𝑪𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒔 ⭒ 𝔟𝔲𝔫𝔫𝑦 𝔵 𝔱𝔞𝔰𝔰𝔲 ᶰᶳᶠʷ

[Bunny]

. . Lumia Crellevé . . . . . . 𝑎 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 . |​ ⊰  —————————————–  ⊰  ✦  ⊱   —————————————–  ⊱​ Hunting was not her forte. The idea of killing an animal was too much for Lumia. Even once dead, there was so much more that needed to be done. Cleaning, skinning to name a few. It wasn't’ as if she didn’t understand where meat came from but it was a luxury for one such as her. More so, when she refused to hunt herself. Mia, instead foraged and made medicine to sell in the village. It was how she fed herself and kept the meager roof over her head. Winter was by far the worst time, when the world grew cold and frigid. Plants dying only to be reborn in the spring. However, nature always provided. Cupping her hands in front of her mouth, Lumia exhaled into her frozen fingers. The threadbare gloves were not doing much to keep them warm, but it was better than nothing, if barely. Looking into the basket at her feet she took stock of her haul. A few bunches of spruce needles,some birch bark and twigs. Both were good for tea. Ruby little rose hips were bright against the more earthy tones within. It had been a lucky find and Mia was happy with them. They had a variety of uses and could be sold for a premium at this time of the year. Burdock roots also lay covered in dirt still at the bottom of her basket. They had been a pain to dig out of the frozen earth, but they would help feed her. Now, she was on the hunt for mushrooms. This part of the forest was silent, still. Mia found beauty in it. It was said the fae wilds crossed over somewhere near here. While known, the fae tended to not bother with the humans much. The borders were meant to keep the more dangerous fae from slipping into the human world and while it was said to work, most didn’t venture too close. Mia too, tried to keep her distance, but when you were desperate.. Besides, was she miles away or right beside it? Lumia had no idea. It wasn’t as if the border were marked now, assuming it had ever been marked. Fae could feel the border, but a human? As Lumia crossed over the boundary into the fae wilds, was unaware, basket in hand. A small clump of winter mushrooms were nestled in the roots of a tree and she knelt beside them, fingers brushing snow from around them. “Such a lucky find,” her voice was sweet and soft as she talked to herself. Lumia wanted to take all of them, but it wouldn’t allow them to grow again next year. It would behoove her to keep that in mind and only take what she needed. Her eyes caught another little clump of mushrooms not too far away and her lavender eyes lit up. Leaving a handful at the tree she’d found first she wandered deeper into danger, unknowingly. Finding her way back shouldn’t be that hard, her tracks in the snow would lead her home again, assuming it didn’t snow. So as she found treasure after treasure, she paid little heed to how deep she was going. Her small basket filled with a wealth of foraged items. Pausing she knelt back on her heels, her back resting against a tree as she lifted a snow filled canteen to her lips. The crystal clean snowfall had melted next to the heat of her body and was icy and refreshing as she rested. Shaking her head, Lumia tried to shake free some dark, ebony locks from her face to no avail. Huffing she blew at them only for them to flutter up and fall in the same place. Distracted, Mia never heard the predator approaching. Had she not been, it was also unlikely that she’d have been alerted to the naga that stalked her. It was her human scent that had lured it out of its burrow, otherwise the reptilian creature would not have ventured out into the snow kissed lands. A long, snake-like body with a human-like torso, covered in the same scales. Four arms, muscled and ready to rip apart its prey. The face was almost human, though like the brethren that Mia would have known, it could dislocate its jaw. Scales made no sound on snow as it drew closer to Lumi. It would be her end, a painful, horrible end and no one would ever know where Lumia had vanished to and in a few years, she’d be forgotten. It was perhaps lucky that the naga was not the only thing hunting her in the snowy woods. #f4bbff​

 

[Tassu]

Orin Talvanas 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑎 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡. ⊰  —————————————–  ⊰  ✦  ⊱   —————————————–  ⊱​ The Faerie, tethered to the mortal realm by pathways older than humanity itself, followed the eternal rhythm of the seasons—yet with grandeur and intensity far beyond human comprehension. The changing tides of nature shaped not only their lands but also the intricate politics of their kind, the mischievous and ephemeral creatures entwined with the ceaseless cycle of death and renewal. It was known that when the winter released its icy grip, the young Queen of Spring ascended to her throne, ushering in an era of blossoming vitality. Her court would be filled with music and mirth, the fae reveling in the surge of life coursing through the world. But her reign was destined to be fleeting. In time, the wrathful and passionate King of Summer would rise, his fiery temperament mirrored in the blazing sun. His court thrummed with fervor, hosting tournaments where bold nobles vied for supremacy. Festivities of boundless ecstasy ensued, often spilling into unrestrained debauchery beneath the fading light. When the leaves turned to gold and crimson, the Queen of Fall would take her place, reigning over the Court of the Reaper. Here, the living danced with the dead, their harvest celebrations lavish and unending, marked by banquets that grew ever more opulent. But autumn, too, would yield to the inevitable. As snow blanketed the earth, the Winter King reclaimed his dominion, his Court of the Dead steeped in peril and intrigue. Malicious games and shadowy schemes thrived, the fae enduring the long frost in anticipation of the spring's return. ⊰  —————————————–  ⊰  ✦  ⊱   —————————————–  ⊱​ "Interesting," Orin mused to himself as he crouched down by a pair of tracks, the bitterly cold winds ruffling his long white hair. "It's chasing her. She's going to die." The fae prince could not feel the sting of winter, his pale skin inured to frost. He was the firstborn of the Winter King, his tall frame wreathed in otherworldly energies. He had never been cold in his life. Orin should not have been earthside. He should have been at his father's side as he held his court. The young prince had never had the patience for the convoluted games that his relatives played whenever his father held the throne. They called him a summer heart, someone far too passionate to inherit his father's crown. "Blood will be spilled today," the fae prince unsheathed the long curved dagger he carried at his side, the cold metal gleaming ominously in his hands. Wicked spells had been laid on the blade, its edge impossibly keen. Orin could feel the dagger's hunger through his fingers. Insatiable, Everfrost craved to be sank into a living, writhing thing. "Easy now," Orin murmured as he sprang into a run, trailing the large naga with ease. The magic woven into his boots allowed him to dash through the quiet forest without having to worry about his feet ever sinking into the snow. Feeling the thrill of the hunt, the tall fae grinned, his smile terrifying to behold. His blood sang in his veins. Gaining on the beast, Orin slowed down, his pale gray eyes focusing on the serpentine monster stalking the human girl. No. Human woman. Small as she might have been, there was no mistaking her for a child. "Watch out!" he called out, his words ringing like steel in the otherwise quiet woods. Orin's swift feet carried him across the small clearing, the fae almost too fast for human eyes to follow. The slithering fiend stood no chance, the fae prince falling on the naga like death incarnate. A quick blow severed one of the creature's limbs, the stump covered by hoarfrost. The monster roared in pain as it lashed at the fae, only to strike at thin air. Orin was far too fast for the naga, his dagger sinking deep into its scaly hide, Everfrost reaching its heart. The creature died before it could realize what had happened, its blood frozen in its veins. The fae prince could feel the blade twitch with perverse joy even as the naga slumped down, tendrils of frost running along its greenish skin. Tugging his blade free, Orin turned to the human woman, tilting his head to the side. He knew he wasn't supposed to mess with humans. Laws and traditions decreed that the fae keep their existence secret from men. That they only laid their hands on humans who managed to slip into faerie. Orin had never been particularly obedient. "You have no idea," the rest of the words died in his mouth, Orin stepping close enough to sense her. The young woman was unlike any other human he had ever met. She felt different, her soft scent filling his mind. He frowned, shaking his head. Was she truly a human? Was the young woman a changeling? "Who are you?" Orin insisted, sheathing Everfrost, a storm brewing in his gray eyes. The young fae could swear he could taste her in the back of his mouth. She was mulberry wine on his lips, his body aching. "What are you?" Orin's melodic voice rang with frustration and adoration. ​

 

[Bunny]

