A New Family

[Igraine]

Part of the reason Nimue had agreed to living so close to the Seelie Veil was because she was susceptible to a loss of magic. The human world didn’t have the right mix of magic to allow her to survive for longer than three months at a time. There was enough to survive for some time, but not enough to cut ties completely. Another reason was because Nimue had the foresight to know that Thorin would want children, and once she had taught him how it would be with her, Nimue had relented to granting him a child.

Nimue’s belly had grown quite large and she began to wonder if she would pop like a balloon. There were days where all she would do was sit by the fire in the bedroom she shared with her husband and stare out the window. She could no longer bend over and pick anything up. She could hardly walk without waddling like a duck, and she was aware of the pressure she felt on her hips every time she did decide to move. Nimue began to wonder why anyone thought pregnancy was a beautiful thing. Any time Thorin thought to comment on her beauty, because even so heavily pregnant Nimue was attractive, he was met with glares. Nimue was so heartily sick of being pregnant that she almost felt the need to voice this to everyone within earshot, but she never did. She kept her thoughts to herself, feeding her growing child with nothing but positivity – but she began to wonder if the child only fed off the pain in her spine. It seemed to be the place the child loved to curl up. In some of her more morbid moments, Nimue liked to envision the child plucking at the nerves that ran up her spine, as if they were some vulgar instrument to play with.

So, feeling the need to be productive, Nimue waddled her way into the greenhouse that Thorin had added into the plans of the house. He was a doting sort of man, always willing to give in to her demands, which she thought she detected a little fear of her wrath the last time they had spoken and she had asked for berries. Thorin hadn’t said a single word about the fact that it wasn’t berry season, and Nimue didn’t really care how he had come across the berries he had found, but she was pleased that they hadn’t been poisonous. On some level Thorin loved her enough not to squish her skull when she became too demanding, or when she became too tired to move, or too sad to function. Nimue worked her way through the greenhouse slowly, using a knife to cut flowers for a vase. She wasn’t allowed to make any brews, concoctions, or attempt any magic of any sort until the baby was born. Thorin was a diligent man, even though he spent half his time learning how to be a better father with his other children.

Nimue smiled then as she lifted a peach colored orchid to her nose. Thorin was a good man, even if he was a little misguided in the way he went about things. Amariel was always hissing between her teeth when he was around, but he was learning. It was a good sign that he was being diligent about his role as a father, because soon he would have another child to dote on. Three children before he had even turned forty. Nimue chuckled to herself, thinking that he was making up for lost time.

The nymph made it into the kitchen sink, turning on the water, before the first contraction caused her to drop the flowers in the sink. She felt the water from her womb run down her legs and she panicked a little. She called for Amariel, who ran to her mistress with practiced ease, seeing the water on the floor she nodded. The woman quickly gathered everything they would need and a few guards that had been standing outside. Thorin wouldn’t leave if Nimue wasn’t guarded by someone, not with news of Pendaran’s occupation of a once sunken city in the mortal realm.

Thorin.

He would hear the call anywhere. He would also know that it was his wife and that it was time for the birth of his newest and youngest child.

Amariel and the guards helped Nimue outside and to the spring where she had opened her womb to accepting this pregnancy, and as she was stripped down to her white linen shift for the purpose of her dignity and to keep her naked body hidden from any prying eyes, Nimue eased into the water. The guards walked thirty paces out in three directions, their backs to the scene, leaving Nimue alone with Amariel. The intensity of the contractions eased as Nimue relaxed into the water up to her neck. She kept her eyes on Amariel and went through the motions of trying to keep her body as comfortable as possible, but at this point in her pregnancy nothing was comfortable, not even the sand at the bottom of the spring.

Once Thorin would arrive, the whole process would end quicker than it had with Igraine. Thorin wouldn’t be able to smell any of her blood because of the water, so he would be able to touch her – though he might be alarmed to see so much blood begin floating through the water. Bemused between contractions, Nimue was silently glad that there were no fresh water sharks that she knew of. If he could be encouraged to join her, Nimue would implore that he join her in the water and put his hands on her belly to give her the leverage she would need to birth his child. This was an experience that he had not been able to have with any of his other children. Nimue was nothing if she wasn’t the one person capable of giving Thorin a new experience.

