The Shy Melody

Doomsday || Edmund&Harland

It was such a nice late autumn, or well, early winter day. The weather felt a bit crispy and you had to layer a few more clothing items on you to make sure you stayed warm. Edmund had chosen to add a huge pine green wool scarf around his neck, and it was pretty much covering half of his torso too, as he made his way to the Briar household. Edmund hadn't told Freya he was coming for a visit today, but during the summer she probably got pretty used to seeing Edmund to just appear at their house. Either with something to eat or brought a different instrument for her to see. Though today Edmund hadn't brought anything with him, he had thought maybe they could just hang out and come up with something to do. Freya always had ideas for something.

The house seemed quiet as Edmund stepped in. Maybe he should've checked from Freya would she even be home today. Oh well, he'll just write her a note if she doesn't seem to be there. The young fae walked through the hallway, glancing in from the open doorways while taking off his scarf. So far there wasn't any sign of Freya, or anyone else either.

With a Warrior by My Side | Freya and Edmund

Freya would rather solve things without weapons, to be perfectly honest. Without the finality of a blade. A good fist fight, a clear win. Who won if she had to threaten a life? But she would. For Eddie. For anyone else she cared about. Of course, most of them could handle a situation like this a bit better, but Freya wasn’t mad at him– Edmund’s softness was what made him so interesting to her. She couldn’t get up to save him; the bloke she had pinned was still conscious, simply defeated. So she grabbed a fistful of his hair and pulled, until he’d lifted his head enough for her to set her dagger up against his throat.

She stared down the Fox with Eddie’s wrist in their grip, not daring to risk sparing him a glance, because she might do something stupid. “What will you tell them when you return penniless and a man down?” Freya asked him, her Owain tongue still fluent and harsh as she made further threats. He spat back something about her having to get back without her pretty boy, and she watched him carefully. He wasn’t holding a weapon, but that didn’t mean he was unarmed.

Slowly, she reached for the coin pouch at her belt with her free hand, and tugged it free. “Let him go first.” She said, in common tongue this time. She’d concede the money, it didn’t matter. When his grip on Edmund’s wrist went slack, Freya whistled softly, giving a quick jerk of her head to bring him to her side. Once he’d moved she tossed the pouch off to the edge of the treeline and stood up. That released her prisoner obviously, but she held one arm out infront of Eddie to push him behind her a bit, dagger still gripped tight, and watched the pair of them pick up their buddy and the cash, vanishing into the forest. “Breathe.” She finally turned when the sound of their footfalls had faded, placing her hands on Eddie’s shoulders, eyes searching his face, “are you alright?”

Edmund could hear his own heartbeat in his ears, his palms felt sweaty yet cold. He stared at Freya as she spoke something, then glanced at the Fox who was holding his wrist, then at the person Freya held and then back to Freya. He had no idea what was happening and how this all would end. He could only hope everyone would get out of this unharmed - even the attackers.

Beauty moves in still waters || Edmund&Freya

In theory, it was a solid business plan, but in practice Freya did not fancy spending so much of her time arguing back and fourth with fussy seelie fae about their garden. But she appreciated Edmund for his ideas, anyway. “I’ll think about heading into the wildlands to talk to some people…” She didn’t think it was the right time to be making solid commitments. Who knew when another disaster would make her presence at home necessary. 

Session was an interesting word for it. She wouldn’t tell Eddie what sort of activity it brought to mind- that would spoil the fun. “Session wiill do just fine.” Freya told him, trying to bite back her amused grin. She settled down to listen- though she would deny any interest in learning, it was more just enjoyable to listen to him talk. She’d forget what he said, but she was also sure he wouldn’t mind repeating it. So Freya let him go on, throwing in questions when it seemed like he was running out of steam, until the sun started to sink. “Dinner time.” She sighed, a bit sad about it. “Do you need a ride home or did you come on Harmony?”

@shymelody​

Edmund seemed happy by Freya agreeing to possibly talk to people about garden designing. Edmund knew she might not do it in the end, but just the thought that she might do it was enough. Especially as Edmund was sure she'd be amazing in the job. He just didn't want to pressure her to try it out, just gently nudge her towards the idea. Who knows if she'd think more about it as time goes on and eventually do it.

He nodded happily: "Music session it is then." He was completely oblivious that a session might have alternative meaning, and it was good Freya didn't mention what she thought as there would be no end to blushing Edmund if he'd hear it. But he went on talking about the instruments, answering all the questions Freya had. He honestly felt so happy he could talk about music to someone as lately no one really had that much time to listen to him talk about such. Plus he didn't want to bother anyone with the topic either.

