Let Justice Be Done Ch. 90

The ceremony for Lady Eleen's promotion had been a surprise to nearly all participants. 

It's why all those that couldn't bring some gift be it of magic, blessing, item, or even money, where under the obligation to double whatever gift they would normally bring to Lady Eleen's celebration the next time they meet her. 

Some of the more cunning and prepared fae had a gift on hand to give Eleen, but effectively the majority of the Winter Court where beholden to answer Lady Eleen reasonable requests, should she call on them. 

When Eleen realized this, after Viviane explained the situation to her, Eleen was glowing with happiness, and more reverence for Queen Mab. 

After that Viviane and Raguel left almost right away due to having parental responsibilities now, with Eleen giving her full approval due to the food mood she was in. 

Then when the celebrations were over, as with the previous Lake Ladies, Eleen followed Queen Mab to the Winter Queen's personal room. The two sat facing each other, Queen Mab staring at the Fae Lady before her intensely, and Eleen seeming to shrink on herself, before the queen's gaze. 

"So you have finally reached this point. Congratulations, Dodokrov." Said Queen Mab, with her amusement visible in her small smile. 

"T-Thank you, your Majesty." Eleen blushed in shame, at hearing her "true" name. She really wished she had changed it to something else. "I couldn't have reached this far without the help of the advice of my fri--Allies, and the bits of wisdom you were kind enough to impart onto me."

Queen Mab was silent for a moment, then visibly sighed. Worry filled Eleen like an electric shock. 

"The fact that you seem to think so, really is quite worrying, especially with the position you now hold." Queen Mab said with a voice that seemed to hold concern. 

"Y-Your Majesty?" 

"Eleen," there was a reprimand in the Winter Queen's tone, that Eleen's senses on full alert. "It seems you still haven't learned that lesson that I told you the very first time we met, thus I will repeat it. 'Even if they can't directly do so, fairies lie.' and adding onto that people lie."

"I...I understand, my Queen, I haven't forgotten." Eleen said, looking a little lost and confused. 

Queen Mab let out a small sigh, as she smiled, then seemed to relax in her seat, as if anticipating something. 

"What's your father doing thus far, dear?" Queen Mab said abruptly, throwing Eleen off at the sudden change in topic.

"W-Wha, I mean, um..." Eleen sputtered.

"How are things at Astolat?" The queen asked, and upon hearing that question, Eleen's mood took a shift, as she looked down with a dejected expression. 

"T-The Ice Spirit Familiar you g-granted me is doing an adequate role, in carrying on my father's r-role." Eleen said, one hand balling into a shaking fist, as she used the other to still her hand. She took a breath, trying to speak in a clear tone. "However, my lands aren't doing well. I do not have my father's wisdom in trading dealing, nor do I know how to end the ongoing banditry, as whenever I hunt them down, they spring up in other places once more." 

"I see." Mab responded, Eleen not seeing her amused smile. "Power, knowledge, or favor." Queen Mab said abruptly, throwing Eleen off at the sudden change in topic. 

"Your Majesty?" 

"What you had been striving for all along. Go ahead Eleen, pick your reward." Mab's words were like a dangling hook, yet the bait was too sweet. 

Eleen's heart was thundering in her chest, as that was true, this moment now was what she had been wanting for so long. 

"I want..." Eleen felt her throat was dry, thus took a minute to wet it and gulped before trying once more. "Knowledge, Queen Mab." She said meeting her liege's gaze. "I wish for knowledge." Man almost cooed at the bravery in the young woman's eyes, but didn't want to interrupt Eleen's moment. "I want to know who murdered my father and why." 

"Granted." 

The newly promoted Lake Lady felt a connected to the Winter Queen, as the Fae Queen could now see and hear through Eleen. 

And with that connection came the knowledge she wished for, for so long. 

"N-No, but that's--"

"Yes." Queen Mab allowed herself to feel the joy at the look and emotions of young Eleen's finding at the answer she had been so looking for. "The one who killed your father is, sadly one of my own Ladies of the Lake."

"No," Mab's expression didn't change from her solemn one, yet she nearly wanted to purr at seeing the young woman before, seeing her emotions, her heart transform to that of a proper fae. 

"I'm afraid so. I can't control what my Ladies of the Lake do in their own time, and as for aggression and conflict between them, I can support neither, as long as that conflict isn't out in the open." Mab explained. "Now you know the truth, that Lady Malvis, Lady of the Illuminating Lake, was the one who killed your father. 

"She had done so on the word of Lady Phaedria, who gave her a prophecy that the ruler of your house will be the one to bring hers to ruin." Said the queen taking in Eleen's expression at the betrayal of one she considered a friend. "In fact I would say half of Phaedria's wealth and treasures comes from Malvis, who is a frequent client of Phaedria's prophecies."

