I wore my Valkyrie leathers, my own protective armour, my bag containing some of my favourite clothes and some of Azriel's t-shirts to sleep in. I fiddled with my ring as Rhys winnowed us to The Forest House.
We didn't end up right inside, which I was grateful for because my stomach was churning and throwing up on the floor probably wasn't the best welcome. I focused on my surroundings whilst my stomach settled. The Forest House looked more like a castle than a simple house. The stone was a cream colour, possibly limestone, and the roofs were a terracotta. Towers rose into the sky and large windows spread about, overlooking the surrounding forests. Despite the summer, the trees remained rich shades of reds and orange and some scattered across the ground. It was… beautiful. And I hated them for it.
Rhys walked up the stone stairs beside me, his wings and leathers gone and replaced by his smart, High Lord attire. I felt the power radiating from him, as if he'd simply flicked a switch. Eris met us in a courtyard surrounded by archways, orange vibes draped around them.
He too wore his finery, a brown tunic with golden leaves embroidered onto it, his hair, sleek and smooth. Far from the fighter I'd seen on the battlefield.
"Rhysand," he said by greeting and then he turned to me, scanning my attire and raising an eyebrow, "Welcome home Gwyneth."
It wasn't home. But I kept my impolite comment to myself.
"Remember our conversation yesterday," Rhys said in warning, his eyes fierce. And then he was gone.
"Let's get you freshened up," Eris said, holding an arm out for me. I didn't take it. He raised his eyebrows again. "I'll show you to your room."
As he led me along a corridor with a stone floor, servants moved about busily, completing their tasks for the day. Avoiding eye contact. The house was grand. Long stone corridors lit by torches in the walls, stained glass windows, plants, huge oil paintings. It was something of myth and legend. A far cry from Rhys' Residences. He led me up two flights of stairs and along another corridor.
"My quarters," he said with a wave of the hand and then just two doors down, "Your suite."
"Suite," I blinked.
"My father always called it the Princess suite," he rolled his eyes. "It was my old quarters before…" He trailed off. "I've had it redecorated since then, but if it's not to your liking then just let your handmaidens know."
"Handmaidens?" I blinked and he opened the door.
I stepped into what looked like a living room. The walls were wooden panels to match the floor but golden vines were painted onto them. Two cream and gold sofas sat in the centre, in front of a grand wooden fireplace. Bookshelves lined one wall and a desk was tucked in one corner, a piano in the other.
"This is for your own private use," Eris said. "Feel free to add your own books or read these, I just heard you liked to read." He led me through the living room space and opened a door. Inside was the bedroom. Cream wallpaper with gold accents, a wooden floor with a large, red and orange antique-looking fur rug over the top. Large windows with huge golden curtains draped either side, a dressing table and two wooden armoires. The bed itself was a four poster wooden bed with golden leaves painted onto the wood and a golden and red canopy. I blinked. Princess suite indeed.
"And your own bathroom," He opened a door to a bathroom with a large claw-footed tub, toilet and two sinks. A satin robe hung from one hook and the fluffiest towels I'd ever seen sat on the shelves beside baskets full of lotions and potions.
"This is all a bit much…" I said to him as we stepped back into the bedroom. "Just put me in a guest room."
He laughed, clearly amused. "You're the heir to this court now, Gwyn. A guest room is below you."
"I'm just a priestess."
He shook his head, the amusement gone, "I'll send up your handmaidens to help you get ready."
"I'm fine like this," I insisted.
"I think you'll give my mother a heart attack if you come to lunch dressed like that." He took a deep breath, "I think we're going to have some work to do."
This room wasn't home. I looked around it, the space too big. Too empty without my mate. I could just picture him now, teasing me, calling me princess, laughing at the absurdity of it all. I knew that once this had been Nesta's desire. But Nesta had been raised with good etiquette, raised to seduce princes with just a dance. She too would probably laugh at the sight of me here. I hung my sword on a hook by the armoire. It didn't match the decor but I didn't care. I fiddled with the white ribbon I'd tied on my wrist and I paused as two Fae entered.
One had golden skin that seemed to sparkle, her hair redder than a ruby, her ears pointed and her eyes like amber. The other looked High Fae, possibly, her hair a dark shade of brown. Both wore the same style of outfit, a tunic with a lace up bodice and a blouse underneath, their hair braided back out of their faces.
They both curtsied to me in greeting and I blinked.
"Lady Gwyneth, it's a pleasure to be at your service," the redhead said first. "My name is Rosia and this is Doja."
"Please call me Gwyn," I insisted and they both exchanged a glance.
"Are you a warrior?" Doja asked.