Lumia Crellevé 𝑎 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠. ⊰  —————————————–  ⊰  ✦  ⊱   —————————————–  ⊱​ The call through the forest was the first hint of the danger that was practically upon her. Almost in slow motion, her head turned and she saw the creature in the snow. It wasn’t human nor was it animal and it was the first hint that she’d slipped through the border into the lands of faerie. The shout had caused her to jump and she stumbled back into the snow with a scream at the sight of the monster. Blood showered from the beast, though not in a spray of warm wetness, but in little blood filled shards of ice. The color was like that of a pomegranate. Not that Lumia had ever seen one outside of her books. Limbs fell to the ground, sinking through the soft powder and all she could do was watch in horror. One, two, three and four. What cut them, she’d not seen, not at first. It was like some macabre puppet show. The roar from the beast reverberated through the trees and made her blood run cold as that primal part of her took over. That part that knew that things went bump in the night at this beast was one of them. Though, it would have simply eaten her. Whatever was killing it.. What would they do with her? A from appeared, back toward her as a blade sunk into the chest of the creature and Mia backpedaled till her back hit a solid tree trunk. Snow fell from the thin branches and dusted her head and shoulders as she gaped up at the man before her. Man? No. He wasn’t a man. Far too beautiful. Far too swift. Far too deadly. Faerie. His voice carried across the small clearing, though his word faltered and died as he gazed down at her. His feet seemed to carry him unbidden closer to her and Mia could not crawl away any further than she’d already done. Sweetness of berries and vanilla would tickle his nose along with something almost herbaceous and honeyed. His blade sheathed, he demanded who she was and then what she was. Beautiful eyes darkened, a tempest of emotions brewing within and she shivered and it had nothing to do with the cold. Hands grasped at the tree behind her, and frozen fingers pulled herself to stand. Her back slid against the bark the whole way and when she finally was on two feet, their size difference was apparent. He’d seemed to tower over her while on her rear, but even at her full height, he eclipsed her. “I..I am Lumia.” Her voice trembled and while she knew she should look away, not allow him to bewitch her, Mia couldn't’ seem to draw her gaze from him. As to what she was this was met with a touch more confusion. “Human?” Though a question it wasn’t unsure more questioning why he’d questioned her to begin with. Mia had no idea what power flowed in her veins, neither did any of her family before her for a few generations. The knowledge had been hidden and died away with the passing of the seasons. So to her, she had only ever been human. She’d no powers to speak of and no indication that she was anything but what she was. Nails bit into the trunk behind her and she frowned up at him. “You.. are faerie.” This was no question and she looked toward the snow. At some point between her stumbling thought he words, the creature and the fae, the snowflakes had begun their lazy waltz to earth and her tracks had been hidden under a fresh dusting of snow. The horror set in. Had he allowed her to leave, which was in doubt to begin with.. How would she have found her way home? Her eyes shot back to the fae male. It wasn’t as if he’d lead her from the cursed faerie lands. #f4bbff ​

 

[Tassu]

Orin Talvanas 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑎 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡. ⊰  —————————————–  ⊰  ✦  ⊱   —————————————–  ⊱​ Pale grey eyes remained intent on Lumia as she dragged herself up. His breath steamed gently in the cold air, Orin feeling agitated, his heart skipping a beat when the human woman spoke out. "Lumia." He spoke her name, licking his lips as if to taste her. "Such a pretty name," Orin murmured, feeling a little out of place. He had taken great pleasure in killing the monster. Everfrost had screamed in delight as its tendrils had reached the naga's heart, the fae prince feeling his blade's ecstasy. "Human?" He frowned, his expression doubtful. No mere human should have had such an effect on him. He could feel how he wanted her, his heart beating like a drum, his pale cheeks flushed red. She was exhilarating beyond reason. "Really now?" Doubt rang in Orin's voice, the tall fae slowly circling Lumia, trying to figure out what to make of her. He had spent decades among humans and had never met anyone with such an alluring scent. For a brief moment, he wondered if the young woman was a changeling. A fae child raised by human parents. However, if that was the case, he should have been able to sense her glamor. Illusion the fae weaved to hide their appearances. Orin should have been wearing a glamor of his own, to make sure he appeared human to anyone that might have seen him. Frustrated with his father's court, he had forgotten to conceal himself. "Why should I believe you?" Orion quipped, his almond-shaped eyes narrowing "You are hiding something, aren't you?" the white-haired fae asked the young woman, pressing his hand on his temple as he tried to think straight. He knew that the monster had been chasing someone. He had hoped to catch the creature before it reached its prey. Lose himself for a moment and let Everfrost drink deep. He had never quite paused to consider what would happen if he'd stumble into the person the naga had been hunting. "You look like a human," Orin had to admit, sighing softly. "But you don't smell like one. Feel like one." Even now, he could feel the young woman in the back of his mind, the faw prince drawn to her like a moth to a flame. He simply had to have her. "What are you?" Orin insisted, adamant that Lumia was hiding something. "Tell me." Frustration crept into his voice, his mind unable to make sense of the situation. The distraught human was far too alluring, Orin feeling almost drunk as he stepped closer. "I am," Orin replied, figuring out he had no particular reason to lie. Without glamour, there was no way he would have ever passed as a human, his features too sharp, his ears too long. His near-pristine white curls would have been out of place on a man of his age. "Have you met others of my kind?" Curiosity rang in his voice as he kept slowly circling Lumia, trying to figure out what to make of her. He knew he wouldn't be able to let her simply go. Not after she had seen him. Orin knew he had to either make the young woman forget that she had ever met him or take her into faerie with him. Exhaling softly, Orin stepped closer to Lumia, nonchalantly reaching to gently brush his fingers against her cheek. The simplest of touches left his whole arm tingling, something deep within him stirring into life. No force could have held him back. Moving with inhuman grace, he pinned the small woman against the tree, grasping her wrists as if to make sure she could not resist. Drunk on her scene, he forced his lips on hers, kissing her deep, caring little for her meager protests. Lumia could feel him shiver with pleasure, his lips cool against hers. A few moments later, Orin managed to regain his senses, stepping back from the shocked woman. His lips were tingling, his body alive with sensations he could not quite describe. "Come," he beckoned Lumia to follow. The young noble wove a simple spell under his breath, trying to cloud Lumia's mind in hopes of undermining her resolve. "There's something I want to show to you." Orin spoke as if he expected the young woman heed to his words, his voice brimming with authority. ​

 

[Bunny]

Lumia Crellevé 𝑎 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠. ⊰  —————————————–  ⊰  ✦  ⊱   —————————————–  ⊱​ Had she not known better, Lumia might have thought the faerie male drunk. Yet, he’d imbibed nothing since entering the clearing and killing the beast. Yet his entire demeanor seemed to change as he drew closer to her. That frown as she told him she was human and then that tone in his voice. Doubt. His pale cheeks were as bright as hers, though Lumia doubted for the same reasons. Those beautiful eyes narrowed as he gazed down at her and he demanded why he should believe her and Lumia could only gape at him. He went on to accuse of hiding something from him and she shook her head quickly. The hood of her cloak slipping and her raven hair on full display as it slithered along the back of her head to rest around her shoulders. Why would she lie about being human? His hand rose to his temple and she almost reached out, to see if he was alright. Faerie or not, she didn’t do well ignoring the pan of others.Her hand lifted and fell though before touching him. Her lower lip caught in her teeth as she gazed up at him. Still he worried at the same problem he sensed and Lumia lifted both hands. “I am human. I accidentally wandered to close..” She pointed to her basket behind him, though something told the young woman he’d not look behind him to see where she pointed. “I was gathering things to sell.. To eat. To make it through the winter.” While her scent and presence might have confused him, her words held nothing but truth. At lease.. The truth she knew. Faerie. She’d known as much, but he admitted it to her question and his next one earned another shake of her head. Her hair slithering around her shoulders in heavy waves. “No, but all humans know of Faerie.” Her voice was soft. “Too beautiful. Strong. Seductive. Cruel..” The last two words had lowered each time. It was known to humans. They used her kind for amusement, sometimes sex.. Less fae might eat them, as the Naga had planned. Fingertips brushed against her cheek and she gasped softly. She didn’t feel the same that he had, but his skin was almost velvety as it touched her cheek, warm, despite the cold that she felt to her very marrow. It happened so suddenly. He moved into her, crowding her almost before pushing her back firmly to the tree behind her. The bark bit into her cloak and the cold she’d felt was swept away by his heat. It made Lumia want to curl into him like a kitten in a sunbeam. Seeking that heat instinctively. Hands caught her wrists as his mouth claimed hers. Eyes widened, Lumia was stiff beneath him with shock. She’d kissed before, of course, but this.. Was.. His mouth felt almost cold, despite the heat his body produced. Much like his skin, his mouth was so soft against hers. Perhaps she should have embraced that kiss, melted into him. Shock and outrage and his kiss though had her struggling futility against him. A few heartbeats as long as the kiss lasted and he pulled back. That.. shiver that had run from his core outward had been fascinating. Come. Her feet had started without question. Why was she following him? She stopped and shook her head. Spells. Magic. Faerie tricks. “No.” Her voice was firm and after a moment she exhaled shakily. “I.. will come with you, but don’t.. Don’t force me.” He could make her, Something told Lumia that he could roll her mind and force her to his will, if he really wanted. If she came on her own though, to whatever he wanted to show her? Maybe he’d allow her to make her own choices, as long as they aligned with his desires. Bending, she picked up her basket and pulled her cloak around her hair once more before tipping her face up toward him. The devil and the Fae were not so different. But if she went willingly, perhaps she could escape some time later. If she went as his puppet.. She’d never be free. Lumia closed the distance between them, close enough for him to touch. Why would he want her though? Why had he.. Kissed her? And why had she liked it, despite herself? A small part of her wanted him to kiss her again, even though she’d not reacted favorably to him. Boys and men were not the same and men and faerie were again, vastly different. #f4bbff ​

