The next hour or so was filled with activity. Rhysand's court seemed to be getting ready to move away from the battlefield. Feyre and Rhysand went off to oversee everything. Azriel had been ordered away for the moment leaving me in the care of one bright and bubbly Morrigan.
"We can walk around if you'd like. I'm sure you're tired of being shoved into tents." She had suggested. I felt strangely empty. I knew I should be feeling something, but after the meeting I didn't feel much at all. Except tired maybe.
So I walked about on the edges of the encampment with Morrigan following quietly behind me. Something in me knew that something important was being moved away from us, out toward the shimmering line of the sea. I pushed that part of me down and away until I could hardly feel it anymore. When Morrigan suddenly grabbed my arm moving me behind her I blinked at her slowly.
"I mean her no harm." A familiar voice said lightly. Tarquin stood not too far away his eyes locked onto me.
"You agreed to let her come with us." Morrigan said cautiously.
"Yes, I did. And I will uphold that. I simply wanted to speak with her. Is that okay with you?" It took me a second to notice the last question had been directed at me.
"Yeah."
Morrigan glanced at me but nodded once stepping off to the side.
Up close Tarquin did indeed smell like the sea. He looked me over the same as I was now looking him over. A gentle warmth seemed to radiate from him and the more I looked the more the white of his hair reminded me of bleached sand and wood rather than silver. Everything about him spoke of heat and things flourishing. I smiled slightly at him and I relaxed as thick and warm power spilled from him as he smiled back..
"I know it must be difficult for you just now." He was gentle with his words. I nodded knowing that I should be troubled. I should be scared like I was, but after the meeting everything simply felt far away. "You were mortal before this, correct?"
"I don't understand that. You all say mortal as if there's anything else." But some part of me knew that there had to be something different. Men shouldn't have real wings, have their hands mutate into claws, or have warmth rolling off of them like a gentle summer's day. They shouldn't be so beautiful with sharp ears and eyes that can cut like glass.
"So what they said is true. You've never met Fae before. You're from an entirely separate world." He glanced down for a moment. "When you're ready I would love to hear about that world. I may have had my issues with the Night Court before, but please do not let that color your opinion of me."
"You seem nice. Much better than the brown-haired asshole."
Amusement flashed over Tarquin's face. "His name is Beron, he's the High Lord for the Autumn Court. Did the book not tell you about him?"
"I told it to shut up." I muttered looking to the grass underneath my feet.
"It must be frightening." Tarquin seemed truly sympathetic. "All of this must be overwhelming. I'll take my leave now, it seems your High Lord is coming for the two of you. I do hope to see you again." And with that he simply vanished. I jerked away panic breaking through the numbness for a moment before being drowned again.
"It's okay Nova." Morrigan said reaching out to take my hand. "You'll get used to it."
"I'd rather go home."
"I know." She frowned. "I'm sorry."
"My roommate is going to be so upset." My voice sounded strange. I tried not to think of anything at all.
"Is she ready, Mor?" That was Rhysand striding up with Feyre at his side. I didn't see whatever Mor did but I could see Feyre looking me over a bit closer. I tried not to shrink from her gaze. Whatever she found made her frown the smallest bit.
"Let's get you out of here." Feyre muttered reaching out for my free hand. Morrigan let go. The world suddenly shifted. It was nothing but wind and darkness. Then we were falling. Strong hands grabbed a hold of me and we soared wind whipping my face. Flying...
I slammed into the ground as they let me go landing a few yards away with a neat flap of wings. They were looking at me even as I scrambled away. I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. I didn't want to be unmade again. Feyre reached for me and there was a high and reedy screech. My throat hurt and Feyre jerked away looking alarmed.
"Nova, it's okay. You're safe." That was Rhysand approaching me like I was some animal.
"Don't…" I gasped my back slamming into something sharp. I gasped at the sharp pain. "I don't want to go back." I breathed around the hurt.
"Be still." Rhysand's voice tugged on something I didn't realize I had. A little string that demanded my body to obey. I stopped my mad scramble and sat still. "It's okay, we just winnowed." He tried to explain. I guess my expression told him all he needed to know. "How about we get you to a room? This is the House of Wind, you're welcome to stay here for as long as you wish. I'll have someone run you a hot bath, it might help to calm you."
"Okay." I breathed. He nodded.
"I can stay with you if you want." Feyre offered looking guilty. "We should have realized…"
"No, I'm okay. I'm sorry. I swear I'm not like this." I groaned trying to get back control of myself. "I keep freaking out and snapping at people."
"You've been through a lot in a rather small amount of time. It's only expected for you to react to it." Rhysand gave her a patient smile. "Take some time for yourself. We have some business to attend to, but then we can help. Nuala and Cerridwen will show you to your room."
Twin women stepped onto the balcony bowing at both Rhysand and Feyre before gesturing for me to follow them. I looked to the couple for a moment before hurrying after the twins. It didn't take long for them to deposit me in a rather large bedroom with covered windows. It was bigger than my own bedroom, and there was the soft smells of lavender and mist coming from a connected and open room. As I stepped into the room a new woman startled me. She watched me with wide blue-green eyes that looked more like two universes clashing around her pupil than actual eyes. She was beautiful if not a bit ethereal with soft trembling lips and pale skin. Long dark eyelashes fluttered as she took me in. As I realized that I was taking myself in. For a moment I couldn't help but feel relieved that the markings didn't cover my face. They instead curled down my neck flowing underneath the shirt I wore down to my torso and arms. I slowly reached up and touched my own cheek watching my reflection mirror me. My eyes were incredible and so unlike my own I felt tears threaten to form. It had to be some form of heterochromia. There were green around my iris, but it swirled outwards to clash irregularly with a deep and jewel-toned blue.
The new room was a bathroom, with a large porcelain tub filled with fragrant steaming water. There were even a few bits of actual lavender floating on the top of the water. I turned away from the mirror not wanting to look at the silvery beauty that was supposed to be me. I let out a choked sigh as I realized that they had real toilets too.
There didn't seem to be anyone else coming to bother me so I quickly shed the makeshift outfit and slipped into the tub. The warmth was a godsend. It wasn't long before I was tilted back letting the clean water cover almost all of me.