The Shadowsinger and the Lightbringer
PART 3!!!!!
I rolled out of bed that next morning with a smile on my face. I put on my favorite dress, a (y/f/c) muslin, long sleeve that was fitted at the top and flowed out at my waist. Embroidery of flowers and vines trailed down the front and the edges of the sleeves. I couldn’t help but twirl in the mirror and smile. I hope Azriel likes this dress. I shook my head. I couldn’t think like that. He’s just Feyre’s friend, and a 500 year old Fae at that.
Regardless of my mental protests, I ran downstairs to find the house empty. After wandering around for a while, I found Nesta in our small home library, reading a book. She looked up at me, “Ah the sleeping beauty finally decides to grace us with her presence.”
I roll my eyes, “Whatever Nesta. Where is everybody?” She shrugged, “Somewhere out ‘training’ I guess. They’ll be back by lunch and leave this afternoon.”
I nodded and proceeded to grab a book off of the shelf and slip away to my favorite spot in the house. In my room, I had a windowseat with a (y/f/c) cushion and several soft pillows, soft grey light from the cloudy day leaking in through the panes. I began to read, and after a while, a soft heaviness settled over me, my eyelids drooping, and I fell softly asleep in the early afternoon light.
I must’ve been asleep for a while, because I woke up to Elain shaking my shoulder gently. I quietly groaned and rolled my neck, now stiff from napping at an odd angle. “Hey Elain. What’s up?” Elain smiled gently at me, “I’m glad you woke up. Feyre and the others are leaving for the Night Court. They wanted to say goodbye.”
At those words any sleepiness fled my body, “Already?” She nodded and rubbed my arm, “Feyre will return as soon as we hear from the queens. They’re downstairs now.” I let her take my arm and lead me downstairs where my new friends were waiting. Feyre was the first to meet my eyes.
“Are you really leaving already?” I asked her sadly. She sighed, “Things are…. Complicated. We need to resolve some things in the Night Court, but we’ll be back before you know it.” I pulled her into my arms, noticing how she was now slightly taller than she used to be. Perhaps a result of being a newly born Fae. But her arms, her hug, they were still the same. I hugged her tightly, “Be safe. Come back soon.”
She hugged me tightly and rubbed my back, “I love you y/n please know that.” Tears pricked my eyes, “I know Feyre. I love you too. Fae or human. Always.” She pulled back and wiped a tear from my cheeks, “I’ll see you soon. I promise.” I nodded stepped back, turning towards the three males. “Take care of my sister.”
Rhys nodded, “On my life.” Cassian and Azriel nodded too, and they turned to leave. “Wait!” I ran up to Azriel as they headed out the door, and the three of them turned, Cassian wearing a smirk on his face. “What, can’t get enough of me?” I rolled my eyes, ignoring him and turning my attention to Azriel again, “Is there any way to contact you? Just…. for safety reasons?”
“Sure… safety reasons.” Cassian muttered under his breath, earning a glare from me. Azriel looked a little surprised, “You, want to… stay in contact?” I ducked my head and blushed slightly, “Y-yeah. If that’s ok. I just…. liked your company. Is… that ok?” A soft smile creeped onto the corners of his mouth, “Yes. That’s more than ok. Rhys?” as he turned towards the High Lord.
Rhys was smiling wryly and spoke, “Yes. It’s probably good to establish a more secure line of contact here.” Rhys reached to the side and pulled out an ink pen and small bottle of ink, seemingly out of thing air. “Here. Use these to write on any paper you like, and it will immediately be transported to the Night Court. Just… please make sure to write Azriel’s name on the front. Otherwise Cassian might get snoopy.” Cassian looked offended, but Azriel just chuckled.
I took the pen and ink from Rhys, “Thank you.” He nodded and grabbed their hands, preparing to disappear to the strange Fae lands. Feyre gave me a smile before they vanished, the sight of it warming my soul, and then they were gone.
After the visit, both Nesta and Elain seemed to breathe a bit easier, which I thought was a bit silly. Feyre was still our sister after all, and her being Fae didn’t change that. And her friends had been nothing but kind, so while I loved them, I couldn’t excuse their behavior. It ended up forming a strange rift between me and my two human sisters.
I began writing letters right away, and didn’t notice as Nesta entered the kitchen and peered over my shoulder to look at the letter. “Who are you writing to?”
I jumped a little, “Nesta! Hasn’t anyone ever told you it’s not good to sneak around?” Nesta shrugged and repeated her question, “Who are you writing to?”
I rolled my eyes, “A friend. Why do you care?” She snatched the letter from under my hand and began reading it, “Nesta, give that back!” I stood up and reached towards her and the letter, but she just turned away from me and kept reading.
