A Suriel's tale

by Magdalena Ramsing

I found the Suriel a very exciting and stirring characther in the books. So this is the triology from the Suriel's POV.

The High Fae always boast of their ancient lore and traditions.
Their long lives and history. For them to make admissions
that our world didn't start with them is near impossible.
I am one of the Suriel and they calls us horrible
maybe to prentend it almost passable
to acknowledge that my brethen is far older.
To admit that we and others were before makes them smoulder.
When the Cauldron created our world
things found their way here as its powers swirled.
Others were created here on and for this world.
The Suriel were one of many but we keep a connection
to the world. We moves freely as the wind in chosen direction.
We walk as we wish through Courts and wards.
The wind and earth tell us things
and this can be coveted so it danger brings.
High faeries tries to catch us with strings
tempting us with ransoms of kings.
There were no palaces or pretty Courts
when we came so truly things of that sort
means little. Sometimes a warm coat,
a chicken or a tasty trout
can be desired. Sometimes it is fun to gloat
by being captured and close your mouth and throat.
When the world was young the Fae
worshiped these ancients low and high.
Magic then shifted to the Fae and they added the High
to their speccies's name. They thought they came first
and some of the ancients was trapped or confined.
Some were killed and other dimnished.
The Prison was long before their rise
even the Suriel can't clearly see who were wise
to built it to confine some horrors who shouldn't be free.
This world was always violent but we could see
farway hope for a better world. We Suriel feel
the deaths and know that a better world can be real.
I don't know what was that small ember
of hope is but always watch and remember.
We Suriel dosen't make war and seldom kill.
The Suriel are solitary and our knowledge has a bill
as we are victims for traps from those who want answers.
Our knowledge is not for those who chances
no we Suriel are here for speccial circumstances.
We see and we know but just in small glimpses
we have and will wait for more countless eclipses.
We have seen what this world can be
so we wait and dream about a furture only we can see.

Eons passed and the first High Lord was crowned
and the Courts were formed.
A new sorts of speccies arrived
calling themselves humans and they lived
their lives with speed but joy and love.
Sometimes wars and hate. The fae weren't above
to try to claim them and lord over.
We of the Suriel knew that here was the first spark
for our world's changeover. A first small start.
The High Fae were not kind masters
and the human society suffered many disasters.
Some territories made their slaves free
and others continued to slaughter humans with glee.
Human territories formed in safe lands
and together under Queens they banded.
Their cultures grew and evolved
and some more pieces of the riddle of a better world solved.
Somehow it would came from the humans
but what we Suriel saw and felt was fluent.
Some friendships and alliances were made
and some political games played.
One day I felt the urge to go north
to the giant Night Court.
The High Lord of Night had found his mate
and we Suriel knew it had to do with the fate
of our dream of a better world.
Something powerful would come forth
from that union. We asked the wind and earth
and they whispered of the birth
of the High Lord's Heir.
We felt the answers in the air.
He was to be the most powerful High Lord
ever and there would never be another.
The name Rhysand was chosen
and we Suriel waited to see what would be woven.
War errupted and raged for seven years
the Loyalists lost and faeries from the south cleared.
A giant Wall was built to cleave the world.
This was not the furture we knew would
unfurle. To humans and faeries seperate
with such much un overcame hate.
We of the Suriel watch and dream.
Maybe others from us should learn?

