A court of water and worlds

Chapter #32

Gwyn was back at the house of wind.
She couldn't wipe the smile from her face though she did manage to stop her tears.
Nesta was back.
Nesta was safe.
Cassian had taken her to Majda to make sure the babe was ok.
She was in shock she didn't really have time to process what had happened.
She turned to Azriel who looked rough to say the least.
He was still gorgeous of course. It was almost annoying how pretty he was all the time, but his hair was a mess. There was blood and dirt caked everywhere and he looked very tired.
Not that Gwyn looked much better.
"The high lord is having a meeting tonight and he Requested you to be there," Azriel said to Gwyn before she could walk back to the library.
"O," she said, stunned.
The high lord wanted to have a meeting and invited her?
Then Gwyn remembered what Azriel's brothers had said about the high lady.
She turned to Azriel, "your brothers said they gave the high lady—
"Rhys told us she is ok," Azriel said, cutting her off.
"How?" Gwyn asked, "we haven't seen Rhysand, how did he tell you?"
Azriel looked at her through heavy eyelids.
Yeah, he was really tired, as was Gwyn.
She felt like she could sleep for years and it still wouldn't be enough.
"Nevermind you can tell me When you don't look like you're about to fall over from exhaustion," she said and he looked at her.
"Gwyn, I'm fine," he said, stifling a Yawn.
"Mmhm," Gwyn mumbled and Azriel gave her a look.
"The meeting is in three hours at the mountain palace," he said and Gwyn nodded.
"You don't have to go," he assured, "you have already been through hell—
"So have you," Gwyn said, cutting him off, "I'll go."
Azriel nodded and said, "meet me here in three hours?"
She nodded and he looked at her another moment asking, "are you ok?"
She thought for a moment.
She should be ok, everyone was happy, everyone was safe.
But still she shook her head no, she was not ok.
"But we don't have time for that right now. I'm tired, your tired—
He cut her off, "Gwyn, I always have time for you," he said, taking a step towards her.
"It's ok, not to be ok," he continued and Gwyn started to feel tears prick at her eyes.
With everything that had happened she was feeling very overwhelmed and unsure.
She nodded and tried to blink away her tears.
"I know," she said, throat tight from trying not to cry.
"It's all a lot to process so if you feel like you don't want to go to the meeting you don't have to," he said tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her hair.
"I can do it," she said voice still thick with tears, "I can go."
He nodded and whispered softly and tentatively, "Do you want a hug Gwyneth?"
She almost laughed but she felt tears fall onto her cheeks and she nodded.
He wrapped his arms around her and she buried her face in his shoulder shaking with tears.
His shadows surrounded her pulling them closer together.
This was different. It wasn't like they were flying or winnowing.
Gwyn wasn't holding him to get something accomplished, she was holding him because she needed him.
she felt the ground beneath her feet shift.
She wanted a hug.
His arms around her waist were strong, holding her together and as she took a breath she smelt citrus and— and frosting.
He smelt like vanilla frosting.
Gwyn almost laughed.
The shadowsinger, Angel of death, spymaster of night court smelt like frosting.
She didn't understand how he smelt so good even after what they had been through.
She sniffled, wiping her tears away and slowly let go of him.
She stepped back and expected it to be awkward but it wasn't.
She didn't understand when their relationship changed from teasing each other to giving hugs, but it felt natural, like it was so post to happen.
"Better?" He asked, smiling and just then Gwyn noticed his dimples.
She had seen him smile so many times but somehow she had never noticed.
Right now, he was smiling so that both of his dimples were on display.
"Better," Gwyn said, smiling back at him, "I'll see you in three hours," she added, turning and making her way to the library.
When she got back in her room she was not expecting a young presistes to attack her with a hug.
"Gwyn, Cauldron, I thought you were dead!" Flora said, squeezing Gwyn tight.
"I missed you too Flora," Gwyn said smiling and holding Flora tight.
"Are you ok?" Flora asked Gwyn over for injuries.
"You feel exhausted," Flora said, answering her own question.
Flora did have powers.
She was able to sense other people's emotions.
Flora thought it was useless but Gwyn thought it was fascinating and told Flora as much.
"I am tired," Gwyn said with a yawn.
"Ok well, you're going to bathe while I get you some food and then you can tell me all about your trip. Then you can take a nap," Flora said, squeezing Gwyn one last time then getting up to get some food.
Gwyn got up from the floor, her limbs feeling heavier than ever.
She was so happy to see Flora.
She was happy Flora was ok.
She didn't know how Flora would do without Gwyn the past few days, but she seemed pretty happy.
She was worried about Flora's nightmares.
Gwyn made a mental note to ask Flora about that later.
Gwyn made her way to the bathroom and turned on the water.
Once Gwyn had washed up she put on a robe not sure how to dress seeing as she would be attending the high lords meeting later.
By the time she sat on her bed Flora came in with food.
They talked until Gwyn passed out on the bed.
She woke up two and a half hours later to Flora snoring.
She watched her for a minute, she looked so peaceful.
She shot out of her bed right as she realized what time it was.
She quickly put on her training leathers, wrote Flora a note and ran up to the house of wind.