in my own little corner.

Call me Ella. 24. Seamstress, songstress, dreamer. Citizen of the kingdom of Naeron.

[lovelydisneys]

[ellaashes-blog]

lovelydisneys:

♪ A dream is a wish your heart makes when you’re fast asleep. In dreams you will lose your heartaches. Whatever you wish for, you keep. Have faith in your dreams, and someday, your rainbow will come smiling through. No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true. ♪

[longslives]

[aaurorarose-deactivated20160109]

Aurora felt the flash of recognition turn into a wince of sympathy when the young lady who hit her head turned out to be Ella, the girl she had befriended during the festival of joy. The Festival, it was just a few weeks ago and yet it felt like another lifetime. Her overwhelming fear from before felt beyond ridiculous now, stupid really. But rather than focus on that Aurora quickly got up from her seat to help, trying to guide the injured blonde to her seat. “Here, take my seat.” Aurora let some of the other people in the vicinity worry about the broken china, signaling to one of waitresses that she would take care of the expenses incurred, although not sure if the nonverbal command was understood she decided to focus on her friend first.

“Oh, we all have our off days, don’t worry about it Ella. Are you okay? You’re not bleeding right?”  

[ellaashes-blog]

Once she was able to focus, Ella could finally see who had spoken to her. It was Princess Aurora, someone she hadn’t seen in weeks, but was surprised to find herself wanting to be in her presence as soon as she was. There was a sort of pull around the princess that made her someone Ella enjoyed being around, and she was glad that it had been her to catch her on her off day and not anyone else. She shook her head at the offer, wincing quietly before she stood and stopped rubbing the spot on her head, pulling her hand away to inspect the palm. No blood, a wonderful sign. “No, it’s alright. I can pull one up.” Before the princess could protest, Ella was doing just that, one of the chairs from a nearby table in her grasp as she tugged it over to the tiny table.

“I think it’s been a week for me, though. Ever since that night I...I can’t seem to think straight. And no, no bleeding.”

[aaurorarose-deactivated20160109]

Aurora knows better than to wander off in thought, she really does. She’s looking down at her hot chocolate filled mug but not seeing a thing. Only clinging to the warmth the mug provided. She had hoped that by going out and visiting the small bakery nearby the castle that she would feel that bit of happiness that now evaded her but it seems that she can’t escape the nightmares even while awake.

Its the sudden crash of china behind her that startle her into awareness, just as she feels a person bump into her table. The combination of the two jump starts the warring reactions of flight and fight leaving her frozen staring up in fright for a few seconds.

“Oh god, please be more careful!”

[ellaashes-blog]

Ella hadn’t been paying much attention to where she was going, her mind listing off everything she had to do before the coming weekend. Her stepmother had wanted her to fix rips in over ten gowns, and her hands were already sore after the first four. Ella also had a few appointments coming up and most were for big projects, including a wedding dress for the baker’s niece down the way. She had already bumped into a couple and apologized when she felt her hip bump into the corner of a table, making a tiny yelp leave her from slight pain and even more surprise.

China fell from the table and she quickly bent down to collect the pieces in her skirt, apologizing to everyone who passed her. She felt bad, the china cups detailed in pretty green leaves that looked like it took days to paint each one. The sound of a voice made her head pop up from where she sat, nicking the table corner once more and causing a swear to leave her. Ella recognized the woman who had spoken, but the pain from hitting her head made her unable to chat for a second. She rubbed the spot she had hit with the table and offered the familiar face a smile.

“Sorry, I’m usually not this clumsy.”

[celinnedahl-blog]

“Yet that is where I differ from your human leaders. I, for one, don’t hide behind stone walls and let others fight my battles. I hardly have use for a position of power if the ones I protect cannot rely on me to defend them. Either way, I have no use of them going astray in my absence. Magic is what you make of it, love. But there is no right or wrong answer on how it is used either. It simply exists, neither good nor evil. I know you don’t, though I’ll also know if you do.”

[ellaashes-blog]

“You differ from our leaders in many ways, miss. You’ve got more power than ten of them in just your one hand. I’ve seen it for myself, as has everyone else in the kingdom. I suppose you would want to keep an eye on them even when you’re away. It all depends on what you see as good and bad. Your idea may be different than say, that little boy holding his mother’s hand over there.  Well, you’ll never get the call that I spoke to anyone about that.”

