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baldwin-montclair · 5 months

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Baldwin’s Nightingale (Part 20)

Characters: Baldwin Montclair/OC

Timeframe: Can safely say AU at this point, after Matthew and Diana go back in time and before they return

Summary: After escaping Benjamin (and Gerbert) with help of Rebecca’s magic, the trio arrive in Sept Tours. Questions demand answers, secrets are revealed and the newlyweds encounter a serious challenge to their marriage.

Spoiler Warning: TV Show canon S1-S2, goes AU after that, some Book of Life

Tag requests: @christi14 @poemfreak306 @pookie-cleary @hofficoffi @stormyheart326 @wonderlander594 @madamquacklemore @thereadersmuse @kynthiamoon @ordinarymom1 @fuzzyflowervoid @maybelightning @lady-lazarus-declermont @whoa-studymuch @shugensha

The Story So Far

Alisha swallowed hard as nobody moved for several seconds. Baldwin and Marcus had been interrupted mid-fight and the rest of the gathered creatures stood in reflex to the vampire brawl about to blow through the room.

“Becca,” Miyako grabbed her cousin’s arm, pulling her back, and putting herself between the bright-born and, potentially, her father.

Understanding what was possibly about to happen, Alisha joined Miyako in front of Rebecca.

Baldwin released Marcus and carefully regarded the three women.

“I see you returned my wife, safely, thank you Miyako,” Baldwin’s voice dripped with sarcasm, “I’m sure she simply got lost when this witch abducted her from the safety of her home.”

“You know she didn’t kidnap me,” Alisha answered back, causing both Miyako and Marcus to regard her with wide eyed fear, the latter even shaking his head in the hope to discourage her from provoking him.

“You know who I am,” Rebecca spoke up, drawing Baldwin’s ire from his wife and his daughter.

“I’ve known both who you are and where you have been for the last two weeks.”

“You let us think our friend was lost and in danger for all that time?” Nathaniel fumed.

“It was for their safety, the decision had nothing to do with you.”

“Stop this,” Ysabeau interjected calmly, regarding Rebecca with a flash of warm familiarity that Baldwin luckily did not see.

“That magic, I know it,” Sarah shook her head in confusion.

“You called her Rebecca.” Emily addressed Miyako.

“And Montclair called her a witch.” Sarah agreed.

“A witch and a vampire,” Marcus added, “with Matthew’s blood.”

“Papa,“ Miyako started carefully.

“Stop talking,” he warned and fixed his gaze upon Marcus.

“Take Madame de Clermont to our rooms, do whatever checks you need to do to ensure she is well.”

Marcus took a breath to argue but the look on Baldwin’s face was one he knew well.

Disagreement would not be productive.

“I’m fine,” Alisha argued, “and I’m staying with Rebecca and Miyako.”

“Miyako, escort our guest to my office,” Baldwin continued, ignoring Alisha’s protest, “I suggest the smaller reception room for your gathering Ysabeau, this one is much too draughty for warmbloods.”

“Wait-“ Sarah started but was led away by Em and followed behind by Nathaniel.

“Alisha, please,” Marcus held out his hand to gesture she lead the way and follow Baldwin’s directions.

Annoyed but with Baldwin, not Marcus, and not wishing him trouble, she relented and led Marcus and Phoebe to the turret.

Ysabeau glanced at her granddaughter then to Baldwin when the others had left.

“You know who she is?” He challenged.

“She has my blood, of course I know who she is.”

Baldwin sighed deeply crossing his arms and leant against the table.

Ysabeau recognised the exasperated, exhausted look as one frequently displayed upon his father when the strain of holding everything together became apparent.

She knew why he was struggling but would never say it as it would not be constructive.

He needed Matthew.

Alone, he was one half of the equation, the rod. Matthew was the carrot, Philippe had told her so himself, only together could they make things work.

Now, she believed for the first time that even Philippe failed to foresee the effect both of their mates would have on this equation.

“I will speak with her and Miyako, then, if you wish, you may converse with her.”

“What about Marcus and her aunts?”

“Of course Marcus can, but there is no way I’m telling my sisters about this.”

“Nor would I but I meant Diana’s aunts.”

“This is a family matter, the witches aren’t family.”

“They’re her family!” She told him firmly but carefully.

“Very well,” he grumbled and stood.

Ysabeau smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek, leaving before he could process the caring gesture and before she could see the almost imperceptible quirk of a smile.

“Here,” Phoebe handed Alisha a glass of water from a nearby carafe, “drink this, you’re white as a sheet.”

