aria stafford @forgottenarias - Tumblr Blog

LFR/OTO AU Drabble

a thing no one asked for that was loosely based on the idea of an OTO AU version of this drabble & my random thoughts about the OTO Staffords and their observatory ;)

#lfr #oto au #what is this #maddness #eilionora stafford #domhnall stafford #riacan stafford #arthur varmont #garbhan stafford #drabble

forgottenalbrecht

OOC | Albrecht & Aria

how'd you like to marry either me or one of my brothers or nephews (NOT arthur tho ;DDDDD)??????? ;DDDDDD adklsjfalkdjsfjk no, actually, i think albrecht is one who'd actually be down for an arthur/aria wedding if he could be convinced that it'd be of enough benefit to him!! obv if he knew aria were a witch tho he'd do a 180 on that chillness!! witches are obv evil, sorry not sorry!! lakdjfkljdsfj

but yeah i do think he thinks it'd be great were she to marry one of his brothers or aurelius, perhps, were the cassandra thing out, and then house solemont could see abt reversing their charge of bastardy...just an intriguing thought...lakdsjfkljdsf he wants to remind her too that they're pr well connected to make that happen...aldskjflkdjsf

forgottenarias

Team Arthur/Aria still going strong with ONE member in Garbhan Stafford XD

It feels like either Arthur, Aria or BOTH of them are going to be paired up with someone from the other's family! obvs since none of the orinthia peeps are around yet... its gonna be aria potentially for now, haha!

i def don't think she's quite there YET in actual RP time but I do feel like (and maybe i've said this before so sorry for repeating myself!) aria's probably going to be contemplating if its worth it to find a way to keep herself in arthur's orbit even tho they both know there is NO way they'd ever be able to marry (at least as long as Roderick is around! and literally no one else thinks its a good idea soooo... ajkldsfdjskl) probably contemplating if she could be a second/third wife or a mistress OR is it enough just to continue to be able to support him by marrying into #teamarthur. (i'm making myself laugh thinking of how eilia would be loosing her MIND if she could see in aria's head SCREAM) ANYWAY tbh i don't know where she might land on ANY of this but all that to say she could possibly be convinced a solemont marriage might be the way to go??

all that aside i was actually thinking when i was reading through your reply to marian's comment abt how albrecht is a bit of a naturalist and possibly was experimenting with elixirs kinda of like aria had been brewing for arthur when he was unwell so i don't know if that might be something they connect with? i could see marian, since in her mind aria cured arthur with his tonics (aria: yes. tonics. non magic tonics!) telling Albrecht he might want to consult aria about what she used? i do feel like i've really vaguely alluded to this in the whole 'aria makes a tonic' thing and the mention of her mother's garden but i have had it in my head that aria is fairly knowledgable about plants and their properties and remedies for things! (we know roderick destroyed her mother's garden at the citadel but now i'm wondering if there might be a surviving -if not terribly overgrown!-- garden at her mother's house in Hanthom? ) but yeah! something to bound over beyond arthur and discussing which of his many siblings/family members aria might marry... they could talk about plants?!

#albrecht solemont #ooc #he was nearly albrecht varmont #so #we're all doing great at names ig

Family Matters || Garbhan & Aria

Aria frowned at the man standing in front of her.

No, frown was perhaps too kind of a word. Aria glared at the man in front of her.

Aria had, in the past few years, become quite good at glaring at people. It was one of the few defenses she had that, mostly, would not have her ending up in an even more terrible circumstance than the one she found herself in. There were no words that could be turned on her. There was only the way she chose display her emotions on her face.

This glare, however, was different. This was one that she'd felt had been within her for years and was reserved for family-- family that had betrayed her.

This glare was reserved for Garbhan Stafford and him alone. Aria had developed this glare when Garbhan and Rían had left Astaira all those years ago when the kingsmoot had declared Eilia the new Queen. She hadn't even meant to at that time, it was just the only way she knew how to react when both her cousins-- the only other Staffords left in the world-- had walked away from her and her sisters.

Since their return to Stafford alongside Roderick Varmont, Aria had had ample opportunity to perfect this look which she now bestowed upon her cousin as his trips to Stafford has been numerous, given that Rían had taken charge of Lorcan. Aria had done her best to avoid him as much as possible but now he was standing directly in front of her.

"What?" Aria snapped, though careful to keep her voice low as she did given they were surrounded by a number of Roderick's other guests that evening. She couldn't possibly imagine why Garbhan had chosen to approach her this evening.

It wasn't until he made to step around her that Aria realized it was actually the containers of wine that were on the table behind her that her cousin was looking towards, not her. Somehow this managed to make her more angry, though she could not say why.

"Anyone who drinks as much as you do starts to give of the appearance the liquor is, perhaps, distracting you from some... unhappiness, perhaps? And whatever do you have to be unhappy about, Garbhan?"

#thought i'd start them off #and as usual #aria coming in hot #she's a mess #family matters #garbhan stafford

Unsent Letter

Arthur,

I know that if you are reading these words that the truth about who I am, what I am, has been exposed. Knowing this, I do not hold out much hope that this letter will make it to you, but I write them still in hopes that one day my words will make it into your hands. Knowing I will not have much time left in this world, I have two things I must confess to you in this letter and one final request should I still live when you read my words.

I hope you will understand why I could never tell you the truth about who I truly was, what powers I possessed. It was not just my own safety at risk, but my sister's as well. I wanted you to know, Arthur. In truth, I wanted you to know everything about me. I wanted to be able to confide in you, trust you with all of my secrets. All my life, I was told I had to hide who I truly am, an entire part of myself no one would ever know of me because the truth was dangerous. The truth could lead to my death, violent and brutal, and the deaths of everyone I love. Yet, I wanted you to know-- you, the son of the Emperor whose flames my family had feared would come for me my entire life. You, the man who killed the Seeress of Kil-Kennar, should be someone from whom I should wish to flee, who I should know is cursed by the Guardians who blessed me with my powers yet, despite all of the logic and reason, I still believed there was something about you that could maybe, one day, see beyond the narrow views of your father. I still believe that, even now.

That belief, my belief, brings me to the first thing to which I must confess. I am sure you will not have forgotten that night, not too long after your father's tournament, when I found you in a delirious state outside my room in the tower. That night when I stayed with you and everyone believed my tonics managed to save you from the mysterious illnesses which overtook you so suddenly. My confession is that it was not my tonics that healed you: It was me. It was the powers I possess. I did not intend to use magic on you that night. I never healed anyone before, never been granted the gift, didn't even ask for the gift. But still, the Guardians granted me the power to bring save you, someone who should be their enemy. That has to mean sometime, does it not?

I could lie and say my pleas to the Guardians were in the hopes of saving someone who might one day help save Astaira, my home, but that would not be truthful. I begged the Guardians to help me because I knew that if something didn’t heal you that terrible night, even if you did not die, you would never be the same. I could not lose you, I could not bear the thought of you never waking up. I could not bear it because of the second confession I must make: I love you, Arthur.

I imagine your first thought is that this is just some ploy to try and gain sympathy, to see if such a confession might move you to try and save me from my fate. I know you probably see no reason to trust me now that you found out the truth about what I am, but I swear to you that my words are true. I truly believe there were moments between us where I could see that mask of an imperial prince slip away and the real Arthur was allowed to shine through. It was in those moments, I knew I loved you. It was in those moments, I knew I would never love the way I loved you.

I know that your heart lies elsewhere, that you have your duty and your family to consider, but I just need you to know that somebody, once, loved you without any conditions. I would not care if you were the son of an emperor or the son of the poorest worker in the city. It was not your riches or your myriad of titles or your strengths in battle that I loved, but things I find a can hardly put into words. I find I cannot adequately express why I love you, Arthur, only that I know I do and always will. I wish I had been braver, wish I could have told you of my feelings one of those days when we walked in the gardens or the glass house or even in the midst of one of the many arguments we seemed to have, but I could not. I know myself and I know I would never, never be brave enough to have found the words to tell you.

Which, finally, brings me to my request.

Please, I beg you, if you can, do me the same kindness you did for Aine of Kil-Kennar. I know I have no right to ask this of you, that it is unfair as I have seen how the past events weigh on you, but I cannot let my sister watch me die in the fires, not knowing how much she sacrificed to try and protect me. And, selfishly, as much as I want to be brave enough to face my death with my head held high, I know I will not if I meet my end in flames. I am not brave. I am frightened Arthur. Even now as I write these words with my secret still hidden, of the prospect of dying in such a way terrifies me. I have little left of my life as it once was but I believe I do still have my dignity and I hope that, perhaps, you will allow me the mercy of keeping it with a swift, clean death.

I know that is is likely this letter may reach you long after I am dead and, should my request not be met, I want you to understand that I forgive you, Grá mo Chroí . Be it timing or something else, know that I forgive you, that I know I am asking far too much of you. I am sorry. I am sorry for all of it.

I do not know what waits for us beyond this life, but my dearest wish is that the sun shines there, that I am able to stand and feel its heat on my face and be reminded of you. I hope the next life will still allow me the memory of your eyes meeting mine, your hand holding my own.

Mo ghrá go deo,

#did i not say the more interesting letter would be from aria to her dad?#and yet #here this is #sorry not sorry #challenge #unsent letter #arthur varmont #this would be super risky for her to actually write tbh #at least in her current situation #so if she DID in a moment of panic or smth she DEF burned it later #OR... if she DID write it...#maybe it was all in old astairan and not just the little bits?#oh!#which reminds me in order they translate to #“love of my heart”#&#“My love forever”

mcflymemes

ASSORTED PROMPTS FROM SONGS ON MY PLAYLIST * adjust as necessary

i still can't bring myself to say i'm over you.

i'm learning to live without you.

now you're here, and my arms are around you.

i never knew you looked so good.

you kissed me and stopped me from shaking.

i need you today.

i fall too fast. i say too much.

it's harder than i thought somehow.

i know it just takes time.

god, it's driving me out of my mind.

i'm doing the best I can.

i miss you just as much.

i wish i loved you less.

when i wanted you, i needed you.

i never realized how happy you made me.

you came and you gave without taking.

i sent you away.

now you're on your own.

how does it feel, to feel the way i used to feel?

why don't we try a slow dance?

maybe this moment will last.

all night long, i've been waiting for them to play a slow one.

we'll see how it feels.

it's all going by us so fast.

i can see a storm in the sky.

i can't take the rain.

only you can do it.

i mean, babe, what we had was good.

only you can help me.

we walked to the sea.

hold my hand.

love's easier when it's far away.

we're still here.

it seems you and i are like strangers.

i don't know how to begin.

maybe you could show me.

there's so much more i would say.

i've been so used to getting what i want.

i've always been the one who took the lead.

i need to follow you.

it's time. i think i'm ready now.

please come back.

all our friends keep knocking at the door.

i don't want to walk without you, baby.

something's in the air.

something's on my mind.

who's been sleeping in my bed?

i just don't get it.

i miss the fire in your kiss.

how the hell could the love that we had come to this?

each one is precious.

where are they now?

life came between us all.

luck is on your side tonight.

i love these city lights.

i gotta be somebody.

all i need is the money.

so what's the difference?

i gotta live.

we're going our separate ways.

there can only be brighter days.

i didn't mean that much to you.

leaving you is so hard to do.

you think a lot when you're on your own.

i still can't fall asleep.

you never understood the feeling in my heart.

i let myself believe again.

why can't i stop myself from coming back for more?

i'll call you at three in the morning.

things always look different in the light of day.

it's hard to make small talk when there's nothing to say.

that is all we are to one another.

there's got to be more.

i hope you find your love.

there's a reason to stay together.

nothing to fear. nothing at all.

i can see the signs all along the way.

i think i'm gonna leave.

something's coming up.

only the names have been changed.

i'll tell you what i believe.

i almost forgot what it's like.

now that i'm home again, you know that i'm home to stay.

we're together, baby.

