Thank yu fo reading this fanfic!

Odeveca: Thank you for your comment! I hope you'll like what happens next!

FANFICTION

A COURT OF NIGHTMARES AND LIGHT

PART II – THE DAY COURT

CHAPTER XXIII : Garden of the Soul

"Vassa is gone," Helion announced in a grave voice.

Stunned silence reigned in the room.

"What do you mean?" Lucien asked, frowning at that statement.

Elain's gaze snapped to him at once. She could feel the sparkling emotions through the bond. He was conflicted. He was worried about Vassa and what this new information might mean in the future. He didn't understand why or how she could have disappeared from Graysen's manor.

Helion gave a sharp nod in the guard's direction and, though nervous about it, he immediately gave a report:

"There is no sign of struggle, so it's unlikely that she was taken away by force."

"We can eliminate the mortal Queens, then," Feyre said, "Vassa wouldn't let them take her so easily."

"What about the Sorcerer?" Elain asked timidly, torn between worrying for an innocent soul and her jealousy.

"He said he'd come back to claim her during the Autumn Solstice," Helion answered darkly, "Those words were a warning, to claim her again, he is bound by magic and can't intervene. He is stuck at the lake for now."

"And Jurian? Can we even trust him after everything he's done?" Selena proposed in a growl.

"Jurian is all the way in Vassa' kingdom, ruling in her name. He has no reason to have her gone… yet." Lucien answered, "No, it can't be him. Nor the Queens or the Sorcerer… I doubt… Graysen has any reason, strength or power to lift a finger against her…" He continued, glancing very quickly at Elain at the mention of her former fiancé.

She was almost as surprised as him that… she felt nothing when he mentioned his name. Comforted by that, Lucien focused on the problem at hand once again:

"If it's none of those possible enemies… who would have taken her away?"

"Could it be possible she just went for a stroll without warning anyone?" Sibylla said, almost innocently.

Everyone wondered for a moment if she was giving them a clue to figuring out this new mystery – but she remained expressionless and they couldn't get anything from her face, or her blind gaze.

"The manor is protected by magical wards and many guards, from her kingdom and from the Night Court. If she gets out of this place, she takes the risk of being stolen by one of her enemies. No, Vassa was taken away by someone who is cunning and powerful enough to get past so many barriers, magical and physical." Lucien explained carefully.

"Maybe those wards simply weren't as powerful as you think them," Helion said in a carefully neutral voice.

His golden gaze met Lucien. The Autumn Court son tensed. He frowned and their gazes clashed. Lucien's golden eye whirred.

"I made them myself." He hissed.

Helion kept staring at him, then, slowly, he spoke up again:

"This is no proof of their power or quality. As good as you are in theorical spells, you admitted yourself feeling constrained. If Vassa's protection was endangered by your lack of power… if this entire mission failed because you weren't careful enough…"

His voice trailed off. He let his arm fall against the armchair, then he leaned backwards, looking almost casual and bored but to anyone who knew him, they could see the tension in his shoulders and the guilt in his eyes. He didn't look in Lucien's direction, but he didn't add anything else either. He seemed lost in a line of thoughts hindered by the sharp thorns of his past.

"Instead of accusing my magical wards of being too weak, perhaps you should investigate as to who managed to get past them. Someone has got Vassa, and our only way to possibly stop the Sorcerer to set himself free!" Lucien exclaimed, suddenly standing up, "Do something about it instead of being suspicious of your friends and allies!"

Helion looked up suddenly, as if startled.

"Friends?" he repeated, staring straight at Lucien.

"I am not bold enough to call myself the friend of a High Lord," Lucien continued carefully, though without backing down, "But would I be wrong to assume that a friendship is possible?"

Helion stared, and stared, and stared at Lucien. The seconds grew longer and heavier at every heartbeat.

"No." He answered simply, as if by daring to pronounce another word, his voice would betray his feelings.

Lucien looked almost relieved, but he was still too annoyed to let such emotions show – annoyed by Vassa's disappearance at the worst timing possible, and by being wrongly accused of weakness.

"Then, as an Emissary, a former High Lord's right hand, and as a friend, may I give you an honest advice, Lord Helion?"

"You may." Helion answered, not understanding where he was getting at.

"Move your sun-kissed glowing ass and find Vassa!" Lucien exclaimed, putting down his hands on the table to press his weight on it and add more strength to his words.

Everyone gasped at those words, especially the members of the Day Court who would have never expected anyone outside of the family to be bold enough to say such words to their High Lord. Just as stunned, Helion kept staring at Lucien. His lips trembled.

