A Court so Cruel and Lovely

Chapter Six

Grass tickled my ears. My eyelids fluttered open. Standing above me was the heir of the Spring Court.

"Wh-what's going on? How am I alive?" I asked.

"I brought you away after my father and brothers left and I healed you," he responded.

I stared at him, confused.

"I have to get you away from here," he continued. "Your brother thinks you're dead."

I didn't respond.

"I've made some arrangements in a different Fae realm. It's called Elfhame," he explained, "Their High King has agreed to adopt you. You will be safer there. Do you understand?"

I nodded in response. "But my mother?"

"My father cut her wings off and hung them in a frame in his study. He sent her head to the nearest Illyrian camp," his tone reflected his sorrow.

I did not cry. I took his proffered hand and let him winnow me to Elfhame.

***

Elfhame was made up of three islands: Insweal, the Isle of Woe, Insmire, the Isle of Might, and Insmoor, Isle of Stone. The High King's palace was on the Insmoor. Tamlin's brother gave me a tour of all the islands before taking me to meet the High King himself.

"Your Majesty," he bowed, introducing me. "Princess Selene of the Night Court."

I curtsied. The High King was rather old looking. His face was lined from age, his hair was like spun gold. His eyes were bronze and his hands were decorated with rings.

"Welcome Selene," Eldred said. "You may rise. I'm sure Thorne has told you I've chosen to adopt you?"

"Yes, sir," I said, rising from my curtsy. Thorne did the same next to me.

"Good. You shall be staying with my eldest son, Balekin in his demesne," the High King said, making a notion towards the son who must've been Balekin. "It will take you some time to adjust but I have no doubt that you will adjust in time."

"You'll find I'm very adjustable, Majesty," I responded.

The High King stepped down from his throne, taking a golden leaf crown from the male next to him. He placed it on my bowed head.

"I crown you a Princess of Elfhame," Eldred's voice was steady. "We will send for a seamstress in the morrow."

I nodded and allowed Balekin to lead me to his home, Hollow Hall. My jaw nearly unhinged at the talking door but it was the mortal servants that really shocked me.

Never in the 30 years I've been alive had we in the Night Court ever had human servants. Our outward reputation may be horrendous but we've never kept human servants. The Court of Nightmares doesn't even keep human servants.

"Did you not have servants in the Night Court?" Balekin asked.

"We did but not human ones," I scoffed. "We may be cruel but we did not keep humans as servants. We fought for them in the War."

"You were removed from the campgrounds, were you not," he retorted.

I went silent. He was right, of course. The faeries here - the Folk of the Air - cannot lie. So unlike the Fae of Prythian. And their sleep schedules are different - they sleep through the day and wake in the night.

I might actually not be able to adjust as quickly as I thought. It would take a while to readjust my entire sleep schedule. Needless to say, I had a lot of adjusting to do.

***

The next day, a seamstress named Brambleweft came to take my measurements. I stood on a box, arms outstretched, with Brambleweft measuring the length of my arms. I'd done the same routine multiple times with my mother. She would re-measure me as I grew so my gowns would always fit.

I missed her so much, I cried in the bath while the servants bathed me, while they took my clothes and washed them. I was wearing said clothes all over again until I got new ones. Brambleweft's voice brought me out of my reverie.

"... Pick some fabrics and I shall make you a great many clothes," she said, her voice was slightly croaky.

I nodded and walked to the fabrics laid out on the couches. They were all beautiful. There were fabrics that were so dark a blue they nearly looked black, and fabrics that changed color in different lighting. I choose several different fabrics, the dark-nearly black blue fabric, the color changing one, a few black fabrics, a violet one and some gold ones.

Brambleweft gathered up those fabrics and said to me, "I will send you the garments when I am finished with them."

It reminded me of my mother's words to me: "It's not done yet but when it is done, I will let you have it." I had to garner every bit of self-restraint to avoid crying. She had given me that dress. I'd only worn it once and now I might never wear it again.

Balekin turned to me. "You will be attending palace school. To learn the ways of the Fae of Elfhame."

"Aren't I too old for that?" I asked.

"Fae may attend the palace school at any age," Balekin responded. "I cannot assure that you will be necessarily safe."

I nodded again. I'd been doing a lot of that lately - nodding - rather than verbally responding. Everytime I opened my mouth I felt like breaking down into tears. So I stayed quiet.

I went upstairs to my room. It was then I realized all of my clothes from Prythian were on my bed. On top of the pile was a simple not that read:

I decided to have a spy infiltrate your room and bring your clothes. Some of your gowns are in your wardrobe.
- T

Under the sign off was the Spring Court insignia. Thorne. But how did he get a spy into the Night Court? How did he get them into Velaris? Did he have spies in the Night Court?

I shook the thoughts from my head. One day, I'll figure it out. Hopefully.