div1nes

[div1nes]

" less they come to have a use , i don't find myself thinking often of flowers . " mistress of laws' words are hummed , and though whisked away by the wind , they stand just as firm . petals touch the skin kissed by karagh , daughter of amberhigh finds looking at the delicate flora as a temporary pleasure . in a couple of days , or a couple of moon cycles , the beauty will wither — therein lies the unspoken curse of wavering seasons , she thinks . spring brings buds , and winter brings the husks . mortality , all wrapped in a decorated ribbon . amber gaze flickered from the object to the lady however , hand falling back to her side with elegance and a smile practiced . " but it is interesting that one's mind may wander where another's doesn't . you must know much about flowers , lady alden . "

𝒔𝒆𝒎𝒊 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒓   ╱    for @div1nes, @silverflcmes, @liiionheartcd, @armvredfate + 0/2 taken spots.

verena  is  bored  and  that  is  why  the  alden  lady  finds  herself  surrounded  by  what  she  finds  most  familiar.  hands  cling  together  behind  her  back,  a  head  of  pale  blonde  hair  contrasting  with  the  dark  leaves  of  the  well  kept  shrub.  for  long  moments,  rena  thinks  herself  the  sole  soul  to  wander  the  gardens  ⸺  so  much  so,  she  whispers  the  names  of  all  the  plants  she  finds  during�� her  walk  (  she  knows  all  of  them  like  family  and  knows  which  ones  could  heal  and  which  ones  could  hurt  ).  used  to  the  silence,  the  footsteps  besides  her  own  pair  are  impossible  to  ignore.  ❝  have  you  ever  wondered  about  how  old  some  of  these  flowers  are? ❞  verena  smiles  at  the  thought;  her  interest  shines  through  every  inch  of  her  face.  ❝  friend  of  foe,  many  of  these  species  have  been  here  long  before  us  and  will  be  here  long  before  we  depart  from  this  life.  interesting,  isn't  it? ❞

[div1nes]

andromeda had once wondered — was the lion cruel , unkind to the lamb because she was weak in his eyes , a daughter so unlike the great name of eissen , or if this hate grew from the bones of resemblance that were not his ? theoden may have been father , half she , but it was uncle that raised her . it was the commander that taught her perseverance , that made her feel strong once long ago . it was uncle that taught her that honey and fire were both gold .

" that's a relief . " the quiet room is filled with her whispers , and that small weight lifted from her chest was a breath of fresh air . holy rose was unsure if she was all there , all present and strong enough not to burst into tears had he been .

he knew . there was rarely a use in playing pretences , to keep pretending that everything was alright when it wasn't . he'd been by her side far longer than any of the others in the room , but she was so used to it . so used to hiding , to pretending to be someone she is not that it is a mask well molded to her . head shook , as better hand came to rest on top of his . there was no place safer than here , now . " i have my guards , you know . they're good , they are . i just wanted some time alone with my ladies to be girls , and not surrounded by steel and frigid orders . no one could have known . would you have said no , if i'd asked you instead ? "

" i can't sleep . " the admittance is so sudden , it caused her to flinch , move at another angle to soothe the pain pinching her side . " i can't forget about it . every time i try , images keep coming back . then i think about fee , that if she hadn't been there — i'd be dead . i could be her , laying in her chambers , hanging on instead of talking to you . i don't want to think about that , so i don't sleep . "

he  exhaled  through  his  nose,  slow  and  heavy.  the  kind  of  breath  a  man  takes  when  he’s  trying  to  stay  something  —  not  say  it.

don’t  be  mad,  uncle,  she’d  said.  as  if  that  was  what  she  feared  from  him  “mad?”  he  repeated  it,  low.  dry.  hollow. “i’ve  been  many  things  since  the  attack,  andromeda.  but  not  once  have  i  been  angry  at  you.”

