gladly feast on those who defy us.

❛ i have been through the ( fire ) and what fire does not destroy it hardens. ❜ ⟨ arabella dumont. elf. councilwoman. ⟩ R E S U R R E C T E D ⟨ points: 250 ⟩

[onceslain-blog]

ɴᴀᴍe: arabella dumont. ᴀʟɪᴀs ( ɴɪᴄᴋɴᴀᴍᴇs ): the once-slain she-elf. wraith. councilwoman. ɢᴇɴᴅᴇʀ: female. ᴀɢᴇ: 734 years old. ᴅᴀᴛᴇ ᴏғ ʙɪʀᴛʜ: the exact date is unknown. sometime in the autumn. sᴘᴏᴋᴇɴ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇs: several. her occupation requires she be able to communicate clearly in a multitude of languages. the common language and elvish (?) were the first that she learned. ᴏᴄᴄᴜᴘᴀᴛɪᴏɴ: representative of the elves on the king’s council. ᴄʀɪᴍɪɴᴀʟ ʀᴇᴄᴏʀᴅ: murder. none, that anyone knows of. ᴅɪsᴏʀᴅᴇʀs: none. ᴇʏᴇ ᴄᴏʟᴏʀ: emerald green. ʜᴀɪʀ ᴄᴏʟᴏʀ: bright, golden blonde. ʜᴇɪɢʜᴛ: 5′5. sᴄᴀʀs: none. the wound where she was stabbed through the heart didn’t leave a mark, after she was resurrected.  ʙᴜʀɴs: none. ᴏᴠᴇʀᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: no. ᴜɴᴅᴇʀᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: no. ʜᴀᴅ sᴇx: yes. ʜᴀᴅ sᴇx ɪɴ ᴘᴜʙʟɪᴄ: no. ɢᴏᴛᴛᴇɴ ᴘʀᴇɢɴᴀɴᴛ: yes. ᴋɪssᴇᴅ ᴀ ʙᴏʏ: yes. ᴋɪssᴇᴅ ᴀ ɢɪʀʟ: no. ɢᴏᴛᴛᴇɴ ᴛᴀᴛᴛᴏᴏs: no. ɢᴏᴛᴛᴇɴ ᴘɪᴇʀᴄɪɴɢs: no. sᴍᴏᴋᴇᴅ/ᴅʀᴀɴᴋ/ᴅᴏɴᴇ ᴅʀᴜɢs: she drinks frequently, mostly wine. but she hates the way that smoking makes her breath smell, and she’s never had the urge to do drugs. ʜᴀᴅ ᴀ ʙʀᴏᴋᴇɴ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ: yes. ʙᴇᴇɴ ɪɴ ʟᴏᴠᴇ: yes, once. ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ sᴜʀɢᴇʀʏ: no. sᴛᴀʏᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ғᴏʀ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴ 24 ʜᴏᴜʀs: frequently, whenever the council has something particularly difficult to work out. ᴀ ᴠɪʀɢɪɴ: no. ᴀ ᴄᴜᴅᴅʟᴇʀ: not really, although she won’t put up much of a fight if her partner wants to. ᴀ ᴋɪssᴇʀ: same as above. sᴄᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴇᴀsɪʟʏ: no. ᴊᴇᴀʟᴏᴜs ᴇᴀsɪʟʏ: no. ᴛʀᴜsᴛᴡᴏʀᴛʜʏ: to a degree. the royal family and her daughter can trust her utterly. anyone else... not so much. she isn’t above scheming, if she must. she keeps a calm facade, but she isn’t an elf to cross. ᴄᴏɴsɪᴅᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴍᴇᴀɴ: the opinion is mixed. most just find her intriguing, utterly composed at all times. or slightly off-putting, if her death bothers them. ʜᴀʀᴍᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇᴍsᴇʟᴠᴇs: no. ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴏғ sᴜɪᴄɪᴅᴇ: no. ᴀᴛᴛᴇᴍᴘᴛᴇᴅ sᴜɪᴄɪᴅᴇ: no. ғᴇᴀʀs: losing annaliese. that’s really all. ᴘᴀʀᴇɴᴛs: deceased. they were relatively rich, but not considered nobility. ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ: annaliese dumont. ᴘᴇᴛ(s): none.  

