#𝗥𝗘. declan & narcissa

[shvdwscng]

STATUS : CLOSED ⟳ @stxrslisten ;; narcissa

𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐒  𝐃𝐈𝐃  𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑  best  to  create  his  attire  for  the  night,  and  while,  it  would  be  the  closest  thing  he'd�� get  to  what  this  personal  tailor  could  create  to  his  own  personal  tastes  back  home,  dec  was  growing  fond  of  the  floral  embellishments.  this  one  embodied  both  the  white  and  gold  colors  of  his  court,  as  well  as  the  theme  of  spring  entirely.  the  younger  day  lord  would  deny  the  side  of  vanity  he  possessed,  and  thus,  he  had  taken  a  moment  too  long  in  the  mirror  to  admire  his  attire.  dressing  up  a  bit  fancy  had  never  been  a  hardship  for  declan  and  he  intended  to  take  full  advantage  while  they  were.  he  idly  wondered  if  it  would  be  out  of  line  to  ask  the  mother  queen  to  continue  to  throw  such  soirees  -  after  all  what  were  they  all  to  do  while  being  stuck  here?  it  would  certainly  aid  to  keep  the  peace  among  all  if  everyone  was  a  happily  buzzed  and  dancing.  about  an  hour  into  the  ball,  and  he  had  not  seen  his  brothers,  to  which  dec  hoped  they  were  enjoying  themselves,  his  eldest  especially  at  least  attempting  but  he  knew  ced  by  now,  he  perhaps  was  lurking  in  a  corner  from  the  sidelines.  his  gaze  did  find  lady  narcissa,  confirming  it  was  her  after  taking  a  few  steps  closer,  but  they  were  high  fae,  it  was  not  so  hard  to  miss  familiar  scents  of  others.  "lady  narcissa."  he  bowed  slightly  before  flashing  the  lady of spring a  friendly  smile,  "you  look  lovely,  so  that  begs  the  question  why  you  are  standing  around  and  not  dancing?"  he  held  his  hand  out  for  her,  "we  will  have  to  remedy  that.  may  I  have  the  honor?" 

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her  quick  response  is  as  benevolent  as  she,  and  it  certainly  reminded  the  day  lord  at  every  moment  how  blessed  he  was  capture  her  heart.  the  hand  he  held  as  they  moved  to  the  tune  of  the  music,  dec  squeezed  it  gently,  as  his  smile  remained  in  place.  his  delight  at  her  sentiment  was  obvious  "i  suppose  it  was  only  a  matter  of  time  before  it  revealed  itself  to  me."  declan  believed  it  had,  in  more  ways  than  one,  even  beyond  him.  it  had  led  him  to  her,  in  all  the  ways,  she  had  been  unexpected  and  someone  he'd  not  known  he'd  been  searching  for  until  their  time  together.  if  he  did  not  believe  in  some  higher  power  at  all,  he  was  certainly  starting  to  now.  it  was  not  only  looking  after  him,  but  it  seemed  for  those  he  cared  for  as  well.  "i  can't  think  if  a  better  form  than  of  you  to  reveal  itself."  far  be  it  from  the  day  lord  to  understand  the  workings  of  their  magical  universe,  but  he  didn't  need,  not  when  it  had  given  him  cissa.  surprise  flickers  across  his  features  when  she  reveals  her  true  feelings  for  him,  his  heart  skipping,  as  a  warmth  settles  on  his  insides.  words  he  had  entertained  in  his  mind  for  some  time  now  as  what  else  could  be  this  feeling  of  constantly  wishing  to  be  with  her?  wondering  when  he  was  not  with  her,  was  she  thinking  of  him  as  he  did  with  her?  the  need  to  have  her  by  his  side,  the  ache  he  felt  when  he  thought  of  what  would  happen  when  it  was  time  to  return  home.  the  arm  around  her  nestled  her  closer  to  him,  dipping  his  head  so  he  could  kiss  her  forehead,  but  never  once  removing  his  gaze  from  her.  "as  i  love  you,  lady  narcissa."  the  words  a  low  murmur.  stars,  he  did  not  know  how  good  it  felt  to  say  it.  had  they  both  been  simply  holding  back  for  the  other's  sake?  "i  hope  you  know,  i  will  not  allow  you  to  go  back  on  those  words."  he  took  them  as  a  promise  from  her,  just  as  he  gave  his  own  when  he  uttered  hus.  cissa  is  yet  finished  with  her  tender  sentiments,  unabashed  delight  coursing  through  his  veins  that  he  hadn't  been  the  only  one  obsessing  on  what  would  occur  when  it  was  time  to  leave.  how  would  they  see  one  another,  if  she  still  wished  to  after?  "we  both  could  have  saved  one  another  the  misery  had  we  expressed  our  desires  sooner.  it  was  the  same  for  me,  i  miss  my  home,  but  i  do  not  wish  to  return  there  without  you.  "  a  faint  chuckle  falling  from  his  lips,  but  and  it  was  as  reveling  when  he  saw  her  hesitation  and  her  wariness,  perhaps  fear  began  vanish  at  his  words.  "i  would  have  found  a  way  to  see  you  if  you  did  not  wish  to  leave  your  home."  he'd  have  found  a  way  to  convince  her,  assure  her,  she  would  not  regret  her  decision.  the  latter  of  which  he  would  do  anyway  once  they  returned  together  to  day.  they  had  one  thing  left  to  sort  out  their  brothers,  as  he  saw  her  eyes  dim,  he  shook  his  head,  tucking  a  strand  of  her  hair  back.  "let  me  speak  to  my  brother  first.  one  thing  i  can  assure  you  of  cedrian  is  that  he's  always  placed  his  siblings  happiness  before  all.  i  am  certain�� he  will  work out  something  with  your  brother."  now, it  was  much  easier  said  than  done,  but  he  knew  ced  would  find  a  way. dec  had  been  meaning  to  tell  him  about  his  development  with  cissa,  only  searching  for  the  right  moment  in  between  ced's  own  dilemma  with  the  high  lady  of  summer.  "do  you  trust  me?" 

Brushing over the subject of her ex husband makes take a sigh of relieve, she hated dwelling in the matter, if it was up to her she would never dare mention it to begin with. it was not worth it for it was now water under the bridge. "all it matters is that you did ask," sooner or latter, it seemed it did not matter for their paths had been greatly intertwined for that very moment, the moment they would both agree to it. "the fates have a funny way of making us all believers, don't you think?" and she would make sure to make a good offering to them when life slowed down a bit for all of them, for she did have much to be grateful about when it came to the lord of day. her lashes flutter as her hues gaze into his, their faces much closer once again, were they still even dancing or just standing lost in each other words and the moment. "well i am glad i can bring you happiness." the words that come out of her mouth next are not a surprise in the sense that she hadn't known, but a surprise that they would roll of her tongue with such ease. "i love you, declan aster," she had known for a while, the only hesitation had been if he belonged with her just as much but that was now confirmed and all her fears had dissipated entirily. "it does make me feel slightly better i was not the only one wondering such things. the wish to leave dusk was greatly overshadow by loosing having your presence in ever day, the thought of returning to spring was bitter sweet." although before that very moment she had not realized how little she cared for returning there if it meant she could be with declan. "nothing will make me happier than going home with you," her smile remains even if her eyes soften with a hint of sadness. "but how? my brother..." the thought of telling her still made her stomach uneasy. they could ask and he could agree, but what if he didn't?

