#archmistress

[lodgeofeilhart]

Love her hair, her eyes, her nose, her mouth, her cleft chin, her cheekbones, her eyebrows, everything really. This woman is a living goddess!

[arte-mis-t]

Collection of short works for Writober 2022, all Farah-centered.

Prompts by fanwriter.it [pumpneon LIST]

STAY TUNED.

[stromuprisahat]

This is how you ruin another character upon their introduction.

‘Why aren’t you in school, student?’ she asked coldly, glaring at Ciri.

‘Wait, Tissaia,’ said the other woman, younger, tall and blond, in a green dress with a considerable neckline. ‘I don’t recognize her. I don’t think she’s…’

‘She is.’ Cut the dark-haired one. ‘I’m certain that she’s one of your girls, Rita. You can’t possibly know them all. She must be one of those who sneaked out through Loxia during the chaos when the students changed quarters. And now we shall wait for her explanation. Well, student?’

...

The woman raised her hand and Ciri immediately understood the seriousness of her mistake. Yennefer had demonstrated to her paralysing spells only once, tired with her long whining. The feeling had been considerably unpleasant. It was the same now.

Fabio cried terrified and leaped towards her but the other woman, the blond one, caught him by the collar and forced him to stay in place. The boy jerked his arm but the woman had an iron grip. Ciri couldn’t move. The dark-haired one bent down and glared at her.

‘I am not in favour of corporal punishment,’ she drawled her words coldly, evening her cuffs yet again, ‘But I will ensure that you’re whipped, student. Not for misbehaviour, not for the theft or elopement. Not even for wearing illicit clothes, walking out with a boy and telling him about things you were forbidden from discussing. No, you will be whipped for being unable to recognize an Archmistress.’

Rita starts with stating she doesn’t recognize Ciri, meaning she's probably familiar enough with her students to be able to. It’s Tissaia, who grabs the girl, and Tissaia, who threatens her. She also paralyzes Ciri, when she believes her to be insolent. Rita catches Fabio- still with Ciri- and lets him speak once he starts to explain.

Compare to:

“Mistress Laux-Antille”: *catches running Ciri* “Another runaway. You've had your fun, novice. Back to the dorms.”

Ciri: “Get your hands off me!”

“Mistress Laux-Antille”:  *hard slap* “You will address me as Mistress Laux-Antille. And you'll clean the toilets for your impertinence.”

...

“Mistress Laux-Antille”, between drunken laughter: “Here, girl! Novices these days are useless. Not like when we were girls. I told you to bring the wine. ... I wanted red! ... Damned Cintran princess. What's so special about her, anyway? ... Girl, the wine! Now.”

In books, it’s Ciri’s pride injured. Her main issue’s the sorceresses dealt with Yennefer- as her guardian- instead of treating her like an independent person. She wasn’t abused by some cruel, sadistic bitch only because she’s younger and “only a student”. Rita’s even kind to her!

‘Hey, girl,’ she nodded at Ciri, ‘be so good and pass me a towel. Come on, stop pouting.’

Ciri hissed quietly, still offended. When Fabio let out who Ciri was, the sorceresses dragged her through half of the city, exposing her to public mockery. In Giancardi's bank the whole incident was immediately explained. The Sorceresses apologized to Yennefer, explaining their behaviour. ... Alarmed by the activation of Ciri’s amulet, Margarita Laux-Antille and Tissaia de Vries mistook her for one [of the sudents].

The sorcerers’ apologized to Yennefer, but none of them thought of apologizing to Ciri. ...

Ciri gave the towel to the Sorceress. Margarita patted her gently on the cheek. Ciri snorted and jumped and splashed into the pool of scented rosemary water.

‘Floats like a little leaf’, smiled Margarita as she lay down next to Yennefer on a wooden couch. ‘And she is as well formed as a nymph. You’re giving her to me, Yenna?’

Margarita Laux-Antille is one of those teachers, whose job is truly their life’s mission. She knows her students, she cares about them, she risks her life for them. Even as a member of the Lodge, her focus is education, not power. She doesn’t beat random girls on the street, because they possess magical amulet.

Fuck you Netflix, for ruining another one of my favourite minor characters! On such a deep, fundamental. level!

‘Ciri, serve us. Damn this carafe is almost empty. Come on, be good and bring us another.’

‘Bring two,’ smiled Margarita ‘As a reward you will get a sip and sit down with us, you will no longer have to strain your ears from a distance. Your education starts here, now, from me before you reach Arethusa.’

