Okay, so I had a thought and decided I’d ask around some of my favourite blogs because I’m really curious to hear people’s answers.
I love reading manwha. Specifically ones where someone from our modern world is reincarnated/transmigrated into the world of a book/game/manga/comic etc. that they read. So, I was wondering, if you, as you are at the time reading/responding to this ask, were transmigrated into ACOTAR, and woke up as Nesta Archeron, to the sound of Cassian banging on your door at the start of silver flames?
For some added context about your situation:
You were transmigrated, not reincarnated, you didn’t live Nesta’s life up until that point, you wake up in her body with all the knowledge you have in your life up until now, at a predetermined point (the start of silver flames).
Nesta’s body (now your body) may have instinctual, physical reactions to certain traumatic triggers and stimuli, including night terrors based on her memories. (Meaning that your body (read Nesta's body) might react instinctively to things that it considers stressors/triggers, like loud fires, and have nightmares about the cauldron, even if you didn't experience it yourself, or root through those particular memories.
You won't inherit her emotions or personality. You'll be entierly yourself within her body, barring the instinctual reactions you have to her triggers. You won't have her emotional attachments, so you won't suddenly love her sisters as if they're you're own, nor will you have any particular devotion to Elain like Nesta did. You might learn to love them as your own sisters, in time, or you may not. Depends on you.
Cassian is your mate (unfortunately).
You will have access to Nesta’s memories, but you’d need to make a conscious effort to dig through them if there’s any particular information you want/need from her life that was unclear or wasn’t mentioned in the books.
Rhysand won’t immediately know you are’t Nesta, at least not right away, but depending on your actions, he might become suspicious. If he dives any deeper than surface level into your mind (like when he saw her trauma), he’ll realise that you aren’t Nesta. At least not entirely. To him, if he tries to dig, your memories and Nesta’s will be jumbled together. He will piece it together sooner or later though.
The real Nesta, for all intents and purposes, is dead. She can’t come back or regain control of her body. When your soul transmigrated in, hers had just given up on living entirely. She felt kind of bad that you had to inherit her life the way you did, but doesn’t have the strength to keep living it herself. So you don’t have to give the body back to her anymore.
If you wish/manage to acquire the mask of the dead trove, putting it on may let you see and converse with the real Nesta’s soul. She can’t interact with the living world anymore, but she won’t move onto her next life just yet either. She’ll stick around until she’s satisfied she can move on. You can only speak with/interact with her with the mask, and I can't guarantee she'd approve of what you've been doing with her body. That's up to your imagination, and what you decide to do. She won't hold a grudge against you just because you inherited her life, however.
So, what do you think? What would you do? How would you chose to live? Would you avenge Nesta? Try to change the world? Or run for the hills? What would be your plan?
I would absolutely avenge my Queen.
I would absolutely use my magic to wear a I hate Cassian and Rhysand t-shirt because for shock value and Cassian would go absolutely mental - because no one should hate Rhysand - and tells me to change. I would not change. I would actually be honest with Cassian and say "Look, I'll give you one chance to actually redeem yourself so I'll be honest, I know this is a intervention for Nesta in the name of wanting her to heal but let's look closer and ask why would your family whom can't stand Nesta would want her to heal by giving her only 2 options which is forcing her to train infront of misogynistic males and staying in a house that anyone without wings or can't winnow can get down, or if she refuses, the human lands where Nesta would get killed. For having PTSD. Seems more like a permanent punishment to break down Nesta (I'm not saying Nesta shouldn't heal, she should) Cassian may be suspicious because Nesta shouldn't know about this dreadful intervention - I even tell him Rhysand threatens to fight Nesta because he doesn't like it when she doesn't submit and will use Nesta "healing" to manipulate her into finding the dread trove. I'll tell Rhysand this to his face myself too by using my power to shield myself from getting misted. I will also tell Feyre I will need to find the mask to get in touch with her sister, Feyre is like "what the fuck? Nesta are you ill?." Confused because her intervention is not going to work on Karli Jade Howard. Not on my watch will I be controlled. Rhystand tries to get into my head but the mind of Nesta and Karli walls is build with a very strong mental shield. I did this to protect Nesta's privacy and mine. Rhysand fails with huffs and puffs. I tell them I will help with the dread trove but I'm not staying in the Night court. Rhysand and Feyre will try gaslight me to the point I'll ended up losing my patience shouting that Nesta deserves better and she is unfortunately dead because of you. Amren is looking at me as if I'm crazy. Tbh I am crazy. Honestly, Feyre doesn't believe me (unsure) until I tell her we are all book characters and I'm trying to stop fate ruining her sister's life. I'll go and say to Cassian maybe if he treated Nesta better before she died, he wouldn't be in this position of a broken mating bond (I've broken the bond during this intervention) Cassian goes on his knees and begs but I've told him I'm not her, and I'll unfortunately say I'm sorry. I'll explain the plot of the books and that includes Feyre's pregnancy - Rhysand obviously tries to kill me lol - but my silver flames winnowed me out after me telling him Nesta actually saves their lives by using the trove - I'll either end up in the Summer court, Autumn Court after killing Beron and marrying Eris, or the Spring court (Tamlin will try and fight me at first before I go what a cutie. Tamlin is like wtf. Anyway Tamlin ends up being my friend or lover, who knows at this point. He also knows I'm not Nesta and calls me Karli) I'll even be besties with Lucian and get him a fox Teddy for jokes. I do struggle with Nesta nightmares but I struggle more with my own by missing my sisters, my partner, my dad and nieces. And I'll have breakdowns crying for my family because I'm obviously dead in my world knowing I'll never see them again. Anyway, I end up successful getting the mask and I've ended up with trauma naturally. When I saw Nesta for the first time in her ghost form, she told me to watch over her sisters and to tell them I'll will always love them. I do. And that she promise me to watch over my family too and that my sisters and my partner are always putting flowers on my grave. I've ended up having a massive meltdown. I'll eventually let Feyre in my mind and she broke down along side me. Elain is like what the fuck is going on? Until she saw a vision of my and Nesta's conversation... Everyone is a crying mess. I'll eventually start seeing a healer and a mind healer, have magic training, create my sword, and call it my partner nickname Marek. (Amren ain't happy about that.)
