Hello there, my mortals, fae and everything in between!

I've been working on this story for some time now, prompted by my considerations of how the Spring Court residents were coping with the lack of a leadership figure, so this is the sotry of ordinary folks and also... of someone who has done much wrong and doesn't know if he can be redeemed, or even deserves to.

TWs for this story include:

- mentions of suicidal thoughts;

- mentions os sexual abuse (I won't be describing it, but it will be mentioned)

- mentions of emotional abuse (in the context of toxic relationship and toxic family dynamics)

- mentions of loss of a pregnancy (again, I'm not going into extensive detail but it will be mentioned)

- mentions of colourism

- mentions of LGBT+ phobia

As I'm sure all of you know, SJM's characters belong to her (thank you for letting us play with them, Mama), mine belong to me, etc.

There WILL be smut

With all that being said, I hope you enjoy the ride

Welcome back to the Spring Court

Chapter 1

It was the last time, the last fucking time that Katherine would have to endure a diplomatic visit for a long time.

"He's been spotted?"

"Only near The Manor, but that was sometime ago, he could be anywhere now."

Thomas Merel, the weather-beaten Lord Mayor of Springville nodded, while Daniel Clifford, their youngest clerk acting servant placed the teacups before them on the table, the rich smell of tea supplanting a bit of the sting of the somewhat fresh varnish.

"Has He caused any damage?" Katherine inquired, taking her cup in both her hands for warmth.

It was the very end of autumn, there was not a leaf left in the young rosebushes outside the Town Hall, and the biting wind promised a harsh winter.

"Not yet. But it's unnerving, He´s bound to have noticed by now."

They all knew it was only a matter of time before the High Lord would snap and kill sheep or cattle, or do something worse.

For a few years now, The Alliance had stopped pretending it was only a credit source for distraught farmers, and instead emerged as the new ruling regime in their court. It was a matter of time until it reached the High Lord, if there was any of him left in that beast, what Katherine didn't much believe.

"I don't think He knows much about it. It seems He's been spending all the time in his beast form-"

"His true form." Daniel interjected, turning bright red as all eyes in the room turned to him "I'm sorry, masters, mesdames."

"No, speak out." Katherine prompted, glad for that display of partisan fire "A partisan is as free to speak as any other."

There was a hummed agreement, before the Thomas resumed the conversation when it became clear that the young partisan had nothing else to add.

"He's bound to have noticed."

"I don't think He cares much." Katherine sipped at her tea

"We can't rely on that."

"We're not. The town guard is in constant training." She absent-mindedly traced the bottom on the cup with her index, for lack of anything else to keep her hands busy with. Trained as they were, the town guard would be swept in a moment if He came, but it was all they had, and it was better than nothing.

"How is it doing? The guard." Thomas was putting an absurd amount of sugar to his cup.

Katherine looked down at her own reflection in the tea. She wished she had better news in that front, but New Hope´s guard was as it were. It was only a small farming town, there weren't many adult males to join in.

"It's stable."

Thomas frowned. Stable wouldn't do, and Katherine knew it. They had to have more, to man the border in case Summer decided to leave, but what was she supposed to do? Conjure young males out of thin air?

"I hope Springville has had better luck on that front." It was puerile, but Katherine couldn't keep the sting off her voice.

Springville had over three times the population of New Hope, and it hadn't been half as impacted by the Hybern attacks.

"We didn't count on luck, only on the courage of our males."

"Yes, I've figured you have an abundance of those in your town. We don't."

Thomas scoffed, leaned back on the seat and took a sip of his tea.

She should have been more diplomatic, but it was the end of her term, and of her patience with it, and she could only think that the sooner that meeting ended the sooner she would be back at home with Allie.

"Has Summer indicated any intention to leave?"

Thomas shook his head.

"Not in the least. On the contrary, their soldiers seem to be making themselves much at home in our court. You'd be surprised to see how many of the youngest Spring children have the skin the colour of milk-and-coffee." Katherine wouldn't, in the least. Thomas checked, glancing at her. Even after four years working indoors, she was still noticeably darker than most of her countryfolk "No that there's anything wrong with that, of course."

"Then we still have time." She cut the matter short, before he said something that would make her kick him out of her town.

Old folks and their stupid prejudices. Summer was saving Spring´s collective ass out of the goodness of their hearts, but for Thomas Merel it was an issue that the soldiers were marrying Spring residents and having children with them.

"If you don't mind the question, Elliot, where are you from?"

There it was. It had taken him some time, to be fair, most folks brought it up in the first fifteen minutes of meeting her.

"Pearl Valley."

Which was all the more reason for her to be well aware of the natural sympathy Summer and Spring folks had for one another.

