#Muse | Yilva

[luxmaeastra]

@an-endless-saga continued from here.

Her words shattered the last of his walls. He clung to her sobbing.

"How - how is Hybern feels like the home I've spent my life searching for? How is - How are you all seen as evil and I see you as the family I yearned for?"

Even Amarantha, Clythia and Narcissus. Sure they weren't his best friends but they didn't ask him stupid questions. He remembered his first night here Narcissus dragging him into a conversation on the different ecololgies of the mountains surrounding Dusk and Hybern. They'd spent hours debating what grew where and why. But Narcissus had been right - there was something magical about Hybern's lands.

Clythia and he had spent an afternoon playing chess while Amarantha quizzed him on his sister. He'd felt slightly odd around Amarantha. She hadn't apologized for her attack on Unah, but then again she had asked after her. Amarantha was the hardest to read but everyone else had been open with him - happy actually. Was it then a war then in name only? Did they not actually feel the opposite? Did he care if that wasn't true?

He looked up at her blinking the tears away as he slowly sat up. He looked at their joined hands and looked at her.

"If I didn't care about decorum I'd ask Igor to marry us Yilva. But I - I want to do that properly you deserve that....Are you okay? How - how long was I gone no one told me."

He brushed his nose with hers, leaning his forehead against her chest.

"Can you handle being my shield? I - no - no one has ever offered that to me. I - I - I get so angry sometimes I - I hurt people I love. I did that to Unah I - what if I hurt you? What if I mar this skin I spent my days thinking of? Of trying to find a way back to? Yilva you're the one good thing left in my life and I - if I mess this up I —"

Let him sob, let him hold on to her. She would never let him go, she would always be there and would always ensure that he knew someone was. It was something she had decided while he was away, something she had come to a realization of as she stood everyday near a window watching. Watching and waiting, waiting for him to return to her. Now he had, now he had, and he was so broken.

“Because it is your home, it will always be your home. People will always say horrible things about Hybern, the victors always tell the stories. It is why we are seen the way we are.” How various members of their court became so twisted, vile in the way they were. They fell into the role they were expected to play, if that was why the rest of Pythian wanted then they played the part. She guessed she done it to, playing the sweet princess for so long.

He helped her break out of that shell, he helped her find her footing and find herself. He helped those around her to see her for who she was, not what others expected her to be. She smiled when she saw him look up at her, lifting her body from his as he sat up. Her hand squeezed his to remind him she was there, to remind him she wouldn’t leave him.

“Then maybe we should look at planning our marriage sooner rather than later?” She offered. Her heart raced at the idea, to be married to him. Maybe it would help him, have something good in his life – their marriage, their life. His question about how she was caused her smile to slip a little. “I am okay, I missed you so much though. You were gone…a long time.” She didn’t know if she should share how long, she didn’t want to break him.

She wrapped her arms around him when he leant against her chest, listening as he spoke. “I will always be your shield; I know you won’t hurt me, you have only lashed out before because of how you were treated. Please, Tarvo, don’t think you will hurt me.” Even if he did, she understood why. She knew he only done it when he was cornered or belittled, when he was trapped. She would make sure he never felt that way again, she would make sure he could find his freedom.

[siderealxmelody]

@luxmaeastra - !!!!!!

[luxmaeastra]

@an-endless-saga continued from here.

Yilva tilted her head slightly when he seemed to be delayed in his reaction, had he not expected her to speak to him? Why would she ignore him? She did not subscribe to another courts gossip, nor was she interested in being swayed by their biased opinions on anyone else. If she was going to figure out if someone was worth her time, she wanted to spend her time figuring it out for herself.

At that moment he was worthy of her time, he intrigued her if only due to the fact he didn’t seem like the rest. She smiled as she moved to take his arm, stepping closer to him. She ignored any looks or whispers she could hear, a flare of her power warned anyone who she felt overstepped. “I’d…I’d like that.” It wasn’t as if anyone else had approached her.

