#✦ 𝔡𝔢𝔰𝔪𝔢𝔯𝔞 𝔳𝔞𝔩𝔣𝔞𝔯𝔢𝔫 *⁎

[stxrfclls]

she's  well  aware  that  she  should  be  talking  to  more  of  the  other  high  rulers,  finding  themselves  on  semi-friendly  terms,  but  desmera  doesn't  care  to.  she  has  an  emissary  for  that.  perhaps  it  is  childish  or  stubborn,  but  the  high  lady  doesn't  yet  care  to  change  her  perspective.  winter  has  flourished  under  her,  even  if  others  tried  to  spin  her  court  as  a  desolate  wasteland.  should  they  deign  to  visit,  they  would  learn  of  the  wonderland  it  truly  was.  because  of  what  was  said�� about  her  court,  des  wasn't  so  quick  to  judge  what  was  said  of  night.  while  her  father  had  confirmed  the  hewn  city  truly  was  a  bit  of  a  nightmarish  place,  she  refused  to  attribute  them  all  to  that  category.  des  didn't  really  share  her  insight  on  the  court,  nor  did  she  seek  the  high  lord  out  ot  offer  that  she  didn't  believe  the  rumors.  

"  i'm  sure  skepticism  is  quite  prevalent  amongst  all  of  us.  "  she  shares,  perhaps  a  bit  optimistic  towards  the  high  rulers  she  didn't  dare  speak  to.  des  offers  a  bit  of  a  laugh  when  he  shares  his  opinion  of  her  own.  she  doesn't  expect  everyone  to  agree,  nor  does  she  wish  to  force  her  thoughts  on  another.  "  the  return  of  our  magic  is  very  easy  to  be  pleased  about,  so  long  as  nobody  thinks  this  means  all  is  well  now.  "  she  did  not,  but  could  take  the  wins  as  they  were  given  and  moderately  celebrate  them.  a  sigh  slips  her  lips,  and  she  decides  to  share  her  actual  thoughts  with  the  night  lord.  "  i  think  the  story  she's  spun  of  our  own  mother  is  possible.  think  of  how  often  she's  forsaken  us,  do  our  priestesses  even  truly  communicate  with  her  or  just  follow  old  teachings  ?  i  struggle  to  think  she  is  the  force  behind  what  we  faced  in  the  capital,  but  i  do  believe  she  is  not  a  benevolent  entity.  "

𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖇𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖆𝖗𝖉 𝖍𝖎𝖌𝖍 𝖑𝖔𝖗𝖉 remains swathed in shadows this evening, where he belongs, where he is comfortable. the sculpt of elegant ice at his side is welcome company, for she has suffered as many slings & arrows as he has since assuming her place as the ruler of winter court. watching the other courts weave their treacherous webs after her ascent gave him a clear view of the vipers that surrounded him, too. for that reason, he spoke highly of the frostbitten court and its regal high lady as often as he was able. desmera had his respect and envy, for he saw an strong inner circle standing behind her even in the shadow of the tragedy the court and its ruling family had endured.

❝ i'm glad we are in agreement there, ❞ he says on an exhale, shoulders deflating as he scans the room around them. ❝ the optimistic bent you have is ..surprising. but i can't blame you for taking the wins where you can get them & without hesitation. this dark mother troubles me the most, though. makes me think there's a lot more at play than we can see from our vantage. cauldron knows, there are leagues beyond even our high level perception, and we are affected by it whether we can see who's pulling the strings or not. ❞ he turned a pensive gaze on the high lady of winter. ❝ so, dark mother. thoughts? ❞

[stxrfclls]

closed for @shvdwscng

it  was  not  an  unknown  feeling  for  desmera  to  be  clueless,  to  feel  as  if  she  had  no  idea  what  to  do  or  where  to  go.  proceeding  was  impossible  in  a  snowstorm,  emotions  clouding  her  mind  and  refusing  to  give  her  clarity.  times  like  this  were  where  she  grew,  and  she  knew  the  test  would  see  her  on  the  other  side  stronger.  the  high  lady  could  only  hope  they  got  there  before  her  people  saw  more  difficulty.  as  her  fingers  tap  idly  on  a  glass,  gaze  cast  out  across  the  dusky  skies  her  balcony  faces,  she  can't  help  but  wonder  when  the  mountains  she  gazes  upon  would  be  snowy  once  more.  

the  creaking  of  a  door  signals  her  company,  and  des  doesn't  turn  as  she  already  expects  who  it  would  be.  her  guards  wouldn't  have  let  another  in  without  question.  "  lailah,  come  sit.  "

[stxrfclls]

@n1ghtsongs

"  my  beast  form  is  back.  "  the  elder  sister  offers  in  from  of  greeting  when  she  sees  lydia  walk  into  the  shared  living  space  they'd  been  afforded  by  the  dusk  court.  they'd  been  lucky,  surely  because  they  were  a  high  family,  but  the  rooms  were  just  as  comfortable  and  spacious  as  the  ones  in  the  capital.  not  home,  but  at  least  not  cramped  and  crowded.  "  how  do  your  powers  feel  ?  "  des  was  well  aware  that  her  magic  would  always  be  stronger,  but  she  needed  to  check  in  on  others.

