I've been toying with the thought of Tamlin's mate for a while now, and finally began writing something down. The first chapter will be in Rhysand's perspective of things then will lead into Tamlin's perspective. I hope you all enjoy! *Possible Spoilers for ACOWAR.*
50 years after the war with Hybern
Rhysand
I slipped in silence from the vast space of the dining room to escape the feud that had erupted behind me. I had called everyone to the House of Wind that morning to discuss our upcoming meeting this afternoon. My head ached as I lifted my fingers to my temples and massaged the tender points. I had informed the inner circle that we would have a visitor coming to negotiate an alliance, and no one in particular was enthused by the news. I had sent word to the Spring Court months ago, in hopes that we could put our past quarrels aside and work together on the ever-pressing conflict with the continent. I had only received Tamlin's acceptance of the meeting the evening before, but with his acceptance came…conditions.
First, he had asked to be greeted by Feyre and Lucien personally. Fine, I could handle that, and Feyre I knew could handle herself. His second demand left me somewhat reluctant, and when I had told the others an outright frenzy had erupted. Tamlin's second demand was that he be shown Velaris. To better understand Rhysand's true nature. Over the fifty years following the conflict with Hybern, I had made an effort to embrace my true self, and walk my lands without the mask. The risk was great, but the benefit was something beautiful, rewarding even. Even those who dwelled in the court of nightmares had become less of a burden in wake of the changes. Although, I still held a slightly heavier hand when it came to ruling them.
A soft rustle of fabric on stone and the scent of ancient evergreen and jasmine filled the air. My mate. I turned to find her softly closing the door to the veranda with a half-smile settled on her beautiful full lips. She moved toward me slowly as her lips began to move, "I know that our…relations with the Spring Court are more than strained, but…" She paused and looked back toward the doors, "Rhys, the others have already given so much. I don't see Tamlin as a threat but with his temper he…Well, you know what he is capable of." A shudder ran through her figure and I stepped into her placing an arm around her waist. A smile touched her lips but did not meet her eyes as she gazed up at me. "Is now really the time? With…with everything going on. Between us? All of us?" she rested her hand on her stomach, and my heart fluttered with joy and wonder. It had only been three days since she had broken the news to me. How we were expecting our first child, and though I had wanted to shout to the world what she had told me I refrained.
Feyre had requested that we take our time in breaking the news. We had all been so strained by these new threats that it felt inappropriate to her to bring something like this up in wake of what was and is to come. I had obliged, even if the urge to tell everyone clawed at my skin every time I held a conversation. "I still can't believe it. The gift you have given me." I smiled and stepped back holding her at arms-length. She was glowing from head to toe. Her cheeks tinged a new shade of pink, and her eyes filled with wonder and starlight.
She stared up at me with a look of pure insistence. As much as I love to hear that… don't change the subject. Her words caressed my mind and her lips curled upward slightly in a grin. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, "I understand your concerns, I'm just...I'm at a loss. Helion could only help so much with the internal conflicts of his own court, and I didn't even consider Beron or the others. Tamlin and I have a history. A pretty messy one, but we have similar skills in combat, and tactics. He is truly our closest ally in this specific situation. If allowing him through the gates of Velaris is one of his requirements in trusting me further then I will gladly allow it." I frowned at her worried glance to the city. "Feyre, I will do all that is necessary to keep his temper under control during his visit. We have to trust that we can build a better standing with the other courts for the sake and future of our…" I reached to press a hand to her still slender belly but retracted my hand as a crisp scent of cool water, and night sky wrapped around us.
