rose colored kisses

Svala smiled at the blonde and nodded, “I understand, there were many other interesting things going on that didn’t involve the trials. I’m sure it was, Tatiana always has control of what I wear I think because she knows if I’m left to my own devices I will not be as elegant as she would like us all to be.” She chuckled her brows raising as the memories of a younger Tatia filtered through her mind, “she is definitely that, I’m happy you enjoy the adventures with her.”

She nodded and thought of her children, “a few too many children, I’m sure Adrik would think. They are a handful each in their own way. We tend to pick up extra family members along our journey though. Princess Tatia and High Lord Viktor being two of them.”

~

Saria bit back a small laugh, nodding her head earnestly — though she had only been in Tatiana’s services a short time, dressing the young princess was something that brought her a very specific type of joy. Never in her life had she seen someone so excited about simple garments, her face lighting up as if she had been given a priceless diamond, or more accurately, a tiny fluffy kitten. Tatiana had even let Saria try on some of her own clothing, and the quickly budding friendship often ended in little midnight tea parties surrounded by sweet treats and bedecked in enormous silky skirts.

“That’s v-very kind of you — I’m sure both the H-High Lord and Princess truly love having you a-as a role model. Especially with h-how sad their parents p-passing was, even i-if it’s been some time...” Saria paused, tilting her head to the side. “How many children do you have, Lady Svala? I-if you don’t mind me asking, t-that is.”

Idalis laughed, feeling light in a way the garden rarely elicited from her. Alondra’s excitement was infectious, and it was good to see someone excited about the work that seemed to make her feel less connected to who she was. The early days were all excitement and adventure - important experiences for any thorn. “Of course, dear one. I’ll help you with anything you need. Don’t worry over the state of things here, what’s important is your being prepared for everything,” Idalis continued as she set the box down where Alondra had instructed.

“I’m alright, and that’s for your mission too, so don’t forget to pack it as well,” the older thorn cautioned. Especially with everything that had happened, a dagger that fit well on a thorn’s thigh would be a necessary evil. “Now. Let’s see what you’ve packed so far, yes? Then we can see what you’re starting with and go from there. I’m sure you’ve covered all your bases, but I think I packed my things and unpacked them four times before my first mission.” And even then, she had packed too much, the thorn recalled fondly. Perhaps she’d be able to keep Alondra from doing the same.

~

“I feel prepared... I think.” Alondra bit her lip, and then promptly puffed out her cheeks and crossed her arms over her chest in the child-like way she had become known for. Alondra had always been different than the other Thorns and Thorns in training -- where they were sultry,  calculated vixens, she had always held an air of naivety that many had doubted would result in a successful spy. Alondra had doubted herself, too, but with elder Nymphs like Idalis encouraging her to use the skills she had been given? She’d thrown herself into making her own form of seduction, and had at long last felt as if she would put them all to shame. She’d been waiting a century to prove to her sisters and her Rose Queen that she was a Thorn -- yet as her first assignment loomed over her and the agile young fae flitted about her cottage in preparation, she found herself questioning if she was truly cut out to be a Thorn once more. 

Alondra’s doe-like, golden-brown eyes widened at the mention that the content of the package that Idalis had brought was meant for her, and she couldn’t help the small, excited gasp that left her lips at the prospect of a gift. “Oh, Ida! You didn’t have to bring me anything!” She exclaimed, though she couldn’t help but sneak closer to the place on the table the other Nymph had left it. She folded her arms behind her back -- an attempt to keep her lithe fingers from reaching out to touch it -- and looked back at Idalis with a soft excitement on her face. “Can I open it? Oh, please? Or do I have to wait?”

Apollo + River @rzeqvrtz​​

If not for inter-court reasons, it had been decades since River visited spring court on personal matters. Not as a slight or politically animus reason. No, the duchess enjoyed her time whenever she visited. In all truth, she had grown busy. It was nearly two decades since things had changed for the court renown for its lush mountains and floral aplenty fields. The last time River had planned to return, spring court had seemed to lose its matriarch. Faun Deerling. After that, the aforementioned trip had fallen by the wayside as the entire court, and many parts of Astralis, grieved the loss. Then, before River knew it, nearly twenty years had passed and, if not for work, the duchess failed to make the personal journey. 

And then, oddly, almost as if divinely scheduled, Faun Deerling returned. From what appeared to be beyond the grave. A friend of River’s deceased mother, Yara, the duchess was happy for the Deerling family. Truly. Many times, in her quiet and more honest moments, River had wished for a miraculous return of her own mother. It was nice to see that Faun had, at the very least, returned to her own home, family, and people. Interestingly enough, a servant had brought River the piece of jewelry crafted decades ago, fashioned and commissioned by Apollo Deerling as a surprise for his mother. As a friend, she helped him with the decide on a day aligned jeweler. Greatly skilled in their own right. The fae had crafted many pieces for the Hartwells. The sole reason for her would-be trip to spring back then. 

