fromfeyresperspective

[fromfeyresperspective]

A Court of Gray and Glimmer: Chapter 2

Well, this chapter has certainly been a long time coming! Chapter one was truly so fun and easy for me to write, and then chapter two struck me with a writer’s block I’ve never experienced before. This chapter (chapter two) is very much on the shorter side, but I wanted to go ahead and get it out so that I could fully focus on where I wanted to go with chapter three (and hopefully break past this blockade in my head). I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter Two: Snow

A few minutes later, after Rhys, Mor and I had winnowed everyone to where Rhys had indicated, we stared up at the large, steep, pine tree and snow covered mountain that rose up majestically before us. A number of confused looks had been exchanged between the group, especially between Mor and me, about just why exactly we were going to this cold and snowy mountain, to some Ice Palace in the Winter Court, while we were already in the midst of winter back in the Night Court. 

I looked at Rhys, who was already grinning in my direction.

“I’s just a bit further,” he said. “We can’t winnow directly into the Palace of Ice. It is one of Kallias’s private residences. He owed me a favor, so I requested to bring you all for a stay.”

We collectively stared at him, confused.

“And…where is it, exactly?” I asked. 

I turned in a full circle, seeing nothing but miles and miles of rolling, snow-covered fields dotted with pine trees, and the mountain rising directly in front of us, the range stretching far beyond. The snow continued to stream down steadily. Elain’s teeth started chattering. Rhysand pointed up, directly at the top of the mountain. 

“There,” he said.

Straining, and looking so far up my neck was almost completely horizontal, I saw it. There, perched on the top of the mountain, was a house, or rather, a mansion. It was a little hard to tell from this far, but this mansion, as I could have surmised from the name “Palace of Ice”, literally looked like it was made of pure, solid, sparkling ice. It glimmered and twinkled despite the cloudy skies that were so bright they were almost white. From this distance, it looked like a miniature ornament that one might place out as a Solstice decoration. We all stared at the Palace, mesmerized. Even Rhys.

“Holy shit,” Mor breathed. “I didn’t know Kallias and Vivi had this. Why haven’t I been here before?”

“And how exactly are we supposed to get up there?” Nesta’s irritated voice broke through all the wonder. “Surely you don’t expect us to hike all that way.” She looked right at me, although I knew she was really talking to Rhys. He didn’t look at her, but he did grin at me, and then answered her question.

“Well, other than hiking, there’s only one efficient way to get there that I can think of,” he said. And with that, he grabbed Mor and me around our waists, spread his great, beautiful wings, and shot us up into the sky. I shrieked as a stream of cold air hit me at an incredible speed, and then couldn’t help myself from laughing, exhilarated. Below me, I heard Cassian whoop and knew he had picked up Nesta and followed Rhys into the sky, judging by the indignant squeal I heard her make, leaving Azriel to carry Amren and Elain. Up, up, up we went, my face and sweater now damp from the snow that it was coming into contact with, but at last, shivering, we landed next to the Palace of Ice.

Nothing could have prepared me for the awe that would befall me seeing the Palace up close. It was truly like nothing I had ever seen before. It was an enormous, three story “house”, perched on the very top of the mountain, nothing else around but the snow covered mountain top and the view that stretched out for miles and miles every way. To the west, the sea was a small sliver in the distance. However, with no trees surrounding us, we were subject to the strong wind and snow pelting our faces. The Palace looked to be made of thick, pale white ice that almost looked like marble, glimmering despite the lack of sunshine. Each floor had large, arched, floor-to-ceiling windows carved into the ice. Despite the freezing cold, we stood there for a moment, mesmerized. Cassian and Nesta had landed to our left, while Azriel, Amren and Elain were to our right. 

“Do you want to go inside, or would you rather stay out here and take in the view?” Rhys asked us loudly over the wind. I elbowed him, and he laughed.

“Inside, it is,” he shouted.

He led the way through the waist deep snow towards the Palace, and although we had only landed a short distance away, it took quite a while. We reached the steps that lead to the large front porch, constructed with the same white ice that the rest of the house was made of, and walked up them, gingerly at first, although the icy steps were not slick whatsoever. When Rhys reached the double front doors, which were huge and thick and glittering sapphire blue marble, he stopped. The doors didn’t have any handles, but Rhys placed his right palm on the right door, and his left palm on the left door. After a brief moment, the doors swung open, allowing a blast of warm air to grace our frozen bodies.

