#thenightcourt

[writtenbyshama]

Long Way Home [Part II]

[Azriel x Reader fanfic]

Synopsis: Y/n is the daughter of a healer in the city of Velaris. After a small incident, she moves to the House of the Wind to work for the High Lord, Rhysand. Everyone in the house seems to welcome her except Azriel, the second in command. Even though he is just blankly polite and does not acknowledge her much, she can't help but fall for him. Does Azriel return her feelings or remain unfeelingly aloof?

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

Read Part 1 here.

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

Part II

I started noticing that I got stared at more than usual whenever I came to visit father. Apparently, he had proudly told everyone who came to be treated that his daughter now studied in the House of the Wind and worked for the High Lord himself. I was happy to see him happy, but at the same time embarrassed when I was in the spotlight of attention. 

In my most recent visit, there were only a few patients to take care of, and none to stay the night in the infirmary room. Father cooked a deliciously smelling vegetable soup with mouth watering garlic bread for dinner. We carried the food along with a bottle of homemade wine to the terrace of our building. We did this often, sitting under the magnificent sky of the City of Starlight. It kind of became our ritual after mother died, where after all the eating and drinking, I'd lie down with my head on father's lap like I used to do as a small child, and he narrated stories of her. 

Our family history was a bit strange. My father was a proud, handsome descendant of the Illyrians, but my mother had been a high fae from the Summer Court. I've heard that most of my ancestors' pairing is similar to that. 

Your mother, she had this alluring green eyes, the colour which you see in the depths of a still pond, never letting go once you are pulled into. I can still see how the soft wind caressed her pinkish hair against her skin. He loved to describe her, and repeated over and over again the story of how they met. 

The story of how she died was only told once, and he never repeated it again. When I had been two years old, mother was pregnant with my sister. There was an internal bleeding which didn't stop, and sadly, both mother and child succumbed to it.

According to one of my neighbours, father was completely devastated after her death. He even stopped selling his services for a while. He didn't talk to anyone and sulked alone, which was completely opposite to his usual extrovert nature. I don't remember any of this, though. Even with sadness in his heart, he never forgot that he had a living daughter and my childhood was full of happy memories. 

Well, mostly. 

That night, he was telling me the story of how he used to paint my mother's toenails with colour when she was pregnant and couldn't do it herself—his personal favourite which I listened to every time like I was hearing it for the first time—when a shadow flew across the starry sky and landed in front of us. 

It was Azriel. 

I pushed myself into a sitting position, squinting at the cloth wrapped parcel which he held in both hands. When my father stood up to greet him, he extended it forward. 

"Greetings, sir. The High Lord and Lady send their compliments," he then turned to me. "Hello, y/n."

I nodded while father conveyed his thanks and accepted the parcel. Azriel was about to leave right then, but father insisted on him having dinner before he did so. He hesitated, his gaze dropping at our empty dining plates and wine bottle, but eventually agreed. They went down the stairs into the warmth of the kitchen and I followed. 

Father was already making cheery conversation, and Azriel joined after a while. They knew some mutual fae and some members of the Illyrian clan, and began having an earnest discussion. 

Azriel was ushered to sit while I set the table and father heated up the food. He always made extra portions because someone could unexpectedly stopped by for a chat and had to be welcomed with delicious food every time. While Azriel ate and they talked, I silently listened from a chair nearby. I felt the familiar squeezing ache in my chest as I watched them, because I could tell that Azriel was not humouring my father out of mere politeness and genuinely wanted to converse. He was never like that with me in the few months I've spent in the House. 

I felt prickling behind my eyes, and I excused myself to my room before it turned into tears. Once underneath my warm covers, I let the tears fall and fell into a tired slumber. 

I was jerked back into consciousness when I heard the sound of my bedroom door being opened. My eyes were swollen shut from all the crying and I had to fight to open them a bit and see who came in. 

It was father. He sat on the side of my bed and gently caressed my hair, noticing that I was awake. 

"Azriel left just now. We talked for a long time."

I closed my eyes and sighed, trying very hard not to cry again. "Hmm."

"Has he hurt you?" He asked, his voice low.

I blinked open my eyes in confusion. "Who?"

"Azriel."

I scoffed and shook my head. "I don't even know him that well to be hurt, papa."

He raised an eyebrow. "That's why you cried yourself to sleep, huh?"

I bit the inside of my cheek, not answering. He knew everything anyway.

