♡ — BLOOD IN THE WATER !

𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐊𝐀 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐕. thirty-five. ice healer.

biography. face. musings.

𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐀 𝐇𝐀𝐀𝐒. thirty. death knight.

biography. face. musings.

𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍 𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐈𝐒. thirty-two. sun priestess.

biography. face. musings.

𝐒𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐀 𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐀 𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐔𝐑. forty-four. electric sultan.

          THE SUN LOSES ITS COLOUR ; transforming into an iridescent thread that is engulfed in shadows as it unravels into the sky —— and night falls over versailles with a weary, sorrowful sigh. the lips of the night spit out a pale and sickly moon ; a mere crescent-shaped sliver of light which fights against the darkness which has fallen in a hush over the mourning palace. yet no matter its weakness, it is this same small crescent of light which beckons saem out of his quarters —— the prince being drawn back into the world by the responsibility of his moon-blessed healing, and bound by the pull in his heart which yearned to tend to the wounds of those who had fallen since the battle of the throne room. these blood-soaked days had drained saem of so much of his brightness ; yet like the phases of the moon which ebbed and flowed along with the passage of time, the prince had hope that he too would once more grow to be in full bloom if he just held on a little longer —— letting time heal him of his body’s and mind’s wounds in the way that it tended to. 

          this evening, saem opts to head towards the infirmary only after a detour through the palace gardens —— as if he were hoping that the dewy scent of sun roses would fill his lungs full to the brim so that by the time he arrived at the infirmary, the metallic smell of blood and heavy scent of death would have nowhere left to permeate. he greets the idling moon with a smile, thankful to see it in the sky at all after the darkness of the eclipse in the days prior —— and despite its shrunken size, the luminscence of the low-soaring crescent fills saem with a warmth even as he trembles in the cold hands of the night. with his gaze cast skywards, the prince serenely follows a trail of the brightest stars in sight —— wandering this way and that, breathing breathing breathing in the night air, when suddenly he senses a presence before him —— a smile upon his lips as he finds that the scatter of celestial breadcrumbs has led him right into the company of —— “ phillipa. general haas. how serendipitous and lovely it is to see you —— i’m thankful that the stars led me to you, this evening. ” saem had never much liked the ceremony and detachedness that came with referring to those around him by their rank or title ; but something in his heart told him that the general’s title meant something important to her —— that it was a vital piece of who she was as a paladin, a protector —— so he quickly corrects his address of her name with her rank —— allowing his fondness for her to seep through the rest of his words. 

         and then there’s a gentle look of confusion which flashes in the brown hue of the prince’s eyes as the general’s words of thanks reach his ears ; saem’s brows knitting together gently as he earnestly declares, “ i believe it is i who must thank you, general. you gave me your protection when it was not my place to ask for it —— you treated me with such warmth that reassured me in the midst of a bloodied battle which threatened to overwhelm me. have no doubt, i owe you the debt of my life. ” it doesn’t quite dawn upon saem that a prince of any kingdom should not so eagerly be declaring that he owes a foreign general a debt of any sort, but he speaks the words because he believes them to be true ; a certain softness becoming him as his words echo with sincerity. here, holding the austrian general’s gaze, saem inspects the latter’s eyes with a gentle and searching warmth.  “ tell me, dear general, what brings you out here into the garden this evening ? ” 

phillipa was not scared of many things. hell, the general didn’t exactly have the luxury to. while she knew she was a resource that was to constantly be at use to the shadow king, there were times when she had to recall that she was just as human as everyone else around her. in a time of silence just like this, she was allowed to feel. what she felt was scared of the individual in front of her and his genuine kindness. not because she viewed it as a bad thing, but to taint such pure goodness would be a shame that she would carry with her for all her days. he had every right to be scared of the shadows that followed her, for there were times where she wondered if even she could ever truly tame them. and yet, he seemed to see something in her. 

