Fire, Steel and Storm (Nessian One Shots) - Hiatus

| 2 | On the banks of the Sidra (Part A)

ABOUT

Setting: Follow up to the beach in the mortal lands. In the city of Velaris. Daytime.

Summary: After getting documents from the mortal lands Nesta and Cassian return to Prythian. Cassian delivers the papers to Rhys and Feyre and Nesta wanders around the city only to find an unexpected encounter...

POV: Nesta

Rating: Not mature.

Length: 1946 words

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"I just don't understand," Nesta said as she followed Cassian through the large hall of Rhys and Feyre's house.

New pictures hung on the walls. Feyre's paintings. There were portraits of Elain in the garden and Rhys in the sky with his enormous wings. Some contained faerie children playing in puddles or climbing trees. Nesta spotted Cassian in some of them and also Mor, Amren and Az. But as usual she was missing from these walls.

She looked away. Cassian responded, "It's an official meeting for business. Since you abandoned your role as emissary you haven't been invited."

"We both know why I haven't been invited and it has nothing to do with not being emissary."

"I thought you wanted nothing to do with the Night Court."

"I don't."

"Then stop complaining."

"I couldn't give a damn if you didn't include me in your little powwow. I just don't want to sit in the hall alone and die of boredom."

By now they reached Rhy's study. Cassian just pointed to a plush chair near the door and said, "Just sit. I won't be long."

Rolling her eyes, Nesta sat. It felt wrong to be in such a clean place with such dirty clothes but she probably shouldn't care. It's not like anyone actually worked to clean this place. One swipe of the hand and faerie magic made it look good as new.

She noticed Cassian hadn't gone inside yet. He was just giving her a strange look.

"What?" She said.

He coughed a little. "Nothing. Be right back." Then he slipped inside, not bothering to knock. He didn't need to. Even official business in the inner circle was casual.

Twenty minutes later Nesta could be sure of one thing. She still hadn't gotten used to an immortal's idea of "won't take long" and "be right back".

She tried eavesdropping to pass the time but Rhys used his magic to block out their voices. Which left her to stare at all the paintings she hadn't been included in. It was too unbearable to be in this place. Last time she was here Feyre had kicked her out of the city.

So Nesta did what she should have done when Cassian brought her to the gates of the property. She left.

She wore a hood over her head as she walked down the street beside the Sidra river so no one would recognize her. What would people even say if they saw her here again? The High Lady's oldest sister? Or the witch who took off Hybern's Head?