He stood up and fetched a cold compress for my eyes. I felt fresh tears threatening to spill, and pushed the compress deeper onto my eyelids. 

"Does he have a mate already?"

"No. It doesn't matter. They'll feel the bond towards each other soon, anyway. The High Lady's sister might be the one."

"I see."

He was silent for a while. The swelling eased down and I could open my eyes wider. When the compress wasn't so cold anymore, I put it on the nightstand and wriggled back to a comfortable position. Father gently patted my head in a rhythm to help me sleep. 

"You'll find a deserving mate too, don't worry," he whispered. "A heart has to eventually find its home."

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

Read Part 3 here.

This fanfic can also be found in Wattpad, along with other exclusive parts like playlists and pictures. Here's the link: https://www.wattpad.com/story/358573037-long-way-home

Happy reading! <3

[wingsxndfury]

Azriel

Spymaster of the Night Court

Shadowsinger

Illyrian Bastard

At the beginning, he was the illyrian bastard; born and taken from his mother, captured and battered from his own blood. Then, the shadows began to sing around his body. Thus, he was brought to the illyrian camp Windhaven to set the shadows free and train them. With this, he met his family, his very true brothers: Rhysand and Cassian. And from this day, he wasn't the illyrian bastard anymore. He became a friend, a brother and at last: The Spymaster of the Night Court.

Good to know --- Character

[wingsxndfury]

@highlord-nightcourt Next time, perhaps..

Azriel: *sneaks in through the window* Rhysand, turning in his chair and flicking the light on: You want to tell me where you've been all night? Azriel: I uh...I was with Cassian Cassian, turning in his own chair: Wanna try that again?

[deanie-dhampir]

“Power lay in her hand. Death gripped her by the other” 💀 Illyrian/Valkyrie Nesta Tell me, whose wingspan would you rather stroke? Rhysand, Cassian or Azriel? I’m not sure when it changed exactly but I went from being Team Rhys to simping for the Lord of Bloodshed 🥵😂 I’d love to know where others sit! Photo by @mobro.photo @auckland.cosphoto #nestaarcheron #nestaarcheroncosplay #nestacosplay #acotar #acosf #acourtofthornsandroses #acourtofsilverflames #acotarcosplay #acosfcosplay #books #bookcosplay #bookish #bookishcosplay #fantasycosplay #sarahjmaas #nessian #rhysand #theinnercircle #booksofvelaris #velaris #thenightcourt #houseofwind #illyriancosplay https://www.instagram.com/p/CnkGBEZyurQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[justtaketheelle]

Emerie knows she’s serving lewks 👀👀👀😍😏 #emerie #nesta #mor #morrigan #courtofthornsandroses #courtofmistandfury #courtofwingsandruin #courtofsilverflames #prythian #velaris #thenightcourt #sarahjmaas #feyre #rhysand https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd4X8A2NsQK/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[insicles]

Rhysand Casteel

🤝

Wanting to have sex at the most inappropriate time

[mariamcarreno]

I tried sooooo hard to draw rhysand from acotar but he looks quit young idk. • • • • #rhysand #thenightcourt #feysand #feysandedit #rhysandedit (en Velaris) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc5kUllOoLb/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[booktineus]

Q: How do you track your favourite reads? I use a mix of things. Goodreads (and now Storygraph too) is one place where I track all my reading. Then I have my book journal where all my 4 and 5 star reads get a page spread and mini review. The other place I track them are on my best reads tracking bookmarks! These are matte laminated bookmarks you can write on (a simple ball point pen works best). Each bookmark has 12 spots to write book titles. I'm using four or five of them this year 😂 One for each genre and then an overall favourites one. I'll be recording my favourite reads of each month. This is just one of SEVEN designs for 2022 inspired by my favourite ACOTAR ladies! Head over to @booktineusdesigns to see them all. They go on sale this Saturday! //CHALLENGES// #BombBooks2022 - Thunk (#BigBooks) #BookishBellesJan22 - Renewal: 2022 Reread //HASHTAGS// #bookstagram #ACOSF #ACOTAR #NestaArcheron #TheNightCourt #bookmarksofinstagram #ACourtofSIlverFlames #shopsmall #readingtracker #booktracker #bookstagrammer #goodbooks https://www.instagram.com/p/CYn-FNbLSrZ/?utm_medium=tumblr

[lisa-lostinlit]

