@LadyRunic
Speaking of which @Belle, where's your Winter Queen CS? Can we take a look at it before the reboot?
Name:
Nyx
True Name:
Nyx’lair Seòltachd
Race: Mara
The Mara are the source of the word Nightmare. Late at night when mortals are deep in sleep the Mara will slip into their houses and sitting upon their chests will enter their dreams. The Mara feed on the emotional energies that one produces when asleep. To this effect they will amplify the power of the dream to gain greater satisfaction. This does not necessarily mean causing nightmares as the Mara can feed on any of the slumbers strong emotions but terror and fear are the easiest to draw out.
Feeding on fae while is more filling is also much more dangerous because even in dreams the fae are more conscious than humans. When the dreamer becomes aware of the Mara invading their minds all elements of their dreams will turn on the Mara. Though being killed in a dream is not fatal it is highly draining and requires time and feeding to recover from. The Mara can grant a euphoric high feeling to its victims upon waking. Because of this ability the Mara are often sought out as companions to less reputable fae willing to pay for their pleasure. Some Mara are forced to become concubines to a Court Ruler or high powered fae for the same reason.
Mara are considered by most to be the dregs of fae society. Unless their services are required majority of fae will go to great lengths to avoid Mara in everyday life. They mostly live alone or in the types of neighborhoods that only care about the powers you wield. By extreme over feeding the Mara are capable of placing their victims in a coma from which waking is all but impossible. For this and their other talents they are often hired as assassins, torturers and interrogators. Though they cannot enter a conscious mind the skilled are experts are manipulating the subconscious to evoke damaging emotions or extract information.
Court:
Spring
Position/Occupation:
Archon of the Spring Court
Age:
2083
Personality:
Nyx is a trickster, as a being of the shadows he doesn’t act directly or use confrontation as a primary tool. Much like manipulating the subconscious during his feeds Nyx prefers to indirectly lead people to certain ideas or conclusions and watch them tear themselves apart. He appears to those he speaks with to be amusing and fun. He’s not afraid to get his hands dirty and will often do tasks normally delegated himself. He has this certain look in his smile and in his eyes that says he’s evaluating you. Like he’s calculating how hard he’d have to hit you to knock you out. His subjects don’t fear him but neither would they consider rebellion a good idea. When he needs to be Nyx can be cruel.
Appearance:
Despite his position Nyx’s does not look imposing. Physically he appears as a mortal in his early twenties. He is fit but moves gracefully, seeming to shift through the air like liquid or shadow. His hair is a tangled mane of dark brown that reaches just short of his shoulders. His eyes are normally the deep blue of a midnight sky but when he feeds they glow with the shine of polished obsidian. His skin is pale and smooth though despite the contrast between his skin and hair Nyx blends into the shadows with ease.
Family:
Mother - Petaline
Nyx was born to one of the concubines of the Lord of Spring, Petaline was a pretty woman but by fae standards she was by no means extraordinary. However she like her son was a Mara. The Archon took her as one of his own because of her talents as a dreamfeeder. Though he took precautions to protect himself from the negative aspects of her powers.
Father - ???
Though Petaline was one of Cernunnos’ concubines, she was not bound solely to him. Nyx never knew his father but the one thing he was certain of is that it was not the Archon. There was a place on the palace grounds dedicated to burial sites for the bodies of the Archon’s newly born children. Cernunnos did not want anyone challenging his throne.
Sister - Ardaie Loreious
Ardaie went by the name Ceridwen as she would disclose her true name to no one. Ceridwen was not Nyx’s true sister. She was born of a gentry fae, a servant in the Archon’s household and Thelipeia, one of the five original Sirens. Due to her mother’s heritage Ceridwen was born with the nearly extinct gift of Silvertongue, the ability to change the wills of others with her words. In fae society the power of the Siren’s call was so feared that the five true Sirens and their descendants were hunted to the point of extinction. Three of the originals including Ceridwen’s mother escaped into the mortal world where they lured and devoured mortal sailors for sustenance. Ceridwen’s conception happened when her father was on an errand for the Archon in the human realm, nine months later Ceridwen was found in front of the palace gates with her father’s name written on her baby blanket. There were few children in the Archon’s palace and so growing up Nyx and Ceridwen bonded quickly. They become as close if not closer than actual siblings.
Ambition:
To maintain the balance of power and the peace of the land.
Nyx has watched as power twisted his sister from the fae girl that used to help him steal apples from the Archon’s orchard to a cold, callous and manipulative ruler whose only concern was herself and her own ambitions. He is determined that will not happen to him and wishes to repair the damage that Ceridwen caused during her reign and the neglect that occurred during that of Cernunnos.
Background:
Nyx was born during the rule of the Archon Cernunnos. Cernunnos was a nature fae of exceptional power, though no one knew his exact age some whispered that it rivalled that of the autumn King. Some even said that in a time long past he had ruled the Wylde Hunt before Falk. Ancient religions in the human world worshipped him as “The Horned God”.
Cernunnos ruled the Spring Court with an iron fist. He protected his kingdom and his people with a passion and fury that kept him on the throne but he was an old fae, old fashioned. He came from a time when the fae took what they wanted and solved their conflicts with violence, not wisdom or diplomacy. Though his kingdom was protected from any external danger within its borders everything of the Spring belonged to Cernunnos and he took it as he pleased. He remained unopposed only because the few that were old enough and powerful enough to depose him feared that without his strength Spring would fall to the other three Courts.
Nyx was a child in the Archon’s palace, along with one other, a girl. She was child of one of the Archon’s gentry servants. Her name was Ardaie Loreious but like all fae she went by another name, she called herself Ceridwen. Unknown to the Archon and the rest of the fae world Ceridwen’s mother was not some gentry woman from another town as her father had led the Archon to believe. Ceridwen’s mother was Thelipeia, one of the original sirens. This gave Ceridwen a unique gift, she could use the Siren’s Song in the form of words, force anyone to bend to her will. Ceridwen’s father had forced her to swear that she would never use her gift or tell anyone about it.
Though most of the Archon’s servants were forbidden from raising their young in the palace Cernunnos allowed Nyx and Ceridwen to remain. Perhaps he was curious about young fae, being such an aged creature, perhaps their parents had exchanged something for the privilege or perhaps their antics in his palace amused him.
With no one else their own age to interact with Nyx and Ceridwen spent a lot of time together. They stole food from the kitchen to the exasperation of the red faced cook, hid in the throne room during meetings and explored every inch of the palace, from its roots all the way up to the highest branches. Normal kid stuff.
Then something tragic happened, something that would change them forever. They grew up. It was no secret to Ceridwen and Nyx what kind of fae the Archon was and as they got older and were indentured into his service like their parents his cruelties became even more apparent.
