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climbthemountain2020 · 2 months

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Hope of Spring - Chapter 20

Find also on Ao3 :) Find Ch. 19 here!

The morning of their wedding was frigid, and when Penny awoke, legs pulled up to her chest and Tamlin running like a furnace at her back, she was more tempted than ever to call the whole thing off and stay in bed the rest of the day. The tongue Tamlin languidly ran along the column of her neck once he sensed her waking only doubled her resolve.

He worked his way around to her ear, giving the lobe a nibble as she arched her back and sighed contently, reaching behind her to grab for him. She heard his breath stutter as her cold fingers snuck past the waistband of his pants.

“Are you positively sure we need to get out of bed, High Lord?” She mumbled, voice still thick with sleep.

“Well, my mate, if you’d like to also become my wife, we will have to leave at some point today. Unfortunately, I also think some of our many guests might come harass us if we didn’t show up to our own wedding.” Penny grumbled halfheartedly as he kissed back down her neck, running his teeth lightly over her shoulders and slipping a hand across her abdomen to sweep across her breasts.

“But I can think of so many other ways we could use this time.” she purred, rolling over to run her fingers down the planes of his stomach and tug his pants down his thighs.

“Sunshine, is this meant to be a wedding gift or a distraction?” He groaned as her fingers slipped around the base of him and grasped tightly.

“Why not both?” She grinned devilishly as she slipped below the covers, planting kisses down the expanse of his chest as she lowered herself.

“I will absolutely never turn you down, but should I be offended that you aren’t more excited for our wedding?” He lifted the covers to look down at her, raising a brow in concern. She relished the way he had to close his eyes as she ran her hand up and down the length of him, licking a long stripe up and back down.

“I am excited. But I already get to wake up in a warm bed on a cold morning with the love of my life. Forgive me if I would prefer that to entertaining the countless guests waiting for us.” She slipped the tip of him into her mouth and he growled through his teeth, letting his head fall back against the pillows. “Would you like me to stop so that you can go say hello to your bat boy band?” She finished her sentence and dove, swallowing him as far down as possible and making up the difference with her hand.

“Please don’t talk about the Night Court with my cock in your mouth.” He complained breathlessly, all air leaving his lungs as all thought left his head. “Fuck, Penny.” She swirled her tongue beneath him as she took him in and out, twisting one hand around him and gripping his thigh with the other.

She pulled off with a pop just to look him in the eyes and lowly say, “Yes, sir.” Tamlin practically combusted. She lowered herself back down and got to work, hollowing out her cheeks with each pull, letting his breathy moans spur her on. He gathered her hair in his hands and pulled it up off her face as she gave him an appreciative look from beneath lowered lashes.

“Gods, I’ll never tire of this. You’re perfect. Absolutely perfect.” He mumbled, his eyes closing again as he let the feelings overtake him. She hummed with satisfaction and the vibrations sent him arching. She took her hands off him and let him guide her movements now that she knew he was close. “Penny, I’m going to–” She hummed again and took his thrusts as deeply as she could, looking up into his eyes as he furrowed his brows and his movements stuttered. He called out, coming down her throat in sharp bursts.

“Gods.” He sighed quietly, eyes closed, as she removed him from her mouth and licked her lips.

“Happy wedding day, love.” She smiled at him wolfishly as she flopped towards the edge of the bed. Tamlin made a mad grab for her ankle and just barely missed.

“Where do you think you’re going, Sunshine?” He growled darkly at her, the lust still apparent in his eyes.

“I, for one, have to get ready for my wedding.” She taunted with a smile as she walked towards the bathroom. “You have to go find your merry band of bats and start getting ready, as well. Now shoo! There’s always tonight.” She winked at him impishly and shut the door to the bathroom as Tamlin groused and pulled on his pants.

“You’re walking a dangerous line, my High Lady!” He called through the door, shuffling through his drawers for a shirt to wear. She swung open the bathroom door, entirely naked and looking flushed.

“High Lady?” She asked, looking for all the world like a startled deer in the woods.

“Yes…” He looked at her with confusion. “You…don’t want to be High Lady?”

“I just–I hadn’t thought. I don’t know, I just assumed I would be Lady of Spring for now. I’ve barely been here a year. Won’t they think it odd for me to be a High Lady? I’m still learning.” Tamlin walked over to her, pulling her into his arms tightly.

“Certainly it did not stop Feyre.” She whacked his chest and he chuckled. “The people here love you. They consider you one of them. But I can understand where you’re coming from, too. I want you to be my equal in all things, though. It doesn’t have to be today, but consider it for the future. I want to make sure you’re respected as a decision-maker as much as I am.” He leaned down to kiss her. “Remember, this was thrust upon me, too. I want you to want it, but I won’t force you to take it.”

“Are you trying to pawn your job off on me?” She shoved him lightly, laughing.

“Keep it in mind.” He kissed her once more, slipping the shirt over his head and walking towards the door. “We have time. See you at the wedding?” She lifted a hand to wave at him.

“I’ll be the one in white.” She smiled as he closed the door to make his way down to the study where his friends would be waiting.

__________________

The ceremony was absolutely beautiful, Tamlin had to admit. Feyre, ironically enough, had planned this particular Spring wedding, and with much more enthusiasm than the last one. With Elain’s help, they’d selected the most beautiful flowers to string around the backyard. The rows of chairs were set up by the garden, and peonies and hyacinths bordered the path leading up to the gazebo where they’d say their vows. Though they’d opted to invite all of Spring to the reception following, the ceremony was strictly for High Lords and close friends. Feyre had worked with Eris and Tilly to put up warm shields around the ceremony area, keeping the frigid temperatures at bay for the guests and participants.

Tamlin was nervous, and he couldn’t quite put into words why. He was already mated, for Cauldron’s sake. This was just a ceremony, but he couldn’t stop wringing his hands at the altar. The priestess gave him a knowing smile and whispered “Don’t be nervous, she’s so excited they could barely contain her until the start of the ceremony.” He breathed out a laugh. That sounds like Penny.

Suddenly, music filled the air and the guests sat. They had opted to not have a traditional wedding party; just the two of them up there with all their friends in attendance was enough for them. He shook out his hands one last time and turned to face the aisle.

There, in the setting sun of the late afternoon, was his mate. Shrouded in rays of light, she looked every bit an angel. The breath whooshed out of Tamlin’s lungs like he’d been hit, and he was distantly aware that tears had begun running down his face. But the delight in her eyes rooted him to the spot. She looked at him like he’d hung the moon, and he could tell she was using all her willpower not to sprint down the aisle to him. His lovely, impatient Penny.