#askbox memes #for anyone!#not just Aria

forgottenedmund

You Have Been Warned | Edmund & Aria

"If my mother is inviting you to tea, you'd watch best watch out."

Edmund have overheard his mother this morning send her lady out with the invitation. He knew, too, that she was not to be the only guest, but he thought he'd let her discover that upon arrival. He knew that his mother was planning this particular gathering for no other reason than to stir up trouble for Arthur by inviting his two romantic rivals to come see her.

And while Edmund was often on board with any plan that involved a headache for his brother, this particular plot did not sit entirely well with hem. He knew that Arthur would not be the only one who would be uncomfortable with this arrangement. Edmund didn't like the idea that Aria and Eithne would be caught in the crossfire.

Not exactly enough to try to dissuade Aria completely from going but ... he hoped she knew that she ought to be on her guard.

"I'm sure you have heard the rumors and, allow me to inform you, that they are all true. Including, of course, the one where she turns herself into a bat in the middle of the night and stalks people about the halls. Or is it a cat? I can never keep up with what people are saying, when they think no on is listening."

While he was teasing, of course, he knew that he had led her to a dangerous topic of conversation. He might make such comments in jest, but she could not follow him in it without risking someone hearing it. Roderick had cut out the tongues of those who had fueled the rumors of Amira Varmont to be a witch.

"She might not be a witch, my mother," He said to steer the conversation away, "but she is exceptionally perceptive. You will want to guard your secrets well while in her company."

forgottenarias

Aria was tucked up in her window seat overlooking the gardens where she was most often found in the mornings. Every now and then a guard would pass and Aria would look up from her book, brow furrowed, until said guard has passed.

When she'd heard footsteps once again in the hall she looked up, expecting to see yet another guard but found Edmund Varmont instead.

Aria had no desire to do so but she shut her book, rose, and sank into a curtsey before the prince. Declared a bastard as she now was, she supposed she must at least make a attempt at behaving properly in the presence of the imperial family. It only extended so far, however, and she immediately returned to her window seat, face set in a bit of a frown as Edmund told her of his mother.

She had received the invitation from the Queen Amira to come for tea and it had been quite puzzling to her, but Aria did not wish for Edmund to know this.

"I do not put stock in rumors. They are most often untrue. There have been many rumors regarding my family over the years and yet all, in the end, have been found to be false," she informed him coldly.

"Which is why I am sure you are simply teasing me. Perhaps you might cease and instead enlighten me as to why your mother has extended me such an invitation? We share no common interest and I am now simply a baseborn daughter of a dead king... or so the rumors say," Aria raised her eyebrows at the phrase.

"So what does she want with me?"

forgottenedmund

Edmund leaned one shoulder against the carved frame of the window and regarded her for a long moment: not with Arthur’s intensity, nor Sebastian’s caution, but with that blend of amusement and analytic sharpness that was uniquely his. Aria’s coldness did not bother him; if anything, he appreciated it. Most court women melted into simpering flattery before he even opened his mouth. Aria, instead, defended every inch of her dignity like a shield. It made conversation with her far more interesting.

“My mother has extended her gracious invitation because she is…bored.” He allowed himself a crooked, conspiratorial smile. “And when my mother is bored, she likes to amuse herself by observing people squirm. You, however, are not prone to squirming. I suspect this interests her more than you realize.”

In truth, Edmund knew precisely why Amira wanted Aria at her tea table. She wanted to measure her…to see how deeply Arthur’s interest ran, to see whether Aria might become either a threat to her own ambitions or a tool for them. And he hated that Aria’s stability would be tested in such a way, but he could not say that aloud. Nor did he warn her that Eithne Malconaire would also be present, seated like a chess piece in Amira’s game. Mother does not care if she wounds the wrong people so long as she draws blood from the right ones.

Edmund watched Aria’s expression carefully. “My mother wants to see how formidable you are.” A beat. “And I will tell you the truth, since you have asked for it plainly: she assumes that every woman Arthur looks at twice must be gathered up and inspected like some rare animal brought in from the hunt.” He gave a small shrug. “I do not endorse the habit. But disregarding it would be to your disadvantage.” A beat, "Or you may find your tea has been poisoned in the morning." He winked. "My mother hates to be ignored."

He pushed off the window and stood straighter, his tone growing gently pragmatic. “What she wants with you, Aria, is exactly what she wants with everyone: to know where you stand, what you fear, what you desire, and whether she can use you: or whether you are better left untouched. So it is in your best interest to be on your guard."

forgottenarias

Aria let out a laugh at Edmund's reasons for his mother inviting Aria to tea. "Bored is she? Well, I am most sincerely flattered by her invitation knowing that! I, Aria Stafford, invited to tea by an Imperial Queen to try and put an end to her boredom? It is quite an honor," she laughed again, though this time more at this entire situation than anything.

She was trapped in her home, trapped without any means of escape and now, she supposed, Amira planned to bat her around like a cat toying with a mouse before the poor creature ultimately came to its end.

Aria pointedly turned her attention back to her book, meaning to convey to Edmund she was done with this conversation, but then he said a name, Arthur's name. Her brow furrowed and she snapped the book closed, not caring if she lost her place.

"She must truly be bored if she is paying that much attention to whom your brother looks to. Might you remind her that we live in the same castle? What does she expect him to do-- shield his eyes if I walk past?"

Aria knew well and good this was not what Edmund was referring to-- Amira had seen her with Arthur, walking in the gardens or the glass house. Queen Amira was no fool, but also would never admit that to anyone-- especially the Queen's son.

Aria stood, trying to make herself as tall as possible as she spoke to Edmund next.

"I suppose I should appreciate your advice on being on my guard but..." Aria paused, stepped closer to the prince. "Might I tell you a secret, Your Highness? I am always on my guard... every moment of every day since your father arrive. Did you forget I am not a guest here? I am a prisoner. I cannot afford to let me guard down even for a moment so, please, do not fear... I will be well guarded against your mother."

#you have been warned #edmund varmont #man #she just cannot be nice to him #im so sorry

mcflymemes

PROMPTS FOR CHANGES AND GROWTH * assorted dialogue, adjust as necessary

you were never like this before.

you're not the person i once knew.

i don't want to think about it anymore. i've moved on.

people change. get over it.

are those gray hairs i see?

did you expect me to stay the same forever?

i got older. that's what happened.

yeah, well, things are different now.

i don't remember it ever looking like this.

did you move the furniture around in here?

i remember that used to be bigger.

when did that happen? did i miss it?

i wish we could just go back to the way it was before.

are you telling me it's over?

maybe i loved you once, but not anymore.

you look shorter than i remember.

what happended to your favorite chair?

you still look the same as you did the day i left.

did you do something with your hair?

is that a new scar i see?

the more things change, the more they stay the same.

everything's just the way i left it.

i made the mistake of trusting you once.

can't you see i've moved on?

stop trying to turn me into the person i once was.

what we had was special.

you've changed, and not in a good way.

you never would have done that years ago.

i don't remember you doing things like that.

when did this start happening?

is that new? when did that get here?

i barely recognize the place.

where did all the trees go that were here before?

i don't remember this being here at all.

when was the last time you visited this place?

your hair got longer.

still remember me, old friend?

this is just like old times.

do you ever reminisce about the good old days?

that might have worked once, but not anymore.

you really don't remember me?

you promised we'd be together forever.

you left. i had to move on.

i didn't have a choice in the matter.

things are different now.

they put me in charge of this place.

i never thought i'd see the day.

when you left, we had no one else to turn to.

there's nothing that can be done about it.

you can't turn back time, you know.

i miss coming here with you.

you don't look at me the same way.

i never should have left this place.

had you stayed, it might've been a different story.

change is inevitable. you can't fight it.

we were kids back then.

i'm sorry, but i don't feel the same way anymore.

nothing's been the same since you went away.

i wish you'd taken me with you.

that's not how it works anymore.

that's in the past for a reason.

there's no use digging up the past.

you didn't need to remind me.

forgottenarias

Aria || Aoife || Marian || Fiona || Lucian || Eithne

forgottenamira

OOC | Amira's Second Pregnancy

ok so, already announced this on disco, but ive got more details for you, now!! @forgottenedmund you're finally on the brink of getting some full siblings, now that you're full grown sldkajfksdjfjk and yes!! i ~do mean siblings, PLURAL, bc mama is carrying...*drum roll* TRIPLETS!!

ive been spinning a pregnancy generator for her each month, since we/she found out @forgottenmarian 's fam was coming back to court bc i think, to keep her influence w roderick strong etc in the face of that, that's what made her decide to try again. every month she didn't conceive, till now, and yeah! babies galore!

ok so i used [ this pregnancy generator ] to get the details on all this and, real talk, i combined a couple results bc one gave her SEVEN kids at once laskdjfjdsfkaj and i just...no. another killed her off. so also...no (not that im not open to her dying asp, you know me i will ~always consider a character death, but amira's still got a lot more to do before that) lsajkdfjdsf so here we are!!

ok so generator said that the pregnancy went unnoticed right up until labor started and imma be straight w you this woman is actively tryna conceive...no way she just doesn't notice alkdsjfjkdsf so!! imma just interpret that two different ways. 1) her baby bump was remarkably small for a multiple-pregnancy situation or smth along those lines alksdjfkjdsf and 2) that she didn't notice till a bit later since this is ~the middle ages~ and ways of telling such things early on are extremely limited, so i will go ahead and say that she conceived right around jun 1 (since i did spin for may and she didn't conceive) and didn't realize until right around the end of the month

during the pregnancy, the following symptoms are particularly noticable: depression, headaches, mood swings, nausea, decreased energy, exhaustion, and an increased sense of smell are all common symptoms (i just gave her all of them)

early labor will last for 22 days (slow labor)

active labor will last 9 hours

Triplets (3) will be born prematurely at 32 weeks, shortly after yuletide [on january 11]; one boy and two identical girls will result:

| Male | 4.4 lb | Healthy and strong | --- | Resembles Father's Brother (Euric or Alaric, i wonder? lkdsjfajsdf)

one baby does not survive (it is weak and deteriorates after illness).