"High Lord." Aurelia bowed her head slightly and turned to Feyre, "And High Lady." She smiled at her something she rarely did with anyone, the two had become close in the past few decades, and Feyre had grown to care for her as she would a sibling. "Cassian has a proposal for you, and requests your presence." Always so formal. Aurelia had come to live in Velaris on my request. Cassian, Azriel, and I had first encountered her in the Illyrian training camp 20 years ago. Even then she was able to take down every opponent she faced, whether it be male or female. Her raw skill outweighed her training by far, and she was ahead of her band by centuries. It wasn't long before Cassian requested to spar with her, and not long after that Cassian found himself sprawled out on his back facing the sky. She had taken him down in only three minutes with minimal effort. That evening, Cassian had sought out her instructor and petitioned for her training to continue in Velaris one on one with none other than himself. She was a gifted warrior and we all took notice, but it was her grace and gentle heart that had hit me like a pit in my gut. So much like my mother. So pure and kind in all ways. She was strong, but she knew what was important in our eternal lives. She lived with honor in her mind and love in her heart. "Auri, I've told you a million times now, call me Rhys." She smiled and winced slightly nodding, "Of course, High…Rhys." Her face flushed pink and she turned to return to the room. In an instant, she vanished through the towering glass doors. I turned to Feyre and chuckled, "You know, as fierce as she is in combat, she really is quite…Reserved." Feyre shrugged and a small frown danced on her lips before she spoke, "We are the closest thing she has to a family Rhys. She's never known love and affection like most of us have." She gestured to the room full of our bickering friends. Our family. I sighed and shook my head, "Will you take her with you today? She and Cassian should be close when Tamlin arrives." I was being generous, but I wasn't a fool. I knew what I was sending Feyre into, and I would be damned if she went unprotected. It had been half a century since our small conflict, but who knew what Tamlin still carried begrudgingly. "If it will make you feel better then I don't mind." she smirked and looked up at me in that playful way of hers and whispered, "But Rhys, pregnant or not I can still lay him out." she smiled and turned toward the door then beckoned me to follow. I obliged, and laced my fingers with hers, lifting them to my mouth to kiss them softly before stepping through the glass doors.
Tamlin
I winnowed into the thick spans of trees at the southern border of the night court just as I had been instructed by the return notice I had received. The vast thick of evergreens sprawled before the rugged mountain terrain. I took a moment to mentally map the scenery, in case it was needed in a quick getaway. I had agreed to come to the Night Court, but that didn't mean I was generally enthused. Though half a century had passed I still held reservations on whether I could truly trust Rhysand. After all these years could I forgive the man who aided in my family's murder? I wasn't innocent at the deaths of his, but what did making things equal create for either of us?
A gust of air behind me had me spinning to meet two Illyrian soldiers I recognized from the Hybern war. I nodded to both in greeting and addressed them personally. "Cassian." I nodded directly to him, and turned to the shadowsinger, "Azriel." A small nod and the two of them bowed their heads out of respect. The shadowsinger extended a hand and said, "Come with us, High Lord." I frowned slightly grabbing his forearm. "Rhys doesn't trust me to know where we are going then…" Azriel gave me a knowing look and shook his head, "Since the war the wards on the…palace have been amplified. Only those closest to the High Lord can winnow in and out." I sighed and nodded at the statement. I gave them a gesture to carry on, and in an instant of darkness and shadow, we stood in a grand foyer.
The walls of the building curled into high peaked arches. The obsidian stone glimmered in the light of the setting sun cascading from the open window. A whisper of wind floated past me carrying on it the scent of citrus and jasmine. I beheld the beauty of the sunset over the mountains as a voice sounded behind me. "Welcome, Tamlin." My body went taut as I spun on my heal to meet who that voice belonged to. She was just as beautiful as I remembered. Feyre. My mind purred her name and my heart squeezed, from hurt or pure adoration I could not tell. Her face was bright and had gained a healthy glow, her eyes glittered in the late afternoon light. She wore a dress of pure onyx, glittering stones of gold and white clustered on the bodice and reducing the further they fell down the skirt. She was radiant. A smile rested on her lips as she observed me and my gawking. I spoke to break the silence between us. "It's exactly how you described it all those years ago. Every detail." She smiled but her eyes told a story of pain and negligence. My negligence. I shook off the thought and moved closer to her extending my hand to take hers and place a kiss on her smooth skin. "High Lady." I murmured softly in greeting and smiled as genuinely as I could. Her skinned smelled heavenly. Fresh evergreen, and jasmine, but another scent wafted my nostrils and I stiffened, and lifted my head to her gaze.
