No sound greeted me as I tugged the golden cord down. When nothing immediately happened I found myself sitting on the edge of the enormous bed. Everything hurt, from breathing to standing. The body which had been so strangely strong, had finally hit some sort of limit. Around 10 minutes later there was a soft knock at the door.
"You can come in." I said pushing unsteadily to my feet. The door whispered open to reveal what looked to be a servant. Like a living tree her skin was deep brown bark, her hair replaced by leaves cascading down to her shoulders, only her eyes looked even vaguely human being a soft shade of pink. Dryad was the first fae that came to mind as I warily watched her.
She curtsied to me, deep and immaculate. "High Lord Beron is ready to see you now."
"Ah, right." I mumbled walking forward a bit. "I'm guessing this is his residence?"
If the woman was surprised, she didn't show it. "Yes, you are in the guest wing. Please, follow me."
The woman walked briskly, navigating the twisting and twining hallways faster than I could memorize them. Eventually I gave up trying to suss out the shape of Beron's palace and my world narrowed to keeping up with the bobbing head of leaves in front of me.
We entered what could only be a throne room, the walls made of twisted trees that curled overhead creating a dappled canopy in every fiery color imaginable. Braziers lined the way to his throne, the fires shimmering but putting off no heat that I could tell. Leaves would fall from the canopy, drifting and twisting like a dance before disappearing just before they hit the floor.
Beron sat in his throne, shrewd eyes watching my every movement as I approached his throne. It looked like branches that had been twisted and formed into a throne, the wood itself looking to be different swirling mixtures of gold and copper. Beron gave me a warm looking smile as a greeting.
We must bow. The voice shivered through my mind like a cold breeze. I tried not to wince at the sound as I dipped down into a curtsey. Well, the best one I could come up with anyways.
"Please, there is no need." Beron spoke, though he sounded more than a little pleased at the action. "You are among friends here, please rise."
I did as he asked looking at him carefully. The harshness of his expressions from the forest seemed distant compared to the jolly gleam in his eyes now. "Thank you for saving me."
Beron waved my thanks away. "How are your wounds, dear? They were very deep."
"Sore, but healing." I said, giving him a small smile back in return. It felt so forced, everything mechanically proceeding. Little warning bells kept ringing in my head when he smiled. Dappled light cascaded over me, leaving soft points of warmth dancing on my skin. A soft wind swept through the room bringing with it the smell of wood smoke. Peaceful, this place felt peaceful.
"I summoned you here for a reason," Beron's voice hardened the smallest bit. I glanced back to him realizing my gaze had wandered around the room. "Would you care to have dinner with me? I know that I made a bad impression when we first met. I hope to make up for that."
The difference between what I had seen of Beron compared to now was night and day. In that tent, he had been careless and harsh. Dark circles under his eyes. Anger dancing in his words. Even yesterday that anger had still been there, but now he had seemed to soften considerably.
"If that's what you'd like." I hedged feeling like I was still treading dangerous ground. Beron smiled and rose, moving to me and offering his arm.
"I would, indeed, enjoy company." I took his arm and he slowly escorted me out of the throne room. All too soon I was sat in an elaborate dining room, food being presented before me along with a shimmering liquid that didn't smell like water. Everything felt like it was moving too fast. Too easily. Like water sliding over a riverbed I felt like a small twig caught in the current.
"Please, try the wine." Beron said taking a sip of his for emphasis. "It's one of our best batches."
Too fast. Things felt out of control. What was I even doing here? Sitting with a man who had so carelessly tried to decide my fate. Newborn into the world. Beron frowned when I didn't move.
"You seem troubled." He commented idly taking a small sip before neatly cutting into some sort of roasted meat. I couldn't seem to find my appetite. "Care to speak on it?"
"It's nothing." I said, forcing myself to raise the glass to my lips and taking a small sip. It was smooth and cool, tasting sweet with just a hint of something other. Like they had condensed the taste of cooling nights with a hint of smoke. I had taken a deeper drink before I knew it, flashing back to bonfires of my youth. Almost immediately the drink hit my system, and I nearly gasped at the strength of the alcohol.
Beron upon seeing my expression laughed heartily. "I suppose they kept you sheltered at the Night Court. First time having faerie wine?"
"Faerie wine?" I asked looking at the sparkling clear liquid.
