A Court of Fanfictions: Azriel

Chapter 6

Dinner was delicious. I had never eaten so much delicious food. Everything tasted spectacular. It was hard for me to stop after a second plate, but I didn't want to be rude. Although everyone assured me to eat more, I didn't.

I met Feyre's sisters. Nesta and Elain. Cassian and Nesta were so beautiful together. Not necessarily alike, but fit well. Rhysand and Feyre, though, they balanced perfectly together.

It made me wonder if I would ever find such a thing. I know mates exist, and I know that they're mates, but I also know that not all mates love each other. But do all mates start off loving each other? Perhaps so...Maybe the millennials and centuries and decades of love cause falling outs. But imagine, just imagine being so in love with someone and getting the opportunity to spend hundreds and thousands of years with them.

Beautiful.

I woke up this morning and wanted to bathe. Although, I had no idea how to work the bath. We had never even had one at my hovel. We washed in the lake or river usually. And at the farm I was first placed, the men used the bathing room, and I filled a bucket at the spout to use. I had never even had a full bath before.

Would it be embarrassing to ask? Perhaps I'd ask Azriel today. He seemed nice. He was nice. Is nice. Or maybe I'd take Elain up on her offer to go to her garden. Maybe. Likely not. I'd like to have time to myself today. To sit.

I walked back to my bedroom, too puzzled by the bathing room contraption to even attempt. The last thing I'd want to do is break something here. On my bed, a pair of leggings and a simple white sweater laid. I changed into them, placing on the boots that fit as well. I could smell the food. The delightful food.

I exited the room and silently stepped down the stairs to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Nuala was scraping scrambled eggs onto a plate. The plates next to them held toasted pieces of bread, sausage, and fruits. My stomach growled at the sight.

She lifted the plate of eggs and bread and gave me her best friendly smile. "Can I help?" I offered. She shook her head no, but I ignored her as I picked up the fruit and meat plates and carried them into the dining room behind her. As I sat them down, she nodded her thanks with another wanting-to-be-friendly smile, and exited. But I caught her before she left the room.

"Would it be weird," I blurted as she turned around, "...if I ate outside?" She shook her head furiously as if to say absolutely not. Now it was my turn to give a friendly smile and nod. "Thank you," I added, and she turned to leave. I didn't interrupt her this time, but I filled my plate with an assortment of breakfast items and went outside to sit.

There was a small black iron table outside with matching chairs. I sat beneath it, soaking up the warm sunshine on the cold morning. It felt amazing. The warmth against my pale skin, the coldness counteracting it, creating the perfect temperature.

"Do you care for company?" A deep voice said from behind me. I turned, already knowing who it was. Azriel stood behind me, dressed in simple black clothes. I was shocked to see him not in his fighting leathers.

"You're welcomed to me anytime," I replied, slightly cringing internally at how sultry it sounded coming out. Azriel seemed not to mind as he sat across from me, placing his plate down with a glass of water. A simple yes would have been fine, Kortnee, I scorned myself.

"Do you have any plans today?" I asked him, trying to avoid thinking. He nodded, the sunlight dancing on his dark hair. Then, he looked at me. For whatever reason, it made my heart lurch. Being under his full intense gaze, as if I was the only thing in this world he was thinking about. "I thought I could take you around Velaris. A tour," he answered.

I nodded. Mostly because I couldn't form words immediately. "Okay," I agreed finally. A trickle of relief washed over his eyes. "But I have a condition," I said. His eyebrows furrowed.

"And you can't make fun," I added. One side of his mouth turned upward, as if telling me to proceed with my ridiculous request. "You have to show me how to use the bath," I spoke. He grinned with amusement, but he didn't dare let a laugh out.

"I can do that," he answered. I grinned back at him. "I've just never seen one before, and I don't want to break it or something," I explained. This, however, he chuckled at. "I'm sure Rhys could afford to replace it," he assured me, and I let a small chuckle out myself.

"But yes," he continued, "I will show you how to use the bath." I did a small dip with my chin, and we proceeded to eat breakfast together.

•••

"This is the Sidra," he said, leaning against the iron bridge. The giant river flowing beneath us with an intensity I imagined occurred in every warrior's bones. "It's beautiful. All of it is," I replied. Another tiny raise of a corner of his mouth as he turned and braced his forearms to the bannister.

"It truly, truly is," he agreed. I stood beside him, facing the Sidra that came from the gorgeous purple and blue mountains with snow caps on them. I leaned my hips against the barrier and looked over the edge. At least sixty feet, likely more.

As I leaned back up, a large gust of wind rushed against me, blowing my hair behind me and the excess of my sweater backwards, too. It smelled of fresh water and pine trees and a certain sweetness. Peaches, maybe.

As the wind calmed, I smiled and looked to Azriel. He was smiling back to me as another, smaller gust came through, knocking my hair all around me. I laughed as I tried to tame it, causing him to stand up to face me. The wind stopped, but our small laughs continued.

"That was aggressive," I laughed. He smiled with a small chuckle, small dimples revealing on his cheeks. I gasped. "You have dimples!" I exclaimed.

And had the wind and chilly weather not already caused his cheeks to turn a light pink, I'd swear he was blushing.

"I do," he said, and I couldn't help but smile up at him. He is so beautiful. Silky golden brown skin and gorgeous hazel eyes. Even the shadows that danced around him were beautiful as part of him.

"I have another question," I told him. "Let's hear it," he replied. "My wings...could you...show me how to use them, maybe?" I asked.

His face became serious.

"Actually, Kortnee, that's part of the reason I wanted to get you out today," he started. "We believe that Briallyn is attempting to create an army of...hybrid Fae. Trying to create the most powerful and ruthless soldiers."

I nodded to him to indicate my listening.

"So, we think having you as part of our team would be a great asset. You have an upper hand against her that none of us have."

I nodded again, taking in the words.

"Would you want to do that?" He asked. My eyebrows furrowed down. "Do what? Help you?" I clarified. He nodded, his face serious.

"What? Yes, of course! You didn't have to ask!" I exclaimed. His face loosened instantly. "I didn't want you to feel obligated. It's your choice," he told me. I nodded. "I know that...but, I'm not sure how helpful I'll be," I explained, "I can't fly and can't access my powers..."

He flashed a bright smile at me.

"That's what training's for."