"A Valkyrie," I told her and she raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"I can find some space in your armoire for your sword," Rosia offered. She spotted the dagger on my thigh, "and your dagger."
"I'll leave the sword there," I replied. "You never know when you'll need it."
Rosia gave an awkward nod and opened the armoire. "What would you like to wear?"
I blinked at the mostly golden, cream, red and green hues inside. "What's all this?"
"Your clothes, Miss. Our High Lord has had the best seamstresses in the court working hard on your wardrobe for the last couple of weeks. The young females of the land will be incredibly jealous when they see you in these."
They were expecting a princess. Not a priestess who had grown up being taught that simplicity was more important than riches, that giving back to others was what was expected of us. I looked over at the handmaidens, who I could easily have been, serving a High Lord's family.
"I presume the tunics in here aren't for lunch," I said, even though I noticed they were far more exquisite than the ones I had in my satchel.
"They're better suited for riding, Miss," Doja said. "Or for hunting in the forest."
I looked at the dresses. Some were embellished, some embroidered. "What would you suggest?"
Surprised crossed Doja's face but she stepped forward nonetheless. "What about this one?"
The red dress was simple enough but a far cry from the dresses I wore in the Night Court. The strapless bodice was a corset with a lace-up back and then it fell into a loose, chiffon skirt. Around the waist was a golden belt with embellished leaves on it. Doja draped a golden chiffon wrap over my shoulders as Rosia fastened a gold, ruby-encrusted bracelet on my wrist. They braided my hair back into a half-updo, a braid each side, fastening it at the back. I was grateful that they kept my face make-up less and when they'd slipped some golden slippers onto my feet they stood back, admiring their work.
"I'm just going to use the bathroom," I told them. When I shut myself inside, away from prying eyes, I fastened the dagger to my thigh. I ran the water, keeping up the ruse, and then returned to the bedroom. "Now where's lunch?"
They led me to the ground floor and this time I paid more attention. I smiled at the servants we passed and some gave each other surprised looks as I passed.
"The ballroom is through there," Doja said as we walked. "The Autumn Court loves to host balls." We continued along the corridor and passed a family portrait of Beron and his sons. I blinked, wondering how Eris felt whenever he saw it after everything that had happened…
"The kitchens are that way," Rosia said, pointing down another corridor, "Although if you need anything just ask and we'll sort it. The dining room used for special occasions is down there too." We passed some large glass doors and I saw they led out into a garden. I paused and looked out at where the golden garden, filled with flowers and a water feature, disappeared into the forest beyond.
"The gardens are beautiful," Doja said with a smile. "The stables are out there too."
Horses. I'd never had the opportunity to ride one. Which was ironic when I'd ridden a pegasus. I spotted a bench outside, tucked under a pergola, and decided that would be my new reading space.
Doja and Rosia continued to escort me along the corridor and we passed a group of guards on the way. Each bowed to me as we passed, the first sign of anyone acknowledging me. The hallway seemed to open up then, widening. An open door on one side showed a reception room, almost the larger twin of my one upstairs, then a few closed wooden doors, and then a dining room.
"This area is the family quarters," Doja said in hushed tones. "It's invitation only." The dining room was empty and I was surprised when she led me through it. At the end was a set of doors, overlooking another garden and outside I could see a wooden pergola, flowers and vines carved into it. A small table sat beneath it and my stomach became a set of bundled nerves when I saw Eris sat beneath it, speaking to a Lady.
The Lady of the Autumn Court, I realised. Beron's wife. My great grandmother, I supposed.
"This is where we must leave you, miss," Rosia said to me. My two handmaidens gave me another curtsy and dismissed themselves. My palms felt clammy.
I walked outside into the warm sunshine and as I approached the pergola, Eris stood, holding out a hand.
"Looking lovely," He said with a smile, although his eyes showed he was nervous. I gave him my hand and let him lead me to an empty seat. "Mother," He said to the woman, "This is Gwyn."
The warm expression on her face was not what I expected. Her eyes crinkled at the corners when she smiled as I sat and she held out a hand to me, "It's an honour, child." She squeezed my hand.
"The honour is mine, my Lady," I replied.
"I'm afraid that title is no longer mine now that my son rules this court," She replied, but there were no hints of sadness. Relief, perhaps? "But please do call me Rhian. There's no need for such formalities between family."
Yet here we were, both clad in dresses I'd only have worn to a party or an important event.
Eris poured each of us a goblet of wine and only then did I see the spread of food. Some kind of meat platter, cheeses, freshly baked bread and a kind of salad with an orange potato inside that I'd not seen before, but it smelt sweet.
"Your home is lovely," I said to Rhian, but then turned to Eris as I supposed it was his now.
