Julvia Dubna Vajat

Fanart of Julvia Dubna Vajat and Ondine of the Seas by intheendlessbluewine https://intheendlessbluewine.tumblr.com/post/179665503029/ondine-and-julvia-confirmed-ill-just-be-over-here

## General details

### Aliases

Princess (as title and pet name), Cygnet (Ash)

### Relatives

Dubna (mother, deceased); King Innokenti (father, deceased); Gulvi Dubna Vajat (younger sister); Galina Dubna Vajat (sister, deceased); Alva Dubna Vajat (sister, deceased); Maruta Dubna Vajat (sister, deceased); two unnamed sisters (deceased)

## Physical description

### Species

Swan shifter: Swan maiden/princess; Genius loci

### Hair color

White

"*I withstood your attack because of the force of my love.*"
―Julvia Dubna Vajat[[The Court of Five Thrones, Chapter 58: Hope]]
**Julvia Dubna Vajat** is an Unseelie swan maiden, a genius loci, and the older sister of Gulvi Dubna Vajat. She nearly died when Augus used the Blight to destroy the Dubna, but Gwyn ap Nudd recovered her, and through the care of Gulvi, Augus, and Aleutia the Rat-Maiden, Julvia recovered. She later joined Gwyn, Augus, Mosk Manytrees, Eran Iliakambar, and Ash Glashtyn on their journey to deal with the ice plague and Olphix. Years after helping Mosk restore the Aur forest, she re-emerged and was reunited with Ondine, her lover.

## Appetite

Her true appetite is small fairies, but at least while in swan form, she appears to eat normal swan foods, such as snails.

## Appearance

#### Pronunciation

YOOL-Vee-uh doob-nuh v-eye-at

In true-form, Julvia resembles a large or small white swan. In hybrid-form, she is 'tall but too thin, her swan wings broad and so bright that they seemed to radiate a haze of brilliance around her. . . . this swan-maiden wore her waist-length white hair loose down to her waist, a waterfall of soft waves. Her swan eyes were a wide black, wilder than Gulvi's, framed with thick black lashes that were startling on her pale face. At the ends of her long-fingered hands were thick, hooked black claws. . . . In the V of the white gown she wore, was a locket of swan feathers starting at her collarbones and leading down between her cleavage.' 'There was black webbing between her fingers and toes.' Her hands had 'black claws [that] were long and pointed and lacquered.' Augus Each Uisge described her as having a 'softness that radiates strength.'

In *The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire*, she wears 'a white dress. The ends of the sleeves and the hem were embroidered in oranges, greens and reds.' In *Unwound*, she wore a 'wreath of pale pink flowers in her hair.'

Her voice is 'light, warm, even friendly.'

In human-form, Julvia's wings become a feather cloak that she is able to remove.

## Personality

Julvia is kind and understanding. Once she was able to shift out of her true-form in *The Court of Five Thrones*, she sought out Augus for a conversation and was friendly with him throughout. While she was aware of what he did to her family and Ljubina, she was willing to try and understand him before she passed judgment. She is empathetic to others, especially those who have experienced love and the grief of loss. Although she can be very forthright in offering friendship, she is also very respectful of boundaries. Although she can be playful, she is quick to assert her own boundaries as needed.

She can also be stubborn and strong-willed. She became restless at being cooped up 'because [she still tires] easily when shifting' and called in Augus' life debt with her so he would bring her with him to investigate the ice plague. She even spoke up to point out to the Nain Rouge that her frequent references to human realm terms is confusing.

Julvia pointed out that '[p]eople forget I'm there and say a great deal . . . I listen to everything.'

Like most swan maidens, Julvia is a pacifist, though she does sometimes use brutal friendliness to demonstrate her protectiveness over those she cares for. She noted that Unseelie pacifists are unusual, which often gives them some stigma.

Julvia can be quite playful at times, like when she happily shifted to swan-form to mingle with the swans at King Oengus Og's tower.

Augus noted that the journey to deal with Olphix is hard, mentally, on Julvia and their entire party, and that if she is hiding it well, or handling it better than the others in their group, 'it’s only because [Augus] sought to break everything that mattered to her – and did – some time ago.'

## Life

Julvia is 'one of the eldest' of her sisters, a group of swan maidens, and resided in the Dubna for most of her life.

Julvia 'was already in the process of giving [her] heart to Ljubina', which made her 'the *strongest* [she] could ever be' when Augus destroyed the Dubna. This allowed Julvia to withstand his attack. Unfortunately, it still nearly killed Julvia, and *did* kill her family. Her younger sister, Gulvi, searched for her in vain. Gwyn found her, near death, and returned her to Gulvi, partially to ensure Gulvi's support in the battle against Augus, which also helped obtain Ash's support.