Maira was born quickly, picked up and cleaned off in the waters of the spring in which she had been born. She was passed quickly to Thorin once she was cleaned. However, the day was full of surprises and Nimue was not through adding another child to Thorin’s growing list. With panic she realized she was having another child, she would screech at Amariel and Thorin once before Liam was born. Amariel quickly scooped up the newborn and smiled up at Thorin with, quite possibly, the only genuine smile she had ever given the man.

“A daughter and a son. What will you name him, Nimue?”

“Liam.” An ancestor of hers known for greatness. The guards were called back to help carry the newborn children back into the house. Amariel fluttered around the twins with an unanticipated glee that Nimue had to laugh, though she could barely feel from her hips down.

“Surprise. I had no idea we were going to have twins. It would seem you have two sons and two daughters.” Nimue tried to pull herself to the shore of the spring but she was having an exceptionally hard time. “Remind me to chastise Amariel later for leaving me out here.”

[Thorin]

Thorin left Jace in his home and explained that he was to make himself comfortable. They would be back with a hopefully healthy infant and mother. Jace would experience being an older brother again. Tension began to build around his shoulders and his mind became a thick fog of jumbled thoughts. Nimue needed him and his feet acted on their own. Emerging from the forest, he noted the guards stationed at their proper posts. They acknowledged him and one escorted him to Nimue, who lay in a pained state. Amariel was caring for her, but she barely nodded in his direction when he settled down next to her.

With shaking hands, he wondered if he would gain composure. Nimue would need his strength and support, but the crimson water hardly relaxed his mind. Constantly asking about her condition, forced Amariel to snap at him more than once. For a few brief moments, he thought that Nimue was surely dying- there was too much blood loss, even for a nymph. Gathering his strength, he held her for as long as he could, until he heard Maira cry out to the world. Amariel washed the child and hurriedly bundled her.

Speechless, Thorin gazed at his newborn daughter and attempted to comfort Nimue at the same time. Keeping watch over Nimue, he noticed that she was still pushing. Was she having some sort of complication? Thorin looked for answers from Amariel, who continued to act calm and at peace. Crying out in alarm, he realized that she was giving birth to another child. Liam's shrill cry was heard, but Thorin was in too much shock to recognize it. He had been thrilled over Maira, but now they had twins. His body didn't know how to cope with the excitement. Now his hands shook with small tremors and he refused to hold the infants until he calmed himself.

Nimue would be amused with his reaction and maybe even remind him of it later. Unable to speak coherent words, he held his wife until he knew both infants were safe. “Two...there are two of them. I thought I was losing you.” Thorin's voice shook with emotions, as he stared at the once reddened water. Had he lost her from his own selfishness, he would have never been able to live with himself. He wanted them to have a family, but not at the expense of her life.

The thought of her dying, made him realize how he had been treating her. Thorin was always comparing his past relationship with Igraine, in comparison to Nimue. The women were completely different and both from very different world's. One would gladly accept him, while the other wanted to forget about that past connection.

Nimue willingly devoted herself to him and even gave him children. Privately, he wondered how much of her actions were really from the binding contract and not from her own doing. There was love and commitment from her, which was all he had wanted from someone. Keeping the tears at bay, he refused to show his overwhelmed emotions.

With the strength of a warrior and the gentle hand of a husband, he scooped her up in his arms. He would make sure that she wasn't in any more pain. Carrying her back to their home, he ordered the guards to secure their trail.

Reaching their home had been a swift and short journey. The infants would be placed in their cribs, while Amariel cared for them. Jace would more than likely be introduced to his new siblings. Thorin brought Nimue to their bedroom, where he tenderly placed her on the bed. Nurse maids would help her undress and be changed into clean clothes. Food would be brought to her promptly. Everything was brought back into place.

The twins birth would be gossiped about in the home and amusing rumors would be created. It was rare for nymph's to give birth to twins, let alone give children to just any man. Once the infants were settled and asleep, Thorin would have more private time with her. Jace would be brought in to formally meet her and be acknowledged as their oldest sibling. He would have a lot of responsibility, being the oldest male.