[skylarkdevries]

I routinely google words to make sure I’m spelling them correctly for my fics and look who comes up 2nd in the search results on google if you search the word “Archmistress”. A legend even by google’s algorithm 🥹

[inkamumbles]

Surprise! Here it is! Here’s how I imagine this would go:

Tissaia: Greetings Moiraine Sedai

Moiraine: Good evening Archmistress de Vries.

Tissaia: …

Moiraine: …

Moiraine: I like your outfit.

Tissaia: Hm. I like yours too.

[wordsbyarwen]

hello! ive been keeping up with your writing for a while and i was just curious, do you have any plans to continue stone in your water? no pressure ofc, just wondering :)

If it takes another 6 years it will be completed, yes.

The more complicated and slightly more serious answer (although i am very serious about finishing the fic) is that as we wind closer to the end, i find it more taxing to make sure all the pieces are in place to bring the story to a close without leaving any ends hanging. There are also a lot of emotions going on that need careful consideration given certain recent events - so along with navigating their new bond and sorting out how to address some other issues - as well as the just bringing it to a satisfying close in general (i know what's going to happen ultimately, but weaving the story around it is blah), things have just been going a bit slowly.

plus tbh i though writing in past tense for the Hades & Persephone au would be a good exercise and now i keep giving myself psychic damage every time i try to write in present tense again.

anyway here's a (very long) segment from the next chapter, where i explain Rita taking over as Headmistress and Tissaia and Vilgefortz seizing control of the Chapter

Yennefer is not the only guest at the meeting, of course. Rita's warm presence alone is enough to tell Yennefer that her ponderous thoughts this morning were accurate: Tissaia is stepping down as Rectoress.

"You seem weary, Tissaia. Have you come to vacate your Chapter seat as well?" Artorius drawls when the announcement has been made, voice dripping with feigned boredom.

"Yes, the running of your little school is hardly reason to call another meeting so soon—particularly after you were so quick to depart the last one," Stregobor complains. "Why have you gathered us here?"

A flare of annoyance from Tissaia shoots across their bond, and Yennefer furrows her brows slightly. She wants to bite back—she’ll only be able to take so many of Stregobor’s disingenuous comments—but she holds her tongue and focuses instead on reassessing the barriers around Tissaia's mind.

All seems well. 

"Quite the contrary, Artorius," Tissaia is saying, ignoring Stregobor’s interruption for now. “For too long I have been torn between the duties of two different stations. Henceforth I intend to dedicate my full attention to the oversight of the Brotherhood. I think we can all agree that these are trying times indeed, gentlemen; the Brotherhood needs guidance.” 

A breath of silence—and then, from nowhere, someone laughs. 

Vilgefortz, Yennefer realises when he clears his throat to speak. "Well said, Tissaia; after all, it was the efforts of our mages which kept the Nilfgaardian horde from crossing the Yaruga. Might I be so bold as to suggest that the Brotherhood requires not only guidance but… a new direction, even?” he muses. A beat. He makes a thoughtful noise before continuing, “The Archmistress has my support.”

[...]

“I knew it was a bad idea to fill Vanielle’s seat with this—this sword-slinging whelp,” Stregobor grumbles. In her mind’s eye, in the disturbance of chaos near his seat, Yennefer sees him wave his arm dismissively.

The absolute gall, saying this in front of the man! Yennefer has little love for Vilgefortz, but she finds herself distracted once again by musings of how Stregobor has maintained his seat in the Brotherhood’s leadership for so long when all he does is provoke the people around him. 

Terranova hums quietly in amusement. “In all fairness, they were right. The Blackclads arrive after all—and two days early at that? Had Tissaia and Vilgefortz not rushed to defend Sodden, we’d already be neck-deep in a war we were too complacent to stop.”

“Back to the point, gentlemen,” Tissaia begins in the ensuing silence. “Now is the time for unity, not for infighting.”

Not one to be drawn from his protestations so easily, Stregobor makes a disgusted sound before grumbling, “I still don’t understand why you could not have put this in a letter.”

Tissaia does not quite sigh aloud, but Yennefer is well-familiar with the pinched expression she associates this feeling of irritation with. “Aretuza produces nine out of ten of the mages who serve as advisors on the Brotherhood’s behalf,” Tissaia snaps. “One would hope this Council has significant interest in the future of the school.” She puffs out a breath before continuing in a more casual tone. “Of course, your personal lack of interest hardly surprises me, Stregobor: as much time as you spend peacocking around Thanedd, it’s a wonder your boys even recognise their Rector’s face.”

“<i>Now—</i>”

“Remind me,” Tissaia continues over Stregobor’s interruption, “when was a Ban Aard graduate last chosen for a court assignment?” A moment of tense silence. No answer comes. “Then I trust you have no other protestations regarding the discussion of Aretuza’s future in this hall.”