 

[Tassu]

Orin Talvanas 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑎 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡. ⊰  —————————————–  ⊰  ✦  ⊱   —————————————–  ⊱​ Orin was agitated, his movements fast and jittery. He couldn't quite make sense of his thoughts or his feelings, the human woman far too enticing for him to focus. Her lips felt soft and inviting against his, her scent drawing him in. The fae noble had struggled to pull back, the dark and primal parts of his mind urging him to tear off her garments and simply have his way with her. To claim her as his and ravage her until he was utterly spent. Luckily for the Lumia, he had come to his senses, his eyes brimming with sheer unadulterated hunger as he stepped away from her. His blood sang in his veins, his manhood erect in his pants. "I won't, trust me, Lumia." The problem was that the handsome fae didn't quite trust himself. He could not bring himself to let the human girl go. Orin had concluded that she didn't quite belong here. She felt out of place. Besides, he had plans for her. "Some of us might be cruel." Orin saw no reason to lie, frowning softly as he spoke. "Not unlike your kind." He had spent enough time among humans to understand that they were not that different. Humans might have been less passionate and capricious than the fae, but were still capable of being just as malicious and spiteful as the fae. "Am I wrong?" the white-haired fae asked, tilting his head to the side as he tried to make sense of Lumia. He could not believe that she was a mere human. Not that he could figure out why she would lie to him. If she was a witch or a shapeshifter of some sort, she should have been able to defend herself. Besides, the shapeshifters he had met had all stank as if they were rancid and rotten. "You'll love it," Orin noted confidently as he reached to grasp Lumia's small hand into his. "We should make haste. There are monsters about." He glanced at the carcass lying on the ground. "Come." The tall fae led Lumia through the woods, backtracking his steps. Feeling her hand on his left him feeling warm inside. Having the dark-haired human around felt as if he had eaten a handful of dream berries. "Your family is poor?" She had mentioned having been foraging in the woods. There were no poor fae, the nobles responsible for feeding and clothing their people. Pacts older than mankind bound both the highborn and their vassals. On the other side, words held power and promises were weighted in blood. Even the capricious fae had to respect the power of words. The handsome fae led Lumia deeper into the woods. His footsteps were faded, gentle winds pushing the snow around. Not that the fae needed to see his tracks to find his way back. He could sense the pathway to the faerie much like he could sense Lumia in his mind. In some ways, the sensations were similar. In some weird way, Lumia felt like home to him. Not that that made any sense. They had barely met. "Not much further." He turned to look at Lumia, his long and slender fingers still wrapped around her hand. Orin didn't bother to explain what he meant. Lumia The pathway was not visible, at least not in the sense humans understood such things. One moment the two were walking through the snow-covered woods and the next they were elsewhere, the snow around them more pristine, the air subtly cooler. The trees were different too, their gnarly branches reaching for the skies like skeletal fingers. Even the faint clouds drifting across the sky were a little off, their shapes subtly different. Gentle winds carried the sound of chimes from the distance, Orin offering Lumia a faint smile. "Welcome to the faerie." Joy gleamed in his grey eyes. He had hoped that the human would feel different on this side. That the magic that made up the faerie would somehow dampen whatever she was doing. No such thing happened, Orin still acutely aware of the young woman in the back of his mind. "Pray tell me, what sort of stories they tell about us where you live?" Lumia could hear the curiosity in his voice, her 'captor' gently squeezing her hand. ​

 

[Bunny]

Lumia Crellevé 𝑎 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠. ⊰  —————————————–  ⊰  ✦  ⊱   —————————————–  ⊱​ The way he looked at her made her breath catch in her throat. Like he was starving and she was his banquet. It confused her, it made her feel uneasy and the part that confused her the most? It made her heart skip a beat. No one had ever looked at Lumia like that. It felt like it made her pulse race and her cheeks heat. He’d known the touch of others, known what it was on some level that he felt with her, even if it left him just as puzzled. For Lumia, she was completely unaware of what the feeling was. Lust. Need. Desire. Trust. That would come hard with the faerie beside her, but what choice did she have? She could not find her way home. She could not overpower him nor any other fae to make her escape. All she could hope for was to have her faculties remain as he led her deeper into his lands. His words struck a chord and she was forced to nod in agreement. It wasn’t just the faerie who were capricious. Humanity had more than their fair share of cruelty. “No,” her voice was soft. “Humans are more than capable of cruelty.” The words were soft. Why was it always warned of them then? That faerie were cruel? Was it because of their ethereal beauty? That something so heavenly could bring them harm all the while taking delight in it, laughter ringing in their ears. Not that humans could not do the same.. Frowning, she looked up at him. Both of them puzzling out their sudden predicament. Monsters? Her hand tightened in his as she allowed him to lead her through the snow kissed lands. His question drawing her frightened eyes from the woods she met his gaze and shrugged. “I suppose. I’ve no family. Winter months can be harder.” Winters could be harsh and there were times that she could count her ribs. This winter had been meager and she’d grown skinnier, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as the past winter. “I forage for food and sell tonics to buy meat.” With no way to know of how the faerie took care of their own, she’d have found it.. Odd to know. Families starved and died in the winter. It was just the way of her world. She’d been lucky enough to learn how to forage, though not without incident. More than once she’d learned the hard way what not to eat. His voice drew her from her thoughts and she looked up nodding. “Alright.” It dawned on her suddenly she didn’t know his name. Her hand tugged on his and though she didn’t still she waited till his eyes found hers again before questioning him. “You never told me your name, but asked mine.” Though not questioned exactly she waited, clearly expecting his name in return. Faerie. He had declared it and she could see some differences now, though had he not told her, Lumia wondered how long it would have taken her to figure it out. Subtle, yet now that she knew, she could pick out the differences easier now. Shivering she moved closer to him. The word suddenly seemed more.. Magical. Lumia stumbled into the conclusion with a gasp and his next question drawing her focus once more. “Stories?” The word was confused and she shook her head. “They vary. If we eat your food, we can never return home. That you rape my kind. Eat us. Make us drink faerie wine and dance until we die.. Play tricks to lure us to our deaths in gruesome fashions..” Most of them came with death in the end.. And while not all were exclusive to his kind most of the stories were brutal. In fact, as she thought upon it, Lumia couldn’t think of a single story of faerie that was.. Happy. His hand was warm in hers and the gentle squeeze made her smile. “Do you hear human stories, as we hear faerie ones?” Walking beside him, though afraid, she felt.. Comforted by his side. He might toy with her, kill her.. But in the moment she felt safe. “Though, I think most of our stories are to warn us to stay away from you..” Her lips curled. “I somehow doubt that faeries are scared of us humans.” Her nose wrinkled playfully and she lifted a brow. “Or are we as scary to you as you are to us?” The laughter in her voice told him she thought she knew his answer. #f4bbff ​

 

[Tassu]