it was true, her title meant more to her than it might have to some others. the title of general was something that had been passed through the haas family like an heirloom: first her father’s and now her own. phillipa admired her father’s strength, his willingness to never run from an enemy’s challenge. his name sent entire forces running for the hills and she wanted nothing more than to be her father’s daughter. powerful. strong-minded. a force to be reckoned with. it seemed as if he had noticed that too without her even having to say it, something caused the warmth in her heart he ignited to flourish even more. “and i you, your grace.” the woman’s gentle smile showed some signs of growth as she spoke. “they are quite lovely from here, aren’t they?” while she had originally wanted to put up quite the fight of her own upon their calling to versailles, phillipa couldn’t lie that she had found some pockets of beauty in her new home, the garden perhaps being her favorite destination. 

you gave me protection when it was not my place to ask for it. the words seemed to seep into her ears and sit for a moment and in a way, she knew he was correct. she had been sworn to protect the austrian people from any sort of harm and even so, she felt the instant desire to protect him. the feeling had created an unfamiliar heaviness in her bones, knowing that it would eat her alive had she left someone who had truly needed her. that day, they had needed each other. 

anton had admittedly turned his focus following his marriage to the woman he now called wife. partially for her benefit, though partially for his own ( the new affinity for water frustrating him to new heights ) — and it was only once he was convinced it would be alright for them to part for a time that he’d left the confines of their rooms. he ought to have immediately sought out his siblings, father, friends or people, but instead he’d taken to wandering. to wrap his head around his current present and what his future might hold.

the familiar voice caused him to look up, a brow arching slightly. “phillipa.” lips pulled into an easy smile at the sight of her. “formalities aren’t necessary, you know that. we aren’t surrounded by the masses.” she could speak bluntly with him — they were alone. “she is… well.” he murmured after a moment. “the void has taken to her, but she is prone to allowing her emotions to leading her and appears overwhelmed. it’s made for a learning curve.” not that he was any better, his frustration for an element he knew nothing of had driven him near mad. “perhaps just a walk with me? i need the fresh air and a familiar face. perhaps catch me up on what has transpired in my absence.”

the general wasn’t one to ordinarily smile -- a sign of getting too comfortable, much like showing any sign of taking any liking to their new dwelling. perhaps that was what made it clear how truly connected she felt to anton. even as young kids, phillipa believed that their souls were meant to intersect in the sense that someone had sent them to protect each other. funny enough, she had always felt compelled to protect herself. she had watched her father do it for decades, after all, it had appeared that she was very well equipped to handle such matters on her own. it wasn’t that she couldn’t, she had learned.. it was that she didn’t have to. even if she wouldn’t quite admit it to his face. 

“you know it’s written in my code, anton.” the general flashed the man a bit of a cheekier smile, a joking nature that appeared to only be shared by the two of them. while he was the more reckless of the pair and she the more methodical, she could still enjoy herself from time to time. at the mention of the future empress of shadows, phillipa released a sigh from between her lips with a quick shake of her head. she surely showed that to every noble in sight, she wanted to say. it was clear what her friend was looking for was wisdom, not jabs. “water flows in a manner that is unpredictable.. much like emotions, yes? it appears to be engrained in her nature. i trust with time and proper training.. she will be well suited to take the throne beside you. i shall make sure of it.” not for her benefit, of course, but for the country’s. to relieve anton of something else to think about. with a nod, she followed him out to the gardens, the fresh air wrapping it’s arms around her like a warm welcome. even if it was quite crisp out. 

when manon had joined the french court, there were very few people who made her feel truly at home. her gifts were valuable to the king, but there were very few people who she truly cared for on a level that wasn’t about the ways of the sun. the duchess had always been quite taken by the princess and her kindness. not only that, but she was delighted to know with the current events that she wasn’t alone in her thoughts about the matter at hand. after all, she had seen darkness in her readings. bloodshed had befallen the castle, just as the sun had told her. and yet, the king didn’t seem to listen. instead, he married the very cause off to the prince of shadows.

the sun priestess’ mind had drifted away from her worries for a moment, perhaps for the first time in days as she stared across the bright green lawns at the expanse of property before her. versailles never ceased to amaze her with it’s stark beauty, picturesque views at every turn. 

ever since the battle, phillipa’s mind had yet to stop spinning. she had done this so many times before and yet, this one seemed different. perhaps it was the feeling of failure that she couldn’t seem to shake. not that she would let it show in front of her public, her men. there were already many who saw her as someone that would be easy to take down and she was damned sure that she wasn’t going to create any more. 