[stxrfclls]

‘ laura harrier, cis woman, she/her, 34 / 340 , high fae ’ ― cauldron save you. it seems desmera valfaren has finally made it to the capital, the high lady from the winter court is said to be intelligent and is said to describe themselves with an the icy whip of a frosty winter breeze as you step outside, a chilling glance that speaks volumes, eyes that take in far more than you might wish and with all of this in mind their calculating nature always seems to get them into trouble. may the mother hold them as they navigate this unthinkable time. ; written by honey. 

𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬

full  name  .  desmera  valfaren

nickname(s) . des

age  .  34  appearance  /  340  actual

sexuality  .  bisexual

occupation  .  high lady

species  .  high fae

loyalty  .  the winter court

height  .  5'9"

𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬

born  as  the  eldest  of  her  parents,  desmera  had  no  choice  but  to  be  doted  upon  and  cherished.  the  gift  of  winter,  a  snowflake  as  unique  as  one  could  get.  her  mother,  the  former  high  lady,  had  come  from  a  family  of  many  siblings,  and  the  love  she  poured  into  desmera  was  that  of  what  she  would  give  tens  of  children.  that  love  would  soon  push  the  high  rulers  to  realize  they  desired  more  children,  and  more  children  they  would  have.  the  winter  family  was  no  shortage  of  people,  plenty  of  hathaways  to  come  by  and  des  the  happy  eldest.  their  family  was  filled  with  love,  with  laughter,  and  with  joy.  

but  all  the  love  in  the  world  could  not  have  protected  them  from  the  loss  of  their  mother.  the  high  lady  may  have  passed  surrounded  by  her  family,  but  the  loss  was  a  deep  stab  into  the  hearts  of  all  around.  most  notably,  the  high  lord,  desmera's  father,  who  had  no  more  fight  in  him  and  faded  off  into  the  magic  alongside  his  wife.  the  winter  court  magic  claimed  des  as  the  next  high  lady,  to  none  surprise,  and  suddenly  she  was  thrust  into  her  position  when  she  felt  she  was  never  prepared  to  do.  grappling  with  the  loss  of  her  parents,  consoling  her  siblings,  and  learning  a  job  she  felt  she  could  have  never  been  ready  for  were  things  that  des  struggled  with  greatly.  she  leaned  on  her  mother's  inner  circle  heavily,  and  was  more  than  thankful  for  all  that  they  did  for  her.  because  of  them,  she  now  sits  as  a  strong  high  lady  70  years  later.  some  may  still  think  of  her  as  that  young  girl,  naive  and  wayward,  but  she  is  everything  else.  des  is  simply  more  reserved,  and  doesn't  think  it  is  her  job  to  prove  who  she  is  to  anyone  outside  of  her  court.

over  all,  desmera  is  a  very  reserved  person,  she's  calculating  and  quiet,  does  not  rush  to  make  decisions  or  judgements,  and  likes  to  know  as  much  as  she  possibly  can.  in  her  youth,  she  was  an  accomplished  warrior,  once  even  dreaming  of  becoming  her  mother's  general  before  the  fates  laughed  in  her  face.  she's  not  the  most  pious,  feeling  as  if  she  were  set  onto  a  shit  path  the  moment  her  parents  passed.  not  that  she  shares  that  with  many.  those  who  she  deems  worthy  to  know  her  fully,  her  family,  inner  circle  and  closest  friends,  see  the  kind  and  caring  heart  she  encases  in  ice,  the  pieces  she  lets  others  thing  she  can't  possibly  possess.  des  is  capable  of  quick  sarcastic  and  funny  remarks,  playful  jabs,  and  a  wit  that  can  crackle  and  amuse.  she  gives  herself  fully  to  those  she  loves,  and  expects  that  they  too  would  do  the  same  for  her.  protective  of  her  siblings,  she's  constantly  doing  what  she  can  to  ensure  they  are  cared  for,  and  never  feel  the  loss  of  their  mother  as  she  still  does.

𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

on  main  :  tbd

other  ideas  :  tbd

𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐬

✶ * ⁎ ⋆ 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐚 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧 × high lady of winter ❜, ✶ * ⁎ ⋆ 𝐝𝐞𝐬 × threads ❜

✶ * ⁎ ⋆ 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐚 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧 × high lady of winter ❜, ✶ * ⁎ ⋆ 𝐝𝐞𝐬 × inspo ❜

✶ * ⁎ ⋆ 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐚 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧 × high lady of winter ❜, ✶ * ⁎ ⋆ 𝐝𝐞𝐬 × dev ❜

✶ * ⁎ ⋆ 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐚 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧 × high lady of winter ❜, ✶ * ⁎ ⋆ 𝐝𝐞𝐬 × image ❜

[stxrfclls]

in  her  youth,  desmera  had  been  all  too  certain  that  the  general  hated  her.  that  he  thought  her  spoiled  and  ill  fit  for  a  training  ground.  she'd  worked  twice  as  hard  to  prove  him  wrong,  and  in  recent  years  had  come  to  realize  that  may  have  been  the  goal  all  along.  whether  he'd  done  it  intentionally  or  not  was  a  mystery,  but  the  harsh  training  and  impossible  standards  had  built  the  strength  in  her  that  she  needed  to  survive  taking  the  throne  of  winter.  it  made  her  able  to  withstand  the  fiercest  snow  storms  and  weather  anything  that  came  their  way.  it  allowed  her  not  to  get  lost  in  the  gossip  of  her  court,  of  what  prythian  thought  of  her.  perhaps  it  worked  too  well,  for  the  high  lady  was  every  embodiment  of  ice  now  more  than  not.

desmera's  heart  twists  when  he  compliments  her,  words  she'd  always  wished  to  hear  when  she  were  just  a  trainee  with  a  sword.  now  she  was  his  superior,  and  for  some  reason  the  sweetness  of  his  offering  to  her  has  to  get  tampered  down.  she  can't  let  herself  pick  apart  each  thing  he  says  and  think  it  more  than  what  he  means.  "  i've  been  what  i  was  built  to  be  by  the  people  around  me.  "  she  doesn't  explicitly  say  he  was  one  of  those  people,  he  can  figure  that  out  for  himself.  desmera  still  harbored  this  childlike  annoyance  to  not  give  him  everything.  she'd  done  it  in  her  youth,  part  of  how  she  ignored  the  girlish  crush  on  the  illyrian  warrior  who  hated  her.  but  did  he  ?  he'd  come  back,  and  that  action  alone  had  sent  a  spiral  of  thoughts  into  her  mind  that  she  kept  steeled  away  more  often  than  not.  everything  about  desmera  was  carefully  crafted,  the  walls  of  her  mind  and  her  emotions  fortified  to  withstand  a  blizzard.  

her  eyes  watch  as  he  moves  to  store  his  sword,  why  she's  always  found  the  thing  intimidating  is  beyond  her.  des  was  no  weakling,  but  she  was  rarely  small  when  compared  to  the  other.  she'd  also  never  preferred  great swords,    more  of  a  twin  sword  girl  which  often  got  mistaken  as  a  need  for  more  weapons.  she's  not  trained  in  some  time  with  anything  really,  slowly  being  too  busy  by  court  matters  to  do  what  she  enjoyed.  lailah  tried  as  hard  as  she  could  to  get  the  high  lady  out  to  the  training  grounds,  but  duty  would  always  dictate  her  life.  she  had  little  choice  in  anything  now,  despite  holding  the  highest  seat  in  her  court.  she  wondered  if  the  general  would  lecture  her  on  letting  herself  slip.

"  oh,  i  pray  to  the  mother  i  never  have  to  shift  despite  what  circumstances  we  face.  "  she  hated  it,  not  that  she'd  admitted  that  to  anyone.  in  truth,  she'd  not  really  meant  to  hint  at  as  much  now.  vyros  had  a  way  of  noticing  the  things  she  didn't  say,  finding  the  weaknesses  she  wanted  to  ignore.  he'd  done  it  when  he  trained  her,  would  he  do  it  now  ?  her  beast  form  was  powerful,  but  terrifying  and  exhausting.  she  didn't  wish  to  shift  into  it  again  in  her  lifetime.  when  vyros  moves,  des  picks  her  head  up  from  his  sword  and  watches  him,  dissects  him.  she  had  just  caught  him  in  a  rather  deep  moment,  after  all.  her  worry  was  still  simmering  despite  battling  with  the  need  to  let  it  go  ignored.  "  that  is  not  a  solo  task,  general.  it  is  something  we  are  all  trying  to  figure  out.  "  he  had  a  way  of  taking  on  everything  himself,  and  as  a  member  of  her  inner  circle  she  hoped  he  would  learn  he  could  lean  on  the  others,  lean  on  her.

head  cocked,  she  lets  each  word  he  replies  settle  in  her  soul.  she  always  knew  she  could  trust  him,  even  when  he  was  the  bane  of  her  existence  and  every  star  of  her  annoyances.  being  safe  with  vyros  had  never  been  a  question,  and  so  few  had  the  ability  to  allow  her  that.  "  you  are  free  to  leave  whenever  you  desire,  vyros.  i  called  you  back  because  i  could  think  of  no  other  to  serve  in  your  position,  but  i  am  not  ignorant  to  the  knowledge  that  you  have  your  own  life  and  desires.  "  she  doesn't  want  him  to  go,    but  would  that  be  easier  than  whatever  they  were  doing  ?  "  the  list  of  what  you  could  do  to  be  seen  as  ineffective  in  my  eyes  is  very  small,  general.  it  will  not  be  me  who  releases  you  of  your  service  to  the  winter  court.  "  she  adds.

𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖊 𝖎𝖘 𝖆𝖓 𝖆𝖋𝖋𝖎𝖗𝖒𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖛𝖊 𝖌𝖗𝖔𝖜𝖑 of acknowledgement when she mentions the strength of their people. her words trail a dismissal of his apology, but he feels heartstrings threaded into each syllable that sounds. her words are a wish, a prayer, a manifestation, weighted by doubt she will never reveal to him — after all, why would his high lady confide in him? the general makes for a solid shield, a bastion of protection, but he is composed of cold, craggy stone and sharp edges. what comfort could he offer her that she would be willing to take? that wouldn’t scar her hands and tear her pretty dress?

“ your people are a reflection of you, my lady, ” he answers honestly, if uselessly. “ were it not for your strength after the loss of your mother, the winter court would have splintered like broken ice. you’ve been unwavering, and the peoples’ spirits were rallied when they could have been lost to grief. ” from the perspective of a general, the strong front his high lady presented was invaluable to their court — the occasion of losing their former high lady could have been seen as a time of weakness for their kingdom, instigating a time of chaos and inviting attacks from more imperialistic courts. desmera did not allow for it. the transition of power was seamless, and while the winter court was grieving its loss, it was given the chance to do so under her sound and watchful rule. 

it is not lost on vyros that what she presents may not accurately represent what’s churning beneath. to be thrown into this maelstrom of chaos they are in now as a new ruler, a grieving daughter … he wants to comfort her, to let her know there is room for her to come undone around him. that he will never judge her or take advantage of her vulnerability. but that is not their arrangement, never has been. to let the boundaries slip, to lower the portcullis, could mean disaster — it could skew his focus, compromise him, and ultimately, put her in danger. she gives him an out from his thoughts by mentioning her beast form has returned, and the general releases a breath of relief as his thoughts cascade away, across a frozen ocean surface. 

focusing a bit too intently on the fastenings of his sword’s sheath, vyros responds gruffly, “ pray to the mother there’s no occasion for you to shift, but it’s a relief your magic has been restored. ” when his sword is put away and there’s nothing with which he can distract himself, he leans against the fence himself, at her side, elbows bent, head down. “ that said, it’s my job to focus on whatever stole them away to begin with rather than celebrate their oddly-timed resurgence. ” his frustration crackles like a dry woodland catching fire.  

but the silver-haired general stills at her comment that she trusts him, fiercely amber eyes focused on the ground & war-hardened hands wrenching together. it is a good answer, and he should be satisfied with it, and yet his heart remains a yearning maw, yawning open as it bleeds out. “ you can trust me, lady desmera. i’ll remain in your service so long as you deem me effective. ”

and that was that. whatever stirred in his heart for her would remain in the shadow of his sworn duty to protect and serve her. the only relief was knowing it was one-sided; he couldn’t bear to think she suffered from the same unanswerable yearnings he did.

[stxrfclls]

open !

desmera  had  enjoyed  the  festivities  enough  to  relax,  but  now  come  morning  she  felt  back  to  her  reserved  self.  cautious  of  this  new  court,  concerned  for  her  people.  the  return  of  her  powers  is  a comfort,  like  a  breath  of  chilled  winter  air  on  a  bright  morning.  it  eases  a  bit  of  the  tensions  in  her  belly,  but  still,  the  high  lady  finds  she  still  feels  in  the  middle  of  a  snow  storm.  arms  behind  her  back,  she  takes  a  stroll  through  the  court,  eyes  taking  in  all  the  fae  expressing  their  powers,  as  well  as  noting  if  any  winter  fae  were  acting  too  reckless.  "  refreshing  to  wake  up  to,  isn't  it  ?  "  she  finds  herself  musing  aloud,  having  stopped  to  watch  a  summer  fae  toying  with  the  water  in  a  fountain.

[stxrfclls]

being  near  her  siblings  always  brought  out  the  inner  warmth  in  desmera,  a  happiness  she  couldn't  find  elsewhere.  she  wondered  if  they  knew  that.  

laughter  slips  from  her  lips,  subtle,  but  happy.  "  perhaps  in  time,  for  now  i  think  it  best  to  save  our  powers  rather  than  overuse  them.  "  advises  she.  as  an  older  sister  she's  always  known  it  was  her  job  to  teach  the  others,  but  she  doesn't  actually  care  to  lecture.    it's  just  never  been  something  she  wants  to  be  to  them.

