It was a day like any other in the Spring Court. Eclipse, Feyre, Lucien and Tamlin sat at the table eating lunch. Lucien was trying to ignore the moon eyes that Feyre and Tamlin were making at each other. Eclipse was trying not to vomit.
Eclipse rolled her eyes moving to take a bite of her food when she froze, a horrible feeling washing over her.
"Are you okay?" Lucien asked, Feyre and Tamlin's eyes sliding over to the female. Eclipse went to speak but was cut off by that inner voice screaming at her. Louder than it ever had before.
GO! WINTER COURT, NOW!
Eclipse did not waste time explaining. She simply winnowed out letting her instincts lead her magic, lead her where she needed to go.
When she materialized she stared in horror at the scene before her. There were two dozen younglings, standing before a group of Winter Court soldiers. Two of which were dead on the ground, the other two held by an Attor. They were struggling trying to reach the children, but the Attor held them back with a sinister laugh ringing out from the creature. Two Hybern soldiers next to it.
"The Queen sends her regards." One of the children began screaming, clawing at his head. Eclipse didn't react quick enough. Her power was screaming at her again.
Daemati!
And the child collapsed, not breathing. A rage unlike anything she had ever felt before rose up in her. Night swarmed around her, skewing her from the vision of loyalists in front of her. The Daemati whirled to face her, but he couldn't see her.
All that could be seen was a person shaped whirl of darkness, darkness as old and unforgiving as that of the prison. In that darkness, though, there was light, flickering light, like a candle in a dark window sill.
She felt the steely scrape of a sword against the night flecked golden gates of her mind, but it did not break through. A Daemati far stronger had trained her. So well that she could keep even him out without permission, though there was always a hidden crack for him to peer through if needed. One that no one else would find unless they knew where to look. And these Daemati did not.
"Candle in the dark." The Attor hissed. And then that dark female shaped blur was moving. She ran for the first Daemati, reaching him and slicing his throat before he could react. The second one was faster; he drew his sword and rushed for her. Eclipse dodged backwards, the sword passing so close to her face that she could feel the rush of the wind as it passed. As he was receiving from his swing Eclipse stepped forward and drove her dagger into his side. The Daemati cried out and she felt another scrape against her mental barriers.
The Daemati cried out and tried to swing his arm back towards the flickering light in the darkness. She grabbed the arm and shoved it forward and threw all her weight into dragging the knife across his abdomen, effectively gutting him where he stood.
Her chest heaved and she turned to face the Attor. The creature hissed at her and released the Winter Soldier guards.
"Amarantha will have your head! I shall deliver it myself!"
Eclipse willed the darkness back inside of her.
"I'd rather deliver her yours." And then she was moving, collecting the sword from the fallen Daemati. The Attor moved, rushing her attempting to swiper at her with its claws, but she knew and reacted half a second before the creature could make contact spinning out of its reach. She turned facing the creature and kicked out at it knocking it off balance. She brought the sword up as the Attor regained its footing and as it spun to face her she swung, beheading the creature in one fell swoop. Her chest heaved with breath as she turned to face the children and the Winter Court soldiers. The younglings were all huddled on the ground crying or staring blankly at the fallen body of the youngling she could not save. The soldiers were staring at her in shock.
She walked slowly towards the soldiers who stood as she approached.
"Are you hurt?" she asked them. They both shook their heads, as if in answer and to clear it.
"How did you know to come here?" The taller of the two asked. He was dressed in the traditional garb of the Winter Court, his brown hair slightly longer than his blonde counterpart. Both of them had brown eyes and thick beards.
"It's my gift." Eclipse answered, her eyes drifted to the body of the child, tears pooled in her eyes. "Though, I wasn't quick enough to listen today it seems." The eyes of the Winter Court soldiers followed her line of sight.
"You saved 23 younglings today, that's more than either of us can say." He told her shame shining in his brown eyes.
"She will send more after them, if she finds out what happened. Or she will attempt again with more younglings" Eclipse spoke with certainty turning back to the two soldiers in front of her.