Looking at his wife, he smiled knowingly at her. “I think we can stop at two...twin nymph's will be a handful anyway.” Turning back to Jace, who would probably feel just as awkward, he pointed out the obvious. “I expect you to protect them, as you would Morgana and visit as much as you can- provided it doesn't get you into too much trouble.” Worst case scenario, was that Jace's visitations would jeopardize his safety. Thorin would never let that happen, so having some caution didn't hurt.

“I'm sure Maira and Liam would love to have their older brother around.” With all things considered, it would help ease tension between them and give them some common ground. Thorin saw Jace as a sort of guardian, but not in the warrior sense. His heart was too gentle and wise to hold a sword.

[Sage]

It was already boring, being able to visit his father's home, only to be made to wait around the house. But apart from not being allowed to explore away from the property, he had been sent with not a bodyguard, but a tutor. Igraine had been adamant that he continue his studies whenever his time was not occupied with his new family, and his elderly wretch of a teacher made sure he adhered to as strict a course of study as he would have at home.

Only when the old shrew had fallen asleep was Jace free to do as he pleased, and he spent the majority of this time lounging between the roots of a large tree near the edge of the forest by Thorin's home, staring up at the sky. A lot had changed about Jace in a short time. He clung to the same ideals, but he had abandoned any sort of militant facade, refusing to wear armor or carry a blade. He did not want to appear to be something he was not.

At the same time, he had taken to hunting nameless, faceless humans outside the castle walls. He honed his tracking and killing skills in the months since Morgana's birth, and he had become efficient at the kill. He could only imagine Igraine's disapproval, and Thorin's pride, but he had made deals with his escorts to keep his feedings a secret. They kept him healthy, and reduced the risk that he would repeat his homicidal breakdown from the castle, when next he met with his father.

More importantly, since he had destroyed a room full of antique's in his Aunt's castle, he had begun practicing with the magic he had unleashed, but he did so with great care and pacing. He would not allow himself to exert too much energy, or become too carefree with his power. Rather, he regarded it as a dangerous thing, to be studied and not flexed. He made sure to practice while in different moods, and while experiencing different emotions. He had some specifically unusual results when next he had seen the girl he'd nearly murdered working around the castle.

Thorin had told him that harnessing his emotions was key to becoming stronger with his abilities, though he had noticed emotions other than sadness or rage had inexplicable results on his ability to manipulate shadow. He began to wonder if it could really be true that he shared the element with Thorin, when it worked so differently for him.

He had been in his usual hiding spot when Thorin returned, resting in the darkness outside his elegant home. Jace eagerly scurried into the rear of the house when he saw the children being brought in. Children. He had been told he would be getting another sister, but he could not have expected a second sibling, and better still; what if he was about to meet a brother for the first time?

His usually calm mind buzzed with excitement as he practically glided through the house. He restrained himself so as not to burst into the newly-filled nursery and wake the new arrivals, but only just barely. He went to each of the cribs, and stared at his new siblings, his measured expression betrayed by a growing smile. He spent nearly an hour in their room, taking in their arrival, before leaving to join the conversation between Thorin and Nimue.

Almost immediately, Thorin made eye contact, and mentioned him. His grin partially faded, but he still managed a nervous smile.

" I'll do my best to be around. " It was an ironic reflection of a promise he would like to hear from his own father, but unable to communicate such a selfish desire, he simply fantasized about his growing family in the years to come, when his siblings would be older and able to interact with him.

[Igraine]

The world floated around Nimue as she rested her body warm and dry after such a deep exertion. It was all over so fast that she could barely think of the children as born. The extra help that they had around the house was nice, it gave Nimue a moment to think and try to reconcile herself as a mother. That term blew her mind. Not only was she a mother but she’d had twins. That was a feat that was extremely rare for nymphs, and one of them was a boy. William would be amused by that and hopefully thankful that he wasn’t the only male nymph known to exist any longer. Perhaps her oldest and dearest friend could even tutor the boy in later years.

