Three Twisted Knots

It was snowing, and I had been walking for a long time, in high heels, but I wasn’t tired, not at all. I was also considerably underdressed for the weather. I was wearing this gorgeous chiffon-y thing, the sort of thing that that genius Evangeline Miles might have produced, and who knows? Maybe I snuck in to her Realm and bought a boatload of dresses without realising I’d done it. It’s funny: the We Love Roleplay Realm Faire is open now, and I know her designs are often featured there. I should take some of the Sidhe ladies and head over there: there are so many lovely things to be found at this wonderful Faire, and as we’re now in high Midwinter, there are sure to be special things there for Christmas.

Somewhere along the road, the snow began falling in earnest, so that I could barely see. Vaguely, I remember that the word some of my American friends use for this is white-out. That condition of not being able to see because of too fucking much snow. At some point, I recall being picked up, lifted almost as if by magic, and then there was a sensation of movement.

Soft fur brushed my cheek. As the snow began to fall more softly, I opened my eyes and recognised my own familiar Ballroom. I reached down to feel a strong leg beneath my hand. I felt haunches beneath my legs, and I knew I was being carried, somehow, by some benevolent Incarnation of the Forest God, that he had brought me home from wherever I’d been wandering.

As I slipped off the stag’s back, I realised my dress had changed colour. My wings felt different. Inside me, there was a cold wildness, and I thought of Desirie, the mad demifae queen, and her crimes, her betrayal of our folk and her alliance with the goblins, and worst of all, her rape of the Unseelie Lord Mornoth, whose soul I can see is kind and honourable. So many things ride on the decision I must make about her fate and how it is made. I thought maybe I had been wandering the Land, looking for answers to this question, all these questions. We need so much healing now. The stag’s incredible strength seemed to help me as I stood.

As I turned to thank him, I could feel a change once again in the dress. How funny that my life, all the important things, seem so tied to my outward appearance. I know that as the Seelie Queen, I must be the embodiment of love and beauty, but it never ceases to amaze me that if I wake up one day feeling happy, my clothes, my hair, even my jewellery, reflect that. I giggled to see the holly berries round my brow, and the light cotton of my wings brushed against my shoulders as if to comfort me as I stood. The stag’s eyes, so warm and loving and deep, seemed to reflect the unwavering bond between me and the Land itself. I am the Land of course, and the Forest God is also the Land, but so much more.

How could I not, in the end, bow before this God of the Forest? As he touched his nose to my lips, I felt a joining, both spiritual and sexual, a re-emergence of my connection with my Land, with my Folk, with the God Himself. He did not speak to me, but I knew, knew in my heart that he would help me on the long road ahead. I knew being Queen would be a challenge. But growing in to the role, learning all those ins and outs, all the intricacies of dealing with Sidhe so much older and more experienced than I, and knowing that I somehow have to bring them all together, lead them all into some understanding, some realisation that together we are stronger than we are apart.

Then, I took the path behind the Ballroom, to the Residence’s back door. I curled up on the couch, before the crackling fire, and fell asleep. When I woke, Nathaniel was curled up behind me, his head resting on my shoulder, and Bran had left a pot of steaming hot chocolate for us both to share when we awoke.

This dress is the Giselle Gown from Evie’s Closet. Once again, Evangeline Miles brings such subtlety and style to a simple dress. Thank you, Evie, for inspiring me. All four colours are available at this month’s We Love Roleplay event.

The poses are from the Le Poppycock La Paix gacha, which is at this months Liaison Collaborative. They are all beautiful and inspiring; not all of them come with the deer, but I chose the ones with the deer because of the story in this post. 

All the hair featured in this post is from the Hairology event, which opened on the 10th of December and fills a much-needed space for us hair addicts!

Style Cards:

“Soft fur brushed my cheek”
Body: Maitreya Lara
Skin: DeeTaleZ, Around The World, Celtic, Catwa Applier “Reiko” in tone Celtic; additional makeup from DeeTaleZ, “Winter” blush
Head: Catwa Jessica
Ears: BentBox, Sylvan Ears, Medium
Eyes: IKON, Sovereign Eyes, Electric
Hair: Emo-Tions, Adelina (Available at Hairology)
Dress: Evie’s Closet, Giselle Gown in Ice (Available at We Love Roleplay)
Wings: Sax Shepherd Designs, Filigree Wings, Fae Materials
Crown: Junbug, The Sabrina Circlet
Necklace and Bracelets: Alegria, Coraline
Pose: Le Poppycock, La Paix, “Warmth” (Available at The Liaison Collaborative)
Ballroom: The Looking Glass, Enchanted Ballroom

“As I slipped off the stag’s back…”
Body: Maitreya Lara
Skin: DeeTaleZ, Around The World, Celtic, Catwa Applier “Reiko” in tone Celtic; additional makeup from DeeTaleZ, “Winter” blush
Lipstick: SimplyScha, Matte Lipstick for Catwa Mesh Head
Head: Catwa Jessica
Ears: BentBox, Sylvan Ears, Medium
Eyes: IKON, Sovereign Eyes, Electric
Hair: Olive, The Kelly Hair (Available at Hairology)
Dress: Evie’s Closet, Giselle Gown in Lilac (Available at We Love Roleplay)
Wings: Illusions, Apsara Wings
Crown: On A Lark, Crystal Crown
Necklace: Empyrean Forge, Heritage
Pose: Le Poppycock, La Paix, “Bliss”(rare) (Available at The Liaison Collaborative)
Ballroom: The Looking Glass, Enchanted Ballroom

“As I turned to thank him…”
Body: Maitreya Lara
Skin: DeeTaleZ, Around The World, Celtic, Catwa Applier “Reiko” in tone Celtic; additional makeup from DeeTaleZ, “Winter” blush
Lipstick: SimplyScha, Matte Lipstick for Catwa Mesh Head
Head: Catwa Jessica
Ears: BentBox, Sylvan Ears, Medium
Eyes: IKON, Sovereign Eyes, Electric
Hair: Ayashi, Sona (Available at Hairology)
Dress: Evie’s Closet, Giselle Gown in Winter (Available at We Love Roleplay)
Wings: Alegria, Wings of Cotton, Snow
Crown: LaGyo, Clara Berries Wreath
Necklace: Izzy’s, Reindeer Necklace
Pose: Le Poppycock, La Paix, “Trust”(Available at The Liaison Collaborative)
Ballroom: The Looking Glass, Enchanted Ballroom

“How could I not…”
Body: Maitreya Lara
Skin: DeeTaleZ, Around The World, Celtic, Catwa Applier “Reiko” in tone Celtic; additional makeup from DeeTaleZ, “Winter” blush
Lipstick: SimplyScha, Matte Lipstick for Catwa Mesh Head
Head: Catwa Jessica
Ears: BentBox, Sylvan Ears, Medium
Eyes: IKON, Sovereign Eyes, Electric
Hair & Crown: Oblivion, Fantasy 04 (Available at Hairology)
Dress: Evie’s Closet, Giselle Gown in Frost (Available at We Love Roleplay)
Wings: Luas, Tinkerbell Wings, Silver
Necklace: Alchemy, Dreams Choker, Orchid
Pose: Le Poppycock, La Paix, “Faith”(Available at The Liaison Collaborative)
Ballroom: The Looking Glass, Enchanted Ballroom

Spiffy photos taken with the indispensible aid of my LumiPro. I never leave home without it!