The Fae King's Ruin

The Princess Who Presides

It was long, it was winding, and Aislin felt like a ticking time bomb, only a handful of minutes away from storming out of the Silver Hall in frustration at the way their first Great Council meeting was going.

The first thing she learned about the Seelie Fae was that they were governed by their tradition and formality.

Perhaps dominantly so.

A bunch of ceremonies opened the floor and, being Unseelie, Aislin knew nothing about it nor did she believe in any of it. She did not sing their hymns or pray prayers to a god she had only heard terrible things about, emphasizing how much of an outsider she truly was amongst all these delegates, except her own. But even that was not comforting as she noticed both Lord Elrin and Aelthrys did not seem bothered by all the pomp and circumstance.

Or perhaps they both were just learned in the art of looking interested and respectful even if they were really not.

Through a particularly long privilege speech by one of the Seelie delegates, she thought of which parts of her education as a princess would convert well to her task now of being queen. Aislin highly doubted that her expertise in poison would help her cause in such a thing, but perhaps flirting would do the trick. She didn’t think that using her feminine wiles would work on many of these hardened Faes to get what she wanted, but it might not hurt to try.

As she wondered, her eyes landed on the Seelie King. Through the misty anger that filtered her view of him, she did notice that he looked less gaunt than the last time they saw each other. The shadows under his eyes were gone. He’s also filled out quite a bit, leaving only the sharp lines of his jaw and cheekbones. He seemed to listen intently to the words being spoken by his delegate to the council, giving Aislin the impression that he was naturally keen on listening to anyone who spoke, no matter their station.

That, or he was really skilled at pretending.

Unfortunately— or fortunately— Aislin was not entirely convinced that King Avery was someone who pretended much. From what she saw the day the Unseelie Fae were defeated, Avery did not do much away with pretense. He seemed honest, even with his intentions. Aislin had never encountered many honest people in her life. She did not know what to do with this one.

His golden eyes snapped up to meet hers all of a sudden. Aislin locked her muscles and features, controlling how much of her surprise showed as every single person in the room turned to her.

“Princess Aislin,” he murmured, and she was reminded of how velvety his voice sounded, much like butter against toast. “Allow me to welcome you and your delegates formally to Alfheim. Would you or any of your companions like to speak in front of the Great Council?”

A pregnant silence followed. Her ears rang from the lack of noise and her palms began to sweat as she realized why their shock felt like crackling, deafening energies in the air.

The Seelie delegates never thought the king would go out of his way and let the Princess, much less an Unseelie, speak.

They thought they would have an uncontested monopoly on the Council.

They thought she would demure and graciously refuse.

Aislin stretched her lips into a semblance of a warmer, more pleasant smile than the one she previously kept on and stood.

Although her education involved more than just etiquette or hosting, she did make use of making it seem like she was floating across the room, her burgundy skirts making soft, whispering sounds against the translucent, diamond floors. She stopped in the middle of the room before tipping her chin just low enough to acknowledge the King, but not enough to make it seem like they were not on even footing.

Because, as she reminded herself, they were. Aislin might be called a princess now, but she is technically a queen. She maintained a straight back, not once ever looking behind her to seek approval from Aelthrys or her uncle.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” she said, making sure her diction and tone were flawless. “If I may, I would like to voice out a point that this Great Council should like to consider.”

Brows were raised in her direction. King Avery bowed his head.

“The floor is yours, Your Grace.”

Aislin nodded, then turned her back on him in one fluid motion.

“I know very well that this is a pivotal moment in the histories of our race,” Aislin started, refusing to acknowledge her pounding heart and the intent stares of many despite meeting them eye to eye. "The creation of this Great Court to combine the Seelie and Unseelie fae heralds a new dawn in the age we live in; a massive feat that ensures the prosperity of our race, in a harmony that none of our predecessors could attempt. This moment is the beginning of a legacy that would prevail thousands of years after we are gone from this earth.

"As such, this Great Court, and everyone within, will be seen as the standard our people will look up to and we must begin shaping that conduct within this very hall, at this very moment. A new set of procedures that we can all agree upon before we continue on and discuss pertinent matters— a new tradition, you could say, but one that will make us work more effectively and efficiently.”

“Do you have an example for us, Your Highness?" the only other lady in the room asked Aislin, blue eyes sparkling underneath her heavy brows.

"Most certainly," she said. "Take this first meeting of ours: while I certainly found myself enlightened by Lord Balfest's short dissertation on why we should put on our list of priorities capitalizing on golden-spotted mushrooms, wouldn't the Council agree that we should conserve precious time that could be spent serving our people and get right to the agenda we have set forth?"

Aislin maintained her air of innocence throughout her entire monologue, as well as through answering the question given to her but inside, the princess was brimming with utter satisfaction. She regarded it as a success all around, especially when the King was eyeing her with such interest that, in another situation entirely, she supposed she should be offended by.

But that was not all. Everyone, with the exception of her cousin, was staring at her in a way that Aislin knew changed how they viewed her. In what way, she was yet to find out, but at least she had made it abundantly clear that while her inexperience may be seen as a crutch, she was not some princess who was a complete i***t.

She deserved her crown and she deserved to represent her people, and they better damn well listen.

"Fair words," King Avery commended, leaning forward in his seat and eyeing the others. "Indeed, I must say I share Princess Aislin's sentiments on the matter. This is our chance to do something that will create waves bigger than ourselves. New traditions should be a given, as well on proceedings on how to conduct this Great Court. Thank you, Princess."

She, however, was not done. Angling her head to the side, Aislin asked, "Will you preside alone, Your Majesty, speaking entirely from the purview of the Seelie Fae, or will you let me, the closest equivalent to your station my people currently have, share that position?"

The King glanced at the others around the room, chuckling as a thought occurred to him. "New traditions, indeed," he seemed to say to himself before saying louder, "Very well. The sovereigns of both courts shall preside over the Great Council for the time being, until it is decided by the Council otherwise."

With that, Avery looked at her, his golden eyes a little warmer now, as Aislin carefully bowed her head again and went back to her throne. To her right, Aelthrys blinked at her, the only sign he would ever show of his surprise and approval. Aislin nodded at him as well, telling him all he needed to know.

Because all she did wasn’t only for her; everything was for them.

For freedom.

For a future within a new world that would take them seriously, even if she had to make them.

This time, she purposefully met the King’s gaze. He was already looking at her when she did, and she almost laughed at how easily she could see every thought that was running through his head. She was glad she confused him, that she was not what he expected her to be. Better to shatter his preconceived notions about her now rather than later, because while being underestimated might work for others, Aislin wanted to be sure he knew very well what he was up against.

She wanted his eyes wide open as she changed the world.