#even if Iomhar is /not happy/ about how this went

[arcxnumvitae]

Sometime later

“You summoned me?” Iomhar stepped into throne room, the space nearly empty save for him and the king for likely the first time that week. The throne sat empty as the king stood off to the side, eyes upwards and watching the night sky through a distant window set up above. 

The last time he had been here was for his punishment for killing Lord Arasgain. He still remembered the sound of the whip cutting through the air, and the agony as it dug through his back. The blood he’d shed had long since been cleaned, or possibly absorbed into the dirt itself, but still the fae couldn’t help from eyeing the spot as he passed.

The king didn’t respond, his face impassive and stony as he turned towards him. There was no warning, no twitch of muscle nor flicker of intent in the man’s face that could have alerted him before a whip was suddenly zinging through the air towards him. An image of another whip moving towards him, one tipped with iron and wielded mercilessly, ran through Iomhar’s head and his body moved automatically, arms raising to shield himself from the attack. 

It was when the woody material of the whip wrapped around his forearm without the expected bite of iron that the realization struck Iomhar, but it was too late. The enchantment in the king’s weapon sank in, Iomhar grunting as he could already feel the compulsion of it working against his will through the whip wrapped around unyielding stone skin.

King Camhlaidh’s voice was emotionless. “Tell me everything that you know of Sivel’s past and his actions.”

Sinking to his knees, Iomhar fought the magic that seemed to set into his veins and hook into his very being, threatening to claw the truth from him if he allowed it even an inch of opportunity. Iomhar grunted as he was already fighting to catch his breath. “I...will not.” 

“You will, it is an order.” The king growled as he strode closer without an ounce of concern for the way the fae strained. “It will do nothing but cause you harm the further you attempt to fight it.”

“I had already told you,” Iomhar strained, “that Sivel was no threat.” Muscles bulged with effort, the man so focused on fighting the effects of the royal family’s relic that he didn’t notice the king had fully closed the distance between them until a hand had fisted in his shirt, drawing him upwards to meet the other’s enraged gaze.

“No threat? Even now you believe that? I had asked you once already! Had I not been kept in the dark, I could have properly prepared, properly anticipated, and properly avoided what occurred.” Of course, he was talking about what had happened with...

The moss and plants around them began to brown in a circle that spread as the king’s anger seemed to grow. “I am far past taking you at your word regarding the king of Vasyri, Lord Mèinnearach. You are not the king of Seelie. You are not the one tasked with the governance of this land. Do not underestimate that I will do anything that I must for those under my protection.”

The hand holding the handle of the whip tightened and Iomhar felt the pull of the magic grow stronger, yet still he fought. Until a beat of dizziness surged through him body and the gentry could feel a trickle of what was undoubtedly silvery, cool blood seeping from his nose. His vision blurred, thoughts growing fuzzy, and it was in that unguarded moment that the man felt his mouth open.

And he told the king everything.

Every story, every deed, every detail of what Sivel had told him in confidence he shared with the king. It wasn’t until he had shared every last thing he had learned of Sivel that the whip fell away from his arm and the king’s hold released him, allowing him to fall against the now withered plants below that made up the floor with a gasp of relief.

"Your allegiances are tangled, and I have learned now of the dangers in allowing such encumbrances to go unchecked.” Still fighting to catch his breath, Iomhar watched from his place on the ground as Camhlaidh turned his back, voice stony. “If you truly believe that your lover is no threat and will never be a threat, then prove it. Swear fealty to me and show me that I will never have anything to fear.”

Swear fealty? Only the king’s personal guards were required to swear fealty to him, it was a point that had long existed throughout the history of Seelie that no gentry nor Council member would have it required of them, something the predecessors had fought for. To swear fealty would mean he could never act in any way against the king and the king could command him as he wished. It was the ultimate act of loyalty that a fae could give aside from sharing their true name. 

Iomhar’s jaw set, and he pushed himself up to kneel on one knee, gazing up at his king with a mix of anger and resolute determination. 

It was beneath the moonlight that the lord swore fealty to his king.

[soulsxng]

Ranadi and Alsina, what are your thoughts on the recent drama with Iomhar? Alsina, you saw it all firsthand but, Ranadi, you heard about it afterwards. What has it been like with Sivel gone tending to Iomhar?

@arcxnumvitae | It's happy hour! | Accepting!

"Mmm...I dunno. O'viously I don't like it." Though Ranadi's speech starts off fairly slurred, he seems to pull himself together a bit. Hands scrubbing at his face before dropping into his lap. "Sivvie told us that Iomhar was the one that chose the punishment, himself. He was real shaken up by it."

"Shaken up is an understatement. I don't know what Iomhar-- what any of those fae were thinking! As if such a flagrant display would satisfy as greedy a nobleman as that! He has to know that just because he went above and beyond in his punishment, that the noble could easily choose to target he or Sivel again. So what if it cannot be in regards to what happened with his good-for-nothing scumbag of a relative? He could make up something, and it would be just as well!"