Author's note: So I did the math, I've been writing longer unintentionally and I use the notes app for fanfic writing.
The notes end up to 20+ pages, that means to keep up weekly updates I need to write 3-4 pages a week.
Summary: After Feyre and Rhysand was humiliated they decided to take revenge much to the misfortune of the spring court
Velaris was covered in snow as the last days of winters arrived. The streets weren't as joyous with more and more buildings showing neglect. Potholes weren't being filled, food variety was low just beans and meat. It felt dead but Rhysand's study was different it was filled with living rage as the High lord starred down at the members of the inner circle.
Rhysand sat at his table looking at all of them tapping his fingers, "Centuries the night court stood unchallenged, my title unchallenged but in a matter of a year everything has gone to shit. Our coffers are bleeding, food is scarce, other courts and kingdoms barely buy from us anymore and worst of all? All of you failed! How is it we're being outsmarted by a male who spent years as a beast?!" Rhysand questioned his cabinet his voice becoming louder as he spoke. Just days ago he was humiliated by his enemy and worst he realised just how badly he was played.
Everyone was silent and stood uncomfortable except for Amren who was seating leisurely drinking red wine, "I told you'd regret sparring him." She commented earning a glare from the high lord.
"You're a useless failure." Rhysand snapped and waved his hand as tendrils of darkness grabbed Amren forcing her to stand. "I kept you because you were useful once. You could stop armies and had knowledge now... you can't even get our seer to work!" Rhysand scolded as a tendril wrapped around her neck, "I want you to find a solution or you're done." He seethed then looked to the others.
"If Lucien hadn't been there. Things might have went differently," Morrigan defended herself with her arms crossed.
"If? Do not blame your failures on the only fae in this entire court who's actually useful. He at least managed to keep us afloat." Rhysand snapped at her.
"You trust that traitor?" Azriel questioned only for unfamiliar dark tendrils to rise from his own shadows binding his limbs including his mouth and forced him to kneel.
"You do not get to speak...you lied. You told me he made a deal with you to not hurt me and my mate. Now she's lost the powers of spring....your incompetence lately has left much to be desired. Do you even deserve to stand by my side?" Rhysand seethed as he walked towards the other his clawed finger under Azriel's chin forcing him to look up.
"Is anyone here worthy of being by my side?" Rhysand questioned his eyes on all of them as his wings spreading to make himself larger.
Cassian who's been standing at the back silent slowly walked forward, "the general of spring court, Archibald. If we have him we can weaken that golden bastard."
Rhysand folded his wings in and narrowed his eyes at the male, "I'm reluctant to hear out your plans, Cas. Considering you've been struggling to control your mate but I'll allow it. Speak."
"I may have lost my wings but I am still General. I know the amount of males, the weaponry and strategies that my court uses. The general of spring is the same, if we interogate him we can weaken that golden bastard's army before war." Cassian explained.
"And...can you plan such things?" Rhysand pressed.
"A diversion and Azriel will be needed but I can do it. I can still be of use to you." The general expressed almost pleading.
Rhysand was silent almost judging, "do not disappoint me, brother. I cannot appoint you general but I can make you my court's strategist if you succeed."
"I won't let you down." Cassian replied and bowed.
"I want to see the exact detail of the deal. Stay put." Rhysand warned and placed his hand on Azriel's forehead. Rhysand scanned through the deal but it felt weird. One moment Azriel was bleeding and then he was suddenly fine making deals with Tamlin. It took him a few times to understand what had happened before Azriel was released from the shadow binds.
