From being an Abandoned who had rarely left the Hollowed Grounds, to embracing the call of adventure, to dying and being reborn first as an Ascended and then as an Ancient, Maea has gone through quite the amount of changes in her life. One thing remains common, though, in her attempts to find out just where she belongs; she’s always had a craving for knowledge which has brought her to so many places and to meet so many people here in Caido. We can’t wait to see what else is in store for her!
Congratulations, Maea!
Credits
Court of the Fallen was created in October of 2018 by Odd, Honey, and Crooked.
Skinning and hosting by the epically talented Kaons, and functionality fanciness by the coding magic of Neowulf. If you ever see either of them around, make sure to show them some love!
In the wake of his talk with Gideon, Harper ventures out of the temple and simply…wanders. There is much to mull over and consider. A worldview left changed and altered, and only the surety of the staff in his hand as it strikes the pavement in time to his feet seems to lend any stability to his mind.
It’s almost a habit, to end up in the seediest parts of towns. Old vigilante compass directing him to areas of conflict and underhanded dealings. The best place to find intel, to protect working girls, to help the impoverished with deftly slipped coins and bills. Such things are less necessary now in Caido, and these people don’t know Harper, have no reason to trust him like those in Torchline do. Still, the crowds here are easier to disappear into.
Realistically he knows he’s avoiding thinking about why he’s really drawn here. The desperate hope that perhaps he will find Phoebe here.
Her silence and absence had kept him from visiting Stormbreak for nearly a season, terrified to arrive and find her missing anew. Lost to him all over again after just getting her back. But he couldn’t avoid it any longer after Gideon’s sermon - so now he must face the reality of the situation. Either he finds her, or he does not, and he must consider that perhaps he has lost her again.
The nightingale appear'd the first And as her melody she sang
It did not occur to Phoebe that her silence would have drawn concern from Harper. In her optimism or naivete, she simply believed him busy with his work for Safrin. To her knowledge, he had not tried to contact her either - though it was likely much easier for her to consider him safe than the other way around. He was a skilled fighter. She sometimes struggled to open jar lids.
Well. Not lately. But her newfound strength still escaped her at times.
The Nightingale had found herself amongst the Silk Houses with regularity these days. As the demigoddess of Frey, she was trusted and her skills as a healer and midwife came very much in handy amongst those with lesser means. She descended the stairs of one of the seedier brothels - one she was hoping she could improve the lives of those who called it home a little. Her vantage point did give her a nice view of the crowd though, and her face lit up to see one face amongst it. "Harper!" she called waving as she hurried down the steps to greet him.
The apple into blossom burst To life the grass and violets sprang
Harper is not unused to people calling his name in crowds. Torchline had come to know him rather well - Halenani workers, other surfers, Inn employees, friends and Government officials alike. Being such a friendly person often meant that a single errand could take hours, distracted and detoured by various conversations. As such when his name is called, Harper turns automatically towards the sound of his name with a summoned smile before the voice ever registers.
Atop the stoop, Phoebe is easy to spot when his head turns, and Harper’s chest gives a lurch not unlike the day he’d found her after she became Frey’s demigoddess. A little easier to bear now at least with the smaller amount of time he has had to go without her. Still, his smile is relieved at the edges even as it spreads like wildfire into a full grin, gracefully weaving through the crowd on light feet to run up the steps and take her in his arms, heedless of those who grumpily move around them. “Phoebe! I didn’t hear from you for so long, and I was afraid - but you’re here, and I found you.” No point in putting words to his anxieties when now they can be put to rest. Dropping a kiss on her forehead he reluctantly parts, arms still held around her but with more space between them. “I have so much to tell you. Do you need to go back inside?” Blue eyes flitting to the door to ensure he could steal her away for the day, hopeful that her errands were complete.
The nightingale appear'd the first And as her melody she sang
His speed surprised her, catching her still on the steps. But she happily buried her face in his chest, hugging him tight. Her face tilted up as words of concern and relief tumbled from his lips, brows furrowing. "You were doing important work for Safrin. I didn't want to bother you. Did I miss a message from you?" she asked, concerned she had somehow encouraged his own trepidation with a lack of responsiveness.