[shvdwscng]

"had  i  an  inkling  you  felt  that  way  about  me,  i  would  have  tried  sooner."  he  cannot  help  but  tease  as  his  gaze  settled  on  her  even  as  they  moved  towards  the  grand  palace  within  their  sight.  he  was  still  declan,  eventually  his  restraint  would  have  given  out  with  those  tender  looks  she  bestowed  upon  him,  those  sweet  smiles,  how  she  always  seemed  to  search  for  him  as  he  did  with  her,  first  it  was  merely  wishful  thinking  but  now  he  was  certain.  it  was  one  particular  look  she  gave  him  that  tugged  at  his  heart,  as  if  she  seemed  to  look  to  him  as  if  he  were  her  protecter.  he  had  found  a  sense  of  peace  knowing  she  was  here  and  well,  and  once  he  laid  eyes  on  his  family,  declan  would  feel  mountains  better.  he  tried  not  to  think  of  what  was  to  come  after,  what  them  being  dropped  here  meant,  for  what  purpose,  but  that  was  a  worry  for  a  later  time  when  he  found  his  family,  and  the  day  court  inner  circle.  he  keeps  an  arm  around  her  as  they  walk,  afraid  to  let  go  as  if  she'd  either  collapse  in  the  tried  state  she  appeared  or  that  she'd  vanish  before  his  gaze.  the  unnerving  sensation  the  entity  instilled  within  them  kept  the  lord  cautious  still.  "not  out  of  the  goodness  of  their  heart,  per  se,  but  they  do  need  us.  whatever  it  is,  i  suppose  a  prythian  with  half  of  it's  fae  wiped  out  would  not  be  appealing  either.  perhaps  it  wishes  under  it's  control?"  not  that  it  hadn't  already  all  this  time  in  the  capital,  they  were  all  at  it's  mercy.  "  we'll  find  out  when  we  find  out  families.  there's  much  we  don't  know  but  i  have  a  feeling  we  might  get  some  answers  here.  we  might  not  be  the  only  ones  this  thing  has  been  toying  with.  or  we  pray  that  our  mother  is  doing  her  best  to  get  us  out  of  all  this."

Her hand falls naturally atop of his as they made their way back to the structure that seemed closer and closer with each step which made her feel slightly better. soon she would be able to rest, or at least she hoped. "i certainly would have not, and i most definitely do not regret any of it," if anything she wished she had done it sooner, they could've had more good days rather than straight to jumping into a strange court with the uncertainty of the world on their shoulders. she sees the worry in his eyes, it makes her melt slightly more, as if he could make her feel anymore than she already did. "thank you," it is all she can truly say, he could see right through her and her tiredness. cissa nods in agreement, the logic was there, they needed them alive it seemed the problem or the question was for what? it was at that thought her stomach takes a turn make her uneasy once again. she rattles her mind for an answer, nothing concrete, nothing of peace either. "but why?" she finally manages to articulate. "what is it they need from us? it seems too good it is out of the goodness of their heart specially after dragging us this far out." she felt as if she was beginning to sound like her brother, but they were all balid questions.

[shvdwscng]

in  the  capital,  he  had  been  slightly  on  edge,  which  was  a  rare  occurrence  for  the  lord,  but  as  days  slipped  by  in  this  court,  he  certainly  felt  far  more  ease  here.  while  still  surrounded  by  the  unknowns,  he  wished  to  enjoy  whatever  this  court  had  to  offer  with  her  by  his  side.  being  here  certainly  meant  he'd  have  more  time  with  her,  one  he  intended  to  make  good  on  now.  he  chuckled  at  her  response,  "trust  me,  dear  cissa,  i  don't  take  your  graciousness  for  granted  in  the  slightest.  however,  i  won't  deny  watching  you  make  a  scene  would  be  quite  the  enjoyable  sight."  while  it  was  a  bit  difficult  to  picture  her  being  as  such,  he  appreciated  taking  a  moment  to  imagine  her  in  those  moments.  a  bit  arrogant  on  his  part  to  assume  she  did  think  of  him,  but  hearing  her  say  so  was  certainly  something  he  had  wished  to  hear.  "and  i  of  you,  you  remain  in  my  thoughts  at  all  moments  of  the  day,  cissa."  the  day  lord  still  counted  days  until  he  could  lay  eyes  on  her  again.  a  hand  rose  to  cup  her  cheek,  brushing  his  thumbs  along  the  soft  skin  before  she  tugged  him  to  the  window  sill.  perhaps  when  all  this  was  over  and  they  were  free,  declan  would  find  a  way  to  have  her  return  to  the  day  court  with  him.  "how  about  later  tonight?  i  had  wished  to  take  you  out  to  the  city,  a  change  of  scenery  from  this  palace."  he  was  certain  that  she  had  been  attempting  to  entertain  herself  within  the  palace  grounds  and  dec  had  wanted  to  explore  the  rest  the  court  with  her.  he  squeezed  her  hand,  "it's  dreadfully  boring  i  can  assure.  as  for  the  queen  mother  and  the  king,  our  high  rulers  and  courts  haven't  exactly  been  kind  towards  them  either.  i  have  seen  how  the  courts  treat  them,  so  its  perhaps  a  response.  i  can't  speak  of  the  king,  i  haven't  had  a  moment  with  him,  but  the  queen  mother  tries  her  best.  i  am  relieved  to  see  this  high  lord  more  welcoming.  though  his  siblings  leave  much  to  be  desired,  they  don't  seem  keen  on  speaking  to  any  of  us."  it  was  just  a  few  things  he  had  noted  idly  in  his  wandering.  his  gaze  moves  from  from  the  view  to  the  cissa's  pretty  features,  "they  have  crafted  music  from  what  they've  been  told  of  ours.  i  am  curious  to  see  how  they  do  celebrations  an  such,  if  we're  here  long  enough  we  might  find  out.  i'm  pleased  you  have  new  music  to  add  to  your  collection  of  talents."

It felt almost mundane to be having such a conversation in the middle of the chaos they lived in, however it was nice, refreshing even and it made her hopeful that when the day came when life went back to normal that it would be their new normal, being around each other and simply taking one day at a time. "no, you should be thankful i am able to be this gracious about it," she says between a soft chuckle, "however if what you want is for me to make a scene all you must do is ask, i can ablige." narcissa teases before her amusing look turns into a soft one, slightly tilting her head as she looks into his eyes. "i always wonder where you are, there's nowhere you go without my thoughts and heart following declan aster," she confesses with ease, distance does make the heart grow fonder, but she trusted declan with her whole being, she felt safe with him, and she knew that even in the distance even if they were under the same roof occupied by different duties he would come find her, destiny had always intertwined them for a very long time it would be no different with the years to come, of that she was faithful. "that makes me happy and i will definitely have time to play for you," her eyes brighten even more as if that was possible. "it is a bit sad, is it not? the high lords seem to be more welcoming of another strange court than that of the young king and his mother, although i understand little of politics of course," she gives him an awkward smile, "not by much, it seems it has mostly the same foundation as what we know, but definitely new songs, older songs edited differently and such."

