A Court of Chaos and Confusion - An ACOTAR Rewrite

Chapter 16

The next day the blood of the faerie had been cleaned up by the time I had picked at my food, washed, and dressed. I'd taken my time this morning, and it was nearly noon as I stood atop the staircase, peering down at the entry hall below to make sure it was gone.

I'd been set on finding Tamlin and explaining – truly explaining – how sorry I was about Andras. If I was supposed to stay here, stay with him, then I could at least attempt to repair what I'd ruined. I glanced to the large window behind me, the view so sweeping that I could see all the way to the reflecting pool beyond the garden.

The water was still enough that the vibrant sky and fat, puffy clouds above were flawlessly reflected. I might have remained staring out toward that spot of color, light, and texture had Tamlin and Lucien not emerged from another wing of the manor, discussing some border patrol or another. They fell silent as I came down the stairs, and Lucien strode right out the front door without so much as a good morning – just a casual wave tossed in my direction – not even seeing my small wave in response. Not a vicious gesture, but he clearly had no intention of joining the conversation that Tamlin and I were about to have. I suppressed a sigh.

I glanced around but Tam pointed to the open front doors through which Lucien had exited. Beyond them, I could see both of our horses, already saddled and waiting. Lucien was already climbing into the saddle of a third horse. I turned to Tamlin.

Stay with him; he will keep me safe, and things will get better. Fine. I could do that.

"Where are we going?" My words were hesitant.

"My ... meeting was postponed. I thought we'd go for a ride – no killing involved. Or naga to worry about." Even as he finished with a half smile, sorrow flickered in his eyes. Indeed, I'd had enough death in the past two days. Enough of killing faeries – killing anything. No weapons were sheathed at his side or on his baldric – but I didn't miss the knife that glinted at his boot.

Where had he buried that faerie? A High Lord digging a grave for a stranger. I might not have believed it if I'd been told, might not have believed it if he hadn't offered me sanctuary rather than death.

"Where to?" I asked. He only smiled.

***

I couldn't come up with any words once we arrived – and knew that even if I had been able to paint it, nothing would have done it justice. It wasn't simply that it was the most beautiful place I'd ever been to, or that it filled me with both longing and mirth, but it just seemed... right. As if the colors, lights, and patterns of the world had come together to form one perfect place – one true bit of beauty. And after last night, it was exactly where I needed to be.

We sat atop a grassy knoll, overlooking a glade of oaks so wide and high they could have been the pillars and spires of an ancient castle. Shimmering tufts of dandelion fluff drifted by, and the floor of the clearing was carpeted with swaying crocuses, snowdrops, and bluebells. It was an hour or two past noon by the time we arrived, but the light was thick and golden.

Though the three of us were alone, I could have sworn I heard singing. I hugged my knees and drank in the glen.

"We brought a blanket," Tamlin said, and I looked over my shoulder to see him jerk his chin to the purple blanket they'd laid out a few feet away. Lucien plopped down onto it and stretched his legs. Tamlin remained standing, waiting for my response.

Tracing my hand through the feather-soft grass – I'd never felt grass like it – I shook my head. I didn't want to ruin the experience by sitting on a blanket quite yet, though the thought was appreciated. The idea of being that close, that casual, with both High Fae was enough to make my stomach do flips.