The Angel Oak Tree Located: South Carolina

The Angel Oak Tree Located: South Carolina

[ If you have enjoyed my portrayal of Tamlin in asks, feel free to follow @enchantedelain. My new venture into the soft soul of Elain Archeron. Primarily so that @lorcandidlucienwill can spam me with Elucian asks to write — tbh.

I always want more things to write and am apparently shameless about that. ]

𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐃 [ 🎼 ] + 𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓 (𝟑-𝟓 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐒) 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 𝐃𝐘𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐂.

[ WORRY ]

This time, his scouting mission had taken three full days. That was not unusual, but as Feyre has adjusted to his presence in the manor, he’d tried to stay present whenever possible. There was plenty that Lucien could handle on his own; but solving problems along the border and helping refugees settle into new homes was something Tamlin oversaw personally.

He owed that to anyone who still believed in his court. Ensuring their protection and provision was his top priority. There were two new collectives of settlers inside his borders. A group of faeries fleeing their captivity under the mountain had been brought to the village just below the manor. His own eyes needed to stay on them, at all times. If there was a spy among them, it wouldn’t be Amarantha’s first try at using his people as a method to pry at his mind.

The others were a collective of Children of the Blessed. Once a year, typically around Calanmai, a group of humans journeyed into his land like a sacred pilgrimage. It was more annoying than it was an actual problem, but on occasion, one or two of them stayed behind.

Those were the ones who made him actually uncomfortable. Although they were a peaceable people, their admiration of his kind often went too far. Although Tamlin tried to welcome them into society, the fairies struggled to embrace the change. It often ended badly.

Tamlin pushed open the back gate of the garden, after stabling his horse, and wearily began walking back indoors. After a few days on the road, he was exhausted, hungry, and honestly cranky. He wasn’t fond of traveling. Staying home with a long book and a good cup of mead was much more his style. He began removing his cape, weapons, and boots before entering. The faster he could get his bare feet in the fresh spring grass the better!

Tamlin left his things in a pile behind him, knowing someone would gather them and transport them safely inside, and began a barefoot walk through the garden. Satiety rushed to his weary bones and he tilted his head towards the midmorning sun, taking in a deep breath.

Home. He was home.

The manor had never felt like home before.

He wondered what has changed.

When a small pair of warm arms quickly embraced his neck, suddenly, he knew. Feyre clung to his shoulders. He could hear her heart pounding from worry gone wild. Tamlin relaxed, firmly wrapping his strong arms around her.

“How’s my favorite human?” He whispered, tracing his thumb down her cheek.

“Your human?” Feyre murmured.

“Mine.” His voice rumbled in his chest and his hug tightened, lifting her off the ground, so he could see her better.

Her feet were also bare. Her face and hands were covered in paint. She was smiling, but there were dark circles beneath her grey eyes.

“Your human missed you.” Feyre found a comfortable place to rest in his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. “…especially during those long nights.”

Tamlin’s face reddened, but he smiled. “I told the moon about you.”

“And I spoke to the stars of you.” Feyre bit her lip.

His eyes fluttered closed and he sealed their lips in a warm, welcome home kiss. Three days — it felt like a lifetime. Feyre folded into him, eagerly embracing the fact that for once, he kissed her in public.

As her hands began tracing his arms, Tamlin slowly started pulling away. The familiar sound of brisk footsteps caught his attention and Lucien rounded the corner.

“Glory!” He exclaimed, covering his eyes dramatically. “Either get a room or let me join you.”

Tamlin laughed brightly. His favorite fox could always make him laugh. He let Feyre slip from his arms and planted a ridiculously silly kiss on the redhead’s cheek. “There. Do you feel included now?”

Lucien wiped it away and rolled his eyes in jest. “Never enough, your lordship.”

“Too bad!” Tamlin grabbed Feyre’s hand and dragged her up the stairs, enthusiastically. “That’s the best ‘I missed your idiot face’ I can give!”

Lucien grumbled under his breath as his two friends ran away to make love somewhere in the sunshine. “Always the third wheel. When will someone bring the fourth?”

📬

Lady Mila of the Spring Court,

Thou hast been summoned to attend the yearly festival of Calanmai in the royal court of the High Lord, Tamlin Sinclaire. This ancient ritual celebrates the power of our great land and seals our grounds, crops, fields, and citizens within it for the next year of time. The castle gates shall open at sunset on April, 17th.

As an eligible young woman of age, your presence is requested for an evening of merriment, feasting, and magic. Festivities to follow under the starlit sky. RSVP to the royal emmisarry, Lucien Vanserra, by April, 14th.

Our court wishes that this letter finds you in good health and prospects, granted by the cauldron, herself.

Signed,

High Lord Tamlin

The Spring Court