River and her appointed guards had been kindly received at the palace in Avalon City. It was easy, finding Apollo. Decades may have passed but she knew how fond the warrior prince was of his pegasi. She’d even brought them treats. While unicorns and pegasi weren’t native to day court, it was her duty to know of the mystical creatures. “You are certainly a fae of habit,” She said in lieu of an actual greeting at the sight of Apollo at the stables. A genuine, light smile on her face as she approached. “It’s good to see you standing. Alive and well. I came to… well…” River trailed off, dark brown eyes falling onto the nearest peagsus. “See how you were. Make sure that you were alright.” The small smile on her face grew when it sniffed at the basket in her hand. Clearly, the sweets had been detected. “I come bearing apples and sugar cubes for your pegasi. Can you help me with that? I’ve not feed them in quite some time. I’d hate to upset them or get nipped as a result.”

The stables belonging to Deerling Castle and the Spring Court’s Royal Family were, in short, Apollo’s happy place. Since he was nothing more than a young warrior fae -- even younger than his still budding sisters -- the stables had called to him like the sweetest of lullabies. It was like gravity, how the knickers and whinnies of the Pegasi called to him in a way that could only be described as magical. It had been here that the prince had not only discovered his affinity for the majestic beasts, but his calling in life -- a calling to take to the skies, soaring far and wide. It was because of the Pegasi and his connection with them that the Golden Lion had created the Valkyrie. So that others could experience the earth-shattering bliss of plunging into the clouds on a brilliant morning.

And, with his recent injuries, there was no better place than brood than among the creatures who had given him his life’s purpose. 

At least here, surrounded by the smell of fresh hay and sounds of hooves against blinding cobblestone, he could be of some help. His wing and side bound tightly, flying was out of the question -- but that didn’t mean he couldn’t help with the training of the legendary steeds. The prince was just finishing up one such session, luring a spritely colt back into his pen after assisting the young steed in learning to fly. The little dappled-gray and white thing was certainly proud of himself, brandishing his still-tiny wings and stamping his feet excitedly into the ground as Apollo clicked the lock back into place, rubbing the colt’s snout as he stuck it between the gaps in the gate. 

“Yes, yes, you did wonderfully today, Zephyr. You’ll be battle ready in no time at all, little friend.” Apollo practically cooed -- if a war-torn warrior fae such as himself even could coo -- to which the colt knickered excitedly in response. The two conversed for a moment, Apollo talking and Zephyr neighing back at him, until the prince stopped short at the sound of someone approaching.

A friend -- one he hadn’t seen in quite a long time.

“Lady River!” Apollo greeted, a broad smile crossing his bearded and sun-kissed face. Laughing half out of embarrassment, the prince rubbed the back of his neck, but jerked his chin behind him in the direction of his injury. “I thank you for your concern -- I am finally on the mend, it seems, though not fast enough.” Zephyr, keen on the mystery treats stowed away in River’s basket, stuck his nose out through the gate once more and huffed impatiently, as if to say stop talking and feed me! “Patience, little one. May I, my lady?” 

Apollo reached forward, gently taking the basket out of River’s hands. “He smells what you’ve brought. Here,” He took a sugar cube from the basket, then set it down at their feet. Gesturing for River’s hand, he carefully unfolded her fingers, and placed the sweet within her palm. “Keep your fingers flat, and hold it out to where he can reach. Like this.”

@rzeqvrtz​

Svala was meant to meet Tatiana but instead she found herself in the company of her handmaiden. She smiled at the younger girl, “it’s nice to see you again, Saria. I hope your travels with Tatiana have been well and that she hasn’t gotten you into too much trouble.” She chuckled knowing that Tatia had been known to be daring and adventurous to the point of danger at times. 

“Did you enjoy the tournament?” Her brows pulled together knowing at least the tournament had been fun and hoping not to drudge up any of the ceremony brawl that had broke out. “I think my children definitely enjoyed watching the competitors. I’m sure Adrik’s parents had a time keeping Skadi from joining the competitions.”

~

“O-oh! Hello, L-lady Svala!” Saria tried not to jump as the elder fae approached her, though the small flutter that went through her petite hummingbird wings and nervous stutter couldn’t be helped. It had been some time, now, since Saria had decided to brave the world and travel to the beautiful, frozen Winter Court. Between a near death experience -- thankfully, kept under wraps -- and coming face to face with a ghost of her past a whole two decades after he had left her, well... her new life had been nothing short of exciting, if not stressful.