Alisha noted her giving a concerned look to Marcus, in the process of him checking her pulse and blood pressure.

“Thank you,” Alisha took the glass gratefully, “Phoebe.”

“Vitals are fine and since I value my life I won’t ask what got you so afraid.”

“I’m not…” she trailed off as she saw Marcus regard her with doubt, “it’s best for both of us if you don’t.” Alisha agreed quietly.

“You’re concerned your husband would harm you?” Phoebe prompted.

“Phoebe,” Marcus warned.

“I know vampires have their rules, Marcus, but I won’t just sit back and let that…fucking brute abuse her.”

“Baldwin has never harmed me, and he wouldn’t,” Alisha assured her warmly, “but if I were ever in that situation I’d want a friend like you.”

“We’ll be family soon,” Phoebe corrected reaching out a comforting hand towards her shoulder, stopped only by Marcus catching her wrist firmly but gently.

“She’s been gone for two weeks, any new scent near her could set him off.”

“Your sister is a new scent.”

“No, she’s not, I can’t explain it but she seems to have my grandfather’s blood as well.”

“I thought vampires couldn’t have children biologically.”

“There’s a lot we’re still learning but it has happened before.”

Marcus looked questioning at Alisha.

“I can’t, anything I might say could change how things are supposed to play out. Only Rebecca knows what’s safe to tell. I hope you understand.”

He nodded with reluctance.

Gallowglass hadn’t answered his call when Baldwin sought to tell him about the appearance of the trio.

It was not like him but Baldwin hadn’t the time to ponder before Gallowglass called him back.

“Something happened,” Gallowglass started as soon as Baldwin accepted his call, “I followed them to Venice but they’re just gone-“

“Stop, Gallowglass,” he sighed, “they’re here, they’re safe! And you didn’t answer when I called you!”

“I was busy. How did they get there?”

“You told me about the witch, seems she inherited her mother’s abilities.”

Gallowglass heaved a deep sigh of relief and chuckled.

“I should have known that wee pissant Benjamin wouldn’t have gotten the best of Miya.”

“Benjamin,” Baldwin fumed, “Fuchs, Matthew’s fuckup that keeps on giving was near my wife and my daughter?”

“According to Domenico, who’s still alive but barely. His children are looking after him.”

“Leave now, go to the airport, my plane will be waiting for you!”

“I’m not afraid of Benjamin, or that decrepit old pope Gerbert.”

“Gerbert is working with Fuchs?”

“Aye, but I can handle it!”

“If Gerbert and Fuchs are working together it’s not safe, they probably killed Peter.”

“I’ve seen off more Christians in my time than you have, Uncle, I can handle this one.”

“I’m not arguing with you, come home!”

“You know France has never been my home, not after-“

“I know, I shouldn’t have said that. You’re right, France may not be home but we are, I expect you here by the morning.”

There was an audibly furious silence on the other end of the line.

“Yes Sieur.” Gallowglass hung up.

Baldwin sighed with relief.

Even in death, Hugh would never forgive him if he let anything happen to Gallowglass on his watch.

Shaking the thought off, he strode towards the office where his daughter and the witch awaited him.

“Is everything alright?” Rebecca prompted.

“Of course,“ he took his seat opposite them, “so just how far ahead in the future are you, exactly?”

“Eighteen years.” Rebecca answered.

She knew her uncle, he could be kind, affectionate and generous with his time but she also knew of his impatience when information was critical.

He nodded solemnly.

“I suppose I already got two thousand years, I probably shouldn’t lament a shortness of time.”

“There are things we cannot tell you about the future-“ Miyako started.

“And yet I know if I was there I’d never have let this happen.”

“Father-“

“Does this future include Benjamin Fuchs?”

Miyako and Rebecca glanced at one another, shocked.

“Gallowglass was following you, at my behest but he lost the trail when you appeared here.”

“Is he alright, did Fuchs attack him?” Miyako asked.

“He’s fine, apparently Domenico was forthcoming with his version of events.”

“He’s alive?” Rebecca asked hopefully.

“He’ll live,” Baldwin regarded her curiously, “Gallowglass will be back soon but in the meantime, you’re going to tell me why you sought out Domenico.”

“Father, your rules, as you said-“

“I am aware of what I said, but I am also aware that you already changed things by removing Catarina from her time!”

“You know-“ Rebecca started.

“No, I suspected,” he answered sharply “now I know!”

“We saved her to prevent something worse happening in the future,” Rebecca admitted, “we didn’t know then that she was your mate and our intention was not to reunite you. Obviously fate intervened.”

“I suppose Michael was someone from your time you could trust?”

