Dreams and Slumbers is a novella written by Seanan McGuire, published in the text editions of Once Broken Faith, released in September 2016.
You are for dreams and slumbers, brother.
—William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida
Author's Summary[]
By the standards of Faerie, Arden Windermere is little more than a child. Yet, despite her youth, she has already lost almost everything of importance: her parents, her brother, the life she expected to lead, the life she built for herself out of the ashes. Now Queen in the Mists, she is still struggling to find a place to stand. It seems impossible. And yet...
When circumstances present her with the chance to have her brother back again, is there any chance she can refuse? But when that restoration proves to come with a terrible price, is there any chance that just this once, she can win?
Plot[]
Chapter 1
Arden reflects on her complicated life as she prepares to waken her brother. She remembers her family and childhood, and how excited she was to eventually be Queen, before the false Queen of the Mists took Gilad's life and throne. Arden thinks somewhat bitterly of October, who forced her out of a life of hiding and back onto the throne.
Chapter 2
Arden decides she's been too lonely to wait the remaining 20 years of Nolan's elf-shot sleep, and wakes him with Walther's potion.
Chapter 3
Nolan's awakening is short-lived. Arden tells Madden she is going to find Walther, in hopes he can help.
Chapter 4
Arden arrives at Walther's office in Berkley, where Cassandra Brown is also visiting. Arden brings both of them back to Muir Woods, puzzling over Cassandra's heritage. Walther discovers a second spell keeping Nolan asleep, this one without the physical protections of elf-shot. If he is not awakened within a reasonable amount of time, he will die of dehydration.
Chapter 5
Arden, Walther, and Cassandra raid an urgent care clinic for medical supplies. While Walther works on Nolan, Arden and Cassandra have a sandwich and discuss Cassandra's capabilities, Arden's history, and October. Arden offers Cassandra a position in her household.
Chapter 6
Walther has determined that the second sleep spell is wound too deeply in Nolan to be easily removed. Cassandra reads a future in the air, which tells them to ask the Luidaeg for assistance.
Chapter 7
Arden, Walther, Cassandra, and Madden make their way to Luidaeg's house, using Arden's gates and Cassandra's aeromancy.
Chapter 8
The Luidaeg creates a potion to awaken Nolan, on the condition that Arden commit to being Queen in the Kingdom of the Mists.
Chapter 9
Nolan finally awakens, almost 81 years after being elf-shot.
Characters[]
Mentioned only[]
- October Daye
- Quentin Sollys
- Gilad Windermere
- Sebille
- Marianne
- Alan, owner of Borderlands Cafe
- Jude, worker in Borderlands Cafe
- Amandine
- false Queen of the Mists
- Dianda Lorden
- Patrick Lorden
- Queen Siwan of Silences
- Evening Winterrose
- Aethlin Sollys, High King
- Lowri
- Karen Brown
- Jin, a healer in Sylvester's court
- Sylvester Torquill
- Arden's grandparents, unnamed
- Jack Redpath
- Blind Michael
- Titania
- Oberon
- Luidaeg's sisters: Anglides and Black Annis
- Oleander de Merelands
- Duke Michel, elf-shot prisoner in Arden's knowe
Locations[]
Mentioned only[]
- Borderlands
- Bear's Lair, a pub that hosted the band Counting Crows in the early 1990s
- Kingdom of Silences
- County of Tamed Lightning