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

As the rain started to fall, Tamlin scrunched his nose and turned his face towards the clouds. I love rai—

He suddenly ducked, a battle reflex, as Briar’s hands came flying towards him in some sort of awkward karate chop. By the cauldron, what is she trying to do?

Rain wasn’t toxic. In fact, he quite enjoyed it. Yet, she appeared quite panicked over him getting wet. Tamlin stepped backwards, a look of caution flooding his face. He didn’t need more burdens, more people to take care of — more people trying to take care of him. What was she trying to do? His frustration surged, rising as unpracticed magic poured from her fingertips in an attempt to push the water away from him.

The combination of rain and wind left him standing in one half of spring shower, while his other side was perfectly dry. Tamlin raised his brows and carefully ceased the wind powering around him in odd circles. If that didn’t stop, he’d end up with his hair in too many knots for even Lucien to untangle.

Disgruntled, the High Lord only had to take one look at the slender brunette to tell that she was, once again, terrified. This was magic that she couldn’t control. Most high fae were taught about their magic from a young age, which meant that she’d been deprived of this teaching or she had not always been high fae.

His gaze was intense as he focused on her face, trying to place it in his memory. “How about leave the magic to me?”

Tamlin sighed heavily and conjured something much more practical than a windstorm — an umbrella. He handed it to her and motioned to the path. “After you.”

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?” 

-Zoë Lianne

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?” 

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.”