Her white lace dress was delicately crafted to hug the soft curves of her body. The arms fell off her shoulders, draping gossamer across the neckline and down to her wrists. She looked like an ethereal being, plucked from the heavens above. And she was marrying him today.

Briefly, he heard Rhys mutter from the front row “Maybe I should winnow to the aisle with a crack of thund–OW!” Feyre had hit him, and both Penny and Tamlin fought unsuccessfully to hold their laughter.

When Penny reached him, she all but ran the last two steps to take his hands and press a quick kiss to his lips. The priestess cleared her throat and smiled.

“Oh, sorry.” Penny blushed and stepped back.

They repeated after the priestess, smiles so large they felt like they may crack their faces in two. The giddy air of joy surrounded them both, and Tamlin wondered if he’d ever been so happy as he was in this moment. The priestess wrapped their hands in ribbon as they both said the words “You are mine, and I am yours. From this day, until the last of our days, and then on into eternity.” Finally, the priestess allowed them to kiss, and Penny refused to keep it chaste this time as a chorus of hoots came from their friends .

______________________

The Spring Court manor was lit up from within and the party overflowed to the outside, too. Since rumors had flown that the manor had been restored to its former glory, everyone who could possibly make the trip had done so, curious to see the rebuilt manor and its new lady. Penny felt like she’d spent the better part of the last few hours meeting new people and dancing with her husband and friends, and her feet were absolutely killing her. She plopped down into a chair near the doors to the back veranda, open to the guests, and sighed contentedly. She’d never allowed herself to imagine what a wedding might look like for her one day, but this certainly would have outdone any wild imaginings.

Tamlin, shirt undone and definitely a bit more than tipsy, jogged over to her and sat down with a great breath.

“You stopped dancing!” He said, panting.

“Yes, about the time you joined the dance line with Cassian and Lucien. My feet feel like they might collapse.” Without another word, he hefted her foot up onto his thigh, knocked her shoe off and began pushing his thumbs deep into the arch of her foot. She let her head drop back and couldn’t stop the groan that escaped her.

“Keep that up and you’ll have your work cut out for you tonight,” she laughed.

She looked out across the floor at their court and friends, mingling, dancing, taking in the manor, and she was proud to call this home. Her friends took up the majority of the dance floor, all a bit tipsy, save Elain, who had come to Spring for the wedding ceremony, then promptly returned to Night to eat some cake Penny had sent her with and lay back down. Lucien had winnowed her back then returned to the revelry at her insistence. Elain was in the final stretch of her pregnancy now, and Penny couldn’t honestly believe she’d left the Night Court at all. But Elain had searched her visions for weeks beforehand, deemed it was safe for her to attend her friends’ wedding, and then nothing could sway her otherwise.

“Did Lucien say Elain made it back safely?” Penny asked.

“Yep, he left her on a big fluffy couch, in a nest of big fluffy blankets, with a plate of food and a slab of cake.” He laughed. “I can’t believe she insisted on coming.”

“Gods, me either. When that’s me, you won’t catch me moving off this property.” She chuckled, but Tamlin’s hands had frozen on her foot. She realized what she’d said then shot up to look at him, seeing nothing but shock and hope in his eyes.

“Is that…you want…do you want that?” He stuttered through the question.

“Of course I do. Don’t you?” He nodded so quickly and violently that she marveled how he hadn’t strained his neck.

“I wasn’t sure. You’d never said. And I would never have asked. I just want you to be happy. You’re all I ever need, Penny. But it would be the honor of my life to be the father of your children.” Silver lined his eyes as he leaned in to press a kiss to her lips.

“I’m happy to start as soon as this war is behind us.” She smiled contentedly and leaned back. “Though we can certainly practice before then.” She raised an eyebrow at him and then looked to the dancefloor, her friends and family dancing in one massive cluster, throwing their heads back in laughter as they pressured a stammering and blushing Eris into some sort of choreographed routine, Tilly cackling and clapping nearby.

She was so thankful for this group of people that she’d found in the last year–against all odds, considering the history between them all. To see them all here, in Spring, at Tamlin’s wedding was a miracle in and of itself. And to see the joy radiating off all of them while they danced wildly, laughing and celebrating, brought tears prickling at the back of her eyes.

“You okay?” Tamlin asked softly beside her.

“More than okay. This is….” She exhaled, gesturing out to the dance floor. “This is more than I ever dared to imagine or hope for.” She gripped his hand tightly in hers. “Thank you, Tam.” The emotion threatened to choke her words back down her throat. He pulled her close to his side, leaning his temple down to rest on her head.

“You are responsible for all this joy, Penny. All this happiness. All these people are here because of you.” She closed her eyes and swallowed.

A partial vision flashed behind her lids, fragmented as they always were when she didn’t have Elain’s powers at present. They were just flashes, like an ill-lit slide show, but the scenes made her grin with joy. Children, of all ages, running up and down the hills of Spring. Two of them, both with wings, taking flight over a willow tree, one of which held a giggling redhead girl pretending to fly while grasped in his arms. A small blond on the shoulders of a tall boy with inky black hair, running to catch up with the rest. Two blonds and a girl with hair of fire, followed by another winged girl, punching each other on the shoulders as they laughed uproariously and ran up the hills in a group. The vision was gone as soon as it had started, but the glee threatened to burst her heart.

She grabbed Tamlin’s hand and stood. “Come, let’s sneak off. We’ve got unfinished business, husband.” She said suddenly, conspiratorially, waggling her brows. His eyes lit up immediately, and he stumbled to his feet. He took off after her down the hallways of their manor, giggling like kids as their court and friends and family continued to dance the night away.

Outside, as the first lights of dawn started to color the far horizon, the first snowflakes of the year began to fall.

#a court of thorns and roses #acotar #tamlin #tamlin x oc #elucien #tamlin oc #feysand #gwynriel #tamdemption #tamlins hea #hope of spring

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acourtofladydeath · 7 months

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The way I ran to this inbox!!!!!!!!!!!!! Given our recent discussion...I'd love to see some angsty feytamsand with a happy ending!!! Maybe forced proximity trope thrown in there? 💗

OK THIS IS VERY EXCITING.

Was I initially shooting for 500 words? Yes. Did I immediately know it would be 1K but still want it to be under that? Yes. Is it? noO. But that's okay! This is the first in what I hope will be a series of exercises where I learn to write and achieve my story goal in less words. In the end, I just had to take my hands off the keyboard and go with it in the spirit of the drabble exercise!

