#except maybe rhysands mom and sister and tamlins mother

[emeraldvagabond]

If we're talking about retcons can we also please talk about how Tamlin was retconned too? I have a list™️(sorry this is gonna be long): in ACOTAR it’s a big point that Tamlin didn’t want to be a cruel tyrannical high lord like his dad. This is stated SEVERAL times, in fact Feyre falls for him because he's vehemently anti slavery (compare that to Rhys, who says the NC freed their slaves ONLY because they became hard to brainwash and make them forget about Velaris. Ew). 1/5

But in ACOMAF, he's ok with the tithe? Not that he shouldn’t collect taxes, but at the threat of DEATH??? Because “that’s how my dad did it?” What happened to not wanting to be cruel like his dad? In TAR he's kind enough where people keeping seeking refuge, and long before Amarantha comes, Lucien, despite having friends in many courts, CHOOSES to stay with Tam. And Lucien spends 90% of the book mocking Tamlin or challenging him. He even sets Feyre up with the suriel, fearing no repercussions despite Feyre being important in, uh, breaking their curse??? (and there aren’t any from Tam). But in MAF Lucien is afraid of Tamlin? In TAR, Tamlin offers to teach Feyre how to read and to help her write to her family, and the book also mentions that he teaches her how to ride bareback. But now in MAF he doesn’t want to help teach her her powers and in fact, forbids her from training? And most importantly… in ACOTAR, Tamlin notices Feyre's moods despite being very busy with, you know. Running his court. Fighting off Amarntha's monsters. All that stuff. But he still sees when she's sad. In fact, noticing she's upset is what leads to him writing her poems, to make her feel better. So am I really supposed to believe that he ignores her and becomes emotionally negligent in ACOMAF because “he's busy”? That he doesn’t see her feelings or try to help and console her when he does so several times in book 1? Retcon city. Sorry, this is so long, but I’m angry ranting and Tamlin was retconned sooo much in later books.

NONNY THIS IS LITERALLY A TAMLIN STAN ACCOUNT WE CAN TALK ABOUT HIS CHARACTER ASSASSINATION ALLLLLLLLLLLLL MF DAYYY. IT'S MY FAVORITE PASS TIME.

So really, the tithe, I understand, it's even stated that most of the money and things are for running the estate and the land, upkeep etc. I think a lot of people have the tendency to hear(or read) estate and think....a very large house, but that isn't the case. A Lord's estate isn't just his manor, but his workers, his land, the villages that are built on that land, the animals in those villages, and anything and everything in between. He is literally collecting money to put towards their quality of life. HOWEVER, THE THREAT OF DEATH?

I understand he's vulnerable to Ianthe's whims, because as i've said before, he's never had anyone to guide him through this whole Highlord thing that he never asked for, but that is SO MUCH of a stretch for his character. In TAR he tells Feyre that he's no good for anything but war and death, and fiddling, that he's no good at being Highlord and he's terrified of being his father. Every action he takes is consciously for the betterment of his people and their lives, to the best of his ability while under Amarantha's rule. To the point where Fae, including Alis, flee from Amarantha and the effects of her and Rhysand's actions to his court. And when they get there they all choose to stay. Alis and Lucien, two of the main people who we know are refugees in his court, have nothing but kind things to say of him. And like you said- Lucien challenges him and makes fun of him for being awkward and laughs and plays with him as brothers do without fear. Because Tamlin literally does not enforce rank in his court. He doesn't just say that once, it bleeds into every interaction he has with his people. On the Summer Solstice, he sits among the people and plays the fiddle and drinks and dances with Feyre, and leaves everything long enough to take her to watch the wisps until the dawn breaks. He gets on his knees just to play HER a song, right there in front of everyone. He doesn't hide his feelings behind any type of mask, and he doesn't worry about what his people will think because THAT IS THEIR HIGHLORD. Their Highlord is JUST Tamlin, nothing more, nothing less.

He doesn't even wear the fancy, decked-out clothes of a Highlord, because they aren't practical, and he's just Tamlin.

He's never too busy for what Feyre needs- sometimes he has work and he can't spend every waking moment with her, but she never wants for anything. Even when she is so desperately afraid for her sisters...she has no need to be because he's already taken care of everything they could ever want or need. AND NESTA KNOWS IT WAS HIM!!!!! And even after Feyre does....everything that she does, he STILL cares for her family. When her sisters become Fae, he STILL cares for their father right up until the moment he steps onto that battlefield.

I bet, if Elain wanted to return to that house and live out the rest of her days in silence in the mortal realms....he would probably fund it because that's just who he is!!!!

He lets himself be trapped in that snare Feyre lays for him- just to make her smile. Just to see her triumph. Because he knows that's what she needs at that moment. He offers to teach her to read, but it's too embarrassing for her, so he doesn't press. He offers to help her write letters home to her family, but she doesn't know what she would even want to say, so he doesn't press. He keeps her painting of the woods- of a time when she was starving, now, in a time where she is fed and clothed in finery because it reminds him that is not the only one who feels desolate and overwhelmed with responsibility that they never asked for.

