The Sentry's Story

by Magdalena Ramsing

The triology from the sentry Bron from the Spring Court.

The Sentry's Story

My name is Bron and I am a sentry at the Spring Court.
I am no High Lord or Priestess so this should be short.
But still I and my fellows all that happened saw
and be sure that we our own conclusions draw.
I was born after the war and about that I am not sorry.
Our High Lord as young was never chary.
He was the last son to the High Lord of Spring
and in power of the offspring he was the real thing.
He opted to live with his fathers war band
almost as he himself banned
from the Court politics. But as a son
of a High Lord to others you do run-in.
He was fine with the last son of Autumn
but with the Heir of Night it went to ruin.
Tamlin's days of writing dirty limericks
was over and he took his new status with bitterness.
I and my friend Hart had met him in the war camp
and we knew he was the son who was the champ.
So we tried to became friends
so we could came to some good ends.
We were his favorites lord warriors
and we were some of his most loyal followers.
And then that cursed masquerade under that mountain
and what grief followed could empty any fountain.
Our High Lord defied the false Queen
and what we endured for fifty years were not clean.
We were sent out as wolves and prey
for a human and hateful girl to slay.
Hart was over the border once and I twice
and we found no human girls to do us vice.
Years and decades passed and we all hoped
but our numbers dwindled and the High Lord moped.
We guarded our borders as well we could
against filth and creatures that never should
be able to enter. It was cast as a lot
who should be the next offer by picking from a pot
a piece of paper with a X. So Andras
picked that paper and became the accomplice
so this story didn't end with us permanent
stuck in a hell as our fate was impermanent.
Andras was killed by a human girl
and the High Lord went of to her hurl
back to his realm. We were always on patrol
but we knew that the hole
to end that curse was soon to be closed
but Tamlin was not to be poked.
The girl Feyre was his to care for
and we were to stay as fighting corps.
The the girl was glamoured to us not see
and the High Lord let her roam free.
Only he and Lucien was she allowed to met
no one was allowed near the High Lord's pet.
There was a lot of nasty creatures
that crossed our borders. Their former keepers
had lost their control of their leashes.
There were nasty faeries of many species.
Pucca, Nagas and the Bogge
and the High Lord left many bodies
of unwelcome intruders. To protect
his people he intruders with death did inflect.
We heard that Lucien took the girl of to hunt
and that Tamlin told Lucien very blunt
to back of. The girl managed a Suriel to trap
and I wondered how that came to hap.

So it was soon time for Calanmai our great rite
and and an occasion to forget about the blight.
Tamlin's role was the most important
but for us males there could be some courting
and some sporting. There was a lot of females
but about the human girl there was not any new tales.
Tamlin was courting her
but Calanmai was a serious affair
so she was best of in the manor
as the High Lord was not at his hest manner.
Tamlin did what he should
and I with come company slipped into the wood.
Rumor said that the High Lord grew closer
to the girl. There would be many sorry losers
if she didn't fell in love. We sentries had wolves masks
fitting as we as wolves went out on our deadly tasks.
We did it of our free will and when Tamlin stopped
us from gooing we opted
to continue. When Andras was killed
it was so the terms for breaking the curse were fulfilled.
We all knew the risks but we trusted our High Lord
and willingly to our deaths went forward.
It was summer sunticle and and time for merry making
and the servants had spent days cooking and baking.
The High Lord arrived with the girl on his arm
and his gaze at her was very warm.
She was given many curious looks
and stared at us like we escaped from some faerie books.
Tamlin gave a warning snarl
that meant to stay away from his girl.
I saw them in the dance wirhl
and he did her twirl.
Later he took her to a meadow
so maybe we could escape Amarantha's shadow.
Someone left a severed head in the garden
even when the house was guarded.
The High Lord of the Night Court
payed Tamlin a visit and our hope fell short.
Tamlin gave up and sent Feyre away
and soon our freedom would end in three days.
Amarnatha sent her Attor, Rhysand and other cronies
and took us all away like we were trophies.
They dragged us to that Court she had founded
under our own holy mountain.
We were now her unwilling subjects and prisoners
and mostly her personal playthings. The conditions
for the common faeries were horrible
and ours were a little less terrible.
Tamlin still refused Amaranthas offer
and had to listen to her scoffer.
After a month Amarantha had a visitor
who she made her personal prisoner.
It was Tamlin's girl Feyre who had come
to her High Lord to claim and take home.
Amarantha made a bargain with the girl
and had her favorite churl
the Attor to Feyre ill-treat.
Feyre was dragged away to a cell
and this couldn't end well.
Even our mighty High Lords
were tricked by Amarantha's lying words.
How should a frail and mortal girl
deliver us from this ill?
Amarantha used Lucien and Rhysand
to find out Feyre's name. She planned
Feyre's trials with glee
she would die and we would never be free.
The false Queen gave the girl a riddle.
Should we all die her in the Middle?