For a short moment, Lucien feared he had gone too far and would be obliterated by the power of the sun… then, Helion laughed.

The sound escaped him, and he immediately covered his mouth. Everyone else stared at him, even more shocked to see him openly laugh.

He tried to hold back from laughing but a few chuckles escaped him.

"All right– yeah, I'll do that. Guard!" He called, clicking his fingers.

The earlier guard who had given his report jumped, but stepped forward anyway.

"Do as Lord Lucien has said. Find who is responsible for Vassa's disappearance. You have my authorisation to take any immediate measure that you find necessary."

"Y-yes, my lord!"

He bowed down deeply, then turned around.

Lucien hesitated, then glanced at Elain.

She was staring at him.

During this entire exchange, her gaze hadn't detached from his face, his body, acute to every emotion that she saw on him, echoing what she felt through the bond.

"Go." She said simply.

"W-what…" he hesitated.

She turned her head away, staring darkly at the table. She kept her back straight, her chin up and her hands carefully folded. The perfect lady who wouldn't let the turmoil of her emotions betray her.

Lucien felt it all, and staggered backwards.

"You want to go back to the human lands and help investigate Vassa's disappearance. Then… go." Elain repeated.

She had wanted her voice to be cold and distant, to express against her will her jealousy and possessiveness– feelings she was so unfamiliar with, that burnt her so viciously… but her voice was soft and understanding.

No matter how much Lucien wanted to stay by her side and keep her safe, he was still Vassa's friend and no one knew her, or the mansion where she had remained, better than he did. He was the one who had put up the magical wards and had been the bridge between the humans and the Fae. If anyone had to go investigate this sudden and mysterious disappearance, it was him. If only because he considered it his duty to help his friend who might be in terrible danger.

Elain set him free, and let him do as he chose, just like he had for her times and times again.

Lucien glanced quickly at Helion, who nodded in silent agreement. Without caring for any witnesses, Lucien knelt at Elain's side and took her hand in his. She turned her attention back on him as he squeezed softly her hand. He kissed the back of her hand with more reverence than any devout to their god.

Elain felt the waves of gratefulness and love from his heart, it thrummed in rhythm with its beating. It almost overwhelmed her. Without realising it, she tightened her grip on his hand. He lifted up his gaze, one russet fiery eye, one golden fascinating eye.

Please, come back to me soon, her doe-eyes pleaded silently.

I'll always come back to you, I promise, his fierce eyes answered.

As he rose on his feet once again, he looked quickly around the room.

"It should not take long to examine what might have happened. I will keep you updated as soon as I can on the situation."

He let go of Elain's hand and turned his heels, but Helion whistled suddenly, and loud enough to make everyone startle. Lucien whipped around, surprised by such an action. Helion stood up and he whistled again, a more melodious tone this time. He raised his arm and suddenly, a fiery bird flew across the room and onto his forearm. A golden-crowned red falcon. Helion caressed the feathers on the bird's chest with the back of his fingers.

"Take my personal bird with you. He will know to come back to me as fast as possible with news. His name is Lux. Do you know how to handle falcons?"

"It's not the animal we fancy the most neither in Autumn nor Spring but… I am familiar enough." Lucien answered with a nod.

"He will answer to the melody I whistled earlier. Remember it."

With a movement of his arm, the golden-crowned red falcon flew from Helion's arm to Lucien's. The falcon looked up at the red-haired lord, then tilted his head on a side at the view of the red and gold eye. He squawked, as if saying 'you look like me!' then became calm and quiet.

"Well, then. I should go." Lucien said.

He sent one last, longing look at Elain. She stared back at him. As they looked into each other's eyes, time stretched and the world disappeared to leave only the two of them and eternity.

Then, Lucien broke eye-contact and as he stepped away, he winnowed.

Elain's chest tightened as the distance between them grew, and the beating of his heart became fainter and fainter. She hated this. Every time they were separated, it felt like a part of her soul was being ripped from her, little by little. It was the first time since… since before their departure from the Night Court that such a huge distance would separate them.

Please, come back soon, before my heart gives out, she silently prayed, hoping the bridge between their souls would convey the feeling of her yearning for him. A sparkle resonated, jumping down the bond to her – an answer. A promise.

For the second time that day, Elain wanted nothing more but accept the mating bond and be with him. Heart, body and soul.

"Well, while you try to figure out what is going on with Vassa, I will teach Elain what I can about our abilities as Seers." Sibylla said, standing up.

