The morning lark, the evening sparrow. The softest touch of frost before eternal slumber. The blinding brilliance of life's peak, the desolate void that is it's end.
He wandered the world, adjacent to them all. His footsteps bringing decline and decay, beautiful and sorrowful in their own ways. He was the king of the autumn clan, the golden-red throne in the southern reaches of the Unseelie Court. He was the heritor of the final days of life, who ushered in the season of gentle rest before the long night and the end of the cycle. He was the third of the Fairy Kings of Seasons-- The Fairy of Sorrows, known by his subjects as 'Tyrnalhann, the Longing One'.
"A-Aaahhh! Crap, it still hurts a bit..."
"It's not too late for him to just chop the leg right off, y'know-- And we've got the funds from that last quest. You'd look good with a stump!"
"Fuck off, Marlow! Ugh... Thanks again, doc. Dunno what you're doin' all the way out here, but you're one hell of a life saver."
"My pleasure. You two take care on your way back to town, now!"
Granted, Erste (as he much preferred to be called) didn't particularly care for such titles-- or responsibilities, to be honest. The seasons came and went with or without his presence at court-- so he made the most of the time he had and did as he pleased. He wandered the lands of Le'raana, often in search of the adorable little saplings that now littered the land with their intriguing structures and their silly little disputes. Mortals were such amusing creatures-- he couldn't fathom how so many of his kin were opposed to showing themselves before their ilk.
Take for instance, those two. As Erste waved kindly at the departing pair of adventurer-types, the brash, insecure boy... Hector, was it? And his doting partner, too afraid of rejection to share her own feelings, Marlow. They'd crossed paths with him on their way into... oh, what did the mortals call these lands... Featherfall? Yes, that sounded right-- and it was during their chance encounter that the autumn fae noticed the festering wound that Hector had received likely some few days prior. He could barely stand-- supported in body and spirit by Marlow as they prayed that they could make it back to civilization in time enough to save him.
It was always so tragic to see such young saplings wilting away before they had their chance to bear fruit, so Erste couldn't help but interfere-- applying the knowledge he'd accrued from his own time among mortal medicine-makers to draw out some of the poison that coursed through the boy's veins. Enough, at least, that he might survive the rest of the way to his home town. Erste smiled kindly as their silhouettes disappeared into the distance, before he closed his eyes, and took in the afternoon air, and the gentle breeze that seemed to caress and envelop his very being.
Yes, the boy would certainly die soon. He was quite familiar with the poison that he'd pulled from his wound-- It was born of the fangs of a wild fae-- primitive creatures that often dwelled within his domain. There was a cure, but retrieving it meant he'd have to return home-- and that would mean the most horrible of fates for him...
...Getting scolded by his subjects again. Oh, what tragedy... Yet, his endearment with the mortal adventurer-lovers was such that he had long-since made the decision to endure it for their sake.
When she had first sensed the peculiar pull, the peculiar smell of decay- she couldn't help but follow it. She made herself grow smaller, only to a cricket in size, keeping a claok over her form- just incase the unusual magic was a threat.
But it intrigued her, it was like summer and winter combined- of warmth but.. death. Could this be the powers of autumn the other's tended to talk about? She thought it unfair she'd never seen it- but it was explained it was simply the opposite of she- and that their paths were not fated to cross.
Tsk. If that were true, then how could she believe the autumn fae were real? But then she sensed something- when she had been scolded it was 'too early for spring ' and soon found herself watching some man use spring magics on a human.
But not enough to fully heal. So the young sprig of spring followed after, giggling beneath her veil as she sprinkled unseen healing upon the man. His leg would come around. And she felt pride for it.
And as the pair departed onward their path- she zipped up into the trees and danced lightly among the tree branches..
And where leaves were falling off in the colors of autumn.. bright green buds began to glow.
"Naughty, naughty. Even I don't go that far for the little saplings."
Erstwhile had a mind to begin his journey back home, into the faelands proper in pursuit of a medicine for the boy's leg. He was a clever fae-- He, too, could've neutralized the poison proper from the boy's body with a bit of autumn's grace, but despite his otherwise odd appearance among mortals, he never revealed his cards if he didn't need to-- the mortals were still much too young, too naive to truly understand and accept it.
Yet there were some fae who did-- tricksy ones, and enamored ones who could not resist the allure of the young races and their strange ways. Erstwhile had encountered many a fae of the sort in his cycles-- Blindingly ambitious and arrogant summer fae, and haughty, ruthless winter fae who saw such interactions with mortals as 'inevitable'.
It wasn't often he spied a fairy of the spring clan. Yet he could only think to himself, as he watched life breathe itself unnaturally into not only a tree nearest to the younglings, but also his own birch staff, that it was all the more refreshing to meet another after so long.
Having awaited the two mortals' to leave earshot, Erste's eyes climbed the verdant tree, and an amused smile graced his features. Even if his noble fae eyes couldn't see here, it was more than clear to him what was in those branches-- or rather, who. It was adorable-- perhaps she had not noticed him? Though he, too, wore a veil of fae illusions, it was merely to hide his crown and 'horns', making him appear nearly-human to the mortal eye. To a fae, with a close enough look... It wasn't really fooling anyone. "Well, you did save me a trip back home, so I suppose I can keep a secret... But if you really must play with them, I find it easier to do so when they can see me." He 'lectured', though he knew his words held no sway over a Spring Fae.
