could see before putting her mental shields up.

Nimue thought that she'd be led to the main audience chamber of the Court, but the soldiers bypassed it and took her straight to the queen's chambers. She didn't want Nimue speaking too loudly and causing a panic. The queen was gettingnervous, and it radiated through the entire palace. Nimue's stomach dropped as they came to the golden chamber doors.

She kept the panic from her face, hoping to appear humble and not show how frightened she was, for what true servant would be afraid of their beloved master?A smart servant,Merlin's voice, echoed inside of her.

The guards opened the doors for them, and Nimue was shoved inside before the doors shut behind her. Oh, no, they were not eager to be in the queen's presence any longer than what was needed.

"Come," her voice rolled through the chambers, the silk of her voice running up Nimue's spine. It was a glamour as much as the rest of her. Her voice, even with magic, had no comparison to Merlin.You should've asked him to sing to you more. Nimue crushed the thought, shutting all voices in her head down with iron.

She walked carefully through the chambers until she found the queen reclining on a chaise, her robes a vibrant red with gold embroidery that shimmered in the lamplights. Her hair hung loosely in rich waves around her shoulders, and the skin that she could see was pale and unmarred. The signs of aging were being held better at bay than when she'd pulled Nimue from the lake. Remembering herself, Nimue sank to her knees and placed her head against the rich carpet.

"My glorious queen," she murmured dutifully. "It pleases me to see you in such vibrant health."

"Does it now?" There was a swish of fabric, and Nimue felt cold fingers touch her shoulders. "Get up, girl. I cannot speak to you with your face on the floor."

Nimue obeyed dutifully. The queen gripped her by the face and studied her, feeling her out with her magic.

"What are you doing back here so soon?" she demanded.

"M-my queen, I didn't want to waste another moment in that world when the time for your victory is so near at hand. The last battle with your warriors has weakened the Seren Du. There's much bickering amongst the brothers, and their clans are not united. His children will not answer his summons. Only Leiddiad remains loyal to him."

"My warriors told me that you fought against them during the raid."

"I had to so that Bleddyn would trust me once more. I was wounded in the fight, and afterward, they believed I wasn't secretly working for you."

"I have not been able to touch your mind in weeks," the queen's eyes narrowed as she let Nimue go. "Why?"

"Bleddyn has placed strong wards around the boundaries of his lands. They are meant to be keeping any magical interference out. They do not fully understand what is happening here in the Aos Si, and I've denied all knowledge of a Win…"

The queen's hand slapped her hard across the face, and blood filled her mouth.

"Never speak that word in my presence," she hissed. "Winter will not return to my lands. Not now, not for another thousand years."

"Forgive me," Nimue looked at the floor, swallowing her blood. There was a clink of metal scraping against stone. She hadn't noticed when she came in, the queen's aura dominating the room, but there was someone chained to the wall in one of the dark corners of the room. Two blue eyes stared out at her, and they both quickly looked away, but it was too late.

"I see you've noticed my latest pet," the queen purred and closed in on the figure. He climbed to his feet as she stood in front of him.

Nimue cursed herself at drawing attention to him. He was tall and lithe, black hair hanging down to his bare chest. Nimuerepressed a shudder when she saw the bruises on his skin, and when he lifted his face, she could see why the queen had chosen him. He was Unseelie, and worse still, he looked like Bleddyn.

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