"O-oh," Elain murmured, brought back violently from her connection to Lucien.

"What? Did you think that because your mate has wandered off, you are going to just wait for him like some whining damsel in distress? Like he told the High Lord, get your ass moving, girl. Stand up, and follow me."

Without waiting for an answer, or acknowledging the shocked gasp that had escaped Elain's lips, Sibylla turned around and started walking away.

Elain opened and closed her lips. She glanced at the others, especially at Feyre, silently pleading them to not let her go alone… but she saw nothing but concern for Vassa on their faces. She bit back her turmoil of feelings – the aching of Lucien being gone, the apprehension of being alone with Sibylla, and the overall fear that tinged every moment of her life at the moment – and she stood up. Sibylla was right, she wasn't any damsel in distress. She didn't even want to prove herself, but it was her duty, as a former human, as a High Fae, and as a Seer, to help in any way she could.

Once alone and without Lucien to distract Elain, she realised it was much easier to tune in to what Sibylla said. She explained the power of Seers in a way books never could: how it felt.

Unlike Elain, Sibylla had been born High Fae and born with the Sight which had allowed her, from a very young age, to cross courts and be used by High Lords and nobles alike. But her original court was the Day Court and after a few decades imprisoned in Spring and Winter, she was given back to the Day Court. She served Phaethos. He was still a young High Lord, and good-hearted, more passionate about his own crafting than pure power. He gave her back her freedom, to do as she wished with the power she had been blessed with and the eternal protection of the Day Court's High Lords. So Sibylla had decided to stay by his side. It had been the first time someone had given her a choice rather than chosen for her. Besides, she had never done anything other than serve High Lords and had been at a loss at what she had been supposed to do with her newfound freedom. Without the bounds of servitude, Sibylla explored her own capacities and limits by looking at the past. She learned everything she could about the origins of Prythian and the previous Seers, in order to get better. She saw flashes of the future as well – she had seen Elain long before the young girl had even been born, though it had all been blurry until the War against Hybern, until her transformation into a High Fae. It was in the Day Court that Sibylla found the High Fae who would become her husband, a guard of the High Lord.

Phaethos became restless, reckless and repeated mistakes. She kept warning him, she kept trying to change the inevitable future she saw: scenes of death and carnage in the tower of Light and Phaethos dead. Sibylla was still young then, for a High Fae and Seer, and thought, like all the ones blessed with the Sight before her, that she could change her visions. But on the contrary, the more she warned Phaethos, the more closed he became, the angrier he turned and from those negative emotions, he shut out his family and his friends. His mistakes, as High Lord, weighted heavily on him. He focused even more on his craftsmanship and in a burst of genius, or fury, or madness, he used the ancient relics of the Day Court's family to create new weapons engraved with spells and magic. Weapons as cursed as they were blessed.

The fateful night of the uprising of Hyperios against Phaethos, everything Sibylla feared became reality. The Tower of Light become a battleground, bodies of the two factions piled up, red coloured the white marble. Phaethos died, killed by his own invention and arrogance. And her husband had died, defending Hyperios.

Turned blind, mourning and distraught by her sense of uselessness, Sibylla left the Tower of Light. She left civilisation and the side of High Lords for the first time in her life. She wandered the Day Court, to all the places her husband had wanted to bring her. She gave her blessings to Hyperios when he became High Lord, having the vision of his descendance for the millennia to come – dark hair, bright eyes, red hair, sharp smiles… Everything would be fine for the family of the Day Court.

So she left again, this time to explore the other courts. Not as a priced Seer to show off but as a regular, blinded Fae. She discovered Prythian all over again, the good and the bad, the simple and the elaborate, and she understood better and better her powers and her duty.

"You said it yourself," Elain spoke up softly, "We can't change the future. If there's nothing we can do to change what we see, what use is there of us existing?"

"We can't change a vision that we see. Once we See the future, it's as good as set in stone, but it doesn't mean we are useless." Sibylla answered, "We can act. Our goal isn't to stop the future from happening, or changing it, it's to warn the world of the threats and the blessings that are to come. Whether people decide to listen to us and act on our word isn't our doing. It's our duty to tell others what they need to hear, in order to advance forward, but ultimately, each individual is the master of their own lives… Just like we, as Seers, are the mistresses of our existence. We decide what to do with the power that was given to us, we decide to tell someone of their future or not. Sometimes… silence is best."

She paused for a moment, plunging in her memories.

"It's because I tried so hard to stop Phaethos in becoming a failure that would cause a civil war that it set in motion his actions and his arrogance that would lead to his downfall. We don't control time, we don't control people, but we control our own voices, Elain."

