forgottenamira

[forgottenamira]

aria: how long have you known?

"Known?" Amira's eyes were knife-sharp in the darkness, narrowing as they found Aria's. She smiled, then, a taut thing. Warmth never met her eyes, blazing blue and gleaming harshly in the dim light. She smiled, yes, but she was iron and she did not seem to know it. She turned her flinty gaze to the pot. She poured the tea, proferred a cup to Aria; gathering one for herself. It was an ancient ritual, this, sacred in its way. She would not forget the steps.

The queen chuckled, arched a single brow as she watched Aria frown at the cup.

"It's not poisoned, you know," she said. "But why need it concern you if it were? Given how handily you cured Prince Arthur, I imagine you could, too, save yourself."

Aria's look was a hard thing. Amira's smile deepened. "So that's it, then?"

Amira's rooms were of a particular look, bright slashes of light glaring amidst the dark shadow-gloom which seemed to permeate the entire place, heavy as heat even in the cool air. The rooms smelled strongly and savory: notes of spikenard and francinsense and clove that reminded Amira of home -- home as it ought to have been. She'd not been born to be trampled upon. She'd been born to rule her world. Kolchis had only forgotten it. She'd made them remember. She'd borne the decapitated head of the god-king to Roderick, herself.

Her gaze settled once more upon Aria. Amira's smile gentled. "My grandmother was a witch, as I'm sure you know. It is the one thing most people know about me." She paused. The tea was bracing, and pleasure coursed through her as she swallowed. "There was none, Aria, to rival her. Her line went back and back and back, unbroken, a line allof witches, to Calainon the Great. In the time since her forebearers were named High Priestess before her, till then, people had forgotten the appropriate respect which was her due, but that was their tragedy. Not her own." Her voice felt hard in her touch. Her words tasted of metal. "She was a most formidable woman. All that there was to know, Aria, she knew. Generations of knowledged handed down and down and down to us, my brothers and me, the last links in a heavy, heavy chain. She knew all that there was to know of the craft, and she taught us well. Oh, yes, even Tristan, though he was so very young when she died..."

She laughed, sure this would surprise Aria. Tristan, she knew, did not strike people the way Amira did. Nothing whatever about him suggested the witch. Yet, there the witch was, notwithstanding.

Reaching out, the queen ran her finger across the mouth of her cup, watching the gilding vanish beneath the press of her fingertip, reappearing again when her finger had passed. "The Torchbearers of Kolchis are gone, Aria, but they are not forgotten. You know something of that pain, do you not. Are you not, as I am, the last? Who now is Torchbearer of Kolchis, if not I?" She tilted her head. "And who Seeress of Kil-kennar, Aria of Stafford, if not you?" And who is "

Her companion said nothing.

Amira went on. "I know much of potions and of poisons. I can recognize the signs. You mustn't worry -- that one would never have killed my stepson, but..." Amira nodded. "The damage? That would have been permanent, were it not for your...intervention. Do you know the after-effects of freezing? Frostbite, often complete with grangrenous amputation; severe heart and kidney damage; memory problems, confusion, all sorts of plagues of the mind; rebellion of the nerves and weakness and pain--"

"It was you. Your poison! Arthur knows it, too."

Amira chuckled, lifted her cup. "I am Roderick's beloved queen. You will need far more than empty accusation. Arthur knows that, too. So, little witch. Prove it."

Aria sneered.

"You can't. Anymore than I can prove that you are a witch."

Aria's glance was sharp and Amira smiled again. Nodded to Aria's untouched tea. Encouraging her to sip.

"Let us be honest, now, with one another." Amira leaned forward. "I am surprised you would save him, Astairan."

Aria's gaze faltered, fell towards her tea.

"It seems you have talked this matter over with the prince, hm? Doubtless you know, already, then, that Arthur has had...similar health problems in the past. He has had no witch before to save him from permanent after effects, yet he has never suffered any in the past. Do you not wonder why I chose to damage him for good, this time?"

Slowly, the little witch turned her eyes upwards. They were dark, those orbs, yet Amira saw now that there was green in them, the faintest breath of it, warm like lichen on bark.

"I have told you, already," resumed Amira. "I descend from a long line of witches. I will not deny that I am sympathetic to them. So why now, and not before, hm? Arthur has crossed a line, this time. One he'd never crossed before. I wanted to ensure he never would again."

Aria shook her head. "Do you imply you did this...for Aine of Kil-kennar? That this was some form of justice?"

"You saved the man who murdered your seeress, Aria of Stafford. Not I. Think on that." She rose. "And, Aria. Enjoy your tea."

"No!" Aria rose. "No, you don't get to do that, to poison someone who has done nothing whatever to you and then say to me that you did it for me, for my people! No. Aine wouldn't have wanted this! What Arthur did was wrong, yes, but so were your actions. This was no righteous restitution for a people who have been crushed beneath your husband's boot! How would hurting Arthur tip the scales in Aine's favor? She's dead! Crippling him would do nothing to save her. There is no justice here!"

"Justice?" Amira's laugh was a bitter sound. "Who said anything about justice? No, child, this was something far more pure than justice." She bit out the words. "This was vengeance."

[forgottenamira]

OOC | Amira & Alistair

ok so ive been kinda ruminating on ~what went down~ between these two!! and i think, like so many things, its ultimately all abt roderick

ok so ive talked a lil before abt roderick and amira's early courtship but!! not in huge detail! as we know, already, roderick was attracted to amira for ~many reason -- beauty, bloodline, her penchant for being flirtatious and withdrawing when he tried to touch her claiming she could never be w a man not her husband, etc!!! amira knew she had that man on the hook, but he was married, already, and he'd either have to put elaine aside which amira or go through a whole legal reform and repeal to allow himself an additional marriage, and so she knew it was gonna have to take a special push to get him to go w either of those things!

i think, knowing he was a conqueror, amira decided the ideal tactic was to give him a challenge. so she came to him tearfully one day and told him that, as dearly as she wanted him, she couldn't continue tormenting herself this way, knowing that he could never be hers! roderick was moved and troubled by this, but it still wasn't ~quite enough as he tried to simply comfort her, and then resume things as they'd been. so amira took step 2, tearfully rebuffing all his advances and then step 3: find herself another man (while still shooting roderick longing glances and quickly looking away as soon as she "realized" he saw her "stolen" looks).

