Nightshade: Chapter XIII
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XIII–The Shadow and The Capital
Whispered light called Noë in her dreams.
She saw the moon proud and full above her in the darkness, long black branches from dark withered trees reaching up to it to the sky, clinging to its light.
Ethereal cold touched her skin, overlapping talking and screams filling her ears as the void kept its gaze on her.
If only she could reach a little further,
stretch her arms a little higher,
reach between the tree trunks like bars of a prison cell far underground.
Running water flowed past her feet, the pull of a current leading her further in darkness.
Afraid of what lay in the deep of the void forest–she stood unmoved, turning away from the dark path, uneager to learn what lay in wait.
Her own panicked breathing woke her from slumber.
In a soft white bed in a palace room, shimmering and expensive with mirrors and crystals hanging from the ceiling, white marbled floors leading to a cherrywood balcony where the breeze blew white currents past the sliding panel doors, Noë eased her breathing.
“Easy. You’re safe.”
Noë gripped the blankets in fear as a heavenly looking blonde elf with clear blue eyes and rose lips spoke softly to her, rubbing her back to ease her exhales.
Ashamed at her jump in fear, Noë rubbed her eyes and ran a hand through her wavy black hair.
She double-taked.
Was her hair… black again?
She held her face.
What on Earth had happened to her?
“I’m sorry. I…” She fought for words through her speechless fog.
Angeana came closer, sitting on the bed beside her as she began to cry. “Do not apologise. You have been through much to get here. You are safe to express your grief.”
Angeana hadn’t wanted to believe Orion when he said Noë would arrive sometime in the coming months, for fear of what that would mean for Dahlia. Her protector and Aunt, she would not allow Noë to leave if not for her inevitable death.
Noë welcomed her embrace, crying instantly into Angeana’s sweet smelling arms.
She stroked her hair, rocking her slowly as only a mother could do as she released all of her worries and fears.
After some time, Noë pulled away, embarrassed by her lack of decorum. “I’m so sorry. I just… My Aunt… I feel like I have no one left.”
“It is only right for you to grieve.” Angeana assured her as she stopped her tears. “Dahlia was supremely kind and caring. She will be missed.”
“You knew her?”
“I knew her before Ragnarök took your mother. Occasionally she wrote.”
Noë sniffled in understanding. “She told me if anything was to happen to me, that you would welcome me.”
Angeana looked down, suppressing fond memories as she squeezed her knee with a bright smile. “That much is unspeakably true. As I told you mother once, your father was very close to my family. Tiere will always be a home to you should you need it.”
She touched Noë’s full jovial cheek.
It was as if her dear friends had returned to her seemingly out of nowhere deep in the night.
“You grew to be so beautiful. When I heard your mother was lost, I feared the worst.
But when Dahlia sent word that you had survived… My happiness almost pales in comparison to the birth of my own daughter months after.”
She pinched her cheek. “You look like your mother, but your eyes–your full cheeks–are of your father. Even your hair. He was a handsome man, you know.”
Noë smiled faintly, “He was?”
Angeana guffawed, “Oh, yes! And from the stories your mother told me, a very accomplished lover as well.”
As Noë’s face visibly turned, Angeana laughed with her. “I had hoped that would bring a smile to your face.”
Feeling the ghost of the past, Angeana briefly touched her face again. “My son rode for two days to get here with you tied to his waist. You arrived so pale, I was fearful for you.”
Noë eyed her as she stood, realisation hitting her. “Before I fainted–”
Angeana raised a hand, her calm voice nearly singing as Noë grew excited. “Not to worry, Tiere is safe. Orion saw to it himself yesterday morning. Our harbour is quite the eyesore.”
Noë held her chest.
Had she really slept through an invasion like that?
She was not liking this damsel in distress behaviour.
“Ayre–”
“Everyone is well, but they advise you to cease pushing your limits for some time.”
Noë listened dutifully, feeling at once that Angeana’s watchful eye may rival that of her Aunt’s.
“You are welcome to wander wherever you like except the flooded areas of the city, The structures are no longer stable. We’ll have to do something about your wardrobe but all can be handled after breakfast.” she pointed to where a white dress laid across a silken lounge chair in wait for Noë. “I hope it fits. I made it while I waited for you to wake.”
Now walked over to it, lifting it to her chest. “It's beautiful. Thank you.”
It would undoubtedly be too tight in the front, but she was thankful for the beautiful white beaded gown.
She looked to Angeana’s own ice blue gown, a train of silk left behind her and fashionable high neckline. If that was her breakfast attire, Noë hated to see what they wore on rare occasions.