I sort of forgot about the forced proximity part of the request...but it's definitely angsty and leads to a HEA! I sincerely hope you enjoy "Live, and Be Happy." What is the first of what I think will be many polycule ACOTAR fics I write.

TW: mention of slight self harm

Read here on AO3 or under the cut!

A loud crash sounded through the main hall of the river house as Lucien burst through the doors, coat askew and breathing heavily.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” Rhysand jumped from the couch where he lounged next to Feyre, who sat up and immediately asked, “is he okay?”

Lucien stood hunched and disheveled, sorrow in his eyes as he looked between the mated pair before him. When he’d caught his breath enough to speak he could only get out a few words, “he’s not well,” before they were both heading out the door, brushing past him carelessly.

“How was he when you last saw him?” Feyre asked as she rushed to keep up with her mate's frantic longer legs.

“Not bad enough to worry you.”

Feyre scoffed, pacing past him to turn and face him, stopping Rhysand in his tracks. “That was not the deal, Rhysand. We agreed you could go see him in person without me until he felt ready if, and only if, he was okay in the meantime.” She stared down his violet eyes, unyielding in her anger and fear.

Rhysand had continued to visit the Spring Court in hopes of helping Tamlin rekindle his control. They hadn’t counted on it rekindling other things as well. After one particularly long visit, Rhys had explained his former relationship with Tamlin before they’d become high lords.

After Rhys revealed their former, and newly sparked feelings, Feyre had started writing back and forth with the male she’d once hoped would become her mate, and was surprised to find her own feelings for him returning as well. Tamlin it seemed was happy to love them both, but his depression and the trauma he’d been dealt and never dealt with had taken its toll.

Rhysand’s violet gaze was full of emotion, pain for the male they both had grown to love again, fear for his condition, conviction to protect Tamlin, and shame from deceiving the female they both loved so deeply. Eventually, he bent under the solid will of Feyre’s stare, dropping his head toward the ground between them.

“Take me to him” she said, a statement with no room for question, as she held her hand out to grab his own. Rhys quickly winnowed them to the place in Spring he knew Tamlin would be.

Tamlin’s struggle with his own monsters had been going on much longer than he’d wanted to admit, and when he’d finally started opening up to Rhys about it after that one solstice, it was like a damn broke, drowning him thoroughly. Today had been worse than most. He and Lucien had been discussing how the courts were still healing from the Hybern War and Amarantha’s reign under the mountain, when he’d suddenly been triggered by a particularly bad bout of memories.

Unable to stop himself, he’d transformed into his beast, attempting to punish himself for being the cause of so much suffering. His friends, his courts, the other courts, and worst of all the suffering of the two people he held closest to his heart.

When Feyre and Rhysand arrived, he was huddled on the floor of the cabin he ran off to to be alone, away from the prying eyes of his court. Both arms wrapped around his head and knees tightly as if he could hold himself together while his claws pierced into his skin, drawing thin streams of blood that flowed down his bare skin. He’d managed to stop harming himself most of the time, but still couldn't stop this one action to hurt both to punish his wrongs and to remind himself he was still alive.

In the doorway, Feyre let out a soft sound somewhere between a gasp and a sigh, her tattooed hand rising to stifle the noise as she looked up on Tamlin for the first time in years. Rhysand moved forward slowly, his focus solely on the male before him. “Tam, it’s me,” he said as he slid onto his knees in front of the broken person in front of him, taking his tortured face between both his hands.

As Rhys tried to tilt Tamlin’s face up toward his, he felt the male recoil away. Placing their voices together, Rhys spoke in a soft voice cracked with emotion. “Please don’t hide from me. I’m not scared of you. We want to help, Tamlin. Please let us help.”

With that word, Tamlin looked up, his dulled eyes currently a deep, pained green. With a voice harsh and hoarse from what Rhys was sure had been hours of screaming, Tamlin spoke, “we? I thought Lucien left?”

Feyre had slowly walked into the cabin as Rhysand steadied her first love, until she was not standing a few paces away as she spoke. “He did, but he didn’t abandon you Tamlin. He came to get us, to get me.” Slowly, Tamlin turned to face her. Rhys’s hands still steadied him, one caressing his jaw tenderly, while the other softly ran across the spots Tamlin had punctured his shoulder.

Unable to stay away any longer Feyre rushed forward the last steps, dropping to her knees and wrapping her arms delicately, yet firmly around his neck. After a long moment, Tamlin spoke, his face buried in her neck. “Why are you here…why would you bother to care for me, Feyre…after everything I did.”

Feyre pulled back, one hand caressing Tamlin’s chin as the other reached to cover Rhys’s hand still rubbing the sore marks on his shoulder. “We are both here Tamlin, because we see you. Because we’ve been where you are, and you deserve someone in your corner as you work through this.”

Tamlin seemed to scoff at that, as if he either believed he didn’t deserve to heal, or was incapable. “That doesn’t explain why you are here, either of you.” As he said the second part of the statement, Tamlin looked between the High Lord and Lady of the Night Court, sensing the cooling mist of Rhys’s magic that always seemed to calm him.

“We’re here because we love you, Tamlin.” Rhys’s smooth and soothing words hanging in the air between the three of them. Feyre spoke then, adding to her mate’s words, “both of us. You deserve to be loved.”

Using her hand to tilt Tamlin’s chin up to meet her gaze. “Do you remember what you told me, after you brought Rhys back? You told me to be happy. You deserve to be happy too, Tamlin.”

Rhysand’s one hand rested on his mate’s back while she held Tamlin’s gaze, his other gently holding Tamlin’s neck, thumb brushing against his jaw softly, in the way he’d often done so long ago. “Let us help you come back, teach you to be happy again. The three of us.”

Tamlin closed his eyes, a tear softly falling and being wiped away before it tracked too far. And for the first time since his father died, Tamlin truly felt like it was true, like he could learn to be happy. The three of them together could bring him back to life.

#LDdrabbles #i mean idk if you can count 1.2K as a drabble #BUT I'M GONNA #polycule #feytamsand #angst #hea #feyre archeron #rhysand #tamlin #night court #spring court #acotar #acowar #acotar fanfic #myfic #mywork #ao3fic #ao3writer

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stargirlie25 · 2 months

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Raise up your hand in the comments if you want Rhysand sister to come back somehow and her and Tamlin to be lovers who reunite after years of tension and end up being mates because

You want Tamlin to have a healing arc where he gets his HEA

you want it to piss of rhysand

you want to see rhysand sister defend tamlin to rhysand

NO because number 3 would be so insane and dramatic and juicy tho

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acourtofthought · 2 months

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If SJM wrote that Tamlin didn't deserve Feyre and Graysen didn't deserve Elain that must mean she feels certain males DO deserve the females in these books.

