#nicassia

[astutetwilight]

Jude: come on, fight me you coward!

Cardan: what are you gonna do shorty? Kick my shin?

*few minutes later*

Nicassia: why is Cardan sobbing in the corner?

Locke: Jude kicked him really hard in the shin

[visd3stele]

What if...?

requested by: @fantasyfox-101

summary:

a/n: sorry it took me SO SO SOOO LONG. i barely got a break from uni. studying drama is easy, they said. get a real job, they said. and i'm over here working 14 hrs a day.

tw: ANGST. SAD ENDING. CUSS WORDS. DEATH. MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH.

Blood soaked through his bright colored tunic, changing its golden yellow to a deep, autumnal copper. If Cardan was there, drunk beyond senses, he'd laugh about it. How stupid the color looks on him, how dumb the fox proved to be, stabbed by his own wife. If Valerian was there, he'd have killed the ungrateful human on spot for daring such an act of treason against His Majesty's best friend. But if Nicassia was there... oh, if the fair, beautiful, cunning Nicassia was there, she'd tend to his wound, cleaning his open flesh with cold hands of a sea creature taking pity on a dying man.

One might think pettiness alone kept Locke alive. Pettiness and a dire need of vengance. One would be absolutely correct. For months he hide in the woods, using the old tunnels of the Court of Shadows to his own benefit. Collecting secrets, intell, the upper hand. Letting revenge grow roots in his heart, spreading its ugly, thick brenches in the fox's body.

And Locke made sure to nurture it. Feed it until it filled him and his whole body became revenge. And when the time was right, Locke made sure his plan would leave everyone who wronged him in the deepest despair.

"Garret," Locke greeted the blond man before the half human could even step out of the shadows of forest. The fae made a home deep inside the ambush of trees, in a clearing so deep in the woods no one would look for it.

"Lighten up, old friend. I have a job for you."

The Ghost kept silent. Once upon a time he hoped his human nature would protect him from odd fae rules, like the secret names and the power they hold. But Locke made sure to challenge his hopes and crush them to dust. Now, the young spy was bound to serve three masters: the jester, the killer Madoc he was sold to as a dawry and the Queen he chose. All of them having conflicting goals.

"Firstly, I want you to tell me what Madoc wants from you."

The Ghost opened his mouth to protest, but before any sound could come out, Locke already spoke again. "I know he called you to him early this morning."

The half fae sighed, closing in the distance between him and his interlocutor, forcing his mouth out of the miserable smile woven in his lips.

"He wants Jude kidnapped by the Undersea. He planned it all, wants me as bait."

"Interesting. The father turns against the prodigal daughter. Very well, then, follow through with Madoc's plan. With Jude out of the way, Cardan's, that traitorous snake, a way easier target."

"You want to kill the king?" The Ghost gasped. He could do nothing but obey Madoc against his friend and queen, but he hoped – no, he counted on – Cardan, whose love for Jude was plain to see even through blinding fog, to save her. If Locke commands him to kill Cardan, then Jude has little hopes to make it out of the Undersea. A faeling would barely survive it's cruelness, much less a mortal, with frail lungs and breakable mind.

"No, Garret. You do. You were struck by a surge of affection for your dear, late king Dain and, in your righteous rage, decided to dispose of the usurpator."

"When? How? This is insane, Locke, you're going too far!"

"Hush, hush, hush, now. No need to get loud. Here, I'll let you choose. You can kill Cardan first, make sure to tell him Jude sent you and stay with his paling corpse until you're sure all life leacked out of his cold body. Or, you could have a trip to the mortal world. How you must miss it, dear you, half human. Take in the sights, breath some mortal air, visit a certain Duarte family, take a page out of Madoc's book and leave but death behind."

"What?"

"Come now, Garret, you're a smart individual. That twin bitch Taryin tried to kill me. Took our son with her in that garbage pit she called home. I want her dead. I want her to suffer. And I don't want anyone who'd try to avenge her make it out alive."

"What if someone sees me?"

Locke raised a delicate red eyeborow at him. You know the answer, it told The Ghost. And, sadly, he knew. "Kill any witness," he whispered, angry eyes making a hole in Locke's.

The foxy fae pat his cheel in mock approval. "Good boy. Off you go. I don't care about the order, as long as I have my dead bodies by the week's end."

