Thread: The Secret Side Of Me - Tumblr Posts
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 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’s shoulders remained guarded and he ignored her rather bold inquiry into his change in temperament. He was a different man with his family. Nyx was not his child, but he held a special place in his heart, as all the children of Spring did. He was a part of the broken, but healing odds and ends that had emerged from across Prythian and gathered here in Spring to begin again. Lucien and Elain, Nesta and Eris, himself and Nyx, and…Feyre, to whom he tried to avoid speaking right now. He needed space to let his mind move past a dream that could never be — a longing which could never be fulfilled.
His mood may have taken a sharp souring if it hadn’t happened that her request was about a child. A golden haired, freckled child. Images of Andras surfaced in Tamlin’s mind. He winced. Andras was long gone, yet the guilt he bore was still heavy and real.
He listened to Briar speak with polite nuance , unable to show how deeply he considered her words. Half-fae, the elfin, were rare. His own children with a human would could have been elfin, fae, or…tragically human. Humans were gone so soon. Their light flickered so fast.
“I can glamour anyone.” Tamlin answered. “But the borders are sealed for a reason, Lady Briar. Our relations with people on all sides are tentative at best and tense at worst. Even if you were accompanied by a sentry, I cannot guarantee your safety.”
Tamlin looked into the distance towards the border. “How old is he?” His eyes softened. “It would help if you knew his family name. How strong the family’s bloodties are to the old magic can greatly change how fast fae characteristics will show themselves. Like, Nyx for example. Winnowing at his age is improbable yet, he commands the skill better than most adults. His bloodline is ancient on one side and Cauldron made on the other. Who was Caedin’s father?”
His green eyes met Briar’s with a persistent curiosity. “Surely, in the back of your mind — you remember more.”
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?”
Makeshift family — those words moved Tamlin. He paused walking and motioned to a nearby bench. She was nervous, he could tell. His austerity could be intimidating and he knew that. Yet, still she tried. She was brave enough to seek him out in his personal time with his own messy, yet much beloved family. He swallowed, cautiously meeting her blue eyes, which were bright as a morning sky, but burdened with the storms of loss and guilt. He knew those storms. They followed him everywhere.
Wouldn’t I do the same for Nyx? For Lucien’s child, soon to be here? I would go to the end of the earth to find them.
Tamlin looked away, fiddling with one of the rings he wore on his graceful fingers. This one belonged to his mother. It would belong to his wife one day — or his mate — should he ever be so lucky. The one love, the one engagement he’d ever experienced burned his home to cinders. Yet, his heart still had kindness to give. Gentleness was the sharpest arrow of all, wasn’t it? He would never regret it. Despite the pain it caused him, it was strong within the beats of his heart. It whispered,
Not my father’s son. Not my father’s son.
“Lady Briar,” He paused after her name. “I am inclined to grant your request, but I cannot let you bring a child into Spring without an adequate way to provide for them.”
“The doors to the public open at dawn.” He stood. “Our citizens bring their desires before court. You are both incredibly bold, quite intelligent, and a moderate bit sneaky to manage finding me in my spare time.”
A real, but slightly disgruntled smile broke past his guard. He had to admire her sheer pluck. “I’d recommend being there early. These things must be on record publicly and my estate manager can find you employment.”
He tilted his head, cautiously, and offered her a hand to shake. “Do we have an agreement?”
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?”
Hybern. Tamlin did not like to think about Hybern. He was already two steps ahead of her by the time she started rambling again, but that word stopped him dead in his tracks. He embraced the gentle tap of the rain against his skin and tried to force calm over the latent anger laced through his memories of everything he’d tried to do to bring the love of his life home. Or, the fae he’d thought had been. Now, they lived within a mile of one another and couldn’t even make eye contact. He didn’t believe in love — not anymore. Not that kind. Not for him.
Tamlin looked over his shoulder to see her struggling in the mud and he winced. When was the last time she had a proper meal?
Despite the tithe working and food stocks being distributed, that still didn’t mean everyone used them fairly. This girl was clearly overworked and underfed. He couldn’t imagine how a rambunctious toddler was the right fit.
His manners refused to let him leave her in the sludge. Tamlin turned, biting back an onslaught of memories. He’d wanted to be alone before Nyx found him. After that, he’d looked forwards to spending time with the tiny bugger. The last thing on his agenda was more work. Yet, he still held out his hand and offered her a way off the ground.
Once she was standing, he took her by the wrist and concentrated on the outer hallway that led to his office, winnowing there, in one snap of a finger. The girl was soaking wet, muddy, and clearly hungry. Tamlin pulled a bell on the wall and spoke in a low voice to the young maid who came through the corridor with a candle. “Briar, this is Tirzah. Tirzah, Briar. She’s going to find you some clean clothes and something to eat. Once you’ve cleaned up, I’ll be here waiting.”
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?”
Why is she refusing my help? When she came to me for my aid, why is she pushing aside a change of clothes and a hot meal? Tamlin’s gaze grew increasingly skeptical until he rubbed his sore temples. They throbbed more by the minute.
