#chandies.fics

Rhysand hasn't stopped bothering me since the party.

Well, neither has Tamlin, but that's a different story. My darling brother, however, everywhere I go, he's already there with a teasing glint in his eye and a question on his tongue.

'You seemed to be having fun at the Spring Court.'

'Make sure to invite me to the wedding!'

'Don't forget protection!'

I think my head might explode from the embarrassment.

After Tamlin had pulled me away to the garden, the party ended pretty quickly. We spent most of the night chatting and strolling, and I managed to push that enchanting stranger's eyes from my head for the time being.

Thankfully, Rhys had waited to start tormenting me until after we were back in Night Court, but now I cannot escape it. Even now, as I sit reading on the couch, I hear his loud footfalls approaching the room I'm in. 

"I hope that's a romance because you'll need all the help you can get."

Scowling, I don't take my eyes off the page as I retort, " At least I have someone interested in me for longer than one night."

"Ouch," Rhys hisses as he flops down next to me, "you wound me so, little sister."

Settling back, he leans his head back on the seat, stretching his arms out to either side, almost resembling a large house cat getting comfortable, and peeks an eye over me.

"We're going to a meeting today, so we won't be able to get to Spring until late."

"Whose we?"

"Dad and I," he breathes, closing his eyes with a huff, "Mom and you will have to go greet Tamlin and them by yourselves."

I take my turn to sigh as I set my book to the side and swing my legs up onto Rhys' lap. 

Tamlin had invited us to a picnic with his family a few weeks ago. Something about that the cherry trees are beautiful this time of year. Faintly, I wonder if it's late enough in the season for them to bloom yet; after all, here in Velaris, there was still snow on the ground.

"Well, it's all the better then," I snort, "the fewer people to embarrass me, the better."

That snarky grin makes its way onto Rhysand's face again as he gets up, throwing my legs off in the process. He ruffles my hair and pinches my cheeks as he chuckles, "I'll just have to make it up to you next time we have a ball."

I purse my lips and swat his hands away, getting in one good smack before he disappears around the corner laughing.

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I gasp as I enter the clearing Tamlin has led us to.

You wouldn't think that trees would be blooming this early in the year, but with the temperate climate of Spring Court, the ordinarily green canopy is covered in pink blossoms. A sweet fragrance wafts through the air, and a small stream gurgles in the distance. A small blanket is set out with an array of bread, fruits, jams, and cheeses. I almost can't believe that a place like this exists, and with a wide grin, I turn toward Tamlin.

He is standing towards the front of the herd of brothers while his father smiles gently at us. Everything seems perfect, and my mother comes to my side as we gape at the meadow around us. 

"I'm so glad you could join us," the High Lord comments, "though I'll admit I am a little disappointed that Night's High Lord and Prince aren't with us today."

"They send their apologies," I reply with a smile, "sadly, they had some meetings to attend in Day Court."

The High Lord nods thoughtfully, and Tamlin walks towards me while his brothers head towards the food. Tamlin gently grabs my arm and smiles down at me.

"That's fine," he says softly, squeezing my arm tighter. I squirm a little, trying to relieve some of the pressure on it.

His father steps up to my mother and me, and two brothers grab her arms, a fair bit rougher than they ought to. I scowl and try to move to her, but Tamlin's hold is steel and holds me firmly in place.

I look up in confusion at him before the High Lord smirks, the mirth in his eyes turning dark.

"Yes," he laughs, "it's fine."

"Two sets of wings will be just fine."

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Everything is on fire.

My arms are covered in cuts and bruises, and my forehead must be bleeding because my sight is tinged red while one eye stings horribly. A foot is pressed down on my back between my wings, now bent at odd angles and bleeding. 

My mother lies on the other side of the clearing on her stomach, staring back at me with tears running down her face as she grits her teeth. Muffled cries ring out as one brother holds her while another slashes randomly with one of the cheese knives. Her back is bare and bloody, and two obsidian wings lay in a neat pile a few feet away.

Loud hearty laughs echo through the now dark clearing; the High Lord has pulled up a chair between us. He takes turns glancing between my mother and me with a sinister grin, like a lion toying with his food.

"I must say I do wish the other two were here," he chortles, "but all's well that ends well. I'll just have to make do."

"Filthy pig!"

He laughs even harder, even holding his stomach in mock pain. The boot pressing me down suddenly rams into my ribs, and I swear I can hear the bones crack.

"You're quite the mouthy one, aren't you? Thank goodness you didn't marry in; I'd have to make Tamlin beat it out of you."

Another crack sounds through the air, followed by my mother's cry as the High Lord makes his way over to me.

He jerks me up by my hair, so I'm almost kneeling in front of him, and puts his face close to mine, "You should learn from your mother and shut up if you want this to go quickly."

I can smell the fruit and cheese on his breath, mixed with the smell of wine and something rancid, and I try to hold back my bile.

"I'll kill you," I seethe as I spit at him.

A crack sounds, and fire blooms against my cheek as I'm thrown to the ground, a groan escaping. As I look back up, black dots swim in my vision, and I am met with another kick to the side.

"We'll see about that," he huffs and sits back down, turning to his two sons.

"One of you, go help Tamlin hold that one down. It's time we finished this."

As I'm still reeling, someone moves my body, so I lay on my stomach again, and another holds my arms to the ground. I'm too weak to move, and someone settles themselves on top of me, knees on either side of my waist, caging me to the ground.

A burning pain flares out from my back as if someone has poured hot metal on my skin, and immediately my body goes stiff before trying anything to get away from it. My limbs thrash around, and one arm comes free, meeting something hard as a low groan sounds out. My sight goes in and out, and I can see my mother thrashing to come to me, lips moving frantically.