anyway, the nearest convenient guy at the time? alistair. she took to coming to him as a 'refuge' from roderick's advances -- 'pray protect me, sir alistair! i dare not refuse an emperor, and yet, i fear that is not where my heart lies! if you but tarry here w me, perhaps he shall not make an advances. pls, won't you help me, lord grey?' -- we all know alistair out here tryna be a good knight and protecting ladies, and their virtue, ranks pr high on the chivalry scale.

at first, she was (supposedly) simply spending time in alistair's presence to put off roderick, but as time went by, polite conversation morphed into a kind of (supposed) friendship -- with amira's conversation calculated entirely to engender alistair's sympathy and further strengthen his wish to save her which, she judged, would in him also produce tenderer feelings -- amira was already v used to manipulating ppl, and such as she knew roderick wanted a chase, similarly she had alistair pegged as a protector.

i don't think the romance ever got as far as amira implied to roderick that it did, honestly, but she spun for roderick a tale of alistair's love -- which def caused a rupture between the two men -- and one day ran to him, telling him that alistair had proposed (he hadn't), and she knew all wisdom told her that she should accept, but her love for roderick stayed her hand -- she still wanted him more than anything! and faced with the thought of losing a contest, losing love, and showing up an opponent, as well as taking everything he wanted from amira, roderick was finally ready to move heaven and earth for this romance. and he did!

in a whirlwind, alistair flew abt repealing laws and demanding complete subservience despite a v strong outcry from the ladies and religious of the ovn against this action, roderick wheeled, dealed, and intimidated his way through it, before finally getting his way and taking amira as his second wife.

now, you'd think that, having caught the bigger fish in her net atp, that amira would have set the other one free, but she figured that alistair could still be of use to her. elaine, after all, was from an old ovn family with ties to one of the most powerful houses of the nation whereas amira was a foreigner in a decidedly xenophobic land, but alistair? alistair was ~also a powerful ovn-ian, and such an ally would be invaluable to her, and she already had him on the hook.

nevertheless, she also knew alistair's code of honor and that he wouldn't agree to, or think well of her, if she had a physical affiar with him, nor did she think it could end well for her should roderick ever find out she ever touched another, so instead she set abt manipulating alistair into an ~emotional affair with her, using the same tactics she'd just employed on roderick -- sad eyes, "stolen" glances. she implied to alistair that she'd more or less been forced into marriage, unable to gainsay the will of the emperor any more than the lords who had stood opposed to his supposed "reforms," but alistair must know, she'd imply, that her true feelings were all for alistair, all her hopes for shared stolen moments with him, a press of the hand here, a whispered comment there.

honestly, i think its during ~this period that he actually fell for the kind yet tragic person amira was ~pretending to be, esp bc he believed he had failed her, unable to protect her from roderick, etc, and frankly lowkey romanticizing the whole thing in his head, seeing how "in love" she was w himself...

im still sort of working out how/when that all ended, but i do know it ended v BADLY! w his idea of her as this perfect paragon completely shattered only to see that she was, and always had been, pr much the exact opposite of the woman he thought he loved. and all he felt was shame and disgust. im guessing the rumor got back to alistair that he had proposed to amira and boy was like 'what? no never' or smth? and he tracked it down to amira, herself, realizing she had lied, and they finally had it out?

also/alternately, depending how long this all went on, @forgottenmarian might even have been involved in pulling the wool from his eyes regarding who amira really was? either way, tho, amira v decidedly lost an ally and v much gained an enemy, that day, and its been that way between these two ever since lakjdsfjdsf alistair hates her and does not trust her, and amira loves to tease him bc she kinda likes to be cruel but esp when she's rejected, and amira might laugh and say 'not v clever, are you, not to see it before?' if you call her a bitch, but secretly she does! not! like! that you said that alkjsdfjdsf so alistair got treated to the v worst of her pr much immediately given what he said whenhe was hurt and, honestly, they'd both lowkey like to get rid of eo if they ever could! he sees her as poison in roderick's ear, and she sees him as a threat which must be uprooted lakjsdfkjsdf but rn he's still useful to her son...

[forgottenamira]

i should ~also mention tho that like...i mean amira ~can absolutely be gleefully evil at times ngl lakjsdfkjldsf buT she's not looking to kill guin now at all its just if she gets in edmund's way when the time comes. his siblings are all useful in her mind as long as roderick's alive bc they're still around to challenge edmund and thus make him stronger lakjdsfkljdsf yeah idk lkajsdflkjdsf she's just...her lsdkfjalksdjf

OOC | Amira & Guinevere

so like...i didn't realize this when i took her but as ive been thinking more abt amira over the past week...i feel like she might actually have killed guin's mama??? like, def no one knows, but i feel like -- if you're cool w it -- amira may have poisoned her a la lucille sharpe in crimson peak/alex sebastian in notorious and the various inconvenient wives in those movies laksjdfaljksdfj she probs even nursed her and used all her grandmother's (learnable) witchy ways to try and save her for show (all the while just incrimentally upping the poison dosage -- and probs inadvertently further cementing roderick's hatred of witches alkjsdfjklsdf)

anyway, amira is a v cold person, but she still had a somewhat affectionate way abt her when roderick's kids were children, mostly in encouraging them to challenge edmund as best as they could bc she thought this was good for him and that the competition would make him stronger. its also weird bc im realizing that amira is probs the first mother that guin really knew since her mom died so early -- and it was quite possibly amira who killed her alkjdsfkjlsdf and amira plans to kill guin, just like she did her mom, if roderick chooses her to rule sooo lakjsdfljkf all kinds of weirdness to explore here lkdsajfklsdjfds

[forgottenamira]

Tree of Life | Amira & Cassimir

In truth, Amira hadn't planned on making more than mere pleasantries -- generally those designed to seem complimentary on the surface, but intended to insult on the reverse. Amira was not overfond of Cassimir, or of his mother, or of any like them. Their kind was, in her view, precisely that sort which had forced her hand in Kolchis, and in truth, she enjoyed needling those who reminded her of them, now. Cassimir was such a one.

