Shrouded

Ch. 1

Melona

    The invading armies where growing fat on their victory. Stuffing themselves with rye ale, and cows they stole from the farmers’ fields. They laughed at the dead villagers last begs for their life. Mocking the dead as they sat in their camp circle in a clearing of woods.

   The face of the moon waning in detest of their cackles in the night. Their watchers becoming lazy as the night drew on. Many foolishly slipping into a peaceful slumber. Completely unaware of the slowly creeping cloaked figures in their deep brown hoods.

   None making a sound as they worked in the shadows of the trees. Knocking arrows into their bows, stretching their strings before letting them fly into the sleeping forms of Attor and Hybern fae.

   Many waking and screaming in pain as iron and steel burred into rotten and leathery skin. The ones who were not hit scrambling to grab weapons to counter their unseen attackers, but silences fell over the camp of startled and angered enemies as they tried to see through the trees.

   Silence swallowed up by flame as a wall flurished around the camp. Ripping it’s way higher that the blaze blinded their light sensitive eyes, and obscuring the woods as several of the cloaked figures were able to step into the burning circle. Standing at equal distances as joined phantoms, and pulling out twin sickle and swords before waiting for the last figure to join.

   Smaller than the rest, cloaked as the others, but once their hood dipped in agreement there was nothing to hold back the mob as all leapt into their dancing. Cutting down the wounded and slowed first. Quickly cutting down the numbers before going after the stronger.

   In the frenzy they barely had time to recognize the attack until all lay silent in the Autumn Court forest.

   “Casualties?!”, I asked pulling back my hood once the last of them had fallen into the blood-stained grass.

   “None tonight”, Jon smiled as he stood beside me. Counting the heads of the hooded figures. All of them going around in order to collect the stolen spoils.

   “Keep an eye out. Let the men take a little spoil, but cattle, food, and grain are to be distributed as normal”, I insist.

   Jon nods before looking around as the others gather what they can carry, “It’s been three months. The other generals have to come and follow under you, or they’ll be taken out one by one.”

   “Do you think Moros will be able to convince the remaining to join us?”, I sigh and look up at the cool blue eyes washed over with flame.

   “If he doesn’t convinces them he’ll come back dragging them kicking and screaming”, Jon laughs softly with a pleasently morbid look in his eyes.

   “Common Mel, let’s get back home”, Jon insists. I nod in agreement as I pull the brown cloak over my head as we disappear from the surface. Bring back the cattle through long abandoned tunnels, and pathways.

   Bringing them to the Hidden City of Athalos. The ancient capital before the reigning High Lords. Where the beasts had crawl and slithered under the dirt of the Autumn Court. Where the beasts had come to make peace with their differences, and become one as they chose a more practical form to live in. This was their birthplace. Where Moros lay buried centuries ago to guard over as the eons passed away above.

   The few Shrouded that had been a part of Eris’ original court, who had survived Beron’s first raid, now worked diligently to repair their court. Housing misplaced citizens through small pockets of the tunnels. Teaching any willing to learn to work under the oath of their organization. Working with the soldiers that had joined under my rulership to guard the farmers who worked tirelessly to feed the other citizens.

   Months of work has gone into the Court. I have been doing everything I could to make things as easy on everyone as possible. Letting the Generals suggest the best places to stronghold, and how to distribute what army we had. I had accountance working to gather what wealth we could to pay the soldiers.

   Any female willing to work was taught simple fighting techniques to defend themselves, many drafted into the Shrouded who did not discriminate per Eris’ orders long ago. Other women took up work at farms, or as healer, menders, and crafters. Which having experience in I would personally teach weaving and yarn making to those willing to learn, as well as many herbal remedies. Even helping a few females in the tunnels to give birth.

   It felt good. To be useful again. To be needed. To be Matka, and Reina once more.

   “Mi’Lady!”, Pomona came rushing to greet me as the party came back. Her damsel wings flittering as she goes.

   “What’s the matter?”, I ask my friend as I greet her.

   “Moros has returned with the last General. I fear they might tare each other apart”, she warns.

   Sighing I turn to Jon, “Make sure that all the goods are separated properly before joining me in the council room.”

   “Yes Reina”, Jon nods before we separate. I follow Pomona as we walk towards the center circular room where the Court would go to hear any news that needed to be wide spread.

   There is where I found Moros losing his temper and slapping the Hell out of a man almost a foot taller. Landing the offender on the ground.

   “That’s enough Moros”, I call out as the door close behind me.

   “The runt gave you insult”, Moros countered.

   “Good thing I wasn’t in the room to hear it, but I don’t need you slapping a potential ally because he spoke his mind. Now, do back up”, I hum as I watched his glinting eyes shine with hatred at the male sitting on the ground.

