Volume 4—Season of Mists

Nuala makes her first appearance in volume 4. Envoys from across the mystical pantheon have gathered at the Dreaming to barter, trick, or threaten Morpheus into giving them the key to Hell. While all of the other envoys have entered the castle and are enjoying a very strange feast served by dreaming mortals, two travelers arrive at the gates. Morpheus goes out to meet them and the tall, blond male introduces himself as Cluracan, an ambassador from Faerie, there on behalf of Queen Titania. He and his sister, Nuala, are there to enquire about the future of Hell. His Queen has instructed him to do nothing until he relayed her message. He explains, “By ancient compact, Faerie must pay the teind—our tithe—to Hell. Every seven years, we are forced to sacrifice to them nine of our wisest, our most beautiful…” The Queen wants Morpheus to leave Hell empty and forgive them the debt. The reward for doing so is very vague, but it includes offering his sister as a gift to show him Faerie’s good faith. Morpheus refuses to commit either way but says they can discuss the matter further at a later time, but when Cluracan presses him, Morpheus grows angry and sends him and his sister away to the banquet.

While at the banquet, Cluracan orders two bottles of wine while Nuala asks for flower blossoms and water. As everyone eats, flirts, or observes (such as the case may be), Morpheus agrees to meet with each envoy privately. Later, he is offered a variety of favors in exchange for Hell, but no one particular offer seems to suit. For a while he even considers simply leaving Hell empty as Faerie has requested. The next morning, after having spent the night drinking and having a good time with a young man from the Egyptian delegation, Cluracan comes to wake up Nuala, announcing that Morpheus has made his decision. Nuala asks him about the likelihood that they will win out, but Cluracan replies that it is quite hopeless. After he leaves, she observes that all she got on the journey was a good night’s sleep, but she smiles and mumbles something to herself in her faerie language.

Having dressed, she walks down the corridor where difference ambassadors are discussing their prospects. As she walks by, they become silent and eye her suspiciously. Morpheus announces that the decision has been taken from him. The Creator decided that Hell must remain open and fulfill its original purpose. To achieve this, he has two of his angels take over. Naturally many of the delegations are disappointed, but after a demon tries to fight for Hell and Morpheus seals him in a glass ball, no one feels particularly keen to fight him. Everyone leaves but the faeries and one other minor deity. The minor deity turns out to be Loki in disguise but Morpheus deals with him quickly.

Later Cluracan and Nuala prepare to leave. Nuala thanks Morpheus for his hospitability, but Cluracan has some bad news for her. The Queen offered her as a gift to Morpheus, regardless of whether or not he gave them Hell. She must stay there. Morpheus is not particularly inclined to accept such a gift, but Cluracan insists that Titania would be unhappy if Nuala returned to Faerie. Nuala is horrified, but she is even more horrified when Morpheus declares that she may stay, but not with her glamour. Her beautiful appearance disappears and a small, knobby figure remains. Cluracan tells her not to cry and promises to visit. Basically, Nuala is stuck in the Dreaming.

Volume 5—A Game of You

Nuala plays a very small role in this volume. Morpheus asks her to observe Barbie as the situation unfolds. While she is observing her, Nuala decides to warn her about the coming events. She appears on the top of Barbie’s television and warns her that bad things will soon start happening. Generally speaking, this warning does nothing to change the course of events. Still, Nuala later apologizes for doing it in spite of Morpheus’s orders. At first he appears indifferent, but as Nuala stands alone looking sad, he returns to her and tells her that she did the right thing. Nuala is obviously excited by his words.

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