After Augus' defeat and capture, Gulvi told Gwyn, 'I dream of how I would kill him, often . . . You cannot imagine, but this is the way it is. The only reason I have not tried is that you found my Julvia. It is a debt I cannot repay, and one that I do not wish to add to.'

In *Game Theory*, Gulvi said she 'spen[t] hours with [her] sister every day. She cannot hunt. She cannot feed herself. She cannot fly. She cannot preen. She cannot even be considered a shadow of her former self, because . . . her very self has wasted to shreds. She will likely never change out of her animal form again.' Gulvi was very protective of Julvia's care, not even leaving it to servants. She *eventually* allowed Ash to help.

After Gwyn released Augus back to the Unseelie Court and upon Gulvi's first meeting with Augus, she stabbed him -potentially- on Julvia's behalf, although the sister Gulvi does it for is unnamed.

Aleutia began treating Julvia, with Gulvi going out to fetch needed herbs and struggling to get Julvia to even take her medicine. By chance, Gulvi ran into Augus one day at the Unseelie Court while fetching herbs. Augus tentatively offered his advice, based on his herbalism knowledge focused on freshwater fae, which Gulvi was suspicious of accepting. Augus offered again, later (albeit somewhat rudely), and after consulting Gwyn, who was supportive, Gulvi agreed to allow Augus to help Aleutia in treating Julvia. Part of the treatment involved making her treatments palatable, to encourage consumption.

The first breakthrough was when Julvia attacked Augus because she recognized him, after some time of not being able to recognize anyone. Eventually, Julvia was able to shift into hybrid-form for an hour a day, and seemingly one of her first acts was to confront Augus. She explained how the process of giving her heart away - albeit uncompleted - to Ljubina made her powerful enough to withstand what he'd done to the Dubna. Augus apologized - for what he'd done, and Ljubina's murder - and stated that he owed her a life debt. Gulvi arrived to collect Julvia, angry that Julvia was out of bed, and ready to attack Augus if need be.

Eventually Julvia recovered enough to be able to stay out of true-form. Even so, she often required more rest than other fae. At some point, Julvia and Gulvi went back to the Dubna to do some form of water burial in honor of their family's deaths.

Julvia 'had many suitors try to court her favour in the palace, though she’d resisted all of them – those that Gulvi hadn’t already chased off with threats and knives.'

Gwyn ended up speaking with her during the events of *Unwound*. By this point she either had a room of her own in the Court, or had taken over a room with her different embroidery projects. She spoke of her parents, and advised Gwyn to speak with Augus more.

Julvia broke into the Unseelie Court meeting over how to deal with the ice plague, asserting her life debt with Augus as reasoning to take her along. Gulvi argued against it, not wanting Julvia to put herself in danger. While the others were arguing, Julvia took a closer look at Mosk and Eran, and said, 'I've lost my family too,' which surprised Eran, as he hadn't expected to hear empathy at the Unseelie Court, particularly directed at himself.

After Oengus broke through Olphix's communication spells to talk with the Unseelie Court, Fenwrel the Mouse-Maiden made a portal to his tower, and Julvia joined Fenwrel, Gulvi, and Ash to go to the tower, because she wanted to get out of the Unseelie Court. She again called in her life debt with Augus so that she could accompany Gwyn, Augus, Ash, Eran, and Mosk on their journey. She later visited Mosk in his room to invite him to eat with the group for dinner, and to update him on what happened while he was sleeping, as well as offering to be his confidante if he needed someone to talk to.

Julvia spent much of her time at Oengus' tower with the other swans. After their narrow escape from the ice plague, she admitted to Mosk that though she was scared, she still felt that it was an adventure. She sometimes scouted for the group, but was limited due to her physical stamina. The others often looked after her, with Augus giving her food, Gwyn spacing out how much she was allowed to scout, and Ash helping her move around, even sometimes carrying her. While everyone was starting to do poorly, she fell and broke her ankle.

After Eran shifted to help defend the group and they rested for a while near the verkwhin, and Mosk had fallen asleep, Julvia came over to sit with Eran, touching his hand to comfort him. Julvia invited him to go exploring with her, and she was able to stretch her wings. Julvia pointed out that it seemed Eran was giving his heart to Mosk.

During the fight at the seashore, Julvia grabbed Mosk to pull him along. She was scared much like the others during the fight, but once they boarded the Mantissa she was calm again.