[shewhomuses]

                                                      Deep down, you know                                                   you weren’t built for fighting,                                                       but that doesn’t mean                                                     you’re not prepared to try.

                                                       What they don’t know                                                       is your real advantage;                                                    When you live for someone,                                                      you’re ᴘʀᴇᴘᴀʀᴇᴅ to ᴅɪᴇ.

[tomrxlfe-blog]

“I like to think so.” Tom smiled faintly at the elf. “Yes, though thankfully not quite as badly as I could have been.”

[onceslain-blog]

“Not so badly that you can’t fight, I’d imagine. That is what I’m here for,” Arabella admitted. “You’re a pit fighter, aren’t you?” One of her eyebrows inched upward, prompting. “Are you content, or would you perhaps be interested in a promotion of sorts?”

[firebornkhaleesi]

[lordrobertswann]

“Of course.” Robert was all-too-happy to let the Councilwoman hold one of the girls. It was Asterodea’s little fingers that reached for her, forcing her father to tilt so that she could lunge into the pretty stranger. “This is Asterodea and Selene Swann; Careful, they’ve got a love for playing with long hair.” The Alpha had made a habit of sweeping his own locks back and tying them up so that the girls wouldn’t pull it out.

[onceslain-blog]

“Lovely names.” Arabella took the girl gently, despite her near-lunge out of Robert’s arms. Just as he’d said, nearly instantly there were tiny fingers in the golden curls of hair, twisting and playing. “It’s all right.” A bit of tugging was nothing to worry about.

The blonde lowered down in a pooling of red skirts, sitting comfortably and looking down at Asterodea as the girl twisted and toyed with her hair. It wasn’t until a curl got popped into the baby’s mouth that the elf gave a small chuckle and reached to pull it free. “Perhaps not that.” She swept all of her hair behind her back, well out of reach. The girl began toying with a string that held Arabella’s gown closed instead — the knot was far too sturdy to come loose in a baby’s hands, so Arabella didn’t stop her from tugging and chewing to her heart’s content.

“I never got to see Anna discover the world... I had such dreams about dressing her in pretty clothes, teaching her to braid... elves love to braid.” The smile on her face was a touch sad.

[beta-moon-moon]

“Trust me, I know.” He gave a weary smile before taking a seat and pouring them both a bit of tea, offering it to her with a small plate of scones that he had yet to touch. “People expect those in positions of power and authority to be impervious to natural emotions. Though it is important to be able to keep a level-head through tragedy.” Armand recalled the days when Robert’s ability to lead was put into question as his love life hit the rocks harder than what was normal for him. 

“But, fear not, Milady: your secrets are safe with me.”

[onceslain-blog]

“Thank you.” Arabella took the cup of tea gratefully, although she wasn’t quite sure that she had the appetite for a scone. It was appreciated, all the same. The she-elf took a small sip, and found that it tasted lovely.

“It’s worse... now. The vampire uprising felt different, somehow.” Who else had she confided in? No one, save Annaliese. But the words weighed heavy on her, beginning to feel loosened as though from the steam rising from her cup. She gave Armand a questioning look, as if asking permission, and then sank down lightly onto a chair. Her spine remained straight — rigidly proper, even here. “That war was difficult, but never this draining. As though some part of me didn’t quite come back when the witches restored me.”

[alayneestone]

For herself, she wanted sleet and ice, howling winds, thunder to shake the very stones of the Red Keep. She wanted a storm to match her rage.

(requested by jaimegoldenhand)

[tomrxlfe-blog]

“I can’t say I’ve ever faced an elf that’s close to a thousand years in age. That should be enough to instill fear in any sensible man. Fighter or not.”  Tom took a step back from the door frame, making an uncertain gesture of welcome.