Yet, she had found herself somewhat bereft of this pleasure by Eithne's own hinted intelligence. The child she had already confessed she carried to Roderick was not, it seemed, Arthur's, but rather...Edmund's. Amira might not have cared one jot what became of Arthur's get (in fact, she might have waited till the pregnancy could not be denied and then given Eithne, unawares, a draught to relieve her of it), but that was not so of her own grandchild. And she did not like to think of one she so little regarded as Cassimir raising that child.

Besides, she'd long had other plans for him, and she had no wish to seem those disrupted. It would have suited her very greatly, indeed, after all, had his plan of wooing Guinevere come to fruition. Roderick would never countenance such a son in law, Amira had no doubt. Guinevere would have lost out on her chance to rule the moment the bans were read.

No, it would not do. Malconaire was Edmund's by rights (was he not its conqueror?), and now, it seemed, so was its heir. A more suitable match for Eithne must be found (though Edmund, himself, was out of the question!). But first...other machinations must be given time to play out...and to dovetail.

Making her way towards Cassimir, Amira smiled her cold smile. "Lord Malconaire, I must thank you for inviting us to your adorable home." She smiled brightly, pleased with herself for this little slight. She did not, after all, mean that as a compliment, however much her face brightened as she said it. She sensed that Cassimir was not a man who much liked to be belittled, and so she delighted in the opportunity. And that is just how she meant it.

"I hear your sister-wife is positively overflowing with potential," she added, coyly, glancing towards Eithne's belly which was, really, shockingly flat. She wouldn't have suspected her to be with child at all, had she not known for a fact that she was!

"I hope she will bless your family with many fine heirs. Though," she paused, lifting her eyes to Cassimir's with a shrewd expression, and maneuvered him to a quiet corner where she could speak more openly. "I confess, for some time I had thought...other ties might prove more alluring." She glanced towards Guinevere.

Her tone turned flat. "You disappoint me, Lord Malconaire. I wanted far better for you in a wife than your own pregnant sister." She allowed derision to enter her voice as she said that last.

Pausing as she glanced towards Eithne, now, she shrugged. "Though it does show bravery. I had not thought you a man who much liked to be laughed at, yet here you are bearing up so bravely under it as your own guests cackle at you behind your back -- cuckolded already and not yet even wed! It is so hard even to watch," she added quickly, suppressing a grin as, quite convenient to her cause, one of the guests happened to snicker at that very moment, eyes going wide in shock at something someone was saying. "Little less to bear, I imagine. I could not stand to see them tittering behind their hands at me, were I you."

The irony of this statement did not escape her. Her own husband was publically courting his fourth wife right before her eyes. But she did not dwell on this, returning to Cassimir's situation.

Amira shook her head in mock amazement. "Yes, brave, indeed. I applaud your fortitude. Though--" Here, an artful sigh. "I must be candid, my lord. Do not imagine I shall allow either of my daughters here ever again, after tonight, nor any of your family to come to court, ever again, should you continue with this insane plan. With a lady such as that -- duplicitously raising another man's child from her husband's very bed to cheaply pass off as his -- I cannot countenance any further interactions between our two Houses. I must have full faith in those I allow about me and about my daughters, and, indeed, about His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, Lord Malconaire. Your chosen wife could never be such a one in these conditions. Do I make myself clear?"

She glanced towards Eithne, radiant as she was beneath the canopy of leaves that seemed everywhere present at Malconaire. Even with so high a penalty, in that moment Amira found she was not altogether certain she could entirely blame Cassimir for keeping to the girl, even under such heavy penalty.

"Obscurity will suit you, I think, if you are indeed to take that creature to wife. Who will think to laugh at you when you are quite forgotten? So, you see, it is a favor I do you."

Her smile turned to a gleam as she found his face. She was sure he was wrathful under his own facade, and she could not help but savor the moment. Or twist the knife. "You need not thank me for my thoughtfulness, Lord Malconaire -- though it would not go amiss if you did."

[forgottenamira]

Amira arched her brows at the sound of Eithne's intelligence. "On your end, perhaps, my dear," she replied with a throaty laugh. "But not so on his." Her smile turned conspiratorial. "We who were witness to its aftermath may testify to that much."

"Just as I consider all the Imperial Princes friends," said Eithne, earning a gleam from the queen, who leaned over to link their arms as they walked. That was an interesting tidbit, indeed. Roderick had owned (after a very great deal of prodding on her end!) that Eithne had acknowledged to him her...delicate condition. He had assumed the child was Arthur's...perhaps Eithne, herself, did not know which prince was the father. Her glance sharpened, as it fell upon Eithne. She asked after Edmund, particularly. Was this, indeed, to be the mother of her own first grandchild?

Amira's gut seemed to fall and she looked quickly away, a bland smile fixed upon her lips. In truth, she did not know how she felt about that. But she could analyze such thoughts later. The rumor, she determined, would remain that the child was Arthur's...whatever the truth may be. Still, she couldn't help a kind of curiosity.

"And here I thought the Lady Roisin closer with my own boy? But what does a mother know? I am glad, indeed, to learn that you are so very close with him." She paused. Clearly, this was an ambitious young woman. "I was not blessed with a daughter of my own. I am glad he can find such closeness elsewhere," she added with feigned warmth.

The Queen's smile turned bland. Though she did not know the cause, it was clear to Amira that her son was in one of his moods. Largely, she assumed it had to do with the tournament. It was his brother who shone in such efforts, and each clan within the House of Varmont knew well that a shadow would fall over the Calainons in the wake of such events. Roderick made no effort to conceal such shame. Amira, however, was quick to conceal such vicissitudes...and take swift vengeance upon the one basking in his father's joy. It could not happen straight away, that would be suspicious, but soon after -- Arthur would feel her sting.

"You dear girl to ask after him," replied Amira with a smile that did not quite reach her eyes. "I'm afraid not. He is not feeling quite himself. Indeed, it seems something is spreading around the palace. I have ordered rest, lest he take ill, you see. I don't imagine you shall see much of him, for a time."

Amira laughed, a bright sound. "I rarely hear a woman less able to say even the smallest kind word about her future husband!" Her amusement shone in her eyes.