Ondine read Julvia's future right after Julvia boarded the Mantissa, and Ondine saw that they could be partners, although Julvia was seemingly mostly astonished at Ondine's ability and the way she greeted new people. Julvia was still quite warm to her, in a way Mosk noticed was beyond Julvia's normal friendliness. Ondine was surprised and happy, and Julvia continued to be quite warm to her, even not knowing what it was Ondine saw.

Julvia mostly spent her time on the Mantissa aboveboard, where fae often held dances, feasts, or concerts, and would fly to the land to fetch food for herself, Augus, and Ash. She worked on getting to know Ondine better, and stated that she loved being on the Mantissa. She was also proud of Mosk's work at conquering climbing to the crow's nest where the Raven Prince took to resting.

Later on she shared with Eran that she was still grieving the loss of her family, and simply missed them. The two of them found comfort in each other, talking about their families.

At the Markets, she requested Eran accompany her to buy a gift for Ondine, and she ended up purchasing 'a wrap made of shining gossamer, embroidered with tiny bits of shell so small that they no longer looked like individual beads, but like part of the soft fabric itself. When spread out to its full length, a naked woman swam alongside dolphins. When crumpled up, the colours blended and still looked beautiful.' Some time later, she danced with Eran and Ondine and other fae, then kissed Ondine.

She spent time with Ash aboard the Mantissa as well, embroidering while he played guitar and sang, and pointed out that she related to him a bit because they both hid things from others, so they appeared simple. They both worked to cheer Eran up.

Ondine and Julvia spent most of their time together while Julvia remained on the Mantissa by this point. While traveling in the Sea of Sculptures, Julvia left her wings with Gwyn to go and swim in the sea with Ondine.

When the Raven Prince left the Mantissa, he 'took her hand in his and said something', which caused Julvia to beam at him and Ondine, though it is unclear what he said.

After Albion dragged the Mantissa into the liminal space, Julvia 'couldn't fly to the shore to fetch fresh waterweed' for herself, Ash, and Augus, and was more in need of rest, so she often stayed in the cabins with Ondine.

Once Julvia's party returned to shore to continue their quest to deal with Olphix, and had to leave Ondine behind, Julvia 'cried multiple a times a day, [and] though she didn't seem to need anyone to comfort her, she appreciated it all the same'.

When they entered Esgrettio, El'eth asked if she was an assassin, to which she said no. El'Eth tried to use her loss against Augus. Julvia agreed that Augus had killed her family, and that she nearly died, as well, and added, '[b]ut he saved me. And now he is paying his life debt to me by protecting me on this journey. I hope you understand that I need that protection, for I’m still quite ill. So I want nothing to happen to him, you see.'

Julvia also noticed Eran's mental health struggles, particularly with Mosk, and tried to help, although Eran brushed her off.

Gwyn put Mosk in charge of Eran and Julvia, sending them ahead to Arkhel, while Gwyn, Augus, and Ash went to visit the Ratcatcher of Hameln. Gwyn noted that Julvia was powerless to protect herself as a pacifist, so it would be on Mosk to protect her. Julvia and Eran often spent the nights talking to each other, and she kept Eran company while he kept watch. After bandits attacked their camp, Julvia fled with them into Oswal-Tay, breaking her wrist when they fell through a forest canopy. Julvia used her wings to give them all insulation, and Mosk healed her wrist, practicing healing magic on his own for the first time. While traveling through the horrors of Oswal-Tay, Julvia started weeping for Ondine again, and Mosk hissed at her, berating her, 'At least someone loves you.'

Eran comforted her. Julvia tried to speak to Mosk, but was rebuffed.

When the Blue Annis attacked, Julvia was shocked when Mosk raised a dome around them, but worked to help Mosk heal Eran. After Mosk collapsed, she protected him, and talked with Eran about Mosk when Eran woke up. Eran admitted he'd been terrible to Mosk, and Julvia asked if he was going to stop. Eran asked for her advice, and Julvia said she would admit her love, that he should be honest about what he was feeling, and that Mosk deserved to be treated better.

After meeting up again with Gwyn, Augus, and Ash, the party managed to get out of Oswal-Tay, and traveled towards Arkhel once more. When Augus said they needed to stop at a place Mosk could rest, Julvia commented that she was tired as well, and needed somewhere to rest. Gwyn begrudgingly agreed, and they headed to Lavenna. There, they found an inn to rest at, and Julvia slept for over two days. Augus looked for herbs and tinctures for her.

Julvia noted that it was increasingly hard for her to maintain her human and hybrid-forms due to her illness, though the rest in Lavenna helped. During their stay in Trowna, she got more rest, but still participated in activities with the rest of the group. She also participated in the henk and danced with the trows. Gwyn noted that she overtaxed herself during the henk, but she felt it was 'such a good reason' to do so. She also said that Trowna made her wings 'sad'. As they prepared to leave Trowna, she seemed to admit she didn't think she would be see Ondine again soon.