[onceslain-blog]

“As smart as you are skilled with a blade, then.” Arabella stepped through the door, giving him a quick once-over. “You were injured at Roslin’s coronation, were you not?”

[beta-moon-moon]

Armand had gotten a lot of orders for something to help the Nysan citizens sleep. It was hard times. “Of course, Councilwoman.” He smiled softly and turned to pluck one of many, many small vials filled with violet liquid. “I’ve spent weeks harvesting somnium flowers to make somnium decoction.” 

The Beta turned and offered her the small vial. “Just two drops to your tongue before you sleep. It’s a little bitter, so a dro pof honey or a small bit of sugar to your tongue before the draught would be alright to ease the taste. Can I help you with anything else?” 

[onceslain-blog]

“Your discretion would be valued,” she said as she took the small vial. “It isn’t easy, to make it look as though the council and the king are calm during these times. As though we have it under control, when in reality...” She trailed off, turning the tiny container this way and that, watching the liquid inside. “But it’s necessary, all the same. Best not to let word get out that some of the council can’t even sleep peacefully.”

[lordrobertswann]

“If what I’ve heard is correct, a few more years will bring screeching and wanderlust, and a few more years will bring slamming doors and rolling eyes.” Robert laughed softly, moving to grab the girls before they could pop the pretty insects into their mouths. “I figure that I should spend this time collecting memories of them before they turn into the wild monsters known as teenage girls. I can look back at the times fondly when most of my hair is missing from insanity.”

[onceslain-blog]

A small smile plucked at the corner’s of Arabella’s lips. Although it looked like Robert was getting along just fine wrangling both of the small children, she reached out anyway. A long sweep of crimson dagged sleeves that half-covered slender, pale hands. A mother’s hands, yet they’d only had the joy of holding her own baby once. “May I?” she asked, a fond glimmer in her eyes. “I’m afraid I don’t know their names.”

[beta-moon-moon]

“Nutmeg and honey make all the difference in the world.” Armand gave a soft chuckle as he watched the other breathe a sigh of relief when the medicine went down sweet rather than bitter. “You can just sprinkle this powder on your food or in your drink, twice daily, for the next fortnight.”

[onceslain-blog]

Arabella took the proffered powder with a small nod. At the very least it tasted all right, so taking it wouldn’t be a bother. “And do you have anything that might help me sleep?” she asked, and here for the first time she made no effort to hide just how tired she was. “Deeply enough that I don’t dream.” Deeply enough that she had no more nightmares.

[lordrobertswann]

Robert sat contently in the small field, watching as his daughters rolled around in the flowers, laughing happily. They were only seven months old but he felt like they were big for their age – They got that from him. He smiled softly, laughing when they seemed to have discovered the joy of butterflies.

[onceslain-blog]

“A joy at that age, aren’t they?” Arabella asked as she moved toward Lord Swann and his daughters, enjoying the breeze that danced in the golden curls of her hair, the sun on her face. The joyful laughs of his daughters were sweet and musical as wind-chimes, yet the sound caused a splinter of pain in her heart. She’d missed Anna’s childhood, and that would never cease to hurt. She would regret it until the day she died again.

[rubyredwisp]

[thetempest-kai]

 Since the Fangs invaded, Pandosia has been opened to all vampires of Nysa if only to provide those that did not wish to fight a safe haven. Lynette Sourdeval cared only for her kind and Kailani could not fault her for it. She would have done the same for her merfolk. Rallying the vampires could be the key since, as Arabella said, the Queen of Pandosia was as dangerous to the Fangs as they were to her. “I meant no slight. If what you say is true then a Queen of her stature should merely laugh at my notions. Good day, Lady Arabella.” The mermaid bowed quietly as the once slain she-elf left, the room now plunged into a pregnant silence. The redhead sat at a table and calmly began writing a letter…

[thetempest-kai]

The mermaid curled her lip at the blatant insult though she knew the she-elf spoke naught but the truth. Still, a jab at her honour was still a prick much felt. “Then what do you suggest we do? You sought my counsel but it seems what I offer is not what you are looking for,” Kai said tightly. She could never control her temper whenever she spoke about werewolves but this elf…she was a wraith made flesh. That in itself stayed the siren from wagging her tongue even more. 