And then in the end, despite all this, despite being desperately in love with her, because he is desperately in love with her...he sends her away. He sends her home, back to that estate, away from the danger even when she is supposed to be his savior. Because it's a burden she doesn't know she carries, because he would rather find a million other ways or suffer under a woman who has been obsessed with him since he was a child than see Feyre suffer.

And she comes back for him because she loves him. She loves the freedom he has given her, the ways he's set her free. She loves the Spring Court and the people there, she loves dancing at the summer solstice and a male who plays her solos in front of hundreds of people like he's offering a gift to the goddess.

And then....all of that was just? A show? A ploy? What? What was it? It doesn't make sense. Yes, he's desperately afraid, but the last time he was desperately afraid he let her go. The safest thing for her in book two would be training. Harnessing her new powers, learning who she is now, and what she isn't anymore. But nooo now, suddenly it's lock her up and put her on a shelf? Now it's, he has too much to do, stay here and not, he has so much to do, stay safe? It's no longer teaching her what she doesn't know it's....owning her? I'd say make it make sense but literally, no one can.

And it makes me mad.

[vidalinav]

Okay but how about a fic where Nesta’s mom sells her to the fae when she’s young when her mom learns of their financial problems. She sells her on the premise that she’s Mother blessed, which no one believes at first and then comes to reality when Nesta just seems to be more odd than other humans and more magically inclined right from the beginning. There’s something very fae about her. Of course I would have the bat boys though be young in this, so like 525 years or whatnot earlier where Rhys’s mom is still alive and his sister is only a baby at this point. So its like some human girl in the middle of this conflict. But we’ll start out with Nesta being sold to Beron because he thinks it’s advantageous to have her if she is indeed mother blessed or maybe tamlins family has her first bc they have the priestesses there for Rites and what not and the priestesses want her. Except these things become a problem and then she runs at some point probably with the help of Lucien or Eris or both and ends up being taken in by Rhysand’s family in which she meets like a 12 year old Cassian and 13 year old Azriel. Because Nesta’s journey starts at like 7 in this. Of course nothing romantic happens until they’re a lot older but it might be cool to explore like a childhood friend in a fae world type of fic and then eventually have the sisters weaved more into this when it becomes more of conflict with humans.

But eventually I think the priestesses will raise her and she’ll leave Rhysands family after a couple of months and she doesn’t see Cassian or anyone else again until she’s 22. Which then introduces the conflict of Mor. I’m just going to age down everyone in this and have conflict be more immediate and not over the span of 500+ years.

[hellas-himself]

Crack Ship Holidays

Christmas Pt. 1 (i guess lol)

Okay. So I know we’ve had at least 3 holidays since the last time I posted this but whatever. have some hella late christmas nonsense. It’ll be feyre’s bday, christmas and then new years. Reyes, Valentine’s day and then Cassian’s birthday which I will always write to be in the summer will go together in one until Sarah gives us his actual birthday. 

This ship is so stupid and I live for it. shout out to @bookloveaffair @crackedship for indulging me 

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I smile when I see Cassian step into the gym with Az and Elain. Iliana comes running over to me and I welcome her with open arms.

“I saw your painting out front,” Lia says with a smile. “I know your signature. It’s very pretty.”

“Thank you,” I say and let her go. I greet Elain and Az with hugs and kisses. “Thank you guys for being here… I haven’t done anything like this in a long time.”

Elain playfully hits my arm.

“As if I would miss your first art show in school?”

Cassian comes to stand beside me and slides and arm around my shoulder. He presses a kiss to my temple.

“Hey, handsome.”

“You did good, bunny,” he says as he looks around the gym. With the help of my students, we set the display tables in a way to allow everyone to walk freely as well as make room for Aelin’s stage. It’s nothing more than a raised platform in the center of the room that Evangeline and I helped to decorate. She’s already there, getting her students ready. The home ec teacher has a cookie and hot chocolate station in one corner and there are arts and crafts and other things some of the parents have organized together to keep the kids busy as the parents walked around.

“There is a little contest between each grade. It wasn’t my idea but the parents apparently do this every year. Each kid who entered the art show get something regardless but the winner of each grade gets some kind of prize.”

“I wish I had known,” Cassian says playfully. I pinch his side.

After encouraging the others to look around, I make the rounds, greeting my students and their families. I refuse to vote for the contest- it isn’t hard to sing praises of these kids and their work. Aelin has her kids playing Christmas carols with their instruments while the small chorus group sings.

Evangeline stands blushing beside her oil painting of snow-capped mountains. Rowan and Elide are taking pictures of her while Lysandra and Aedion look on proudly. I catch Lorcan casting his vote for her and when he sees me, he just shrugs.

