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

-Zoë Lianne

Tamlin tugged in his ear as he stayed red, wishing that the blush would fade back into his normal tone. It wasn’t appropriate for High Lords to be caught blushing at their patrons, nor lying on their backs playing with children. He stared down at Nyx for a full minute before crouching down and tucking his curls behind his ear.

“Go back home, okay?” He sighed. “I’ll see you soon.” 

Nyx stuck out his lower lip and looked up at Tamlin with big, sad eyes. 

Damn it. There were two pairs of irresistible eyes, one on either side of him. Tamlin hid his face in his palm for a brief moment. “Nyx, go home to your Mama, buddy. And no pit stops, okay? Straight home.” 

The toddler pursed his lips and shook his head. Tamlin sighed and picked the kid up, giving Briar an earnest, yet kind nod. “One second. I will be right back.” 

It truly was only a second. Tamlin flickered in and out of the garden and when he was back, fhe little one was gone. Something else had left him though, the soft warmth he had around the child had disappeared. A formal mask of polite civility had appeared on his face. 

“Briar,” He said pointedly, making sure to use her name, and gesturing to the path back towards the public garden. He placed his hands behind his back and let her walk ahead of him. While he was tempted to ask her to wait for court tomorrow, he knew that the lines to speak to him started long before dawn. There were only so many whom he could talk to before his work with the military began. “You said you have a case to plead before me.”

His tone, his posture, and his smile were all practiced manners, but so polite. So very polite. Nothing like the gentle warmth that he’d exuded only a moment ago. “I don’t normally require pleading, but but I do appreciate sound logic behind the request for resources. Our home is still recovering. Our ventures must be…thoughtful,” 

He spoke slowly, looking up with consideration. “Prepared.”

Tamlin rose a brow as her courage seemed to falter. “But, please, don’t be afraid. Even if I cannot grant your wish right away, I will do my best to consider it. Matters of the heart count, even when they…”

He looked towards the distance, where he’d winnowed out. “can never come to pass.” 

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 would 100% brush your hair and hold you tightly, offering you silent comfort after a bad day.

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?” 

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?”