#she is not in this chapter | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

clockwork-ashes · 11 months ago

Text

All You Have Is Your Fire - Part VII

Find Part I here :)

Summary: 'I can hear your heart beating through the stone.' For the briefest of moments, Lucien wondered if his mate would know exactly when his heart’s steady rhythm came to a sudden stop.

Note: A huge, huge thank you to the lovely @bettdraws who literally deserves all the credit and whose post inspired me to start writing this. I could not stop thinking about this head canon, and it was so kind of you to let me try and make a story from it :)

And a huge thank you to everyone reading! ALSO has everyone seen this post, I gasped it's so lovely. All of @teddyhoneybear mood boards are stunning <3

Tag List: @anishake / @nocasdatsgay / @mybestfriendmademe / @talibunny30 / @halfbutneverwhole / @wishfulimaginings / @goldenmagnolias /

Part VIII >>

The Forest House was always at its loveliest in the morning, Lucien knew, and while he had not stepped foot in his childhood home in decades, it was almost as though no time had passed.

Warm sunlight filtered in through the arched windows, falling leaves created an ever-moving pattern along the stone walls. Lucien could smell the sweet pastries being baked in the kitchens mixed with the always present scent of crisp apples. It was too early for anyone else to be wandering the ancient hallways, none of the nobles or aristocrats awake just yet.

It was peaceful, nearly enough so as to make Lucien forget all of his less pleasant memories in Autumn.

The sharp pain shooting up his side made Lucien wince, bringing him back to the harsh present. He was feeling much better than he had the night before, still a little bruised and sore, but no longer exhausted from the injuries.

Lucien wondered if Elain’s presence had been the reason for his swift recovery, whether being in his mate’s proximity was to thank for his overnight healing.

When Lucien had left their shared suite, Elain had still been asleep. She had been curled up on the armchair by the fireplace, the flames low, a fur blanket pulled up to her chin. Lucien had been struck with how lovely she was, curls framing her face rather endearingly, but even in sleep Elain had looked troubled.

Elain’s brow had been furrowed, her full lips pulled down at the corners in a small frown, like she had been unable to rest.

Lucien had blamed it on the fact that she could hardly be comfortable confined to the armchair, and while he had appreciated how she had not hesitated to offer him the bed, he had been annoyed with himself the following day for not having insisted otherwise at the time.

Lucien had clambered under the covers with no argument after having washed up, Elain had been pretending to sleep, obviously to avoid speaking with him any more. Lucien had allowed Elain that, had considered it the least he could do for her after she had faced his father, but he regretted not pushing her to take the bed.

The sound of Lucien’s boots hitting the stone floor echoed around him as he continued to walk the halls.

He was unsure of how he could properly thank Elain for what she had done, for the danger she had put herself in. The idea of finding her lady’s maid came to Lucien as he had been searching through the already full closet, glad that whoever had set the rooms had thought of it. The clothes he had been wearing were ripped and stained with his blood, even the style would have been considered inappropriate for the court he had been raised in.

Lucien had not yet run into the female that had come to Autumn with Elain, still nameless and faceless to him, but he had been certain in his ability to spot her despite the fact.

Lucien knew Elain would feel more comfortable with a familiar face, more at ease with someone who simply was not him. Lucien hoped he would find her lady’s maid, but that had not been the only reason he had woken up so early, had left Elain alone.

The Lady of Autumn liked drinking her morning coffee on a balcony Lucien had long ago begun referring to as his mother’s. Seeing her in the throne room the night before had been enough to rattle Lucien, the way she had clung to the High Lord familiar. Even in Lucien’s earliest memories, the Lady of Autumn would try to spare all her children from her husband’s wrath, unafraid for her own well-being.

Lucien was pulled from his thoughts at the sound of the sharp whistle behind him, the kind Eris so often used to command his hounds. Lucien stopped walking suddenly, his hands curling into fists at his sides.

“Morning, fox,” the greeting rough, cruel amusement lacing the words.

Instead of waiting for a response from Lucien, a second voice followed the first. “You’re looking much better, little brother. Spending the night with your mate seems to have done you a world of good.”

Ronan’s answering chuckle was enough to make Lucien’s blood boil. He turned around to face his brothers, having to contain the snarl that wanted to escape his lips. Lucien had not heard them approach, too wrapped up in his own thoughts.

Felix raised an elegant auburn brow. “Surprising that she’s not with you now,” his frown was convincingly disappointed. “When will you be introducing us?”

