A Court of Fire and Lies

Winter

The shadows disappear melting into the crunching snow beneath my feet as a freezing blast of air hits me. I take in my surroundings but the snow covers most everything. The air feels different here then at the night court or at the Spring Court. As if there is a permanent icyness to it that fails to fall away. My teeth start to chatter as I look down at my clothes. The long dress does nothing to warm my legs nor the sleeveless and deep neck of it is useless, this might have been perfect for the ever lasting warmth of the Spring Court but here wherever I am is pointless. My fingers a lady numb as snow swirls around me continually in a motion that makes my head spin as I gather the dress and bring it up around my shoulders, it's so long that it still covers my legs. Ianthe would still be looking for me but there is still one problem, I seem to be able to winnow out of fear or if I'm desperate but just doing it feels impossible. Though I will have to figure something out, what if she it's Tamlin I just vanished. And I know who he will blame immediately for my disappearance. Rhys. I start to move through the thick snow my legs sinking into the snow,  my thin flats soggy and useless to protect my toes. The air is frigid as I pass through what seems to be a forest, I cover my face except my eyes with the cloth of the gown, breathing heavily, each breath hoarse and raspy. My throat dry and eyes burning from the frigid air, from the needle  like wind that howls in my ears. I continue on for at least a mile until my legs feel like they can't move an inch any further. Nearly collapsing I finally look up to see something towering in the distance but I falter and collapse on the ground, my whole body shaking as my face hits the snow. This doesn't feel like the night court. Oh must be somewhere else, besides I'm sure Rhys would now when I immediately hit night court territory, so if I'm not there then where is here? And just as my eyes close it hits me. I'm in the winter court. 

My eyes slowly open as an icy blue room comes into view. I look up to see towering ceilings, crystals of ice hanging down. A few flickering candles dotting the room nothing too bright as the room is softly aglow. And suddenly people flock towards me with worrisome expressions that raise a sense of fear in me. 

"Are you okay?"

"Who are you?" 

"Where did you come from."

My voice raspy as I reply, "could I get some water?" 

They seem stunned for a second, they really didn't know who I am? I kind of saved the world about a year ago so you think they might remember that. A second later a gold encrusted goblet of hot water touches my lips, soothing my throat and easing the ache in my stomach for the questions that made me want to throw up. Setting down the goblet down I take in my surroundings. The room has a slight chill in the air as if the cold is trying to sleep in slowly but failing as it touches the walls. To my left I see a window and hope rises in me. Maybe I can at least know what time it is. But a pillar blockers half of it and when I crane my neck a curtain of layered lace encloses the other half. And then I feel hopeless as I look to my right for anything but a fireplace roars in the center of a wall. No clocks, dim lighting. Very few things sit in this room. A chair, a vanity a large painting of someone. I recognize him to be the king. He looks strong and brave. Looking at his picture he wears a white suit with a small crown upon his head which from this a a gel appears to be made out of diamonds and pearls. The painting has few colors along with everything else in this room. All things are either white, grey or a soft blue nothing too bright or colorful. I had never been to or seen the winter court before so I am amazed by how beautiful it all is. The walls glistening as if they have diamonds embedded in them. My bed large, pale th of space for a few more people. Laying on it sits a thick blanket and then a soft fur coating the top of it, keeping in the warmth. The touch of it so luxurious. I grieve to want to make the moment last but they are starting at me, obviously waiting for my answers to their questions but I pretend not to see them as a maid dressed in all white with white hair, and a pale face enters the room holding a large silver colored tray. The smell enters the room and my mouth slightly waters at the strong aroma of savory and sweet. The door closes automatically and locks as she walks smoothly over to me, her face not moving and inch as I study her features small and dainty. Her back straight and posed, the feeling of her gave off determination and diligence. Her hair a pure white color and eyes a vibrant turquoise that seem to look NE straight in the eye with no fear. Looking around I see everyone looks like this. White hair, pale face except the others are dressed in all shades of blue,  but none wear anything darker than the indigo as she sets a tray of steaming food in front of me. It felt weird. These people don't know me. My winnowing skills obviously suck since I thought I had willed myself into the night court but instead I found myself in a snow storm miles a way from a mysterious castle. But as I look down at the tray of food my stomach turns and a surge of anger runs through my body as I let out a heavy sigh, the feeling to just run overwhelming me. All I want to do is run and just as my left leg shifts just so slightly a woman appears at the end of my bed and my leg jerks back to its place. 

"Are you not hungry, you should really eat something considering your state." 

"What state?" I say swallowing heavily.

"Well you are very weak and well that's all we know really." Her voice is soft and sweet as her hand curls around a bed post. Examining her face you would see the slight curve of a silver tatto that runs from the top of her neck till it disappears down her plunging neckline of a pure white dress. Wearing a small tiara speckled with glittering diamonds with small thread attached to pieces of the tiara that hang down around her hair looking like dripping icicles. You hear the click of heels as she moves to the left side of my bed and takes a seat, weighing very little for she barely makes a dent though her height would say different. 

She is quiet for a moment and just looks upon my arm that he holds the hidden mark of the mating bond, hidden as if ashamed of what is real and not the false hope, false love I share with Tamlin. Just saying his name in my head makes me wish I could punch him in the throat. He pretty much did it again but slightly less this time. He locked me up, not in the manor but with a woman that can still shake the fear in my chest. I hid my arm under the covers and her eyes flicker to mine as she says, "Who are you?" 

The urge to lie runs through me but I already know Ianthe nut have already sent out a search party for me. That bitch thinks she own the Spring Court, Tamlin who seems to have parted her off so effortlessly. It makes me wonder what happened between them while just was away for all those months. How come I was asked to spill my guts to him but any mention of the past sends him to a shameful corner. And who knows what Ianthe has planned for me and Tamlin? She's nuts and has her hands in so deep of the past her hands are dripping in it. The memory of her sprawled out on Rhys bed makes me want to vomit my guts up. And people called Rhys a whore. Little did they all know that she lurked beneath the shadows flirting her way through all of her dark deeds that she has gone through and through for. She's practically the reason of why I almost didn't learn to control my powers. Not on my will  take her down when I leave the winter court but I will make her pay to every last drop of blood she's spilled, share her every secret and bare her flesh raw as she did my sister's. I feel something touch my hand and am ripped violently from my thoughts of revenge to see a delicate hand rested upon mine.

"So what is your name?"

I don't lie but tell of a warriors name said many a time rolled of the lips of many a tongue. 

I clear my throat, "I am Feyre. The cursebreaker." And suddenly everything is quiet.