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tfotababe · 2 years

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Chosen by the land

DESCRIPTION:

I got the idea from my last post. Jude and Cardan being able to control the weather with their mood. I kind of went a little crazy with my imagination and somehow altered (almost) everything about the original story… I also kinda made this because the fact that if Jude stays in Faerie for maybe a few hundred years and somebody drags her to the mortal world she would turn to dust right away because time would run for her again. I doubt Cardan would let that happen or that she would let that happen but I just need reassurance 😔😖🤧

Faerie!Jude (Might turn into a series or maybe just a compilation of scenes in an alternate universe where Jude is born almost fully Fae.)

P.S. If you could tell me what you think/places where you think I could improve in -- maybe it's my grammar, my use of words, or anything at all -- I'd really appreciate it :)

P.S.S. Tell me if you spotted a YOUR THRONE reference ;>

SYNOPSIS:

Jude is resentful of being born a Faerie. She hates how they look at her and how they speak of her. For all that, she can’t seem to let go of the land that makes her livid.

TAGS:

Alternate universe - Jude is born only 1/4 human and the rest is Fae || Scenario || High Queen Jude || Jude’s mom is half Fae || Romance || Maybe fluff in the future

Word count: 3, 272

Can also be read here (Canva) (Docs)

Ch. #1: A Mortal Fae (Next Ch. ->)

JUDE is staring at a reflection in the Lake of Masks. It’s another of ‘those’ days. Again, I hate myself. I hate my father for killing my mother and my mother for being stupid enough to anger a redcap. I hate that they were careless enough to let the situation get so out of hand that even as his anger has gone, as she was six feet under, their children are still affected by the phantom of what they did. Even now, fifteen years after, rumors still go around about a half-fae, half-human wife of a red cap trying to run away with a mortal man for the second time only to get slain. But of course, it would be talked about. The scene took place at a revel. A mortal man, holding the hand of a five-year-old Faerie, the well-known wife of the High General, carrying a pair of twin two-year-old toddlers. Only a few Fae had seen the actual thing happen. Still, who lied to you and said that Fae were private creatures? They have mouths after all, why not put it to good use? Thus, word spread.

JUDE stood up and headed home. I took my time walking through the trees. I breathed in the early morning scent. Faeries are nocturnal creatures. Most of them are asleep. I should be asleep. I’m one of them, after all. No, Fae is in my blood, but other than my horns, all of me looks human. The curves in my body could probably attest to that. Round breast, a curve in my waist and hip, thick legs, and full arms. Faes have flat bodies. I have features that are seemingly appropriate in both worlds, yet I’m still just a piece of a puzzle that fits perfectly but makes the whole image abnormal. I look human, but without glamour, people would be sure to give me a look. I could pretend my horns are part of a costume, but humans are curious creatures. Even as part of a costume they would take interest in my horns. In Elfhame, my head is the only thing Fae. In either, I would be found to be bizarre, strange, peculiar, an unnatural oddball.

JUDE reached her destination. I headed straight to my room. Careful not to wake anyone. When I reach my room, I jump into bed without changing my clothes. I would have to wake up later anyway. I could just wash up then. Right, I’ll sleep now to relieve myself of the things that tire me, to wake up again later to face the things I wanted to relieve myself of.

JUDE was woken up by Tatterfell. I woke up just as the sun was saying farewell. The sky was tinted with shades of yellow, red, and orange. It looked like fire. Fire, I hope to feel before I sleep again later. "You should wash your face before the water goes cold." Tatterfell’s voice broke my train of thought. I look at the small silver tub with a gold rim before dipping my hand in to test the water. The warm water felt nice. I must be really tired. I never thought that bathing or washing myself was a good thing. It felt more like a chore, time wasted. Had it not been for hygiene, I don’t think I would have done it. My mouth formed a small smile by itself at the thought. How amusing; I find my own thoughts laughable. I cup my hands to scoop the water and lean in closer to the small tub so as not to wet my dress. I dry my face and head to the bath that Tatterfell prepared. When I’m done, I get into a pleated rose beige-colored dress. It has a V-neck that, fortunately, shows little of my cleavage. It had bell-type sleeves. It was a simple dress. "Can you wrap my horns in some hair?" I asked Taterfell, who was currently hooking a pointed cincher around my waist. "So you assume that I can refuse?" Silence "Of course." I say, more steadily than I heard the voice in my head say it. "I can't, child. I have a debt to pay. " She says, finishing up the cinchers. Contrary to her tone, she ushered me softly toward the vanity and did as I had requested.