Alsina shakes her head, glass raising to her lips as she takes a rather large drink. She's almost even more furious about what happened now, than she was before. Though that was likely thanks to the alcohol.

"...It's kind of fucked up that some of the other gentry members, or the king didn't stop it before it got that far, though. I mean, making an example is one thing, but that sounds like it was really...never mind. I don't want to think about that, anymore. Sivel's going to be back tomorrow or the next day, and then me and Alsi are planning to go see how Iomhar is doing. Things are going fine-- he made sure everyone was prepared, and got us some extra help in Pereux, and some of Nirbhi's other desciples. That Sahrin lady has been pretty helpful, too."

"Aaah, I just want to hit something. Why does everything have to be so stressful?"

[elefseija]

💜❤️💞💘 👀👀👀

From these asks for OC and partner~

🍀🍀🍀 OMG THANKS FOR ASKING ;; These are so cute I’m melting - and not to mention all the food for thoughts!!! Precious material for my babies!☘️☘️☘️

💜 Give a random fact about their daily life together!

Dancing. A lot of dancing. In silence, or humming a tune, or while Aisling pretends to run away from him. Dancing wherever they can. They can be really playful! Aaaand long walks in the forest. Or - lazy mornings, when they can stay together without thinking about work~ Aisling particularly likes those~.

❤️ How did they end up in a relationship with their current partner(s)?

After a rocky start, their relationship develops steadily and not-so-slowly. They dated, even went to the Celestial Ball together - but in their fifth year Aisling got nearer to Bill Weasley and the two had a brief affaire, broken after what happened in the Vault. Truth is, Aisling (and Bill) realized they were too similar and could not “mend each other wounds” - when they came back from the Vault, this was crystal clear. They could not even face each other. Aisling simply found out Barnaby was THE ONE. He had waited and waited - not like a poor dog, but always staying by her side and supporting her, and in the time of need, when she needed to be selfish and think about herself, he was there helping her. A hug. Just a hug when she needed it the most, and she completely fell for him with no regret! They officially started dating in their sixth year~.

💞 What do their respective families think of their relationship?

An important fact: Aisling’s father (Ìomhar from now on) was the Auror who sent Barnaby’s parents to Azkaban.At first he was clearly against Barnaby and Aisling’s relationship and did not really trust poor Barnaby - and this was almost the breaking point of them as a couple. Barnaby had so many doubt and feared he would be like his father, feared Iomhar words could be true - that he did not deserve Aisling. It took a LONG while, but Aisling managed to mend this deep found in their relationship, trying to rebuild his trust. It did. And eventually Iomhar changed his idea, seeing how protective Barnaby was. He became almost like a second father to him!Aisling’s mother (Brighid) was a bit doubtful at first - but she quickly tried to help the young couple to get through their hard times!

Talking about Barnaby’s family... when they found out their son was in a relationship with the daughter of the very Auror who sent them to Azkaban - well, they were furious. Outraged. Could not believe their son DARED do this to them, throwing away everything they had tried to teach him (failing). Barnaby’s father felt betrayed by his own blood and could not bear the thought the blood of their line would mingle with the Baskerville line. Barnaby NEVER shared his ideas - he always stayed away from his parents when they broke out from Azkaban, moved to Ireland permanently. Ignored all their letters. Yes, he was not entirely happy - they were his parents anyway and he wished they could become better, but he never thought about betraying his own new little family he was building.

The real “first” meeting happened in the Battle of Hogwarts - Aisling did found Barnaby’s father and quickly followed him. He was faster - hit her with the Cruciatus Curse, until Barnaby found them. He. Was. Furious. Almost killed his father - but Aisling managed to hit Barnaby’s father with her “depulso” before Barnaby could say “avada kedavra”.

💘 What do they love most about their partner(s)? What do their partner(s) love most about them?

Aisling fell in love at first with his sincerity and his kindness. He caught her attention since their first encounter: he may had threatened her to “vanish her bones” and was ready to fight - he is a protector, and Aisling admires his loyalty so much! Then, she fell in love with is selflessness and his innocence: it’s a real fear of him, to become like his father, and he often needs to be reassured, but he surely is nothing like is parents. He is so good and gentle - Aisling feels the need to protect him even though at the end he is the one protecting her from herself! He has a really soothing and calming presence - he is like an anchor, keeping her grounded.

Barnaby saw her fierceness and his stubborness - but also felt immediately her kindness. She was straightforward, perhaps a bit bossy, but always cared for him. He was so surprised by how she would always trust him and support him - never a doubt, and she would always try to help him. He always respected him and treated him as an equal, never like a pawn! And he’s... grateful? She made him a better person.He fell in love also with her voice - he could and would listen to her ALWAYS. Just hearing her voice makes him happy. And she is so small and soft compared to him - he just loves hugging her, or just lifting her up.