@inabcck

@inabcck

Anna Akhmatova, tr. by. D.M. Thomas, Selected Poems

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.” 

Tamlin was no stranger to young females fawning over him. In fact, his business like manner reflected just often it happened. He was used to it. For some, his power and title were alluring and they tried to use their beauty to sway him. For others, his own physique distracted them from the task at hand. Briar seemed uninterested in his title, given that she often forgot to use it.

It didn’t bother him, so much as it confused him. She seemed overly familiar — while he’d only first met her last night. He remembered the rescue in Hybern, of course; but it was a rescue. There was nothing personal about it. He scratched his head and intensified the glamor over his own beauty, curious to see how she would react. His high fae glow was now completely masked. If anything, apart from his pointed ears, he looked fairly human.

It went without saying that he was slow to trust others. If she was dead set on knowing him, he wanted to know why. Tamlin pursed his lips. “I will try to say this…with sensitivity, but please pardon my manners if I speak too harshly. I do not have Lucien’s silver tongue.”

He paused, before speaking. “It goes without saying that a Tavern is no place to raise a child. I do not mean to insult your effort, your intentions, nor your integrity. It is simple fact. Not to mention, I still don’t believe you’ve had a proper meal.”

His eyes graced her shaking fingers with compassion. “Would you please consider speaking to my estate manager about finding employment and suitable living conditions within the manor? You will be among many. Paid well. Fed well. With a roof over your head. Caiden will be sent to school while you work. You will have no need to worry.”

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.” 

I know the Spring Court warriors have the prettiest fae armor everrrrr 🥺 imagine those as the armor Tamlin wears during the war-band camp times

“Forgive me if I don’t talk much at times. It’s loud enough in my head.”

— Unknown