Black Herons - Ch. 7

@slytherisstuff @sanfransolomitatm @karolajnx0yep @joossieisdabomb

Masterlist - Ao3 - First Chapter - Previous Chapter - Next Chapter

A/N: Sorry this took so long. Been busy etc. Also this chapter is much shorter than I originally intended it to be… but it was getting too long and unmanageable and I was starting to not like the vibe, so I’ve split it in two. Maybe three. Idk we’ll see what happens when I finish Ch 8.

A/N: Also I just want to say that I’ve been floored by the number of positive responses to this story. Honestly at the beginning I didn’t think there was any call for Black Herons. But I’ve gotten so many comments and follows (even from people who aren’t necessarily in the Dune fandom). It blows my mind. So thank you to everyone who reads and interacts with Black Herons. It really makes me so happy to know there are people out there who love Rhiannon as much as I do ❤️

Pairing: Duke Leto Atreides I x Fem!OC (slow burn)

Rating: M

TW: Mentions of sexual assault.

Word count: 3.6k

Chapter Seven: Lovers’ Paradigm

Part One

Under an overcast sky, heavy mist rolled off the cliffs and towards the sea. Rhiannon walked the rocky path leading away from the Castle Caladan and the village below it, comfortably unobtrusive in her trousers and long woolen overcoat. Not that she was in disguise, but where she was headed, ‘Duchess’ was the last thing she intended to be.

I was just thinking

Tamlin can shapeshift, right?

If he would have shapeshifted in a wolf/beast form as a kid, would it have been a mini beast?

Like, a puppy?

INCONSISTENT FEYRE

1.) Tamlin asked her if she wanted a title.

2.) She specifically said she didn’t want to be called High Lady.

3.) the following conversation was Tamlin just telling her that there hasn’t been a High Lady but only Lady of Whatever Court. How exactly does the fandom turn this around and demonize Tamlin for not giving her the title when he literally asked and she said NO. Not that they got to that point anyway 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes well she didn’t what she wanted. It’s not like the asshole let her try to understand and use the powers she inherited. She just came out of a torture cell and literal death and he kept using her as his sex doll while completely suffocating her. She was traumatized af and doubted her own self. Y'all don’t feel a bit embarrassed for writing long ass paras defending an abuser while hating on the women who was a victim? This isn’t out of hate I’m just genuinely curious to know how do you find it in yourselves to defend tamlin?

Idk because the guy she ended up with was her abuser as well. I’m genuinely curious how you can condemn one abuse but not the other? Are y’all selectively reading or what? If you’re gonna call Tamlin’s actions abuse then call Rhysand’s as well because he’s an abuser too 🤷🏻‍♀️ And sex doll? Do explain the context that came from. Take the time to step out of that box and apply the same logic you’re using on Tamlin to your almighty purple-eyed HL.

And nah, Feyre’s narrative was straight up inconsistent and unreliable. They are literally sprinkled all over the series. Feyre doesn’t know how to communicate for shit just as much as Tamlin doesn’t.

Literally Feyre: I don’t want a title. Gets a title. I don’t want a baby. Had a baby. I saved Prythian. Forgot she only went back to save Tamlin. Nesta never loved me. Forgot her narrative about nesta going after her.

Yeah nobody is saying what he did was right?? The difference here is rhys did what he did to SAVE feyre bcuz tamlin couldn’t keep it in his pants. The very first time he gets to meet her utm instead of asking her if she’s okay or yk trying to get her out or help her (something a true lover would do) he decides to screw her against the wall.

If rhys hadn’t done what he did Amarantha would’ve slowly tortured feyre to death like what she did with the human girl claire. Or did you not read the book? Y'all intentionally omit the context just so you can equate what rhysand did which we all know was a show to deceive amarantha & save feyre, to what tamlin did which was completely selfish on his part. What rhys did was wrong and nothing will make it right but it’s clear he hated every second of it, most importantly he realizes his wrongs and has tried several times to redeem himself wtf has tamlon done to show any change? Not to mentioned he was getting r*ped for 49 years while the tamlin was under no such duress when he locked her up and physically abused her TWICE just bcuz she demanded to be treated like a human being.

Lmbo. Read what you typed again.

1.) Tamlin literally could not have done anything else to get her out of there. Yk, the very reason he sent her home to begin with because he knew he couldn’t protect her UTM. Rhysand had more freedom and power at the time AND he still couldn’t get her out when he supposedly claim he loved her then.