“One thing changed since he won’t be there now.” Rebecca confirmed.

“Anything else drastically different?”

“Knox, he shouldn’t be dead yet.”

“But there’s not too big a jump.” Miyako countered.

“Keep going!” Baldwin warned and noted Rebecca’s anxious expression.

“Emily,” she admitted, “Knox was killed because he killed her first.”

“I’m sorry Papa, I know I’m not your Miyako-“

“Stop talking,” he warned her, “you tried to act the same and your effort was commendable, cbut I know when my daughter is behaving strangely.”

“I wasn’t behaving strangely.” Miyako frowned, offended by the insinuation her cover wasn’t sufficient.

“I can count on one hand how often you called me Papa before you visited for the wedding, I estimate you came to this time just after I sent you to Seoul?”

“Yes.” She said in quiet defeat.

“Never tell me you are not my daughter because in anywhere at anytime, you will always be my Miyako. Is that understood?”

“Yes,” she paused, “Papa.”

He smiled warmly and turned to Rebecca.

“Gallowglass couldn’t tell me much more than what you shared when you first arrived.”

“And I knew you would understand the danger of messing with the timeline, as Grandad did when Mum and Dad visited him.”

“Messing with the timeline,” he huffed, “you have done a lot of that already. Does my wife know, who she was?”

“There’s knowing and there’s remembering. She knows she was Catarina but doesn’t remember being her.”

“Alright, what doesn’t she know that I have to?”

“Something happens in the future that forced us to go back to fix things. Because it’s related to future events, we can’t tell you.” Miyako explained.

“We got Catarina to make this video before the spell, insurance policy.” Rebecca placed a memory stick on his table.

“She agreed to you taking her memory?”

“Suppressed. She wanted a complete wipe, to protect you and what she knew about our family. I convinced her to do it this way instead.”

“She’s started remembering her ability to understand written and spoken language.”

“Michael’s elixir,” Miyako agreed, “he had it created so that if anything happened to him, she would remember who she is. It wasn’t part of our deal.”

“So she’ll gradually remember?”

“In time.”

“Is she a threat to herself or to others?” He asked pointedly.

“No.” Rebecca assured

“Absolutely not.” Miyako echoed her cousin’s sentiment.

“Very well,” he confirmed, feeling slightly more assured, “I would encourage you both to remain here although I suppose I cannot prevent your leaving, given your talents.”

“As the head of this family and with my father absent I ask for sanctuary, Sieur.”

“Granted. I suppose you will enjoy spending time with your Grandmother, brother and cousin, when he shows up.”

“And you?”

“Me, what about me?”

“If you have time I was hoping you’d take me on a hunt. I am half vampire.”

“Matthew actually allows you to hunt?”

“No, he didn’t teach me.”

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t question her further.

“Marcus can supply you with bagged blood tonight, first thing tomorrow all three of us will go on a hunt. I’m curious to see my training at work.”

Alisha stood upon hearing the door open.

Baldwin entered with an expression she couldn’t read easily. He wasn’t angry but nor was he contrite.

That was fine, neither was she.

“Marcus assured me you are well.” He said simply, shrugging himself out of his jacket.

“I was safe with Miyako and Rebecca, of course I’m well.”

Baldwin was turned away from her when she heard the cuff-links drop into a bowl on the table.

“And yet,” he turned back to her, “mistake or no, they almost served you up to a sadistic little cretin”

She didn’t say anything, unsure as to what she was permitted to reveal.

“That wasn’t their their fault.”

“You’re right,” he stalked closer, “it was yours.”

#baldwin montclair #a discovery of witches #baldwin de clermont #trystan gravelle #adow #baldwin’s nightingale

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baldwin-montclair · 1 year

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So I LOVED this show, I did, and Pharazon (doesn’t have the ‘Tar’ or the ‘Ar’ yet) was just amazing, he’s so good at politics and winning the crowd over.

Listen, that bit, when his son said something to piss him off, he just gave those around him a look and they quickly made themselves scarce.

Gotta say though, he’s got some stiff competition in the form of Elendil. Quietly commanding single father.

It’s fitting that the episode was called Adar (father) because it was full of Daddy!!! 😂🤣

#trystan gravelle #baldwin de clermont #the rings of power #ar pharazon #adow #lotr amazon

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baldwin-montclair · 1 year

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Hiya peeps,

Sorry for the ghosting but I’ve been out of commission for the past few months.

Since February my energy levels slowly decreased until August when it fell off a cliff and I couldn’t walk without the help of family. I went into hospital mid August and was there for ten weeks.