both girls arrive weak or sickly but initially prove well enough, growing everyday stronger. both however ultimately contract an illness and, while one survives, she is blinded for life. the other does not survive. the surviving girl grows up a witch but this won't be realized, even by amira, for some time. (she's def giving unsettling lil girl who sees too much w blind eyes vibes and i love her v much <3) the boy is healthy and well.

idk if this is true ~or not~ but amira is convinced that her daughters' illness was not natural, as they had been steadily improving before they became sick. she is convinced that someone murdered one of her daughters and blinded/attempted to murder the other -- and probably tried on her youngest son, as well, but it didn't take. @forgottenroderick, being who he is, likely believes her w only limited persuasion, and also w the loss of another child probs re-enters his emo state for awhile -- welcome back goth emperor hours alksdjfksjdf

amira falls into a perpetual state of grief

overall, the delivery is extremely difficult. amira experiences severe bleeding and very nearly passes away, leaving her extremely weak with a difficult recovery. full disclosure, the generator did kill her but...nah, she/godfrey/tristan used some of their grandma's old witchy midwifery tricks and saved her or smth ig laksjdfjdsf

after the pregnancy, amira experiences general apathy, postnatal bleeding, fever and postpartum infection, frequent headaches, prolonged soreness, prolonged tiredness, increased appetite, lingering pain

couldn't have happened to a nicer person but lakjdsfkjldjf gotta say this all sucks so hard for amira honestly lkajdsfjkldsf damn

any naming suggestions?

i feel like roderick prefers english/visigothic naming conventions, so that's most common for the boy; amira prefers greek/middle eastern ones, so that's possibly more likely to show up for the girls, but edmund also def gets to weigh in on this and idk what he'd like! (and also i deffff welcome and want all suggestions/thoughts from ~everyone, ooc, as well!!)

some names i thought could work:

GIRLS

aida (returning, visitor)

alya/alia (heaven, sky, loftiness)

fatin (charming, seductive, fascinating)

alcinoe/alkinoe (strong mind)

arsinoe (raising of the mind)

aspasia (welcome, embrace)

kleonike/cleonica (glory, success, victory)

laodice (justce of the people)

philomena (beloved)

sophia (wisdom)

theodosia (giving to god)

xenia (foreigner, guest)

alodia (foreign riches)

aldara (battle aware)

BOY

alexander (protector of man)

alphonsus (noble and ready)

alvarus (all aware/conscious/guard)

amalric (unceasing/vigorous/brave king)

ambrose (immortal)

athanagild (year tribute)

fredenandus (peace/journey boldness/daring)

lysander (deliverer, savior)

odoacer/audovacar/odovacar (wealthy and vigilant)

theodemir (famous of the people)

theodoric (ruler of the people)

wymond (battle protection)

forgottenamira

THE BABES BE BORNNNN

ok sooo idk if we wanted to pursue the plot wherein @forgottenarias or @forgottenbrigit were dragged into the birthing chamber (after the first child expired) to help save amira and the rest of her kids, or not? i f not, we can say that like...godfrey's got some healing training and obv so does alke so maybe ~they helped out or whatever but anyway point is!!!!! spun a really tough birth and a really tough birth it was but amira has now (inadvertently) made a sacrifice to the demon tree and is that much closer to sporting this season's most fashionable accessory: demonic powers...but at what cost? girl will never be the same again

also we chatted quite a bit!

forgottenmarian Jun 30, 2025 Marian hates all of this 🫠 quillington Jun 30, 2025 at last smth they can agree on alsdkjfkjdsfj amira is NOT a born mother i can tell you that lakjsdfkjkdsjf i mean she adores her kids but that means being super hard on them and ?????? slkdjfakjsdf i feel like children are NOT her scene at ALL lajsdfkjdf @forgottentristan this is a you problem, i feel (also her handmaidens) forgottenmarian Jun 30, 2025 @quillington Marian who LOVES kids is probably going to be so creeped out by mini Amira lil witch daughter 😬 quillington Jun 30, 2025 @forgottenmarian Sgkjfshkhdr amira meanwhile: finally a child I can ~talk to! Bb girl: lo ere the seventh day thy deeds be done! Amira: YAY!

phabblebabbles Jun 30, 2025 Also!! My votes are for Sophia/Philomena and Lysander/Ambrose! Naming your kid immortal seems v Roderick 🫠 @quillington He’s like “JUST A REMINDER I WILL NEVER DIE REALLY.” quillington Jun 30, 2025 @phabblebabbles NEVERRRRRRR 🙌👏 roderick: the crowd goes wild! The rebels: only in the sense that they riot…

laurenplayspeople Jun 30, 2025 I was also looking at Sophia and Lysander! I also liked Fatin though (les mis brain!) quillington Jun 30, 2025 @laurenplayspeople Eeeee sophia and Lysander coming in strongggggg!!!! Fatin!!!!! Omg I didn’t realize there was a middle eastern girl in that book! That’s so cool!!! laurenplayspeople Jun 30, 2025 @quillington Oh, no, like Fantine! Lol. I just added the extra letters in my head when I looked at it 😂 quillington Jun 30, 2025 @laurenplayspeople Fantineeeeee ughhhhhh 😩😩😩😩 but omg they ~are similar aren’t they!! phabblebabbles Jun 30, 2025 @laurenplayspeople @quillington where’s the French inspired country? That would be a good name for someone!

now time me: pr sure orinthia was more or less fantasy!italy, not france despite what im abt to say below, so i think faulia or lienor must've been fantasy!france...

quillington Jun 30, 2025 @phabblebabbles you're so right!!! lakjsfdkjsdf was it lena's country of origin??? lakjsdfjdsf idr off the top of my head...pr sure it hasn't been conquered by roderick tho?? not sure, but i think we said it was lena's home??? phabblebabbles Jun 30, 2025 @quillington Idk if we’d decided what Lena’s country was based on besides knowing it had a coast line??? @quillington Oooo it could be kinda… French Riviera vibes?! So some of that vaguely Mediterranean inspo? quillington Jun 30, 2025 @phabblebabbles Oooooh yesssss bc I think we’d maybe talked abt Sardinia too abd those vibes would fold in beautifully!! phabblebabbles Jun 30, 2025 @quillington I love that! and we'd talked about it bordering Astaira, year? (Orinthia? Something w/ an "O" idk and i'm too lazy to open another tab to look!)

quillington Jun 30, 2025 @phabblebabbles Ooooh ok is Orinthia that same place? Ik orinthia is one of the unconquered countries but I wasn’t sure if it was Lena’s ? I was thinking it was but haven’t been able to find that stuff! Anyway, If so I think it does border astaira but…in the sense that England borders france or whatever bc there was talk w orinthia abt this Astairan fleet that was still sailing around out there w Astairan troops abd had possibly? Turned to piracy? I don’t remember all the details off the top of my head ngl 😂 phabblebabbles Jun 30, 2025 @quillington so honestly idk if we ever named Lena's home specifically? and i know orinthia was a name that was thrown out so maybe then they just sort of became one and the same? but omg yes! the fleet and the piracy is ringing a bell! i think one of aria's hopes was that siobhan had made it onto a ship and gotten to orinthia for safety? (even tho they didn't come to help when eilia called for aid?)

phabblebabbles Jun 30, 2025 @quillington Also Emo Emperor era 🖤🖤🖤 quillington Jun 30, 2025 Gotta love emo emperor and all his emotional stability always 🖤🖤🖤 laurenplayspeople Jun 30, 2025 The way that emo emperor era is gonna be so triggering for Guin. 😂 Flashbacks of just like: oh no, everyone is going to leave me again quillington Jun 30, 2025 😭😭😭😭😭 roderick in his goth voice: and we can none of us ever stop it!

laurenplayspeople Jun 30, 2025 @quillington Hey, I mean, congrats to Alistair, Guin is gonna get real clingy 😂 quillington Jun 30, 2025 @laurenplayspeople Afjkggbc ddhjkk alistair: daMn I shoulda married you sooner huh…oh wait it’s bc ur sister died…jk jk but you KNOW he GON be there for her through it all!!!!!!

forgottenarias Jun 30, 2025 Okay but knowing Amira was SUPPOSED to die… is there a world where Aria or @forgottenbrigit (esp if she ends up being one of Amira’s ladies!) ends up healing her enough so she doesn’t die?!?! quillington Jun 30, 2025 KATE!!!!!!! I loooooove!!!!! I think amira gonna want to either swap (Godfrey: dammit amira!) eilia for aria or just snag her as well for her household given the whole witch thing! Idk how successful she’d be but 👀 Can also legit see amira being like ‘save me or I’ll tell them all what you really are’ too 💀😭

forgottenarias Jun 30, 2025 @quillington Eeep!! Omg! So kinda like when we were chattering abt Aria healing Roderick in some hypothetical situation… I don’t think Aria could let someone die even if they’re the worse? Also knowing there’s these little babies and Aria herself losing her mom so early in life i could see there being som complicated feelings there if arias the one who healed her…

forgottenarias Jun 30, 2025 @quillington Also gonna write some thoughts from Marian abt all that tonight but she is gonna want Aria in HER house bc she’s sus abt her and Arthur post the poisoning thing 🫠 👀 quillington Jun 30, 2025 @forgottenarias @forgottenarthur DEF ain’t aria in Amira’s household!!!!!! And he legit ~would fight it — that woman scares him and no way he’s idly letting aria be out in harms way like that!!!!!! forgottenarias Jun 30, 2025 Aria like “aweee that sweet but also I am the one saving you from her soooo 😂” quillington Jun 30, 2025 @forgottenarias Sgjkjfdhkkhg Arthur’s a protector at heart he can’t help ~trying he thinks it’s the right thing to do sfhkhfdg forgottenarias Jun 30, 2025 @quillington I mean aria is def gonna secretly be 🥰😍 if she knows he is doing that (also she does NOT want to be in Amira’s house!!!) so he’s making smart choices 😅

quillington Jun 30, 2025 @forgottenarias honestly arthur probs wouldn't tell her lksdjafkjdsf he looooves praise and acclaim but simultaneously he really ~isn't one to toot his own horn (he's got ppl to do that for him! ldskjfaksjdf only ~kind of kidding laksjdfjdfj) plus honestly he knows how freaked out ~he'd feel if he were powerless in a situation and someone told him he was abt to put into amira's power and he really doesn't wanna put aria through that frankly so he'd rather she never know it was in contention...tho i feel like amira herself will def be telling aria that she hopes she'll come and join her someday in her own household laksdjfjsdjf forgottenarias Jun 30, 2025 @quillington That totes makes sense and if Arthur was like “I did the thing and you don’t have to be in Amira’s house!” Aria being her would be like “gross why?” Kinda like w/ the orphanage thing if she finds out on her own it’s 😍 otherwise it’s the ick 🤦🏻‍♀️😂 quillington Jun 30, 2025 @forgottenarias GROSS WHY BAHAHAHAHA the fact that arthur actually has ~some good instincts w aria honestly flooring me rn lakjdsfkjsdf but i love it <333333 that made it sound like its some ~play askdfjkjsldf it most def is NOT, he's just...like that honestly hahaha idk lkadjsfkljadsf its both a good and a bad thing -- its also why he didn't mention kil-kennar laksdfjkljsdf