Nyx as a male Mara was useless to the Archon in the way that his mother had been however the Archon had a different task for his skillset. Often the Archon would send Nyx out to various areas of the Spring Court to have him feed off those that the Archon deemed threats. Sometimes Nyx was told to manipulating there subconscious to confirm that they truly were plotting against the Archon. In certain cases Nyx was to plant certain ideas into their heads for a specific desired result but more often than not the Archon simply wanted Nyx to drain his enemies dry. To feed on their minds till there wasn’t enough energy left in them to keep their mind united. Those that didn’t go mad fell into a coma from which they could not wake. Nyx hated the Archon for these acts but couldn’t act against him as the Archon had taken his true name from his mother when he was born. It was hard to know which of them received the worse task, Ceridwen or Nyx.
Unfortunately for Ceridwen she matured into a beautiful woman. She had always been pretty, with long flowing hair the color of a wheat field ready for harvest, skin fair as milk and deep silver eyes but when she came of age it was impossible for anyone not to notice her beauty and that included the Archon. It wasn’t long before a request came from the Archon to Ceridwen’s father for her quarters to be moved to a section of the palace that many of the servants called Lover’s Lane. It was were the Archon’s concubines were housed.
The Archon never sent orders to the members of his court, only requests. Everyone knew however that one did not ignore one of the Archon’s requests. There were consequences. When Ceridwen’s father showed her the letter she knew what it meant. It was bad enough serving in the Archon’s house but Ceridwen did not want to become one of the Archon’s belongings.
Nyx was at the time far away from the palace on a mission for the Archon so Ceridwen had no one to confide in, no one to talk to about what she did next. That night she decided to run. To get as far away from the palace and the Archon as she possibly could. She would not be used by him.
Ceridwen used her silvertongue to enchant a number of guards before knocking them out. She still remembered what her father had said about her gift and not wanting to give anyone another reason to hunt her made sure that the guards didn’t realize she’d enchanted them. Ceridwen didn’t make it past the front gate.
Given how the Archon acted and the weapon he always had at his side it was very easy to forget that Cernunnos was a nature fae above all else. The ring of trees that surrounded the palace walls had been tended to by Cernunnos personally. It was not merely decorative but also his security system. When Ceridwen tried to leave the branches from the trees entangled her, holding her fast until the Archon and his guard came to retrieve her.
Ceridwen was released without a word but locked in her quarters for the night. The next morning it was announced that her father was to be executed at midday. Ceridwen was watched closely and allowed nowhere near her father’s cell and Nyx was still absent on his task. She was made to attend as her father was burned to death, a grisly affair especially considering they lived in Spring.
The following day another request from the Archon arrived that requested Ceridwen relocate her quarters to Lover’s Lane. Knowing that Nyx would be the next to suffer if she did not comply Ceridwen somberly packed up her belongings and did as the Archon asked.
Nyx returned from his mission two days later and was horrified to hear what had happened in his absence. When Ceridwen told him Nyx grabbed a knife from his wall. It had been specially forged at the Archon’s request. It had small flakes of iron spread throughout the blade, enough that it would kill nearly any fae it stabbed but the concentration was small enough that it would not make Nyx sick in the process. The Archon had given it to him in case any of his targets ever woke up.
“I’ll kill him.” Nyx said barely contained rage in his voice. “I swear to you I’ll kill him.”
Ceridwen was white faced, tears streaming down her face. She grabbed the knife from his hand and threw it across the room. “You know you can’t fulfill that promise Nyx, and I release you from it.” As she said this Nyx felt the weight of the words he’d just uttered, of the oath he’d sworn vanish. He hated the fact that she was right. “He has your true name Nyx. If you tried to kill the Archon I’d only lose you to.” As she said this Ceridwen collapsed into a chair sobbing.
“I know,” Nyx said, his anger fading away as he watched Ceridwen cry. “It’s just, no one should have the right to hurt you like that, you’re father was a good man. He didn’t deserve this.” Nyx bent down and wiped away Ceridwen’s tears. “What can I do sis?” he’d been calling her that since they were a hundred years old. “Anything I can do just name it.”
Ceridwen looked up at him. “Make me sleep.”
Nyx looked at her. “Ceridwen I…”
“Please?”
He sighed. “Whatever you wish.” Mara had the ability to put people to sleep as long as they were not actively resisting the urge. Usually it was for humans who were still half awake when the Mara came to feed but in a case like this Nyx could help his oldest friend get some rest. He placed his hand on her forehead. “Rest little one.” He said and she fell into a mercifully dreamless sleep.
After that day Ceridwen did what she had to, to keep herself and Nyx safe. Though the fae rarely felt true everlasting love as passion was such a fleeting thing most had a very strong sense of family loyalty.
Ceridwen remained the Archon’s consort for two hundred years. Every night after she’d been called to his chambers, when he’d finished with her Ceridwen would seek out Nyx and he’d use his power to help her sleep. It crushed Nyx a little bit inside every time he had to do it. There were few people he truly cared about. His mother had died a number of years previous, Ceridwen was all he had left and there was little he could do to abate the pain that he saw shining in her eyes more and more with each passing day.
When Ceridwen was nearly seven hundred she experienced another tragedy. She became pregnant with the Archon’s child. The Archon was old and power hungry. He believed that any child of his would share his nature and grow up to take the throne from him. Therefore whenever any of his consorts became pregnant after they gave birth the child was killed and buried in a special courtyard in the corner of the palace. The Archon did not want to risk damaging his consorts by artificially ending the child’s life before birth.
Ceridwen begged the Archon to reconsider, to let her child live but Cernunnos was old and unrelenting. Even when she tried to use her siren’s song to convince him Cernunnos held fast, not even realizing what she had attempted. He simply looked at her and said. “You are a young fae, you have an eternity ahead of you. Enough time for as many children as you please, but not this one. Never one of mine.”
Not long before her child was due Ceridwen came to Nyx’s door in the middle of the night. She knocked on it so hard Nyx feared she’d woken the entire castle. When he opened the door he saw Ceridwen, her hair disheveled, tears streaming down her face, her eyes puffy and red.
“Ceridwen,” Nyx started but she cut him off as she shoved her way into his room.
She collapsed into a padded chair and looked up at him. “Please Nyx, my name, my true name is Ardaie Loreious. Say it.”
Nyx looked at his surrogate sister with a mixture of pity and contemplation as he spoke her true name. The moment the words were out of his mouth a look of peace washed over Ceridwen’s face.
“Nyx please, use my name, order me to… to die.”
Nyx started to speak but Ceridwen silenced him with her hand. “I don’t have the courage to do it myself. I held a knife to my heart but I could not take the final step. Please I cannot watch my child buried in this place. I would rather die with him. The Archon will see it as the desperate act of an over emotional mother. He will not blame you.”
Nyx looked aghast. “Ceridwen do not ask me to do that. We grew up together, you are the closest thing I have to family. I would do anything you asked of me but please do not ask me that. I can’t, I can’t lose you. I would rather walk into The Mists than see you harmed. You cannot know how much it hurts me to see you in pain but this is not the answer. You have always been strong Ceridwen, stronger than me, stronger than anyone I have ever known. You will survive this.”
Ceridwen grabbed Nyx by the collar. “No, no I won’t, I don’t want to. Please Nyx don’t make me,” She collapsed to the floor sobbing “don’t make me, don’t, please end it. End it.”