“No, I am from Hybern. I was brought here with Lorcan.” She pointed towards him. “And the Catacombs? I would love to see them.”

[luxmaeastra]

Lorcan and Yilva stepped toward Keir and Viren. Viren lifted his eyes to Titus who rose am eyebrow.

"What Viren?"

"Nothing I didn't speak did I Keir?"

Keir hummed and gestured for the children to follow him. Viren stepped toward Titus as he leaned against the tree watching them the children dissapeared into Hewn.

Well they weren't children were they? At 16 and 13 they were more than ready to be debuted. Especially if Lorcan was daring to try to kill him for a simple slip.

"I never did get to ask if it was worth it."

Titus looked from the doors to Viren. He smirked and raised his chin.

"Oh? Which are you referring to? The kingdom? Caring for ungrateful brats?"

"I'm sure both are difficult I mean Peleus was a beloved king was he not?"

"To those who didn't know his rotten core I'm sure he was. If you're asking me if I felt something for killing him? No. Not when I broke his little mate under my heel. He dared to pass judgment on what was mine? On the lesser fae and —"

Titus slowly exhaled and stepped away from the tree, away from Hewn as Viren fell into step with him. His hands clasped behind his back as he listened to Titus.

"She deserved more than I could give her. I was fool to think he'd be happy. To watch her die on that spit, to see our children ripped to shreds....I hope Peleus is in turmoil in Aperion. Do you think they are aware there? Your parents?"

Viren titled his head to the trees and hummed. Titus had been a friend, an odd one when his own world had broken under his feet. So perhaps Viren had forgotten to warn Peleus that Titus was coming home the day he did.

"I'm sure they're aware. I'm sure they hate what I've become. I'm sure they hate the legacy I want is different from what they worked so hard for."

Titus laughed and nodded clapping his hand on his shoulder.

"Then I suppose we keep our paths cousin? To fuck them all."

----------

Tarvo slowed looking at the young female around his age.

"Who - who are you? You're new."

//Well Viren continues to surprise me!//

She didn’t like it here; she didn’t like these strangers. She looked slightly behind her brother, her attention wavering between the adults. Titus had brought them there to be debuted, she had to be on her best behavior and be good. Why should she when she was not in her home, not where she wanted to be? She felt slightly disconnected from her surroundings, it felt odd. Nothing seemed to want to respond to her.

Despite her displeasure to be there, she moved to follow Keir. She knew she had to present herself well, she knew she was representing her home and her family. Hewn, she had been told so much about this place, about the beings and fae who were there. Her gaze was moving from face to face. She really hadn’t expected anyone to speak to her, she hadn’t expected anyone to say anything.

Yilva frowned slightly, turning towards the male who had approached her. He seemed different, a little odd compared to the others around them, but it was a nice kind of odd. She also couldn’t help but not the looks that were shot their way, the way people seemed to be judging. It only spurred her to keep this conversation, she wasn’t going to be made to make her choice on someone based on nosy busybodies.

She smiled as her attention returned to him, curtsying a little. “I’m Yilva, I was brought here for my debut.”

[luxmaeastra]

@an-endless-saga continued from here.

“You will not hurt any of us intentionally.” While she didn’t understand the power that flowed through her child, she understood the fear of hurting someone because of that power. She remembered it in the first few months of courting Tarvo, she remembered how scared and torn up she was about showing the real side of her. What if she hurt him, what if he hated her for who she was?

The fear and the pain her sweet daughter must have been feeling, she moved towards her with her arms held out before she wrapped them around her. Her lips pressed loving kisses to her head, wanting to sooth away everything that upset her. She wanted her to see that she didn’t fear what she could do.

Her gaze lifted when she heard Tarvo’s voice, her chin rose as she looked towards him. When Branna moved, she loosened her grip, allowing her to leave if she wanted. “Your father is right, you are not cursed.”