forgottenarias Jun 30, 2025 @quillington Nooo I totes get it is coming from a good place for him! And he isn’t trying to get anything out of it— which if/when Aria found out abt any of those things it would be green flags for her! NOT wanting anything out of it except her well being is much better in her mind that like wanting smth for his good deeds 😅 quillington Jun 30, 2025 @forgottenarias Honestly!! Can’t help but agree w her — real love is selfless🥺🥹💕 but omg Arthur throwing out green flags finally 😩😩😩 he’s been on such a journey…tho tbf not announcing his achievements isn’t really new for him??? I think he got that from his mama (he sure didn’t get it from roderick! 😂) hearing all his titkes rattled off has always kinda stressed him out for instance…he’s a firstborn he’s like OMG I HAVE SM STUFF I GOTTA DO BC OF ALL THAT 😩😭💀 sfjkgdgj but anyway!!! Still!!! Proud of him fhkkfdgjkm

forgottenarias Jun 30, 2025 @quillington Marian def thinks Roderick could be a BIT more humble tbh haha! (but she's still going to fawn over him bc she knows thats what he wants!) so she definitely would try to get that across to Arthur like "be proud but you don't have to talk about it so much!) Aria: you MAYBE get so anxious about this bc you don't actually want to be Emperor?? maybe? just throwing that out there

quillington Jun 30, 2025 @forgottenarias omg aria's honestly such a good person <3333 her ~choosing to save amira just out of the goodness of her heart/empathy for her newborns ughhh <333333 oh man but idk if/how he ever would but the way @forgottenarthur would probs feel a lil betrayed if he ever found out honestly lakjdsfjsjdlf

forgottenarias Jun 30, 2025 Aria honestly not sure if she did the right thing!! I just cannot see her letting someone die, ya know? But I could see her in some circumstance trying to leverage smth out of it? But if Amira has her number that probably doesn’t work too well… I DO think it would be a thing bc she knows Amira wanted to actually REALLY harm Arthur bc she admitted it! So it would be a decision she’s grapple with like letting this women die/her kids only have Roderick as a parent OR save her but then is Arthur in Jeopardy?! quillington Jun 30, 2025 @forgottenmarian said gotta keep an eye on these two...dlskjfajskdf ok but arthur and marian going to bat together for aria in marian's household <333333 an old fashioned team up <3333333 his excuses are def that it would be a dishonor to take smth away from his mom that was freely bestowed by the will of the emperor anyway!!!!!!! can't do that to our queen!!!!!! lakdsjfjdsf

quillington Jun 30, 2025 ughhhh bb girl!!! saving someone and feeling bad abt it SOB -- do you think she ever wonders that same abt saving arthur? he's her enemy after all, personally killed a seer friend of hers, etc? either way tho i think amira is objectively a much worse person than arthur lkasdjfkjdsf so it makes sense either way!! ooooh omg amira would haaaaaate that she doesn't like ~anyone to feel they have ~any power over her!!! it makes her feel helpless and vulnerable!!! she's a type 8 that is literally GREATEST FEAR stuff alskdjfkjlsdjf i love ittttt <3333 what do you think aria would try to get outta her? but yearh amira would deffffff be like 'imma burn you' (her hopes for witches go right out the window when it comes to herself and her fam ngl) she would def lash out #facepalm honestly!! its honestly such a dilemma for her poor thing!! not saying he'd necessarily find out, but if he somehow ever did, like i said, i defff think he'd feel betrayed! that's his bogeyman!!! and she's legit been hunting him and his mother and brother his whole life, and aria knows it!! but also saving a mother from a cruel death like????? arthur also loves edmund v much and that's legit his mom! like, he'd come around eventually but he'd def be salty abt it for awhile i think in all honesty lkajdsfjjksdf but yeah idk how he'd ~ever find out frankly hahaha but i think that's honestly kind of a fascinating foil to arthur at kil-kennar -- arthur chose to kill aine; aria chose to save amira!!

forgottenarias Jun 30, 2025 i def think she's thought a little bit abt not saving arthur and like "could that have helped end this?" but again i think it goes back to the whole concept that she really DOESN'T want to kill/hurt people, she doesn't want more death! also maybe she would've thought abt it a bit more maybe like... pre-riots or smth but enough has happened that i don't think she really regrets it! plus she's got her whole "did i get these powers for a reason?!" thing going on so! so honestly IDK what she'd try to get out of Amira?! Its kinda hard bc like... there isn't a way to prove anything abt her being a witch (unless its like amira tells roderick aria healed her or smth and he believes amira?) so i think aria would just have to hope amira has a bit or honor or smth? or maybe even like "you get one free one-- smth happens again and you keep being awful, i'll let you/all your family die!" or w/e it would be protection of some sort honestly... whether its for eilia or arthur or someone else idk. but also who knows what happens in the moment, haha! OMG honestly love the potential foil of these two!! but yeah i think unless aria TOLD him... how would he know? its totally understandable that he'd be a bit betrayed by that esp EVERRYTHING his fam has gone through during his life! and idk if aria really understands all that tbh? (but also again idk if she could let amira die even if she DID know that so!)

quillington Aug 8, 2025 @forgottenedmund @forgottenmarian @forgottenguinevere ok so gonna ~tentatively (since lizzy/edmund hasn’t gotten a chance to weigh in) say that atm Amira’s strongly considering Lysander if a boy or Sophia if a girl, since those names were on both ur lists…surprise ofC it’ll be three but!!!! Sgjlhdgj atm…philomena or fatin and Ambrose are def also contenders but yeah she hasn’t told edmund or roderick yet so v much subject to change in even her own head etc! phabblebabbles Aug 8, 2025 !!!!!!!!!! quillington Aug 8, 2025 @phabblebabbles Also did a coin toss for which brother Amira’s second boy will resemble and it’s gonna be Euric sfjkhddhjjn poor kid his dad gonna hate him instinctively 😭😭😭

phabblebabbles Aug 8, 2025 @quillington 😶 whoops that’ll be fun for everyone! 😬😬😬 Marian: just a reminder none of MY CHILDREN resemble your dead brother! (Just kinda your uncle 🫠 💀) quillington Aug 8, 2025 @phabblebabbles Afjkhfddgj JUST KINDA UR UNCLE 💀💀💀 sfhkjfdgj roderick to Marian: ‘an excellent point my love all our children are exquisite’ sdgjkkjbvh fortunately for baby it’ll def take a couple years before he gets to an age where riderick would’ve known him since his bro was significantly older iirc but yeah least faV son unlocked 😭😭😭 amira: DAMMIT!

phabblebabbles Aug 8, 2025 @quillington Marian: point to team Arthur! (Meanwhile she’s also side eying Amira’s creepy witch daughter like 🤨 😝) quillington Aug 8, 2025 @phabblebabbles Creepy witch daughter: *speaking in tongues* Amira to Marian: I finally get why some ppl say that babies are cute! phabblebabbles Aug 8, 2025 @quillington We need LFR to stay around (forever ideally! 💖💖💖) but at least long enough for Amira’s creepy daughter to speak and weird out Marian 😅 quillington Aug 8, 2025 @phabblebabbles Forever 👏👏👏👏👏 but omg yasssss dgjkjfdgj poor Marian honestly dhkjffh I wanna see this go down!!!!

anyway will follow up probs in awhile and i didn't get to read through all the above etc but!! gotta run so here we are! also if @forgottenedmund has any naming thoughts re his lil siblings, we (his horrible parents) would love to hear <33333

forgottenarias

the babies are HERE! Marian: I hate this. I was reading through our comments and had a few questions/thoughts but I think my first thought here is that I am 100% up for Aria helping to save Amira/her babies-- HOWEVER i'm also fine if it makes for sense for it just to be @forgottenbrigit !

so we know aria DID manage to heal arthur when he was poisoned and idk if it I ever really wrote out my thoughts about aria & her powers or if it was all in my head! mostly it was that aria hadn't healed anyone before! idk if she always had the ability and just never had a reason to use them before OR the guardians finally gave her that ability then?? forgive me @forgottenbrigit if you've mentioned this somewhere but are Brigit's healing abilities something she can use at will?

i do think this is less important overall but i also know we'd discussed the malconaires & eilia + aria becoming ladies in waiting to the queens? i assume eilia is no longer in that position after accepting roderick finally but do we think that whole lady in waiting thing actually happened? (i mean it seems like it did for at least @forgottenroisin considering she and aria have a comment going with that scenario!) IF that happened... did we conclude where everyone ended up?? i know both aria & brigit were a little bit wild cards considering neither of them are supposedly carrying a bastard of a prince! ;) do we think they both ended up in Amira's household? i know in a comment kate mentioned @forgottenarthur would put up a fight against amira being one of her ladies like i said idk if that REALLY matters considering if one of the queen's is having birth i assume the other's ladies aren't barred from the birthing chamber, haha.

i DO think on top of everything with amira it could be v interesting for brigit and aria to find out the other has powers! all these years aria ONLY knew on aine at kil kennar and yet there has been someone else like her around aria's entire life!

ngl i feel like my brain straight up melted when i got home from work so i think i had more but... this is enough.

#ooc #amira varmont #brigit malconaire #eilionora stafford #roisin malconaire #marian varmont #arthur varmont

forgottengodfrey

Never Doubt | Godfrey & Aria

Aria Stafford did not like him. She had made no effort to conceal it, and in truth, Godfrey found the fact rather amusing. It was hardly surprising that she would not, in truth. Few held much tender regard for their conquerors and, though Godfrey was from Kolchis, he doubted she made much distinction between a Varmont Queen's brother and Roderick's own in terms of her feeling towards those who had fought for the emperor. But Alaric was no bad company to keep, and Godfrey had run into the erstwhile princess in the library often enough to observe that she had, indeed, taken his advice. He was glad of it. It would keep her alive, and that was precisely how he wanted her.

Since Eilionora had agreed to Roderick's terms (a fact which did not much please Godfrey), she and her sister had been permitted greater freedom to roam the palace, and both had proven rather keen, it seemed, to come to the library. As a favorite haunt of Godfrey's own, he found he saw far more of them when he was at the palace than he ever used to. But he was more interested to do so, now. Amira had told him of Arthur's miraculous recovery -- and of Aria's involvement therein.

It was risky, but perhaps it was time. Godfrey spotted Aria at a shelf and, turning, he took a book from nearby and approached her. He held out the volume to her, thick and old and worn.

"Are you looking for this, my lady?" inquired Godfrey. "I'm here to return it to the collection. I shall tell you a secret," he added with a small smile. "I rescued it from Roderick's flames, so you'll not wish to be caught with it in hand. But I doubt he'll be in here enough to note, now, that its reappeared, should you come visit it now and again. The Emperor is not much of a reader -- alas for his empire."

It was a tome of remedies -- the magical kind. He leaned against the bookcase behind him, folding his arms over his chest, providing a visual block for anyone who might happen to glance in their direction, should she wish to leaf through the book.

