Courage Is Not The Absence Of Fear, But Rather The Judgment That Something Is More Important Than Fear.

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all.” — Prince Edward Renaldi

forbidden love prompts

“we can’t keep meeting like this, someone will find out.”

“every moment we spend together is a risk, but I can’t stay away.”

“if anyone sees us, it will be the end for both of us.”

“i know it’s dangerous, but I can’t help how I feel about you.”

“just one kiss, then we have to go back to pretending.”

“no one can know about this, promise me.”

“i shouldn’t be here, but I couldn’t stay away.”

“what if someone sees us? what then?”

“every time I see you, I have to remind myself that it’s forbidden.”

“we’re playing with fire, and we both know it.”

“i wish things were different, but they’re not.”

“this is the last time, we can’t keep doing this.”

“if they find out, we’ll both be in so much trouble.”

“i’ve tried to forget about you, but it’s impossible.”

“they warned me about you, but I didn’t listen.”

The louder she got, the easier it became to tune her out. He had years of experience listening to the people around him yell, threaten, and gesticulate while trying to communicate with one another and he was tired of it. The words turned to a ringing pitch in his ears and his eyes glazed over.

That was what he got for his generosity? For his time spent making sure she was safe and cared for? Tamlin said nothing, struggling not to tense his shoulders. Despite knowing what to say, he did not fight back He simply stood up and walked away. If she was so interested in doing things her own way, so be it. He couldn’t work with someone who refused to trust him. He left the door open behind him and his brisk footsteps were heard echoing into the private areas of his home below.

If she wanted to talk, she’d have to come back during court with the rest of the people asking for help and just like they did — she’d have to mind her manners.

the secret side of me @springcourthighlady

It had been a long day — too long. Tamlin was tired and his head ached after spending so long reading contracts and documents with his courtiers and emissaries. He tried not to wear his glasses in court, but now in the soft light of the setting sun, he was happy to have them to assist as he opened his book to the marked page and began to read. 

The rose garden was his place of solace and comfort. Whenever his spirit was worn, he came here to rest. Very few knew of the small path off the manicured way that led to a small grove of trees and wild roses. He’d swung a hammock between two of them and rested between the branches, letting the wind sway him back and forth. 

In the middle of the chapter, an innocent giggle sprang to life from the pages of the old fairytale that he was reading. Tamlin rubbed his head. Am I that tired?

He yawned and tried to focus again on the swirling letters, but the laughter again distracted him. 

He knew that sound. His ears quirked up and his green eyes brightened.

Nyx! 

His excitement was followed by an equally intense rush of anxiety

Feyre. 

Tamlin peered over the hedges. A flash of black curls revealed the toddler running from his guardian.

He did it! His heart swelled with pride. By the cauldron — I hope she’s not too mad at me.

Nyx stopped, spotting him through the branches. “Tamtam!” 

The toddler rushed through the secret entrance and tackled his legs, knocking him to the ground. Tamlin yelped, suddenly upside down, but happily surrounded by hugs from his favorite tiny fae. 

He lifted Nyx up into the air, making dragon sounds, until he saw a lovely young woman peeking around the edge of the brambles. His face turned red, hot, and he stood up quickly. His posture stiffened, though the color didn’t fade from his cheeks, or ears. 

“Lady…” It took him a moment to place her. He did try to keep track of everyone who lived in Spring, but the increasing amount of names was making that difficult. “Rose? Was it? Lady Rose?” 

Tamlin’s shoulders remained guarded and he ignored her rather bold inquiry into his change in temperament. He was a different man with his family. Nyx was not his child, but he held a special place in his heart, as all the children of Spring did. He was a part of the broken, but healing odds and ends that had emerged from across Prythian and gathered here in Spring to begin again. Lucien and Elain, Nesta and Eris, himself and Nyx, and…Feyre, to whom he tried to avoid speaking right now. He needed space to let his mind move past a dream that could never be — a longing which could never be fulfilled.

His mood may have taken a sharp souring if it hadn’t happened that her request was about a child. A golden haired, freckled child. Images of Andras surfaced in Tamlin’s mind. He winced. Andras was long gone, yet the guilt he bore was still heavy and real.

He listened to Briar speak with polite nuance , unable to show how deeply he considered her words. Half-fae, the elfin, were rare. His own children with a human would could have been elfin, fae, or…tragically human. Humans were gone so soon. Their light flickered so fast.

“I can glamour anyone.” Tamlin answered. “But the borders are sealed for a reason, Lady Briar. Our relations with people on all sides are tentative at best and tense at worst. Even if you were accompanied by a sentry, I cannot guarantee your safety.”

Tamlin looked into the distance towards the border. “How old is he?” His eyes softened. “It would help if you knew his family name. How strong the family’s bloodties are to the old magic can greatly change how fast fae characteristics will show themselves. Like, Nyx for example. Winnowing at his age is improbable yet, he commands the skill better than most adults. His bloodline is ancient on one side and Cauldron made on the other. Who was Caedin’s father?”

