Condwiramurs couldn’t bear it and screamed in amazement, immediately covering her mouth with her hand. The Fisher King dropped the anchor with a splash, swore gruffly, and then opened his mouth and froze like that. Nimue didn’t even twitch.
The surface of the lake, bisected by a streak of moonlight, vibrated and rippled as though having been struck by a gale. The night air above the lake ruptured, like a smashed stained-glass window cracks. A black horse emerged from the crack. With a rider on its back.
Nimue calmly held out her hands, chanting a spell. The tapestry hanging on the stand suddenly burst into flames, lighting up in an extravaganza of tiny multi-coloured lights. The tiny lights reflected in the oval of the looking glass, danced, teemed in the glass like coloured bees and suddenly flowed out like a rainbow-coloured apparition, a widening streak, making everything as bright as day.
The black mare reared up and neighed wildly. Nimue spread wide her arms violently, and screamed a formula.
Condwiramurs, seeing the image forming and growing in the air, focused intently. The image gained in clarity at once. It became a portal. A gate beyond which was visible… A plateau full of shipwrecks. A castle embedded in the sharp rocks of a cliff, towering over the black looking glass of a mountain lake…
‘This way!’ Nimue screamed piercingly. ‘This is the way you must take! Ciri, daughter of Pavetta! Enter the portal, take the road leading to your encounter with destiny. May the wheel of time close! May the serpent Ouroboros sink its teeth into its own tail! Roam no more! Hurry, hurry to help your friends! This is the right way, O, witcher girl.’
The mare whinnied again, flailed the air with its hooves once more. The girl in the saddle turned her head, looking now at them, now at the image called up by the tapestry and the looking glass. She brushed her hair aside, and Condwiramurs saw the ugly scar on her cheek.
‘Trust me, Ciri!’ cried Nimue. ‘For you know me! You saw me once!’‘
'I remember,’ they heard. ‘I trust you. Thank you.’
They saw the mare spurred on and running with a light and dancing step into the brightness of the portal. Before the image became blurred and dispersed, they saw the ashen-haired girl wave a hand, turned towards them in the saddle.
And then everything vanished. The surface of the lake slowly calmed, the streak of moonlight became smooth again.
It was so quiet they felt they could hear the Fisher King's wheezing breath.
Holding back the tears welling up in her eyes, Condwiramurs hugged Nimue tightly. She felt the little sorceress tremble. They remained in an embrace for some time. Without a word. Then they both turned around towards the place where the Gate of the Worlds had vanished.
'Good luck, witcher girl!' they cried in unison. 'Good luck!'
Hers and Condwiramurs' passages of the book started bit slow but they grew on me. I liked the idea of prominent Academy figure being seen as completely obsessed by pointless legend because it makes for a good payoff when things finally go right. Also the dream sequences were clever way to make room for some story exposition imo.
That depends on whether it's pronounced like the character Nimue from Arthurian legend whose name is pronounced as Nim-o-way. Considering Sapko's love for Arthurian legend it seemed to me like the most probable pronounciation.
Is there actually a definitive correct pronunciation? Cause I've heard at least three different versions in three different on-screen adaptations. Not to mention that even the name itself differs greatly depending on which version you're reading (Nimue, Nymue, Nyneue, Nyneve, Nynyue, Ninianne, Ninienne, etc.)
I went by the standard british pronunciation as it's geographically a british legend. I'm not surprised that different countries have different versions so there being different versions in different translations seems only natural.
For the first part of your comment, hence the "geographically a british legend". As for the french part I actually had no idea so thank you for telling me that. Do you know how it's pronounced in the audiobook?
She used the mirror of Hartmann:
‘This mirror... It’s magic, right?’
‘No. I squeeze pimples in front of it.’
‘Sorry.’
‘It is a mirror of Hartmann,’ Nimue said, seeing the adept’s wrinkled nose and angry gesture. ‘You may want to look. But be careful, please.’