She was not surprised in the least. He was too much the lickspittal to Roderick. and too little the gallant towards her own menial spies, to be anything else. And with such a mother...Amira had seen dozens of his kind, before. She would see dozens more. They were precisely the sort of people who had stepped on her in Kolchis. They were precisely the sort of people she liked best to step on, now, herself. But she did not think she would interfere, here. Not unless it came to suit her ends. But Eithne, if she was indeed to be the mother of Edmund's child...

"You will get on with it. Tie him in knots," she advised, tone flat. "He cannot wriggle free of the noose if he does know which thread to sever and save himself." Her voice was strangely scathing, even as she smiled blandly at the young woman beside her.

The entrance to the house was at once grand and understated, two ancient evergreen trees grew flanking the great, old door, so close to the edifice they seemed almost a part of it. Above the great, wide wood of the worn age-old door, which peaked at its center, a transcept of five early-gothic windows sat ensconced in the warm-toned stone of the castle, topped themselves by a large, cheerful lantern, that burned merrily against the dying of the light.

It was a strange place, and made Amira feel a strange way as she looked upon it, a shiver running through her. She'd grown up, herself, amongst crumbling marble and kaleidoscopic mosaics which once had depicted lively depictions of life, but now were so cracked and ruined as often to leave only an impression of rot. Yes, it was strange to look upon this place, near as old, she would venture, as her own former haunts, yet still -- in the most literal sense -- living. Yet, humbler, still, than those dead marvels she once had known. There was power here, too.

Amira felt suddenly cold in the gloaming hour. She shivered as she handed away her cloak and smiled blandly at her hostess. No one was ever to know how she was feeling.

She glanced around the room as the younger woman spoke, and though perhaps it was no bad thing to unite Edmund's lineage with this one. What a child they should rear from such a union! Malconaire, she realized, narrowing her eyes, was as much the blood of witches as her own. The next Flamekeeper would be a fearsome high priestess to behold, indeed.

"Yes," said Amira, turning to Eithne, her enthusiasm unguarded -- and unfeigned. "You must."

Tea in the Trees | Amira & Eithne

Amira had not for a moment hesitated to accept Valentina's invitation. After the cessation of the tourney, it had proven the picture-perfect opportunity to the queen to accomplish a whole cadre of chores which had till now eluded: meeting with the Ladies Brigit and Roisin (albeit for decidedly differing reasons), investigating whatever it was that seemed to draw the men of Amira's family here like moths to the flame...and scrutinizing Arthur's misconduct.

She had known the moment she'd emerged from her carriage into the air of Malconaire, that this was no ordinary place, however. She knew how true magic felt, the way it whispered just beneath the skin, purring along one's heart and one's brain. It was a feeling she'd not known in many, many long years. Most of the poor women her husband burned to death for the crime of witchcraft were innocent, but this, this place, was the real thing, and more potent than any example she'd ever known. This was no mere witch. There was a real demon here.

Yet still standing outside, ready to be greeted, she could not place the entity, and so she let her mind focus for now upon other errands. A welcoming committee gathered to greet her as she stepped down upon the earth, and Amira's gleaming eye fell upon a familiar gaze.

"Ahh, Lady Eithne, at last we meet again!" Reaching up, Amira slowly brought her hood down from her head. "After the delightful tea we shared with the Lady Aria at my home, I could not refuse the invitation to yours."

Coming forward, she clasped Eithne's hand, smiling sharply as she felt her stepmother's baleful gaze fall upon the girl. Amira had no intention of letting Eithne out of her grip too soon. There was a very great deal, indeed, she must first know. Pointedly, she did not look at Valentina, as if she and Eithne were the very best of friends, and Amira saw none but her.

"Do tell me how you have been getting on, since last we met? I hear you have quite broken my dear stepson's heart, tsk tsk," she laughed, a pearly sound. "Do tell me of your new beau's many charms, won't you? I would know why my boy was thrown over with such little ceremony so quickly, hm?"

[forgottenamira]

Belladonna Fruit Bat, linocut and watercolor, by Mano de Ana

[forgottenamira]

Turkey is the only place in the world where natural black roses grow, nourished by the waters of the Euphrates. These rare flowers can only be found in the village of Halfeti in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa, near Urfa.

During summer, they appear black, while in other seasons, they turn a deep dark red. This unique color is due to the soil's density and the combination of anthocyanins, water-soluble pigments highly sensitive to pH levels.

[forgottenamira]

Sibylla - Kingdom Of Heaven (2005)

[forgottenamira]

A Scarlet Letter | Amira & Aria

"Why," commented Amira, smiling as she sipped at her drink, approaching Aria at the feast following the first day. She'd noticed the former princess' eyes following Arthur wherever he went with some interest -- her theory about Eithne, after all, truly had its foundation in a theory about the two of them. "Doesn't my stepson looking dashing tonight?"

Laughing into her cup, she took a sip before presenting another to Aria to drink. "Do you know, I have a theory about him?" She arched her brows conspiratorially. "I think he has a new flame. Oh," she waved a hand. "We all know how he got his poor, dear heart crushed some time ago but...I feel certain. There's someone new in his sights, now." She exchanged a meaningful look with Aria, carefully watching her face for any betrayal of emotion.

"Shall I tell you how I know?" Amira gestured for Aria to take a seat by her side, before turning her gaze towards Arthur. "You are practically family already, aren't you, and I confess, I should like for us to be friends. I shall tell you.

"I've known that boy his whole life, my lady. He is not like you or I -- no careful guard over his heart for his own protection." She smiled, tilted his head. "Perhaps its part of his charm. But there's a...dreamy quality about him when his heart is touched. He has it from his mother, you know. You can see it in all Marian's children, in truth, though I will not deny the boys conceal it better than does our sweet Cassandra."

Another pause.

"There's something else, too: tell me you have not seen it."

She let the pause lengthen as she took a leisurely sip of her cup, smiling blandly towards Aria before she at last lowered her glass, waiting till it touched the table, again, to speak.

"He wears a favor to the lists. Oh, you must be eagle-eyed to spot it, but I confess, I am. He must be trying to hide it, in his way, as he says nothing of it, and we all know Arthur to be, well, indiscrete. Its a delicate little piece, expert handicraft: the sort that comes only with the leisure afforded to people of...high rank. You must be quick to note it, for at first glance it is his own monogram, and picked out in his own colors, but..." she arched her brows. "I am as near as can be to being his own mother, myself. I know Arthur's own poor skills in such crafts. He did not embroider that handkerchief. Someone did it for him," she said, and she nodded. "Someone gave it to him to wear. But who, Lady Aria: who?"