A few more sparkles and sprigs of fresh growth would curl up from his wooden staff as she unseeingly sprinkled her powers across it.
Then he might feel a little wind zip around him before the figure of a young woman blossomed before him. She was just under 5 feet tall and remained perched along a large blue blossom. She wore seemingly absolutely nothing, while long rivers of ocean colored hair fell about her body. And the tiniest, snowflake sized butterflies flittered around her as she leaned forward and examined the other fae with a curious tilt of her head.
"You smell funny. Like old sunshine."
Erste couldn't help but chuckle at the vibrant life that was his new fairy friend. 'Funny' and 'like old sunshine' were certainly ways to describe him, he couldn't deny that. He took no offense— were he a few cycles younger, perhaps he, too, might've been a little perplexed by how pretty and free the far before him was.
"Quite old, yes." And just as soon as the newly-born leaves flushed across the birch branch did they begin to beam with virility, as if reaching the peak of life itself— before wilting red, and falling from his staff shortly after. He smiled, watching the process. "A spring fairy, in a place like this? Are you lost, little one?"
His curiosity likely paled in comparison to her own— the few Spring fae he had met in the past were absolute bundles of energy in their own ways. Some particularly silly ones even ventured aimlessly into his domain— thankfully without incident. The wild fae in his little corner of the fae lands were not always exactly hospitable... but such was the way of the Unseelie courts.
She made a face at his reply.
"Lost? Why would you think that. "
She studied his form, taking in careful consideration on the details of his clothing before vines and flowers blossomed down her body- and a matching outfit- although more dainty and green- now clothed her body. She smiled triumphantly at this and spun, little laces of white and tiny, bell like flowers clung and swayed softly in accent on her dress and hair.
"Are you lost?" She found herself asking, suddenly wondering if that'd why he said it. She leaned in closer when she asked- and he'd be able to smell the sweet, fresh flowers ornamenting her hair.
She smelled like a valley after the rain.
Erste smiled at her adaptation of social cues-- as well as how happy with herself she seemed to be in doing so. In his mind, he couldn't help but ponder on the amusing nature of the situation-- Any other autumn fae might've been nearly repulsed by her sprightly, energetic aura, and the refreshing scent of dew and pine the very air around her carried. They wouldn't have been wrong to feel that way, he supposed; Just as the Summer and Winter fae often opposed one another with valiance and ruthlessness, so to did the fairies of renewal often shy away, even if unconsciously, from those of decay, and vice versa.
A shame, really. Spring fae were always so fun to be around.
"Quite lost, yes. But that's alright; You have to be lost in order to found." The southern wind blew gently, a coolness to it's flow that shushed the ebb and flow of the world around-- like a mother's finger pressed to a toddler's lips, as they lay their head upon a cloud-like pillow. "I much prefer to be lost, than found. I imagine I'll be found soon enough, though! I'm never lost for long. Certainly not for long enough..." It almost seemed like there was a complaint somewhere in that silly soliloquy of his.
She giggled at his debate of words before clasping her hands behind her and tilting her head and gave him a curious smile.
"But you are already found," She went on pointedly. "By me!"
She beamed proudly at that.
"So what kind of fae are you?" She looked him up and down. "Summer fae? You don't look gloomy enough for winter."
The fairy adorned in red and gold beamed an evening's glow in the form of a gentle smile, quite amused at the Spring fae's antics. Ah, to have that much energy... to be that much energy. The literal beginning of the cycle-- life born anew, flourishing and bursting with innocence and possibility.
Thankfully, she was right-- if any fae were to find him right now, he was glad it was a Spring fae. A blissfully unaware one, it seemed, as she seemed quite unfamiliar with his very presence. It wasn't so unusual; Erstwhile and his clan were often mistaken as mere outcasts of the more prominent seasons. And yet...
"Not quite summer. Not quite winter. When the solstice wanes, and the high noon ends, the evening sparrow begins it's song. Where the brilliance of summer's song ends, and fangs of winter creep to sink their fangs-- atop warm, leafless branches do I rest my laurels." He explained, in his rather sing-song whimsical way. He even nodded to himself-- almost as if giving himself credit for such poetic rhetoric.
"Or, more simply-- Hello, Spring! I am Autumn."
Her eyes danced in delight in the way he sing-songed his words. Even as he got to the end, she had such a broad smile that- when he officially said his hello and introduction-
She gasped suddenly and jerked back in sheer surprise. A hand cupped over her gaping mouth and pollen molted out from her hair and clothing in little bursts of golden dust.
"No.. no, you can't be!" She exclaimed, hands perched on her cheeks as her mind rattled over the very idea.
She looked him over, head to toe, scrutinizing all that he was.
"But I thought.." she was still too stunned to say it.
What had she thought?
"Is that why you smell of old trees? And sunsets?"
What an adorable response!
Erste raised his birch branch just a few inches from the ground, giving it a slow, gentle whirl in his hand as the autumn wind at his back once more gently kissed the two of them. The dried leaves and dandelion seeds that had settled at his feet were kicked up in the midst of the wind, briefly and slightly obscuring the fae's body here and there, before at last settling-- and in doing so, revealing his 'true' form, the glamor he held to hide his crown of red and gold and noble, birch antlers resting quite prominently atop his head.