SJM must have thought Rhys deserved his mate despite a super rocky start and Feyre not initially wanting him but he proved himself worthy of her love and he got his HEA.

She must have thought Cassian deserved his mate despite Nesta pushing him away on multiple occasions. He too proved himself worthy of her love and got his HEA with her.

Why would she believe anything different for Lucien? Especially when the author has written it so he's proven himself worthy of Elain time and again AND in the most recent book made sure to have Rhys call out the competition (Az) for his unworthy behavior.

#elucien #pro elucien #elain archeron #lucien vanserra #anti e/riel #pro lucien vanserra

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highladyjane · 7 days

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Love vs. Fate

ACOTAR foreshadowed the whole love triangle with this

Which I believe is the background for this part of this interview - where sure, Sarah may try to play things off:

But I find that interesting, because TOG's ending clearly said this (Kingdom of Ash, Ch.98)

And CC's ending said this (House of Flame and Shadow, Ch. 98)

So isn't it funny that all of SJM's books are all about defying Gods, Odds, and Fate through acts of True Love, aaaand people still think that Elain, Azriel, AND Lucien are just going to do what everyone and that corrupted Cauldron expects and tells them to do in the end because "Sarah's a fated mates author", and because that's what they've been doing their whole lives prior to encountering each other?

Can't people connect the dots and see the real pattern of her books? Because it's pretty frickin' obvious to me.

"What if the Cauldron was wrong?" is just the beginning of fighting for that HEA.

And I am sorry, not sorry, because as of ACOFAS, ACOSF, and the bonus chapters, there's not a single hint of Elain wanting to bridge the gap with her Cauldron-given mate... But rather a lot of her initiating the bridging of a gap between her and a certain Shadowsinger/Spymaster who confirms in his very own POV that he has feelings for her, but has been trying to stay away because he struggles with feelings of unworthiness - especially because a damned Cauldron gave her to another on top of that.

So if Elain's choosing anyone, it won't be because of any mating bond. No, Elain...

I may be primarily pro Elriel but I'm also pro-Lucien, so I want him to be happy too. I just think he deserves someone who readily wants and chooses him back, mating bond or not... So I am pretty sure he's asking the very same questions Az is asking. Sure, Elucien can still happen -there's just going to have to be a great deal of retconning, including ignoring all the build-up and crumbs Sarah has scattered throughout her books to make it feel unforced. But just like with Rhys' or Tamlin's etc. parents, not everyone accepting their mating bond is going to guarantee a HEA. And once Lucien finds out about his true parentage and the truth about the Cauldron, now that he's an exile with no High Lord to submit to... I'm pretty sure he's going to start finally fighting about what he truly thinks is right and his own freedom to choose and to love - something he didn't get to do for Jesminda. And no, it wouldn't be through a Blood Duel for a mate that was "thrown at him".

So there's no need for "I just want ______ to be happy" or "_____ doesn't deserve ______." Because none of these 3 are going to end up without a HEA in an SJM book where a character can barely stay dead for longer than 3 minutes.

#it's about LOVE not Fate #this has been hiding in my drafts for who knows how long and I dunno why I never published it #Choice vs Cauldron #choice > bonds #free will vs fate #pro elriel #elriel endgame #maasverse #pro elain archeron #foreshadowing #my messy thoughts #elain x azriel #elriel #elriel supremacy #elain archeron #sjm books #sjm universe

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lorcandidlucienwill · 2 months

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I haven't read TOG and the cresent city series yet and every anti-sjm tag I see it's always ACOTAR? Does that mean that in the other books the main characters aren't complete assholes and hypocrites?

Hi! ACOTAR is by far her worst series, in my opinion. I read TOG first and genuinely liked it which is why I came to read ACOTAR and was shocked by how bad it was.

That being said, she did exhibit some of those patterns I disliked in ACOTAR in TOG. For instance, I compare Chaol to Tamlin, although Chaol is much sweeter and more gentle and he got his own book and HEA (thank god), but it did feel like SJM tried to drag Chaol in the dirt to uplift Rowan. Rowan wasn’t as bad as Rhysand, but he did kind of give Cassian in ACOSF and he punched Aelin which is bleh. Chaol will always be superior to Rowan. Plus the pattern of replacing the FMC’s chosen family of Dorian and Chaol (giving Tamlin and Lucien) with the cadre. Not that I’d ever compare the cadre to the bat boys; I love the cadre and the bat boys are a waste of space.

Also SJM tends to make the FMC too self righteous even when she’s doing a load of bad shit. Let morally grey characters stay morally grey and let them face the consequences of their actions. This is why Aelin is her best FMC.

Hunt in Crescent City was the only MMC that wasn’t abusive. Props to him.

My order of her series from best to worst is TOG, CC, then ACOTAR. So my answer is most of my problems with SJM are in ACOTAR but that doesn’t mean I don’t have some qualms with her other two series. But they were readable and enjoyable unlike ACOTAR which frustrated the hell out of me.

#anon asks #sjm #sjm critical

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starsreminisce · 1 day

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Hiii!!! I love your blog so much 😍😍😍.

I have a question for you: Do you think SJM could have Elucien reject their bond without exploring it? I feel like for Elriel to have a book, the bond would have to be rejected early on so the story can focus on Azriel and Elain and whatever plot SJM chooses, just like she did for feysand in ACOMAF. It would be weird for Elain to explore the bond and get to know Lucien while building her relationship with Az at the same time. Especially when it’s supposed to be a dual POV. If she’s dealing with both, they both should have their pov as well for it to make sense - in my humble opinion.

Hello! Thank you so much for your kind words!

Short answer: no.

This isn't just Elain's bond to Lucien; it's also Lucien's bond to Elain. As you mentioned with Feyre, she underwent a process of understanding her relationships with Tamlin and then with Rhys, eventually discerning the differences between the two.

We see a similar exploration with characters like Aelin, Rowan, Lysandra, Chaol, and, to some extent, Bryce with Connor and Ithan with Bryce.

When SJM introduces a new character as a love interest, there's typically a lightbulb moment that reveals why one person wouldn't work and then segues into why another would.

Remember Az's bonus chapter?

Personally, a rejected mating bond would have been included as part of Elain's early healing journey. We would have been introduced to this concept in ACOSAF as it sets up the trajectory for the next couple of books.