2.) I thought that’s what you were referring about in your sex doll comment. I find it funny you found that problematic but you didn’t find Rhysand and Feyre having sex while their people were dying an issue. Both men looked for comfort at that moment and both instances, Feyre agreed and initiated.

3.) is Rhysand twisting her bone, drugging and exploiting her not abusive? Nobody was there when he twisted her bone. He also admitted assaulting Feyre was motivated by his hatred towards Tamlin. So while you’re justifying Rhysand’s behaviors, you’re literally simultaneously justifying Tamlin’s. Both men thought they were doing the right thing by protecting her. Also, none of the shit he did even helped, other than him healing her arm which you know, he didn’t need to coerce her into a bargain, because after all his damn excuses on why he did what he did, Amarantha ended up killing Feyre anyway. Hell, Amarantha didn’t even care that much for Feyre. She was just a means to an end.

4.) And what’s your point in bringing up the abuse he went through? THAT. DOESNT. EXCUSE. THE. ABUSE. HES. DONE. TO. FEYRE. Abuse is abuse. How exactly has Rhysand redeem himself? He’s the same manipulative shit he was from book 1 to book 5 💀💀 feeling sorry doesn’t mean redemption. Lmfaoo. Not that he’d have a chance because SJM made sure he got not one consequence for all his actions. Feyre shrugged them and even justified them for him. On the other hand, Tamlin fought with them even after Feyre destroyed his court. He saved the IC. He dragged Beron to the war. He also helped bring back Rhysand who honestly should have stayed dead - then you guys can actually have a valid reason to crucify Tamlin without sounding crazy.

5.) The biggest problem with y’all Rhysand Stans is the fact that you can’t decide whether you want to condemn abuse flat out or make sense of it because it also applies to your MC. Like it’s laughable that y’all are accepting his abusive ways while grilling anybody who even defends or likes Tamlin. You guys are toxic and weird AF. Make up your mind already. It’s either your acknowledging and condemning ABUSE in its very nature or just say you like Rhysand more. Nothing wrong with that.

How are you willing to forgive tamlin for abusing feyre, beating her in a way that if she were a human she would’ve DIED (and even her fae body with super healing abilities couldn’t naturally heal those bruises, they stayed on her face for days) and then locking her up knowing her greatest fear was being trapped because “hE wAs trAuMaTiZeD tOo” then I don’t see a single fucking reason for you to not be able to understand the pressure rhys was under due to amarantha under the mountain and the hard decisions he had to make to protect the person he thought was his mate?? And NO he didn’t have more freedom, go read the damn book again it was Tamlin whom amarantha has allowed more leniency with his power than Rhys. Rhys was being raped everyday for the last 49 years yet he still somehow managed to save and help feyre, feyre a weak human girl could walk utm and offer herself to amarantha but tamlin was a poor baby boo who couldn’t do anything 🥺 the one chance he had at the very least of trying to do something he put her in danger instead and that’s admirable for you??

“none of the shit he did even helped” so his tattoo didn’t help her choose the right option? He didn’t heal her broken arm and saved from dieing right after the very first trial?? He didn’t save her from mentally breaking completely in her cell? He didn’t save her from meeting the same fate as claire beddor by making amarantha believe she was already being tormented??? “sHe gOt KillEd aNywAy” yes and who brought hwr back from death??

“Regardless of his motives or his methods, Rhysand was keeping me alive. And had done so even before I set foot Under the Mountain.”

That’s 👆 not helping?? Like do you hear yourself?? We’re not the ones being “hypocrites” y'all are a bunch of loosers who choose to completely ignore what happened in the books bcuz it’s not a good look for your favorite golden boy.

And you’re really comparing a feysand sex scene from the time when feyre had healed from her trauma, when she was in a healthy relationship with a guy who doesn’t treat her like a piece of old furniture and only comes to her to have sex. Damn y'all are freaking dense.

Tamlin emotionally abused feyre, locked her down, took away her choices, treated her like a sex toy and never considered her opinions or feelings. Sex toy because it’s pretty fucking clear the guy never cared about her opinion or feelings, everytime she tried to get involved or talk to him about how his behavior was suffocating her he shut her down, tell me after utm did they have a proper conversation where he shows that he genuinely cares and wants to know about her feelings and what she’s going through?? NO. He didn’t. He didn’t even try to talk to her or understand what’s happening to her. He only ever approached her for sex

“He made love to me, morning and night. He worshipped my body with his hands, his tongue, his teeth. But that had never been the hard part. We just got tripped up with the rest.”