the gardens at night, as much as she turned a cold shoulder towards their new home, were quite peaceful. even if she felt the need to still stay on her guard. at the moment, she was watching the sun pass beyond the horizon as she took in a sharp inhale. the sound of the wind in the trees was comforting, as she knew it was simply nature and not another individual to disturb her connection with the gardens around her. 

the shadows inside her were screaming. screaming for something to defuse the tension that cloaked the palace. the reminder of what had occurred haunted her at every turn. in the fray, she had come into contact with an individual who’s name flashed across her mind quite often: prince saem. never had she met an individual who showed her such genuine kindness so quickly, without even truly knowing what crawled amidst the depths of her soul. the darkness she knew she could never truly avoid. yet, he seemed to make the effort to see the person that she tried to be. valiant. kind. a protector worthy of a king. they had parted so quickly that it had not processed how she would find him again, to thank him. 

yet another individual to report to. that’s who the stone queen was, although she was the leader of the king’s forces and had always been. there was more than one reason why she felt some hesitance about meeting the redhead and it was because from the moment she had laid eyes on her, a feeling of intrigue had overcome her. more than that: an attraction. one that she knew better than to let in, considering she was to be her superior, the queen of shadows. perhaps this would be the greatest battle of her life, far greater than any she had led. fighting to keep herself from succumbing to an urge she could never come back from. 

there was no avoiding it now, as the woman stood across from her. the young general could feel it in her chest. just as she did every day before leaving her chambers, she adjusted the mask of professionalism that seemed truly impenetrable, a soldier’s face. phillipa haas knew better than anyone that she was not privy to such luxuries -- to allow herself to fall into such vices. attraction, she had realized, could be the most powerful one of all. when one is wrapped around your finger, that could be all you need to truly destroy them. lust, as powerful as it was, could lead to someone’s greatest demise. 

phillipa was to be married to a general perhaps as equally powerful as she, someone she respected. the stone queen was now married to a man who had entrusted her with her father’s legacy: the army of shadows. 

while phillipa had objections about their new residence in versailles, she had still done as she always had: done her duty and followed the order of her king. and so, she had watched as anton married the very princess who caused the chaos of the previous days. the general couldn’t lie, she was surprised that the sun king had shown such a unhinged young woman such mercy. yet, who was she to speak? the leader of the shadow army, one that had the power to destroy fleets with the help of the void. something phillipa prided herself on was using the shadows only for the good of her people, only when she saw true danger approaching. not for her own emotions, to feed her recklessness. she was a true soldier. the scandinavian princess could prove to be a threat, at least, in her mind. 

as much as she did not trust the new alliance his marriage had created, of course she was going to go check in on the prince. the soldiers would make sure princess hel was kept under a watchful eye. for now, time with her closest confidant was what the general needed to clear her head. 

he’d been conflicted about even looking at her portrait. his heart still ached for his wife, but he also didn’t want to give up his general. it was bad enough that his general was betrothed to such a beauty. by the time he’d peeked at his own, the ceremony was beginning and he hadn’t had time to try and find her. but he had to admit, she was gorgeous. she put his previous wife to shame. suddenly, she was there, in front of him. he was momentarily distracted by her, even more beautiful in person, and he was grateful for the rescue. ❝ your majesty, ❞ he replied with a slight bow. which was the term for him as well, but he didn’t care, he didn’t correct her. ❝ i believe we are. we have much to discuss, once we are clear of here. ❞ 

at the next opponent’s approach, behind her, he merely moved to block it with a sword he’d picked up. the eclipse was playing hell with his powers. still…looking back at the sultana, he hesitated as he reached for her face, drawing what power he could to heal the injury, spreading the power through her to tend to the rest of her wounds as well. they weren’t fully closed, but he did his best, expended all the power he could muster under the eclipse. ❝ i wish i could do more now. ❞ he knew showing weakness in front of her was risking her avoiding the marriage altogether, but it was better to find that out then rather than after they were wed. 

