A Heart Of Ashes - RHYSAND STORY

◘Tolto◘

Y/N had been surprised when a small thrush appeared by her head, its wings flapping rapidly as it zipped around, chirping incoherently. Rhysand turned his head towards the bird, seeming surprised it would willingly come so close to him, and he eyed it suspiciously as it buzzed around Y/N's face like a hummingbird.

"A thrush," she said, with quiet curiosity. "A messenger bird."

"Messenger?" he inquired.

She leaned in to the small creature with attentive eyes. "What is it? What have you come to tell me?"

It fluttered around in front of her, and to Rhysand it looked alarmed, but he did not understand a word the tiny creature was saying. Apparently Y/N could understand just fine, however, and with the way her eyes suddenly widened he realized what the bird had said hadn't been anything good.

"What?" she gasped. "When?"

More chirping.

"How many are there?" she demanded. "How many Bastards?"

That caught Rhysand's attention. In a flash, he was standing bolt upright, startling the thrush momentarily. "What about them?" he hissed venomously.

"They've attacked the Phantom Castle in the Eridanus Mountains!" Y/N exclaimed, she, too, having jumped to her feet, "Your home,..." She whispered, looking away.

His eyes snapped to her. Attacking his home? He felt his blood boil, but before he could get a word in, Y/N was already talking.

"I will help!" she blurted in a panic.

"Don't you think you helped enough?" He asked in complete disbelief.

How could she help with anything?! He thought to himself, exhaling a snort.

"I know it's important to you..."

"Since when did you begin to care?"

"Since you started caring for me!"

He looked down at her. "I don't want you there!"

"I'm not asking you."

"Do you think with your herbs and witchcraft you'd beat them?" There was a hint of mockery in his tone that made her blood run cold. "I must admit, lamb... I'm shocked."

"DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME!" She boomed, taking him aback. "I can't believe you just said that!"

"What did you think?" He snapped back at her. "That because you saved me I would let you go closer to my home? I remain thankful towards you, but this is an entirely different story! Those Bastards come with Tamlin, and he wants to take from me whats mine. Nothing concerns you!"

"Tamlin? I thought he was a just a myth."

"I'm a myth, lamb," Rhysand purred—the sound like velvet over sharpest steel. " He's just a jerk."

"What does he have to do with you?" She pushed.

Mistake

He turned away from her suddenly, and her eyes widened when she realized he was about to spread wing.

He was going to leave her!

"HEY!" Quickly, she picked up a rock, and she boldly chucked it at his head. It hit its mark, and he released a roar of fury before turning back to her with enraged eyes. "DON'T YOU DARE LEAVE ME HERE!" she screamed.
She braced herself for whatever horrible thing was about to come her way. But Rhysand merely said, "You're really brave."

She stared at him, and there was something in her eyes that made him pause. Her eyes could have turned the fires of Hell to ice.

"You're right," she said after a moment, and his gaze reflected his surprise. "Why should I help you? After all... all you want to do in the end is to kill me. And how foolish of me to put my life on the line for a fire-breathing dragon, knowing that he is, in fact, a famously merciless killer." Her words dropped in degrees with each syllable she uttered, and she continued, noting the way he went still. "I knew who you were the second I saw you," she continued, voice a cold hiss. "I remember it clear as day... the great and terrible dragon... seeing you weak, bleeding, and helpless on the cold floor of the cave... barely able to lift your head to face me. Rhysand the Nightmare, not even able to conjure up a single spit of flame to ward off a weak little female the size of his eye."