[forgottenamira]

Tea in the Trees | Amira & Eithne

Amira had not for a moment hesitated to accept Valentina's invitation. After the cessation of the tourney, it had proven the picture-perfect opportunity to the queen to accomplish a whole cadre of chores which had till now eluded: meeting with the Ladies Brigit and Roisin (albeit for decidedly differing reasons), investigating whatever it was that seemed to draw the men of Amira's family here like moths to the flame...and scrutinizing Arthur's misconduct.

She had known the moment she'd emerged from her carriage into the air of Malconaire, that this was no ordinary place, however. She knew how true magic felt, the way it whispered just beneath the skin, purring along one's heart and one's brain. It was a feeling she'd not known in many, many long years. Most of the poor women her husband burned to death for the crime of witchcraft were innocent, but this, this place, was the real thing, and more potent than any example she'd ever known. This was no mere witch. There was a real demon here.

Yet still standing outside, ready to be greeted, she could not place the entity, and so she let her mind focus for now upon other errands. A welcoming committee gathered to greet her as she stepped down upon the earth, and Amira's gleaming eye fell upon a familiar gaze.

"Ahh, Lady Eithne, at last we meet again!" Reaching up, Amira slowly brought her hood down from her head. "After the delightful tea we shared with the Lady Aria at my home, I could not refuse the invitation to yours."

Coming forward, she clasped Eithne's hand, smiling sharply as she felt her stepmother's baleful gaze fall upon the girl. Amira had no intention of letting Eithne out of her grip too soon. There was a very great deal, indeed, she must first know. Pointedly, she did not look at Valentina, as if she and Eithne were the very best of friends, and Amira saw none but her.

"Do tell me how you have been getting on, since last we met? I hear you have quite broken my dear stepson's heart, tsk tsk," she laughed, a pearly sound. "Do tell me of your new beau's many charms, won't you? I would know why my boy was thrown over with such little ceremony so quickly, hm?"

[forgottenamira]

The Guardians' Guardian | Amira & Brigit

She could feel it in the air, even as she approached. She was no true witch, but her grandmother had been, and the wise woman had taught her much and more. She'd taught her this, too. She'd taught her to feel the presence, to shut her eyes as the people of old had done, and feel the thrum in the air, that breathless enchantment that was power: raw and real and utterly, utterly untame. They were in the presence of a spirit.

Valentina's party, celebrating the tournament, was -- as far as Amira was concerned -- a great success. Amira had managed to further spread the word of Arthur's misconduct, to study the face of her irritating stepmother as she heard the words uttered, and now to meet a guardian.

She knew it the instant her eyes fell upon the great tree, great leafy arms sheltering over all within the great house, its very trunk sheath of sword and seat of one-time kings. Massive, strong through each and every passing year, its life preternaturally long, this was no ordinary tree.

Voices filtered from the adjoining room, lessening every moment as they drifted out to the garden but Amira eschewed them all. Slowly, slowly, she approached the great tree, her long, dark train flowing out behind her as she eased like a shadow across the floor. She gained the Great Hall of Malconaire. Amira stretched out her hand as she came to the center. The bark was rough, yet strangely warm, beneath her palm, and slowly her eyes trailed up and up, taking in the leaves, turning all to green with the coming of spring. There was power here beanth her fingertips. The thrumming was in her head, in her hands. Closing her eyes, the queen basked in it.

I know what you are, she thought, praying the guardian might hear her. Aid me.

A step. Amira's eyes fluttered open. Behind her, again, another step. She did not pull her eyes from the great tree, but she smiled.

"I'm glad you're here, Lady Brigit," said Amira and, slowly, she turned to face the young woman. "I've wished to meet you in private for some time."

She'd approached her during the Ice Ball, but they'd been quickly interrupted, and there'd been no real opportunity to speak, pressed on all sides as they were. Not even Amira dared speak openly of witchcraft, after all.

"It has been long since I have had the opportunity to speak with a true witch." She smiled again, for once an open look, and true. "Don't be afraid, Lady Brigit. I will not betray you." She tilted her head. "No doubt you've heard about me, as well. My husband hates witches, it is true, but we do not share that. I know a better way. Come. Let us be of use to one another."

[forgottenamira]

OOC | Amira & Event 5

so as we know, our girl had a son, two brothers, and a husband competing in the tournament

so some stuff ive noted elsewhere she was up to:

tristan ~wants to ask for eithne’s [favor] but he’s not gonna put her in that position; he wears amira’s instead, which is a black ribbon bearing her badge

amira is betting on her brothers. sorry, edmund, you’ve disappointed her one too many times #momgoals

as it turns out, she shoulda betted on edmund and ~not on godfrey (she WILL remember this next time, godfrey!!!!!) lkadjfkjdsf but tristan worked out pr well overall lakjsdfkjsdf

also idr where i said it, but she ~is planning to poison @forgottenarthur, post-tournament (not enough to kill him, just enough to punish him), for showing up edmund, bc who says she isn't a great mom!! alsdkjfakjsdf

ok but!!!!!! amira ~also has some other plans!!!! so, as we know, she and @forgottenroderick had a long fight chat abt first arthur and later abt @forgottenedmund and ultimately even sebastian re: house malconaire and the supposed potential pregnancies of @forgotteneithne, @forgottenaoife, and @forgottenroisin alkjdfjkdsf and now her boy's getting married so she has to pick out the perfect wife to serve ~her i mean...edmund's...goals ;DDD and that is noT smth she is enjoying!!!

this is honestly all her own doing kinda blowing up in her face bc she legit thought arthur knocked up eithne and possibly even @forgottenarias and so, hoping to get one over on team arthur, she told roderick abt eithne, and roderick got mad and talked to marian who suggested it was edmund, instead, and amira countered that @forgottensebastian was probs at it too and now here we are lkajsdflkjsdfjksdf but anyway!!!!!!

roderick is deffff tryna suppress these rumors, and has decided to get his sons married asap to prevent anything like this happeneing again, etc, but!! amira has been busily circulating the rumors abt arthur and sebastian behind her husband's back klajsdfkjdsf

ok so on top of all of this, as we know from her bio, amira's always had an eye towards capturing a demon/guardian and forcing the spirit to do her will, and since she's going to malconaire to deal w all the above, i think she may clock, what w all her knowledge of witchcraft, that the great oak is, in fact, just what she's been seeking all these years and she's gonna look into tryna capture it somehow akljdsfkjsdf

obv we know that won't work out for her since the guardian of malconaire will die saving malconaire from roderick bUT i think it will confirm for her that this place wiLL serve her interests and esp w roderick taking action re: edmund that amira doesn't approve of, it might just be time to take magical action and effectively ~become the witch she's so long been rumored to be...

aha! i found where i first talked abt it all...