The first trial took place in the full moon
and Amarantha did croon
as the Attor put the girl in a maze
she was the Middengard Wyrm to face.
She told the girl to run
preparing to have some fun
as many in the crowd placed bets
and shouted ugly jests.
Feyre this human girl
tried out to be a pearl.
She broke some long bones
and trapped the Wyrm. The tones
from the crowd changed to cheers
and that killing was the most brilliant in my years
that I had ever seen. The girl hurled a bone
at Amarantha and her sniffy tone
and muddied her dress. Poor Lucien
was to be whipped for that reason
that he told Feyre where the Wyrm
hid so Lucien was for days infirm.
Rhysand made a bargain with the girl
and her left arm was tattooed in black whorls
as she was paraded around like a pet
dressed in short gauze. It was to make Tamlin fret
and his mouth was really set.
No one dared to touch Rhysand's pet
as he made her dance until she was covered in sweat.
Amarantha planned the second trial
and had come up with something vile.
Lucien was chained to the floor
and the spike covered roof was to be covered in gore
as is sank. But Feyre managed that task
and I saw triumph through the eyeholes in that mask
Tamlin had worn for fifty years.
Amrathana's Court was filled with fears
and horrors. Our pointed ears were filled
with pointless pleadings and screams as she killed
and broke us. Tamlin her still refused
but that Amarantha only amused.
So the last trial came and Feyre was to kill
three innocent faeries. To spill
their blood should give Feyre a thrill
the Queen said like it was a treat.
The girl was close to the Queen beat.
She was given a dagger of ash
and was it in red blood to wash.
To watch this was very rash
as she with the first dagger made a slash.
She was given a second knife
and ended the second faerie's life.
Tamlin then was on his knees
and looked not at his ease.
Feyre looked at Amarantha like she was a disease
and didn't try to her appease.
The girl took her time tho think
and she did manage the clues to link.
Tamlin was stabbed in his heart of stone
and the pain made him moan.
Amarantha refused to let him go
as Feyre hadn't said when and it was
so cruel. She started to torture Feyre
and I murmured a prayer
to the mother and Cauldron or to anyone
to stop this but there were none.
We heard her scream in blinding pain
and Tamlin tried to plead in wain.
Rhysand attacked Amarantha with a dagger
and she made him back in pain to stagger.
Just when we heard Feyre's neck break
and that sound made us all ache
with her last breath she murmured love
and that was the riddle's answer by the mother above.
Tamlin's crurse was broken
and his whole power reawoken.
He turned into his beast
to make Amarantha be deceased
and she was soon very dead.
But so was also Feyre and our eyes were damp
as Tamlin held her and he did cramp
with sobs. Our masks were taken of
and we all mourned his lost love.
Suddenly all High Lords offered up a spark
and Feyre was returned from the dark.
She was now one of us a fae
and was no longer a human to die.
All of us were free and some cried
and others celebrated as Tamlin held his bride
and kissed and hugged her close.
We all thanked her and Tamlin
and gathered around them as she touched his skin
in that unmasked face. We introduced us as his sentries
and Tamlin took Feyre through one of the entries.
She needed some welldeserved rest
and he clasped her tightly to his chest.
We got orders to return to Spring
and when Feyre had rested Tamlin would her bring.