"This week? Taryin is still pregnant with your child."

Locke shook a hand in the air. "Doesn't matter. They'll die together, isn't it what she wanted? To be just the two of them?"

The Ghost took several steps behind. Horrified doesn't begin to describe how he felt. He knew Locke, his twists and sick humor, his pride and his ego. But he never imagined such depravation in the fae's soul.

"Locke, think about it..."

"Shut up!" He cut The Ghost off. And the spy had no other choice but to obey. "You will do as I say, I had enough time to think about it. Go!"

And the poor half human made his way out of the forest where he burried his last shred of heart. Left it to rot alongside his dignity, will and sense of self, long since deceased under Locke's games.

♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤

Madoc's plan was fulfilled, much to The Ghost's dismay. Long after Jude dissapeared he stayed on the edge of the water, trying to glimpse through all the way to the Undersea palace to see his friend.

But Locke's words pulled him by the collar towards his other duties. The end of the week was coming with tomorrow's dawns and he had four people to kill, if only there wouldn't be casualties. Of course he wouldn't have that luck.

The Ghost chose the palace. Cardan might want to save Jude, but so would the Bomb and the Roach. She didn't need the king specifically. And he couldn't yet face the time he was supposed to run a blade through the woman he loved. Perhaps he never will and thus won't be able to go trhough with Locke's command. The fae law would punish him, if Locke wouldn't get to him first, but that won't matter.

Perhaps he should try it out now. See what the consequences of refusing a direct order given to his real name were. See if such thing was really possible before he left Elfhame without rulers.

"Hello, Garret." That annoying, familiar voice broke through the loudness of his mind.

"What are you doing here?"

"Enjoying the show. What's the point in hurting your enemies if they don't know it was you?"

So the two snuck inside the palace, following the underground routes to the King's rooms. Cardan just found out about Jude and to call the state he was in fury would be an understatemant.

"Cardan, my old friend, marriage doesn't agree with you." Locke mocked. And for a second the king's eyes chilled, numbed and defocused trying to understand the sight in front of him.

"You," Cardan's brows knitted together, "you're supposed to he dead."

"Oh, don't let my death pain you so. I'm alive and well. But you won't be for long." The fox's smile darkened, motioning for The Ghost to step into the dim light of broken lamps.

"Ghost? What is the meaning of this? Jude, I– I can't find her anywhere, no one knows where she is, I need you to find Bomb and Roach..."

"Cardan," The Ghost intrerupted harshly, closing his eyes tight to shield himself from the sight of the broken man in front of him. "I can't. Jude... you won't see her again, she's down in the Undersea."

Taken aback, Cardan made a go to the door. Locke stepped in his way, ready to push him and laugh just like he used to in their childhood. But the king barely noticed. "Nicassia," he kept murmuring. "She'll know what to do to get Jude back."

"You're not listening!" Locke allowed his voice to slip into a yell like he never did, brought to the surface by the slight mention of Nicassia, again being used by the same boy that broke her heart. "Your Jude is lost to the sea, Cardan. No one knows, perhaps she went willingly. Betrayed you again. Poor her, a simple human wouldn't know the sea is only loyal to itself."

As Locke spoke, Cardan's knees became weaker and weaker until they cave in and the High King of Elfhame fell to the ground before his jester. "She wouldn't. She loves me. I'd know if she died." He kept repeating. The mumblings of a fool's denying mind before it breaks for good.

And Locke laughed. "Don't worry, my king," he bowed mockingly until his forehead touched Cardan's. "You'll be reunited soon enough. None of you should have disregard and discaed me."

And with that he motioned for The Ghost to bring forth his killing arm and let it fall upon the snake king.

A gasp wiped the smile off Locke's charming face. Nicassia. He would have recognized her voice anywhere, even with one breathy sigh.

"Locke? How? What? What have you done?"

The Ghost slowly turned, dagger ready to be thrown into the unfortunate witness heart. "Wait!" Locke screamed. "Not her. Go to the human lands, finish your job. Now!"

Alone with his love, Locke tried to touch her. Hug her against his chest, away from the blood seeping into the carpets of the royal suit. But Nicassia took a stept bak. Two. Three. Until her back hit the wall of the corridor.