"You didn't lie." Rhysand huffed and stepped back, "that bastard glamoured your memories. Made you think you did. If you want to prove yourself... to redeem your honour I suggest you help." Rhysand dismissed them. Everyone left but the two illyrians brothers left one stomping and the other with shadows curling around him.
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"Stay away from my son!" A satyr shouted inside a hall his eyes on the shadow wraith holding his son hostage a blade near his chest.
"You should have never sang for your high lord," the wraith spoke and stabbed the child through it's heart.
At the spring court Tamlin who was in a meeting with his court members suddenly clutched his chest as pain flooded the high lord's bond. The blonde haired lord grit his teeth head pressed into the table while he clutched the table hard until it cracked.
"By the cauldron- lordship I know you dislike the idea but hear me out please. If we do this you do not have to shoulder the burden Calanamai alone, others could join-" "send order to every performer, get everyone home. Now!" Shel defended her reasoning only to be interrupted by Tamlin.
"Princey? Did someone die?" Archie was the first to ask and the high lord child only nod.
"A child." He answered clutching his chest tightly. That answer had everyone moving but the pain didn't end there. For weeks the torment continued as the fae he sent out died one by one. Some managed to survive by fighting back or escaping, a few managed to kill the wraiths but each death sent a wave of pain towards Tamlin's heart. It wasn't as strong as before but each death made his knees wobble and chest feel like it was stabbed.
"Most have returned your lord ship." Shel informed looking at the mess Tamlin had become. He looked restless eyes bloodshot and hair unkempt. "You should rest."
"Most... why not all? I told all of them to return yet why do a few choose to continue? It doesn't make sense." Tamlin complained rubbing his forehead.
"The night court is like a cornered animal, doing anything and everything even murder. It doesn't care if they're breaking fae law by assassinating spring performers in other courts but... this feels off. As if they want to hurt just to hurt." Houyi pondered.
"Why doesn't matter. Shel send in the birds, force them to get back to spring no matter what." Tamlin ordered.
"Why- Tamlin ye overgrown arse. What do you mean why?! You gave these fae homes. Honoured the dead and spend time with them. They'll gladly lay down their lives for ye and this court! Does their sacrifice mean nothing to yer?" Archie scolded offended on behalf of the performers.
"I DON'T WANT THEM DIE!" Tamlin roared getting up from his chair as a blast of wind scattered papers around them. The lord growled and sighed. "I don't want my people to die." He repeated.
"Princey..." the older fae breathed. He felt sympathy but he also knew the burden of being a leader. Before he could offer more comfort one of the guards rushed in just as Tamlin felt piercing pain in his chest, another death for him to feel.
"Emergency! We're under attacked! Dark bringers and shadow wraiths seen at the northern borders! Less than a hundred but they're scattered " Bron shouted frantically.
Silver liquid flowed out of Shel's body to her hand turning into the mirror of everywhere, her ember eyes scanning the images on the surface quickly. "At the western borders too. I can count roughly 40 maybe less at the north but about 8 at the western borders. They're attacking the farmers." She informed then looked to Tamlin.
The high lord glowed gold for a moment as golden leaves grew all over his body and turned into his armour. " Houyi, with Archie. I'm headed to the north. Archie head to the west, take a small group. If he or any of his trusted butchers are there you retreat. That's an order." The high lord ordered as he summoned a halberd far thicker than the normal ones.
"We're not done. Ye come back safe, lad." Archie demanded as the high lord left.
The night was brutal for the citizen's of spring that day. They were supposed to be resting, to get ready to work or leisurely spend their time before dawn breaks but instead of sleeping the farmers were running, barns were being burnt and chaos spread at the northern and southern spring court lands.
It took hours for the threat to be contained but before the sun was up all the night court fae had been captured yet it wasn't over. Those who were alive were captured, bound by plants that glowed so they couldn't escape into the shadows.
They were brought to the southern spring court lands at a forest edge. It was dark with only the light of the plants tied around the night court fae dimly illuminating the place. They were brought there for interrogation.
"Where is he?" A tall looming figure obscured by the darkness with sharp antlers, sharp talons for fingers tips, feline like legs and mix matched wings asked. The darkness hid him and the only proof he was there was his beastly emerald green eyes that seemed to reflect light.
The dark bringer kneeling in front of the half beast scoffed. He had enough confidence despite his hands being tied up behind his back, held down by a sentry and made to kneel with the glow of the binds showing his dark grey skin. "You think you scare me? I am loyal to the nigh-" He couldn't even finish talking before his face cave into his head by a simple push of a hand by the shadowy figure.
"Where is my friend?" The figure asked again this time to a shadow wraith being held by
"We-we...we don't know. Please...please don't kill me." A shadow wraith begged terrified but a second later a gold glowing taloned hand crushed her head with a sickening crunch.
