Elysteria;

[Tiphon]

We danced with monsters through the night The Dale's grip on him is loosening. It's no longer smothering him as it had when his reign first began. It has weighed him down greatly, consumed him, but he is now beginning to breath. It could be the mere presence of his own children that sparks something inside him or the adoration that his heart embraces when Elysteria and Talulah come to mind. A smile traces along his mouth as he idly wanders the Dale's hilly fields. He peers up at the jagged mountains in the distance and the rich, azure sky. The kingdom is an image of perfection and beauty, but so few find themselves adoring it. For generations, even before his own reign, it struggled with its numbers as many find themselves more eager to side with lights or darks, never in the gray. It's disgruntling, sometimes even disheartening, but Tiphon is unable to truly give up on it. There is an abundance of untapped potential that is simply waiting to make its entrance. With a gentle sigh, the angel alters his path and turns himself toward the sweet smell of summer and happiness. There is a child's laughter in the near distance that entices him closer until he is standing near Elysteria. "Hello," his voice is velvet as it cradles her, "How are you and Joscelin?" He easily recalls their daughter's name from the initial meeting as his head turns to look at the beauty they have created together. This is what he has most certainly missed. Tiphon infection and starlace

picture by random-acts-stock on deviant art

[Elysteria]

love is a temporary madness...

She feels so much of what he does when she gazes out upon the Dale. Every day she awakens to the sight of these hills and valleys, and she can only see the beauty, the potential. The land calls to her in a way that no other place had before. For so long, she had been a wanderer, adrift in this vast and endless world. It is ironic that the first place that had truly tethered her had been the land of her birth, so very long ago. But she had grown to cherish it in a way that few could understand. And one of those few happened to be approaching her at that very moment.

She is grazing, her strong, blunt teeth easily clipping long blades of (rather dry) late summer grass. As soon as she sees him, her delicate head rises as her dark ears tip forward. Joscelin has been chasing heaven’s know what off in the distance. As the filly had grown older, she had taken to wandering farther and farther afield. Elysteria worries, but she has been attempting to prevent herself from becoming too overbearing. She recognizes that she had been smothering her rambunctious child with her (over)protection and has been making a point of restraining herself. Everything she had done in her upbringing of Joscelin had been cautious and careful. And though she knows what had happened with Joscelin’s long dead siblings could never happen to her, such long-held fears were difficult to let go.

When Tiphon approaches, Joscelin does not immediately notice. Caught up in her childish merriment, she is not paying attention in the slightest as her mother greets the white and gold stallion, a bright smile upon her lips.

“We are well, thank you. Though Joscelin seems in no mood to join us.”

She pauses, a laugh spilling easily from her lips as her cinnamon gaze finds their red and white daughter. She appears to be following something, her nose to the ground, some distance from where they stand.

“You know, I really have no idea what she is doing.”

A small, fond smile continues to curve her lips as her gaze shifts to Tiphon. She leans forward to brush his shoulder with quiet affection. An affection she had been too reserved to display at their previous, all too brief meeting. An affection that she had once been too terrified to give. Before Joscelin had come into this world and changed everything.

elysteria

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[Tiphon]

We danced with monsters through the night A sigh of solace, of happiness, is exhaled into her mane when Elysteria leans into him. A smile, hidden beneath her locks, tells stories of the joy that she - and now their daughter - bring him. For decades Tiphon had told himself to never attach himself to anyone but he succumbed to that internal need for adoration and companionship. What began as a promise to protect transitioned into something far greater and more intimate. Never did he think he would find himself with a family, and one that he cares so deeply for. His first children were out of lust and instinct, but with age Tiphon has grown more complex and understanding of what it is to truly live. What it is to love. He breathes her in slowly as though afraid this moment will pass him by. For a heartbeat, he looks up to see Joscelin in the thicket and an airy laughter tumbles from him and across Elysteria. "She gets it from your side of the family," he bumps her in jest before resting his chin on her back. "She's beautiful," he's referring to their daughter playing in her own world of innocent bliss, "but what will she do as she grows up?" It has almost been haunting him as of late. He wants his children to prosper and enjoy life, but how can he ensure that? A breath catches in Tiphon's throat as his inches back so that his eyes may search Elysteria's. "Scorch has requested her daughter to be an heir to the Dalean throne, but I won't give her the satisfaction of letting her be a sole ruler." It's obvious in the way he sternly looks at her that he has contemplated this for weeks, maybe months. "Ramiel will be my heir when I step down. So that leaves our sweet Joscelin." He leans forward to touch her, to feel the warmth of her skin against his own. With a predicament such as this he finds himself searching for answers. "Shall Joscelin remain here with a high rank to outnumber the Jungle princess, or do we find a suitor for her in hopes that she will be a future Queen in another kingdom?" For a moments breath Tiphon considers that maybe he's putting in too much thought, but then he shakes his head. These are his children and their futures. He wants them to only have the best. Tiphon infection and starlace

picture by random-acts-stock on deviant art

[Elysteria]

love is a temporary madness...

A thrill of joy and contentment burst through her as his breath fans against her neck. There are few times in her life that she had felt so at peace. The fears that had plagued her since her youth had loosened their grip on her. Her daughter had taught her the true meaning of love. A wholesome and selfless love in which fear had no room for purchase. It had also taught her that the feelings blooming deep within her for Tiphon were not emotions she need fear either. They were so vastly different, and yet somehow still the same.

