Nicole W. Lee, From "Even The Dust"

Nicole W. Lee, from "Even the Dust"

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.” 

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

— Drake; Thank Me Now

While Briar worked, Tamlin simply slept. He closed his eyes and his body fell into the smooth rhythm of rest for the first time in over a year. His shoulders rose and fell evenly and the hours of the night ticked by in silence without a single terror awaking him from his slumber. 

Slowly, morning light peeked through the dark green curtains and fell across his face. Tamlin covered his eyes and rolled over, ignoring the coming of day. He slept on until the heat of noon began warming his room and the weight of his cloak grew heavy. The chimes of the clock in the main hall declared the hour and drew him from his daze.

He sat up, dizzy and dry-mouthed. How long had it been since he’d slept so well? The haze of sleep still surrounded the High Lord as he glanced at time. 

It was twelve-oh-five.

I missed court. I slept through court. 

Tamlin nervously bit at his nails, while he rushed through the room in search of his shoes. By the cauldron! Briar! I’m late. I’m so late. She’s going to yell at me again, isn’t she? 

Tamlin muttered a few select curse words in high fae beneath his breath as he hurried down one of the three long hallways towards his office. He didn’t even have time to take a glance at himself in the mirror. His hair was disheveled and his boyhood cowlick jumped from his blonde locks, untamed. His clothes were clean, but wrinkled, and his cloak askew from using it as a blanket the night before. 

Luckily, he still had his common sense. He swept a hand over his clothes and smoothed the wrinkles as he turned his personal door to the office. Unfortunately, he didn’t have time to fix his hair, or calm the raw anxiety carefully hidden in his green eyes. 

As he passed through the door, he saw Briar waiting calmly in her chair. How long has she been here? 

Tamlin, once again, glanced at the time. Twelve-oh-nine. Nine minutes was not bad, but considering he could winnow, it was still very late. He cleared his throat. “My apologies, Lady Briar; both for my tardiness and my manners yesterday. I have been,”

He gestured to the giant stacks of paper around him. “A little overwhelmed lately.” 

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.” 

At least Briar seemed as jittery outside as he was inside. Her eyes followed him across the room with what he couldn’t discern as desperation or adoration. The first made more sense, but the way her cheeks turned pink made him worry that it was the second.

Why? Tamlin blinked and carefully organized his paperwork into a few, neat stacks. He couldn’t deny that even after a wonderful night of sleep, he was a bit on edge after yesterday, but her apology was appreciated. He knew that he should follow it with a thank you, but found that the words became stuck to his throat. 

“Sorry. Um, I don’t think I’m used to being well rested.” Tamlin scratched his head, reaching for a pitcher of water and two crystal glasses which were set to the side on a raised table. “Are you thirsty?” 

He poured two glasses of water and returned to sit at the desk, also reaching behind it for a plate of pastries which the staff left there every morning. She looked hungry. “I do apologize for my current state of existence. I am used to functioning with Lucien by my side and he is on leave to be with his mate, Elain. They are expecting an addition to their family before long.” 

Finally, Tamlin found the piece of paper which he was looking for and spread it across the table. It was a detailed map of the border. Before she could see confidential information, he quickly glamoured it away. “Show me the last place you saw Caiden.” 

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.”