JUDE and Taryn headed to Noggle’s class. Breakfast was good. The cook did a great job today. "The dress… It looks really good on you. You look fresh…" Taryn told me in a hushed voice. I looked over to her and saw that she was already looking at me. Our eyes met, and we burst into a fit of giggles. Really, it’s nice to have a person who can give such compliments.

JUDE and Taryn arrived. Though we gained a few stares from the other Fae, we were lucky enough to not be faced by Cardan and his lackeys when we arrived. Anyway, getting watched like that was a normal thing for us. I saw a free place to lay our blanket. I pointed it to Taryn, then we started to fix our place to make it comfortable enough. "You two make even the dustiest corner seem extravagant with how unpleasantly basic you are." A proud voice carried through the air. Taryn put her hand over mine. "You're wrinkling the blanket." she whispered. My hand relaxed and my jaw felt lighter. I must have tensed up. I turn to face Cardan. I want to punch that smirk off his face. "Thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment. " I can’t help the smile that crawls over my face when I see their expressions turn into scowls. Valerian looked especially bitter. I felt the need to keep talking. "Our being basic, differing from the place must mean we look unique. You must be really forgettable if you can’t stand out in plain surroundings." I tease, fake pity evident in my voice. THUMP. I felt pain in my back, pressure on my wrists, and weight on my torso that wasn’t mine. Valerian tackled me and is currently on top of me. I saw a glimpse of the Fae around us. Most were smiling and leering. Some didn’t care. Cardan’s face is unreadable, Locke looked worried, Nicasia looked satisfied. Valerian… He was seething. "Valerian, Jude didn’t mean it!" Taryn said, urgency in her tone. "Cardan! Please stop him! Please, we’re sorry! " Taryn sounds like she isn’t breathing when she says that. Meanwhile, Valerian tries to land punches. I avoided the first, and by the second time, I was able to free myself. I pushed him off me with the left hand he let go of. "You dare consider yourself better than us!" He yelled, lips thinning with every word. My first blow landed straight on his nose. When my fist left his face, blood was dripping down. Before I could land another, Taryn had pulled me back with my arm. Cardan looked at me and said, "Valerian, stop that… '' He pauses, keeping his eyes on mine “Don’t dirty your hands. Let filth stay on the ground where it belongs." He didn’t smile when he said that; instead I heard the grit of his teeth. He must be displeased with my being able to make one of his minions bleed. I’m pleased. Only, since I have a talent for getting under their skin, I can’t help but fire back. "Filth? Dirt? I hope you remember most of me is Fae. Are you implying that you are dirt yourself Cardan? " He only looked at me longer, smiled, then told his group not to waste time on us anymore. Nicasia helped Valerian stand. “Mortal filth.” She scowled at us after Cardan turned his back. “Jude, you scraped your elbow.” She took out a piece of cloth from the basket and tore it into half. Using the smallest bit, she rubbed the blood off with light fingers. When there wasn't any more blood she used the other piece to wrap my right elbow. She said that it should do for a temporary fix.

JUDE’s class took a break. They make their warped view of us too obvious. I sometimes wonder how much worse it would be if we had been fully human. If we had been able to get glamoured, needed salt for our food, or were unable to stop ourselves from dancing at revels… I could only imagine what they would do. From the corner of my eye, I could see Cardan standing up. Nicasia tries to follow him but he says something that makes her look at him with pleading eyes, which Vivi and most mortals might refer to as cute. I personally wouldn’t. She looks like she’s choking on a whole orange. She sits back down and Cardan turns. Our eyes met. He smiles. I suddenly have the urge to use the hand sign Vivi had taught me. She said it meant something very offending that many mortals fight when somebody shows it to them but I doubt he’d know what it means. “Here.” Taryn caught my attention again. I moved my body to face her. While I had been looking around us, letting my mind wander, my twin was setting up the food on the blanket. The pens, inkpots, and parchment are now replaced with the sandwiches, jars of water, and meat that had been packed for us. I smile at Taryn; our silent thank you to each other. I let my skin feel the coldness of the air but it might as well be his lingering gaze. Burning through my nape only to leave a cold crack.