“Inside! What are you waiting for?!” Amren yelled from the back of the group. Amren was not someone who liked to be cold, especially now, in her fully “mortal” immortal body. We quickly rushed inside, almost single file, and finally, Rhys’s power slammed the large doors on the wind.

The air inside the Palace was toasty warm, and smelled delectably of cinnamon and nutmeg. Although no windows were open, there was an ever-so-slight, pleasant breeze. White marble floors ran throughout the house, with plush, jewel-toned rugs and runners spread throughout: red, blue, green, purple. The Palace had an open floor plan, with the whole first floor being essentially one enormous room. Straight ahead from the front door was a breathtaking pure white marble staircase that led up to the second floor, and then up to the third. The staircases’ railings were draped with fresh evergreen garland. To the left of the massive staircase was a large kitchen, with an enormous dreamy fireplace on the far left wall that also looked to be made completely from white marble. In the middle of the kitchen stood a large island around which were many tall, sturdy looking wooden stools. A fire crackled heartily in the fireplace, above which hung a large, evergreen wreath adorned with red berries. To the right was what looked to be a vast circular sitting area, with a plush royal blue rug in the middle. The sitting area consisted of rounded white couches that looked as comfortable as sitting on big fluffy clouds, and luxurious-looking jewel toned blankets draped over the backs of the couches that formed a circle in the middle of the room. There was another large white marble fireplace on the far right wall of the home, around which the large sitting area was positioned. A fire joyfully cracked in this fireplace as well, although the Palace was not too warm, but rather perfectly pleasant. 

I hadn’t paid much attention to the view when we landed, mostly because I was freezing and being pelted in the face with snow. Now, however, I looked to the large windows gracing the beautiful white ice walls, fitted with luxurious emerald green velvet curtains. The vast Winter Court stretched out below us, and now that we weren’t freezing and being pelted with snow, we could fully appreciate the stunning view that graced our eyes. To the west, the sea stretched out and glittered, colors on the water mixed and swirled, baby blue and dark blue and gray. To the east, on the other side of the mountain,  the pale rolling hills stretched out for miles, dotted with large and lush pine trees. I looked to Rhysand, who had come to stand next to me, his eyes bright and smile wide.

“I thought you might appreciate a little winter getaway, Feyre, darling”, he said quietly, the other members of our Court now wondering about the house. Cassian had gone straight to the enormous wine rack that stood in the kitchen, stocked with all kinds of winter wines. Even Nesta had gone to one of the large windows at the back of the house, eyes wide, mouth slightly open, admiring the great mountain range that stretched out in the distance. The mountain we now inhabited stood taller than them all. 

“I must admit, you’ve outdone yourself with this location,” I said to Rhys. “I didn’t think the Winter Court sounded super appealing, if I’m being honest, but I admit I was wrong.”

Rhys grinned mischievously. “And I haven’t even shown you the best part.”

[fromfeyresperspective]

A Court of Gray and Glimmer

This story starts in Velaris, just after the Winter Solstice that takes place in A Court of Frost and Starlight, but before the events of A Court of Silver Flames. Rhys plans to take the Inner Circle, plus Feyre’s sisters, on a surprise trip after Winter Solstice. This story will feature mostly Feysand content, and will include scenes of jealousy from Feyre.

Chapter One: Surprise

Slowly, I began to stir, too warm and comfortable in our large bed to fully awaken right away. I knew it was early morning, right at dawn, perhaps, because of the periwinkle light filtering in through the two large, velvet curtained windows in the bedroom of our townhouse.  Rhys was still asleep, judging by his soft and even breaths. I opened my eyes fully and rolled onto my right side. The sight of his muscular back greeted me, and now fully awake, I felt a sharp drop in my stomach. I watched him breathing, sleeping so peacefully, and I remembered what we had done just hours before, in this same enormous bed. I smiled at his back, and reached out to touch it. Gently, I dragged my fingernail down the length of it. He stirred and I heard a sharp intake of breath as I continued to trail my finger down, down, down, and then around, right towards his center and between his legs. Next thing I knew, I was on my back, pinned down, looking up into his violet sleepy eyes.

