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FANFICTION
A COURT OF NIGHTMARES AND LIGHT
PART III – THE BLOOD MOON
CHAPTER XXXXI: Unexpected Allies
Lucien wasn't sure how long had passed by the time someone knocked at his door. The sound was different from a servant's. Stronger, more resilient. He sniffed the air and even through the door, he sensed the scent that had become familiar.
Helion entered the small apartment without expecting an answer. Silence fell on them.
Lucien stubbornly avoided looking his way and continued filling his back bag with clothes and weapons and notes that could be useful.
Helion stopped near piles of books and notes. He saw what he assumed had been Elain's readings, as they involved flowers, plants, gardening, and stories of Prythian.
Old books and parchments on magic, on Koschei, on old gods, were sprawled all over the couches, tables and even the floor.
"When you'll come back, I'll ask for your private apartment to be expanded so you can have a proper study." Helion said in a calm voice.
Lucien froze. His hand shook. He let the book he had been holding go down over the bed. Slowly, he turned around and faced his father.
"What makes you think I will come back?" Lucien asked in a tight voice.
Helion's eyes saddened but he didn't look away.
"Because one can hope, right? That… we could be a family, someday…"
"If you wanted me to be your family, you would help Elain. Instead, you are letting her die in the hands of this devil!" Lucien exclaimed.
The High Lord sighed, suddenly looking weary and way older than a Faerie should ever look. It shook Lucien more than he would have cared to admit.
"I want to help you, and Elain, but I also have a duty to my people and my court. They will be the first touched if the Continent's army reaches our coasts."
"I am aware of that, but if Elain… if she–"
Lucien turned away, chocking on his own words, on the possibility that very soon, his greatest happiness might die. This room was suddenly smothering, too full of Elain's absence. No amount of light or hopeful speeches could fix that gaping hole in his chest.
"She won't die. She won't be sacrificed. The High Lords have decided to continue our discussion tomorrow to make plans."
"Do you expect me to stay and do nothing while Elain is being tortured? Do you expect me to sit down and obey you and the High Lords' expectations to be a good heir? I will not sacrifice my mate because you all have courts to protect. I understand it all, but Elain… Elain is everything for me! I cannot and I will not leave her to face this alone!"
Helion watched his son, and nodded.
"I know all this. And I won't ask you to stay."
It surprised Lucien enough that he staggered backwards. He stared at his father, wondering what trick he was pulling on him…
"I can't expect you to trust me when we barely know each other, and you have found out your parentage so little ago but… You might be right in assuming that saving Elain will save all Prythian."
"Might be right?" Lucien repeated, raising an eyebrow.
Helion's lips trembled, and he grinned despite the dreadful situation:
"You are my son, so you're certainly right."
He darkened once more and put a hand on his heir's shoulder:
"The armies that we will raise will prepare to fight the Continent's armies, but we will not have enough strength or manpower to stop Koschei as well."
"I have no intention of letting him touch a single hair of Elain's head, and even less step out of his lake," Lucien hissed.
"Good, because you might be our only hope. And you will need more than your stubbornness and mating bond to vanquish this Sorcerer-god."
"What do you suggest?" Lucien asked, frowning.
"I have gone, very quickly yesterday, at the magical barrier that keeps Koschei imprisoned. I couldn't see anything on the other side, but I could sense its power. It's ancient and powerful, but the barrier is not invincible, it's quite similar to the Wall. And I believe you are one of the very few people who know the Wall so well."
"And the Wall was full of holes," Lucien murmured, brightening up.
"I am not certain that you will be able to find a hole in time, it took centuries of exploring the Wall to find holes. But the moment the Winter Solstice's Blood Moon will start, you will have a short amount of time to enter the Sorcerer's lands, find him, stop him, and bring him down once and for all. No amount of research will enlighten you on what to expect then. You must be ready to any and all possibilities."
Lucien nodded, his heart beating in determination. If the magic of the barrier was similar to the Wall, then perhaps… perhaps he could find a solution to save Elain long before the risk of the Blood Moon.
"You can't go alone, Lucien. No matter what you do, promise me you will find allies you can trust." Helion said, squeezing his son's shoulder.
Lucien hesitated, but finally grabbed his father's hand, and nodded.
"I don't have much of those, but I'll do my best not to get backstabbed." He said with a grin, "And… I think I might know where to start looking for those allies."
"Good."
Lucien finished packing his bag, then, making sure that Soluis and various daggers were strapped around his hips and thighs, he marched out of the apartments full of Elain's absence. He would not come back here without Elain, he swore it to himself. He wouldn't have looked back, if not for Helion calling him one last time:
"Lucien…"
He turned around and watched his father's worried face.
"I just got you back… please, come back." He pleaded.
"I…"
It was strange, being expected back. Being hoped to go back… to have a home and a family.
"I'll try my best," he said, gaze down.
"And bring back my future daughter-in-law."
Lucien couldn't help the laugh that rose in his throat, and he nodded.
"This is certain."
"I want lots of red-haired younglings running around here as soon as possible to compensate missing your childhood."
"Don't ask too much too soon, I'll come back with Elain, and we'll have younglings when we'll be ready for it!"