So some long decades rolled past
and the changes in the world were vast.
The lesser faeries were amassed
and pressed and harrased
to make up for the missing humans as the new lowest cast.
We Suriel couldn't pass the Wall but the wind and earth
told us something was wating for the right time and its birth.
Heir of Night Rhysand sought out the youngest
scion of Spring who also their strongest.
North stretched out a hand to South
and it was treated uncouth.
What happened was bloody murder
and I saw how the High Lord of Spring was a herder
and urged his sons to kill and slaughter
a lovely innocent lady and her daughter.
They wind called me North
and I saw what this awful murders would bring forth.
North retaliated and two High Lords died
and their empty thrones were by remaining sons occupied.
From that night it was deep hate beetween Night
and Spring. Again I was called to watch to see so much blight.
I saw two newly crowned High Lords and the Night's escape.
The was now some sort connection beetween them
that would matter but how was yet to come.
After a decade I took a tour to the Illyrian steppes
and saw Rhysand make a trap as complex
as any I had yet fallen into. He wanted to trap me
for answers but this was not the time to be.
Each High Lord ruled his Court for centuries
some did god and others bad but all thought enemies
of each others. At last Hybern stirred
and to us Suriels his plans aired
as go back to the past as it was
with no Treaty and no laws
about treating humans correct and fair.
He had planned long and it was to be an ugly affair.
So his agents was dispatched
and we Suriel knew and watched.
The faeries called him old with some thousand years
to him. But we Suriel knew his worldsight would bring tears
for all. We were far older and knew better
for we had dreamt and seen the world without fetters.
So Amarantha came and trapped the High Lords
and gave Tamlin a chanse to be free in damning words.
And so he tried and tried but no success.
For some vital ingredient was missing yet.

All of Prythain suffered for almost fifthy years
and their lives were full of dread and fears.
We Suriel felt each death and all suffering.
The Spring's hope was guttering
but the wind and earth told me to go South.
I saw Tamlin leave his Court
and travel in haste to the Wall.
He went as a beast and brought a mare
out to find a human woman to snare.
I lurked around in the wood for three days
and when he returned that girl had me agaze.
She was starved and dressed in frayed clothes
and Tamlin had made her doze
under the whole journey. But how it shone
her soul and inner strenght inside flesh and bone.
Yes she was the key to our dream of a better world
but the way to that would be painful and hard.
I looked and looked and saw a lot of suprising things
rubbing my gnarled hands at what she would bring.
She stopped on the stairs posed for flight
the female who was the mate of the High Lord of Night.
Oh no she wasn't for Tamlin to marry and bear his heirs
she was destined for starlight and grander affairs.
I saw that she would somehow be changed
and saw in the furture that Rhys would that arrange.
She would soon seek me out for advice
so my answers had to be very precise
and the most important was stay with the High Lord.
Which one she would find out later on her own accord.
In to the house she went and I vanished
using the abscense of servants to my advantage.
I had to stay for some days
until she sought me out and then on my way.
The air and wind wouldn't call me away
until the time was right. They didn't held sway
over my travels but rather often gave a nugde.
How often to listen and follow their advice I was the judge.
I wonder why the High Lord of Spring never saw me.
Why he never had tried to trap the Suriel and asked for the key
to break the curse?
I could have told him when and where to go.
But he didn't no and so.
Cauldron knew he needed help
but he would try to solve it with was under his belt.

So the wind blew towards the birch grove
and from somewhere faraway I smelt clove.
It was time to prepare to be caught.
Feyre had been instructed and did as taught
with the rope snare and a dead chicken.
Always chicken and never a goose but my steps quickened
and I fell into the trap and gave a growl
for keeping up the appearances and added a scowl.
Feyre approached and asked if I was of the Suriel.
I admitted it and played my part with relish.
She then started to ask questions about Tamlin
and I told her he was High Lord of Spring.
When I called her Tamlin's human woman the ring
of that wording had her frowning.
Sometimes in the future there would be an accounting
for that but not now. I gave her a quick history lesson
about Hybern and the king. What she was destined
for I wish to tell but not this time. Instead a quick
listing of the seven Courts had to do with a flick
at Night as last. And stay with the High Lord
was said twice. I felt that we wasn't alone
and almost let out a groan.
Creatures of hate and rot. Suddenly four Nagas
crept out from the woods. As unwelcome as rabid dogs
they would kill her and inprison me.
I told her to set me free
and toward Tamlin's home flee.
A last stay with the High Lord
and I hoped she heeded my words.
A bow string sang and an arrow
loosened the rope and my eccape was narrow.
I moved like a shadow in the wind
a special female that freed me from the binds.
Far from behind I heard running and growls
as Tamlin came and made the Nagas howl.
I flowed across the ground like my own shadow wind
and smiled slightly at the thought who would find
Feyre on Calanmai. So many many small step
to go until our Suriel's dream project.
I was glad to had met Feyre and she was kind
and some of the furture was outlined.
To see Feyre again was for later
and then her need might be greater.
This was now and that was then
so only to wait and see when.
It was time to head North
and see if any brethen would come forth.
It was long since I saw another Suriel
but suddenly I wanted to be dual.