Four MRI’s, two muscle biopsies later (thank god I’m in Scotland so NHS) I have my energy levels up and can walk around unaided but still no definite answers as to what happened.

What I did get was lots of B vitamins. That’s the only thing that changed so people…

TAKE YOUR (B) VITAMINS!!! 😂🤣

Love y’all loads and I’ll be back in the new year!

💋

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baldwin-montclair · 2 years

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Yes my Liege!!!!

How’s his hair so bouncy…

#trystan gravelle #baldwin de clermont #adow baldwin #rings of power #ar pharazon

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baldwin-montclair · 2 years

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Ooohhh hell this show is gonna be 🔥 !!! Xx

He’s finally here!

#trystan gravelle #baldwin de clermont #adow baldwin #rings of power #ar pharazon

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baldwin-montclair · 2 years

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It’s a shame we didn’t get to see any of the de Clermont sisters in the show (we don’t even get to meet Stasia in the books).

So, these are my idea of what they look like:

Freyja:

Stasia:

Verin:

#baldwin montclair #a discovery of witches #adow #decfamdram #declermontgirls #phillipe de clermont #and his scary daughters

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baldwin-montclair · 2 years

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I loved this scene, even though it gave me second-hand-stress!! 😂🤣

I’d argue that Baldwin did not misread the tone of the room, he knew exactly what he was doing, and saying, and it was all most likely tailored to get under Matthew’s skin, and stir up drama between Matthew and Diana.

His father is like the messiest of bitches when it comes to stirring up drama so, learned from the messiest!

“I’d like to think that there will never be a time that we cannot sit down together, as a family.”

Baldwin’s tone deaf reading of the room! So, so wrong. The family dinner from hell.

Peter McDonald, Lindsay Duncan, Edward Bluemel and Steven Cree with Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode in A Discovery of Witches season 3.

Question: Where was Phoebe? Didn’t see her in the other dinner either. Miriam, Hamish, Marthe and Sarah but no Phoebe 🤔

📷 ADOW S3:01 my edit

#adow spoilers #adow #adow baldwin #baldwin montclair #baldwin de clermont #phillipe de clermont

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baldwin-montclair · 2 years

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I can’t!!! I just love this, just wanna include an addition:

———

“Baldwin?” Marcus frowned at the sight of the de Clermont patriarch standing in the doorway.

His tie was loose, the first two buttons in his shirt undone and, most concerning of all, his jacket was being crushed in his hand.

He looked worried.

“Do not panic but there is a chance I have been exposed to a vampire pathogen.“ Marcus looked dumbly at Baldwin for a moment before jumping into action.

“Okay, alright, let’s figure this out.”

What followed was a battery of blood tests, ECG, EEG, X-Ray, CAT scans.

Baldwin paced whilst waiting for Marcus to interpret the results.

“Blood work is normal, all tests, normal. How do you feel now?”

“What does that have to do with anything? I’m either ill or I’m not, you have the results.”

“You came to me, if you won’t cooperate I can’t help you!”

“Normal, I suppose.”

“When you came in you complained of an intense burning in your chest, that’s gone?”

“Thankfully. It was like being set on fire from the inside.”

“And the allergy response, watering eyes?”

“That’s gone too.”

Marcus’ phone buzzed and he glanced at it.

“You are in the middle of a consultation!” Baldwin rebuked.

“Sorry, you’re right, Diana likes to send cute little photos of the twins.”

Baldwin’s eyes narrowed.

“Show me.” He replied with a defeated surrender.

Diana had sent a photo with both twins being carefully cradled by the bears Baldwin had gifted them.

“That is cute, I-“ Baldwin stopped, had to his chest, “it’s back, the burning is back. Is this a spell?”

Marcus shook his head.

“I know what it is.”

“Well?”

“You won’t like the answer.”

“Marcus so help me-“

“Okay, it’s-“

“Stress,” Miriam, who had been working silently the whole time, took out her EarPods and shot Marcus a silencing glare, “it’s just stress.”

“Unlikely,” Baldwin retorted, “I have managed Matthew for fifteen-hundred-years, why would I suffer from stress now?”

“The blood vow extends to the children, concern for their safety is hard-coded into your DNA. For all the grief Matthew gave you, he wasn’t a helpless baby.”

“So what do I do?”

“Yoga, meditate, have a long hot bubble bath, visit one of your many lovers?” Miriam needled.

“Should I avoid the children?”

“Won’t help, you need to acclimate. The more time you spend with them the faster the symptoms will lessen.” She offered.

“This is an unwelcome development,” he frowned, “thank you both for your assistance and I trust in your discretion.”