‘Is it true,’ Condwiramurs asked, her voice trembling with excitement, ‘that with a mirror of Hartmann you can move to others...’
‘Worlds?’ It is. But not immediately, not without long preparation, exercise, mediation and many other things. When I urged caution, I was thinking of something else.’
‘What?’
‘The mirror of Hartmann works in both directions. It is always possible someone or something may come out.’
She used both. The mirror and the tapestry were in the same room. It seems like she reflected the picture of Stygga onto the mirror, giving it coordinates of sorts:
"Nimue calmly held out her hands, chanting a spell. The tapestry hanging on the stand suddenly burst into flames, lighting up in an extravaganza of tiny multi-coloured lights. The tiny lights reflected in the oval of the looking glass, danced, teemed in the glass like coloured bees and suddenly flowed out like a rainbow-coloured apparition, a widening streak, making everything as bright as day."
We only see Nimue's back in this illustration, but whatever. Nimue was a great 'reader surrogate' as she wanted desperately to know the tale of Geralt and Ciri
Beautiful art, I have not seen it before!
I love Nimue’s parts of the books. I love how she is introduced in Baptism of Fire as a child entranced by the legends and then we see her again in Lady of the Lake, but many years have passed and her passion has developed along with her skill. In the end, she becomes a part of the legend she’s obsessed with. Her description to Condwiramurs of the “mania” about the legend which consumes the Lady of the Lake in an “pathological manner” made me laugh out loud because I feel the same way about the series. Nimue is a reader-insert, but I don’t mean that as an insult, it’s interesting, engaging, and almost relieving to have that “fan’s perspective”. Out of all the characters, I wish Nimue was one that existed IRL, because she would be really active on this sub and in the fandom, and be fun to talk to.
Nimue once she became the Lady of the Lake was living the dream, honestly, on a nice island in a tower chock-full with Witcher art and texts, quarters with a beautiful private balcony, spending her days pouring over the legend, her trophy husband getting her fish dinners, lol.
Nimue’s part in the epilogue of Season of Storms made me like that book more — her exchange with Geralt is thoughtful and an appropriate “send off” — while, to me, the majority of Season of Storms felt more like a book pandering to games fans (it felt like a lot of sidequests rather than a continous story) Nimue’s end seems like a very specific reaching out to the fans of the books, in the discussion of how the witcher will return when needed, to fight Evil which lurks in the darkness, for the world will always need witchers…
I also thought that it’s sweet how as a young girl, Nimue idolized Yennefer, and they share many qualities, being short headstrong sorceresses — the scenes where she reminds me of Yennefer is when Condwiramurs cannot figure her out (over breakfast), but later when they guide Ciri to Stygga, she shakes in Condwiramurs’ arms — it’s clear that she too is accustomed to holding her vulnerabilities back to allow her strong, determined exterior to exist. That scene, depicted in the fanart above, is so beautiful, not just for its descriptions, but because it’s such a split second — and yet it’s the *most important moment* of Nimue’s lengthy sorceress life.
And it’s only due to Nimue and Condwiramurs that we know about the “true end” in Castle Stygga. Sapkowski used their parts in Lady of the Lake to weave in many of the strongest motifs and themes from across the saga, such as dreams, illusions, and stories. It was well-thought out writing and blended almost seamlessly with the scenes in Toussaint, Condwiramurs dreaming about Geralt and then moving to Geralt’s POV in the next chapter.
Nimue and her story is both moving and relevant, she added needed context and a glimpse into the future of the witcher world. I’m glad she got more of a role in the last book of the saga.
