#Faeries and Elves

[baldursyourgate]

The DIFFERENCE. I am cackling.

In all of her interactions, she refers to the Drow Female Tav as "sister".

Lolth might be out of the picture, but the matriarchal upbringing has made its mark lmao. Amplified even, by uhh... that thang.

[valarinde]

“[The Wood-elves] differed from the High Elves of the West, and were more dangerous and less wise. For most of them were descended from the ancient tribes that never went to Faerie in the West. There the Light-elves and the Deep-elves and the Sea-elves went and lived for ages, and grew fairer and wiser and more learned, and invented their magic and their cunning craft in the making of beautiful and marvellous things, before some came back into the Wide World. In the Wide World the Wood-elves lingered in the twilight of our Sun and Moon, but loved best the stars; and they wandered in the great forests that grew tall in lands that are now lost. They dwelt most often by the edges of the woods, from which they could escape at times to hunt, or to ride and run over the open lands by moonlight or starlight; and after the coming of Men they took ever more and more to the gloaming and the dusk.”

The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien

[manicpixiedreamfae]

So I was wondering

If Oak is a gancanagh, Nicasia is a mermaid, Kaye is a pixie, Madoc is a redcap, Ravus (from Valiant) is a troll, etc etc

What type of Fae exactly is Cardan? And Roiben, for that matter 🤔

They're probably just considered as.... Elves/high elves, I guess?

[moonandris]

CALLING ALL HIGH FANTASY WRITERS, I WOULD LIKE YOUR OPINION PLEASE! In your story, do you have elves, faeries, both, or neither?

I've been really struggling with going back and forth between having fae in my story verses having just elves, verses having fae and elves, etc. and I'm sooooo unsure what I should do! I love the idea of the fae and the 'feel' they have, which is more mystical and magical than how elves come across. I also really love the Seelie and Unseelie dichotomy and that really only applies to fae. Having Seelie and Unseelie elves doesn't really work to me...

On the other hand, I also reaaaallly love elves and they have a lot in common with fae. Elves come across as more mortal than fae do and their 'feel' is somewhat less magic and mysterious than fae but that's also a charming aspect.

I know that I can literally make fae and elves however I want them to be in my world but I'm really curious how other high fantasy writers are utilizing these fictional races and what they're doing with them.

[tatiilange]

Commission illustration

[ablatheringblatherskite]

For me, it's a dragon 🥹

As always, reblog for more votes!!!

[rachelillustrates]

More @ockissweek 💋 And continuing with the Seven Qualities of Fairycraft, day four – Compassion.

Sliding in some angst for this one with backstory-style Amarum (on the right – Elven water bearer, which is basically a cleric-mage) and her best friend Diantha (on the left – Elven earth bearer). She goes through it but I promise she’s gonna be okay!!

(( Big thanks again to @artofmisi for organizing this event! ))

~

Bonus art and stories ~ Prints, comics and more!

[lailoken]

Do you think that the fair folk have physical bodies, just in another world? Are they able to shift between tangible and intangible? Also asking for a friend if they have a fixed anatomy regarding like... Sex . I wonder if they are all androgynous

This is quite a tricky question in some respects, but I will do my best to answer. Pardon the dense response and overuse of hypothetical quotations in advance.

I assume when you speak of Fae here that you specifically mean Elves, and so I will move forward based on that assumption, but please know that this is not an attempt to go over broad folkloric history concerning the biology or gender of elves, as it's going to take a lot just to go over my own personal understanding of the matter.

