#Cardan Greenbriar angst | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

jahayla-parker · 11 months

Note

Hello! can you write a Cardan x reader (already in a relationship) where he reacts to someone asking the reader if they want to dance, or like go on a date? Luv u <3

Territorial : Cardan Greenbriar x Reader

Desc: 2.9k wc, Cardan isn’t pleased when someone makes a move on y/n despite y/n and Cardan having already been together for awhile.

Warnings: jealously, flirtations, mentions of fighting, protectiveness, a little suggestive at the end. Not proofread

Cardan glared sharply across the room as some man stood before y/n. He’d noticed the way the man had approached her, the man’s hungry eyes scanning her body. It was enough to make Cardan want to charge across the room and have him arrested over just looking at his queen that way. But Cardan forced himself to behave and instead glared as intensely as he could.

Cardan watched y/n try to excuse herself from the man. His eyes scrutinizing the way the man stepped around her to keep her attention. Cardan rose slightly from his seat until he saw y/n give the man a fake smile and step around him. He slowly lowered himself back into boss seat, but his eyes never left the man. Not even a as y/n made her way back to Cardan with their crystal glasses in her hands.

As yn reached the table, she saw the way Cardan was shooting daggers at someone. Following his eye sight, yn noticed the man from the counter was still standing where she’d left him. Yn spun back around and slid into her seat beside Cardan, grabbing his closest hand in hers. “Honey?” She questioned softly as she set the glasses down.

Cardan glanced over at y/n briefly before his gaze snapped back to the man. “He looked at you funny” was the only thing Cardan was able to mutter. He heard y/n sigh softly as she squeezed his hand. Cardan sighed as well and shook his head as his willed his eyes to leave the man.

“I’m sure it’s nothing” y/n stated calmly.

“It looked like he was trying to check you out" Cardan huffed, once again glaring over at the man in question.

Y/n shrugged, hoping her nonchalant response would make him calm down. “Okay, so?” She asked softly, playing with his fingers as she sipped on her drink. Y/n knew he wasn’t giving up that easily when she saw he still hadn’t touched his own drink yet.

“So, does he not know we’re together?” Cardan asked, his lips pursed as he clenched his jaw. He knew y/n would never betray him. But, Cardan couldn’t help the fact he was mad the man didn’t seem to know y/n was with him. After all, Cardan wanted everyone to know that. So it suggested he wasn’t doing a good job of showing how proud he was that she was his and he was hers.

Y/n hummed softly, setting her drink down as she turned to face him. “Cardan,” she whispered, playing with the loose curls hanging by his right temple. “You don’t need to worry” y/n promised, letting her fingers trail down his cheeks as they slipped from the curl. “I told him that you and I are together as soon as he asked me out” she swore, stroking his sharp jawline.

Cardan leaned into her warm and comforting touch, his tense features relaxing slightly. “But, why didn’t he alr-“ he began, cutting himself off as he stiffly straightened his posture suddenly. Cardan’s storming eyes rushed over to y/n’s face , “wait..! What? He what?!”.

Y/n nibbled on her bottom lip and sighed, “Cardan-“.

Cardan shook his head, his varying emotions flickering in his wide eyes. “He asked you out” He muttered, still in disbelief. Was this man truly that ignorant or moronic?

“I said no, obviously” y/n calmly spoke, fingers dancing over his face again.

Cardan huffed and stood up, glaring across the room again. “How didn’t he know we were together?” He asked aloud. However, just as y/n was about to respond, Cardan continued. “Do I need to show you off more?” He wondered, his leg bouncing under him.

Y/n watched Cardan as his brows furrowed as he continued to stare harshly over towards the man she’d met earlier. She’d never seen him this upset over something like this. Although, to be fair, most people knew her heart belonged to Cardan and didn’t try to change that.

Nevertheless, she couldn’t believe he was so impacted over the man asking a single question. Y/n suppressed a smirk as she moved to block Cardan’s view. She shook her head playfully as she placed her hands on his chest. “No way... you're actually jealous” y/n pointed out, watching the emotions bouncing in his beautiful eyes.

“Jealous? Me? No” Cardan huffed loudly, squinting at y/n.

Y/n raised a questioning eyebrow at him, “right… sure.”

“You know I cannot lie y/n” Cardan reminded her, before sighing. He shook his head and wrapped his arms around y/n tightly. “I’m not jealous, I'm territorial. Jealous is when you want something that's not yours. Territorial is protecting what's already yours” Cardan explained, staring into her y/e/c eyes.

Y/n frowned slightly, “you don’t trust me to stay yours?”

“It's not you l don't trust” Cardan admitted, tucking a few wisps of her hair behind her ear.

“He doesn’t matter. I love you and only you, Cardan. Nothing will ever change that” y/n promised, smiling as she leaned in to place a tender kiss on his cheek.

Cardan grinned and used his thumb to softly guide her chin closer to his mouth. “I love you too” He whispered lovingly. Cardan then crooked his head and placed a needy kiss to her lips. His grin grew as y/n kissed back with just as much passion.

“Please, let it go” y/n groaned, running her hand through her hair as she stared at Cardan. She knew he was still jealous territorial. But he was overreacting and it was starting to become tiresome.

Cardan grumbled, “oh come on, you and I both know what he was doing”. His mind replaying the event in his mind. He couldn’t believe the man had tried once again to get y/N’s attention. It hadn’t worked, but Cardan was still pissed.

“It’s not a big deal, just ignore him” y/n argued with a shrug. She couldn’t care less what the man wanted, said, or did. Y/n’s only concern was on keeping Cardan calm and happy. Yet, the whole ordeal was making it difficult as Cardan wouldn’t ignore him.

Cardan silently paced back and forth before his throne. He was trying to form a way to end this man’s attempts. Usually y/n handled the punishments and sanctions for the kingdom, so this wasn’t Cardan’s speciality. “I could have him beheaded” He spoke in a monotonous tone.

“Cardan no” y/n scolded, standing up from her throne and making her way to him.

“Yes, I could. I’m the King, love” Cardan argued, turning to face her.

Y/n chuckled softly, “I’m aware of that. But, that’s overkill”. She reached up and tenderly began rubbing his tense temples with her thumbs. Y/n smiled to herself as she watched Cardan start to crumble at her touch.

“That’s the point” Cardan mumbled weakly. Despite his frustration towards the man, y/n’s touch was making him soften. His eyelashes batted against his cheeks as he felt himself grow tired as she massaged his temples.

“Cardan” y/n whispered very lowly, thumbs still working on his temples. She leaned in and placed a kiss between his brows, “He doesn’t matter”. Y/n lowered her hands from his head and grabbed his hands, “can you come to bed now?”

Cardan huffed at the mention of the other guy but quickly switched gears. He nodded and let y/n lead him to their bedroom. “I’m the only one who gets to, right?” Cardan sleepily asked, his hand holding hers tightly. He smiled widely and hummed when y/n responded with her beautiful laughter and a soft ‘yes’.

Cardan pulled y/n to his chest, his lips in her hair as he breathed deeply. “I’m sorry” He whispered Cardan pressed a quick peck to her scalp, “I got protective…”.

Y/n hummed and giggled. Shaking her head, she snuggled into Cardan’s embrace, “that’s an understatement”. Y/n tilted her head up to look at him as she teased, “I've never seen you that mad before."

“I’ve been mad over foolish men making advances towards you before” Cardan argued, pulling their blanket over her shoulders.

“No Cardan, not like that. Not even when I was being hit on by that weird guy that was one of Locke’s friends” y/n pointed out, raising her brows knowingly at him.

Cardan sighed loudly and shrugged. “They at least knew that they didn’t have a chance” He defended quietly.

“Neither does this guy Cardan, you know that right?” Y/n questioned, sitting up so she could look into his eyes.

Cardan gave her a gentle smile and nodded, “I do. Doesn’t mean I like him trying so hard”.

Y/n nodded and lowered her head back to his chest, “he’ll stop soon enough when he sees it’ll get him nowhere. Now get some sleep handsome”.

Cardan hummed and kissed the top of her head again. “Yes darling, goodnight my love”.

“I’m warning you, you’ll want to stop” Cardan spoke. His voice was professional despite his burning desire to throw the man before him into a lake and tie him to a heavy rock.

“I’m afraid I do not know of what you speak” The man argued, a smirk on his lips as he watched Cardan closely.

Cardan rose from his throne, holding his head at the precise angle to cause the sun light to glimmer of his crown and into the man’s eyes. As the man shaded his eyes with his hand, Cardan held his head high and neared him. “You would be wise to stop making advances towards y/n” Cardan advised.

The man huffed loudly as he lowered his hand to his side. “Why is that?” He questioned, tilting his head mockingly at the King.

"She’s not up for grabs” Cardan all-but growled. “Keep your dirty hands off my crown” he ordered. He was quickly losing his patience with his man. Cardan had promised y/n he’d handle the matter civilly. But if this man kept up his behavior, Cardan wasn’t sure he could keep to his promise.

“I’m not interested in your crown, I’m after-“ The man argued. “

“I know what you’re after” Cardan barked as he glared sharply at the man. “She is my crown, you fool” he spat. “If you think I’m going to just step aside and let your filthy hands try to touch her, you couldn’t be more wrong” Cardan proclaimed, stepping even closer.

