Attention: This whole fic is based off of GIANT ACOMAF spoilers so please please do not continue if you have not read the book/ do not want to be spoiled. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Anyway, I had originally intended to do a multichapter Night Court fic with Rhys and Feyre but after reading ACOMAF I simply could not resist writing an Elain/Nesta dual perspective fic taking place directly after ACOMAF. I mean there are so many freaking interesting things going on with these Archeron girls I simply CAN'T!

Elain is my little Hufflepuff cinnamon roll who will be Lucien's saving grace and Nesta is my fierce and mighty hellcat who took more from the Cauldron than it wanted to give. I love how Sarah J Maas has given us such amazing, interesting, and flawed characters.

Basically this is my ACOMAF sequel from Elain and Nesta's perspective. Please please review and subscribe if you want to see more of this and let me know what you think!

Elain

It's been two months since I've seen my younger sister. Two months since the Cauldron. Two months since my death as a mortal.

I'd spent the first week in Velaris weeping. Weeping for my sister. Weeping for the life I would never have. Weeping for the fiance I would never marry. In her true fashion Nesta had simply paced, hissed, and refused to let anyone in our shared room. Even now she paced, like a feral cat who'd been backed into a corner. I don't know how she manages it, the looking so vengeful and graceful in her new body. Once my hands had finally stopped shaking I had hardly been able to take hold of a glass of water without shattering it in a shower of glass on the floor. Even now I usually spill or drop something in my lap at least once every meal.

When the weeping finally stopped the anxiousness set in. Where were we? Were we free to leave anytime we wished? Was the Lord of the Night Court our friend or our foe? I suppose if we were to be eternal prisoners of the Night Court we could have fared much worse. Our room was large and luxurious, with a bed so large we had no trouble sharing and a fire that kept us warm at night. Food was delivered to us three times a day and it was always delicious once I could actually manage to stomach it. Once my weeping had stopped I had spent almost of fortnight feeling a overwhelmingly dizzy and off center, vomiting up most of the food I ingested. Nesta had not shown any of these transitional signs and held my hair back for me every time I was ill. I think she secretly hated that she was able to adjust to her new Fae body so flawlessly. She'd smashed all of our mirrors the first day here after catching her own reflection.

Unlike Nesta I seemed to be struggling every step of the way. Once the dizziness stopped the extra senses became a problem. The sound of someone's breathing a room away sent me into a panic because I thought they were sitting beside me, a drop of water on the floor sounded like a resounding flood. Sleeping became a near impossibility.

It was not until the vomiting stopped and I had settled into the stage of constantly pressing my hands to my ears to block out all the noise that Rhys had shown up at our door, Cassian and Mor in tow. I had a sneaking suspicion that they had intentionally given us some time to ourselves. Time to grieve in my case, and time to calm down in Nesta's. From the way she snarled at them it was apparent that time had done her little good in that regard.

I had clicked my tongue at her and invited them in hoping that the people who had sat by Feyre's side, offered us protection and acted as friends were exactly that.

It was then that Rhysand had explained everything. Feyre's sacrifice. The unbreakable mating bond, the game she was now playing, everything. The mating bond.

"You're my mate." This sentence has floated through my head more times than I would be willing to admit. "You're my mate." With his paled face and unblinking russet eye. His coat laid crumpled and untouched in the corner of our room despite Nesta's many protests about it. I hadn't worked up the nerve to touch it yet, to try and smell his scent on it with my now keen nose, but I did look at it sometimes.

Understanding the weight of my sister's sacrifice sent me into a new bout of weeping. I had been so inconsolable that Nesta didn't even growl as Mor wrapped me in a hug in an attempt to comfort me. And it was then that I uttered the words through gleaming tears and hiccuping sobs that changed nearly everything: "What can we do to help her?"

"If you think I am actually going to let you go, you've lost your goddamn mind Elain." Nesta was growling. Always growling. Cassian eyed her carefully from the other side of the room, his face morose as he tracked her with startling intensity. His once glorious wings were still in shreds and tucked very carefully behind his back. I couldn't help but notice he always made a habit of keeping his back to the wall now in an effort to keep them from being seen. Back to the wall and eyes on Nesta. It seemed that this was his constant state of being.

"Nes, I have to. No one else can. We've been over this." I've never been the brave one. The stubborn one. I've certainly never the strong one. I'd always left that to Feyre or Nesta who slipped into those roles so naturally. But now, for once in my life I have something to offer that no one else does. Something that might make a difference. I am not about to just let that go.

Rhysand, who was merely a ghost of the man he was when he was sitting at my sister's side in our home, rose wearily from the table where he sat. His eyes flit between Nesta and I. So tired. He looks so endlessly tired.