CARDAN headed to the Lake of Masks. Hatred. Cardan felt hatred. Whether it was for Valerian or Jude, he didn’t know. Whom he referred to as dirt and filth he didn’t know either. All he knows is that it’s probably not Jude. Jude. Jude. Jude. Jude. He hated that name as much as he couldn't get it out of his head. It repeats itself like a spell or a catchy song. He disliked that. He stops his pacing, kneeling in front of the lake instead. When he looked at the lake, rather than his face or any other Fae reflection, he saw her face. Her hazel eyes, her flowing brown hair. The face with the unnervingly dazzling features that appear in both his dreams and nightmares. Except he’d never seen this expression. She had tears in her eyes. Tears that, no matter what he did, he couldn’t prize out. Paired with a look of anger. Angrier than he had ever seen her. After just a few moments, she took a deep breath then as if they had been sea foam, her tears were gone, though they didn’t even fall, her anger left no trace, as though she had never felt it. Next thing he knew, she stood up and left. Just like that. Suddenly, his clothes felt too taut against his skin. Even after he wet his face with the water from the lake, the air still felt hot. He didn’t think he could go back to the lesson. It bored him stupid anyway. Besides, maybe, just maybe, he might not be able to stop himself if he sees her. And so, the cruel prince left the lake, looking agitated.

JUDE and Taryn’s class finished. Surprisingly, Valerian didn’t do anything more. He didn’t even so much as glare in our direction. He just left with Nicasia and Locke. If I hadn’t known better, I would be relieved. However, only a dunce-like creature would assume sudden quietness from an enemy is good. After all, silence weighs heavier than a thousand words. We walked through the woods in silence. Glancing at each other occasionally. We’re identical only in our faces. Taryn was more similar to a Faerie with pointed ears and a body only slightly curved at her bust and bum. While the only thing Faerie that I have are my horns. Horns that even without, Taryn still looks a full Fae. Really. Taryn was meant to be born a folk.

TARYN wondered what her twin was thinking. Jude had always been the rebellious twin. Taryn thought. Still, she hoped that Jude would stop putting her neck on the line. Jude was strong, of course she was. She took their father’s training more seriously than Taryn ever did. Except, even Faeries die if they clash with knives or fists. What more a mortal Fae? Looking at Jude, Taryn took notice of the differences that they had; her round ears and full body. Jude, more akin to humans, still felt more like a Faerie than she did. Sure, Taryn fit in, but only with her features and because she did what the Faeries who hated them told her to. Taryn knew that even if Jude had been fully mortal, she could still turn herself into something that fit into Elfhame. Jude didn’t need to be Fae to fit in because Jude could be poisoned and she’d come back to life, she could be dipped in heat and only come back stronger, she could be tossed into an unfamiliar place and she’d just make that place hers. Taryn’s mind was filled with compliments and astonishment for Jude. She felt small beside Jude. She didn’t like that. What was so different about them? They had the same face. They were both trained by Madoc. Sure, Taryn didn’t pay much attention, but it was because she was a woman. She could just marry a great man. Taryn was strong by herself too. After all, she was able to pull Jude by her arm a while ago. Taryn stopped looking at Jude. She looked straight in front of her instead. She worried if she looked for longer, the disgusting feeling eating at her would take over.