“Lady Briar.” He said firmly. “I really must insist that you accept the change of clothing if you are going to ask me to be here so late into the evening when I would normally be with my family. Please…”
He tried to smile, though it did not make it to his eyes. It was a bit difficult to do when she was looking his direction like a muddy puppy dog, who’d followed him home in the rain. “Get dry. Get clean. Take a meal. You are not beholden. It’s my duty as High Lord to care for the people of this court. It certainly looks like no one has cared for you in a very…long time.”
“I insist.” Before she could protest anymore or her big, soft eyes gave him the shivers, Tamlin stepped into the protection of his office. Great — I have one hour to pull myself together before fixing this mess.
Luckily, his fiddle sat waiting on the corner of his desk and he instinctively sighed with relief. He had few friends, but music would always be there.
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 let the music lull his badly fractured nerves into the soft hum of active concentration. He set his fiddle away safely and took a seat at his desk. He was no stranger to working late into the night, it was part of carrying his title and the weight of an entire court on his shoulders. He’d not expected to be in meetings past the sun's setting.
He pursed his lips, watching it descend through the western window, with a wrinkle set deeply into his forehead. Stress was his constant companion and spending time with his found family was one of the only things which relieved it.
He was missing a dinner with Lucien and Elain to take this meeting, but given the circumstances he knew that they would want him to be here. This concerned children and they had one on the way, soon. The High Lord needed to do everything he could for Spring — not just his own family. Tamlin swallowed his frustration and pushed his bruised heart far, far away.
All she’s trying to do is reunite her family — just like I have. This is the least I can do.
He cracked his knuckles and organized the papers left on his desk, during his walk. Death certificates, as he’d been warned. Too many of them. One was too many and there were five.
Tamlin glanced over the first two. Tension settled in his jaw. He reached for his glasses to try to clear the headache which had been building for hours. They belonged to two adolescent boys who’d been caught by a wildly roaming Naga after a well-established curfew.
He’d broken curfew many times as a young boy and it never got him killed. There was still so much wrong with Spring. Thing which even he, a High Lord, could not mend. Even if he spent all his hours patrolling the borders, evil would still find a way to sneak through. He carefully signed his name and moved on, making a mental note to speak to the family himself.
The third was a sentry. Tamlin’s brows knit, he scrawled his name and carefully pinned a note on sending his regards to the family.
The fourth belonged to a mother, who died in labor, and her infant who had not survived brought in the fifth. Tamlin ripped off his glasses and shoved them aside, feeling his emotions rise above their careful containment. A sentry was one thing, and a young fae another; but a mother? Her infant?
What am I doing? I can’t even keep people from dying long enough for new lives to start. I am failing these people. Spring isn’t safe —
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. “Come in,” Tamlin said gruffly.
The small brunette, Briar, peeked into the room. She looked better now. She wasn’t covered in mud and her hair was…clean, at least and she wasn’t shivering. Anything else mattered very little. Clean and warm were what he could ensure, not safety.
“Lady Briar,” He uncovered his eyes, forcing his voice to be alert, and hoped that he did not look as exhausted as he felt. “Feeling any better? Warmer, I hope.”
Tamlin did not meet her eyes until he finished signing the death certificate of the baby fae. Then, he sat back in his chair and offered her a simple nod. She’d asked for the meeting and had his full attention. “I have heard your plea. Tell me about yourself.”
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?”
She certainly was awkward, but Tamlin found it more charming than annoying. He had his own struggles, socially, it to as often why he stuck with saying as little as possible or relying on Lucien to give the passionate speeches when his mind could not connect with his lips. He could write letters, poetry, music. His command of words was not the problem — it was speaking them.
He tapped his face ngers on the desk, watching her closely as she stumbled through a few sentences. She didn't ramble when nervous, as he was prone too, which was good. There was so much he'd shared about his life simply because he had not known what to say. The longer he'd been High Lord, the more often he found that people did not want to know about his personal life or hear his burdens. Their own were already far too heavy. He was there as a figure head, a fixer, and High Fae. He did not get the chance to be weak.
Tamlin pressed his lips into a firm line. She is young, he thought. Elain’s age, perhaps.
The hundred years of life experience of being born fae had not caught up to her in grace, experience, or otherwise. She was much like a kitten in that way.
“Lady Briar, you do not need to make excuses for yourself in my presence. You are a lot of living beings with needs and priorities and it is my duty as the High Lord to ensure that those are provided for…”
He swallowed. “As I said before and you astutely noticed, Spring is holding tentative ground without allowing people through our walls. In the last two weeks alone, I have attended more funerals than I would care to admit. The war is over, but death does not end.”
He cautiously met her eyes. “I understand your concerns for your family. I do…”
Tamlin sighed. She wasn't wrong. Much of this, he did carry alone. Lucien had a family now. The majority of his friends were long dead. The one person he'd hoped to be with was little more than a walking reminder of his pain, at this point. Sometimes, his music and his alone time in nature were the only two things which got him through. “Yet, I hope you understand that I had to learn the hard way about prioritizing my personal feelings over my duties.”
A combination of regret and grief flashed across his face for a mere second before it disappeared. “I am blessed that those moments of weakness did not bring my court to complete ruin.”
Almost — Almost.
“Right now, crossing the border is just as dangerous to Caiden as it is to remain where he is and I know you desire first and foremost for his safety.”
Tamlin tapped his feet on the wooden floor. “However, I do have an alternative solution. If you are open to avoiding the reckless pursuit of bringing him here yourself.”
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?”
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?”