Walking the hallways practically behind Angeana as her long blonde braid skimmed her blue clad rear made Noë feel even smaller.
Pale skin and impossibly tall elves as handmaidens, servants, and more bustled past bowing lowly as they passed the grand pillars leading upward in purple swirls with brandished silver chandeliers left Noë in awe.
Too distracted by the beauty of the palace as the views of the Salt Sea from high up in the King’s tower vibrated blue through the sun filled windows urging her to go out and explore the new area.
Although forewarned the flooded areas were unsafe, it made Noë all the more curious to find what was lurking the quiet areas of the mountain city, surrounded by grey and green mountains, more hidden lantern paths and waterfall cliffs pouring into the ocean below, and the cove from her vision sat beneath the windows, peaceful with docked ship and merchants in the stone docks.
Stunned by the view outside of the King’s quarters Noë clung to the railing protecting them from the edge.
Angeana looked behind her where Noë was no longer following. “Come Noë. We will explore the city later, I promise.”
Clinging to her words, Noë parted from the view and entered into the King’s dining room, a long polished table sitting lengthwise reaching through the stone floor room, another balcony view to the left overlooking the crystal ocean.
The table teemed with food, birds and fruit displayed prettier than Noë had ever seen, cakes and breakfast pastries piled high in the middle.
On either side of the table sat six heads of blonde and white with a large ornate chair empty at the end of the glorious spread, splitting the only red head from a mean looking blond elf with flustered red cheeks.
As the Queen arrived, her children all stood, although rather disinterested in her as she sat amongst them saying her hello’s and kissing a set of young blond twins on the tops of their heads.
Orion looked to the doorway as Noë’s entrance broke Aolis from pestering him any further. He was glad for a break in the vitriol he spat in jealousy, unhappy with the display in the cove.
Orion could not understand what there was to be jealous of.
Even at the heroic rescue he claimed, still their people shunned him, not a word of thank you uttered as he returned to land after defeating the ash dwellers in the name of his father.
But his worries melted away as Noë entered shyly, her perfect skin reddened with blush and her soft hair–now black– curled romantically around her face after allowing it to reform. Her delicate pink lips full and inviting as they stretched across her white smile, the beaded white bodice pushing her chest up tightly bound and showing a firm line of swelling brown cleavage.
Orion stood, lingering slightly longer at their entrance as her eyes met his.
Noë smiled and waved at him, thankful to know someone else at the intimidating table.
How was she to act around royals?
As Angeana led her to the seat next to her own, Noë’s smile faltered, wishing instead to sit next to Orion.
“Children, this is Noë Verdulke. Daughter of your Uncle, Lord Kirk. I expect each of you to treat her kindly as you would each other.” She looked at their blank faces briefly. “Or, perhaps better than you treat each other.”
The elder set of twins began to snicker together. “Or, what? Odin himself will cast us down?”
Angeana’s thin pressed lips silenced them.
Reluctantly the children murmured greetings in return.
Noë bent her head, “It’s nice to meet you all.”
As the only elf girl amongst them scoffed, Noë tried not to let the cold reception bring her mood down.
She was in a new place, ready to explore, and discover what her powers truly meant.
She was capable of anything.
Even the terrors of adolescence.
The children resumed throwing food at one another as the teenage girl pushed the food around her porcelain in disinterest. “Mother, I need a new dress for the solstice. Can we go to the dressmaker?”
Angeana looked to her daughter, Oncinth as she refused to eat. “I just bought you a dress for the solstice, Ony. And I have to take Noë for a fitting today for clothes, not to mention a solstice gown. Can it wait?”
“The colour no longer suits me.” Oncinth rolled her eyes and slunk further into her chair.
Angeana tutted at her, “Chin up, Ony. Square shoulders.”
Noë watched as Oncinth corrected her posture, fuming in dissatisfaction. The tension between the two made her shift in discomfort sandwiched between.
“I’d be happy for company if you liked to come, Oncinth. I know nothing of what’s fashionable here, it would be nice to have help.”
Angeana smiled brightly at Noë’s invitation. “Aw, that’s a nice suggestion, Noë. Ony? Would you like to come along?”
Oncinth scoffed and pushed her food away, suddenly sickened. “No, thank you.”
Before her mother could respond, the elder twins, Mitak and Kait laughed with mouths full of bread.
“Oh, go–won’t you, Ony?”
“Keep the witch company, Ony!”
Oncinth tore a side smile and threw a grape their way.
Orion looked Noë’s way, seeing her heart sinking in her chest as his mother took a napkin to the face of her youngest child, preoccupied.