Orin Talvanas 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑎 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡. ⊰  —————————————–  ⊰  ✦  ⊱   —————————————–  ⊱​ Pristine snow crunched beneath their feet as Orin led Lumia toward the portal. The wind picked up, causing snow dust to dance in the cold air. The fae prince listened to the young woman he had saved, nodding softly as she explained that she lived alone. Or at least that was the conclusion he drew. "What happened to them?" the tall fae asked, his soft voice barely audible. "Your family, I mean." He wondered if she had lost her kin to war or famine. Seeing how Lumia had been foraging in the woods, her family could not have been wealthy. Orin might not have understood the human world, as well as some of his kith, but he still had a rudimentary understanding of the realms the men had built since they had crawled out of the caves. "You can call me Winter," Orin murmured, hesitant to give her his true name. On the other side, names held power just as words. While Lumia might have seemed harmless, he didn't quite trust her yet. "My name is a little hard to pronounce." It was a half-truth at best, but not strictly a lie. His name referred to the sort of bitterly cold winter that was also achingly beautiful. A magical winter one could only ever experience in the faerie. "I am a lord among my kind." the handsome fae added, pride ringing in his voice. As much as he might have detested the responsibilities that came with his bloodline, he still looked to the day he would inherit his father's seat. Orin craved power like nothing else. "Nothing you need to worry about," he assured the young woman, giving her hand a soft squeeze. "You'll be my guest." Another half-truth. In reality, Lumia could not leave faerie without help, making her more prisoner than anything else. Still, she had accepted his invitation. That alone made her a guest, at least nominally. Orin would see that she lacked nothing. There was a short pause, the white-haired fae offering Lumia a playful smile. "An honored guest." "Eating our food never harmed anyone," Orin said, sounding rather amused. The story hid a kernel of truth. The Kindly Ones were obliged by the customs to share a meal with their guests, traditions binding their hands. As long as the visitor violated no rules, the fae would treat them kindly. Yet the same traditions regarding the rules of hospitality also meant that the fae could never let their guests return to the other side. Some things were simply not done. "We treat our guests well, you have my word." Orin quipped, pressing his free hand to his chest for a moment. "As for my kith forcing themselves on humans, I suppose that might have happened," he murmured, sounding a little avoidant. Orin could hardly speak for all the fae. His people had mingled with humans for millennia. "Lust makes people do wicked things. Foul things." He didn't quite want Lumia to know he struggled to keep his hands off her. It was for the best she didn't know just how badly he felt drawn to her. How Orin's body ached for her, his manhood hard in his breeches. "My kind is no exception." Such tales were not without merit, the capricious and passionate fae often far too considered with their own needs. Orin knew how some courtieres of Autumn took delight in the suffering of others. "Dance until they die?" Orin chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "The courtiers of the spring take the celebrations seriously, but I don't think that I've ever heard of anyone dropping dead on the dance floor." He had seen younger fae pass out, drunk on wine and dream berries, however. The Court of the Spring Queen was always chaotic and exuberant, her kin bubbling with child-like energy. "We do like music and dance, though," Orin admitted, only to frown. "And do you think I desire to spill your blood?" the tall fae asked, flashing Lumia his most charming smile. He had no other desire than to her against the ground and have his way with her. To feel her skin against his and drink deep of her scent. "Mhmhm." Orin glanced at the grey sky, taking a few moments to consider his words. "We don't really tell tales about humans, he explained. "Rather we tell tales about our heroes that found their way into your world." Many of these stories described the humans as simple and brutish, the hero or heroine always outwitting their dimwitted playthings. The Saga of Aspel the Cunning went into great detail describing how Aspel had managed to convince two human kingdoms to go to war against each other. Orin knew that particular story almost by heart. The saga was sung at his father's court every winter. "No, we are not scared." They walked into a large snow-covered grove, small greyish birds dancing among the treetops. The creatures seemed all too energetic and playful considering how cold it was, their jubilant cries ringing in the air as they sought out the frozen berries still dangling from the willowy branches. "I suppose most of my kin are curious about you." Some of the fae were utterly obsessed with humans, taking any excuse to slip through the veil that separated the worlds. In many ways, Orin was no different. Disillusioned with his father's court, he craved for freedom. "Your ways are alien to us, just as our ways might seem strange to you." A soft smile dangled on his lips, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "There," Orin called out, pointing his finger at a tall marble spire rising above the treetops. "The House of Splendor, the seat of the Seelie Court. My home." Snow clung to the pale stone, long icicles gleaming in the sunlight. "And my father's seat, at least until the Queen of Spring claims her own." The fae noble didn't bother to explain himself. "Keep close to me once we get in. Not all of my kith are as kind as I am." He conveniently left out the fact that his friends and family didn't consider him particularly kind either. "Try not to draw attention to yourself." Considering how he could feel Lumia in the back of his mind, he wasn't sure she could ever avoid drawing attention to herself. Everyone's eyes would be on the young woman. Everyone would want to talk with her. Guards greeted Orin as they stepped into the courtyard, both of the young men eyeing Lumia like a starving dog might eye a juicy bone. Yet the two said nothing, their ice-blue eyes glimmering with curiosity. He could feel that his father's men were as distracted as he was. The fae prince understood their reaction well. He had felt the same when he had first seen the young human. "This way." Sighing softly, Orin led Lumia through a small door, stepping into an empty corridor. "I suppose we should find you some rooms." Distracted by Lumia's presence, he hadn't actually thought about what he would do once he managed to bring her back to the palace. All he knew was that he needed to have her close by. The idea of walking away from her left him feeling a little uneasy. ​

 

[Bunny]

Lumia Crellevé 𝑎 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠. ⊰  —————————————–  ⊰  ✦  ⊱   —————————————–  ⊱​ The question was unexpected; not many had ever cared to ask what had become of her family. “My mother died in childbirth as did my baby brother.” Her voice was soft as she spoke of her losses she’d suffered. “My father died the winter before last.” She’d been sixteen. Two years for her to learn to care for herself on her own. To learn the hard lessons when there was no one there to help you. The village may have offered aid, had she asked.. But with so many needy mouths to feed. It had been the tone of his question though that had prompted her to share with him. It had come across gentle, almost caring. Winter. Her steps paused for a moment and she gazed up at him, a slight smile on her lips. “Apt,” was her only answer and she tilted her head, curiously, but Lumia didn’t push to hear his name. She didn’t know of the way of the fae wilds, it was simply out of kindness. He’d not wanted to share and to poke and prod him would be impolite. “I like it though,” Lumia smiled and started walking again. A lord. That gave her more pause more than anything else. There was pride in his voice though and she blushed some. “Should I have curtsied? Not.. that I know how to” she winced slightly at the admission. He was the first Lord of any kind she’d ever met. Warm fingers squeezed her own and she smiled again, that shy curl of lips. “Guest?” The idea of being a guest to a faerie lord seemed like something out of a fairytale. It was yet to be seen if this one had a happy ending. His smile drew another to her own lips though as he informed her she’d be an honored guest. “Rescued from death by a faerie lord and then invited back to his lands as an honored guest..” Her nose wrinkled playfully. “This sounds like the beginning of a dirty book I’ve read.” Her voice was just as playful, even as her cheeks heated at the implication. Oddly enough.. “I trust you, Winter.” Perhaps it was foolish to do so. Lumia had no way of knowing. He’d honored her request to not force her to follow him and had rescued her from what was likely to be a horrible death. Even now, they walked hand in hand. The fact that her touch thrilled him was an unknown factor, but it seemed to the tiny human female a sweet, caring act. His words made her nod, solemnly. It was true of all, not just the fae. It was easier to villainize a mystical people than your own lords.. So stories were told of Faerie men raping women and not of lords raping their maids. Listening to him speak she could picture in her mind what she thought such an event would look like. “Do the lands here see seasons like our own?” Somewhere in the back of her mind she’d once heard a tale, she was sure, where the faerie did not follow the seasons but were permanently the season they ruled over. If there was any truth in the tale, she knew not. Her eyes rose to meet his and she considered his face, his charming smile and after a moment she shook her head. “No. Had you wish to, you could have done it before now.” Lumia wouldn’t hide her next thought from him. “I suppose there is some worry that this is some sort of cruel game that will only end in such.. But I just don’t get that sense.” Lavender eyes moved to the small little bird and she gasped in delight as he spoke. “I suppose that would make sense.” She answered, almost musingly. “Not many of my kind come into your lands, as far as I know and I don’t hear many tales of the fae slipping into ours.” When theft paused, Lumia looked up at Winter before turning to see the marble spire he pointed out. “It is.. Beautiful.” Once more information was given and not explained and though she wished to know more, she fell silent as he offered her a warning. “Okay.” The answer was simple but the tone was not. There was unease and fear but with how she tightened her hold on his hand, stepped closer to him, it was clear she trusted him to keep her safe. They neared the grand palace and Lumia could both see and feel their eyes on her as she drew closer to them. Curious gazes followed them as they passed and even still, she stayed close to Winter. He was known, he was her protector here. “Okay..” A small, almost childlike part of her, afraid of what went bump in the night, wanted to ask if her rooms could be near his own. Her lips even parted, as if to ask and then closed and her eyes lowered. It was silly to make such a request, wasn’t it? Her hand tightened for a moment and she steeled her nerves, childish or not.. “Would it be possible to have rooms close to your own?”#f4bbff ​

 

[Tassu]