"I like to think so-- I do love the smell of sunsets, after all." He explained, stretching just a little bit-- not too much, mind. He was no athlete, no sprightly lad. The Spring and Summer fae had that covered well enough.
"I don't suppose you meet many fae like me? I don't meet many fae like you either-- so I'm happy to meet you, little green one." He kindly noted, though he was careful and patient enough to allow her to get over the initial... well, shock, of meeting her very shadow, in the flesh.
Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.
"So many cycles have I lived but never saw the beauty of autumn!" Her eyes were like an explosion of stars, wide like saucers and sparkling like butterfliesof all colors..
her body- which had she not already been at her own peak of restraint- glowed as nearly every ounce of the buds curling around and inside her hair and body exploded into a cacophony of flowers, emitting a pulse of fragrant pollen that began to cling and take seed all it could cling to around her.
Her hands remained to her cheeks but almost all of her body was nearly covered in her wild locks of hair, which grew in volume and length as the locks pooled and bedded many flowers around her feet.
And that crown.. those horns..
She gasped.
"Are you an autumn king?"
Erstwhile couldn't have expected the sudden and spontaneous explosion of unbridled energy-- figuratively and literally-- from his new fae friend, doused as he was in her boundless energy-- and pollen-- though he merely chuckled in response to her words of awe, supposing that it really wasn't such a surprising reaction to his announcement.
Spring fae and autumn fae rarely interacted. Unlike the summer and winter fae, who's passions and loves burned brighter and grasped harsher than others, they were both a somewhat capricious yet aloof pair of clans in their own way-- often busy readying the world for the great solstices of Summer and Winter. It was only natural that clans so typically involved with their works didn't often interact.
With a sly wink, and a single finger to his lips, Erste gave the flourishing fairy a knowing look. "Did my crown give me away, per chance?" He asked, before raising his birch staff a slight bit and giving a proper bow, displaying his antlers quite proudly. "Erstwhile of Autumn, the Fairy of Sorrows, and king of the Autumn clan... Though, let's keep that a secret between you and I, okay?"
Her thoughts were as colorful as her eyes, and she gaped and gaped at him in awe.
Then he winked and she swooned, heart fluttering with buds of attraction. But even as her mind was going over fun and mischievous things- it all came to a compete halt as she digested his full title.
And it almost appeared as if she were about to cry.
"Of.. of.. sorrows?"
Erste's smile never faded, in spite of the clear sadness that the adorable sapling displayed on his behalf. Yes, to Spring fae, such a title as the 'fairy of sorrows' was bound to bring about quite the reaction-- after all, it was part and parcel of what made their kin so very different.
There was happiness, joy, and elation in beginnings and meetings; Yet even in nature, partings were often such sweet sorrows. Beyond his role as the autumn king, his destined fate was tied to such sorrows-- and toward helping the sorrowful reach their peaceful slumber. He nodded as such, affirming the verdant one's query. "Yes, very much so, dearest little green one. Spring and autumn. Joy and sorrow. Dawn embraces, and dusk departs. Both are but seasons of the one true hearth-- love."
Yes, he'd have to write that one down for his next cycle, for certain. "Mortals are such sorrowful creatures; They love, and they hurt, and the love, and they rest. I keep their sorrows... and lay them to rest, so that they can sprout as new loves in the next cycle."
His flowery talk did nothing to disctract her, as genuine concern filled her large eyes.
"But.. are you not sad to be the ruler of such sad things?"
Erstwhile beamed brightly, though even his brightest smile could never hope to compete with the shining sun that was his new Spring fae friend.
"Quite happy, indeed, dear sapling. I would gladly collect one thousand, thousands sorrows, to rest o'er winter's night, and sprout anew as beautiful smiles, like your own." He left out the detail about how, exactly, that process worked— no need to harm her adorably-innocent mind with such thoughts.
She stared at him, eyes still wide before she nodded.
"The cycle of the seasons..." curiosity getting the best of her, as it always did, she couldn't help but ask, "In the seasons.. what are your tasks?" Her tone like that of a commanding child anxious to learn.
"Regrowth and life are my domain, summer is maturity and longevity.. winter is cold," She wrinkled her nose. "They handle the death and hibernation cycles " She cocked her head as she observed him. "But what of you? What does autumn do?"
She had to know and anxiously leaned in closer.
Erstwhile closed his eyes and mused on the curiosity of his sapling friend for a time, taking in the wondrous sounds of the land around them. The whistling wind through unkempt grass, the gentle hum of insects seeking succor from fallen fruits. "As the sun does rise and fall anew day after day, so too does the land come to rise and rest-- the song of our cycle never ending. Through spring she rises into summer's glory, to descend gracefully through autumn into winter's embrace."
Hey, that one wasn't bad! He'd have to remember to write that one down. Mortals love that sort of thing-- recording one's words and deeds.
"We ready the land for the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in the cycle, you and I-- Where spring brings life anew from the long rest of winter, autumn brings calmness-- gentle stillness that cools the summer's blazing passion, and prepares the land for the rest it needs... to breathe life anew in the next cycle."
In a sense, that made them partners, he figured. Well-- partners, if he actually did his job. Then again, if he took his crown as seriously as he was often made out to, he wouldn't be here, chatting with her.
