Battle Scars

Lavender haze

Eris was already standing with his hands in his pockets, looking bored when Eve and Az shadow-travelled in. "Eris," she greeted him once the shadows had dispersed, "how are you?"

He quirked his brow, "considering the news of my soldiers and what happened the last time you and I met, how do you, Lady Eve, think I am doing?" His tone was bitter and angry.

She internally winced- it had been a poor choice of words. "Apologies," she rushed out, truly feeling as if she had stepped on something delicate. Az let his wings uncurl a bit, making the Autumn Lord huff even as he shifted on his feet.

"Why is he here?" He asked finally. Eve shrugged, "He is my ride back." To say Az was here for her protection would only make Eris- their ally- bristle and alienated. Eris turned to face Az, smirking. "How does the air here feel to you? The camps aren't that far away, after all. All kinds of brutes fighting day and night."

Azriel's shadows swirled around him. "Better than how you feel in your palace, Autumn Heir." He replied coldly. Eve bit her lip. And when Eris did not reply, only glaring back, Eve started before any one of them could turn this into another issue. "I would like to start my expressing my condolences for your soldiers. Briallyn had sent them after us not a few days ago. Three of them are dead by my hand."

"Did you feel a sense of pride? Of accomplishment?" He asked, sneering.

"No. I felt regret and pain." She replied candidly. "I wish I could have disarmed them or hit them unconscious but they were much too fast and rabid under her influence that had I not killed the first three advancing at me, I would have been dead." Az had become a statue beside her.

Eris remained silent. "She is too vengeful. And needs to be stopped. And that is why, Eris, I hope you know that your allyship is important to us. That to defeat her we both need each other equally. And to show our support to you, as a gesture," Eve inhaled, "we wish you will accept our invite to the Court of Nightmares three weeks from now."

"Is this Rhysand' way to make up to me? Rather easy, isn't it?" He spoke. Beside her, Az tensed.

"Come to the court, and you will see it is not. There will be open show of our support in front of the Hewn City denizen and Keir himself." She let the rest of her words hang in the air. Slowly, he nodded. "He better be prepared to make it worth my while."

Eve did not reply. She did not have too.

****************************

The evening brought with it a touch of gloominess. The skies had greyed and the fire that had been flaming high had become a remanent of its previous glory. The light that filtered the room was scarce and Eve noted that Az could use some more lamps placed strategically over the cottage. The rest of their meeting with Eris had gone almost smoothly with Az only threatening Eris twice. Eve took that as a win.

They had an early dinner- as soon as they had come back from meeting Eris. Az had remained silent for some time after as if he were contemplating each and every word that had transpired between her and Eris. Eve had not known what to do then, especially when he had muttered something about changing his clothes and had locked himself in the room for twenty minutes.

Eve had not gone after him. She felt as if he had needed his space and her decision had turned out to be right when he came down later looking determined and upturned, away from his previous darker mood.

They sat on the island kitchen now, eating. "Everything alright?" she asked him softly. He nodded, giving her a smile, which seemed a bit forced. "I just needed to clear something off my mind." Eve hummed in response; ever understanding.

"You still have to give me a tour of this beautiful place," she informed. This time, a real delighted expression came on his face. He nodded. There was nothing more he would love to do.