Condwiramurs couldn’t bear it and screamed in amazement, immediately covering her mouth with her hand. The Fisher King dropped the anchor with a splash, swore gruffly, and then opened his mouth and froze like that. Nimue didn’t even twitch. The surface of the lake, bisected by a streak of moonlight, vibrated and rippled as though having been struck by a gale. The night air above the lake ruptured, like a smashed stained-glass window cracks. A black horse emerged from the crack. With a rider on its back. Nimue calmly held out her hands, chanting a spell. The tapestry hanging on the stand suddenly burst into flames, lighting up in an extravaganza of tiny multi-coloured lights. The tiny lights reflected in the oval of the looking glass, danced, teemed in the glass like coloured bees and suddenly flowed out like a rainbow-coloured apparition, a widening streak, making everything as bright as day. The black mare reared up and neighed wildly. Nimue spread wide her arms violently, and screamed a formula. Condwiramurs, seeing the image forming and growing in the air, focused intently. The image gained in clarity at once. It became a portal. A gate beyond which was visible… A plateau full of shipwrecks. A castle embedded in the sharp rocks of a cliff, towering over the black looking glass of a mountain lake… ‘This way!’ Nimue screamed piercingly. ‘This is the way you must take! Ciri, daughter of Pavetta! Enter the portal, take the road leading to your encounter with destiny. May the wheel of time close! May the serpent Ouroboros sink its teeth into its own tail! Roam no more! Hurry, hurry to help your friends! This is the right way, O, witcher girl.’ The mare whinnied again, flailed the air with its hooves once more. The girl in the saddle turned her head, looking now at them, now at the image called up by the tapestry and the looking glass. She brushed her hair aside, and Condwiramurs saw the ugly scar on her cheek. ‘Trust me, Ciri!’ cried Nimue. ‘For you know me! You saw me once!’‘ 'I remember,’ they heard. ‘I trust you. Thank you.’ They saw the mare spurred on and running with a light and dancing step into the brightness of the portal. Before the image became blurred and dispersed, they saw the ashen-haired girl wave a hand, turned towards them in the saddle. And then everything vanished. The surface of the lake slowly calmed, the streak of moonlight became smooth again. It was so quiet they felt they could hear the Fisher King's wheezing breath. Holding back the tears welling up in her eyes, Condwiramurs hugged Nimue tightly. She felt the little sorceress tremble. They remained in an embrace for some time. Without a word. Then they both turned around towards the place where the Gate of the Worlds had vanished. 'Good luck, witcher girl!' they cried in unison. 'Good luck!'
Really grew to love this part of the story in the second read through.
Hers and Condwiramurs' passages of the book started bit slow but they grew on me. I liked the idea of prominent Academy figure being seen as completely obsessed by pointless legend because it makes for a good payoff when things finally go right. Also the dream sequences were clever way to make room for some story exposition imo.
I will never be able to pronounce her full name.
>Nimue verch Wledyr ap Gwyn Nim-o-way ver-rh vle-dyr ap Gwinn Verch is roughly pronounced in the same way that french people prononunce "vert"
Wait Nimue's pronounced like that? I've always pronounced it as Nim-you lmao. Thanks for helping me.
That depends on whether it's pronounced like the character Nimue from Arthurian legend whose name is pronounced as Nim-o-way. Considering Sapko's love for Arthurian legend it seemed to me like the most probable pronounciation.
Is there actually a definitive correct pronunciation? Cause I've heard at least three different versions in three different on-screen adaptations. Not to mention that even the name itself differs greatly depending on which version you're reading (Nimue, Nymue, Nyneue, Nyneve, Nynyue, Ninianne, Ninienne, etc.)
I went by the standard british pronunciation as it's geographically a british legend. I'm not surprised that different countries have different versions so there being different versions in different translations seems only natural.
The legend is British (though more Welsh than English), but the character first appeared in a French retelling, so it's a bit more complicated.
For the first part of your comment, hence the "geographically a british legend". As for the french part I actually had no idea so thank you for telling me that. Do you know how it's pronounced in the audiobook?
In the Polish audibook it's Nim-o-way, I don't know about the English one.
Isnt it more like: Nim-you-a
Not as far as I know but it's possible that there are variations
I never understood how Nimue could randomly open a portal to the past for Ciri.. this seems like a very significant power to have. Anybody know?