These are actual words in the book. Sex was all he cared for in their relationship, never her choices, never her feelings and never her trauma. Like I can’t believe this even needs to be stated what feyre went through every single thing resonates so much with what domestic abuse survivors go through and y'all here like vile pieces of shit try to invalidate her trauma completely and don’t even give me the “he was traumatized too” yeah and so was feyre who actually DIED. All tamlin cared about was how her getting tortured and killed affected HIM. Rhys did what he did bcuz that was the only way he could save feyre, NOT so he could abuse her in any way but so that she wouldn’t end up actually getting tortured like claire while tamlin did whatever tf he did for his own interests in having a trophy wife.

Lastly Tamlin was a piece of shit long before feyre & lucien even came into the picture. He got his friend’s mother and sister brutally murdered, he housed a literal rapist in his manor who chased around & harassed his right-hand man and trusted her more than his fiance, allied and defended her. He takes shit from his citizens that he doesn’t even have any need of, just bcuz it’s “tradition” and if they can’t give something up he kills them. He sent his men to “hunt” feyre down (actual canon words) and drag her back to him, despite feyre clearly telling him NO. And then he went and made a deal with the king which ended up in her sisters being dragged in all of this. He was a bad friend to both rhys and lucien, a nightmare of a partner to feyre & a selfish high lord. If this is the guy you want to defend like a fool go on but don’t you gloss over his abuse and vilify the actual victim here who is FEYRE.

I didn’t even read all that. I skimmed through it and you’re basically saying the same things. Just because Feyre justified his abuse doesn’t negate that it’s abusive. Rhys. Was. Abusive. Argue with your wall. Girl bye. Go waste somebody else’s time.

Of course you didn’t read that just like you skimmed all the times your blonde boy abused feyre. Knew talking to an abuse apologist was a waste of time continue writing paragraphs defending a canon abuser and vilifying a victim of domestic abuse. Nothing more useless than being a “simp for tamlin”

LMFAO. That ain’t it honey. There are plenty of anti blogs that point out Rhys’ abusive ways and how similar both Tamlin and Rhys are. I’m sure I’m not the first one you came across to. But if by now they haven’t hit any logical bone in that head of yours, there’s nothing more I can say to you. Y’all are delusional 🤣

Of course the guy who got slaved and abused for 50 years to save his family is very similar to the guy who couldn’t even control his own anger and NOT beat his fiance. Y'all are a different breed.

Just go back to simping for the stinky tampon and stop embarrassing yourself.

Alright, I got a test to study for so I’ll give you 5 more minutes.  They are absolutely similar. Both are motivated to protect Feyre. Both have the tendencies to get violent and go out of their way to protect important people to them. Both have been abused. Both are abusive. Did you forget that Amarantha abused Tamlin, too? She literally preyed on him since he was a child. Then continued to harass him during UTM, isolating him, spying on him, forcing him to kill his friends. What about his family? F//uck that canon right? Rhys is not the only victim. If you can justify Rhysand’s actions because of his abuse, you can apply the same analytical thinking towards Tamlin, and really the rest of the IC.  All the things you pointed out about Tamlin, Rhysand and the rest of the IC had done as well. Feyre has anger issues. Mor and Amren, anger issues. Rhysand especially. So anyway, that’s all I got for you.  And stop talking about yourself. 

Ah yess bcuz tamlin was protecting feyre by sending his men to chase her when she told him to back the fuck off not once but TWICE right?? And he was also protecting her when he made a deal with KoH (slaver and mass murderer) just to get her back bcuz tamshit can’t understand the simple concept of when they girl says “NO” it means “NO” or are you gonna defend that too now?? Or when he locked her up taking away her choices knowing it’ll only end up hurting her more that’s protection too??

You are shamelessly defending the guy who has done nothing but hurt feyre and later her family at least have the decency to look embarrassed you dumbass. And did you just trivialized rhysand’s r*pe to amarantha making tamlin sit beside her? Fucking disgusting.

Rhys isn’t perfect and has done many wrongs but if you think he is similar to tamlin then I honestly don’t know what to tell you except that you’re an airhead who needs help. Hoping that you grow a spine someday and BYE!