Orin Talvanas 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑎 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡. ⊰  —————————————–  ⊰  ✦  ⊱   —————————————–  ⊱​ "I am sorry to hear that." Even as he spoke the words, the fae noble realized that no one would miss the young woman. With his family entangled in the labyrinthine skein that made up the Seelie court, Orin had relatives everywhere and while most of them were distant, he was expected to know each fae that shared his bloodline. This included the dozens of souls sworn to serve his father. Dozens of souls that would one day serve him. "I can't quite imagine spending that much time on my own." He knew better than to envy the human and yet, he felt a pang in his soul. "I am not your lord, am I?" Orin asked, sounding a little amused with her offer. "But you can curtsy later if you wish." He turned to flash her a mischievous smile, his tone making it rather evident that he wasn't entirely serious. "An honored guest, yes. You are hardly the first human to ever find their way on our side." Nor would Lumia be the last one, even if she was a little too old to become a changeling proper. Orin didn't bother to think how Lumia would manage among the fae or if she would feel homesick. All he could think of was getting his hands on her, one way or another. He craved to make her his. Behind the handsome features hid something inhuman. "They do," he replied, running his fingers against frozen bark as they walked beneath a large, misshapen tree standing in the courtyard. Its roots dug deep into the frozen earth, its willowy branches almost reaching the ground. "The snows will thaw eventually. As they do every year." His voice rang with sorrow. Orin was a creature of winter, the Spring Court far too lively and jubilant to his tastes. "The Young Queen will take over the palace and my family will move back to our estates. As tradition dictates." While he knew that the humans rarely changed their rulers, he could not fathom just how insane he might have sounded. "The fae of autumn are the ones playing cruel games," he replied, hoping to dismiss Lumia's worries—another half-truth, easily given. Compared to humans, the fae were passionate and mercurial, rarely pausing to consider the consequences of their actions. Orin was no different. He was merely kinder than some others. "They take much pleasure in all things miserable," the young fae said, slowly shaking his head. It wasn't as if he didn't understand his autumnal kin. It was more that he could not feel what they felt, his mind was wired differently from birth. "I am sure you'll enjoy your time here." Orin was confident that her body and mind would eventually become overwhelmed. The young woman would inevitably lose the sense of time. She might even lose her sense of self. No mere human could survive the cacophony of sensations the faerie forced upon their guests. "Your world often appears rather dull to us," the handsome fae prince explained as he led Lumia up a light of stairs, the polished stone smooth beneath her boots. The air within the palace was warm. The few fae they passed were rather scantily dressed, the courtiers wearing whites and greys to match the season. Unnervigly, everyone paused to stare at Lumia, none able to ignore her presence. "Rooms close to mine? I guess that could be arranged." He offered her a roguish smile. They kept climbing winding stairs, the large windows allowing Lumia to gaze upon the grounds that surrounded the House of Splendor, frost covering every imaginable surface. "This should do," Orin murmured, pushing open a door and leading Lumia into a room fit for a queen. Lush curtains covered the large glass-paned window, pale light filling the tall chamber. The furniture in the room was skillfully carved and lacquered, each item achingly beautiful. Despite having no visible fireplace, the room was warm, a faint rime clinging to the glass. "Make yourself at home. You must be tired." Stepping back, Orin turned to Lumia, curious to see her reaction. He had hoped that dragging the young woman to this side of the veil would dampen her presence in his mind. In some ways, his plan had worked. He could feel and hear the faerie alive around him as before. The problem was that the faint melody he was accustomed to did little to quench Lumia's essence. If not for the rules of courtesy, he would have already forced himself upon her. He ached to have her. "There is a ball later this evening. You will stand by my side," Orin announced, pressing his fingers on his chin as he gauged the small woman. Hunger older than mankind flickered his almond-shaped eyes. His tone allowed no protests. "All the eyes will be on you." Seeing how merely being close to the young woman left his skin tingling, he was rather certain that Lumia would be the center of attention, whether she wanted or not. This pleased the far prince, the young man hungry for recognition. Besides, there was no use hiding her—the guards had seen the small human. By the evening everyone would know that he had brought a straggler with him. "I'll have someone bring you something more suitable." The handsome fae prince smirked, undressing the poor young woman with his eyes. "Now, if you would excuse me?" Orin had to muster every last inch of his willpower to walk away from her, his kind words meant hide his true desire. ​

 

[Bunny]

Lumia Crellevé 𝑎 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠. ⊰  —————————————–  ⊰  ✦  ⊱   —————————————–  ⊱​ Shaking her head some, Lumia smiled softly. “It is the way of humans.” She phrased it thusly because he might not understand. Fae could die, but it took quite a lot. Humans could only kill one with ash wood, if the rumors were true. Not that she was any expert on the matter, nor did she wish to kill Winter. “It can be nice, sometimes,” she offered, but the words unspoken told him it could also be quite lonely. When she wished for companionship, she could head into town if she had the gold. If she wished for something more… intimate, there was always someone who’d be willing. Not that Lumia ever partook. Her nose wrinkled playfully. “I thought it was considered good etiquette to curtsy before lords of any kind?” It was clear that she did not interact with many human lords if any and in truth, he was the only she’d ever met. “Though, if it is all the same, perhaps not?I feel I would be quite dreadful at it.” Lumia nudged him gently at his mischievous smile. “I wouldn’t think so, no. Nor will I be the last.” Without knowing she echoed those thoughts he had. Little did she know that she’d never leave these lands again. Return to the home she once knew. Talk with the few friends or customers she’d earned. That would have saddened her. For now though, Lumia remained blissfully unaware. It was fascinating to imagine the seasons changing. It wasn’t that she didn't see them herself every year, but the seasons of the faerie? Something told her it would be breathtaking. The fact that they would leave the palace that he was leading her towards. “Fascinating.” It seemed the only correct word. “Humans do not do such things,” though he was likely aware of this. “I do not think they would give up power for any reason.” This was offered almost musingly. It spoke of just how different they were. “Are your other lands snowy year round?” She imagined a mountain keep, settled in the snowy arms of rock reaching toward the sun. It.. seemed to fit Orin. An owlish gaze met his. “Why would they?” To do so was something that Lumia couldn’t fathom. Humans did such things as well and that too puzzled her. The dangers that lay within the lands were also unknown to her. She didn’t know to fear her place at his side, for she thought it fleeting. She’d be allowed to return to her own lands. Innocence sometimes was no excuse for naivety. His magic wasn’t even to blame, mostly. She trusted him as she trusted most. A fatal flaw when delivered into some hands. Dull? His world was breathtaking, so she could understand that.. and Yet.. “All of it?” In her mind she saw the colors of a sunrise or sunset. The beauty of flowers in bloom. Though, they’d have all and more here. The promise of rooms near his own eased her worries and she gave him a shy smile. “Thank you, Winter.” It was the most beautiful room she’d ever seen and her wonderment at it was written plainly on her face. A few steps were taken in and she turned slowly to smile at him. “This is far too grand.” Likely to him it was nothing, used to such opulence, but to her? This room alone was several of her little shacks in size. Her home was small, but cozy and more than enough for her. All this for her though? “Thank you,” Lumia repeated when he told her to make herself at home. She was tired and she closed her eyes for a moment. Perhaps a bath and a nap? Her lashes lifted and those pretty lavender eyes met his own. A brow lifted at the demand rather than the request. “I would be happy to attend with you,” she offered, though there was a touch of something in her voice. Unhappiness at the way he’d requested her presence? Demanded it. Her lips parted in surprise. “All eyes?” She was a human, yes, but surely she wasn’t that special. Blissfully unaware of her presence to him, Lumia didn’t understand why this would be the case. The thought of all eyes being on her made her nervous and suddenly uneasy. “Of course,” the answer was automatic. “Please don’t let me keep you.” Her smile this time held none of that unease. A ball would require nicer clothing, so not even that had been protested at. She’d never be as beautiful as him or his kind, but she could look lovely enough, couldn’t she? When he turned to leave she watched him vanish through the door before it closed with a soft click. Turning to face the room once more Lumia found herself alone in splendor and missing Orin already. Odd, that feeling for someone she’d just met. Setting down her basket, she moved carefully through the room, as if she were afraid to dirty it. It was warm, despite the chill outside, and she found herself carefully shedding layers before setting them to one side. The exploration of the room would have to wait. A bath was needed, far too afraid to touch anything and soil it. So with careful steps, she found the bathing chamber, no less opulent than the room. It took her nearly half an hour to figure out how to work the tub. The spindly little knobs were found to produce water. Hot and cold. A towel was laid beside the bath as it filled, it’s basin big enough for several people. Her clothing was shed and she carefully climbed into the water. A groan of pleasure rose from her as she reclined. Her eyes closing in bliss. #f4bbff ​

 

[Tassu]

