Sorry for the late update! Things have been really hectic lately.
AlexisHeade79: I haven't read Tower of Dawn yet! It's coming in the mail in a couple of days, but after I read it I will make the adjustments to the story
Avap12: Thank you for your support! idk what I would do without your reviews. They really motivate me and I'm glad someone appreciates my story as much as you do!
Cicely shakily brought her spoon to her mouth, a silk napkin clutched tightly in her other hand. She barely took a sip before it clattered back into her bowl, splashing her tunic with soup and leaving wet marks on the wooden table. She cursed and stood up, drawing all eyes to her. The lights from the large glass windows illuminated her bronze colored hair and the frustration in her eyes. Her boots thumped on the bright red carpet as she stood up from her chair.
She excused herself and stalked out of the dining hall.
"Cicely!" Valea took off after her and grabbed her arm. Cicely winced and shot her cousin a glare. Light reflecting off the white stone of the hallway made her head pound in protest.
"What?" Cicely snapped and bared her teeth. "Is everyone concerned because I can't feed myself? Let alone hold a dagger."
"Your other arm-" Valea motioned to Cicely's uninjured arm.
"What use is it?" Cicely growled and moved her arm from Valea's line of sight. "In a battle I'm useless. I can't shoot, I can't fight, I can't even feed myself with this sorry excuse for an arm."
"Cice," Valea said sternly and looked her cousin in the eyes. She held up a finger to silence Cicely when she opened her mouth again. "You are strong. You surpass me in talent by a couple decades of experience."
"But-" Valea silenced Cicely with a glare and walked her cousin to an open window.
"You will work hard to regain your strength so you can aid Aelin in this war," Valea said, her command as sharp as the sword sitting at her hip. "I sent a message to Landen."
"What?" Cicely's head snapped up, narrowing her eyes in suspicion. Her mouth opened and then she pressed it into a thin line and looked at her arm. She took a couple steps away and looked out the window. "Why?"
"The house is coming. You need to train," Valea said and left Cicely to contemplate the news.
OoOoO
Rowan could feel the army's power growing stronger as Cicely's house grew closer. Another day Cicely had told them while slowly clenching her fist, testing her strength. Something powerful was coming toward them. He could feel it through the hills and mountains surrounding Orynth that were sprinkled with white daisies. Their power flowed through the crisp air and made his bones tremble with anticipation.
He glanced around the bush he was snooping behind to see Cicely and her elites in a heated conversation that was hushed enough to prevent his fae senses from hearing anything. More bushes surrounded him and green grass tickled his ankles.
Valea pointed north and stared Hayle down with her dark eyes, but Hayle held her ground and narrowed her eyes. Hayle's silver hair glinted in the sun and he wondered if she was a distant cousin or relative. He'd have to know her age to know for sure.
Cicely silenced them with a single look and tilted her head toward the clear sky. To have that much control as someone of power was admirable. Rowan wondered what she must have done to earn that unwavering respect.
Cicely turned toward his hiding spot and looked him in the eye. She seemed to see through the leaves and the many bushes between them. Despite his training, and despite his years of experience, his heart beat faster. She had caught him.
"They're here," Cicely said as an army that stretched for miles appeared on the horizon. The witches stalked from the sparkling castle, calculation in their eyes at the approaching army.
Iron circlets shone on a couple of the soldiers heads and five males led them closer. They were like ants on a hill, their pale skin standing out against their black leather. Their quick steps covered ground much faster than a mortal army as flowers of every color were crushed under their boots.
A high whistle vibrated through the air and Cicely responded with a higher one with a smile rivaling the brilliance of the castle's glass windows on her face.
Within seconds, the army was in front of them and Aelin was walking toward them. The Thirteen stood by the side, but Manon's shadows were nowhere to be seen. Cicely whispered something in Landen's ear and pulled away. He shook his head and shrugged.
"Your Majesty," Cicely dipped her chin toward Aelin and Darrow emerged from the castle, his face paling at the sight of thousands of fae soldiers. "Allow me to introduce the army I bring into this war."
"My longtime general, Landen Lilith," Cicely said and then gestured to the army of thousands of fae. "The House of Lilith is at your service."
Aelin's eyes widened as she took in their thousands of warriors; all well fed, trained, and ready for battle. Their power pulsed as one through the air and Aelin turned to Rowan, her eyes shining. An unspoken conversation went between them and Aelin turned to her new army. "Welcome to Terrasen."
"We don't have enough space to-" Darrow began and took a hesitant step forward.
"That's not a problem," Cicely turned away from him in a silent dismissal. "We can take care of ourselves."
"You should allow your highest ranking warriors to sleep in the-" Darrow offered in his best attempt to be hospitable.
"We're a family," Cicely fixed her dark eyes on him, making the mortal lord pale. "We go everywhere together. We will sleep on the hills or in the forest."
Darrow opened his mouth to protest but Aelin cut him off, "As you wish, we will not get in the way of your system, will we Lord Darrow?"
Aelin turned to the Lord with mischief in her eyes and a smug smile tugged at her lips as the Lord mumbled his agreement.
OoOoO
Cicely groaned as her head hit the grass again, she opened her eyes and a blade of grass was dangerously close to her eye. "That was a cheap shot."
"You're letting me win," Landen scoffed and offered her a hand. She refused to take it and pushed herself up, her body leaving an imprint in the grass where she just lay. The morning dew wet her cheeks and she felt it soak through her tunic.
"Am not," Cicely glared at him as he shrugged, his eyes sparkling. The cool wind brushed her cheeks and her cheeks became numb with cold.
"Yes, you are," Landen sighed. "You have no faith in yourself."
"How can I?" Cicely snapped and shook her head. "You try losing an arm and then tell me how you feel."
She lunged without warning and shoved her shoulder into his chest, making him turn to the side as her foot kicked his out from under him. He rolled into her legs as he hit the ground and she rolled on her shoulder as she fell. Landen was pinning her the next moment and she kneed his kneecap making him buckle above her. She twisted out of his grip and rolled back on top of him. Her elbow at his throat and knee dangerously close to his groin.
Landen tapped the ground twice with a free hand and Cicely let him go. A smile of triumph was set on her face and she wiped a bead of sweat off her nose. Landen wiped his wet hands on his tunic and noticed the stain the grass left on his pants.
"Not bad," Landen praised with a nod of his head. "But you didn't see this coming."
Before Cicely could even process what was said, his leg whipped out and hooked around the back of her knee and pulled her forward. The slick surface stabilizing her aiding him as her foot slipped from beneath her. She hit the grass with a thud and she groaned. She glared at him from the ground but didn't move. Her hair stuck to her face, but not from her sweat this time.
"Another cheap shot," Cicely gritted out and swung her legs toward his. She kicked up water from the blades of grass that became absorbed by the thick fabric of her pants. He backed away and she rolled into his legs. When he dodged that too, she threw herself at him and tackled his legs. When he tried to roll, she flipped and wrapped her legs around his neck. She squeezed her legs together slowly and Landen choked. He tapped the ground and Cicely released him.
"I think that's enough for today," he said as he straightened his tunic. Cicely ran a hand through her now soaked hair from the dew and morning mist.
"No," Cicely stopped him with a hand. Dew and sweat beaded on her face and dripped off as her forehead and nose wrinkled in concentration. "Again."
"Are you sureā¦" Landen paused and looked at her healing arm in a silent question.
"Again," Cicely repeated and lunged at him.
They continued until the sun was long gone and the only light they had was from the stars and the waning moon. Unbeknownst to them, Manon had been watching from her room with Asterin and Sorrel by her side.
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