#vivallias

[azriels-bitch]

Viviane calling Kallias "Kal" is my new aesthetic

[modernbookfae]

Limerance

Kallias and Viviane’s story, because these two stole my heart and I can’t resist writing them! This is going to be a prequel to the events of ACOWAR so be prepared for the journey of a precious friendship formed and lasting bond that will tie them together for eternity!

Chapter 1: Serendipity 

The Winter Court was vibrant today. The small city in the open snowy landscape was busy with trade. Residents of the city walked the streets with their pale bodies almost blending into the snow falling from the sky. Voices intermingled with the busy market noises as furs were swapped for precious metals to be forged into weapons or jewelry.

Overlooking the city a boy sat looking outside one of the tall glass windows of the castle. His white hair hung loose around his pointed ears as his blue eyes watched for anything that could seemingly pull him from his boredom.

Today had already been filled with lessons on court etiquette at his father and mother’s request. Of course their requests were considered orders to those that served them. For they were the High Lord and Wife that ruled the Winter Court.

And Kallias was their sole heir.

“Sir Kallias,” a female fae stepped forward and gave a slight bow of respect to the eight year old who didn’t spare her a glance.

“What is it?” Kallias asked still looking outside.

“The High Lord and his wife have dismissed your lessons for the day,” the fae responded. “They have guests today that will require your tutor’s attention.”

Kallias nodded. This wasn’t an uncommon occurrence and Kallias was an apt enough learner that he already memorized the text that would have been discussed today.  Perhaps now he could walk outside to his heart’s content after having been cooped up inside this past week.

“You’re free to go,” Kallias dismissed the fae who promptly returned to whatever task she had been doing before she was sent as messenger.

With as much calmness Kallias could muster he walked down the long hall and obtained his dark grey fur cloak with blue stitching. He snuck outside the servant’s tunnel that led to the gardens.

Though these gardens were nothing like the Spring Court’s.  Here the snow covered grey stone pathways that wove between evergreen hedges and the occasional burst of red from winterberry trees.

He breathed a sigh of relief. His breath pluming in a little fog from his lips as he walked around one of the large pine trees in the garden.

Suddenly his ears picked up a noise. A tinkling noise similar to bells that were usually placed out for festivals. It was a beautiful sound and Kallias slowly followed it. His hands went to the small dagger at his hip. He was trained in combat, but he knew from his instructors that it was better to avoid a confrontation with physical blows. Even his magical abilities were a bit rough, but that was better than nothing.

He rounded the corned and froze at what he glimpsed between the brambles of a bush.

A young girl that was not quite his age was spinning in the snow. Her long white hair twirling and catching snowflakes that made her hair glitter in the sunlight.

And then her laugh.

Kallias stared in awe. Listening with wonder at this magical fae before him. He almost thought her to be a nymph from the stories his nursemaid used to tell him as a toddler.

Deep in his chest something tugged at him. Go to her.

He took one silent step forward. Then another. Hoping not to startle the girl. But for all his training he still stepped on a branch that snapped loudly under his foot.

Immediately the girl stopped. Her dark blue dress swirled around her knees until the folds rested against her brown boots.

The garden was quiet. So silent that Kallias could hear the girl’s breath as she settled from her exuberant spinning.

“You’re…” Kallias sought for something to say. Even his intensive reading offered him no help as he stood blinking at the girl before him. He swallowed down his nerves and realized that this was the first fae child he had ever met around his age.

Children were a rarity. Among the Winter Court that was even truer from the harsh weather that offered no forgiveness to those that succumbed to it. Even Kallias’s older brother had fallen to Winter’s deathly kiss not long after Kallias was born.

Still this girl…she was so… “You’re little,” Kallias whispered without another thought.

The girl blinked in shock and bounded over to him. Her feet giving a slight skip as she stopped in front of him. Her face mere inches from his face that Kallias was too shocked to even back away from her forwardness.

Who was she that she dared to share the same breath as he? The High Lord’s son and heir?

“I’m taller than you!” The little girl said happily with a smile. “See!”

At the Kallias realized what her intentions were for her nearness. And even more disturbing was that she was indeed a few inches taller. Much to Kallias’s sudden disappointment.