Before I can properly explain my stance, I think I first need to explain a bit about my beliefs regarding the Otherworld in general. One thing I have seen people at odds with each other about is whether the Otherworld should be considered as a "separate" dimension, or a hidden "layer" of this dimension. As I do in much of the rest of my Craft, I embrace paradox where this matter is concerned, believing both views to be true in their own way. Based on my own experience and supposition, the Otherworld can indeed be thought of as an integral stratum of the world as we know it, meaning that the Otherworld is inherently enmeshed with the realm of existence we recognize as the "physical universe." However, despite the fact that these "strata" are all part of something together, they are still individuated layers, too.  I think a concept that serves as a particularly good analogy of the situation is that of the electromagnetic spectrum. All electromagnetic radiation is light, and it all effects us in some way, but only a certain "section" of this light is visible to us. There are parts of this "invisible light" that we find ways to look at and interact with, but they remain uniquely "hidden" from us. In the same way, the Otherworld is a central aspect of the physical plane, but also remains a separate, hidden plane in its own right. Some people find ways to look at or interact with this invisible world, as it is still a part of our world,  but that doesn't change that it remains apart in its own way.

Just as the "invisible light" of the electromagnetic spectrum is also uniquely stratified, so too is the Otherworld. I couldn't begin to properly map out these innumerable facets if I spent the rest of my life attempting the feat, but I have come to recognize three basic, overarching realms that make up the Otherworld. Put quite simply, they could be described as the Upper Realm, the Inner Realm, and the Lower Realm of the Otherworld.

The Upper Realm is the "expanse"of the Otherworld that most closely touches ours, and as such, it is the realm we are most easily capable of interacting with. It is often understood as a mirror of our world, and I believe the collective consciousness of living things largely shapes the "laws" of this place. It is also the place where animistic spirits seem most firmly rooted. 

The Inner Realm can be thought of as the heart of the Otherworld—it is the place whence the Elves come (though they travel all the realms), and it is most easily accessed through dreaming. After all, my tradition holds that while dreaming, a person's spirit can wander and occasionally make entrance to further planes of the Otherworld.

The Lower realm is the "expanse" of the otherworld which most closely touches the Quietus—where human souls must eventually travel in order to merge with the Wellspring (the ultimate creative font that all things were born from and return to) before being woven once again into the pattern of the Wyrd. The Quietus remains a holy mystery, though the Underworld serves as a final port, of sorts, where souls go to rest and learn as they each must in their own unique ways before remerging with the Wellspring.

I think that each of these realms, as well as the Physical Plane we know—and who knows what else—exist along a dimensional axis of sorts, which I was taught about growing up using the mythology of the World Tree.

So, with all that in mind, we go back to the matter of Elves and the questions you posed about them.

Do I think they have physical bodies but in another place? Assuming you mean literal corporeal bodies, then the answer is no. However, I do think they may have something akin to a body in the Inner Realm—I just don't necessarily think it would be comprehensible to a human mind. That being said, I believe that Elves often take on humanoid shape when interacting with us, though, I think this largely has to do with the fact they are generally being filtered through the lens of the Upper Realm. I think that because the Collective Unconscious deeply influences the Upper Realm, human conceptions and expectations do a lot to effect the ways a spirit will be perceived there, and more often than not, this will lead to them taking a human or animal form. I think this can also explain Faery gender, if a little clumsily. While I don't believe that Elves experience sex or gender in their own "homeland" (the Inner Realm,) I do think that the sway of the Collective Unconscious causes them to take on gender when they take on human form. I don't think that elves have a singular static body or gender that they are bound to when dealing with people, but I do think many will eventually fall into a sort of "default" identity which feels the most comfortable to them when doing so. If people have been reaching out to them for years—much less centuries—under a particular guise, then I think that creates a sort of "psychic impression" in the Collective Unsoncious that makes them all the more likely to present in that way. So, in short, Elves aren't inherently bound by the strictures of human sex and gender—but our cultural understanding of sex and gender will inevitably affect the way Elves are perceived by humans.

As far as tangibility vs. intanbility goes, this remains one of the more difficult aspects for me to grasp concerning the nature of Gloaming Spirits, in general.  Do I consider them spirits, as opposed to biological entities? Yes, I do. But do I think they can exist only within the human mind? No, I don't. I think they are more than ideas, but less than organisms, and as such, that makes it hard to wrap my head around their physicality. I can safely say that they primarily seem to influence the world through synchronicity, natural phenomena, and mental intervention, but I'm also not convinced that they can't exert their will in some more direct and physical manner on rare occasions.