This time it was his turn to chill them with a stare, bringing laughter to a close.
“We’re clothing orphans now?” Aolis said bitterly as he defended his sulking sister.
Close to having enough, Noë looked into his hateful green eyes, vibrant with envy. In him she could feel confusion and darkness.
She stilled her gaze, not liking the bully she was beginning to assume he was.
Aolis hesitated to speak again as her silver eyes briefly flickered blue.
Orion felt a proud smile sweep his face.
He was glad she was kind, but not nice.
“Careful, Aolis. The granddaughter of Odin may not be a wise choice in enemy.” He warned, leaning in to spook his youngest twin siblings from across the table. “I watched her set a thousand ash dwellers on fire by herself in the Malioods.”
“A thousand?!” Ketor screeched, Attain–the blond toddler twin next to him–sat stunned into silence at the number.
Orion nodded playfully, “Maybe two.”
Noë laughed with Angeana as the twins awed in amazement at her, mimicking flames from their palms. She looked to Orion as he winked at her, his eyes cloudless once more as he defended her and lightened the air. It was clear he knew precisely how to navigate the table around them.
She was thankful for his presence more and more each second.
King Lefelged entered, his side wrapped with compression bandages, his left arm entirely missing. “Do I hear… laughter? From my family? Can’t be right.”
Noë stood along with everyone as Lefelgd came straight for her. The tall blond elf outstretched his arm, wrapping her in a lopsided tight hug, squeezing her into his chest.
Lefelgd pulled back, eyeing the beauty his brother’s daughter had become. To see Kirk’s eyes through her… a more blissful day he hadn’t dreamed.
“Look at you. Noë. I cannot tell you how happy we are to have you with us. I was sorry to hear about your Aunt.”
Noë thanked him. “Thank you. She told me you were close with my father, I even have a picture of you in my journal. It’s nice to meet you in person.”
The King paused, and then laughed at her oddity as the table joined. He held open a palm to his wife to take and kissed her on the lips. “I’m famous, wife. You can no longer nag me.”
Angeana hit his good arm as he circled back to Noë.
Realising what it must sound like, Noë continued sheepishly. “I only meant… my Aunt told me stories of you and my father, and I have a habit of drawing what comes to mind for safekeeping.”
Angeana paused as she mentioned a journal sharing a glance with Orion.
Thankful, Angeana continued. “We’d love to see it sometime. I’m sure you’re very talented.”
Lefelgd agreed as he sat in his seat. “In your drawing, do I still have two arms?”
Noë laughed and nodded. “Yes, I wasn’t aware you lost it. How did you–if I can ask?”
Aolis shot an accusatory glance at Orion as he and his father shared looks.
Sensing this was the accident Orion had warned her of, Noë shrunk.
Lefelgd dodged the question.
“We lost many things in Fimbulwinter. Compared to many, my arm was a small price to pay.” Lefelgd held Orion’s shoulder. “I am fortunate my eldest has been my sword. Our continued protection and comfort have much to do with him.”
Noë looked on with a smile, but was confused. “But he isn’t crown prince?”
As the children chittered with laughter, Noë looked around, sure that she had mentioned another sore topic. She would have to keep a list.
“I’m so sorry… sometimes my questioning gets ahead of me.”
Lefelged excused her, “Nothing to fear. We are new to you, it is only right to be curious. He is my eldest but as Nornorë, fate has other plans in store for him. To be my successor would be an unjust weight. Aolis fills that role.”
“Not that he’d be worthy anyway.” Aolis said under his breath.
Lefelgd waited another moment before speaking, his eyes assessing his prideful second son. Aolis’ treatment of Orion had set the tone for his other children, and it ate at Lefelgd’s core. He only regretted he had not been home more to correct it where it began.
“I am aware of what my countrymen may say of my son, but know this–Orion has more honour and valour than any other man I’ve ever met. Excluding your father.”
Lefelgd looked to Noë with a sure stare.
With his kind words Noë and Orion smiled, touching and sweet to Kirk's memory and Orion’s continued success.
He sighed, “Now, eat. I want to hear about your travels.”
With the King’s word they all continued to eat, lighter conversation passed as Orion described their journey.
Noë kept herself from eating piggishly, cautious of the new gazes around her. The divine meat and stock drawing her in with mouth watering savoury smells and spices.
She spoke frequently with Angeana about the garden they had in Tarrith and how her Aunt had inspired her love of agriculture. Although it seemed unrefined as Oncinth continued to bitterly moan, Noë let her excitement lead.
Finishing breakfast Noë stood with Angeana, ready to try her hand at inviting Oncinth again only to be met with her storming past her from the table.