JUDE and Taryn arrived at Madocs estate. When we arrived, an imp told us that Madoc had called us to dine in a few hours. I told Taryn that I would be getting ready in my room. She nodded my way without looking at me. I decided not to take much notice of this. She might have something on her mind that she doesn’t want to share. That’s all right. I headed to my room and opened the windows to let the cold night air in. I felt it in my face and on my now bare arms. When I entered the room, I hesitated not for one second to remove my stuffy clothes. This is also when I notice that the neckline has ripped, that the center gore of my mortal underwear has been visible. It must have torn when Valerian launched himself on me. "The bath is ready." Tatterfell informed me while I removed the pinned hair from my horns. I smile at her through the vanity mirror, she only grunts in return. She turns back to tell me to hurry and get to the bath, then I’m alone again. As I sink into the water, I think back to why I felt hate towards my parents again. I remember a mortal film that Vivi showed us when we visited the mortal realm when we were fifteen and she was eighteen. The girl whom the story focuses on saw parents spending time with their child. Parents. It was something she didn’t have. Seeing something she lacked get enjoyed by another made her feel jealous. I closed my eyes and dipped my head in the water. I never thought I’d feel or even think the same. I kept my head underwater for as long as my lungs could go without air. I figured it wasn’t a long time, despite it not being a brief one either. I breathe in deeply a few times before relaxing against the bath. I hear a rustling just outside the door. I soon realized that I had left the window open. I curse myself while putting my clothes on. I grab the dagger on top of the small table. I creep to the door, making sure my footfalls stay as silent as possible. I push the door open, seizing the first figure that comes into view. Without thinking, I stabbed the opponent. My heart drops. It’s a stand-in. The real opponent is still in my room. I feel a kick at my side, toppling over to the ground, back first. I feel a familiar pain, the familiar pressure on my wrists, and the familiar weight on my torso. I see the moonlight reflecting on blonde strands; Valerian. He landed a punch on my face as I was processing the details. I try to move my arms only to find I can’t move my body. "You turn Elfhame into a dirty place. I’d like to kill you, but that would mean burying you somewhere in Elfhame." He looks up. I keep my expression as nonchalant as I can, though feeling the beating of my heart throughout my body. I’m afraid it would give away my facade. He stands up, a revolting smile plastered on his features. I’m able to move again. I push myself up onto my elbows. "Burn, you hideous mortal. Bring your vile ashes to your rotten world." I look at where his voice comes from right when he throws the candle in the stack of books. He smiles at me. He gives me a despicable look while walking over. The burning fire illuminating his face made his expression look something out of a nightmare. I almost froze yet again, but I was able to stand up just before he could grab me. "Still putting up a fight?" He says through gritted teeth. We go against each other for some time; throwing punches and trying to grab at each other. I land multiple punches to his face though it’s my kick that sends him toppling down. He scowls at me before pulling my leg. I feel the heat creep up my arms, I look to see my sleeves burning. I had landed just a few inches from the fire and my sleeves were caught. I tore them off and stomped on them. I look for Valerian and see him heading for the window. I go at him, ripping his grip from the windowsill. When I hear a thud I close the window. He’s going to be alright.

I look back into my room. It’s a mess; things scattered everywhere, broken pens that he swung my way, torn books, and fire burning through the wooden planks of the floor. I go to the door and yell for somebody to clean my room. While waiting, I took some soil from the ceramic urn vase on both sides of my bed. I put it over the fire to stop it from burning further. A bit of soil smudged on my wrist, only then did I realize that I had burned myself. I tear my other sleeve, it would look far too grotesque to have only one sleeve, to wrap it around my wrist. I don’t want to risk the burn getting worse.

When the small imp, who told us about Madoc wanting us to dine, came into the room. I told her to tidy it up and left for Vivi’s deserted chambers with my change of clothes.

The room felt stifling but I couldn’t bring myself to open the window. I looked around and decided to sit down on her bed. I couldn’t help the sigh that comes out. When I said I wanted to feel fire before I slept, I really didn't mean it this way.

#jurdan fanfic #jurdan supremacy #the folk of the air #jurdan headers #cardan greenbriar #the queen of nothing #judecardan #the wicked king #TFOTA #TFOTA fandom #Holly Black #the cruel prince #jurdan #jude duarte #All characters belong to Highest Queen Holly Black

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