“All due respect your Highness… Maybe you should pick your battles. I fear this is one you’re not going to win. Perhaps you should realize it’s not worth the fight“ The man smugly stated. Despite his lower status, it was evident this guy saw himself as far superior to Cardan. But, that wasn’t what truly set Cardan off. Instead, it was the notion that he suggested y/n wasn’t worth fighting for.

Cardan stalked closer, his piercing eyes now mere feet from the man’s. “See, that’s where you’re wrong” he declared confidently. “I may not be worthy of her, but I’m not afraid to continuously strive to be” Cardan admitted, t’sking at him.

“She's not the kind of woman you choose your battles for. Y/n is the kind of woman you fight to the death for” Cardan stated as he stepped even closer. “You would be wise not to doubt my willingness to throw my life away to remain by her side” He concluded, his hot breath hitting the face of the man standing before him. Just as Cardan was about to give an official order for the man to leave his town, y/n’s voice sounded from across the hall.

“That will not be necessary” y/n stated loudly, making her presence known. She’d been watching from her secret spot above them; a place Cardan and her spies had shown her. However, as she saw the situation going sideways, she quietly snuck down and landed behind the curtain that hung at the back of their thrones.

Cardan’s flushed face turned towards her as she stepped into view. His eyes showed his deep sorrow that he had slightly deviated from the formal proceedings he was to be doing. But as Cardan watched y/n approach, he noticed her focus wasn’t on him. Instead, Cardan noted the way her eyes stared sharply at the other man.

“What seems to be the problem?” Y/n questioned formally, showing walking closer to the men. She didn’t let her eyes deviate from their intense glare at the man who had been upsetting the person she loved. “Your King has advised you on how to behave, and yet you remain here. Arguing?” Y/n questioned with pretend intrigue.

Cardan felt his cheeks flush as his lips formed a bashful grin upon hearing y/n’s words. He wasn’t sure what the final straw was, but he could tell his girl was now pissed as well. Cardan couldn’t help the smirk that took over his grin as the man slightly trembled as y/n towered over him from their raised dais.

“Don’t” y/n ordered, cutting off the man’s stuttering. She tilted her head as her left eyebrow rose. Y/n spun to face Cardan and raised her other eyebrow, “you didn’t make him kneel?” Her voice was quiet enough that only Cardan could hear her.

Cardan shook his head. “I swore to you I’d keep it professional” he reminded her, his voice matching hers. Cardan instinctively grinned back as y/n shot him a loving smile.

As y/n turned back to the man standing in front of their dais, she sighed loudly and t’sked. “This is how you greet your King?” Y/n asked, waving her hand at the man’s stance. She smirked as the arrogant man glanced over at Cardan before kneeling. “That’s better, don’t you think?” Y/n hummed, looking over at Cardan.

Cardan nodded in agreement. He gave y/n a loving gaze before his eyes turned cold as he looked back at the man. “I will not issue another warning, you are to make no further advances towards y/f/n y/l/n, is that understood?” Cardan commanded.

The man glanced between Cardan and y/n. When he saw both of their gazes were serious and furious, he nodded silently. He watched with newfound fear as Cardan looked him over and smirked.

“One last matter before Roach removes you from this conference hall” y/n amended, stepping back. She walked over to Cardan, making show of her taking ahold of his hand. “If you are to ever disrespect your King, you will be rewarded with a private conference to address such matters” y/n warned, shaking her head stiffly. When she felt Cardan’s hand stiffen at the idea of her alone with the man, she decided to continue her explanation. “And while that seems to be what you’ve been after, I assure you, you’re wrong. The only way you and I will speak again is if you injudiciously try to disrespect your King. And heed this, that is not a context in which you’d like to meet with me” y/n cautioned, waving for Roach to remove the man.

“You're honestly really freaking cute when you're jealous” y/n smirked as she removed her earrings. She then moved her hair to the side in order to unclasp her necklace. Y/n suddenly felt Cardan’s breath hit her exposed neck as he moved behind her and sighed loudly.

“I'm not jealous! At all! He just gives you that.. weird, flirty look, and I don't like it!" Cardan grumbled, helping y/n unhook her necklace. He reached around her and set it on her dresser before spinning her around.

“That’s practically the definition of jealous,” y/n teased, tapping his nose with her pointer finger. “Truly though, Cardan, you haven’t anything to be jealous of.” She promised, moving her finger from his nose over to his cheekbone. Y/n smiled at him as she rubbed his sharp cheekbone silently.

“The Ghost said he only has one full bookshelf anyways” Cardan mumbled, trying to point out any ways in which he could best the man.

Y/n rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but be surprised that Cardan went as far as to ask The Ghost to look into the man. “Cardan,” she shook her head softly, “I do love books. But even if he had more, it wouldn’t matter. I love you”.

“He also-“ Cardan began, recalling another detail The Ghost had informed him of. He remembered muttering “pft, that’s it?” to The Ghost countless times earlier today during their conversation on the matter. Surely Cardan could recall those details so he could point out many ways in which he was better than the man.

However, y/n quickly caught on to Cardan’s attempts and shut him down. “Cardan, stop” she stated firmly, reaching her other hand up to cup his face. “I don’t care about him. At all. He could have every woman in Elfhame falling for him, and it wouldn’t matter. I’m yours, and you’re mine” y/n reminded him, squeezing his cheeks.

Cardan’s cheeks flushed as he smiled. His feet shuffled nervously as he pulled y/n to him, his arms tightly wrapped around her. ”You love me and only me, right?" He confirmed.

”Only you Cardan,” y/n promised, pressing a long kiss to his delicate lips. “In fact, I was thinking it might help if I prove it to you” she smirked as she leaned back to catch her breath.

Cardan’s eyes widened briefly before they darkened and he nodded rapidly, all his earlier concerns and doubts erased. He hungrily tugged her hand as he quickly made his way over to their extravagantly decorated bedroom. Cardan spun around and smirked softly back at y/n, “I’m territorial, not jealous. I shall show you the difference”.

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#cardan greenbriar x reader #Cardan Greenbriar #original post #Cardan Greenbriar x you #Cardan Greenbriar x y/n #Cardan Greenbriar x yn #high king cardan #king cardan #the cruel prince #cruel prince #Cardan cruel prince #cardan x reader #Cardan x you #Cardan x yn #Cardan x y/n #Cardan Greenbriar x fem!reader #Cardan Greenbriar jealous #Cardan Greenbriar fluff #Cardan Greenbriar angst

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starrynightsxo · 14 days

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"Cardan looks taken aback. Or possibly I spoke so fast he's not even sure what I said. 'You need not say it out of pity,' he says finally, with great deliberateness. 'Or because I was under a curse. I have asked you to lie to me in the past, in this very room, but I would beg you not to lie now.'"

- Cardan Greenbriar, The Queen of Nothing

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discopaddock · 4 months

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THE CRUEL PRINCE - LANDO NORRIS

PAIRING: lando norris x girlfriend!reader

GENRE: fluff

WORD COUNT: 419

WARNINGS: THE CRUEL PRINCE SPOILERS, the folk of the air canon violence kinda??, lando is jealous about cardan

“What are you reading?” Lando asked as he entered the living room after he ended the stream.

“The Cruel Prince” she answered, not even looking at her boyfriend.

“That book from Tiktok? Didn't you buy it like yesterday?” he asked, seeing as his girlfriend had already read the ⅔ of the book.

“Well, I did,” she said and looked at him. “It’s really gripping,” she added. “I haven't read so many pages since, I don't know, I was reading The Chronicles of Narnia” she announced with a smile on her face.

She was happy because reading was giving her a kick again. She wasn't reading for a long time until now, because she was working and traveling with Lando and she was still in blind spot with Frank Herbert's “Dune” and she didn't want to read to be honest.

“Well, then what is it about? Who is the cruel prince?” he asked, sitting next to her.

“I don't really know,” she answered. “There are three brothers and each of them is a prince and each is cruel” she said, but judging from Lando's face, she knew that answer didn't satisfy him. “So there is a prince called Cardan and people from Tiktok think that he is that cruel prince,” she said.

“Why?” the guy asked curiously.

“Well, um, he popped Jude, the main character, and her sister into the river and they almost drowned” she chuckled a little.

“He did WHAT?” Lando was truly worried about what his girlfriend was reading.

“Oh, and he has a tail,” she added with pink cheeks.

“Don't even tell me you like him” she only covered her face with a book and he knew.

“You know I like Timothée and people are fancasting him as Cardan and you know, Lan” she said and bookmarked the page and closed the book. “My heart belongs to you and only you” she announced and kissed his cheek.

“And that main character?” he asked about the plot again.

“She's a human, has a twin sister and when they were seven their step dad killed their parents and kidnapped them to the magic world. Oh, and she hates Cardan and he hates her” she chuckled at his face after she stopped talking about Jude.

“You really need to stop reading this,” Lando sighed and hugged her.

“You know, Cardan’s style in clothing is extravagant so if you…” she started but he cut her off by kissing her.

“Remind me on Halloween” he said only and kissed her again.

masterlist

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thelov3lybookworm · 4 months

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Weeping Heart (part 2)

Part 1

Summary: An unexpected visitor arrives.