After a second she looked at me with her eyebrow raised, “You’re writing to the Spymaster?” I finally managed to snatch the letter back, “Yes. And?”
Nesta shook her head, “I’d be careful y/n you don’t know what the Fae are like.”
A fire bubbled in my blood, “Oh and you know what they’re like? Last time I checked you didn’t say more than two words to them when they were here. Who are you to say what they are and aren’t like, when you don’t even know.”
I was breathing hard as Nesta’s mouth formed a thin line, “And you know much better? How do you know he didn’t put a spell on you? Or isn’t using you? How can you-“
I cut her off, “How can you tell me what to do? I’m not a child anymore Nesta. I can pass my own judgements.” Blood pounded in my ears.
The only sign of emotion on her face was the slight twitch of her eyebrow, “Just…. be careful. Ok?” She sighed.
I didn’t look her way as she walked out of the room, and I continued my letter.
Azriel,
I hope all is going well in the night court. Things certainly have been dull here since your visit. I’ve been continuing my lessons, trying to catch up with the people my age, but other than that, nothing has really happened.
Nesta doesn’t seem to like the idea of us sending letters back and forth, but I’ve long since learned to take her advice with MORE than a grain of salt. I know she means well, but she can just be so….. pushy. I’m fine with her being protective, we all are of each other, but there is definitely a balance.
What have you been up to? I realize though we spent most of our time together during your visit, I don’t really know what it means to be a Spymaster and Shadowsinger. And what are the stars like in the Night Court? I remember Rhys telling us about them over the tense dinner. They sound incredible.
I miss you. Things are dull without you, but I understand you can’t come and visit. We haven’t heard anything from the queens yet. And I won’t lie, part of me hopes we won’t. Not that I don’t want to see you again, I just don’t want to believe that war is coming. Should I prepare? If so, how?
I await your reply and again hope all is going well,
Yours,
Y/N Archeron
As soon as I signed my name, the letter vanished in a puff of violet smoke and stars. Elain peaked into the room at the small noise that it made, “What was that?”
I smiled at her, “Oh just sending off a letter to a friend.” A soft smile crept up her lips, “It’s for that Spymaster isn’t it.” I nodded and she continued, “Just be careful, ok?” I sighed a little and nodded again, “Always Elain.”
…..
Y/N
It is so good to hear from you.
Things are going well here. The life of the Spymaster of the nightcourt is always busy. I wish we could have spent more time with you. I don’t think you know how much that wonderful quiet moment meant to me singing at the piano. It was a needed reprieve from the chaos we all have been dealing with here regarding the incoming war. Perhaps next time I come you could teach me some more of those newer songs. I really enjoyed singing with you, and I meant what I said, you have a beautiful voice.
As for the work of a Spymaster and Shadowsinger, I’m not sure you want to know. I’m not always proud of what I do, and the work that is sometimes required of me is vicious and dark.
And as for your sister, its obvious she cares about you. I know all of your sisters do. I can tell Feyre misses you the most. She’s started a new painting of you four, not sure what she’s going to call it, but your part of the painting is the brightest.
I hope we hear from the queens soon so I can finally help put this thing to rest.
Stay safe Starlight,
Azriel
Several months passed with no word from the queens, but many letters had been exchanged between Azriel and I the last few months. He has come to give me the nickname, “Starlight” which makes me blush and curl my toes when I read it. At first the notes were very formal between the two of us, but the more we spoke, the warmer the conversation became, and it was revealed that Azriel was a very snarky and funny male. His letters never ceased to make me laugh.
Nesta and Elain didn’t approve of the letters, in fact I caught Nesta multiple times attempting to burn them before I could get to them. Elain was more subtle, giving me nervous glances as I would read in the kitchen, but not much more than that.
To my relief, we heard finally heard from the queens and immediately sent word off to the Night Court. Feyre and her friends arrived within a day and a half, the flapping of wings signaling their arrival. Nesta tried to keep me from answering the door, but as soon as I saw Feyre through the gap in the door I broke her grasp and ran into Feyre’s arms.
Cassian laughed as we hugged, “Looks like someone’s excited.” I gave him a playful glare over Feyre’s shoulder and he just laughed again.
I backed away from them and smiled. “Welcome back Feyre, Elain is in the kitchen getting everything ready.” Feyre nodded and started headed to the kitchen, and I looked at the rest of their group as they walked in. Rhys gave me a kind smile, Cassian gave me a flirtatious grin to which I gave an eye roll, and I turned my eyes to the Shadowsinger.
I didn’t know quite what I expected our interaction to be like. We’d exchanged several letters through these past few months, but an in-person reaction was very different.
His golden hazel eyes bored into my own, as he stepped forward and gently grasped my hand that was down at my side, bringing it to his lips. “Hello y/n.” he whispered.