[amira] stirring the pot [by mentioning out loud to marian ~at malconaire abt how eithne is carrying arthur's baby] the way that is soooo on brand 😂🤦‍♀️ she probs said it near Valentina intentionally just to see her reaction heehee tryna figure out if it’s true AND hurt Marian all in one go it’s a good day 😂🤦‍♀️💀 meanwhile @forgottenvalentina like ‘damn…this is gonna hurt but…it could work!!’ [in getting @forgottencassimir to break things off w eithne] Sfjlgdshkgdj

phabblebabbles 5d @quillington Okay now I wonder if Marian went to Valentina’s party, too?! She’s like “I gotta see this place” quillington 5d @phabblebabbles !!!!!!! The treehouse home what was roderick talking abt 😂😂😂 amira like ‘since ive had such delightful teas w lady eithne how could I reject the invitation’ and she really just wanted to dig up dirt on Marian’s kids 😂😭 (and also find out why edmunds so enamored of this place but you’ll NEVER get her to admit that)!!!!!!! quillington 5d @phabblebabbles Amira: even tristan can’t seem to stay away! What magic are they doing over there? Amira upon realizing its the magic of kindness: gross

butttttt then she learns that there ~is real magic there and yeah!! now, since we know she doesn't succeed in capturing the tree guardian, im like omg is amira ~also gonna get involved in the sigil treasure hunt situation?? lakjsdfkjsdf tho if she got the sword first lbr she'd def be bestowing that thing on edmund -- same w godfrey but we already knew that was ~his endgame for the sword lkajsdfjksdf

and, fun fact, another ~deeply enticing reason to visit malconaire is ofc to meet up w @forgottenbrigit the reputed witch who escaped the pyre walk...

[forgottenamira]

AMIRA VARMONT, QUEEN OF THE VARMONT EMPIRE / EVA GREEN

♛ Age: (44) ♛ Relationships: Roderick Varmont (husband), Edmund Varmont (son), Godfrey Calainon, Tristan Calanion (brothers) Arthur Varmont, Sebastian Varmont (step-sons), Guinevere Varmont, Cassandra Varmont (step-daughters), Marian Varmont (sister wife/rival), Alaric Varmont (brother-in-law), Aleksander Royce (intrigued), Ciara Varmont (future sister-in-law)

they say amira calainon is a witch

ever since she was a young maiden, her charms seemed to be almost supernatural -- the way she could seemingly bend any man who looked her way to her will

it was no surprise when she set her sights upon roderick varmont that she became his queen soon after even though roderick already had a wife -- one with whom he was very much in love

but he still could not resist amira calainon and when she refused to go to his bed, except as his wife, roderick saw no reason why he could not have more than one

amira's ambitions did not stop there -- not only did she wish to become queen, but she meant for her children to rule roderick's empire one day

she plays the loving and adoring wife, but amira is the only one of roderick's wives who does not love him and never did

while amira is not a witch in the way most people might believe, she is well aware of the invisible supernatural realm where gods and monsters resides (she learned a great deal from her grandmother, who was, indeed, a witch)

knows the dangers but also is aware of the potential -- the allure of trapping a powerful being from the world beyond to use to her own advantage is a possibility she has not yet ruled out

at the end of the day, amira will do whatever it takes to get what she wants

she promised roderick a son when she married him -- but she was too late. both his first and third wife had children before she brought edmund into the world, but she believes her son has a claim as the eldest son born to his second wife

is constantly advocating for her son to her husband

also it is clear to everyone that she and marian will both stop at nothing to see their own son on the throne one day

may or may not have tried to kill marian's sons at one point

is fairly confident that she will eventually convince her husband to do things her way

if not, she may just call upon a demon to wipe all of them out ....

TAKEN BY KATE AA.

[forgottenamira]

OOC | Love Languages

continuing w this series...

5 love languages:

words of affirmation

physical touch

giving/receiving gifts

quality time

acts of service 

and here's what i said my initial instincts were re: my peeps...

Godfrey — appears as a words of affirmation dude but if he ~really loves you it’s acts of service!!

Tristan — acts of service he is literally a knight!! Send him on a quest!! He will goooo!

Eabha — bc of her ruling lady outlook she looks like acts of service but she’s really more physical touch

Cormac — giving of gifts

Ronan — acts of service!! I hope you like someone just wordlessly doing smth for you bc that’s what ur in for here bc sadly he’s pr rubbish at a lot of the others these days

Cillian — quality time

Saoirse — physical touch

Rosie — quality time

Valentina — receiving gifts

Eilia — words of affirmation 

Rian — quality time

Roderick — giving of gifts

Amira — tbd

Arthur — tbd

decided to finish up the fam even tho her last name is technically varmont these days...esp bc she and arthur are still???? so imma think out loud at you guys...amira is an enneagram 8 which means that she seeks to project strength (often by means of outright hostility) in order to avoid appearing/feeling vulnerable, which is what she fears. so!! expressing love of any variety, being inherently vulnerable, is really intrinsically scary for her and, given that she is obv not by any means a ~healthy example of a type 8, well, its complicated!!!!!! i feel like she's gotten it all twisted up inside of her alkdsjfskldjfdf this questionnaire is basically DESIGNED to give her an anxiety attack akldjsflkjsdlfjkdsf [ amira: I LOVE NOTHING *runs away* ]