[shvdwscng]

if  declan  was  wiser,  he  would  not  put  an  end  to  this.  of  all  the  reasons  he  could  conjure  as  to  why  this  was  not  something  he  should  be  doing,  none  of  them  felt  wrong  enough.  she  was  a  free  woman  now,  no  longer  married  to  another  from  his  court,  though  he  knew  how  bad  it  might  look  upon  them,  (  he  had  little  care  of  how  others  perceived  him  ),  as  he  certainly  didn't  want  narcissa  to  ever  be  gossiped  about.  yet  after  all  of  his  attempts  to  be  a  better  man,  and  set  boundaries  between  himself  and  a  woman  he  had  nothing  but  respect  and  fondness  for,  he  had  failed.  in  truth  he  should  have  see  this  coming,  knew  he'd  never  been  the  one  to  resist  when  he  wanted  another.  though  this  draw  to  her  was  unlike  anything  he'd  ever  felt  for  another  before.  his  lips  move  in  sync  with  hers,  and  he  would  be  lying  if  he  said  he  had  not  thought  of  this  all  this  time,  and  it  had  surpassed  all  that  he  imagined  what  it  would  be  liked.  declan  is  careful  at  first,  and  when  she  deepens  it,  he  could  not  help  but  respond  in  like,  kissing  her  passionately,  the  arm  around  her  waist  tugging  her  closer  until  her  frame  until  she  was  pressed  against  him.  when  they  do  pull  apart,  to  catch  their  breath,  he  felt  his  heart  pounding  in  his  chest,  as  their  foreheads  press,  but  his  gaze  is  trained  on  her.  a  hand  cupping  her  cheek  and  stroking  the  petal  soft  cheek,  as  he  relishes  in  the  way  his  name  falls  from  her  sweet  lips.  "i've  been  thinking  about  kissing  you  for  far  too  long  than  is  deemed  appropriate."  he  murmurs.  it  was  not  at  all,  but  any  chance  he  had  of  keeping  boundaries  between  them  was  gone  the  moment  cissa  looked  at  him  as  she  did  moments  prior.  declan  would  behave  tonight,  all  he  wished  to  do  was  hold  her,  not  an  urge  he  had  before,  but  she  is..far  too  important  for  him  to  ruin.  not  a  passing  fancy,  as  scary  as  that  seemed  to  him.  it  still  surprised  him,  she  desired  him,  felt  something  more  romantic  for  him.  it  was  not  confidence  he  lacked,  but  cissa  had  never  been  any  woman.

Narcissa should've taken a step back, with his insistence that he should not be there, allow him to leave if he truly believed it to be a slip in his judgement. however she cannot let go of that small glimpse of hope, that happiness that flutters in her stomach every time he comes in line of sight, she wants to keep that feeling for as long as she can. her lips already on his as she swats away the negative thoughts, focusing on the way he begins to kiss her back. that erases all thoughts, all processing, the only thing that matters is his lips on her, her lips dancing against his. she had not realized she had been starving until their kiss, and she depends the kiss with such impulse. if by any given chance he comes to his senses after their kiss and he is to leave, opening that void in her chest, she would be content to at least have the memory but only if she truly gives herself to it in the deepest. her body archs against his as if melting to their frame, the noises fade into the only receptive sense of her is her taste and the only taste she can process is that of his lips. she is unsure how long it goes for, she does not dare herself to stop the kiss until she is light headed, breaking it only to breathe, panting for air she rests her forehead against his. "declan," his name a prayer on her lips.

[shvdwscng]

𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐂𝐇  𝐎𝐅  silence  that  falls  has  the  day  lord  pause  to  study  the  former  member  of  his  family.  he  would  not  consider  himself  the  most  skilled  reader  of  others  but  the  look,  albeit  very  brief  ,  that  passes  the  lady's  gaze  draws  his  curiosity.  one  would  not  catch  the  look  that  crossed  her  features  if  they  had  not  been  looking  closely.  when  she  had  been  in  the  day  court,  they  had  spoken  enough,  but  he  would  not  say  he'd  known  her  too  well.  only  that  she  was  a  delight  to  speak  to,  one  of  the  few  cheerful  souls,  similar  to  him.  when  cormac  was  too  busy,  declan  did  offer  his  company  when  he  felt  as  if  she  could  use  one.  now,  he  wonders  just  how  much  of  her  former  husband's  absence  weighed  on  her  that  she  had  to  leave.  in  truth,  he  couldn't  blame  her,  while  he  loved  his  brother,  cor  had  neglected  his  wife,  even  if  the  circumstances  around  them  were  anything  but  ideal.  the  pang  of  sympathy  he  felt  for  narcissa  was  very  much  present.

  it  was  not  the  words,  more  so  than  the  cryptic  manner  in  which  she  uttered  them  had  left  declan  somewhat  puzzled.  he  doesn't  pry  into  it  as  her  hand  curls  around  his  arm  as  he  leads  down  a  path  he  had  walked  prior.  her  words  of  her  brother,  the  high  lord  of  spring  has  declan  nod.  the  sentiment  for  an  elder  he  does  understand,  it  was  the  one  he  shared  about  cedrian.  in  his  eyes,  there  was  not  anything  the  high  lord  of  day  couldn't  do,  and  even  now  ced  always  the  need  to  shoulder  everything.  "that  sounds  about  right.  i  do  think  whatever  this  is  will  have  them  working  twice  as  hard,  with  their  loved  ones  here,  it's  all  the  motivation  they  need.  i  have  not  seen  my  brother  rest  easy  since  the  night  of  the  ball.  determined  elder  brothers  are  in  a  league  of  their  own.  to  tell  you  the  truth,  i  do  not  worry  about  this  unknown  magic,  than  i  do  of  my  brother  himself."  ced  would  work  himself  to  the  ground  with  a  care  of  himself,  but  dec  was  not  about  to  allow  that.  he  offers  a  smile  to  the  lady,  "i  believe  we  will  soon,  too.  you  may  be  the  only  one  i  fear,  aside  from  me,  not  fretting  over  this."  he  would  be  a  fool  to  take  thing  entity  lightly,  but  it's  not  done  anything  violent. 