Nyx knelt down and hugged the little girl he’d grown up with. “Ssshhh, ssshhh. It’s alright little one, sleep, sleep. Hope will come with the morn.”
As he said these words Nyx felt Ceridwen go limp in his arms. He hated himself for forcing sleep on her but could see no other way to placate her. He placed her in his bed and watched over her till the sun came up. There was nothing he could do for her and the worst thing was that he didn’t even try.
Ceridwen’s baby was born within the month, she was only allowed to hold him for a short time before the Archon took him away. When she had recovered from the birth Nyx took her to see her child’s grave, the name Taliesin was engraved in the headstone.
It was then that Ceridwen started to change. Not all at once but in very slight ways. Once Ceridwen had healed the Archon requested her back at her station. He envoked her true name to prevent any form of retribution. What he didn’t know was that he never possessed her true name. In the only act of kindness Ceridwen had ever received from her mother the siren had embroidered a false name onto Ceridwen’s baby blanket. Ceridwen’s father had believed this to be her true name and so when it was demanded of him by Cernunnos he told the Archon what he believed to be the truth. Ceridwen’s true name lived in her heart, burned in her mind’s eye but even as a child she was smart enough never to let her father know the truth.
After the death of her child Ceridwen stopped coming to Nyx after her nights with the Archon for help sleeping. She spent longer hours in his bed chamber. Nyx saw her less and when he did the spark of life in her eye had hardened to a sharp gleam. The vulnerable side of Ceridwen, the side that had begged Nyx to kill her he never saw again. It was as though she’d shielded her heart in thick ice as hard as steel and deadly as iron. They never spoke about that night again but when he looked her in the eye Nyx could see that it still weighed on her.
On the eve of what would have been the tenth birthday of Ceridwen’s child the bells in palace were all rung at once. An alarm but not any, the one that signaled something had happened in the Archon’s chambers. Knowing that Ceridwen had spent that night with the Archon, Nyx rushed to his chambers.
What greeted all those that came was a grisly sight. Ceridwen sat on the edge of the Archon’s bed, her hands coated in his blood, her face and clothing smeared dark with it and she was smiling. Cernunnos lay in his bed, his throat slashed open, staining his sheets in crimson. Ceridwen held a knife in her hand twirling it back and forth. Like her hands the knife was drenched with the Archon’s blood.
Nyx looked at the blade and realize that it was his. The blade infused with iron the Archon had given him for dispatching fae. Ceridwen must have stolen it from his room.
“Ceridwen what have you done?” Nyx asked looking in shock at the sight before him. It was no secret that any fae would slit another’s throat for an advantage but what truly disturbed Nyx was the contented smile on Ceridwen’s face. It was the same smile she’d worn when they were kids after they got away with something they weren’t supposed to.
“I did what I had to brother. I recall you once saying that you would kill him on my behalf. I thought to spare you the effort.”
The Captain of the guard moved forward his hand on his sword which like Nyx’s dagger was imbued with iron.
Ceridwen held up her hand, that disturbing smile still alighting her face “Stop.” She said and though she spoke quietly the word reverberated around the room. Nyx had never heard Ceridwen use her silvertongue with the kind of force that she did now. The kind that didn’t just suggest that someone follow a few ideas but the power that forced all who heard it to obey. Nyx froze with the rest of the crowd.
Ceridwen reached behind her and pulled the crown of the Spring Court from Cernunnos’ dead body. It was a gold ring forged into the shape of holly. Ceridwen placed it on her head. Speaking again with all the force of her silvertongue Ceridwen spoke. “I am the leader of the Spring fae now. All will bow before me.”
Every person in the room that heard Ceridwen speak dropped to their knees including Nyx. He looked with horror on what Ceridwen had done, on what she was becoming but he didn’t speak a word.
Over the next six hundred years Ceridwen took control of the Spring Court. She made Nyx one of her advisers, though the reality was that she only took council from herself. At first it seemed that she was improving the lives of the Spring fae. She freed Cernunnos’ consorts and reassigned many of her staff at the palace. Everyone in the Spring kingdom was given a place Ceridwen felt was perfectly suited to their skill set and if any ever voiced dissatisfaction they found themselves soothed by Ceridwen’s siren song as she used it to change their minds.
On the surface Spring was a paradise but underneath this façade every fae in the Court was a slave to Ceridwen’s wishes. The only person she left alone was Nyx. The only command she had ever given him with her silvertongue was to never under any circumstances speak her true name ever again.
Nyx knew he should have spoken up, should have countered some of Ceridwen’s orders, should have tried to stop her from becoming the monster she was. But he’d not had the heart, not had the heart or perhaps the courage to stand up to his little sister. Perhaps he feared that she would take control of him with her silvertongue. Long after, that thought would still haunt Nyx into the early hours of the morning. If he’d acted sooner could he have saved her life? When Nyx finally chose to act it was too late for Ceridwen.
That day she’d gotten word of a small colony of fae on the outskirts of the Spring Court who were supposedly immune to the Siren’s Song. They were brought before Ceridwen’s court. The Spring Queen walked before them and shouted for silence. They all quieted immediately except for a small child rocking in his mother’s arms. Ceridwen studied them for a moment then returned to her throne and looked to her guards. “Slaughter them all.”
Nyx could stay silent no longer. He had kept his mouth shut while she enslaved an entire kingdom but he could not stand and watch genocide. “Ceridwen stop, this is unnecessary.”
Ceridwen’s head snapped to look at Nyx and all of the courtiers in his vicinity took several step steps to distance themselves from him. “Nyx,” she said shaking her head softly. “Why do you try my patience?”
“Ceridwen look at yourself. Is this truly what you want to be?”
She cocked her head to the side a small smile curving her soft face. “Perhaps not,” she said shrugging as though they were discussing what to make for supper. “but it is who I need to be for this Kingdom’s sake.”
Ceridwen turned back to her captives and raised her hand about to gesture that the guards prepare their weapons.
“What would Taliesin saw if he saw his mother like this?” Nyx asked, his teeth set. There would be no coming back from this.
Ceridwen slowly turned to face Nyx, a violent black flame burned in her silver eyes like nothing he’d ever seen. “Who can say Nyx what my son would say to this. He did not live long enough for anyone to know him.” She gestured to a few guards. “Take him to my quarters, he obviously doesn’t have the stomach for this.”
The guards grabbed Nyx by the shoulders and dragged him from the Great Hall, as he was taken away Nyx shouted after his sister. “You’ve lost yourself Ceridwen, you’ve become worse than Cernunnos ever was.”
Ceridwen didn’t answer him but as Nyx was escorted away he saw her smiling wickedly. He could hear the screams of the dying fae as the guards took him down the corridors.
As Ceridwen had ordered Nyx was taken to her private chambers. They were not the same ones the Archon had inhabited. Ceridwen had ordered that room collapsed by the wood nymphs.
Instead Nyx was escorted to a room high in the branches of the palace where one could see all of the Spring Court through openings sung into the wood. Nyx was locked inside the room. He waited for several hours, waiting for Ceridwen to deliver his sentence.