He sure said a lot of words. She decided they sounded nice, like the array of colors ar sunset.
"Calmness?" Veride made a face. "Sounds boring if you ask me. Don't get me wrong, being calm is umm..nice.. but...I'd much rather dance in a thunderstorm. Although summer takes most of that. We spring fae are stuck with regular, old and boring rain."
She cocked her head as she realized something.
"Oh! Maybe that's our calmness in Spring!"
She seemed so fascinated by this idea as she glanced up towards the sky.
"Do you like rain? I really like it myself. It's nice to dance in!" She did a twirl and looked over at him. Oh.. but wouldn't it be sad if Autumn got no rain?
Smiling brightly, Erstwhile nodded in agreement as the Spring fae chattered on, boundless enthusiasm and intrigue matched only by her vivid facial expressions and gestures. She was getting it, in her own way; Spring was certainly the 'calmness' of Summer, as Autumn was to Winter. Certainly, the fae of the four corners each had their own part to play-- their own stories to tell.
"I'm quite fond of rain. But I think I like to watch others dance in it, rather than dance myself. I'm sure you're a wonderful dancer in the rain, aren't you?" He mused, tapping his finger to his chin in thought. Just when was the last time he'd experienced a Spring rain? As deception and disdain were often harmful to the Spring fae, most of his own subjects shied away from such blindingly positive emotions. Among the autumn clan, only he, who'd spent so terribly many cycles carrying out his 'other job' had learned to not only accept, but embrace the fullness of the four clans-- though his magics never left the domain of decay.
She smiled brightly, much rather enjoying her time conversing with her opposite. She found him splendid.
"Don't you find it strange that we met? I was always told it was taboo," She made a face, then smiled again as she considered ,"at one point I thought your kind weren't even real."
Although..
She approached him and gave a poke to his chest.
"You certainly seem real," She said, walking around his form and studying him.
Erstwhile's chest gave in just a slight bit as she poked-- as if her hands could've gotten lost in the forest of leaves and moss that was the robes covering his chest, had she pushed hard enough into him. "Auspicious, indeed. But then again, if anyone is breaking the rules here, it's not you-- don't you worry, my little green one." He smiled as she further investigated him, her curiosity boundless. He preferred watching over humans, but the Spring fae were a close second in their adorably aloof nature.
"I'm very happy that it was me that you met. Many of my clan are... less friendly. They're a dutiful-enough bunch, though, and I do love them for that-- They can just be so very boring, sometimes."
He was being incredibly unfair about that statement, but he wasn't lying. His clan was certainly much less friendly than any other Spring or Summer fae she'd come across-- Some of them even preyed on the more innocent fae-- That spider girl, for instance. Charming enough lass, but she loved weaving little traps and trails for the naive and innocent to wander into.
"Do be a dear, and be careful of spider webs, won't you?" Tragic, but beautiful in it's own way.
She tilted her head.
"Spider webs?" She blinked, then her eyes widened. "Oh! I'd never dream of ruining a spider's beautiful web! Infact, I love watching them weave!"
"Lovely. They do so adore being praised for their work, did you know? Quietly, and from afar— That's the best." He explained, while leaning back a little. He almost seemed as though he might just tumble over, yet he somehow kept his balance, as if leaning against something that wasn't there. "I watch them from time to time, as well. They do so adore compliments, I've learned-- They also adore the rain. Just a little, though-- not too much."
His eyes scanned the horizon. The wind carried the sound of mortals in the distance as it combed through his golden hair-- Their lovely little mortal town not too far away from where the two fae now stood. His smile found renewal in the white noise of the younglings and their society; How wondrous their fumbling about was.
They were like Spring fae, in their own way. Just, a bit more chaotic. "Tell me, sapling-friend-- what brings you so close to the mortals, and their adorable little homes? Do you find them as fascinating as I do?" He asked, sarcastic laughter and the bite of a salesman's tongue whispering on the wind now as he listened to the sounds of the mortals from afar. It was a fair question-- most fae did what they could to avoid mortals. There were a special, enamored few-- and then himself.
Veride was absolutely enthralled by this information on spiders.
"Yes, spiderwebs are most beautiful with the morning sparkle of fresh dew." She gave a nod and added. "I always try to compliment them, but I'll be sure to pass on the praise of the autumn King!" She praised playfully.
Then at his next question, about the mortals, her smile broadened.
"All things fascinate me!" She proclaimed, a happy hum following her words. "The humans are very interesting. Although they have such brief cycle compared to the trees. But oh- did you know they use corpses of other beings to survive? Animal clothing and animal remains as food and the dead trees for warmth and to build a home. Yet.. despite being so vulgar- they do wonderful art- almost like their own type of spiderweb for the world."
She cocked her head at the idea but still she smiled.
"Is it so silly others of our kind light abhorr them? They are pretty destructive. "
"The younglings destroy, and they create. They are not born of the lands, and they do not live by the Great Cycle. They are tiny, insignificant, and their young long cities crumble like dust with the coming and passing of the dawn."
He spoke almost as if he were disparaging them— a rather common perspective among fae, to be fair, even stated by Veride earlier. Perhaps that was what made his next statement so odd.