He brushed away her hand that hovered above their hands to show evidence of just how much taller she was.

“So?” Kallias said. “I bet I’m older than you.” For some reason Kallias felt the need to prove something to this girl who gave him a full grin.

“I’m six,” the girl responded.

“And I’m eight,” Kallias crossed his arms proudly as if he won the Winter Solstice sled racing tournament.

“Wow you are old!” The girl laughed and for a moment Kallias wondered if she meant it to be and insult, but her smile said otherwise. As if she was teasing him.

But then she grabbed his pale hands with her gloved ones and gave him a pleading look. “Will you play with me? All the others inside say they can’t or are too old, but you’re not right?”

“I – ugh,” Kallias had rarely ever stammered in his life. He couldn’t even remember the last time it happened, but looking at his hands wrapped in her fingers thoughts flew away from him. “You shouldn’t hold my hand.”

“Why?” The girl asked. Then her eyes narrowed. “Don’t tell me you’re like those other boys that are afraid of girls right.”

“Why would I be afraid of girls?” Kallias asked. How could I be afraid of you? As if it was possible to be frightened of the female that stood before him with bright eyes shining in the evening sun. 

Instead of voicing his thoughts he added a different reasoning instead. “Besides it’s not proper for us to whole hands.”

“So you won’t play with me?” The girl visibly deflated in her happiness. Her blue eyes dulling with each passing second.

Awkwardly Kallias shuffled his feet. “Well it’s just that…I’ve never played with anyone before.”

“Really?” The girl cocked her head to the side. “Isn’t that lonely?”

Kallias opened his mouth to say that he is always busy with lessons so how could he be lonely, but then it hit him. He was lonely. Walking the halls with no one to play games with or steal cookies from the kitchen after they had been baked.

“I am alone…” Kallias admitted dazedly at his realization and looked down at his feet. Unsure of what to do with the wave of sadness rising in the pit of his stomach. He wasn’t supposed to feel this way. One day he would be High Lord and these emotions would need to be locked away since they showed weakness.

But then the fingers holding his own tightened and he glanced up to see the girl giving him a small smile. He could feel the warmth of it. How it eased his worries in a single second.

“Then I’ll be your first friend,” she said with a tinge of excitement and hope. “I’m Viviane. What’s your name?”

“Kallias,” he answered and squeezed her hand back. It wasn’t like the handshakes he was taught to do by his elders, but this felt special. Far more important than any handshake he would ever have to do in the future.

“Come on then!” She tugged him into the open space. “Let’s play tag!”

She took off running and he readily gave chase after a moment’s pause to consider the options. But he found not better choice than to run among the hedges with this free-spirited girl.

Viviane.

Soon Kallias began to laugh with her. Filling the garden with a wonderful noise as two souls began a journey that would be filled with happiness and loss. As children they were naïve to the world’s horrors. It would be many years before their peace was shattered into broken shards that would rattle their friendship to the core.

[modernbookfae]

Limerance Chapter 2

Viviane aspires to join the Winter Court’s guard, but Kallias is not favorable to the idea. The guard is a dangerous position to hold and the High Lors heir knows deep within that Viviane would not be suited for it. This leas to Kallias and Viviane having their first fight. 

“One day I am going to join the guard!” Viviane exclaimed with excitement as she swung down from a low-hanging pine branch and landed with ease beside Kallias. A few years had passed since their first fateful encounter in the gardens outside the Winter Court castle.

During that passing of time Viviane and Kallias strengthened their friendship and became known to play or study together. They were inseparable.

“What guard? The High Lord’s Court guard?” Kallias raised a curious brow as he matched Viviane’s stride back toward her home.

Surely that is not what Viviane meant. It took many years of training to join and even more skill that the usual fae

Then there was also the matter of gender. Viviane was a female and more often then not males were the only ones accepted into the forces inside the castle walls. In fact Kallias only recalled a handful of females that had worked their way to the guard over the past centuries.

Yet even if those obstacles were not there for some reason Kallias couldn’t see Viviane holding a position among some of the more ruthless and reserved.