“Our allies—all our allies,” she began slowly, “have silver. The Fangs do not have the upper hand. Our countrymen know the land better than they do—better than you or I, councillor. Tip the spears and arrowheads with silver and attack at nightfall when the moon is clouded. Mix our drinks with sight enhancing potions so that we might see as well as the wolves. At the same time, poison Calydon’s water supply with wolfsbane.” Kai squared her jaw with what might be her last suggestion for the day. There was nothing else she could offer these leaders (she spat the word in her mind). “And if that fails, Pandosia should fear the most because if we fall, they would not be so far behind.”

[onceslain-blog]

Much as talk of open battle made her feel uneasy, Arabella was quiet throughout Kailani’s little speech. The mermaid’s squared jaw and curled lip made her thoughts very clear, but the elf made no comment on that. Whether or not the redhead hated her when she left, that was none of Arabella’s concern. Mending the hole that the Fangs had torn in the kingdom, that was what she was worried about. And there wasn’t time to mince words or worry with kindness, because every moment wasted was another moment that the Fangs were somewhere, plotting and murdering. Another moment that she could have spent focusing on her daughter, instead of war.

“Thank you for your suggestion,” was all that she said, afterward. A feasible plan for battle was better than nothing at all. As she turned to go, however, she thought to add, “It might be wise not to let a vampire hear you saying that. Lynette Sourdeval is older than even me, and mayhaps wiser. But far less kind, certainly, and I doubt she cares very much what happens to us. So long as she has her teeth, she’s as dangerous to the Fangs as they are to her. She doesn’t seem to mind letting us die, but I doubt she’d appreciate anyone insinuating she could lose her kingdom. I’d wish mercy on anyone that tried taking it.” The blonde gave a small dip of her head, stepping away. “If that’s all...”

[cfmusings-blog]

                       and if there’s a reason i’m still alive                    when everyone who loves me has died                                   i’d like to know WHY 

[thetempest-kai]

“If I lack in some sort of education then please enlighten me. My kind are not thoughtless but at the same time, we do not dwell too long on plans and strategies.” She did not understand politics or government of the land dwellers as such were not the ways of the merfolk.

“No, killing the alpha and beta would not solve it all but it will, however, provide a window of opportunity.” The wheels of her mind churned like the seas she came from. Waves of thought roiling, tripping over the other; if only she would let them loose. The Fangs is a relatively small pack against the power of Nysa but their fierceness in battle offsets against their number. And everyone knows that when a werewolf has had his fill of inoccupation is when he is most riled. 

Then the thought occurred to her. “They are expecting us,” the mermaid said as she pushed herself away form the mantel. “We must give them what they expect but we must also be ready with a plan that even they, as malicious and sinister as they are, would not fathom.” A plan of which might blur the lines of morality. Was she ready to go there again? To risk being a monster so soon after she’d decided to separate herself from the darkness within her? “We have allies from other kingdoms as well. Use them.”

[onceslain-blog]

“I haven’t the time to give lessons in politics, and I assume you don’t have much use to learn it.” Arabella stepped closer to the mantel, the frown upon her lips weighing more thoughtful than displeased. “And a window of opportunity sounds like a very small reward for the no doubt dozens of lives it would cost us just to try. Conquering a place is always more difficult than defending it. In Calydon, they have the upper hand.”

Although the mermaid’s second thought spurred a little more consideration. The she-elf’s head tipped minutely to one side, her brows furrowing. “Which allies do you mean? Tanaia, Kyrenia?”