“most certainly.” the woman nodded, her features seeming to soften in front of her betrothed. there was something emerging in her; a feeling that she had not allowed herself to experience in years. she could experience attraction, something that could be so material.. but she felt oddly comforted by the man in front of her. perhaps that scared her, causing her to be even further on her guard than before. of course she knew how the last time she had been wed had ended, her husband causing her heart to grow even colder and then, just like that, he had left this world just as quickly as he made his decision to engage in such infidelity.

he touched her face. a woman of stone, she never let anyone touch her face, let alone get even close enough to try. however, the act of kindness was received with a soft smile. the tension relaxed from her face just as quickly as it had come at the first sound of the battle. 

this was certainly going to be the adventure of a lifetime, wasn’t it?

T I M E  S K I P 

just as quickly as the battle had ended, she wore someone else’s name and a new status like a badge of honor. the lunar queen. now, lightning and the moon ran through her bloodstream. there was nothing about her that appeared to be out of place during the ceremony, the pinnacle of beauty. perhaps her ego needed some time to cool, but it was her wedding day of all things. her second, but regardless. 

then came her first moment alone with her new husband, as he stood across from her, perhaps at her most disheveled. in her heart of hearts, fatima hoped he’d see her as beautiful. a bottle of fine liquor dangled rather elegantly between her fingers as she turned to face him, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. as exciting as everything was, the overwhelm was suffocating. her last marriage was anything but perfect, the understatement of the year, who was she to expect herself to trust? 

“care to join me?” the sultana eventually spoke, in a manner that could have been taken as almost flippant. too casual, even, as if her husband hadn’t found her hoarding a bottle to herself on the night of their nuptials. fatima hated how he had now just met the second side of her. in the room, she had been humorous, entertaining the guests that were there to congratulate them: her most collected. now, here she was. a shell of that woman. 

they barely knew each other, and now they were expected to spend the rest of their lives together. the thought alone was enough to make her want to laugh, but the sultana, like many of her emotions, managed to keep it concealed. 

              FOR ALL THE STORIES OF SHADOWS that he had heard about the austrian army, with the general’s hand pressed to the prince’s shoulder, prince saem feels nothing but light emanating from her presence. knowing that this is the general that joseon’s own was to marry, saem’s heart felt awash with relief ─── for despite the evident strength and skill of blessing that the woman possessed, saem observed within her a gentle touch that his own general did not quite possess. “ i used to fear the shadows of your kingdom, general. ” saem confesses ; honest to a fault when a prince of his standing should be holding his cards close to his chest. “ however, meeting you like this, seeing the remarkable quality of your character, i feel that perhaps the moonlight of my kingdom can join with the shadows of yours to create a safe-haven for our peoples where the burning light of war is deprived of a stronghold. perhaps after all this fighting, we can join together in peace. ” and it’s evident from the way that he spares no words even in the midst of battle that saem is not cut out for the violence of war  ─── but what he lacks in battle know how, he makes up with the earnestness of his heart. “ i shall rely on the skill of your blade and blessing for this moment then, general. if you could be the sword that cuts us out of this darkness, i will be the eyes that guide us. ” at this, saem breaks the gently urgent contact his eyes had kept with the general’s, casting his gaze out towards the violent chaos of the room, searching for either one of their peoples who may be in distress, or for an opening for the two of them to take out of the madness. “ over there, general ! ”

dress torn and blood splattered, shoes clattered noisily against stone as she hurried down the nearest corridor. how ece kept finding herself separated from those she’d tried so diligently to find was beyond her, but her goal was simple — make it back to the ottoman royal apartments safely ( or at least a familiar face; at least then her nerves might not feel so shot ). 

the called out question caused her to still immediately, and it was only upon realizing that such a question wouldn’t have been voiced by anyone willing to simply ambush her, she released a short breath. “ece kanuni. i — i’m not here to harm anyone. i’m just trying to escape the chaos like many others.” she returned ( her voice wavering slightly ). “you— you can come out if you’d like…. or i can just continue on my way, no harm done.” 

the woman felt a pang in her chest as she noticed the woman and her injuries. the duchess had almost attacked a woman in perhaps what might have been her darkest moment and it caused manon’s big heart begin to crack. “madame.. i apologize.” she released a shaky breath, lowering the dagger to her side. “you never know who could be a friend or an enemy... this was supposed to be such a lovely affair.” her heart couldn’t stop racing, as if it were a horse running through an open field at the speed of light.