Azriel's Tale

Azriel's Tale - Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12:

"I've been to these palaces many times before," Rhysand called aloud. "But I'm always surprised how lovely they look when I return." They were all in the Dawn Court in Thesan's palaces. Indeed, Rhysand was not exaggerating, these lands of architecture, art and precision led to truly astounding views and buildings. Thesan smiled in a polite thank you and gestured towards the table. 

"Shall we get started?" He said. The last time they had all been here was when all the High Lords were having a meeting about the upcoming war with Hybern. A lot had changed since then, and they still were.

"Yes absolutely." 

They all seated around the large table just like the last High Lord meeting, this time with Amren present. Surprisingly. Maybe she listened to Azriel's words more than he expected her to. Her short black hair swaying softly as she sat. They all discussed what needed to be discussed, and like the Day Court, everything had, as predicted, went well in everyone's eyes. Just as the meeting was drawing to a close Thesan asked.

"Who is next on your High Lord meeting agenda?" 

"Tarquin, in the summer court," Feyre answered. Thesan smiled and then asked another question.

"The blood rubies have been discarded then, I presume?" 

"Yes," Rhys answered. "Hesitantly, but yes. But that's what these meetings are about, building and sustaining relationships as best we can."

"What a lovely note to end on," stated Thesan. A polite dismissal of the meeting. "Would you like me to show you or anyone else around the Court?" Everyone politely declined, but Azriel had always wanted a closer look...

"If your offer is sincere, then I'd like a tour," Azriel stated firmly. The Inner Circle looked towards one another in slight confusion.

"Absolutely," He agreed. "Let me say goodbye to your friends and then we'll go." They all said goodbye to Thesan and Azriel. Cassian gave the spymaster an odd look but the Illyrian would ignore the note of confusion for now. He would discuss it with him later. When Thesan was ready he turned to Azriel. 

"Anything, in particular, you'd like to see?" He asked. Azriel responded by just suggesting that the High Lord take him where ever he'd like. And he certainly delivered. Thesan and Azriel travelled around the Dawn Court. In all honesty, the shadowsinger had expected this tour to last an hour, 2 at the most. It ended up being almost the entirety of the day. Not only were the palaces a place to admire, but so was every building, no matter how worn and torn they were. They all contained such beauty.

"I had no idea you enjoyed this place so much," Mused Thesan. 

"Neither did I to be honest," Confessed Azriel. "I mean, I love the Night Court, it's my home. It's just this place has always captured my attention. It has caught the other's attention too, they are just too foolish to take you up on your offer." They laughed at the joke and soon said goodbye. The Illyrian thanking Thesan immensely and giving him the option to return whenever he wanted. 

When he finally returned home back in Velaris he didn't immediately go to his family. He needed to relax and rest for a short while. Walking around the Dawn Court all day had impacted the shadowsinger more than he'd care to admit to others or himself. He went to his bathing room and happily spent an hour dozing in the hot, bubbly water. 

After he had dried off he went to find them all. They weren't in the house, but as he was looking around for them he found a note in Mor's handwriting:

Az,

We are at Rita's. Come!  XXXXXXX

"Of course," he muttered. "Where else would they all be?" Judging by the note, they expected him to show up, it would be bad manners not too. He wondered if Elain and Nesta would join them this evening, it was rare when they did, but Azriel could not sense them in the nearby area. He flew there within a few minutes, taking his usual flying route. As he walked in he almost instantly heard Mor's delight at him showing up. She rushed to him and flung her arms around his shoulders.

"You came!" She said. Azriel, returning the embrace, muttered to himself.

"Of course I did, besides you always end up here." She pulled back from him and frowned at the joke at her expense. He just laughed and they made their way to the back of the club, where they all usually resided. Elain and Nesta had joined them on this occasion, however, unlike everyone else in attendance, they weren't drinking any alcohol. 

"How was the tour?" Rhys asked, his voice wavering slightly, indicating the amount of alcohol he had already consumed, and the amount of time Azriel had been away.

"Lovely," Azriel replied. When he received questioning glances from his family, he had to insist. "It was lovely, Thesan showed me around many places. You should have come, you would have liked it Feyre." He finished, gesturing towards his High Lady. Feyre looked as though she was considering but then Azriel had a thought. If Rhys was already this drunk, Cauldron knows how the others would be. Perhaps that would explain how affectionate Mor had been earlier on in the evening?

"I'll go another time," Feyre replied. Azriel had always caught Feyre glancing at especially beautiful locations in awe on the rare occasion they travelled around Prythian, and indeed the Dawn Court. If Azriel was being honest, he was surprised she did not come with him. He bowed in agreement. Mor then asked everyone if they wanted to dance, normally they would have all said no, but in their inebriated states, they all said yes. Except for Azriel, Nesta and Elain. The only 3 sober people in the group, perhaps the entire club. 

The three of them talked to one another, as usual, Azriel quite happily explaining the sights he saw in terrific detail. During their conversation, Az looked up in time to see Morrigan rushing to the bathroom with her hand wrapped around her mouth, presumably to vomit. Elain and Nesta had caught that Azriel's attention was now divided and looked to where he was looking and responded. 

"Will she be alright?" Nesta asked, a hint of worry in her voice. 

"Yes," Azriel responded. "To be honest, I think the vomiting has only just begun." Cassian then quickly followed Mor's direction and headed into the adjoining bathing room. "For all of them." He muttered.

"I'm assuming they will not be well in the morning, then?" Elain questioned. 

"I think you may be right," He responded. "I am going to take those two," gesturing to the general directions of the bathing rooms, "home, would you like me to take you too?" He asked.

"Yes," Nesta said, but a heartbeat later Elain said,

"What about Feyre and Rhys?" All three turned to see them wrapped up in each other as if no one else in the world existed. The music had turned into a soft, slow, but passionate beat and they didn't look like they wanted to be disturbed or interrupted anytime soon.

"I think they'll be okay with each other."

What do you guys think of the longer chapters? I want to try and produce more content, but I don't want to force it and for my writing to not feel natural. Let me know what you think. Honestly, one comment goes a long way. Thanks! - Jessica