Growing more irritated (and more unbearable) by the minute, Stregobor makes a sudden noise of frustration. “Margarita Laux-Antille has no interest in politics!”

“That’s the first thing you’ve got right since calling this meeting to order,” Rita interjects blandly, speaking up for the first time.

“Ha! You see—!”

“But, while I have no interest in playing at intrigue as you do, I assure you I am more than capable of staying abreast of the political landscape here in the North and abroad, as is necessary to guide Aretuza and its students. Besides, we have experts for a reason,” she adds in a lightly scoffing tone. “You take for granted that Tissaia has long been part of this Council. I take precisely as much interest in the political sphere as the position of Rectoress necessitates.”

“And it is for that reason that she is here,” Tissaia continues smoothly, cold steel underneath her placid demeanour. “In future, I will act as liaison between the Council and Aretuza. For now, I move that we review the current status of our relations across the Northern Realms. After all, the Headmistress should know precisely where the Council stands—should she not?”

It is not, in fact, a question.

[thegirl20]

Yeah, I mean I really can see why people see the mother/daughter thing, although I also like to argue that a mother can have more than one child and yet Tissaia cares about Yennefer than all the others combined lol. Fine, I suppose some people would still see it as parent/child but there would certainly be no small amount of people shipping them. And very few would judge those people for shipping.. Oh I'm under no impression that there's any indication of their relationship going/being romantic

Are you saying Tissaia plays favourites?? How could you suggest such a thing? Perish the thought!! 😉

Yes, Yennefer is Tissaia's favourite, but I think we do get to see her brand of care and compassion for her other wards. She tries to help Fringilla see the error of her ways and return to the right side. She keeps Triss' presence a secret (initially) to protect her and is visibly upset when Triss is angry at her betrayal. She calls them 'my girls'.

I don't actually think we got enough time with the mages to really understand what's going on with them and how everything fits together. I've gleaned a lot from what others have told me about the books, but the show is very surface level in terms of history and lore.

If I'd been writing the show, it would have been called 'Aretuza Academy' and would have shown all of the relationships develop and grow between the sorceresses and would have explained more about the heirarchy of the Brotherhood and how the Council works and stuff.

As it is, I don't think the show does a good job of even telling us where Tissaia sits in the pecking order. In Season 1, she's essentially a teacher and is overruled more than once by others (Yennefer's placement, going to war against Nilfgaard). In Season 1, we barely saw her use magic at all, other than to redirect the lightning bolt Yennefer directed at Sabrina. I've said this elsewhere, but I don't think Fringilla's use of dimeritium to disable Tissaia was actually all that effective, because we as an audience had no idea what level of threat Tissaia was to the other side. If we thought that Tissaia was a high level mage/archmistress and that she single-handedly could have taken down Nilfgaard, then taking her out of the game would have been an 'oh fuck' moment. But we had no basis for thinking that, as we had not seen her unleash her power. Personally I think the gravitas of MyAnna's performance was the only reason anyone had to think that Tissaia was a powerful player, because I'm not entirely sure the narrative supported that. In the first ep of Season 2 we got to see her use her powers more than we had in the entirety of season 1 (seemingly unaffected by inhaling lungfuls of dimeritium), but her level of influence with the Brotherhood and the Council still doesn't seem all that impressive (telling Yen she has to kill Cahir because others want her to etc).

Anyway, I digress.

What I was trying to say is that I think a lot of how we view the characters and relationships in The Witcher comes from our own interpretations and fanon and knowledge from other versions rather than what's been presented on screen, because what was presented on screen was relatively little.

[beltrixuniverse]

Vilgefortz and Tissaia

I really like the trope of an older woman and a younger man. I dislike when this trope takes a turn and makes the older powerful woman stupid and duped by the younger man. And I really hope that the show won’t take this turn. (Yes, I know that the actors are similar in age, but from the books we know that Tissaia is one of the eldest and most powerful mages alive, whereas Yennefer views Vilgefortz as “young”.)

I can see the reason why Tissaia would go for Vilgefortz - we’ve seen her being outvoted about Yennefer going to Nilfgaard and in general dealing with Stregobor and Vigo must be tiresome. Vilgefortz proved that he can stand to them about himself and also about her (without appearing too “white-knightly”). So it had to be a relief to find someone with a similar onlook on the important topics (and very hot). However, I don’t see Tissaia viewing their relationship as “love love”. Which is the reason why I believe that Vilgefortz fucked up in 2x07 - first proclaiming his love and then also screaming at her. She is not interested in either, so she doesn’t really respond to them. 

