Hybern Princess Summary: Holly is the daughter of the King of Hybern. She is sent to the Night Court as a spy but ambassador for Hybern. Holly soon finds herself making friends and becoming part of the inner circle of Rhys and finding love in a certain warrior. Azriel/OC Pre-ACOTR

Chapter 1

Night Court

Rhys was brought to the King of Hybern. He wasn't happy to be summoned, but the King had a request for him. Rhys came into the throne room to see the King lounging in his throne of human bones. Two men that were his sons stood on either side of him. One had a calm look on his face while the other had a hateful snarl on his. A girl stood off to the side of the calm face brother. She almost stayed hidden in shadow, like she wanted to disappear. She watched Rhysand's moves as he approached the throne, like she was calculating if he was a threat or ally. She almost slunk deeper into the shadows under his gaze.

"Rhysand." The King's bored voice drawled. Rhys looked at the King. The King looked bored like he rather not be dealing with this. The boy with the snarl on his face didn't seem happy to see the High Lord of the Night Court. "I'm suprised you showed up."

"Well you said it was important. Might as well hear you out." Rhys said. His eyes wondered over the two boys and the girl that still hid in the shadows, like she felt like she could disappear into them. The King didn't miss it.

" me introduce. My eldest son, Draco." The King said, nodding to the boy with the sneer on his face. Draco eyed Rhys with pure angry. He looked like his father with the black greesy hair and eyes blue. "My other son, Cedric." Both boys definetly looked like their father, but Cedric was taller then Draco and built like he been fighting. Both had swords. Cedric had his strapped to his back and Draco had his on his hip The King shot the girl a glare. "And Cedric's twin and my only daughter, Holly." Holly came out of the shadows and Rhys studied her. Her black hair was done in a braid. She wore a blue like dress with long sleeves. Holly's eyes land on Rhys and he noticed that her left one was a black like her father and her right one was an emerald green. Odd for a High Fae but it made her look different from her brothers.

What made Rhys saw red. There waere bruises on her body and her check was swelled like someone punched her in the face. He wondered if the long sleeves covered more bruises. She was skin and bone and bags under her eyes. Cedric almost sent his twin a sad look. Holly wouldn't look at her father. A dagger hung on her belt. Rhys slightly glared at the King. His sons looked healthy and strong, like they were fed while the daughter looked skin and bone. He knew the king was visious, but to his own duaghter. The Queen of Hybern was no where to be seen.

"Where's your wife?" Rhys asked, putting his hands in his pockets. Anger flashed in Holly's eyes and she shot her father a death glare as Draco smirked.

"She is no longer with us." The King said. Rhys looked at Holly, who looked away from her father. The hatred in her eyes disappear. "She died not to long ago." Rhys wondered what happened and the look on Holly's face told him something happened because he reconized the hateful look Holly was giving her father.

"Why am I here? Or you just want me to say sorry for your loss when I really didn't know your wife." Rhys said. Anger flashed in The King's eyes.

"You learn..." Draco started, but a force hit Draco that sent him to his knees. Rhys tsked him.

"You should watch what you say, Princling. You are addressing a High Lord that is stronger then you." Rhy said. A small smile appears on Holly's lips as she sees her brother struggle to get to his feet. Even Cedric was holding back a laugh. The King looked down on Draco.

"Draco. You should show some respect. It's not all the time we get guests." The King of Hybern said.

"Yes, Father." Draco drawled as he stood up. The King looked at Rhys.

"I would like for my daughter to visit and stay at the Night Court for a year." The King of Hybern said. Holly's head snapped towards her father. "She's been dealing hard with her mother's death and a time away will do her some good."

"Father. I'm..." Holly flinched away as the King sent her a glare and Rhys knew it was her father and maybe her brother Draco that was abusing her. Maybe a time away from her family would do her some good. Rhys didn't like woman being abused, especially after what Eris put his cousin through.