After Augus collapsed after using his waterweed against Davix, and Mosk offered to heal Augus, Julvia cautioned him against doing so, adding, ‘Healing takes reserves from the body. He has none left to give. I dread to think what you would do by forcing him to wakefulness now. His body has shut down. It is trying to preserve itself.’ Julvia was worried when Ash suggested changing into the Glashtyn to carry Augus to their next destination, though Ash rejected her comfort. 'Gwyn gave her gold and jewels to trade with, and she rode back many hours later with a very tame gelding that seemed friendly and calm. . . . Except the horse wouldn’t go near Augus. The gelding took one sniff of Augus’ body and shied away, whinnying, legs pawing the ground uncertainly. The gelding would let himself be calmed by Gwyn, seemed friendly enough to Mosk, Eran and Julvia, but every time he was led back to Augus he became more and more fractious, until finally he refused to move at all, his ears back, his tail lashing.' Julvia noted she 'paid for the nicest one . . . A steady, tolerant horse that would carry lots of different kinds of fae.’ Gwyn reassured her that she 'did everything right' and thanked her for it.

Before Ash shifted, he asked Julvia not to think less of him. She promised not to. After the Glashtyn appeared, he eventually threatened Julvia. She told him, ‘Leave Ash alone'. She began to cry, and Eran went to comfort her. She said, ‘I knew it was going to be like this . . . Ash warned me. But it’s not the same. Ash is inside him somewhere, hating all of this, trapped, and we can’t get to him. He hears it all, you know. . . . We have to be careful, so careful, around him . . . Eran, he’s not like Ash at all. And he’s been…forcibly kept down and repressed by Ash for thousands of years. He’ll- He’ll not want to cede any control back to him.’ As they traveled, she rode on Tora's (the gelding's) back, though the Glashtyn's attempts to scare Tora caused her to fly upward rather than be thrown off, until Gwyn ordered the Glashtyn to cut it out.

Julvia hated the Glashtyn's taunts. She watched over Augus when Gwyn wasn't around, and didn't feel well in later days.

While they were in Dharnam, the Glashtyn came to harass her, and attacked her, though Julvia ran away. Mosk followed after her to offer her comfort. She admitted, 'I came on this journey because I knew [Ash] was coming too.' She also admitted she missed Ondine. She later went with Mosk to fetch plants to eat, which he then grew for her. They talked about different kinds of love, and Mosk told her to just ask him to grow plants for her in the future. He comforted her some more about Ash, and held her hand. She explained, 'Ondine liked you. She never saw your future, but she saw mine, and she saw you in it. How much you come to matter to me. At the time I didn’t understand it. But now I think I’m coming to. . . . She told me… She told me something that I’m going to share with you one day, but not today. Something important. Something hard.’

Julvia joined Mosk, Eran, and Gwyn at Barna's family dinner in Dharnam, and brought her 'bag filled with knitting equipment and her projects.' In parting, Julvia gave Barna two small scarves, seemingly meant for Mimi and Tesha, as thanks for the evening, knitted with 'the embroidery magic of swan maidens.'

As they walked to their lodgings, Julvia noted that Gwyn was part of *their* (Julvia, Mosk, and Eran's) family, and Mosk insisted that yes, Gwyn was part of their family, and he didn't have a choice in the matter.

Mosk later asked Julvia if he could blend his magic with hers. Julvia agreed to do it, and also talked about how her magic worked, her family, and the Dubna. Since Mosk needed to see what kind of magic she had, they dove into each other, and while Mosk saw the Dubna in Julvia's heart, Julvia saw the Aur forest in Mosk's heart. The effort overstrained her, and Mosk grew some food for her.

When Gille Dubh came to visit Dharnam, the pair 'talked quietly about the beauty of lochs and rivers, and how much they loved the fresh and watery worlds they preferred'. When he had no gift to offer her, she said, ‘Your words do well enough' and beamed at him.

Possibly in part because Gwyn was intoxicated at the time, Gwyn offered to promote Julvia to Inner Court, to give her better protection. She accepted.

When Ash returned, Julvia resisted visiting him, because 'she wasn't ready to see Ash yet'. At the mourning bonfire during Evale, 'Julvia was uncertain around Ash, and he wasn’t pushing anything, but she looked at him more often with curiosity and wonder on her face, and he sometimes gave her sad, apologetic smiles.'

After speaking to the fox genius loci, Mosk obtained Julvia's agreement to try something big and risky using their powers as genius loci.