She would know, she would know if her children were cursed. Yilva would feel it, she would do everything in her power to undo it – even bargaining with those who normally would not.

Yilva stilled when the door open, her gaze falling upon her son. Her sweet protective son, how long had it taken them to build the trust they now had. How it had hurt her when they had returned and they did not trust them, they would not let them in close to try and sooth everything they had been through.

When Tarvo finally spoke those words her eyes narrowed, a hiss of disagreement came from her as she tightened her hold on her daughter. Hewn, that forsaken place that had almost destroyed him. What would happen to their children if they went back to Hewn? How much more damage would they go through?

“Have you lost your mind? Do you think I would allow our children to be taken to that place?” Her words were harsh, her tone laced with disgust at the idea. She knew, she knew Branna needed to learn her powers, but she couldn’t lose them again. She couldn’t handle going through that all again.

As he spoke to their children, as he told them what was going on, she couldn’t help the bitterness that twisted within her. God, she loved her husband, but she hated that place with a passion. All sense she normally was known for was gone in that moment. This was the woman who was feared, this was the woman who had threatened to tear a part their home when their children were taken.

“How can we trust them?”

[luxmaeastra]

Malek leaned back in his chair watching Yilva feed Tarvo some sugar dusted fruit. Tarvo licked her fingers making her giggle. He leaned over to kiss her, fingers curling in her hair.

"So do either of you want to go to Aperion?"

That got Tarvo to pull away and stare at him.

"You - you're serious?"

"We all have divine blood so yes I am sure we can pass through to see the realm. Do you both want to? We probably won't see Her but I've been thinking of a Mating Gift for you both. Is this a good enough one?"

Yilva paused as she looked towards Malek, her gaze fixed upon him as she considered what he was asking for them. To go to Aperion, the offer was not one which was an easy feat, yet she was sure there was many who wished they could go and see. Though was it something they wanted to see?

"Do you want to do my love?" She asked Tarvo. It would be something they would say they had done, something that many hadn't. Something that she was sure would make others envy them.

[luxmaeastra]

Branna stepped into her mother's kitchen. Usually she avoided these places. Not because she didn't love her parents - she did. She just, sometimes she felt suffocated by them, the way they watched as if she'd dissapeared again.

Dagdan had gone down to the creek behind their home to fish. He had taken a pale and had boasted he'd catch some by his bare hands. Branna doubted that would actually be possible.

She watched her mother knead dough for she honestly wasn't sure. She twisted her fingers watching her, at least her power was dormant, at least she hadn't broken anything again.

She knew Hawke and his family would arriving for Solstice. They were 20, they'd even free from the Circus for the last 10 years so why did she feel it looming over her.

She jumped as a glass shattered, she frowned and she bit her lip her eyes stinging. She'd wanted to ask her mother if she could help with something but now the nagging thought slipped out. The one that had been plaguing her for the last few months.

"Is there something wrong with me Mama? Why - why do things break around me? I'm sorry, I'm sorry I keep causing problems and —"

//AY BRANNA!!!//

It was hard to stop herself from smothering her children once they had returned to her, it had taken everything within her from wanting to make up for all the years that they had been gone. If only they had known what had happened when they had been taken, if only they knew the anger and the anguish she and their father had gone through.

They were home now though; they were back where they belonged and that was all that mattered. It was still hard though, to let them come to her and give them their space. All she had wanted to do was to reassure them, to tell them she would be there.

Yilva looked up from her dough and gave her daughter the warmest of smiles, it wasn’t often that she came to the kitchen and spent time with her. Maybe this was the first step in the right direction, maybe they could bond over something like this?

When the glass shattered her gaze shifted, her hands pulled from the dough as she reached for her damp towel and wiped her hand. The words that soon came from her daughter caused her to pause, caused the bitter and dark feelings she often pushed aside surface.

“There is nothing wrong with you my pet.” She said, her tone soft and warm. The idea that she thought there was something wrong with her caused something to stir, had someone said something? Her lips thinned as she moved around the kitchen, her hand extended towards her – though she would let her decide if she could touch her.