LOLSSS. Wrong. So wrong. But sounds like you ruined your own day with that last response 🤣 y’all this is what we gotta deal with in this fandom lmbo! Hopeless.

Awwn what happened? Ain’t got nothing to say for your favorite abuser boy now? So hopeless this fandom is we don’t let you justify domestic abuse oh noo poor you😔 And love if you don’t have anything to add to the argument then stop replying coz you look like a clown rn

@awanderingdreamer11 Rhys abused feyre more lmao. You are the immature clown here sweetie and you’re embarrassing. Crawl back to your pro Rhys tags while we make fun of your ignorance lol

Of course you think “rhys abused feyre more”. Do you even know what abuse is and what happens to the one who gets abused?? You lot just keep proving everyday that you think with ass. Go keep living in your sweet little pro abuser bubble and stop replying to me when you’ve got nothing to back your claims.

Okay. You read several evidence/claims that are accurate yet you’re so fucking dumb you’re still supporting Rhys, an abuser. I’m done talking with a Rhys stan that supports SA

Not a single rhys stan tries to deny what he’s done was wrong & fcked up while you lot straight up deny that tamlin ever did anything wrong & invalidate feyre’s trauma even after reading a book of how he left her completely mentally broken with his violent abusive behavior so who’s the dumbass here?

Now if you’ve nothing to add to the argument then do us both a favor and stop replying here you look like a miserable fool here 🤭

What the fuck did I just read? All you Rhys stans do is defend your precious Rhyass. At least Tamlin stans admit to his wrong actions. You Rhys stans literally excuse Rhyass by invalidating feyre lmao. You are not adding anything intelligent to this conversation. You are just immature and whiny with a stick up your ass

Please don’t tell me Rhys is a progressive High Lord. He is not.

If he was soooo progressive he would do everything in his power to help women in Illyria. But he doesn’t. He lets women get abused and considers it a win for them to train couple hours ON TOP of doing their chores 🤦‍♀️. Like great, giving them more work plus more abuse because of that.

Plus he does nothing for the “lesser fae” he wants to make equal?? While Tamlin allowed every fae no matter who they are into his court during Amarantha. He employed Alis when she sought shelter. He tried his hardest to save the blue dad’s life. They both were “lesser fae” and he treated them the same kindness as respect he would with high fae.

Moreover, he enforces rank in CoN making all of the citizens he deem as unworthy bow down to him.

Like Feyre honey, that isn’t progressive. Why the entire inner circle think they’re so great because they keep a rich city with select people living there is amazing is beyond me. They’re literally keeping people out and only allowing people they like enjoy it. Doesn’t seem progressive to me.

Acowar Chp: 44 - The High Lords Meeting.

Okay this is from the chp tamlin enters because tbh I am not interested in anything before that lol

If u don't like Tamlin and love ic and feyre kindly leave now you have been forewarned.

Yeah baby that’s how you honour my king

Is there anything this loser doesn’t fail?

What moods??!?!?! What FUCKING TEMPER BITCH??!!! See, this how tamlin is being viewed for having ugly trauma. Feyre brings up his trauma constantly. She throws tantrums and spits out rubbish without thinking how it might affect him. And when it ultimately does?? hE HaS mOoDS.

KING 🤌🏼🤌🏼🥵🧎🏽‍♀️

Don’t worry babe you’re feminist king mate will tell you soon enough. 🙄

What in the? See? See? THIS BITCH FUCKING KNEW WHAT SHE WAS DOING??? PEOPLE I LAID VULNERABLE TO HYBERN. I. SEE THAT BITCHES?? Feyre herself is taking accountability for it? Maas herself is admitting Feyrug comitted a war crime only Feyrug is a Girlboss™️ for it. Djdjdjnsksla

How does your knee sparkle bitch? Like- are u Barbie? No what body wash are u using? Tell me don't be shy.

SO WHY TF IS HE STILL NOT OVER THIS VANILLA COAT RACK IN THE NOVELLA?!?

HOW- LIKE HOW CAN U NOT STAN THIS SAVAGE KING?!?

Deadliest? Bitch u kidding right? Tamlin is a high lord he cud kill your pet bats in a sec if he wanted too? And miss ma'am is sitting in a room full all the high lords and two bats who wear colourful stones and a lie dectector are the most deadliest? Like damn sjm how do u even fit all that bat dick in your throat?