he  didn’t  look  at  her  when  he  said  it.  his  eyes  stayed  on  her  hands  instead  —  pale  against  the  blanket,  knuckles  strained  from  gripping  whatever  strength  she  still  had  left.  he’d  been  there  when  she  was  a  child,  fists  balled  up  against  fever  dreams.  he’d  taught  her  how  to  hold  a  blade  before  the  king  even  approved  it.  he  knew  the  exact  angle  she  slept  at  when  she  was  in  pain.

and  right  now,  everything  in  her  posture  told  him  she  was  pretending  again.  his  throat  worked  as  he  swallowed,  jaw  tight.  he  placed  his  hand  over  hers.  “i’ve  served  your  father  with  blade  and  blood,  but  make  no  mistake:  you  were  always  the  one  i  swore  to.”  a  beat.  “and  if  they  think  this  is  the  end  of  me  guarding  you,  they’re  wrong.”

he  looked  at  her  then.  really  looked  “you  don’t  have  to blame  me.  that’s  fine.  but  i’ll  carry  it  all  the  same.”  another  beat  of  silence,  then:

“i’ll  send  the  others  away.  for  tonight,  it’s  just  me.  sleep  if  you  can.  i’ll  keep  watch.”

[div1nes]

closed for @liiionheartcd , @glvrious + @statuescrcmble

blemished , bruised . skin once untouched by violence now painted with the attack of the northern beast for all to see — but they spoke of weakness , told the princess that spending too long in her chambers recovering made the attackers appear victorious . never mind that her dearest friend , her oldest lady in waiting still remained unable to leave hers . never mind that kind eyes appeared more solemn , and the polished mind now found itself cracked . the mirror did not show the reflection she needed to see , but sea foam jolted to the body of another in her room . a face that she'd needed dearly in this moment . a smile , a relieved smile . " i - they told me to get ready . could you please help me do my hair ? "

[div1nes]

          𝗎𝗇𝗅𝗈𝖼𝗄𝖾𝖽    . . .       ꗃ      𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯  𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳

cerberus walks quietly , a shade in the belveil gardens — a yearning for home lingering in the heart of the beast . fingers touch the petals of the flowers , but they don't feel the same . they own no character , no charm of their own . lifeless , and encased in a glass cage like a trophy . there is no wilderness , no danger in their stems . merikh would swallow them whole . but the wind talks , whispers to the duty bound of a shadow lurking just behind , and the whispers are answered with a long hum of some broken song . " this prison is pretty , at least . "

[div1nes]

he is ares — war etched into soul and eyes , steel carved into his fingertips , and battlefield being wherever feet touch ground . lord of the black keep , the frozen spectre . " they best start looking elsewhere . " doran was not gentle , not to anyone who did not carry his name , his children and coat of arms . finger tap against the top of steel's handle , and he forces in a calming breath . more docile , more diplomatic . " i do wish the king would hurry with his questions . my house will only take so much disrespect from others , and it seems like being cooperative is helping none of us . "

" they are searching for someone to blame to reckon with the loss they are facing . " the lady sighs and shakes her head , " it is human nature to do so , but it is not an excuse to attack you and yours . " until they received answers , the north would be an easy scapegoat for the cause of the kenara attack , but adira did not think it so simple . it was not fair of course but until they knew something then house laicestre would need to be careful most of all . adira nods at his words , the tension between her own house and house eissen was known and she would not let her family become another scapegoat . " i am aware my lord , when one scapegoat seems to make less sense , then another will be searched for . "

[div1nes]

rage was to doran as snow was to a blizzard — but where it was as all consuming as a wildfire to some , the warden's was as glacial as an ice age . stood against the furious crown , against ardora's future high king , his high king , doran stood equal . not in title , not in crown , but in burn . flame licked at his feet , fury demanding its pound of flesh . but all it would meet was the ice , the never melting ice of the north . jaw tight and loose , knuckles white as he kept the habit to sit hand atop of steel at bay . " kenaras are cunning and skilled hunters . their movements and thoughts are unpredictable , impossible to discern . " leopard answered , sympathy lost as unsaid accusations spilled from royal tongue . " maybe you should turn your questions and suspicions to the guards atop of your walls . you were breached , and that is their failure . your failure , your grace . " do not look to my people for blame , the lord of geimreadh nearly says , but instead keeps the thought to himself .