"Where is Archibald?!" The half beast finally roar as thunder cracked behind him illuminating the dark forest for a moment.
The sentries tensed a few visibly tightened their hold on their prisoners as Tamlin walked to the next victim. He was no torturer, if they didn't answer he'd kill them. He had no time to waste and didn't care if others hated him for this. His only focus now was to save Archie because he knew the night court and he couldn't afford to lose anymore of his people.
The half beast lord was about to cave another night court fae's face in until a flash of light stopped him as Houyi appeared infront of him.
"That's enough!" The half peacock fae hybrid pleaded placing himself between his high lord and the prisoner. He was afraid, more than anything because he didn't know if he was talking to the guy he splashed apple cider at or the beast that the high lord kept in check. He could hear his own beating like a wild drum but he forced himself to look. "Please.... you told me you want to help them...so please stop. Shel we'll find him...please...stop." The hybrid begged unable to stomach the cruelty or the piling of dead bodies after each question.
The high lord growled at the other but turned away, "send them to the dungeon. Now!" He barked and the sentries moved quickly dragging the night court fae away.
Houyi stood there unmoving for a moment before he finally sank to his knees holding on to his chest. He was afraid but more than that he was disgusted. He looked to his side and watched silently as a spriggan dragged the piles of bodies away leaving a trail of blood that the plants would no doubt feed on. He didn't care for the night court fae, he didn't even know them but to execute them one by one like that, he couldn't stomach the brutality.
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The inner circle had planned this kidnapping for days. It started with the murder of spring performers for daring to speak against their high lord and high lady. It was to strike fear in Tamlin's heart and when everything was falling apart they attacked.
Cassian planned everything with some suggestion from Azriel and Feyre's help. They trained the dark bringers and shadow wraiths to stay hidden within shadows before sending them out to spring court at the north and western gates with autumn flame seeds. Getting in was easy, they only had to hide themselves in the shadows of those entering but escaping was hard. Cassian ordered them to steal from and burn the farms then to escape. Of course they failed after being sealed in by the ashwood wall and the layers of wards, not that the inner circle cared. They were pawns for the real mission. A diversion.
The real plan happened at the western borders. It was Cassian's revenge for having his wings taken away, Azriel's revenge for having his memories tampered and Feyre's revenge for the recent trick.
They hated him and they would succeed as usual. They knew Tamlin would charge into battle to protect their people and he would send others to deal with the smaller battle at the west. They only had to wait.
Azriel flew towards Spring court's skies with Feyre carried by him. Feyre used Autumn's as well as Day's magic to carve a hole into the wards in the sky just as the shadow wraiths and dark bringers began rampaging. The two waited in the sky hidden in the darkness until they descended like winged death. The two striked when Houyi, Archibald and their conroi of sentries arrived armed with shinning weapons that weakened the night. Azriel wanted to get even, to capture both the emissary and the general but he couldn't get close especially when Houyi was already shooting light daggers at him. In the end he had to divert Houyi's attention while Feyre subdued the general.
"Tell him i did it, i want him to know it was me." Azriel spoke as the two clashed before he disappeared with Archibald. The three sinking into shadows before disappearing.
Azriel left with a smirk but he will cherish the the peacock fae's shout as he reached out to save his general.
Unfortunately his prisoner refused to scream. The general, Archibald as he learned was resilient in more ways than one. He had noticed the spring court fae's legs in wooden braces and decided to them away first. He had broken the male's legs shattering bone, skinned them and finally cut them up piece by piece yet the high fae kept strong. Rhysand visited but the prisoner's mind was hard to read and Moriggan was called.
"I said show me the truth!" Moriggan shouted standing in front of a legless Archibald holding out the veritas orb towards him.
The stone dungeon was barely lit, not that Archie could see. Azriel had carved one of his eyes out and had punched the other swollen leaving him visibly impaired. "Is that it?! You're as useless as meh mother's weights yer snot haired bampot!" Archie baited even as blood spilled from his lisp.
Around her Moriggan was surrounded by images of the truth. Spring court but it was filled with celebration with every common folk including Hewn city and illyrians celebrating. She shined the veritas closer to Archie's face.
"Tell me the truth! What is Tamlin's plannin-AHHHH!!!" Moriggan let out a high pitch shriek as the injured high fae bit into her wrist hos fang like teeth digging deep into her flesh.
Azriel who's been standing behind on guard quickly moved and sucker punched the spring fae's head with all his might. Moriggan staggered back dropping the veritas on the stone floor holding onto her injured arm, the hand connected to it dangling as if already disconnected from her body as it dripped blood all over the dungeon floor.
Moriggan looked disgusted at the spring fae while Azriel punched his face. "How dare you," punch. "Hurt my moriggan!" Punch.
Moriggan felt uncomfortable as the illyrian punched the prisoner. Not because Azriel was going too far but because the spring fae was smiling like a madman. "Go on! Hader yer noodle limbed gobshite!" Archie shouted even as Azriel punched but his face didn't seem that affected as if his bones were iron and his flesh was hardened clay. Moriggan left soon after.
