Page 68 of Swords and Curses

Eldon cleared his throat as he struggled to regain his composure, but it was too late. She'd already seen the desire in his face.

"Dance with me," she insisted, taking the glass from his hands and passing it to a confused man beside her.

Eldon's objections caught in his throat as she gently pulled him into the throng of dancers.How long had it been since he'd danced at a ball?

He squashed the panic down as he instinctively placed his hand on the small of her back and took her other hand. The orchestra was playing a slow waltz that he didn't recognize. His mind was too focused on the woman in his arms, the light of the twinkling snowflakes above them making the gold in her hair glow.

Eldon was aware of the looks that they were getting from those that knew their true natures. The strangeness of two half blood children dancing together was enough to keep the boldest Gwaed Gam from approaching them. That they were of the Seren Du family kept them respectful, but the fact that they were the real Merlin and Nimue kept them awe-inspired.

He had been worried someone would recognize him once he got his memories back. He was surprised to find that he was losing that concern. Perhaps it was time to shed his face as Eldon Blaise and allow Merlin to join the land of the living once more. Warm fingers on his face drew him back to the blue eyes in front of him.

"Where do you go, my Merlin, when you disappear like that?" Nimue asked gently.

"Memories, only memories," he replied vaguely, his mind still trying to process the 'my Merlin' part of her question.

Was he still hers?He lifted her fingers to his mouth to kiss, the soft skin tasting far too familiar.

"Come out from the past. If I must learn to do it, so can you," she whispered.

"My past is longer than yours."

"Scars and fears run deep for us all."

"We can't all hide ours as you can," Eldon retorted and instantly regretted it.

Nimue stopped dancing and pulled back from him as if she'd been slapped. Before he could say another word, she was pushing her way through the crowd. Eldon swore violently in Welsh. He turned to Rosa's flushed face as she grabbed him and pulled him off the dance floor.

"I don't know what you just did, but go after her, Merlin," she commanded. The use of his real name on her lips told him how angry she was.

"It's none of your business, Rosa."

"I've always idolized Merlin in all of the stories. You were always the hero, the one who could fix any problem and outwit any enemy," she said insistently.

"I don't see the point of…"

"You arrived here, and I loved you from the minute I met you. You are my true blood, aWylt. So startactinglike one! Stand up for what you want and get out of your own damn way…" She gripped the lapels of his jacket, scrunching them in frustration. "Stop being such a fucking coward and go to her!" Rosa released him with a shove.

"Your motivational speech needs some work," he snapped.

"Bite me."

Eldon caught Eli's eye as he moved through the crowd, but instead of disapproval for bailing on his party, his father only gave him a smile and nod of encouragement.

"She went through the servant's passage," Saul told him.

"Thank you, baby brother," Eldon replied and didn't stop to see the joy that bloomed on Saul's golden face at the endearment.

It was snowing in heavy drifts when Eldon pushed his way past the flustered kitchen staff and outside. Fresh tracks smeared the heavy snow, but he didn't need to follow them to know Nimue had run back to the cottage. He caught up with her as she reached the tall hedges.

"Nimue stop," he begged. "I'm sorry."

She whipped about, her skirts a wave of red and gold. "How did you know? Who told you?"

"No one told me, Nimue. For fuck's sake, you died in my arms, and I saw the scars! You were having nightmares, and when I went to wake you up, I saw them again." Eldon stopped a few feet from her. "I don't know why you feel like you have to hide them from me."

"You wouldn't understand." She opened the gate, and the door to the house flew open before she reached it.

"Nimue, will you just talk to me?" he slammed the door behind him. "We've all got scars. Why wouldn't I understand that?"

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