It took a moment for Nimue to realize that Thorin was speaking and she smiled serenely at him. Two was definitely enough for her. She wasn’t sure she’d ever be willing to go through that trauma again, even if the two bundles of joy were worth every agonizing second.

When Jace entered the room she smiled and patted the bed near her. She had been actively trying to make him feel more at home. She wasn’t his mother and she wasn’t trying to be, but she wanted to include him in what this family was doing and she was exceptionally thrilled that he accepted his newest siblings as readily as he had accepted Morgana. Thorin had expressed some reservations that Jace wouldn’t be as receptive to these newborns as he had been to Igraine’s child, because Igraine had raised him. It was a relief to see Jace so excited about the children.

“You’re always welcome to watch over your brother and sister, Jace. As this war unfolds they will need all the protection we can give them, Morgana as well.” It was then that two attendants came in holding both infants. This would be the first time Nimue had a chance to hold either of her newborn babies. She lit up as the attendants laid the children in her arms, carefully lifting and tucking the infants in for a feeding while keeping Nimue’s dignity intact. They knew that Jace wouldn’t exactly want to see any nakedness from his step mother, nymph or no.

Once everything was settled Nimue spent most of her time watching the children that were pressed close to her and feeding from her. She was lost to the men in the room for now, but she would be listening to what they had to say very carefully.

[Thorin]

“With the upcoming war, we'll need to strengthen the protection barrier, but I can do that with my rune magic.” Vuri magic was a little more complex and usually took intense concentration with blood magic. Jace would never be able to perform such a ritual, since he barely had Vuri in him. Thorin doubted his son was really curious about the Vuri side, so he left it up to him to ask questions. In all honesty, the Vuri were still learning about their weaknesses and strengths.

He had been hoping, that Jace would show interest in forging weapons, but Jace was more interested in taking the peaceful route. Thorin would more than likely leave the forge to Liam or Maira. Death would be inevitable in the war and he was prepared to lose his life. Knowing that this was a possibility, he knew that his mother or Kahlan would be there for his family. Looking at what could be lost, he would make sure that he died fighting for them.

“Queen Mab's servants should be retrieving the last of my work soon.” It was a hint that he would be leaving soon too, but that fact would only disturb Nimue. All of Queen Mab's weapons, armor, etc, would have the ability to be a host for magic. With the runes, it was a simple conversion with ones energy. Since it would have that ability, whoever wore the armor, or wielded the blades, would have added protection and strength. Queen Mab had asked for the rare Vuri metal and Thorin wouldn't fail her- he took his work seriously and often stayed up days finishing a single piece. Thankfully, the rare Fae drink kept his adrenalin at a generous level.

Depending if he was called in to defend, he may not see Nimue for weeks and this could be the last time he saw Jace. The twins would barely know their father, but he could only hope he had more time. “When I return from the war, whatever the outcome, I'll do my best to see you.”

The room was becoming too emotionally suffocating for the man to handle. Getting up from his place, he kissed Nimue, the infants and walked toward the exit. His forge would be a welcoming sight and his latest work would need all of his attention. Jace was more than welcome to join, but he didn't hold his breath at the thought. Hopefully, Liam would show some interest- it was a possibility.

“I need some fresh air. I'll make sure that Amariel tends to you while I'm working.” Pausing awkwardly, there were still some parts of family life that made him uncomfortable. Untying the simple hammer, he spun it once in his hand- almost to test its authenticity. It had been days, since he had worked and it would give him a chance to clear his mind. There was too much to prepare. He made sure to drink at least three vials full of the Fae liquid.

“Well, you all know where to find me. Amariel can bring my dinner and drinks to the forge.” Amariel was quite used to this routine, since he sometimes made up a makeshift cot. With time being the main enemy, Thorin knew that he would be working double shifts to get everything to Queen Mab. His own armor and blade would have to wait, but it would be a grandeur design meant for maneuver and protection.

Walking outside, the stress left him. The house would never be a comfort for him, since he had always been a sort of drifter. Being in the open forge lifted his spirits and he was soon found cutting, melting and shaping his designs.