“Of course.” Miriam gave him a nod.

“Spoilsport!” Marcus pouted when Baldwin left.

“Did you actually want to tell Mr Control that his greatest Achilles Heel is his love for infants who can’t even hold their heads up by themselves yet?”

———

Please people, please if you feel the urge please join in with your own additions, love Baldwin feeling feelings!!! 😂🤣

The Assessment: aka the schmoopiest fluff I ever wrote

It was time. Baldwin had been given the opportunity to examine the twins. He had only glimpsed them at the church, so new and well-swaddled he could hardly sense anything from them. This was, of course, disguised as an avuncular visit. He knocked on the door of Les Revenants with two large teddy bears, one on each hip. He steeled himself for whatever he might find, whatever he might have to do to protect the family.

“Oh, Baldwin,” said Diana as she opened the door (Matthew let her open her own door?!?) “those bears are bigger than they are!”

“They’ll grow into them,” said Baldwin. He smiled. It was not convincing. He knew Diana had only permitted this so he would stop emailing and calling her about it.

He was shown into the salon, now covered in pillows and blankets and playpens. Diana re-emerged with a wiggling lump in a pink and yellow blanket. “Philip is asleep, but this one almost never takes her nap.”

Noted, thought Baldwin.

“This might be a silly question, but have you ever held a baby before?” asked Diana as she was about to handle one half of her entire heart over to her adopted brother.

Baldwin blinked, lip curling. “I have had the occasion to over the millennia. Support the head?” He held his hands out. He could smell the girl from there. She smelt of baby. And Matthew. And Diana. And mostly, of vampire. Diana gently handed Becca to Baldwin.

She wriggled, testing her new situation and managed to free her arms from the confines of the blanket. Baldwin shifted her to one arm, head cradled by the crook of his elbow as he attempted to replace it. It was true he knew little of babies, but he did know that they needed blankets and were prone to catch a chill.

Well, she could certainly pass for a human child. And she seemed to be growing normally. Her fists were already swinging about, albeit rather aimlessly. As he tried to cover her arms back up with the blanket, she caught his finger in one tiny hand.

Oh, thought Baldwin. If he hadn’t been holding her, he might have grasped his chest. He felt a pang between his ribs. But also a warmth? A tremendous warm ache? She squeezed his finger, pulling his hand towards her.

“That’s not your pacie,” said Baldwin, trying to sound stern as Becca pulled his hand over her face towards her mouth. He pulled his hand away. Oh dear, now the feeling was behind his eyes. They felt a little wet.

Baldwin tickled her tummy tentatively. He didn’t know what to do with her now he had her. She felt warm and squishy.

“Gah!” she squealed, letting out a peal of laughter. She kicked her legs under the blanket. As he moved to grab her head again, she grasped his finger once more, bringing it over her face. This time, she had gotten his pinky finger with his signet ring on it.

“Oh, she likes your ring,” said Diana. “Shiny! Shiny ring!” Baldwin looked at her oddly. Motherhood seemed to have caused her to regress to a state of idiocy.

Becca pulled it towards her mouth and tried to close her lips over it.

“Ah. Well done. You’ve kissed my ring. You may call me ‘Uncle Baldwin,’” he over enunciated to her as if she might actually remember it. “Oh, but you can’t say that. I’ll excuse you. You haven’t any teeth. Perhaps you might call me…” Baldwin searched through his many names. A memory surfaced. The first time he had held a baby. It had been his little sister. Another memory followed. Loo loo loo loo loo loo, she had trilled at him from his mother’s arms. “Lu? It will be a while before you can manage Lucius.” He cuddled her close to his face. “Loo loo loo loo loo. Yes, that’s nice. It’s very fun to say,” he grinned back at Becca’s gummy smile at his little name song.

She reached up and touched his face, tiny fingers warm against his cool chin. He stood up abruptly. “Very good. A healthy baby. Well done,” he said to Diana, handing her back and turning as if to regard the vista from the window. “And the boy? Will he wake soon? I haven’t all day.” He waited until Matthew looked away at Diana and Becca to quickly wipe at the corner of his eye.

When asked by his fellow vampires if he had seen the children, he would say that he had, and they had not done anything remarkable. They were simply babies. And he would say it in such a way that everyone knew that if they went within smelling distance of the twins, he would tear their head off and punt it like a football across the French Alps and then rip their body in half longwise and use it as skis.

#baldwin montclair #a discovery of witches #adow #adow fanfic #baldwin de clermont #adow baldwin #adow baldwin fluff

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baldwin-montclair · 2 years

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Baldwin’s Nightingale (Part 19)

Characters: Baldwin Montclair/OC

Timeframe: Can safely say AU at this point, about a month after Matthew and Diana go back in time.

