Battle Scars

Solstice continues

Eve stayed back as the sisters went to greet Nesta. Cassian had gotten up from his place and went to stand near the fireplace. Az had squeezed her hand once before joining him. Brothers in solidarity. Everyone else stayed in pin drop silence, as if waiting for something- rather, someone- to blow up. Eve let her annoyance show on her face at that. Nesta did not need their judgements.

Nesta came in the room as Elain took her by the hand towards the liquor cabinet. It was Amren who broke the silence first, "Don't take her to the wine—take her to the food," Amren called to Elain from her perch on the armchair as she slid the pearl earrings Az had given her into her lobes. "I can see her bony ass even through that dress." Eve felt the tension rise in the room as Nesta turned towards where Amren sat. But, she merely gave her signature deadly smile, "pretty earrings."

She then turned towards where Eve sat with a glass of wine in her hand. "You came after all." Nesta shrugged a bit, "it felt like a waste to let this dress settle in dust, especially when it is made for royalty. The designer honoured by making it with me in his mind." Eve gulped and raised her glass, trying to contain the pain and pride she felt in her chest at that. Tears threatened to spill. For along with the dress she had dropped over at Nesta' a few days ago, she had also left her the note.

"Who designed it?" Mor asked, butting in with curiosity. Nesta did not even spare her a glance as she made her way to where the hard liquor was stashed. "Mike." Eve replied, her love being reflected in the manner she said his name. One could see the sorrow and pity in everyone's eyes as they remembered him. Eve took a sharp intake as she got up to pick one of the presents near the tree and gave it to Nesta who had made herself comfortable near Elain.

"It isn't your usual genre, but is a good read nevertheless," smiling a bit. Nesta accepted, giving her a small box in return. Eve blinked at that- she hadn't expected anything from Nesta. She was extremely aware of the silence of the room and the gazes that met her back as she took the unwrapped box. It was Nesta who snapped her gaze and gave everyone else a warning glare- to stop making Eve feel uncomfortable. "You brought her a gift?" Elain asked, incredulous, her own book which she had bought for Nesta, lying on her lap.

"I saw it while coming and had some money left," left from the drink she had before coming. Elain' face was expressionless. "Thank you," Eve said and went back to her place, silently opening the gift. Conversation had resumed around her but she did not pay heed. She took in a sharp intake as she saw what Nesta had given her- it was no ordinary object picked at random, Eve realised. She had just said that to spare Elain. No, she had given Eve a necklace of silver with a musical note around it. She closed the box- it hurt too much to even see at it, remembering all the things it represented once. It had a small note attached to it, 'he would want you to see it as a symbol of your bond, not an object of your pain.' Nesta gave her an assessing glance before going back to whatever Elain rambled about.

Suddenly, a painting was place in front of her. Eve blinked and looked up to see Feyre patiently waiting for her to accept it. She took and opened it carefully as Feyre went to give others their present. Eve stared at the painting. It was her and Mike. Mike and her. They were sitting near the Sidra, laughing about something forgotten. He looked candid. They both did. "Thank you," Eve said hoarsely. "You are a brilliant artist." Feyre smiled at the complement.

As everyone dumped their gifts onto Feyre, Eve did the same, along with dumping them on everyone else' lap.

Feyre opened her first. She had gotten her some paints and charcoal pencils. Mor was next, opening to find a huge make-up kit. She squealed in delight, and Eve was satisfied. Amren gave her a saccharine smile as she saw the gold bracelet she had gotten her- well, Az had. Cassian got a small pocket knife, engraved with his initial on it along with an earring which she was sure would make him even more attractive. Cassian was delighted. Elain gave her a stiff thank you- not that she cared. Nuala and Cerridwen had already received their gifts from her, thanks to Azriel the messenger.

Rhys choked when he opened his gift and Eve smiled wildly as he showcased her present to everyone. Sequined leather pants and jacket with glitter. It looked hideous but she had wanted to see the High Lord trying to pull it off. "I came today, now you have to wear those," she said and Rhys looked traumatized at the prospect. He shook his head violently as everyone else laughed openly. Even Az. "Never." "Feyre..." Eve complained loudly. "I will make sure of it," she said, stars dancing in her eyes. "I have to say," Mor said between laughs, "that is the best gift of the year." Eve smiled triumphantly.

She was about to turn towards Azriel, telling him to open his when present were dumped on her lap. She looked up to see expectant faces. Suddenly nervous, she cleared her throat as she opened them one by one. An expensive pendant from Rhys, a gorgeous jacket from Amren, a sketchbook/diary from Mor embedded with her name on the cover and from Cassian.... A horrific pair of slippers. "I couldn't think of anything else," he said. "I was right... you suck at giving gifts." He pouted, making her heart soften a bit. "But, these slippers don't look that bad. I'll wear it every now and then," she relented and he stopped pouting immediately.

"Here, this is from Lucien. He stopped by earlier." Feyre said, handing her a small parcel. "Why didn't he stay?" Eve frowned; she had been looking forward to seeing him again, "he said he would." Feyre did not meet her eyes. Sighing, Eve opened the gift and smiled- it was a small miniature of New York as she had once described to him. She stared at it for eternity. "So your home is always with you," she read the note that was with it aloud and smiled, tears forming in her eyes. She was so busy looking at it that she did not notice how Elain had an angry look on her face, or how Azriel had stiffened and everyone else seemed to pause and look at the small city.

"He even added Mama's café." Eve said, inspecting it closely. "How did he know?" Az asked. "I drew him a few sketches and described it to him once. He remembered." Eve said, grateful for her friend. "What is that?" Mor asked, pointing to the yellow and black object. Eve laughed, "that is a cab." They went into another conversation as Feyre got up to give the last gift that was underneath the tree to Azriel. Elain perked up a bit at that, "oh, that is from me."

Az, who was still looking at Eve, opened the gift slowly. Tearing his gaze from her small smile, he looked down to see a bottle of tonic. "I had Madja make it for me," Elain explained. Azriel's brows narrowed at the mention of the family's preferred healer. "It's a powder to mix in with any drink." He looked at her, confused. "It's for the headaches everyone always gives you. Since you rub your temples so often." He blinked before laughing out loud. Eve looked up at that beautiful sound. Rhys and Cassian soon joined in, the later examining the bottle, impressed. "Thank you. This will be invaluable." Elain gave Eve a look that said she won- at what, Eve did not know.

"One last gift left, Shadowsinger," Eve said, once he had settled down. After what Elain had given him, she admitted he might not like her gift that much. Her thought behind the gift was more intense and emotional. She started having second thoughts just as he carefully opened the wrapper, a small blush coating his cheeks. 

Happy reading :)

XOXO,

the amazing author who has her finals coming up