Sorry it took so long to post this chapter, but I'm reallyy tired so I hope it's all right!
Thank you for all your comments and fav and follows!
Odeveca : Thank you for follwoing this story! :D
Shalini: Nesta will shine in her own way, or I'll try ;)
Nellzy: I can't wait to write more about Nesta and Lucien's growing friendship :D
Luvforzombies: Thank you! And sorry my updates take so long!
FANFICTION
A COURT OF NIGHTMARES AND LIGHT
PART III – THE BLOOD MOON
CHAPTER XXXIX : The Archer's Blood
"You! What have you done? And where is my little sister?!" Nesta hissed.
Lucien felt his insides recoil in something akin to fear. Before he could answer though, Feyre stepped forward:
"Lucien is innocent. And Elain is… she's been taken, by the Sorcerer."
Nesta's eyes flared brightly, turning her attention to her little sister. Feyre faced her head-on, a silent challenge sparkling between the two. Then, Nesta turned her regal and proud face to the entire group gathered here:
"What has been done so far to retrieve her?" she demanded.
"We were recovering from the damages done to the Tower of Light and we just heard Vassa's testimony," Helion answered.
"I have sent Azriel to the Sorcerer's location to find out more about Elain's whereabouts," Rhysand added.
"That's not enough! We need to save her! Right now!"
"Nesta, calm down," Cassian said, putting his hands on her shoulders, "We can't just barge in to kidnap her."
"He's right, magical bargains have laws that we can't break," Helion added, "Not without facing dire consequences. And even if no spell or bargain were involved, we can't attack a god without proper preparation."
Nesta frowned and glared at him, but didn't answer. She understood his words, she still saw reason – but Lucien struggled. He whipped towards his father, arms spread out wide:
"Let me go and get Elain back! I'll deal with the consequences, but I can't leave her in the hands of that monster until the Winter Solstice!"
"What makes you think that you would pay the consequences, and not Elain? Or someone else here?" Morrigan intervened, arms crossed over her chest, "I want to help her out as much as you, but for now, without more information, we are stuck here."
Lucien's good eye simmered darkly.
"Don't you dare think that you understand the way I feel. You want to help your High Lady's sister, I want to save my mate. You have no idea what it feels like to lose your mate and feel the absolute need to save her." He growled.
Mor tensed and glared back at Lucien. The tension was thick enough that it could have been cut through with a knife. Rhysand finally intervened, he stepped between the two, hands raised.
"Enough! Everyone! We all want to save Elain and stop the Sorcerer! But we can't do that if we argue and let mating instincts blur our judgement! Mor is right, we need more time and resources before acting."
"Lucien," Feyre continued on a more gentle tone, "You know we're right."
He took deep, shallow breaths to calm himself and that fiery temper of his. His entire body was tense and ready to strike. His insides burnt to be near Elain and hold her in his arms, protect her, keep her safe and sound.
Mate, protect, save, help, keep safe, mate.
There was the slightest change of light for a short moment, and both Rhysand and Cassian turned their attention to the nearest pillars. Azriel stepped out of the darkness, but it was Lucien who desperately walked to him:
"What information have you gathered?! How is Elain? Where is she? What happened?!" he asked.
Azriel was barely fazed by the male's protective behaviour. He glanced quickly at Rhys, and everyone tensed.
"I couldn't go past the barriers. It's not even the Sorcerer's magic, it felt far more ancient and sacred. No weapon, no magic could get through." He started.
"If we believe the legends," Koios intervened calmly, "The Sorcerer was bound to the manor, the lake and the surrounding area by a spell made by a female fae warrior. He couldn't liberate himself for millennia and no one can enter without his authorisation and usually, it's only to make a bargain."
"I will need to go see for myself what sort of spell it is," Helion said thoughtful.
"Then go! Right now!" Lucien exclaimed.
"I can't."
"Why not?!"
Instead of answering, Helion turned back towards Azriel to encourage him to talk.
"There's more," he said, "My spies found the location of the Fey and human Queens' armies. They are gathering north of the Sorcerer's Lake and… they are far more numerous than we expected. Twice Hybern's army, and more are coming. They are planning to attack on the Winter Solstice."
A heavy silence followed this statement.
"How are we supposed to fight this army when ours is still considerably reduced after the war against Hybern…?" Mor murmured with wide eyes.
"More importantly, how are we supposed to fight on two battlegrounds during a Blood Moon when we will be powerless?" Rhysand mumbled.
"But the enemies will also lose their powers, right?"
"But not the human forces," Lucien said, "It will be like fighting with Faebane in our veins. The humans could come and make enough damage that by the time we get our powers back, the Continent's Fey will wipe us out in no time."
Another silence met those words. Lucien gripped the side of his arms and closed his eyes, thinking furiously on how to help Elain. He needed to get her, he needed to save her, now before they got any closer to the Blood Moon.