When Ceridwen finally arrived Nyx was surprised not only that she brought no guards with her but also by her appearance. Her hair normally tied out of her eyes had been removed from its restraints and hung about her face. She wore a dress of shear material much like the wild nymphs of the moors. When she entered she moved slowly, walking past Nyx without as much as a glance to arrive at her window.
There was silence for a time, a stifling silence that Nyx waded through with his breath caught in his throat. Finally Ceridwen spoke.
“You are not the only one of my courtiers I left untouched, free to do as they wished. There are two dozen others scattered across the palace. I was curious you see how those closest to me would respond to my rule while outside of my power.” She turned away from the window to look Nyx in the eyes. “One tried to kill me, a couple others attempted escape.” She shook her head unconcerned as though dissent in her people was as alarming as a bad hair day. “Pathetic.” Then she started walking towards Nyx, each step she took deliberate.
“Most of them cowered in fear and pretended to be as compliant as all the rest.” She now stood in front of Nyx, the very small distance between them unnerved him but he stood his ground. “You are the only one who had the courage to oppose me. You must certainly have known it would mean your own death but you spoke up despite the cost. That is what I have been looking for.”
She closed the distance between them and reached up, her lips brushing Nyx’s in a very intimate kiss. Shocked Nyx shoved her away from him.
“Ceridwen what are you doing?”
She smiled as though they were playing a game. “I need a King Nyx. If I wanted a tool I could bend to my will I could have taken anyone. I want you, you’re not afraid to oppose me, to challenge my authority. To tell me when I am making a mistake.”
“You are making one now Ceridwen. We are deartháir, kin. You are a sister to me.”
Ceridwen again smiled, as though the world and everyone in it were toys for her to play with. “Not by blood, brother. We are kin in name only. That could however change…” she said moving closer to Nyx once more.
Nyx shoved her back. “No.” he said forcefully. “I am not one of your puppets Ceridwen. I will not dance for you.”
She sighed. “Oh Nyx how wrong you are.” She fixed him with an intense glare and Nyx realized what she was about to do seconds before she did.
“Ceridwen!” he shouted.
“Silence!” she said and the power she put into the command stole the words from Nyx’s mouth. “You will make love to me Nyx, as any King would his Queen.”
Nyx felt the command take root but there was nothing he could do to stop it as his disgust turned to adoration. The look of horror on his face became a smile of joy. He ran to her and they held one another in a passionate embrace.
Nyx and Ceridwen slept together that night for Ceridwen had forced Nyx to love her in a way no brother should ever love his sister.
When Ceridwen finally fell asleep Nyx sought to continue making her happy. To increase her pleasure as was the calling of any King to his Queen. He touched his hands to her temples and started to feed.
Nyx had every intention of granting Ceridwen all the pleasures the feeding of a Mara could provide another fae as his mother had to the late Archon and he did. However when he’d absorbed enough of her energy the spell she had cast over him shattered like glass. He withdrew from her mind revolted with himself and with his sister.
She did not stir as he pulled himself from her bed. Nyx walked to the window and starred down at the Court below. From this height Ceridwen’s kingdom looked so peaceful and it was but only because she as much as she was able destroyed the free will of her people.
Nyx turned to look back at his sister, still contentedly sleeping. She had crossed several lines since becoming the ruler of the Spring Court but no more than any other ever had in the pursuit of power. Until this moment Nyx had always harbored the hope that Ceridwen could be pulled from the precipice before she fell into the Abyss. It was only now that Nyx realized she had fallen a long time ago. If she was willing to do what she had to her oldest friend Ceridwen wouldn’t hesitate to take anything from anyone. To destroy anything she pleased. Her reign of terror needed to end.
Nyx realized in those seconds that along with the spell that had bound him to Ceridwen’s bed the command that prevent him from uttering her true name had also broken.
He spoke the words into the silence. “Ardaie Loreious.”
The moment he said them, Ceridwen sat upright in bed with a gasp as though she had been struck. She looked at Nyx with the same horror in her eyes that had existed in his when he’d seen her drenched in the Archon’s blood.
“Nyx,” she started, intending to silence him with her song.
“Ardaie, don’t speak and do not move.” As though the breath had been stolen from her lungs Ceridwen’s voice abandoned her and she froze, her legs swung over the side of her bed.
Nyx walked towards her and sank onto the bed next to her.
“Oh Ceridwen, I am so sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t kill Cernunnos when he first called you to his service. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help you escape. I’m sorry I couldn’t save your father. I’m sorry I couldn’t save your son. I’m sorry that you have suffered so much in your short life. But most of all I’m sorry that I did not speak out. Ever since you killed the Archon I have watched you lose yourself piece by piece, day by day, with every person you enslaved and every fae you executed I watched the spark in your eye die a little bit more and I did nothing. You cannot know how that weights on me. I waited too long, the spark in your eye has died. There is nothing left of my sister in you anymore.”
Nyx looked at Ceridwen, he could see the terror in her eye but worse than that he could see the vengeance. She was plotting how she would make him suffer the moment he no longer held power over her.
“It must have been a thousand years ago but you once begged me to end your life Ceridwen. You wanted me to spare you suffering, you wanted to die with your son rather than see Cernunnos bury him. I did not have the strength to honor your request then. It would have been better if I had. Better for you to die innocent. Now you will only be remembered as the tyrant fate has made you.”
Nyx reached up and kissed his sister on the forehead. “Ardaie Loreious. I will carry the weight of your sins so that your spirit may remember who you were before pain blotted out your soul. What I do now I do not out of anger or fear but only because there is no other choice. I will never forgive myself but I hope this brings you peace.”
Nyx pulled his iron imbued dagger from his belt. He hugged his sister one last time, tears streaming down his face before he plunged the blade into her heart. “I am sorry sister. I pray you walk in Titania’s light in the way after.”
When Ceridwen died everyone in the Spring Court tainted her song felt it. All knew she was dead and many rejoiced. Attendants, servants, guards and courtiers all rushed to Ceridwen’s room to see what had become of her. There they found Nyx holding Ceridwen’s lifeless body, the knife lying at his feet.
The captain of the guard walked forward and drew his sword. He fell to his knees before Nyx and placed the point of the sword to the ground. “You are hero to us. The crown is rightfully yours if you would take it up. There is not a fae in this court that would not swear fealty to you for this act.”
As the sound of this voice Nyx gently laid Ceridwen’s body back onto the bed. He stood before the guard and pulled him to his feet. “I am no hero. There is no honor in this, no prestige and no goodness. This was mercy, nothing more.”
Nyx was reluctant but the Spring Court needed a ruler. The other three seasons would happily take Spring for themselves if the people did not show strength. Spring was in disarray after waking from Ceridwen’s spell. They needed someone to right her missteps and ensure the borders remained as they were. As Ceridwen’s brother and her killer Nyx was begged to take up the title of Archon. He was given the title Songbreaker. By the Captain of the Guard. Though reluctant at first after seven hundred years of ruling the Spring Court Nyx has found that he has a certain skill for the art of politics. He is as fair and strong a ruler as the Spring could hope for but like all fae, he has his own agenda.