The midwife glanced back at the door briefly before shaking her head. "No, I was just leaving. Lets go somewhere to talk." she said with a small smile.
The apple into blossom burst To life the grass and violets sprang
He’s reluctant to leave any space between them admittedly, but if he has any hope of understanding her words they can’t be spoken while mashed against his chest. “I didn’t know where to send it,” he admits, though now he wishes he’d tried sooner. While it’s true he’d been busy doing Safrin’s work, the time away from her has been time spent pacing and missing her.
Her assurance is all he needs to wrap his arm around her waist and escort them both down the steps and into the crowd at her side. “Have you eaten, love?” Harper’s eyes scour the businesses lining the street for those selling food preemptively. Privacy isn’t hard to find here, and he feels more confident talking about Safrin and the war in Stormbreak than anywhere else, so whatever she chooses is fine by him.
The nightingale appear'd the first And as her melody she sang
Well at least she hadn't missed something! She smiled and leaned up to kiss his cheek. "Phoebe Steadman, Demigoddess of Frey, Stormbreak." she said with a light laugh and a shrug. Enough people knew her by now that she wasn't difficult to find. Moreover she wouldn't be surprised if the Order knew she had arrived already and checked the mail anyways so might as well take advantage of it.
Her head shook as they started off, her own arm wrapping around his waist. "There is a tavern at the road entrance. They make a lovely pot pie." she said, fingers pressing gently against his side to guide the way. Phoebe's eyes kept returning to the stick he held though. His gait seemed normal but..."You didn't get hurt did you? Why've you a walking stick?"
The apple into blossom burst To life the grass and violets sprang
His grin only softens as her lips touch his cheek. “True. I’m amazed how advanced Stormbreak is in comparison to the other lands.” Where carrier birds got confused and you had to be specific about where to find the person you intended to communicate with.
Arms comfortably wrapped around one another, Harper maneuvers them through the crowd towards the entrance as soon as Phoebe gives the word. “Magic words there: pot pie.” A dramatic moan leaves him at the idea, wanting to bathe in the shine of her smile that always dawns at the sight of his antics.
Attention drawn back to his staff as if only just remembering it’s there with how it has so readily become a fixture in his life, Harper squeezes Phoebe’s side to ease any minor worries. “No, it’s a staff. It breaks into two for my fighting style. It’s a staff Safrin gave me, and it can nullify Ascended magic in a small radius when I touch the star symbol on it.” There’s a warmth to his expression, a contentment that he had found his place at Safrin’s side - found his purpose here in Caido at long last.
The nightingale appear'd the first And as her melody she sang
Phoebe smiled brightly. "Is this more like your world? It is much more advanced than the one I grew up in." she said conversationally as they walked. The petite blonde laughed at his antics, nudging his hip with her own. "I know what my man likes." she said, lifting her brows in quick succession. Ah, a good old innuendo. Would it still make him blush like it used to?
A sigh left her lips, shoulders slumping as he squeezed her side and attention fixated on his words rather than his gait. "What a wonderful gift! You'll have to show me how you fight with it sometime!" she said brightly, changing course slightly to direct them into the tavern. Sitting on the edge of different parts of town, it was a mix of seedy bar and quality food establishment. Decent prices, good food, bar fights discouraged.
"So, tell me everything!" she said, taking a seat at a table in a more private corner.
The apple into blossom burst To life the grass and violets sprang
"It's the closest I've seen so far," he agrees mildly, fingers tapping a gentle rhythm against her hip, incapable of ever sitting still. The nudge against his own interrupts it, but he squeezes with his hand and laughs, pressing another kiss to her temple as they walk, helplessly in love. Even after all this time, his cheeks still flush red at her innuendo, but at least he can still keep her gaze. Baby steps. "And I reap all the rewards for it." He wiggles his brows dramatically back at her, humor always more familiar to him than flirtations as his lips part in a grin.
"Of course! It's been some time since you've trained with me anyway," he notes, recalling their last. How far they've come since then, he muses, heart full and warm. It carries him through to the moment they are seated, and never dims even when he is faced with all that has happened since they parted. "It's a lot," he warns ahead of time, though he's sure Phoebe won't mind - just as Harper won't when he asks what she has been up to in return.
