Or, how about this: Nimue actually does die, and Merlin goes to the underworld and brings her back. But the consequence (price / side effect) is that some darkness from the underworld comes along for the ride when he brings her back. It wouldn’t have been released on the world if he hadn’t gone to save her. So he gets her back, but she is infected with this darkness and becomes the first dark one!
It would perfectly parallel how most of us think the darkness will be banished this season.
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Ooh, I’m suddenly very much reminded of “A Wizard of Earthsea” by Ursula K. Le Guin! Who else here knows that story?
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Keeper of Anna’s Awkward Babbling and Kristoff’s Fur-trimmed Tunic!