~45 years ago~
~A lesson in how to treat women~

   Elanor knew she was going to have her work cut out for her. She knew that from the moment she was tasked with doing this. Honestly if the fate of the world didn't hang in the balance she wouldn't even bother, she would have just labeled this a lost cause and moved on. Unfortunately that was not the case and she had to do this. She met with him in the dining room. It was a neutral space and the table was wide enough and long enough that they didn't have to be near each other which she appreciated.

   Once he appeared and sat opposite her she nodded and started the lesson. "Right, first thing is first she is going to be very hostile. She clearly won't be quiet and cower in fear of you because we all know that she isn't afraid of killing large and potentially dangerous animals. She'll also most likely fight having to come here. A lot of mortals still believe that we like to steal them for some reason. I'm getting off track. The point is, don't be overly hostile back. Obviously you need to have a bit of outrage to make whatever you tell her believable but keep it at a reasonable level." Elanor said finishing off her short speech and waited for what she figured would be a response of outrage and something about how dare she speak to a high lord in such a way and then they would have to go through all of that again.

Clearly the years of nothing happening and less and less sentries returning had started to wear on him because he only gave a small growl of dissatisfaction and a curt nod. "I suppose you make a good point. I will make an attempt at being as civil as possible."

   Elanor sighed and looked over at him. This has been difficult on all of them, anyone could see that. Three years of sentries coming back every morning with tales of women running away or not coming back and knowing that they were killed trying to help had gotten to all of them.

"Look, at this point we have time but we need to prepare for the distinct possibility that by the time a human woman arrives we may not have as much time. I just want you to really consider your behavior and what it means for everyone here. You aren't the only who has suffered or who is suffering. She wants to win and we all know that, but we will not let her. You were once a good male, someone my mate considered a friend. Someone who had compassion for others, I can get you there again. You don't have to be a monster, there are other ways of getting what you need. It's up to you to decide what kind of High Lord and what kind of male you want to be. Our choices shape us into who we are whether we like that or not. Don't let your choices make you into something you don't want to be." Elanor said quietly, finishing off her impromptu speech.

She felt that the words needed to be said. It was true, at one point he hadn't been as cruel as he was now. He had made choices that lead him down a path he probably had never had originally intended to go down. He had done things that couldn't be undone, but if he tried now and really tried to make himself better maybe it would be a beginning on making up for his past wrongdoings. She had no real way of knowing whether he could change or not, but she wasn't the type to give up so she would continue to try.

Tamlin merely nodded and got up from the table and left silently. He could feel himself getting more and more frustrated by the moment. Who was she to tell him how to behave? The entire population of the Night Court was made of monsters and she and her mate were the two greatest ones. There were no such things as High Ladies and he would never allow a female to dictate to him. He was done with this game, of letting his sentries risk their lives for something that had never happened. They had already dwindled in numbers and he wasn't going to risk more of them on a lost cause. Tonight was going to be the last night he sent them out. There were still forty five years left, he was going to wait it out and see what would happen. If the night court female didn't like it that was her problem not his.

A few moments later Elanor could hear the sounds of objects being broken and smashed. She sighed and carefully got up from the table and made her way to the library on the opposite side of the manor so that she may find a spot where she could have some peace and quiet. She sat down in a chair and opened up the bond between herself and Rhysand. 'No one has come yet, and what sentries we have left are defending the manor from the beasts she has sent this way. I try to get Tamlin to understand, but he won't listen. I think he's giving up.' She murmured softly down the bond. She didn't like having to give him bad news, but that was all that she had these days. She sat and waited for a response, but it never came. He must have been with Her. She felt that too, could feel his disgust and anxiety. She concentrated and tried to send him calming and pleasant thoughts down their bond to ease his suffering. Once the curse was broken she would go Under the Mountain and end that female herself.