"I find them quite delightful." A crisp, golden leaf fell from his birch branch, and landed in the palm of his hand. His eyes watched over it passionately— as if enthralled with its decaying form. "They live, and they die— and their bodies return to the soil, like so much dust." As he spoke, the leaf in his hand did just the same— crinkling and shriveling in his open palm until it crumbled away, carried by the autumn wind to the grounds around them— particles glimmering in the light as they did so.
"They take from the land, and the land takes from them. They take from one another, and create sorrows— beautiful little sorrows, which give birth to new life, and new loves, in the next cycle. They are unnatural— different— and that which is different will always be abhorrent. But the land loves them, my dearest sapling— and so too must I. That is my role as the Fairy of Sorrows."
Veride went thoughtful over his words. But her thoughts jeot coming back to one thing.
"But why sorrows?" Her question was innocent enough. "You don't seen sad to me. Why not sheperd happiness?"
A big, bright smile swelled up on Erstwhile's face as he gave a mighty fairy shrug-- the most whimsical kind of shrug, surely. "Well, surely someone has to!" He explained in arguably the silliest and least-satisfying way possible, before chuckling a little. Afterwards, however, he gave a much more, well... 'him' response.
"As Spring prepares for summer, so too must the sorrows be prepared to be reborn anew as happy little things. Not unlike yourself, I should think!" He explained, his gaze turning toward the mortal city some ways away. It was why he'd come this far from the southern faelands, where the creatures of autumn typically resided; Why he was granted leave to wander the lands, even outside of autumn. And more importantly, why he was such a silly goose about it all. "If the sorrows are left alone, they fester and foul, like nasty little sores. Very dangerous to the mortals. Very dangerous to us, as well!"
With another nod, he turned his gaze back on his fae friend, not noticing that just a bit away, and quite a bit above, a little black crow landed on the branch of a nearby tree. Or... what looked like a crow at a glance. "I like to leave the shepherding of happiness to adorably, beautifully bright fairies, like you.
Veride looked truly concerned as he described his post, his life. But then her smile shined at his compliment.
"I never considered that before. But it still seems unfair. You should sheperd spring if you want to too!" And that was that!
"But .. what would happen if the sorrows did suffer?" She thought, out loud. "I never thought I'd feel concern for sadness before.." it made her frown as she considered it.
"But what would happen if the sorrows did suffer? Caw, caw, pipipi."
The sound of mocking words echoed out from above the two chatting fairies— sharp words, almost as if they were filled with tiny little knives.
" You should sheperd spring if you want to too! Caw, caw, pipipi."
While the wry words and mocking melodies of the rather bratty, feminine voice may have been strange to some, Erstwhile, who was all too familiar with the voice's owner, simply sighed. He supposed he'd been in one place for too long— it wasn't surprising that he was so quickly found.
"Now, now, Neverlie— be nice."
The crow— or what looked like a crow— gave a great few flaps of its wings before taking off from its perch in the tree, landing near to Erstwhile's side. But what landed wasn't a crow— another young fae, who looked almost identical to Veride— if she's been doused in black and covered barely with feathers. The the crow... or harpy-like fae, whose body was near as bare as Veride's own when she'd first appeared before Erstwhile, simply gave a huff, and a hmph.
"As you wish, my dearest king— Neverlie is never mean. Caw, caw, pipipi." Even now her tone was mocking and sarcastic— which earned her an exasperated chuckle from the Autumn king.
This... was going to be interesting to watch, if nothing else.
"But why is the king so far from home? Why does the king converse with a crone? Neverlie's pretty eyes only spy a silly, sprightly, lily, brightly. Much too gross, much too green for Tyrnalhann the Autumn King. Caw, caw, pipipi."
"Now, now, Neverlie. There's nothing wrong with sharing lands with our dearest sapling friends..." Erstwhile explained, though admittedly amused, as always, by her antics.
Veride nearly jumped out of her skin the moment the darker, bird like fae appeared and crowed about. Her eyes grew wider each time the other woman spoke- to the point it seemed the colors there in were about to explode like a display of comets.
"Oh!!!!!" She zipped around her new found friend, unable to contain the giggles of glee that exploded from her as she took the other fae's hands and danced.
"HI, Neverlie!!!" She beamed. "I'm Veride- of the spring court of faeries! Oh wow! I simply love your feathers! You remind me of the morning birds! Look at her, Erstwhile!" She went on, dancing about him and clinging to his arm as she gushed with glee.
"Do you sing like the birds do, too? " her eyes grew even larger, like saucers. "I bet its beautiful when you do!"
In a stunning show of foresight that was truly befitting of a king who'd lived a thousand lives and reigned for even more cycles, Erstwhile, still smiling all the way, raised both hand hands to each side of his head, and playfully covered his ears. He did this for two reasons. Veride was the first; Her boundless excitement and enthusiasm in the face of something new was nothing short of explosive, to both the eyes and ears.
"Caw, caw, pipipi! Leave me be! Set me free!"
Neverlie was the second reason. Just as loud as Veride was she— but her cries were not of joy, but protest as she quickly found herself overwhelmed by the force of 800 suns.
Summer and Winter fae often clashed when they met; it was the nature of their courts to be fierce, absolute. Courageous and dominant in the court of summer, ruthless and all-encompassing in the court of winter. By comparison, the courts of Spring and Autumn, more often than not, just... were weirded out by one another. Erstwhile could've prevented, or ended, this interaction quite easily— but it was funnier to watch Spring and Autumn fae interact, so he didn't.
