My head whips in her direction, and my heart jumps into my throat.
Same blond hair, though it’s currently tangling in the breeze past her shoulders. Same sky-blue eyes. Same rebellion relic winding around her arm. Liam’s little sister. Rhiannon stares.
a/n the reason this took so long was because it was supposed to be a drabble yet it's over 1.2k words rip me<3 I hope you enjoy this though! I (clearly) had fun writing it. not edited btw
Send me a ship + trope/prompt and I'll write a drabble (fr this time)
The cool night breeze blew softly through the empty garden, making Elain wrap the shawl she brought out even tighter to herself.
"I knew I should have just grabbed the coat," she grumbled softly to herself.
All Elain had wanted was a few moments to catch her breath. She had been up for hours helping Feyre cook food, decorate the River House, and babysit sweet Nyx for the dinner party tonight. Her younger sister had organized a lot more get togethers recently, and while did enjoy baking and cooking, the now weekly activity of helping to prepare enough food and rooms for over seven people, eight if she included herself and nine if she were to count Nyx, was getting to be a bit much.
Though Elain figured these increased shared meals were likely the result of her sister's second, third, maybe fourth near death experience.
So the least that she could do was offer to cook the roast, tidy the rooms, and keep her rambunctious nephew preoccupied while his parents were off doing whatever it seemed High Lord's and High Lady's do.
However now, her feet and back were sore, and Cassian's snoring could be heard even through the walls (she had no idea how Nesta dealt with it) keeping her awake even if her body didn't ache.
It didn't help that Velaris was starting to show it's first signs of winter.
Elain had tried not to let it show in her mood, but she grew a little sadder as each day seemed to be shorter than the last, the sun slipping beneath the horizon before she felt the chance to actually bask in it's light. Her garden had started to die as well. The cold air shriveled up her plants and flowers, the soil now too frozen to properly tend to, and the even the trees now lay bare.
Another small gust of wind made the hairs on Elain's neck stand up, her body recognizing the scent that it carried before her mind could even register it. She twisted her body just in time to see Lucien come through the entrance of the garden.
He froze in his tracks when he too saw her. The pair were silent for a moment, as if unsure whether to pretend like they hadn't seen one another or to say hi.
Elain decided to take the first step and offered him just a slight smile.
Lucien's stiff body seemed to relax at her gesture and he greeted her with a nod in return. "Apologies my lady, I was just taking a small walk around the grounds before I head back."
Ah there it is.
She had been wondering why he was up so late. Was he cold like she was? Did something at dinner make his stomach upset? Could it be that there are other toughts plauging his mind?
On the rare occasion where Lucien would join for dinner, he would often leave before it got too deep into the night. He hadn't chosen to sleep in one of the rooms, even when Feyre had offered.
"It's alright," she softly replied, "I thought you had left already."
He shook his head, golden eye catching the light with the movement, "Rhysand had wanted to discuss some events with me. He's hoping to have me present at some meetings he had planned with other courts." He huffed, "It turned into a tangent of him talking about how wonderful Feyre and Nyx are. Started bragging about how his son was the smartest child in the world and that it was all because he took after his mother."
Elain giggled, "He's already screaming praises for them from the rooftops on a regular day, but the bit of wine he had tonight may have been the reason for the divergence in conversation."
Lucien let out a soft laugh, his breath forming a soft cloud in the cold air. His eyes trailed up to where the moon was high in the sky. "I should get going though. It's late enough and Jurian practically skinned me alive last time I woke him up from his beauty sleep."
She hesitated for a second before saying, "Why don't you just spend the night?" He turned completely towards her, his surprise written all over his face. "It's just that it's late is all," Elain rushed out, feeling her cheeks burn for some reason, "and you wouldn't want to incur Jurian's wrath."
"That I don't," he agreed with a smile, "but as much as I enjoy the Night Court, it sometimes feels a bit odd sleeping here. I prefer to rest my head in my own bed." A pause. "And I'll admit that I find it rather cold in the house during this time of year."