[Sage]

When Thorin left, Jace lingered for a while before it became awkward. He wanted to stay with his brother and sister, but Nimue was a stranger to him, even more than Thorin. He lost himself in thought as he stared at the innocent youths before him. He had been born first, and in this time of uncertainty and war. Their future would be no doubt shaped by his decisions during conflict. And with Thorin's hatred for Pendaran growing, he wondered if he would be forced to make a decision that widowed this woman, orphaned her children.

He gave a nervous nod as he stood in silence and followed Thorin out of the house, a few hundred paces behind. As they approached the forge, he took the symbolism of it in. It was the catalyst by which Thorin forged steel in violent regard to another father figure in his life. Was it his responsibility to use his relationship to strike the first blow, and destroy this symbol of aggression toward his family?

No. He had no doubt Pendaran would disapprove of such an act, and he would ask nor require no such a task from a neutral party. He entered the building, unimpressed. Every spare inch of room was taken up by projects of war. He ran a finger along a cold blade on a nearby bench, his claw sending it singing. Thorin would no doubt have been aware of his company already, but if he were not, the noise would alert him. Having gained his father's attention, he approached.

" I learned how to do something. I'd never tested my powers until you arrived, and after you left I realized I could do more than violence with my magic. "

He drew his hand in a line in front of him, and the dim firelight of the forge first receded, and then exploded, leaving a tiny fragmented object in the air. The darkness had imploded inside his sphere, leaving a dazzling orb of light. It would almost appear as though he had created a light, but in fact he had disassembled the darkness at a magical level. Normally, in the absence of light, there was darkness. But as he compressed the darkness in the air in front of him, creating his crystalline shard, a vacuous expanse of light was created, before being filled in once again by the dark.

He held the meager shard out before him, sheepishly. He recalled a time he had tested himself to see how much of the darkness he could convert at a time, and he had stripped an entire room. His senses had become overloaded, and his eyes and skin temporarily burned before the dark crept back to fill the void left by his experiment. He added several more jagged crystals from a pouch at his side to the new one, and placed them gently on a table between them.

" The actual substance is useless. It's brittle and easily burned, but creates no heat or energy when you do. I have yet to figure out how to refine it, and any attempt to create anything compound with it causes it to deteriorate and shatter. "

His eyes revealed his disappointment. Frustrated that he could not create anything with his new toy. He had hoped he could use his powers to make something. Anything that was not the violent bursts of destruction he had released in the past.

" I thought, maybe you could help me figure it out. So long as we do not craft a weapon. "

[Thorin]

Thorin's mind was already too far gone into his work, to distinguish the sound of voices, let alone hear the person's approach. Voices, footsteps, would become drowned against the rumble of the forge's inferno. The blades body produced an unmelodious echo against the hammer's wrath. Red-hot sparks ruptured against the intrusion of darkness, contradicting its nature. With each thunderous strike, the blade began to mold into something formidable. Taking his smithy tongs, Thorin forced them to grip the blade like a molten vice.

Moving near Jace, he finally acknowledged him. Thorin embedded the finished creation in a hot bed of coals, the cluster heating to the color of a phoenix's plume. Quenching the metal in a vat of russet colored oil, the Vuri blood scent wafted from the dwindling pool of flame.

Resting the blade on a nearby work table, he allowed the metal to cool. Jace's dark shard creations would shimmer boldly, demanding his attention that moment. Picking up one of the shadow crystals, he studied the shape, structure, and resiliency. Unfortunately, there was little shadow weave essence found in the heart of the crystal. Shaking his head, he guessed that Jace was attempting a master shadow weave spell- something that could exhaust an untrained shadow walker.

Remembering Caderyn's lessons, he knew that patience and understanding was the key to honing ones skill. Sighing, Thorin took a gulp of his drink and looked over Jace's work, before commenting further. There was potential for the boy, but the young stripling had to have a drive and desire in order to become a real master.

“Like the sword, your skill must be created, shaped and tempered, before it can be considered reliable in battle.” Raising his hand, he knew the boy would speak against using his skill in battle, but there were other ways to use shadow-weaving.