I get asked about an after-school program, if I tutor, if I take commissions. It’s slightly overwhelming but I still accept the phone numbers and business cards from the parents. I don’t need him to turn around to know that Tamlin is standing with Briar at the snack table. She’s chatting with one of the aids, wearing a matching ugly sweater with him. I’m surprised that he would be here, that he would even leave his house like that. Maybe he is capable of giving a shit, but it doesn’t matter. I see Cassian talking to one of my kindergarteners, praising their artwork with the same enthusiasm that he praises mine.

“Hi, Miss A,” Tessa says and Cassian looks up from where he’s kneeling. He smiles at me in such a way that I wish I could just kiss him in front of everyone here. But Tessa’s mom brings me from my thoughts as she thanks me and now Cassian for encouraging Tessa who was ‘not herself’ after her father left. Cassian graciously distracts Tessa while her mother and I talk quietly.

The principal calls everyone to dance and I am surprised to see Aelin at the piano. Only her older kids are playing instruments now and when she starts to sing, I want to cry. I knew she played the piano and the guitar, I’ve watched a few videos of her with a cello but she had never told me that she could sing. Cassian and I dance, Azriel and Rowan taking turns dancing with me. Elain and I dance while Cassian brings Iliana to get hot chocolate and cookies.

“I can’t believe he’s here,” she mumbles. I shrug.

“As long as he doesn’t talk to me, I really don’t care what he’s doing.”

“If he even speaks one word…”

I kiss my sister on the cheek and she sighs.

“You’ve done so good,” she says and gives me a smile. “I’m really proud of you Feyre.”

I don’t know what to say and blush, making her laugh.

The principal announces the winners of the art show while Aelin plays songs from A Charlie Brown Christmas. Goodie bags are passed around by volunteers dressed like elves and until I see his eyes, I had no idea that Aedion had disappeared to change into a santa suit to hand out presents to the kids- definitely Aelin’s work.

As the families and children leave, the school staff stay behind to clean up and talk. The principal hands out the bonuses and I’m surprised to receive one. Aelin insists we all take pictures by the tree and I try not to laugh at the sight of my sister standing between Cassian and Tamlin who are waiting for Briar and I to finish with the staff picture. Rowan throws an arm around Cassian’s shoulder and the two whisper to one another. Az has Iliana on his back and once we’re done, I make my way to them. I kiss my sleepy niece goodbye before saying my goodbyes to the others.

*

“Are you okay, bunny?”

I look up from my laptop to find Cassian walking into the bedroom.

“Mhm.”

“Work?” He looks at my laptop and I shake my head.

“No, just saving the pictures Aelin sent me. They’re cute.”

He joins me in bed and I turn the screen so he can see.

“I love you in the dress.”

I blush as I roll my eyes.

“Thank you,” I say and close the laptop. “And thank you for being there.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.”

I set the laptop on the night table and he pulls me into his arms.

“I love you,” I say to him and he smiles. I know he worries about what seeing Tamlin might do to me, he doesn’t have to say it. “If someone would have told me last Christmas that I’d be here with you like this… I wouldn’t have believed it.”

“No?”

“I wasn’t exactly the picture of hope.”

Cassian chuckles and kisses me.

“No… You weren’t.”

“But you were. You were and I made it through all of that because of you.”

“Bunny… You made it through all of that because of you and the work you put in.”

“Which I wouldn’t have done if you didn’t make me feel alive…”

“So it wasn’t just the mind blowing sex that did that?” he says playfully but I can tell he’s surprised.

“No… You did that way before I looked at you and wanted to rock your world.”

He smiles and I kiss him.

“And when did that happen?” he asks.

“Way before New Year’s Eve.”

“Really?”

“We went dancing for my birthday, remember?”

“Yeah, you wore that little red dress-”

“You remember?” I ask suddenly.

He scoffs as if the answer was obvious.

“We danced all night and even before we got shit faced you were being way more flirtatious than usual.” I could vividly remember the slow and steady way he grew more comfortable letting his hands roam while we danced. Almost everything he said that night had a double meaning, and I had been all too happy to indulge his flirting and flirt right back. I had finally felt something other than emptiness.

“It couldn’t be helped,” he says and kisses me. “You were so happy and that dress was just… Do you still have it?”

I snort. “Maybe… Why? Want me to put it on?”

I love the way he blushes at my tone. I kiss him and run my fingers through his hair.

“I love you, Cassian.”

“I love you, too, bunny.”

*

My phone is ringing and I can’t find it as I search for it blindly. I have to open my eyes and sit up. I find it at the foot of the bed, under my pajamas. With a groan, I go to answer it. I am surprised to see Nesta’s name on the screen but then I remember what day it is. I put her on speaker as I get dressed.

“Feyre?”

“Nesta.”

“Happy birthday,” she says and I sigh.

“Thanks.”

