Battle Scars

Son of the sun

Eve was dreaming again. It wasn't about Mike, or the Cauldron or the war. It was about a place far away, in the midst of lush green trees that shrouded the land beneath and skies that were strikingly bright. The sun shone clear on the sparkling water that surrounded the island with its serenity. A male stood near that very shore smiling. His face had a gentle countenance but there was something in his eyes that bespoke cruelty. Eve wanted to get out of there. He smiled wider as his eyes found her- looking straight into her soul. She tried opening her eyes but to no avail. He raised his hand and mouthed something that had her scream.

Eve gasped as she jerked awake. There was a sheen of sweat on her forehead and someone was already beside her, smoothening her hair in a repetitive soothing motion. Azriel.

"Bad dream?" he asked. She nodded before shaking her head, "I don't remember. It was- it was not a dream but more like a- I don't know."

"It's alright. You are alright." She looked at him, searching him for any signs of distress. There was nothing but concern. "And everyone else? Everything else? You?" "All fine," he promised her, giving her a side grin she found contagious. Eve nodded her head slowly, breathing in sync with him till she found her footing again. "Okay," she said. "Okay."

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Helion was here, along with his infamous Pegasus. She stood near the window along with Nesta. Her friend had come from her room stone-faced but Eve knew. She had given her a sly smile to which she had only hissed her warning, pink dusting her cheeks in the slightest.

"How is Helion?" Nesta asked as they waited. "He is intelligent. Far intelligent that what one might think when they first meet him, swayed easily by his flirting and appearance. Remember that it is his armour, and he can be just as deadly as he is charming." Nesta nodded just as one of Az' shadows- the smallest one- found Eve, twirling around her wrist.

"They are here," Eve informed Nesta. She cocked her brow, "you can understand the shadow?" Eve laughed, shaking her head, "I don't like to lay all my cards on the table, Nes. This one remains a secret."

Eve turned away from the window, facing the door as chattering filled the hallway. "Ten bucks he flirts with you," Eve whispered. "Fifteen," Nesta replied in a beat, smirking, "and within two minutes." Eve giggled, delighted.

Helion's entry was, as always, like the blinding entry of the sun. He truly embodied being the High Lord of the Day to his heart with his shiny accessories, gold-plated dresses and blinding smile. The son of the Day.

Helion offered a bow of his head, the epitome of courtly grace once he entered. "Lady Nesta."

Nesta bobbed a curtsy, but her eyes cut to Feyre. "Lady?" Feyre shrugged. "He's being polite." Nesta slid her eyes to Cassian's. "Now I understand why you find the title grating." He smiled, and Helion blinked- as if shocked she'd forgotten a High Lord stood before her. Eve hid her laughter as more of Azriel's shadows came near her, as if to fend her from Helion's harmless advances.

Cassian said to her, "It never gets easier."

Helion turned to her in that pause, giving her a warm smile. "You look as amazing as always." Eve gave him a small smile, "so do you. How is everything back at your home?" His eyes twinkled even as his shoulders stiffened, "it is a good thing we shine so brightly." Dark times were ahead of them. Eve understood. "We make best of it." He inclined his head, as if in agreement.

Nesta faced Helion again, taking in that spiked golden crown and the draped white robe. "Was that your winged horse that flew over earlier?"

Helion's smile was a thing of cultivated beauty. "He is my finest stallion." "He's lovely." "As are you." Nesta angled her head as Eve found herself on her toes in amusement, waiting for her reply. Feyre and Rhys seemed to be trying not to laugh, and Azriel was the portrait of cool boredom although his shadows told her a different story.