Water and Wind

Chapter 19

Nimue

Nimue stares at him and the children in shock. It takes a lot of power to break away, and their powers have not fully developed. But she understands, and she's excited. This is for you sister, she thinks, eyeing the golden bubble surrounding them. It has begun to flicker, and she understands that they don't have much time. It's now or never.

The children gather around her and Arian in a semi-circle, just like they've always done when they did this in the forest. Nimue waits for Arian to count them off. One. Two. Three.

Fay's hands are on the floor, flowers emerging and snaking across the floor from her fingertips. They sway in Freya's small breeze as sparks shoot up on all sides by Lorelei. They look like mini fireworks, working all on their own. Twisting, towering ice sculptures rise up out of Alfred's fingers. Lilura's dancing shadows flicker and move. One by one, each child adds their own touch, until they've got a full stage. Everyone except Nimue and Arian, that is. They wait, smiling across the bubble from each other. They've got the finale.

Arian

He waits patiently for each child's moment to shine, slowly warming the gusting air between his hands as he waits. When the last child has gone and the stage is in its full glory, he nods at Nimue. She begins to run as he holds out his hands, walking slowly to the middle.

The villagers watch, in stunned awe and terror as the girl leaps, her golden brown hair flying out behind her. The boy catches her, yet doesn't touch her, wind swirling from his fingers as it holds her up. She floats on her stomach in mid air, laughing as a fountain of water spews from her mouth, shoots up and explodes in glittering droplets. She twirls around and around, then extends her hands out in front of her.

Her hands exhale streams of water which she catches and bounces around, until there is a dancing fountain of many streams surrounding the pair. A child's light is aimed at the water, until the streams turn many colors, each bounce transforming it into another color. This is either pure entertainment or pure witchcraft, yet the villagers are stunned.

It goes on for quite a bit, before the water begins to fade. They wonder if it's because the girl is getting tired.

Nimue

Despite appearances, she is not tired. She is full to the brim with energy and happiness as she slows her streams down. It is almost the very end, good because Circe's bubble is getting weaker. Some guards have been able to pierce their swords through it with only minor damage.

The water droplets begin to fade, and the kids' magic, which has briefly slowed for their act, now comes back in full power for a little. She spins slowly in the air as she waits. Eventually, their magic slows, and she smiles. Then the finale. She bends her head down to look Arian in the eye. "Ready?" She whispers, as the last spark shoots into the air.

"Always." He whispers back, and the wind around Nimue increases.