"My sister, you see, tells me that you have some interest in...healing. An aptitude for it." He paused, glance dropping a moment before he looked back to her. "Such skill, my lady, ought never to be squandered."

forgottenarias

Aria found she had started avoiding Eilia during the day since that terrible night when Arthur had been poisoned. Aria understood her sisters concerned-- truly, she did. Never would Aria had imagined her pleas would have been answered by the Guardians Aria had been positive were no longer with them... and never had she suspected her sister would have reacted as Eilia did when Aria brought proof the Guardians were not completely gone...

The library seemed like an unlikely choice of location to avoid her sister but Aria had left her sister sitting in what Aria describe as quiet contemplation in their rooms that morning. Eilia had been staring out the window at the the falling rain when Aria had left. Blessedly, the library was silent and Aria found herself just wandering the bookcases, her eyes scanning the titles without any particular tomb in mind.

Godfrey Calainon's voice breaking through the silence caught her off guard and Aria turned sharply, not having realized he had been in the same room with her all this time. Her eyes narrowed and she glanced down at the book in his hand. She recognized it almost immediately as one her mother had added to the Citadel's library in the year before the woman's death. Aria snatched it from Godfrey's hands, though she knew that he would have no idea that the tome would have had some sentimental meaning for her.

"You rescued it?" Aria asked, her eyes still narrowed at him. "Why would you do that? Do you not believe the Emperor should purge our libraries of these heretical texts?"

Enough of what Godfrey had said to Aria at times lead her to believe the new Lord of Hanthom was not an acolyte of the Emperor. Having been a victim of the Emperor's conquest himself, Aria found it could perhaps be likely.

"Where have you been keeping this?" Aria asked cautiously. "... is this all you saved?"

When Godfrey spoke of Amira, however, Aria found herself shoving the book back into his hands. He knew. Godfrey knew her secret. Of course Amira had told her brother. And of course he would want to use it against her. What demands might he make?

"Your sister is mistaken. Perhaps she is alluding to my studies in tinctures and tonics brewed from Astarian plants, but that is the extend of my knowledge in the ways of healing. I-- I brewed a tonic for the Imperial Prince when he was unwell that offered some relief but I cannot-- will not-- claim I was the one that healed him."

Would he threaten to tell the Emperor what she truly was? Aria tried not to panic-- what good would it do for Godfrey to be rid of her, now?

Eilia.

Aria's hands clenched into tight fists at her side. She hadn't wanted this, she hadn't wanted any of this to happen-- she'd just wanted to help Arthur. She didn't want him to die. But would this be a way for Godfrey and Amira to be rid of the Emperor's next wife?

#the way i've tried to tag her as #aria varmont #so many times XD #never doubt #godfrey calainon #she just CANNOT trust him #no matter what

forgottenarias

A Friend || Ciara + Aria

Aria did not like to admit she felt as if she'd made a friend from a member of their captors, but it seemed as if Ciara had managed to become one. Beyond anything else, Aria appreciated that working on her embroidery with Ciara actually included the act of embroidering.

Today they were sitting in front of the large windows, watching wagons rolling up the long mall carrying an assortment of items from across the Varmont empire. Aria found her mind wandering to her younger sister-- she would have to travels miles and miles to escape Varmont's realm. Aria hoped Siobhan had made it that far, even if it meant she and Eilia would never see her again.

Pushing the thought away, Aria stabbed her needle into the fabric, watching the blue thread filling in the outline of a delicate flower.

"Your cousin certainly knows how to throw a party," Aria commented to Ciara with half a smile, looking up from her embroidery. There had been a parade of deliveries over the past weeks and the decorations had been slowly been appearing about the castle.

"Does he do this for all his children?" Aria inquired. She couldn't imagine having to do this again and again for the rest of Roderick's brood. "Or perhaps just for his eldest child and daughter?"

forgottenciara

Ciara had dismissed Cecily for the afternoon. While she trusted her with her life (and certainly trusted her not to repeat anything that was said here in Ciara's chambers to anyone) she wanted to give Aria the opportunity to speak as freely as she cared to and Ciara knew that that could only be accomplished if there were no servants around.

Her friendship that had developed with Aria was a genuine one and she had not orchestrated this situation to trap her into revealing anything that she would then pass along to Godfrey. Not that she thought that Aria trusted her enough to completely let her guard down (as she bore the Varmont name, Ciara could not blame her).

But sending all of the servants away, also meant that Ciara could speak as easily as she wished, too. And since her cousin had become the topic of conversation, that was freeing indeed. Ciara adored her cousins, but Roderick had become the glaring exception to this rule and the more she saw of him, the less she had reason to like him.

"It mostly depends upon his mood, I've found. But there is a particular favoritism towards Guinevere," A pause, "For what it is worth, he did love her mother very much, I'm told." Ciara had few memories of Guinevere's mother, having been very young when she died.

If one must select Roderick's favorite child, Ciara would advise that she would be the safest choice. However, that did not mean that his affections did not fluctuate to favor whichever child he was most pleased with at that particular moment.

"His daughters are more likely to be celebrated than his sons, if only because his sons are celebrated when they've accomplished something and his daughters are only poor females and he expects so much less from them," Ciara resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

"Although, I suppose I should give him credit for not completely discounting Guinevere as his successor based upon her sex alone." Still, if Roderick ever did finally settle his opinions when it came to the line of succession, Ciara would be shocked if he ultimately decided to leave his empire in the hands of a woman -- even one as beloved as Guinevere.

"I think Astaira has the right of it," She said, "Have women always been allowed to rule here?"

forgottenarias

"I do suppose in most instances, Father's dote upon their daughters much more than their sons," Aria commented. She could not imagine what sort of celebration he would have for the youngest daughter. While Guinevere seemed a bit more subdued in her actions, she only could imagine what sort of name day celebration Cassandra would dream up.

Aria stopped herself from asking Ciara who she thought Roderick might pick as his successor only out of concern the woman might turn the question back on Aria herself. She did not want her answer to be perceived as taking a side with any of the potential candidates.

"Do you?" Aria asked with a bit of a grin. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised... you are of Astaira descent, yes? Let me see if I remember this correctly-- I pride myself on my knowledge of the Astaira noble houses," Aria paused, clearing her throat for affect.

"Your mother is the sister of the late Lord Caelleary who's daughter, Lady Aine, married the the eldest son of House Lorcan who, interestingly enough, is cousin to the Malconaire sisters-- my and my sister's dear friends and, from what I understand, frequent hosts to your own cousins."

A majority of those facts had little to do with Ciara's own ancestry, but Aria felt the need to throw in those points anyway. She had not been pleased to her the Varmont brothers had been visiting Malconaire (despite the fact Sebastian seemed to have befriended her dear Aoife!) mostly due to the fact that it might turn Roderick's eyes on the grand old estate. Aria would hate to see them Malconaire's ousted from their home simply because Roderick was having a bad day.

"But to answer your question... it had been allowed for some time. I will say that any sons were considered first in the line of succession but in cases such as my family's-- my father had no sons and took no wife after my mother's death-- it was accepted early on that Eilionora would be queen. I would believe after my--"

Aria stopped. She had been about to go on about her younger sister's birth. Siobhan was not a topic she spoke of with anyone outside of Eilia. If she could, she would wipe all memories of Siobhan from the minds of the Varmonts-- that would be the only way her sister would be safe.

"-- my own birth, most had accepted a Queen would succeed my father."

forgottenciara

"My brother would certainly attest that it is so. I am not always so convinced," she said it teasingly, but sometimes she thought that she just might be the exception to that rule. Oh, her father loved her dearly and certainly spoiled her, but there were times when Ciara felt that perhaps her father preferred the company of her brother. She suspected that it was because her birth had taken away his beloved wife and while she was certain that her father would not blame her for this, she was sure that she must bring back the memories of her that he'd rather not dwell on. (Ciara didn't know that she was only partially right in this, and that Ciara's birth also reminded him that another woman also bore him a child in that same year).

"Do you -- " She was about to ask if Aria agreed, but she'd noticed how she'd seemed to sidestep mentioning her younger sister and Ciara meant to follow her lead. Instead she cleared her throat, "-- Do you have a quill and parchment? I think I may need to write that all down," She laughed -- although she would have readily admitted that when she first arrived in Astaira, she did take the time to study her own Astairan family tree (something she'd never truly done before).

Ciara had certainly heard of the Malconaires, but had never met them (Cassandra had promised to point them all out to her at the upcoming ball, hinting that it was imperative that Ciara meet them before they became "intimately connected with their own family" -- a statement which Ciara had promptly brushed off as ridiculous, given who it had come from). But between her cousins enthrallment with the family and their close attachments to the Frosts, Percy, and the Staffords, she guessed it was only a matter of time before she did.

"Everybody speaks so fondly of the Malconaires," She commented. It was easier for Ciara to direct the conversation that way, instead of dwelling upon her own family, just now. She'd never met her uncle, but she knew that Lord Caelleary had been put to death because he refused to bend his knee to Roderick. Ciara was certain that the only reason all of his children had been spared and had kept their titles were because of they were cousins to Eoin and herself.

"So much so, I suppose I shouldn't be shocked that they've managed to befriend my cousins -- different as they all are." It did not surprise her that a beautiful girl had turned Arthur's head, or even Edmund's, but Sebastian was much less of a flirt than either of them and when Ciara had heard that even he had been captivated by a Malconaire girl, she knew that there must be more to them than just a couple of pretty faces. "Is it three sisters or four?" She asked.

"I think it is a good practice," Ciara replied, "I suppose I'm partial to it, as a woman, myself," And because she'd always thought that Guinevere would be the wisest choice to secede Roderick, "but I also think it has been proven that it works." This was meant to be a testament to Aria's sister, but when walls had ears, that was all that Ciara was willing to say on the subject. "A future ruler of Astaira must also pass the trials, mustn't they?" She asked.

forgottenarias

"You have not been to Malconaire?" Aria asked in disbelief, her embroidery now abandoned in her lap. "Oh you must insist your cousins take you to visit. It is, perhaps, one of the most beautiful places in all Astaira-- rolling green hills, old forests. Lady Malconaire had the most lovely garden there as well, if it has been tended to since her death..." Aria frowned slightly.

"My mother and the late Lady Malconaire were dear friends-- so, of course, my sister and I grew up as friends witht he Malconaire sisters as well. There are four sisters-- and that does not include the step siblings. They may claim the name but they are not true Malconaires," Aria informed Ciara, a very serious look on her face. Aria knew she really had no right to have such a strong opinion on these things, but she didn't think Valentina and her brood deserved to use the Malconaire name.

"The eldest daughter is Eithne, then Brigit-- she has always been a bit more wild of action and spirit than her sisters-- followed by Aoife and Roisin, the youngest," Aria explained. "The ancient house looks as if it has been grown out of the earth yet is still so warm and inviting," Aria said back in her chair and let out a bit of a sigh.

"You have been reading up on Astairan history, haven't you?" Aria couldn't help but smile as Ciara mentioned the trials. She assumed all that would be a distant memory now-- traditionals of pagans who knew nothing of the one true god.

