Chapter 42
Arwen tipped her head lazily. The sun was already setting, leaving the front garden of the town house under a honeyed light. Spring had finally melted the snow away, but the land had yet to rejuvenate itself, leaving much of the wildlife across Velaris still at rest. "Rhys," she breathed, "I say we just leave without him."
Rhysand coughed behind tight lips. "Thinking about it."
Cassian revealed himself minutes later, dressed in his leathers with all seven siphons on proud display. Arwen pursed her lips and shot him a glare. "All that time to get ready and you still haven't brushed your hair."
"It adds to my charm," he quipped back. She huffed at him.
Azriel and Mor had already left for the Court of Nightmares hours ago, but that wasn't where the three of them were going. Cassian, Arwen and Rhysand were preparing to attend the Dawn Court for a meeting of the Solar Courts. Amren remained behind to look after the city. The arrangement hadn't been their first choice, but something had come up in Hewn Cityâshe didn't pay attention whatâthat needed Mor's attention and Azriel's skillset to grapple back into control. So Arwen volunteered as Rhysand's guest in Mor's place and Cassian... Well, she didn't think he was actually invited but she'd like to see Thesan kick him out.
Rhysand bowed his arms out to each of them and the moment they both clasped his elbows, he winnowed them across Prythian.
~
"I would be apologising for our tardiness," Rhysand crooned as they entered the dining hall of the Dawn Court Palace, "but it seems we've still managed to beat Amun."
Thesan lounged in a glorious seat that looked to be made of marble. Cloth of gold, white and rose draped his finely crafted form, complimenting his dark skin. His brown hair hung loosely around his ears. "Amun isn't going to make it," he answered with a carved smile. "He's sending Helion and we both know that male makes his entrances." He opened his hand to Arwen and Cassian. "It's lovely to see you both."
"Likewise," Arwen answered as they slipped into their seats. Tonight was an informal dinner, Rhysand had told her before they left. Tomorrow afternoon is when their conversations on the relationship between the solar courts would ensue. She admired the polished wood of the table, even making the thought that it was nicer than the one they had in the House of Wind.
They made amicable conversation until the great doors leading into the dining hall groaned with another opening. Arwen grinned as Helion swept in, his white robe perfectly plain enough that the eyes of any onlooker were drawn to his sculptured features rather than be distracted by flashes of colour and pattern.
"Thesan," Helion said. "I hope my lateness isn't too discourteous."
"Hardly," Thesan replied. "I wasn't expecting you until dessert showed up."
Helion graced his way around the table. Arwen grinned and tipped her head back as he stopped next to hers. "Arwen," he breathed. "I would have come hours early if I knew you would be my company for the night."
"Last minute change of plan," she told him. "The same for you, it's been noted."
"Yes." Helion leant on the spine of her chair as he addressed Thesan once more. "My father apologises greatly but something has come up that he needed to attend to urgently."
"Well don't apologise," Arwen sang. "We get you instead."
He winked down at her. "You have to get past the formalities to get to the fun. And I see you've brought the fun with you. Cassian."
"Nice to be finally recognised," the warrior barked with a grin and Arwen nudged him with the point of her elbow.
"Glad to see my choice of entourage has brought you some delight," said Rhysand.
"Perhaps you can keep them entertained, Helion," Thesan noted. "I'd prefer if the incident at the Summer Court wasn't replicated here."
Arwen choked on the wine she had been sipping at. Rhysand grew silent, watching over the fingers he pressed to his mouth. Cassian bared an unworried grin and Helion threw his head back with deep, bellowing laughter. Arwen managed to get her wine down and held up her hand. "I would like to make it clear that I had nothing to do with that building. I wasn't even there."
"Perhaps not," Thesan said and lifted his own golden goblet. "But I don't doubt that Rhysand's court has trouble up each sleeve."
Arwen only smiled in return at his light tone and tapped her nose as if keeping the secret.
Once dinner and dessert had passed and they left with confidence that they would meet come the coming day's lunch with good graces. Rhysand remarked as they were led away from the others by a servant that he was grateful Helion had been the one to come in place of Amun. Arwen nodded in agreement. Amun and their father had never gotten along which caused a few tensions between their courts.