Why Vilgefortz would be interested in Tissaia is also pretty obvious (aside the fact that she is absolutely amazing and sexy and powerful...) - she wields power in the Brotherhood and her support can help him get his own seat of power there, and her opinions about politics and actions she is willing to take help his goals. 

I would like to believe that if she was not at least a little bit suspicious about him before, his actions in 2x07 would definitely raise alarm bells in her. My hopes about season 3 are pretty simple: he does not get to gloat or laugh at her about sleeping with him and that her suicide is not caused by a heartbreak (I could see it being a guilt over not seeing his true colours earlier or similar to book reasons). 

And of course I want to see Tissaia doing powerful magic. She is not the Archmistress of magic for nothing. In the first season she referred to herself and Yennefer as being full of emotions, so since we’ve seen Yennefer “forgetting the bottle”, I really can’t wait to see the same for Tissaia. 

[gingersimasnaps]

Hello, remember me? I'm everything you can't control.

[lesbianladyeboshi]

Asked my tiny cousin what if *I* met the prince guy from her fave Disney movies and she just grinned and said "You will EAT him! :D"

[rectoress]

philippa, on the other hand, gets a disappointment jar (on a shelf up high) and tissaia herself puts a pebble in it every time philippa disappoints her

[lodgeofeilhart]

Her smile is life, she truly has the most beautiful face!

[arte-mis-t]

Kind of heart broken that now October is over your Fatah fic series will end. I love it to pieces and it is one of the few things that keep me going you are truly gifted 🫶🏼 will there be any hope for future Fatah x reader content from you?

Thank you so much, anon!

Of course there will be more Farah x Reader content. I have two on going story that I'd love to finish before the new year (Perennial Nest and the Archmistresses project on Instagram) and a Ros/youngFarah that I began which hasn't been posted yet.

Plus, I had alternative ideas for some of the Writober prompts - they might become stories one day!

[normallyiminsane]

Princess Calanthe Fiona Riannon of Cintra dances with Archmistress Tissaia de Vries.

[inkamumbles]

You are so thirsty i fucking love it and I should get a proper tumblr account to follow you lmao

I have been compromised! My thirsty-ness has been uncovered! 😆

I am glad it provides good entertainment for you, because it does for me too, as all of my thirst is currently directed towards a certain Archmistress.

Please make a Tumblr account so I may see who you are! Reveal yourself spirit! ✨👀

[wordsbyarwen]

This October, I am picking and choosing between prompts from Flufftober, Whumptober, and Kinktober lists, because i’m that bitch. This month shall henceforth be lovingly referred to as Flunktober.

For day 2, I present to you the alternate prompt from the Whumptober list: touch starved. (Also satisfies the touch-starved prompt on my BTHB card). Yeehaw?

(I did write a day 1 prompt, but it’ll be posted on day 25, because... reasons?)

They must decide that Tissaia is worth more to them alive than dead.

It’s a clever enough play, she supposes, keeping the most powerful living human mage at the Lodge’s disposal in the event that their values might one day align.

They will not. It seems Tissaia alone knows this.

They keep her locked away in dimeritium shackles for a time, but the wise among them know that Tissaia de Vries, Archmistress of Magic, may soon escape such bonds. She is one of a few powerful enough to resist the effects of dimeritium on the chaos around them, and although she spends the better part of three days overcome by bouts of nausea and vertigo, writhing upon the mattress when she’s meant to be sleeping, she adjusts to the cuffs - to the metal and its foul brand of magic - as the days wear on. Soon, she might be able to overcome her human guards. Later, to hold her own against the lesser mages. Sooner than even Philippa thinks, perhaps, if the rage burning in her chest continues to blossom within her.

But no, they have made quick work of setting wards in place around one of the guest rooms, and these are wards that even she cannot break. She is free of the shackles, free to roam the modest - very modest - accommodations, but she has been afforded the comfort of a bed and writing desk, at least. And clean clothes. There are no luxuries, but it is as good as a gilded cage.

Those who deliver her food and clothes and firewood are servants, nothing more. Often, they are kind or frightened enough to share what day it is, to verify for Tissaia that her mind is still keen enough to count the days.

In the beginning, Philippa visits a few times. To berate her for failing to see reason. To ingratiate herself into Tissaia’s good graces. To gloat over the Archmistress’ capture. Any number of reasons, all of which are thinly veiled and vary by the day.

Now she sees only the servants and guards. Occasionally, one smuggles in a book for her. Even some of the guards have taken pity, but she doubts they would hesitate to draw a sword on her if need arose. But she is a quiet prisoner. Calm, collected. She offers them no reason for distrust.