“Do you really want to master this, or are you trying to impress someone? The shadow art is not forgiving and it takes, rather than gives...” In other words, there would always some sort of exchange, but not always a fair one. Thorin had been through hellish times with his gift and knew the drawbacks to siphoning shadow. One could lose their sense of self from the abuse of shadow weaving; their grasp on reality becomes tenuous through wielding volatile magics. He was looking out for his son, who was still too young to understand the dangers.

“I am not all about violence. I once tried to heal the Queen, but she...” Thorin caught himself speaking of a painful past. He still didn't know how his healing spell had affected her, or if it had done more damage than good. The last memory he had of that moment was of her body laying still like a corpse. Queen Igraine had barely been able to have a word with him, let alone reminisce about the past together.

Interrupting that thought, he decided to mentor Jace on his journey to shadow weaving. It was the least he could do, considering she had raised the boy for him. “You are starting with spells that are too big and too complicated for a novice. We will start small, with imbuing weapons and jewelry. The added strength will protect them in battle.”

Imbuing weapons and jewelry with shadow-weaving would be a simple endeavor, and a learning experience for Jace. He would learn how to control his shadow weave with greater skill and become more confident with his element. Since he wouldn't be creating a weapon, Thorin saw it as a perfect way to practice the craft together and keep the boy content.

Waiting for his reply, he wondered if he would ever live up to Caderyn's mentoring skills.

[Sage]

" So, it's not the material, it's me... "

Jace slumped, staring at the floor. He crushed the useless dust in his hands, allowing the objects he had prized for weeks to crumble and fall to the ground of the forge. He had not considered that the actual creation was flawed, rather, he had been positive that the finished product lacked something. It was a disappointing turn in his latest research, and he made a mental note to double his training, however careful he needed to be, once he returned home.

He would not agree to learn his powers, as his father had, but he would not distance himself from whatever pool of knowledge there was to visit in him. The best he could agree to was to hear him out, and try and get him to teach what he already knew, in order to best figure out how to train safely and effectively. Jace couldn't imagine what practicing Thorin's way would do to his already-damaged psyche, but he didn't want to think of how many people he'd have to kill to keep himself in check.

Deciding to appeal to Thorin's great sensibilities, Jace walked over to a bin of Thorin's materials. " Teach me how to make a shield? And I'll practice on that. " At the very least, they could make a symbol of protection rather than war, and Jace thought it to be a fair compromise.

[Thorin]

“I should really look for our nanny, but we could continue our tutoring at a later date...if you are interested still.” Thorin doubted it, given the tension between them. Jace already considered someone else as his father and he had other children to raise. Considering he didn't know anything about the Bocan race, it would be even harder relating to Jace.

Patting the boy on his shoulder, he stepped out of the forge and gave him a somber glance. “I'm sorry I forced you into anything. I'd rather teach someone with a true passion, than simply trying to appease their father.” Taking a step back, he listened to his words and softened his voice.

“You are welcome to stay as long as you desire. You are always welcome in my home.” The stars were beginning to mottle across the night sky. That was when he knew that Chizuru had been gone for too long. Something could have happened, considering her mortality. If he was going to find her, he needed to pack up and leave quickly. His wife should understand, given the sensitivity of their situation.

Tying his hammer to his side, he looked to Jace once more. “Take what you like from the forge. If you are still here in the next day or so, we can continue or lessons.”

Going inside, he alerted Amariel about the nanny and her disappearance. It was odd for Chizuru to not be by his wife and attending her. “Inform my wife that I will be back in a couple days time...Chizuru might have landed herself in some trouble.” His great sword leaned against the wall in the hallway entrance. He couldn't remember the last time he had used it in battle, but those memories came back like a viscous storm in his mind. Equipping his Vuri blade, the spine of the sword gleamed and glistened, as if to recognize its purpose.

Thorin took simple provisions and the Fae flasks in a traveling pack. He didn't really know how long he would be gone, or if Chizuru was even alive. He just knew he needed to find her. “Tell my wife I love her. I'll be back soon.”

Without another word, or gesture, his form disappeared into the thickness of the dark.