If you're interested in learning more about what the historical record has to say, I would suggest looking at Sounds of Infinity by Lee Morgan. He has an essay therein called "The Embodied Lives of Elves" that is very well researched and written.

[whereserpentswalk]

Elves, like most plants, reproduce using flowers. They don't even have humanoid sex organs, even though the rest of their bodies are somewhat humanoid. They useally don't even meet the people who they mate with, as most elven cities have a stable bee population.

Elves are often confused by human sex and relationships. They don't have any good equivalents in their societies for parents, children or lovers. It all seems as confusing to them as the elven Yallenwai and Eurenwai system is to us.

Sometimes if elves spend a lot of time around humans, they'll end up in romantic situations with us. Most of them don't ever really have the same emotions about it but they find it interesting. Also, elven society is often very cold and emotionally repressed, so it's very nice for them to have relationships where someone is egar to cuddle them and touch their naked body and pet their head and such. So like, it's very unlikely an elf will be turned on by having your genitals in their "mouth", but they might start crying tears of joy because of how beautiful they find it and how pure and comforted it makes them feel.

[goldengoblink]

“Lone”

[ratatoskryggdrasil]

Julien Nguyen, Fairest of the Seasons, 2016 and detail Oil on panel, 22.5 x 22.5 x 1.25 in, (57.15 x 57.15 x 3.18 cm)

[aspiringnexu]

Something I find absolutely hilarious is just how different the Woodland Realm is to Lothlorien and Rivendell. It’s a difference borne of many things, of course, given that Rivendell and Lothlorien are both run by Elves with Rings of Power and Eryn Lasgalen isn’t and that Rivendell and Lothlorien are run by people related to each other (not just because of the whole shared Noldor thing) whereas Eryn Lasgalen is ruled by a royal family of Sindar and populated by Silvans. Then there’s that whole thing with the Necromancer shacking up in Dol Guldur and fucking up the forest.

But regardless I find it endlessly amusing to imagine how different the White Council would have been if Thranduil had been invited to join. Because you have Gandalf the stoned, Saruman the cantankerous bitch, Elrond the wise and reserved, and Galadriel the ridiculously ethereal who comes with her own choir back-up singers. And then enter Thranduil, Middle-Earth’s premier Dramatic Bitch with his uber fancy crown and long trailing robes lined with brilliant burnt umber satin with his massive fucking elk and enough sarcastic disdain to fill the Long-Lake.

I dunno I just find it funny that the Lord of the Rings showed us the graceful, ethereal, honestly-kinda-spooky elves and then we get the Party Master, Wine Connoisseur, Fashionista Bitch who is perfectly happy with going to war so he can get his wife’s gems back from a bunch of (honestly he’s not really wrong though at that point the main problem is Thorin) thieving dwarves in The Hobbit.

And suddenly all of Legolas’ over-the-top dramatics make sense.

[chaotic-orphan]

A Benignant Mischief (5)

Part one here

Continued from here

Back to my favourite Kingdom~

*~*~*~*~*

Cosimo managed to walk at a respectable pace with Henrik’s arm around him, supporting him as they followed the King’s trail through the palace. It felt nice to have freedom of movement in his arms, the iron cuffs were a welcome weight off his wrists.

This part of the palace looked less… formal. Less imposingly grand as the trial court had been. There were also less people, less humans, so maybe that had something to do with Cosimo’s sudden easement.

They turned a corner which opened up into a large room. Not as tall or grand as the court, but clean. Clinical. The walls were the same bone white, but three beds made up the back wall with cabinets full of bottles scattered around everywhere else, filling the space.

Nikolas was there, smiling and charming off the other grumpy human that could only be Artzet. He was taller than Nikolas, and where Nikolas was fair Artzet was dark. He had long dark, raven hair pushed back off his face, that stopped just above his shoulders. He had a wide face and a strong jaw, lined with dark stubble. His eyes were blue, when he turned his head to Cosimo and Henrik, like ice.