[celinnedahl-blog]

“Perhaps not forever, but I suppose that it would be a fair time to let some of my other allies take the reign on things for a while. I still intend to oversee their operations, of course. I’d like my networks intact when I return, after all. It’s never a matter of whether or not you can control it. You have to. It’s a double-edged sword, darling; if you don’t learn the basic principles, your life is forfeit. Equivalent exchange and all that. Thank you dear, I’ll hold you to that.”

[ellaashes-blog]

“I mean, you’d burn yourself out otherwise. And usually, leaders rarely fight themselves. Which is probably why they don’t mind having others fight for them to stay in their positions of power. And they too have networks, mostly with each other. A double-edged sword describes it very well, it is both dangerous and protective. It all depends how you use it and how it’s used against you. I don’t plan on breaking the promise.”

[celinnedahl-blog]

“Oh, I could hardly do something like that. Not to say that my people are incompetent, but I should be doing the heavy lifting for my own campaign. It wouldn’t be right otherwise. Weeks sounds about right- long enough to be a bother anyway. Luckily I’ve had plenty of time to practice complicated spells. A grim reality, but true. Just don’t go spreading around that compassionate part. I am playing the role of a rebellious tyrant, after all.”

[ellaashes-blog]

“Well, sometimes you need to let others do the heavy lifting for you. You can’t balance an entire campaign on your own two shoulders. That’s why you’ve created a network of others to help you. Magic is a very tricky thing, yes. I doubt I would ever be able to control it if I were gifted with the talent. Your secret is safe with me.”

[ellaashes-blog]

ELLA ASHWORTH / ESFJ-A/ "THE CONSUL”

( + ) strengths: Loyal, Strong Sense of Duty, Sensitive, Warm ( - ) weaknesses: Inflexible, Vulnerable to Criticism, Too Selfless, Too Needy

18% extrovert, 50% observant, 62% feeling, 7% judging, 11% assertive

“ESFJs truly enjoy hearing about their friends' relationships and activities, remembering little details and always standing ready to talk things out with warmth and sensitivity.”

LAWFUL GOOD

A lawful good character acts as a good person is expected or required to act. Lawful good is the best alignment you can be because it combines honor and compassion.

[celinnedahl-blog]

“A wise analysis. It does seem a fair time to take it easy, and I have been running myself ragged as of late. You would not believe how long it takes to gather ingredients for that elaborate a spell. I didn’t do it alone, of course, but it’s not something I would repeat. I dislike most humans, but not enough to wipe out another species to see their destruction.”

[ellaashes-blog]

“Even if no one knows, you could take it easy. Maybe get some of your followers to do some of the dirty work. It must have taken weeks, right? It doesn’t seem very easy to do any sort of magic, let alone bring hundreds back from the dead. You’ve more compassion than most humans. If roles were reversed, they’d wipe everyone out without a second thought.”

[celinnedahl-blog]

“Are you worried, dear? I am no stranger to being hunted, but they’ve yet to succeed in catching me despite my fixed address. Even at my worst they’d have a difficult time of it. However…you do have a point. That isn’t a stunt I can pull off every day, you know.”

[ellaashes-blog]

“No, I think you can handle yourself. But, if you are not well after your stunt, I think some time away would be helpful. Refreshing even. Even the most powerful need a break once in a while.”

[celinnedahl-blog]

“Oh, that was such a delightful affair! I do hope to make a reappearance soon enough, but after all that excitement, I may need to take a small vacation. Being the life of the party is so dreadfully exhausting after all.”

[ellaashes-blog]

“Miss Maleficent, it would probably be wise to take that vacation. Everyone in the kingdoms will be hunting you down even more now, and that whole...event seemed to take a lot more out of you than you planned.”

[kristoffsbjorgman-blog]

“That’s definitely one way to look at it–maybe you can take the world by storm with that opinion, then. I’d back you up on it; if I could just wear my mountain gear all the time, I totally would. Flipping it to one of the sides? Like–this, perhaps?”

“Again, don’t let Sven know, but…she is; the costume suits her in a way I hadn’t really been expecting for it to. If I wasn’t so amazed by it, I might be a little weirded out. And you make a good point, unfortunately; let me know if you see a tiny redhead bobbing around, yeah?”

[ellaashes-blog]

“Maybe I will! I think it’s good to always have differing opinions in the world, even in a trivial thing like fashion. Mountain gear sounds like it would get a little hot in the summer, though. And then you’d be overheated instead of itchy. Yes, exactly!”