“Did I wake you up?”

I almost say yes, but Cassian had woken up me before he went to work and left the house late thanks to his idea of ‘wishing me a happy birthday’. I snort and pretend to cough.

“No.”

Silence. I go to the bathroom to wash up and I can hear her walking around.

“Elain said she’s taking you to breakfast.”

“Yeah, she is.”

“Did she tell you I was coming?”

“She mentioned something like that.”

Nesta sighs. “Do you think I can pick you up?”

I want to tell her that I was driving myself to meet Elain and Iliana but I recognize the hesitance in her voice.

“I have to let Val out first though.”

“Great! That gives me time to finish up.”

An hour later, I am locking the front door of the house. Nesta is parked outside, nervously tapping her fingers against the steering wheel. When I make it halfway down the driveway, Nesta gets out of the car and opens the passenger side door. She’s dressed casually for once- blue jeans and boots instead of a dress suit and heels. Her hair is down, too, straight where mine is wavy.

“Happy birthday,” she says again and gives me a tentative hug.

“Thanks, Nes.”

“Coffee?” she asks and I nod.

She drives us to the nearest Starbucks and insists I find us a seat while she orders. I answer texts while I wait, most of them from Rhysand and Elain. Aelin and Rowan sent me a ridiculous snapchat video and Lucien wrote me a long, heart felt message on an Instagram post with a bunch of pictures of us throughout the last year- except of course, one of them is of us as kids. I always hated my birthday, my parents had never really given it much importance. It was so close to Christmas and I had to wait the extra week or so to get a present. Never a party. Never anything more than a forced ‘happy birthday’. But Adela and Vinny… Those two threw me a birthday party every year until we were old enough to host our own. I remember the first year when we all met, I had not mentioned my birthday out of habit but Rhysand had told his mother and on Christmas Eve, they picked me up and took me to their house to celebrate. I still had the doll they’d bought me, tucked safely in a box in the attic.

“I don’t know you to drink anything else but this,” Nesta says and I look away from the Adela’s text to find my sister setting an iced caramel coffee before me.

“Perfect.”

Even better, she brought me cake pops. Nesta doesn’t touch her latte and instead is watching me tear into the cake pops as if I hadn’t eaten breakfast.

“Elain told me that Tamlin was at your work event,” she begins. “Are you okay? Did he say anything to you?”

With food in my mouth, I just shake my head. She waits for me to finish, to drink from my coffee.

“He kept his distance.”

She sighs.

“I feel… I should have been there.”

“His girlfriend works there, Nesta. I can’t exactly tell him to leave without reason.”

“He hurt you, that’s reason enough.”

“It’s fine. Elain was with me and you know Az and Cassian would never let him near me.”

“I know but… If I hadn’t upset you, I would have been there and I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m sorry. I had no right to speak to you that way. I didn’t give you a reason to feel comfortable telling me about Cassian or your job or anything.”

I feel my face getting warm and I take a long sip of my coffee.

“I know your birthday is terrible timing for this but I didn’t know when else you’d be okay with talking to me… I haven’t been the greatest sister. I’ve been… awful.”

“You don’t have to wait for birthdays or anything to talk to me,” I say, finding it really hard to meet her eyes. I’m used to angry, irritated Nesta. Not… this. “You know I can’t be mad at you forever.”

“And that’s the thing… You’re too forgiving Feyre.”

I laugh and roll my eyes.

“Only you would complain about that.”

“I’m not complaining… I just mean that I don’t want anyone taking advantage of that.”

“Cassian isn’t going to do that.”

“I know he isn’t.”

When I raise a brow, she sighs.

“Just because you’re another year older doesn’t mean you stop being my baby sister.”

“Even if I wanted you to kill him, you can’t go to prison, Nesta.”

She laughs. “Shut up, Feyre.”

“I think I understand,” I say which seems to surprise her. I push the other cake pop to her. “I know you have one in your bag, but have this one.”

“A peace offering?” she asks.

“More or less. But if you really want to make it up to me, buy me drinks at the club tonight.”

Nesta grimaces at this and I laugh.

“I’m kidding.”

“No, it’s not that. I can’t say anything,” she says and looks at her watch. “We should go. Elain is almost there.”

*

“We’re going where?” I ask, looking at my stupidly handsome boyfriend who I want to strangle. “I look like you just picked me up off the corner!”

Cassian laughs at this and when I smack his arm he laughs even more.

“You look beautiful. Though I have to admit, this is going to be torture for me.”

“Torture? You’re not the one who has to worry about their ass hanging out of their dress in front of their boyfriend’s parents!”

I’d found the dress I wore for my birthday last year. I put it on thinking we were going dancing, not having dinner with his family at some fancy ass restaurant.

“Bunny, it’ll be fine. I swear.”

I groan and Cas puts his hand over my thigh.

“We can turn around.”

“No… Just. I’ll survive.”