•○●⛦●○•

A/n: here you go children, my lil shawarmas. have fun 😉

•○🌑○•

The cold wind bit at Y/n's cheeks, and she had to wonder whether even all of the world's warm clothes would be able to ward off the cold that had seemed to have taken up permanent residence in her bones.

"Woah, look at you. I thought it was some beast coming out of your tent."

Y/n rolled her eyes, choosing to ignore that remark from her second in command, Herb. She did agree with him though. She did look like a bear, with the thick blanket she had thrown around herself over her jacket, under which she wore her armour and her clothes.

She walked up to her mare, preparing her for their trip to a nearby small town. The small party that had left from the palace on this mission included about a dozen soldiers who were all too happy to follow Y/n into the freezing hell, and they were camped just a mile away from the border of the town that harboured their next target.

The rumours of rebellion Y/n had left to inspect had been just that. Rumours. But it had taken a whole month to make sure that no one got any ideas. And after that it had just been travelling to every village and city on the way back and spying on all the people and their families who had helped Madoc.

It had been a long time since Y/n had last seen her best friend, and a part of her was glad, even if her heart hated her for running away.

Before leaving, Y/n made sure to inform Jude to keep giving her such missions, to keep sending letters if there were more such quests to ensure she could stay away and keep whatever was left of her heart intact.

"Looks like someone woke up on the wrong side-"

Y/n was glaring at the handsome male before he could finish his sentence. He lifted his hands in a I'm a harmless little man gesture, the grin on his face wide and carefree.

Y/n turned back to her mare- one she had named Toad one drunken night- and continued to stroke her mane with a brush.

Herb came to stand on her side, stroking Toad's nose as he began humming a tune. Y/n put away the brush in favour of smoothing her hand down Toad's body, lost in thought.

"Oh, I nearly forgot to tell you. We received a letter this morning from the Queen."

Y/n stilled, then resumed stroking the mare. "Oh?"

She felt him nod. "It has not been opened, though the men are dying to know if we get to return."

Y/n hummed, turning away from Toad to begin her walk back to her tent to discard the extra layers she had put on. And then she would lead her best soldiers to the village and get into positions as planned before.

Easy and simple.

Later she would want to laugh at her assumptions.

Herb, of course, followed her, but thankfully he kept his big fat mouth shut until right before Y/n's tent came into view.

"Oh, and also, someone is here to meet you."

Y/n glanced back at the fae, his skin the lightest shade of green, so light it was barely noticeable. His beady, completely black eyes shone in the early morning light as she rose a brow at him.

"Are you sure you are not loosing your memories? You should see a healer." He shrugged, his smile unwavering. "Who is this someone?"

Y/n turned back to look forward, and she got the answer to the question before Herb could answer.

There, standing right outside the flaps to her tent, was... him.

"The high king."

Y/n stopped midstride, her eyes trained on the male who looked around, rubbing his hands together for warmth before his onyx eyes met hers. He smiled his signature, careless and cocky smile.

"Herb?" He hummed happily, and Y/n's eyes narrowed just a little, and she whispered her next words only loud enough for Herb to hear. "You better hide and pray that I don't skin you alive."

Y/n began walking again, an after a moment, she heard the unmistakable sound of feet running over crunching snow, fading gradually to signal that Herb was not dumb enough to ignore her warning.

Good for him.

If only he had been smart enough to give her vital information before disaster struck, he would have had a higher position in the army.

Y/n ignored the warm feeling spreading through her chest at the sight of the grinning male, and walked right past him, nodding her head towards the tent for him to follow.

She saw his smile drop from her peripherals, but knew he followed nonetheless.

Y/n sighed internally.

It's going to be a long day.

•○🌑○•

General taglist: @bubybubsters @cassie6392 @harrystylesfan2686

Cardan taglist: @kennedy-brooke @hnyclover @minnieoo @sidrapotter @123345566 @mp-littlebit

Taglist: @dreamsarenicer @kennedy-brooke @123345566

#cardan greenbriar #cardan x reader #cardan greenbriar x reader #cardan x y/n #cardan x you #jude x cardan #prince cardan #high king cardan #the cruel prince #the wicked king #reader insert #x reader #character x reader #angst

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rabbitholessk · 4 months

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really want to write snippets of Cardan and Jude’s life post QoN:

-going on dates to see a movie and Cardan is a menace yelling at the screen.

-they get a pedicure at Vivi’s behest. Jude gets scolded by her nail tech for all the blisters on her feet from her boots, while Cardan’s tech is impressed with him.

-they go to a country bar and both end up wasted. They are both drunk enough that they end up doing a swing dance.

or soft moments:

-where Cardan helps Jude after a nightmare.

-Jude helping Cardan after he’s dealt with a panic attack.

-a moment snuggled up on the couch just watching a show and holding each other

#cardan greenbriar #jude duarte #tfota #jurdan #fluff #light angst #please yell at my in my ask box if you want me to write any of these

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thehyperfixationspeedrunner · 10 days

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This is me trying

On ao3 too

Summary: It's been a month since what Cardan has been calling the "reptile accident" when he decides to get up before Jude, not knowing the consequences.

OR these two are traumatised and they may not acknowledge it, but I will.

Trigger warnings (already put in the tags but I'm not sure if I did it right so better safe than sorry): panic attack, cussing

It's weird how easily you fall into routine. It's barely been a month since what Cardan has started calling the "reptile accident" or the one he likes best "revealing his true form" (although that one isn't used in front of Jude, she's not sure why but she prefers it that way). Anyway, it's been a month since Cardan has been transformed into a snake, since Cardan and Jude has started to live together as the King and Queen of Elfhame but they have already established a routine, even if neither of them has noticed it until today.

Jude is always the first to wake up - Jude was raised by a general and Cardan by a prince, so that part is obvious. She dresses first, giving Mr. Lazy time to sleep, and then she wakes up sleeping beauty even though he always complains that while there aren't people busting into the room saying he's late, she's waking him up early. He never says he hates it. Jude suspects is because he can't lie. From then, Jude orders breakfast while Cardan dresses up, and they eat together before having to deal with their royal obligations.

Today, however, was different. Shockingly, Jude was able to have some good 6 hours of sleep and woke up a bit disoriented. See, this is the bad part about sleeping a lot. When you wake up, your senses take a while to turn on. That's definitely the reason why Jude barely sleeps, at least that's what she tells everyone when they ask her. Because of that, she took a bit to notice that she was alone in bed, which triggered something in her brain. She instantly gets out of bed and starts to look in every corner of their room repeating to herself that everything is fine, Cardan just woke up earlier and is dressing up or putting the hundred of layers that he puts every morning because "I know I look impressive naturally but I am the High King, Jude, I have to look perfect". Except he is nowhere to be found.

See, a small but important part of this quickly created routine was when Jude woke up and she would always look to the side and see Cardan relaxed and asleep, would look at his chest rise and fall and make sure that, yes, he's alive and, no, this last month was not a fever dream, he really is here. Without that confirmation, Jude is starting to spiral, and the fact that Cardan is not in the room doesn't help.

She tries to take a deep breath. She's the High Queen goddammit, she can't panic every time a minor routine change happens. But the truth is that she cannot take the deep breath. She cannot even take a small breath. She's pretty sure she's not breathing at all. But she has to because Cardan needs her. Jude goes through her options: one, he did wake up earlier, got knocked off in the room but somewhere hidden where she didn't check; two, he got knocked off somewhere in the castle and his unconscious body is lying there; three, he got abducted while he slept; four... Maybe last month was a fever dream. No, she is not going to think about option four.

While she does a more precise search through their room, she also tries to think of who would do this. He's the King of Elfhame, so it's obvious that he has a lot of enemies, but she is not remembering anyone who's this mad at him right now. However, her hands are trembling and there's still not enough air reaching her lungs, so maybe her memory is not the best at the moment. You were almost deadly stabbed before the incident.

Ok, he is not in the room, so option number two. This one is not the most likely. If someone knocked him off, they wouldn't just leave him in the middle of the corridor, and Faes don't just slip, so he couldn't have knocked himself out. Besides the palace is huge, it would take too long to search. Maybe you were less healed than you thought. Option number three it is. There are three windows in the room. The climb is hard but not impossible, she has done it herself while having a major injury. A major injury that could have been infected. Jude shakes her head and checks the three windows. None of them is broken and they are all locked from the inside, like they were when they went to sleep, which she knows because she always checks that before going to bed. Unless the person was a master spy (which is an option), she doesn't know how someone pulled that of. The other way into the room is through the door, so she quickly opens it, revealing two knights part of her security.

"Was there any disturbance last day?" She would be surprised that her voice somehow didn't fail if she was at all worried with that right now.

"We heard or seen nothing different than usual, your majesty."

"Have you fallen asleep or abandoned your post anytime during your shift?" The knights were visibly offended by that, but she had to clear all her options.

"No, your majesty. Is everyth-" Having her answers, Jude closes the door, leaving the knights to their jobs. If she was in her right mind she would have noticed that she was still in her bed clothes, her hair was mess, the room was worse and her hands still trembled and her breath was still labored. But she was not her in her right mind. Cardan is missing- He was not here at all. Her husband is missing and she is going to find him. Maybe he was taken outside their bedroom and there is going to be some kind of clue outside of it.