"So what do we do?" The brunette asked. Eclipse surveyed the children in front of her.
"Can you get them hidden in the Winter Court capital?" Eclipse asked.
"Kallias sealed it off right before the curse took hold. We can get messages in and out, but physically we can't get in." The blonde stated. Eclipse sighed. Of course, she knew it was sealed to outsiders, but hadn't taken the time to consider that Kallias had done exactly as Rhys had to Velaris. Viviane. Her gift whispered to her. He had tied the wards to Viviane.
"Can either of you winnow?" The blonde raised his arm. "Can you take passengers far distances? Say to the Day Court capital?"
"Maybe one that far?" Eclipse sighed. "I can take 5 children at a time probably. That far, that many trips will drain me significantly though."
"What are your names?" She asked the two males.
"Vix." The blonde spoke.
"Dash." The brunette replied.
"Here's what we're gonna do."
—————————————————————————
Eclipse was utterly exhausted by the time she returned to the Spring Court. So exhausted she paid zero attention to her surroundings as she collapsed onto the bed falling asleep instantly.
Lucien had startled awake as soon as the female had flopped onto the bed. He stared at her in surprise from the chair he'd taken up residence in. He watched her for a moment taking note of the blood and dirt staining her clothes. His fae sense of smell told him that none of the blood was hers, but it did very little to ease his mind of worry. She'd disappeared at lunch, and had been gone for so long the sun was just starting to peak over the horizon.
Where the hell had she been?
—————————————————————————
When Eclipse awoke abruptly, hours later. Her bladder unable to take more sleep, Eclipse rushed to the bathroom to relieve herself. When she finished she stopped in front of the mirror and scowled at her reflection. A bath was already prepared and still warm waiting for her.
Eclipse sank down into the water and sighed as the warmth began to ease the ache in her bones and muscles. She took her time soaking, allowed herself to cry for the young king she was unable to save, and thanked the Mother that it was only one.
She'd sent Vix with the children right into the heart of the Day Court capital, still protected with the spell she'd placed at the beginning, with a letter she'd drafted to have him give to it to her father's most trusted advisor, his cousin Sol, the one least likely to not follow her direction because it came from a female. It contained instructions on hiding the children in the palace. Ensuring no one but a trusted few were aware and that the information did not get out. Amarantha would attempt to hunt them down or try it again with more younglings if she knew her plan hadn't worked.
She'd sent Dash back to the Winter Court capital to spread the horrid news of the deaths of the two dozen younglings. She'd weaved him a tale to tell and made him repeat it back to her until it felt true. The Daemati had burned through all of the youngling's magic, until breaking into their minds and shattering them. Eclipse had arrived to help, but was too late. In her rage at the massacre of the younglings she had slaughtered, the Attor and the Amarantha loyalists. She'd sent him with a letter as well. However, the letter she'd sent him with was spelled so that it could only be read by Vivviane and no other. She knew the information would be safe with her, and she needed someone in Winter Court to know, in case things didn't go as planned for Eclipse in the coming months.
Eclipse sat upright abruptly, a familiar feeling of power swarming over her. Rhysand was here, she hadn't sensed him at fire night, the wild untamed power of the ritual distracting her, but now here, there was no mistaking it. The female cursed, flinging herself from the tub, she muttered a spell to dry herself off and quickly threw on the first pair of clothes she could find, a tunic and pants with a corset vest. She grabbed two of her Illyrian daggers and sheathed them at her sides.
She mumbled a glamour spell concealing her scent, sound, and headed towards the dining room. She stopped hidden outside the room listening trying to gauge what she was up against. Based on the conversation, this was a check in, to remind Tamlin how little time he had left. No mention of the human. Feyre must be hidden. Eclipse sent out a small tendril of her power into the room. She sighed angrily. Tamlin's glamour was such shit, a child would identify it if they knew something was off.
"Where's your guest?" Rhysand asked. Useless fucking High Lord. Eclipse snarled into her mind and winnowed into the room. Rhysand was lifting Feyre's goblet; he sniffed it before setting it down again.