"You poor thing, how much have they deprived you of?" Beron said before taking a bite of his food. He chewed thoroughly for a moment. "Have you had any magical training?"
"Ah, no." I answered, breaking off a small piece of bread to pop into my mouth. It was warm and flakey. I nearly sighed at the taste. "Cassian was teaching me to fight though."
Beron frowned, searching my face. "What all have they told you?"
I winced and looked down. If I was being honest, they hadn't told me much. I took a drink to cover up my silence, not quite caring that my fingers were already starting to tingle.
"You must have questions. Perhaps I can help, as repentance for my past actions." He offered with a small smile. I took a bite of some spiced meat, looking down at my plate.
"I….don't know where to start. There's so much I don't know about." I finally mumbled into the silence. The room swayed and swam. I took a sip and was surprised to see that the drink had been filled back to the brim again.
"Well," Beron stood, walking over to pull a chair and sit directly next to me. "How much do you know about your Mate? He is the reason the Night Court has claimed you."
"I….I don't have a soulmate." I said almost harshly. Jesus, the wine was strong. One glass and I felt like I had been drinking all night. Almost worse than I had felt last night. I could see Azriel looking to Mor, love in his eyes. Could feel his heartbreak as she revealed to him that they would never have a chance together.
"Don't cry, lovely female." Beron mumbled holding out a napkin for me. I blinked, feeling tears spill hot down my cheeks. I took the napkin turning my face away from those pity filled eyes. "Tell me what you know." I hadn't even realized I had started to cry until he said something.
"They-they say that my soulmate is Azriel." I said softly.
"That's all they've told you?" Beron reached out and caught one of my hands in both of his own, warmth spilling through my body at the comforting touch. I nodded hiccuping slightly. "Mates, are more than just soulmates, my dear. It is along the same lines of that human concept, but deeper. Stronger than that."
"Stronger?"
Beron laughed softly. "It can reduce a male of reason into a feral beast. It is not just a connection of souls, but of bodies as well."
"This body isn't mine." I hissed looking in disgust at the runes on my arms.
"Yes, you were Made." Beron nodded looking at the hand he had clasped in his own. "However, it is yours now. It was given to you by the Mother."
"Who?"
"By the Cauldron, they haven't told you anything have they?" Beron muttered letting me go. "As much as that brute of an Illyrian has a claim on you as Mate, if that claim is even true, you should know that he wouldn't be the only one. You can choose to be with him or not." He released my hands and patted my head. "I hate to leave, but something has come up that requires my attention. Please, enjoy your meal. Try not to fret too much." Beron stood, giving me a half-bow before sweeping from the room.
They hadn't told me much, if I was being honest with myself. As much as I liked Cassian and Morrigan, they had kept me busy. Training me to exhaustion each day. It could have been because they were trying to keep me from prying. Keep me from wondering what I was doing high up in that mountain palace.
But they were good. I knew that. I had seen that in the way they interacted with each other. Interacted with me. Yet...why hadn't anyone explained to me what a Mate was. Who Azriel was supposed to be to me.
I shook my head. Azriel was not my soulmate, and even if he was it was a joke played on me by this universe. A universe just as cruel as my previous one if it gave me a soulmate totally in love with another.
I ate, though the food had lost its taste. By the time someone offered to take me to my new room for a small rest, I could hardly stay on my feet. Everything swam around me. I wanted nothing more than to disappear. To fade into the shafts of sunlight that poured from every direction. Dissipate into warmth and light and never again have to worry about being me ever again.
I almost didn't notice when the servants let go of me to let me stumble on my own. Didn't notice the fiery haired man, who turned a corner just fast enough that I couldn't react in time. Pain jolted through my system as I slammed into the stranger. My shoulder ached something fierce as the man caught my fall, pulling me to his chest. He smelled of nutmeg and burning wood.
"Oh!" His voice was light as air as he managed to keep me upright. "My deepest apologies, I didn't mean to…."
I glanced up to him, his face the only thing not spinning in the hallway. Bright green eyes, a pale freckled face, and a shock of red hair greeted me. He gasped, his body going taunt against mine, his fingers digging in just enough to cause another wave of pain. He looked...younger...if that was possible among the fae.
"You-" His voice was strained, hoarse even as he stared at my face. "You're my Mate." He whispered moments before he crushed his lips to mine.