"Trials in Astaira were, traditionally, less physical and more of proving you were a good, charitable person and would fully embody the ideals of being an Astairan ruler. Anyone can submit themselves to be a ruler of Astaira, regardless of rank... and then your trials are judged and a council votes on who the next ruler should be... so its not inherited, as it will be with your cousins," Aria concluded.

She didn't mention that it seemed as if Roderick himself meant to live forever since he was no closer to naming a successor two years after his conquest of Astaira.

"I suppose it all would seem quite odd," Aria confessed. "I know it is such an ancient traditional that has fallen out of favor in most kingdoms."

forgottenciara

Ciara shook her head, "I've never been but I've heard it spoken of many times -- " She caught herself before she said more. While she had talked of it before with her cousins, it was the Frosts who spoke of it to her more than any other. It had been Ronan's home once and his siblings lived there still.

" -- it almost sounds as though Malconaire is its own little corner of the world ... untouched by the same troubles the plague the rest of it." While Ciara did not know all of what happened there, she knew a good deal from both Ronan and Cillian -- knew that the lady there had made poor decisions which had put the entire estate into a questionable position and the only person who could pull it out of it was her son -- of whom neither Ronan nor Cillian had a particularly high opinion.

But as she could only admit to having heard tell of it from Edmund and Arthur and Sebastian, who all seemed to flock to it like they had found a small piece of heaven, she said no more.

"Ah, so it must be a real place then, after all?" Ciara asked, arching an eyebrow. She did not miss Aria's rather pointed comment that she disproved of the step-siblings and even if she had not secretly already known more, she would have gathered that their arrival had somewhat altered the picturesque nature of it that had so often been described to her.

"Are they truly that awful?" She'd heard Cillian complain about the mother and son enough to believe it.

"I wish I knew more," Ciara admitted. She'd learned a good deal, when she was younger, but it had not prepared her for what her future was to hold. "My cousin has gifted Hanthom to Godfrey Calanion and ... I fear I'm not up to the task." She did not meet Aria's eyes as she said this: even if she knew that the alternative likely would have been much worse, it couldn't be easy for Aria to hear how lands that once had been inhabited by Astairans for generations were being split up and given to Roderick's family.

"In truth, I believe my cousin may be trying to adopt your own customs, even if he hasn't yet realized it. A much more brutal, bastardized version, but ... he's constructed his own sort of trials for them. He means for his children to fight for it. Maybe even die for it ... and, I don't know if there will even be a victor," It angered her, how he treated his children: how he used their lives as pawns in whatever game he was playing. So lost in her own thoughts, she found that she became careless and pricked her finger.

"I didn't mean that," She said, hastily, realizing she had said more to Aria than she had meant to, "I spoke too hastily ... I only meant, I think that Roderick Varmont knows that he cannot leave his empire to one of his children simply because they are his eldest. He wishes them to prove it. And I do think that there is benefit to this, only ... " Only, he's gone about it all wrong. "... well, I suppose it is an impossible task to live up to their father, isn't it?"

forgottenarias

“I suppose it once was…” Aria said with a sigh, glancing down and imagining the warm, inviting Malconaire of her past. She looked back to Ciara. “Eithne was meant to inherit Malconaire. That is not possible now, of course, and I can only assume that the new Lady Malconaire and her odious son will not let Eithne have anything to do with the running of the estate.”

Aria did not suppose any of Ciara’s cousins knew much of the inner workings of the Malconaire household now. Aria herself couldn’t imagine exactly what was happening there under the reign of Valentina, that her dear friends were acting as servants to keep the estate from falling to ruin.

“I shall reserve my judgment until you yourself have met the mother and son, though I can only imagine our opinions shall be mostly, if not entirely, aligned.”

This was as diplomatic as she could be regarding Valentina and Cassimir Malconaire.

“Ah… I had wondered who was now to occupy Hanthom,” Aria replied quietly. She knew the castle well, having spent summers at the Royal residence that bordered the lands once held by the Calleary family.

“It is a lovely home, Hanthom. It has stood for generations, even before House Calleary took possession. House Hanthom's last member died when my great, great grandfather was on the throne," Aria realized Ciara might know all this already. She was to be the lady of Hanthom, now. Even if she did not, perhaps not everyone wished to have Astairan history recited at them.

"Have you had the opportunity to spend much time there, yet? I remember it was so bright and warm, always warm-- even in the dead of winter. My family had a summer residence near Hanthom where we’d go with my mother. She was quite fond of the sea.”

Aria paused. “Might I make a request, should you visit anytime soon? If you might bring me a seashell from the beach I could give to my sister, I know it would brighten her spirits. I suppose, that is, if you do not think your cousin would object to you bringing his captive one small thing?” Aria couldn’t help but laugh a bit at the absurdity of the question and the fact she was actually quite serious.

forgottenciara

Even if their step-brother wished to involve Eithne Malconaire in the running of the estate, Ciara knew her own cousin well enough to know that no such thing would stand if he were ever to hear of it. Ciara, herself, might have been of a similar mind if she had not grown up knowing of her Calleary cousins and known that, one day, Eabha was meant to rule Hanthom.

"I haven't," Ciara admitted, "I visited once when I was young and I only have some faded memories of it. But I remember the ocean and how the palace rose up to meet it. And my cousins being so eager to take me down to the shore where we played in the water for hours." She bit her lip, "We were little terrors then, too, I'm afraid. I remember my litle cousin, Fiona, would put a piece of seaweed in Cormac's hair and when he didn't notice, it became a game that we'd all have to follow suite until he did and whoever was caught lost the game. I think we underestimated how easily distracted he could be because he never did and it was our parents who discovered what we'd done when well all came down to dinner. We were -- rightfully -- punished and sent to bed without supper. However, Finn had a stash of fruit and cheese and bread stored away for such occasions -- it sounds as though they got into trouble quite a lot -- and we made ourselves a secret picnic which we ate by candlelight. Which turned out to be a bit more exciting than the grand dinner we'd missed out on."

A pause. "I haven't been back to Hanthom since. I do think my father always meant to take us back only ... politics got in the way, I suppose." Or rather her cousin's conquests did.

"When Godfrey has things settled, my father, brother, and I are to visit him there." She was eager to see it, but she still could not quite see it as her home. Not when it should have been Eabha's. "Did you visit Hanthom often when you were at your residence by the sea?"

Ciara wasn't sure she could have guessed at Aria's request, but when she heard it, the simplicity of it struck her. That the former Astarian queen could have her spirits lifted by so small a thing -- never would any of her cousins have asked for so little and yet she felt that it would mean more to Eilianora than the most expensive jewelry that Roderick had ever given Cassandra.

"Of course. An entire jar full if you would like, so she might pick her favorite from amongst them." She hoped that they would still smell of the ocean, so that they might both loose themselves in memories of better days, if only for a moment.

forgottenarias

Aria let out a bit of a laugh and Ciara described her visit to Hanthom. "That sounds just like Fiona, even now! I do not wish to be unkind-- I know they are your cousins-- but Cormac can be quite..." Aria paused. "... vexing, at times, so I could only imagine his elaborate reaction to finding himself covered in seaweed."

Part of her thought it was a blessing in some ways that the Callearys no longer laid claim to Hanthom if Cormac was to be in charge. His tastes could be described as eccentric at best, though Aria preferred to refer to them as atrocious and without sense. She had heard that he was to take possession of some small holdings in the north of the country, but she was unsure of which.

"We did spend a good deal of time visiting Hanthom, yes. The twins were born just a few months before myself, so we grew up together in some ways. I'm sure you have heard of the day Fiona crawled out of the water covered in seaweed to scare Cormac?" Aria couldn't help but smile at the memory. "It was all Finn and I could do to keep of the pretense of horror rather than bursting out laughing on the shore! I do believe she considers it one of her finer moments."

Aria paused. "Do you know where their new holdings are to be, exactly-- the Callearys? I know the do so love the water so I should hope it may be near the seaside. I would think Cormac must be quite pleased with the prospect of having his own home to decorate in his..." Aria paused, clearing her throat. "...own unique way."

Aria smiled at Ciara's offer to bring her an entire jar of shells. "You're very kind to offer that. I'm sure she and I might decorate every spare ledge with seashells should they be available. Its been quite some time since we've been to the seaside," she concluded with a sigh. She tried not to dwell on the thought for too long.

"I feel silly now thinking that I have not asked you this until now-- has a date been chosen for your wedding to the Earl? Shall we be hosting an imperial wedding next?" Aria inquired. "I should not wish to overstep but there are a number of incredibly talented seamstresses and needleworkers in the city who would be honored to create you a gown for the occasion, should you not have one already."

forgottenciara

Ciara let out a soft laugh, though she smoothed her embroidery as though she needed something for her hands to do. “I suppose vexing is a kind word for Cormac. He has always had… grand ideas of himself. More feathers, perhaps, than sense,” Her smile lingered, though it was tempered with a kind of fond exasperation. “But he is my cousin, and I cannot help but love him ... even when he tries my patience. Although, I suppose I ought to reserve my judgement. Perhaps, as I grow to know him more, I shall only find him vexing."

Ciara paused, "A castle in the north has been selected for Cormac's new seat. As I understand it, there are many renovations that need to be completed before it is livable, so it may be some time yet, before they are moved from Lorcan." She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, "But I hope my cousin changes his mind about their new placement. I shouldn't like for them to be so far away."

Not to mention the added complication for Finn and Fiona's involvement in the resistance. Aine would likely allow for them all to stay at Lorcan as long as they pleased, but she wasn't sure how Rian Stafford should take to it.

She tilted her head, amused at the story of Fiona and the seaweed. “Oh, I can imagine it perfectly. Fiona has always had a mischievous streak, and Cormac the perfect target for it.” She glanced sidelong at Aria with a knowing little smile. “I’m not surprised she counts it among her finest moments.”

Ciara smiled faintly, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “No date has been chosen, not yet. My cousin delights in keeping all of us in suspense.” She gave a soft laugh, trying to keep her tone light, though there was a trace of weariness in it.

“As for a gown, I would be honored to have one made by Astairan hands,” she continued, looking back down at her embroidery for a moment. “It seems only right, does it not? If I am to stand as mistress of Hanthom, I should wear something that honors its people. Perhaps…” her voice grew softer, almost tentative, “…perhaps, in that small way, I might remind them that I come not to erase what was theirs, but to preserve it as best I can.”

There was a pause. She lifted her gaze again, a little wryness sparking in her expression. “Though I daresay your seamstresses may regret offering their skills to me. I should probably be the least decisive bride they’ve ever worked for. I can hardly choose a color for my embroidery, much less for an entire gown.”

Her tone was playful, but the truth beneath it remained: Ciara was torn, uneasy about stepping into a role that by rights should never have been hers.

forgottenarias

"As someone who has spent many years in the prescense of Cormac I will say...," Aria paused, trying to think if the best way to word her description of the now heir of House Calleary.