Rhysand and Cassian were dropped off in the same hall on the west wing of the palace. "Where's my sister staying?" he inquired as the servant gestured for Arwen to follow. "I would prefer if she was close."
"Just down the next hall, High Lord," the servant said with a graceful smile. "First door on the left. High Lord Thesan thought she would like the balcony it offers."
Cassian frowned. "Do we not get balconies?"
The servant smiled again and dipped her head into a bow then gestured for Arwen to continue following. With the servant a step ahead of her, Arwen stretched both hands up and extended a single finger on each aimed behind her. With a quick glance back, she caught Cassian snarling and waving her off with his own rude gesture. The servant seemed to know as with a tilt in her head, Arwen saw her hiding another smile.
"You know it'sâ"
She stumbled, words cutting short as they turned down the next hall. Another female wandered through it, her long robes gliding around her legs. The robes of a High Priestess. Arwen forced her legs to start working again but the dryness in her throat prevented the continuation of whatever she had been about to say. She couldn't remember what it was anyway.
Ianthe strode past her and it was only in the last second before they crossed did the blonde High Fae even move her eyes from the path ahead to Arwen. It was fleetingâbarely even a secondâbut Arwen's blood ran cold. Her stomach twisted and no matter how much she wanted to look back, she couldn't.
"That is Ianthe, my lady," the servant informed her as they stopped outside the first door. "She is a High Priestess that High Lord Thesan has invited to stay for the coming days."
"Y-yes," Arwen croaked. "I'm well aware who that was." Why was she feeling this way? The last time she had seen Ianthe, Arwen had slammed a door on her hand and Rhysand had commanded her out of his city. She had been the one in power and she had not feared the High Priestess. Yet now it felt like she had passed something beyond wicked. Arwen held her stomach. "Thank you, I'll be fine for the night without being tended to."
The servant frowned. "Would you like assistance preparing a bath? Attending to your nightly preparations?"
She shook her head. "No. I want to be alone. Thank you."
The servant bowed her head and took her leave. Arwen remained in the doorway, not yet having looked inside. Once she could no longer hear the light taps of the servant's heels against the polished floor, Arwen padded her way back into the other hall and barged into her brother's chamber.
Rhysand paused, his shirt half unbuttoned. He squinted and looked into the empty air. "See, if I was you right now, I'd be getting smacked on the head for not knocking."
Arwen did not smile. "Ianthe is here."
He dropped his hands away from his raven tunic. "Ianthe?"
She nodded. "She's Thesan's guest. Rhys I-I don't want to..." She sucked in more air and reset her shoulders. "I don't want to stay alone and I don't want you alone either."
"Okay," he murmured and sauntered towards her. He clasped her shoulders then pulled them to his front. "Okay," he repeated. "Stay in here tonight. Did she say something to you? You sound like she's just been holding a knife to your neck."
She shook her head against his chest. "I just passed her in the hall. I'm sorry, she just scared me. I don't know why."
"Your heart is going fast enough for the both of us," he noted. "I'll keep the door locked with magic tonight. And warn Cassian. Maybe it was a good thing Azriel had to go to Hewn City."
Arwen nodded her head once more and turned around in his hold, taking in his guest chamber. It was accented with creams and rose golds, but had a more masculine taste to it that she couldn't pinpoint the cause of. Indeed, there was no balcony but still fit for the high-ranking guest he was with magnificent arched windows that would look offer a marvellous display come dawn. Rhysand rubbed the side of her arm, letting her stay close until she decided otherwise.
"I need a bath," she decided, and set her path towards the washroom door.
"Be my guest then," he groused behind her.
As she peeled her clothes off, the door of the washroom opened. Arwen jumped and clutched at her dress but the entering servant only diverted her eyes. "I've been informed to begin your bath, my lady," she said.
Arwen calmed her heart, silently cursing Rhysand for not giving her a warning. The serving female leant over the clawed bathtub and began to fill it with water, constantly feeling the temperature. She poured a selection of oils in from unlabelled and tinted glassware and soon the soft, almost flowery aroma filled the washroom. Arwen kept the dress to her front.