💬 What are you #currentlyreading? Would you recommend it? . I’m in the middle of a few books right now. I’m reading a romance, a thriller, and a self-help book. All are quite good, I’m just struggling with the desire to read at all lately. I think I’m in a bit of a slump. . ✩ Mug by @fablegroundscoffee! Use code LIFEINLIT15 for a discount! ✩ Candle by @birthdatecandles! Use code LIFEINLIT10 for a discount! . . . h a s h t a g s ⇣ #bookstagramcommunity #readersofinstagram #alwaysreading #igreaders #readmorebooks #amreading #readingmakesmehappy #booksbeforebed #deskdecor #desksetup #coffeeaddict #coffeelover #coffeeaesthetic #bookish #thenightcourt #acourtofthornsandroses #acourtofmistandfury #sarahjmaas #yabooks #yabookseries #ireadyalit #hyggelifestyle #aesthetics #mugsofinstagram #candlesofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CMsvUOknr7z/?igshid=1v95hk3pp5b0s

[dreadart]

Feyre & Rhysand!! 🖤🖤🖤 I swear I’m going to listen to these ACOTAR audiobooks, you guys!! Lol – it’s such a trip to draw them before I know them well, but thankfully I have @RedSunflowerPins to guide me! This was made for her “Enemies to Lovers Box” – we finished all the art this week and I think it’s pretty epic!! Check it out on her page!! Let me know what you think, and of course, they will be up for an LE Print vote on my Patreon in a week!! 👀🖤🖤🖤 - - #acotar #acotarfanart #feysand #feyreandrhysand #feyrearcheron #rhysand #thenightcourt #highlordofthenightcourt #highladyofthenightcourt #acomaf #fantasypinart #enemiestolovers #booklover #bookart #fanart #dreadart #dreadillustration #book #booknerd https://www.instagram.com/p/CFc194BDQWU/?igshid=1xa21j23fsxyx

[thegirlwhoweepspages]

Nesta archeron

I love nesta, i don't even have words.

[writtenbyshama]

Long Way Home [Part III]

[Azriel x Reader fanfic]

Synopsis: Y/n is the daughter of a healer in the city of Velaris. After a small incident, she moves to the House of the Wind to work for the High Lord, Rhysand. Everyone in the house seems to welcome her except Azriel, the second in command. Even though he is just blankly polite and does not acknowledge her much, she can't help but fall for him. Does Azriel return her feelings or remain unfeelingly aloof?

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

Read Part 1 here.

Read Part 2 here.

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

Part III

A few months later, Star fall was to commence soon. 

Excitement was in the air, and I was looking forward to it too. Rhysand and Feyre were going to host a party, and preparations were already underway. Everyone pitched in to help between their usual duties, chattering about the outfits, the food, song and dance.

Mor and Feyre repeatedly asked me about my outfit for the event. I remained evasive, since I had no plans of actually attending the party. I'd be watching the sky from elsewhere. Even though I helped with the preparations as if I was going to attend, I was gradually emptying my quarters and shifting my things to an isolated property outside the city. This property was situated in a river valley backed by the large mountains surrounding Velaris. It was an inheritance passed down in our family, and I had remodelled the villa and the gardens with the help of my dad. It was a perfect place to avoid others, and I loved it very much. Father, on the other hand, didn't like to be alone for long periods of time and didn't visit it much. 

While I was still in the process of shifting my things, I started sleeping less in the nights. I stayed awake at the kitchen table with a hot cup of tea, working my anatomy drawings or study notes. The one thing I'd miss when I left was the library, so I tried to make extensive notes and copied important paragraphs from the books I read. 

One night, I decided on a change of scenery and took my materials to one of the many balconies, making myself comfortable on the thick carpet. As usual, I had some tea in my favourite cup and lots of lamps to illuminate my work. 

I had placed the tea-cup along with a glass jar of coloured pencils on a side table so that I wouldn't accidentally knock them off with my elbow. Leaning against the balcony railing, I was copying a detailed anatomical diagram of an Illyrian wing in my journal. 

A sudden gust of wind knocked over the table and shattered the tea-cup and glass jar. I jumped, dropping my journal as I watched the carpet soak up my drink and pencils scattered everywhere. My favourite cup was broken to fragments. 

Azriel appeared before I had the time to think what to do next. 

"Oh, sorry," he pointed at the shattered pieces.