Nyx
True Name:
Nyx’lair Seòltachd
Race: Mara
The Mara are the source of the word Nightmare. Late at night when mortals are deep in sleep the Mara will slip into their houses and sitting upon their chests will enter their dreams. The Mara feed on the emotional energies that one produces when asleep. To this effect they will amplify the power of the dream to gain greater satisfaction. This does not necessarily mean causing nightmares as the Mara can feed on any of the slumbers strong emotions but terror and fear are the easiest to draw out.
Feeding on fae while is more filling is also much more dangerous because even in dreams the fae are more conscious than humans. When the dreamer becomes aware of the Mara invading their minds all elements of their dreams will turn on the Mara. Though being killed in a dream is not fatal it is highly draining and requires time and feeding to recover from. The Mara can grant a euphoric high feeling to its victims upon waking. Because of this ability the Mara are often sought out as companions to less reputable fae willing to pay for their pleasure. Some Mara are forced to become concubines to a Court Ruler or high powered fae for the same reason.
Mara are considered by most to be the dregs of fae society. Unless their services are required majority of fae will go to great lengths to avoid Mara in everyday life. They mostly live alone or in the types of neighborhoods that only care about the powers you wield. By extreme over feeding the Mara are capable of placing their victims in a coma from which waking is all but impossible. For this and their other talents they are often hired as assassins, torturers and interrogators. Though they cannot enter a conscious mind the skilled are experts are manipulating the subconscious to evoke damaging emotions or extract information.
Court:
Spring
Position/Occupation:
Archon of the Spring Court
Age:
2083
Personality:
Nyx is a trickster, as a being of the shadows he doesn’t act directly or use confrontation as a primary tool. Much like manipulating the subconscious during his feeds Nyx prefers to indirectly lead people to certain ideas or conclusions and watch them tear themselves apart. He appears to those he speaks with to be amusing and fun. He’s not afraid to get his hands dirty and will often do tasks normally delegated himself. He has this certain look in his smile and in his eyes that says he’s evaluating you. Like he’s calculating how hard he’d have to hit you to knock you out. His subjects don’t fear him but neither would they consider rebellion a good idea. When he needs to be Nyx can be cruel.
Appearance:
Despite his position Nyx’s does not look imposing. Physically he appears as a mortal in his early twenties. He is fit but moves gracefully, seeming to shift through the air like liquid or shadow. His hair is a tangled mane of dark brown that reaches just short of his shoulders. His eyes are normally the deep blue of a midnight sky but when he feeds they glow with the shine of polished obsidian. His skin is pale and smooth though despite the contrast between his skin and hair Nyx blends into the shadows with ease.
Family:
Mother - Petaline
Nyx was born to one of the concubines of the Lord of Spring, Petaline was a pretty woman but by fae standards she was by no means extraordinary. However she like her son was a Mara. The Archon took her as one of his own because of her talents as a dreamfeeder. Though he took precautions to protect himself from the negative aspects of her powers.
Father - ???
Though Petaline was one of Cernunnos’ concubines, she was not bound solely to him. Nyx never knew his father but the one thing he was certain of is that it was not the Archon. There was a place on the palace grounds dedicated to burial sites for the bodies of the Archon’s newly born children. Cernunnos did not want anyone challenging his throne.
Sister - Ardaie Loreious
Ardaie went by the name Ceridwen as she would disclose her true name to no one. Ceridwen was not Nyx’s true sister. She was born of a gentry fae, a servant in the Archon’s household and Thelipeia, one of the five original Sirens. Due to her mother’s heritage Ceridwen was born with the nearly extinct gift of Silvertongue, the ability to change the wills of others with her words. In fae society the power of the Siren’s call was so feared that the five true Sirens and their descendants were hunted to the point of extinction. Three of the originals including Ceridwen’s mother escaped into the mortal world where they lured and devoured mortal sailors for sustenance. Ceridwen’s conception happened when her father was on an errand for the Archon in the human realm, nine months later Ceridwen was found in front of the palace gates with her father’s name written on her baby blanket. There were few children in the Archon’s palace and so growing up Nyx and Ceridwen bonded quickly. They become as close if not closer than actual siblings.
Ambition:
To maintain the balance of power and the peace of the land.
Nyx has watched as power twisted his sister from the fae girl that used to help him steal apples from the Archon’s orchard to a cold, callous and manipulative ruler whose only concern was herself and her own ambitions. He is determined that will not happen to him and wishes to repair the damage that Ceridwen caused during her reign and the neglect that occurred during that of Cernunnos.
Background:
Nyx was born during the rule of the Archon Cernunnos. Cernunnos was a nature fae of exceptional power, though no one knew his exact age some whispered that it rivalled that of the autumn King. Some even said that in a time long past he had ruled the Wylde Hunt before Falk. Ancient religions in the human world worshipped him as “The Horned God”.
Cernunnos ruled the Spring Court with an iron fist. He protected his kingdom and his people with a passion and fury that kept him on the throne but he was an old fae, old fashioned. He came from a time when the fae took what they wanted and solved their conflicts with violence, not wisdom or diplomacy. Though his kingdom was protected from any external danger within its borders everything of the Spring belonged to Cernunnos and he took it as he pleased. He remained unopposed only because the few that were old enough and powerful enough to depose him feared that without his strength Spring would fall to the other three Courts.
Nyx was a child in the Archon’s palace, along with one other, a girl. She was child of one of the Archon’s gentry servants. Her name was Ardaie Loreious but like all fae she went by another name, she called herself Ceridwen. Unknown to the Archon and the rest of the fae world Ceridwen’s mother was not some gentry woman from another town as her father had led the Archon to believe. Ceridwen’s mother was Thelipeia, one of the original sirens. This gave Ceridwen a unique gift, she could use the Siren’s Song in the form of words, force anyone to bend to her will. Ceridwen’s father had forced her to swear that she would never use her gift or tell anyone about it.
Though most of the Archon’s servants were forbidden from raising their young in the palace Cernunnos allowed Nyx and Ceridwen to remain. Perhaps he was curious about young fae, being such an aged creature, perhaps their parents had exchanged something for the privilege or perhaps their antics in his palace amused him.
With no one else their own age to interact with Nyx and Ceridwen spent a lot of time together. They stole food from the kitchen to the exasperation of the red faced cook, hid in the throne room during meetings and explored every inch of the palace, from its roots all the way up to the highest branches. Normal kid stuff.
Then something tragic happened, something that would change them forever. They grew up. It was no secret to Ceridwen and Nyx what kind of fae the Archon was and as they got older and were indentured into his service like their parents his cruelties became even more apparent.
Nyx as a male Mara was useless to the Archon in the way that his mother had been however the Archon had a different task for his skillset. Often the Archon would send Nyx out to various areas of the Spring Court to have him feed off those that the Archon deemed threats. Sometimes Nyx was told to manipulating there subconscious to confirm that they truly were plotting against the Archon. In certain cases Nyx was to plant certain ideas into their heads for a specific desired result but more often than not the Archon simply wanted Nyx to drain his enemies dry. To feed on their minds till there wasn’t enough energy left in them to keep their mind united. Those that didn’t go mad fell into a coma from which they could not wake. Nyx hated the Archon for these acts but couldn’t act against him as the Archon had taken his true name from his mother when he was born. It was hard to know which of them received the worse task, Ceridwen or Nyx.