Elain pondered this for a moment. Every time she had used her power, it had been unconscious to some level. A greater power was using her to warn of danger during the war, the mating bond used her abilities to draw her and Lucien closer, and now it controlled her when it came to that growing conflict against the Continent's forces.

When had she purposefully used her power? When had she made a conscious choice?

She had tried using her power since arriving in the Day Court, but she was far too scared of what it'll show her to truly dive into this magic. What if it showed her more terrifying visions of blood and nightmares? What if she saw the reason why Lucien would pierce her with Soluis?

"Have you ever been scared of your power?" She asked in a breath, now coming to an understanding as to why her powers felt out of reach – it wasn't just because she hadn't accepted the mating bond yet, it was because she was scared of this power and her new life as High Fae.

"All the time. But I have learned to control that fear instead of letting it control me. It took centuries, just like it'll take you many decades. Our powers are linked to strong emotions and memories, ours and others'. When I purposefully use my Sight, I choose what I want to see. Do I want to see happy moments to come? Then, I focus on the happy feelings and memories, in order to attract the positive future. That, in itself, will set in motion the future happiness. Do I want to see the truth? Then, I make my mind as clear as possible to not be distracted by any strong emotion that would hinder my vision in a good or in a bad way."

Elain imagined doing that, controlling her visions. Just like she had in the dreams shared with Lucien, of his memories. His emotions had controlled every moment of those dreams. It had been filled with sadness, grief, guilt and anger… and most of her other visions had been just like that. Including the one where he killed her – but she had also seen him as High Lord of the Day Court. Did it mean that in the future… they would not be together? That he was destined to finish his life strung to a throne he didn't want, without his mate?

That would be too cruel a fate. But then, what did it all mean?

"I…"

Sibylla tilted her head on a side to encourage Elain to keep talking.

"I had visions of Lucien… one where he kills me with Soluis… and one where he is High Lord…" she admitted.

She hadn't realised how much those visions weighted on her heart until she shared them with Sibylla outloud.

The Seer made a strange expression, blinking, and twisted her mouth. Confusion.

"A male losing his mate… especially if he is the cause of it… would go mad. Especially one who is so madly in love with you as your Fox Lord is."

"I don't understand why I had such different visions."

"When you don't understand, seek the answer. Uncover the truth. It's as simple as that, and Seers are the only ones who can do it at will." Sibylla said with a hint of pride and joy in her voice.

After so many sorrows brought by her power of Seer, how could she express such gladness in her abilities? How many beautiful sights had she been blessed with for her opinion on the Sight to change so drastically?

Elain suddenly wanted to know. She wanted to know and see and feel what future awaited her. Her's and Lucien's. She had known for a while now that she wanted to accept the mating bond, to call him hers, and the only reason why she hadn't yet was the coming war that froze her to the bones in fear. She wanted to know he would be happy. He deserved it and it was all she wished for Lucien. Happiness and peace.

Her brown eyes shining in determination, Elain looked at Sibylla.

"Teach me how." She demanded.

Sibylla smirked.

She held out her hand, inviting Elain to take it.

"Close your eyes and focus on your power. You should be able to feel it deep inside you. Not your bones, not the blood pulsing in your veins, not your heart beating… those are just worldly sensations. Go deeper. Deeper."

Following Sibylla's guidance, Elain tuned her attention to details. The sounds around her, the squeaking of the birds, the faraway people executing their duties… It all faded away. Her breathing became steady as she stopped listening to her own heart. Lucien's heartbeat didn't disappear though, it was a constant thrumming, distant and reassuring. Silence bubbled around Elain.

"Find your soul and look for that seed of power that you were gifted with by the Cauldron." Sibylla continued softly, her voice now the only sound that reached Elain.

Elain looked and looked, and finally arrived in front of a massive door covered in buds and thorns. She was afraid of getting closer and getting pricked… but then she realised that this was the doorway to her soul, to the bridge linking her and Lucien, and those thorns were her fears bounding her.

She put her hands forward and pulled at the thorns, tearing them apart. There was no prickling sensation and, as if her gesture had been all it had needed for her fears to recess, the thorns started pulling away on their own. The buds shivered and moved, blooming into beautiful red roses. Elain pushed the door opened and she was blinded by light.