“Your secret is safe with me, pinky swear. I bet she makes a fine reindeer. Does she have the little nose and everything? Well, it’s good you don’t find it weird that your girlfriend makes a cute reindeer, otherwise she may take slight offense. I’ll keep my eyes peeled for a redhead with antlers.”

[celinnedahl-blog]

“Well that’s unfortunate, isn’t it?”

“None of this is about how I feel, human. It’s about what’s right. Your hands are far from clean. Simply ask your Cheshire friend if you’re so sure about that.” The human was cheeky- Celine could give her that much. However, the more she spoke the clearer the gap was between their experiences. Speaking of peace when such a thing had long since died was downright laughable. Perhaps she should call over one of her wraiths, just to see how long the little pacifist act would last? “Violence is what makes the world go round, my pet. And change is the end result. To speak of it otherwise is to show how little you know of the real world, like a blind man speaking of colours.”

The witch listened to the human as she made another appeal to her, rolling her eyes as she acknowledged her ignorance. And here the human was, speaking of having faerie friends when she didn’t know the first thing about them. “Of course you didn’t know, because the world revolves around humans.” Celine commented dryly, a look of disgust crossing her face at her proposal. “And what, exactly? Just because the possibility exists to replenish my kind, that forgives your species of all transgressions? My people are dead because of you. They aren’t coming back. None of them asked to die the way they did, and it is high time that you learned how that felt. It’s called accountability.” Honestly, she could not believe the nerve of this woman! “Humans damned me long ago. They wanted a monster, so that’s exactly what they’re going to get. And this monster will make them regret it.”

Gradually, her temper began to cool as she was given a rather unusual request. The blood-curdling sneer vanished, though the steely glare remained. “Very well human. Imagine every person you’ve ever known or trusted. Think of the baker who gave you an extra loaf of bread, or the sweet old woman who would tell you stories. Perhaps even this Cheshire of yours.” Celine said with a sickening sweetness that belied her stone cold fury. “Now imagine one has been murdered in a violent manner, merely for the act of being kind to you. You go to the court seeking justice, and you are turned away at the gates because you were born ‘bad’. Rinse and repeat with each person in your life, over decades.”

Her gaze left the human, watching her wraiths at work thoughtfully. “Those who associate with you will die because you are a bad thing. People are afraid of you, and try to hunt you down because you shouldn’t exist. But you do, and there’s nothing you can do, nothing you can change to make them think otherwise even if you tried. And you have, many times over to no avail.” The mocking timbre was replaced with bitterness and a hint of resignation. “Mercy doesn’t exist, and even if it did, the most deserving never get it.”

[ellaashes-blog]

“Yes, it is. It’s very unfortunate.”

“You feel like this is right, do you not? Emotion plays a bigger role in what we believe to be right than some may want to admit. I know fear is why many are fighting against you, though they claim it is the right thing to do. I will ask him, though I doubt he will say my hands are dirty. Others, yes. There are horrible people no matter where you look.” Ella toyed with her hands as she spoke to the faerie, wringing one in the other as she almost challenged the dark being. She would not be called something she was not, no matter how much the woman hated other humans. Ella Ashworth was not a dirty, evil human. She believed herself far from that. “It is also what they expect, miss. You would be smart to surprise them, if you want to win in the shortest amount of time. I may not know as much as you know about the world, but I still know some things.”

Ella stopped speaking as soon as she saw the faerie roll her eyes, a slight blush creeping along her cheeks as she froze before the woman. What she said made her grow frustrated, her lips pursing slightly to stop the first thought she had from tumbling out of her mouth. She stood quiet, letting the woman finish speaking before jumping in at the end of her words. “That’s not...that’s not why. I only asked if it was possible. I do not expect you to drain yourself to create more dark beings for the world to only crush moments later out of fear. No one asked to die this way either.” She motioned around them lazily, not wanting to make what was happening into the big discussion between the pair. “Though, I’m sure some here do deserve to suffer the way your friends did. I don’t think you’re a monster.” Just a terrifying woman who could kill her at any moment.

Silently, Ella listened. She was surprised the faerie had given her what she had asked, but she realized it may have been a mistake. The things she told her to imagine made her freeze, the idea of losing anyone else she was close to making her uneasy before the faerie. The tone she used made the words sting extra hard, like a dagger digging into her with every syllable. The idea she would be turned away when seeking justice made Ella’s brow furrow, surprised at the idea of anyone being turned away just because of how they were born and who they reported.