The house was wrecked and we started to rebuild
and there were evil Nagas to be killed.
We dubbed Feyre Cursebreaker
beacause she of our freedom was the maker.
The High Lord did propose
and started to her inclose.
He didn't like that she wanted out
and gave us orders about
keeping her watched and guarded.
We had seen her killed and regarded
her with affection and gratitude
but to disobey Tamlin got you screwed.
So the lady was guarded and watched
her security was not to be botched.
There was still that matter of her tattoo
and the matter of the High Lord who
drew it on her. The wedding was prepared
and they were forever to be paired.
Tamlin sent for Ianthe who was a priestess
who was beautiful and dripped sweetness.
She was free to be with anyone she wanted
but it was lord Lucien she haunted.
She held the ceremony at winter sunsticle
and her pious ways were fickle.
One day before the wedding there was a party
and the mood was happy and hearty.
Ianthe was standing with lady Feyre
and waved over me and Hart to introduce the lady.
She was beautiful yes and we bowed deeply
as our freedom hadn't came cheaply
and she had payed a prize. We talked about hunting
and somehow I found her gazes haunting.
I told her how brilliant she had killed the wyrm
and that caused her to squirm.
I looked at that black tattoo
and that blue black in clearly on view.
When asked about the High Lord of Night
she denied hearing from him but gave a snort
when I suggested that he was on the flight
to afraid that with Tamlin to fight.
Feyre said that then we didn't knew him very well
and an uncomfortable silence fell.
So the lady retired for the night
as I murmured that the wedding should make all right.
The next day the whole Court was assembled
and we watched as the bride trembled
when she slowly to the daise with Tamlin walked.
Her steps slowed and she balked
and started to back. Tamlin held out his hand
but who showed up but Rhysand.
He arrived with his darkness
and Feyre stood in shocked stillness.
As Rhysand told her that she had to come
as he called in his bargain and of respite there was none.
Tamlin stalked towards them and growled
to Rhysand to get out. The guest were a fleeing crowd
all were fearing that dark Lord.
Our own High Lord gave in to his Darkness
who was clearly not harmless.
So the bride in her wedding garments
was stolen from her wedding day by a heartless
villain. Our High Lords display of temper was not charming
as he trashed half his house. It was more alarming
when he hit Lucien who tried to speak disarming.
So our savior was taken but Rhysand sent her back
after a week. Tamlin was relieved and talked of payback
to the Night Court. Maybe he planned an attack?
The Tithe came and went
and Feyre a starved water wraith gave a jeweled present.
Of this there was much talk
but we didn't dare to ask
what the High Lord thought of it
but we all heard him spit.
The High Lord became more obsessed with her security
and had to be in constant surety
so no one endangered his bride's purity.
He reacted with anger and immaturity
when the lady protested about guards
and the loss of freedom. He didn't responded in words
but his whole study exploded
but luckily the lady herself shielded.
He tried to cut down the guards
but again Rhysand went through his wards
to make of with lady Feyre.
Again the house was trashed
and some blood on the walls was splashed.

Again lady Feyre was collected and returned
and what followed was cause to be concerned.
Tamlin put guards outside her room
and tried to her living in the manor entomb.
She was pale and seldom spoke a word
almost like a caged bird
who could no longer sing
and cradling its broken wing.
Lucien tried to talk with Tamlin
but he listened to Ianthe's rigmarole
and made Feyre fell into a deeper hole.
What then happenend I never saw
but that really was the last straw.
I and Bron were out on patrol
and that probably saved our souls.
Tamlin and Lucien had to go to the border
and gave Feyre the order
that she couldn't come. She was a liability
as she wasn't tranied to use her ability
to do magic. The High Lord trapped her
and left her curled up on the floor.
And what then occured
and what panic she endured
was that she wrapped herself in darkness
and remained in utter stillness.
The sentries and Alis gave up shouts
but the sentries on duty were knocked out.
In came a female from the Night Court
and any resistance fell short.
She lifted lady Feyre up and Alis was told
as Feyre was carried over the treshold
that the sentries should wake up alive
but we should count us lucky to survive.
That Tamlin was away was a boon
so she left and Alis was alone.
She summoned the sentries from the barrack
and everything went hysteric.
I was sent to the border
and happy to leave that disorder
behind. I rode like hell to deliver that dire message
and I hade quite a presage
that things would go from bad to worse
as I spurred my foaming horse.
I found them out on the border
and quickly told the horrid story.
Tamlin listened as his claws slid out
and he gave of growls and enraged shouts.
Lucien quickly dispered
as I heard Tamlin me curse.
He struck with magic to almost killed me on the spot
until he realized that I was not among that sorry lot
who had been on duty. So we went back
and of clues there was a lack.
My poor fellow senties awoke groaning
but the High Lord refused to listen to their moaning.
He had them seized and locked up
his fury was on a steady buildup.
Every guilty sentry was put to question
he digged for any nugget of information.
The culprits were clearly from the Night Court
and Lucien called for his contacts to report.
Tamlin rounded up us all outside the manor
and when Lucien asked for mercy the answer
was that they were all to die.
To show restraint he didn't even try.
After their executions he and Lucien
locked themselves in to plan. I thought with pain
over my dead friends. We didn't knew
much about what was going on
but Lucien was given some
tips where she could be.
So we went on hunts to take her free.
After two months we were up North
and in a forrest we set forth
to follow her scent. She was cold
and not like the Feyre of old.
Her refusal to come was bold
and she managed to get out from our hold.
Rhysand turned up and drove us of
and Feyre showed that she was not a docile dove.
We were all shaking when winnowed home
and the promise of violence did loom.