Summary: Alisha and Rebecca covertly meet with an ally who knew Catarina but trouble arrives in the form of an old enemy armed with stolen information.

Spoiler Warning: TV Show canon S1-S2, some Book of Life (wrote this chapter before seeing S3 so shouldn’t be too spoilery)

The Story So Far

“We’re now sitting at two weeks without word or update from Baldwin, or any indication he has located Alisha.” Marcus complained over the table.

“If he has found her,” Nathaniel commented, “we’ll never learn of it.”

“Nate,” Marcus frowned, “he wouldn’t!“

“Poor Gallowglass was banished, for a supposed failure!” The daemon argued.

“He wasn’t banished, Nathaniel,” Ysabeau interjected, “he was given an assignment, one which for all we know is related to finding the girl.”

“Agreed,” Emily put her hand over Sarah’s.

“Then why the secrecy?” Nathaniel challenged, “why will he not let us help him find her?”

“I agree with you,” Marcus assured him, “but he gave me an order and I cannot disobey. Right now, the only power I have to protect all of you is underwritten with Baldwin’s support.”

“Which he could withdraw at any moment.” Ysabeau agreed solemnly.

“In any case, Baldwin does not want us looking for her in case it draws attention.”

“As far as everyone else knows, she is a daemon,“ Nathaniel scowled, “the congregation won’t care what he does with her.”

“Are you seriously suggesting that he would kill her?” Ysabeau asked.

“If he hasn’t already.” Nathaniel offered.

“You are wrong, we have had many disagreements in our long acquaintance, but for all his pride Baldwin would never turn against his family. Whoever and whatever she is, she is a de Clermont now.”

“I didn’t know you cared, Ysabeau,” Baldwin joined the debate, “what’s this, a family meeting without it’s head.”

“Baldwin-“ Marcus stood.

“Wait, of course it isn’t, these creatures are not family.”

“You disappear for two weeks and return only to insult our guests?” Ysabeau stayed seated and fixed him with an icy glare.

“They’re not my guests.” Baldwin hit back.

Alisha listened to the soft lapping of canal water against the boat as she tried to calm her nerves.

Two weeks waiting for Baldwin to leave Venice, Rebecca’s contact finally came through. Miyako was fortunately able to stay close by with missions that were primarily located in Paris.

Coming up for a large building, she fiddled nervously with her rings beneath her hooded cloak, the plain wedding band and the engagement ring whose pearl had been bound for a far grander figure than her.

That was, until her husband used its purchase to sour relations between Mark Anthony and allies who would have given him the decisive victory over Octavius in Actium, thereby preventing him from becoming Augustus and changing the fate of the entire Roman Empire.

Such was the power of a de Clermont patriarch.

“Alisha?” Rebecca prompted, not receiving a response she gently touched her arm.

“Hmm, sorry I was miles away.”

“It’s fine, we’re almost there.”

Venice was beautiful at night, the lights reflecting off the canals almost took the edge from her apprehension.

Almost, until they pulled into an underground dock and Rebecca helped her out of the boat.

“This contact, are you sure we can trust him, that he won’t betray us?”

“He has no loyalty to any of his kind beyond what benefits him, allying with us benefits him. He won’t sell us out to Uncle Baldwin’s enemies.”

“I’m just as concerned that he will sell us out to your uncle,” Alisha admitted, surprise evident in Rebecca’s eyes, “Becca, what if he finds us, he doesn’t know you yet, he might-“

“What? Kill me?”

“Both of us!”

“He wouldn’t harm you and since Grandad’s blood vow covers me as well as Mum, he can’t hurt me either.”

Alisha frowned, unsure.

“Look,” Rebecca started patiently, “it’s not even really about the contact, it’s this place. Before other you was captured, you stashed something here, something that can help us stop what happens in my time.”

“That you can’t tell me about?”

“Exactly. We don’t have a lot of time before my parents return from the past, I need to be gone by then.”

Alisha let her niece lead her through the labyrinth of the lower level to a grand staircase leading to an upper floor.

It was a stunning building, unfurnished, but the paintwork was pristine and the marble floors gleamed.

“Who’s home is this?” She looked around in wonder.

“It is yours,” a handsome vampire with curled dark hair and mischievous air answered descending the central staircase, “Principessa da Venezia,” he bowed low in a medieval style, hands outstretched, “and Contessa,” he greeted Rebecca with an almost worshipful tone.