"I went to see Safrin, as you know. I asked how I could help, with the war coming, and she had me install bolts on the Skyboat dock that would keep any Ascended from getting near it without feeling a lot of discomfort." Easy enough to achieve, though he hopes she is proud of him for doing so expediently and without anyone noticing. "She also made me the staff." Here he twists and separates it into two, setting the individual pieces side-by-side on the far end of the table. A waitress comes by with their drinks, and Harper pauses for a moment to smile at her, giving their thanks as the glasses are set on the table. Taking a sip of one, he holds out his hand to Phoebe.
"And then..." Dark, inky feathers spread over his forearm. He's sure he doesn't need to explain it aloud, but he's eager to do so anyway. "She Attuned me." Harper is nearly glowing with the pride of it all, still amazed at all that she had done and given him that night. Letting Phoebe examine the feathers if she likes, and make any commentary, Harper waits before mentioning anything of Gideon - or the other thoughts on his mind. He would rather celebrate the good before speaking of the darker things.
The nightingale appear'd the first And as her melody she sang
His blush made her grin, snickering at his expense. But soon enough the moment was past and now they sat in the tavern, the midwife anxiously awaiting his tale. "I'm sure I can handle it." she said with a light laugh. Phoebe had experienced how overwhelmingly full the seasons in Caido could be. It was no surprise that much had happened in the time that he was away.
A serious calm fell of the Nightingale as Harper began his tale, eyes wide and attentive. So Safrin had indeed had a good task in mind for him to help with the war efforts. Not that it surprised her much - he was a good, honest, and skilled young man. He was just the sort of person a goddess might wish to work through, knowing her tasks would be placed in trustworthy hands. Then her eyes turned to the staff with great interest, examining the two pieces now that they were apart. It didn't look remarkable to her, but she knew not all things blessed by the gods displayed their spectacular qualities so boldly.
Before she could reach out to touch it though, a drink was placed into her hands, and so she settled for sipping that instead.
It seemed the biggest surprise yet remained. She gasped quietly as feathers began to sprout from his arm. "You're attuned!" she said brightly, near in sync with his own admission of the change. "What is your shift?" she asked curiously. A bird, clearly, but what kind of bird precisely? Placing her hand over his, she beamed at him, face alight with joy. "I am so proud of and happy for you. It seems you've finally found a bit of the purpose you had been searching for in this world."
The apple into blossom burst To life the grass and violets sprang
She is an attentive listener, and he loves that about her. It makes it so much easier to bask in the better memories of the season, to share that which has transpired while they've been apart. His excitement is her own, and his heart melts anew to see it - she shares in his triumphs and victories, just as he does in hers. Surely he must look dopey sitting there staring unblinking into her face, smile lovestruck, but nobody seems to look over into the private booth anyway.
Her hand is warm over his own, and he turns his hand palm up to gently wrap his fingers around her wrist and squeeze, conveying his excitement as her words harmonize with his own in realization. "Two, actually. A gore crow, and an elephant." He'd only just discovered the second, and had broken down crying on his own when he'd realized, heart shredded with memories of the ones that had effectively raised him in the circus. Harper had not found any of their kind in Caido, and he had spent some time on his knees, thanking Safrin for the shape his soul had taken. A memory to carry in physicality.
"It's a start," he agrees, holding her tight. "She also had me use bolts that she made for me on the Skyboat launch in Torchline, so that Ascended could not approach it to tamper with the vessels." To carry out such a thing in her name had been validating, and had firmly set Harper in Safrin's light in regards to his usefulness to her n the war. But that also sealed his fate in so many other ways. "I also...well..." sighing, his confidence leaves him as the better news runs out, leaving only darker tales. But he must tell her. The situation and the timing don't matter - they will never be good enough, and he knows that. Knows he will use them as excuses to postpone this talk, and he can't do that. He values their relationship too much to hide the hard parts; they deserve the chance to work through them together.