His green eyes met Briar’s with a persistent curiosity. “Surely, in the back of your mind — you remember more.”

the secret side of me @springcourthighlady

It had been a long day — too long. Tamlin was tired and his head ached after spending so long reading contracts and documents with his courtiers and emissaries. He tried not to wear his glasses in court, but now in the soft light of the setting sun, he was happy to have them to assist as he opened his book to the marked page and began to read. 

The rose garden was his place of solace and comfort. Whenever his spirit was worn, he came here to rest. Very few knew of the small path off the manicured way that led to a small grove of trees and wild roses. He’d swung a hammock between two of them and rested between the branches, letting the wind sway him back and forth. 

In the middle of the chapter, an innocent giggle sprang to life from the pages of the old fairytale that he was reading. Tamlin rubbed his head. Am I that tired?

He yawned and tried to focus again on the swirling letters, but the laughter again distracted him. 

He knew that sound. His ears quirked up and his green eyes brightened.

Nyx! 

His excitement was followed by an equally intense rush of anxiety

Feyre. 

Tamlin peered over the hedges. A flash of black curls revealed the toddler running from his guardian.

He did it! His heart swelled with pride. By the cauldron — I hope she’s not too mad at me.

Nyx stopped, spotting him through the branches. “Tamtam!” 

The toddler rushed through the secret entrance and tackled his legs, knocking him to the ground. Tamlin yelped, suddenly upside down, but happily surrounded by hugs from his favorite tiny fae. 

He lifted Nyx up into the air, making dragon sounds, until he saw a lovely young woman peeking around the edge of the brambles. His face turned red, hot, and he stood up quickly. His posture stiffened, though the color didn’t fade from his cheeks, or ears. 

“Lady…” It took him a moment to place her. He did try to keep track of everyone who lived in Spring, but the increasing amount of names was making that difficult. “Rose? Was it? Lady Rose?” 

Hybern. Tamlin did not like to think about Hybern. He was already two steps ahead of her by the time she started rambling again, but that word stopped him dead in his tracks. He embraced the gentle tap of the rain against his skin and tried to force calm over the latent anger laced through his memories of everything he’d tried to do to bring the love of his life home. Or, the fae he’d thought had been. Now, they lived within a mile of one another and couldn’t even make eye contact. He didn’t believe in love — not anymore. Not that kind. Not for him.

Tamlin looked over his shoulder to see her struggling in the mud and he winced. When was the last time she had a proper meal?

Despite the tithe working and food stocks being distributed, that still didn’t mean everyone used them fairly. This girl was clearly overworked and underfed. He couldn’t imagine how a rambunctious toddler was the right fit.

His manners refused to let him leave her in the sludge. Tamlin turned, biting back an onslaught of memories. He’d wanted to be alone before Nyx found him. After that, he’d looked forwards to spending time with the tiny bugger. The last thing on his agenda was more work. Yet, he still held out his hand and offered her a way off the ground.

Once she was standing, he took her by the wrist and concentrated on the outer hallway that led to his office, winnowing there, in one snap of a finger. The girl was soaking wet, muddy, and clearly hungry. Tamlin pulled a bell on the wall and spoke in a low voice to the young maid who came through the corridor with a candle. “Briar, this is Tirzah. Tirzah, Briar. She’s going to find you some clean clothes and something to eat. Once you’ve cleaned up, I’ll be here waiting.”

the secret side of me @springcourthighlady

It had been a long day — too long. Tamlin was tired and his head ached after spending so long reading contracts and documents with his courtiers and emissaries. He tried not to wear his glasses in court, but now in the soft light of the setting sun, he was happy to have them to assist as he opened his book to the marked page and began to read. 

The rose garden was his place of solace and comfort. Whenever his spirit was worn, he came here to rest. Very few knew of the small path off the manicured way that led to a small grove of trees and wild roses. He’d swung a hammock between two of them and rested between the branches, letting the wind sway him back and forth. 

In the middle of the chapter, an innocent giggle sprang to life from the pages of the old fairytale that he was reading. Tamlin rubbed his head. Am I that tired?

He yawned and tried to focus again on the swirling letters, but the laughter again distracted him. 

He knew that sound. His ears quirked up and his green eyes brightened.

Nyx! 

His excitement was followed by an equally intense rush of anxiety

Feyre. 

Tamlin peered over the hedges. A flash of black curls revealed the toddler running from his guardian.

He did it! His heart swelled with pride. By the cauldron — I hope she’s not too mad at me.

Nyx stopped, spotting him through the branches. “Tamtam!” 

The toddler rushed through the secret entrance and tackled his legs, knocking him to the ground. Tamlin yelped, suddenly upside down, but happily surrounded by hugs from his favorite tiny fae. 