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"Have you found any traces of him?" Houyi asked entering Tamlin's study as Shel stood infront of a mirror her log like arms swiping it causing the images on it to change.
Shel shakes her head causing her droopy leaves to rustle, "no. Wherever they took him, it's a place without any plant life." She replied and was silent for a moment, "where is our dear High Lord this morning?"
The sentry sighed, "guarding the borders...he hasn't slept in almost two weeks. I told him to clean himself up..." he answered and looked down for a bit, "do you...do you think Archie is still alive?" He asked hesitantly.
"He is, if he wasn't I would have felt him die." Tamlin interrupted as he walked in. He looked terrible. Eyes bloodshot, his hair unkempt, his beastly features seemed to extend further through his body and his clothes were a mess with some of the fur poking out at the shirt cleavage as well at his sides. He looked like he lost some weight.
"Rest, Tamlin." Shel ordered but her words carried no weight, she didn't seem rested at all.
"Any news from the spies?" The lord asked curtly.
"No."
"Keep loo-" Tamlin suddenly staggered and dropped to his knees holding his neck. His face turned red, the veins on his forehead bulged while his neck became a map of gnarled veins as if he was being choked.
"Tamlin!" Houyi and Shel shouted as they rushed to him just as a deep line formed around his neck. This was the price of being a high lord who is one with his people.
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The dungeon floor was splattered with blood, scraps of flesh with shattered pieces of both bone and teeth on the floor as well the wall. Azriel was thorough with his work as torturer. He had skinned, broken bone, stabbed, cut, deprived senses, humiliated and unmanned him. Rhsyand finally visited when he was sure the prisoner was broken.
"How are you finding our hospitality, Archibald?" Rhysand purred standing infront of the bloodied spring male tied to a chair with Azriel by his side holding a sledge hammer.
Archibald stayed silent his body leaning against the side barely able to support his weight, only the shadow binds around his waist kept him upright. In the past the older male would spit at his feet or insult him but Azriel had taught him better. The night lord wasn't sure if he could still speak with bloodied drool slipping pouring out of his mouth.
"Good dog, I know you'd finally be able to follow orders. Now... tell me what Tamljn is planning and i promise you. You'll be free." Rhysand offered leaning down to speak.
Archie's eyes were dazed like he wasn't fully there. It wasn't until he felt a stabbing pain in his head forcing his weakened body to seat upright did he finally look at the high lord. The spring fae let out an involuntary growl, his mouth felt light enticing him to speak more. For a moment Archie resisted until Azriel raised the sledgehammer and slammed it down his nailess hand breaking it in the middle making it L shaped as it dangled off the arm chair. Archie muffled his screams eyes glaring but his focus was interrupted allowing the daemati to invade.
"... 2 minutes... to speak only the truth... that's all I ask for." The spring fae struggled to speak resisting even now.
Rhysand stood back up and tilted his head to the side before nodding slightly, "it's a deal. Now... what is the truth?" Rhysand seethed sinking his claws deeper into the others mind regardless if the spring fae felt pain.
Archie gasped in pain as he doubled over. He breathed shakily and closed his eyes. "The truth....the truth is... I love Tamlin. Aye die for him time and time again if aye could... aye raised him since he came to the war band... he's an idiot....with a good heart."
Rhysand's smile dropped before he nodded to Azriel, the illyrian didn't hesitate to raise the sledge hammer and slamming it down on Archie's other arm breaking it. Archie screamed for a moment before laughing.
"I don't have to make myself clear. What is he planning, mutt?" Rhysand seethed.
Archie smirked flashing his bloodied broken teeth, "to save everyone... from tyrants. To save the night from monsters like you... he isn't planning for war... not yet. He intends to protects the innocent from you."
"What is he planning with Beron?" Rhysand questioned again.
"Aye told ye...to save innocents from ye." Archie huffed with a bloodied smirk.
The room darkened as if the fae lights stopped illuminating, "oh mutt..you know I can just dig deeper...push my claws until you're an empty husk... I know what you fear... I can make you live your worst night mare again and again without killing you." Rhysand threatened putting a clawed finger under the male's chin forcing him to look up.
A weak chuckle escaped Archie's mouth, "aye not afraid....of tyrants....especially ye...you've lost. Ye just can't see it..."
"You should be afraid." Rhysand replied and a wave of darkness slammed the spring fae towards the wall behind him. In the quiet dungeon only his laboured breathing and the sounds of bones breaking under the pressure could be heard. "Tell me the truth." Rhysand seethed as years of frustration spilled out.
Archie struggled to breathe, he could feel his own bones stabbing into his lungs. His chest felt like it was on fire but he only grinned. "I....I am Archibald... blood of hybern.... son of the forest.... I swore to protect my boy....to protect Tamlin and my court.....and I....I do not fear you, Night lord."
