For 130 years I have known nothing but unending spring. Don't get me wrong, it's beautiful - brightly colored flowers and lush trees casting the perfect amount of shade on everything. But... sometimes I imagine what it must be like in the other courts. Or what it would mean to belong to no court and have the freedom to travel wherever your heart leads you. I'm caught in a daydream of howling snow kissed winds, and I feel ice running over my fingertips, when my mare knickers beneath me. With a shake of her head and a stamp of her hoof, she lets me know she's growing bored of standing in the woods.
"Okay, okay," I murmur, running my hand down her neck, my fingers warming as her white mane glides between them like fine silk. "Let's head home. I'm sure father is back by now." I click my tongue as I pull lightly on her reigns to redirect her towards the manor. "Think about it though, Dove. Can you imagine a land where it isn't always spring? A land with chilled nights, and dazzling snow? A land without pollen. No more sneezing," I joke, she whinnies in response, as if she understands my qualms with my stagnant life.
We fall into an unhurried, easy rhythm and I let the sounds of her footsteps and the chattering birds wash away my wanderlust. I should be grateful; the Spring Court is beautiful, and has been peaceful for more than 300 years now. My father doesn't talk about the time when there wasn't such peace - under the rule of the High Queen - and I've long since stopped asking him about it. Our people suffered greatly under Amarantha's vicious reign. All of Prythian did. Looking at the Spring Court now, you'd never know it. Speak to any of the older faeries, however, and you can still get a glimpse of the hurt. See the fear that still lingers behind their eyes.
"And where have you been?" My brother's drawl pulls me back to the present as I dismount my mare and lead her into the stables. A young stable boy rushes towards me, face flushed from the warm spring day, and takes her reigns with a bow of his head.
"I went for a ride, " I shrug at my brother. "Am I not allowed to enjoy the grounds?" There's a bite to my words and Yarrow rolls his eyes but doesn't rise to the challenge within them.
"Father has been home for hours now," he says casually, I hear a warning beneath his composed tone. I look to the sky to gauge the time. Indeed the sun is nearly touching the horizon now. "He's been looking for you."
"He must not have looked very hard. I was just in the northern woods." Far north.
"He's very busy, you know." Gravel crunches underfoot as we trek up the pathway to the large staircase leading inside the manor. Yarrow reaches to open one of the large oak doors but stretches out a hand to stop me in my tracks. 30 years my senior, my brother stands to inherit these lands whenever our father passes away, or if he ever decides to turn over the title. "He's in a foul mood, Florence. Tread carefully tonight," he warns. It has been many years since Yarrow and I have been close. As younglings we were inseparable but by the time Yarrow reached full maturity and came into his full powers he was too busy for me. Busy with the fawning females, and busy going court to court with our father to try to repair some of the damage done during the last war.
We stride through the double doors and as soon as we make it to the entryway I can hear my dad's low grumbling voice from the dining room. Servants scatter away as something within crashes to the floor. With a sigh and a sidelong glance at my brother, we approach the doors. I receive a final warning glance from Yarrow and he's opening the door for me.
"She isn't a child anymore, Astoria. She can't just go off whenever she feels like it! She is the daughter of a High Lord and there is-"
"Protocol," I interrupt. Both of my parents whirl around to face me and I pretend not to notice Yarrow's cringe.
"Florence," mom begins but my dad silences her with a sharp look.
"Where have you been?" He demands, his fangs nearly visible.
"I went for a ride. I lost track of time. I'm sorry." I slide into my usual chair and a plate full of food appears before me. I don't even have the chance to pick up my fork before the food vanishes with a wave of my father's hand.
"You 'lost track of time'?" He demands striding towards me.
"Tamlin," my mother chides softly. A reminder for him to keep his temper in check. For what it's worth I can see him actively work to calm down. No one else ever dares to challenge him, not even Yarrow. But mom can usually bring him back down to earth.
"Florence," he clenches his fingers into fists and shoves them into his pockets. "You can't just leave without telling anyone where you're going."
"I told Poppy," I countered. My lady in waiting. The closest thing I'll ever have to a sister. Poppy was already working in the house by the time I was born and when she was old enough, she took over minding me throughout my childhood. She became my confidant and my only close friend. "Did anyone bother to ask her?" A shared glance between my parents answers my question. No, of course not. I supress the urge to roll my eyes. Why would they ask the only female that knows about my every single move?
"You should've told Hart. Your whereabouts are not the concern of Poppy." So that's how it's going to be, I think. No matter what I say, he is going to find something to chastise me over.
"I'm sorry," I say again. "It won't happen again." Tamlin takes the seat next to me, and within his deep green eyes - beyond the anger - I see concern.
"You're very important to me, Florence. Our enemies would do unspeakable things to you if they got their hands on you." His eyes soften and before I have the chance to ask him what enemies he's talking about he gestures for the others to join us at the table. And with another wave of his hand, the food reappears before us.
I'm still mulling over who our potential enemies are when Yarrow brings up the Autumn Court.