My breath caught in my throat and my cheeks flushed at the gentle contact, “Hey Az.” One of his shadows curled around our intertwined hands, moving up my arm and tickling my neck. I giggled and Az smiled softly.
“Shall we?” he let go of my hand and held out his arm to me. I gave him a shy smile, took his arm, and we headed to the kitchen to wait for the queens.
They didn’t keep us waiting long, the five out of six queens that winnowed into our dining room. I made eye contact with the oldest queen and a shiver went down my spine. There was no kindness in her gaze.
Azriel noticed me tense up and grabbed my hand from where we were standing side by side. I released a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding and tried to relax, but that icy gaze remained on me.
To say the meeting was tense would be an understatement. When Rhys explained his reasons to the queens for needing half the book, they scoffed. “And why would we ever trust a High Fae?” Rhys’s violet eyes narrowed, “If not for us, then for the humans on this continent. There is little to nothing standing between them and Hybern. And once Hybern takes over here, they’ll move to the mainlands.”
The old queen shook her head, “And why should we care if Hybern takes over this small strip of land? They are none of our concern.”
Nesta angrily spoke up, “Have you no shame? You would condemn all these innocent people to die because of your stupid pride?”
The old queen turned her steely gaze to Nesta, “We worry about our own people. These lands are not our responsibility. Besides, how are we to know that the malicious High Lord of the Night Court is not manipulating our minds into forcing us to give them the book?”
My blood began to boil, and before I could stop myself, I stepped forward and stared down at the queens, “How dare you. You don’t know what these people have sacrificed. You hardly know anything about them. And as far as I’m concerned, the only malicious ones here, are you.”
The old queen’s chair screeched behind her as she stood up to face me, her mouth twisted into a sneer, “Child, I would suggest you keep your silence in matters you know nothing of.”
I opened my mouth to retort but felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned my head and saw Azriel, giving me a subtle shake of his head, and I backed up to my original place.
Ultimately nothing came from it. The queens left, we had no book, and I could tell that Feyre and her friends were at their wits’ end. I worried for them, knowing from Azriel’s letters how each of them had already given so much over their immortal lives. I worried about what else they might give to save our small part of the world from the terrors of Hybern.
The thoughts making me feel sick, I ran up to my room, shoving open the doors to my small balcony and let the night breeze run through my hair. I grasped the railing, and tears began pouring down my cheeks.
In my own little world, I almost missed soft steps coming up the stairs and into my room. I found myself wrapped up in a hug by the Shadowsinger himself, his scarred hand brushing through my hair, “Are you alright?”
I looked up at him. I’d never realized how much he towered over me, he was almost a foot taller, but it made me feel… safe. I sniffed a little, “I don’t know. It just…. bothered me the way that old queen was talking about you all. And when I tried to stand up for you,” I let in a shaky breath, “She treated me like a child. I know I’m not five hundred years old like you all, but it just….. I don’t like being treated like I don’t know anything. Like I’m ignorant of the world around me. And that’s exactly how she made me feel.” I looked away.
Azriel softly grasped my chin with his hand and lifted my gaze to his, “Y/N you should never let someone else make you feel inferior. You might not have the… lifespan we do, but that doesn’t make you ignorant, and it certainly doesn’t make you a child.”
I sniffled, “It still hurts though. And now? Without the Book, who knows what will happen to us, what will happen to our home, to our sisters…. To you. Its… terrifying.”
Azriel grasped my hands in his and looked at me with such intensity I almost looked away, “Y/N. I promise I won’t let any harm come to you or your sisters. I swear that on my life. Do you understand that?”
Tears begin to fill my eyes again as I pull him into a hug, “Thank you Azriel. That means the world to me. But…..” “But?” He asked as we continued to hug. I take a deep breath in, “Just promise me I won’t lose you either.” His hand freezes on my back, “Y/N-” “Azriel, please.” I hear him sigh as he pulls me tighter, “Alright. I promise.” I feel the tension in my chest loosen and I hold him tighter, snuggling my head into his chest.
Hello loves!!! I'm sorry i've been MIA for a long time! I do this for fun, and with a summer job, and lots of mental health struggles, I found it very difficult to upload. I've been feeling much better lately so I should update more frequently! And I'm VERY excited for the next part, because we'll get to take a little trip to Hybern.... if you can guess what part of the story I'm headed towards. And it just gets more exciting from there!
Let me know if y'all are excited for the next part in the comments and what you thought of this part also if you want to be added to the taglist!
Besos
the pink poet
Taglist:
@tele86 @amara-moonlight @deeshag @nebarious @fightmedraco @meshellexplosionmurder @blackgirlmagicforever @minaethrym @namelesssaviour