This time, Lucien flushed happily at the idea of younglings with Elain. She had had a vision of the children they would have in the future. A vision in a dream that she had shared with him, just before Koschei had invaded her mind and dragged her away. Had it been a premonition all this time? That eventually Koschei would take her away from him and rip apart their future?
No. He refused to believe it. He refused to believe it had only been a dream. He had sensed it. Parenthood, mate, those were bonds that transcended time and space. It was as certain to happen as saving her.
He believed in them and their future.
"Lucien." Helion called once more.
Lucien met his eyes, golden amber, like little suns, which shone in determination and pride.
"Don't forget who we are." He said in a dark voice.
"I won't… father."
That small word meant more to both of them than they could have ever hoped for. Lucien took a hesitant step forward, stopped, and he wanted to thank Helion for everything… but then, he decided to keep walking. "Thank you" would sound too much like an adieu.
The three Autumn foxes, Lady, Sparkle and Flame, almost all grown-up, followed him, determined to get their mommy back.
He had walked for only a few minutes through the halls before other steps, just as determined as his, sided in synch with him. Lucien turned around and was surprised to see Nesta, dressed in full Illyrian leather.
"Where do you think you're going like that?" she asked sharply, regal even in this outfit which looked ridiculously on her.
"I'm going to save my mate," he answered easily.
She frowned.
"I won't let you go get my sister on your own, it's suicide."
"I never said I'd be alone."
"What do you have in mind, Lucien?"
They both turned, towards Cassian, Azriel, Rhysand and Feyre who had just talked:
"I have a plan, or I'm starting to think of one. I'll get Elain back and this Sorcerer will be sorry he had ever been born."
"I'm not sure you're ruthless enough for that," Cassian said with a grin.
"Do you want a demonstration?" Lucien hissed.
But Cassian laughed good-heartedly, and he raised his hands:
"It's okay! I haven't forgotten that you've been raised in the Autumn Court, fire is in your blood! Even if you're the heir to the Day Court. But damn, that makes you one of the most powerful High Fae in Prythian, do you realise it?"
"You are a future High Lord, Lucien," Rhysand continued, "You might have never thought yourself powerful, but do not underestimate the power that sleeps in you. It was the power that brought down the gods, long ago."
He offered his hand and as angry as he was, still, that they had hidden his parentage, Lucien couldn't help himself. He took Rhysand's hand.
"If a few years ago, I had been told I would shake your hand, I would have thought the poor faerie mad," Lucien said.
"That makes two of us," Rhys smirked, "More seriously, we will keep in touch. I don't know what you're planning but if someone can take down that Sorcerer, it's you and Elain. You two are far more powerful than you imagine."
"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, Rhysand."
"Be safe out there, and bring my sister back, I still have too much I didn't get to tease her about," Feyre added, hugging him.
"I will. I promise you."
He turned towards Nesta, hesitating lightly, not quite opening his arms.
"Let's go," she said with a shrug.
"What?" Lucien hesitated.
She whipped towards him, her eyes sharp.
"You said you were going to save my little sister. I have no intention of staying here and do nothing. I'll help you."
"…You… what?"
That was the most surprising event of the day. Lucien whipped towards Cassian and the others who just smiled.
"Hey! Don't look at me! She doesn't need my authorisation for anything!" the Illyrian general exclaimed.
"That's not… but… we're going into the nest of a Sorcerer-god!"
"I've trained Nesta, she can handle herself in a fight. Not well enough to beat me, of course!"
She hissed at him, and Cassian continued, on a light tone, still smiling:
"But, Lucien, if anything happens to my mate, I will behead you with your insides, understood?"
Lucien paled and swallowed back nervously. He nodded fervently.
"Sure," he squeaked, shamefully, "I'll keep her safe."
"I don't need your safety net, Lucien. I can handle myself." Nesta intervened.
"I don't want to face your mate's rage."
Nesta rolled her eyes and, to add to the surprises of the day, someone else showed up on the doorstep.
"Vassa," Lucien hesitated, coming to a stop.
"I want to come with you too," she said, looking at Lucien and Nesta.
"Why would we trust you?" the latter hissed, "You caused Elain's rapt by this monster!"
Vassa braced herself, and faced them without trembling. Her eyes were full of fury and if the shade of blue were different, they reminded Lucien of Nesta's wrathful gaze.
"Because I want this bastard dead more than anyone."
She took a deep breath and continued:
"I am perfectly aware of what I've done, and you probably won't believe me, but I regret it. I didn't want the Sorcerer free, even less at the price of Elain's life. I want to help save her, I must do something!"
Nesta crossed her arms, unconvinced.
Lucien observed Vassa closely.
"You do know what the prophecy says?"
"I do. Which is why you'll need me."
"The prophecy?" Nesta asked.
"I am the only one who can defeat Koschei, and I will," Vassa said determinedly.
Nesta still didn't seem convinced and turned towards Lucien, opening her lips. He raised his hand to stop her, although she looked more affronted than anything else.
"I trust her."
"Are you sure about this?" Feyre asked, frowning.
Lucien casted one last look at Vassa, and her eyes burning like his own furious blue fire. He nodded.
"I am. Get ready, we leave in half an hour." He mumbled, getting out of the Tower of Light and away from these short-tempered ladies, "Cauldron, boil and fry me, I will die before ever reaching Elain…" Lucien muttered to himself.
Yours Truly,
May