"I believe it's time we call for a High Lord meeting," Helion decided, standing taller.
"How long will that take?" Nesta asked.
"Too long," Lucien answered darkly.
"We need it, Lucien, you know that. We need to send messages to all High Lords, wait for their responses, and prepare a neutral environment to meet." Selena said.
"It's going to take weeks! We can't leave Elain alone and helpless for so long!" Nesta exclaimed.
"She won't be," Vassa intervened, drawing everyone's attention to her, "She won't be alone, there are many other prisoners in the manor. As for helpless… I don't believe it is in Elain Archeron's nature to do nothing."
She glanced quickly at Lucien, who nodded gravely, despite the urge to save his mate.
"Vassa… Vassa is right… Elain won't be helpless and she'll do her best to get free or slow down the Sorcerer's progress. I have faith in her. And… I can't believe I'm saying this but… Helion is right. We do need the help of the other High Lords if we want a chance to win this war, and save Elain." He said with a thick knot in his throat.
Nesta was not happy about this in the slightest, but she noticed the tortured look on Lucien's face and understood that as unhappy as she was by this decision, Lucien was slowly dying from it.
"Then, let's get to work. Now." She hissed.
"I'll help in any way I can," Lucien told Selena.
She nodded, and both walked away to start writing the letters to the High Lords.
It was the easiest and fastest part, then the waiting became agony.
"Do we have any answer yet? From Summer or Winter, maybe?" Lucien asked, pacing endlessly in Helion's private library.
"We sent the letters only two hours ago, Lucien, give it time to reach the High Lords first," he answered calmly.
Lucien grumbled to himself and continued his pacing with even more vigour. Helion made a sign to Koios and he left the room to leave father and son alone.
"I'm sorry you have to endure such a thing," Helion said slowly.
Lucien slowed down, then turned towards him.
"I'm used to torture. I've endured far worse, far more often. But not knowing how fares Elain is the worst torture of all…"
"I know…"
Helion let out a heavy sigh, and gave a quick wave towards a seat, silently inviting Lucien to sit down. He did so, no matter how anxious he felt.
"How did you not go mad, centuries of knowing that my mother, your mate, was suffering under Beron's hands… and you did nothing…"
"I didn't want to do nothing. Everyday when going to sleep I would be plagued by nightmares, and everyday when waking up my first thought would be of her. I found myself winnowing to the frontiers of Autumn numerous times, almost unconsciously, desperate to get her and get you back, away from this monster."
Lucien watched his father, an almost stranger.
"But every time I would catch sight of the red leaves, those bright autumn colours, I would stop myself. I knew that the only way to keep Lucasta, and you, safe was by doing nothing. Doing nothing meant sparing the two of you Beron's wrath, and sparing all Prythian a war between Autumn and Day."
There was a short moment of quiet and, surprisingly, it comforted Lucien a little.
"I guess I should count myself lucky that war against the Sorcerer was inevitable." Lucien said ironically, "No need to worry about internal conflict."
"You are my son, and Elain is your mate. I may not have acted this way until Beron's passing but… you are family, both of you, and I will do anything to help her. I promise."
Lucien looked up, dreading to see another lie and illusion. But all he saw in Helion's gaze was earnest truth. He gripped the sides of the seat tightly.
"I'm not used to trust… my father… or family… but… thank you."
Helion nodded, a weak smile on his face.
"And… do you want to be part of this family?" he asked, clasping his hands together to hide his awkwardness.
"I…"
Lucien looked away, and his gaze got lost in the sight of bookshelves.
"I don't know. I don't know enough about Day, or you, and right now, my mind is far too preoccupied with getting Elain back. After that… after that, I'll consider my options."
He leaned back against the seat, a humourless laugh escaping him.
"After all, I am, once more, a wayward High Fae, now that Rhysand has banished me from working in his Inner Circle."
"Right," Helion said pensively, "I did say that I couldn't hire you as Emissary. It's not because you are untrustworthy, but I said that because I can't hire my heir for such a low position. You deserve better."
Lucien slowly, painfully, looked up. His golden eye clicked. His russet one teared up.
"With Beron dead, there is no reason to keep you unclaimed, my son," Helion continued slowly, "I would be honoured to call you my heir and claim your parentage in front of all High Lords. It's time all Prythian knows that the Day Court has one of the most powerful High Fae as heir."
Lucien's lips trembled.
He had always been weak, a disappointment, a failure, the unwanted son, the seventh one, Beron's victim. As much as his brothers sensed how dangerous he was, his potential as High Lord, Lucien never considered himself Beron's heir. He loved Autumn, but it wasn't where he was meant to be. He had been lucky to survive so many centuries, he had been lucky to find friends and allies in most courts.