   “Forgive my soldier’s actions. He doesn’t have a good hold on his temper”, I apologies. Offering my hand to help him up. The dark brown eyes of Niran and Beron glared up at me as he spat in my open hand.

   My nose curled at the act, but I was still covered in reeking Attor blood. So, I merely wiped it off onto my dirtied pants.

   “Burn in Hellas”, he snarled up at me. “I will never bow to a female who thinks because of her marriage she has the right to rule a foreign Court!”

   “Then do stand good Sir”, I sigh and turn to Pomona. “Dear, mind bringing the General something to eat, and care for lord Moros as well. He must be tired after his long journey.”

   The glare I send to the ancient fae makes him second guess his protest to leave me alone with the obviously hostile General. I still couldn’t risk Moros killing him. I need his army, and his cooperation.

    Pomona nodded and quickly lead Moros away through another set of doors. Sighing heavily as I sit at the circular table. Gesturing to the table of empty seats, “Please sit General.”

   Grumbling as he collected himself up off the ground. He chose a seat at the opposite end of the table. Obviously not wanting anything to do with me.

   “I believe we have much to discuss”, I offer as a start.

   “I will not be your ally in this. You defy your High Lords orders because you think yourself above this courts laws, and ruler”, he hisses.

   “This Court needs a leader in its High Lords absents. Why did you think I had you brought here, Augustus Vanserra”, I slow my words enough to allow it all to sink in. His eyes widen slightly in surprize. “Moore is the surname of your mother. You where Sired by Beron’s elder brother, where you not? Out of wedlock, from a farm hand female lesser fae?”

   “How did you -”, he started. “How did you even find that out? Nobody is supposed to know.”

   “Eris is a very good record keeper, and I wanted to be absolutly certain that there were no others with more rights to the crown then I”, I answer honestly.

   “Are you planning on killing me?”, he asks with another snarl.

   “No, I don’t want there to be any more deaths then there already has been. I’ve been doing everything I’ve done here to make sure of that”, I gesture to the Courtroom.

   “Then why bring me here?”

   “Because we have equal rights to rulership over the Autumn Court. You by blood, and I by marriage.”

   “We already have rulership! Our High Lord still draws breath.”

   “And what has he done to protect his people. Look at the state of this Court. Your home. Villages pillaged, males and children murdered, females raped and mutilated. Cattle and food stole away from the survivors. Families homeless and frightened. What has Beron done, but given up his rulership to Amarantha? You know she will do much worse when we fall into line?” I counter.

   “He is still the High Lord.”

   “And pray tell, what has he done to prove that? What has he given you? His people?

   He murdered your father for the throne, exiled your mother, refused to help when she grew sick. Denied you any sort of help growing up. You had to fight every step of the way to get to where you are now. That was all you Augustus. Not him.

   Look what he’s done for his people. Hundreds are ill fed, housed, or clothed. There is no work unless you are owed by the crown. Land was stolen. He profited from the working class, never gave back the proper amount of pay. Murdered thousands who tried to fix what he refused to, and now he has handed us over to a crueler ruler.

     So, why in the Mother’s name, are you so loyal to a male that hasn’t once shown you any loyalty in return?”, I lay it all out plainly for him to see.

   He didn’t seem to have an answer.

   “Jon speaks highly of you. Says that you are a proud, but honest and a good leader to your troops. He expresses that you are hardworking and willing to strife for others to have a better life. Please, don’t let Beron take those qualities away from you now”, I urge him gently. “Prove to me, to the people, that what he says is true, and I will hand over rulership to you. For now the Court is trusting in me to rule them because I am the only ruling regent who is willing to fight for them. If you can prove the same, I will gladly give you the right to rule by blood. But I need to know my people will be safe in your hands. That’s why I brought you here.”

   Again, he is silent.

  Pomona came and went with a plate of food for each of us. The same allotted food that everyone was given as rations. No more or less.

   Cautiously Augustus took a bite from the chicken legs provided. Then from the cider. Pausing as if waiting for something. Poison I realized. When nothing happened, he nods slowly.

   “Alright.”

~

Eris

“Perhaps, I should come back later?”, I questioned as I watched the lesser fae squawk and scream under Amarantha’s nails drug into its eye sockets.

   “Not at all. I’ll be with you in a moment”, was her sultry answer as she unsheathed her nails dripping with gore. Letting the wrinkled and battered body collapse on the floor before her. “Clean that up.”

   The trembling servant’s race to do as she commands.

   “The gaol of some fae. I give them a job, and protection, and they go around steeling from me. Ill-mannered beasts”, she croons as she turns. A sickly-sweet smile over blood red lips as she licks her fingers clean.