Rhysand charged into him as he was covered in darness, claws pushing into Archie's head digging deeper. "WHAT IS HE PLANNING WITH BERON, ANSWER ME!" The high lord shouted his inches away from the other as he pushed daemati further not caring if he'd break the spring fae's mind. He saw glimpses but nothing made sense, Rhysand realised too late that Archibald knew nothing. Only preparations.
His days here were hell, his body was broken and they uses ashwood dust to torture him. Archie barely had anything left but he could do this. His brain felt like glass starting to break but he didn't think. In one moment his face contorted as fur and sharps fangs grew in before his head reached forward to bite into Rhysand's throat.
The night lord reacted quickly pulling back just enough to swing his arm sending a slash of darkness that cut through the prisoner's throat and left a giant cut on the dungeon wall behind him.
Rhysand back away holding his neck his heart thudding as the darkness left the dungeon. Two thuds was heard, one in front of him belonging to a headless corpse and one behind him. He slowly turned but what he saw wasn't the head of a high fae. It was the head of a wolf bleeding out on the floor.
Everything clicked in place. Why daemati couldn't work on him or Tamlin. Fae brains and animal brains worked differently, no wonder he couldn't understand the prisoner's mind. He was a wulver, a wolf man of spring.
He breathed in and out for a few seconds, "I freed him from his life... get rid of it." He ordered Azriel before leaving.
The illyrian didn't say a word as he grabbed the wolf head and the corpse dragging it out leaving a trail of blood. He unceremoniously threw it towards a large hole connected to the dungeon where thousands of rotten bodies were at the bottom. He left soon after not staying to watch as what's left of Archibald's corpse began to grow white roses.
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Elain was seating on the ground while Feyre was beside her holding nyx the two finger painting, a forced smile on her face. She was a porcelain doll to control and she was barely aware of her own existence until visions flooded her mind once more.
The seer threw her head back violently as she gasped her eyes turning white. "Silver fire snuffed by water and ice. The night stabbed through the heart and his love stabbed with salt." Elain announced before she sat properly again.
"Elain? Did you have another vision?" Feyre quickly asked holding onto her shoulders.
Elain let out a weak laugh before she began to cackle like a witch. Nyx frowned and tried to hide himself away from Elain. "We're going to die feyre....all of us... we're all going to die..." She spoke between laughs before she violently grabbed Feyre's shoulder shaking her. "Nesta will drown! Your mate will die with a sword in his chest! You're going to be filled with salt! All of us are dead! We're dead! We're dead! We're dead!" Elain shouted like a madwoman.
She was dragged away by servants while laughing away from her sister all while she repeated the same phrase again and abqin, "were all going to die."
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Night time at spring court felt heavier as if the air itself had become denser the moment the high lord of spring felt another's death. In the high lord's study the brownies, flower sprites and Houyi were panicking slightly, a few of them assumed he was suffering a heart attack like lesser faes forgetting he's a high fae and unable to be inflicted with common sicknesses. Only Shel knew what that pain indicated, after all through the plants she learnt just how dangerous the high lord's bond is.
The mess of bulging veins on Tamlin's neck and forehead slowly disappeared as he came to but his eyes weren't like before. There was no determination to find his general, just dark forest green eyes that looked lifeless.
"Tamlin, Are you alright ?" Shel asked extending her log hand to help him get up.
The high lord stood silent eyes downwards on the floor for a moment before looking up at her, "I need the mirror, its full form." He requested his voice devoid of all emotions.
Houyi who was previously panicking took a half step forward, "did....did you find Archie?" He asked afraid yet hopeful.
Tamlin remained silent as the doors of the study closed while silver liquid poured out of Shel's body and flowed upward to become a reflective wall at one side of the room. "Mirror mirror of my land...show me where archie stands." Tamlin uttered barely louder than a whisper.
The large silver like mirror wall's reflection changed. Once the image of the three, what they were looking at was a pit filled with corpses suffering various degrees of decay. It was barely illuminated but houyi and tamlin could see using magic.
The high fae peacock hybrid winced at the sight, "is this where they throw lesser fae corpses...where's Archie?" He questioned but his breath caught in his throat when he saw something familiar.
A wolf's head with white roses growing from it. They were looking at their friend through the flowers growing on his corpse.
Tamlin kneeled down gently caressing the image of Archie's decapitated head like the older fae used to do to him. Houyi's reaction was more immediate, his hand spark like fireworks and his chest heaved before he shot a blade of light at the image trying to shatter it. The mirror reflected the light blast causing it to fly past Houyi's head and hit the book shelf behind him.
"FUCK!" Houyi shouted storming out just as tears threatened to spill.