"My, my. Step out to powder your nose, and miss all the action." Eclipse purred. Rhysand speared his power towards her mind. Eclipse tsked.
"Now, now, I haven't seen you in close to 50 years, Uncle, and that's the greeting I get?"
"Well you have been quite the... matchstick to kindling in the unrest of the courts over the last years dearest niece, can't blame me for trying."
"I sent her off when I sensed your arrival, apparently she's as horrible at following orders as one would expect of a half Illyrian brute." Tamlin lied coolly. Eclipse scoffed and pouted.
"I'm only Illyrian, thank you very much, and I have all the best qualities, none of the horrible ones."
"I would be keen to believe you, if this weren't rose water in the goblet. 50 years may have passed, Eclipse, but you my dear, forget how well I know you. You would puke before you could even get the goblet to your lips. " Rhysand now faced Tamlin, and his face was void of emotion before his brows rose. A flicker of excitement, and disbelief, coated his face. He whipped his head to Lucien. Eclipse felt the pulse of his magic as it tore through Tamlin's glamour and Feyre appeared, hidden behind Lucien staring at Feyre who was looking at him with absolute terror.
"You dare glamour me?" he growled, his eyes locked onto Feyre, but it was obvious he was speaking to Tamlin. Lucien pressed Feyre harder into the wall. Tamlin's chair groaned as it was shoved back. He rose, claws coming out. Eclipse moved, one second she was by the table, the next she was in front of Rhysand pushing him back, flaring out her wings hiding Feyre from his view. Rhysand's face became a mask of calm fury as he glared at his niece. He reached forward, he grabbed Eclipse by the throat and pulled her close to him. His breath fanning out across her face.
"You will stand down, now Eclipse. I will deal with you later." Rhysand snarled dangerously softly.
"Let her go!" Lucien spoke up. Rhysand scoffed and released his niece, shoving her off to the side.
"Or what? You, and she, apparently forget her place. This is not her Court. Tamlin is not her High Lord. I am. I will handle my Emissary any way I see fit." Rhysand spoke with a pointed glare aimed at Eclipse. Eclipse sucked in a breath as she caught Feyre's wide eyes, betrayal dancing at the edges.
"I remember you ," Rhysand purred, when Feyre's eyes locked back on him. "It seems like you ignored my warning to stay out of trouble."
"Who, pray tell, is your guest?" He asked Tamlin.
"My betrothed," Lucien answered immediately.
"Oh? Here I was, thinking you still mourned your commoner lover after all these centuries," Rhysand said, stalking toward Feyre. Lucien spat at Rhysand's feet and shoved his sword between them. Eclipse watched on silently. Mentally trying to figure out a way around Rhysand's orders.
"Don't Lucien!" Eclipse snapped again putting herself in the middle. This time blocking Rhysand from the sword. Lucien scowled at her.
"You draw blood from me, Lucien, and you'll learn how quickly Amarantha's whore can make the entire Autumn Court bleed. Especially its darling Lady." The color drained from Lucien's face, but he continued to point his sword at the High Lord.
"Put your sword down, Lucien." Tamlin ordered. Rhysand ran his eyes over Feyre, pushing Eclipse out of the way
"I knew you liked to stoop low with your lovers, Lucien, but I never thought you'd actually dabble with mortal rabble. The Lady of the Autumn Court will be grieved indeed when she hears of her youngest son. If I were you, I'd keep your new pet well away from your father."
"Leave, Rhys," Tamlin commanded, standing a few feet behind Rhysand. Though he made no move to attack. They all- minus Feyre- knew it would be pointless. So Tamlin and Eclipse remained where they were, and Lucien didn't so much as blink as Rhysand, pried the knife from Feyre's hand and tossed it away.
Don't hurt her. She's important. Eclipse thought to Rhysand. Trust me.
I know she's important, trust me. I need her out of Prythian.
We need her to break the curse!
Can you do it?
What? Eclipse's eyes widened. Rhysand turned his stare away from Feyre.