“Not so fast, Feyre,” he breathed, his night black hair tousled from sleep. I stared sweetly up at him, and with that, he flipped me over in one motion so that my hands were on the headboard of our giant four-poster bed, and spread my legs apart with his knee. 

A long, rough few minutes later, we both laid back against the pillows, smiling and energized from our morning fuck session. It was one of my favorite things about waking up next to my mate, who was always insatiable in the morning, and always oh-so-beautiful. 

“Well, High Lord, after that, I think I need to bathe”, I whispered, looking at Rhys from under my eyelashes.

“Of course, Feyre, darling,” he replied softly. “But please, allow me to join you.”

Next thing I knew, Rhys had swept us into the bathing room, the large marble clawfoot tub in the middle of the room currently filling itself with steamy water and periwinkle and silver bubbles to match the winter morning glow outside. The bubbles smelled of fresh mint and pine, and I sighed contentedly as I stepped into the tub, now fully undressed. Rhys climbed in after me and settled me between his legs, the back of my head resting against his chest.

It had been only a few days since the Winter Solstice festivities, and now we had the long, cold, sometimes rather bleak winter to look forward to (or rather, not look forward to). Although it could have its moments (especially here in Velaris, where the snow sparkled in the starlight and the sidewalks had a heated magic warming them), Winter was still my least favorite time of the year. The long, frigid nights; the lack of sunshine; the chill that settled deep into my immortal bones… It very much reminded me of the human lands and my life before I had found myself in Prythian, now wrapped in the arms of my mate, who just so happened to be the High Lord of the Night Court. I smiled to myself as the thoughts crossed my mind. This would be my first winter as High Lady, and even more importantly, a winter where I was not struggling to find and hunt any kind of beast that I could turn into food, in a vast array of dark woods, just to keep my family and myself alive. 

I closed my eyes and fully leaned into Rhys, and he settled his chin on my head. 

“So, I was thinking,” he began, “that I’m going to take you somewhere for the week, if you don’t object to it.”

“Somewhere…like where?” I asked. “Don’t we have too much to do around here? The Solstice season’s over now.” 

We had taken quite a long break from our usual work for the Solstice celebrations with our family, friends, and the city. We had hosted parties, gone to dances and banquets, and even had thrown a ball for the citizens of Velaris. It took place at the Palace of Thread and Jewels just south of the Sidra river, with decorations featuring emerald and ruby jewels and gems twinkling in the moonlight, a gorgeous spread of dinner and desserts, and sparkling blueberry faerie wine.

“I know, Feyre, darling,” Rhys purred into my ear, “and although I know you so yearn to get back to work, will you allow me to whisk you away, just for a few days? I don’t object to the notion that we have much to accomplish around here, but before that, I have a surprise…let’s call it an outing, for you and our family.”

Our family, of course, was referring to our Inner Circle: Mor, Amren, Cassian, and Azriel, although I was unsure of whether or not Rhys intended to include my sisters, Nesta and Elain, in this surprise “outing” to… wherever we were headed. 

“A surprise?” I asked, bemused. “What kind of surprise?” I was not necessarily one for surprises. 

Rhys laughed. “You do know the definition of the word, right, Feyre?” he asked, with a small bite on the top of my ear. He stroked the side of my breast, gently, which sent an electric pulse thrumming between my legs. “A surprise involves me not telling you exactly where we’re going.” 

I rolled my eyes. “Fine. Then when are we leaving for this so-called surprise?” 

Rhys simply said, “We leave at noon,” and then laughed. 

“You don’t need to pack a bag, Feyre, darling. Clothes will be provided, although, of course, I’d much prefer it if you wore none.” 

Three hours later, at noon, I stood in the foyer of our townhouse, wearing one of Rhys’s thick, heather gray sweaters that fell to my mid-thigh, and a pair of knit leggings and boots. Next to me were two large, tan, beautiful males. Rhys’s brothers, Azriel and Cassian, looked like some chiseled gods from another dimension. They were loudly arguing about the outcome of a game of cards that they had played with Rhys the night before. 