Unfortunately for Ceridwen she matured into a beautiful woman. She had always been pretty, with long flowing hair the color of a wheat field ready for harvest, skin fair as milk and deep silver eyes but when she came of age it was impossible for anyone not to notice her beauty and that included the Archon. It wasn’t long before a request came from the Archon to Ceridwen’s father for her quarters to be moved to a section of the palace that many of the servants called Lover’s Lane. It was were the Archon’s concubines were housed.
The Archon never sent orders to the members of his court, only requests. Everyone knew however that one did not ignore one of the Archon’s requests. There were consequences. When Ceridwen’s father showed her the letter she knew what it meant. It was bad enough serving in the Archon’s house but Ceridwen did not want to become one of the Archon’s belongings.
Nyx was at the time far away from the palace on a mission for the Archon so Ceridwen had no one to confide in, no one to talk to about what she did next. That night she decided to run. To get as far away from the palace and the Archon as she possibly could. She would not be used by him.
Ceridwen used her silvertongue to enchant a number of guards before knocking them out. She still remembered what her father had said about her gift and not wanting to give anyone another reason to hunt her made sure that the guards didn’t realize she’d enchanted them. Ceridwen didn’t make it past the front gate.
Given how the Archon acted and the weapon he always had at his side it was very easy to forget that Cernunnos was a nature fae above all else. The ring of trees that surrounded the palace walls had been tended to by Cernunnos personally. It was not merely decorative but also his security system. When Ceridwen tried to leave the branches from the trees entangled her, holding her fast until the Archon and his guard came to retrieve her.
Ceridwen was released without a word but locked in her quarters for the night. The next morning it was announced that her father was to be executed at midday. Ceridwen was watched closely and allowed nowhere near her father’s cell and Nyx was still absent on his task. She was made to attend as her father was burned to death, a grisly affair especially considering they lived in Spring.
The following day another request from the Archon arrived that requested Ceridwen relocate her quarters to Lover’s Lane. Knowing that Nyx would be the next to suffer if she did not comply Ceridwen somberly packed up her belongings and did as the Archon asked.
Nyx returned from his mission two days later and was horrified to hear what had happened in his absence. When Ceridwen told him Nyx grabbed a knife from his wall. It had been specially forged at the Archon’s request. It had small flakes of iron spread throughout the blade, enough that it would kill nearly any fae it stabbed but the concentration was small enough that it would not make Nyx sick in the process. The Archon had given it to him in case any of his targets ever woke up.
“I’ll kill him.” Nyx said barely contained rage in his voice. “I swear to you I’ll kill him.”
Ceridwen was white faced, tears streaming down her face. She grabbed the knife from his hand and threw it across the room. “You know you can’t fulfill that promise Nyx, and I release you from it.” As she said this Nyx felt the weight of the words he’d just uttered, of the oath he’d sworn vanish. He hated the fact that she was right. “He has your true name Nyx. If you tried to kill the Archon I’d only lose you to.” As she said this Ceridwen collapsed into a chair sobbing.
“I know,” Nyx said, his anger fading away as he watched Ceridwen cry. “It’s just, no one should have the right to hurt you like that, you’re father was a good man. He didn’t deserve this.” Nyx bent down and wiped away Ceridwen’s tears. “What can I do sis?” he’d been calling her that since they were a hundred years old. “Anything I can do just name it.”
Ceridwen looked up at him. “Make me sleep.”
Nyx looked at her. “Ceridwen I…”
“Please?”
He sighed. “Whatever you wish.” Mara had the ability to put people to sleep as long as they were not actively resisting the urge. Usually it was for humans who were still half awake when the Mara came to feed but in a case like this Nyx could help his oldest friend get some rest. He placed his hand on her forehead. “Rest little one.” He said and she fell into a mercifully dreamless sleep.
After that day Ceridwen did what she had to, to keep herself and Nyx safe. Though the fae rarely felt true everlasting love as passion was such a fleeting thing most had a very strong sense of family loyalty.
Ceridwen remained the Archon’s consort for two hundred years. Every night after she’d been called to his chambers, when he’d finished with her Ceridwen would seek out Nyx and he’d use his power to help her sleep. It crushed Nyx a little bit inside every time he had to do it. There were few people he truly cared about. His mother had died a number of years previous, Ceridwen was all he had left and there was little he could do to abate the pain that he saw shining in her eyes more and more with each passing day.
When Ceridwen was nearly seven hundred she experienced another tragedy. She became pregnant with the Archon’s child. The Archon was old and power hungry. He believed that any child of his would share his nature and grow up to take the throne from him. Therefore whenever any of his consorts became pregnant after they gave birth the child was killed and buried in a special courtyard in the corner of the palace. The Archon did not want to risk damaging his consorts by artificially ending the child’s life before birth.
Ceridwen begged the Archon to reconsider, to let her child live but Cernunnos was old and unrelenting. Even when she tried to use her siren’s song to convince him Cernunnos held fast, not even realizing what she had attempted. He simply looked at her and said. “You are a young fae, you have an eternity ahead of you. Enough time for as many children as you please, but not this one. Never one of mine.”
Not long before her child was due Ceridwen came to Nyx’s door in the middle of the night. She knocked on it so hard Nyx feared she’d woken the entire castle. When he opened the door he saw Ceridwen, her hair disheveled, tears streaming down her face, her eyes puffy and red.
“Ceridwen,” Nyx started but she cut him off as she shoved her way into his room.
She collapsed into a padded chair and looked up at him. “Please Nyx, my name, my true name is Ardaie Loreious. Say it.”
Nyx looked at his surrogate sister with a mixture of pity and contemplation as he spoke her true name. The moment the words were out of his mouth a look of peace washed over Ceridwen’s face.
“Nyx please, use my name, order me to… to die.”
Nyx started to speak but Ceridwen silenced him with her hand. “I don’t have the courage to do it myself. I held a knife to my heart but I could not take the final step. Please I cannot watch my child buried in this place. I would rather die with him. The Archon will see it as the desperate act of an over emotional mother. He will not blame you.”
Nyx looked aghast. “Ceridwen do not ask me to do that. We grew up together, you are the closest thing I have to family. I would do anything you asked of me but please do not ask me that. I can’t, I can’t lose you. I would rather walk into The Mists than see you harmed. You cannot know how much it hurts me to see you in pain but this is not the answer. You have always been strong Ceridwen, stronger than me, stronger than anyone I have ever known. You will survive this.”
Ceridwen grabbed Nyx by the collar. “No, no I won’t, I don’t want to. Please Nyx don’t make me,” She collapsed to the floor sobbing “don’t make me, don’t, please end it. End it.”
Nyx knelt down and hugged the little girl he’d grown up with. “Ssshhh, ssshhh. It’s alright little one, sleep, sleep. Hope will come with the morn.”