He puzzled for a moment, and she could read the question forming in his mind before he uttered a single word.

"But, where are you really from?"

She took a sip of tea to keep from sighing at his face.

"Tsakiris Farm, on the back of the Sleeping Cat, in Pearl Valley."

The Day family name seemed to quench his curiosity.

"What about the new towns?" Daphne probed, probably sensing Katherine´s willingness to toss the rest of her tea at Thomas Merel´s face.

He gave her a condescending smile that did nothing to placate Katherine´s impulses.

"Nothing to worry about in that front, Miss, they are holding the voting in a week and as soon as it gets confirmed by the folks they're going to pick their name and sign it on The Book."

"Fantastic." Katherine tried not to sound as impatient as she felt.

She didn't envy the poor bastards that would have to make a trip to Rosefields that late in the year just to write a couple of words on a book, at least in her turn it had been late spring.

Twilight and then night found the small group reunited in the room, and Katherine could have cried of relief when they finally said their good-nights and she was free to take the way to her Town House. She could feel the crisp autumn wind blushing her face, as it fumbled the rose garland banners hanging from every window, ready for the Solstice celebrations and the investing of Jules Wyatt as the new Lord Mayor.

Katherine could hardly believe she had done it. She had managed to smooth the transition to the new regime, and the town now sat so comfortable in it that one could swear they had all been born and bred under The Alliance. She had done her part, and soon she would be free, she was all but bouncing on her way back home.

"What an insufferable fellow." Daphne mumbled, easily keeping up with her long strides.

"I'm glad I won't have to deal with him again for a long time." Katherine agreed "He is your father´s problem from now on."

Daphne laughed.

"Would you like to see the notes I took?"

Katherine held out her hand for the notebook and opened it to a rather unflattering doodle of Thomas Merel.

"Very accurate." She laughed "But I shouldn't encourage it in you, what will your mother think?"

"She'll laugh her head off."

Daphne was right, of course, Marguerite would have a hard time keeping her face straight if she ever met Thomas Merel after seeing that doodle.

Allie met them at the door, taking their coats and scarves.

"How did it go?"

"Well, all things considered." Katherine shrugged.

"It would have been better if you had attended." Daphne handed her the sketch of the Lord Mayor of Springville, and Allie chuckled.

"You wouldn't catch me dead in one of those meetings."

"Where is your partisan fire?" Katherine teased.

"In the hearth, where it belongs. Has anyone seen Him?" Allie inquired, serving their soup.

"Nowhere near here and not for a long time, praised be the Mother."

"Praised be." She muttered "And Autumn?"

"Still sitting at the border, licking their lips and waiting for the moment Summer turns their backs on us."

"Any sign of that yet?"

"Not one." Katherine appeased.

The High Lord, Autumn and Summer. The matters around which everyone´s lives seemed to revolve ever since the war.

"How was your day?" She inquired.

"Lovely, I've settle most of my stuff back home, but I'm going back there in the morning if you want me to organize anything else."

"No, don't worry, I'll put things to order when I go back."

"And the Lord Mayor? How did you find him?"

"Thomas Merel was quite distressed to find the Summer soldiers so very well acclimated to Spring." Daphne chuckled.

"Unpleasant fellow." Katherine scoffed, tasting the soup.

"Well well, look at you, mum, not even swearing."

"Don't make me start, then."

Allie laughed at that.

"And Niort?"

Daphne spared Katherine from having to answer.

"Still thinking about it. They want The Alliance to be a temporary government, only until the new High Lord arises."

Katherine scoffed.

"I'm surprised no one has volunteered to advance that."

"Mum!" Allie frowned.

"I'm not saying I agree with it!" Katherine defended "I'm just surprised no one has tried to yet."

Even with all that their feeble excuse for a High Lord had cost her, Katherine couldn't see herself defending regicide as a way to make things right. He was no more than an animal now, it would be cruel. She doubted the beast even understood what the faerie did.

"Who would take the crown?"

That had been the subject of much speculation.

"We have no way of knowing. Cecilia´s branch in Autumn is the closest by blood, but none of them seems to have a drop of power in them."

"Wouldn't Autumn try to push Lucien Vanserra forward as regent?" Allie suggested.

"It's a possibility, and Night would likely approve of that, because it would put the Cursebreaker´s sister on the throne as well."

Allie nodded.

"Do we know where he is now?"

"With the bird queen."

"Still?"

Katherine hummed a confirmation with her mouth full of soup.

"You're too invested in politics for someone who won't set foot in the Town Hall to save her life." Daphne pointed.

"Why would I waste a whole afternoon in that dreadful talk when I can hear the gist of it from you over dinner?"

"What will you do when it's your turn to be Lady Mayor?" Daphne insisted.