Consider the dinner scene where Elain attempted to join the conversation but faced challenges, particularly when Amren tells her she can't be human anymore. While the reasons behind Elain's inquiry may remain ambiguous (small talk, genuine interest, existential crisis, powers), Amren later confirms that Elain isn't okay. Then we have Lucien dropping off the presents. We could have been given insight into Elain's potential rejection during Feyre's confrontation, either through Feyre's speculation or Elain's hints, yet it's Mor who reassures Feyre that they just need time and things will work out. Happiness doesn't seem to be part of a rejected mating bond equation—not when it haunts her, not when it drives Lucien to madness, not even when she senses his death.

How will the story proceed with only two perspectives in the next book, considering ACOSF sets the stage for a different narrative structure? It's worth contemplating the trajectory of Elain and Lucien's journey together as they pine over different people while processing their bond. What happens next? Will the following book be a quad POV because their HEA hasn't been realized yet, or will it solely focus on Elain, leaving Lucien's fate uncertain?

I recall reading an Elriel's comment about SJM writing them into a corner. I can't relate—she made the road to Elucien pretty clear to me.

And if she had forgotten that the bond could be rejected until ACOSF, then isn't it telling that she had no plans for it at all?

#elucien #pro elucien #elain x lucien

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dawneternal · 16 days

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What Can't Be Undone

✴ a one shot inspired by the theory that Elain reminds Rhys of his sister

✴ word count: 1.1k

✴ warnings: grief, loss, nightmares

✴ Hespera Masterlist

Rhysand woke to a room cloaked in starry midnight. His eyes scanned the room for threats, heart beating so quickly it ached in his chest. He was too warm, skin sticky with sweat.

Thunder rumbled, rattling the glass of the windows. It took him a moment to understand that it hadn't come from himself, but the summer storm approaching Velaris. He held his breath, glancing toward Nyx's bassinet, but the wards had held. The sound hadn't gotten through and his son was still asleep, his little face peaceful and silver with moonlight.

His gaze shifted toward the bed. The space beside him was empty and the anxiety rattled even harder against his ribs. He knew Feyre was only at the House of Wind with Nesta. But he needed her now.

Before he could stop himself, Rhys was out of bed and tugging on clothes. His nightmare and the real world were still merged, horror crawling down his spine. In this strange version of the world, a pair of glowing purple eyes overlapped with a pair of shining hazel ones. The sharp sting of loss filled every inch of him, coursing through his veins like his night-kissed power.

He was running down the hall, barely registering the thoughts of how stupid this would look and how foolish he would feel in the morning. He didn't care. He couldn't care. Not with the panic and the grief warring for space in his mind. And worse, something deep in his gut was clawing for a shred of hope. He fought for it, chest heaving. Because accepting the truth would hurt more than he could bear.

If Feyre were here, or Cassian, or Az, they would help him slide back into reality. But they weren't here and he stuck in this world of rumbling darkness. This rendition of the truth, created by his nightmare.

Trembling fingers grasped the doorknob to Elain's room and swung the door open wide. Lightning illuminated her form as she shot upright, fear written across her features. Thunder rolled again and Rhys jumped, scurrying toward her. Elain's shoulders sagged as she realized it was just him, though her brows furrowed at the wild gleam in his eyes, the sheen of sweat on his torso as he struggled for a breath.

"What's wrong? Is it Nyx?" She pulled back the covers and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Another flash of lightning ignited the amber of her eyes.

When he saw it, the honey brown that was supposed to be violet, Rhys crumbled. He dropped to his knees by Elain's bed, the harsh thud of his landing coinciding with another wave of thunder. When the sound faded, Rhys's sobs filled the room. He bent forward slowly to rest his forehead on Elain's knees.

She was still for a moment, processing the High Lord coming undone at her feet. Then she silently reached toward her sister, hoping the message made it to her, before pushing Rhysand back with gentle hands so she could kneel in front of him. She wrapped her arms around him, letting him weep into her shoulder. An image drifted into her mind and she didn't know if it had come from her own gifts or if Rhys had shared it with her. Wherever it came from, it sent a wave of aching grief so strong it pulled tears from her own eyes.

The heart-shaped face of a winged girl, blushing and laughing. Her golden skin and thick black eyebrows matched Rhysand's. Her eyes the same shade of violet, flecked with stars. Unruly black curls bounced over her shoulders. She was so young. Younger than Feyre had been when she'd gone over the wall with Tamlin. Elain could see her youth and promise, possibility wreathing her like a halo. As brilliant and glowing as her brother's power.

"Hespera," Rhysand croaked, grasping fistfuls of Elain's nightgown. Her jasmine scent filled his nose and pulled another choked cry out of him. It was not Hespera's scent. Not the smell of summer nights and moonflower he'd likely never experience again.

Elain's heart broke in two as she understood. He had come looking for her. He would not find her, would never find her again.

Rhys had told her once that she reminded him of his sister. It had filled her chest with warmth, made her eyes gleam with the honor, though a part of her had wondered if he was just being nice.

Now, she knew it was true. As he had rushed in his half-awake state to her room, to the closest thing in this living world he could find to Hespera. Mind hazy from his dream, he had forgotten she was gone. She had framed felt it before, the jumbled mess of emotions that came from dreaming of one you've lost.

"I'm sorry," Elain whispered, threading her fingers through his own inky hair and cradling his head. The floorboards dug into her knees and snagged against her nightgown but she did not move, only reached toward Feyre again. "I'm so sorry."

Elain couldn't guess how long they stayed like that, Rhysand enveloped in grief as the storm raged outside. She listened carefully for Nyx but he seemed to be sleeping through it all and she thanked the Mother for it.

Then she heard the snap of an incoming winnow and hurried footsteps on the stairs. Feyre ran past Elain's open door, doubling back when she registered what she'd seen. She stopped in the doorway, eyes drifting over her mate in Elain's arms, the panic in her eyes turning into sorrow.

"Feyre's here," Elain whispered as Feyre sat on the floor with them. Rhysand released Elain, looking at Feyre with such devastation in his red-rimmed eyes. Feyre held his face in her hands, brushing away the tears, murmuring comfort.

Elain wondered how her sister could stand even a fraction of the grief he must be sending through the bond. Her thoughts flashed toward her own mate, wondering if he had ever experienced such an episode and held it in so as not to send it to her unwittingly. It was another wave of pain in her already twisted heart.

She stood and walked toward the door a little numbly. Tea. Tea might help.

"Thank you," Feyre whispered over her shoulder at Elain, tears falling freely down her cheeks.