"B-But, all of Phaedria's prophecies come to pass anyways, s-so w-why!?" Tears gathered at Eleen's eyes, and she fought to keep them from falling.

"Malvis is appointed to Queen Titania's court, the Summer Queen whom can control fate itself. Is it any wonder why she thought she could affect the contents of a prophecy like that?" Queen Mab explained. 

"T-That's..." Eleen sat with her eyes wide in shock, as she stared at nothing. "C-Can't..." Eleen took a moment to focus her thoughts. "Can't you punish her for this? Bring her here so she may face justice."

"And why would I do that?"

"Wha--My queen?" Eleen looked at the Winter Queen as it seeing an alien being. 

"'Justice'? My dear this is the Unseelie Court. Do you think any fae would stand on your side for justice? Would care about justice? Your father was killed before you were ever part of the fae courts. It matters not to any of them, and more importantly," Mab's smiled, this time, her smile was full of teeth, as she loomed over Eleen, who felt like a small little girl, wanting to shrink and hide away from the scary monster. "Those who are weak, those who are foolish are not granted anything in this world. 

"Do you think anyone would stand by your side, when you have nothing to offer them? Do you think any fae would stand beside you, when all you have are empty platitude on 'fairness' and 'justice'? Why should anyone support you against Malvis who hold power, wealth and status? What can you offer, little girl?"

Eleen whimpered in her seat, her tears fallen, she no longer had the strength to stop them. 

Mab took a few moments to watch the young woman before her, being broken and shattered, now ready to be molded into a Fae Lady.

"I may not officially be able to support you against another Lake Lady...however, I can grant you direction. Everything else will be up to you." Said Mab, to which the shaking Eleen looked up to her still frightened, yet holding a small hopeful gaze.

A magic circle glowed in the side of the room, one which Eleen recognized partially. 

"T-That's..."

"That's right, a name changing ritual circle." Said Mab. "From here on out, your name will be Nineve, Lady of the Illusory Lake. Your True Name however, that will be different." Eleen looked up in confusion, to which Mab smirked, having to stop herself from snorting. "Everyone knows what your true name is my dear. Did you think switching your true name with your false one, would actually fool anyone?"

Eleen's emotions and expression was a bundle of shock and embarrassment. "B-But no one--"

"I told the fae of my court to utter that...amusing act of incompetence to no one outside the Winter Court, but more importantly, I forbad anyone from using your True Name against you." Mab tilted her head at Eleen's growing hope of companionship. "Because it amused me." And took great pleasure in crushing it. "However after today you won't have such protection anymore. Thus first you need to change your True Name," the queen gesture to the magic circle. "I will power the spell, so you don't need to spend your lifeforce anymore. After that however, I will be sending you to Maeve to learn a bit more about your duties both as a Lady of the Court and a Governess for your lands." Queen Mab then gestured to the glowing circle. "Now then, off you go." 

With shaking feet, Eleen stood up and walked toward the magic circle, each step feeling like her legs were made of lead, as everything she learn was like a crushing weight upon her. 

Her life till now felt like a dream, and now she was violently waking up to the nightmare of what her life, what being a fae truly meant. 

As she stood upon the magic circle, Eleen thought on her life, on the things she lost, and the things she wished for. 

An image of Lady Viviane, Archangel Raguel and holding their infant, Lancelot came to mind. They were a family, a true one, or was that also a lie?

Was Lady Viviane truly in love with Raguel, or was she scheming using him as a true fae would?

Her mind when back to watching that battle in Orkney, during Queen Mab's ball. Viviane had been truly risking her life back then, it couldn't be for show or for some worthless treasure or influence, right?

Eleen wished she could have found someone like Raguel, to be by her side, as he was for Viviane. 

She selfishly wished she had met the Archangel first. Her mind gave her images of the angels she met at Lancelot's birth, yet she rejected that. Obviously they saw her as a devious fae, why would any of them trust her. 

Why would any of them love her? 

Why was she so alone? 

If only she had been lucky like Lady Viviane. If only she had been loved. 

The room began to fill was water made of tears, as Eleen's magic went wild, which Mab dismissed with a wave of her hands. 

To be Loved. Maybe that's what I should have asked Queen Mab for. Or to be someone people wanted to love. She huffed at how foolish that thought was. 

The magic circle shined, the ritual spell cast as a name was chosen in her heart. 

Amable walked out of the magic circle, her heart heavy, her mind in shambles, yet one purpose within her remained clear, as she hardened her heart.  

She was now Nineve, Lady of the Illusory Lake, and one way or another, she will avenge her beloved father.