When Gulvi reunited with Gwyn's party in Zhitovar, Julvia tearfully embraced her sister, and Gulvi tearfully embraced her back. They spent a lot of time together while preparing to face Olphix. Julvia sewed Mosk charmed leggings to wear to fight Olphix. During the battle, she stayed close to the main forces.

Julvia spent part of the battle with Olphix encouraging Eran to stay back and keep his fire under control. After the twins died, Julvia approached Mosk, and they merged their magic with what Mosk had taken from Olphix and Davix, and his and Julvia's connection to the Aur and Dubna respectively, and used all of it to form a new Aur forest, destroying themselves in the process.

In the eighth year after the battle with Olphix, Ondine traveled to the new Aur forest, and was there to greet Julvia as Julvia emerged from the woods, 'wearing a ragged once-white dress, her hair covered in dirt, her wings stained. There was a hint of the feral in her eyes, but she walked calmly towards Ondine all the same.' She and Ondine embraced, and when Julvia heard Eran sobbing, she went to Eran and spoke with him, saying she didn't know when or if Mosk would return, but encouraged Eran to wait. She and Ondine left together.

Mosk later noted that Julvia would likely stay with Ondine, and not return to the Aur forest, as the whole experience was very hard on her. Eran noted, 'Ondine can always moor near fresh water deltas, or Julvia can fly and find lakes or rivers sometimes.’

## Skills

**Language:** Julvia said she knew a few trow words, but mostly 'different ways of saying thank you.’

**Luck/Flight:** Julvia also stated that a 'swan-maiden is good luck to have on any journey . . . And I can fly and carry messages and scout ahead.'

**Textiles:** Julvia stated that she can repair clothing. She also embroiders.

**The Dubna:** Julvia is also connected to the Dubna, and knows its secrets. It's a kind of magic that's different but more powerful than most magic, like lifeforce.

#### Magic

Julvia uses her magic in her weaving and embroidery: 'With every thread placed down and locked into place, I can add little charms. One by one, the little charms become hundreds, or even thousands, and the clothing I make is very protected. I am not the strongest in my family, but I am strong.’

Julvia is also a genius loci, and has the power to become her landscape when need be.

## Relationships

#### Ash Glashtyn

Ash and Julvia are fond of each other, and Ash often calls her pet names, such as 'Princess', and often comforts her. He is also very protective of her throughout *The Ice Plague*, and he's generally the first to remind her to rest, and when she is in trouble, he's often the first to aid her, despite the fact that Julvia's life debt is actually with Augus. Julvia is able to see through at least some of the facade he uses to hide his mental and physical pain, and comforts him, as well.

#### Augus Each Uisge

Augus is hesitant around Julvia, clearly feeling some guilt over nearly killing her. Julvia is curious about him, and seemingly even fond of him, over time.

#### Eran Iliakambar

Eran was shocked when Julvia reached out to empathize with him over the loss of his family. She offered to talk to him more, if he needed someone to confide in, and often stayed at his side. Eran has also comforted Julvia over leaving Ondine. Julvia often tries to comfort Eran after they leave the Mantissa, although she is often brushed off as Eran struggles to deal with his encounters with Stertes and the general state of his life. Julvia strongly encouraged Eran to do better by Mosk.

#### Gille Dubh

Julvia and Gille Dubh met prior to the events of the ice plague, and seem to get along well.

#### Gulvi Dubna Vajat

Of Julvia, Gulvi initially said: 'Julvia and I never saw eye to eye on anything. Of all my family, I think I would have preferred her to survive the least. I left my family for a reason. They did not want to count a swan-maiden assassin amongst their number. I was – to them – aberrant, even for an Unseelie fae, and Julvia was one of the loudest in protesting the choices I’ve made. I don’t want her back for me, I want her back for herself. She is all that remains of my family.' Gulvi still spent most of her time after Julvia was returned to her helping Julvia recover, and is incredibly protective of her. They argue often, particularly over Julvia leaving the safety of the Unseelie Court, but they clearly care for each other.

#### Gwyn ap Nudd

Gwyn helped save Julvia's life by finding her when even Gulvi failed. He's sought her advice in the past. She once gave him her wings to hold while she went to play in the ocean with Ondine; a choice that likely wasn't made lightly.

#### Ljubina

Ljubina and Julvia were lovers, and Julvia was in the process of giving her heart to Ljubina when Ljubina was killed and Julvia was nearly killed herself.