“Ah, there he is now,” said Nikolas with a smile, walking over to Cosimo and Henrik to stand beside them. “The man of the hour. He had a rather unfortunate arrival and I was hoping you could bandage his wrists from the cuffs.”

Artzet cocked an eyebrow at Cosimo, silent as the grave. He had a strange aura about him, unapproachable and stormy. His eyes flicked to Cosimo’s ears and Cosimo felt the shame rise in his face as he looked down.

“The boy’s an elf,” Artzet said, his voice like gravel, with a strange accent. Not unlike Henrik and Nikolas but certainly different. Foreign, like Cosimo.

“Yes,” said Nikolas brightly. “He’s a boy. His name is Cosimo, and he was mistreated in my name, Artzet.”

Artzet’s eyes were hard when they cut to Nikolas. “Don’t you usually execute elves?”

There wasn’t a malice in his words, nor anything else really. It was more… matter of fact, as if trying to glean understanding. Cosimo was dizzy with the range that humans came in. Evil, kind, happy, grumpy— and then Artzet who just… confused Cosimo.

Maybe he was going mad.

“Yes,” Nikolas replied in the same matter-of-fact tone. “Adult elves with intentions to kill me first. This boy is a child, Artzet. He doesn’t even know of our tumultuous history with elves.”

Artzet looked at Cosimo again with those icy eyes, calculating, searching Cosimo’s face for what Cosimo didn’t know. Then his face broke into a smile and it made him look a couple years younger.

“An innocent elf,” Artzet said with a bark of laughter and a shrug. “Well. It’s not everyday I get to treat an elf, please put him on the bed.”

Nikolas grinned in return, flashing his smile down at Cosimo and then patting Henrik on the back. “Marvellous!”

Henrik helped Cosimo over to the bed while Artzet milled around the room, humming a tune to himself. “You okay, kid?” Henrik whispered as he lifted Cosimo onto the bed.

“Yeah,” Cosimo replied, the room swirling slightly. “Yeah I’m fine.” Henrik smiled and grabbed Cosimo’s legs, helping him to stretch out on the comfortable bed and it felt so good. So nice and soft and warm. So unlike the cell’s cot.

Nikolas smiled at Cosimo from the entrance of the room. “I have to go and see to some arrangements about fixing you a room, Cosimo.”

Cosimo frowned. “A room?”

“Yes,” Nikolas said, smiling kindly.

“You’re not letting me go?”

The humans stilled in the room. Cosimo looked between Nikolas and Henrik, Artzet’s humming stopped. His heart was beating hard in his chest.

They weren’t going to let him go? What about? He had to save the boy and the fox he had to return to them, he had to—

Darkness encroached on the edges of his vision, Cosimo’s breath getting away from him and thrumming his chest in a staccato rhythm.

“I have to— I have to— my brother, I have to—” Cosimo wheezed, clutching his chest but it was no use. His thoughts were against him, his mind turning in on him and shattering. He couldn’t breathe. He had to—

Henrik was beside him, hand on his and squeezing. “Hey. Cosimo! Hey! Look at me, it’s okay! We’re not keeping you here. Cosimo!”

Cosimo’s eyes darted around the room searching for escape, everyone, everything was too close to him, the mattress too soft so he would struggle to run and could he even run?! In his state?

Icy eyes appeared in front of him and then smaller golden eyes. Cosimo stared, stunned at the furry creature that Artzet held in front of his face. Tears flowed in steady streams down his face but even then he couldn’t understand what was happening.

A cat?

It was a cat… Artzet… was holding a cat up to Cosimo? To take it?

“There we go. See? Everyone loves Myshka. Eh? Pet her if you like,” said Artzet with an encouraging nod. Cosimo lifted his hand and stroked the cat’s head. The cat purred under him, grey fur so soft and fluffy. “She is my nurse, helps me with all my patients. Isn’t that right Myshka?”