The High Lord made a bargain with that Hybern king
of whom we had heard so many evil things.
But no one asked for what we sentries thought
as we were only required to say naught.
What did matter was that we fought.
Tamlin managed to have lady Feyre brought
back to Spring. Ianthe us only sought
out to take to bed. Feyre us did allot
smiles and conversation. She learnt ours names
and Ianthe never did the same.
A name could be remembered if she wanted
to get close. Her attention was now unwanted.
Tamlin let some Hybern commanders in
and they were unsavory twins.
Jurian whose eye had been in a ring
had been brought back from the dead by the king.
The stayed in the house as guests
and put forwards unpolite requests
to see the Wall up close and the holes
in it. It were clear that they took us for fools.
I didn't go on that first tour
as Feyre and Lucien with sentries four
handled that duty. They were of for a day
and returned. Ianthe tried with Lucien to play
but she refused so she went on to Jurian
she was so very prurient.
It was time for summer sunstice
and again we had to endure her religous fickle.
I wished she would cut herself on a sicle.
Lady Feyre claimed the attention of all us present
when she arrived looking resplendent
dressed all in shining white on a horse.
Yes she enchanted the whole concourse.
So we endured that dratted ceremony
and listened to all that baloney.
So came the time fore Ianthe's grand finale
as she would become a chalice
for the sun's first light but she was passed
over. Indeed Ianthe looked aghast
as the sunlight flowed towards Feyre
and she started to glow looking very fair.
Ianthe watched in envy as first Lucien knelt
and all others followed suit. All of us felt
awe and murmured Cursebreaker and blessed.
After the ceremony as Cauldronblessed she was adressed.
She walked through the gathering
and recieved many wellwishings from the people of Spring.
I touched her hand myself and got a smile
as she murmured that it was an honor. Ianthe was to rile
and tried to make herself important
but our interest was quite dormant.
So the next day our guests were escorted
to get the other hole in the Wall assorted.
I and Bron were on house duty
and I wondered why I ever thought Ianthe a beauty.
When they returned after some days
Tamlin called them away with a gaze
that promised of anger to come.
Feyre and Lucien had given that Hybern scum
a lesson for they had butchered some humans.
Tamlin shouted that the alliance could be ruined.
He threw Lucien out from his study
for to lady Feyre do something ugly.
Lucien stayed with us in the hall
and I, Hart and the other sentries heard it all.
The High Lord shouted and then exploded
in anger. He was suppose to be devoted
to lady Feyre. But he destroyed
his room and Lucien the door opened
and we saw smashed furniture
and smelt blood. He was the harbringer
that she was on the floor shaken and hurt.
She was pale and her face was coated
in blood and bruises on her skin. We all noted
and stared in dismay what Tamlin had done.
Any excuse for this there was none.
Everybody on the estate knew that he did
to her. He asked for her forgiveness
but to what he had done there were witnesses.
The next day she went for a ride
with me as Hart as escorts at her side.
She was still in pain as she made a hiss
and that cut on her cheek was hard to miss.
If she was still human she could have died.
She told Tamlin she was fine but she lied.