Before long she was able to wrench herself free— and in an amusing attempt to 'hide' from her tormentor, she scrambled away to the only hiding spot she could think to find; beneath Erstwhile's robe. He chuckled as she complained, though he didn't make any sudden moves to remove her. "Far too noisy, far too green! Far too creepy, dearest king! Nevelie cannot stand the song of this one, Tyrnalhann! Caw, caw, pipipi!"
Be that as it may, having given her peace to say her piece, so to speak, Erstwhile took a few steps to the side— his golden-red robes parting like free-falling leaves to reveal the crow fae beneath. Oh, how she glowered at her king— to his further amusement. "Neverlie is my dearest attendant. She is the evening sparrow— the call of autumn is her story." Erstwhile somewhat proudly explained, and as he did so, she appeared to cheer up a bit— puffing her chest out a little as if implying she was better than everyone else.
"And, yes. She has quite a lovely singing voice."
Aaaaaand the glare came back. Erstwhile chuckled in response.
Veride was an array of un-erasable smiles. Infact, she was so transfixed by Neverlie that she made gleeful little noises once Erstwhile umhid the shy little autumn fae.
Veride was upon her the moment it was proclaimed she could sing, and she giddily took her by her hands and beamed.
"Oh! But won't you sing for me? I'd love to hear your song!"
Erstwhile watched as Neverlie, in response, did everything in her power to pull and pry away from Veride once again-- visibly overwhelmed by how high-energy the green fairy before her was. It was as if she was sunshine and life itself-- and it was much too exhausting! "Neverlie never sings for any but the Autumn King! Caw, caw, pipipi-- release me now, away with thee!"
She protested and struggled, but she didn't do anything to outright harm Veride-- as much as she wanted too. There were few lines that Neverlie didn't cross-- few boundaries that she respected with all of her heart as a fae. All of them-- literally all of them-- were rules that dearest Tyrnalhann put in place for the fae of the Autumn court. Among them? Yep... no preying on fae of the Spring and Winter Courts. It 'went against the natural order of the cycle', he always said.
What she wouldn't give to not love her dearest king so much right now...
"It's a bit too early for Neverlie's song, unfortunately." Erstwhile happily interjected, while doing nothing to separate the two. The Fairy of Crows looked pleadingly at her king, who simply gave an amused shrug-- his eyes speaking for him as he silently lectured her on putting herself in that situation in the first place. "When Neverlie sings, Autumn comes. She is my attendant in all things that usher in the gentle calm that is the beginning of our Cycle's end. The lands will wither. The leaves will fall. The fertility and life of spring would be replaced with decay and decline." He spoke in a rather loving tone about it all-- as a king of such should. There was no hint of disdain, regret or sadness in his voice-- it was no different than when he gleefully spoke of Spring earlier.
"Still, it is a beautiful song to hear." He added, while Neverlie once more managed to free herself and ran to hide behind Erstwhile... as if that would do something. "Aren't you being a little too dramatic, Neverlie? She won't hurt you." He teased a bit, which resulted in the bird-like fae to quickly leap-- or, moreso fly-- up onto her king's shoulder, resting atop it like some sort of cat.
"Aren't you being a little too dramatic, Neverlie? She won't hurt you. Caw, caw, pipipi." She mocked, though there was clear concern on her face. "She is GREEN, my Autumn King! These are not your fairy's colors-- Autumn yearns for something duller! Leave this brightly, sprightly green-- your subjects miss their Autumn King!" She complained, futilely pulling at his robes from her perch. Erstwhile could only chuckle a little as she did so--thankful that the truth had finally come out.
Though he was almost certain 'his subjects' didn't miss their Autumn King as much as she did... he knew he'd eventually get tracked down regardless.
Despite Neverlie's obvious objections to her very presence, Veride was all smiles and glitters of green. But she wasn't so distracted she didn't catch what the other younger fae had said.
"Miss their King? Why would they miss him?"
Erst, for the first time since the two-- and now three-- of them had stopped to chat, looked a bit like a cat that'd been caught with it's hand in the pot. With a slight chuckle, he attempted to respond to the question before Neverlie did-- for all the good it would do him. "Neverlie enjoys embellishing stories a little. My subjects don't--"
"Miss their King? Why would they miss him? Caw, caw, pipipi. The Green one cannot understand the plight of dearest Tyrnalhann!" With a shift and a flip, Neverlie leapt from her spot on Erstwhile's shoulder to his very head-- daintily dancing about with but the barest touches of her toes to the center of his hair, before flipping forward, and coming face to face with her beloved king... upside down, suspended in mid air. Erstwhile's look of being caught red handed deepened, his sheepish smile a bit more obvious.
"Tyrnalhann, the longing one--
O' Autumn's Fairy King,
Bestowed default the crown of thorns,
And burdens that it brings.
Yet endless is your wanderlust
For mortals far and near,
So does the longing one ignore
The subjects he holds dear.
Caw, caw, pipipi."
Erstwhile admitted defeat through knowing laughter, trying to smooth the mood over with his mocking, teasing attendant. "I haven't been gone THAT long. And I'm bound to return by the end of the season. It's my fate, after all."