"I can explain..."

"I thought you were dead. They said, Cardan said, Taryin..."

"She tried. And our king didn't care. We're his oldest friends. Only friends. Yet he cares more about a daring mortal and her family. He had to pay for it. Just like the human twins and their own have to pay for what they did to me. To.us."

"Us?"

"He used you." Locke approached her swiftly, taking a strand of blue hair and twirling it between his fingers. "He used me and those human girls disrespected us. You should have been queen, Nicassia. Ruling over sea and land. He let the human steal it from you. Helped her. Turned a blind eye to my death and accepted my killer just for that Jude of his. It's not right. I want to make it right. Let me. Join me."

Nicassia locked eyes with her former lover for the first time. She saw the frenzy in their orange, but she also saw the love he had for her. Nothing changed, then. She wondered is he saw the changes in her. The forgiveness. She wanted to help Cardan and his queen, see them happy.

But now Cardan is dead and her mother will kill Jude soon. There is only one future for her. There always was.

♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎

Later that night The Ghost didn't return. His body laid cold in a puddle of blood. His and The Bomb's and The Roach's. The best spies in the realm saw him walking out of the palace, soaked in fresh blood. The rumor of the king's death spreaded, with Locke and Nicassia offering to take over until young Oak in the human realm can take the crown. Of course, Locke hoped The Ghost would have killed the boy too, but he knew better than to rely on soulfull fools.

The Bomb and The Roach connected the dots. Asked him about it.

"Vivienne. Her lover. Taryin," he choked out his confession. He hoped they'd kill him, but survival instincts are strong in a fighter of his calibre, even when he wishes for death.

They fought and they butchered each other, greeting their rulers together on the other side.

Locke was charming, Nicassia was loved and Oak wanted nothing to do with his birthplace anymore. So, the crown forgotten, sitting loopsided on a drunk king's head, Locke and Nicassia stepped in a new distanity of fae and mer folk alike.

[katedohnalova]

Prévia do meu novo desenho da Nicassia - O Povo do Ar, feito em Procreate

[teenyweenynightghost]

Rotten Heart

A/n: omg did I just write again? seems so. So the story behind this is that I came up with a quote last night while I tried to fall asleep, and well, the rest is history.

Taglist: @jurdanhell @smiling-girll

Summary: "There's human in you too, Cardan. Your rotting heart." Set at the river scene in the first few chapters. Taryn and the others depart, leaving Jude and Cardan alone.

Word count: 870

Warnings: Swearing, mentions of blood

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cardan grinned as he watched Jude struggle to move towards her sister. Strong currents of water washed over them both, making them slip in the mud and get carried down the river.

Behind him, Nicassia and Valerian snickered scurvily, making derisive comments about the twins. Cardan didn’t bother to question Locke’s sudden silence, being far too entertained by their struggle.

“Give up, Taryn. Leave your sister behind and swear you will not help her, and we will spare you from the troubles of dealing with her misbehaviour.” He urged the girl, eyeing her expression expectantly.

To no surprise, Jude encouraged her sister to leave her behind. Ever so noble was dear Jude. Ever so willing to save others. To create her own perception of power.

Taryn came up to the shore, drenched in mud and water, sobbing quietly. Cardan watched as Locke helped her walk away, closely followed by the others. He scowled at Jude, the corners of his lips tugging upwards seeing the state she was in. Her clothes hung tightly to her body, sodden and dirty. Despite the look of fear on her face, her gaze still defied him.

His insides set ablaze at her insolence, at her courage. She was a mortal. Everything about her was weak. Fragile. Awfully breakable. He wanted nothing more than to ruin her. To have her desperate, hopeless, horrified. He wanted her efforts to be futile. She was mortal. She was mortal. Mortal. Mortal.

“Does this make you happy?” Her words broke him out of his trance. 

He smiled in return. “Terribly so.”

Jude scoffed, a whimper leaving her strained neck. Her grip was starting to loosen the more her trained arms wore out. For a moment, Cardan’s gaze flickered to the outline of her muscles. The rough edge of her collar bone jutting through the flimsy tunic she wore. Her bicep twitching every time her legs would float to the right. The muscles in her neck visible through her mortal flesh. It was loathsome and he despised it.