Everyone is dolled up when we arrive, even Nesta is there.

“Now I know why she wouldn’t buy me drinks,” I mutter and Cassian laughs.

He kisses my cheek before letting my hand go as our friends and family come to greet us. I don’t feel too bad about my dress once I see the way Elain and Mor are dressed- even Aelin in her gold romper covered in sequins. Adela and Vinny are just as affectionate as always and I have to laugh when she hands me my present before I even sit down. I sit between Cassian and Rhys- both men encouraging me to open the small box as if it were for them. Children, really.

The waiter takes our drink orders and only then do I open the present- It’s a necklace, much like the one Elain has, but instead of a blue stone, it’s red. Cassian happily puts it on me before I go and thank his parents.

Conversation is easy going and I’m surprised that Nesta has lasted this long around us. She seems… content. I eat just as much as Cassian does, and by the time my cake is carried to the table, I don’t know how the hell I’m going to eat that, too. It’s a gorgeous cake, designed to look like a mash up of Van Gogh, Dali and Degas. And the inside- it’s the mojadito cake that Adela always made for us.

I get more presents; books from Aelin and Rowan, a sketchbook with my favorite pencils from Elain and Az, a pair of heels from Mor. Iliana made me a birthday card and got me a mug that says ‘not paint water’. Then there is the set of crazy expensive markers from Rhys and Lucien and a black pajama set from Amren that I did not show everyone because once I saw the label, I knew just what kind of set it was. She gave me a devil’s smile. Cassian gets up from his chair and walks over to Adela who hands him a very large box from somewhere under the table.

“Happy birthday, bunny,” he says as he sits down with it. The table is cleared to make room for the damn thing and I stand up to unwrap it. And it’s a fucking tablet. For digital art.

“Cas…”

He shrugs as if this is no big deal. I throw my arms around him and cover his face in kisses which leaves him laughing. I smack his arm.

“I can’t believe you!”

“Do you like it?”

“Are you kidding! I’m already thinking of all the things I’m going to make with it.”

Cassian smiles and kisses me properly.

*

When I turn away from the newly lit candles, Cassian is standing at the entry way of the living room, rolling up the sleeves to his shirt. He has a knowing smirk on his face and I can’t help but smile.

“Music… candles… that dress. If I didn’t know any better, I would say it’s my birthday,” he says to me and I laugh.

“Well, this is my birthday and I want what I didn’t get last year.”

“And what is that?”

I walk towards him, having to look up now that I am without heels. I place my hands on his chest and undo some of the buttons of his shirt.

“I want to dance with my best friend,” I begin and run my hands down his chest and stomach before reaching for his hands. I place them on my waist.

“That’s all?” he whispers and I find myself blushing.

“No,” I reply and he raises a brow. “I don’t have to pretend I don’t feel anything for you. I get to show you just how much I want you.” I kiss him. “How much I love you.” I kiss him again.

[strangely-constructed-soul]

Feysand Soulmate au

I’ve been sitting on this fic for ages and haven’t gotten around to finishing it(I came pretty close, so maybe we’ll see another part or something...

Synopsis:

Everyone knows their soulmate’s biggest secret at the time(Feyre knows her soulmate loves her and Rhys knows his soulmate feels alone)

Credit to r-evolve-art for some au ideas

Rhys sees Feyre’s Soulmate tattoo and she doesn’t see his, but it’s the same; a mountain and three stars on their right wrists. Rhys wears long sleeves to hide his most of the time. Feyre wears a bracelet to hide hers except the one day she doesn’t and the one person that makes her feel understood that she pretends to hate but is actually her closest friend that she kind of has a crush on sees it. Plus he’s her soulmate. And he’s Rhys, so yeah ;).

Part 1/ Part 2

Masterlist

Feyre Archeron had always felt different from her fellow high school students. When Feyre was little, her mother had left her, her sisters, and her father. Her father had become distant, removed, and he spent almost every waking moment(a long time since he rarely slept) at his practice winning cases as a lawyer. Feyre’s sister, Nesta, was always skipping classes at college(she still managed to get good grades though) to do odd jobs to make extra money. Nesta said it was “To get as far away from here as possible one day”. Feyre suspected it was because she didn’t trust people after their mom left and always wanted to be able to run away at the drop of a hat. Feyre’s sister, Elain, decided to forgo college in order to be a fashion designer and had moved to New York immediately upon graduation from high school. Elain still called almost every night and came home every holiday and birthday. With her family always gone and her antisocial tendencies, Feyre was lonely. Until Feyre found out she had a soulmate. Soulmates were extremely rare, but it was still a proven phenomenon that almost everyone believed in. Feyre’s mother had never believed in them because no one in their family had had one for centuries. Nesta had once felt the same way, up until Feyre’s fourteenth birthday. At exactly midnight, Feyre awoke to prickling on her arm. She ran to Nesta’s room and shook her sister awake. The two Archerons sat and watched the midnight blue ink swirl around her skin. The tattoo ended up as a beautiful mountain and stars on her left wrist. After Nesta had fallen back asleep, Feyre saw some writing flash on her palm near the tattoo. It read: I love Feyre Archeron. Her soulmate’s deepest secret. As soon as she read the words, they disappeared. That was the last time Feyre ever truly felt alone.