As he said these words Nyx felt Ceridwen go limp in his arms. He hated himself for forcing sleep on her but could see no other way to placate her. He placed her in his bed and watched over her till the sun came up. There was nothing he could do for her and the worst thing was that he didn’t even try.
Ceridwen’s baby was born within the month, she was only allowed to hold him for a short time before the Archon took him away. When she had recovered from the birth Nyx took her to see her child’s grave, the name Taliesin was engraved in the headstone.
It was then that Ceridwen started to change. Not all at once but in very slight ways. Once Ceridwen had healed the Archon requested her back at her station. He envoked her true name to prevent any form of retribution. What he didn’t know was that he never possessed her true name. In the only act of kindness Ceridwen had ever received from her mother the siren had embroidered a false name onto Ceridwen’s baby blanket. Ceridwen’s father had believed this to be her true name and so when it was demanded of him by Cernunnos he told the Archon what he believed to be the truth. Ceridwen’s true name lived in her heart, burned in her mind’s eye but even as a child she was smart enough never to let her father know the truth.
After the death of her child Ceridwen stopped coming to Nyx after her nights with the Archon for help sleeping. She spent longer hours in his bed chamber. Nyx saw her less and when he did the spark of life in her eye had hardened to a sharp gleam. The vulnerable side of Ceridwen, the side that had begged Nyx to kill her he never saw again. It was as though she’d shielded her heart in thick ice as hard as steel and deadly as iron. They never spoke about that night again but when he looked her in the eye Nyx could see that it still weighed on her.
On the eve of what would have been the tenth birthday of Ceridwen’s child the bells in palace were all rung at once. An alarm but not any, the one that signaled something had happened in the Archon’s chambers. Knowing that Ceridwen had spent that night with the Archon, Nyx rushed to his chambers.
What greeted all those that came was a grisly sight. Ceridwen sat on the edge of the Archon’s bed, her hands coated in his blood, her face and clothing smeared dark with it and she was smiling. Cernunnos lay in his bed, his throat slashed open, staining his sheets in crimson. Ceridwen held a knife in her hand twirling it back and forth. Like her hands the knife was drenched with the Archon’s blood.
Nyx looked at the blade and realize that it was his. The blade infused with iron the Archon had given him for dispatching fae. Ceridwen must have stolen it from his room.
“Ceridwen what have you done?” Nyx asked looking in shock at the sight before him. It was no secret that any fae would slit another’s throat for an advantage but what truly disturbed Nyx was the contented smile on Ceridwen’s face. It was the same smile she’d worn when they were kids after they got away with something they weren’t supposed to.
“I did what I had to brother. I recall you once saying that you would kill him on my behalf. I thought to spare you the effort.”
The Captain of the guard moved forward his hand on his sword which like Nyx’s dagger was imbued with iron.
Ceridwen held up her hand, that disturbing smile still alighting her face “Stop.” She said and though she spoke quietly the word reverberated around the room. Nyx had never heard Ceridwen use her silvertongue with the kind of force that she did now. The kind that didn’t just suggest that someone follow a few ideas but the power that forced all who heard it to obey. Nyx froze with the rest of the crowd.
Ceridwen reached behind her and pulled the crown of the Spring Court from Cernunnos’ dead body. It was a gold ring forged into the shape of holly. Ceridwen placed it on her head. Speaking again with all the force of her silvertongue Ceridwen spoke. “I am the leader of the Spring fae now. All will bow before me.”
Every person in the room that heard Ceridwen speak dropped to their knees including Nyx. He looked with horror on what Ceridwen had done, on what she was becoming but he didn’t speak a word.
Over the next six hundred years Ceridwen took control of the Spring Court. She made Nyx one of her advisers, though the reality was that she only took council from herself. At first it seemed that she was improving the lives of the Spring fae. She freed Cernunnos’ consorts and reassigned many of her staff at the palace. Everyone in the Spring kingdom was given a place Ceridwen felt was perfectly suited to their skill set and if any ever voiced dissatisfaction they found themselves soothed by Ceridwen’s siren song as she used it to change their minds.
On the surface Spring was a paradise but underneath this façade every fae in the Court was a slave to Ceridwen’s wishes. The only person she left alone was Nyx. The only command she had ever given him with her silvertongue was to never under any circumstances speak her true name ever again.
Nyx knew he should have spoken up, should have countered some of Ceridwen’s orders, should have tried to stop her from becoming the monster she was. But he’d not had the heart, not had the heart or perhaps the courage to stand up to his little sister. Perhaps he feared that she would take control of him with her silvertongue. Long after, that thought would still haunt Nyx into the early hours of the morning. If he’d acted sooner could he have saved her life? When Nyx finally chose to act it was too late for Ceridwen.
That day she’d gotten word of a small colony of fae on the outskirts of the Spring Court who were supposedly immune to the Siren’s Song. They were brought before Ceridwen’s court. The Spring Queen walked before them and shouted for silence. They all quieted immediately except for a small child rocking in his mother’s arms. Ceridwen studied them for a moment then returned to her throne and looked to her guards. “Slaughter them all.”
Nyx could stay silent no longer. He had kept his mouth shut while she enslaved an entire kingdom but he could not stand and watch genocide. “Ceridwen stop, this is unnecessary.”
Ceridwen’s head snapped to look at Nyx and all of the courtiers in his vicinity took several step steps to distance themselves from him. “Nyx,” she said shaking her head softly. “Why do you try my patience?”
“Ceridwen look at yourself. Is this truly what you want to be?”
She cocked her head to the side a small smile curving her soft face. “Perhaps not,” she said shrugging as though they were discussing what to make for supper. “but it is who I need to be for this Kingdom’s sake.”
Ceridwen turned back to her captives and raised her hand about to gesture that the guards prepare their weapons.
“What would Taliesin saw if he saw his mother like this?” Nyx asked, his teeth set. There would be no coming back from this.
Ceridwen slowly turned to face Nyx, a violent black flame burned in her silver eyes like nothing he’d ever seen. “Who can say Nyx what my son would say to this. He did not live long enough for anyone to know him.” She gestured to a few guards. “Take him to my quarters, he obviously doesn’t have the stomach for this.”
The guards grabbed Nyx by the shoulders and dragged him from the Great Hall, as he was taken away Nyx shouted after his sister. “You’ve lost yourself Ceridwen, you’ve become worse than Cernunnos ever was.”
Ceridwen didn’t answer him but as Nyx was escorted away he saw her smiling wickedly. He could hear the screams of the dying fae as the guards took him down the corridors.
As Ceridwen had ordered Nyx was taken to her private chambers. They were not the same ones the Archon had inhabited. Ceridwen had ordered that room collapsed by the wood nymphs.
Instead Nyx was escorted to a room high in the branches of the palace where one could see all of the Spring Court through openings sung into the wood. Nyx was locked inside the room. He waited for several hours, waiting for Ceridwen to deliver his sentence.