adonis   stands   before   northern   warden    —    a   lion   in   mourning,    and   hardly   still   a   lion.    he   lacks   courage,    lacks   composure,    for   grief   had   clawed   through   the   cracks.    sister’s   stillness   in   that   candlelit   bed   haunted   him   more   than   the   beasts   ever   could.    still,    he   did   not   bow.    mention   of   ambrose’s   wounds   caused   mouth   to   twist    —    not   quite   a   scoff,    but   something   colder.    “then   tell   me,   my   lord,”    voice   like   flint   against   stone,    iron   -   wrapped   and   simmering,    “how   do   you   suppose   these   beasts   found   themselves   in   ardora?”    tremble   nearly   breaks   through,    fury   becoming   a   living   thing.    he   is   tethered   by   duty,    unleashed   only   by   love.    the   prophecies   had   long   warned   of   this:    frost   bitten   by   rot,    blood   drawn   from   the   bones   of   broken   pacts.    and   solaris   knew   better   than   most   that   his   father   was   not   above   playing   god   when   desperation   kissed   his   crown.    because   it   was   his   sister   who   suffered.    his   children   who   witnessed   the   carnage.    and   it   was   he   who   would   find   the   cause.    “gates   were   opened.    something   let   them   through.    and   if   not   your   steel,    then   your   silence.”    prince   seethes,    daring   to   tear   open   the   snows   of   geimreadh   and   digging   out   the   truth   with   bare,    bleeding   hands.

[div1nes]

there were moments , times , where his brother's humor was a soothing balm to difficult situations . now was not one of those times , and the pair remained eerily quiet between words — the frosted leopard waiting , nearly daring , his little brother to utter the words he knew were on the tip of his tongue . a sigh reverberated between them , doran feeling the exhaustion of the day wash over him as yet again , more questions go unanswered . " the scent of blood during the hunt , perhaps . it wouldn't be surprising if they somehow followed us as we traveled from geimreadh to ardora , and were attracted to the trophies hunted . "

"I'd never wish to do such a thing." The was a jest dancing in the back of his mind, distracting him ever so much, but the look in his brother's eyes convinced him not to let it roll off his tongue and instead, he simply swallowed it. "It won't be much of a work, I promise. It's only a scratch." The four deep gashes he called a scratch weren't bleeding as profusely anymore, at least. He would be fine. Nothing a good cup of ale and nice conversation wouldn't fix. "They were in unfamiliar territory, no wonder they were acting erratic. But why now? Why not before? Ugh—" A frustrated groan left him, head tilting back. "All these questions are giving me a headache...!"

[div1nes]

" a coincidence , an unfortunate tragedy . a large body of people and prey wandering about make for perfect conditions for the kenaras . house laicestre , and now the north , have been friends of the crown since the birth of ardora . for what reason would we break it now ? if you would humor me . " the ruling lord of geimreadh questioned , as he had no answer of his own . at least , not when it came to his own blood and flesh . he had children to care for , he had a fragment to protect . he would not risk war , not now . " if you wish to sate such voracious curiosity , then i suggest visiting the black keep when this investigation is over with . those books will be much more useful to you than i . i never took to literature . "

chin  lifts  slightly,  gaze  steady  as  she  turns  his  words  over.  ‘  are  we  to  believe  it  a  coincidence,  then  ?  the  first  in  many  years  that  all  regions  are  together,  and it's  now  that  creatures  of  the  north  see  fit  to  attack  ardora  ?  ’  cares  little  for  the  royal  family,  an  allegiance  to  her  own  family  and  few  others,  yet  cassa  doesn't  feel  the  need  to  temper  her  words  when  any  that  would  overhear  could  interpret  them  as  defense  of  the  eissens  despite  her  caring  little  for,  or  about,  them.  just  as  she'd  heard  accusations  of  the  laicestres,  she's  heard  talk  of  divine  intervention  —  both  nigh  impossible  in  her  opinion.  ‘  you'll  have  to  pardon  me  if  my  words  do  come  across  in  offense  as  i'm  curious  of  your  lands  and  are  the  best  source  of  knowledge  for  them.  ’            