Edmund hadn't even realised the time until Freya sighed. He looked towards the sky and let out a soft sigh as well. Time was such a sly creature - the day ended way too quickly. "I came with Harmony", he replied saying on purpose that he came with his horse and not riding. He wouldn't ride if Harmony didn't feel like coming too, so he always remembered to ask Harmony's opinion before climbing on her back.

With a Warrior by My Side | Freya and Edmund

The Wildlands were a pleasant place for a walk. With all that had been going on recently Freya hadn’t been getting out there nearly as much, and after a few visits to the Black Manor to talk pastries and musical instruments- and make Eddie blush every time she brushed his hand with hers- she had declared that today she simply had to get out. Harland had his strength back enough that she wasn’t worried, and it wasn’t as if Eddie had to ask anyone for permission. 

So that was where they found themselves this afternoon, meandering through the quiet of the trees. They’d stopped for a bite to eat from some of the supplies Eddie had brought along, but they walked with no particular plan. Freya wasn’t out here to visit the Wolves, not today, it was just nice to be somewhere that felt like home. She knew every avenue and twist of the forrest like the back of her hand, so they could wander without getting lost, and she was happy to let Eddie lead the way whenever he got distracted by a pretty plant or some animal tracks he wanted to follow.

As for Freya, she’d taken the chance to gather some herbs and such to re-stock her healing kit- after tending to Balthazar’s injuries from the explosion, she was in real need. But whiile they stood on the edge of a clearing, Eddie chattering about a particular flower and its uses in baking, she felt the air go very still. The birds quieted, and Freya too, put a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture. 

All at once; a branch snapped, Freya unsheathed the dagger from her hip, and a figure came out of the trees behind Eddie. She launched herself at the assailant, throwing them both hard against a tree and grabbing their head in both her hands to knock it against the trunk again, so they slumped to the floor. She’d barely turned when another had her shoulder in their grip, “Eddie-” Her head snapped to the side, absorbing the impact of a strike to her jaw, “don’t panic.” He’d probably hidden himself by now, which would be for the best. She could see a tie around the wrist of her attacker, and it were Fox clan colours. 

If they snagged the pouch of gold on her belt, Freya didn’t care none, but they couldn’t hurt Eddie, and with Foxes you could never be sure if money would satisfy them. She threw an elbow back and they both tumbled to the floor, rolling for a while, each of them trying to gain the upper hand. He was big, but Freya was quicker, and she managed to pin him to the ground eventually.

There was a third, she’d heard their steps earler, but now they’d retreated into the trees. She didn’t like that. No way they’d just sloped away and left their clan mates behind. “Eddie.” Freya called out again, a bit louder, “you alright?” 

@shymelody

When Freya had asked Edmund if he’d go for a walk to the Wildlands with her Edmund didn’t even have to think when he already agreed on that. Especially as Edmund already came up with ideas what kidn of foods to pack in his backpack - he was even thinking of a little picnic somewhere if they’d find a really nice place for one. Even if they wouldn’t find a super nice place they surely could just sit and snack anyway. At first Edmund had thought of cooking and baking all kind of things, but then decided to go with simple sandwiches and different kind of fruits. Simple but delicious.

This whole trip and being able to spend time with Freya and honestly, just talking about this and that without the need to be careful with his words, had definitely lift Edmund’s mood and he had this nice fuzzy and warm feeling inside of him - happiness. But then mid sentence Freya shushed him and before Edmund could even ask what’s up everything was happening at once. Someone appearing out of nowhere, Freya jumping at them and Edmund’s instinct was just to turn invisible and run. But seeing another person grapping Freya Edmund realised his feet were stuck on the ground and he was unable to move anywhere.

Beauty moves in still waters || Edmund&Freya

“Sure.” Freya shrugged, “then I’d never see a penny, and they’d probably make me change it back. Reckon the only reason I got away with this little patch of wilderness is because Harland was too sick to stop me.” Well, alright, maybe Harland had actually humoured her, primarily because she was sure he didn’t really care what his garden looked like. “Maybe I’ll start offering to pretty up peoples’ home bases out in the wildlands or something, but it’d probably end up looking too neat for their liking.” It was a neat little stand in for her own feelings, honestly. Not sleek enough for the Seelie and not wild enough for the Solitary.  Too much of both to belong to the other.

Come over. Right, right. She had to venture off the Briar estate some time. It just felt hard these days, she didn’t know what she’d come home to. But she couldn’t spend forever anxiously hovering around Harland, waiting for him to drop again. Still, the lure of pastries and instruments and more of Eddie’s company was a strong one, and maybe after some time away from the house she would feel better. “Eugh.” Freya pulled a face, “don’t call it a lesson, I’ll never turn up.” She grinned, nudging him gently in the ribs, “Just call it music talk. I can talk a long time, I bet even you’ve got a lot to say about music and all your instruments. Do they all have strings? Except the drums, I mean- and there’s… I know some of them you blow air into, like a pan flute, do you have one of those?”