So he can apologise to Kallias for not doing anything while children in his court were killed but can't apologise to tamlin for standing by and actually helping to put his ppl in concentration camps and torture them?!

HOW IS HE SOOOO HAWT?!?!???????!!!!

Like idk feyre is trying to make it seem Girlboss that miss ma'am left tamlin with the guy who assualted her, who slaughtered Tamlins family and can control minds and hates tamlin, and thought to say goodbye via a letter? A letter written by an illiterate? Miss girl trying to be poetic and badass. Uk what is actually badass? "DISMISSAL" 🤌🏼🤌🏼🥵🥵🧎🏽‍♀️🤰

OOFFF POP OFF MY LOVE!! YASSS "all for a petty grudge" YESS CALL OUT THAT BITCH!!

Okay this is so fcking ironic cause this statement is basically acomaf in a nutshell. I feel like one her editors told sjm this and she just used it as a 'fck u to them' lol.

YES BABY!! He is legit the only character that calls these ppl out on their bs? Istg Tamlin is the most sensible person in this series. Like my man's talking business. He is literally the only one smart enough to notice Rhysie Gaslighting? He's is literally pointing out on a silver platter that RHYSAND IS FCKING MANIPULATING FEYRE and yet she doesn't understand lmao

See? This what they do? The second tamlin brings out valid points and starts calling them out they start condescending him? Exactly how women have faced this all these years. The second they take a stand they are labelled crazy.

So we are just going to go ahead and forget that fact in Acotar it was Rhysie the who killed the kids? Really?

Says the guy who wanted to fck his mate in safe place of SA survivors.

Okay u have no fcking idea how MAD this makes me!! Two dozen children died? Their parents lost their children?! And somehow the man who stood by and did nothing is the victim? What like what?!?!??!

Yes old creepy guy call her out! See the ppl who actually do call her out and just deemed irredeemable villians who just talk shit about Feyrug just cause they are evil.

I- what that's it? That's it?!?? Beron just rightfully called her out on causing Clare's death and she just "blocks out the memory" wtf?!

Pls 💀

YES ANSWER HIM U LITTLE BITCH

Not good enough for me bitch

I literally loosing my shit like how is this "your hair is...clean" man literally roasting these bitches. My man really said break up = glow up 🤌🏼🤌🏼🥵

YES YES YES DRAG HER BABE!! Like he is do right!!! Tamlin did do A LOT for those two ungrateful idiots. They were starving and poor even when feyre was hunting. What tamlin did WAS NOT THE BARE FUCKING MINIMUM. Uk what wud be bare minimum? Giving them a piece of meat and bread every two weeks because that was literally what feyre was providing them. Idk I kinda hate Nesta here. Distaste? Girl u shud thanking him on your knees.

Yes. I said this before too? Tamlin is LITERALLY the only one to point out that their relationship is based on SA!??! And uk... Like idk what I said before. But this isn't slut shaming to me. Nope it isn't. Srry. He is harsh and he gets to be that after what Feyrug did to him but he's rightfully pointing out the truth.

How- how do u hate a person like this? Like can I just say if tamlin was a female in this relationship and Feyrug the male let's see how many not call feyrug abusive and cheer tamlin on.

Wait a damn minute. Which war is this? Is he talking about the humans war? DOES HE KNOW ABOUT THE AFFAIR???! like what is the fcking context?! Djdjdjsksksm

Okayyy this is all for now. There's more about Tamlin nd hybern but I made a seperate post altogether about it so no point in discussing. The rest of the chp is boring and too much...even for me. Hope u liked it!!

— Raven Emotion

— Haruki Murakami, 1Q84

It's so nice to see that Poland isn't actually embarrassing all of us for once, go off funny dude and dementors

Okay so if I understand Poland’s performance and song right, he really, really wants to be dragged into the river by the four slightly unsettling river spirits? Honestly, valid

four rusałkas

Oh, no no. I know an utopiec when I see one.

this is my fave video of ochman to ever happen

Those movie maker effects will never not make me laugh

Ukrainians apologizing to Poles for the ukrainian jury not giving Poland 12 points (while the polish jury gave Ukraine 12 points) is a peak 2022 Polish-Ukrainian behaviour

Poland be like:

If you too would live in Poland you'd understand the wish to be dragged in to the river

wake up fellas the time has come

i too love windows movie maker effects