#### Mosk Manytrees

Julvia reached out to Mosk often, offering to be a confidante like she was for Eran. Mosk was initially a little curious about her, and even somewhat friendly, but he later found her tiresome and annoying, even hating her for being so mournful over the loss of Ondine, largely to displace his grief over his relationship with Eran. Julvia initially didn't like him much, but came to love him over time, particularly upon seeing his self-sacrifice. She's tried comforting him on many occasions, though she was largely only successful when Mosk was unconscious, and she admitted she loves him. Mosk started to like her, and appreciate her mysterious wisdom. He also believed that Amaley Manytrees 'would have adored her'.

#### King Oengus Og

Oengus seemed fond of Julvia, and even supported her in her bid to call in Augus' life debt. Julvia seemed friendly towards him.

#### Ondine

Upon reading Julvia, Ondine knew they were bound together. Julvia was fascinated when Ondine read her future, and the two quickly fell into a romantic and physical relationship while on the Mantissa together. Julvia said that Ondine was 'very soft and warm . . . And she's small . . . I like holding her. It feels like a dream.' The pair spent much time together on the Mantissa, in and out of their quarters. Julvia was devastated when they had to part ways once her group left the Mantissa. Julvia gave her heart to Ondine, so the pain of their parting is deeper. They were reunited after the battle with Olphix, and still in love.

## Quotations

* To Augus: 'I know what you did. I know what you did to my family. To my lover. To the one who I would have given my entire heart to.'
* To Augus: 'I think that I will learn to understand you first, before I make my judgement.'
* To Gwyn: ‘Your Majesty,’ Julvia said, ‘you have given your heart to someone. And once you have done that, they become your home. It’s all abstractions on the surface of it, but if you look deep beneath the water – as swans are meant to do with our long necks – you will see that there is a very simple truth there.’
* To Gwyn, referencing Augus: ‘That waterhorse is terrified of forgiveness as one might be terrified of a scythe searching a neck. But you, as well, you fear it. I still like the way you speak, Your Majesty, even as you try and bait me on a hook, so I become distracted by that instead of that lost look you carry about you. If I needle at you as I do at this linen, it is only to bring the truth out of both. You need not stay out of obligation. It’s silly to make yourself stay if I’ve hurt you. You are the King.’
* 'We do water burials . . . Of course it was too late for me to do anything, when I came back to myself. But I still went to the river Dubna and did the best I could. It helped. Gulvi came too.'
* 'Battle is always ugly'
* To the Nain Rouge: 'Excuse me,’ Julvia said very politely, ‘but I don’t understand a lot of what you’re saying sometimes. Is that because you’ve lived in the human realm for so long?'
* 'I’m taking comfort too. Unseelie pacifists, we’re a rare thing. It’s hard sometimes. Not all Unseelie fae like us. There’s sometimes this odd kick back against us, against fae like Mosk.'
* To Eran: 'I know you didn’t want to do that . . . If there was another way to protect us, I know you would have taken it. In my heart, I know that. So thank you, for your sacrifice for us. I fear that the others over there are far too used to bloodshed, at least…the King and his consort are. But outside of feeding my Unseelie appetite, I have never taken a life, and I am so sorry that you had to.'
* 'I wonder what it’s going to be like after . . . After all of this. I keep feeling like it’s water slipping through my fingers. We don’t know what we’re losing, we can’t even take stock. And I fear for the moment we are able to stop and see what we’ve lost.'
* 'I was never going to grow and get stronger in the Unseelie Court. They all cared about me too much to let me grow. I fear my sister wants to preserve me as she remembers me, but I am not some static thing. Even feathers don’t stay still once they’ve been detached from the wing, do they?'
* To Eran: 'Maybe you’ve changed too . . . But it’s okay.'
* On Ondine: ‘I haven’t given my heart to her. I’m still getting to know her. But I like her very much. She’s very soft and warm. . . . 'And she’s small . . . I like holding her. It feels like a dream. I know we’ve hardly spent any time here at all, but the sea is renewing, and we’ve all needed this so much.'
* “It’s not silly to miss them . . . I should be able to introduce her to Mammu . . . I want my sisters to meet her. . . . It’s so special, and I can’t share it with them . . . It hurts like a wound. I cry nearly every night. . . . Sometimes you just want that one person, and for me it is Mammu, but I want the rest as well. I bleed for them, all the time. They can’t even see it. They wouldn’t even want it. I can’t help myself.'
* 'We are orphans, Eran.'
* 'I am older than many, actually. I suppose I keep it well-hidden too. Which is why I like Ash, because he is very secretive, and he also likes to seem simpler than he really is.'
* 'Oh, I know that’s not true,’ Julvia said, laughing. ‘Plenty of fae don’t try very hard at all. But some do. A lot of love has gone into Esgrettio. A lot of love of the land, the water.'
* To Eran: 'Everything’s happening very fast'
* 'No, Eran, he simply deserves to be treated better . . . Deserving is a strange concept anyway. He should be treated better simply because he is, because he exists, and he hurts too.'
* ‘I think what you said is true. That I wanted to escape to swan form out of fear, which made everything harder. But swans do not care for politics, and they do not care for lives like this. I would have flown straight back to Ondine and not known how to turn back into my hybrid self to enjoy her properly.’
* ‘I believe in you, Mosk Manytrees,’ Julvia said softly, breaking the tension. ‘I saw you in Oswal-Tay. I think you can do anything.’
* To Mosk and Eran: ‘Gwyn’s trying to be really good about leaving you both in here to do whatever you’re doing but he really does want to start walking now. Something about not wanting to walk during the hottest hours of the day? You can always cuddle tonight, you know.’
* ‘I don’t hate Taronis,’ Julvia said. ‘I try not to hate anyone.’ ‘Yes,’ Augus said, patting her on the shoulder. ‘You are very good and regal and anyone would mistake you for a Seelie fae were it not the fact that you catch those tiny fairies and rip their still-shrieking heads off with your bare teeth.’ ‘While I know you’re patronising me, I quite like you patting me on the shoulder,’ Julvia said, her wings flaring. ‘You can keep doing it if you wish.’
* To Mosk: ‘I like that you’re impish'.
* To Julvia, about Ondine: ‘I’m sorry she can’t be with you,’ Mosk said.
* ‘Does…anyone want to learn more of the ambaros language?’ Eran asked hesitantly, desperate for a distraction. . . . [Julvia] ‘Will you teach me how to swear?’
* To Mosk, about the Glashtyn: ‘He *does* hurt me. And every time he speaks, I miss Ash so much. Dear, gentle Ash, who has never treated me that way, yet has *that thing* living inside him.’
* To Mosk: ‘Love can exist without consideration,’ Julvia said, looking up at the sky. ‘We are swan-maidens, we know nearly every form of love there is. It is our power. One of the many. There are terrible kinds of love in the world.’
* 'I can at least tell you that you’re coming to matter to me. Before, you mattered to me because you matter, Mosk. But now it is in my heart too. It’s love. I hope it isn’t terrible.’
* To Eran: ‘Then wait. He might never come back. But if you’re here… I can’t imagine any other person he’d return for. I have to go now. My lover, she waited too.’