anywayyyyyy she does love edmund, tristan, and godfrey (probably in that order!! her brothers are a lil tough to sort out tho bc she probs has more ~affection for tristan but more ~trust for godfrey so!! make of that what you will). honorably mention is the hubby: she's got smth deeply toxic w roderick where like...she lowkey wants to ~be him and he lowkey wants to devour her so!! this will mostly focus on the calainons as a result but we'll talk a lil abt roderick if he comes up too bc as much as she wants to deny it he's important to her too...but love is not the right word its more like mutual hate-obsession??? idk...its a mess

anyway, as with godfrey, amira is fully capable of ~faking any of these and can and wiLL use that to manipulate anyone...esp her husband, but im just focusing on the ~real thing~ here

words of affirmation

i feel like imma go down the line saying this just bc again ~vulnerability aint natural to her but!! neither are words of affirmation. this bitch will tell you how you've failed and disappointed her before she'd ever say i love you alkjdsflkjdsf weirdly tho?????? that's ~kind of~ a way of like...showing she cares???? like idk how to tell you this but the fact that you ~can let her down means you matter on some level to her????? so yeah 'you failed me' being amira for 'ily?' its more likely than you may think laksjdflksdjfsd

conversely tho...her ~not criticizing you probs means you're epic!!!! she's always looking for a way to tear other ppl down to make herself feel better and/or (if she cares abt you) to help you find out where you need to improve, so like if she can't even find smth to get on your case abt like damn!!!!!! well done!!!! *facepalm* so yeah either that or like...she did not notice you/cares so little that you're not even worth the effort of considering!!!!!

so yeah!! ur gonna get mixed signals from amira (roderick screams internally abt this any time he so much as ~thinks abt her he legit doesn't know where he stands w her) buT if ur someone she ~does pay attention to, such as her family members, and she's not on ur case she's probs happy w you!! or at least can't think of smth to criticize you for, so congrats!!

physical touch

ok so this might be the one?? i do think amira is a v comfortable in/w her physicality, yknow? and like lbr she 100% holds everyone at emotional (and probs physical!) arm's length pr much 24/7 but as i think of it, i can see where, if she's particularly pleased or just in a good mood for whatever reason, and if no one's there to observe!! you might get a quick touch to the cheek or press of the hand as she sweeps by. if ur really lucky you might even see the flash of a smile as she goes!!!

some circumstances that might induce this flash of affection: her coronation, the momentary triumph she felt at the death of elaine (before realizing she'd eliminated a potential son there only to elevate the daughter), realizing that marian was so terrified of her she felt the need to run away (another short-lived joy when she came back w a son amira: this is why this family cannot have nice things!!!!), learning that she was with child, bearing a son, arthur's butchery at kil-kennar and roderick's subsequent fury at that side of the family, etc.

giving/receiving gifts

here's another contender!! amira grew up in abject poverty and so being showered in goodies???? unbelievable dream come true!! she doesn't suffer from any of godfrey's need for practicality: her love of excess matches that of her husband! shower her in gold and jewels, wine and dine her on the most exquisite feasts from a world away! any and all luxury is deeply appreciated!!! and honestly?? she doesn't fully get that not everyone feels the same??? i mean on one hand she does but like...that doesn't make sense. she knows what its like to go without!!! surely no one can possibly want that!!!

part of this, tho, does def highkey feed into her wish to project strength and power!!!!!! amira is here to show offffff!!!!!! she wants you to see that she's basking in untold wealth and could use it to crush you if you come at her!!!!!!! and that her loved ones are similarly safe via power!!!!!!!!

not unlike marian, actually, amira spends a loT of time maneuvering for ~her family and allies to get their due -- while elaine's faction or certainly marian's might say that things should be divvied up by, say, individual brother, amira will argue (since she has only two and not seven) that the loot ought to be divided into thirds and from there doled out to each family. and she does this to prop herself up, sure, but she also does this out of love!!!!!! edmund does not have the sheer number of allies that arthur has, and so his need of wealth/wealthy supporters she perceives as greater, and so forth.

amira also views this as seeing to her loved ones' needs. when she rains tiltes and land and wealth upon them, she's caring for them, so this to her is ~also an act of service lakjsdfkljsdf

quality time

so we're back to me going hmmm idk that this is her thing!! like sure she doesn't ~mind their presence but like??? what you just...wanna be over there??? like...we could be conquering smth rn???? godfrey, you wanna read a book or, tristan, play a game???? what is the point?????? amira, whose only living loved ones all happen to be male: 'men are so emotional'

i do also feel like amira is pr closed off emotionally (ok, i ~know she is), and like she needs a break from being around ~anyone~ bc she's wearing that mask all the time and it is EXHAUSTING and this is less introversion as fully...dysfunctional ngl

when she's feeling more happy/settled tho you can def get her to agree to a chill hang out sesh if she loves you!! she wiLL be cheating when you play cards so she can swindle you and mock you for losing to her tho!! but this time good naturedly ladkjsfskjldf

i do feel like her inability to participate here does come out of, again, that fear that she's got constantly nagging her -- she cannot let down like that!! cannot rest that long!!! she's got to keep fighting fighting fighting!!!! u nfortunately like...this is the shit that she has in common w our buddy roderick likE this is the thing they're bonded toxically on like???? GOTTA RAMPAGE they feed e/o w that its super healthy /sarcasm

acts of service 

ok so as i mentioned above, her wheeling and dealing to get her loved ones titltes and honors and stuff is her being nurturing!!!! she would argue that she is GREAT at acts of service and does this all! of! the! time! this is however factually incorrect lbr she'd be annoyed if you asked her to pass you smth if she were in the wrong mood lakjsdfklsdjf like!!!!!! she's like 'i got everything i have -- and everything you have too -- by my own hard work. grab that pencil by your own damn self' to her four year old probably SCREAM but yeah!! if you ask ~her she does this alllll the timeeeeee!!! and fully believes it too!!!

so ive mentioned this a few times here and there but amira truly believes that she is the sole reason her family isn't starving rn and like she does everything for this family!!!!!! and none of them appreciate it the way they should!!!!1 but she's the ONLY one who sees the truth and isn't resting on her laurels and they just keep chomping at her going MORE MORE MORE and like...this is not true honestly but that's her perception of events and she's sick and TIRED of it!!! lakjdsflkjd but also she wiLL complain frequently but she will NOT eveR stop tryna advance her family!!!!! no matter how frequently she threatens to leave them on their own in all this lkajsdfjklsdf

[forgottenamira]

The Morrígan (Detail) - Luke Hillestad

[forgottenamira]

Amira's effort to conceal her smirk was valiant, though failed as she flashed her ice-bright hues towards her rival and set her cup down upon its saucer. "A pity," she remarked, though she felt precious little sorrow upon the score. "It is delicious."