Myshka purred in reply. Cosimo let out a small happy laugh at her, as the grey cat curled up on his lap, content. Cosimo raised his head to see Henrik and Nikolas sharing a look of bewilderment. Cosimo swallowed, embarrassed at all the fuss he had caused.

“Mmm,” Artzet hummed in response to Myshka. “I agree. He is a lovely boy. Too tall for his age, but that means he will grow strong.”

“Cosimo.”

Cosimo looked up to Nikolas, who was frowning his brows forming a furrow at the top of his nose. His green eyes met Cosimo’s, with something heavy in them.

“You said…” Nikolas began then stopped, worrying his lip between his teeth. “You said you had a brother?”

Cosimo’s chest swelled again. He looked to Henrik who stared at him with the same tentative look that was on Nikolas’s face. So he must have said it. Cosimo didn’t remember saying it…

“You didn’t run away on your own,” said Henrik softly. Cosimo glanced down at the cat, fearing if he looked at anyone else he would start crying again. “Did you?”

Cosimo swallowed the lump in his throat.

Artzet spoke first. “Cosimo, if you wouldn’t mind stretching your arm here so I can clean it.”

Cosimo was happy for the distraction. His tongue had turned to sand in his mouth, too dry and thick and much. What would they do to the boy? To the fox? Would they kill them? Sure, Henrik liked Cosimo but that didn’t mean they liked elves. Would they put him in irons too? Force him to be in a cell? To stand trial, and then bandage him up again with an apology and an offer to stay and live with them.

“Cosimo,” it was Henrik this time. His eyes soft and trusting. “You can tell us, okay? We just want what’s best for you. And for your brother.”

Cosimo felt tears building behind his eyes. He couldn’t tell them, could he? He remembered during the trial, how Henrik had just stood back as he was tied down to an iron pole and it flared something angry in his chest. He couldn’t just tell them.

“If I tell you,” Cosimo said, tone guarded, shielding himself from the answer. He raised his head and stared straight at Nikolas. He had to hear it from the King. “Will you subject him to the same thing you did to me?”

The question seemed to suck all air out of the room. Henrik straightened, turning his body a little away from Cosimo, to look at Nikolas. Nikolas’s green eyes didn’t leave Cosimo’s. He walked closer to Cosimo’s bed and stopped at the end of it. Nikolas lifted his right hand, tucking his left behind his back and formed a fist over his chest.

His eyes solemn as he stared at Cosimo.

“I promise you, Cosimo. That your brother will not come to any harm in my care. I will treat you both as if you were my subjects. If you wish you can pass through my territory if you would prefer to keep running from where you’re from. I will provide the King’s escort so you can pass safely through.” Nikolas’s gaze softened then. A small flush fell over his cheeks, and Cosimo realised with a start that the King was… embarrassed.

“Or, if you prefer, you can have a room here in the palace. In my court. You would be treated with the utmost respect and kindness, as well as I would treat any other human. More so, because I know what pain you have been caused under my care. This, I give you, my vow as King. No harm will come to you.”

Cosimo stared without words. It felt as if his breath was taken from his chest. The only thought running through his head was that: Nikolas really did look like a King. The kind of Kings from stories Cosimo grew up with; good Kings, kind Kings, brave as knights and chosen by Gods. His golden brown hair like a crown, standing like a soldier in front of Cosimo, offering him a salute.

A King saluting Cosimo.

A human saluting an elf.

His enemy.

Maybe he was like everything Henrik had said. Maybe he was too good to be a King.

Cosimo broke down into another round of sobs. Nikolas blanked, like he had done something wrong immediately looking to Henrik who shared his look of confusion.

Artzet was bandaging Cosimo’s wrist, movement unbroken as if there was no life changing exchanges happening behind him. Myshka purred on Cosimo’s lap happily.