Orin Talvanas 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑎 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡. ⊰  —————————————–  ⊰  ✦  ⊱   —————————————–  ⊱​ "It is hard for me to find the time to be on my own," Orin admitted, sighing. "I might be an heir to my father's seat, but the same rules and traditions that tie his hands bind mine as well. The court must gather as it always has. The sovereign and their family must be present, always." She could hear resentment in his voice as the young lord shook his head. "I wait for the spring and the freedom it brings." With the Spring Queen taking the throne, Orin would be free from the courtly intrigue. He could attend if he wished, but no one expected him to be present. "That is our way. It has always been. The seasons change as they do. If the seasons cannot rule forever, why should a sovereign be any different?" Had he not studied humans as he had, Orin would have found Lumia and her people as alien as he had appeared to her. "What makes you think you would be so dreadful?" Orin asked in return, his voice brimming with mirth. "Perhaps you can try later, and we might see?" The fae lord could vividly imagine Lumia kneeling at his feet, her eyes downcast. He wondered how her fingers would feel on his skin. "I cannot claim I have seen all of your world," Orin replied with a wry smile on his lips. "But on this side, everything feels more vivid. More alive. I'm sure you'll understand in time." He was certain that Lumia would understand what he meant when she tasted the fae wine. No human ever walked away from the experience unchanged. "That is their way. Just as the spring is the time for revels and lovemaking, the fall is the time for dread and death. The leaves fall from the trees as nature slips into slumber. The shadows grow longer and the winds grow cold. Everything dies little by little. The courts of autumn reflect this." Orin explained. "It is in their nature to take delight in fear and misery." He found himself often wondering the same. Orin could not feel the springtime or the summer in his veins like the courtiers of those seasons. It was the fall that felt the most alien to him, the cruel games the fae played with criminals and slaves leaving him with a taste of bile in his mouth. Orin chose not to mention that the courtiers of the fall considered humans particularly entertaining playthings. He figured she'd sleep better the less she knew about his kin. "It has been a while since I've brought anyone with me. It has been a while since we have had one of your kind among us. Believe me, everyone will want to talk with you." His words were neither a lie nor the full truth. Again, he thought it better that she did not know. Orin was certain that the others could feel her presence much like he could. Everyone would flock to her if only to feel her. Besides, the fae were curious as they were capricious. It was not often someone brought a human to the courts. ⊰  —————————————–  ⊰  ✦  ⊱   —————————————–  ⊱​ A servant would arrive soon after Lumia had helped herself into the bath. The ageless fae kept her distance as she fussed over the bed, tugging the sheets and fluffing the pillows. She had pristine white curls like Orin's, her hair reaching well past her hips. She wore an intricate grey robe with an emblem of a leafless tree on her chest. "Good afternoon," the willowy woman greeted Lumia through the doorway, her accent making it clear she wasn't used to speaking with humans. "I'll take these to be washed." Humming an equally alien and eerily familiar tone, the maidservant picked up Lumia's garments into a large wicker basket she had brought with her. "I left your dress on the bed. Master Orin personally chose it for you." Lumia could tell that the servant sounded a little tense as she spoke about her lord, her expression inscrutable. Sighing softly, the fae woman glanced at the dark-haired girl as if to make sure that she was fine. She excused herself soon after. When Lumia eventually got out of the baths, she discovered that the fae servant had not only taken her clothes but also her undergarments. Fortunately, the bath chamber had a small pile of warm towels stacked up on a metal stool, allowing her some modesty. Stepping back into the main chamber, the young woman would find a finely woven evening gown on her bed just as the servant had promised. The fae-woven evening dress had been meticulously crafted from layers of diaphanous grey cloth that felt soft in her hands. With the bedsheets visible through the gown, it was painfully evident that the dress wouldn't leave much to the imagination. Sometime later, with the sun setting behind the treeline, there was a knock on her door. "Are you ready?" A familiar soft voice called out to her. "I believe everyone is waiting for us." Everyone assumed that Orin was fashionably late. He was an heir to the Winter Throne. By tradition, he had the right to arrive in a manner that would allow the entire court to see him take his place by his father's side. This suited the young lordling well. He was eager to show off his guest. Moments later, Orin pushed the door open. He had never been a patient man, and tonight was no exception. ​

 

[Bunny]

Lumia Crellevé 𝑎 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠. ⊰  —————————————–  ⊰  ✦  ⊱   —————————————–  ⊱​ It struck Lumia as odd that he’d find trouble finding time to himself, though she was used to ample time alone, it was finding company that could be more of a challenge for her. “That sounds,” she paused, considering her words, “It sounds hard. I can always find company if I need it. It might take some effort or time, but I can find it. To struggle to find time for yourself?” She shook her head some, her dark locks swaying. “I don’t think I’d like that. Her lips curled. “Winter is often when I am by myself, spring is when company is easier to find.” It was more the dichotomy that amused her, how they were almost opposites. The way it has always been, it was the same for humans. It had always been rulers clinging to power, steadfast and unwilling to share. Humanity craved to be above someone, to have more than the other. While many wouldn’t see it that way, be a beggar, asking those far too wealthy for coin in a harsh winter, only to be sneered at. Those ‘kind’ souls, not as kind as they’d wish to think. Chuckling, she shrugged. “I am a touch clumsy and it seems you’d need to be graceful to do it properly.” Her nose wrinkled and she made a playful face in his direction. Her thoughts had not shifted as his own had. “Perhaps I will try.” She hedged, in a teasing voice. “But in private where no one can laugh at me.” His voice and the way he spoke of his autumn brethren made her frown and she shifted closer almost instinctively. Odd that she’d seek comfort in winter maybe, but she trusted Orin, for she’d not been given reason not to. “I suppose,” Lumia mused, “That all things are as they should be?” It wasn’t an excuse for such behaviors, but if was how they were, then that was how they were. On display, attracting attention wasn’t something that Lumia was used to and she shifted uneasily but nodded. Her hand tightened on his. “But you will not leave me?” Her attachment to him was simple. Winter, as she knew him, was a known quantity. He had not harmed her and had even saved her. He was for lack of any other word, safe. She trusted him to keep her safe. Folly or not, she’d little other choice. ⊰  —————————————–  ⊰  ✦  ⊱   —————————————–  ⊱​ Noise was heard, gentle rustling, before Lumia saw the fae woman. Sinking deeper into the bubble filled water she smiled shyly at the faerie in the doorway. “Good afternoon,” the greeting echoed. “Oh, thank you.” Her smile warmed further and she nodded. “Thank you again,” the woman left after gazing at her. There had been something odd about the interaction but Lumia couldn’t put her finger on it. Beyond learning that Winter was not Winter. Orin? As she bathed, she though about this little detail and an old tale of faerie kind about names and the power they had. One indulgent bath later she rose from the water as it cooled and wrapped herself in a fuzzy towel. Careful to buff the water from her skin, so she’d not railed droplets across the fine room, she turned to look at the bedroom door. Orin had picked her outfit for her? What she found was both beautiful and terrifying. It was of fine make, even if it hadn’t been faerie crafted. The layers of soft fabric felt almost like silk, even though it should have been itchy. Worrying her lower lip she looked at the pattern of the bedspread beneath. Her own clothes, all of them, had been taken. Her underclothes in particular the pieces she craved to have at the moment. Lumia wasn’t one to normally disparage herself, she was pretty enough. Winter had not been kind though and she was too skinny, her breasts, normally small, were a touch smaller in her malnourished state. Her hips a little more prominent. Even healthy though, she’d have blushed to hi hell to wear something so.. Revealing. It took Lumia a full thirty minutes to work up the courage to slip into the gown.Her dark hair had dried to soft curls by then and fell around her shoulders and down her back in a fuzzy wave of silk.The dress didn’t cling to her skin, thankfully, but flowed along her soft curves. Though there was no hiding her nudity beneath it. How her nipples rose against the chill air and brush of cloth, a sweet pink that was made almost lavender by the grey of the gown at times. Nor the way the gown showed off her rear nor the smooth apex between her thighs when she moved. It darkened near there, but only a touch, providing a little more modesty, but just barely. Her feet were left bare and the gown pooled around them. Worrying had consumed her when the knock sounded and for a moment, Lumia froze, looking at the door. She didn’t have time to formulate an answer nor to propel herself forward to greet him. She turned in a swirl of skirts, her arms around herself shyly to face him. “Hello, Orin.” His name was soft, and her cheeks held bright blush as his eyes took her in. #f4bbff ​

 

[Tassu]