The servant turned back around. Gone was any sign of the softened smile she had earlier. "It should be to your liking, my lady, but please call for me if it is not." Her eyes lifted from the floor near Arwen's feet. They were grey like rainclouds and examined her unwaveringly. Arwen shifted under their intensity. "Do you often bathe in your brother's chambers?"
Arwen blinked. "What?"
The servant bristled and ducked her head again. "Forgive me. Will you be staying here for the night or will you be returning to your chambers?"
Arwen rounded her lips. "I'm sure my chambers are lovely, but I would prefer to be here tonight."
The servant nodded, left and closed the door behind her.
Arwen shook off the event and near moaned as she slipped her foot into the bath. "I need to kidnap that servant," she said to herself, "and bring her back to the Night Court." Nuala and Cerridwen were always amazing, but this bath had set new standards. It even washed away thoughts of the High Priestess. She only left it because no magic kept it warm, and the tepid water grew rather disappointing after the relaxing start.
Slipping into a nightdress, Arwen returned to the main chamber. Cassian now occupied one of the armchairs around the small, rounded table that hosted a silverware set. "I heard the news," he said to her.
Arwen sat on the armchair opposite. Rhysand, who had been standing near the window, meandered towards the small seating arrangement, perching on her armrest. "You promised Thesan no destroyed buildings but I don't believe you said anything about not murdering his guests," she said, digging at her nail.
"I think that might be a regular expectation, sweetheart," Rhysand hummed, clawing at the crown of her head before running his hand down her hair. She sighed and planted her cheek against her fist. "That servant looked at me strangely."
Cassian threw out his hand. "Did you read her mind?"
"She left too quickly for me to think about it."
"She was strange," Arwen grumbled, but the conversation had already seemed to pass. "I'm glad we're only staying the night. Any longer around and that High Priestess might really have something to pray about."
"I'm sure you won't even see her again," Rhysand comforted. "Azriel's not here to sink her claws into."
"But you are," she countered. "And I imagine her more with fangs." Arwen clicked her teeth together in display but a yawn interrupted her. Letting her head fall back, she suddenly found that the back of the armchair did not travel high enough to hold her and instead diverted her weight to the side and onto the length of his thigh. "That bath was like nothing before. I think she put something in itâ" another yawnâ "to make me sleepy."
"Are you suggesting the servant drugged you?" Cassian asked. "To sleep?"
She nodded sleepily. "It's like... The perfect politeness. Drug your visitors to make sure they get a long sleep when they're away from home."
"I'm not certain I'd call that polite," he countered. "More like creepy."
Before she could argue her points, the chamber door opened once more. The servant entered, towels neatly bundled in her arms. "Fresh towels," she said. "I just thought to leave them in case you change your mind about a bath, High Lord."
Rhysand nodded. "Thank you."
The servant darted forward, passing the seating area and headed into the washroom. Emerging moments later, she strode towards the chamber door, but angled her head to look upon them. Arwen watched her back, following the point of her eyes as they moved over Rhysand, then back down to her. The gaze was long and... bizarre. There were no signs of desire that many looked upon her brother with. But when it turned to her there was... fear. For her. The servant made one more pass over Rhysand and Arwen was just about to call in warning that she was going to walk into the wall when the servant finally looked forward again and left the chamber.
"That was awkward," Cassian said under his breath. "Accuse a female of drugging you and there she appears."
Rhysand watched the door for a moment longer. "She was curious. About us." Arwen lifted her head in time to see him look down at her.
"Do I have something on my face?" she inquired rather dryly.
His mouth twitched but no chuckle came at her remark. "No, she... It doesn't matter." Arwen planted her head back down, curling her feet onto the chair and left those thoughts behind in favour of sleep.
*Chapter was dedicated to rcar9876 for the amazing commentary I always get to wake up to. It's my favourite part about positing any sort of writing. Also special note to ZaiZepp05, CelenaeSardothien, dinosaursloveme and other commentors.
I hope you've been enjoying the story so far as we're about to hit the midpoint where everything changes ;)
If I haven't mentioned so already, this story will continue to about 110 chapters which are already written and promised*