She is about to open the door again when a thought crosses her mind. The lover's bedroom. There is a pathway between that room and the High King and Queen's room. That is how whoever took Cardan got in. No one got in. Hallucinations caused by infections are common, at least for mortals. She slides through the pathway towards the other bedroom but is met with a similar scenario. No window was broken and all of them are closed from the inside, same with the door, no signs of breaking. Stop looking for what you won't find. You know you can barely remember anything after cutting Cardan's head off. It was the serpents head. You know that's the same thing. There was a battlefield where you broke down. You could have easily been stabbed. I would remember it. Would you? Sometimes, our mind purposely forgets traumatic memories. You could have passed out. No. You could have dreamt. Stop. Cardan is dead and you have been feeding yourself this fantasy because you can't deal with the guilt. STOP. You killed him and now you're living in a world without him and you'll keep living in it because that's the reality. I SAID STOP.

Jude. The sound of something breaking. She can't do it. She can't go back to those three days. She can't live without Cardan's mockery. She can't live without his laugh. She can't.

JUDE. She's shaking now, or someone is shaking her, she's not lucid enough to understand. God, he's her anchor. She doesn't know what to do without him. She wants to go back to sleep. She wants to go back to their routine. She wants to hear him complain about waking up early again. She wants to feel his fingers playing with her hair again. She wants-

JUDE! Cardan. She opens her eyes (since when were they closed?) and faces the love of her life's face. He looks adorably worried, full make up and hair nicely treated. She can't help but smile. "Cardan" she whispers, trying not to force her voice tired from screaming and crying (curious, she doesn't remember that). She puts her head in the space between his neck and shoulder and he starts rubbing circles on her back. "Stay" she pleads. Because that's what she's doing, pleading to the universe to let her stay in this fever dream, to have more time with Cardan, even if it isn't real, even if he's dead, even if that's her fault and there's just her to blame.

"Always" and that pisses her off. Because that's what Cardan would say, that's how Cardan looks, that's how Cardan acts and this mind prison has no right to be this close to reality.

"Liar" she spits. He looks mostly confused and a bit hurt but she doesn't care, this isn't real so nothing fucking matters.

"Jude, I would never abandon you-"

"But you did!" she's close to screaming now, but she doesn't care, her voice was cracking, but it doesn't matter. She has to get this out. "You abandoned me for three days because of that prophechy bullshit. You left me to rule Elfhame while simultaneously dealing with the schemings that my father and the frozen royalty was fucking doing and the fact that the love of my life was a goddam snake and then I, and I-" she can't get it out, she still can't believe it.

"You saved me."

"I killed you." she is fully sobbing now, but she can't stop. She gets up (she was sitting down?) and keeps going "You're dead and this is just a manifestation from my brain, because somewhere else I'm also dying and I hope I do because I can't live in a world where you're not. I physically will not be able to continue without you!" She sinks into the floor using the bed as support and Cardan sits in front of her. He has a puzzled expression in his face. They stay some time in silence, Jude catching her breath and Cardan trying to put pieces together.

"Why do you think I'm not real?" he finally asks, his voice tiny as if he's afraid of the answer.

"You weren't there." Jude matches his tone. "When I woke up. I always check to make sure you're there because if you are, then that means you're real and I'm not dreaming. At first, I thought you were kidnapped. That's why I'm here, I thought this was how whoever took you got in."

"My wife, scheming even when she's panicking." he's looking at her with that adoration in his eyes that never fails to take her breath away. "Let's keep scheming, shall we?" He looks at her, waiting for an answer so she nods. "You say that you are dreaming, you're in this coma and you can't wake up. Well, let's test this theory. Did you know that you can't read in dreams?" Another nod. Cardan gets up, picks a book from the bedside table and hands it to her. "Well, can you read?" The answer is yes. The book was a mortal romance that she was sure she had seen in Cardan's hands. That meant that this was real, Cardan was here and she hadn't killed him. Immediate relief washed over and with that came more tears that she hadn't noticed when they stopped. God, she was a mess. This is ridiculous, she is being ridiculous. Trying to look less like she just had a mental breakdown over nothing Jude attempts to clean the tears that don't stop. Of course this is reality, of course Cardan just woke up earlier and went to do god knows what. She's the fucking High Queen and she can't stand when her husband is out earlier, can't keep a cool head, can't-

"Stop." Cardan gently takes the hands that are trying to hide the tears that keep coming, why don't they stop? "Don't do that." His tone is gentle but secure and so goddamn grounding, how does he do it?

"Do what?"

"Close yourself. I could see the moment you realised that this was the reality because that was the moment the mask came back on. You're probably thinking that you don't have the right to feel this way because you can't show weaknesses or whatever bullshit your mind thinks of." Sometimes it's scary how well he knows her. "Don't close yourself from me." He is rubbing circles with his thumb on the back of her hand and it feels so right, everything about him feels so right.

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not." His tone is becoming more frustrated. "This is obviously bothering you, but I had no idea and because of my ignorance you just had a fucking panic attack." Her eyebrows went up. "I may have been reading about mortal psychology, but that's not important, what's important is," he moves his hands to cup her face and cleans the tears - that have finally stopped - with his thumb. "You don't have to pretend with me."

"You're one to talk." She retaliates but doesn't push him away. "You haven't said another word about those three days since I asked what it was like being a snake on the same day you stopped being one." Cardan laughs because he's Cardan and he laughs when he's nervous and he is not the only one who knows the other too well, she can see in his eyes that the thought of having to speak of those three days of hell terrifies him as much as her.

He moves to her side and sighs. "We really are made for each other, aren't we?" He seems to consider something before saying. "Let's make a pact. Whenever we want the other to open up, we say a code word and they have to do it after we reveal something that has been bothering us. No lies, no tricks, just the plain truth. Deal?" He gives her his right hand. It is always dangerous to make a deal with a fae, but this is Cardan, they have passed the backstabbing phase when she came back from exile. She takes his hand and shakes it.

"Deal. But we have to choose the word, something that we won't say normally."

"California." The place they went on their honeymoon instead of being on the two weeks celebrations of the Mortal Queen's victory over the serpent. The place where they were just two teenagers in love and not The Queen and King of Elhame, not the warrior and the prince, not the people with traumatic childhood, not the two broken pieces of what should be two whole people.

"Sounds great."

"I said it, so I start." He takes a deep breath and speaks. "I woke up earlier today because I had a nightmare. I wasn't someone trapped inside the snake like people like to believe, I was the snake. When the snake died, I died, even if for a few seconds." Jude takes a sharp breath, she always took comfort in the fact that she hadn't cut his head, but what was trapping him, that he hadn't felt anything. Cardan notices and takes both her hands and looks at her straight in the eyes. "I don't blame you, nor will I ever. If I say something assumimg the opposite, you have the premission to cut my head because that is not me. But as I was saying, when I saw you taking out the sword, I couldn't help but feel relief, but when you dealt the blow I, I-" another deep breath "I couldn't feel anything. I don't remember anything. I died. And that terrifies me. I was. I wasn't there. I replay that in my mind countless days, but today was so vivid, I couldn't fall back asleep, so I got out. I needed fresh air. I needed to be alone with my thoughts. I should've come back when it was time to wake up, I should've woken you, I didn't know that you needed that, but if I did, I would have done it."

They stay a few moments in silence, taking deep breaths and deep in thoughts.

"Your turn."

She wants to sugar-coat it. She wants to say that it wasn't that bad, she doesn't want to see guilt in his face even if it isn't his fault. But Cardan didn't sugar-coated when he revealed that what she did hurt him even if he knew it was going to hurt her. So instead, she says:

"Those were the worst three days of my life. I honestly thought it was going to be ok when we were negotiating with Madoc. That we won, they were going to surrender and we would be fine. Then I couldn't believe it. I didn't want to believe when Grimsen said that only death would save you. I went to Baphen, I went to the Old King, but all of them had the same answer. Somehow I had to rule the fucking kingdom while grieving a death that I didn't believe in. On top of all of that the court of teeths was on my throat, making plans to try to turn you and me into their puppets like their daughter. The relief that I had when I saw you alive was bigger than anything I thought I could feel, but the time between that and when I cutted the sna- your head it was my lowest. It was a hole and I was at the deep end with no way out. I cannot live without you." She stops to look at him. Look at his black hair and his eyes that look like black holes. His pale skin and his small mouth. No, she can't imagine a world without him. But that moment was close, so close. "I am so scared that I will go back to that void, I'm so scared that the universe wasn't as kind as I thought, I'm so scared to not wake up next to you."

He puts his arm around her shoulder and she puts her head on his. Jude looks up and sees tears running down Cardan's face, so she hugs him, feeling his other arm surround her. They stay silent for some time while Carden cries in Jude's shoulder and Jude just holds him close, all her tears wasted a few minutes ago.

"I'm sorry." Cardan was the one to break the silence.

"Not your fault."

"Liar."

"I wouldn't lie to you." It's the truth.

"May I remind you that you said you were fine while bawling your eyes out a few minutes ago?" OK, half true.

"When you have a nightmare, find me. I don't care if I just went to sleep, I don't care if I hadn't slept in days, I don't care if I'm not even asleep and you have to drag me out of my work, find me."

"When you feel like this is not real, find me. I don't care if you have to send someone to do it, I don't care if you run around the palace screaming my name, I don't care if I'm in the most important reunion, find me."

