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nocasdatsgay · 10 months ago

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The Price You Pay For Power Ch. 1

An ACOSF AU Neris Fanfic

Summary: Eris revises his bargain with Rhysand: Nesta for Autumn Healers. He agrees and Nesta is sent to Autumn under the guise as Eris’s new bride in order to assist with removing Beron for good. Now she has to navigate a new court and also decide just how much she will trust her new husband.

Author’s Note: I did it. I started it. CWs are posted under the read more. Full list on AO3; more will be added as story progresses as needed.

AO3 Link | Master Post | Ch. 1 Under Read Below

CW: Brief Flashback to a Vanserra Brother’s birth and Lady of Autumn’s (basically) C-Section.

*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*

Rhysand’s patience was already at its limit when Eris walked into the office down in Hewn City. An impromptu meeting, requesting only Rhys’s presence. He didn’t hide his annoyance at the Autumn Heir while those amber eyes raked over him.

“You look awful,” Eris flung his hair back over his shoulder with a quick turn of his head. He sat in the first chair closest to the door.

“I don’t have time for your smart mouth,” Rhys growled. “Cut the bullshit and tell me what you want. Or get out.”

“I think it’s time to take out my father.” Eris replied, back straightened and staring at Rhys. “He’s been visiting the continent more. With his alliance to that human crone, things are about to get very complicated.”

“We already have a bargain.”

“And I’m calling it. I want Nesta.”

Night fell off of Rhys as his anger mounted. “No.”

“Just until my father is dead.” His eyes rolled and leaned on the arm of his chair. “So dramatic. We smuggle her in under the guise that she accepted my proposal. She helped kill the King of Hybern, she can help kill Beron. She will be safe, my father is terrified of her.”

“No.”

Eris studied him. “I’ll give you anything you ask.”

“You have nothing I want.”

“Not even, say, skilled healers?”

Time stood still for a moment. Rhys knew he gave himself away with silence. But there was no possible way for Eris to know. No one knew but the inner circle.

“Why would I need healers?”

“You’re not as discreet as you think you are.” Eris smiled wickedly. “There’s something wrong with the babe in your mate’s womb.”

In a blink Rhys was across the table, yanking Eris from his chair by his neck. Darkness filled the room while he held him by his throat against the wall.

“What do you know?” He said through gritted teeth.

“You’ve been searching Prythian for anything and everything to do with birthing children with wings.” Eris didn’t bother to pull at Rhys’s hold. He choked out, “our healers can perform the process to remove the babe safely that you’re looking for.”

Rhys’s eyes were fully black, his grip tightened. “How do I know you aren’t lying?”

“Put me down and I’ll show you.”

Rhysand debated snapping his neck. But a part of him wanted to see. If he could save Feyre- he dropped his hold, letting Eris sputter and cough.

“Show me. Now.”

Rhysand reached into Eris’s mind and clawed hard at the wall. In a moment he was let in.

“The babe is stuck,” a healer- Edith, Eris’s mind supplied, said.

She pulled out her bag and through Eris’s eyes he heard him say, “you can’t.”

“I know what I’m doing boy. Stand back and let me save your mother.”

It was indeed the Lady of Autumn lying on the bed, pale and unconscious. Eris’s mind supplied that the babe stuck was the second youngest son, Leon. His twin had been born without issue but he was not head down. She had also started bleeding profusely. One of the other healers handed Eris his wailing brother.

“Why were you there?” Rhysand asked.

“They called for my father but he couldn’t be bothered.” Eris replied. “Keep watching.”

While Eris held his brother, Edith shook the lady awake. She forced her to down two potions. One was for pain, the other for blood loss. The other healer ripped open part of her gown, baring her rounded stomach. Rhys held his breath while he watched them cut her open carefully and extract the baby. More wails filled the room and Eris had put his other brother in a cradle to be handed the second bloody babe. Rhys nearly fell to his knees. They worked quickly, patching up the wound and pouring a tonic on her stomach to seal it. The lady was awake but showed no signs of pain.

She looked at Eris. “Let me see my babies.”

Rhys pulled out of his mind, nearly stumbling. Eris only watched him, waiting.

“You’ll swear them to secrecy.” He felt like his breath was getting away from him, his chest rising and falling rapidly. “We will make another bargain. Nesta will help you kill your father under the guise of accepting your proposal. In return, your healers will look after Feyre.”

“I know my father and he will push for a real marriage. I will delay it as much as possible but if I cannot, I will annul it but only at her request.”

“You will annul it,” Rhys growled out. “Whether she requests it or not.”

“You never know,” a ghost of a smile graced his lips. “She may like being married to me. Better than that oaf of a general.”

Night started to pour from Rhys again. “Stop testing my patience.”

“Fine,” Eris held out his hand. “We have another agreement.”

Rhys gripped his hand tight and magic washed over them both. He felt the tattoo from the previous bargain change.