[div1nes]

" liege qohor . " the northern warden's voice cuts just as the steel on his hip would , warning titled banner man with urgency . geimreadh would prove themselves at a disadvantage , outnumbered in the capitol should the rest of the fragments turn against them — they would not crumble quietly , but as big as pride may be for the houses of the winter fragment , they would still burn under the weight of false scrutiny . the crown princess was of northern birth , had once been the laicestre's subject . to want to harm a lady , a princess , of house bailgrave would be similar to attacking one of his own . " kenaras leaving geimreadh is unheard of , but not impossible . they could have followed a caravan , looking for a chance to strike . but the guards at the walls would have seen them , surely . "

      they  watched  the  exchange  in  silence  ,  but  their  expression  held  all  the  disdain  for  the  other  noble  that  had  spoken  and  made  the  accusations  . he wasn't yet out of ear shot when they spoke , flippant as could be .  "  feed  him  to  the  kenaras  when  they  attack  again  .  instead  of  being  grateful  to  keep  his  life  ,  he  complains  .  "  without  the  assistance  of  the  north  who  knew  how  to  handle  the  kenaras  ,  the  great  hunt  would've  ended  with  more  casualties  and  losses  with  the  royal  family  unable  to  do  anything  but  watch  .  farrah  would  have  taken  pleasure  in  it  ,  but  had  largely  kept  quiet  as  to  not  insult  the  dead  .  "  how  do  you  think  they  got  here  ?  "  rather  than  blame  ,  they  wanted  another  northerner's  opinion  of  what  they  think  the  animals  had  done  to  arrive  in  ardora  undetected  .

[div1nes]

closed , for @silverflcmes

" it's arrogant . " the morning star looked to the horizon , standing upon the starlings temporary chambers' balcony with disdain . " ceago does not bow to the high king , yet he locks us within the capitol like dogs . " sereen had hoped to be back home , back in starfax , quickly after the celebrations . ardora was uncomfortable for the daughter of the desert . it was too cool , too gentle . untouched by harsh elements , and it infuriated she . violet eyes turn to face brother , entering the threshold of the chambers and away from prying eyes . " has mother sent word yet ? "

[div1nes]

" no , and you will certainly not be going anywhere for the time being . you say he looked at it — but i wonder if you gave him the chance to look at it for more than a punitive moment . " cloth is dipped into the bowl , water poured onto the fabric to soak it cleanly . it is uncommon for the daughter of ceago to find herself caring , but the two had known each other a lifetime , it seemed . had shared their beds , shared moments intimately and beyond . this was trust , and in the trust , there was a small fear . fear that she could have lost one of her people to the attack . malai turned to walk back to the master of ships , fingers touching bare shoulder , stardust searching for his eyes . " let me clean them . "

He snickers thinking of seraphina sevford as anything but a tender handed healer, not with him at least, for she already knew how he was. however he does not correct her. he tilts his head watching her sideways at the title, he knew she was nearing the point where she too would be swatting at him with a near by object, although he was hoping his injuries would keep her at bay. "but is not untreated, he looked at it, now i should be able to go on my merry way, right?" he says looking for his shirt, then remembering it was not ribbons at best. "besides, i am sure i can be used elsewhere if only just for the information, the king must be running rampant at the moment."

[div1nes]

the pair share a strange affection , danced to the rhythm of a discordance — a melody that made little sense to outsiders , but daughters of vithel and ceago laughed harmoniously to . malai found love , and in it , past it , a lady whom she could share parts of herself that she'd never dare show others . lydia would only need to call for her , and the light of atesia would not once leave the shoulders of the lady until she no longer needed it . a portion of her weight falls into the side of the fairvale in tease , followed by a chuff from the sereen . a strong squeeze to hand , turning head so lips brush cheek in familiarity . " why wouldn't you ? i make better company . " malai , as selfish as she may be from time to time , would not expect anything of the such from lydia . there is too much respect , too much bravery in taking an oath , for the ceagoan woman to demand a break . " hm , it is good . i would've never pegged the knights for a group of jesters , but if the sword no longer interests them some day , this one would make plenty of coins as court entertainment . "