"Cormac, for all his exuberances, is harmless," Aria finally relented. In a way she felt pity for Cormac-- he seemed to have been born in land that he was not suited for, really. Cormac seemed much more suited to the elaborate fashions from Ciara's homeland. Aria found her mind drifting to the market Arthur had told her off in Malakarta-- people from all sorts of places mixed together in that bazaar. Somehow she imagined even there, Cormac would stand out amongst the crowd.

Aria stared out the window for a moment as Ciara spoke of the Calleary's new house seat in the north. She knew the castle, having visited it once on a tour with Eilianora and her father.

"That was the old seat of House Calleary-- built centuries ago when their family came to Astaira following the... disaster." There had never been a name given to the event which had long ago destroyed the homeland of house Calleary.

"But I am sure you know all of this. You are a Calleary, afterall," Aria smiled at Ciara. "I do find I echo your hopes... it would be good to have them close. And I do not feel any of them shall do particularly well in such a cold climate."

Aria looked down at her embroidery when Ciara spoke of the Emperor keeping them in suspense regarding Ciara's wedding. Aria wondered now if Ciara's wedding would be postponed further given Eilia's finally relenting to the Emperor's demands to marry him...

"I think that is a lovely idea..." Aria's face broke into a warmer smile than she felt like she'd given to anyone in months-- years, perhaps. Aria had never put much stock in things such as lineage-- so many people from Astaira had come there from all about the world, it did not matter where their families originally hailed from, truly. But something about what Ciara said seemed to quintessentially Astairan, Aria found herself wondering if she'd inherited it from her mother at birth. Aria leaned towards Ciara as if they might be overheard despite being the only ones in the room. "It will not go unnoticed by our people, I assure you."

Sitting back upright, Aria let out a bit of a chuckle as Ciara spoke of being indecisive. "Perhaps you have forgotten your dear cousin, Cassandra. She will undoubtedly have many an opinion on your attire, if her own attentions towards my wardrobe for the Emperor's tournament were any indication. Though, perhaps, she might not be the best if you are hoping to dress in an Astairan style... I do believe it is quite unappealing to the young princess. I would be most happy to help you, should you wish... though I would never consider myself a very fashionable person..."

"What of your fiance?" Aria inquired. She had read little on Kolcean practices, so she was unsure if their customs were comparable to that of the Varmonts. "Do you believe he will wish to incorporate any of his own family's customs into your ceremony?"

If Roderick would allow such a thing...

#a friend #ciara varmont

forgottenroisin

New Beginnings | Roisin & Aria

Court was a different place since last Rose had been a lady-in-waiting. The flowering trees that had once decorated the great hall had been torn up, and the babbling little creek that had once trailed cheerfully through had been stopped up. She could hardly think, now, how she'd blinded herself to the changes the Varmonts had cut through her life, refusing to see that which did not please her.

I've been so self-absorbed, she thought and, exhaling slowly, she smoothed her skirts and walked forward. Being a lady to Eilionora Stafford, no doubt, would not much resemble whatever would be entailed in fulfilling the same service towards Amira Varmont. She wished she could have refused. Instead, Rose squared her shoulders and got on.

The first day proved grueling indeed, as did the second, the third....Amira, unsurprisingly, turned out to be a most demanding mistress. But she also learned something interesting while attending the queen. While the imperial family seemed largely to be aware, the general public had not yet been apprised that the queen was with child. But now Rose knew. Or at least strongly suspected.

Amira showed strange cravings and moods (though that last Rose thought was as likely to prove her personality as anything else), she was sensitive to smells, complained of headaches, and seemed to lack the usual vigor she had always shown before. Most damning of all, Rose learned by the end of her second week in the queen's service from the washerwomen whom she had befriended, that Amira had ceased her monthly bleeding at the start of summer. It was estimated that the Emperor would have new child for Yule.

Interesting tidbits were not the only features of serving the queen. With the Staffords now free to range about the palace, Rose saw them much more. This afternoon, she sat with Aria while she enjoyed a quick repast, mulling over what she had learned about the queen. Unsolicited, she wondered what Edmund must be feeling about all of this. She tried to imagine, had her father survived, how she might feel if he told her that she was to have a new sibling...but knowing the mother would be Valentina, she could hardly think it would feel so very heartening...which was perhaps how any Varmont might reasonably feel about the appearance of another one, she mused.

"I learned something today," observed Rose to Aria, passing the other woman a slice of apple. "At least...there's reason to believe that...You mustn't tell a soul saving Her Grace the Queen of course, as I don't think anyone's heard yet but..." she bit her lip. "I believe Queen Amira is with child."

What that might mean for Eilionora or...anyone, really, Rose wasn't sure, but she thought it best the queen hear of such intelligence sooner rather than later, even if it all came to naught. The fact that Amira, for twenty-odd years had had only one child, only to bring forth one now right as Roderick was to take another bride...It struck Rose as suspicious timing, and worth noting.

"I don't know for sure that its true: the best evidence is based solely on hearsay, mind, but...it all adds up with the things I do know. Of course," she sighed. "It is not lost on me that spreading rumors of someone else's pregnancy which I cannot prove is rather...hypocritical of me, just now," she sighed. "But, under the circumstances...I thought you should know. And its not as if it shall damage a married woman's reputation, either."

forgottenarias

Aria's head snapped towards Rose at her words, shock covering Aria's face. "With child?"

Aria squeezed her eyes shut as she contemplated this. It couldn't be a coincidence-- Eilia finally agrees to marry the Emperor and, suddenly, Amira finds herself with child.

"Roisin, I know you've been brought her as one of her ladies but..." Aria sucked in a breath, letting it out slowly. "She's not to be trusted-- pregnant or not-- and you must watch yourself. You know that, right? With all of these rumors I..." Aria knew she would sound insane if she told Roisin she was worried the young woman might be poisoned to be rid of the child she was rumored to be carrying.

"You must just watch yourself, always. Don't take anything she offers you to drink-- I know, I know... I sound insane but please. Just be careful."

Aria rose from her seat, suddenly unable to keep still, walking to the nearby window, turning back to where Roisin sat, crossing back to her own seat before repeating the path again.

"I don't know why she would... what she thinks having a child now would do. It is not as if another son would be considered a potential heir to the throne, not one so young. Perhaps she thinks it might prove something if EIlia is not able to give the Emperor a child."

Aria paused, turned back to Roisin, stared at the young woman in silence for a few moments.

"You have to figure out how to get out of here... out of this service to the queens the Emperor has... has sentenced you and your sisters to, Rose, its... its dangerous here. There's no one to protect you, any of you, as much as people might want to."

#roisin malconaire #new beginnings #i didn't expect aria to go quite as off the rails #as she did here #girl be STRESSING

forgottencillian

Feast for Fools | Cillian & Aria

Lord Ormond must make an appearance at every feast Roderick held following each tournament day. Cillain Frost could not. But it would certainly be noticed, he knew, if Lord Ormond were not to appear -- Cassandra would certainly notice it and she would talk of it. And, given the intrigues in which Cillian Frost was even now embroiled, he could ill afford such talk surrounding either one of his pseudonyms. Fortunately, he knew there was at least two people at the palace who would help him account for any lost time spent mucking about in the palace cellars (transformed by Roderick, now, into dungeons). One was Ciara, the other...was Aria, now that she knew his true identity.

Since Ciara was unfortunately distracted, Cillian sidled up to Aria with a wry smirk, wearing all the finery Ciara had smuggled to him that he might appear more in character. Roderick's sartorial laws, alone, would have had him in trouble for this, little less his stunt of pretending to be noble -- or the far greater one of wanton revolt, but Cillian was at present far less concerned by any such mischief than he was about disguising the fact that he'd ben missing from the feast for over an hour's time.

Forgoing any other greeting (a relief, as he refused to call her 'my lady' something he could hardly avoid in a greeting), as if he'd been with her previously, Cillian simply launched into conversation without preamble.

"Now that you've had some time to witness the dance, you really must give me your opinion upon the partners with the lightest feet. It's no secret, I'll own, that our conquerors' style of dance is much different from our own, but I still believe some skill must remain measurable, don't you think?"

In truth, he cared not a hoot for this topic at all, but he wished to give the impression to any who might overhear that he had emerged from the crowd to reignite a topic previous to the evening and, the dancing having just begun, it gave some excuse.

"Ah, but I do not see the two firstborn princes on the floor? Where are they?" His smile turned playful as he looked to Aria. "Too timid of our judgment, are they?"

In truth, this was another reason for bringing up the dancing. He knew well and good what would happen should someone who knew him as Cillian Frost recognize him here. Besides the Malconaires, whom Cillian had already taken home, Arthur knew him...and Edmund knew him so well he had gone so far as to banish him from court. Neither seeing him in his current regalia would prove a good thing -- but one alternative would, he imagined, prove decidedly more disastrous than the other. Particularly given that Cillian had noted Rosie's recent mood and imagined that the cause had indeed proved that talk with Edmund which Cillian had enforced, a thing he imagined would only further dislodge any goodwill Edmund might once held for Cillian.

Cillian had accounted for Arthur, already, who seemed to be having what Cillian could only guess was a decidedly serious and absorbing conversation with his queenly mother, but Edmund he could not seem to locate at all -- and that worried him. Was he lurking somewhere, watching? As Aria lived with him, he harbored some hope that she might prove able to account for his whereabouts.

forgottenarias

Aria, for the first time in quite awhile, was without her guard. She was, in fact, unattended entirely... beyond being surrounded by the entirety of the Varmont court and a substantial number of the kingsguard was positioned about the room itself. It seemed as if Arthur's directive to leave her side at the previous night's feast had continued into this evening. And Aria did not mind.

Aria had often found herself hovering on the edges of gathering at the Citadel and tonight was no different. She was watching the Emperor and her sister while trying to hide the displeasure on her face. Roderick had been overly attentive towards her sister during these tournament games and seemed to have renewed his pursuit of her hand. Aria did not like it... she did not like it one bit.

Queen Marian had whisked Arthur off to speak with a gaggle of courtiers once the dinner had finished. Though Arthur had spent a majority of the day with her in her stands, Aria still found herself wishing she was with him, not standing alone on the edge of the festivities. His conversation with is mother, Aria had noted from out of the corner of her eye (she was not going to let Amira catch her watching Arthur again!) seemed rather intense.

Too busy watching her sister and the Emperor and not watching Arthur, Aria didn't even notice Cillian Frost at her side until he spoke. She started slightly and paused before answering him, looking over the outfit he wore. Someone must be helping him with his disguises-- she wondered if one of the Malconaire sisters might be assisting him with his dangerous plot...

"It does not appear one requires lightness of feet to dance as our Emperor's court does..." Aria commented finally. Her eyes turned back to the dancers on the floor, moving in definite directions, hardly seeming to make eye contact with their partners. It did not look joyous as the Astairan dances had been, once upon a time. "It looks less like our dancing and more like... choreographed walking," Aria commented, turning to look at Cillian then.

"What are you thinking?" she wanted to say to him. She had so many questions she had, so many worries about what might happen to Cillian if he was discovered. Did Arthur know him as Lord Ormond or Cillian Frost?-- and if it was the latter, what if Arthur spotted her talking with him? How would she explain that away?