  his  smile  grew  momentarily  at  her  words,  "my  lady,  i  do  not  ever  give  my  word  lightly,  and  would  never  disappoint  a  lady  in  that  manner."  all  of  which  is  entirely  true,  as  was  his  desire  to  see  the  seasonal  courts.  his  adoptive  father  certainly  believed  the  solar  courts  were  superior,  but  declan  didn't  quite  agree  with  that.  he  loved  his  day  court,  that  would  always  be  his  first  love  but  he  had  heard  enough  of  the  seasons  to  know  they  had  much  to  offer,  and  much  worthwhile  to  see.  "it  does,  but  I  am  pleased  to  hear  you  enjoyed  what  my  court  had  to  offer,  despite  your  circumstances  then."    it  was  quite  curious  to  see  her  spirits  lift  entirely  at  his  offer,  her  eyes  alight  in  excitement,  it  was  quite  infectious  that  a  faint  chuckle  fell  from  him.  "yes,  it  would  be  my  honor,  and  truly  you'd  be  doing  me  a  favor  by  keeping  me  company  as  well.  my  brothers  certainly  are  not  racing  to  join  me.  i  think  you  will  enjoy  it  as  much  as  I  have.  shall  I  come  find  you  tomorrow  morning  then?"  he  did  not  see  a  reason  to  delay  any  further,  and  it  seemed  to  him  as  if  she  could  use  a  bit  of  a  diversion.  "you  and  i  both,  my  brother  has  a  rather  annoying  habit  of  disappearing  for  periods  at  a  time."  declan  was  curious  to  see  what  this  reason  was,  he  was  sure  it  was  not  all  of  this  situation  they  were  all  in.  " as their youngers it might be up to us to make sure they do not over work themselves..."

The question almost makes her flinch as it awakens a doubt in her she had never questioned. unsure if emilios was over protective of her, if anyone ever had been. her mother had been overbearing if only because of her weak disposition, her father had been calculative and narcissa had always felt more like a pretty possession than overprotected daughter. she was awkward, and her steps faltered as much as her words, her will was almost a ghost or a memory of something that could've been. she molded to those who she loved the most. no, emilios did no said what he did to protect her, but because she was of no use in the matter. and he had no arguments against it, she knew little of ancient magic, only the whispers she heard as a child and a grown woman. nothing of breaking curses, her own magic thrummed weakly in her body, the best help she could be to anyone was to remain out of the way. as she always had.

"yes, one could say that." she simply says, not entirily confirming nor denying the statement, the last thing declan needed was some sort of confession from her about her raw thoughts. with ease she wraps her fingers around his arm, leaning into him to allow him to guide them through the gardens. "at moments i do, as everyone else does, but then there's moments where i am confident my brother could shoulder the world if he needed to." growing up she had always admire that sharp mind of his, always knowing, always ahead of the game. that strong disposition of his, his resilience. although she had feared it too, still did, that determination in his eyes could be deathly. "it does help with my confidence that we might leave this place soon." closed lip smile as she allows her eyes to wonder about the flowers as they pass them by. "very well, then i shall expect you and hold you up to your visit." she playfully replies, having visitors perhaps would make her days better. spring was home, and she loved it with every fiber of her being, but being there was a reminded she had failed elsewhere. "no," the answer comes too quickly, surprising her. she truly had missed it if only a little, more so in the beginning, not as much towards the end. "the day court had a beauty of its own, golden beauty." she trails of remembering her days there, the good and the bad. "would you?" she asks with excitement, she had not dare leave the castle, and asking her siblings to accompany seemed like a bother she did not wish to impose on them. "i would like nothing more than to see the capital," bright eyes look for his with excitement, that light in her coming to the surface once more. "yes, i see him for a meal if i am lucky as of late. but they must all be working hard to solve this and get us all home."

[shvdwscng]

he  had  known  she  would  not  bad  mouth  her  former  husband,  regardless  of  what  transpired  in  those  years  of  her  marriage.  "spoken  like  a  true  lady  as  well."  for  cissa,  he  suspected  there's  more  she  was  not  willing  to  share  just  yet,  and  he  didn't  push  because  either  way  it  would  not  change  how  he  felt  about  her.  furthermore,  the  last  thing  he  wished  to  do  was  to  speak  of  her  ex-husband  or  remind  her  of  him  if  she  had  been  wishing  to  him  behind  her  and  simply  focus  on  dec.  although,  there  was  not  a  doubt  in  his  mind  she  was  not  focused  on  him,  not  with  how  she  gazed  and  smiled  at  him.  of  course  he  was  aware,  still  it  didn't  cease  him  from  asking  her,  wishing  to  hear  the  words  from  her,  "nor  i."  he  hadn't  known,  then  he  was  only  offering  his  company  to  a  friend  he  held  in  high  regard,  but  looking  back  he  should  have  seen  the  signs.  that  each  day  he  passed  in  her  presence  was  a  yearning  he  had  not  fully  read  nor  looked  into  when  it  came  to  cissa.  "it  made  we  wish  i  had  asked  far  sooner."  he  murmured,  tugging  her  closer,  if  it  was  at  all  possible  with  her  already  pressed  to  him.  "i  wasn't  certain  if  i  ever  believed  in  the  fates  when  it  comes  to  matters  of  the  heart.  however,  i  believe  it  now."  that  even  when  she  had  left  the  day  court,  she  would  return  to  his  home  and  to  his  life  under  a  far  better  reason.  his  head  dipped  lower,  so  their  gazes  met,  try  as  he  might  he  would  not  fully  be  able  to  find  the  right  words  as  she  to  convey  what  she  meant  to  him.  he  would,  he  was  certain,  soon.  still  there's  a  warmth  that  settled  in  his  being  at  her  words,  his  dark  hues  softening  as  they  admire  her.  "as  do  you.  i  did  not  think  it  was  possible  for  another  to  be  solely  responsible  for  my  happiness  this  way."  the  ghost  of  a  smile  lingers,  the  earlier  look  he'd  seen  in  her  gaze,  one  that  resembled  wariness,  perhaps,  now  vanish.  dec  also  knew  she  was  aware  of  his  history,  that  the  younger  lord  of  day  had  never  settled  down,  but  nor  had  he  wanted  to  until  she  re-entered  his  life.  he  wondered  if  he  had  been  too  forward  when  he  caught  her  pretty  hues  widen  at  his  abrupt  question.  he  waited,  still,  not  daring  to  move  until  she  responded.  the  smile  she  bestows  has  his  own  breath  catch,  as  relief  and  delight  makes  itself  know.  he  squeezed  her  waist,  "you  belong  with  me."  he  uttered  the  words  with  conviction,  "i  have  been  wondering  for  days  what  would  i  do  when  we're  return  home  and  you're  not  there  with  me."  it  was  unfair,  to  ask  her  to  leave  her  court,  but  dec  knew  he  would  not  leave  his  brother's  side,  but  he  would  make  an  effort  to  visit  her  court  with  her.  "i  want  nothing  more  than  to  bring  you  with  me  back  to  our  home."

