Chapter 386

Tisia's shrieks of protest echoed around the Throne Room and Elain thought she might just throw up. Rian was struggling to get Tisia away from the others as she writhed and kicked and scratched at him, and it was evident to everyone present that he was getting pissed off. No doubt he was embarrassed to be having such a struggle in front of Colm and he did not enjoy being made to look the fool. Several other faeries of the Day Court had reached out to grab Tisia and they fought to keep her from being taken. Each one of them had been punished with a kick from Rian or a hit with the hilt of his sword. Elain was impressed that so many of them had tried. Had it been the same with the others that had been killed? Had each of them been fought for? If so, it was impressive that they continued to try despite the reaction from Rian.

Just as Rian managed to get Tisia free from the others, one of the male Courtiers surged to his feet, reaching for her again. "Stop it!" he yelled, taking a swing a Rian who had clearly not been expecting such a thing. The blow landed and there was shocked silence throughout the hall. Even Tisia had gone quiet and still, tears trailing down her face as she stood there visibly shaking. "You want someone to be next?" the male asked, "Take me."

"N-nnn…" Tisia shook her head, reaching a hand for him as he passed her. Elain did not miss the way that he lifted his own hand to brush gently against Tisia's, his eyes glancing across her face before he faced Rian.

"Fine." Rian released Tisia, half shoving her back toward the other captives, causing her to stumble. "Doesn't matter to me." Elain rather thought he'd jumped at the opportunity to have someone fight him less in order to look like he had control. He certainly kept glancing in the direction of Colm as if to check the expressions on the older male's face.

"Tisia…" Elain said quietly when her friend was in reach again. "Sit…" She reached up to grip Tisia's hand, and tugged gently until she'd sank down to sit beside her. Her friend's green eyes did not waver from the male now kneeling in the middle of the hall, and her breath hitched. Elain glanced from her friend, to the male Rian stood over, and then back.

"Who is he?"

"Ales." Tisia sniffed, still shaking. Her hands were twisting together in her lap, and she was clearly struggling to breathe evenly, but her gaze never faltered. She watched him without blinking.

There was silence in the hall, as everyone watched what was happening in the middle. Rian had his blade drawn and had it pointed carelessly at Ales who knelt before him, stoic and still. Elain knew that she recognised Ales from several of the dinners in the dining room, but she didn't think she had spoken to him. It was possible, she thought, that she had seen him with Tisia. They had to have known each other well, she supposed, considering he had just essentially given his life for hers. Or, Elain admitted, perhaps they didn't, and he was just that kind of male. "He's your friend?" She breathed, hand settling on Tisia's shaking arm.

"Yes…" the word was just about whimpered, and Elain noticed her hands now clenching handfuls of her dress as she shifted as if struggling to remain on the ground. It was clear that Tisia dearly wanted to stop what was about to happen, enough so that Elain was doubtful her friend would be able to restrain herself. She looked again between Tisia's face, and those green eyes that still hadn't wavered, and Ales who still knelt, looking defiantly up at Rian.

"Tisia…" Elain breathed, closing her hand around her friend's wrist. "You must stay down…" She felt energy move through her friend at those words, and she went on, "He did this to save you…" She told her, "He gave himself to keep you safe…" Elain knew that none of them were safe, but she didn't know if she would be able to keep her friend in place if she tried to get up, "It is clear that he cares a great deal about you…"

Tisia looked at Elain then, and Elain knew that there was nothing she would be able to say that would change her friend's need to do something. Ales was more than Tisia's friend. Elain fell silent. There was no way she would be able to sit silently and watch this happen to Lucien, so how could she expect that of Tisia. They had to do something.

Elain got to her feet.