“I don’t care if that’s what you think the rules are,” Cassian spoke loudly. His hair was pulled back, and his passion was barely contained as he playfully raged at Azriel. “Those aren’t the rules and never have been, and Rhys and I are well aware that you make up rules to fit your hand when you deem necessary, Az. We’re not falling for it this time.” “We’re not?” Rhys asked as he sauntered down the stairs, wearing his soft black pants and a black sweater, the color of the darkest night, fit perfectly to his broad shoulders, his hair still slightly wet from our bath. “Speak for yourself, brother. I didn’t fall for anything, as per usual, but you, as per usual, most certainly did.” 

Rhys and Azriel shared a smirking glance, making Cassian’s eyebrows draw together and his full lips part. 

“So what, you’re fucking with me right now? I don’t get it,” he said. 

I snorted, and Az rolled his eyes. 

“Cassian, you cannot seriously believe, after five hundred years, that the same card game we play nearly every week just has a new set of rules out of nowhere? Come on, brother.”

“So I won, then!” Cassian said. “If there are no “new rules” then I definitely ended up winning last night, and you two can’t deny it,” he added, looking at Rhys.

“We weren’t going to deny it. But you were so drunk that we were sure you would believe it, and you did… kind of,” Rhys said with a chuckle, and then looked at me. “Did I mention we got blackout drunk last night? Well, I should say, Cassian did. He ended up finishing the game completely naked. He thought the so-called “new rules” involved removing all of his clothing.” 

Azriel laughed, and I raised my eyebrows at Cassian. He didn’t look embarrassed at all, but he did look pleased. 

“What can I say, Feyre? Even my own brothers can’t stop themselves from wanting to see me in the nude,” he said.

“I highly doubt that,” said a sharp voice from the sitting room. Amren had moved from the plush chair by the fireplace and was standing in the sitting room doorway. She donned her usual gray outfit, and her shiny short black hair was pulled back from her face. “And what time will Mor be arriving? I thought we were supposed to be leaving at noon.” “Patience, Little One,” Cassian crooned. “It’s just barely noon. Can we even give her a chance to be late?”

A sharp knock knock knock on the door answered Cassian’s question, which briefly puzzled me; Mor knew better than to knock. But when Cassian pulled the door open, I immediately understood why she had; next to Mor, with their heavy sweaters and coats on, were both of my sisters. 

Elain, I was not at all surprised to see. She usually stayed down here at the townhouse with Rhys and me, or stayed at the House of Wind with Nuala and Cerridwen. Nesta, however…I couldn’t believe she stood on the doorstep voluntarily.

Mor strode in quickly, her long blonde hair trailing behind her, and went straight to the sitting room to warm herself by the fire.

“It’s fucking freezing out there,” she called over her shoulder. “Rhys, please tell me you are taking us somewhere warm for this so-called surprise. Feyre, please tell me he told you we’re going somewhere warm.”

Rhys didn’t answer her because he was too busy evaluating my face, making sure I wasn’t upset at the sight of my sisters (one of them in particular) standing there, presumably coming with us on this trip, or surprise, or whatever it was.

Elain, dressed in a thick, bright white overcoat, worn over a simple but elegant dark emerald gown, walked in straight to me and folded me in her arms. I hugged her warmly back. Although Elain was always stunningly beautiful, she somehow looked even more radiant when she was happy. Azriel, it seemed, was trying to avoid staring at her, but even so, I noticed that he shot a glance her way every few seconds.

“Okay, Feyre, where are we going? And why was I told to prepare myself to freeze my buns off?” Elain asked with a giggle.

Rhys and Cassian laughed, and Azriel blushed. 

“Well, sweet sister, at this point you know more than I do,” I said. “Rhys hasn’t told me where we’re going, and in fact, I didn’t even know we were going anywhere until this morning. I certainly didn’t know we were going somewhere to freeze our buns off.” I threw Rhys a dirty look.

“Trust me, I would never want to freeze those buns off of you, mate,” he replied with a truly wicked wink. “And I only didn’t mention it because I hadn’t made up my mind about just where we were going, or at least not until I received confirmation from my first choice of destinations yesterday. I only just informed Azriel last night.”

Az, I assumed, had told the others, who were all now gathered here with me in the foyer.