“So, you’re really protecting faeries? You aren’t forging a war just for the hell of it, like everyone believes. You’re standing up for the meek, the forgotten, aren’t you?” She paused for a moment, letting her thoughts collect. “No, only some get mercy. The pure of heart die young. The sinners live happily for decades while the saints are sacrificed daily.”

[celinnedahl-blog]

“That depends on how many humans understand the nature of fear. So I suspect a handful will live. It would be besides the point to let everyone die, otherwise who is to know of what happened here?”

“Of course I have no intentions of stopping. I’m simply providing the humans with as much mercy as my kind has been given over these long years. They’ve made their choices, and with each generation I lose mine.” It was rather audacious to have a human talk back to her like that, given that they were surrounded by beasties that bent to her will and all. If she wished, the woman could have made a pretty morsel for her wraiths. Luckily, disillusionment was a far better source of entertainment than throwing her to the spectral wolves. “If your history proves anything, change is only invoked by violence. In a way, I’m only playing by your own rules.”

Celine saw her expression twist as she told her story, and it amused her. However, the grin faded away as the human switched her approach, begging mercy not for her friends, but for the children in attendance. “…yes they were, human. Children are always the victims of circumstance.” The witch agreed pointedly, her expression darkening with malice. “Faeries are born from the elements in nature, but have you never wondered why I’m the only one born from darkness? There were others a long time ago. They didn’t choose how they were born, yet your kind poached them to near extinction. I’m the only one remaining, and you ask me to spare your offspring? After everything?” She hissed, momentarily looking far more like the serpent she was dressed as than a maiden as her temper flared.

“I hardly expect you to understand. Your life is so very short, and mine is far longer than it should be. How could you possibly understand what it’s like to see your species vanish before your eyes, all because they never fought back? And of course, only when they decide they’re sick of it do you ask for mercy from them. Pathetic." 

[ellaashes-blog]

“Fear is a hard thing to understand. Aren’t there layers to it, like tiny frights and full on phobias? Many humans don’t understand fear. I don’t think many living things do.”

“And how will you feel once you’ve won? Once you’ve taken care of us the way we took care of your kind? Will you be pleased and full of a hateful happiness? I made no choice. I was born as I am, just as you were, and I’ve never harmed a faerie. One of my dearest friends is a Cheshire.” Ella tried to stand tall before the faerie, but she feared what may become of her if she did in fact step even a centimeter over the line. She wasn’t sure why she was being so defiant towards someone who could easily feed her to one of the beings crawling all around them, but she felt as though someone should take a stand. And Ella wasn’t afraid to die to keep someone safe. “Wars do bring change, but in the worst possible ways. Violence should never be the answer, if you ask me. There are other ways to get what you want. Manipulation, bartering. Royals do it, why can’t you? You seem smarter than half the people running the kingdoms.”

Swallowing as the woman spoke, she fell silent once more. The gruesome details of her stories made everything she did make more and more sense. How could people expect someone to fight fairly after seeing everyone she loved be taken from in to live humiliating lives or die horrible deaths? Violence wasn’t the way she should go about seeking her revenge, but to Ella, it seemed the easiest way. “Children are victims of circumstance, and so too are young faeries, correct? I didn’t know that, miss. I assumed it was more similar to how we are born, though it makes sense you come into this world differently than I.” Ella winced as the woman spoke, her words almost cutting into her with the sharpness in her tone. “Is there a way you could have others like you? I only ask you spare them because I know most will ask you to spare themselves, not the children. I do not care if I die protecting one child from a death they did not ask for. But, this is what they want from you. They want even more of a reason to have your head on a pike. If you kill the innocent, the hunt for you will only increase.” Somehow, the woman before her seemed to transform into the dragon she had seen weeks prior, even if it was just in the face. This caused Ella to take a step back, still within the circle of safety with the dark faerie.

“Help me understand? I’ve seen my kind die. My mother...she died before I even got to know her. And my father died when I was only thirteen. It may not be the same sort of graphic loss you faced, but it stings my heart just as the death of your friends stings yours. And you cannot blame me for asking for mercy. It is something some deserve.”

[celinnedahl-blog]

“As they should. This is their night after all, and no one else will provide for them. Even in death, there are outcasts.”

“I have humans to thank for that, if you need someone to blame. It’s time to wake up from your daydreams, love.” Celine replied with a casual shrug of her shoulders. She led them further away from the entrance, where the wraiths were sparse. Most of them were already swarming the flooded gates. The night would be nothing less than a massacre. 