"Eris has made some big changes," he notes softly. The death of the previous High lord of Autumn still raw and shocking to everyone. "I went for a visit, to pay our respects to the Vanserra's and his brothers are not pleased with some of those changes."
"No," dad says. "I can't imagine they are. The Autumn Court grew accustomed to the way things were run under Beron... change is always hard. It will take time for them to adjust. How was the Lady of Autumn?" Yarrow snorts.
"The happiest I've ever seen her. Whether from the change Eris brings, or from the relief of that prick being dead-"
"Yarrow!" Mom exclaims. "A High Lord is dead and his family mourns, have some respect." Yarrow dips his head slightly in apology.
"They didn't seem too mournful to me. But you're right, as always, mother. I'm sorry." He reaches across the table and grasps her hand.
"What enemies?" I ask. All 3 sets of eyes turn towards me as if I've just materialized in the room.
"What?" Tamlin asks, confused.
"You said if our enemies get their hands on me they'd do awful things to me. What enemies? There has been peace in this land for over 300 years." Yarrow gives our father a look of exasperation.
"Peace is never absolute," dad says carefully and as he tears his eyes away from Yarrow he sets down his fork slowly. "There are still people who would like to see the Spring Court hurt."
"Like who?" I press. "Have there been threats?"
"Well, no -"
"Then why shouldn't I be able to travel freely throughout our land?"
"Of course you may travel freely," I hear the tension creeping back into my dad's voice but I don't break eye contact with him. Mom reaches towards him and grabs his hand, her thumb sliding over his knuckles. A silent request for him to sheath his claws that are beginning to poke out from beneath his skin. He obliges her. "You may travel wherever you wish within our borders. But it is important that we know where you are in case of an emergency. Just... let Hart know next time. Or any of the sentries. Someone other than your lady in waiting." I stare him down for a moment longer, trying to decide if this is a hill I'm willing to die on.
"Fine," I concede. I'll save my energy for another battle. Another day. I stab the meat on my plate a little too roughly and catch the reproachful look my mother shoots me. I ignore her. "I will make sure I let one of the sentries know where I'm going." Tamlin dips his head slightly and the argument settles into gossiping about the neighboring courts. I zone out and push the food around on my plate until I notice a lull in the conversation. With a look up from my mashed potato mountain I'm surprised to once again find all eyes on me.
"What?" I ask, slightly dumbfounded by the stares. Mom's face softens with a smile, dad quirks an eyebrow as he leans onto his arms against the tabletop.
"I asked you if you would like to begin visiting the other courts with me. You're old enough now that I think it's important for you to meet some of our allies. Inter-court relations are very important. If we want to maintain a strong relationship with our allies it is prudent that they know the entire family." In all my years I never thought he'd ask me to join him on a trip to another court. The shock must show on my face as he gives me an amused smirk. "I have a trip to the Summer Court in three days' time. Yarrow will be off meeting with... some of our other allies," the word grinds out as if it's bitter on his tongue. "And I'd like for you to join me. Tarquin would be delighted to meet you."
"I- Yes! Of course I want to go." I stand up swiftly and very nearly knock my chair over in doing so. Yarrow coughs to cover his laughter at my excitement. I ignore him as I launch around the table and throw my arms around my father in a bone crushing hug.
"Wonderful," he says into my hair as he returns the hug in earnest. "I'll write to Tarquin so he knows to expect an extra guest."
"Are you coming too, mother?" I twist in dad's arms, but don't release him.
"No, darling," she sets her silverware down softly and smiles at my father and I. "I am not a fan of the heavy summer air." I lift an eyebrow, surely it can't be much different than the weather we experience. "Oh it's lovely. But too much moisture in the air for my liking. Besides, if I know Tarquin, he is going to take you out on his pleasure barge. And the ocean does not agree with me at all." With a loud laugh, my dad finally releases me and approaches my mother's chair. He kneels before her and grasps her hands in his.
"I have told you once, and I'll tell you again, my love. No one even remembers you vomiting all over Tarquin's boat." Mom pulls her hand out of dad's hand just to flick him on the nose.
"You clearly do," a smile pulls at her lips.
"You puked all over my shoes, how could I forget?" Dad leans forward and places a soft kiss on the tip of her nose and I glance over at Yarrow who gives me an exaggerated gag at the display of affection.
"I'm going to bed," I announce, before I get caught up on this trip down memory lane with my parents. Yarrow quickly chimes in that he too is retiring for the night and we make a hasty exit, our parent's laughter trailing us out into the hall. "Anything I should know about the Summer Court before going?"
"Don't drink too much when you go out on the boat," Yarrow warns. "It's much like our court, Florence. Tarquin is a kind and gentle High Lord. You have nothing to worry about there. Varian is as well, and they will welcome you with open arms. Cresseida is... a little rough around the edges, but she means well. She loves her people and would do anything to protect them, she's the one you'll have to be careful not to insult." We pause at my bedroom door and I swing it open. "It isn't as lovely as the Autumn Court, but the people are far nicer in Summer. You'll have an amazing time, I'm sure."
I fall asleep that night with the thought of the ocean and I dream of white birds flying over turquoise waters.