They break the hug to look at each other and say at the same time, "Deal".

"Sooo, do you want to have breakfast in bed and completely run away from our responsibilities?"

"We're the King and Queen of Elfhame."

"Exactly, there is no one above to stop us."

"We have an entire kingdom depending on us."

"Well, as the High King, I order you to stay in bed with me."

"As the High Queen, I'm going to refuse that order."

"Come on, you're mortal, you can say that we are sick or something." Jude's going to retaliate, but honestly? She's exhausted and spending the night in bed with her husband doesn't seem the worst idea.

"You are a horrible influence, do you know that?"

"Does that mean I win?"

She sighs. "Yes, you win."

"Yay" He says, getting up and doing a little spin like a child who was able to negotiate bedtime with their parents. She can't help but smile at his shenanigans.

Next, he does an extremely exaggerated bow and continues. "After you, my queen."

At that, she fully laughs, takes his hand and goes down the pathway with him. She hates being vulnerable, but with him, it isn't that bad. How do we take the armour off? A piece at a time. She feels like they just took another one.

-‐----------------‐-----------------‐----------------‐----------------

So, I had this idea since I finished Queen of Nothing and since I didn't see any fic like this I decided to make it myself. The characters may be a bit OOC, I'm not tha familiar with them. I am not a writer and my first language is not English, so apologies for any mistake. 🫶

Btw this was way bigger than I thought, no idea how many words, but damn, I'm having a brain riot.

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chappellrroan · 6 months

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enemies to lovers always my beloved

#the angst the tension the sarcasm the constant argument the desperate love but. can't show it #tfota #jurdan #acftl #evajacks #cardan greenbriar #jude duarte #evangeline fox #jacks of the hollow #the cruel prince #the wicked king #the queen of nothing #the ballad of never after

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ur-mousey · 17 days

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I'll Make You Miss Me ~

Imagine - Jude Duarte x Singer! Cardan Greenbriar (Song inspo linked ⬇️)

Imagine! Cardan Greenbriar, the High King of Elfhame, sitting alone on his throne. The crown made of thorns felt heavy upon his head, a constant reminder of who he'd banished. The grand hall emptied of its accord. However, in the wake of their presence, where diplomats lose their inhibition at his feet, Cardan never felt more abandoned.

He was without Jude, his wife, whom he had sentenced to a mortal life. She was his beautiful and most terrifying love, but Cardan knew deep down that she belonged elsewhere from this place.

It was selfish of him to believe otherwise. She was a queen, robbed of her status by her wicked king. Why would she return for him?

Imagine! It has been months since Cardan's riddle went unsolved. He drove himself mad, over-analyzing why his letters were left discarded. He left himself painfully sober for days. Torturing himself to come up with a lure. He missed her lying whims. I hate you, were her whispers of promise. He hated that their marriage started on a sour note.

Cardan never even came close to matching her strength. What if she wholly decided to leave Elfhame and him entirely? He doubted that age would fog his memories of her. And, even if it would be fatal to resist, he vowed to cradle his obsession between the pages of Alice in Wonderland as he had done through their childhood.

Imagine! Living through boring meetings where thoughts of Jude pressed heavily on your mind. The surrounding diplomatic dribble was doomed to fall on deaf ears.

Cardan sought distractions from his quill and parchment whenever his emotions overwhelmed him. He felt the constant restlessness of yearning for Jude's return. It was a feeling that gnawed at him day in and day out until he could take it no longer. Down in this cellar, where his love became realized, he could hardly but briefly assume that his wife would come to protect him from his woes.

"Jude's absence makes you worry." The Bomb noted as she stirred her brandy lazily. Her voice rang sympathetic and in tune with the ice cubes clinking against glass. Cardan halted his shuffling of cards, the room's silence now keenly felt.

Cardan dealt the cards with ease and confidence among the Court of Shadows, he couldn't help but chuckle to himself. "I'm obvious, aren't I?" he quipped as if talking to no one in particular. However, his mirth quickly faded as he continued, "Jude hasn't yet responded to a single letter of mine. I'm afraid."

The Roach hummed, reaching for his cards. "If letters don't reach her, your voice will."

Imagine! Despite the dark circles under her eyes caused by sleepless nights, Jude forced herself to get up from the couch and walk to the window. She craved the fresh air to clear her mind and drive away her growing hatred towards everything related to Elfhame.

"I'll make you miss me~" The haunting melody danced over the bend of the wind. She recognized the voice of Cardan singing the tune and the realization that he was desperate. The thought both excited and frightened her.

youtube

.............................. Thank you for reading! Request rules are here! I am currently taking in ideas 🥳 This idea has been shoved to the back of my mind so I'm glad to have written it. And Holly Black stated that Valerian has sexual feelings towards Jude... It makes me hate him much more however, fanfic idea.

>>> NEXT FOLK OF AIR POST: Valerian x Jude x Cardan (hence toxicity)

This was a different writing style to what I usually do so we'll see how it does. I'll probably make another one for JJK because I've engaged more with that fandom. I quit my job a few weeks ago and it's gotten to me so much that I needed a break from the blog. On happier notes, I'm getting out of the house more. Gone on two dates which has been great!!!

#Youtube #jude x cardan #the folk of the air #the cruel prince #the wicked king #the queen of nothing #cardan is obessessed #music video #i'll make you miss me #fanfic #realizing that Valerian was sexually into Jude changed my brain chemistry #angst fic #tfota #jurdan #jurdan fic #cardan greenbriar #jude durate

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the2amshitposts · 1 month

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Okay can we talk (spoilers for the wicked king )

Cardan better BEGGG I want the biggest bestest grovel to ever grovel the grovels this man better be on DEM KNEES

#this man better be dying #of sadness #and grovel #I want this next book to have enough angst to kill angst #the wicked king #cardan greenbriar #jude x cardan #the folk of the air #2amshitpost #thoughts?#book rant

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wanderingpages · 2 years

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TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: Song Requests

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: Give me attention/ Are you flirting with me?

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: Cardan’s jealous, Jude kinda sucks at flirting.

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: Please wake up/ You said to be honest, stop hitting me.

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: Jude’s on the verge of a breakdown.

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: TWK AU, post undersea kidnapping smut.

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: Its been a year and a day, Jude has moved on.

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: I wish I could say I was drunk right now.

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: Babysitting Oak, but sis is still on the lam.

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: Fun with Faerie fruit. Based on fanart.

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: Cardan is Jude’s bodyguard.

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: Enemies with benefits.

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: Jude’s sick, Cardan tries to take care of her.

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: Jude walks in on Cardan.

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: Blowjobs 101

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: Massage (gone dirty) (#emotional) (I cried).

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: Vampire kisses and such.

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: “I knew little else...”

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: College AU, Seven minutes in heaven

Serpent & Dove, Lou and Reid: College AU, Reid finds himself looking after his class partner too often.

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: Sleepy morning fluff.

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: TWK AU, Jude is nearly hurt in the mortal world.

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: Vampires like expensive vip rooms in exclusive clubs.

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: Throne sex is not it, fam.

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: Shower Lovin

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: Clingy // Bratty

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: The morning after a non-mistake, she swears.

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: we miss every kiss we don’t take 😔

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: I just wanna get high with my lover and whatever

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: (Spoiler) Jude is not okay.

TOG, Rowan and Aelin: Lewd Little Tattoos

TFOTA, Jude and Cardan: Car sex and he calls her princess. Oh and Madoc's in the mob?

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crescentmel · 2 years

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I just finished all of The Cruel Prince series and I can say that I’m never trusting booktok girlies ever again bc I saw so many tiktoks where The Cruel Prince was in the category “what I thought would be 5 stars” (implied isn’t) and boy were they FUCKING WRONG????

I was so scared I wouldn’t enjoy the book but HELLO??? THE WHOLE SERIES IS SO FUCKING GOOD??? I literally read The Wicked King so fucking fast and I finished The Queen of Nothing in a day I’m so so so in love with this series and Jude and Cardan

Like I guess I can see a little where they’re coming from, TCP was a little slow for my liking but once part 2 in the book hit I was fucking hooked, TWK FUCKING BROKE MEEEEE AND TQON WAS EVERYTHING I WANTED

JUDE AND CARDAN ARE EVERYTHINGGGG

#I’m crying I love this series I was crying by the end of it #time to go read tons of post-twk angst fics bc I feel Ike crying again 🤪#I might post like a full random thoughts thing about the series #tcp #twk #tqon #tfota #the cruel prince #the wicked king #the queen of nothing #the folk of the air #jurdan #jude duarte #cardan greenbriar

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jahayla-parker · 1 year

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Cardan Greenbriar Navigation

NAVIGATION TOOLS:

FLUFF: ~

ANGST: *

SMUT: #

Banners sort works by type

Drama King : Cardan Greenbriar x Reader ~

Description: 2.8k wc, Cardan is a simp for his wife/ reader and becomes very dramatic about her wiping away his kiss. Fluff

Warnings: simp behavior lol, Cardan drinking, minor angst if you squint

Territorial : Cardan Greenbriar x Reader *~

Description: 2.9k wc, Cardan isn't pleased when someone makes a move on y/n despite y/n and Cardan having already been together for awhile.