When Ceridwen finally arrived Nyx was surprised not only that she brought no guards with her but also by her appearance. Her hair normally tied out of her eyes had been removed from its restraints and hung about her face. She wore a dress of shear material much like the wild nymphs of the moors. When she entered she moved slowly, walking past Nyx without as much as a glance to arrive at her window.
There was silence for a time, a stifling silence that Nyx waded through with his breath caught in his throat. Finally Ceridwen spoke.
“You are not the only one of my courtiers I left untouched, free to do as they wished. There are two dozen others scattered across the palace. I was curious you see how those closest to me would respond to my rule while outside of my power.” She turned away from the window to look Nyx in the eyes. “One tried to kill me, a couple others attempted escape.” She shook her head unconcerned as though dissent in her people was as alarming as a bad hair day. “Pathetic.” Then she started walking towards Nyx, each step she took deliberate.
“Most of them cowered in fear and pretended to be as compliant as all the rest.” She now stood in front of Nyx, the very small distance between them unnerved him but he stood his ground. “You are the only one who had the courage to oppose me. You must certainly have known it would mean your own death but you spoke up despite the cost. That is what I have been looking for.”
She closed the distance between them and reached up, her lips brushing Nyx’s in a very intimate kiss. Shocked Nyx shoved her away from him.
“Ceridwen what are you doing?”
She smiled as though they were playing a game. “I need a King Nyx. If I wanted a tool I could bend to my will I could have taken anyone. I want you, you’re not afraid to oppose me, to challenge my authority. To tell me when I am making a mistake.”
“You are making one now Ceridwen. We are deartháir, kin. You are a sister to me.”
Ceridwen again smiled, as though the world and everyone in it were toys for her to play with. “Not by blood, brother. We are kin in name only. That could however change…” she said moving closer to Nyx once more.
Nyx shoved her back. “No.” he said forcefully. “I am not one of your puppets Ceridwen. I will not dance for you.”
She sighed. “Oh Nyx how wrong you are.” She fixed him with an intense glare and Nyx realized what she was about to do seconds before she did.
“Ceridwen!” he shouted.
“Silence!” she said and the power she put into the command stole the words from Nyx’s mouth. “You will make love to me Nyx, as any King would his Queen.”
Nyx felt the command take root but there was nothing he could do to stop it as his disgust turned to adoration. The look of horror on his face became a smile of joy. He ran to her and they held one another in a passionate embrace.
Nyx and Ceridwen slept together that night for Ceridwen had forced Nyx to love her in a way no brother should ever love his sister.
When Ceridwen finally fell asleep Nyx sought to continue making her happy. To increase her pleasure as was the calling of any King to his Queen. He touched his hands to her temples and started to feed.
Nyx had every intention of granting Ceridwen all the pleasures the feeding of a Mara could provide another fae as his mother had to the late Archon and he did. However when he’d absorbed enough of her energy the spell she had cast over him shattered like glass. He withdrew from her mind revolted with himself and with his sister.
She did not stir as he pulled himself from her bed. Nyx walked to the window and starred down at the Court below. From this height Ceridwen’s kingdom looked so peaceful and it was but only because she as much as she was able destroyed the free will of her people.
Nyx turned to look back at his sister, still contentedly sleeping. She had crossed several lines since becoming the ruler of the Spring Court but no more than any other ever had in the pursuit of power. Until this moment Nyx had always harbored the hope that Ceridwen could be pulled from the precipice before she fell into the Abyss. It was only now that Nyx realized she had fallen a long time ago. If she was willing to do what she had to her oldest friend Ceridwen wouldn’t hesitate to take anything from anyone. To destroy anything she pleased. Her reign of terror needed to end.
Nyx realized in those seconds that along with the spell that had bound him to Ceridwen’s bed the command that prevent him from uttering her true name had also broken.
He spoke the words into the silence. “Ardaie Loreious.”
The moment he said them, Ceridwen sat upright in bed with a gasp as though she had been struck. She looked at Nyx with the same horror in her eyes that had existed in his when he’d seen her drenched in the Archon’s blood.
“Nyx,” she started, intending to silence him with her song.
“Ardaie, don’t speak and do not move.” As though the breath had been stolen from her lungs Ceridwen’s voice abandoned her and she froze, her legs swung over the side of her bed.
Nyx walked towards her and sank onto the bed next to her.
“Oh Ceridwen, I am so sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t kill Cernunnos when he first called you to his service. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help you escape. I’m sorry I couldn’t save your father. I’m sorry I couldn’t save your son. I’m sorry that you have suffered so much in your short life. But most of all I’m sorry that I did not speak out. Ever since you killed the Archon I have watched you lose yourself piece by piece, day by day, with every person you enslaved and every fae you executed I watched the spark in your eye die a little bit more and I did nothing. You cannot know how that weights on me. I waited too long, the spark in your eye has died. There is nothing left of my sister in you anymore.”
Nyx looked at Ceridwen, he could see the terror in her eye but worse than that he could see the vengeance. She was plotting how she would make him suffer the moment he no longer held power over her.
“It must have been a thousand years ago but you once begged me to end your life Ceridwen. You wanted me to spare you suffering, you wanted to die with your son rather than see Cernunnos bury him. I did not have the strength to honor your request then. It would have been better if I had. Better for you to die innocent. Now you will only be remembered as the tyrant fate has made you.”
Nyx reached up and kissed his sister on the forehead. “Ardaie Loreious. I will carry the weight of your sins so that your spirit may remember who you were before pain blotted out your soul. What I do now I do not out of anger or fear but only because there is no other choice. I will never forgive myself but I hope this brings you peace.”
Nyx pulled his iron imbued dagger from his belt. He hugged his sister one last time, tears streaming down his face before he plunged the blade into her heart. “I am sorry sister. I pray you walk in Titania’s light in the way after.”
When Ceridwen died everyone in the Spring Court tainted her song felt it. All knew she was dead and many rejoiced. Attendants, servants, guards and courtiers all rushed to Ceridwen’s room to see what had become of her. There they found Nyx holding Ceridwen’s lifeless body, the knife lying at his feet.
The captain of the guard walked forward and drew his sword. He fell to his knees before Nyx and placed the point of the sword to the ground. “You are hero to us. The crown is rightfully yours if you would take it up. There is not a fae in this court that would not swear fealty to you for this act.”
As the sound of this voice Nyx gently laid Ceridwen’s body back onto the bed. He stood before the guard and pulled him to his feet. “I am no hero. There is no honor in this, no prestige and no goodness. This was mercy, nothing more.”
Nyx was reluctant but the Spring Court needed a ruler. The other three seasons would happily take Spring for themselves if the people did not show strength. Spring was in disarray after waking from Ceridwen’s spell. They needed someone to right her missteps and ensure the borders remained as they were. As Ceridwen’s brother and her killer Nyx was begged to take up the title of Archon. He was given the title Songbreaker. By the Captain of the Guard. Though reluctant at first after seven hundred years of ruling the Spring Court Nyx has found that he has a certain skill for the art of politics. He is as fair and strong a ruler as the Spring could hope for but like all fae, he has his own agenda.
Speaking of which @Belle, where's your Winter Queen CS? Can we take a look at it before the reboot?