“You have no reason to apologize, none of this is your fault.” No, it had to have been her powers. For them to be this turbulent though, that caused her some concern.

[luxmaeastra]

"I don't want to see you, I don't want anything to do with you Unah. I disown and disavow you."

Unah had stumbled backward, her face crumbling. Tarvo didn't care, all he felt was the sun beating down on him. The dry ground under him, the wind pulling at their clothes. He was sure if they hadn't been surrounded by High Lords and soliders Rhysand would have killed him. As it was Rhysand held Unah tighter turning her away from.

"He isn't worth your tears my heart. Don't give him the satisfaction."

Tarvo didn't look to her otherside to see Morrigan glaring at him. That Cernunnos was holding her back - reminding her of decorum. Tarvo turned and walked away, winnowing when he was far enough away.

Was that how he'd come back to Hybern? To the dampness and shadowy corners? The mist of rain wasn't anything like the camps. Here the silence was welcome - here he couldn't hear the females sobbing and screaming. Or worse, see their dead eyes as he passed their barracks every day to dig his trenches. He could still feel the shovel from his hands, feel the sun an echo on his back and arms. It always so hot.

It wasn't that she didn't save their mother, it wasn't what she did to the camp soldiers. It was that she had the gall to mourn. She had to gall to be shocked when he couldn't give her the hug and praise everyone else did. He'd been the victim, he'd been the one stuck in those camps. What of him?

That had been the question that always plagued him every second of his life. What of him? Of his pain? Of his pressure? Of his wants and dreams? Did anyone care? Did anyone mourn him or —

He didn't flinch when the twig snapped. He just breathed and laid back on the damp grass. He looked up to Yilva a hand reaching for her.

"Tomorrow I'll be the good suitor and say this is wrong and we should be chaperoned. Tomorrow I'll be charming - thank you for coming for me Yilva."

He curled onto his as the dam finally broke, his voice breaking on his name.

"I realized I loved you there, that I - fuck I'm sorry i didn't tell you before my mission. I - I thought I'd never see you again Yil."

Her father and brother were on the front. Amarantha, Clythia, Narcissus had been the war room since the early morning. There was no one watching Yilva now, there wouldn't be for a while.

It was the shadows that whispered of someone entering Hybern, the whispers of a soldier returned from a hell that very little understood. It was the shadows that whispered to her, that urged her to swiften her pace as she made her way through the mist of rain. For he was back, the war wearied soldier who had made his way back to her. No one who remained dared warn her away, no one dared stop her. He was home, could she say that? Could she tell him she considered this home? Or was it her, did she consider herself his home? Was that selfish of her?

The pause she gave when the branch snapped under her heel was not out of fear, but out of remorse for what she saw. How broken he seemed, how this mission he had gone on seemed to completely change the man from the male she knew. His reaching hand drew her in close, her own reaching out before she lowered herself to kneel in the damp. She didn’t care if her dress was getting ruined, or if she could feel the damp within her bones from sitting there. All she cared about was him, her fingers lacing between his own as she pulled his hand to her lips and kissed it.

“Shh, be charming when you’re ready, care about decorum once you have healed. It does not have to be tomorrow, or a month from now, but only when you’re ready.” She told him. Yilva’s heart almost broken when she watched him shatter before her, as she watched her beloved crumble under what he had been through. Hearing him say those words she couldn’t help the tears that threatened to spill, tears of anger that anyone had allowed this to happen to him.

She leaned down, her other arm moved to rest on his back as she lowered herself as if she was shielding him. Her grip on his hand tightened, too scared to let him go and to lose him. “Don’t ever leave me again, wherever you go let me come with you. I love you more than I can ever tell you. Please stay with me and let me be your shield, your heart, your everything.”

[luxmaeastra]

Tarvo laughed stumbling back against the wall.

"Who knew you were so daring Yilva?"