“Cosimo, I—” Nikolas began but Cosimo cut him off.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for causing all this trouble, I’m sorry for forcing you to be kind. I’m sorry—” Cosimo blubbered, looking up at Nikolas with watery eyes, as wide as saucers. “I’m sorry… that I’m not strong enough to say no. I— I ran with my brother, we— I didn’t have a plan, we have nowhere else to—”

Henrik engulfed Cosimo in a hug, stopping him mid sentence. He was so strong he could take the weight of them both as sobs wracked through Cosimo like a storm. Blubbering up and broiling over in waves.

“We’ll find your brother,” Nikolas said, and he was so certain. “As soon as you’re rested and—”

Cosimo’s eyes flew open, panicked. “No. Please, we have to find him now.”

Nikolas softened. “Of course. As soon as Artzet has looked you over we will set out to find him, Cosimo.”

“How wonderful,” Artzet said happily, returning Cosimo’s bandaged wrist to his lap. “I am already halfway through! Henrik, please. Let us swap sides.”

Cosimo flushed at Artzet’s manner of speaking. He spoke from the back of his throat, pausing as if for effect after every couple of words. His voice happy and upbeat, his face still the same imposing sternness that had initially scared Cosimo.

Henrik pulled back from Cosimo, and Cosimo offered him a smile. It was all he could do. Henrik returned one and walked around the bed to where Artzet was before, sitting on the edge of the blanket.

“How far away was your brother from where we were camped?” Henrik asked.

“Not too far,” Cosimo replied. “I’ll know when we get there. I left him in an elfbow. It should protect him from humans.”

“And from elves?”

Cosimo looked at Nikolas who had an unreadable expression on his face. Cosimo frowned, he didn’t even think of that.

“No,” said Cosimo softly. “No it wouldn’t.”

“No trouble,” said Artzet with a smile. “I will just work faster.”

Nikolas nodded at Artzet. “Thank you, Doctor. Henrik will stay with you Cosimo, while I send word to the stables to prepare the horses so we can leave as soon as you’re finished here.”

“Okay,” said Cosimo. “Thank you.”

Nikolas nodded and then he was gone.

“Oh no,” said Artzet not a second later. Turning Cosimo’s and Henrik’s head to him.

“What?” Henrik asked, his eyes flickering to Cosimo’s wrist.

Artzet grinned. “I think the King likes you, Cosimo.”

Henrik rolled his eyes and let out a soft laugh. Cosimo didn’t know how to react to that statement, but it did make something warm around his heart. It was good if the King liked him, that meant he would survive. The boy would survive. They would be okay, that Cosimo didn’t actually doom them. That he saved them both.

That all this had meant something.

Artzet smiled when he was finished and straightened. “Now, Cosimo. You are good as new! Well, not new, but better.”

Artzet spoke at Henrik next: “make sure he doesn’t ride his own horse in case the pulling of the reins aggravates his wrists.”

“It’s okay,” said Henrik, getting to his feet. “Cosimo will be riding with me anyway.”

“Marvellous. Now, Myshka,” said Artzet with a sigh. He leaned down and hooked his hands under the cats belly to her mewl of protest. “I know, I know. Terrible. Cosimo has a brother to rescue, Myshka, don’t be selfish.”

Cosimo got to his feet, his head only slightly dizzying now. The stress seeming to have left his body with Artzet and Myshka.

“Thank you,” Cosimo said to Artzet who was cuddling Myshka to his chest.

“Anytime, Cosimo. Now go, save your brother. I will see you again.”

Cosimo walked beside Henrik out of Artzet’s room and turned a different corner than the one that led back to the court room with the throne and the iron pole.

“Cosimo, are you sure you’re okay to ride?” Henrik asked, the skepticism evident in his voice. Cosimo for his part was doing his best to stay focused and upright.

“Yes,” said Cosimo. He did feel better, much better than before. He was a little woozy but he just attributed that to the blood loss. His hands looked a little funny with the white bandages wrapped firmly around them. Soft, yet strong. “We need to find him.”