I sighed. The glass jar could be replaced, but the tea-cup was from one of a collection set of my mother's. It hadn't broken into very tiny pieces, though. Maybe I could put it back together, even if it couldn't be used. I could use another cup for drinking and keep this one back in its shelf. 

I unfolded a drawstring pouch from my pocket and gathered all the pieces. Azriel helped by collecting the remains of the glass jar and the scattered pencils. The tea stain on the carpet couldn't be helped.

He didn't leave immediately after we finished, so I offered him a cup of tea while I brewed some for myself. He accepted, and soon enough, we had our own mugs of the hot liquid and sitting next to each other on the balcony floor, looking out into the night.

He cleared his throat. "That cup was important to you."

I nodded. A tendril of his shadow flickered near his neck, and slipped out of sight. "It's from a set that belonged to my mother."

His expression dropped from his usual polite blankness. "I'm truly sorry. If there's any way I can help fix—"

I held up a hand. "It's alright. I'll fix it by myself later on."

I was curious as to why he had appeared here. He had never actually come to a place I was in out of his own volition. I asked him about it.

He did not give a direct answer. "You weren't there in the kitchen. I was looking for you everywhere."

I fell silent, turning over his reply in my mind, unsure of how to proceed. Meanwhile, he laid down his mug and picked up the journal I used for sketching. This journal in particular was just pages and pages of anatomical Illyrian wings with the parts labelled and side information. I had drawn them in every possible angle and technique I could think of. 

He slowly thumbed through the pages, his own wings slightly trembling in the breeze. 

"These are really accurate," he commented as he stopped at one of the pages. His eyebrows went up, and I leaned over a bit to see what he was looking at. 

It was a shaded sketch of a pair of hands, with the palms turned up. And they had scars on them. Azriel's hands, which I had drawn one feverish night from memory. Fuck. 

I straightened, cupping my own mug with both hands and intensely staring at it, determined not to face him or acknowledge the drawing. My ears and neck turned hot with embarrassment. He stayed on that page for a long time before closing the journal and carefully keeping it on the carpet between us. 

"Why the wings?" He asked after a while. 

I shrugged. "I miss having them."

"What happened?"

I narrowed a side glance at him. "I'm sure you know what happened."

One corner of his mouth tipped up. "I do. But I'd like to hear the account from you."

I shrugged. "Nothing much to tell. Father was sent on a mission. Mother was already dead by that time and he had to take me with him since there was nobody else at the time to look after me. The task went wrong, and the enemy soldiers ripped off both our wings and left us to die. Only, we were somehow revived and brought back to life. It was quite a while before I learned how to properly balance myself without my wings."

"This was during the war, yes?"

"Yes."

He turned to me and gave me a once-over. "Your mother was not Illyrian."

I nodded. "She was a high fae from the Summer Court. It's a thing in our family's ancestry. We come from a long line of powerful healers, and not all our mates are Illyrian. She survived my birth, even with my wings, but she died during the second along with the child."

Noticing the sadness that crept into my voice, he changed the subject by pointing at my journal. "Why my hands?"

I blushed, turning away from his inquisitive gaze. "I find them beautiful, that's all."

He opened his mouth to reply, but stood up abruptly, his head cocked to the side as if listening to something. 

"I have to go."

Going like this only meant one thing. "Is Elaine in need of help?" My voice sounded strange to my own ears.

He was on his way to one of the archways, and halted mid-stride. "Yes. Why?"

I shook my head, motioning for him to leave. "It's nothing. Go on. Don't let me keep you."

He took a step towards me. "But—"

"Just go."

He left.

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

I took a nap right there on the carpet until the early morning rays warmed my skin. When I was awake, I started gathering all my things to go back to my room. Cassian appeared and waved at me as I stood up, my arms weighed down with the books and the empty mugs. 

"Good morning, my chicken soup."

I laughed. "Morning, Cassian."

During my stay, Cassian had once fallen ill with a stomach problem and wouldn't eat anything and spat out the medicine. I mixed all the herbal concoction in some chicken soup, its flavours masking the bitterness of the herbs and fed it to him until he was better. From then on, he started calling me his chicken soup and always came to me in case of injuries and other illnesses. 

He took some of my books and started walking me to my quarters. "I've fetched you breakfast, its in your room."

"Thanks."

When we reached my room, we unloaded our things on a table and I sat on a chair, keeping the breakfast tray on my lap. He took a seat on my bed and thoughtfully chewed on a piece of fruit. 

His wings were gently fluttering and I couldn't stop staring. 

