The Wind blew against Caldor as he soared through the skies. The sun is just starting to come up over the Mountains, illuminating Velaris. Covering it in gold and yellow. As though the colors were being painted slowly.
It rained last night, so when the sun finally rested above him, he could see how the small water droplets shone like Diamonds under him.
He watched as Children laughed and played in the streets, celebrating yet again, another day. A day of peace and freedom.
He smiled at couples who kissed the other good morning. The small blush on their partners face and the slight smirk on the others.
It was these moments that Caldor enjoyed.
The sun beating down on him, the wind flying with him and the sounds of joy and laughter in his ears.
He flew up towards the clouds, letting the softness slide over his wings as Caldor flew over to the House of Wind.
There, on the roof, was his partner. His friend.
Over the years he's known her, the innocent curious girl had grown to become the wise and powerful female she is now. Her skin once hard and scarred, now soft and bruiseless. Her eyes now harden with experience and adventure of the world around her.
She smiled brightly at him, her whole being lighting up as he grinned at her.
"Ready?"
She laughed, the sound so sweet to his ears.
"Always"
Then Katherina jumped.
***
Caldor woke up to the sun. Its rays shining down on him, warming one part of his battled body, leaving the other cold.
His head screamed at him as he moved to sit upward. However, the best he managed was resting atop his elbows.
As his eyes stopped blurring, he managed to get a good view on his whereabouts.
The room was big. The walls and floor are both walnut wood, with lights hanging above him in the shapes of stars. Or tears.
From across him, was a bookcase. The colors of each different book mixed all together. Most of them were dark, Except for one or two books he saw in pink or yellow. Red, Blue, Green, purple, etc.
It looked like a painting, and when Caldor, ( By some miracle ) managed to walk towards them and took one out, he noticed that the reader marked each page that they preferred, with a slight bend at the end or top of the book.
He smiled softly when he gazed at the title.
He didn't really take her as a romance type. Then again, he never would have thought he'd fallen for the High Princess of the Night Court.
The door across him began to open, and just as if they heard, there she was.
Katherina.
She looked to be carved from the moon herself, just as he had pictured in his dreams.
She rushed up to him, a look of relief on her face.
Slowly, he wrapped his arms around her, savoring her heat. She had a scent of snow, and flowers, and sunlight.
They didn't say anything as they embraced each other.
As he clutched her tighter, he saw his tears flow down her shoulder, images of that night replaying in his mind.
He couldn't remember what happened. The image blurred into his mind but he heard her screamings, the look on her face before he caught her. She seemed so exhausted, so lost... he wanted to ask if she was okay but from the way things were going- he didn't think he would be able to.
Katherina escorted him to the bed—her bed—and sat him down, taking care not to damage his wings as she rewrapped her arms around him and whispered sweet nothings.
Caldor refused to accept it, but he was exhausted. His entire body hurt; whatever had occurred to him had taken its toll. He wasn't sure what had happened, but he knew he needed to thank Katherina for saving his life.
When the tears seemed to be spotting, they talked.
They talked as though nothing had happened, as if he wasn't ripped and bleeding in her room, as if he wasn't dying or almost died. Which made it tremendously better.
He should have thanked her, thanked her, and shown his gratitude, but he was content in this moment of normalcy.
Yet, nothing was normal when it came to her.
She let him keep his pride for a while before having to change his bandages. Katherina knew since that day in the camp that he hated being weak.
But, if Katherina wanted it, he would laid down his armor for her.
After which she was finished, she gave him water and some medicine, closing the curtains once more as that night came near.
Still, No words were spoken as Katherina rested on one of the chairs across the room, the vision of her getting blurrier and blurrier as the drugs dragged him from consciousness.
"Thank you, Katherina."
***
For the first time in her life, Katherina was grateful for her abilities.
Caldor's restoration would have taken a month if it hadn't been for her. She watched as his breathing slowed, indicating that he was no longer awake.
Katherina got up to leave the room, not wanting to appear strange. Turning off the lights as she closed the door behind her.
His wings had mended, his wounds had faded, and his bruises had vanished. He looked as if nothing had happened yet, her power was only able to do so much. Caldor wouldn't have memories nor scars to remember the battle yet he would still bear the soreness of what was there.
Katherina stepped into the House of Wind's Library. There, sitting on the couch was Luicen and Emerie.
When Katherina was reading with Nesta in one of Velaris' cafes, she encountered Emerie. The female was very friendly to Katherina, and if Nesta was ever too busy to hang out, Katherina would ask Emerie or invite her to join her and Lucien while they cooked. Later, the two became friends because of their shared love of cuisine.
Varian and Gwyn sat just a few feet away on the Desk, the two of them also forging a slight friendship.
Katherina, on the other hand, was unaware of the two's backstory, only that something must have happened for them to get along so well.
The four looked up from whatever they were doing to greet Katherina.
She , however, didn't respond to them as she draped herself over Emeries and Lucien's laps, singing dramatically.
Emerie laughed, "Why the glum look? Everything okay, berry?"
'Berry' was a nickname that she had given Katherian due to her fruit-colored eyes. Which always seemed to bring a smile to her face.
"Yes and No," she said, "Caldor woke up."
Varian perked up at the news, "Isn't that good news?"
"Of Course, it's just that... I was thinking about something."
"What's on your mind?" Gwyn asked, standing up to sit herself on the floor next to them, her head resting on Lucien's knee.
Katherina remembers the day they became friends, it was Lucien's mothers birthday, and due to being chased out from the Autumn Court, he couldn't visit his mother.
Gywn saw how much Lucien's mother meant to him, and so with a bit of help from her Father and Elain, they managed to get Lucien's mother to the Night Court for only a few hours.
And in those hours, Gwyn became as though a little sister to him. The two are the most beautiful of friends.
Following her, Varian sat atop the Couch's edge, draping his arm over Emerie's shoulders, mindful of her wings.
Varian was helping Katherina on what Jewelry to wear for her coronation and they had bumped into each other. From then, Varian had encouraged Emerie to be more confident in her skin, wearing more revealing clothes, brighter jewelry, etc.
Sometimes, Katherina thought they acted as though they had known each other since forever.
Katherina got herself more comfortable as she laid her head in Emeries lap, while draping her legs across Lucien's. One of her hands holding Gywn's while Varian played with her hair.
When Katherina was surrounded by Her Father, Feyre, Elain, Nesta, Cassian, Azriel, Mor, and Amren, she preferred this group far better. They appeared to be party animals, laughing and dancing and generally having a good time.
Katheina, on the other hand, preferred the tiny group she had built. They spoke, listened, and sanctioned each other.
A small family.
"I was think of traveling again after my Coronation,"
A beat of silence passed before Lucien broke it, "Where would you go?"
That made her smile, if it were anyone else, they would why she would leave and if it meant it was forever. Yet, with them, She knew they understood when she told them that she had spent the Last five years being alone and traveling to wherever she heart wished.
"I'm not sure, just that I think I've been in the Night Court for longer than I intended to."
She felt Emerie nod in understatement.
"Take Caldor with you and bring us back some babies," Gwyn said suddenly.
Katherina's face heated up as she spent the rest of the Night laughing with them, slowly letting sleep bring her in.