One savaed passes, and then another, and she is alone.

Her memory may be sharp, but the animal parts of her, the pieces of her mind which are still human, have begun to fall to despair.

Human beings were not meant for isolation. Perhaps she is yet more human than she thought. One night, she weeps. Another, she opens the window and lets the biting chill of the snugly-fitted iron grate sink into her forearms for the sake of any new sensation at all.

Another savaed. And another.

She is pacing the floor as she often does, lest her body fade away completely in this space which affords so little room for movement, when the door opens one evening. A meal. Wood for the fire. If she is lucky, there will be freshly-washed linens and another book. For all that she dedicates a not-insignificant portion of each day to washing herself, she has not had a proper bath, nor proper care for her hair, since she was locked away; in spite of her efforts at cleanliness, she feels filthy.

Yes, fresh bedding would be the greatest gift - 

“Tissaia?”

Tissaia blinks, pausing to stare out the closed window, the dimming light casting shadows across the room.

She’s finally gone mad.

The door has closed, and for a long moment, there is no movement. And then, finally, a quiet sigh.

“I should have visited sooner. I’m sorry.”

Tissaia turns slowly toward the door, and - no, no, she has not gone mad. She’s there, laden with a tray holding too much food - simple fare, but enough to share.

The times have changed her.

“Rita.”

“There are other things for you, outside. Firewood, and - you really have no reflectors?”

“One.” She nods at the tiny table beside the bed, at the candle with the curved sheet of brass attached to its base. “I have little need for light, even when the nights are long.” At Rita’s expression, Tissaia thins her lips. “If you have guilt to feel, let it be for aligning with them, not for leaving me.”

“For the school,” Rita cries, taking two paces forward, then sighing her frustration and spinning to place the tray upon the little desk that doubles as a table. “For the safety of the students! Our students. Our girls. Times have changed, Tissaia; the Continent is in shambles, and - ”

“You do not need to tell me of the things I knew would come to pass in the event the Brotherhood fell, Rita. Who engineered that fall, I wonder?”

Rita’s hand lands on her arm, her grip firm, the contact a sudden rush of warmth as Tissaia’s heart races. Rita, who she has not seen since before the Coup - has not touched since that last night at The Silver Heron.

She has touched no one since that night; been touched only by those who took her captive when, weakened by the excessive use of her magic during the fighting, she had been overcome. By those who had shackled and unshackled her.

And so, after seasons of solitude, in the midst of the despair that began weeks and weeks ago to gnaw at the edges of her mind, she begins to cry.

She fights it at first, drawing herself upright as she glances down at Rita’s hand. Her throat feels thick; there is something wrong with her body, something much too primal, much too human. Sensing the blame in her, Rita loosens her grip, but when she begins to pull away Tissaia twists her wrist suddenly, bending her elbow to clasp Rita’s forearm in desperation.

It’s then that she begins to cry in earnest, pressing her lips into a thin line and squeezing her eyes shut in a vain attempt to stop them. But no, there is no stopping the rush of chemicals this unexpected contact has triggered. There is no fighting it.

So she yields to it. Why resist the inevitable? What pride does she have left? Is there any pride to be had in the presence of this erstwhile lover?

“Hold me.”

She barely recognises her own voice, hardly realises that it is she who has spoken, until Rita closes the distance between them and embraces her fiercely, working herself free of Tissaia’s hold to envelop her in both arms. And Tissaia surrenders herself to it, folding her arms around Rita’s ribs and pulling their bodies flush, until there is no breath of air between them.

Because as little intimacy as she has allowed herself these past centuries, she is still human. Because who knows when she will feel the touch of a human hand, whether for good or ill, again? Because Rita is soft, and warm, and right. Always was; always will be.

Because this physical contact after so long without shines a light on the distress of being without it. Awakens irrefutable sorrow and undeniable relief.

“Your poor hair,” Rita whispers into her ear, fingertips light on the back of Tissaia’s head, tracing around the chignon Tissaia continues to wear during most days for the sake of whatever decorum she has left and, for however short a time, to have something to do with her hands each day. But Tissaia doesn’t care about her hair, not now. She cares about the presence of another body next to her own, squeezes Rita all that much tighter. Taking this as a hint, Rita curls her arm more securely around Tissaia again. Still, her lips remain beside Tissaia’s ear, breath soft in her hair. “I’ll bring you some oils. I’ll tend to it.”

The latter part is an empty promise. They both know that if she spends too much time with Tissaia, it will arouse suspicion. To take a meal or two with her is one thing, but much more…

Still, it is a welcome fancy.