"How does it feel to fly?" I asked in a low voice. My wings were ripped before I could do so.

His eyes softened. What happened to me and father was not a secret, everyone knew about it. He suddenly grinned as if he had a great idea. 

"What if I show you, instead of describing it?"

I didn't know what to say. "Um, I don't know, I'm a pretty chubby woman, I might be too heavy for you to—"

He groaned dramatically. "Oh, come on. I will be put to shame if I can't carry you!" He stood up. "Finish your breakfast. I'll take you right now."

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

Tags:

@kalulakunundrum

@thelov3lybookworm

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

Read Part 4 here.

Thank you for all the responses to my previous two parts of the story!

This fanfic can also be found in Wattpad, along with other exclusive parts like playlists and pictures. Here's the link: https://www.wattpad.com/story/358573037-long-way-home

Happy reading! <3

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

[wingsxndfury]

Nightthoughts

Im Nebel um die sieben Höfe Prythians erstreckten sich Legenden und Wesen, von denen über Jahrhunderte hinweg niemand mehr gesprochen hatte, Kreaturen, die niemand mehr gesehen hatte. Sie waren vergessen. Aber manchmal, wenn er die Schatten in seinem Spiegelbild tanzen sah und sich Ruhe über das gesamte Haus gelegt hatte, glaubte er eine dieser Kreaturen in seinem Spiegelbild wieder zuerkennen. Haselnussbraune Augen glänzten inmitten der braunen Haut seines Gesichts. Die Schatten unter seinen Augen kennzeichneten den inneren Kampf, den er jeden Tag mit sich ausfocht. Ein Monster. Du bist es nicht wert, hämmerte es in seinem Kopf. Du wirst es nie wert sein, Junge. Die Stimme seines Vaters hallte in der kühlen Stille seines Kopfes wider. Er wusste, dass er es nicht war. Die Narben auf seinen Händen zeigten es ihm. Mor, die ihn nicht ansehen konnte, wenn auch nur ein kleiner Funken von Gefühl in seinem Gesicht lag, ließ es ihn seit fünfhundert Jahren spüren. Er war es nicht wert und würde es nicht sein. Und so beschlich ihn wieder diese Eiseskälte, mitten in der Nacht, als sich seine Schatten eine Stunde lang zurückzogen und ihn mit seinen Gedanken alleine ließen. Ein Teil von ihm wusste, dass seine Familie ihn liebte; als Bruder, als Onkel, als Freund. Doch es war nicht genug, um die Leere in seinem Innern zu füllen. Jedes Mal, wenn er seine Brüder mit ihren Seelengefährten sah, wenn er Elain mit Nyx betrachtete oder wie er Lucien dabei erwischte wie er Elain beobachtete, schnürte seine Brust sich zu: Es wurde eng, so eng, dass er glaubte zu platzen. Etwas schien an seinen Nervenenden zu ziehen, über die Bahnen zu kratzen, während Hitze gegen Kälte kämpfte und er sich die eiserne Stille aufzwang. Dann, wenn diese Gefühle dermaßen auf ihn einschlugen, stand er abseits, beobachtete den wilden Trubel, mit dem Wissen, dass es eine schlaflose Nacht werden würde.

[rainereads]

me after binge-reading the ACOTAR series and Crescent City:

✨emotionally destroyed✨

[justtaketheelle]

The siege of Adriata—A Court of Wings and Ruin, chapter 36 “Don’t be afraid,” Mor said—as I stretched out a hand and darkness fell. Soldiers on both sides shouted, scrambling back, armor clanging. But I shifted my eyes, made them night-seeing. As I had done in that Illyrian forest, when I had first drawn Hybern blood. Mor, I think, was born able to see in the darkness. We winnowed through the ebon-veiled corridor in short bursts. I could see their terror as I killed them. But they could not see me. #feyre #feyrearcheron #nesta #nestaarcheron #elain #elainarcheron #courtofthornsandroses #courtofmistandfury #courtofwingsandruin #courtofsilverflames #prythian #velaris #thenightcourt #sarahjmaas #digitalart #art #rhysand #rhys #feysand #nessian #cassian #lucien #lucienvanserra #summercourt #tarquin #timelapse https://www.instagram.com/p/CeKeLu0NN1I/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[velarisismyhome]

Today’s mood

“We’re not finished with this meal,” Tamlin growled.

“Oh get over yourself,” I barked and left