Veride was absolutely enchanted in everything before her- from the singing fae- to its sheepish king- and it sunk in what had been brought to light.
"Oh!" her hands went into little fists as she turned to Erstwhile, a determined glow to her eyes. "If you are a King, you should not stay away from your subjects. Especially of they are so attached as Neverlie sings!" Veride chided. She put hands to her hips, her entire form accented by the mass of tangled hair she possessed that, despite its dissaray, appeared like a beautiful river of green shades. Fresh, crisp leaves accented her and it brought out the little green flush to her cheeks.
"How long have you been away?" She found herself asking... for perhaps Neverlie might be embellishing?
"Hm... well... If I recall--"
"How long have you been away? Caw, caw, pipipi."
Amusingly, Erstwhile now found himself faced with two adorable, frowning fae; One objectively concerned about the state of his affairs-- the other, so deeply aware of and involved in them that she couldn't help but be upset. While a pair of hands pressed at tiny hips and sparkling eyes bored his way, two other hands pressed at his face-- squishing his cheeks gently, as if to admonish him childishly. Neverlie's pout, even upside down, was every bit as intimidating as it was amusing.
"800 mortal years! Enough to bring this fae to tears!" She complained, though obvious pleading carried through in her words. "One hundred cycles had he reigned as patron of our clan-- And then he left us suddenly, to walk these mortal lands! Caw, caw, pipipi!"
"Now, now, Neverlie... You know I can't stay in one place for long."
"Now, now, Neverlie... You know I can't stay in one place for long. Caw, caw, pipipi-- Tyrnalhann, return with me at least this once to our domain-- your children miss you, such is plain!"
Erstwhile's shoulder's slumped a bit, and he sighed. Neverlie didn't usually complain this much-- maybe it had been too long since he'd visited...
Veride's eyes were wide as dinner plates.
"Eight hundred years!?" She exclaimed, hardly believing the words. "Oh.. Erstwhile.. or should I say- King of Autumn?" She pouted thoughtfully at that one. "That time is far too long for a proper king to be away from his people. "
No wonder Neverlie was in such a state!
"Surely you must miss your wards and your keep? Why... I couldn't even tell you when the Queen or Springtime ever left our court. Why.. it's unheard of! And I wouldn't believe it if I wouldn't have seen such sincerity from Neverlie."
"Surely, you see? Even the green one agrees with me! Caw, caw, pipipi!"
When was the last time Erstwhile had found himself on the receiving end of a scolding from more than just Neverlie, the autumn king couldn't help but woncer? He had many a subject-- some more 'cordial' than others, but while he had spent serval cycles overseeing the absolute necessities of his role (and, admittedly, little else), he couldn't quite recall the last time anyone other than Neverlie had made note of it. Admittedly, it was rather amusing to watch.
"Hm... well, I suppose you have a point. My dearest attendant does such a good job of handling the day-to-day affairs of our kin that it slips my mind to check in on them once in a while." As if to accentuate his point, the autumn king folded his arms, raised his right hand to his chin, and pondered for a time. The evening sparrow picked at her feathers, pruning herself-- a tick of anxiety she'd developed over the years as the second in command of the autumn clan. Her body drifted on a cool wind as she waited for a response-- little 'hnnn's and 'hrmm's and 'pipipi's escaping her lips as her anxiety boiled over.
"...Oh, what harm could a quick visit do. I need to tend to the Spider Lilies, anywho."
Now it was Neverlie's turn to gawk wide-eyed at the king, if only for a moment, before excitedly swooping in to deliver the firmest of hugs around his neck, beyond elated with his response-- and his wordplay wasn't lost on her either. "TRULY SO!? VERILY!? Caw, caw, pipipi! My Tyrnalhann returns to me!" She practically screamed, the most emotion the fairy of crows had thus far shown-- the most positive, at least. Erstwhile simply chuckled a little at her elation, before looking over toward Veride.
"Tell me, how has the Queen been? It's been... a rather many cycles since I've set foot in the Unseelie Court. I normally send Neverlie in my stead."
Veride brightened nearly as much as Neverlie had and gentle stargazer lillies unfolded where her hair rested on the ground at her feet.
"That's fantastic news! I'm sure your entire court will be dancing to see you return!" She gushed. And at rhe mention of flowers.. her eyes went wide, curious as she moved nearer to his autumn majesty.
"Spider lilies? Oh, those sound like an interesting of flower!" Her hair seemed to actually perk up, in its volume - as well as shade. Her eyes, as ever, danced in a multitude of colors, not unlike those of an opal.
"I don't think I've ever had the pleasure to see such a flower!" And she gasped, for such a thing was quite rare! "Is it a rare autumn bloom?"
"Among the rarest, in fact. I was very pleased to find them in my little corner of the faelands— they so rarely show up anywhere else. So I made them a part of my garden, right in front of my home. They have such a pretty red color; like the kiss of dusk on the evening sun, or the freshest drops of blood from a deer's wound. They really do brighten the garden in their own way."
Erstwhile closed his eyes and reminisced on his "home". It was still too early for him to return there permanently, but he did enjoy stopping by every so often to ensure that things were still in good enough shape. The lilies were healthy, the fallen leaves were tended to, and that the living trees were properly obscuring the dying ones— plenty of shade for the mushrooms, you see.