Narcissa gives a barely there laugh, almost like a breath that was to loud as she shakes her head. "it is not that i do not agree, nor disagree with your words on the lord. it is simply that it feels too callous to voice my opinion on him, i am if not a lady above all." and she was scared that if she ever truly said what she thought and felt towards her ex husband she might not be able to stop until the darkest portion of herself would leave her mouth. "of course you have, from the moment you offered to show me the capital, i did not knew then i was saying yes to you, to this, to us." her gaze lowers the where their bodies melted into one another as they danced. "and i would say yes again if i had to go back to that day." a thousand times if she had to. she chuckles, amused and smitten with declan in a way she had only heard in songs and read in poetry. "your sole presence even in the quiet of days makes me the happiest." even a slight glance of him, knowing he was near, he was there. they could exist in the same room and she would be content. he was her peace. "it certainly does help, quite a lot," she says taking a long sigh of relieve, as her fears run scattered away from them, again she felt like they were untouchable. her eyes widen slightly as she searches in his eyes trying to find the answer to her question, to search if she needed to calm down and not overthink his words, to not get overly exited about it, but she does not find it, her smile widens pearly white teeth in display. "no" she breathes, "i am most certainly not," she shakes her head. "you are what feels like home, where i belong."

[shvdwscng]

"i  also  get  the  sense  you  don't  agree  with  my  words  regarding  my  cousin."  as  he  expected,  she  was  as  swift  to  deny  his  words  of  his  cousin.  he'd  known  little  of  how  this  marriage  came  to,  but  his  suspicions  were  more  certain  the  longer  he  was  around  her  that  it  had  been  something  she  was  simply  expected  to  do.  "have  i?"  a  brow  quirking  slightly,  his  smile  still  lingering.  he  did  wonder  if  he  had  been  enough  to  keep  her  happy.  that  every  free  moment  he  was  not  aiding  his  brother  in  the  matters  of  the  dusk  court,  he  would  come  find  cissa  -  eager  to  return  to  her  company.  as  of  late,  it  seemed  his  brother  had  a  high  lady  occupying  his  own  free  moments,  which  left  declan  feeling  far  less  guilty  for  not  spending  more  time  with  ced.  it  was  a  relief  to  know  ced  wasn't  wandering  about  alone.  "tell  me  more  of  i  have  been  pleasing  my  lady."  his  aim  was  always  to  exceed  them,  as  if  he  could  make  up  for  her  less  than  ideal  past  in  the  day  court.  a  part  of  him  determined  to  show  her  just  how  her  life  would  be  different,  better  with  him  in  the  day  court,  should  she  express  a  desire  to  call  it  home  again.  a  low  chuckle  is  heard  from  the  day  lord  at  her  teasing,  though  his  gaze  remains  steady  on  hers,  "would  it  help  if  i  said  i  have  not  considered  myself  unattached  since  the  moment  you  invited  me  to  your  chambers?"  the  arm  around  her  waist  presses  her  closer  to  him,  hearing  her  affirmation  of  him  being  the  central  object  in  her  line  of  sight  drew  a  wider  smile,  "as  are  mine  on  you."  he  twirled  her  again  before  tugging  her  closer  once  more.  "are  you  overtly  attached  to  remaining  in  your  court?"  perhaps  it  was  too  soon  to  ask,  but  the  question  slipped  before  he  could  think  on  it.

Narcissa denies with her head, even if she did agree with declan she could not bring herself to voice it for it was not deemed appropriate. the man had been entirily underserving of her, but she too had put little to no effort to breaching the distance he had set for them from the moment she had arrived to the day court. "so you have said for quite sometime now," she giggles, "and so have you done as well." she was pleased, beyond it, for his attentions just as she hope he too was pleased by hers. although she held back in fear of scaring him away. if it was up to her she would seek him more often than it was probably acceptable, or tolerable. "only if i should be worried you were the one to bring it up first," she retorts with a matter of fact tone in her voice, narcissa was teasing, the previous tension leaving her body with each word he continue to speak. that sense of jealousy had been a fleeting moment that washed over and left her relieve in its passing. it was, although an ugly emotion, a natural one when someone care for another as much as she had began to care for declan. "my eyes are always on you, declan aster." she declares, and it rang through, the smile that follows is one she cannot hold back, she wondered if her happiness would go wherever he went, if it would in a turn events be found in the day court after al.

[shvdwscng]

"that  is  because  your  ex-husband  was  an  absolute  fool."  and  entirely  undeserving  of  her.  he  was  also  declan's  cousin,  but  it  was  not  as  if  they  were  particularly  close,  and  after  what  had  come  to  light,  despite  not  knowing  the  details  of  her  marriage  with  him,  it  was  hard  to  have  a  higher  opinion  of  the  other  male.  he  didn't  ask,  simply  because  he  did  not  want  her  to  recall  a  doomed  marriage  nor  did  he  wish  for  her  to  look  back.  declan  only  wanted  her  to  focus  on  him,  a  man  whose  attention  she  did  not  have  to  fight  for  nor  one  who  would  be  foolish  enough  to  let  her  slip  away.  "you  will  find  me  to  be  more  than  willing  to  indulge  you  in  all  your  wishes,  my  lady."  in  truth,  he  had  spent  much  of  his  alone  time  pondering  what  he  wished  to  do.  that  every  day  he  had  with  the  enchanting  spring  lady,  the  more  certain  declan  was  that  he  did  not  want  to  return  home  without  her.  he  was  not  certain  how  he  would  handle  living  far  away  from  her,  despite  the  fact  that  he  would  be  able  to  see  her  whenever  he  wished,  that  was  miles  and  miles  between  their  courts.  "should  i  be  worried  you  consider  yourself  unattached?"  he  was  teasing,  knowing  very  well  she  meant  being  free  to  be  with  him.  the  thrumming  of  his  heart  didn't  still  as  he  tugged  her  closer  in  their  movements  against  the  music.  when  her  gaze  moved  away  from  him,  he  paused  watching  her  for  several  beats  and  the  strange  look  he  caught  flickering  across  her  glistening  azure  hues.  had  it  been  his  imagination  or  did  she  appear  displeased?  he  reaches  out,  tenderly  turning  her  chin  so  she  was  facing  him  once  more,  "i  do  have  one  condition,  that  you  keep  your  gaze  on  me."  his  features  soften.

She was certain more than one, if not everyone, who knew her could agree with him. narcissa had always been a shy and reserved, even in her marriage she had never felt the sentiment to be affectionate, she was distant and cold and perhaps it had been that which had gotten her divorced and returned to her ancestral home. "nerve before had a willing partner, i suppose," she muses with a small giggle, she too couldn't believe herself and how outgoing she felt when declan was around, even if a willing partner had come along narcissa could never imagine herself acting in such demeanor with anyone but declan. not before him, and certainly not after him. his words rang true in her ears, yet the idea of him or her being free was a slight deep of her stomach, those butterflies suddenly felt like bees stinging about her insides. but the lady did as she had always done best, she kept the smile on her face without faltering, but it almost didn't meet her eyes for a flashing second. "exactly," she agrees, searching for words that will not give away the turmoil within herself, those thoughts raising a million miles a second, "being free in foreign lands is much exhilarating than i had anticipated," her eyes deviate from his, looking about the room as if she was looking for something. she was looking to keep herself grounded for she had never been in that situation before where she felt the green color of jealousy brewing in her stomach.