Warnings: jealously, flirtations, mentions of fighting, protectiveness, a little suggestive at the end. Not proofread

TikTok Prank Preference: Stuck Tampon ~

Description: blurb preference based on the viral TikTok prank where the person pretend they have a tampon stuck and need their partner to help them to see how they react.

Warnings: mentions of period related items and topics, minimally suggestive words, otherwise fluff

None yet

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Book Boyfriends Navigation

Main Navigation/Masterlist (All My Works)

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homemadefantasy · 1 year

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Taryn's Inquest - Cardan's POV

Summary: Taryn's inquest and the moments that follow - from Cardan's perspective.

Across the room, Jude appears, dressed as Taryn. She is in all of the Court’s finery, looking as much to me like her sister as she always has, which is to say she looks nothing like her sister. Sure, they may have the same physical appearance, but the difference in the manner in which they carry themselves is unmistakable. Where Taryn is demure and desperate to please, Jude is unapologetic and strong. I am amazed she is able to fool anyone with how straight she stands and how high she holds her head; Taryn would be sniveling with her shoulders slumped.

I am at a loss as to why she would return this way, play-acting a part that could not suit her less. Nevertheless, I must assume she has come to me in this way for a reason. If she wants to identify as her worthless twin, I shall let her.

Despite my role as king and the image I must maintain, despite my resolve to protect Taryn, despite everything, it takes all the self-discipline, a skill of whose existence until very recently I was unaware, I can muster to refrain from running across the room and taking her into my arms.

Soon, she is standing before me, deep within a curtsy that appears to cause her physical pain. It looks entirely unnatural for her to be bowing to me, to anyone, not even considering that she is the queen of the land. Oh, Jude. I just barely catch myself before saying the wrong name.

“Taryn?” She looks up at me with reluctance. Her pupils dilate and her eyes glitter with barely contained anger.

“Your majesty,” she says stiffly.

I suppose she expects me to play my part as well. I suppose I shall. I hesitate for a moment, imagining with no small amount of difficulty that the sister before is the pathetic, sniveling travesty of Jude.

“We recognize your grief. We would not disturb your mourning were it not for questions over the cause of your husband’s death.”

Questions, I suppose, I now know the answer to, since she sent her sister in her stead. Although, many other questions take their place. My jumbled thoughts turn to my many unrequited letters, and I wonder at her return. She must never have planned to; I suppose Taryn’s impending execution alone lured her back. But, for the time being, I will exploit any opportunity to convince her to rule beside me. In Elfhame.

I am pulled back to the present as Nicasia, with no small amount of malice, accuses Jude of Locke’s demise. Unbeknownst to her, it seems, she is standing before us. Am I really the only one who can see that this is very much not Taryn? I realize, with a knot of shame, that I alone pay the exceptional amount of attention to her required to uncover her slight so quickly.

Her voice changes then, the silence of the room glinting off her voice as moonlight off the edge of a particularly sharp knife. “Jude is in exile.” Is she really? “And I’ve never hurt Locke.” If there were any doubt of her not being Taryn, it has just been expunged from my mind, as Taryn would never have shown such repulsion, however subtle, at the necessity of saying the name.

Nicasia is too wrapped up in her own grief over Locke to notice.

I am not so encumbered.

“No?”

“I lov… I loved him.” She says with no small amount of difficulty. I think back to Locke’s ridiculous party, of her obvious infatuation. Of the ridiculous and unexpected anger that seemed to overwhelm me at the sight of her in his arms. Of my own fury mirrored in her eyes when she glanced at me. Of the countless weeks that followed during which I tried, albeit unsuccessfully, not to think or care about Locke’s toying with the Duarte sisters. Of Jude’s defiance at that critical moment when Locke believed he would have both sisters under his control. Of the chaos that directly followed.

“Sometimes I believed that you did, yes. But you could well be lying. I am going to put a glamour on you. All it will do is force you to tell us the truth.” Or at least it would, had she not foolishly bargained with the most abominable of my siblings. However, despite the idiocy of the choice, I cannot deny that it has ended up being quite a valuable little talent.

“Now, tell me only the truth. What is your name?”

“Taryn Duarte.” Jude dips into an unnatural-looking, at least for her, curtsy. “Daughter of Madoc, wife of Locke, subject of the High King of Elfhame.”

As if. There wasn’t a single word that just came out of her mouth that was not a lie. That’s my girl. The thought comes to me unbidden and with sharp barbs that pierce through my heart. Because she’s not. She’s not my girl, is she? Regardless of what I thought before her exile, she chose to stay. She chose to stay as far away as possible from me. Nerves suddenly overtake me as I begin to consider just why she is here in the first place.

“What fine courtly manners.”

“I was well instructed,” she says pointedly.

“Did you murder Locke?” The room goes silent as it awaits her confession.

“No. Nor did I orchestrate his death. Perhaps we ought to look to the sea, where he was found.” I do not miss the implication, or the glance she shoots my former lover.

Neither does Nicasia. She turns to me, likely believing she is imparting great wisdom and knowledge upon me. Little does she know that I only require answers from one person right now. “We know that Jude murdered Balekin. She confessed as much. And I have long suspected her of killing Valerian.” How did she know about Valerian? Perhaps I ought to keep a better eye on Nicasia.

“If Taryn isn’t the culprit, then Jude must be.” Perhaps I will ask her myself. “Queen Orlagh, my mother, – ” Yes, I know who Queen Orlagh is, thank you – “swore a truce with you. What possible gain could she have from the murder of your Master of Revels? She knew he was your friend – and mine.”

Debatable. In front of me, Jude appears to be having some sort of episode. After a moment of consideration, I decide to humor Nicasia.

“Well, what do you think? Did your sister do it? And don’t tell me what I already know. Yes, I sent Jude into exile. That may or may not have deterred her.”

“She had no reason to hate Locke. I don’t think she wished him ill.” I could think of a few reasons. I hate Locke for what he did to Jude; I can hardly imagine what she feels for him.

“Is that so?”

Right then, my mother decides to be… helpful. “Perhaps it is only Court gossip, but there is a popular tale about you, your sister, and Locke. She loved him, but he chose you. Some sisters cannot bear to see the other happy.”

Jude regards my mother with veiled surprise before she counters her with – “Jude never loved Locke. She loved someone else.” I am on the edge of my throne. “He’s the one she’d want dead.”

My brain locks up, unsure if it should key on her confession of love in front of the whole court or on her declaration that she desires my death. Either way, I know it is meant as a direct attack – both halves. She can lie, after all. Before she can rattle me further, I cut her off, needing the rest of the conversation to be private. “Enough. I have heard all I care to on this subject – ”

“No!” Upon registering whose voice interrupts my command, I nearly snap. A murmur ripples through the crowd at the sheer audacity required to interrupt the High King mid-decree. Nicasia shamelessly continues. “Taryn could have a charm on her, something that makes her resistant to glamours.”

She’s already resistant to glamour. I want to scream. But if Jude is going to torture me in front of the whole Court, why can’t I? “I suppose she’ll have to be searched.”

Her shoulders subtly shift back as she stands a little straighter, stiffer. Hiding terror that I can’t quite understand, she counters me. “My husband was murdered. And whether or not you believe me, I do mourn him. I will not make a spectacle of myself for the Court’s amusement when his body is barely cold.”

Very well, then. What a perfect excuse to get the answers I require. “As you wish. Then I suppose I will have to examine you alone in my chambers.”

***

She stands rather awkwardly across the table from me, her face fixed with an odd expression I can’t quite place.

She’s back. She’s home. She’s here. I can’t repress a grin. I gesture for her to join me on the couch. Start with the question that’s been eating away at me since I saw her walk in, the one which may seem the most trivial to anyone else, but is the most important to me. I attempt nonchalance as I say it.

“Well, didn’t you get my letters?”

Six unanswered letters. Six fragments of my heart that were never so much as acknowledged. Six attempts to understand what was going on in her head.

“What?” Bewilderment flashes through her clever eyes.

“You never replied to a one. I began to wonder if you’d misplaced your ambition in the mortal world.” She may well have. This may have been intended as a short visit. I will change that intention.

She appears to be genuinely confused. Is it possible she never received them? Does that explain her absence?

“Your Majesty,” she begins. Your Majesty? Does she really hate me so much as to resort to such formality? “I thought you brought me here to assure yourself I had neither charm nor amulet.”

Oh. We’re still playing that game, are we?

I give her a look. “I will if you like. Shall I command you to remove your clothes? I don’t mind.”

Something in her snaps. Her facade, I realize. “What are you doing? What are you playing at?”

Did she really think I didn’t recognize her? I think back to our interaction in the throne room. Had she thought me beguiled by a simple wardrobe change?

You mistook one for the other once before.

The memory hits me like a punch to the stomach. “Jude, you can’t really think I don’t know it’s you. I knew you from the moment you walked into the borough.”

For some inexplicable reason, this seems to unsettle her more. Was she here on some agenda besides her own? The Council’s warnings of her potential allegiance to Madoc suddenly flood my thoughts.

“That’s not possible.” She shakes her head; that same unplaceable expression returns. She seems to be trying very hard to figure something out. Her scheming face strikes me as bizarre. What is her angle?