He shuddered as she tugged on his bottom lip. His hands moved from her her waist to her back undoing the lacing of her dress. He kissed her a hand curling in her thick blonde hair.

"I wonder if I'll be lucky to get you on your knees for me tonight."

He had met her a few days ago dancing at a ball together. He could feel their parents watching them but somehow they'd gotten here - wherever it was she'd lead them to.

//haha enjoy//

She knew what she wanted, the moment that they had danced had been the moment she had decided she needed to know more about this male who was now pushed against the wall. More about Tarvo, in all the ways she could.

A playful smile crossed her lips, her fingers trailing down the buttons of her jacket. Yes, she knew what she was doing as she bit at his lower lip. The feeling of his hands on her back caused her to move close, to want to feel him more as she melted into that kiss.

“On my knees for you?” She purred as she pulled back a little, her nose brushing against his. “Here I was thinking I’d have you worshipping me.” For now they were out of the eyes of those who watched her, who deemed her as the perfect daughter – chaste and well behaved. For now they were safe in the room she ensured no one else knew about, somewhere she came when she wanted to be alone.

He was the first person she had really brought here and it was exciting.

[luxmaeastra]

Lorcan paled and swallowed. He raised his head and looked back to Morrigan and then his sister.

"Judging by your expression you heard every word she said. I - she has no reason to lie. Yilva I'm sorry - but I don't want to see you hurt. I don't want you to -"

He swallowed and rolled his shoulders.

"Tarvo will be gone within the hour. I'm sorry, you'll find another."

//For Yilva?? When Mor comes to tell Lorcan about Tarvo 👀//

No. Her gaze fixed upon that blonde haired harpy; her jaw clenched as her fingers tightened into fists at her side. She had heard every word, every vile word that she spewed. A puppet of that witch, the sister that Tarvo had spoken off only briefly.

This woman told her brother only one side of the story, only the side that Unah wanted them all to know. Did no one stop to think that maybe more than what was being told? Was she so perfect and innocent?

He was going to send him away. Her attention fixed upon her brother as she brought herself to her full height. He would not dictate her life; he would not taken from her the one thing that was hers. “If you send him away I am going with him and I will never come back.”

[luxmaeastra]

"I'm sorry you did what to our granddaughters?"

"Don't yell at me Tarvo."

"Oh, I'm not yelling. This is me being calm. If I was yelling I'd have stabbed you first. This is why left Lorcan because you're just as controlling as the rest of —"

He stepped closer, the air taking on a silver sheen as his rage poured out of the room.

"Where are they? What did you do to - you promised to take care of them Lorcan! And where the fuck I'd our Cyrene?"

Lorcan sipped at his wine sitting at his chair in his personal rooms.

"They're - she's been dealt with. I - I had a vision one of them would kill me Tarvo —"

"Good, someone should."

Tarvo didn't move as Lorcan's power pressed in on the room.

//after the girls are gone? For Cyrene and/or Yilva??//

It had been her son’s own confusion when Yilva had mentioned that girls that had brought the sense of dread that something had, this simple moment that triggered him to scourer the family home before she turned to her husband. The children were gone, Cyrene was no where to be found and their son, it caused her stomach to twist in knots. Something had happened, something had caused harm to come to her blood.

Lorcan had happened, her own brother had acted in his own interests. “The girls should be with us; they should be with their father! Who you have done something to as well, my own son!” The venom in her words didn’t convey the true depths of her emotions, the depth of the pain at the possibility of loss.

When the truth came from his lips she paled, the idea that he done this because of a vision. She didn’t care if the vision showed her as the one who carried the blade, the eldest wasn’t even six! There could have been things put in place, the knowledge could have stopped all of this from happening.

She didn’t stop the bitter laugh come from her when Tarvo countered, though the feeling of her brother’s power pressing in caused her to still. They were on dangerous ground. “At least tell us where they are so we know they are safe, at least let them be with their mother.”