Elain couldn't help but laugh, "Are you not supposed to run warm because of your fire?"
"I do and you would think that would be enough," he said with a shake of his head. "I swear, even when lighting the fireplace and candles, the cold just cuts right through it all. I much prefer the south."
Something inside her slightly ached. She had loved living further south. While they still had cold winters, they were never as long as the ones in the Night Court, and spring seemed to last forever.
"Do you also struggle with the cold weather, my lady?"
There was a brief moment of hesitate before she a polite smile came onto her lips, "Not at all, I find it pleasant."
Lucien quirked an eyebrow. “I have never heard a bigger lie.”
"I'm not lying."
"You are gripping your shawl so tight I think I see some threads breaking."
Elain immediately loosened her fingers, before shooting him a look. "Well if you knew the answer already, why did you ask?"
"I wanted to see if like Rhysand, the events of the night would make you a bit more honest too." He admitted.
"I am always honest." She replied. Lucien glanced at her but said nothing. "I am usually honest." More silence. "I try to be honest."
A smirk played at his lips. "Whatever you say my lady."
There was a question which danced at the tip of Elain's tongue, and she decided that perhaps now was the time to be honest. "What was it like?"
His head tilted in slight confusion. "Pardon me?"
Elain took in a breath. "What was it like living in the Spring Court? Did it get cold there too?"
Understanding dawned on Lucien and he gave her an almost sad smile. "It was one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. The land thrived due to it always being warm year round and every single flower, plant, herb, and root you could imagine grew there. There were beautiful lakes and ponds, vast plains with wildflowers covering it all, and it was everything one could imagine in a court that is eternally spring."
To Elain's ears, it sounded like a paradise.
"But that's how it was before," he sighed. "Much of the court now lays in ruins, the lands overgrown, and weeds running rampage over the other plants." Lucien's eyes caught hers. "Though I'm sure you would still find some beauty in it."
Her breath caught at not just his words but his gaze. It pierced right through her, as if he could see every inch of her thoughts and mind. How was it that every time they locked eyes, it was as if her entire being pulsed alive?
She quickly broke contact, glancing at the ground instead. "I don't think I'll ever get the chance to visit." Before he could reply, she rushed out, "It's getting late. You should make it back before you really do wake Jurian from his slumber. Or maybe you'll wake Vassa too."
The knowing look on Lucien's face told Elain he knew exactly why she changed the topic so rapidly, but he didn't push her. "You're right, waking both of them up really would seal my fate." He tilted his head down slightly, as if bowing. "Goodnight my lady. Try not to stay out too late, then you'll truly catch a cold."
She thanked him and watched as he left, slipping away as quickly as he came. It was only when she knew he was out of earshot, that no one was around to hear her words, that she softly whispered. "Goodnight Lucien."
If Dain is already saying things like "You're life" to Sloane when he's merely helping her with her signet, then what the fuck is his love confession going to be?
She extended the wrapped gift, her hand shaking. “Here.” Az tried not to look at his scarred fingers as they took the gift.
He knew it was wrong, but there he was, sliding the necklace around her. Letting his scarred fingers touch her immaculate skin.
Elain wasn’t even looking at his hands here but Azriel was hyper aware of his insecurities. Whereas,
“Watch.” He slowly demonstrated, rotating his wrist where she did. “You see how you open up right here?” He corrected his position. “Keep your wrist like that. The blade is an extension of your arm.”
Azriel using his hands to demonstrate and never once thinking about his scars in front of Gwyn, given that she is directly peering at them here, is one of my favourite parts of the BC.
Using Gwynriel to discover new brushes. I’m trying to study a bit more from chinese art, though it looks very rough. I used references for the poses cause I was too lazy creating my own- it’s not about the posing anyway
thinking about the jokey tweet I made saying u gotta be gay to work at the black mansion then andreyen pops out with his "childhood best friend" I know what you are omfggg
origamiaround
germansingergirl
prguitarman