Elain nodded, not bothering to wipe away her own. For the millionth time, she cursed the cauldron for the power it had thrust upon her. This time, though, she did not wish to be human again. She wished for more. Something greater than her visions, greater than either of her sister's stolen powers. Something that could reverse the cruel death of Rhysand's sister. Or something that could help her dole the most fitting justice. She would send that vengeance to the afterlife, if she must.

Just as Nesta hadn't seen the silver glow of power in her own eyes, Elain could not see the golden light of her own.

#acotar fic #acotar fanfic #acotar fanfiction #rhysand acotar #rhysand #rhysand fic #rhysand fanfic #rhysand fanfiction #elain acotar #elain archeron fanfic #elain archeron #elain archeron fanfiction #rhys acotar #rhysand sister #rhysands sister #rhysand!sister #rhys!sister #hespera

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popjunkie42 · 4 months

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Blossoming in Winter: Chapter 2

@witchlingsandwyverns - Chapter 2 is here for you! Thank you for your patience while I wrestle with my story. I'm quite enjoying it, but it has some very particular thoughts about the way it is told and I've been editing a fair amount! Chapter 2 was also getting quite lengthy, so I've split it up a bit and this fic is now 5 whole chapters.

Summary: An AU that takes place at the end of the first war with Hybern against the human-faerie alliance. In this story, Tamlin is young but of age, and took up arms against his own father and brothers, leading a rebellious Spring army on the side of the human-fairie alliance. Feyre, a fae of spring without any wealth or illustrious parentage, joined the rebellious army as a way to support her family, and quickly moved up the ranks into Tamlin’s archery guard.

As the war starts to turn in favor of the land of Prythian and those that would defend and release the humans from faerie rule, High Lord Thesan of the Dawn Court opens up his palace and access to his healers for the High Lords, their families, and those with wounds that cannot be cured by normal means.

Inspired by the story of Faramir and Eowyn in Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.

Blossoming in Winter (read on AO3)

Chapter 2: Maiden, Young and Sad

Rhysand offers a gift and a bargain. Feyre learns more about the Prince's role in the war, and entertains an unexpected visitor.

All the thanks to @temperedink, @witch-and-her-witcher and @wilde-knight for the beta read and encouragement! And thank you to @acotargiftexchange and all the organizers for this amazing event.

I'm also going to repost my playlist as I've been listening to it incessantly as I write!

Chapter snippet below the cut!

This night, Feyre was determined to ignore the Prince as his loud steps and the clip of his cane alerted her to his approaching presence. Her posture stiffened on the balcony and she fixed her eyes to the sun-bled horizon once again.

But a second, softer set of footsteps followed after him, and curiosity had always been one of her vices.

When Feyre turned she saw his wings first, those dark harbingers of nightmares casting shadows against the flickering torches along the balcony, now awkwardly tied and stretched open into positions for healing. And behind the bandaged male, a fae wreathed in dark smoke, her slender hands holding a folded cloak colored the deep inky blue of a summer sky just after sunset, covered in tiny gems of starlight.

The wraith approached and wrapped the cloak around Feyre’s shoulders, smiling lightly before she faded back into shadow.

“What is this?” Feyre asked, feeling the fine shimmering fabric beneath her fingers.

“It’s my mother’s,” Rhysand answered, taking her measure in it.

She looked at him and felt her heartbeat quicken under that keen gaze. She was annoyed at her impulsive reaction to his eyes that seemed to sparkle with stars, to the sight of his fine ridged nose and high cheekbones. She willed herself to look away. “Why do you have your mother’s cloak here?”

“My brothers were visiting from home and I told her I had need of it.”

“Why would you need your mother’s cloak?”

Rhysand’s face was amused, his lips twitching at the corners.

Feyre felt her face heat. “Oh.”

“You seemed to be chilled, the other night,” he said flatly, turning towards the night sky.

Feyre nodded and pulled the cloak tighter around her left side. The warmth was welcome but her blush deepened as she considered the fine gift. Coming from Spring injured and half-dazed as she had been, it seemed no one had remembered the seasons continued outside of their endless warmth and bloom. She had come to Dawn woefully unprepared in her light army fare.

“Is it ice that affects you? Your arm.” The Prince asked casually, as though inquiring about her breakfast.

“Why?” Always with him, the question echoed in her mind.

“You seemed to react to the cold.”

Feyre lifted an eyebrow. “And?”

Rhysand turned his head to face her fully, his body remaining still as to not jostle his wings. “Fine. My spies and the gossiping nurses tell me that no one actually knows what happened to you in the Middle, or what you suffer from. You haven’t told a soul, at least not one that’s talking. Rare for war, when information is currency.” He said with an inquiring tilt of his head.

“So you want more information for your Night Court spies?”

Rhysand frowned. “I’m saying if you haven’t spoken of it yet, then doing so might bring you some comfort, and I’m happy to lend an ear. Soldier to soldier. And don’t you think you should tell the warden what hurt you? To aid in finding a cure?”

“There is no cure,” she said with certainty.

“How can you be sure?”

Feyre ground her teeth. He truly refused to leave well alone. “You said information is currency, which suggests I should put a price on my story. Hard to do if I share it willingly, soldier to soldier .”

His eyes sparked. “What would be your price, then?”

Something inside her recoiled at the thought of making bargains with silver-tongued Princes. Ones who thought they could buy information with gold. “If I tell you, they would be the last words you ever hear from me, as I’d require you to stick to your side of the healing wing for the rest of your stay.”

A low grumble came from the back of his throat. “What a terrible bargain to make on my side.” He tapped his fingers in a frantic pattern on the stone wall he leaned upon, then pulled back and slipped his hands into his pockets. “Is my company truly so offensive to you?”

Feyre scoffed. “Have you been trying to be pleasant?”

He stared at her, and she wished not for the first time that she could read his mind. “Fine. Perhaps I have been somewhat obnoxious.” His hands were out again, absently tracing the mortar on stone as he regarded her. “I told you Lady Feyre, I wish for us to be friends. And haven’t I helped you, brought you gifts, shown you I have only concern for your welfare?”

“And a Lord worth knowing further would expect something in return for all this?”

“Are you always this stubborn and willful?” She answered him only with a stare. “Fine,” he returned. “You don’t trust me, believe me to be a cad and a spy. But there’s little else to do here besides wander and feel our wounds dripping, so let me be the more interesting option. If we’re speaking of costs and bargains, how about this? Walk with me, twice a day for company, and you won’t have to answer a single question you don’t wish to. I’ll promise to be on my best behavior, and to prove it I’ll offer you one thought, one wholly true thing, in exchange for the same of you.”