"  oh  ?  that  does  sound  lovely.  "  she  admits.  des  is  appy  she's  found  her  sister,  and  makes  a  note  that  she  needs  to  find  the  rest  of  them  and  do  the  same.  they  all  deserve  this  time  together.  "  i  need  to  fix  that  rink  anyway.  "  adds  the  elder  sister.

MANON grinned at her sister's appraisal, but didn't really linger on it. It was always nice to be complimented, though, especially when it came from her dearest sister.

"Hey, I'd love a snow globe." Mani chirped & her smile widened, "How about we find a secluded area & you make that into a snow globe? There's a really cute clearing, surrounded by birch trees, you can freeze those? It would look so pretty crowned in ice." she mused.

She pursed her lips in thought, then after a moment shrugged. She didn't really care where she went, as long as she was in her sister's company.

"We can check out the rink then head for a cup of hot chocolate? They have cream toppings in many flavours. I tried coconut & vanilla, but there's also a rose flavoured cream, & I'm just dying to try it!" she chatted.

[stxrfclls]

it  hardly  surprises  her  that  her  sister  is  unbothered  by  the  ruining  of  her  own  sculptures,  but  des  doesn't  really  bother  to  linger  either.  the  high  lady  lets  up  on  her  powers,  the  air  returning  to  the  chilled  fall  feeling  that  had  settled  on  the  dusk  court.  it  was  always  so  interesting  to  des,  how  the  seasonal  courts  never  saw  another  season  and  the  solar  courts  never  saw  another  time  of  day.  instead,  each  solar  court  saw  seasons,  and  each  seasonal  court  saw  the  movement  of  sun  and  moon.  she  still  felt  so  unsettled  here  where  the  skies  never  changed  from  the  hazy  dusk  they'd  been  greeted  with  on  day  one.  

"  they  were  lovely  while  they  lasted.  "  offers  the  older  sister.

des  snorts,  and  rolls  her  eyes  at  the  other.  "  no,  i  don't  wish  to  scare  anyone.  and  i'm  not  certain  anyone  would  enjoy  a  snow globe.  "  she  probably  could,  but  des  would  never.

"  oh,  if  there  is  a  pond  i  should  fix  that  freezing.  "  she  mumbles,  knowing  her  magic  is  stronger  than  any  other  winter  fae.  it  was  a  sweet  gesture  that  they  tried,  though.  her  people  loved  sharing  the  frost.  "  you  pick,  little  sister.  "

MANON waved her hands dismissively, throwing nothing more but a brief glance to the shattered icicles on the floor. In truth, she wasn't all that phased by their destruction. She was only practicing, gauging out how much of her power remained intact & she was so far satisfied with the results.

"Don't mind them, I was just fooling around a bit."

She turned her attention back to her sister with a secretive, teasing grin, hidden behind the palm of her hand. "Or you just don't want them to know how good you are at it. I dn't doubt you could turn everything here into a snowglobe, if you wanted to." she chuckled.

"Great! Where do you want to go? There's a little pond they froze for us, not quite a rink, but it'll do. I can get us some skates, if you want? Or oh! Maybe we could head to that pub in town, I hear they make a mean spiked rum!" she chirped.

[stxrfclls]

desmera  laughs,  because  in  no  space  does  she  ever  expect  to  lose  her  cousin.  they  may  as  well  be  sisters  with  how  they  grew  up,  and  she  knew  aoife's  loyalty  to  the  court  was  as  strong  as  her  own.  "  i  expect  that  to  stay  a  promise  forever.  "  she  teases  with  a  grin.  "  and  i  am  fine,  i  promise.  "  she  insists.  were  it  anyone  else,  des  would  be  annoyed,  and  even  think  they  didn't  have  faith  in  her.  but  this  was  her  cousin,  and  she  knew  the  other  would  worry  no  matter  what.  "  perhaps,  for  now,  i'm  content  to  simply  sleep  well  at  night.  "  the  bed  was  not  comfortable,  it  wasn't  her  own.  "  no  gossip,  no  crushes.  "  she  says  with  a  laugh.  "  my  cousin  and  my  second  in  command  can  ask  me  again  when  we  are  in  private.  "    

☆ﾟ*·ﾟA SMIRK RESTED on aoife's face as she watched her cousin. she knew she could take care of herself and that she was completely fine, but that never stopped her from worrying about it. "good, 'cause i'm not going anywhere." whatever she had to do to protect her cousin, she would. they were the family that were always there for her, no matter what. "i'll get to them. you're the high lady, so you're top of the list." laughing, she shrugged her shoulders, not minding at all. "eh, that's okay. we'll all have interesting stories eventually." turning to face her, she raised her eyebrows, "really? you got no gossip for me? not crushing on anyone or anything? not as your second in command, but your cousin."