But she was relieved that strangers were quickly becoming familiar faces, and Svala’s was a welcomed one. The shorter blonde nodded quickly, her blonde curls bobbing around her freckled face. “I-I didn’t get to watch a lot of it, but everything was so exciting -- I... I’m not one for f-fights and b-blood shed, but seeing everybody so dressed up was like a dream.  A-and Princess Tatiana isn’t trouble a-at all! She’s a bit... headstrong, b-but everyday has really been an adventure so far. I-I don’t ever know what we’ll get into.” 

Saria smiled again, quietly taking a deep breath before she spoke again. She needed to stop being so nervous, and -- and, oh, here she was, anxiously rattling on and on about herself. That’s not anyway to make new friends. “F-forgive me, my lady -- I don’t think I knew you had children!”

Iris + Raymond 

@rzeqvrtz​

Iris had traveled the forest many times. She could practically navigate with her eyes closed. She had been visiting friends in the Garden, but felt like wandering off for a bit through the woods that she’d come to know very well. Though when she was navigating she hadn’t accounted for her heel breaking. She took a seat on a fallen tree trunk as she inspected the heel. Her eyes rolling in their sockets. Of course the shoe wasn’t meant to navigate the terrain of a forest. Before, she had sensible shoes that accounted for the traction here. But alas, she had been a different person back then. Now nothing but the finest shoes would do. 

As she contemplated what to do about her shoes, she heard the tell-tale signs of approach. She became a bit more alert to her surroundings. “I’m armed and very dangerous,” she warned, which at the moment was a bit of a lie, but how would they know. She was tense, broken heel of her shoe in hand just in case someone meant to harm her. 

The tenseness left her as the face came into view. Her recollection of the name that belonged to the face caused her to smile. “Raymond?” she asked. The man had once been a guard for the garden. When she’d escaped to the Garden from her Dawn captivity, she’d come to know him for a time as he’d even escorted her out of the garden a time or two. “Damn, you still look just as handsome as the last time we encountered. Muscles and all.” Iris unabashedly eyed the man that stood a foot and then some taller than her. “Very long time since I’ve had the pleasure of seeing you.” She felt as though she’d lived quite a few lifetimes since then and in a way she had. She’d been married for nearly a century and even gotten back to her rightful place in Dawn since being in the Garden with her mother. 

~

It simply couldn’t be helped -- despite the big, wide world that was Astralis, even a traitor like Raymond couldn’t help but stray close to the home he once knew. It was in his nature, and arguably, it was in his very soul. Instinct, if you will, and a craving for the comforts of the family he had once had. Every since the Trials of Oberon -- specifically the Wild Hunt’s section of the maze and how real it had seemed -- Raymond had... Well, fuck. 

Raymond was getting a little fucking careless.

The evening had been his own after putting in several grueling scouting shifts, helping train members of the Resistance in fae battle styles that he had picked up over his five centuries, and speaking in hushed tones with Alexander as they planned their next move or discussed the harrowing fact that Lillianna might actually be gone. Deep in thought, large hands wrapped around the neck of a wine skin, the former Wild Hunt wolf had just started... walking.

Seeing the maze, seeing Sophia? Learning of Alexander’s recent transgressions, and knowing the woman who was practically a little sister to him might never come home? For someone who had learned long ago not to take life so seriously, it was certainly getting fucking serious. Raymond preferred not to think, and yet -- there he was, doing just that, and far too close to his former home. His wine skin still to his lips as he heard the delicate voice, Ray was all but ripped out of the dark and twisty corners of his thoughts. 

In an instant, he was dropping his drink, the red contents -- something stronger than his usual mead and beer -- spilling onto the thick grass below where they stood as he drew his over-sized sword. A threatening movement that paused just as quickly as his thick eyebrows began to twist into a scowl, only to shoot upward in surprise. 

While he had his qualms with the Wild Hunt, the Nymphs of the Garden were a different story. Just like it was in his nature to crave home, it was in his nature to protect the gentle fairing roses. “Iris? What the fuck?” It wasn’t exactly a pleasant greeting in return to her vixen like flirting, but it was almost all he could muster. “Have you lost your damn mind? The hell are you doing out in the woods alone without a guard?” Unless... Raymond scanned the clearing, eyes narrowing. Though he could smell no other Wild Hunt beside himself, his body tensed. 

“Fucking shouldn’t be out here, Iris. Shits not exactly tea parties and garden picnics right now.”