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

Makeshift family — those words moved Tamlin. He paused walking and motioned to a nearby bench. She was nervous, he could tell. His austerity could be intimidating and he knew that. Yet, still she tried. She was brave enough to seek him out in his personal time with his own messy, yet much beloved family. He swallowed, cautiously meeting her blue eyes, which were bright as a morning sky, but burdened with the storms of loss and guilt. He knew those storms. They followed him everywhere.

Wouldn’t I do the same for Nyx? For Lucien’s child, soon to be here? I would go to the end of the earth to find them.

Tamlin looked away, fiddling with one of the rings he wore on his graceful fingers. This one belonged to his mother. It would belong to his wife one day — or his mate — should he ever be so lucky. The one love, the one engagement he’d ever experienced burned his home to cinders. Yet, his heart still had kindness to give. Gentleness was the sharpest arrow of all, wasn’t it? He would never regret it. Despite the pain it caused him, it was strong within the beats of his heart. It whispered,

Not my father’s son. Not my father’s son.

“Lady Briar,” He paused after her name. “I am inclined to grant your request, but I cannot let you bring a child into Spring without an adequate way to provide for them.”

“The doors to the public open at dawn.” He stood. “Our citizens bring their desires before court. You are both incredibly bold, quite intelligent, and a moderate bit sneaky to manage finding me in my spare time.”

A real, but slightly disgruntled smile broke past his guard. He had to admire her sheer pluck. “I’d recommend being there early. These things must be on record publicly and my estate manager can find you employment.”

He tilted his head, cautiously, and offered her a hand to shake. “Do we have an agreement?”

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?” 

I write you letters that you'll never read Paint you pictures you will never see In all my life I never thought I'd be Living without you

Why is she refusing my help? When she came to me for my aid, why is she pushing aside a change of clothes and a hot meal? Tamlin’s gaze grew increasingly skeptical until he rubbed his sore temples. They throbbed more by the minute.

“Lady Briar.” He said firmly. “I really must insist that you accept the change of clothing if you are going to ask me to be here so late into the evening when I would normally be with my family. Please…”

He tried to smile, though it did not make it to his eyes. It was a bit difficult to do when she was looking his direction like a muddy puppy dog, who’d followed him home in the rain. “Get dry. Get clean. Take a meal. You are not beholden. It’s my duty as High Lord to care for the people of this court. It certainly looks like no one has cared for you in a very…long time.”

“I insist.” Before she could protest anymore or her big, soft eyes gave him the shivers, Tamlin stepped into the protection of his office. Great — I have one hour to pull myself together before fixing this mess.

Luckily, his fiddle sat waiting on the corner of his desk and he instinctively sighed with relief. He had few friends, but music would always be there.

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?” 

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?” 

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.”