[shvdwscng]

it  had  become  obvious  to  the  youngest  day  lord  that  this  marriage  between  the  cousin  aster  and  her  had  not  been  one  that  was  entirely  by  her  choice.  he  knew  that  not  every  high  family  sibling  had  the  luxury  of  choosing  their  partners.  the  previous  high  lord  of  day  had  been  one  of  a  kind,  and  he  believed  entirely  that  not  every  high  ruler  selflessly  loved  their  children.  in  the  case  of  declan,  who  hadn't  been  his  blood  but  never  once  made  to  feel  as  if  he  was  different  because  of  it.  in  truth  when  she  returned  to  the  spring  court,  he  knew  he'd  miss  her,  a  friendship  that  had  blossomed  in  the  few  years  she  had  been  in  his  court.  try  as  he  might  he  couldn't  understand  what  shifted  between  them,  but  he  was  past  questioning  it.  he  chuckles,  dark  hues  still  gleaming  "we  can  try  that  again  tomorrow  if  you'd  like.  i  didn't  know  this  proper  lady  was  keen  on  giving  the  others  a  show.  color  me  surprised."  he  teases  in  return,  but  it  did  pleased  him  to  know  she  didn't  care  what  the  others  thought.  for  all  the  cockiness  dec  possessed  he  also  knew  not  everyone  followed  their  every  move,  not  in  every  sense.  dec  hadn't  been  hiding  his  involvement  with  cissa,  but  he  hadn't  the  chance  to  speak  about  this  to  his  brother.  ced  would  not  object,  above  all  else,  he  cared  for  his  siblings  happiness.  "i  am  delighted  to  hear,  because  I  don't  either.  as  far  as  i'm  concerned  your  a  free  woman  and  i  a  free  man.  we're  hardly  hurting  anyone."  he  spins  her  gently  before  tugging  her  closer  to  his  frame  as  they  moved  in  tune  with  one  another.

Narcissa had never thought much of declan back when their lives seemed to run parallel to each other, he had been a kind lord that had made some days slightly more enjoyable in the middle of her loneliness in the day court. then again back then she had never thought herself deserving of love, nor had she ever fandom about it, having her role clearly from a young age. but know she had fulfilled it, weather it had been successful or not, she could allow herself to move forth with what she wanted for a change. "well that's a shame," she says with a mischievous smile, narcissa's body follows his guidance almost by instinct, as if they had been in sync since always, her frame molding against him. "no," she answers almost instantly, she did not have to think about it. her brother finding out scared her, but no enough to hide herself, for as she was concerned the whole of the courts could find out that they belonged to each other. she did wonder how her brothers would react to her and declan, if they would approve, or be against it. then again declan had yet to ask anything of her, it was mostly day dreams at most. "do you?"

[shvdwscng]

the  day  lord  knew  he  had  a  way  of  placing  others  around  him  at  ease,  it  was  a  trait  he  took  immense  pride  him,  perhaps  now  more  than  ever,  for  cissa  it  was  a  trait  he  was  grateful  for.  he  was  known  to  be  quite  the  rascal,  flirting  and  charming  with  women  he  should  not  be.  how  often  had  ced  dragged  him  away  from  or  out  the  bed  of  women  he  should  not  be  dallying  with?  far  too  many  times  he  could  count.  however,  he'd  never  deliberately  utilized  his  charm  on  the  women  currently  in  his  arms  as  they  danced.  he'd  like  to  think  that  she  did  find  him  charming  enough  based  on  the  way  she  appeared  to  enjoy  being  around  him.  his  question  is  answered  as  quickly,  pausing  for  a  moment  as  he  gazes  at  her.  a  small  smile  curving  his  lips,  as  he,  without  fully  intending  to,  tugged  her  even  closer.  it  was  the  way  his  heart  reacted  at  her  words  that  also  left  him  startled,  but  the  pleasure  raced  through  him  between  her  confession  and  the  way  she  was  smiling  at  him,  so  prettily,  he  seemed  to  find  no  care  to  place  some  propriety  between  them.  "is  that  so?  I  quite  like  that  word."  his  voice  lowered  a  bit,  "be  warned,  cissa,  i  will  take  that  as  full  leave  to  continue  to  charm  you  if  it  pleases  you  so."  he  didn't  remove  his  gaze  from  her,  almost  searching  for  something,  then  when  her  warm  brown  gaze  holds  his  with  a  look  he  did  not  mistake  for  anything  other  than  what  appeared  to  be  interest  (  beyond  friendly  ). 

"you  are  right,  i  wasn't  charming  you  deliberately,  but  I  fear  I  may  be  unstoppable  now.."  it  was  entirely  unwise  and  reckless,  but  given  how  he  wished  to  spent  every  moment  of  this  evening  with  her,  declan  was  difficult  to  deter  when  she  all  but  admitted  to  wishing  to  remain  in  his  company.  he  didn't  get  so  far  ahead,  yet  between  her  words  and  her  actions  now..he  would  be  hard  pressed  to  believe  she  did  not  share  his  interest.  when  cissa  leaned  into  him,  he  tucked  her  entirely  against  him  as  they  moved,  for  once  not  caring  of  how  inappropriate  this  might  have  been,  but  he  couldn't  deny  how  much  he  had  wished  to  do  this  for  sometime  now.  if  she  had  not  shunned  him,  who  he  was  to  deny  her?  it  was  becoming  quite  obvious  he  had  no  control  over  himself  when  he  was  around  her.  for  the  remaining  of  the  evening,  he'd  spent  it  dancing  with  her  in  his  arms  until  the  chaos  around  them  forced  them  to  part.

END.

She had known that, of course she had, yet she had never picked up on it as much as she did as of late. she had never been on the other side of his charms tripping rather than falling for them and without any restrain of stopping herself. although she knew, she knew she should not feed into it, however she had denied herself of too many things why not enjoy it even if she was certain it would only be a fleeting time. "i have noticed it before, seen it, just never been on this receiving end of it. it is," she pauses to ponder, "intoxicating." she admits, surprising herself by her own words. her cheeks are quick to redden but she does not make any apology nor retraction of her words. "i enjoyed you company because you were kind, not because you were charming, not in this sense, i do not believe." or perhaps she had simply not picked up on it then. no. she was sure it was different now, entirily different than their days in the day court and she was daring enough to believe she perhaps preferred him now than she did then. "as am i," she retorts, her doe eyes look for his and they soften in a way she had never dared before, for the mother how she wished for that moment to be eternal. their bodies flush against each other an electrical feeling overtakes her, instead of pulling away she leans into it as if there was any more space in-between them to erase.