When the human asked her another question, she laughed. “Allow me to give you a small lesson about your species, girl. You see that lord over there? Running away with his tail between his legs? In his manor, there are a pair of wings that belonged to a child I knew.” Celine was rather glad to see him freeze in his tracks as a wraith made the slow crawl towards him. She pointed out another to the human. “That woman? She stole the true names of my kin, and uses them as her playthings. Why, this palace is protected by magic, yet there are some here who would execute anyone who practices it in their homeland.” Despite the chaos in the room, the wraiths did not so much as glance their way. Rather the space around them was eerily tranquil. “There is no such thing as innocent when it comes to your kind, and it would be wise not to forget it. Why should I care for your friends when you’ve killed mine years ago?”

[ellaashes-blog]

“Will anyone be spared? They can’t possibly feed off everyone here...can they?”

“Not all humans are bad. Just like all faeries aren’t evil. You are what you choose to be, and you could choose to stop this. But you won’t, will you? You’ve got much bigger dreams than just a couple handfuls of dead royals, don’t you?” Ella swallowed thickly as she spoke out of turn, not sure how the faerie would react to this. She was led from where they stood to a place with almost more terror at all, the air around them almost calm. It was eerie, Ella’s skin crawling as she saw the creatures move around them without so much as a glance.

The sound of a laugh, cold and cruel, made her glance back at the woman, the knot in her stomach tightening.  Ella fell silent as the woman spoke, her fears fading only a little. The stories she shared made her face twist in slight disgust, the idea of humans do that to other living creatures made her feel sick. “I..I’m sorry. Losing your kin and friends, especially in such nauseating ways, is something I’d never wish on anyone. You shouldn’t be killed for your gift, so long as you use it for the right reasons. Killing people is wrong, but understandable after what you’ve seen.” Her head shook at the faerie’s comment, catching herself quickly. “There is some innocence among us. Children..many of them are innocent. Yet, they’ll be some of the biggest casualties of this war when they’ve done nothing to you or your kin. Don’t care about my friends, but spare the families. Or at least the children.”

[celinnedahl-blog]

“They feed off of fear, love. I’m afraid that I make for a dreadful meal in that regard.”

The faerie smiled at her, entertained by the shell-shocked look on her face. “I know I’m prettier up close, but a picture would last you longer, dear.” Clearly, this was a human who remembered her, and for that, she felt rather proud. Her scare tactic earlier that month was doing wonders for her reputation. Celine slipped an arm around the young woman’s waist as she tried to flee, only to be thrown back into the witch with the rushing crowd. Celine giggled with delight, pulling her away from the mob and into the shadow of a nearby pillar. “Dear, I declared war months ago. It’s hardly my fault that your armies are lacking. Besides, these wraiths are only doing what nature intended for them. All I did was make their search for food a little easier.”

[ellaashes-blog]

“So they’re bound to get a good meal tonight, aren’t they? Since everyone is panicking once more.”

Ella’s expression melted down to only slight shock as the faerie grinned at her and caused a sickening twist to form in her stomach. “How can someone so beautiful be so full of hate? I thought witches and faeries were suppose to be ugly, like in the storybooks.” Her face was unable to hide the fear as the faerie reached out and touched her, the slender arm of the older woman wrapping easily around Ella’s waist to keep her from running off. God, how she wanted to run. Without any form of protest, she was led to the shadows to avoid the crowd. “You think I care about war? I just want my friends to be safe! And you releasing these things - these wraiths - is not going to keep them safe. Do you not care about the innocent? Not everyone here is your enemy.”

[celinnedahl-blog]

“Careful, darling, you’ll trip if you keep running like that.”

Celine was tired, and for good reason. It had taken a good chunk of her power to bring all those wraiths to life, but she was quite glad that Facilier’s spell seemed to have succeeded. She had only just come up to check on it when a human already had its clutches on her. How annoying. “I’m not going to bite. Although I can’t say the same for them. Aren’t they beautiful?”

[ellaashes-blog]

“How can you be so calm? Do you not see wh-”

Ella’s words got lost in her throat when she realized who she had grabbed. It was her. The woman who had turned herself into a dragon before every person of Verden was now close enough for Ella to inspect every enchanted inch of her. That terrifying moment when she was a mix of monster and maiden was still vivid in the younger woman’s mind as the two stared at each other. Her hand threw the woman’s down quickly and she tried to take a step back, but the rushing crowd ended up pushing the two closer. “They’re hideous! How..how could you do this?”