how  sweet  it  is  to  be  at  the  side  of  a  friend,  a  friend  such  as  she  who  lydia  feels  so  much  of  the  human  connection  which  seems  to  evade  her  time  and  again.  her  shoulders  shake  with  the  rarest  of  laughter,  the  sound  dancing  on  the  breeze  as  her  hair  falls  like  oceans  of  starlight  coasting  over  her  spine.  it  is  a  strange  sight  to  most,  to  look  to  lady  lydia  and  see  her  freed  of  the  rigid  structure  of  her  routine  through  which  she  marches  daily,  a  willing  soldier  until  the  very  end.  her  fingers,  roughened  and  calloused,  slip  between  the  gaps  in  malai's  and  her  thumb  brushes  tenderly,  lovingly  over  the  her  hand  —  how  strange  to  have  left  the  desperate,  sweating  desires  of  their  youths  behind  and  find  themselves  somehow  more  affectionate  in  their  friendship,  this  swelling  sensation  of  knowing  shared  between  them.  she  supposes,  it  is  as  intoxicating  to  be  known  by  a  friend  as  it  is  by  a  lover.  “i  am  duty  bound,  do  you  wish  me  to  abandon  my  oath  for  you?”  she  retorts,  her  voice  a  sweet  murmurs  close  to  malai's  ear,  the  day  slipping  soundlessly  from  her  shoulders  as  the  lady,  for  once,  relaxes.  “one  of  the  knights  —  good,  is  it  not?  i  don't  find  i  usually  enjoy  such  humour,  and  still  i  laugh.”  she  snorts,  the  lightness  of  her  eyes  rolling  before  they  reach  upward  and  seek  those  of  her  friend. 

[div1nes]

thawed kindness was far from the mistress of laws' forte , preferring a subtle yet direct approach . smiles that never reached deep pool of hazel browns , words carefully crafted and thought through . " you're right , i lied . " no need for further deception on the matter , and instead choosing to pull chair from the opposite side of the lady . " i'm only doing my duties , my lady , but it'll be quick . please bare with it . " bangles clash against one another as hand waved the servant carrying a book towards them . " did you by chance see anything strange during the celebrations leading up to the hunt ? "

not  one  for  outward  cynicism  nor  to  be  particularly  rebellious,  it  didn't  stop  the  gentle  huff  of  laughter  that  was  humorless.  ‘  both  the  king  and  queen  are  certainly  busy  with  the  attacks  as  well  as  the  dead  that  need  be  given  their  rites  and  buried  appropriately.  i  have  no  thoughts  that  the  royal  family  has  given  any  thought  towards  me,  lady  liraz.  there's  no  reason  to  state  such.  ’  she  wished  to  not  find  it  exhausting  that  the  celebrations  turned  to  a  show  of  politics  as  quickly  as  there  had  been  grief,  hand  reaching  to  gingerly  clasp  the  tea  to  take  a  grounding  sip.  ‘  i  have  no  knowledge  of  anything,  but  if  you  need  to  ask  questions,  you  may.  ’       

[div1nes]

aphrodite is every bit her mother — a woman never met , a myth whispered not screamed , and leaving behind her naught but more questions . a bastard's luck following , a fox's intuition to leave the hunting field early to tend to council matters . her webs wrapped around belveil like arachne's , beautiful but impossible to spot until one is wrapped in it like a cocoon . rozia's sharp personality , the mist following behind her every step like a shadow are the reasons why she has kept the titles of heir and mistress of laws , wearing them like a golden circlet .