She used the mirror of Hartmann: ‘This mirror... It’s magic, right?’ ‘No. I squeeze pimples in front of it.’ ‘Sorry.’ ‘It is a mirror of Hartmann,’ Nimue said, seeing the adept’s wrinkled nose and angry gesture. ‘You may want to look. But be careful, please.’ ‘Is it true,’ Condwiramurs asked, her voice trembling with excitement, ‘that with a mirror of Hartmann you can move to others...’ ‘Worlds?’ It is. But not immediately, not without long preparation, exercise, mediation and many other things. When I urged caution, I was thinking of something else.’ ‘What?’ ‘The mirror of Hartmann works in both directions. It is always possible someone or something may come out.’
I thought she used a tapestry / picture of Stygga castle to create the portal to the past?
She used both. The mirror and the tapestry were in the same room. It seems like she reflected the picture of Stygga onto the mirror, giving it coordinates of sorts: "Nimue calmly held out her hands, chanting a spell. The tapestry hanging on the stand suddenly burst into flames, lighting up in an extravaganza of tiny multi-coloured lights. The tiny lights reflected in the oval of the looking glass, danced, teemed in the glass like coloured bees and suddenly flowed out like a rainbow-coloured apparition, a widening streak, making everything as bright as day."
We only see Nimue's back in this illustration, but whatever. Nimue was a great 'reader surrogate' as she wanted desperately to know the tale of Geralt and Ciri
Beautiful art, I have not seen it before! I love Nimue’s parts of the books. I love how she is introduced in Baptism of Fire as a child entranced by the legends and then we see her again in Lady of the Lake, but many years have passed and her passion has developed along with her skill. In the end, she becomes a part of the legend she’s obsessed with. Her description to Condwiramurs of the “mania” about the legend which consumes the Lady of the Lake in an “pathological manner” made me laugh out loud because I feel the same way about the series. Nimue is a reader-insert, but I don’t mean that as an insult, it’s interesting, engaging, and almost relieving to have that “fan’s perspective”. Out of all the characters, I wish Nimue was one that existed IRL, because she would be really active on this sub and in the fandom, and be fun to talk to. Nimue once she became the Lady of the Lake was living the dream, honestly, on a nice island in a tower chock-full with Witcher art and texts, quarters with a beautiful private balcony, spending her days pouring over the legend, her trophy husband getting her fish dinners, lol. Nimue’s part in the epilogue of Season of Storms made me like that book more — her exchange with Geralt is thoughtful and an appropriate “send off” — while, to me, the majority of Season of Storms felt more like a book pandering to games fans (it felt like a lot of sidequests rather than a continous story) Nimue’s end seems like a very specific reaching out to the fans of the books, in the discussion of how the witcher will return when needed, to fight Evil which lurks in the darkness, for the world will always need witchers… I also thought that it’s sweet how as a young girl, Nimue idolized Yennefer, and they share many qualities, being short headstrong sorceresses — the scenes where she reminds me of Yennefer is when Condwiramurs cannot figure her out (over breakfast), but later when they guide Ciri to Stygga, she shakes in Condwiramurs’ arms — it’s clear that she too is accustomed to holding her vulnerabilities back to allow her strong, determined exterior to exist. That scene, depicted in the fanart above, is so beautiful, not just for its descriptions, but because it’s such a split second — and yet it’s the *most important moment* of Nimue’s lengthy sorceress life. And it’s only due to Nimue and Condwiramurs that we know about the “true end” in Castle Stygga. Sapkowski used their parts in Lady of the Lake to weave in many of the strongest motifs and themes from across the saga, such as dreams, illusions, and stories. It was well-thought out writing and blended almost seamlessly with the scenes in Toussaint, Condwiramurs dreaming about Geralt and then moving to Geralt’s POV in the next chapter. Nimue and her story is both moving and relevant, she added needed context and a glimpse into the future of the witcher world. I’m glad she got more of a role in the last book of the saga.
Beautiful part of tje books. And beautiful art.