Shel stood at the back unsure how to feel. She's seen a thousand deaths and lived through every plant in spring yet this was her first time losing someone close to her. She expected tears to fall maybe but she felt numb, maybe because she expected it. "Tamlin?" She asked her voice brittle as she reached forward but pulled away when she heard a stiffle from him.
At first it looked like the high lord was stifling his sobs with his clawed hands, his body shaking but then she heard a chuckle. "He's dead... they killed him...they bloody killed him..." Tamlin spoke between empty cackles before the absurdity in front of him. He promised to protect them and now his general and countless of his performers were dead. He tossed his head back letting a thunderous laugh pulling his hair back in disbelief. He looked like he had finally lost it.
Shel said nothing. She was tensed as a statue as the other laugh. It wasn't funny in the slightest. She felt offended for Archibal but what Tamlin spoke next made her wooden body run cold.
"I'm going to do it...I'm going to kill all of them."
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Grief takes shape in many forms. Some needed more times than others to process it. A few retreat to violence throwing blades of light. A few pushed their emotions aside to prepare a funeral. A rare few choose violence.
It's been less than a week since Archie died yet the high lord was filled with rage. Not grief of losing his long time friend but pure unadulterated rage that filled his mind with thoughts of turning the night court into a blood bath. Thoughts of those who Feyre and Rhysand loved in front of them slowly. Here he sat in his study alone going through books while a brownie occasionally came in giving Tamlin a cup of tea, his only source of food for the past few days.
"Tamlin?" The door to his study opened as Shel stepped inside, "I've prepared funeral arrangements for Archibald and the perform- what are you doing?" She asked concerned.
"Shel... just in time. You have access to the plant spell grimoires bring them here." Tamlin requested coldly.
"Your lordship... I... we've suffered. Put aside the work for now. Please." Shel reasoned until her ember like eyes scanned the piles of papers on the table. "You're making...more ash wood beast?" She asked noticing the ashwood plant types, the spells and night court map on the table.
"No...I told you I intend to kill them all." Tamlin answered and tapped his claw on the night court map. "This heinous court... is riddled with corpses and death. It'll be used to feed the ashwood. It will disrupt the land's magic. Kill them all slowly and make a monster they've always fear-"
"-its efficient."
"It's genocide."
Shel looked at the male in horror and took stepped back. This wasn't the benevolent lord she knew, this was a male blinded by grief willing to commit murders of thousands if he wanted. He wasn't thinking straight.
"Tamlin... please. If you unleash that spell. You'll kill the millions we wanted to save. You'll turn night court into infestation of living ashwood that tear everything apart... if you do this you wont just destroy the night...youll make an enemy out of the other courts." She pleaded.
"What about our people torn apart by hybern! What off our people they slaughtered for simply singing!" Tamlin countered as he stood from his chair.
"There are innocents in those places!" Shel argued.
"There are no innocent!" Tamlin shouted and slammed his fist on the table breaking as a burst of air exploded from him shaking the room, rustling Shel's leaves and cracked the window glass.
"You do not care of the others outside of spring, so why stop me?" He asked coldly.
"I don't... but you do. You're grieving, tamlin. You'll regret it if you continue. Please reconsider, there's no rhyme or reason for this." She begged taking another step further back.
He outstretched his palm towards her, "give me the to atraxia's vault. If I syphon the silver flames, it'll be enough to kill that cauldron forsaken court."
Shel clutched her chest and backed into the wall, "no...no! The reason we kept it is because such powers could lead to ruin! If you fail you wouldn't just end yourself, you might take spring's magic with you. If you succeed you'd burn a court forever more."
"Give me the key. As your high lord... I command you."
Her body hardened as her woode chest unraveled revealing a key beside a silver mirror but it closed quickly, "I...think this over tea. Please."
Tamlin dismissed her with a wave and Shel quickly walked out but rather than heading to the kitchen she went to her room. She quickly tied a golden flower themed necklace around a wooden bird figure with a fox head letting it fly out of the window heading to an autumn male in the human lands and burnt a piece of paper, the smoke headed to a Prince of autumn. She kneeled down touching a piece of a floor in her room causing it rise revealing a secret compartment filled with vials each one labeled differently like nightshade, 20% concentrated ashwood, 50 concentrated ashwood and more. She was panicking, hasty. She hesitated for a moment before grabbing the curare vial and the 70% concentrated ashwood.
If she had a heart it would be pounding right now but she didn't. She was only a spirit that a tree had given life too. A brownie fae jingled down the hall it's tiny body carrying a cup of tea for its high lord.
"I'll take it, thank you." Shel feigned a smile as her branch hand extended grabbing the cup. She walked away while mixing the vials into the cup and mixed it before she stopped in front of the study room doors.
If she did this, it would be treason. She'd die there was no doubt about this but if she didn't, a court would fall because her high lord was consumed by grief. Thousands would die and whatever came from that spell would give other courts reason to attack her home.
She loved her home, just as Archie loved it. She pushed the fear out and walked in.