To Feyre’s ears it had the makings of a terrible bargain. But just as quick the thought of her salve-scented room floated through her mind, and of the long, quiet hours where she felt her skin being devoured by the cold magic on her body. And inside of her there was a small, scared part that recoiled from the thought of being alone, so close to her end. Perhaps he wasn’t so bad, if she could escape from sharing too much with him.

“Once a day,” she answered. “And I’m not going to tell you about what happened in the forest.” He shrugged his shoulders.

“Of course. Your choice.”

“And I won’t be tricked or bargained into revealing anything about Ta - Prince Tamlin, or the Spring armies.”

“You’re certainly the picture of a loyal subject. Is Tamlin writing to you so often, sharing secrets you must protect?”

Feyre ignored his obvious bait. Her brow furrowed as she ran through the words of the bargain in her mind. “You said you would tell me one honest truth.”

He cocked his head. “Is that your condition, and then you agree?”

She nodded. And then gasped, as she felt a warm, tingling sensation snake against her wrist. Turning it towards her, she saw the dark ink of a tattoo - a simple rose with the three stars of the Night Court atop it like a crown.

Rhysand shrugged under her glare. “It’s custom in my court for bargains to be marked on the flesh.” He motioned to her with a flourish. “Ask your question.”

(Read on AO3)

#acotarfanfiction #feysand #acotar #acotarfanfic #eowyn and faramir #lord of the rings au #first hybern war #acotar au #Spotify

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bythenineshards · 1 year

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I think if SJM wanted to keep to the Beauty and the Beast retelling, she could have made Riceman a Gaston like dude. But she decided to butcher more fairytales

I don't think the Gaston thing would work. Gaston is a Disney addition to the fairytale. A very good addition, I might add. He's a wonderful contrast to the Beast who is willing to learn, grow, and change. Gaston is a character that would be the hero in most other stories. The fact that Belle sees through his bs is a great way to show your audience that Belle is intelligent and when looking for a partner she's not focused solely on appearance.

As someone who has researched a lot of fairytales (including the original Beauty and the Beast), I actually really like Disney's Beauty and the Beast. It's a comfort movie for me. I actually like it better than the story it's based on.

In the original, Belle has dreams of the Beast as a prince at night. She doesn't know it's him, though. She only really sees the Beast at dinner, and he asks her to marry him each night after dinner. She says no. She asks to visit her family, and he says yes. He tells her that she has a certain number of days and she can use a magic item to get back or he'll die of grief. Yikes. During that time, she fights with the prince in her dreams. He accuses her of abandoning the beast. Yikes. She goes back and accepts the next proposal. He's made a prince and HEA.

I think if you wanted to make an antagonist for Beauty in a retelling, make the antagonist the dream prince. Make him the one who made Beast a Beast. His seduction of her is to ruin the Beast's chances of breaking the curse. So maybe get rid of the whole Amarantha plot line and make it a battle for Feyre's heart between Rhys and Tamlin in a centuries old feud over the killing of one another's family.

Fuck me... I might write something like that...

The fairytale she really butchered was Tam Lin. Just strictly speaking of Acotar. Like Bonny Janet walked her ass into the Faerie forest to fuck herself a Faerie and damnit she did just that.

#anti sjm #anti acotar #anti sjmaas #sjm critical #ask holly #ask me stuff #ask me questions #ask me things #ask me anything #thanks for the ask!#send asks #my asks #ask #answered ask #anon asks #thanks anon!#anons welcome #anon ask

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tamlinfairchild · 3 months

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I think I must report fanfiction where people don't give Tamlin a HEA for emotional distress.

#mila rambles #ive had enough #😭

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climbthemountain2020 · 2 months

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Hope of Spring - Chapter 25

Friends, we have reached the end!

This was my very first fic that I've written and published, and I can't tell you how much it means to me that you all came along for the ride with me. To those of you who made a habit of following all my updates and regularly commenting, you have no idea how much your comments lit up my day (even when I made you mad lol).

I was so nervous to go out on a limb and share my writing, but this has made me so glad I did. I hope you'll keep an eye out for me--I've got some other good stuff coming :)

And, more than anything, I hope you've enjoyed the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. <3

Now enjoy this tooth-achingly sweet, self-indulgent epilogue! Also on Ao3! Find Ch. 24 here

The sun was setting over the hills of Spring, and the hot day was giving way to a balmy evening of twinkling stars. The fireflies were dancing around the edges of the garden, and mourning doves and crickets could be heard calling out in the twilight. A shriek pierced the evening, as two figures shot from the garden maze, a dead sprint towards the stairs of the house.

“DAD!”

Tamlin was sitting on the stairs, whittling a small horse into an old piece of willow wood, when the two forms burst forward, hurtling toward him. The first figure dove, attempting to reach him in time, but the second figure was too fast, lunging on to the first with a grunt. The first, a boy, bellowed as the second, a girl, smeared a handful of mud down the side of his face.

“Kalliope, stop!” He slapped at her arms and face as she held him town, Tamlin looking over at the two teenagers brawling a few feet away from him.

“I told you it wasn’t going to go over well if she found out that you ate the last tart, Kyron.” The boy rolled then, pushing the girl’s muddy hands back into her own face as she wrinkled her nose and kicked. The twins rolled down the slight hill next to the manor as Tamlin sighed amusedly.

“Where’s Silas?” He called out after the two, still tumbling and now heaving great handfuls of mulch at each other.

“The fish pond.” Kyron gritted out as he slung the two of them into a nearby puddle, Kalliope gasping with rage. Tamlin sighed again, setting his whittling knife and the small figurine down and pushing himself off the steps to go drag his younger son out of the fish pond. Just as he made toward the gardens, a small boy, bright eyed and carrying a bucket, toddled out from the maze. He had sticks and leaves scattered through his light brown hair, a proud look on his face, and was soaked entirely through.

“Dada!” He pointed animatedly to the heavy bucket. “Fiss!” Tamlin peered into the bucket of, indeed, fish, who looked irritated at having been removed from their home. He laughed and ruffled the boy’s hair, trying to brush some of the nature out of it.

“Good job, buddy.”

“Fiss.” He confirmed, then stomped proudly back towards the pond.

Penny walked out on the porch just in time to see Silas walk back among the flowers, Tamlin watching him go and scratching the back of his neck. She hauled the baby she was carrying higher on her hip, then sent a little breeze to him and she began to walk closer. He turned immediately, love in his eyes as he found her.

