Battle Scars

The Prythian list

Eve sat on the ledge of the House of Wind, staring down, her legs swinging in the air. A few shadows were curled around her feet as she stared at the horizon. The view this angle offered was priceless and so very enchanting. The Sidra glimmered under the sun's evening rays and if she squinted, she could see a seagull in a distance, diving towards the water. The multitude of colours which were splashed in front of her made all her thoughts ebb away. Her mind, for what felt like the first time in a long while, was quiet. Not blank but peaceful quiet. She enjoyed the calmness the scene had to offer, cherishing it.

Azriel, wrapped in his shadows, observed as his mate sat on a dangerously thin ledge, leaning forward. Few of his shadows were curled protectively near her feet which he doubted she didn't notice. He waited there for a few moments before deciding to interrupt her as she started to lean a bit more forward.

"How far is the ground?" she voiced and he wasn't surprised she sensed his presence without turning. "Four hundred feet, give or take," he shrugged. She hummed- small steps- considering, before turning towards him. "And how fast can you fly, Shadowsinger?" There was a competitive gleam in her eyes that made him ruffle his wings before saying, "fast." She gave him a wild, deranged smile before shouting, "catch me if you can then," before jumping.

His heart gave out as he watched her figure disappear from his line of sight. Cursing, his shadows darkening, he jumped after her. She was the opposite of his state- where he felt panic and fear course through his veins, she had a wide smile on her face, her hands beside her as if she was flapping. She gave out a shriek full of thrill before he caught up with her. "Are you mad?" he hissed at her, his hands snaking around her waist. She simply gave him a smile that confirmed his theory as he made his way up again, her hair blown.

"I knew you would catch me," she shrugged as he patiently waited for an explanation with her being placed far away from jumping distance by him. "You could have warned me," he said, his eyes swirling with some unnamed emotion. "Oh come on, Az, it was thrilling! And adventurous and fun!" she said, her eyes still dancing. "You could've di- gotten hurt badly," he countered. "But I didn't, for you were there," she said, soothingly, before coming up towards him. "I just wanted to feel the excitement again, it felt freeing," she breathed and he finally nodded. "Next time," for he knew her well, "give me a warning." Eve' smile only widened, "what's the fun in that?" Mother save him... even as a ghost of a smile made his way onto his face.

*********

Azriel sat on the long dinner table as Amren, Rhys, Feyre and Mor conversed. Others were all busy. Rhys and Feyre kept giving him glances which he found more and more irritating by the second. They looked as if they wanted to say something but thought better of it, resorting to worried looks instead.

"You are leaving?" Amren asked out of the blue to Eve and he blinked, not knowing what she meant. Leaving? Where? When? Eve nodded, "how did you...?" Amren shrugged, "I am the Second-in-Command," she replied and Eve sighed. "Well, yes, I was planning on leaving in a few days," she admitted.

Amren wanted to ask questions about the Cauldron, about the tattoo that was inked in Eve' arms, Rhys too, before Eve' departure but they both refrained as their High Lady bade them too. Even though the curiosity was killing them inside.

Azriel stiffened. "Where?" he asked. "A Prythian tour..." "But- what about-" Az tried to come up with something but failed. Luckily Eve understood what he meant, "I don't have anything keeping me here, and I have a life time to make something out of myself. Right now, I want to travel," she said, recalling Theodore' stories from shores far away.

"When will you return this time?" Mor asked, her hands tightly fisted around the silver spoon as she kept herself from looking at Azriel' reaction. Azriel in question, turned to Rhys and demanded, "and when was I to know?" Rhys gave him an expressionless look before saying, "about now." Azriel bit his snarl.

"Az?" Eve asked, uncertainly. He turned towards her; his demeanour softer. "Come with me," she said and got up. He followed. "Are you- I-" she shifted on her feet, trying to come up with something. What could she say? Are you okay? He clearly wasn't. I am going to miss you? Well, she could have said that at the dinner table too. She did not know why she had a strong urge to hug him, soothe him... kiss him, but she refrained. Not now. Maybe when she got better and if he was waiting. Thankfully, saving her the pain to come up with something, Azriel started.

"Is this why you had the Prythian book that day?" he asked and she nodded. "Nesta was helping me be more assertive, I went to Feyre after that, asking to leave Velaris," Eve said for she wasn't oblivious how the High Lord and Lady looked at her tattoo with curious and half cautious glances.

"I-" Az was pretty helpless right now and he hated that feeling. He wanted to spill she was his mate and he loved her and wished her to stay but, he wanted her to go heal first. She wanted that so who was he to stand in her way? No one, for she deserved to heal without further baggage.

Eve gave him a small smile before slowly hugging him, giving him the chance to back off, but he didn't. Instead, he hugged her too, hoping to convey his emotions through it. 

Happy reading :)

XOXO,

the amazing author who has 4 more papers left