The next day Ianthe made a vile stunt
and to that we all took affront.
Ianthe stole the estate keys from a sentry on guard.
She made him fall asleep in the backyard.
The priestess warned the High Lord of an attack
from the Nagas who were a filthy pack.
For some reason she knew exactly when
and where it would happen. Well then
Tamlin believed her but it felt planned
as she was trying to look grand.
Seven Nagas broke in on the grounds
and the missing keys were found
when they were killed. I was standing
on guard outside lady Feyre's room
when the High Lord came looking gloom.
The danger was over and the Nagas dead she was told
and that sentry who lost his keys was to have a severe scold
in the morning. He was seized and locked
up. As they talked I was chocked
for I remembered how he brutality executed
those guards on duty when the Night Court intruded
and took lady Feyre away. This would be bloody
and hopefully no dead body.
Next morning we all assembled outside
with the posts where the trembling sentry was tied.
Tamlin told him to speak in a voice that was wrothful
and explain why he had been slothful.
Ianthe speach about his crime was loathsome
as he accused her for taking the keys.
Many emotions ran through my mind
and we all knew that Ianthe was behind
the theft and the attack. Feyre was kind
and asked for mercy and pleaded.
Tamlin almost conceded
but was goaded by Ianthe and the twins
and the need for control so he gave in.
He held out his hand for a whip
and commanded me to put in the bit.
The first whiplash was like a crack
in our trust in Tamlin as he drew his arm back
to lash our friend again. We had died for him
and went willingly as wolves. He was dim
and put Ianthe before ut and lady Feyre
and this alliance with Hybern that made us bare
to let their army enter. At last our friend
sagged and it was time for the healer to mend
him. We gentle untied him and carried
him away. Ianthe had us all harried
and Tamlin let her. The others left
but lady Feyre stayed and helped the healer
and Tamlin didn't check in on him. With the deceiver
Ianthe and that Hybern scum
he just sat down to eat lunch.
I and Hart escorted lady Feyre back
to the manor and hoped she Ianthe would sack.
She said she was sorry she hadn't stopped it.
So were we and ready to slit
our throats for her. Next day we have orders
to follow Tamlin and Feyre to the border
were the Wall was. Ianthe, Lucien, Jurian and the twins
were all to go. We all knew about Tamlin's sins
so we didn't look or talked to him unless we had to.
We pitched the tents for the whole crew
and went to sleep. There were mutters
and I wondered who would first utter
the words that damned Tamlin.
The next morning almost all were of
to hunt or watch the Wall and I wanted to shove
Tamlin when lady Feyre said her bruises hurt
and she needed water to the pain avert.
We all looked murderous hearing that
so we all went happy to us selves exert.
Soon there we heard shouting and fighting
and we returned to the camp like lighting.
The twins were dead and Ianthe hung her head
as she cradled her hand that blead.
We were told a horrible story
how the twins had hurt lady Feyre
and tortured her and that Tamlin and his priestess
had done nothing to stop them. Speechless
was the best way to describe Tamlin as Hart
told us it was true. Feyre had killed them
and fled for her life to spare us from that scum.
Lucien was gone to and Tamlin changed
into that beast and set of into the wood that ranged
the wall. We looked at each other and exchanged
words and nods. Tamlin was deranged
and not worth our trust and it was time
that all his people learnt about this crime.
So we went to our former home
and let him in the forrest roam.
We told all we met about Feyre's story
and that she was gone made us all sorry.
I couldn't serve my former High Lord
and so felt the other sentries and the word
rebellion was heard. There were reports
that some of his people left for other Courts.
When he demanded our presence
for the Tithe the answer was a short sentence.
No or never and in your dreams.
Tamlin sent for us to restore his teams
claiming that all was not as it seemed.
He worked hard to be redeemed
as the Hybern fleet docked in his ports
and soon the Hybern army burned villages as sports.
I heard Adriata was attacked but the Hyberns repelled
even as the Summer Court was overwhelmed.
The Night Court helped them and Tamlin yelled
that it was a plot. But his numbers didn't swelled
very much. So Tamlin visited us all
and he did had the gall
to say it was lady Feyre's fault
and on Rhysand made his old orally assault.
That gave him a lot of jeers
and not a single cheer.
Then we felt the Wall disappear
and waited for what was to come in fear.
Again Tamlin tried to make himself clear
as he had a secret plan and some
of us returned as the furture looked glum
but he promised that we would fight for Prythain.
He managed to get a third of us back
and that was not much to stack
against Hybern. The last battle was almost lost
but other allies had the seas crossed
to help. So we won and I learnt the truth
about lady Feyre that she was a sleuth.
She was that and much more and I carried
a small relief that she hadn't Tamlin married.
A High Lady she was and deserved her true Lord
and about that there were many a word.
So we from Spring wished her well
when she is her true Court was to dwell.