She studied my face and returned my puzzled look. "Is something…wrong?" She frowned slightly and I shook my head to release myself from my overbearing thoughts. "I would assume congratulations are in order Feyre, you and Rhysand," I winced at their names being paired but continued, "Must be overjoyed. A true blessing." Her eyes shot open wide and she bit her lip puzzled. "How did you…" her question was halted by a male figure striding toward us. Just like that I heard her voice, but not aloud. She spoke to me mind to mind. They don't know. Please, keep what you know to yourself. I chuckled but winked at her in promise as Lucien strode toward us. He beamed at me, but I could sense his reservations.
In the years since the war he had visited the Spring Court sparingly. Once, only to bring Elain to see the rose gardens. I smiled at my once close friend warily and grasped his outstretched hand in a firm handshake. "Good to see you, old friend," I said stepping back from our handshake. The two of them looked between each other at my words and then back to me almost gaping, I rubbed my neck and looked up at them, "This isn't easy for me either, but while I'm here I want to try to leave what has happened where it belongs…in the past." Feyre and Lucien exchanged a glace and then both turned their focus to me. In unison, they whispered, "Agreed." I nodded and looked around the room for any sign of moment or life.
It was quiet. Too quiet for any sort of meeting that would take place between courts. "Where exactly is everyone?" I started when my observations came up unfulfilled. Feyre smiled softly and said, "You wished to see Velaris, the meeting will take place in the House of Wind, our formal meeting ground within the city." Her smile widened in some underlying promise and she spoke again, "The only problem is, we can't winnow in. The wards are ancient, and will not allow even High Lords to do so." She paused and glanced over her shoulder at the two towering males entering the hall before turning back to me, "So, our only choices of transportation are ten thousand stairs to the top or we hitch a ride." She smiled and pointed to Cassian and Azriel as they moved closer to us each sporting an interesting grin. I frowned as I took in her suggestion. Well, this ought to be interesting. I thought as I studied the two males.
Movement behind the warriors grabbed my attention and a female form appeared. The very ground beneath me shuddered as my gaze met hers. Her hazel eyes studied my face, and her full lips set into a soft pout of concern. Her flushed cheeks grew even more brilliant as she took in my gawking. It had to be what I was doing. I couldn't think, or breathe, or swallow. My stomach twisted, and my heart squeezed at her pure beauty. In an instant, I had gone from calm and collected to dizzy and unbalanced. A word crept its way into my mind. Mine. She's mine. I frowned internally at the primal instinct but continued to behold her face. She was so unearthly beautiful. Her sun-kissed skin accentuated by her dark hair. The small freckles that graced the bridge of her nose. The way she studied me, a puzzled quirk in her features. The primal voice inside continued its chanting and I tried to calm my nerves. Mine. Mine. Mine. My Mate. It whispered and taunted me.
I wanted to reach for her. Blurt everything I had felt here and now, but I kept a hold on the emotions swimming through me. The primal instinct to take her and make her mine. I took a deep breath before I spoke, my voice carrying just above a whisper, "What is your name?" It was all I could muster. My legs felt weak and my tongue dry. I had to know. I needed to know her. She shifted her eyes to study me further and stepped between the two Illyrian males. Her voice caressed my skin as she replied, "Aurelia, High Lord." She smiled genuinely and bowed her head in respect. I smiled in return and whispered, "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Aurelia." I purred to her. She smiled and her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink. In that moment as the sun fell beneath the peaks of the mountains, leaving a sheen of warm light in its wake, I met her gaze once more and our mating bond clicked into place.
***That's all for now, I hope everyone enjoyed this first chapter. Next Chapter coming soon!