“Can we go already, then?” Amren spouted. “Enough chit chat.” She clapped her hands raptly twice. Amren was not known for her patience. 

I looked at Rhys, who was looking towards the front door. Nesta was standing with a blank expression on her face. I took a tentative step towards her, and held out a hand.

“Nesta,” I said gently, with a small smile. “Will you be joining us on this adventure?”

Her blank expression immediately turned into one of vitriol.

“Why else would I be here?” she said angrily. “If your mate hadn’t demanded that we come, trust me, I wouldn’t have.” Nesta looked straight at Rhys. “I know you think you can tell us what to do, but I assure you, Rhysand, you do not rule me, or Elain. I don’t give a damn that my other sister became your whore.”

At these words, the room was so still I thought for a moment that time had frozen. Everyone looked from Nesta’s face to Rhys, who was still standing just at the bottom of the stairs. His fury was palpable, and I could almost physically taste it. It was as if complete and total darkness was a pool bubbling just beneath our feet, and we were all about to be submerged by it completely. Cassian took a step forward, towards Nesta.

“Say something like that about our High Lady again, and you will come to find out exactly why this Court terrifies the rest of the world.” 

Nesta met his eyes, and despite his anger, despite his fury at what she had said about me, his eyes were soft, longing. I withdrew my eyes from Cassian’s expression and turned to Rhys, who still looked like he would like to rip Nesta limb from limb, and spoke mind to mind with him. “Rhys, it’s okay." I said. “She didn't get to me. She knows what she’s doing. She just wants to get under your skin,”. I gave him a small, reassuring smile. He gazed back at me, and finally blinked.

“And I would love to get deep inside your skin, Feyre, darling,” he said in my mind with a small snort, his anger slowly dissipating, though it still bubbled warningly beneath the surface. I turned to Nesta, who looked like she would love nothing more than to physically attack Rhys. Or maybe me.

“Nesta,” I said gently. “If you didn’t want to come, then why are you here?”

“Do you really think I would let Elain go alone to the gods know where?” she asked with a furious look. “And besides, your so-called mate demanded that I come under threat of punishment. Is that what this is now, Feyre? Do you want to punish me? For not obeying you and your High Lord?”

“How dare you, girl,” Amren spat, but I held up my hand. I looked at Rhys, my expression a bit puzzled. I didn’t think he would demand that Nesta come; in fact, I’d have thought that he would prefer it if she didn’t. And we certainly would never punish Nesta for not coming on a trip with us.

“I sent Az to get them this morning,” Rhys said in my thoughts. “Elain was with Nuala and Cerridwen at the House of Wind, and Az asked her if she would like to come, to which she, of course, happily said yes. Nesta, on the other hand… she was at the tavern, the one in the alley around the corner from her apartment, and I may have told Az to… heavily imply that she must come, at least to the house, where we could give her the choice on whether or not to come with us. Feyre, I do want her to come. I want you to be able to have both of your sisters on this trip. I want you to be able to be with all of your family.” 

I blinked. On one hand, I was irritated that Rhys would even attempt to get Nesta to come with us, especially if she was insisting on not. She would be sure to do her best to make the outing miserable, and she herself would be miserable as well. On the other hand… I understood his intentions. I turned back to Nesta.

“Nesta, I’ll only say this once. You can come with us, or don’t. It is truly your choice,” I said to her. “And Elain won’t be alone, she’ll be with us, completely safe and protected. But, if you do come, you will not make this affair unpleasant for everyone else.” 

Nesta stared at me, and then narrowed her eyes.  “I’m coming,” she said. 

I nodded, and gave her a kind smile.

“Shall we go, then?” I asked, looking at Rhys. “I know Rhysand is bursting at the seams to get us all to…wherever we’re going.”

Mor walked in from beside the fireplace, looking relieved the tension that had previously been heavy in the room had somewhat evaporated. 

“Then let’s get out of here!” she said happily, squeezing by Cassian and wrapping her arm around me. “Rhys, where are we going? You have to tell us now so I can help winnow everyone.”

Rhys smiled, excitement in his eyes. He stepped forward and took my hand. 

“For the first leg of our journey, we’re going to the Winter Court…to the Palace of Ice.”