Triumphal Entry

The **Triumphal Entry** is held when a new monarch takes command of a Court, at which time new and old Noble Court families are able to present their fealty, along with gifts.

## Appears in

Major canon:

*The Court of Five Thrones*

## Details

After Gwyn ap Nudd transforms the Unseelie Court into a new, more appealing design, the Triumphal Entry is held to formally introduce the Court to the Unseelie, at which time the Noble Court families can promise their fealty to their new monarch, as well as provide gifts to the Court. The Entry is a formal, invite-only event. Many of the preparations are done by the Inner Court, such as Gulvi Dubna Vajat looking at RSVPs, Augus Each Uisge supervising the servants and overseeing decorations in the throne room, and Ash Glashtyn providing management of outdoor decoration, catering, and other entertainment.

Before the Triumphal Entry, Gwyn approaches Augus about wearing a chain, as a symbolic gesture that Augus is under Gwyn's control. Although Augus is outraged by the request, he eventually agrees, on the condition that it be a chain he chooses and affixes himself.

Gwyn wears an outfit tailored for him by Augus to the Entry. It consists of a 'navy coat and pants, so dark they were almost black, and a pale blue collared shirt that matched the colour of his eyes. The vest was embroidered, pale blue patterns over the navy.' Augus also gives him a silver stag brooch to wear over where the breast pocket would be, to reference future Wild Hunts they would have. Augus wears 'a form-fitting suit with no jacket, no tie, a waistcoat of copper, green and black. His hair was pulled back neatly, highlighting the sharp press of his cheekbones against his skin, the angularity of his jaw, often softened by the fall of his hair.' He also wears a collar of 'copper, stained with verdigris. Ivy leaves twining symmetrically around his neck, joined in the middle by a stag brooch that was the copper mirror of the one Gwyn had pinned to his breast.' The chain is also copper, and Augus wears a rapier at his belt.

Hundreds of fae attend the Triumphal Entry. Gwyn enters the throne room with Augus's chain in his hand, which makes an impression on most of the fae, although Ash and Gulvi both react with horror. Gwyn then sends Augus ahead to sit in one of the thrones, before going around to greet the guests. Gwyn spends time with Iliak, Princess Braith, and Amaley Manytrees, among others. Ash briefly pulls Gwyn aside to confront him over Augus wearing the chain and collar, and he tells Gwyn that Ash could turn everyone against him, and after a scuffle, Ash reveals that he knows about Gwyn's new heartsong of surrender. Ash then returns to the throne room to go check on Augus, and Gwyn returns to talking to the others.

Later, Tigbalan arrives to the event and greets Gwyn formally, before the two go to speak to Augus, who has concerns over the invisibility he was granted. Augus has difficulty managing his territorial instincts around another horse shifter, but manages to speak with Tigbalan, who informs Augus that he is sick and should seek the help of Fenwrel the Mouse-Maiden.

The Unseelie spend some time mingling and enjoying the Court's new appearance before returning for the Presentation of Fealty, when the noble families attempt to buy their way into Gwyn's good graces. Gwyn and his Inner Court sit in their thrones for the presentations, while their common fae servants and the trows assist with removing all the gifts to make way for each next presentation. The Court receives more pledges than Gwyn was expecting, including pledges of soldiers from various War Generals, and Princess Braith and Prince Vane present 'six coffers of uncut, high grade gems, and a seventh of pearls from Trearddur Bay, harvested from the rare singing oysters.'

During this presentation, the Nain Rouge enters the throne room and approaches the thrones. Though uninvited, no one attempts to stop her as she goes up the dais and steps between the fie ellyllon and Gwyn, where she then attempts to attack Augus for demoting her. Gwyn intercepts and pins her to the ground. He reminds the fae present that the Unseelie Court follows the old laws, and they are not to go after their own within its walls. The Nain Rouge agrees to behave and is allowed up, and she remains for the rest of the event without causing trouble.

Gwyn tells the Unseelie that he intends to re-establish the old laws of the Court. He will reopen the Winter Court when the time is right, to the excitement of the fae. He also promises the return of the Masquerade, to further interest. He ends his speech with a reminder of the Unseelie code:

'Honour is a lie!

Duty *only* to one's self and one's loved ones!

Beauty and ugliness are the glamours we use to *feed!*

Fervour, frenzy, agony, *ecstasy and chaos* are our birthright!'

This wins over the crowd, who cheer as Gwyn speaks, and everyone pushes together their glamour at the end, which makes the room shine with 'a stir of energy, twinkling in the air like motes of dust. It was a fretwork of jarring, abrasive, passionate, hungry energy, lacked the containment of the Seelie, but there was a rawness there that Gwyn appreciated.' After this, Gwyn invites them all to go enjoy the night gardens for the evening, and the fae return to mingling.

The event continues on into the early hours of the morning, with Gwyn talking to whoever he was able to reach, before eventually leaving with Augus.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 4 July 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/4088631. Chapter 3: Disintegration.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse.* Archive of Our Own, 15 August 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/4677888. Chapter 6: Predicament.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 29 August 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/4865985. Chapter 7: Debut.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own, 9 September 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/4957257. Chapter 8: Court.