Junior year had gone mostly as Feyre expected it to go; college prep was a pain and people were so full of themselves. Tamlin kept hitting on her(as if she would ever go out with that prick). The only thing, or person, that made Feyre feel understood was Rhysand. Feyre had been dancing around her feelings for him for weeks. She knew that he probably wouldn’t want to touch her if he knew she had a soulmate. Plus, her soulmate was in love with her, so she didn’t want to hurt them either. For those reasons, Feyre’s best friend, Mor(Rhys’s cousin), was the only one who knew about Feyre’s feelings. It had seemed like a bad idea to tell her at first, but Mor was very trustworthy; she had never spilled one of Feyre’s secrets before.

Feyre was having the epitome of bad days. First, she woke up thirty minutes late and had to run to school. Next, she got hit on by Tamlin, again. Finally, during third period, she realized that in her mad dash out the door to school, she had forgotten to wear her thick metal bracelet. Now, as far as she was concerned, everyone had seen her tattoo. In her haste to cover the tattoo with something, anything(hard to do considering it was almost summer and she was wearing a short sleeved shirt and shorts), she collided face first into a muscled chest, sending her books crashing to the ground. This day, Feyre thought, could not get any worse. As she reached down to pick up her books and locked eyes with the person she bumped into, she realized that the day could, in fact, get much worse.

“I’m so sorry, Darling, let me help you.” Rhys offered with an apologetic smile as he reached down to lift her books. Feyre’s heart sped up as she watched him. When Feyre got to her feet, Rhysand was carrying all of her books.

“I can get those, Rhys.” She said with an unimpressed look. His smile stretched into one of his signature smirks. Here we go, thought Feyre even as her heart skipped a beat at the very attractive annoying smirk.

“Are you sure? I’m happy to help, and I’d hate for you to drop them again.” Rhys was still smirking as he said it, but there was something in his eyes that looked more genuine. It was that look that made her say,

“Fine, you can carry them. Just let me carry the Jane Austen one. I’d hate for you to drop that one.” Feyre imitated his words from earlier. Rhys chuckled. Feyre reached her arm out expectantly.

“Here you go, if I didn’t know any better, I would say-” Rhys stopped. He went utterly still as he took in the arm Feyre had unknowingly exposed. Rhys was speechless.

“What is it?” Feyre breathed out. She subconsciously tucked her arm behind her back. Rhys shook his head in disbelief.

“That’s- that’s not…” Rhys trailed off, eyes wide and still staring at the place where Feyre’s arm had just been. Rhys blinked and squinted at her face for a second before a half smile took place of the flabbergasted expression on his face. “Never mind, let’s just get to class.” He suggested softly. Feyre nodded, and they walked to class together.

In their next class, math, Feyre got all of her class work and homework done in under ten minutes(faster than anyone else). Rhys was done in about fifteen minutes.

“I still don’t know how you get your work done so fast.” Rhys frowned when he saw her completed work.

“Well, some of us have a better understanding of the concepts…” Feyre grinned smugly at him. Rhys smiled back at her. Feyre’s gaze was inexplicably drawn to his lips. She looked away quickly.

“What’s wrong, Feyre Darling?” Rhys looked concerned. His fingers grazed her upper arm for a second and she felt a tingling sensation. The only problem with not being able to go out with Rhys, Feyre thought, was that no one had ever made her feel like he did.

“Oh, it’s nothing, Rhys. Just a bad day.” Feyre brushed off the concern, even though everything was wrong. He didn’t seem entirely convinced.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Rhys asked tentatively. Feyre nodded. They talked about Feyre’s bad day and then moved to other topics, eventually settling on an awkward one.

“I honestly can’t even remember the last time I went out with anyone, much less kissed someone.” Rhys admitted. Feyre was shocked.

“You’re kidding. Rhysand Ilta, the most- I mean, you’re so…” Feyre blushed furiously. She mentally slapped herself for almost calling him the most attractive guy in the school.

“The most what?” Rhys smirked and quirked an eyebrow at her.

“It’s just that you’re so charming.” Feyre thought that charming was better than saying outrageously handsome and practically perfect in every way(yes, like Mary Poppins). Rhys blushed a little at that.

“You think so?” He questioned, suddenly a bit timid. From suave to a flushing teenager in a matter of seconds. Feyre playfully rolled her eyes. Rhys nudged her with an elbow. Feyre sucked in a breath at the delicate contact.