Never, Lucien thought. He had to stop himself from snapping the word. Instead, he ran his tongue over his teeth, took a deep breath. “You can meet her tomorrow, with the rest of the court.” Lucien hoped his tone suggested the decision was final.

“No exceptions are to be made for family?” Ronan grinned, knowing well that Lucien had not considered himself their brother since the moment Jesminda’s heart had stopped beating.

Lucien hated them both in equal measure. Ronan for the role he had played in his lover’s death, and Felix for the simple fact that he was horrible. As a child, Lucien had tried to win their affection, and had been confused by their constant rejection of him.

Lucien tamed his growing anger, choosing to answer calmly instead. “Afraid not.”

“Pity,” flames flared in Ronan’s dark eyes as he shrugged. “I hear she’s lovely.”

Lucien growled then, uncontrollable. Perhaps it was jealousy, he thought, the bond pushing him to act in such a way. If Lucien could have it his way, Elain would never have needed to meet his brothers, she would have never needed to step foot in Autumn. Lucien silently cursed Eris for getting his mate involved.

Ronan looked pleased by Lucien’s reaction, and it seemed like he was about to continue taunting his youngest brother, but he did not get the chance.

Not as Eris winnowed effortlessly between them. Lucien had always envied his eldest brother’s ability to step through space as easily as breathing. Eris made no show of his magic, creating an effect that Lucien considered rather unsettling.

“Are we having a reunion in the middle of the hall?” Eris drawled, the tone of his voice enough to bring matching scowls to Felix and Ronan’s faces.

Lucien could barely hide his grin as his other brothers inched further away now that Eris had arrived, as their expressions failed to hide their fear. Eris was a High Lord’s heir, and even Lucien was wary around such power.

“We thought we should welcome Lucien,” Felix offered. “It’s been an age since he’s stayed at the Forest House.”

Eris waved his hand dismissively. “You both have more important business to attend to,” he glared at Lucien, “I must speak with our little brother.”

Before Lucien could respond, Eris grabbed onto his shoulder roughly, winnowing them both to a different part of the ancient complex.

Eris let go of Lucien with a parting shove. “Do me a favour and go an entire day without being useless,” he hissed.

If the circumstances had been any different, Lucien would not have taken insult to Eris’s words. He had long ago gotten used to the way Eris spoke, every sentence sharp as thorns.

But it was because of Eris that Rhysand and Feyre had let Elain come for Lucien, that his mate was stuck in Autumn, their wedding date set. Lucien had well and truly had enough of Eris and his meddling.

Swift as an adder, Lucien lunged at Eris, grabbing him by the collar. He threw Eris against the stone wall. “How could you?” He spat, ignoring the way his brother grunted in pain. “Why in the hell would you bring my mate, my mate, to this cauldron forsaken court?”

Eris rolled his eyes, hardly concerned. He made no effort to free himself from Lucien’s grip. “Is she made of porcelain?”

Eris’s question was enough to make Lucien release his hold on his brother’s jacket. “Father will–”

“Do nothing,” Eris interrupted. “He’ll do nothing so long as he wants to remain in the Night Court’s good graces.” He ran a hand through his hair, “Spend enough time in Velaris and you start acting like Rhysand and his ilk. Elain chose to come, I hardly forced her.”

Lucien was growing frustrated, but Eris was his only ally in Autumn. With a sigh, he rubbed the heels of his palms against his eyes. He did not trust Eris to have been entirely honest with Elain, to have warned her of the situation she would be getting herself into. “Rhysand and Feyre just let you take her?”

“I doubt they would have been able to stop her, she’s quite stubborn, made quite a fuss over the whole thing.” Lucien watched as Eris shrugged, “She convinced me to let her take a lady’s maid. Your mate strikes me as a female unlikely to take no for an answer.”

Lucien felt fear, steady like the flow of a river, creeping into his veins. “If anything happens to her–”

“Stop worrying,” Eris interrupted once more. “I don’t care to hear your concerns.” Lucien bristled, ready to snap a response, but Eris had not finished. “Besides, your mate is looking for you.”

Lucien had grown tired of Eris’s games. With one final glare cast in his eldest brother’s direction, he summoned his magic, glowing gold as he winnowed to Elain.

#acotar #a court of thorns and roses #elucien #elain x lucien #elain archeron x lucien vanserra #lucien vanserra #eris vanserra #vanserra brothers #autumn court #elain archeron #she is not in this chapter #thank you to everyone for reading #all you have is your fire #ashes writes sometimes

69 notes · View notes