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she  didn't  often  have  a  chance  to  speak  to  others  of  high  rank  in  courts  not  her  own.  desmera  remained  within  her  court  borders,  content  to  stay  in  winter  for  her  entire  life.  let  them  think  poorly  of  her,  she  could  care  less  when  her  people  were  thriving.  even  still,  she  is  taking  advantage  of  this  time  with  the  other  fae  of  prythian,  allowing  them  to  see  the  woman  she  is  and  not  the  girl  that  took  over  her  mother's  seat.  "  i  meant  the  return  of  our  abilities.  "  she  shares,  but  with  a  glance  to  the  other  it  was  plenty  easy  to  understand  how  that  would  not  apply  to  him.  "  though  i  suppose  that  does  not  carry  over  to  illyrians.  "  she  only  knew  of  the  creatures  in  depth  due  to  her  own  general.

☆ﾟ*·ﾟMORNINGS WERE NOT elias' strong suit, surprisingly. coffee was a necessity and one that made him a lot less grumpy. sure, you could get him up early if you bribed him with a strong cup. on a regular day, like today, he had a cup way too large filled with coffee as he walked through the grounds, letting the sunshine hit his face. elias wanted to get his men in for a round of training, just to keep them limber and ready for anything, but in all reality he was feeling a little lazy. not that he'd admit it, but he was. as he searched for a comfy spot to enjoy his coffee, he took a large swig and heard someone's voice next to him. "you know, it's not bad," he responded. "coffee could be stronger. and morale could be better as well. slim pickings out here."

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desmera  sighs,  not  because  she's  annoyed  at  her  sister,  but  because  the  answer  was  not  a  good  one.  so  used  to  sitting  back,  to  not  actively  seeking  the  company  of  others  outside  of  winter,  and  she'd  still  not  chosen  to  meet  with  the  dusk  ruler.  she  hadn't  even  tried.  "  no.  "  admits  she.  the  elder  sister  lets  the  vulnerability  in  her  voice  show,  the  fact  that  she  knew  it  was  not  right  of  her  to  do  so.  "  i  should.  i  will.  "  adds  she.  should  she  send  her  emissary  or  just  send  word  herself  ?

the   entirety   of   the   mainlanders   getting   their   magic   back   at   once   had   to   be   something   that   was   worrisome   to   not   only   the   dusk   court,   but   the   mainlanders   themselves.   callie   wasn't   sure   of   how   the   dusk   court,   and   it's   high   lord,   would   react   to   the   fact   that   they   were   back   at   full   power.   "have   you   met   the   high   lord   yet?"   it's   a   simple   question,   but   a   heavy   one.   the   scholar   could   never   imagine   being   the   one   in   her   older   sister's   shoes. 

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very  few  were  privileged  to  see  the  depths  of  desmera.  the  high  lady  was  plenty  pleased  to  let  the  other  fae  of  prythian  think  whatever  they  pleased  of  her,  long  over  the  concept  of  her  being  a  scared  girl  on  her  mother's  seat,  unable  to  rule.  winter  had  thrived  and  flourished  beneath  her,  it  spoke  for  itself.  her  siblings,  though,  they  would  always  see  the  true  version  of  des,  not  the  curated  creation  prythian  was  given.

her  hands  don't  move,  but  desmera  chills  the  air  around  them  so  manon's  creations  will  hold  form.  while  more  powerful  due  to  their  blood,  she's  seen  many  winter  fae  struggling  to  keep  their  magic  strong.  it's  sad,  but  they  are  so  far  from  home.  she  wasn't  offering  enough  magic  to  save  her  sister's  creations,  though,  and  she  places  a  hand  over  her  mouth  when  they  fall.  

"  oh,  your  sculptures.  "  she  says  as  her  sister  tosses  herself  onto  her  shoulders.

"  a  stroll.  i  think  i  shall  attempt  my  magic  on  a  larger  scale  when  i  am  alone,  and  away  from  any  who  might  find  it  troubling.  "  her  power  was  strong,  just  as  any  high  ruler,  and  des  did  not  wish  to  scare  any  of  the  dusk  fae  when  she  sought  out  how  much  had  returned.

MANON was having the time of her life. It was on a rare occasion that she ventured to other courts & only as an escort to her sister, the High Lady, so she had very little practical knowledge on other courts & their powers. Seeing so many of the fae using the opportunity to practice their, freshly restored, powers, the lady of Winter decided to join in on the fun & practice her ice magic in the process.

It wasn't until a familiar voice spoke so close beside that the young lady Valfaren's lips pulled into a vide smile & she paused mid-making tiny ice sculptures in the air, that now fell down & shattered on the floor, no longer supported by her magic - her focus switching instantaneously to her sister.

"Des!" Manon chirped & threw her arms around her sister's shoulders.

"Oh, it is! As much as I like experiencing other seasons for a change, too long of an absence from winter seems a little... unnatural." she mused, then, "Have you come to practice your power, or just for a stroll? I can join you for both if you'd like."