"Prince Edmund has been making the briefest of appearances at these evening festivities," Aria said quietly. "And looking even more displeased than normal. I do not know why, though... perhaps he realized his performance at his father's tournament is nothing truly worth noting..."

Aria swallowed, glancing quickly across the room. Arthur was still occupied by his mother. She turned her eyes back to the dancing, but spoke again to Cillian.

"If anyone realizes who you are, even in those clothes... you're playing with fire my lord," Aria whispered.

#cillian frost #feast for fools #aria getting in digs at edmund whenever she can ig #i don't think she'd ever been more anxious #than at this tournament

arthur: we were never meant to be together.

“'We were never meant to be together.' The woman stared into the eyes of the man one last time before she turned away from her love, back to her life alone amongst the stars."

“Wait.”

Aria Stafford looked up from the book open on her lap to where Arthur Varmont stood a few feet away from her. The day was pleasant, just warm enough that the light breeze did not make one feel too cold when outside. It had been under this exact tree that Arthur had found Aria a half hour earlier, grinning ear to ear with pride as he presented her the book she now held-- tales of the old gods which Arthur's own father denied. A book that had been lost in the flames after the Emperor's conquest. A book Aria had once told him had been a favorite of hers as a girl.

"From my Uncle's collection," Arthur had told her when Aria questioned the book's provenance. "He has promised that he shall keep it in his care for you and you might request it whenever you wish." Arthur paused then to clear his throat.

"Of course it is only a book of fairy stories but the Emperor, as you know--" he began, though he wouldn't meet Aria's eye, a bit of a strange look passing over his features.

"I know," Aria cut him off quickly. The pair was silent for a moment, looking at one another. "Thank you. Thank your uncle."

"Of course."

A pause.

"Which is your favorite?" Arthur inquired, gesturing towards the book in her hands.

"My favorite story? Well... I suppose the one they say is how my... of how House Stafford came to be," Aria answered.

"You must mark the page for me so I might read it one day," Arthur requested. Aria nodded slowly then, without much thought, she spoke.

"Would you like to hear it now?" she offered, gesturing towards a tree nearby with a bench beneath it. Arthur looked to the tree and then back to Aria.

"... now? You-- are you going to read it outloud?" Arthur questioned, furrowing his brow. Aria gave a small smile, making towards the bench then.

"Only if you'd like to listen," was her simple reply.

Arthur had joined her without much hesitation, though he did not sit still as she began the tale of the goddess of a night who followed an errant star down to the earth where she met a mortal king. Arthur paced about the bench almost absent mindedly, only stopping when he'd interrupted Aria moments ago.

“She’s just leaving? I thought she was the—" Arthur began but Aria cut in before he could finish.

“If you would stop interrupting,” Aria chided though a smile played at the corner of her lips, “perhaps I could finish the tale."

Arthur said nothing for a moment.

"Sorry."

"'I will take every moment the king of the gods will allow us,' the man begged, rushing to the goddess's side.

'I do not know how long that might be,' the goddess told her love. He shook his head in response.

'Then we much cherish each and every second of every day, my love.'

And so the goddess of the night and the mortal man with a star blade lived each day not knowing if it might be their last together. They were wed, but Mestrius did not call for her return.

The goddess found she was with child and bore the mortal king three sons but still Mestrius did not call for her return.

A daughter followed and the children grew, playing in the gardens of the mortal king's palace as it was built, climbing high towards the skies the goddess had once called her own domain and even still, Mestrius did not call for her return.

One cold winter morning, the mortal king was awakened by the rising sun. Years had passed and his children were now grown. He rolled over to greet his wife but the bed beside him was empty, the blankets cold. The King hurried from his chambers, calling to his wife as he went from room to room of the castle, searching for his love, but no trace of her could be found. Mestrius had finally called for her return.

Heart broken, the king waited for the night to come and, as the sun set, began his ascent to the top of his castle, to the place where he had first seen his wife all those years ago. The dark sky was dotted with stars when he emerged there and, in his despair, the king cried out to the sky to return his love to him, to give them more time together. The sky, however, was silent...

... until he saw it, a single star shoot across the sky, following the same path the falling star had once taken before crashing into the earth at the very spot he stood. This star did not reach the earth but the king knew, could feel it in the marrow of his bones, that it was a sign from his queen, showing him the her love for him would never falter, even if they would forever be apart."

Aria closed the book then, looking up to where Arthur was now leaning against the tree, a small bare patch on the trunk where it appeared he had previously been picking at the bark.

"Do you think it was foolish of them to do it?" Arthur asked after a few moments of silence had passed. "-- the king and the night goddess-- do you think it was foolish of them to marry, to have a family, knowing at any moment they might be ripped apart, never see one another again?"

Aria considered her words before speaking, at first about to make a quip that she was too biased to answer this question considering the decision had, should the story be believed, been the beginnings of her own family. Arthur, however, seemed to be truly contemplative of this notion and Aria found she could not make light of it.

"I do not wish to pretend I know what is wrong or right in such a circumstance..." Aria began slowly. "... But I always considered this a story of a truly great love-- a love worth having even if they knew it would one day end in heartbreak for them both. If nothing else, they were left with the memories of what once they had together." Aria paused, ran her fingers against the cover of the book.

"Do you think, perhaps it might be better to have the life, the memories of time together than to forever wonder what might have been?"

Arthur said nothing.

"Do you think them foolish?" Aria asked. Arthur's gaze moved to meet her own then but he had no answer for her question. Silence hung in the air between the pair.

"... I don't know," he finally replied. "I-- I-- don't know," Arthur repeated as he turned his eyes back to that point in the far distance again. Aria couldn't help the creeping thoughts of who he might be imagining and if that person walked amongst the shaded forest of Malconaire...

"As you said," Aria smiled, making to rise from where she sat beneath the tree. "They are just fairy stories."

"Yes," Arthur agreed, though he half seemed to be somewhere else as he spoke.

"They are just stories."

#drabble #askbox meme #arthur varmont #this has been sitting half written in my drafts for awhile #so i guess time to finish it?#also in case its not clear #the idea was this was meant to be alya & cillian stafford #(if that is the stafford who fell in love with the goddess?)#and def this could just be a version of that myth #since we've never discussed much abt what that story really is!#also idk if Arthur would go against Roderick that much to give her this book?#I might have gone wildly off base here with that but #sorry if that’s the case! 🤦🏻‍♀️

ooc || guardian physical forms

starting this off w/ our discussions from disco...

#lore #ooc #guardians #idk how to tag this

freshlybrewedrp

FOUR WORD SENTENCE DIALOGUE STARTERS!

ADJUST AS NEEDED!

- “You shouldn’t be here.” - “We need to talk.” - “That wasn’t the plan.” - “This changes it all.” - “I can explain everything.” - “Don’t lie to me.” - “I can’t do it.” - “You promised you wouldn’t.” - “How did you know?” - “This isn’t over yet.” - “This place feels wrong.” - “Are you hiding something?” - “What did you do?” - “It was an accident.” - “You shouldn’t have come.” - “Tell me the truth.” - “I never stopped looking.” - “You look different tonight.” - “I didn’t expect you.” - “This was your idea.” - “You heard that too?” - “This changes the deal.” - “Will this change things?” - “Don’t make me ask.” - “I warned you already.” - “I thought you left.” - “Did you really know?” - “I recognize that symbol.” - “This place is cursed.” - “I broke the rules.” - “You never answered me.” - “You’re bleeding, sit down.” - “I made a promise.”

forgottenarias

Aoife || Aria || Eithne || Fiona || Lucian || Marian

forgottencaoimhe

OOC | Caoimhe & Aria

so i feel like caoimhe is in AWE of aria!!!!!! literal princess alert!!!!!! and so learned and sophisticated!!!! she does think her life is maybe a lil boring and probs tried to spice it up in the past by tryna persuade her to like idk go skinnydipping in lorcan lake or smth that probs was NOT smth aria wanted to do but i swear she means well!!!! she just thinks aria probs ~wants a little thrill!!!!!! alksdjfkljsdjfjsdf but yeah dklsjfakjdsf i apologize in advance lakjsdkfljdsf

forgottenarias

i def think it would make aria v uncomfortable if she knew anyone was in awe of her haha! i def think she never felt she was at all close to the regal way eilia maintained herself in the slightest, haha!

so i know there isn't a shiv yet so we can't make many assumptions abt who she is as a person but i do love the idea that caoimhe and shiv were pestering aria when they were younger to have more fun! do more things! (again ik this can't really be decided upon until shiv makes an appearance but my HC is shiv had more freedoms than aria ever did!)

im DYING tho at the idea of caoimhe suggesting going skinny dipping bc i think aria wouldn't even know how to reply-- i think that's TOO much fun too fast, haha!

ik that a) aria might not see caoimhe much and b) aria doesn't talk about her youngest sister much, i do think it would be a comfort to her that there are other people who are missing her youngest sister as much as eilia & aria have been!

#caoimhe lorcan #ooc

forgottenaurelian

OOC | Aurelian & Aria

aurelian: ohhh you poor girl i hear roderick means to lock you up in a convent. i could easily arrange to prevent that if you simply were to wed in secret my...

arthur: !!

aurelian: ...son!

arthur: DAMMIT

no but i think before bastard-gate aurelian ~might have considered arthur/aria but now she's damaged goods and he means to steer clear of that!!!!! that aint no empress in the making in his book! lakjsdfljkdsf but she issss an important and intriguing figure and he's got seven whole sons in need of important and intriguing figures for wives sooooo lkajsdflkjsdkfj

forgottenarias

bahaha not even arthur's granddad being on team Arthur/Aria!

so idk what, if anything, arthur might have told aria about his family? i definitely think that would have an affect on how aria deals with aurelian! i do sort of feel that, kinda like with Bar, Alistair, etc, she's going to hold that weird level of ~respect in her conversation, not that sort of spirited conversation she has with like, godfrey or even amira! i do think, too, bc aria so far has found herself gravitating mostly towards arthur's family that she *might* be slightly more trusting of aurelian than others? (which might not be the smartest move tbh!)

so this actually got me thinking if aria would be open to marriage if it wasn't something roderick just sort of decreed? like if aurelian offered to go to roderick abt her marrying one of his sons, would she be open to it at all? ... and tbh idk really at this moment? i think she's been grappling with if she could ever stomach being wife #2 if it meant being w/ arthur (even tho she doesn't really even think he'd WANT that but, still, its rattling around in her brain) but she's also definitely sort of (at least to herself) concluded that there isn't going to be any other great love for her-- arthur's kind of it, even if he doesn't feel the same. AND considering she never thought something like having a love (even one sided) like this possible... idk i think its a lot rattling around in her brain so she's not NOT considering marriage but also... she isn't really in the headspace to think abt it at this time, if that makes sense. tho... we know roderick doesn't want any other stafford heirs running around so all marriages are gonna be off the table haha

knowing theres a possibility that aria might be on her way to the OVN-- idk if that's something aurelian would speak to her abt? esp if word got to him that she doesn't really WANT to head that way??

#aurelian solemont #ooc

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