A Court of Lichen and Twilight / An ACOTAR Fanfiction

Chapter One: The Dusk Court

"Long ago in Prythian, the top and first of the collective High Lords divided the territory into it's seven courts," my mother began her tale to my youngest brother, Cain, in the sitting area by the hearth. Both were tucked under a blanket next to a small cherry wood end table full of yellow candlelight. A cold and stormy wind from the outside gale rapped tree branches against the window. Our castle home howled with the storm that lashed at its ancient stone walls.

"Mother, please," Cyra, my older sister, groaned from the velveteen chaise by the window. She shifted in her lounger, putting an outspread hand on her growing belly as she adjusted her head into Xavier's lap. Her wings tucked in close as he draped his arm over her side and rested his hand next to hers. "I can't take this story again. He's not a child anymore. We've heard it a hundred times. Even my baby is sick of it. Give it a rest."

"But I want to hear it again," Cain retorted innocently. "Besides, when exactly was the last time you actually paid attention to it? All I did was ask mother why we had wings and none of the other islanders did. You've only told me how to use them, not why we have them. What else are we going to talk about during the storm?"

Cyra rolled her eyes in disdain.

Cain's utter remaining ounce of innocence was admirable. Although he was merely fifty years old and barely considered mature, he was slowly learning his history. It made me even feel ancient thinking about the centuries I had now been around like most of my family.

"I'm getting there, my love," the High Lady of the Dusk Court cooed to her son, tapping the button of his nose as she continued. She slowly twined his dark curls in her fingers as another gust made the rocky walls moan like ghouls. "After the seven courts were settled, some rather disagreed on the borders. Separations were made amongst family, friends, and most unfortunately, lovers..." Her voice trailed to emphasize her upcoming revelation of the oh-so-cherished star crossed lovers trope that always seemed to entice an audience.

My sister rubbed her abdomen and looked lovingly up at her mate while he caressed her head. Caelum, my other brother, feigned a gag in my direction as my mother shot him a stern look before continuing on with the story. After his scolding, he slowly brushed his dark brown locks from his face to the back of head, letting the waves fall and spread out wind blown. That move right there was the selling point my brother used on the women he brought home.

"A Peregryn guard from the Dawn Court fell in love with an Illyrian woman of the Night Court before the borders went up. And so, in a quest to be able to be freely together amongst divisions and societal standards, they set off. Off across the stormy sea to the unclaimed Northern Islands in the Night Court territory - virtually uninhabited at the time no less. Tramonto Island: our home where they first established themselves that blossomed into a hub for diversity. And there, others who felt wronged by the divisions also came. And so, years after Prythian had established it's courts, an eighth emerged as dawn kissed night: The Dusk Court. Those were your ancestors, who sought and mixed our heritages. With all of our cultures coming together, traditionalism was thrown to the wind. Our predecessors established a matriarchy rather than a patriarchy to show Prythian a female leader was possible and to honor the Illyrian woman that helped make it possible."

"And is that why Cyra is next in line?" My youngest brother pondered. Another roll of the eyes came from our eldest sister in response to drawing the undesirable tale out even further. She was blatantly over the conversation before it had even started.

"The High Lady's powers have transferred to generations of young females cyclicly ever since. Mother to daughter and daughter to granddaughter. The island granted us it's power as our individual gift for taming the stormy climate and bringing life it. Tramonto blessed us - blessed you all with the power of lightning at the tips of your fingers."