The High King and Queen of Elfhame- Jurdan Human AU

Chapter 11- Jude

A/N- hey! I don't really have much to say lol, but enjoy! The next chapter will be something a little more like the books, if you can guess...

***

Jude sighed and checked her watch. Cardan was late. Again. He had been late every morning for the past two weeks, and was being so difficult. Jude knew it was the party. Most likely the incident had freaked him out. That had to be it.

    Cardan stepped into the rink without a care in the world. Jude walked up to him.

    "Hey. You're late. Again." Cardan scowled at her, bumping his shoulder into her's as she walked past him.

    "Okay, what the hell is wrong with you? You've been an asshole all week to me. I thought we were-"

    "You thought we were what, friends?" Cardan scoffed. "As if I would ever be friends with you." Jude glared at him, bumping her shoulder into his as she barged past.

    "Fuck you, Greenbriar." She stormed off to the changing room.

    "Oh, I'm sure you'd love to." He called after her. Stupid, entitled prick. Had the party really scared him that much? They were both drunk. Even as Jude thought that, she knew deep down they were both nowhere near drunk. Whatever happened at that party had been building for a long time. And neither of them knew how to deal with the fallout.

***

Jude gulped, staring at Cardan. His face was expressionless. This would be the first time they would be practicing a difficult throw on the ice with no harness. Oriana had taught them simple throws that weren't difficult enough to be in their routine, and Jude had been terrified. Absolutely terrified. Cardan stared at her with grim determination etched into his face. He skated over to her, extending a hand and staring deep into her eyes. His gaze had always unsettled her, now more than ever.
Whatever had come between them now, Jude knew that Cardan wouldn't let her fall. She hoped. She took his hand in hers.

    Cardan placed his left hand on her waist, and they started skating forwards. Her heart beat quickly in her ears, her breath coming in rapid pants. In the distance she heard Oriana warning other skaters out of the way. She knew all eyes would now be on them. She turned her head to face Cardan's as they approached the spot on the ice where he would throw her. Jude knew she only had to do a single rotation, but she was still terrified.

    Jude felt Cardan's right hand land on her waist. She held her breath as her skates left the ice. She picked her point on the side of the rink, and felt the force of Cardan's throw spin her slightly. She turned her body so she would complete her rotation, and lifted her left leg as her right skate met the ice, gliding smoothly with her arms extended. She grinned widely as she skated back to Cardan. Pride flickered across his features, and Jude stopped abruptly before him, laughing as she grabbed his forearms to steady herself. She looked around at Oriana, who beckoned them over, phone in hand. Cardan placed a hand on the small of her back, his touch scorching her skin through her top. They pulled up beside Oriana.

    "Excellent work, you two. As usual you can work on your poise, Jude, but not bad for a first try." Jude rolled her eyes at Oriana good naturedly. She was surprised by how much she warmed to Oriana over the past few weeks. She tapped on her phone screen.

    "I've set up an Instagram account for you two. Which photo do you think looks better?" She turned her phone to face them. The picture from after Cardan caught her in the gym glared out at them. Jude knew it was good publicity to have an account, but she felt her throat tighten at how intimate they looked. Like they had been friends for years. More than friends. They looked at each other like there was no one else in the room. She was leaning against his chest, looking up at him.