"Make it two years and she can come." Holly looked at Rhys in surprise. "I have a cousin that would probably would love your company." Rhys stepped towards Holly. He gave her a look of asking her to trust him. Holly heard bad things about the Night Court how Rhys liked to mess with people's minds, but there was a calmness in his eyes, almost a pleading. She knew he could see the bruises on her face where Draco slammed his fist into her. Her body still ached from a beating.

"What do you say Holly?" The King of Hybern said. Holly looked at her father. "Two years and you'll be back."

"That's fine." Holly said. It was her chance to get away, but Holly knew her father would maybe want her back sooner. She looked at Rhys. "When do we leave?"

"We can leave now if you would like." Rhys said, not wanting to be there anymore then he had to. He held out his hand. Holly stepped off the dais. Cedric sent a worried look her way. "Don't worry, Prince. She'll be in good hands." Draco snorted. Holly reached for his hand.

"Holly." Holly froze at his voice. "Don't be a disappointment to them as you are here. They might just send you back." Holly looked at her father.

"Maybe I might be a disappointment if your eyes father. But mother said I never was to her. Maybe I won't be to them." Holly said and Rhys heard the spunk in her voice, like she knew she might not come back if she wanted to. Anger flashed in the King's eyes, but Holly grabbed Rhys hand and he winnowed them out of the Hybern Palace through shadow. Holly was use to winnowing with having done it, but not in a long distance. They appeared in a palace that seemed to be on top of a Mountain with view of the mountain landscape. Holly's eyes looked around. The palace looked like it was made of white marble. The halls were open to the element, no windows, just towering pillars with curtains. It felt warm for being at a high altitude. Rhys watched her look around the room, taking every inch.

He didn't know yet if he could trust her. He see where her loyalties were before he decided if he could trust her with Velaris. Holly looked at Rhys.

"It's... It's beautiful. Where is this place?" Holly asked. Rhys becconed for her to follow him as they head down a flight of steps.

"This is my home. We are above the Court of Nightmares. They are in the mountain." Rhys explained. Holly followed him. "You look like you haven't eaten in awhile. Settle in and come up to get some food. I sent word to my cousin to come meet you." He opened a door to a room. The bed was big with an armwoire in the corner. It was another open room with a balcony overlooking the mountains. A bathing room with a tub that was built into the floor.

"Thank you." Holly said, looking around the room. Rhys let her step in.

"Holly." Holly turned to look at him. "You are free here to do what you like. You could have a better life here." Holly opened her mouth to protest. "Those bruises are not from a fall." Holly looked away. "It's why I agreed to take you. I'll ask you when the time is up if you want to stay longer. I won't force you back." Rhys turned to leave.

"Rhysand." Rhys turned to look at her. "Can.. Can you teach me to fight? They wouldn't let me and Cedric was trying to teach me. Its why I got the bruises."

"I have two warriors that would teach you." Rhys said. Holly smiled. "Settle in and we can talk." Rhys disappears. Holly moved towards the balcony and leaned against the railing. Her heart racing. She was away from her home. Home where she never felt welcome. Holly felt a jolt of pain in her back. Holly turned and saw a mirror by the armoir. She went up to it and slid the dress down her thin body. Every inch of her body had scars and bruises all over. Some were old and fading, but some were new. A hand mark was wrapped around her arm. Since she was a kid, her brother Draco liked to use her as a punching bag and her father would punish her if she didn't do something right. Another jolt runs through her.

Holly turned and saw the cut from a blade her brother gave her before Rhys had arrived. She was heading to put her book away when he attacked her and got a good hit in before her father had called them. Holly reached her hand up and touched the spot. Magic flowed into the wound and the tissue healed on its own. Holly had healing magic in her like her mother did. She was allowed to heal injuries, but her father would never let her heal the bruises him and Draco gave her. Holly closed her eyes and opened them.

'I hope these two years go slow.' Holly thought as she headed for the bathing room.

AN: I fell in love with ACOTR and especially Azriel. This takes place before Rhys goes under the Mountain and before the events of ACOTR. I'm almost done with book 3, but got plans. Till next time.