Nightfully ;Azriel

40

They were not to be allowed within the keep. To see their defenses, their resources.The guardhouse was as far as they'd allow them.They led the group inside, and though they tried to keep our otherness to a minimum ... The hounds leashedto the walls within snarled. Viciously enough that the guards led them out.

Nesta was watching Feyre carefully. she admitted to her, "Sometimes ... I have problems with smallspaces."

 Nesta studied her for a long moment. And then she said with equal quiet, though they could all hear,"I can't get into a bathtub anymore. I have to use buckets."

"When we get home, we'll install something elsefor you."

Althea decided she would tell Feyre as well when the time was right, but at the same time she wanted to get over the fear.

"Two dozen guards," Azriel murmured to Rhysand. A glance at Elain. "And Lord Graysen and hisfather, Lord Nolan."

Elain went still as a doe as footsteps crunched outside. The three sisters shared a look as they looked at Elain, the three of them would do anything necessary if it meant they had to protect her. Their flower.  But the door banged open, and—The panting young man was so ... human-looking.Handsome, brown-haired, blue-eyed, but ... human. Solidly built beneath his light armor, tall—perhaps a mortal ideal of a knight who would swoop a beautiful maiden onto his horse and ride offinto the sunset.

His eyes looked over Elain as if he was checking if she was real or not. He sighed and relief and tried to take a step forward but a guard put his hand out stopping him from taking any steps. "What is the meaning of this."

"Sir—Lord Nolan ..." Words failed her as she again looked at her betrothed,who had not taken his earnest blue eyes from her, not for a heartbeat. 

"The wall has come down," Nesta said, stepping to Elain's side.Graysen looked to Nesta at that. Shock flared at what he beheld: the ears, the beauty, the ...otherworldly power that thrummed around her. 

"How," he said, his voice low and raspy. 

"I was kidnapped," Nesta answered coolly, not one flicker of fear in her eyes. "I was taken by thearmy invading these lands and turned against my will. They were the men who killed your son." 

"How," Nolan echoed, pain evident at the mention of Benjamin.

"There is a Cauldron—a weapon. It grants its owner power to ... do such things. I was a test."Nesta then launched into a sharp, short explanation of the queens, of Hybern, of why the wall hadfallen. 

When she finished Lord Nolan only demanded, "And who are your companions?"

Althea had kept her body behind Azriel hoping they wouldn't notice her. She was not ready to face them. "My name is Feyre Archeron. I am High Lady of the Night Court. This isRhysand, my—husband."

Rhysand came to her side. Some of the guards shifted and murmured with terror. Some flinched at thehand Rhysand lifted—to gesture behind him. "Our third in command, Morrigan. And our spymaster,Azriel." his eyes fell onto Althea and he pondered for a moment. "And Althea, my sister in law." 

She was thankful he hadn't called her a witch, not in front of them anyways. Lord Nolan, to his credit, did not blanch. His eyes trained on her, Azriel moved in front of her to block off his gaze. 

Graysen though did, but remained steady. "Elain," Graysenbreathed. "Elain—why are you with them?" 

"Because she is our sister," Nesta answered, her fingers still curled with those invisible talons."And there is no safer place for her during this war than with us."