"Gideon, the priest here, held a sermon of sorts in Torchline that turned into more of a mob. So I came here, to speak with him. The rest...it's all been about the war, and while it gives me purpose..." Faltering anew, Harper fights to not withdraw his hand, to close off as he always does when talk of his past comes up. "I am scared of what it might do to me. The places it will take me, the man it will turn me into - the one I used to be. I'm scared you will see it, and realize you cannot love me through it."
The nightingale appear'd the first And as her melody she sang
Her eyes widened at the news. "An elephant" she said in awe. Gore crow was impressive sure, but compared to something as massive as an elephant?! She could hardly fathom it! And that he had been able to secure the port as well as the skyboats? "Safrin must be pleased with you. I'm so proud." she repeated with a grin. He had waited for a chance to find his place here, and it seemed the goddess of the stars was willing to give it to him.
But the joy dropped as quickly as it had risen. Brows furrowed as her expression fell with concern. Again she waited in silence, letting him get out all he needed to. However, this time, as he fell silent, she remained the same, eyes falling to the table. "I wish..." she started, pausing to finally look up at him. "I wish I knew what to say or do so you could trust that I'm not going anywhere. That I'm not so...petty or weak." The Nightingale paused, squeezing his hand back. "The challenge ahead of you is brutal. I know that. And I know it will be hard at times, but I promise I can and will love you through it."
The apple into blossom burst To life the grass and violets sprang
Her appreciation for the news warms his heart. She has heard tale after tale of those early days, rose-tinted and cherished, and it only proves how she listens. Cares. He loves her, and it's terrifying. It steals the words from his throat, crippling the atmosphere, and that only adds to the burden of guilt he feels. Kova had known him so early, been at his side during the worst, darkest, bloodiest parts of his history - or at least the parts where he'd been free, and his own man. Culpable. But Phoebe? She knew only the gentle, goofy man he'd always been.
As she squeezes his hand, she will find his own listless, limp. "It's not you I'm worried about, not really," he murmurs, cringing internally at the cliche. Harper's other hand joins the first upon the table, both turning palm up as if he could see the blood on them despite their current cleanliness. "It doesn't change who I am, now. I can't call myself a different person, who I am when I'm...like that. But it's something I've never let you see, because it's not something you should have to witness, not as you are; kind, empathetic, someone who heals instead of harms." Things that were integral to who Phoebe was as a person. Reasons Harper had intentionally hidden this part of his history from her, because it was so at odds with her own soul. "The man I am, what I'm capable of at those times?" Tortured blue eyes drag their way back up to hers. "I don't deserve to be loved, like that."
Sighing, the hand she isn't holding rises to rake through his curls. "But if it's something I have to do, to help keep the casualties of this war to a minimum? To protect you? Then I have to risk scaring you away." Taking a moment to sip listlessly at his drink, Harper swallows hard before setting the glass back down, empty. "And if it does scare you, I don't want you staying because you gave your word. I wanted to warn you, or talk about it, beforehand." He won't push her away, won't sever these ties between them, because he loves her. Respects her autonomy. But it isn't easy either, to consider talking about these gaps in his history that he has shielded her from.
The nightingale appear'd the first And as her melody she sang
In response to his loose grip, she reached out to clasp his hand in both of hers. She listened in silence once more, brows furrowing with concern. "For not being your concern, really, there is an awful lot of worry about me seeing how you cope with the trauma of war." she said lightly, only half joking to bring some levity to the conversation. She had seen him think himself into a pit of despair before and didn't want to see him spiral over what ifs.
"Everyone has different faces for different situations. Even the gods." she said gently. Sometimes literally in the cases of Frey and Ludo. "I may be a healer and empathetic, but I am not that niaeve. My homeland was war torn my entire life. My stay here in Caido hasn't been any more peaceful. I heal because I can't fight, and those who can need healing. You included." she said with a small smile. Her sunny disposition made it easy to forget that she was no stranger to the horrors of the world. Rose colored glasses did not skew her gaze.
"If you scare me, I know it is because you're hurting. But you'll always have a soft place to land with me - not because of a promise, but because I love you." she said, hoping to ease his worries.
The apple into blossom burst To life the grass and violets sprang