[shvdwscng]

as  a  the  brother  of  a  high  lord,  declan's  influence  reached  far  and  though  he  would  certainly  make  use  of  if  when  the  situation  called  for  it,  there  were  things  he  simply  could  not  do.  one  of  them  included  interfering  in  a  marriage  of  another  high  lord's  sister.  it  had  not  taken  him  long  to  put  the  pieces  together  of  her  rather  awful  marriage,  and  it  was  somehow  made  worse  knowing  it  was  his  own  cousin.  so,  declan  had  done  what  he  could,  in  his  own  way  to  ease  her  mind.  that  when  her  husband  would  leave  her  alone  for  prolong  periods  of  time,  he  did  what  he  could  to  ease  her  loneliness.  he  hadn't  set  out  to  catch  feelings  for  the  lady,  had  not  expected  to,  but  it  supposed  it  made  sense  why  he  was  always  drawn  to  her  presence  when  she  was  in  the  day  court.  now  that  she  was  no  longer  tied  to  a  man  who  didn't  deserve  her,  he  couldn't  find  it  in  himself  to  even  feel  guilty.  declan  kisses  her  passionately,  allowing  it  to  linger,  for  a  moment  forgetting  they  were  not  alone  before  they  break  away.  his  dark  gaze  remains  on  her,  drinking  in  the  vibrant  smile  she  gives  him  that  never  fails  to  have  his  heart  hammering  as  it  did.  "if  they  did,  they're  not  going  to  remember  it  tomorrow  after  copious  amounts  of  spirits."  he  murmurs,  taking  her  hand  and  tugging  her  to  where  the  others  were  dancing.  he  brought  her  frame  closer,  moving  them  to  steady  beat,  "do  you  care  who  see's?"  he  inquired,  understandably,  he  knew  her  concerns.  she  was  a  lady,  and  the  last  thing  he  wanted  was  anyone  gossiping  about  her.

Narcissa had never been the kind to dream of love, she had kept her feet grounded firmly on the earth as she grew up, her role had been clear she would marry for duty and power, and for those reason only. when she had been married off to a lord of the day court she had gone without any reproach, she had fallen in line and had lived quietly in her own loneliness, she had accepted her faith. even when he had grown tired of her and had sent her back, she had done the same quietly accepting it. she had then only thought there would be two outcomes another arranged marriage or to live a quite life in the spring court, either one had been accepted by her. but then he came almost at of nowhere with that dashing smile, with that way he looked at her that made her feel like melting and he had thrown all sense out the window. as her lips move against his freely she knew she could never go back to living a quiet life, not without him, it would break her. almost reluctantly she pulls from him trying to catch her breath, trembling fingers touch her now swollen lips as she laughs, shily looking around. "you don't think anyone saw, do you?" her cheeks redden.

[shvdwscng]

it  always  occurred  to  him  as  strange  that  in  the  moments  of  grief,  cedrian  had  leaned  into  his  wife  for  comfort,  and  he  thought  cor  would  do  the  same  with  narcissa.  that  if  anything,  it  would  have  brought  this  former  couple  closer,  not  tore  them  apart.  dec  did  believe  his  brother  loved  this  woman,  he  had  caught  the  looks  of  longing  cor  gave  narcissa  whenever  he  happened  to  catch  him  stare  at  her.  it  was  quite  evident  that  after  she  returned  home,  the  likelihood  of  them  reconciling,  after  all  these  years  was  slim  to  none.  his  own  mind  was  a  endless  terrian  of  conflict,  torn  between  wanting  his  brother  to  be  happy,  but  a  smaller  selfish  part,  perhaps  in  a  sense  of  looking  out  for  this  woman,  that  she  perhaps  deserved  more  than  a  neglectful  husband.  even  if  he  had  seen  the  regret  cor  carried  even  now,  but  then  dec  thinks  if  it  was  meant  to  be,  this  would  not  have  happened.  "careful  that  is  your  high  lord  and  brother  your  speaking  of."  he  teased  a  bit,  but  really  the  events  certainly  did  not  leave  a  good  impression  of  high  lord  emilios.  he  did  wonder,  had  she  resented  her  brother,  for  all  that  spiraled  since  her  marriage.  he  did  not  look  into  why  he  would  be  more  than  willing  to  aid  in  her  avoiding  such  characters.  his  gaze  twinkles,  "you  only  now  just  notice  this  of  me?  we  were  friends  when  you  were  in  my  court,  surely  you  knew  this  then,  too.  I  was  long  under  the  impression  you  enjoyed  my  company  because  of  this."  he  was  jesting  of  course,  a  look  of  mock  disappointment  on  his  features  though  he  took  some  pleasure  in  watching  her  cheeks  color.  was  he  pleased  she  thought  so,  certainly.  his  surprise  came  when  she  looked  at  him  as  such,  from  under  her  lashes,  if  dec  didn't  know  any  better,  and  this  any  other  woman,  he  would  be  inclined  to  believe  she  was  flirting  with  him.  however,  narcissa  would  not,  that  he  was  certain  of,  dec  didn't  know  if  that  disappointed  him  or  it  was  a  good  thing.  the  lord  could  only  stare  for  a  few  seconds  before  recovering.  fates.  "you  far  too  generous  with  me,  narcissa."  lips  curled  upwards,  "but  I  would  be  a  fool  to  deny  you  a  chance  when  i'm  enjoying  it  far  too  much."  dec  ignored  his  racing  heart  as  the  words  fell.  he  spinned  her  gently  once  more  before  tugging  her  back  to  his  frame,  only  this  time  he  was  sure  a  bit  more  than  was  appropriate.

Narcissa stops herself from pointing out it had been that exact reason she had once married into the day court, because her own had seek for that very connection from his older brother. the sheer need to please not only her own family and her ex-huband however had not been enough to keep her there nor to accomplish what others had deemed an easy task. "the smart ones, are not," the day court had been perhaps smart enough to send her back. "do not worry, i intend to, for as long as i am here that is." which she was in constant hope of returning home at any given second, except for those fleeting moments when she was next to declan. then she forgot the spring court was out of her reach. "of service he says, you're a charmer, declan aster," she says with stammering words as her cheeks flush with a rose color tone. "i do not mind feeding your ego, it is well deserved in my opinion," he lashes flutter as she tries to school her eyes into looking away from his own, but they do not listen to her command. no instead her mind is too preoccupied with the way here heart seems to beat a little faster, and those damn forsaken butterflies seemed to have turned into bees flying about in her stomach.

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her  words  cause  his  own  gaze  to  soften,  heart  thrumming  in  a  manner  in  which  only  she  was  able  to  draw  from  him.  even  now,  dec  could  not  understand  how  he  had  gone  from  enjoying  his  freedom  to  being  entirely  consumed  by  the  lady  of  spring.  "i  do  believe  i  have  become  an  expert  in  please  my  lady."  a  pause,  "it  also  helps  my  cause  when  she's  easy  to  please."  in  all  the  time  they'd  known  one  another,  it  was  one  of  many  traits  of  hers  that  stood  out.  his  gaze  watches  her  slender  fingers  as  they  move  about  his  coat.  he  was  already  leaning  in  closer,  knowing  well  she  would  grant  him  his  wish,  a  hand  rising  to  cup  her  cheek  before,  as  she  brushed  her  lips  against  his  own.  its  only  a  moment  of  relishing  in  the  softness  of  her  lips  before  his  arm  holds  her  to  him  just  as  cissa  presses  to  him  to  deepen  the  kiss.  the  world  around  them  slips  away  and  he  deepens  the  kiss,  longing  to  do  this,  hold  her  closer  for  days  on  end.  he  wasn't  sure  for  how  long  they  stood  kissing,  truly,  he  would  not  have  noticed  whatever  form  of  disaster  that  would  have  made  itself  known  in  this  moment.