Orin Talvanas 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑎 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡. ⊰  —————————————–  ⊰  ✦  ⊱   —————————————–  ⊱​ Orin, for his part, was wearing a finely woven white doublet over a near-diaphanous shirt. The flimsy garments did little to hide the contours of his body. His grey pants were a little more opaque as if to maintain some modesty. "I am back, as promised," the nobleman quipped, his eyes meeting Lumia's. The handsome young fae smiled softly, amused by her blush. He was so used to seeing his kin half-naked that he hadn't even considered that the human woman might be uncomfortable in her dress, even if he knew that the humans pretended to be more modest. The fact that even the smallest settlements that he had visited had a brothel had led him to conclude that human modesty was merely a charade. A shared illusion to make everyone comfortable. Fae were not that different, their world hinged on shared beliefs. Hearing Lumia speak his true name, Orin frowned, the young lord somehow managing to maintain his composure. Making a note to chastise the servant he had sent to Lumia's rooms, he offered his guest a soft smile. "That would be me, yes." There was a short pause, the tall man glancing past Lumia's shoulder. "I hope that the rooms are to your liking. I heard you took a bath?" The question was largely perfunctory. Orin fully knew that most humans had never experienced the opulence the fae surrounded themselves with. "I hope that the water was warm enough?" The long waterline that provided hot water for the castle ran through natural hot springs meaning that there was no risk of the plumbing ever freezing. The fae lord spoke to his guest as if there was nothing unusual in her revealing attire, his tone perfectly conversational. While Lumia had bathed, Orin had had the chance to cool his head. He could still feel her presence at the back of his mind, even if the sensation was now muted. Dipping his gaze, Orin let his eyes rest on Lumia's slender frame. Though skinny and scrawny, the young woman was not without her charms. "You look lovely, dear." His voice was soft and seductive. "Just as I expected. Shall we then?" Extending his arm to Lumia, Orin tugged the young woman close to himself as he led her through the winding hallways. Close as the young woman was, she could smell a faint scent of lavender on his clothes. Scent that had not been there when they had last talked. Snow was gently falling outside, and the sky was slowly turning dark. Frost crystals formed elaborate flowers on the windows, the palace feeling oddly warm despite the cold outside. Intricate metal lanterns dangled from the wall, their cold green flames illuminating the floor. It was hard to tell if the flames were real, the scent of smoke absent from the corridor. "Do you know how to dance?" The handsome fae lord asked Lumia, a hint of mischief gleaming in his eyes. Even though many of the fae's courtly dances had crossed to the other side of the veil, Orin knew that the likelihood of her being familiar with any of them was slim. "Would it be better if you just watched?" They passed a small gaggle of servants, the waifish and achingly beautiful fae women turning to curtsy, their movements slow as they were graceful. Nothing was ever done in a hurry at the court of the Winter King. That all would change with the Queen of Spring claiming the throne, the palace filled with frenzied activity. The unlikely couple would eventually reach a pair of gilded doors flanked by guards dressed in ornamental armor. A cacophony of voices could be heard through the doors, somber music mixing with quiet banter. The fae warriors stepped to the side in unison, both men appearing a little nervous. They could both feel Lumia's presence, unsure what to make of her. With the human woman in Orin's presence, neither of them dared to object. Reaching for the handles, the guards pulled the doors open, stepping to the side as they did so. "Stay close to me," Orin murmured, leaning closer. He knew he was leading her into a nest of vipers. The fae lord was seeking to make an impression on a few particularly serpentine noblemen. "Lord Orin Geimhreadh." A gentle feminine voice proclaimed their arrival, bells chiming somewhere above them. "And Lumia of the Veil." The voice added, the audience gasping as they laid their eyes on the human woman. Just as Orin had told Lumia, the court had their eyes on her, dozens upon dozens of fae nobles and courtiers trying to get a better look. The murmur that had filled the large hall grew louder, every soul keenly aware that Lumia was no normal mortal. They could all sense there was something wrong with her. ​

 

[Bunny]

Lumia Crellevé 𝑎 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠. ⊰  —————————————–  ⊰  ✦  ⊱   —————————————–  ⊱​ His own attire helped her feel a little less awkward, but just barely. While his knowledge wasn’t wrong, humanity clung to that charade for the most part. No one had ever seen this much of Lumia before and there would be many more faeries in attendance at the ball. Fighting the desire to squirm beneath his gaze, Lumia tried to instead focus on what he was saying. Her use of his name had him frowning and she tilted her head, curiously. “Sorry, should I not call you that?” Worry creased her features before he smiled and acknowledged the name. Her own smile was small and she nodded. “The room is more than lovely.” Her eyes left his for a moment, looking around the decadence that Lumia had to assume only royalty of her world had access to. It was her turn to frown. Would that be a thing, that the servants would report back what she was doing? It wasn’t so much having tabs kept, but the nature of privacy that she’d be robbed of. “I did, you wished me to attend a ball and I had been out in the snow for hours.” She’d been filthy. Sweat and dirt on her skin and under her nails. “It was,” It had been the best bath she’d ever had, truth be told. Not unused to bathing, it had been a large space and the water had seemed to keep its warmth longer. Squirming couldn’t be stilled as he took her in properly and she bit the inside of her cheek to keep from frowning or allowing herself to give in to her unease. “Thank you, it was a bit more.. Revealing than I thought it might be.” Her words were not a chastisement, nor did they hold offense. Lumia merely shared her unease with him. Tugged into his side she cuddled closer to him and his warmth before being swept from the room. Lavender tickled her nose, this close to him and her eyes drifted up to study his profile before allowing them to fall and take in her surroundings. The world of the faerie was breathtaking and Lumia found her gaze dragged from one thing to the next as he led her through the palace. “Like court dances?” She asked, unsure. She knew exactly one. “I know one. I know how to waltz” Unsure if it was something he’d know or not, unaware of how similar their worlds could be. As the fae women curtsied, Lumia knew she’d fall on her face if she tried, at least the first time. Their movements were too graceful. “Likely, unless you wished to teach me, Orin.” His name was soft from her lips and she moved closer to him as they neared the doors, nerves getting the better of her. Words of warning had been headed before he’d even spoken them and yet Lumia moved closer with another small nod. When their names were announced she fought a frown and then found herself the center of attention. What she was unaware of was how they all knew she was different, something that she didn’t even know as other than demanding to know what she was, Orin had not informed her of how she made him feel. With all eyes on her, her hand in his tightened and she pressed her smaller frame directly against him, almost hiding. To outsiders, it might seem like they were lovers, though everyone knew she was a new arrival. His warmth, at least physically, was comforting and she relaxed beside him a fraction. She waited until he led them from the doorway, her heart fluttering like a caged bird. The way they looked at her made her feel nervous. Orin had been better at schooling his features than some of the faerie before her. #f4bbff ​

 

[Tassu]

Orin Talvanas 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑎 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡. ⊰  —————————————–  ⊰  ✦  ⊱   —————————————–  ⊱​ Orin tugged Lumia closer to himself, his grey eyes scanning the audience. A soft smile flickered on his lips, the young fae lord basking in the attention of his peers. The courts held by his father tended to be somber occasions, quiet and ponderous as winter itself. Orin knew that this day would be different. The human girl he had dragged to the palace would make the occasion lively. Dozens of eyes followed the young human woman as her host escorted her toward the dais. "I hope you can manage a curtsy," Orin murmured into her ear, regretting that he hadn't ensured the human woman could prostrate herself without stumbling over. In the eyes of the ethereally graceful fae, humans were all clumsy. The court was filled with fae draped in diaphanous cloth, the gowns worn by the noble ladies leaving little to the imagination. Whether she wanted to or not, Lumia could see every curve and crevice of their slender bodies. The men were slightly more modestly dressed, though only waist down. A multitude of intricate lanterns bathed the courtroom in warm light, the fae-fires flickering sluggishly beneath the small glass domes. Lumia could see a tall dais standing on a raised platform, the lord of the palace idly eyeing the proceedings. He wore a crown of ice on his brow, his long white curls reaching well past his shoulders. The winter king's features resembled Orin's, though where the fae prince was clean-shaven, his father had a short beard that matched the color of his hair. Orin gave a tug on Lumia's sleeve, gently pulling her toward the throne. "We should pay our dues." The young prince realized that he had forgotten to tell his companion what was expected of her. He had been far too distracted by her presence to realize that the young woman could not know that she would be meeting his father. Orin had merely mentioned the ball. The young prince was hardly the only one distracted, both men and women studying her with unabashed hunger in their eyes. "Isä," Orin murmured, offering a bow to the tall man sitting on the dais. The somber music that had filled the hall died away."Löysin jotain mielenkiintoista," he added with a wry smile on his lips even as he reached to wrap his hand around Lumia's waist. She could hear the pride in his voice. "Eikö hän ole suloinen?" Orin's long fingers found their way to Lumia's shoulder, his skin warm against hers. "Poimin hänet metsästä." "On. Oletko varma, että hän on ihminen?" the winter king mused, his eyes intent on the human woman. While Lumia could not understand the king's words, she could likely hear the doubt in his voice. He could feel just as everyone else in the court. "Hän ei tunnut ihmiseltä. Oletko varma, ettei hän ole vaihdokas?" The king frowned, tilting his head to the side. It was almost as if he was trying to make sense of her. "En usko." Orin shrugged, reaching to brush his slender fingers against Lumia's ear. "Hän ei voi olla yksi meistä. Palatsin loitsut olisivat paljastaneet hänet, jos hänellä olisi ollut pahat mielessään." Hearing his son speak, the king nodded. "Hän on tervetullut hoviimme. Sinun olisi ehkä kuitenkin hyvä pitää häntä silmällä." "Totta kai." Orin bowed again, expecting to be dismissed. "Lumia of the Veil. You are welcome to our court," the king addressed the human woman. "You are under my protection. You have nothing to fear while you stay within my halls." And so they were dismissed, Orin walking Lumia to the side, the fae courtiers pretending disinterest while occasionally glancing at the human woman. Moments later the king raised his hand and music filled the courtroom again, the somber tones replaced with a merry, quick-paced tune. It did not take long before the fae took to the floor, forming pairs seemingly at random. "Watch closely," Orin whispered, leaning closer. "Few are the mortals that have ever seen this." Suddenly, the lights went out. A moment later purple lanterns flickered into life, the courtroom now far darker than it had been before. As the fae on the floor matched their steps with the music, their movements mesmerizingly graceful. The dancers were quite intimate with their touches, their bodies pressed together. Lumia could see the fae changing partners, women slipping free from the arms of their partners, only to have someone else pull them into an embrace. A servant carrying a tray brimming with tall glasses walked past the point where Orin and Lumia stood, the fae prince picking up drinks for both of them. "Try some, please?" His voice was mellow and inviting. "It's rather good." Orin swirled the crimson liquid in the glass, scents of blackberries and cherries heavy in the air. ​

