I wish that this was one of those questions that I could say no to.

I'm Blood, so at times, because of the actions of the tainted high priestess and her people, with some that was an immediate reason to be distrusted or feared. As long as we were in Kaeleer, it was rarely something I had to worry about. For the most part, Kaeleer was a good and safe place. Yes, there were attacks because of the tainted Queens trying to take over, but I was never hurt in them.

That was Kaeleer.

Things were different in Terreille, but I didn't realize how different until Witch asked me to go to the territory of Dena Nehele. They needed a Queen who followed the old ways of the Blood and who would teach them. Even with what had happened with my old court, Witch said I was a good queen and her choice for Dena Nehele.

It was a new start. It was a chance to do some good for a people who needed me and a way to heal from what my old court had done to me.

But Theran couldn't -- or wouldn't -- accept me for who and what I am.

He felt like my old First Circle did before Kermilla took them from me. Even though he had asked for a Kaeleeran Queen for his territory, what he wanted wasn't the best Queen for the job. No, what he wanted was a pretty face and a dark jewel. He believed that the only good queen was one that had dark power and who was a pretty face and could dazzle any male around for miles.

I'm not pretty and I wear the Rose. That wasn't good enough for Theran Grayhaven. Not when he was the last descendant of the Gray Lady.

He didn't want me, and he most certainly didn't like serving me or being my First Escort. He made that clear with every day that passed.


Muse: Lady Cassidy, Queen of Shalador Nehele
Fandom: The Black Jewels
Word Count: 331

Tags: prompt 356, theatrical muse

When I lost my original Court, I cried. Oh, not a one of them saw it and Kermilla sure as hell didn't see it, but I cried. I managed to pack up my things and move back to my family's house before anyone saw a tear. It was only in my mother's garden shortly after my arrival that I finally started crying about everything that happened and my Poppi held me gently in his arms. He held me as I cried out all of my sorrow and my confusion over the fact that my entire Court had broken with me. Only bad queens lost their courts, right? Only abusive queens like the ones that were purged had their entire court walk away, right? Poppi didn't see it that way and told me in his own way that they would regret choosing flash and beauty over substance. The way he had said it had shocked a giggle out of me and he had been satisfied that he had made me feel better.

The next time I cried that I can remember off the top of my head was when I was reassured that the Landen girl that had been attacked wouldn't lose her eye. Thanks to quick thinking and Shira's skills as a healer, her eye was saved. Locked alone in my room at Grayhaven, I cried in relief. I had been so scared for her and so worried that the little girl would be permanently damaged because of something that members of the Blood had done. It would cause even worse feelings between Blood and Landen and I didn't want that for the Territory I was ruling. I wanted peace and I wanted us all to be able to live and work side by side.

When Kermilla and a few of my old court showed up in Dena Nehele, I cried in secret all over again because I could see all of my hopes and dreams shattering all over as Kermilla took what was mine once more.



Muse: Lady Cassidy, Queen of Shalador Nehele
Fandom: The Black Jewels
Word Count: 337

Tags: prompt 341, theatrical muse
Current Mood: sad

I'm not sure of the origins of my name, Cassidy. I believe it may have been something that my mother decided was a fitting name for me and therefore that's what happened. I also think that she was fond of names that started with "C" since my older brother's name is Clayton.

However, my father, Poppi, loves to tell me how he realized that "Kitten" was the perfect nickname for me -- and the name that only he calls me.

Apparently when I was very young, my older brother decided to take it upon himself to show his baby sister how to protect and defend herself in case he wasn't around because he was a Warlord and it was his "responsibility" to protect his Queen. (I'm sure you can imagine just how very well this went.) I was at the age where my attention was very easily distracted and I was more interested in chasing butterflies and other things that caught my eye rather than listen to my brother. After all, I was very young and I didn't yet understand what it meant to be a Queen.

I was chasing butterflies that day and my brother got very annoyed that I wasn't paying attention and he did something that scared all of the butterflies away for a time. Of course, being so young, I didn't realize that they would eventually come back. All I knew was that Clayton had scared them all away and I wasn't able to play and chase them any longer.

I waited until my brother had turned his back and was walking away before I did anything. My father said that I stayed quiet and calm and then suddenly pounced on my brother from behind. Since I went from being sweet and quiet to yowling and clawing in an instant, Poppi took to calling me Kitten.

I do believe that it's one childhood story I hope he doesn't decide to share with Gray. Of course, being Poppi, he probably will.




Muse: Lady Cassidy, Queen of Shalador Nehele
Fandom: The Black Jewels
Word Count: 334

Tags: prompt 338, theatrical muse

If there was ever one thing that I wish I didn't know all about, it would be how to care for Witch blood and what it signifies. I know the stories and legends about it by heart and I know what it means when it starts to bloom.

Because Witch blood only blooms where a witch has died violently. The witch's blood is what nourishes it and keeps it blooming and growing. Nothing can get rid of it once it takes root and it will always be there as a reminder of evil and pain that happened in that spot.

I've known about it since I was young, but it was during my apprenticeship with Jaenelle's Dark Court that I learned the reasons for it by heart and I was taught how to properly care for it. How to properly honor the sacrifices that those black-edged red flowers signified.

It's a living memento mori of a more recent time in our history when things were not as they should be.

It's why even in my shock and my sadness over stumbling upon so much of it in the gardens at Grayhaven that I knew what needed to be done and was able to tell the others how we needed to care for those plants.

It was a lesson I had learned by heart, after all.



Muse: Lady Cassidy, Queen of Shalador Nehele
Fandom: The Black Jewels
Word Count: 225

Tags: prompt 335, theatrical muse