Can you end it? Don't tell me details, don't tell me anything more than yes or no. Eclipse met his eyes. Don't tell him anything. Don't tell him the price it would cost for her to be the one to end it. Could she do it? Yes. Would she do it, to spare her Uncle's mate the hell she'd have to endure. Absolutely.
Yes.
"That won't do you any good, anyway. If you were wise, you would be screaming and running from this place, from these people. It's a wonder that you're still here, actually." Feyre's confusion was evident at Rhysand's words.
"Oh, she doesn't know, does she?" He asked laughing darkly.
"You have seconds, Rhys," Tamlin warned. "Seconds to get out."
"If I were you, I wouldn't speak to me like that." As he spoke Feyre's body went taut.
"Let her go," Tamlin said, panic shining brightly in his eyes. Eclipse knew what Rhysand was doing. Playing on Tamlin's weakness for the human. Scarring him to send her home.
"Enough." She spoke towards her uncle.
"I'd forgotten that human minds are as easy to shatter as eggshells," Rhysand said, and ran a finger across the base of Feyre's throat causing the human to shudder.
"Look at how delightful she is—look how she's trying not to cry out in terror. It would be quick, I promise. She has the most delicious thoughts about you, Tamlin. She's wondered about the feeling of your fingers on her thighs—between them, too." He chuckled.
"Uncle!" Eclipse scolded. Mother above that was absolutely unnecessary. Scare the girl, don't humiliate her!
"I'm curious: Why did she wonder if it would feel good to have you bite her breast the way you bit her neck?"Rhysand said, ignoring Eclipse.
"Let. Her. Go." Tamlin's face was twisted with feral rage.
"If it's any consolation, she would have been the one for you—and you might have gotten away with it. A bit late, though. She's more stubborn than you are." Feyre sank to the floor, as Rhysand released his mental hold. Eclipse moved to step towards the girl, then thought better of it.
"Amarantha will enjoy breaking her. Almost as much as she'll enjoy watching you as she shatters her bit by bit." Tamlin froze at Rhysand's words, his claws hung limply at his side. Eclipse didn't want Feyre going to Amarantha, but a small part of her revealed in seeing Tamiln so distraught.
"Please." Tamlin said.
"Please what?" Rhysand coaxed, voice smooth as if he was speaking with a lover.
"Don't tell Amarantha about her," Tamlin said, his voice strained.
"And why not? As her whore," he said glancing in Lucien's direction, Eclipse flinched. "I should tell her everything."
"Please," Tamlin choked out. Rhysand pointed at the ground, with a vicious smile directed at the other High Lord.
"Beg, and I'll consider not telling Amarantha." Tamlin dropped to his knees and bowed his head. Eclipse couldn't help the little smirk that peaked out as Rhysand spoke again.
"Lower." Tamlin pressed his forehead to the floor, his hands splaying out in front of him. Rhysand pointed at Lucien.
"You too, fox-boy." Lucien lowered himself to his knees, then followed Tamlin's lead mirroring the pose. Rhysand's eyes flicked to Eclipse. She was not paying attention to him though, she was focused on the shaking human on the floor.
"Are you doing this for your sake, or for hers?" Rhysand wondered. "You're far too desperate, Tamlin. It's off-putting. Becoming High Lord made you so boring."
"Are you going to tell Amarantha?" Tamlin asked face still on the floor. Rhysand smirked.
"Perhaps I'll tell her, perhaps I won't." Tamlin moved after that, likely a blur for the human, but he was at Rhysand's throat. Eclipse moved then a snarl on her face. She moved towards the two and shoved Tamlin back, drawing a dagger. It was a horrible situation, but at the end of the day Rhysand was her High Lord, her Uncle, she would die to protect him.
"None of that," Rhysand tsked, clicking his tongue smirking at his niece's response.
"Not with the ladies present." He turned to Feyre. "What's your name, love?"
"Clare Beddor." Feyre breathed out, Eclipse could've kissed the girl for thinking of the lie.
"Uncle." Eclipse said pleading. "Don't tell her."
"I would have to come up with something scandalizing to hide it." Rhysand pondered non-comittally.
