Nicole W. Lee, From "Even The Dust"

Nicole W. Lee, from "Even the Dust"

Stone Walls & Sacrifice | Tamlin & Briar @springcourthighlady

Tamlin was more than ready to leave by the time he finished listening to Briar’s rant. He let her finish — he wasn’t that impolite. His brisk footsteps echoed across the marble flooring and he looked over his shoulder, hoping that he was not followed. 

Yet, he was not that lucky. The prospects of desert with Lucien and Elain were slipping further away by the minute. Tamlin stilled when she called his name, pressing his lips into a thin line. Why won’t she go home? This is life, in Spring, right now. We’re all worried. We’re all frustrated. We all have family in need of aid. No one gets special privileges. Not even me — 

He didn’t even have privacy anymore, or space to think. Though, when he glanced over his shoulder, he was relieved to find some regret in her eyes. 

Only his friends called him by his first name. He wasn’t big on enforcing rank, but found it odd how casually she addressed him. 

He pressed his tongue into the edge of his teeth, forbidding the quick retort which danced on the edge of his lips. I will not lose it. I cannot. They cannot see me as a beast. 

He turned, stuffing his hands deeply into the pockets of his jacket, to hide how they’d tensed into fists. Running from his problems wasn’t effective, but neither was forcing himself into a corner until he lost his temper. 

Tamlin saw her hand reach for him. He wanted to back away. It had been over two years since a woman had touched him, apart from Calanmai. He flinched, but did not move. He wasn’t sure he could. 

She cares for me? I have met this female once. 

Tamlin swallowed, gravely still. “I understand your attachment, Lady Briar. Yet, if you cannot trust me as High Lord of Spring, no plan I create to bring Caiden home will be enough for you.”

He stepped away, lowering his green eyes to the ground. “If you’ll excuse me, it has been a long day.” 

“How long they choose to love you will never be your decision.”

— Drake; Thank Me Now

Whatever she was — she was astute. Somehow, she saw past his pretense. Despite how much it bothered, Tamlin had to give her credit for not being entirely wrong. She was young, barely fae, having survived cruel torture long before she had the chance to grow up. In that way, there was much they had in common, but Tamlin did not share his pain with anyone. He barely showed it to his friends. Letting others in was not an easy process and they’d gotten off to a rocky start.

He narrowed his brow when she reduced herself to simply a tavern maid. He’d been to the tavern. It was one of the few places nearby where neer-do-wells and merchants were allowed to lie their heads at night. It wasn’t the type of place that a young lady like herself should be seeking shelter — let alone raising a child. Yet, he got the feeling that passing judgement wouldn’t be helpful. Pushing his emotions into a box is what lead to her explosion of temper in the first place.

She needs empathy.

His was exhausted. Still he managed a slight smile as he took back his cloak, thankful to have the original. Tamlin pinned it over his shoulders. She looked cold. Why had the maid dressed her in such breezy clothing in early March? He carefully snapped his fingers and a warm, grey, woolen cape settled over her shoulders. “I’m on my way out past the village. Would you like me to walk you home?”

Stone Walls & Sacrifice | Tamlin & Briar @springcourthighlady

Tamlin was more than ready to leave by the time he finished listening to Briar’s rant. He let her finish — he wasn’t that impolite. His brisk footsteps echoed across the marble flooring and he looked over his shoulder, hoping that he was not followed. 

Yet, he was not that lucky. The prospects of desert with Lucien and Elain were slipping further away by the minute. Tamlin stilled when she called his name, pressing his lips into a thin line. Why won’t she go home? This is life, in Spring, right now. We’re all worried. We’re all frustrated. We all have family in need of aid. No one gets special privileges. Not even me — 

He didn’t even have privacy anymore, or space to think. Though, when he glanced over his shoulder, he was relieved to find some regret in her eyes. 

Only his friends called him by his first name. He wasn’t big on enforcing rank, but found it odd how casually she addressed him. 

He pressed his tongue into the edge of his teeth, forbidding the quick retort which danced on the edge of his lips. I will not lose it. I cannot. They cannot see me as a beast. 

He turned, stuffing his hands deeply into the pockets of his jacket, to hide how they’d tensed into fists. Running from his problems wasn’t effective, but neither was forcing himself into a corner until he lost his temper. 

Tamlin saw her hand reach for him. He wanted to back away. It had been over two years since a woman had touched him, apart from Calanmai. He flinched, but did not move. He wasn’t sure he could. 

She cares for me? I have met this female once. 

Tamlin swallowed, gravely still. “I understand your attachment, Lady Briar. Yet, if you cannot trust me as High Lord of Spring, no plan I create to bring Caiden home will be enough for you.”

He stepped away, lowering his green eyes to the ground. “If you’ll excuse me, it has been a long day.” 

@thesingingvalkyrie

Random thoughts of a: Day off Tamlin!

Day off Tamlin! Who likes to follow you around, hidden, as you pick flowers until you notice that he's not occupied with work

Day off Tamlin! Who flits around your ear disguised as a bumblebee, and when you scream and swat at him he shifts back into your tam, doubled over, laughing because he lives for teasing and taunting you sometimes

Day off Tamlin! Who wraps his arms around you as you fret, whispering sweet nothings and promises that he's sorry and he didnt mean to scare you, but then he gets that mischevious grin again that only you tend to see

Day off Tamlin! Who tells you theres something he wants to show you, but wont do it unless you agree to his bargain- a kiss, wherever he wants to place it.

Day off Tamlin! Who whisks you away to the hidden rabbit den in the western woods where some of his favorite mushroom fae mine them as pets

Day off Tamlin! Who lays on the forest floor, you breathing softly atop him as you doze, surrounded by bunnies snuggled up to you both