## Trivia

* Julvia has stated she is older than Gwyn, which also implies that she's more than 3000 years old.
* The last time Julvia shifted into her true-form of a swan on-page was when she first arrived at Oengus' tower.

## Folklore/Mythology

*Swan Lake*, a ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky that premiered in 1877, tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. Prince Siegfried goes on a hunt and nearly kills a swan before she transforms into a human, and explains her curse. Siegfried promises to help. The sorcerer Rothbart tricks Siegfried into announcing he will marry Rothbart's daughter Odile, instead. Siegfried realizes his mistake and goes to apologize to Odette, but the mistake cannot be undone: she and her sisters will remain cursed forever. In despair, she decides to die, and Seigfried goes with her. It's theorized that the ballet might have been inspired by the 1858 Russian fairy tale *The White Duck*, about a newly-wed Queen who is tricked by a witch and turned into a duck. The King discovered her mourning over her murdered children, and when he caught her himself, she returned to her original shape, and restored her children to life.

## Image Gallery

Fanart of Ondine and Julvia Dubna Vajat by intheendlessbluewine https://intheendlessbluewine.tumblr.com/post/179665503029/ondine-and-julvia-confirmed-ill-just-be-over-hereFanart of Julvia Dubna Vajat by Feral https://bightmarks.tumblr.com/post/639798977445904384/the-empress-compassion-generosityFanart of Ondine and Julvia Dubna Vajat by Hannes https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgrt0UKsvTq/?utm\_source=ig\_web\_copy\_linkFanart of Julvia Dubna Vajat by Hannes https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgrt0UKsvTq/?utm\_source=ig\_web\_copy\_linkFanart of Julvia Dubna Vajat by Hannes https://www.instagram.com/p/CgwWEfdsDEk/?utm\_source=ig\_web\_copy\_linkFanart of Julvia Dubna Vajat by Hannes https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgyz6yEsIec/?utm\_source=ig\_web\_copy\_link
## References