So the High Lord took back their power and Courts.
There was much to rebuild and repairs of many sorts.
Not only houses and their palaces
but most of the serious damages
had been done to flesh and mind
of the people who had scars that helped them remind.
Amarantha and her posionus Court
and all horrors she had brought on Prythain.
But people was happy and free
and was building up a new world to be.
The High Lord of Night might miss his mate
as he tried to snare me to ask questions of her fate.
Feyre had returned with Tamlin to Spring
and the wind told me she was wearing his ring.
The people dubbed her Feyre Cursebreaker
and Tamlin acted as her caretaker.
I sniffed around Spring a few times
but seldom saw her but the signs
I saw was alarming. There was guards
around her and Tamlin acted towards
her as she was a prisoner. She was pale
and thin and looked really frail.
She was not recovered and soon was her wedding
but the wind whispered where it was heading.
Rhysand came and called in his bargain
interrupted the wedding to his first week gain.
Feyre was returned and taken again after three weeks.
Tamlin raged and put guards on her in heaps.
A nasty priestess had arrived to
and cooed about ceremonies and so.
She scheemed and tainted and the Court didn't had a clue
but I knew and saw what she was doing that screw.
The daring Cursebreaker she tried to make a damsel
with doe eyes and white hands. That gamble
I couldn't dechiper but I knew someone able
to help Feyre. So Tamlin locked her up
and Rhysand staged a coup
where Morrigan took her away.
So Feyre returned to her true Court to stay.
Rhysand would help her to heal
in soul, heart and body that was for real.
I stayed hidden and watched the aftermath
in Spring. The terrors from Tamlin's wrath
like killings of sentries and schemes
to get Feyre back by any means.
I longed for the crisp air of Winter
so I moved between Court wards whitout any hinders.
After some weeks I entered the North
and watched the falling stars in stealth.
Even a Suriel can like such things
and the wind told me about signs
about a mate falling in love with a High Lord
and he was already floored.
I travelled to the Steppes and spotted Rhysand and his mate
calling forth magic in a clearing. She was doing great.
The earth gave a small tremor and the wind
whispered to stay near the kind
Cursebreaker and our key to a better world.
I knew to make it so she would give her word.

It was in the middle of the night and someone hurt its lord.
His mate followed their trail and winnowed towards
them. She killed them with relish
and what they had done to Rhysand was hellish.
Arrows with bloodbane and chains of faebane
and they whipped him to make him feel pain.
Feyre saved him but the posion was bad
so the Cursebreaker with ironclad
determiniation set out to a Suriel catch.
She looked among the birches and chose a patch.
Rope snares and a fine cloak for the Suriel to snatch.
Of course I fell into the trap
for she needed help and couldn't let any mishap
come to her mate. I owed her for freeing me
that first time. So she stepped around a tree
with an arrow aimed. I greeted her with an observation
of what wonderous changes that had happened to her station.
Cursebreaker and High Fae. She said she had questions
and I made of the numbers a suggestion.
She wanted to know about the poison.
It was bloodbane and her blod could stop its corrosion.
Just a few mouths full and it would be gone
her blood was rich with healing from the Lord of Dawn.
Feyre freed me and I added to faster heal your mate
let him chew on leaves from a plant and he will be all right.
She fell silent and she hadn't known
and all pretence had been blown.
How can I be his mate she asked
and I explained about she beeing made new and the contrast
between Rhys and other High Lords. They were a match
beeing unlike all others was a fair catch.
She had many emotions running through her
and I couldn't read them in that blur.
She wanted to now if he had known long
about the mating bond.
I made my self ready to abscond
when she told me she wanted to hear from Rhys's mouth
the truth. She left and I headed South
hoping that the High Lord of Night
should be able to tell his mate the right
answers. She was in a temper
but the cure would make him better.
I meandered between the border of Night and Day
and after a week the news I heard was gay.
They were mated and happy
and their mating was slaphappy.
I wondered if they knew it was Calanmai
and maybe they made their own magic as they lie
in that cozy cabin. A wind blowing far from South
told me about something about their rite was uncouth.
So the High Lord and his mate left for an Illyrian camp
so he some mating agression could out stamp.
Illyrian has little use for Suriel and we
felt their camps better places could be.
So the Night Court defended Velaris City of starlight
against Hybern's ghastly troups and she did fight
Feyre. Rhysand took her as his High Lady
and of to Hybern to fight that malady.
They went in and came out wounded
The High Lady was not included
for she went willingly back to Spring
to gather information and take them down from within.
Her two mortal sisters were thrown in the Cauldron
and emerged as Fae and didn't thought that fortunate.
So I decided to return to Spring
someone needed to watch over things.

