A Court of Heritance and Destiny

Chapter 1 Amaya

She looked around, trying to calm her raging nerves. The room was the same one she had been in during those first days here. She was ready, or she hoped she was. Amaya started to walk around in the room, she was dressed in some simple clothes. Trying to make this first real meeting as normal as possible. If it even was possible... The sand in her hair moved around, making the edges unclear.

She sighed and sat down, looking up at the stars above the bed. She had tried to make a list of questions for today. Some things were just trivial, others more important. Like what date her real birthday was. Or things about her powers. She had filled a whole diary with her questions, debating whether to ask or not.

"Knock, knock." She stood up and looked over to where Orion was standing. Her mentor gave her a smile. "Nervus, Amaya?" He asked and walked in.

"Yea..." She pressed her hands towards her legs. "Sure that I am ready?" She had claimed that she was, that was why she had arranged for them to be here, but she needed to hear it from him one last time.

"That is a question only you can answer," He said back and picked up her hand, placing a soft kiss on it. "I can tell them that you need a moment longer."

"No." She can't push this forward anymore. Summer had come to the mountains, it was time to return. "I can do this." But she hesitated before taking another step.

"What?"

"Who will be there?" She asked. "Can you tell me."

"Rhysand, Ferye, Nyx and Ikarad." Orion started, his hand still holding hers in a firm grip. "Nesta and Cassian, Azriel Gwyn, The Morrigan and Emerie."

"So, my family, aunt and uncles." She repeated.

"Amren will be there too, me, and Etera."

"So everyone?"

"As you asked." She nodded, glad that she could hold on to his hand as she made herself ready. "I am there with you, Amaya, always." He pulled her into a final hug.

"I know." She whispered back, taking a final deep breath before the two left the room.

She held her breath before they came down the stairs, the paintings on the wall took her attention. The night sky, she remembered the mountain in some of them. The same summit as she had seen in her dreams was there now. Then it was the portrait.

She is in a safe place now. Nyx had told her. He had not been lying. In theory, no one here had lied to her. Her blood roared in her ears, drawing out everything as she came down to the lowest floor. What if they didn't like her? Or she didn't like them? What if she wasn't ready? What would she call them? By their names? Orion's hand reminded her to take a breath, and then another.

"Sure?" He asked one last time, his free hand ready to open the door.

"We will see." She said and let out one final breath as he opened the door.

She didn't know what she expected. But the silent mass of people spread around the room, all staring at her, was not it. The casual clothes, grand table with some simple snacks. It was so silent that one could hear a pin drop, strangely, it was not a pressing or uncomfortable silence. It was as if all sounds had left the room the moment she entered it. She looked between them all, some she recognized with ease. And others she could only guess.

"Hi." She lifted a hand, noticing how she still held onto Orion with her other hand. "I am Amaya." Now what? Everyone was waiting for something to happen. Then the spell broke.

Nyx walked forward, his steps confident and royal, his midnight blue eyes sparked as he stood before her.

"Hi Amaya, welcome home." A warm, welcoming hug engulfed her from her brother. And something deep inside of her clicked into place. Something that had been missing for so long, familiarity, safety.