Velaris, court of dreams
Azriel´s heart was still beating fast after meeting Stryga´s daughter, he didn't even knew her name. He couldn't get her face out of his head, her body and those eyes filled with resentment and rage.
His job was to speculate if she represented any kind of menace, still his mind wandered to other types of thoughts. He had to be composed before meeting with Rhys, his feelings belonged to him, he owned information and truth to his High Lord and brother.
When he entered the High Lord´s office, he was reading petitions of the habitants of Velaris. As soon as Rhys sensed his presence he looked up to welcome him, thankful to have a small break from work.
"So?" He stood. Ariel didn't move further.
"Something unexpected happened" definitely not what the High Lord of the Night Court wanted to hear "someone else took the middle, a woman who claims to be Stryga´s daughter".
The eyes of Rhysand filled with curiosity and doubt, but all he could say for the moment was that he must inform Feyre as well. She was the last one who stepped inside the Weaver's house.
He had another mission for Azriel that meant no problem for him and something he already intended to do: he had to find out who exactly was that woman.
A month later the Shadowsinger was convinced that Stryga´s daughter was nothing but a ghost. There was no evidence, paper or testimony of who she was.
Aside from the rumors in the nears of the forest. Frightening tales of the evil woman that ate children for dinner and left maidens as nothing but a shell stripped of any youth or beauty. A lethal creature that no one had survived to see.
Some said the forest was cursed and Styga´s spirit will forever torment the woods.
Only a minor lord of the Autumn Court said something different "there once was a gentle lady who inhabited those lands. It was nothing but an ilusion, Stryga´s shadow".
Rhys and Feyre were as annoyed as he was. They had no clue on what to do next. Nesta suggested to leave her alone and speak to her only when necessary. It was Elain who had the idea to invite her to Velaris as a way to show respect and diplomacy.
Feyre was convinced that Elain´s idea was the best, so was Mor, but Rhys and Cassian stood with Nesta. Amren was currently at the Summer Court. At last he expressed that he thought Elain´s strategy was a better idea than just avoiding Stryga´s daughter. Not once he dared to look at Feyre´s sister.
Beltaine
A month and a half after the Ilyrian warior´s visit an invitation signed by the rulers of the Night Court to visit Velaris.
She didn't know how to react. In another time the idea of going out of the woods would have brought her joy. She pictured the dress her old self would have made with rose eternal blooms and starlight threads. She would imagine a thousand scenarios where she met the perfect male and danced the whole night with him, to fill the need to be loved for eternity.
But the years changed once perspective. Stryga never forbade her to go out or protected her from others' harm. There was a time she moved through the Winter and Autumn Courts. She learned the hard way that nobody would love her the way her mother did, with otherworldly lullaby´s, an undisturbed power; the only one who would ask nothing in return.
She had no intentions to be herself anymore, neither she wanted to claim the title of the new Weaver. She couldn't allow herself to show her true temper, not like a month and a half ago. Her heart wouldn't beat fast or the rage would blind her. This is her home and she was willing to fight for it.
Out of her mothers dresser she took a green velvet dress that had to be modified to adjust to her curves. With the dress and a light luggage she winnowed to Velaris.
She arrived to see a bunch of ruins. It didn't surprise her the existence of strong guards and magic, she could feel it calling her name.
A mask of indifference sat on her face as she stood infront of the same warrior that had entered the woods.
"Styga´s daughter" he greeted her.
"Servant" she hissed in anwer.
They passed through the barriers.
Azriel
It took everithing in him to wait patiently and scort his mate. He didnt wanted to be a stranger in his mind he would kiss her and held her until he died, she would call his name tenderly.
He had waited a long time for her, he could manage to do it a little more.
The female saw the city in silence. Her face didn't change even when the magnificent night of Velaris rose. In a few minutes they stood in front of the house of the wind.
He cleared his mind as he held her to fly the last bit of the road. He could hear her heart beating calmly, and her scent almost drove him mad.
Beltaine
"We welcome you to Velaris, Stryga´s daughter" said the woman, the first High Lady of ANY court.
"And we are sorry for your loss as we are thankful for the service your mother did for Prythian. She's my mate and High Lady and I am Rhysand High Lord of the Night Court" both were highly powerful, she could feel the magic of the High Lady strangely familiar.
"I am thankful for your invitation" she let her polite self answer. A voice she hid a long time in her mind. She smiled even if it felt strange. She couldn't remember the last time she did it because she truly felt like it "and i accept your condolences. I am Beltaine, the Lady of the Middle"
"I am afraid, sending my brother Azriel to scout your woods must have sent the wrong message, for we didn't send any warning".
She had insulted a prince. Azriel. That explained the grace in which he moved and the strange magic and shadows that followed him around as if they were always whispering to him. Not to mention his beauty striking and calm.
"You must forgive me for my rudeness. I had no idea I had the pleasure to be in presence of a prince of the Night Court".
She felt nauseous to behave in such a way. Warm, smiley and educated. A barely perceptible blush filled Azriel´s face and neck. He might have forgiven her. She had to charm away the attitude he saw of her. As she looked into his eyes she knew she was halfway into it.
Sorry if there´s any grammar or spelling mistakes :(