She stepped into the garden of her soul. It was breath-taking. It was the most beautiful sight she had ever witnessed. There was so much light and beauty, soft sensations and vibrant colours. So many flowers stretching to the very horizon. She walked through a small garden full of pebbles, but the flowers and plants looked healthy and well-cared for – the little garden at their cottage back in the struggling time of her family… She kept walking, her hands caressed tulips, red and yellow, soothing and warm. Just like what her father had promised her.

Then, her eye caught sight of the sunflowers. Gigantic sunflowers, taller than she was, facing away from her. They faced the sun but there was no fiery globe in the endless sky. She followed the sunflowers' direction and found her light.

A bright bridge full of promises and hope awaited her. A thrumming resonated in the distance across that bridge – Lucien's heartbeat.

He was her saving light. He had always been.

She stepped onto the bridge and pure sunlight blinded her.

She heard a laugh, the most beautiful sound that had ever resonated in her heart and soul. She turned around. A little girl with flowing red hair ran past Elain, laughing. A young boy around her age followed her, and two younglings who might be twins, were struggling to keep up with their older siblings. They were all running through a meadow of flowers. A towel was laid down, with food, drinks and toys. The sun was bright, but the trees were coloured in the shades of Autumn.

Lucien suddenly stepped out of a tree and caught the little girl who fell into his arms. She giggled wildly as he raised her above his head, his own laugh echoing hers.

Elain's heart swelled and her eyes filled with happy tears.

Lucien held his daughter up, then he kissed her cheek and put her down again. The three Autumn Foxes, Lady, Sparkle and Flame, all grown up, joined the children into running and playing into the high grass. Lucien watched over them with a tender smile on his face. His shoulders were relaxed and he looked… peaceful, happy, serene.

Elain approached him and he turned towards her. His russet eye sparkled and the golden one gleamed. He looked even more beautiful, even happier, when he was looking at her.

"Is this a dream?" She asked in a soft, wavering voice, "Can we really be this happy?" she murmured hopefully.

His hand reached out and caressed her cheek. She leaned against his palm, suddenly breathless and craving his arms and chest to press into. She wanted to kiss him and tangle her fingers into his tied-up hair. She wanted them to lie down in the meadow and make another beautiful red-haired baby.

"Of course it's real, my love." Lucien answered, "It's the future we are promised. I wouldn't change any of it. Everything is perfect."

She smiled brightly. Her heart pounded happily when he pulled her to him to kiss her, the laughter of the children echoing in her soul.

My future, my family, my loves, my mate–

Elain's thoughts and emotions ran wild.

A cold shiver ran down her back. She felt as if she was falling into a cold and dark pool of water. Drowning – she was drowning again in the Cauldron–

She whipped around but she wasn't in the beautiful meadow full of hope and promises. She was in a dark forest, the branches of the trees looked like long fingers trying to reach for her.

"Lucien?" She called, turning around but it was as if she had been transported in another universe where he didn't exist, "Lucien?!"

A spot of colour caught her eye. Red. She looked at the red flower. Lycoris. They were scattered and she followed the path of the lycoris flowers. She accelerated as they grew more numerous and suddenly, she stepped out of the dark forest. She saw a gigantic mansion standing there, big and ominous, covered by heavy clouds that smothered any sunlight. She kept walking, following blindly the house. Her feet grew cold and she looked down. She wasn't following the trail of lycoris flowers anymore, she was walking into grass turned red from blood. She looked on her right and saw a lake of a foggy-red colour.

Another cold shiver but this time, it sharpened her senses. She whipped around towards the house. Ignoring the laws of space, she jumped forward and into a big room lit up by a fire. A tall, dark-haired man sat in a big seat. The moment she was there, he looked up. His eyes met hers. She knew he was aware of her presence and he saw her as clearly as she saw him.

His lips stretched into a wicked smile, his teeth showing mercilessly.

"I've been waiting for you, Elain Archeron."

Elain was thrown away from the Sorcerer as violently as she had been dragged away from her garden of the soul. Back in the lands of the livings, she screamed. Her shriek resonated and every wall, every piece of glass in her surroundings broke into pieces. The entire floor of the Tower of Light shook. Shockwaves of power exploded from her as she fell on her knees.

"Elain!"

Sibylla's voice was loud and panicked, hoarse from having constantly called her.

"ELAIN!"

The fresh hands of the Seer went on Elain's shoulders to shake her back to life.

Elain's vision turned red once again. This time, it wasn't any nightmarish bloodshed, it wasn't because of lycoris flowers, it was her own blood flowing from her nose, from her mouth, her ears and her eyes that dropped on the marble floor.

She fell into darkness.

Thank you for reading it! I hope you enjoyed it!

Yours Truly,

May