Tilting her head as Marian turned the false endearments now upon her, she grinned. "Why, have I not found my own dear sisters in the home of our most beloved husband?" Her eyes flashed and she smiled, again.

It was true, what Marian implied -- Amira did not have friends: she had something far more reliable. She had allies. Friends were a weakness and Amira seldom felt their lack in the way one might expect. She had her brothers; she had her son; she had herself. She needed no other. She wanted no other. Indeed, it was a great inconveneince, she often told herself, that she must love any of them. And loneliness was but a shadow in the face of betrayal. It was one of the things she did, indeed, share with Roderick, though he made far freer with his affections: Marian was proof of that much.

"Cheerful? Why, my dear Marian, I confess I do feel for them both -- to be abandoned by one's lover in such a state, or to find that one is only one's lover's last choice -- why, I suppose I need not tell you how that must sting. I can hardly imagine which outcome should be worse."

In truth, what Amira and Roderick shared was a tangle of briars and sharp-edged thorns. It was plain, too, that the Emperor did not think his second wife what a woman ought to be -- for either good or ill -- but Amira cared little what he thought, whereas she knew her rival placed their husband's feelings at a much higher degree of importance to her life. While Amira was not at all sure that Marian could be said to be Roderick's third choice, truly, it was also a fact that she was, indeed, the third wife, and so Amira enjoyed turning this knife whenever she might. Besides, it was by this right that Edmund made his claim over Arthur: Amira could never let Marian forget that, in terms of precedence, Amira would always outrank her.

Smirking, Amira raised her cup once more to her lips, watching Marian over its rim. "And yet, it is not my son's favorite who is even now contracting a hasty wedding to her own brother, is it?" Yet, Amira considered, Marian was not entirely wrong in her observations. Amira resolved to visit this little Malconaire creature at the first opportunity. A dose of one of her teas would take care of any...indiscretion Edmund might have made.

A tingle of surprise snaked its way down Amira's spine. She doesn't know, she realized, and resolved not to tell her, or...at the least...not yet. "Preternatural?" laughed Amira, arching a brow. "I should say not, though they are old friends...I imagine she found out by the usual means. But, people rarely tell you anything, I suppose: poor little dreamer, we oughtn't to damage her rosy little worldview, hm?"

Roderick second queen tensed slightly, jaw setting at her own jibe. Marian's life had always, always come easier than her own, Amira thought bitterly, the green-scaled serpent closing once again upon her constricted heart. Always safe, always coddled, always...loved. Amira flicked a hard glance towards the woman before directing it away once again and towards her tea, adopting once again a look of haughty amusement. After all, her experiences had made her stronger. Sharper. Smarter. And that, she reminded herself, was why she would win.

"In truth, you ought to thank me for approaching the girl. In this, at least, we may consider ourselves something far more useful than friends: allies. Do not forget that, for all his talk of bastardy, our husband still entertains the wench's elder sister for a future bride, and do not forget, either, that she was once a queen in her own right. She may come fourth in precedence, but any children by her would not be without a claim to, at least, Astaira: largest of all Roderick's holdings. No doubt even now she is scheming away. Do not imagine she holds out for some...noble cause, as she would have us all think. She wants a guarantee. Empress and heir, I have no doubt, and you mustn't delude yourself, either, Marian. No love for you will keep Roderick from agreeing. It is best to be aware of such things..." her eyes gave a flash and Amira adopted a condescending tone. "Even when it disturbs our sweet little fantasies."

She turned quick, eyes wide, a hard stare sharp as flint, jewels jangling with the violence of her motion as she turned her snarl upon her rival...and caught herself. It had been too much, too open a reaction. Marian would know how it had cut, a deep lance to the cold calcium of her heart.

Amira tried to settle easily back into her seat, but her spine was straight and she chuckled, then, soft and low. "Oh," cooed the queen. "She's learning. How exciting it must be, after near on thirty years, to finally have grown teeth. Careful, though, lest your fangs grow in too long and too sharp. Roderick cannot love a she-wolf." She'd found that out soon enough for herself. "And you, poor thing: you have already lost your heart, I fear. Sweet little fool. But that is the trial, isn't it?" she sneered. "Of any young girl who grows up too dependant on daddy's might. What a scary thought: to have a mind of one's own." Her tongue and tone tasted of bitterness.

The Wives || Amira + Marian

Marian hoped that Cassandra would always maintain her innocence trusting nature, but she most often wished for it in those moments when her daughter, unknowingly, provided her with information about the goings on in the Varmont household. Cassandra had been bangering her mother to invite the Malconaire sisters for tea at the palace for weeks and came to her mother cross that while Marian herself had not extended an invitation, Amira had for that very afternoon.

Marian had sent one of her ladies to wander the halls about Amira's quarters until she could see exactly who was having tea with the rumored witch queen, only to hear that it was not all the Malconaire's but simply the eldest, Eithne, along with Lady Aria.

While Cassandra's concern only came from her mother not having extended an invitation for tea before Amira, Marian's concern was far greater upon hearing the names of the two women Amira had subjected to an afternoon of her company. It did not seem likely that it was a coincidence that those two women where often found in the company of her eldest son.

Marian most often avoided her husband's second wife, but as the family gathered in the dining hall before dinner that evening, Marian found herself drifting towards the dark haired woman who had positioned herself in the far corner of the hall.

"Why did you invite those young woman for tea?" Marian said quietly standing next to Amira though her gaze was focused across the room to where Arthur was talking quietly with Sebastian.

After a moment, she turned her eyes towards Amira.

"We both know that you're not known for your... hospitality," she paused, taking a sip of her wine. She thought to make a snide remark about if their tea had been poisoned, but held her tongue.

"I cannot imagine what... valuable information you might have gathered from the daughter of a defeated lord and the bastard daughter of a former king..."

[forgottenamira]

Moon Pie 🌙