6
#
The next day, she blinked in surprise as Eris switched between sitting with her and sitting with Walt. While they sat in the carriage, they didn't speak. They just read their own book. In the morning, Eris had insisted to treat her wound again before they would travel any further. He was sitting with Walt in the front now, but she was so immersed in her book that she didn't know what they were talking about. That was until she heard her name pop up.
"Oh yes, miss Terrin and I know each other for a very long time. We met when my youngest daughter fell ill. She was on assignment in our town and when she heard Elodie was sick, she halted her assignment and came to see if she could help."
"Did she?"
"She did." Walt's voice sad. "Elodie was on the brink of death when she came around, in pain day and night. But Terrin said she would find anything that would possibly help. She left on her horse, riding through the forest. I honestly thought we would never see her again. A week later she was back. Elodie's condition was incurable, but thanks to miss Terrin, she lived pain free for another decade. She had the chance to meet the children of her sisters, to meet her Mate. Her last wish was to see the Dance of Trees after miss Terrin had described it all those years before. So, she made all the necessary arrangements. When the last leaf of the night flittered back to its place, Elodie blew out her last breath. Surrounded by her family, by her Mate."
"By Terrin."
"Terrin is family."
She smiled to herself. After leaving the Autmn Court, leaving the people she loved, she had been alone for a long time. Almost a century had passed before she met Walt and his family. And ever since then, they took her in and treated her as their own. After Elodie's passing, Walt insisted on being her driver whenever she needed. So, after she precured the carriage, she took him op on the offer, under payment much to Walt's chagrin.
"You said she was in town for an assignment." Walt hummed in response. "What was it?"
"I don't know." He shrugged. "That's between her and the people who hire her."
Walt knew what she was, what her abilities were. He was the only one that knew the full extent of them, but like he said, he didn't know the assignments. But he did know what she mostly did, vaguely. Even before the curse, Eris didn't know everything. But one of them, only manifested when she turned two hundred.
Eris was silent for a long time, the only noise was the wheels in the snow or the horses' hooves. Then, "Did she ever mention where she came from. Did she... did she ever mention me?"
Walt didn't look at him when he answered. "Miss Terrin told us that she came from the Autumn Court but was now stationed to wherever they needed her to be. She told us that she left because it was time. I'm sorry, but she never mentioned you, General."
"And you didn't question why I'm riding with you?"
"I never question miss Terrin's actions. It isn't the first time she had a travel companion." Terrin saw him tense but Walt, obliviously continued. "I have a feeling you knew each other before she left the Autumn Court. But I've heard of you, Eris Vanserra." She blinked. Walt had never addressed any Lord or future Lord so informal. His voice even sounded bitter. "I don't know why you insisted on travelling with her or what your intentions are. But she is too good for you. She is good." Unlike you, was left unspoken.
"Don't worry. I know." The future High Lord answered. Not even blinking at the harsh word Walt had spoken to him. Maybe he was used to it by now. She hated every single thing she heard about him these past centuries. How cruel and hateful he was. What he had done to Morrigan, particularly the way he did it.
She winnowed up to the carriage roof when they came closer to the town. A wide grin spread across her face when she saw two white bears stroll around the city border.
#
Walt words seemed to burn through him. He could imagine what he must have heard of him, of what he did or said. He wondered if Terrin knew it too. He had a hard time not turning and looking inside the carriage. After everything Walt told him about his life, about her, he didn't even react when he called him by his name. He was just thinking about the fact she had been in the Autumn Court when it was the Dance of Trees.
He didn't hear her move or shift inside the carriage, but suddenly she was forty feet in front of them, at the city border. He was ready to winnow to her, flames at his fingers when a white bear stalked up behind her. But Walt stopped him with a hand on his arm and pointed to her.
"Look." Walt said quietly. So, he stayed seated and watched in silent horror as the large white bear stepped closer.
She was looking in the other direction where another bear was. She was crouching down in the white snow, snow already thick on her hair. Even from afar, he could see her eyes flicker. But not in angst, but excitement. Both bears sniffed the air in front of them, then they charged. Eris didn't think he was breathing as both bears barrelled towards her, but she kept herself in a crouch position. She didn't winnow away when they came close. Then the bears stopped right in front of her, leaned down their large furry heads and... nuzzled her neck.
"What the fuck." He breathed as Terrin laughed freely.
Walt was smiling as they continued towards the city gates. "Miss Terrin is one of the few that has a special connection to them."
"Did she help train them?"
"Oh, no." He shook his head. "Most of them were already grown up when she came her. But the first time she visited the Winter Court, they literally fell on their bellies in front of her."
Was that one of her powers? He never heard of anything like that, but sometimes extraordinary powers come to light. When they reached them, he jumped off the carriage. The bears stopped nuzzling their snouts on her and turned to him. They bared their teeth and growled at him. Terrin stood up and slowly patted the bears' heads.
"I'm guessing you are not on good terms with the High Lord?" He didn't answer. Of course, he wasn't. They hated him and he hated them. Did the white bears react that way because of a bond they had with the High Lord? Something like disappointment clouded her eyes before she disguised it. And damn it, if he didn't hate the sight. "I suggest you climb in the carriage slowly. They may like me, but they don't follow my commands."