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an  old  friend,  but  even  lavinia  didn't  see  all  desmera  was.  not  due  to  the  other's  lacking,  but  due  to  desmera's  change  when  she  became  the  high  ruler.  "  i  think  we  will  need  to  work  together,  but  expect  them  to  offer  little.  "  she  reasons,  agreeing  with  the  other's  idea.  des  didn't  expect  anything  to  be  given  lightly,  but  she  hoped  the  dusk  court  would  continue  their  generosity  to  those  displaced.  would  it  run  out  ?  she  hoped  to  not  see  it.  "  things  can  be  remade  to  create  warmer  wear,  fabrics  doubled.  "  she  suspected  those  of  summer  would  struggle  the  most.

what else does one expect from the winter court? their tragedy is well-known, meticulously carved in the wall of ice, barring the entry of the rest of their world from looking to closely in. "or perhaps we'll have to pull up our boot straps to ensure our own safety and survival." the grimness in her smile hardly budges. the temples saw fae of all walks of life. perhaps high fae could survive off kindness, but there would be lesser kin who might not. winter killed in a brutal way that the summer could not, stealing the spirit in the dead of night lest one get cold enough. "any expertise to offer? if we should be so unlucky and must prioritize our resources, that is."

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desmera  glances  over  to  the  other,  and  she  raises  a  brow.  well  aware  of  other  high  family  members,  she  knows  who  this  high  priestess  is.  she  also  likes  to  keep  her  distance  from  them  all.  while  the  whispers  of  winter  have  all  but  ceased,  she  will  never  forget  how  they  swarmed  the  whole  of  prythian  right  after  she  became  the  high  lady.  "  hopefully  our  hosts  will  be  well  prepared  to  cloth  those  fae  less  inclined  for  the  chilled  air.  "  she,  for  one,  could  not  wait  to  see  it.  des  craved  to  feel  the  frost  on  her  skin  once  more.

"in a sense," lavinia answers with a wry smile. already feeling the chill in the air, her arms are crossed as she takes in the same view, perching nearby to make sure that the summer child doesn't make too much of a mess. she was starting to feel the sting of uselessness with the mother's quiet, but half the role was symbolic and showing face might just be enough. "winter is coming and our court is going to freeze half to death. i swear most of them have never even seen snow. i bet this child doesn't even know how to dry themselves off without the summer sun."

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des  was  used  to  those  around  her  watching  her,  picking  apart  if  she  were  going  to  crumble  or  remain  strong.  the  former  may  have  happened  in  the  past,  but  the  latter  was  all  that  was  seen  now.  it  wasn't  that  she  didn't  trust  aoife,  she  just  didn't  wish  to  reveal  everything  she  felt.  "  i  expect  nothing  less.  "  she  says  with  a  slight  laugh.  her  cousin  was  always  the  brightest  in  the  court,  it  doesn't  surprise  her  at  all.  "  there  are  others  that  need  far  more  attention  than  me.  like  my  sisters.  "  she  says.  "  besides,  i  hardly  have  anything  interesting  to  offer  for  your  dreams.  "  

☆ﾟ*·ﾟAOIFE WATCHED HER cousin, hoping to find some solace i knowing that she would be perfectly okay. knowing that the days were starting to get brighter, more beautiful and relaxing, she hoped it would stay that way. they needed more good news than anything at the moment. "i'll be using all the good luck charms i can get, you bet i will." anything aoife could do to protect her cousin and her court, she would, even if that meant making sure every day was bright and cheerful. a soft chuckle slipped through her lips as she shook her head. "you know i can't do that. it's literally my job. besides, you gave me a job when i needed it the most, so why can't i repay the favor? besides, how do you know i'm not just asking to get some killer dream stories to tell around a bonfire later?"

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she  sees  it,  the  moment  her  voice  reaches  his  ears  and  he  recognizes  she's  approached.  never  one  to  easily  be  snuck  up  on,  the  high  lady  takes  pride  in  the  small  victory.  but  her  brows  draw  up,  she  reads  every  inch  of  his  body  language,  gaze  taking  in  each  spec  of  the  man.  the  warrior.  he's  never  intimidated  her,  but  stars,  desmera  knows  why  illyrians  are  terrifying  on  the  battlefield.  in  the  initial  stages  of  processing  the  loss  of  her  mother,  des  knew  only  one  soul  could  serve  as  her  general  and  do  it  well.  the  current  was  ready  to  retire,  but  offered  to  stay  if  she  needed  him.  des  didn't.  she  had  always  needed  vyros,  leaned  on  him  for  the  past  seven  decades.  their  relationship  was  tense,  difficult  and  confusing  at  most  times,  but  she  knew  above  all  she  could  trust  him.  