The soft, contented sigh escaping her lips turns easily into a laugh at Tiphon’s next words. And though the laugh fades, the smile remains, brightening her features. Her russet gaze follows their daughter as she replies.

“I am certain that I was never half so audacious at that age.”

Her expression turns thoughtful at his question. It had been on her mind often of late as well. Though bright and curious, Joscelin had displayed no strong drives or desires in any direction. She did not know in which direction her daughter might choose to go.

When he catches her gaze, she looks back at him, a hint of concern evident in her bright cinnamon eye. She remains silent for several heartbeats after he has finishes speaking, considering what he has said. When she does speak, her words are quiet and thoughtful.

“She needs training. She has such potential, and she is a natural leader, but she has no focus. Have you considered a trade with the Jungle?”

Though the thought of her daughter leaving breaks her heart, she knows she must do what is best for Joscelin. The only trouble is that she is not entirely certain she knows what is best for her.

“Perhaps we should ask her. I suspect she will object strongly if her future is decided without her consent.”

The thought causes a small smile to touch her dark lips. With the slight curve still lingering, she calls out to her daughter. The red and white filly glances up from the mushrooms she had been investigating, her small head turning in their direction. She remains still, as though debating whether or not to obey. The hesitation causes Elysteria to sigh softly in exasperation. Joscelin chooses that moment to (finally) obey, leaping into the air briefly before landing with a soft thump before them. Her large, golden eyes glance between the two of them, curiosity tinged by a hint of defiance evident in their depths.

What?

elysteria

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[Tiphon]

We danced with monsters through the night Somehow, Tiphon finds relief in that Elysteria has been contemplating the same thing. She looks up at him with her eyes - such a rich cinnamon color - and he almost melts. Something deep stirs inside him and it ignites a smile as he holds steadily to her stare. "Training..." he repeats when he blinks and looks to Joscelin. His mind has been so wrapped around preparing Ramiel that he didn't consider the training necessary for his sweet Joscelin. "Of course..." A muted reprimand stabs into his thoughts for having disregarded something so critical but Elysteria's soft gaze reassures him. "I can certainly ask Scorch," because as he considers it now he realizes how one-sided it all seems. The Amazon princess is coming to be an heir while another son of his accompanies her. What is the Dale gaining beyond friendship? His eyes narrow thoughtfully but widen when Joscelin is called to them. A knot tumbles in his stomach. Why is it so uncomfortable to breach the topic? Why is he so worried about what his daughter will say or how she will react? A deep breath is swallowed as she joins them and looks up questioningly. A momentary hesitation silences Tiphon until he finally musters the strength to speak. "We want to know your opinion on a very important matter," he doesn't want to see her sent off, but realizes that it's an option. He can't as easily protect her then and that is frightening. "Ramiel will be inheriting the throne, Joscelin, but that leaves a plan for you up in the air. A bargain has been made with the Jungle to ensure an alliance. It entails their princess to be Queen of the Dale." The words are just tumbling out of his mouth but his sentences sound more staccato than fluid. He doesn't know how to ask her, or really what he's even asking until it finally slips from him. "Would you want to stay in the Dale with your brother? You'd be high ranked and would outnumber the Amazon princess. The other option is sending you to the Jungle." Finally, it's been said, but that doesn't make it any easier. Tiphon infection and starlace

picture by random-acts-stock on deviant art

[Elysteria]

love is a temporary madness...

She has been resisting the idea of her daughter growing up. She knows that her daughter will eventually hold some position of power, but she has been holding on so tightly to young, sweet Joscelin that she has not wished to see that her daughter is growing up. She had neglected her training. She does not doubt that her daughter would grow to be fair-minded and conscientious (she had provided her some training after all), but she had allowed her to run wild and be young, thinking that there would be plenty of time for this sort of training when she was older. But here she stands before them, caught in that stage between child and adult, curiosity and willfulness warring in her gaze, and (to Elysteria’s dismay) almost an adult already.

Regardless, Elysteria has little doubt she will grow to be a fine young mare with a little bit of polishing.

Joscelin watches her father, her interest immediately piqued as he mentions needing her opinion. If there is anything the red and white filly is good at, it is giving her opinion. She listens, concentration clear upon her features as her father speaks. And though she does not realize it, she wears her emotions on her sleeve. Her small nose scrunches in distaste as he mentions the throne. As far as she is concerned, Ramiel is welcome to the throne. She has yet to see what is so enthralling about the business of ruling a kingdom. She does not care much about the title she might have one day either. Another form of boring, in her opinion. When he mentions the Amazons, her pale ears perk up, eyes lighting with interest. She clearly remembers her first trip to the meadow, where she had met Ea (little does she realize that this is the Amazon princess of which he speaks). She had developed an interest in the Kingdom that day, had longed to visit. So when the option to go is handed to her upon a silver platter, what else can she do but take it?

I like the Jungle option best.

Elysteria sighs, her heart breaking ever so slightly at those words. As much as she might not wish to send her daughter away, she cannot deny that this may be what is best for her. Her russet gaze shifts to Tiphon, a mix of happiness and pain within their depths.

“I suppose we should speak to their Queen then.”

elysteria

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