Allie waved her hand.

"Mum can have all the terms of the Elliot family forever."

Katherine shivered.

"Can we talk about something else? I've just finished the last meeting of this term, I want to think of anything but the next one."

The girls chuckled at that. Katherine would never understand why people sought power, the license to boss folks around didn't half cover the dreadfulness of having to solve all of their problems with not enough budget, staff or resources. She'd gladly pass on her terms to anyone who would take them.

From her bedroom, Katherine could hear the muffled sound of the girls´ voices in Allie´s room, laughing about something. Marguerite had offered for Allie to stay with Daphne at the Wyatt town house, but Allie had replied that she missed the farm, and Katherine couldn't shake the feeling that she just didn't want to leave her alone.

If Kiril hadn't died in the war, Allie would be free to do as she pleased, but as it was, there were only the two of them left, and Allie felt responsible for keeping her company.

The face she saw in the mirror was worn out and pale, with lilac circles under her eyes. The four years as Lady Mayor had taken their toll on her, and she wondered how long it would take for her to recover. She had spend four years working in Kiril´s study or in the Town Hall from morning till evening, and the only sunlight she even tasted was when the sun would come through the window. No wonder she felt like shit.

She let her hair down and smoothed it with her fingers and a quick charm. Even the black looked a little faded.

Soon she would be in the farm again, caring for the cattle and the crops, feeling the sun on her skin and breathing in the fresh air of the country. She could have cried of impatience. Only a couple days more.

Katherine undressed and put on a nightgown, not bothering to wash. It was so late already. The wedding ring came out of her finger too easily, she had lost some weight in the years of her term, that she would work to put back on when they went back home to the farm. They might be poor, but she hadn't gone hungry in a long while, and they would certainly do better now that the land had rested and she had managed to save some of her salary. She had to believe that, there was almost nothing left of her jewels to sell, and she wouldn't touch Allie´s dowry.

As a dutiful mother, Katherine should start thinking of marrying Allie, but she couldn't just now. Buried under that pile of work, she had missed her daughter coming into adulthood, and the idea of marrying her off and sending her away already sounded so wrong. Surely, they could have a couple years together still? It all depended on her managing to feed and dress Allie. At least she seemed to have stopped growing, and wouldn't need more than one or two new dresses this year.

A light knock on the bedroom door took her out of thoughts.

"Mum?"

"Come in, darling."

Allie stepped cautiously into her bedroom, wearing a dressing robe that she had cut stylishly, adding stripes of older dresses to manage the fact that it was originally too short for her. Katherine would have to make another, when they had a little money left to spend. She sat down on the end of the bed, chewing on her cheek.

"Mum, can I ask you something?"

If there was ever a mother who didn't tremble at those words, Katherine didn't know her.

"Anything."

"Do you really hate Him?"

Him could only mean one faerie. One Katherine had hated to the depth of her soul and back.

"I don't know now. I hated the faerie, but I don't think I can hate the beast. He´s just an animal now, it would be like holding a grudge against a bear."

Allie nodded, still chewing on her cheek.

"I don't hate Him."

Katherine smiled.

"Then you are a better faerie than I am, and I'm thankful for that. Hate is not a good crop to nurture in one´s heart."

Allie pulled her foot up on the bed, hugging her knee.

"I don't think He is to blame for all of it."

"Hybern is to blame." Katherine agreed.

It had been the Hybernian army that set fire to most of New Hope, when they found the town deserted.

But if it wasn't for the High Lord betraying them, they wouldn't have.

"It was a war, everyone fought, everyone lost someone." Allie was speaking more to herself than to Katherine "Perhaps even if… Lord Tamlin had never allied with Hybern in the first place, perhaps even then Dad would still..."

"Perhaps." Katherine conceded "We can't know that."

If that was the way Allie had found to cope with what had happened, Katherine would never dispute it, but, if she couldn't know what could have happened, she knew what had actually happened, and that was their High Lord inviting Hybern in and then, in a show of unprecedented stupidity, turning his back on them and letting his whole court go to hell. She could never believe that it was somehow Kiril´s destiny to survive the iron years under Amarantha only to be killed so soon after, never being able to enjoy that hard-earned semblance of peace.

"He wasn't all bad." Allie defended "Do you remember when he sent those disguised soldiers to keep watch after Amarantha killed the Winter children?"

The very name that Allie spoke with such disregard made Katherine shiver. If there was ever a faerie she had hated more than the High Lord, it was that bitch.

"My own daughter, a traditionalist." Katherine teased, and Allie rolled her eyes "But I assume you're right. No one is all bad."

