Nyx
The Archon, lord of Spring stood before his throne facing his court. Though the palaces of each of the lands: Winter, Fall and Summer were magnificent none compared to the majesty of Spring. The palace had stood before there was a Spring Court, before there were humans, before there was fae, some even said it had stood before time itself began to march. For the palace of Spring was sung into the mighty trunk of Yggdrasil, the World Tree. Its branches climbed high into the clouds so that no one could see the top and its roots descended far beneath the Earth. Some said they grew deep into the underworld itself. That the roots kept imprisoned all the evils of the nether realm.
The Archon's hall was sung into the very edge of the World Tree's trunk. Behind his throne the wood had been stripped away leaving the entire Court with a brilliant view of all of the Spring Lands. The opening had of course been cleverly enchanted to prevent any from entering from the outside though that was a hazard only from the winged fae for the hall's terrace stood several hundred feet up the side of the tree. As for the rest of the hall, small tree trunks grew up from the floor forming pillars that kept the hall standing. The hall spanned two stories in height, along the edges stood a great balustrade that wrapped the upper floor of the hall. From here many curious eyes watched the proceedings down below.
In contrast with the rest of the hall the throne which stood alone was made of a dark obsidian, the frame of the thrown was outlined in a sleek black wood polished to a shine to match the dense material that it complemented. Over it was laid a green tapestry like blanket trimmed with earthly brown designs. The throne unlike everything else in the hall was new to the reign of the current Archon. The only thing remaining of the throne that Cernunnos the Ancient and Ceridwen the Siren Queen had used was the tapestry which detailed much of the history of the Spring Court for those that knew how to read it.
The Archon of Spring
Nyx’lair Seòltachd walked down the steps that led to his throne. Nyx was the name that those in his confidences use and those who lived in fear of him whispered. Though it was part of his true name those three letters alone did not hold enough power to bind him and the shock on the faces of those that spoke it, that felt the tiniest wisps of power it hinted at was well worth it. In some ancient mortal language his name meant darkness, oblivion, silence, ending, night. Nyx was more than happy with the fear that inspired.
Before he left the hall Nyx motioned for his Captain of the Guard to follow after him. It was the day of meeting, the day when all seasons came together under a banner of peace. It was a dangerous time for each Court without their ruler. Nyx spoke to his lieutenant as they walked.
"Double the border guard. I don't want there to be any confusion. Just because I am not here to watch over my lands does not give the wild ones or any other the right to enter. The Moot can last from only a few moments to entire days," Nyx remembered vividly one particularly trying gathering that had lasted nearly three weeks.
"I do not want the Court undefended or short stocked during that time. Ensure the Nymphs tend the forests proper and the Naiads know that for three leagues from the border in all directions the water is to remain clean but deadly. Proclaim it to all that can hear that any fae caught within the Spring lands without cause and permission will not be taken to the dungeons of Yggdrasil. They will be fed to the Borogroves. Now leave me, I have some matters to attend before I make my way to the standing stones."Nyx's Captain departed and the Archon continued to walk. He made his way to ground level and then to a remote courtyear formed by the World Tree's ancient roots rising out of the ground. In years past this had been a burial site for hundreds of Cernunnos' newly born children. Now only two graves stood in this space. The others had been moved to a place of peace deep in the forest. The first grave was small, carved from a beautiful stonework and embedded with and glass. The headstone had the word
Taliesin carved into its surface along with the words
"Too Soon". The other grave was much greater. A fountain had been built into the headstone so it appeared more like a monument than a grave. A woman of great beauty sat upon a shelf of stone. She had a crown on her head and a knife in her hand. Her face was happy and carefree and her mouth was open wide like she was singing but the knife in her hand was where the water from the fountain stemmed as though the weapon were still dripping with blood. The water collected in a pool at the base of the grave. In the stones above the pool was short poem:
After life's fitful fever, sleep well doth she;
Fate, those sisters three have done their worst:
not steel, nor poison, malice domestic, or soured love;
nothing more can bring woe to thee.At the bottom of the basin were the words:
Ceridwen
Siren Queen
She was not to blameThe basin was ringed with twelve sacred stones that Nyx had traded at great price from the Winter Court. Bound within the stones was a scrying spirit who was forced by cleverly woven Naiad magic to show the watcher whatever he wished to see reflected in the water. Nyx looked into the basin and spoke.
"Show me the Standing Stones of the mortal realm." The water rippled and changed, Ceridwen's name vanished replaced by an image of Stone Henge. Only the ruler of Summer stood within. That was to be expected, Nyx held no particular grudge towards the Winter Queen but those of the Unseelie Courts always did things at there own pace. At the expense of all others.
Feoras did not give Nyx cause to worry, for all the strength and power the former Summer King had imbued within him Feoras was little more than an overgrown child. Though he was only a hundred years Nyx's junior the Archon considered him something much smaller. He was after all formerly human even if that part of him was completely gone physically Nyx did not believe that Feoras had lived long enough for the humanity within him, the human frailties, to vanish completely. After all he kept a human child of no real value in his court not because she was of any importance but because he enjoyed her company. Nyx had heard stories of Feoras' anger and his fury but as far as the Archon was concerned these were no more than the temper tantrums of a child that had been given too much power, too quickly. Feoras would be easily dealt with.
"Show me the Winter Queen." Her hall was warded against scrying of this nature but if she had set out for the Standing Stones already he could watch her.
The Unseelie rulers posed much more of a difficulty for Nyx. Though Arys had frozen her heart Nyx knew still that her lost love was a point of weakness for her, where he could shatter her ice like glass if he needed to. No Arys was formidable but not more than Nyx could handle. It was Falk that posed a serious problem. He was as old as Cernunnos and twice as cunning and guileful. He was graceful with his words and never direct about his motivations. Even among fae he was considered a master of manipulation. For a people that specialized in it that was an achievement.
With this in mind Nyx was surprised by the image that appeared before him. Arys was walking threw the forest, no doubt towards the place of the Moot. She had no guards with her but given the nature of her magic only a true fool was dare to attack her. Despite having none of her own people about her Arys was not alone. The Autumn King walked beside her, his hands clasped behind his back like a general. The basin did not project sound so Nyx had very little reason to continue to watch them. He splashed his hand through the basin causing the image to disperse and Ceridwen's grave marker to reappear. Nyx came to this space often but he never spoke to her, sometimes he wished to do so but he never had the words to convey what was in his heart.
Instead Nyx turned away from Ceridwen's grave and ventured into the roots of Yggdrasil. There was a place in the darkness of the World Tree's bottom that could transport anyone if they only knew how to ask. Only the fae could use this portal and all were too frightened of the World Tree to bring themselves this deep into its cellar.
There were four great roots that came together and flattened where they touched, a crossroads. Nyx stood upon them and began to speak.
"You who knows the powers of earth, sea and sky, who remembers the dragons of Faerie And Shades of the night I call to your power. By blood and bone, by womb and tomb take me to the standing stones."There was an intense rush of wind and Nyx found himself standing on a plain, in place with clear clean skies. He could taste salt on the wind and knew he was standing in the mortal land of England. Half a league from him stood Stone Henge, the gateway to the Faerie. One of the great stones blocked Nyx's view of Feoras and consequently the Summer King's view of the Archon. Encouraged by this Nyx approached the stones cautiously and using the natural powers of his people vanished almost completely into the shadows the huge rocks cast over the grass. He would stay hidden till the other rulers arrived. He wished to watch for a moment to see how they would interact without him present.
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