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2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 15 June 2018. https://archiveofourown.org/works/12036105/chapters/34608941. Chapter 22: Twisting and Turning.
3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 28 August 2015. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/10665527. Chapter 58: Hope.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 not\_poignant. “Unwound.” *The Fae Tales Verse - canon extras. Archive of Our Own,* 31 July 2016. https://archiveofourown.org/works/7562599/chapters/17386390. Chapter 4: IV.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 29 June 2018. https://archiveofourown.org/works/12036105/chapters/34995836. Chapter 23: The Arrow's Path.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 28 October 2021. https://archiveofourown.org/chapters/86595049. Chapter 18: The Silent Dances.
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8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 10 August 2018. https://archiveofourown.org/works/12036105/chapters/36302208. Chapter 26: A Familiar Blue.
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12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 11 September 2013. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/1886908. Chapter 10: Display.
13. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 20 March 2015 https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/7890363. Chapter 36: Burden.
14. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 14 May 2015. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/8820031. Chapter 43: Wildness.
15. ↑ not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 5 January 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/2257937. Chapter 35: Release.
16. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 1 August 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/4478196. Chapter 5: Unsolicited.
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 24 October 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/5561123. Chapter 15: Blight.
18. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 22 May 2015. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/8948719. Chapter 44: Nostalgia.
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 1 December 2017. https://archiveofourown.org/works/12036105/chapters/29432541. Chapter 9: A Meeting.
20. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 26 July 2018. https://archiveofourown.org/works/12036105/chapters/35842707. Chapter 25: Circling Back Around.
21. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 24 August 2018. https://archiveofourown.org/works/12036105/chapters/36709188. Chapter 27: A Bad Turn.
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23. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 19 October 2018. https://archiveofourown.org/works/12036105/chapters/38239544. Chapter 31: The Sky is Falling.
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25. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 15 March 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/42834056. Chapter 2: Flame Upon the Sea.
26. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 10 May 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/44564854. Chapter 5: Unexpected Guests.
27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 7 May 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/44466025. Chapter 4: Damaged Instincts.
28. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 21 June 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/45901336. Chapter 8: Stay Right Here.
29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 19 July 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/47044390. Chapter 10: Veils.
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32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 9 January 2020. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/52978921. Chapter 23: The Sea of Sculptures.
33. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 19 March 2020. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/55596259. Chapter 28: Farewell.
34. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 30 April 2020. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/57536779. Chapter 31: Whatever It Takes.
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36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 5 November 2020. https://archiveofourown.org/works/26266345/chapters/66966274. Chapter 6: Intrusions.
37. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 19 November 2020. https://archiveofourown.org/works/26266345/chapters/67599242. Chapter 7: Bad Habits.
38. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 3 December 2020. https://archiveofourown.org/works/26266345/chapters/68206945. Chapter 8: The Ratcatcher of Hameln.
39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 17 December 2020. https://archiveofourown.org/works/26266345/chapters/68919276. Chapter 9: Oswal-Tay.
40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 1 January 2021. https://archiveofourown.org/works/26266345/chapters/69779910. Chapter 10: Innocence and Accidents.
41. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 15 January 2021. https://archiveofourown.org/works/26266345/chapters/70548654. Chapter 11: Debts Unclaimed.
42. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 5 August 2021. https://archiveofourown.org/works/26266345/chapters/82025380. Chapter 12: Come Back To Me.
43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 2 September 2021. https://archiveofourown.org/chapters/83586277. Chapter 14: The King and the Hybrid.
44. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 14 October 2021. https://archiveofourown.org/chapters/85843123. Chapter 17: Singing Silver.
45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 11 November 2021. https://archiveofourown.org/chapters/87334006. Chapter 19: Golden Bonds.
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47. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 6 January 2022. https://archiveofourown.org/chapters/90349834. Chapter 23: Collapse.
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49. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 3 February 2022. https://archiveofourown.org/chapters/91940740. Chapter 25: Monsters Within Monsters.
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56. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 23 June 2022. https://archiveofourown.org/works/26266345/chapters/99730371. Chapter 35: A Prophecy.
57. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 7 July 2022. https://archiveofourown.org/works/26266345/chapters/100527858. Chapter 36: The Light Fades.
58. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 21 July 2022. https://archiveofourown.org/works/26266345/chapters/101357655. Chapter 37: This Is My Power.
59. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 1 August 2022. https://archiveofourown.org/works/26266345/chapters/102025632. Chapter 38: Olphix, Alone.
60. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 3 August 2022. https://archiveofourown.org/works/26266345/chapters/102149304. Chapter 39: Impossible Things.
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62. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 30 September 2021. https://archiveofourown.org/chapters/85040659. Chapter 16: Trowna.
63. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 26 February 2015. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/7541705. Chapter 32: Limbo.
64. ↑ "Swan Lake". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan\_Lake. Accessed 20 May 2021.
65. ↑ "The White Duck". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The\_White\_Duck. Accessed 20 May 2021.