Delphine (Cook)

## Delphine

**Delphine** was a Capital Seelie fae and the head cook who worked at the An Fnwy estate during Crielle ferch Fnwy's tenure as owner. Gwyn ap Nudd was fond of her because of how she helped him survive Crielle's tortures. Delphine was murdered by Augus Each Uisge when he went to kill Crielle and murder other servants as perceived revenge for Gwyn.

## Life

Rhiamon ferch anFnwy hired Delphine to work as the head cook at the An Fnwy estate, to keep Crielle's true nature hidden. Delphine worked with Crielle, All'eth, and the midwife to keep Penarddun ferch Fnwy and Efnisien ap Wledig alive during his birth.

According to Gwyn, Delphine was his friend, and made sure that Gwyn was fed while Gwyn lived at his family's home, despite Gwyn's family's machinations (usually starving, underfeeding, or poisoning him). Augus argued that Delphine was not Gwyn's friend, but rather one of the 'people who stood by while [Gwyn was] tormented beyond what most people can comprehend.' Gwyn asserted that many servants were killed in the An Fnwy household, but even though Delphine was part of the 'coterie' hired to protect Crielle and serve as her allies, Delphine always made it a point to cook extra, or have maids leave food for him. Gwyn also says that Delphine cared for her workers at the An Fnwy estate as her own children, and that some were killed (presumably on orders from Crielle, Penarddun, and/or Lludd Llaw Eraint) for infractions, emphasizing the risk Delphine took in helping Gwyn.

Gwyn said that Delphine loved marchpane (or marzipan).

Delphine was murdered by Augus at the beginning of *The Court of Five Thrones*, along with the other members of the An Fnwy estate.

## Skills

Delphine was a skilled cook, and Gwyn remembers her meals fondly. Augus noted that Delphine was incredibly dangerous with her cleaver, and she managed to injure him even while he was Inner Court and she was lower status.

## Relationships

#### Crielle ferch Fnwy

Delphine was seemingly one of the few allowed to be kind to Gwyn due to her status as Crielle's helper, though it is likely Delphine hid her actions, and was protected from repercussions other servants would face for similar actions due to her position. According to Crielle's diary, Delphine said that Crielle's craving for rare meat while pregnant with Gwyn meant that Gwyn would be 'strong and fierce, a little hunter', like Gwyn's paternal grandfather.

#### Gwyn ap Nudd

Gwyn considered Delphine his friend and a major reason Gwyn survived his childhood, as she gave him food when his parents deprived him. Gwyn noted that although he didn't know his birthday up until the end of *The Court of Five Thrones*, Delphine told him the plant of his birth by giving him a cake with ivy marchpane twined around it during the winter solstice. Gwyn was deeply hurt by Augus killing her, and even the thought of confronting her in death (or what remained of her) was traumatic.

## References

1. ↑ not\_poignant. "The Curse.” *The Fae Tales Verse - canon extras. Archive of Our Own,* 4 August 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/2034456/chapters/4527081. Chapter 2.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 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.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 21 August 2015. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/10537971. Chapter 57: Grief.
4. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 6 June 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/3737456. Chapter 1: Massacre.
5. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 20 June 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/3901096. Chapter 2: Orphan.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 19 June 2015. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/9397818. Chapter 48: Exploration.