He watched her and the bears for another moment before he slowly started to back up and slip in the carriage. He glanced out the small window in front of the carriage. She rubbed the bears head with her knuckles before they sauntered off. A minute later, she stepped in the carriage with him; and Walt continued riding into town.
"So, is that one of your powers?" He asked. She tore her eyes away from the snow-capped houses towards him. "A connection with animals?"
"No." Her answer was short, but then she added. "That would have come in handy eighty years ago when I was attacked by a Griffin. Nearly lost an arm to it."
He swallowed. "A Griffin? I thought they were extinct."
"Most people think that. And they almost are. They were only a handful left."
"Did you kill it?"
"Of course not!" She said outraged. "He was just defending his territory."
"Was it an assignment?"
She nodded. "A special one, yes. I normally don't do that kind of assignments."
He wanted to ask more, but Walt stopped the carriage and said. "We're here, miss Terrin."
Her eyes sparkled in excitement again before she hopped out of the carriage. He glanced out the open door and saw her fling her arms around the newly appointed High Lady of the Winter Court, Viviane. An old friend of Morrigan. Oh, this is not going to end well. Fuck, why did he come.
"Where is that perfect bundle of joy?" She asked. He furrowed his brows in confusion.
"Aditta is sleeping upstairs. You'll see her soon enough." The High Lady smiled broadly.
The High Lord stepped out the front door, his hair as white as the snow at his feet.
"Kallias!" Terrin bounced on her heels. She was so casual with them.
The High Lord stepped forward and wrapped Terrin in a bone crushing hug, lifting her feet from the ground. He murmured something in her ear, making her chuckle. He grinned, but it fell when his eyes fell on him.
"What is he doing here?" His voice had turned cold.
She glanced over her shoulder to him, blinking a few times. Like she found something odd. "I'm escorting him to the Night Court."
The High Lord didn't question her and nodded in understanding. "He has a lot of enemies. I'm not surprised he needs extra protection." A taunting smirk on his lips. If the High Lord of the Winter Court didn't even question her guard duties, it meant that she was an expert in something lethal at least. "General Vanserra." He said with fake politeness. "I was aware of Eve's and Walt's arrival, so their rooms are ready. I'm afraid I don't have a room ready just yet."
He sneered at the High Lord but kept quiet.
"That's okay. He likes to sleep in a cold cellar." Terrin said and he looked shocked at her.
"Oh, you are bad." Viviane laughed, slapping her arm slightly. "We will get a room ready for you, General."
Before he could say anything, Viviane had her arm looped through Terrin's and guided her inside. Kallias's face was void of emotion, but his eyes flickered. Without looking away from him as he stepped out the carriage, he said to his guards. "Bring the horses to the stables, get them watered and fed. And bring their things to their rooms.
Two guards started to unbuckle the horses, while two others started to unload the carriage. Not that there was much to unload. He held the High Lord's gaze, not backing away first. Without looking away from him, Kallias said.
"Walt, let's get you out of the cold. We have dinner prepared." He finally looked away from him and the High Lord walked over to the older Fae that was still sitting on the riding bench and helped him off. He wrapped a broad arm around the male's shoulders as they stepped inside, leaving Eris alone. He glanced at the guards around him, noting their eyes and movements as he stepped forward. But none of them moved. They all eyed him in disgust, but he ignored them and moved inside.
#
At the dinner table, the High Lord and Lady sat on the head of the table. Terrin on Viviane's left and Walt on Kallias's right. Eris was placed next to Walt, away from Terrin, or what they called her here, Eve.
"Gods, how long has it been?" Viviane asked, placing her hand on Terrin's, squeezing it softly.
"Oh, uhm." Terrin frowned as she thought it over. "Must be over seventy years ago." Her eyes were sad when she looked to the High Lord and held out her hand. He took it. "I'm so sorry about what happened to you. Both of you. If I had known..."
"Even you couldn't help us, Eve." He squeezed her hand. "But we are looking forward, to a bright new future." He kissed Viviane's temple. Such a sweet and simple gesture, but it made something clench inside of him. "With my wife, my Mate, the mother of my child."
"What?" He blurted out. Kallias icy stare rested on him.
"Viviane gave birth to a beautiful baby girl six months ago. Aditta." Terrin said quickly.
"I - uhm- Congratulations."
Kallias stare didn't change, but he said. "Thank you. We are very blessed."
It could take decades, centuries for Fae to become pregnant. And now Feyre and Viviane in the same year. It was extraordinary. Walt started the conversation back up as he told them about their journey here. He ate silently, listening to every word. Feeling Kallias's judgemental and apprehensive gaze on him.
"We have a little surprise." Viviane clapped her hands together.
"Oh, no." Terrin groaned but smiled. "What did you do?"
"What I always do when you visit." The High Lady smirked.
Walt chuckled, raising his glass to Terrin. "I'll guess we'll be attending a party tonight, miss Terrin."