“Domenico,” she responded cooly, with the air of a courtly queen regarding a swooning suitor.

“No offence, but, why are you helping us when you could turn us in to Baldwin and win his favour?” Alisha asked.

“Your husband is an arrogant twat,” he shrugged, “and Venice is your home, where it’s safe, not locked up in Sept Tours.“

“I’ll just be locked up by you, I assume?”

“Not at all, you are free to come and go as you please. This place belongs to you, I merely held it in trust until your return. Just know that Baldwin has many spies so if you do decide to leave, he will locate you instantly.”

“Yeah, I get it,” Alisha sighed defeated, “so, you knew me, before?”

”I knew the man I believed was your father, Pasquale Cicogna, the Doge of Venice. I hadn’t realised until later that he adopted you to replace his young daughter when she died from illness. He kept you with him, treated you like his own, trained and tutored you.”

“Sounds nice.”

“You don’t remember everything of your previous life yet?”

“No, why? Were we a-“

“God no,” he looked offended, “you were a child and in need of protection.”

“So you’re a ‘good guy’?” She asked with a hint of sarcasm.

“Not particularly but I do have an unfailing loyalty to my own kind.”

“Creatures?”

He shook his head.

“Venetians.” He explained simply, leading the way to a room off the main area and flicked on the light.

A large painting took up almost the entire wall, it was her face but the clothes were unrecognisable, definitely Renaissance era.

“One of few paintings of you that exist,” he explained, “on the rare occasion you were seen in public, you concealed yourself behind a porcelain mask, long gloves, showing no skin at all, many opined it was as a result of smallpox scarring.”

“Why was it, really?”

“Freedom,” he explained, “as his silent and masked daughter you were privy to many conversations had around you and were able to uncover many plots and schemes.”

“Sounds boring as hell.”

“I’m sure it was. Luckily you spent most of your time as your alter ego, the minstrel, Oscine.”

“Like Clark Kent?”

“In a sense,” he grinned, “for some reason nobody ever wondered why Cicogna’s daughter and his musician were never seen in the same room.”

“That seems kind of obvious!” Rebecca pointed out.

“It was Venice in the late 1500’s, everyone was preoccupied with politics, murder, wine and other pleasures.”

“If I was always masked, who painted this portrait?”

“That I don’t know but the daemon, Michael, he was investigating strange, recently unearthed frescoes of you, Diana Bishop and,” he glanced up at Rebecca, “Contessa.”

“I suppose I have you to thank for defacing mine.” Rebecca gave him an appreciative smile.

“As much as it pained me to destroy your image, I did so only to protect you. But, I made a copy of the work.”

He handed her a photo.

“A copy,” Rebecca teased, “you say that like you were sat in front of it with paints and an easel, not an iPhone!”

He chuckled warmly.

“The daemon believed there was a code hidden in the photo, without knowing what it was, I couldn’t risk accidentally omitting a detail.”

“We both know you can forge any artwork.”

“Not one with you in it, all other detail would remain unnoticed by me as I toiled to properly capture that inscrutable expression.”

Rebecca seemed to blush slightly at the compliment and Alisha made a mental note to pry later.

“So, Rebecca, her mother and myself were all painted by someone 500 years ago?”

“That’s where time walking makes things more complicated,” Rebecca grimaced, “they may have painted it then but who knows where or when they came from.”

“Time-walking is a rare skill, only Contessa and your mother seem to have acquired it.” Domenico pondered.

“Some powerful witches are well hidden, even right now in this time!” Rebecca admitted.

“Tell me their names and I’ll deal with them.” Domenico smirked but the expression quickly shifted to concern when the doors swung open to reveal Miyako.

“We have to leave, now, he knows where you are!”

Alisha turned to look at Domenico accusingly.

“Baldwin did not hear it from me,” he promised.

“Not my father, it’s Benjamin and he’s not looking for Alisha,” Miyako’s tone betrayed the fear that was in Rebecca’s eyes, “Gerbert is with him.”

“I have no idea who Benjamin is but I can handle Gerbert, go!”

Rebecca simply nodded, and took both Miyako and Alisha’s hands.

Alisha hadn’t noticed until then that she was shaking.

“Becca,” Miyako prompted, getting her attention, “he won’t get you, I promise!”

“Just remember your other promise.”

Miyako gave a solemn confirmatory nod.

Receiving the assurance, Rebecca resumed her spell.

The door splintered outward, revealing Benjamin, bloodied from a fight.

“Domenico,” Rebecca inhaled sharply.

“Not your boyfriend I hope, Daddy wouldn’t be pleased.”