"In fact... if you're so curious, why don't you—"
"ABSOLUTELY NOT. NEITHER A CHANCE, NOR A SHOT."
Oh, my. Neverlie had gone from swooning to near-swearing curses upon her 'Dearest Tyrnalhann' in seconds, removing herself from his neck and glaring the harshest, most rotten death into his eyes. That is to say, she seemed a sliiiiiight bit displeased at whatever idea Erstwhile was about to propose. "'Why don't you', 'why don't we'? Why don't you ask your Autumn Queen!? Or any of your subjects, mind; You'll find their answers not so kind!" She fumed; her midnight feathers bristling with disdain as she gave a pointed gaze towards Veride. "Green is not our way; In our kingdom she'd last not a day!"
"...How about an afternoon?"
"How about an afternoon? Caw, caw, pipipi— an outright pain, you tend to be!"
Veride looked about ready to burst. Neverlie didn't need to intervene, because it was far, far too late now. The words had come out and the young spring fae suddenly threw herself bodily at the Autumn King and began to take his hands as her laughter tinkled all around them. And she twirled and twirled with him as she gushed out more words than was seemingly possible about her excitement before she was all but glowing with color.
The perfume from the sudden explosion of flowers that bloomed upon, not only Veride, but the poor autumn fae around her, was overwhelming, even the entire grass beneath their feet was carpeted in the sweetest, tiniest Blooms of a thousand pastel colors. And somehow, Veride's hair had grown as well, lengthening into a great pile about their feet and equally hidden along with her ankles and toes within the flower bed that continued to bloom.
"I would love to see the Autumn court!"
Neverlie let out quite the loud 'CAW'— the loudest that she'd thus far 'caw'ed in the presence of the other two fae, who were now happily laughing and swinging about joyfully at the idea of a visit to the Autumn faelands. At the very least, it made sense for Tyrnalhann to rejoice— it was his HOMELAND after all, his kingdom of withering rot and beautiful decay that he so rarely took the time to tend to— but a SPRING FAE!?
"Surely you jest! My dearest king, I MUST protest! The madness this would bring— ware you not the wrath of Summer's King!?" There was more desperate pleading in Neverlie's chirping eloquences than anger now, as she flew betwixt Erstwhile and Veride— gagging at the veritable fog of putrid perfumes and frivolous frills that had all but enveloped them to pull Erstwhile away, ending their little dance early.
"Ah, yes— I've not spoken with them in some time. I wonder how they're doing these days. Likely leading the majority of summer's stories from the front, as always, if I—"
"Caw, caw, pipipi! Listen carefully to me! We cannot know the consequence of ickle Spring in Autumn— Hence, if aught befalls the smelly fae, I fear my king shall rue the day!"
Quite the grave concern, Neverlie brought to light. And certainly, she wasn't wrong; The four clans of the season's fae were typically quite cordial with one another, unless one clan acted outside of its role within the cycle. Spring and Autumn were polar opposites— it was rare for such fae to meet outside of the unseelie court, but unheard of for harm to befall a Spring fae at the hands of Autumn. It could start all manner of chaos if something were to happen to Veride... a thought which Neverlie could visibly see crossing Erstwhile's mind.
Which is probably why her groan of disdain was made all the louder when he eventually replied, "Right! Well just have to be extra careful then."
Despite her exuberance gushing from her form, she did not miss the caution cawed by Neverlie. She settled in place and cocked her head thoughtfully.
"Is the Autumn court so dangerous?" Veride couldn't help but ask. Upon meeting their King, she simply presumed it was much like her own.. then she audibly gasped as she remembered her own court's terrible dangers.
"Surely it couldn't be any more dangerous than spring. "
..could it?
Perhaps Veride had grown a second head.
Perhaps her flourishing hair, so vibrant and full of blossoms and blooms, had been set ablaze in a fury of rage and red.
Perhaps she'd become a mortal!
Any and all of these were just as like to be true, when both Neverlie and Erstwhile alike stopped their bickering, as if entranced or shocked by something beyond their kin, and turned to look at Veride with blank, if not speechless expressions. And stare they did, for a time, with naught but the wind and a stray field mouse to break the silence.
...And then both laughed. Vigorously. Heartily. Yet there was always a clear difference between the Fairy King and his closest follower— for where Erstwhile laughed 'with' Veride, Neverlie very pointedly laughed 'at' Veride.
"'Surely it couldn't be any more dangerous than spring.' Never I, Neverlie, shall hear so hilarious a thing! Caw, caw, pipipi!" Impressive, truly— The Fairy of Crows rarely lose her composure, yet Veride had managed it from each possible angle— mirthful laughter and fathomless frustration alike. Erstwhile, in turn, was just as amused— though there was a far clearer innocence in his joy, as he laughed for a different reason.
"The four courts are alike in that regard— Their beauty and their malignity." He explained, both to Neverlie and Veride. "Indeed, we of the Unseelie can be quite a bit... 'too playful' at times. But... having said that, not all of my subjects are quite like me. For instance... many of my subjects only tell lies," He continued, before looking specifically to Neverlie, "While others like to tease and fuss." This, of course, earned him an indignant pout— which he promptly ignored.
"The spider in my garden... might be a little bit of a problem. She very much does enjoy the taste of Spring fae. The more vibrant, the better."