"Take me." Eclipse stated. Rhysand's eyes flared his face twisted back into that vicious smirk.
"Oh, dear, that would be a treat, and scandalous. You'd turn yourself over, after all of this time for the human?"
"Yes.".
"Interesting. Well, this was entertaining. The most fun I've had in ages, actually. I'm looking forward to seeing you three Under the Mountain. I'll give Amarantha your regards." Rhysand grabbed Eclipse's arm and winnowed them away.
The two Illyrians appeared at the edge of the Spring Court right in front of a cave, that Eclipse knew would lead to Under the Mountain.
"Are you sure about this?"
"I have it handled." Eclipse told him.
"Is that so?"
"You've been trapped almost 50 years, Uncle. You've been used and doing your best to protect us all. Now it's my turn to do what I can."
"You've given enough. I've heard the stories, seen the aftermath and bloodshed, know what exactly you've prevented. You've protected the whole of Prythian. If you are stuck down there and the curse fully sets in, the people will have no one. You won't see Azriel again. I hate asking this of you. It doesn't feel right."
"Everything will be over soon. One way or another. All that matters is ending this curse and keeping the human alive."
"Are you sure whatever you have planned will work?" Rhysand asked.
"No, but I know that Amarantha's end is coming. I can feel it, I can taste it." Rhysand reached forward and ran a hand across her hair, in a fatherly gesture. He moved forward and embraced the girl for the first time in 50 years. Eclipse melted into the embrace, tears immediately flowing from her eyes at the feeling. Tears burned in his eyes as well. Rhysand may have been her uncle, but he had helped to fill a void after her mother had died. He had treated her like his own. To the point that she had almost had two father's as she got older.
"We will see home, Daydreamer." He told her. "I'll do what I can to assist." Eclipse nodded against his chest sniffling. They pulled apart, he reached forward and wiped the tears from under her eyes. Eclipse shook her shoulders and wings out, adjusting her stance so she was standing straight.
"Let's get this over with." She stated. She moved to take a step, but stopped as she caught sight of the shadow curling around her leg. She reached down and stroked a hand over it. It moved to curling around her arm.
"It's time for you to return for good, little shadow." Eclipse whispered to it. "If things go wrong, I don't want him to have that image to deal with. Tell him I love him. GIve him this for me." Eclipse leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the shadow. It nuzzled into her cheek and then disappeared.
She moved then heading into the cave, Rhysand behind her, his mask slipping back into place. He sent a prayer to the Mother that this would work, he couldn't lose Eclipse. None of them would survive it.
Azriel, Cassian, Amren and Mor were at the House of Wind discussing the most recent reports from across the Court, when the shadow returned to him. Amren was the first to notice how the Shadowsinger froze.
"What is it, Shadowsinger?"
"Tell him I love him." He could hear her as if she was right next to him. Feel her lips on his cheek. His siphons started glowing brightly and he stood.
"Az?" Morrigan asked.
"Eclipse is Under the Mountain. I have to go." He said and started towards the doors. Cassian rushed after him grabbing him by the arm.
"Az you can't!"
"She's my mate Cass. I don't care about Rhysand's order, I'm going." He snarled at his brother pushing him off.
"Eclipse can take care of herself." Amren snapped from behind the two. "You put the whole Court and everything she and Rhysand have worked and sacrificed for at stake if you go."
"I don't care!" Azriel snarled at the two. He moved to start towards the edge of the terrace, but Cassian grabbed his arm again. Azriel spun around and struck Cassian. Cassian dodged expecting it and threw a punch back at the Shadow singer. They became a mass of tangled limbs, Azriel trying to escape, Cassian trying to keep him there. It continued that way, until they were both bloody, bleeding from an eyebrow, nose, Cassian had a split across his cheek to match the one Azriel sported across his eye brow. Azriel's siphon powered up and he went to blast at his brother to escape, but it never came. Amren had slunk up behind them and delivered a nasty blow, knocking the raging Illyrian out.
"Now what do we do?" Cassian asked breathlessly.