Angeana patted Noë’s shoulder.
She was sweet for trying with her only daughter.
“I apologise, Noë. Oncinth is used to getting whatever her heart desires. She’s my only girl.” She walked with Noë from the dining hall arm in arm. “You know, it was your Aunt that told me I would finally be blessed with a girl. After four boys, I was bursting with pride. She may be combative, but I knew again when I looked at her that love was immeasurable.”
Noë smiled wide.
She could only hope that her own mother had felt the same.
She looked behind herself where they began to leave Orion behind to speak with the King, unhappy to part with him without a word.
His eyes attached to hers, following her as she left the hall.
But as Angeana hurried her along down the steps of the keep and out of the towering white palace, Noë looked ahead.
She would thank him later.
“Just a moment.”
Noë felt her heart jump as the voice doused in chocolate spoke behind them as footsteps descended the stairs and approached behind the hall entrance.
She turned to meet Orion's eyes as he looked uncomfortable back and forth between her and his mother.
Feeling her presence was being dismissed at his boyish rub of the neck, Angeana gestured outward. “I will wait just outside. Meet me when you’re ready.”
“Mother.” Orion bowed as she exited.
Noë opened her mouth to answer and nodded tersely as the queen and the guard exited outside of the large white hall doors.
Noë held her arms as he approached, cleaned and dressed in rich navy blue with a matching cloak clasped with rose gold and their house sigil embedded into the metal.
His dark red hair was pushed away from his face and ears, smoothed backwards and down his neck. A new scar was forming down his neck where he had been struck saving her from the dwellers outside of the crumbling dwarven ruins.
Standing tall above her, close enough for her to smell the sweet spiced leaves of his air she felt her heart beating hard in her chest.
What could she say after fainting after their kiss?
“I… I’m glad to see you are awake and… well.” he started, breaking the silence.
Noë smiled nervously.
Was he glad? Or just being polite? “Yes, I have you to thank. I’m sorry for… well…”
Orion shook his head briefly. “No! No…” He closed his eyes briefly in embarrassment.
Was he shouting?
“It was me. I wasn’t aware I could share visions–”
“No, please! There’s so much I don’t know about my own powers, I–”
They stopped apologising over one another and quieted slowly.
She looked closely at his handsome face, the tan of his skin turning pink across his cheeks.
Was he blushing?
Orion felt his face warm and tried to take a deep breath as she looked anywhere but at him. He silently attempted to get a hold of himself. “It seems strange. Just days ago we were on the run, now you’re going dress shopping with my mother.”
She looked up shyly, “I’m finding it difficult too. Life here seems so…”
“Oblivious?”
They shared a chuckle.
“Yes. Like war doesn’t exist.”
Silence fell once more, both knowing that it wasn’t true.
Orion broke it. “So… You’re coming to the solstice fair then? I mean– I’ll see you there?”
Noë raised a brow at him. “If you aren’t sequestering this time?”
He suppressed a chuckle. “I’ll stand in a corner visibly for a few minutes before sneaking away. My mother isn’t as forgiving as Haemir and Ayre.”
Noë could see that.
She was sure if he did not appear, Angeana would drag him there by his ears. “I’m glad you’re coming. It will be nice to know someone.”
Orion looked down at her as her sweet orange smell wafted up with her smile.
She was glad he was coming?
His expression stilled and Noë felt she would faint.
The way his forehead drew together in thought as he closely considered her, sparked that warm, warm feeling once more.
She met his gaze and motioned to the door. “I shouldn’t leave your mother waiting for too long.”
“Oh, yes. Of course.” He stepped back then remembered his younger brother’s teasing. “I’m sorry about Aolis, Oncinth, and the rest. They can be a little grating.”
Noë looked over her shoulder as he stood worried.
She approached him and reached for his hand, slipping her small fingers into his twice as long as they curled unknowingly.
“It wasn’t so bad. I had you there to save me yet again. That makes three.”
She studied him as they held to each other gingerly.
She felt so close to him, as if their souls had long known one another.
She felt his presence slipping against her mind, their bodies stepping close as his brilliant blue eyes searched her silver, Noë felt her heart jump and removed her hand. “Until next time.”
Orion heard her breath hitch as they began sharing the strange warmth again, her cheeks turning scarlett as she moved back towards the door.
He hesitated, wanting to stop her and bring her back underneath his nose, draw her close and share their bond once more.
He looked around the hall for any onlookers and found none. He smoothed his thumb over his fingers where her own had intertwined briefly, feeling the ghost of her against his skin.
To be continued...