So the High Lady of the Night Court played Tamlin like a fiddle.
Feyre charmed and schemed and was most ceartinly not idle.
Ianthe couldn't keep up with her and Tamlin was blind?
Feyre strived to protect Prythain and mankind.
I saw the priestess once and that was unnerving
as she wasn't good for my perserving.
The High Lady was doing fine
so I thought to do like some of mine
favourite things and going to places I loved.
We Suriel are older than the bones of the world and unloved.
Feared for belonging only to ourselves
as others by Court loyalty brand themselves.
We walk as we please from Court and season
and are solitary with good reason.
The Suriel see and dream for our world
and our hearts are big in a body so gnarled.
I smelt the strawberries in Summer
and snatched myself a hummer.
To watch Autumn's forrest in splendor
as I touched a burning leaf with tender
long fingers. To see a Winter glacier
shimmer in the sun. I was quite the wayfarer.
All of Prythain except its cities I had seen
countless times but I drank in every scene.
The earth and wind whispered their news
about Cauldron blessing and bruises.
Her sisters were whispered of to
as something new and what would they grow
into? A trembling fawn with does eyes
that could could act as spies
and see through space and time.
The wind whispered the word seer
the first one in a long time to appear.
A beautiful thief was the oldest
with stolen mighty powers she was the coldest.
Like their sister they were new
and of needed changes were keys.
Rhysand's second was Amren
and she was a creature to make faeries run.
I had never met her but she was not of this world
but from a strange otherworld.
She was much more than she looked
and she was reading that ancient Book.
Sometimes I had felt her presence
and always kept a distance.
But I felt the earth tremble and my spine tingle
so I listened and knew it was a shingle.
Then the High Lady left Spring in haste
with lord Lucien to return to their mates.
They was drugged with faebane and had no magic
and yet left a wounded priestess and two dead Hyberns. Tragic
oh no. The priestess was foul
and the Hyberns like living ghouls.
So I took a trek above the Middle
to see splendid sunrises, sunsets and starry skies. Like a riddle
it felt but to see all there was to preserve.
I had seen all so many times but still again it had the nerve
to feel new. My brethen called me the biggest dreamer
of us all but there was this. If that made me a schemer
so be it. My dream wasn't for me alone
but for us all. The wind told me that Feyre was home
with her family and High Lord
and it sent the word to go South.
So I went quickly and my robe was in tatters
and not that such things matters.
But in Spring wood I saw a cloak
and picked it up and was snared and from an oak
that awful Ianthe stepped and tittered.
With silver bangles she was littered
and she rather tackily glittered.
Her eyes with distaste over me flittered
and some Hybern guards aimed arrows.
She waved them down and said with eyes narrow.
Where is Feyre? I didn't open my mouth
and she asked again. Why did the wind called me South?
She told the guards to let me go?
Why and what was this leading to?