Eris pulled his hand back first. “I want her to be brought here tomorrow. I will come and retrieve her.”

“I’ll bring her to the palace. Now get out of my sight.” Rhys said, throwing out his hand in dismissal.

The moment he felt Eris leave, Rhys sat at his desk and wept. Part of him felt it was too good to be true if he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes. He could finally save his mate and his baby. He just had to break the news to his brother what it cost him.

—

Nesta didn’t know what to expect when she was summoned to one of the study’s in the house of wind. When she went to leave the library, Clotho had a message for her to meet Rhys in the far end study. She steeled herself before entering, not bothering to knock.

The room was small, just a bookshelf to the right and a few plush red chairs near a window. The only tables were small side tables. A rust oval rug laid on the floor. She stood in the middle of it.

Rhysand was sitting in the left chair and did not look at her when she entered. He had his leg crossed over his knee and a stack of papers in his lap. She almost cleared her throat to get his attention but he finally spoke, still not looking up.

“Nesta.”

“Rhys. You summoned me?” She crossed her arms across her chest.

“I did.” Rhysand did not look her in the eye. He sat his papers on the side table and moved his leg. He put his elbows on his knees, staring at the floor. “I’ll get to the point. I need you to accept Eris’s proposal.”

“Excuse me?”

When Nesta danced with Eris in Hewn City, she knew of his proposal. She even debated accepting it on her own. But to be told she didn’t have a choice?

“You will marry Eris.” He acted as if she had not protested. “You will help him obtain the throne with your powers.”

A flash of anger rolled through Nesta. “You cannot ask that of me.”

“I can and I will.” He said coldly. He still did not look her in the eyes. “There is no debate this time.”

“What about Cassian?” She narrowed her gaze at him. Cassian was his brother. He cared about him more than her.

“Cassian will get over it.” Nesta felt like she had been struck. Rhysand finally looked up at her, tears in his hardened eyes. “It’s to save Feyre, Nesta. Eris has promised me healers in exchange for your hand and aid. Healers who have dealt with difficult births before.”

“How do you know he isn’t lying?” Her breath quickened and the feeling of betrayal washed over her. Her arms fell to her side.

“I’ve seen it. With my own eyes. They extracted a babe from a female and they both lived. Feyre and the baby will live, Nesta. All you have to do is be selfless for once in your life.”

“After the baby is born? Can I come home?” Rhysand did not answer her. “What are you going to tell Cassian?”

“I’ve already told him.”

Nesta shook her head. “He would never allow this.”

“Go ask him yourself.” Rhysand’s stare turned colder. “He agreed to save Feyre. You’ll be sent to Autumn tomorrow. I suggest you pack your things.”

“I will not go.”

“You will,” night flared around him, his violet eyes flashing. Then he reigned it in and leaned back in his chair. “You’re dismissed, Nesta.”

“I want to speak to my sister.” A last ditch effort on her end. “Feyre won’t allow this.”

“You will not say a word of this arrangement to Feyre,” Rhysand’s voice was laced with a command that washed over her. “You will not give her added stress.”

Angry tears welled in her eyes but she held her chin up. Fine, she thought. She would find Cassian. He would make Rhys see reason. Chin still high, she turned and left the study. She went to the kitchen and found Cassian sitting at the table, head in his hand. When she entered, Cassian glanced over at her before looking down at the ground.

“He told you?”

“Cassian, you can’t allow this!” He refused to look at her. “Cassian!”

“It’s to save Feyre and the baby, Nes,” his voice soft, almost a whisper. He still wouldn’t look at her.

“There are other ways,” tears filled her eyes again.

He shook his head. “The agreement has been made. Rhys gave an order.”

“Then fight it.” Fight for me, she wanted to add. He remained silent. “You’ll allow him to marry me to a monster because of an order?”

“I trust Rhys,” Cassian finally looked her in the eyes, his gaze hardened. “It’s to save your sister, the baby, and Rhys.”

“What about me?” She yelled, pointing her own finger at her chest.

“Not everything is about you, Nesta. This is life or death. Do you not care if Feyre dies?”

Something snapped inside her. It was possible the disbelief that he thought this plan would work. It was partly because after everything- after she opened herself up to him, he so easily tossed her aside for Rhys. Tossed her to the wolves because his High Lord said so. If he would harden his heart like this, then so would she. She steeled her features and stiffened her back, holding her head up high.

“You’re right. I’ll go pack my things.”

Each step as she turned and walked out of the room, she chanted in her mind for him to chase her. To change his mind. To prove her wrong. To choose her. She reached her room and when he did not follow, she shut the door and locked it. She willed the house to not allow him in, not that he would try. She barely made it to the bed before collapsing in a sob.

Next Chapter

#the price you pay for power #Neris #nesta archeron #eris vanserra #eris acotar #acosf rewrite #nesta acotar #Chapter 1 #I told y’all you wouldn’t like what i had to do to get her out #I hope y’all like it y’all really hyped this up

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