“Cardan.” Her voice broke at the last syllable. Jude let her head rest on the cold rock before her, the one which now had blood dripping from her palms. Another reminder of her fragility. Cardan felt a flash of pride bloom across his chest.

“Yes, my darling nightmare.” He answered her. Simply. Elegantly. With as sweet of a voice as he could muster.

Jude whimpered again and Cardan could have broken into a dance of satisfaction. Never had he seen her so weak. Not when he would mess with her during lectures. Not when he destroyed her food or stole and glamoured her possessions. She was always with her head down, but something about her never gave in. Not until now. She was just as he wanted her. A rusted leaf hanging for dear life from an autumn tree. A pesky little cat stepping in the mud tracks of their owner.

He had her cornered, on the edge of hysteria. He had her to himself.  She was his to destroy.

“You could beg for my mercy, sweetest Jude, and I would grant it to you.”

She turned her head slowly towards him, her whole body shaking from exhaustion. Her cheeks were tear stained, eyes puffed and seaweed hung to her tangled hair.

“Get fucked.” She whispered, with all the power she had left.

He scoffed. Picking up a stick, Cardan moved towards a tree and leaned back on it, one hand in his pocket, the other scraping against the mud.

Jude scowled at him. He flashed her a smile. And then he waited.

And waited.

And watched as Jude’s ambition and perseverance drained out of her. With every stronger current, every move of the pixies in the corner of her eyes. The only thing that grew was the throbbing pain in her arms. The stone cut the wounds deeper, and Cardan praised himself for each second of pain he inflicted upon her.

“You’re starting to be foolish, darling. Your mortal body can’t withstand this much longer. You ought to give up, or you’ll be one with the river.” He mused, striding along the banks of the river.

“Oh I’m only now being foolish?” She replied, her voice barely anything but a wisp of grain in a field of rye.

“You’ve been a fool ever since the day you thought you’d be one of us.” He chuckled, crouching across from her. Jude held his gaze, despite everything else. She looked into his coal eyes with tears threatening to spill from her own.

“Every day I’m growing more and more convinced that you’re scared of humans.” Jude retorts, closing her eyes and settling on the rock again.

“Perhaps of inheriting any appalling traits from them.” 

Jude hears him get up. The leaves rustle under his feet and judging by the soft thud, he had thrown the stick too.

“I suppose your fear has come true then.” She mumbles.

Cardan stops dead in his tracks. His shoulders raise, every muscle in his back tensing, every nerve on the edge of an explosion.

“There’s human in you too, Cardan.”

She exhales. A ragged, clogged breath.

“Your,”

Her pinky slips.

“Rotting,”

One hand slips.

“Heart.”

She lets go.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

lemme know if y'all want part two :)

[tttfota]

Cardan pushed Jude into a river with some nixies,

Nicassia got Jude thrown into the Ocean. For a month. With abuse and little food.

Ok I don’t think it was Nicassia’s plan I just wanted to draw a parallel between the two events

[haystarlight]

Fancast for The Folk of the Air

(Disclaimer: I don’t actually care who they end up casting so long as the actors are good, I won’t care. I’m just doing this for fun)

Laura Marano as Jude and Taryn 

(they can do the Parent Trap thing to edit them together)

Timothee Chalamet as Cardan

Bella Thorne as Vivienne

Ariana DeBose as Heather

Josh Brolin as Madoc

Jaz Sinclair as Nicassia

Kristen Schaal as The Bomb

Isaac C. Singleton Jr. as The Roach

Tom Felton as The Ghost

(with CG all over their faces obviously)

[ladybookworm]

Cardan: *does something cute*

Jude: *under her breath* I'm in love with you.

Cardan: What was that?

Jude: *blushing furiously* I'M SELLING YOU TO THE ZOO

[sweet-villlain]

The wait for the Queen of nothing has been so wild???like it all started with the out of context quotes, then they dropped that excerpt and we all lost our minds?? and then they have us additional 3 chapters??? it was all fun and games until everyone started yelling around the epilogue leak???? PLOT TWIST it was actually half of the book!!! And it all came to its epic conclusion with bookstores sending the books week before its release so now there are people out there already done with the book sobbing in the corners

*chef's kiss*

What a year