#prythiaens

he’d felt it all day. an irritating tug, making his legs feel wobbly, like the center of gravity had shifted to the horizon. he didn’t doubt that it was from the faerie wine consumed the night before, a gathering of congratulations amongst the high fae men of day court. perhaps they should not have gotten into as much mischief the night before his brothers engagement party. this is the first time that the tug had eased, finally releasing the pressure on his insides. how peculiar that it was this moment. ❛ leo. ❜ he introduced himself with a charming smile, palm outstretched for a formal greeting.

                   ❝    i    can't    protect    you    if    you    make    it    damn    near    impossible   .    your    father    will    have    my    head    if    something    were    to    happen    to    you   ,    you    do    realize    this    ?    ❞

                   ❝    i    miss    you   ,    i    know    i    shouldn't   .    tell    me to    quiet    myself    if    you    do    not    wish    to    hear    the    truth   .    ❞

DESPITE HER LUCK AND PRIVILEGE — that she knows full well she possesses — eden finds no tranquility within her castle walls. it's why she's taken to wandering outside of them, cloaked and light on her feet as she manoeuvres through the narrow streets of the capitol. it is fascinating how all of this, a reality so different from her own, can exist so closely to her home. the princess is enjoying this newfound freedom when a heavy hand lands on her shoulder, and whilst she's been told many cautionary tales fear is not something she feels easily. besides, even though he is quite new in his position, she knows the touch of aslan now. she turns to face her guard, expression stoic and unmoved. « took you long enough, ser. »

HE KEEPS HIS DISTANCE; it's a necessary precaution when he leads the life he does. blaise is only human — he's not immune to his own emotions, but he does a good job of acting it. this job pays well and from what he's gauged from the size of the estate, the richly decorated rooms, the number of staff waltzing around, the lord that runs it all guards a considerate wealth. he wonders what it'll take to topple him, if it's worth the fight. he's prowling the courtyard, bored in a way that seldom bodes well for anyone. he swings his sword around, cutting through imaginary enemies, when his blade stops a hair short of a dark - haired beauty rounding a corner. blaise stills, sword retracting as he regards her. his head dips into a polite nod. « my apologies, my lady. » his lips curl into a smile at the sight of the petite figure in front of him. « you are the one they call aeryn ? » he questions, though he knows very well they are. has kept half an eye on them since he arrived. it's hard to look away.

the  table  had  begun  to  clear  out  one  by  one  the  second  he  mentioned  a  looming  threat  just  beyond  the  horizon    –    it  seems  that  no  one  wanted  to  hear  it,    claiming  that  he  was  simply  trying  to  stall  the  wedding.    the  jealous  brother:    one  who  would  never  be  high  lord.    that’s  how  they  saw  him,    it  was  evident  in  the  way  they  brushed  off  his  knowledge  like  a  pesky  flea.    silence  engulfs  the  room,    his  brother  one  of  the  first  to  leave    –    grabbing  a  bottle  of  day  court’s  finest  on  his  way  out,    not  even  a  second  glance  to  his  betrothed.    ❛  it is  not  my  intention  to  frighten.  ❜    he  promises  her,    metal  tableware  clinking  as  he  sets  it  down.    ❛  i  can  be  gone  by  morning,    if  that’s  what  you  wish    –    but  my  theories  are  proving  to  ring  true.    do  you  believe  me?  ❜

“ for a guard, you're not very stealth. i noticed you were following me fifteen minutes ago ... to my own garden, in my father's palace. would it kill you to give me some space ? ”

“ my duty is a burden, but it's mine to uphold. the matrimony was arranged before i could walk ... you've known that all along. i cannot ― i will not fail this court. ”