“Yes, okay. You’re charming. You’re charming and sweet and funny and attractive and I -“ Feyre stopped herself from saying the damning words that threatened to escape her mouth, I love you so much that it hurts. “I guess I just can’t figure out why you’re still single, that’s all.” Feyre muttered. Rhys sucked in a breath. His eyes were wide and a blush ran from his cheeks to the tips of his ears. The bell rang, stunning the two out of their awkwardness. Feyre and Rhys left class and walked out of the building, for it was the end of the day. Neither said a word for a minute of so, until-

“Feyre, there’s something I have to tell you. I don’t know why I haven’t said anything until now. I know what you’ve said about dating. Cauldron, I know all too well,” Rhys ran a hand through his hair, taking a deep breath. “But, Fey, I can’t keep this from you because it’s tearing me apart inside, and I’ve only known for an hour. Feyre, you’re my soulmate.”

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Let me know what you guys think! I’m going to be writing two songfics in the near future(one for Rowaelin and one for Feysand) so stay tuned. :)

[acolove]

A Trip To The Unknown

Chapter One: Glad the train introduced us

It would be a long night. After spending 2 hours in a cab to get to this train station, there would be more 18 hours on the train itself. That’s absurd. I have never ever heard of a trip so long., especially by train. But it has to be done. Why did my family have to live so far away? Well, actually, I moved out. But it doesn’t change the fact that we live so apart from each other.

 Is has been 3 years since I last saw my family. I remember how my father told me to never return, to leave them and never look back. I guess he won’t be very happy in seeing me. I’m the younger daughter of a broken man. My mom died when I was little, so it was just me, father, Nesta and Elain. My sisters were really close, a true family. Maybe it was because of the age difference, but their little family never included me.  

 Now, I’m going back to that house empty of love and solidarity, and without any warning. I wasn’t planning a family gathering, but the circumstances asked for it.

 I found my seat by the window. If I were lucky, no one would sit next to me and I could spend the next hours sleeping or thinking about what would I say when I get home. Home. That house was not my home. I realized I had no such thing.

 Apparently, I was not a lucky person. The person sitting next to me was the most handsome man I’ve ever seen. He was tall and had a muscled body, his hair was dark as the night, but his skin was brown and tan. His violet eyes were staring at me as he offered his hand to me.

 ”I’m Rhysand” He smiled at me.

 I took his hand and offered a smile, so obviously fake. “ I’m Feyre”

 He took his seat next to me as I turned to the window, watching as people passed through the gates and into the train. I couldn’t stop thinking about everything that happened and how much of it I could blame on myself. Maybe everything.

 I heard the man next to me clearing his throat “ So, what makes you travel all the way to Prythian?”

 “Reasons” I didn’t even bothered looking at him.

 “That’s quite vague”

 “That’s quite none of your business”

 After my response, he seemed to understand that I was not looking for small talk, or any talk at all. I fell asleep the second the train begun to move. Only 18 hours to go. I can do this.

__

 I woke up with someone gently shaking me, but with all the bruises on my body it hurt and I groaned at the touch. Rhysand, apparently, pulled away at the sound.

 “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you” He looked sincere, but it made nothing to improve my humor “I just wanted to say that they’re serving food right now. Some sort of dinner, if you find this eatable”

 I murmured thanks while waiting for an attendant to bring me some soup, or whatever it was.

 Rhysand was looking at me while I tasted my soup. It wasn’t all that bad. “I didn’t know they served food here”

 “It’s to make the costumers more comfortable. After all, it’s a long trip”

 “Indeed” I guess they weren’t so preoccupied with the costumers comfort judging by the side of the bowl. It was enough to feed a little bird, but not me.

 “They also put together who they think will be the most compatible” he was now smirking.

 “Really?” I looked up at him

 “Yes, and since they were right about the soup, maybe they’re right about us”

 “So you’re telling me that this is not just a train, but a love train?”

 “Yes it is, Feyre darling” His smile only grew “And I intend on asking you out on a date by the end of this little lobe journey”

 “I don’t think this will happen, Rhysand” I was smiling now.

 “Rhys”

 “What?” I looked confused at him

 “Call me Rhys” He explained, “That’s how my friends call me”

 “Okay, Rhys” I saw something shining in his eyes for just a moment because of the use of his nickname. “But I must warn you: friends don’t go on dates together”

 “Maybe I want us to be more than friends”

 “So I guess I will just have to call you something different. Maybe prick”

 I heard his laugh as I looked back to my soup and finished eating it. When I turned to the window, I only saw trees passing by in a blur. Maybe sitting next to Rhys was my share of luck.

__

 Rhysand and I talked for the next 3 hours about all the possible light subjects. I told him I was taking an arts course but I was also taking a break to visit family. I didn’t told what was the real reason, or who was the real reason. He told me he just graduated on business and was returning to his hometown to take care of his family company. We were from neighboring towns but never met.