"Drink." She demanded and handed the high lord the cup which Tamlin chugged. He looked thinner, his hair was a mess, his clothes torn and his horns sharper. She wondered if he slept at all, maybe that's why he barely noticed the change around him.
"The key, Shel." Tamlin demanded opening his palm as he stood in front of the now fix study table.
Shel closed her eyes for a moment to steel her resolve, "If you do this...all the work you've done to save Hewn city...to weaken night without bloodshed would be for nothing. My lord....you would prove them right. That you're a heartless monster." She pleaded keeping her hand close to her chest.
"They killed enough...I won't let anymore of my people die because of my mistake! I want to tear them apart, make them feel what I feel then put them in chains! I want to show the world that they were right about me!" Tamlin raised his voice as his body grew as more of his beastly features grew.
"You're not a killer...." shel argued back and her chest unravelled once more the wood opening like a sacred chest revealing the mirror and key. "This weapon, that spell... it won't bring Archibald back." She uttered as she grabbed the key holding it out for the high lord.
"But it'll avenge...him." he reached forward and tried to grab the key but his hand miss. He tried a second time only for his hand to barely reach, confusion filled his face before his knees buckled under his own weight like jelly. He dropped to the floor struggling to breathe let alone move and reached desperately for Shel.
The dryad springgan hybrid, the advisor of spring and one of the most trusted in the court watched as the male consumed by rage struggled to breathe. The poison was paralytic and ashwood would concentrated would hinder Tamlin's natural healing magic. He could survive this if she acted now but she didn't move. She just watched. She noticed how his beastly features faded away leaving only a broken high fae on the floor.
She'd burn for this. If the others found out what she did she'd be given a painful death but it didn't matter. She'd rather both of them die then for such a horrid spell to be released into the world.
She won't let Tamlin become a monster and she won't let her home be destroyed not as long she lived.
"Somebody help! Our high lord has been poisoned!" Shel finally shouted slamming the door open for help to call. Shortly after help came and she confessed her crimes. She was taken into custody soon after but maybe this would be enough. To keep her high lord sane and force him to grieve.
End note: To those confused about Tamlin's spell. The ashwood spell wasn't his father's creation but Tamlin's creation.
His father's spell was the spriggan army creation spell (the same one he used to give winter a small army of pine forest tree spriggan in the previous chapters) while Tamlin improved the spell to create the ashwood beast that now act as a trump card for his army (ashwood beast like the serpent that attacked Feyre during the last meeting)
This spells gets stronger the more dead it has to feed on. If tamlin had cast the spell on the night court and figured out how to syphon Nesta's silver flames from atraxia, he would have done worst than what feyre did to his people.
The spell would have cause an infestation of ashwood plants all over the court disrupting the magic in the land which would weaken feysand but also kill millions of their people due to blind grief. Whatever created with that spell would continue to grow as more and more death would feed it and it'll eventually spread to the other courts causing imbalance which can also lead to day and dawn working together to take down spring. It's basically a plant version of releasing a slow moving nuke explosion.
That being said, did Shel intended to kill Tamlin? Sorta. Her main goal has always been about protecting spring and she knew if tamlin didn't stop he'd might actually kill millions. The poison was enough to temporarily subdue him for a few days forcing him to think but she also knew it had a chance to kill him. To be honest she cares for tamlin but she won't let him commit mass murder.
anyone ever notice that the ic (and by extension a good chunk of the fandom) tends to hate on the most personal but the most harmless (the likelihood of Nesta and Tamlin actually moving to murder all of them is low) people in the perspectives of the ic?
I'm pretty sure Amarantha has killed more people, has made more fae suffer, has caused so much harm. Likewise, the king of Hybern. Are we sure that Tamlin and Nesta are the scum of the earth like the fandom makes them out to be???
(conversation with my husband about ACOTAR in K-drama terms)
Tamlin was never going to be endgame, he was too good. He was the nice guy, the perfect guy, the one who bought her parents a house (peak Asian son-in-law values).
Rhysand was the bad boy that she wasn't supposed to like but did anyways, despite how horribly he treated her, but luckily for her he was actually CEO Billionaire, older and more rich than Tamlin, with a tragic past and good heart that allows Feyre to be selfish and give in to her darker desires (sometimes by taking the control away from her to do so).
Viewed from that framework, ACOTAR as a series becomes more forgivable in that it is merely following genre conventions. However, the dissonance comes from the moralizing inner monologue of the perspective characters that try to make good guy ex-boyfriend morally WORSE because of one or two mistakes in order to justify the FMC's decision to move on to bad boy who has committed crimes his whole life and even against her.
There is nothing wrong with moving on to a bad boy, feeling not good enough for the good guy, or being drawn into darker desires, it's human (fae too I suppose) but the conflation of genre tropes and real life values makes the fandom (and author?) lose sight of the bigger picture here which I think is why we argue so much.