There's a softness in her features that had only come to be because of him, the way her eyes focus on him, it was all too unique and all too just for him. "well then, you have done a marvelous job, for your lady is quite pleased with you," she places her hands on his chest, aimlessly fixing his clothes that needed no fixing, unable to keep her hands off him. was she intoxicated on him, the evening, or the wine? she wasn't sure. between her thick lashes she looks up to him, lighter eyes hypnotized by the darkness in his, her lips slightly parted before she muttered back, "anything." she would be lying if she said she hadn't been hoping for him to ask for a kiss of hers, with how flirty they had been in the pass few days she had been craving his touch, him. "a kiss and a dance it is then," she says almost breathless as her face comes closer to his, the smile on her lips is unavoidable. she forget of the world, were they are, and who is around, nothing else matter for her, it hadn't for a while. only him, and then the way her rosie lips brush against his own, tempting, slowly, before she completely presses against him.

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she had become a constant companion over the years of her time in the day court, and one declan had looked forward to even then. perhaps it also helped that narcissa had a way of making others feel at ease around her, and she had to be one of the few women he had met that was rather easy to please. he was certain he'd not see a thing displease her, outside of his brother's habits of disappearing for hours and sometimes days. at the back of his mind, he'd known that there was no reason he should be spending time with her here, that it was one thing to be polite and speak to her if they crossed paths, but another to go out of his way to seek her. he was almost certain he knew if cor saw him, he would not be pleased. it made the youngest lord of day wonder that had his gaze been searching for her without his permission before it landed on her tonight? "an utter waste of time, a high ruler is not easily swayed by another." he knew it was a possibility, as was suitors for her hand. though the thought anyone would wish to use her to get to her brother did not sit well with him. more so, at the sadness that flickered across her features. "i do not blame you for wariness, hardly anyone wanders without some motives. perhaps not a wise words on my side, but the thought certainly leaves no desire to speak to strangers, and in which case, I would encourage you avoid them as well." it was a strange thought, and a surprising one that they would have more interest over court affairs over the lady herself. those thoughts were entirely ones he should not be having, so he focuses onto her, spinning her and then gracefully shifting her back into arms, "pleased to be of service to you." he murmured, not the right choice of words, but he could not stop them, nor the smile that was drawn from him at her words. "greatest company? careful, narcissa, my ego while in moderation, is still prone to being inflated."

Declan had always been a safe house, the standing tower lighting her way even in dark hours her final days in the day court had been. he had always been a companion when she had felt the most alone, a hopeful beacon in her path. perhaps it had been why she had accepted to dance with him when she had deny all others, at least that was what she told herself even though her face had light up when she had first seen him, and those atrocious butterflies that had began in the gardens, made an appearance at their adventure in the streets of the city, had come back to hunt her once more. narcissa ignores them as best she could. "i am never comfortable around new people, specially those who often see me as a way to flatter my brother or create a connection or another to the court," sadness flashes across her face, she wonders how long before she is betrothed to another once more, or if anyone would ever even want her after the disaster in the day court. her smile is brighter and wider than usual, her eyes are alive as he proclaims they shall dance for a long time, like a child on the early days of winter solstice. "nothing could make this night any better." and she meant it, ever word of it, as her feet are quick on the floor as she spins gracefully before returning to his arms. "along the greatest company too," the words come out before she can stop them, although she does not regret them for she means it, she wonders if she is crossing lines she should not.

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𝐒𝐇𝐄  𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑  𝐒𝐀𝐈𝐃  much  of  anything  in  words  of  this,  but  the  lord  had  caught  the  the  loneliness  in  her  gaze  as  she  stayed  with  in  their  court  when  cor  was  busy  for  hours  on  end  and  some  time  days.  he  swore  some  days  he  saw  her  more  than  her  own  husband  would,  which  certainly  left  declan  sympathetic  towards  the  woman.  narcissa  was  easy  to  please,  even  when  he  asked  if  she  wished  to  do  something  in  particular  and  he'd  accompany  her,  her  requests,  he  suspected  were  tailored  to  ensure  it  was  not  interfering  with  his  time.  which  would  never  be  the  case,  especially  since  he  would  approach  her.  however,  he  knew,  they  both  knew  it  was  her  husband  who  should  be  the  one  spending  time  with  her.  "all  the  more  reason  why  it's  a  travesty  you  were  about  to  spend  it  standing  on  the  sidelines."  he  idly  wondered,  without  intending  to,  had  she  denied  partners  away  because  she  had  been  waiting  for  the  one  she  was  most  pleased  with.  her  words  certainly  pleased  him  a  bit  too  much  ;  what  was  he  to  make  of  her  agreeing  to  dance  with  him  over  others?  he  veered  away  from  the  thought.  "i  agree  entirely,  the  right  partner  makes  all  the  difference.  seeing  as  you've  honored  me  with  this  dance  tonight,  we  shall  dance  until  our  feet  ache."  he  doubted  that  would  bother  him  in  any  way,  if  she  wished  to  dance  until  the  ball  ended,  he  would  gladly  oblige.  so  when  her  wish  was  uttered,  a  charming  smile  appeared  on  his  lips.  "it's  not  the  same  for  you  this  spring  celebration,  but  i  hope  you  will  remember  it  with  some  fondness  that  you  spent  it  doing  what  you  love  most."  dec  meets  her  gaze  before  spinning  her  once  more  gently,  "i'm  certain  that's  not  true,  not  all  are  brave  enough  to  approach  a  lady."  he  remarks,  but  he  caught  her  smile  at  his  previous  sentiment,  "you  already  are."  normally  he  would  be  off  flirting  with  a  woman,  and  yet  here  he  was,  wishing  to  lift  the  spirits  of  his  former  sister-in-law.

Narcissa only gives him a shy smile, she might not ever be able to explain to him how much it meant without having to pour her heart and history around him, and he would never understand otherwise. but thanking him, even if he did not know, was enough for her. narcissa ponders, allowing her good memories of her court to overflow her. "i must say, the dancing, or the music, both if one truly choses. i never feel as free than when i am dancing, although a good partner does help quite much." she says, giving him a beaming smile, hoping he understand she is talking about him. not to say her other dance partners hadn't been enjoyable, sometimes dancing by the fires without all the etiquette or care in the world was the most freeing, being able to do it amongst the people of her court the most fulfilling. but somehow dancing with declan was freeing in a different manner. narcissa has forgotten herself, completely putting aside that she was the returned daughter of the spring court and that he was a son of the day court, brother to the man she had been married to. the lines had never blurred as much as they had in that very dance. and yet she ignores the warning signs, the voice that tells her to real it back in, that declan is only being kind to her because she had once been a part of his household. the shy woman he had once kept company when no one else did. "it will please me, greatly," the words leave her mouth before she can stop them, and yet she cannot find it in herself to feel regretful for she meant them. "and i think you might be only one that seems not in such light, declan," although she di not mind it, being seen was something she could get used to. "and i am interested in seeing it so."