Feyre
"Do you think they can hear us?" Cassian asked, eyeing the now very still Rhys, Aelin and three other High Lords.
None of them said a word, and they all looked like they were dazed, and in a dream.
"If I walked over there and slapped Rhys, do you think he would notice?" Mor asked with a smile.
"I'll give you 20 gold marks to do it," Cassian told Mor.
Mor smiled and cracked her knuckles.
"What is she showing them?" Helion asked quickly, before things escalated with Mor and Cassian.
"How she got those scars," Fenrys breathed, watching Aelin carefully.
"Why did we let her do this? The four of us combined have centuries worth of memories of Maeve," Connall stated.
"How is that possible?" Tarquin asked.
"Lorcan, Connall, Fenrys, and I were all blood sworn to Maeve for decades, before, well, before Aelin showed up," Rowan answered.
"What do you mean by blood sworn," Kallias asked, him eyeing the very still High Lords.
"We were her slaves," Rowan stated smoothly.
"That's one way to put it," Fenrys snorted.
"We were basically had to do what ever we were told. No questioned asked, for an eternity," Connall clarified.
"How did you become free then?" Kallias asked.
"Aelin struck a deal with Maeve so I could be come free. Maeve severed the blood oath with Lorcan, as punishment for helping Aelin. Fenrys case.... is compliacted. And Connall became free once Maeve died, but didn't actually die," Rowan commented. That was when Azriel's face went extremely pale.
"What is it?" Amren asked, noticing Azriel's change in expression. He immediately stood up and stalked over to where Rhys was sitting in his chair.
"We have to get back to Velaris now," Azriel said, his voice was steady, but his eyes were covered with worry.
"Rhys. Can you hear us? We need to get back home now," Azriel ordered, trying to get his attention, standing in front of him. He looked really worried now.
"What's wrong?" Cassian growled, the High Lord's attention was now turned to Azriel as he stood in front of Rhys. Rhys didn't even blink at the angry Azriel standing in front of him.
"RHYS!" Azriel yelled at his face. Rhys continued to stare at nothing. "Dammit you bastard. This is the worst possible time that you could be doing this."
"What is it!" Mor growled at Azriel. Azriel looked at their court in the eyes and said, "Velaris is under attack."
Feyre's heart dropped, and didn't bother trying to hide her shock. Her inner circle immediately got their feet, worry and anger coating their faces.
"What do you mean?" Mor growled.
"Maeve forces are there, like right now, there's an armada of soldiers attacking the city. I don't know how many, but we need to get back now," Azriel told them.
He turned his attention back to the dazed Rhys, and slapped him across the face. At the sound of the slap, the other High Lords immediately got to their feet. Rhys didn't move, as Azriel slapped him hard again.
"Shit," Azriel murmured. "Fuck."
Feyre opened her mind to Rhys, just to see his mental shield was up. Feyre couldn't message him or snap him out of it.
"His mental shields are up, I can't reach him," Feyre choked out. Rhys cheeks were red from the slap, and Azriel only continued to mutter more curses.
"Elain is there...." Lucien muttered. Feyre stopped cold at the thought of that. Fuck. Everyone is here, no one is there with Elain or my people.
Nesta cursed filthy and low.
"Is there any way to snap them out of it?" this time it was Dorian asked. Feyre forgot that their allies were here. All of them looked concerned for the dazed Aelin.
"I don't think so. Only when they stop will they return to us. And I don't know when that will be," Feyre informed them, she raised an eyebrow to Rowan--or to literally any of her friends--asking them how long will it be.
"I don't know how much she is showing them, or what. She doesn't have any shortages of Maeve," Rowan informed them, eyes darting to his mate and to Feyre.
"We need to go back and fight. We can leave Rhys here if we need to. But I am not leaving Velaris to fend for its own. I am going back with or without you guys," Mor told everyone, her eyes telling them that she was being dead serious.
She would take on Maeve's entire army for Velaris if she had to. Mor has always been very protective over her home. She nearly killed Rhys for the deal that he struck with her father, that allowed him to see Velaris.
"I agree. Someone can stay here with Rhys and tell him where we went, but whatever forces they have, are already fighting what ever soldiers we have there," Azriel informed them.
"How could you have known that, you haven't gone anywhere this entire time?" Viviane asked him, her eyes glancing at Mor every few seconds. Viviane knew exactly how important Velaris was to her friend.
"He's a shadow singer, but that's besides the point. Feyre can you stay and--," Mor started.
"No, I am going. I am not leaving my people," Feyre declared. Which was the truth, she might not be able to fight like Cassian or Azriel, but she could wield her magic. Or at the very least take command in head quarters.
"I'll stay. It's not like I can help fight anyway," Nesta told them, gratefulness filled Feyre's eyes.
"Great let's go," Feyre said, as she prepared to winnow, taking Cassian and Azriel, Mor taking Lucien.
"Wait, hold it," Tarquin announced, before they winnowed anywhere. "Let me help. You guys came to my court's defense when Hybern attacked, let me help you fight for your city."
"Thank you," Feyre responded, gratefulness shone in her eyes. Even one high lord can turn the tide of a battle.
"We're coming too. We fought for Velaris last time, and will do so again. One of us can stay here for whenever Aelin wakes up from her memories," Rowan told them, the rest of their court nodded in agreement.
"I'll stay here. The rest of you can go," Fenrys told them.
Rowan shook his head, "I'll stay, you should fight."
Aedion looked like he was going to volunteer until Lysandra said, "Don't even think about it Aedion, you are going to Velaris. Same goes with you two territorial bastards. My god why does Aelin have more male friends than females. I am staying. She doesn't need to come out of hell and see you pricks there. No disagreeing, go already and kick Maeve's ass," Lysandra ordered, her eyes looking for anyone to challenge her. No one did.
"We really need to get going," Azriel told them.
The other High Lords looked like they were going to say something but Feyre jumped in, "None of you should feel obligated to help us fight. If you do come or send aid, we will forever be grateful. But our home is under attack, and we really can't waste anymore time. So thank you for coming to this meeting. If you still want proof that Maeve does want to kill us, then by all means come to the Night Court with us, I hope the army she has marching in our city is enough proof for you. Until then, let's go." Aelin's court and Tarquin started to walk towards her when Aelin gasped.
Everyone turned their attention to the no longer dazed Aelin, her hands shook some as Rowan rushed back over to where she was sitting. She was shaking her head some, as the other High Lords, including Rhys snapped back into reality. They all blinked a couple of times before staring at Aelin in shock. Even Rhys looked like he'd seen hell. None of them bothered trying to hide their disbelief. Feyre really didn't want to know what Aelin showed them.
"Are you ok?" Rowan asked her mate with concern. Aelin shook her head slightly before locking eyes with Feyre.
Her voice was almost a whisper when Aelin said, "She's here."
Footsteps filled the room, as everyone whipped their heads to see who entered the chamber through the hallway. Hatred filled Feyre's face, as she stared at the woman's smile she knew too well. With the woman there was a young girl, a knife pressed to her throat and tears rolling down her face.
Aelin voiced the name before Feyre could, "Maeve."
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