 I told him all about my family: how my father was never the same after my mother died, how Nesta was the most difficult person I know, how Elain is the exception to our family, how she is kind and naïve. He told me his parents died when he was little and their company was taken care by his uncle, but now he was read to lead. He told me about his friends ate the city, whom he called “The Inner Circle”, and how he missed them while he was away.

 I tried not to look sad when he told me about them, but I’m sure Rhys noticed. I got jealous because I didn’t have anyone to miss. I was not close to my family, I was never the friendly kind of girl. Well, until I met him. Tamlin made me feel like no one ever did. He loved me so fiercely and I loved him back. Then we moved together to the other side of the country and I never talked to anyone again. Since now I was going back, it was safe to assume that it didn’t end well.

 Think about him ruined my mood and I decided I should sleep some more. Rhysand understood and went to sleep too.

__

 Only 8 hours left. I woke up again at the middle of the night. Rhysand was sleeping, just like everyone else on the train. Seeing him sleep brought me so many bad memories I couldn’t help crying. I thought about the hell I’ve been through and all the nights I’ve spent crying while Tamlin slept next to me as if nothing had happened.

 I turned to the window again, and tried to be the most quiet as possible, Unfortunately, I was not capable of suppressing some sobs. After a few minutes, I felt someone holding my hand. It only made me cry harder.

__

 He didn’t ask me what was wrong, which only made it worse. I decided I would tell him the truth, I would tell him everything. I don’t know if it was the fact that I was never going to see him again, or if it was just him, but it felt easy to tell my story. And I felt lighter.

 “His name is Tamlin. We met in high school and he was my first love. I’ve never felt so beautiful, or desired, or loved as I felt when he looked at me. So it was easy loving him. We dated for a year and it was perfect, he was perfect. But then we graduated and he was moving to somewhere so far away and I was afraid no one would ever look at me like that again. So when he asked me to live with him I said yes, never hesitated. My father told me to never come back, to make a living far away from them. And so I did.”

 I would stop eventually to drink some water or look at Rhys for a response, but he was serious, and his face didn’t give anything away.

 “Everything was so perfect at the beginning. I thought I was dreaming. But after a year, he started to change. He became so jealous and possessive, never letting me meet the few friends I made, to a point that I had no friends at all. He was getting aggressive when I confronted him. That’s when he started hitting me” I saw anger on Rhys’s eyes, but I didn’t stop. “He would punch me or kick me in places no one could see and I just got lost. I stopped caring, confronting, asking. I just did what he wanted. But it was never enough. So he would hit me and make me “compensate” him in the bedroom for all the discomfort I caused. To make sure I never left the house, he locked me in our room and he would leave me there all day long. I couldn’t call my family because I chose to leave them. I chose this life”

 I stopped for a moment, looking to anywhere but Rhys. I couldn’t meet his gaze, not after admitting I knew it was my fault. God, I felt so pathetic.

 “It lasted a year. Until- well, until today. There was this party at this amazing gallery, and the owner and a lot of artists would be there. It was a great opportunity to make contacts or maybe even get a shot at an exposition. But he had a football game and wouldn’t let me go without him. I guess I just wanted it so bad I thought it was worth fighting for. I’ve never seen him so angry.” I took off my scarf so he could see the marks on my neck, probably deep purple by now. His eyes widened at the sight. “He tried to kill me, so I stabbed him. I don’t know how the knife got in my hands and I don’t know how I managed to escape, but I did. I grabbed a few things and took a cab for that train station and just bought a ticket to the only place I could think of. And I don’t know how I will face my family after that, because worse than being with someone like him is accepting it. And I did”

 After what appeared to be hours in silence, I looked up at Rhys and saw only kind and understanding. He grabbed my hand and squeezed it. I realized how tired I was after telling all this and leaned onto Rhysand, falling asleep right after, with my head pressed against his chest and his arm over my shoulder.

__

 He was stroking my hair while we told each other the worst jokes we could remember. We’ve been like that for the past hour. He didn’t say anything about what I told him and I was glad. I didn’t want to hear his judgment, or worse: his pity. It was easy to just talk about nothing, but never stop talking. We shared headphones listening to his ipod. Our tastes were so different, but I liked what he introduced me to.

 It was morning already and we were just 2 hours from our destination. We ate some fruit salad they gave us and we just spent the rest of the trip like that.

__

 I was waiting for a cab with my bag hung on one of my shoulders when Rhys told me his car arrived. He offered me a ride but a just needed a time alone.

 “I want you to know that it was not your fault, it could never be your fault. I think you’re very beautiful and very brave” His words didn’t surprised me as much as the kiss he placed on my cheek. His lips were soft and warm and I wished he had kissed me for a longer time. He pulled away and got into his car, not after waving ate me by the window.

 My cab came few moments later and I got myself comfortable on the back seat. Now, I was certain having Rhysand sitting next to me was a luck sign.