"It was Feyre's only wish that I take you both away from the Spring Court, that I keep you both hidden and safe. Do not think for one moment that I don't understand the weight of this decision." He pinched the bridge of his nose between his forefinger and thumb.

"So you are just going to let Elain saunter into our enemy's territory on the hope that she can get Feyre some magic necklace?" Nesta throws her arms in the air, fully exasperated. It is all I can do not to physically wince at the words. Our enemy. The one eyed man. He was our enemy, Feyre's and Nesta's and mine.

Azriel, who stood in the corner shrouded in his shadows sighed deeply. We've had this conversation many times before. Nesta never seems to take it well.

"We've lost men," he explained, "many men, trying to get near the wards of the Spring Court. How many lives must be lost before you see reason?"

Nesta lifted her chin and stared him dead in the eye, unyielding to his writhing shadows. "As many as it takes for my sister not to become the bait."

Bait. I suppose that's what I was to be. The ancient necklace pressed to my breast, thrumming powerfully against my racing heart.

"Feyre will be there. Not to mention Lucien, who will undoubtedly provide her protection." Cassian spoke up, his eyes a live ember as they danced over Nesta's seething figure.

She turned on him, the fire in her own eyes matching his. "Oh is that so? Why the hell does everyone seem so inclined to think he will do that? We're betting an awful lot on that hope in fact."

"It's not a bet." Cassian said, unblinking, unyielding. "That is what we Fae do for our mates."

It's a simple statement but it makes my skin crawl. I still don't know what to believe. I still wear my iron engagement ring though it is now too tight on my finger. I do my best not to look at it most of the time.

"I don't give a fuck what you think about him. I. Don't. Trust. Him." Nesta is silently daring Cassian to rise to the bait. He says nothing. Neither of them blink. "Elain's place is with me." There is a finality in her voice.

Rhysand turns his attention to me. "And where do you say your place is Elain? As we've said before, no one will force you into this."

Everyone's attention turns to me and I think I might faint. My heart races wildly in my chest, the sound of it's thumping drowning out almost everything else. "I think….I think that Feyre has taken care of me for a long time and now…." I look at Nesta and glup. "Now I think it's my turn to try to take care of her."

Silence. Everyone is waiting for me to say more so I take a deep breath and continue.

"It's a risk, but it's not that much of a risk if this necklace has the power you say it does. I figure if worst comes to worst we can use it, shatter the Spring Court boarder wards and get out of there. That's the whole point of this isn't it? To amplify Feyre's powers?"

Rhysand simply nods, mouth pulled in a tight line and arms crossed over his chest. I wonder what hatred he must feel when he looks at me. I know when he looks at Nesta all he can see is Feyre's eyes.

Nesta whips the power of those eyes to Rhysand. They are lit with rage. "Feyre will be livid with you for bringing her into this."

"Feyre will see reason." Something that Nesta does not seem able to do. Rhysand does not raise his voice but there is a bite behind his words that would make anyone shy away.

"And what am I to do while my sister's are gone? Sit here in the safety of your little city and weave baskets with your wounded warriors?" If the words strike Cassian, his face does not show it. In fact he steps forward, pulling himself away from the safety of the wall at his back and toward Nesta.

"You'll come with me to the Illyrian camp nearest to the Spring border where you will be trained if you choose. When Feyre chooses to shatter the border you will be close enough to help both of your sisters."

I can tell that there is a flicker of interest behind Nesta's icy stare.

The room waits in silence again. I pray silently that this is the last time we are forced into having this debate.

"Fine." Nesta says after a long pause. I let out a sigh of relief. "But if anything happens to her I will hold you accountable."

Rhysand simply inclines his head, almost like a nod of understanding but not quite. I think Cassian looks the most relieved of all.

Mor, who had been sitting quietly not far from my side, finally speaks up. "Elain, please remember everything we talked about. Don't forget, no matter how beautiful or innocent that place might appear, it's a death trap." Her beautiful face is furrowed with concern. Concern for me. Concern for Feyre.

"I know." I say because I do. I really do.

"Then it's decided." Rhysand says, looking relieved and concerned all at the same time. "Elain will leave for the Spring Court this evening and Nesta will join Cassian for the Illyrian training camp first thing tomorrow morning. Until then we should all get some rest."

Nesta grabs my arm and is pulling me toward the doorway, still none too happy about the decisions made when I gently pull myself free from her grasp to turn and look at the High Lord of the Night Court. "I'll tell her when I see her, Rhysand. I'll tell her you took care of us, that you are still trying to take care of her. I'm sure she already knows how much you love her, but I'll tell her that too."

He doesn't smile at me, not really, I don't know if he is really even capable of that now, but his eyes do soften into something tender and I know that it is as much of a thank you as I will get.

Future chapters will be longer! Just had to get the ball rolling on this one. Up next: Nesta's POV!