 

[Bunny]

Lumia Crellevé 𝑎 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠. ⊰  —————————————–  ⊰  ✦  ⊱   —————————————–  ⊱​ The feeling of eyes from every direction made her want to squirm, as if under inspection or to curl closer to her protector. So much attention made Lumia feel uneasy, never one to bask in the view of others. No, she preferred the quiet of the woods and the company of a few close friends. This was definitely out of her comfort zone. That depth only deepened as Orin spoke and she fought a frown. Those beautiful lavender eyes darkened with a flash of annoyance. He knew she had never done so and now would have to in front the court of faeire? Looking from faerie to faerie Lumia knew she was blushing, her normally pale cheeks glowing with a delicate pink that seemed to refuse to vanish. Biting the inside of her cheek, Lumia snuggled closer to Orin, feeling like a damsel in distress and hating it. When it had just been them, she’d felt far more comfortable in her skin. Dues? Her brows drew together and it took a lot of self control to not speak or pull him back and demand he explain. Not that he had given her a chance as she was pulled before a throne and her guardian bowed. Assuming this was when she was meant to curtsy, Lumia did her best to emulate the fae women who had done so in the hallway. While she lacked their fluid grace, Lumia curtsied, rather prettily, and straightened her eyes lowered. She couldn’t have stayed in that pose, but she could show difference by keeping her eyes averted from whom she could only assume was his father. Their voices were rich as they spoke to one another in a language that Lumia clearly did not know. A hand slipped around her waist and she gasped, looking up at Orin's profile. The pride in his voice and she could only wonder what was being said. Where his voice had held pride, the king's held something akin to suspicion and Lumia risked a gaze at him. Fingers grazed her ear and Lumia shivered, her lashes falling for a moment as the gentle touch traveled along her nerves down to her toes. Slowly her eyes opened again and she bit her lower lip. When he finally addressed her, Lumia met his eyes and inclined her head, dismissed, there was no need to thank him, even if she wished too. Orin whisked her off, leading her away from the king on his dais. Warm breath tickled her ear as the music began and obediently she looked out to the dance floor, momentarily distracted from her goal to pinch him for throwing her into the deep end without warning. A glass was handed to her and she tilted her head, looking at the dark liquid, the sweet scent tickling her nose. Oddly, Lumia wanted to please Orin, and she couldn’t tell if it was her own desire or something of his making, but thinking upon it for a moment, she decided she’d have wanted to make the faerie prince smile, glamour or not. Sipping the drink, it didn’t taste alcoholic as the sweetness of berries melted on her tongue. Cherries and blackberries, tart and sweet. Swallowing, she made a soft sound in her throat of pleasure. “It is wonderful..” Her eyes lifted from the dancers before them to Orin himself. “Why wouldn’t you tell me who we were meeting?” There was that flash again of annoyance or anger in her eyes once more as she held the crystal goblet in her hand as she mumbled softly, “I could have at least practiced my curtsy.” It wasn’t lost on her though that she seemed more curiosity than anything else within these walls. Lifting the glass she took another small sip. They likely didn’t care if she could do such things well, knowing she couldn’t. It almost felt like she was his.. Pet. Her eyes narrowed for a moment and she frowned at Orin. “Orin, I am not some sort of pet to you am I?” There was an accusation in her voice. #f4bbff ​

 

[Tassu]

Orin Talvanas 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑎 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡. ⊰  —————————————–  ⊰  ✦  ⊱   —————————————–  ⊱​ Lumia could likely feel the Winter King's eyes on her as she curtsied, the old fae ruler tilting his head to the side as he tried to gauge the young woman. He wore an intricate silver crown on his brow, the near-perfect crystals embedded into the metal glittering in the soft light that filled the courtroom. If he had any opinion on Lumia, he kept it to himself. It was not as if the fae expected much grace from humans. The king and his court were far too occupied with Lumia's aura. They had all felt her step into the room. Small groups had come together, discussing the newcomer in hushed tones. The winter courts were somber occasions, the courtiers following the millennia-old protocols to the letter. While Orin had broken no rules, there was no denying that he had stirred things up. Orin kept glancing at Lumia as he discussed with his father, his expression inscrutable. A faint smile flickered on his lips, his thoughts weaving a skein of possibilities. Even if he was drawn to the human woman like a moth to a flame, he could see using her to advance his standing among his ever-curious kin. He had brought Lumia past the veil, and anyone wishing to meet her would have to go through him. This would mean exchanging favors, allowing the winter court to wield more soft power in the future. Seeing how his father had looked at Lumia, Orin was certain that he understood the situation. "I had other things on my mind," Orin apologized with a half-truth, offering Lumia a roguish smile. He had known that his father would be present. He had merely thought that Lumia would freak out for no reason. Besides, he had been rather distracted. The more time he spent with her, the harder it was to ignore her presence in the back of his mind. He could tell he wanted to taste her lips on his. He wanted to feel her body against his. To claim her as his own. Clearing his throat, Orin nodded at the courtiers on the other side of the hall. "You caught their attention anyway." Even though the slender fae were trying to be discreet, Lumia could likely feel their eyes on her. Nothing ever happened at the winter court. Many of the courtiers of Summer and Spring were bored out of their minds as the sedate pace of the court left them aching to do something — anything. Any distraction was welcome. "Good, isn't it?" Orin murmured, taking a sip from his glass. The fae wine was as inebriating as it was sweet, the crimson liquid infused with medicinal herbs meant to heighten sensations. "Pet?" The fae prince tilted his head to the side, frowning. Shadows played on his features as the soft purple lights twinkled, his eyes seeking out hers. "What would you mean?" he asked, reaching to brush the back of his hand against her cheek. A moment later, a tall and beautiful fae woman with antlers on her brow skittered across the dance floor, her steps graceful as she wove her way past the dancers. The fae courtier wore a green dress woven from impossibly thin fabric, the curves and nooks of her delicate and naked body visible through the cloth. "Lord Orin," she greeted the fae prince, her crimson eyes flickering between him and the human woman. "Lumia. Charmed." Her voice dripped with barely concealed disdain as she reached to touch Orin's shoulder, running her slender fingers down to his chest. "Might I steal Orin for a moment?" she asked Lumia, offering her a coy smile. Orin sighed. "This would be Lady Haru. The second daughter of the Spring Queen." Lumia could hear a faint frustration in his voice, Orin managing a smile as he spoke. "Her mother would have us marry." Much to Haru's credit, she managed to maintain her composure. "You speak as if we haven't known each other since we were children!" The fae princess frowned, her fingers drawing small circles on Orin's chest. "You will grant me this dance, won't you?" she asked, pouting a little, her voice soft as a gentle stream. "I guess I should." Taking Haru's hand into his own, Orin turned to Lumia. "Please wait here, I'll be right back." The lithe fae woman standing by Orin smirked, her eyes gleaming with mischief. Lumia could see Haru wrapping her body around Orin's as he led her to the dance floor, the lithe woman easing herself into his arms. ​