He lifted Nyx up into the air, making dragon sounds, until he saw a lovely young woman peeking around the edge of the brambles. His face turned red, hot, and he stood up quickly. His posture stiffened, though the color didn’t fade from his cheeks, or ears. 

“Lady…” It took him a moment to place her. He did try to keep track of everyone who lived in Spring, but the increasing amount of names was making that difficult. “Rose? Was it? Lady Rose?” 

Tamlin let the music lull his badly fractured nerves into the soft hum of active concentration. He set his fiddle away safely and took a seat at his desk. He was no stranger to working late into the night, it was part of carrying his title and the weight of an entire court on his shoulders. He’d not expected to be in meetings past the sun's setting. 

He pursed his lips, watching it descend through the western window, with a wrinkle set deeply into his forehead. Stress was his constant companion and spending time with his found family was one of the only things which relieved it. 

He was missing a dinner with Lucien and Elain to take this meeting, but given the circumstances he knew that they would want him to be here. This concerned children and they had one on the way, soon. The High Lord needed to do everything he could for Spring — not just his own family. Tamlin swallowed his frustration and pushed his bruised heart far, far away.

All she’s trying to do is reunite her family — just like I have. This is the least I can do.

He cracked his knuckles and organized the papers left on his desk, during his walk. Death certificates, as he’d been warned. Too many of them. One was too many and there were five. 

Tamlin glanced over the first two. Tension settled in his jaw. He reached for his glasses to try to clear the headache which had been building for hours. They belonged to two adolescent boys who’d been caught by a wildly roaming Naga after a well-established curfew. 

He’d broken curfew many times as a young boy and it never got him killed. There was still so much wrong with Spring. Thing which even he, a High Lord, could not mend. Even if he spent all his hours patrolling the borders, evil would still find a way to sneak through. He carefully signed his name and moved on, making a mental note to speak to the family himself. 

The third was a sentry. Tamlin’s brows knit, he scrawled his name and carefully pinned a note on sending his regards to the family. 

The fourth belonged to a mother, who died in labor, and her infant who had not survived brought in the fifth. Tamlin ripped off his glasses and shoved them aside, feeling his emotions rise above their careful containment. A sentry was one thing, and a young fae another; but a mother? Her infant? 

What am I doing? I can’t even keep people from dying long enough for new lives to start. I am failing these people. Spring isn’t safe — 

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. “Come in,” Tamlin said gruffly. 

The small brunette, Briar, peeked into the room. She looked better now. She wasn’t covered in mud and her hair was…clean, at least and she wasn’t shivering. Anything else mattered very little. Clean and warm were what he could ensure, not safety. 

“Lady Briar,” He uncovered his eyes, forcing his voice to be alert, and hoped that he did not look as exhausted as he felt. “Feeling any better? Warmer, I hope.” 

Tamlin did not meet her eyes until he finished signing the death certificate of the baby fae. Then, he sat back in his chair and offered her a simple nod. She’d asked for the meeting and had his full attention. “I have heard your plea. Tell me about yourself.” 

the secret side of me @springcourthighlady

It had been a long day — too long. Tamlin was tired and his head ached after spending so long reading contracts and documents with his courtiers and emissaries. He tried not to wear his glasses in court, but now in the soft light of the setting sun, he was happy to have them to assist as he opened his book to the marked page and began to read. 

The rose garden was his place of solace and comfort. Whenever his spirit was worn, he came here to rest. Very few knew of the small path off the manicured way that led to a small grove of trees and wild roses. He’d swung a hammock between two of them and rested between the branches, letting the wind sway him back and forth. 

In the middle of the chapter, an innocent giggle sprang to life from the pages of the old fairytale that he was reading. Tamlin rubbed his head. Am I that tired?

He yawned and tried to focus again on the swirling letters, but the laughter again distracted him. 

He knew that sound. His ears quirked up and his green eyes brightened.

Nyx! 

His excitement was followed by an equally intense rush of anxiety

Feyre. 

Tamlin peered over the hedges. A flash of black curls revealed the toddler running from his guardian.

He did it! His heart swelled with pride. By the cauldron — I hope she’s not too mad at me.

Nyx stopped, spotting him through the branches. “Tamtam!” 

The toddler rushed through the secret entrance and tackled his legs, knocking him to the ground. Tamlin yelped, suddenly upside down, but happily surrounded by hugs from his favorite tiny fae. 

He lifted Nyx up into the air, making dragon sounds, until he saw a lovely young woman peeking around the edge of the brambles. His face turned red, hot, and he stood up quickly. His posture stiffened, though the color didn’t fade from his cheeks, or ears. 

“Lady…” It took him a moment to place her. He did try to keep track of everyone who lived in Spring, but the increasing amount of names was making that difficult. “Rose? Was it? Lady Rose?”