“You just need to make it clear that once it’s done and paid you aren’t responsible anymore and if they want something changed they’d have to pay the full amount again.” Edmund nodded his head as a confirmation that he thought this was a great plan. Maybe the people wouldn’t be that happy that they’d have to pay more, but at least Freya would get a good payment for her time and effort. “Home base renovation sounds like really good too”, he added nodding once again. Honestly, in Edmund’s books anything that made you happy and would make you able to live your life comfortably it would be worth the try. So if Freya wanted to start making gardens or do renavations, Edmund would definitely support her on that.

Beauty moves in still waters || Edmund&Freya

It was a more delicate situation than Freya was used to handling, and there wasn’t exactly a guidebook for it. (She’d probably need someone else to read it for her, even if there was.) With court life, though she had a flagrant disregard for many of the rules and structures, at least they were all plain as day. What were the rules for the crush you’d developed on the sweet local musician? What were the structures for figuring out what to do with the knowledge that he liked you, too? Because now he was blushing, and Freya was resisting the urge to cup his face with both hands just to know how warm he was.

The questions all mattered less as Edmund chattered away, about gardeners and chefs and the like, pulling this pretty life for them both out of thin air, and then suddenly loosing steam. “Gardener isn’t a terrible idea, though I think I’d get very bored of the kind of gardens seelie fae are interesting in having. And if you let me os much as try to make pastries, you’d come back to your kitchen on fire. But I bet you’d be great at that, as long as you’ve got me around to taste test everything to make sure it’s good, obviously.” 

Freya clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth as he became all shy again over the instruments, like she had to have the monopoly on talking. She tipped his chin up gently with two fingers until he was looking at her again. “Never be quiet, and never be sorry.” She said, smiling. “Tell me more about the instruments, I bet there’s a few I’ve never even seen before.”

“You could just make the different kind of gardens, not the boring ones people think they want”, Edmund suggested with a slight tilt of his head. Edmund was sure Freya could come up with amazing garden designs if she’d just get free hands to do whatever her soul desired. Probably Freya’s gardens would be more like small forests, but to Edmund that sounded like a wonderful garden. The more natural looking one it was the prettier it would be for sure. Of course he has always enjoyed the extremely architectural gardens too - like the palace gardens with carefully planned and neat pathways, all flowers, bushes and trees shaped in a certain way. But there was something amazing about the more ‘wild’ gardens.

“Of course you get to taste test everything. You can come over for that at any time”; he replied with a bit bigger smile. He was working in the kitchen quite often anyway so the chances of Freya arriving at the time Edmund was making something was quite high. Or if he wasn’t making anything at the moment, Freya could always ask him to bake or cook something and he’d happily do so.

The Old Friend || Edmund & Cillian

Cillian laughed, shaking his head. “That would be odd,” he agreed, shuddering slightly at the mental image. Imagine! “Although…it may make it easier to hit the notes, in the long run,” he mused, grinning. “More fingers just means more ground to cover, right? Perhaps you’d just need a larger flute.” He mimed the motion, chuckling at himself even as he did so.

“No, of course,” he agreed quickly, stepping to the side to let Edmund fit next to him on the market pathway. He glanced at the other fae, studying his face before they continued walking. Something was definitely different about him, but not necessarily in a bad way. He was struck with the sudden realization that it had been at minimum months seen he’d seen the older fae—much longer than it felt being back in his presence. The two were catching up easily, as if it had only been a few days or weeks rather than what was probably closer to years. But time was fickle as it was, and worse there in Midsummer—so who was really to say?

“It was the G string,” Cillian explained with a shrug. With it being the highest string on the lute, and therefore easily the thinnest, it snapped the most frequently. This wasn’t a new position he found himself in, just a frustrating one: of course, this happened right before a performance. “But the old vendor I used to purchase all the strings from is gone, and I’m not sure where to look now.”

“More fingers might be better idea than longer fingers. Although more fingers might also mean a lot of them would get on the way”, Edmund thought aloud and the following thought was that he’d have to talk about this with Freya. Just to see would she choose longer fingers or more fingers and what would her reasoning be. Or maybe she would not choose either. That definitely would be an interesting topic to talk about.

Edmund batted his eyes few times as he realised he was disappearing in his thoughts again. He glanced at Cillian, to make sure he hadn’t said something that would actually require and answer, but it seemed like the other hadn’t asked a question so that’s a good thing. Even if Edmund had changed in several ways after he left the court years ago, he was still the daydreaming Edmund who might disappear in his own thoughts mid-sentence. That was probably something that would never change - the daydreaming nature would always be there, in a way or another.