All at once, I become singularly aware of every inch that separates us. It’s worse, somehow, than when we were an entire ocean’s breadth apart, to be so close yet not touching. She’s not close enough for me to see the green in her hazel eyes. She’s not close enough that I can feel her breath as further assurance that she is, in fact, here before me. She’s not close enough that I could reach out to hold her hand, should she want that. No question of whether I want that. I want that more than I need air to breathe, in this current moment. She’s not close enough. I hate it. I stand up, needing to have her in my arms. “Come closer.”

She backs away from me, an emotion I don’t want to recognize screaming from her eyes. The pain in my chest swells. I clench my fists to hide their shaking, but I need to confirm one thing.

“My councilors told me that you met with an ambassador from the Court of Teeth, that you must be working with Madoc now. I was unwilling to believe it, but seeing the way you look at me, perhaps I must. Tell me it’s not true.” What will I do if it is? I cannot arrest her. She is my Queen. Every advantage is hers: her authority over the kingdom, her authority over my will, her authority over my heart. Should she be in an alliance with her adoptive father, the kingdom, along with its pathetic king, would be ruined.

Initially, this accusation just seems to confuse her again. Then, she seems to understand, though she does not voice whatever realization she just had. “I’m not the betrayer here.”

Oh. I hadn’t anticipated that her continued absence would still concern my paltry attempt at humor. Alas, for this at least, I can make amends.

“Are you still angry about—” Suddenly, as I study her body language, I come to a realization of my own. Her entire body is taut and shaking, and she seems to be wearing her anger as armor. I recognize this tactic; I’ve used it myself countless times. The tactic of using anger to disguise one particularly uncomfortable emotion. “No, you’re afraid. But why would you be afraid of me?”

She fears me. How could she possibly still think I harbor any desire to hurt her? Can she possibly still believe I hate her? I thought this lie had been dispelled long ago.

“I’m not,” the quaver in her voice and the shaking in her body give her away. “I hate you. You sent me into exile. Everything you say to me, everything you promise, it’s all a trick. And I, stupid enough to believe you once.”

Every word she says is like a tiny sword aimed directly at my chest. Is it possible she never realized? I had thought I had made it quite clear how desperately I had awaited her return. “Of course it was a trick -” She clutches a knife to her. Madoc must have sent her to kill me. Her hatred is genuine, and my heart lies in shattered remains all over the floor.

Before I can so much as utter another word, the whole world shakes. Or is it just my world? No, Jude seems just as alarmed as I am. Ah, of course. She must have been meant to kill me, and the explosion meant to hide her escape. I am unable to do much else but stare at her, concealing my anguish as I always have: behind a glare.

Her ears prick up as something akin to sword fighting echoes down the hall. With a muttered “Stay here,” she darts out of the room before I can react.

No. Not again. Absolutely not. I am not losing her again. Even if her plan was to kill me, let it be so long as I never have to endure another second of her absence.

She is already gone. When I make it into the hall, I am just able to make out Madoc’s figure as he carries Jude off down another corridor. A battle rages around me, and though I know I should be concerned about how close they made it to my chambers, all I can see is Jude’s absence.

It seems that Jude was the prize. Although the contingent of soldiers that Madoc brought here far outnumbers my guards, they recede as soon as they see that she is secured. The renegades begin racing down and out of the hill. Well, all shall soon understand the price that is to be paid for such an act.

Thorns and briars, vines and branches, commissioned by myself and empowered by all the cruel magic of Faerie, wind their way through the many corridors of the Palace of Elfhame after Madoc’s men like vipers after a meal. I fall to my knees and my vision blurs, every ounce of strength and every drop of energy pouring into the attack.

The Bomb finds me some time later, slumped against the doorframe to my chambers and surrounded by blood.

“She’s gone, Your Majesty.”

The world goes black.

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absolute-fool-for-now · 2 years

Text

SPOILERS FOR QUEEN OF NOTHING

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thelov3lybookworm · 6 months

Note

Can I request a cardan x reader fic? Anything you want to write! Just gimmi my baby there isnt much of him on this app.🥺

Weeping heart

Summary: Y/n has seen cardan go through lovers like they're wrappers of chocolates. One in his hand before the previous is even in the dustbin.

Now he has found Jude, and she does not know what to do.

•○●⛦●○•

A/n: anon thank you so much for this request! i love you so much for this. It was such a good writing exercise honestly. This is mainly pining, maybe angst.

Also, this marks the beginning of me writing for characters outside of the acotar universe, so I'm very excited

also I didnt tag anyone because the general taglist i have was for acotar.

(i might be down to write a part 2 👀)

(not proofread)

Enjoy!

•○🌑○•

She bit her lip as she stared up at her best friend, trying to contain the smile that threatened to overtake her features.

"Let me see that smile, beautiful." He grinned lazily at her, his dark eyes twinkling under the rays of sunlight that penetrated the thick canopy of leaves above their head. They were currently seated under a weeping willow, hidden away from the whole world outside. Where only the two of them existed, and nothing else mattered.

The place was special to Y/n and Cardan. This was where the two of them would meet all the time, just the two of them, away from their friends and family. In here, they didn't have to pretend, didn't have to act like everything was okay. They could be themselves, and not care about getting hurt.

He leaned closer to her, searching her eyes, his eyes and features softer than Y/n had ever seen before.

"Shut up." She mumbled, but that action had her lips splitting into that smile she was trying so hard to supress.

His grin widened. "There we go."

His hand came up to cup her cheek, his thumb absently brushing her lower lip, his gaze following it with a hungry look. Then his eyes lifted to hers, a question in them.

She dipped her chin almost imperceptibly.

That was enough for him, and he leaned forward, his lips getting closer and closer to hers.

She let her eyes fall shut.

But the kiss never came.

•○🌑○•

She opened her eyes, wondering why he hadn't yet kissed her, and found herself staring at the ceiling of her room.

She blinked blearily, wondering what the hell happened, and then she realised.

It had been a dream.

She closed her eyes again, heaving a sigh as she willed herself to go back to sleep, back to that dream, hoping he'd kiss her before she woke up again.

Of course, that was very nearly impossible.

Because someone decided in that moment that it would be a good idea to knock on her door.

She was certain she knew who it was.

Still she called out, demanding the identity of the knocker.

The answer was immediate. Cardan.

She groaned lowly, dragging her hands down her face.

He didn't wait for her to let him in. The permission wasn't ever needed between the two. That hadn't changed. Yet.

The next moment, he had barged in through the doors, a grin on his stupid face.

She sat up, trying to look anywhere but his face. Heavy emphasis on trying.

"Y/n, guess what happened."

"I am not in the mood, Cardan."

She winced internally. She was being cruel. He had done nothing wrong. It was not his fault he didn't know of her feelings. She had no right to be rude to him, especially when he was so excited about something.

He wasn't bothered by her lack of enthusiasm. He simply plopped down on her bed as she climbed out of it, getting ready for the day as he launched into a story of how after last night's revel, Jude had told him to wait in their bedchambers while she walked into the closet, her skirts swishing around her legs.

How she had retuned without it.

Y/n tried not to pay attention to the details, but she couldn't help it. She had never been able to ignore what Cardan said, never been able to let anything he said go unheard. He had spent nearly all his years being unheard because no one considered him worthy of their time.

She had long ago decided that she was not going to be one of those people.

She heard everything, and her torturous brain created all the images Cardan's words conjured. Her traitor of a heart clenched, but she ignored it.

"That's great Cardan." She said when he finished speaking, and when she looked at him, he was practically glowing with happiness.

Y/n felt guilty for being jealous of the mortal who had everything Y/n ever wanted, but she couldn't bring herself to care when her heart was breaking into pieces everyday.

"It feels like I've waited for this an eternity. Never thought I would get to have Jude in my arms."

She gave him a smile. "I need to meet up with some generals this morning. I need to leave."

He nodded happily, straightening from where he'd been lying on her bed. She watched him walk out of her room, a knot forming in her throat, her resolve hardening.

She needed... she knew what she needed.

•○🌑○•

Jude had her eyebrow raised, and it concerned Y/n how a mere mortal's judgement could make her nervous.

"Tell me again why you want to go on this mission?"

Y/n reigned in a frustrated sigh. "There is no real reason. I just wish to explore the Elfhame more."

The look Jude gave her told her she saw right through the act. But she didn't push the mater.

"There has been rumours of a rebellion on the other side of Elfhame. If you really want to go on this mission, then you need to know that this is an incredibly long and dangerous mission. You'll not only have to investigate the place, but also squash any hint of rebellion you find."

Y/n gave Jude a smile. "Sounds amazing."

"Sure it does." Jude's eyes narrowed as she continued. "If you need more time away to, as you say, to explore, then after you finish this quest, have a tour around Elfhame and meet up with people who have associated with Madoc before. Make sure they are not plotting something behind our backs."

Y/n dipped her chin in a nod. "When can I leave?"

"Before the week ends."

"So does that mean I can leave right now too?"

If possible, Jude's eyes narrowed further and she stood. At that moment, the door behind Y/n opened, and she stiffened as the smell of his perfume reached her.

"Y/n! I thought you were in the meeting with the generals. What are you doing here?"

Y/n smiled stiffly, turning to look at Cardan.

"I had something important to discuss with Jude." She gestured with her hand.

Cardan nodded, as if that was the most understandable thing in the world.

"What were you talking about?"