Rebecca closed her eyes and continued weaving as Benjamin tested the shield she had put around them.

“Fascinating witch, Alice, she followed you from the future, gave me all sorts of information. Knew I had to find you.”

Alisha couldn’t shake the horrible feeling of familiarity with him. She knew him and almost shrieked when he set his shark-eyed gaze on her.

“And Catarina.”

“Don’t talk to her.” Miyako snarled.

“You cannot save her from the memories I gave her current contemporary. Stay too long in a shared time and the ghosts of the displaced will haunt you. I learned that from my studies of time spinning, waiting for Diana. Now, I don’t have to wait fourteen years for you, Rebecca, you can give me what I want now.”

“Becca?” Miyako prompted.

“It’s not working, we need a shared focus.”

“We each share one person in common, one person who means so much to us. Think of him now and drop the shield when you are ready.” Miyako instructed.

——

“And you wonder why she left you!” Marcus seethed.

“Speak to me like that again boy-“ Baldwin challenged.

“That’s Grand-Master, head an order to which you belong!” Phoebe defended.

“And you are?”

“Phoebe Taylor.”

“Miss Taylor, you really should learn the etiquette required of a subordinate de Clermont’s mate. You address me as Sieur.”

“If I wanted lessons in etiquette comparable to your own I would visit the nearest pigsty.”

Everyone fell silent.

“Apologies, the nearest pigsty, Sieur.”

——

“We’re here!” Rebecca exclaimed with excitement upon seeing the terracotta squares of the dining room wall. Noting the shocked expression of Miyako and Alisha, she turned to see Baldwin and Marcus, both mid fight, both staring at them with everyone else in the room.

“Fuck!” Rebecca swore emphatically.

———

PART 20

#baldwin montclair #a discovery of witches #baldwin’s nightingale #adow baldwin #adow fic #baldwin de clermont

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baldwin-montclair · 2 years

Text

Baldwin de Clermont and Narcissism

Is Baldwin a Narcissist?

Let’s go through some criteria:

Have an exaggerated sense of self-importance

Certainly has a sense of self-importance but I guess the judgement is whether or not it’s exaggerated. He’s head of a powerful vampire family, influences the global stock market and is leader of the Congregation.

Have a sense of entitlement and require constant, excessive admiration

Is definitely entitled, don’t know about the admiration part. Pretty sure he answered Machiavelli’s rhetoric with “feared, definitely better to be feared than loved, next question!”

Expect to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it

Weird family/vampire dynamics makes this tricky. He does expect to be recognised as superior but again, he is the head of his family.

Exaggerate achievements and talents

He has talents and doesn’t seem to exaggerate one’s he doesn’t have.

Be preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate

Doesn’t really have time for fantasies, seems to spend most of his energy putting out fires. Has success, power, saves his charm for women he happens to be seducing, hasn’t found his mate yet but doubt it would be because of something superficial like status.

Believe they are superior and can only associate with equally special people

Bans non-de Clermont’s from family dinner, carelessly exposes Nathaniel, Sophie and baby Margaret to Knox despite being in Agatha’s debt.

Monopolize conversations and belittle or look down on people they perceive as inferior

That whole dinner was just him lording it over the captive family. It was literally a hostage situation and it gave me second hand anxiety.

Expect special favors and unquestioning compliance with their expectations

Didn’t EXPECT favours from Domenico and Agatha, was grateful for keeping his head. Unquestioning compliance goes with the territory of being the family/congregation head.

Take advantage of others to get what they want

Not sure what he got from selling out baby Margaret. Beyond giving Peter enough rope with which to hang himself that is, he knew Gerbert and Knox were working together.

Have an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others

I think he can recognise needs and feelings of others, he just weighs them up against his own criteria of importance.

Be envious of others and believe others envy them

Only person he seems to envy is Matthew and only because of Matthew’s relationship with Philippe.

Behave in an arrogant or haughty manner, coming across as conceited, boastful and pretentious

Um… yeah!!!!

Insist on having the best of everything — for instance, the best car or office

Dude has helicopters, next question!!!

VERDICT-

On balance I’d say no, mainly because the criteria used cannot fairly reflect the situation in which the character exists. He is self-important, controlling, demands fealty and obedience. That’s all true, but it’s how he’s expected to act in his position.

Thoughts???

* This is an exercise in character analysis, I am not a therapist, trained or otherwise, no-one should try to diagnose-from-a-distance IRL.

#baldwin montclair #a discovery of witches #adow #baldwin de clermont #adow baldwin #trystan gravelle #peter mcdonald #peter!baldwin

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