It didn’t suite her lively personality. Viviane should be able to interact with others and bring life to conversations. Not standing among the halls or going to battle against the Winter Court enemies.

Kallias dared not imagine Viviane on the front lines.

“Well of course I mean the Court Guard!” Viviane smiled and her eyes looked far off into the distance. Caught up in a wistful dream. “I want to be able to protect my people – our people,” she clarified with pride filled glance at Kallias. “And together, with you as High Lord and me in the guard, we can make sure that the Winter Court is strong and thriving.”

“Viviane you and I both know that the guard is extremely difficult to join,” Kallias said with blunt honesty that he was known for. Though most of the time he gentled his tone with his dear friend. Not wanting to come out too harsh and stiff.

“That’s why I’m going to work hard until they see what a great warrior I am!” Viviane proceeded to leap onto one of the low stonewalls guiding the path toward the houses on the outskirts of the city. She then did a few twists and flips that made Kallias quirk his head in slight awe.

She was graceful. That much was for sure. Even her tiny frame did not waver against the bitter wind that blew in random gusts.

But being graceful on a stonewall would not compare to battling with swords. The very thought of Viviane putting herself in harm’s way…

“Perhaps you should seek other options,” Kallias said off-handedly. Hoping that maybe Viviane would pursue less dangerous positions that she could hold in this court.

“Such as?” Viviane asked as she continued to walk along the wall. Her long pale hair trailing behind her in a loose braid.

Kallias searched his memory for occupations that most females had in court.

“A dressmaker would be a an option,” he said.

“You and I both know I am dreadful with a needle,” Viviane laughed thinking that he meant it as a joke and not something he seriously considered. “Remember that time I discarded that white handkerchief, because I pricked myself so badly with a needle that it was stained with my blood?”

“Oh yes how could I forget. My mother almost went into a fit when you simply walked up to her with your hand bleeding so much.” Kallias shook his head at the memory.

“I am getting better at it though,” Viviane admitted. “But I will be anywhere as good to the seamstresses in the city.”

Kallias opened his mouth to offer up the idea of being a court lady. One who would attend to the needs of a higher-ranking noble.

But he quickly dismissed the idea entirely. The inner court was a scheming political game. And for Viviane to be tied up in that tangled web could very well ruin her…

No. Being at court was the last thing Viviane should be at. At least until Kallias had a stronger hold on his people once he was High Lord. Then perhaps he would introduce her to the folds.

But only after he had rid the court of the snakes and threats that lay in wait.

“I just don’t think court life will suite you,” Kallias said. Knowing full well that this was indeed the truth at the moment. Viviane had a pure spirit that would be tainted by the conniving fae that surrounded him so often every day.

Kallias had grown up in the environment. Knew what to say and how to act in order to get what he wanted. And the fact he was able to mask his true feelings and intentions. Most of his father’s court members did not even truly know how the young heir felt on a day-to-day basis.

It was one of the many skills that Kallias quickly mastered.

Viviane jumped off the wall landing squarely in front of Kallias who blinked in surprise. Not at her swift movement, but at the barely veiled anger that filled her blue eyes.

“So you don’t think I have it in me to join the guard. Is that what you are saying?” Viviane asked with a narrowed gaze.

“As I said earlier it is difficult and females are not likely to be considered compared to males,” Kallias answered honestly. Of course if Viviane did pursue that path vigorously then he had not doubt she could make the ranks.

Viviane’s glare became icy. A determined look crossing her face. “Then I challenge you to a duel.”

Kallias was stunned for a moment. Not quite thinking he heard her right. “Excuse me?”

“You know what I said,” Viviane backed away. Creating space for them at the usual lengths they did in practice. “I challenge you to a duel.”

“I am not in the mood to play games,” Kallias began walking forward, but a shot of ice landing mere inches from his feet caused him to stop. Slowly he looked up at Viviane whose hand was raised. A clear indication of where the ice came from.

“And I am not in the mood to hear you belittle me,” Viviane frowned.

Kallias and Viviane had sparred before. But he had never seen such a look in her eyes until now. He knew that this was serious.

“Viviane let us just forget –”

“How can I forget this when my own friend doesn’t even believe I can make it to the guard,” Viviane interrupted and her hands began to shimmer with frost. Another attack being prepared.