"Nothing-"

"She is leaving on a long mission-"

Jude and Y/n spoke up at the same time, and Y/n had to resist the urge to smack her forehead.

Cardan's head swung towards Y/n, and he stared at her with wide eyes, his mouth opening and closing, but no words came out.

Y/n turned to Jude, letting some of the fury at her secret being revealed show in her eyes. And then she smiled tightly. "Could you send that list of people and areas where the rebellion is rumoured to be to my room? I need to begin packing."

Jude's eyebrows were high, but she nodded. Y/n bowed, then turned on her heel and strode away, ignoring Cardan and the way he was trying to gain her attention.

As she left the room, she heard him following and calling for her, but she ignored that too.

Just the way she had always ignored her weeping heart, the one that beat solely for Cardan.

The one that was broken beyond repair now.

•○🌑○•

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moaihybitoyoidaics · 1 year

Text

The Morality of Mortality

Jurdan Angst fic- trigger warning for Suicide

Word count: 1822

From Cardan's POV

*****

My hopes dwindled with each passing day. My letters remained unanswered as did my prayers for her return. I spent my nights in her rooms drinking in the vanishing smell of her from her coverlets, falling asleep holding on to her doublets. I knew that she had figured out my trickery and was choosing to stay away out of her resentment for me- I could hardly blame her.

In her presence I had so often been cruel, mistaking my devotion to her for contempt and now our truce was over, short lived as it was. The brief reprieve from our feuding had passed but I would have done anything to have her admonish me again.

I tried to forget her eyes and the way they glowed amber in the sunlight, the way that her hair frizzed from the sweat of her swordplay, I tried to forget the odd curve of her ears and the scars on her hands and they way my weight felt on top of her. But I could never forget.

It made me hate her all over again.

One night I found myself summoning a ferry, captained by a stout goblin. I dressed myself in a pitch dark cloak with the hood covering my hair and most of my face. The goblin didn't ask of my business, which I was grateful for. I didn't really know what I was expecting to do. I couldn't drag her back to Elfhame unwillingly, she would never forgive me.

My legs were unstable as I stepped foot onto mortal soil, I knew in a short time I would be able to hold her in my arms and beg her-humility be damned- to come home. I followed the streets to the apartment block I was told she resided in, located hastily by the Shadow Court. It was tall and bland, a concrete tower block with the distressing tang of iron hanging heavily around it.

As I climbed the stairs I rehearsed all the things I would say to convince her to come home, running them over in my mind until I got them as close to perfect as they would ever be. I came to a stop outside her front door, and knocked as loudly as I dared.

"Who's there?" A small voice asked from behind the wood.

"High King Cardan. Now identify yourself and let me inside at once." The was a clank and a rattle before the door swung open . There stood Oak, a little taller than the last time I had seen him.

"Oh hi, Cardan. Jude's in the bathroom."

"Fetch her for me, Princeling." I demanded, impatiently.

"She's been in there a while, she wasn't answering me. Can you reach the Cokes in the fridge?" I strode into the residence and looked around, it was a pokey space, barely enough room for two people let alone four. Oak pointed me to the fridge, a peculiar object that hit me with a shock of cold air. I passed him what he needed and walked back into the more open space.

"Where is Vivienne? Or the pink haired girl?" I asked.

"It's date night, Jude's meant to look after me. She kind of sucks at it." He explained.

"Where is the bathroom?" He pointed down a shallow hall, where I saw a dim orange light leaking out from under a door. I knocked on the door and when there was no answer I knocked again, louder. "Jude? Jude I command you to open up." Still, there was no noise from the other side of the door. I rattled the handle and banged against the wood.

"Cardan? What's going on?" Oak asked, his voice quieter than I had ever heard it.

"How long has she been in there?" My voice was harsher than I had intended.

"Like a half hour? I could hear her before but she's been quiet for a while." I slammed my hands against the door once more before trying the handle again.

"Oak, I want you to call Vivi. Tell her to come back immediately. Then go and wait in your room until someone comes to get you, okay?" He nodded and did as he was told.

I took as large a step back as the space would allow before smacking my shoulder against the door again and again until finally it gave way. The room was silent apart from the sound of liquid hitting the floor. Sure enough, she was there.

The bath was filled with pinkish water, and Jude; still fully clothed, lay silently in it. Her head had rolled back uncomfortably and one arm lay over the edge. Drip. Drip. Drip.

I ran to her, my unsteady feet skidding in the blood, and began to lift her out of the water. I grabbed a towel and pressed it against her wounds. "Hey, okay. You're going to-" I couldn't speak it. "I need you to be okay. I need you to stay with me here, Jude." My grip on her arms tightened as I pulled her up onto my lap. "You have to be okay, you have to wake up now, okay?" I put two fingers to her throat feeling for a pulse.

I heard a soft gasp. When I looked up there stood Vivienne, all dressed up in her odd mortal clothes. "Cardan- Jude-"

"Get help." I whispered, my voice hoarse. "Get help, get anyone." I looked back down at my wife. My Jude. "If you ever felt anything for me, I need you to stay with me. I can't do it without you."

*****

The pink haired girl offered to stay at the apartment with Oak while Vivienne and I went with Jude. We sat in silence, surrounded by bright white lights and plastic chairs. I wondered what I must look like to the mortals in the infirmary but I was too exhausted to glamour myself to look any different. It was an hour before Vivi said a word.

"I didn't think she'd actually do it, you know?" She sniffled. "I thought she was exaggerating, she'd get over you eventually and she'd stop- she'd stop talking about it."

"She said she was going to- erm- to do that?" I asked.

"Not in so many words. When she said she didn't want to be here, I thought she meant here, you know? In our world. Not here, as in any world."

We plunged back into silence for a long while.

I am no murderer. I thought to myself. But maybe I am, if my Jude dies I will be a murderer.

"It's my fault, isn't it?" I whispered.

"Yes."

*****

We sat at her bedside, machines and monitors whirring all around us. I held her hand in mine. She was so cold. Papery curtains were drawn around us, giving the illusion of privacy.

"How did you know to come today?" Vivi asked quietly. "It's been months and you chose today of all days."

I thought about how to answer her for a moment before bringing Jude's fingers to my lips. "I couldn't stand to be away from her a second longer." I paused. "I need her."

We lapsed back into silence, waiting as nurses checked her over and doctors looked at the little board at the end of her bed.

"She didn't leave a note." Vivi said, finally. "Can you believe that?"

I was about to speak when another doctor pulled back the curtain. "Excuse me, " He turned to me. "Would you leave us for a moment, sir? I need to speak with just her family."

I wanted to scream that Jude was my wife, my only family, but instead I bit my tongue and began to head out.

"Cardan? Why don't you run and grab us some coffee? It's going to be a long night." Vivienne smiled grimly, I tried my best to return it but couldn't will my mouth the move.

From behind the curtain I heard a moan, groggy and angry.

"Jude?" Vivienne said. "Jude? Is she waking up?"

I collapsed into a chair next to an empty bed, listening to my love regain consciousness. Her breathing was heavy and the monitors beeped faster than I had heard them before.

"Why'" Her voice was rough, trembling and afraid. "Why am I still here?" I heard the sob in her voice, something I had never known my wife to be capable of, and felt the echo of it in my own throat. "You should've just left me."

"We would never do that." Vivi said, sadly.

The doctor spoke again. "We can sedate her until we can manage the pain more effectively, it would be less traumatic that way."

"Yes, yes. Do that. I don't want her to be in pain." Vivi said almost frantically.

I heard her try to fight the effects of whatever medication they gave her, her words becoming a jumbled mess of incoherence. But before she drifted away into an artificial sleep, the last word from her lips was: "Cardan."

*****

My coffee had gone cold and I had hardly touched it. My hands gripped Jude's as she slept. I saw her as I had never seen her before, fragile, breakable and damaged. My fault, I knew that.

"Cardan?" Vivi said. "What I said before... it's really not your fault. You couldn't have known. I was angry."

"I should leave before she wakes up again." I said, trying to pry myself away from her. "Will you send word when she is well?"

She nodded. "You know, if it wasn't for you she would be dead. Thank you."

The words seemed awkward on the tongue of a faerie but they struck a chord in my heart. I squeezed Jude's hand one last time and took one final look at her. My love.

I left quickly, giving myself no chance to cry until I was back over the sea and in her rooms at the palace.

*****

Over the following months I received messages from Vivi, detailing Jude's recovery, regaining the the full use of her hands and instructing Oak in sword play. I kept pieces of our correspondence on my person at all times, wishing for the day she would return back to her home. Back to me.

It had been about four months since I had left Jude in the hospital bed before I saw her again. Her defiance radiating through her meek personae as she pretended to be her sister. I was grateful when I saw that she was wearing long gloves, covering most of the damage.

For another three months I didn't dare bring up the jagged scars, for fear that the emotions would resurface. But she was home, whole and hail beside me and I couldn't ask for any more than that.

Occasionally the thought would cross my mind: my wife who is deft at taking lives but could only ever take one that mattered.

#jurdan #cardan greenbriar #jude duarte #vivienne duarte #fanfic #angst no comfort #one shot #the folk of the air #the cruel prince #the wicked king #the queen of nothing #how the king of elfhame learned to hate stories #jurdan fanfic

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