#calanmais

treading lightly through halls she had been forbidden from, brienne felt proud of her slight defiance as she wandered once more down familiar stairs and through dimly lit passages. something she did often when she couldn't sleep at night, which was more frequent than she fae ever let anyone know. and it wasn't strange for her to end up in the typically vacant dungeons, but a sudden scurrying caught her gasping off guard. "hello?" her voice was tentative yet curious, attempting to peer further down the hallway than her eyes would allow, "is there someone there?"

such social events rarely made the high lady nervous. she had been bred to partake in small talk and diplomacy, but something about tonight felt far different than the balls she'd attended before. now, there was a certain pair of eyes she was hoping to catch, to impress. the gowns she had brought for the occasion felt ill fitting as she got herself ready ⸻ dozens tried on and thrown to the side. it wasn't until she searched through the charmed armoire, that a certain dress caught her eye. it looked as if it was made of liquid metal, silver fabric clinging to her body in a sort of fashion that left no part of her curves or bust to the imagination. the draping gathered around her hips before giving way to a dramatic slit that revealed the scar she could not bring herself to heal. it fit inez perfectly, as if it was made for her. her arrival required no introduction, lull in conversation causing her to rethink such a choice in attire. she felt practically naked, fingertips reaching for a nearby flute of alcohol to calm her nerves. it's not long before eyes meet a certain illyrian's from across the room. soft smile graces her features, feet carrying her to him. "my, my," she greets, "you clean up rather nicely. i hardly recognized you."

it had been nearly two months in the night court since her arrival. though each day eased saoirse into her new life, she still could not call it her own. there was no denying that she was happier here ⸻ even when working late hours at rita's or spending evenings alone in cormac's home while he was away. she was perfectly content wearing down time in her own private corner of velaris, had it not been for starfall. cormac's gracious invitation to the house of wind to share in the celebration with him and the high lord's inner circle was one she did not take lightly. since the ambush so long ago, the high fae had not owned a formal dress or anything near presentable for such an occassion. whatever wages she had earned were quickly spent on a modest, gold colored gown. her hair was barely long enough to pull back, curled strawberry blonde tresses framing her flushed face. "are you sure . . ." she trails off, taking a moment to smooth out her dress, "are you certain they will not mind my attendance ?"

as the two arrived to the inn caspian often frequented on his trips to the spring court, it had become apparent that he had not thought as deeply on the arrangements of their stay as he should have. the inkeeper's suggestion that the two would be sharing a room and they were together romantically allowed very little room for the high lord to object. at least not immediately. he'd quickly taken the keys and guided them in the direction of their room without so much as a word. though, matters only further complicated as he opened the door to find one bed. "i apologize . . . i thought they'd place us in a room with two beds," he explains after the silence became overwhelming, "when i said i had a guest accompanying me . . . i should have clarified." hues finally lift to meet hers, realizing the implication of the current set up. "let me go request a second room. that way you may be more comfortable."

as wingleader, it was his job to watch over the cadets and assess their performance. so, it was not difficult for him to notice that devon had improved in the months of training. though her floorwork still left something to be desired, it was clear her cunning and innovation was making her a wildly underestimated opponent. where others overlooked, kade watched carefully. thus, it wasn't a surprise to him she'd completed the gauntlet ( even through unconventional methods ). even less of a surprise that she'd come out of the obstacle course wounded. tattooed arms cross over his muscled chest as he leans against the door of her quarters. wouldn't have come if she wasn't alone. "you're wrapping that wrong," he points out, "it won't heal unless you do it right."

upon awakening, saoirse had not forgotten about their plans to journey to the night court. such idle, drunken talk was taken seriously by the two as she agreed to accept cormac's help in her liberation. now, fingertips extend towards the warmth of the campfire while her back presses against a nearby tree trunk. they had neared the border of the night court, and tomorrow the two would cross into her new home. it was now or never in the fae's eyes ⸻ her last chance to return home and assume her duties. "i could work in a tavern . . . earn a wage to help get myself on my own feet," she suggests but sucking in a breath. she could be anyone she wanted now. "am i to keep my name ? . . . not my surname, but saoirse. may i hold on to that ?" her final connection to the spring court.