Cathbadua was barely two and a half centuries old when she had been taken by the Fomorii. Scarcely a teenager in Aos Sidhe reckoning. An Aos Sidhe was not reckoned as an adult until three full centuries had passed.
Physically, Catha had acquired full growth by sixteen years. Immortals saw time with a perspective all of their own. Thinking and remembering in terms of Millenia gives one a vastly different perception of time and time management.
The human cattle seldom lived seventy five years. There was no common frame of reference between AOS SIDHE and cattle. Not any more than between a human and a gerbil.
So it was, Nodens had witnessed the birth, childhood and early adolescent era of Cathbadua. Himself barely out of Aos Sidhe Adolescence, Nodens had become Catha’s companion, guardian, friend and the focus of her young desires.
The bidding romance was closely watched. Nodens was clearly smitten as well. To his credit he managed to conduct himself with far more restraint than he had shown in any other aspects of his life. Impetuous, reckless, arrogant, with a casual disregard for appearances or the thoughts, or opinions of others. Save for the sole exception of Cathbadua. She, he worshiped.
Her capture by the Fomorii had ignited a fury that decimated Fomorii outposts, holdings, and forces where ever Nodens and the Fianna found them. Nodens had been determined to scorch the entirety of the Earth to find Cathbadua, to wreak vengeance.
After the Fomorii had captured, tortured, experimented and transformed Cathbadua into the Morrigna, Badbh, Nemain, and Macha and the Morrigna had wreaked their own path of destruction. Nodens understood the call from the god slayers.
They would transform him into Her, Their, the Morrigna’s champion.
Nodens would not turn away from becoming what and who She would need. Serving her could be no sacrifice.
The last remaining city of the Aos Sidhe encompassed an island. Ring within rings, a maze of walled canals encircled the island. At the center lay the hall of champions.
Peak roofed, pagoda like, or rather more a massive Norse Stave Church built of stone with black basalt shingled roofs.
Within the highest point lay the armory.
The last repository of ancient AOS SIDHE Technology. Weapons the Aos Sidhe could no longer construct. Terrible creations of power.
Chief among them , The Sword and The Spear. Dubbed the God slayers.
Made from lost, forgotten nanite technology. Each nanite an individual artificial intelligence. Molecular level quantum computers.
The blade of the sword, could create heat of such intensity that the air around it ignited into burning charged plasma. The cutting edge, one atom thick. Sharper than monomolecular blades. The composite alloy an amalgam of rare earths and metals from throughout the Solar system.
The spear, made of the same materials as the sword. Though , capable of flight. An AI missile in effect, when cast at targets. It never missed, howling as it flew true.
These were the weapons of the Champion of the Aos Sidhe.
The weapons chose the wielder. Declared Champion, The Pendragon, the chief of Dragons, the devouring fury.
To be chosen was to be changed forever.
The nanites would bond with the chosen, transforming the chosen on a quantum as well as molecular level.
To the Hall of Champions, to the Sword and Spear Nodens returned as he had been called. Finally understanding and answering the call.
So, Nodens limped, still broken into the Armory.
The courtiers that were witnesses were under whelmed. Nothing dramatic occurred when Llew took up the Gods layers. They lay unguarded upon a table in the center of the room. No security was needed for them. No one would touch or even willingly enter their private domain.
Nodens hobbled, staggering unassisted into their presence. Reluctantly followed by a train of curious courtiers. He reached out , placing his right hand upon the Swords hilt. The sword moaned in pleasure. Nodens left hand grasped the spear shaft. The spear howled in joy. After a moment, Nodens began laughing.
Some changes take time. Nodens was still scarcely capable of walking after Catha had vented her frenzy up on him. Most observers believed Nodens unworthy of the God slayers. Too young, too impetuous, too weak.
The only visible initial change was,
Nodens began to laugh, while Laughing he began to heal before their eyes.
The healing transformation being the first Riastrad of the champion.
Combining with and rewriting the AOS SIDHE triple strand genetic molecular core is complicated. These changes, would also be passed on, to all descendants of the Champion.
Eons would pass before Setanta, Nodens one and only child, would be born. Those changes bred truly. They were the real reason Setanta became called, The Hound, CuChulainn.
When a weilder of the God slayers went into battle the weapons enhanced them. Feeding energy, strength, stamina, increased awareness.
The Godslayers transformed those they bonded with utterly.
The most telling, terrible of these transformations being,
The great Riastrad, the warp spasm, a form of battle frenzy. In which the champion became other.
So, Nodens had became, Llew.
His fury form a monstrous Black Faoladh. A ravening black wolf like creature that walked upright. Seven and a half feet tall.
The Human cattle built their nightmares of werewolves from the battle frenzy, the Riastrad of Llew.
A final aspect of becoming a wielder of the godslayers occurs within the mind of the wielder.
The Sword and the spear are both sentient. On a quantum level, the consciousness of the Sword, the Spear, and the Champion merged.
Three into one.
Llew, Lugus, Lugh.
Nemain scented something in the air. A pleasant musky scent with an emotion, indescribable to her brief existence. Badbh and Macha looked about sensing it as well. Nodens stepped from the stairwells alcove healed, naked, whole, bearing the Godslayers.
The Morrigna was initially confused. Nodens had been nearly unrecognizable a short time before. Now, he was radiant. As if he glowed. His auric flames were brilliant dancing, writhing twists of deep blue, greens, reds, and yellows. The air around his Aura blazed as well. Three distinct layers of brilliance. Nodens was taller, smoldering with a dark dangerous intensity one moment, raging rainbow flames the next and lightning the next. The Morrigna had to shield her eyes. She could not, she would not look away.
As Nodens approached closer a heavy shadow followed, flowing behind and above him. A bare pace away Nodens paused. Kneeling in the presence of the Morrigna.
“I am yours, Your Sword, Your Spear, I am Your Shield. I am Llew, your lightning strike,Lugus your fire, Lugh, your dawn. You, are for me as I am for you.” Llew looked up, mesmerizing the Morrigna with his Emerald and Sapphire eyes, an impudent smile growing brighter by the moment.
The Morrigna, was enthralled.
Badbh remembered the betrothal. The promising between Catha and Nodens.
This, however was NOT Nodens. Not anymore. Llew, this mans name felt good rolling off of their tongue. Llew, who seemed as apt to devour them as protect them. Excitingly capable of that devouring as well.
Macha was sure this was a wild fire in flesh. Nemain wondered if Llews touch would shock her like lightning. Badbh felt desire ache through her depths.
None of them gave Love a thought.
This was a Storm, a Fire, Thunder, Lightning, Teeth, Claws, a Madness, This was, a joyous fury. This was a rage of passions, of vengeance, that would shatter the world.
The God and the Goddess of war,
In communion, in union,
A marriage of magnificent Fury.
The Dance Of The Damned,
Which raged to pay the Piper, call the tune, and lead the dance of rage ordained.
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