but feyglade would never produce one gorgon , and fail to teach the others the same . the teeth of each liraz left imprints , each adapt at turning others to stone with words and ruining gazes . young , a handful of years her cadet , but nyxara was a mirror to the heir . a sister , a daughter , a priceless jewel within her soul . eyes drink in her appearance , vixen's intent stare spotting each patch of imperfect color , each bandage . temper flared , a moment , pulling away with a soft touch to cheek . a silent promise of revenge . " letting your memory rot away in a crypt would be a fate worst than death . no , i carried your letters and words around like they were karagh's own . "

thumb stroked gently on skin , until palm moved to touch the crown of her head — a gentle pat . oh , how proud rozia was of her littlest . alive , and inviting whispers of a mystical strength . " i would have come to visit home more often , but — his majesty is particular on when we are allowed leave . forgive me . "

sun   watched   over   them   like   a   mother   might   —   stern,   unblinking,   and   tender   in   her   coldness.    nyxara   moved   as   though   spun   from   shadow   and   starlight,    her   steps   a   whispered   song   through   ardora’s   magnificent   garden.    helios's   touch   glimmered   on   the   curve   of   her   cheek,    pale   against   bruises   that   still   bloomed   beneath   porcelain.    bandaged   ribs   pressed   beneath   bodice,   hidden   but   humming   with   memory   —   the   price   of   shielding   frightened   nobles   when   the   great   hunt   turned   from   sport   to   slaughter.    blood   had   soaked   velvet   that   night.    not   all   of   it   hers. she   now   stood   before   sister,   who   shimmered   like   a   dream   dressed   in   silver:    feyglade’s   heir   —   the   kind   of   woman   born   to   enchant   ruin   and   call   it   loyalty.    nyxara   tilts   her   head,    smile   ghosting   rose   -   colored   lips.    “how   cruel   of   time,”    she   murmured,    voice   like   dusk,    “to   make   a   myth   of   you   in   my   mind.    only   to   return   you   now,   carved   in   light.”    she   stepped   forward,    catching   the   scent   of   roses   and   secrets.    “and   what   a   strange   thing   you   remain,   sister   —   beauty   enough   to   blind   karagh,   yet   somehow   still   mine.”    fingers   grazed   rozia’s   sleeve,    reverent.    “tell   me,    did   you   think   me   lost?    or   merely   dreaming   in   some   hollow   crypt   of   your   memory?” but   the   sharpness   faded   as   rozia’s   arms   encircled   her.    nyxara   allows   herself   to   be   drawn   in,   breath   catching   in   her   throat   like   a   moth   in   a   jar.    “oh   rozia,”    whispers   the   nymph,    break   in   voice   as   apparent   as   the   edge   of   night.    “i   have   missed   you   like   the   moon   misses   the   sea.”

[div1nes]

" the kenaras sound like better company . " heir spoke in soft accents , but not lacking the venom saved uniquely for the second daughter . silver serpent slithered close , hand closing around the seat's back , but made no effort to pull it — to take a seat . rozia took a moment to assess chandria , a momentary look . not of concern , but merely of morbid curiosity befitting a noble of amberhigh . " his majesty sends his concerns , chandria , but it looks like they are misplaced . unscathed , as always . "

she  had  spent  the  morning  listening  to  the  aftermath  of  the  attacks  .  people  quick  to  blame  the  visiting  northern  nobility  while  others  took  an  approach  that  seemed  more  religious  ,  coming  close  to  blaming  the  royals  themselves  but  not  being  forthright  with  it  .  chandria  pretends  to  keep  her  vision  on  the  page  of  the  tome  that  she  had  borrowed  from  the  library  to  aid  in  her  observation  ,  nail  flicked  to  the  next  page  as  the  previously  louder  voices  suddenly  hushed  .  the  sound  of  another  approaching  brought  her  attention  to  them  and  she  inclined  her  head  towards  the  seat  across  from  her  .  "  you're  welcome  to  sit  for  a  spell  if  you  would  like  .  "  she  offered  out  of  politeness  rather  than  a  desire  for  company  ,  as  she  wanted  to  continue  listening  to  the  gossip  .

[div1nes]

angela zhang by elizabeth elder & pieces by firefly path + chaos costumes

[div1nes]

you were december , eyes cold , freeze my blood . somehow , somehow not enough . bring the lion out .

          ROYAL HOUSE OF EISSEN