At this blatant disregard to his words Kallias found himself becoming angry. He was trying to help her – protect her yet she was blind to his intentions. And now she dared to strike him for it?

This was punishable in the court. If word got out that Viviane challenged him it would not end well for her. She would be punished harshly. A lesson to those who would try to do the same.

So Kallias did what he had always been taught. Fight back.

In a flurry of movements the two fae children used their magic. Snow and ice swirled and struck. Each of the attacks barely missing their target.

Kallias hated every moment of it, but he wasn’t about to lose. Not when his pride was on the line.

And the fact that Viviane had to learn that challenging the High Lord’s heir would come with consequences. He just hoped that she would see through reason and know that he was only trying to defend them both.

He quickly directed a slick patch of ice to form underneath Viviane. She slipped as she charged for him. Stray pieces of her hair flew about her face as she tried to balance herself, but failed.

Her screech of shock was silenced when she tumbled face-first into a pile of snow.

Immediately Kallias regretted his actions. He ran toward her with fear driving his heart into a pounding thunder in his chest.

“Viviane!” He cried out as he slid on the ground beside her as she pushed herself up. Snow fell in small clumps from the top of her head.

Kallias reached for her. His hands steadying her as he helped her rise.

“I’m so sorry Vivi,” Kallias brushed the snow off her jacket and kept apologizing as he did so. “Are you…?”

“Am I really that weak?” Viviane asked softly. Kallias almost didn’t catch the words.

“No you’re not weak,” Kallias tried to look into her eyes, but she turned her head away. But not before he noticed tears welling.

“I can’t even last ten minutes in a duel,” Viviane kicked at the snow under her feet.

“That’s because I have more years of training,” Kallias reasoned. “One day you’re going to catch up to me and then I’ll be the one eating snow.”

Viviane shook her head. “You’ll always be stronger Kallias. Because you’re the High Lord’s son and I’m…just a female with too many dreams.”

Kallias’s throat clenched. This was not his intention when he set out for a relaxing evening with his friend.

“Viviane – ”

“I’m sorry I challenged you to a duel,” Viviane looked up at him. Shame crossed her features. “You’re my friend and I shouldn’t have taken my anger out on you.”

“I’m sorry too,” Kallias said. “I shouldn’t have been so blunt. It’s just that I can’t see you in the Court Guard. Not because you’re weak.” He added swiftly. “You’re far from that and no matter what you decide I’ll be by your side.”

“Really?” Viviane rubbed her eyes and looked up at Kallias. During the years he had slowly started to grow taller than Viviane. A fact he teased her about constantly since when they first met she was taller than him. “You don’t think I’m weak?”

“Of course not!” Kallias gave her a rare smile. “You’re the only fae I know that has been able to ride wild bears and live to tell the tale!”

Viviane chuckled and leaned into Kallias. She released a sigh of relief and relaxed. “Thank you Kallias. For being here.”

For a brief second Kallias said nothing. He had hugged Viviane before, but this felt different than the brief touches of warmth he was accustomed to.

Slowly he brought his arm around and held her close. Tucked against his chest as snow began falling around them.

At that moment the rest of the world faded away. And Kallias wished that these precious seconds would last forever.

Imagined he wasn’t the High Lord’s heir. That he and Viviane could live without the overbearing court customs.

But this was reality. And with Viviane in his arms right now Kallias made a silent promise to fight for a better future for both of them.

No matter the cost.

[modernbookfae]

I finished ACOWAR last night and the post-book depression is real. I need more Cassian and Nesta in my life right now!

Same! Today I plan on re-reading the book and making posts directly related to a few ships that I NEED to post threads about. Nessian being one them! But also Elucien, Elriel and Vivallias (cause the Winter Court couple is so adorable!)

I’ve also started writing a set of fanfic chapters that involve ACOWAR POVs for a certain warrior and witch. *wink wink*

[verifiefangirl]

Kallias badly drawn

Translation: Viv’s so pretty. (Mr Friendzoned)

Rhys. Cassian. Lucien.  Amren. Tarquin. Summers night. Elain. Nesta. Azriel.