She's trying to say something. 

Someone is screaming.

My throat begins to ache and burn, my mouth goes dry and I realize it's me. I am the one screaming. 

Something pops, the burning subsides, and a large black mass flops down to my side. In horror, I realize it's my wing. They're cutting off my wings.

I hear shouts and curses, and suddenly the weight on my back is gone, and soft feminine hands cradle my face.

Through my blurry vision, I see my mother, sobbing over me and brushing my hair away from my face. Her arms wrap around my shoulders as a throbbing pain sets in, and she whispers something.

"Winnow away."

She is ripped from me, and I am yanked backward by the shoulder as they drag her back across the clearing. We both thrash and pull, trying to get back to each other, and I hear a loud sigh.

The High Lord stands, wiping his hands on his pants as he does, and looks between my mother and me again. 

"And here I was hoping we could kill you two simultaneously."

He looks at me, almost disappointed, and sighs again.

"Well, we still need that one, but I think I'm done with the other," He says as he waves a hand at the son holding my mother. 

"Kill her." 

My body stills, and I look over at my mother. She has a resigned look on her face and mouths back to me.

'Go.'

"Father," Tamlin glares, "you never said anything about killing them."

"Well, we can't exactly let them run free now, can we?"

The High Lord looks back at the one holding my mother, "Do it. We have to finish before the other two get here."

He nods and pulls my mother to her knees, unsheathing his sword. My body begins to move on its own, and I try to go towards her, to save her, when I see a determined look on her face as she shakes her head.

I still, and the brother raises his sword into the air. Her eyes soften, and I start to understand what she asks me to do. 

My jaw quivers as tears stream from my eyes. With my remaining strength, I jerk my arm from Tamlin's grasp, freeing myself for a moment. That's all I need, is just a moment.

My mind steels itself, and I raise myself to my feet, my mother's eyes never leaving mine as she nods.

The sword swings through the air. 

I take a step.

Shouts ring out as darkness swirls around me, and the last thing I see is my mother smiling, a tear running down her cheek.

"I love you."

And then everything is gone.

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I cough as I step out into a forest, gracelessly falling to the floor as my knees crumple under me.

The bloody meadow, covered with cherry blossoms, is replaced with aspens and oaks. The overwhelming scent of maple fills the air, and small scatterings of snow coat the forest floor. It's getting dark now, the sun filling the trees with the last reds and oranges before night sets in.

I manage to pull myself a little away from where I had stepped out before my arms and legs finally give out, and I barely have enough energy to keep my eyes open. Resting my head on the soft earth, I let out a shaking breath and fight to hold the tears in.

I am not safe yet. I have to keep moving.

I try and try to shuffle further along, with no luck. I couldn't lift a feather right now if I tried. Throbbing pains radiate through my body, and leaves stick to the drying blood. 

My eyes get heavier, and I can faintly hear the soft grasses and fallen leaves crunching. My vision goes blurry and begins to dim, and something reddish-orange comes into view.

A warbled sound makes it to my ears, and warmth covers my body like a thick blanket. Exhaustion wins, and I close my eyes.

Faintly, I think that this isn't the worst place to die.

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note: and there you have it! it has been a long time coming but here is the first chapter!! as you can see i did end up keeping in the death scene, because there are a few things i needed in it for certain progressions later, but i hope it wasn't too intense. if i missed any tags please do let me know! i hope you all enjoyed it, i certainly enjoyed writing it. i've actually reread it a few times myself, and i am just loving the momentum it has. thank you all for reading and i'll see you soon!

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taglist: @owllover123 @sol2694 @theviewfromtheotherside

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Initially, you weren't too keen on putting up the Christmas tree in November, but now you wouldn't have it any other way. Anything to see the ways his puppy-dog eyes sparkle as he hops around the house, singing along to a Christmas song he put on in the living room.

Anything to have him take you on impromptu ice-skating trips, or dance around the kitchen as you bake Christmas cookies, or the cute way he always insists on lifting you up to put the star on top of the tree. Christmas is Itadori's favorite season, and soon  it's yours too.

Your friends think you're insufferable with the way your apartment looks like a Hallmark store by the time Halloween is over. They think you're insane with the mistletoe hung above every doorway – which has led to some interesting situations. Itadori's friends have accepted it at this point, unable to squash the sunshine that radiates from the pink puffball. And Itadori, well, he's as happy as he could ever be to see you dressed up in the ugliest Christmas sweater he can buy you every year.

This year is different, though. This year Itadori seems unusually … chipper.

And you've asked around, wondering if maybe there was a new movie he wanted to see. Or maybe there was a particularly wretched sweater on sale, or maybe Nobara had invited you him to her New Years' party again, even after what happened last time. But still, nothing. Everything was overwhelmingly normal, and while Itadori was usually a happy person, you could help but feel curious as to what had been making him so happy.

It wasn't until Christmas Eve, as you were sitting at dinner, the thought completely forgotten, that you would find out. It wasn't until as you were munching happily on a cinnamon carrot that Itadori said he had a surprise, abruptly leaving the table, leaving you confused with half-chewed food in your mouth.

It wasn't until later still, while you and your puffball lay on the couch, sipping wine and listening to some soft music, that you faintly wondered if you had any reason to worry.

You were absently admiring the Christmas tree, all blues and yellows, and reds, and wondered if you had ever been happier than this. You lay your head on his chest, only to feel shuffling and an arm moving around behind you. Soon he lay still and sighed contentedly, moving your face to look towards him as he stared lovingly into your eyes.

A kiss kere, an I love you there.