I donned the cloak and left in haste
and felt that all the cloth was laced
with spells. It was a tracking spell
and if I ever saw Feyre again a knell
from a warning bell
would be heard to tell
where Feyre was. I left Spring for good
moving swifly through the spring wood.
I tried to cast of the cloak but the spells
put on it made it a moving cell.
It clunged to my frame
and I knew Hybern for it was to blame.
I moved quickly through the trees
and let branches and twigs snag the frieze.
When the cloak was teared to a hateful rag
on me there would be no tag.
The Spring Court collapsed from with in
and the Hybern armada did begin
an attack on Adriata in the Summer Court.
Tarquin's forces were outnumbered and fell short
against Hybern's military might.
But the Illyrians swept in on orders from the Night
and Hybern's attack was repelled
and his soldiers was quelled.
Many Summer Court faeries were felled
but the bay was held.
So they High Lords would try to meet
to each others as allies greet.
They managed to agree to meet in Dawn Court
and for sure many things could an alliance thwart.
I found a really thorny shrub of brambles
and my unwanted cloak was soon in shambles.
The rags still clung to my skin
and I thought with anger that they wouldn't win.
So the High Lords met and I felt the tremor
as the wall was cleaved for ever.
The king used the Cauldron and he was a wrecker
of peace and hope of a better
world. We Suriel held on to our dream
and held our hope in the Prythian team.
The High Lord's forces was amassed
and the first battle passed.
No words has heard from Spring or Atumn
maybe their High Lords were rotten?
The Night Court tried to warn the humans
about the threat that was looming
from the Hybern army. It wasn't well received
and the trembling fawn's fiancee felt deceived.
The second battle was won to
but the uncertainty in the allied camp grew
for were was the rest of his army
and the Cauldron. I thought of that harpy
Ianthe as two does eyes peered at me across
the world. Feyre had sent her sister the seer
to find me. The tracking spell was still in force
and I cursed Ianthe but I knew my course.
So I was out in the Middle
and waited for the Cursebreaker to ask her riddle.
It was a risk and I knew that my life
in Ianthe's eyes was worth a knife
in the back at best. But Feyre was kind
and fought her fear
and that made her dear.

So Feyre winnowed to the Middle
and found me near the Weaver's cottage
and to each other we payed homage.
She asked about the king's army and Cauldron
and listened to my answers with caution.
I couldn't tell her all that she wanted to know
but I could tell her about the beautiful thief could threw
bones and stones on a map
to the Cauldrons position trap.
She asked about the book, the Carver
and the Ouroboros Mirror. Feyre was an archer
and she aimed herself like an arrow
to find a small sliver of hope however narrow.
The Court of Dreams was a fitting name
for her Court and I which I was a member all the same.
I gave her what advice I could
and talked of allies and that she should
stay with the High Lord.
As I uttered that last word
the Priestess sprung her trap
and an ash arrow slammed into my chest as I gave a gasp.
Ianthe was hear to Feyre kidnap
with her two Hybern soilders.
Feyre's magic was spent and she was left with exposure
and Ianthe baited her. I told Feyre to run
and as she ran for the cottage some plan was spun.
The Priestess and her soilders gave chase
and fired one more arrow just in case.
I lay on the ground and smelt blood
and felt it flowing out and mingle with the mud.
So this was how my life was to end
and after thousands of years I was to ascend
into darkness and death.
But my dream lived as I drew a shallow breath.
Feyre returned and she cried
as she knelt at my side and tried
to heal me. I told her that it was to late
and that I had known about I was bait.
So I gave her the last message to the silvereyed messenger
and hoped she was enough of a scholar
to understand. Feyre thanked me and I said for the last time
stay with the High Lord. I heard my death bell chime.
Feyre stayed with me to the last
and promised to do as I asked
and leave the world a better place.
She held my hand and wetted my chest with tears
so with a friend at my side I ended my years.
Feyre was kind and fought her fears
and her promise like music to my ears.
I knew sometings that would happen in the future
and there was hope to nuture.
I wished I had told her my name
but it should have ended the same.
So the High Lord of Day came
and I got his cloak and he put my body aflame
and it was gone. What is left of me is this tale
of how a Suriel dreamt and played a game
to make the dream come true.

God bye Suri.