   “Is there a reason I’ve been summoned?”, I try to push her to the point. I had much more to be concerned with.

   “I wanted to personally apologies. I remember you saying that your beloved wife couldn’t make it to my lovely little gathering because of her bleeding cycle. How unfortunate that she stayed in Hedone. I hope you realize that there was nothing personal about her death. I’d hate for there to be bad blood between us, sweet Eris”, she hums as she takes a seat of the crimson silken sheets of her bed.

   “I think you’ll find my wife harder to kill then you expected”, I couldn’t help but smile.

   “So, she is alive then?”

   “You wouldn’t be asking about her unless you already knew that”, I point out.

   “Clever boy. Now I understand why Beron keeps you alive despite how much trouble you are. Why didn’t you tell me you knew who this thorn in my side was? This Embry Woods. That used to be your vigilantly name was it not?”, she smirked in mockery.

   “I was protecting my wife and Court, obviously. Even a fool could figure that out”, I sigh in boredom. This game was as old as time to me.

   “You know I’ll have to discipline the both of you for your defiance”, she warned.

   “Go ahead. Do your worse to me, but if you intend to harm my wife, then you better kill me because if you don’t you’re life will become very complicated”, I answer placing my hands behind my back to straighten myself out. A small smile curling over my lips.

   “What could you possibly know about me that would cause me such grief Vanserra?”, she sneered.

   “It’s amazing what a servant will tell you when you promise them a good meal. Oh, the things Hybern would do if only he knew”, I shrug. At that moment the maid arranging the perfumes on the vanity lost her nerve. Clattering the glass bottles to the floor.

   Startling Amarantha just enough to let her concentration slip into the perfect place to allow me to see what I needed to. A grin spilling from my composure.

   “You really should get rid of your trophy collection. What would your King think about you slitting the throat of his favourite consort over a simple necklace? Tsk tsk tsk, dear me, that might just be the last straw”, I croon back at her as all glee melted away into rage as she stood.

   “I’m going to kill you Eris Vanserra if you so much as breath a word of that again!”, she snarled.

   “Kill me?”, I smile. “Oh, that would be a treat, to watch as your secrets slip into your Kings ear. I’ll save you a seat in Hellas.”

   She paused.

   “What? Did you think I was just lazing around fiddling my thumbs? You didn’t think I’d be gathering my secrets, and spreading out my spies? Foolish of you”, I shake my head as I look around the room as if she didn’t matter. “Kill me, I dare you. Torcher me, and if I go missing my followers spread this knowledge far and wide. And I’m sure they’ll be kindle on the fire. Your King will be so enraged he will definitely no longer see you as a lesser evil to whatever planes he has.”

   She wanted to. It was eating her alive, but she knew all too well that what I had was valuable. It was a risk she would be unwilling to make, and what would be the fun in simply killing me. The worst punishment of all was always living.

   Slowly she began to cackle like the mad dog she was. I didn’t let it make me flinch. There was no way of tarring me down without dragging herself down with me.

   “Well played. Very well played”, she agrees. “But remember you have other weak spots Eris. Say for example, your mother.”

   “You really want to try it? You think that I don’t have something really special set aside for her protection? Again, do you want to risk it?”, I offer a livid smile. “It’s a juicy sweet little secret.”

   Her smile faltered again. That sliver of doubt was her undoing.

   “Fine, play your games, Vanserra. You’ll slip up one of these days, and I’ll be there to finish you off”, Amarantha bites back.

“Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait in line”, I snort and glance in the direction of her trophy room. “I best be leaving. I’d hate to be late for your council meeting.”

   I don’t bother to wait for her permission. Leaving her chambers with a smile, “Tip from the wife, Amarantha. You best learn to treat your servants with more respect. They’ll be more inclined to keep your secrets.”

   Oh, the joys of making tyrants paranoid.

-
(HEEELLO DEAR READERS!,

I'm finally back at it to give you more fanfiction after all this time. Sorry it's been so long.

But here is some more ACOTAR fanfic, with Eris and Melona. I hope these chapters will be something to look forward to. There might not be too many, but I am also starting on chapters for the start of ACOMAF's story line.

As you may already see, I got ride of my original story Wilder Things, sorry to those reading it, but there was just so many things that didn't go the way I was trying to go in that story. I felt the need to scrap it and start something new. I am starting on serveral new original peices which I hope to soon share, but until then down the fanfic whole I go.

These will not have a schedualed update day, might be tomorrow, might be in three weeks. I'm not sure. Right now my life is a bit of a mess, so please hang in there because I thrive on chaos.

I'm so happy to be writing again, and I hope you all enjoy what I bring to the table.

Love,
Lady Thyme)