Princess of Adriata · The Summer Court

Cresseida

“Her long, silver hair blew across her pretty face in the briny breeze, and I didn't mistake the light in her brown eyes for anything but razor-sharp cunning.”

Feyre, meeting her · A Court of Mist and Fury

Tarquin's cousin, Varian's older sister, and the one person in Adriata who read the Night Court right.

Princess of Adriata in the Summer Court. She received Rhysand, Feyre and Amren with a smile and counted the silverware. She was right to.

Who she is

The princess who counted the silverware.

Princess of the Summer Court, and of Adriata, its sea city. Tarquin is her cousin, which puts her in the line that rules Summer now. Varian, captain of Tarquin's guard, is her younger brother. When the Night Court turned up she stood with both of them on the landing platform to receive Rhysand, Feyre and Amren, and she didn't stop watching the guests. Not paranoia. The Night Court's reputation had earned every bit of it, and this visit was about to prove her right.

The dinner

The law of the stolen bride.

At dinner she said the quiet part. Feyre had been Tamlin's bride-to-be, and under the law between the courts a High Lord could demand her back. She told Rhysand she hoped he hadn't stolen her, because if Tamlin asked, Summer might have to hand her over or risk a war it couldn't afford. Rhysand's answer was a threat, and the table moved on. She was protecting her people, and she was rude to anyone she thought might be a danger to them. The books are clear on that. We love her for it.

Rhysand

He worked her for information. She let him, up to a point.

Rhysand spent the visit charming her. Dinners, attention, the full performance, all of it to learn what he could about Tarquin and the Summer Court. She wasn't immune. She wanted him in her bed, and he declined. Feyre, watching the two of them disappear off together, found out what jealousy felt like and didn't enjoy it. A side character from Summer, and she's the reason Feyre worked that out. We notice these things.

After the theft

Summer stands up.

Then the Night Court stole the Summer Court's half of the Book of Breathings and left. Tarquin sent blood rubies, which is a declaration of enmity, and the two courts didn't speak for a book. When the High Lords finally met at the Dawn Court to decide whether to fight Hybern together, Tarquin walked in late with Varian and Cresseida beside him. When it came to standing with Feyre's plan for a united army, she stood. Summer, with every reason to sulk, didn't. That was partly her.

Her circle

Her court, her brother, and the guests who robbed them.

Swipe to meet them all

Tarquin High Lord of the Summer CourtTarquinHer cousin, and her High LordEnter Tarquin →

Varian Prince of Adriata, captain of the guardVarianHer younger brotherEnter Varian →

Adriata The Summer Court's sea cityAdriataHer home and her titleEnter Adriata →

The Summer Court Realm of the warm seasThe Summer CourtHer courtEnter The Summer Court →

Rhysand High Lord of the Night CourtRhysandCharmed her for information. Declined her bed.Enter Rhysand →

Feyre Archeron High Lady of the Night CourtFeyre ArcheronThe stolen bride she raised at dinnerEnter Feyre Archeron →

Amren The Night Court's SecondAmrenTook the Book half with Feyre; the blood feud followedEnter Amren →

Her arc · Two books, one spine

She was right about them. Then she stood with them anyway.

Cresseida is in two books and not many scenes. Every one of them is her reading the room correctly.

The landing platform
Tarquin, Varian and Cresseida receive the Night Court at Adriata. She's the one who doesn't stop watching.
The dinner
She raises the law of the stolen bride and tells Rhysand to his face that she hopes he didn't take Feyre. He threatens the table. Her point stands.
The theft
The Night Court leaves with the Summer Court's half of the Book of Breathings. Blood rubies follow. She was right.
The Dawn Court
Hybern is coming. The High Lords meet, and when it's time to stand with Feyre's united army, she stands.

The File

Title: Princess of Adriata
Court: Summer, under Tarquin
Kin: Tarquin's cousin. Varian's older sister
Look: dark skin, long silver hair, brown eyes
First seen: on the landing platform at Adriata, A Court of Mist and Fury
Also in: the High Lords' meeting at the Dawn Court, A Court of Wings and Ruin

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