"Thank you," He said, "I hope your room was to your liking."
I gave a nod, "Thank you."
"And these clothes?" Rhian gushed, "You've outdone yourself," She squeezed Eris' arm in an affectionate gesture before turning her attention back to me. She looked at where I fiddled with the ring on my finger, "Congratulations on your mating," She said. "It must be difficult to be apart."
"Yes," I replied, softly. "But work is work, I suppose."
Rhian, "And do you like your work?"
"The library has kept me safe and been home for a couple of years," I replied. "It's been a friend to me and I enjoy reading the books and finding out more about Prythian and its Courts."
"And what of our Court?" Eris asked, before taking a sip of his wine.
"Reading about a Court is not quite the same as visiting," I replied, "I could name you the High Lords from the last thousand years or so, I could share with you the family trees or the history of this home. I could even share with you some of the battle techniques traditionally used or some of the legends of these lands… but that is not particularly useful when you visit."
"You may find that some of that knowledge is useful," Eris said and this time I took a sip of my wine. It tasted different to the wine of the Night Court. Richer, smokier somehow. "But whilst you're here… we will continue to teach you about our Court. My brothers and I were trained here from birth to know the etiquette and formalities and survival skills, all so that we were ready for when one of us became the new High Lord. You and I have some catching up to do."
I tried to find some kind of excuse, some kind of escape. Was it rude to say I didn't plan on being here long? That as soon as Azriel's work was finished and we had a lead, I would return to this side? My mind muddled through a list of excuses but instead I said, "I'm no princess."
"We'll make you one yet."
Eris wasn't delaying. That afternoon I was summoned to the ballroom. My handmaidens had not let me change into something comfier, so I remained in the dress, which was definitely squashing me in places as it pulled my waist in. The High Lord, my grandfather, was alone in the ballroom and he turned away from the window as I walked in.
"Luckily you have good posture," He said to me, "And you're light-footed. But I suppose that comes with the Valkyrie training." I said nothing and he continued. "First, let's go through some basic etiquette, shall we?"
I should have taken his arm when he offered it that morning. My first mistake, he'd said. And then he went through the etiquette of greetings. I was not to curtsy to anyone unless they were of or above my station- High Lords, yes. Himself, his mother, his brothers, my family members, all yes at this point. Azriel, yes I could, because if I was to be like a princess…
"You're not implying that Azriel is a prince," I snorted and he raised an eyebrow.
"No, because you don't hold the official title of Princess. But he has gone up in the ranks by being your mate and, well, husband, which I'm sure he'll be thrilled about." Sarcasm dripped from his tone. "If you had not wed him or bonded with him, as your grandfather I'd have had to begin finding you a suitable match, a nice High Fae male of our Court." I wrinkled my nose at that and he continued, "Anyway, the only exception with a curtsy is prior to dancing. Anytime you are to dance with a partner, you are always to curtsy at the beginning of the dance, as is customary in most courts. In the Autumn Court, we also thank our partner with a bow or, for you, a curtsy, at the end of a dance too." He paced, "How is your dancing?"
"It leaves something to be desired," I admitted.
"No experience?"
"I've danced at parties a few times now…" I replied, "But with Azriel leading, I don't really… know what I'm doing."
"We'll have dance lessons every morning," He said to me, "And then we'll train with weapons and your magic."
A vigorous routine, it seemed.
"In the afternoons," He continued, "You'll spend some time with my mother learning about our courts customs and you can help her plan for the Summer Solstice Ball."
"A… a ball?" I blinked.
"It's just over a week away," He said, "A perfect time to formally introduce my heir to the rest of the Court."
Dinner was sent to my room as Eris apparently had some business to attend to. I sat on the sofa and ate, a book in my hand, wondering what Azriel might be doing. Wondering how long I'd be stuck here. Until the ball, at least, I supposed.
It's not that I was ungrateful. I wanted a family of course and I was glad to know where I came from. But I'd never expected to be heir to a court. Especially when Feyre was the only High Lady to have ever existed… and her powers were far more impressive. Why not choose a brother to pass the Court onto? Or some High Fae noble? I knew it was certainly unusual that I had been chosen. I'd read the History books. Daughters of the High Lord of Autumn Court were used as bargaining tools, used to form alliances or sold off to the highest bidder, much like Mor's father had tried to do with her.
Women here were for planning parties, giving you children, being obedient. They were backwards like the Illyrians in that respect. Women were not trained, they did not fight. I had the upper hand there already, I supposed.
Azriel? I reached out but there was no response and my voice seemed to disappear into nothingness. Unable to cope with the distance. I finished my dinner and took the book to bed with me.