"I'm not sure I have the making of an heir, for any court," he answered, lowering his gaze.
"And I believe you have underestimated yourself for far too long."
Helion stood up, and patted Lucien's shoulder on his way out.
"We have some time before the High Lords arrive, take your time to think things through."
And Lucien was alone with his thoughts once more. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Elain's screams and terror plagued his mind again.
"I'll save you… I promise I'll save you, my lady…" he murmured to himself.
It took three torturous days to receive most answers. Lucien considered throwing himself off the balcony if only to try and winnow to Elain. Instead, he plunged into research and readings about the Sorcerer, the Lake, the Blood Moon magic, anything that could be useful eventually.
Every High Lord had answered positively to the invitation, except Tamlin. But as much as Lucien had held hope that his old friend would react to his mate missing, to this threat against all Prythian, when asked if they should wait any longer, he refused. No more wasted time to gain Elain back, especially not because of Tamlin. And so, the details of the encounter were sent to the courts – they were to gather at the Day Court, where everything had occurred, to discuss the war against the Continent's forces.
Just after the letters had been sent, Lucien, Helion and Selena were finishing to discuss the details when Koios arrived rapidly:
"My Lord!" he called, carrying a heavy book with him, "I believe I might have found something interesting!"
Lucien was immediately at his side. Koios put down the book, very old from the looks of it.
"What is it, Koios?" Selena asked curiously.
"I was reading this book, about the formation of the seven courts of Prythian, and I found something that might be important. Now, do you remember the story about the foundation of Prythian?" he asked, glancing mostly at Lucien who frowned.
"Of course I do, every youngling learns of it." He answered, vaguely insulted and he felt the need to tell what he remembered, "Humans and High Fae lived together and worshipped the Old Gods, until they revolted against them. Some disappeared, others were imprisoned, and Koschei is one of them."
Koios nodded, then tapped the paper of the book he had brought:
"And they revolted following a group of friends who would become the first High Lords of the seven courts, and thanks to a High Fae female warrior who tricked Koschei to his Lake. I have found a passage in particular which talks of the spell she used."
He pointed at a paragraph, that he started reading outloud:
" 'And as the Blood Moon kissed the Winter Solstice, the Archer used her blood to bind the Sorcerer-god whose name cannot be pronounced to a lake on the continent. There he was bound, for all eternity. The spell could only be broken during the same Winter Blood Moon and with the blood of the Archer's descendants. As the seven High Lords each took a bite of the Apple of Knowledge, she refused any immortality for the love of her human companion. She had a son with him, who moved south to what would eventually become the frontier between the human and Fae Lands. The last records of the Archersson family show them as a rising aristocratic member of society.'"
Koios paused, looking up at the rest of his family:
"This book dates from a few years after the making of the Wall, centuries ago. And I believe that the name of the Archer's descendants evolved. From Archersson to…"
"Archeron," Lucien concluded with wide eyes, his voice barely higher than a whisper.
"Elain, and Feyre and Nesta are all descendants of the Archersson, then?" Selena murmured to herself, "This is incredible…"
Lucien had grown up hearing tales of that Fae Warrior, sometimes called the Archer but whose name had been forgotten millennia ago. He remembered asking his mother to read to him the story of the founding of Prythian, times and times again, of how the courts had been born, thanks to an apple and a group of brave people. He had always been fascinated with the tale of the Apple of Knowledge, the birth of the first High Lords, and of the Warrior's cunning.
As much as trickery was in his fox-nature, how much of it had been influenced by the Warrior's story? The Warrior – the Archer – who was the ancestor of the female he loved.
"The Archeron sisters are the direct descendants of the High Fae Warrior who imprisoned Koschei, and only that blood, the 'promised blood' can break the spell…" Helion continued, his golden eyes wide.
Silence fell on them. All this time, Lucien had wondered why, why Elain of all people. Why her, and not her sister, or not Vassa, or not any other powerful High Fae… but it all made sense now. Who was a better choice than the descendant of the Archer who had imprisoned Koschei, and was the last known Seer of Prythian?
"Cauldron and the Mother be blessed, not only they have preserved the sacred blood of the Archer, but they have come back to us, and the sisters have saved us many times already…" Selena said, her voice barely higher than a whisper.
"Elain has participated in saving Prythian from Hybern. She has saved me." Lucien continued, his fingers tracing the elegant lines that had revealed his mate's ascendance, "And this time, it's my turn to save Elain…"
"We will, together. You are not alone anymore, Lucien." Helion said with an encouraging smile.
And for the first time, Lucien believed it. For the first time, he could have faith in his father.
It's one my theories that the "Fae warrior" who imprisoned Koshcei is the Archeron's ancestor! :D
Next chapter: The Council of High Lords
Yours Truly,
May