He could feel Henrik’s eyes on him as they walked down the steps they had come up from the stables. They were so close to being safe, Cosimo could rest when he saw the boy, didn’t Henrik understand that? He could relax and let Henrik fuss over him then, but not until he saw the boy.

If the elves had got to him…

No, Cosimo couldn’t think like that. He wouldn’t. They would find the boy and everything would be fine.

They emerged from the side door of the palace to find Nikolas and some soldiers preparing horses outside the stables. Ebony was already geared up, tied off beside a white horse that Cosimo could only presume belonged to Nikolas.

He seemed like the type of man to have a white horse. It made him look more like a Hero. Henrik walked them around to where the gathering of the soldiers were to see Nikolas in the middle, sitting on a bale of hay and laughing at something with the stable boys.

He perked up when he saw Cosimo and Henrik, smiling and standing. He clapped one of the stable boys on the shoulder and then he was in front of Cosimo and Henrik.

“You’re all patched up,” said Nikolas.

“Yes, Artzet worked quickly.”

“Good. Then let’s not waste anymore time, hmm?”

They didn’t. Henrik helped Cosimo onto Ebony again and then climbed up behind him, while Nikolas mounted the white horse beside them. Henrik offered something to Cosimo and he took it, realising it was the hood and cloak Henrik had given him before to hide his ears from the other humans.

Cosimo frowned at the green material. Did he still have to hide? Was he not free by the king’s decree?

“People won’t know that you’re pardoned yet, Cosimo,” said Henrik behind him as he walked Ebony towards the palace gates. “They will still have reason to fear you if they see your ears. People have the tendency to think the worst. It will just cause panic.”

Cosimo swallowed his pride. He didn’t really have any grounds to fight Henrik who had only been kind with him. Henrik was doing this for Cosimo too, so he wouldn’t have to see the fear and hatred in the people’s eyes.

With a few orders from Nikolas they were out the palace gates and walking through the city to the border. Cosimo was awed with the reception Nikolas got from his people.

“Your majesty!”

“Your highness!”

“Three cheers for King Nikolas!”

A street band from the upper city followed the precession with lively music as they walked through the streets. Nikolas, Cosimo observed, smiled and waved and nodded when he needed to. He had no crown and yet everyone knew he was the King. He was adored by his city.

When they got into the outer parts, the poorer parts Cosimo expected some of the love to dwindle but if anything it just got louder.

“Nikolas!”

“King Niko! Where’re’ya off ta?”

“Your highness! We named our son after you,” a woman cried, holding a baby up to him. Nikolas laughed and stopped his horse beside the woman to gaze down at the sleeping child in her arms.

“Mmm, he’s going to be a handsome one, Sierra. Look at that, he’s got his father’s strong nose.” Nikolas looked up at her and smiled, what Cosimo could only assume was his charming kingly smile. “I wish you three all the happiness in the world.”

Then they continued on.

More music.

Flowers thrown at his horses feet. It’s like a festival.

Cosimo can’t help but feel a stab on envy. He can only watch as the humans fawn and fuss over their King, and with good reason, because he’s wearing a cloak right now to cover his features. His ears, his skin, his eyes. All too strange to humans, all hateful. That’s why they were greeted with flowers instead of curses and words of praise rather than hatred.

He shrunk a little into himself, pulling the cloak tighter around himself. It didn’t matter. None of it mattered. Not until they rescued the boy, that’s why they were leaving Oskana at all. If the humans knew why… well, they wouldn’t be cheering as much.

Or maybe, some tiny voice said at the back of Cosimo’s mind, maybe they would cheer even louder.

It was just a thought, fleeting, and yet somehow heavier than anything Cosimo had thought in the past day. He ignored it. The voice could be right, but Cosimo couldn’t be sure until he saw the boy again.

Until he saved him.

Cosimo raised his head as they reached the city gates, staring out into the Kingswood, as one of the soldiers in his trial had called it.

I’m coming back with help, Cosimo promised. Please, be safe.

*~*~*~*~*

Orphanage roll-call (lmk if you wanna be tagged or removed): @annablogsposts