𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐑 | morrigan

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧

Hours later, after Mrs. Laurent had hauled into a carriage crammed with the last of the staff, heading down to the village to catch transportation to wherever they all had family, there was a knock on the door. Marina assumed that that had to be Feyre's companions.

She send her sister a smile as the youngest went to open the door, while Nesta, Elain and herself waited in the large dinning room -- the most open space in the house. They were all standing by the window, in order from youngest to oldest.

Feyre stepped through the entryway of the dinning room, her companions three steps behind her. She crossed the room and took off her cloak, and all three of them starred at her clothes. The crown, the jewelry. Marina was happy for her sister, the fine clothes and expensive looking jewelry told her that her youngest sister was living a comfortable life, regarding money.

Then she took in the winged males behind her sister. Nesta and Elain had stiffened at the sight, at those mighty wings tucked in tight to powerful bodies, at the weapons, and then at the handsome faces of all three males.

Their weapons made Marina all too aware of the dagger strapped to her right tigh, but other than her sisters, their otherwordly beauty didn't affect her. She lifter her chin. Nesta took a not-so-subtle step in front of Elain, and ducked her fisted hand behind her simple, elegant amethyst gown. Marina shot her a warning look, Nesta shot a glare back. The interaction did not go unnoticed by Feyre's companions.

Feyre halted four feet away, as she said to the males, "My sisters, Marina, Nesta and Elain Archeron." Marina dipped her head, not quite a bow, but still a sign of respect. The males returned the gesture. Nesta and Elain were not as polite, standing still as statues.

"Cassian", Feyre continued, inclining her head to the left. Then she shifted to the right, "Azriel." Then she half turned, "And Rhysand, High Lord of the Night Court." He bowed to them. "Thank you for your hospotality -- and generosity", he said with a warm smile. But there was something strained in it. Nesta didn't even try to smile back, Elain failed miserably, and only Marina managed to return the High Lord's smile.

Nesta just looked at three males, then at Feyre, and said, "The cook left dinner on the table. We should eat before it goes cold." She didn't wait for any agreement before striding off -- to the chair on the left to the of the polished cherry table. She wouldn't dare disrespect her eldest sister by taking the seat at the head of table, even when she knew Marina wouldn't mind.

Elain rasped, "Nice to meet you", before hustling after Nesta, the silk skirts of her cobalt dress whispering over the parquet floor. Marina shook her head at her sisters behaviour before sending her sisters companions an apologizing smile, "Follow me."

Marina took the seat at the head of the table seeing as she was the lady of the house. Nesta was seated to her left, Elain next to her. Feyre took the seat to Marina's right, Cassian claimed the seat next to Elain, who clenched her fork as if she might wield it against him, and Rhysand slid into the seat beside Feyre, Azriel on his other side.

They all scooped food onto their plates. Poached salmon with dill and lemon from the hothouse, whipped potatoes, roast chicken with beets and turnips from the root cellar, and some casserole of egg, game meat and leeks.

Marina watched Rhysand dig into his chicken without hesitation, Cassian and Azriel ate as if they hadn't had a meal in months. She noticed Feyre take small bites, her face showing obvious distate. She decided not to comment on it, not wanting to make this dinner more awkward than it already was.

But Nesta didn't have such plans, "Is there something wrong with the food?" Marina sighed and shot her sister a glare in the process. Feyre took another bite before answering her, "No." But Nesta just had to push her, "So you can't eat normal food anymore -- or are you too good for it?" Rhysand's fork clanked on his plate. Elain made a small, disstressed noise, and Marina shot her another glare.