Allie was Kiril´s daughter through and through, she had been raised hearing him talk wonders of their High Lord, he had been jittery when he got back home from the tithe only for having the chance to lay eyes on their mighty and powerful High Lord. Katherine had teased him that she was growing jealous already, and he got quite cross with her for it, but he had been ready to follow Lord Tamlin into hell, and look where all that love had gotten him.

"Why that all of a sudden?" Katherine probed.

Allie shrugged.

"I've had time to think. You're right, mum, hate is not a good crop for one to nurture."

Katherine could sense there was something else.

"Are you? A traditionalist, I mean?" She inquired "You know I wouldn't judge you."

It made sense, even. All of Allie´s good childhood memories were from the time when they had a High Lord, and she had a father and they even had coffee in the house. Her memories under The Alliance were of trying to stagger back up, without Kiril, and having to count each coin and make it last.

"I don't think we have to be one thing or the other. But you know I'm a partisan, as much as you are."

Katherine nodded with a smile. Allie was too smart to let her sweet childhood memories lull her into believing the old regime was better. She was Kiril´s daughter, after all.

Katherine could have cried of joy when she took the rose-garland brooch from her dress and pinned it on Jules´ tunic. It was officially over. Old Duncan gave a speech in the name of New Hope´s farmers to thank her for her service, and Lucas Garmin, speaking for the townsfolk, congratulated her on the smooth transition to the new regime, and so Katherine Elliot was a free female at last.

She celebrated it by drinking loads, and her heart was light enough that she even clapped her hands in pace with the music when the folks danced the quadrille. It was the Solstice night, and there were rose-garland banners enough around to more than justify Lucas Garmin´s huge smile. He could have made a better price on the cloth she bought for Allie, the Mother knew he was supplying the fabric for all those fake rose garlands that hung on each door in town.

"Alanis is of good age to be wed." Antoinette remarked, sipping at her cup of mulled wine.

Katherine hadn't even seen her approaching.

"Kiril would have wanted to start looking around." Katherine agreed, watching her daughter dance with Daphne.

"You don't leave it too late, they go wild at that age."

Katherine chuckled, shaking her head. She knew it batter than anyone, but Allie wasn't like her.

"Not Alanis, she doesn't have it in her."

Antoinette scoffed at her trust.

"You leave it be and see if she doesn't."

"I'll see to it." Katherine conceded "Just not now."

Not yet. She could at least have some time with her child before sending her away, couldn't she? She had paid four years of her life to that town, it wasn't a crime that she wanted to enjoy some time with Allie before the inevitable was to pass.

And there was the frailty of their peace. Summer could leave on a whim, and Autumn would trample them down, or the High Lord might decide to start retaliating against the partisan towns. She couldn't bear the thought of Allie being far away if war was to start again.

"There you are!" Marguerite found her hiding next to the refreshments table "Lady Mayor!"

"Not any more, and thank the Mother for it."

Marguerite laughed.

"Who are you hiding from?"

"Your mother by grace."

"Let me join you then." Marguerite squeezed herself by her side "Oh, dear, she's talking to Old Duncan now."

"For mercy." Katherine lamented, watching from their hiding spot "Now she's going to talk to your boy, do you want to bet?"

Charle Wyatt was talking to his sister waiting to get in the next dance.

"The dance will start before she gets to him." Marguerite predicted "Oh, Kate, we aren't going to get any peace until we marry all of them off."

Katherine laughed.

"I'm sure she'll find something else to pester us about then." She cleared her throat and imitated Antoinette´s voice "This house is too empty, Maggie, you should have another child or two."

Marguerite put her hand over her mouth and tossed her head back in laughter.

"You're too young to stay a widow, Katherine." Marguerite volunteered, and their laughter died down.

It had been over seven years now, since she had received Jules´ letter telling her that Kiril wouldn't be coming back.

"Wherever he is, he must be so proud of you." Marguerite passed her arm around Katherine´s waist.

Katherine smiled at that. She had never told Marguerite the last words her brother ever said to her were "Don't shame me, Katherine.". He wrote to her after, telling how much he loved and missed her, but those were the last words she ever heard from his lips.

"He would have been a fantastic Lord Mayor."

"That he would." Marguerite agreed "But I don't think anyone could have done a better job than you did, little sister."

Katherine put her hand on top of Marguerite´s.

"Thank you, Maggie."

How could she ever be expected to marry again and leave them behind? She missed the touch of males, and there was nowhere she could get it in New Hope without getting tangled in a scandal, and, still, marriage wasn't worth it. Antoinette could try all she wanted, but she was set on dying an Elliot.

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I hope you guys enjoyed the first chapter, let me know if the setting of The Alliance is a bit too confusing, or just your thoughts on the story, characters, etc. Love yall 3