now  she  just  needed  to  figure  out  why  he  still  had  such  an  effect  on  her  when  it  was  more  than  clear  he  didn't  think  of  her  as  she  did  him.  and  why  she  still  felt  this  way  after  so  many  years  around  one  another.

her  eyes  widen  for  a  singular  moment,  a  rare  showing  of  emotion  before  she  schools  it  away.  des  isn't  often  so  reserved  in  front  of  those  she  cared  for,  in  front  of  her  inner  circle,  but  vyros  had  always  been  the  exception.  "  there  is  nothing  to  forgive,  vyros.  "  she  didn't  blame  him  for  being  frustrated,  for  expressing  emotions.  contrary  from  what  many  may  think,  desmera  did  not  think  people  should  be  emotionless.  it  was  just  a  shock  to  see  such  things  from  the  man  who  remained  as  still  as  stone  more  often  than  not.  her  eyes  trail  down  to  his  hand,  gripping  onto  the  greatsword  she  knew  she  would  never  wish  to  hold.  it  almost  looked  as  if  the  earth  shuttered  as  he  yanked  it  back.  "  our  people  are  resilient,  despite  what  many  think.  "  she  doesn't  mention  herself,  doubt  creeping  in  despite  her  deep  desire  for  it  to  stay  far  away.

the  moments  that  pass  as  they  look  upon  one  another  feel  like  an  eternity,  but  she  knows  it  isn't  long  before  he  moves  closer  to  her.  des  is  almost  thankful  for  the  railing  between  them,  even  if  she'd  been  quite  close  to  slipping  beneath  and  approaching  him.  she  wasn't  dressed  for  such  things,  the  simple  gown  she  wore  was  too  pretty  to  dirty  in  the  dust.  not  that  it  had  ever  stopped  her  before.

"  my  beast  form  is  back.  "  she  notes,  knowing  it  was  something  he  ought  to  know.  desmera  hoped  to  never  need  to  use  it,  she'd  only  shifted  once,  and  it  had  been  incredibly  tiring  and  taxing.  concern  laces  her  expression,  and  this  time,  with  him  closer,  she  doesn't  banish  it  away  immediately.  '  because  i  needed  you  '  but  the  words  remain  unsaid.  she's  still  half  convinced  he  hates  her,  even  if  her  soul  knows  otherwise.  "  because  i  trust  you,  vyros,  and  i  knew  i  could  have  no  other  as  my  general.  "  she  doesn't  often  struggle  to  compliment  her  inner  circle,  to  remind  them  how  important  they  are  to  her,  but  with  him…  the  illyrian  brings  too  much  chaos  to  a  mind  that  is  normally  chilled  and  calm. 

𝔥𝔦𝔰 𝔰k𝔦𝔫 𝔦𝔰 𝔠𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔴𝔦𝔱𝔥 𝔞 𝔰𝔥𝔢𝔩𝔩 𝔬𝔣 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔤𝔩𝔞𝔰 which shatters the moment her voice sounds. panic rises in him for the briefest instance before his masterful self-control banishes it to the yawning realm within him. for his high lady, for desmera, to see him this way — venting his frustrations on the wind, the earth, the sky. it is one thing to be rendered invulnerable in battle, to face loss and the real possibility of death. it is another for someone he holds in such high regard to see him disheveled by restless and raw emotion. a general should never abandon the expectations of his rank, the esteem which she's granted him. he would expect the same from his lowliest foot soldier.

he never would have returned were it not for her, but that story will remain untold, bard's lyrics unsung.

his respect for her outweighs his pride, so he does not deny what she's so obviously observed, and he takes the reprimand to heart. ❝ forgive me, my lady. i'm frustrated. ❞ his voice all gravel road and no softness. ❝ we're in a labyrinth designed by something ancient — something beyond our understanding. ❞ there's a grunt when he tears godfeller from the earth and props it against his great shoulder. then he turns to her, to meet her cold gaze. ❝ i can't deny the part of myself that wants to tear it apart, leave it bleeding and broken, for all the shit it's put you through — put our people through. ❞

for a moment, he stands at the center of that dusty training yard, the swirls of loose, dry earth meandering around him. he tries to determine, by her manner, her expression, her words, if he's truly disappointed her, but that belongs to her lest she reveal it to him. so he lets it go and moves towards her.

❝ i suppose i should be relieved our powers have been restored, but i only feel rage at a .. nameless, faceless force so idly powerful it can take them from us on a whim. ❞ where she's leaned her distracting frame against the wooden rails that separate them, he stops, studies the blade in his hands a moment. godfeller is laid to rest upon the leather and pelts where it belongs, tucked away, and forgotten for now. his attention belongs to her. ❝ i won't be sloppy when it matters. i'll strike true, and you know that. it's why i'm here, isn't it? why you called for me to serve as your general? ❞

somewhere in him, there is hope that she has another answer to his question than the one he expects.