“Baths tonight?” She asked, lightly.

“Baths tonight,” he confirmed with a laugh, gesturing over his shoulder to the twins, finally done sparring and attempting to brush themselves off. “How’s my Poppy today?” He came and kissed the cheeks of the baby in her arms.

“Your Poppy refuses to take a nap unless someone is holding her.” Penny cooed at the baby in her arms, who giggled and smacked chubby baby hands on Penny’s arms in response.

“Cass and Nes are coming tomorrow and bringing Irina and Osiris. “Kyron perked up at the mention of Irina, then immediately tried to play it off as Kalliope punched him in the side and snickered. He’d had a thing for Cassian and Nesta’s daughter, Irina, for years now. The twins were seventeen, along with Irina and Kit, the second daughter of Lucien and Elain, and the twins had spent almost every other weekend with the two since then. While the four were thick as thieves, Kyron was hung up on Irina in a much more romantic way.

“Maybe you won’t fuck it up and look like a total idiot in front of her this weekend, Kyron.” She smirked.

“Shut up, Kalliope.” He punched his sister in the shoulder as Tamlin sent them both a look.

“They get that mouth from you, you know.” Penny grinned at him and nodded enthusiastically as Silas waddled back out of the maze again, this time with mud adorning his cheeks and a very empty bucket trailing forlornly at his side.

“Fiss went home.” He shrugged sadly, as Tamlin came to scoop him up.

“It’s alright, sweet boy. We can go see the fish again with Osiris tomorrow, hm?” Osiris, the hulking, four-year old, sweet-as-a-button carbon copy of Cassian, was Silas’ very best friend. The little boy's eyes lit up.

“Siris!”

“Yeah, buddy. He’ll be here tomorrow.”

The group had all grown up together, their parents staying close after the war. Nyx, Nova, Sirene, and Kieran, the four oldest, had been the ones who’d taught Penny and Tamlin all about children–and also encouraged them to wait for a decade or so before trying for their own. The little winged Night Court heirs were all wild will and energy. Their cousin Sirene and her cousin Kieran were wild bursts of fire everywhere they went. The oldest four were off most of the time now, Nyx and Nova training in the Illyrian Steppes much of the time, Sirene shadowing her grandparents in Day, and Kieran learning how to help run Autumn as the heir.

When Tamlin and Penny finally had their fill of quiet and sleeping and decided to try for children of their own, they’d immediately been blessed with twins. Around the same time, Nesta and Cassian had Irina, and Lucien and Elain had Kit, and thus the second group of kids were born. Now, the group of teenagers was always fighting–with each other and everyone else. If you saw dust clouds kicking up or a tavern about to erupt into a brawl, it was certain you’d find the four of them there.

A third wave had hit all the friends another few years past that, which provided them with Osiris, Silas, and Azriel and Gwyn’s daughter, Catrin. The three were a wobbly mess of toddler antics, always sticky, muddy, or otherwise.

Finally, Lucien and Elain had just been graced with a third, their first boy, while earlier in the year Poppy and Nira, Feyre and Rhys’ third and final child, had been born the same month.

More often than Penny would admit, she would think back to that first time in the Night Court, where she’d sat under the stars with Feyre and Nova, shushing the sweet babe to sleep and allowing herself to wonder for the first time if any of this could be possible for her. She had shared her dreams with Feyre, even though she’d never been tempted to tell anyone before, and Feyre had pushed her. Told her it was possible for her to have that here.

Sometimes, she couldn’t believe how much time had passed. They all looked the same except the children–time meant almost nothing to her anymore. Since the war, they’d lived in a period of peace in Prythian, which made being High Lady of Spring a relatively easy job. After the dust had settled, they’d set up a series of town halls in the village, allowing the people to speak about what bothered them. At first, the people were hesitant, but Penny set up an anonymous system of reporting. Once they realized that the things they suggested were being taken to heart and no one was getting singled out, they became more comfortable with sharing and speaking openly about changes they wished to see.

Over the years, the town halls gave way to a council that helped with ruling over Spring. Ideas were shared willingly and enthusiastically, and votes were often held between the different provinces. As had been the plan, the tithe was done away with, and the people flourished for it. The celebrations were resurrected across the holidays in Spring, and Penny and Tamlin had had their fair share of Calanmais together, too–one of which was almost certainly responsible for Poppy. Spring was a place like it had never been before, and trust had been restored in its rulers.

In the summers, the children would spend the majority of their time in the Night Court. When they were young, they would help Elain in the kitchen or the gardens, or paint with Feyre in her studio on the Rainbow. As they grew older, some chose to train with the Valkyries or Azriel and Cassian, though they’d had to break up and separate Kalliope, Kyron, Kit, and Irina on a number of occasions.

In the deep winter, when Velaris was so cold that training was miserable, they’d all travel to Spring and return the favor, spending long warm days outside identifying plants, learning archery, horseback riding, and about all the creatures that lurked in the woods. It was a great exchange, and it allowed all the friends and their children to stay close. As the children grew and Lucien and Elain moved to Day, the warm summers were spent in the sun, running through the towns of white marble and down to the gentle slopes of the sea. It had been a wonderful few decades of peace and memory-making.

Tamlin pressed his lips to Penny’s temple. “It’s the last day of the month, yes?” She perked up.

“Yes! I went into town for it the other day. I’ll run get it and have Tally start the baths up. Stay here.” she handed him Poppy, and raced into the house. She ran into her old bedroom, now mostly storage for items they weren’t currently using and grabbed for the cloak on the bed. She’d purchased one at the seamstress in town this week, as she did the last week of every month. She grabbed it off the bed, wrapped it up gently in tissue paper, and went back to Tamlin so that they could go put it out in the woods by the birch trees.

On her way out, she ran into Tally.

“Baths?” Tally asked, amusedly.

“Baths.” Penny nodded, with a laugh.

Before she made it to the doors, she paused, taking a few steps out of her way to run her hands across the cracks that remained in the walls and floor by the eastern corner of the foyer. Out of the window, she could see Tamlin, baby pulled to his chest, chasing Kyron and Kalliope around the yard, now also covered in mud courtesy of the twins. Silas trampled behind them, roaring and tossing mud around a few steps away, all of them laughing uproariously.

She let her fingers trail along the cracks once more, a smile on her face, and she held the cloak close and walked out into the evening sky of Spring.

#a court of thorns and roses #acotar #elucien #tamlin #tamlin x oc #feysand #gwynriel #tamlin oc #tamdemption #tamlins hea #hope of spring

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