Chapter Text
Family dinners were always interesting in the Night Court, and this particular evening was no different. Rhys would bicker with Mor, Cassian and Amren would glare at each other across the table, and Feyre would at least attempt to keep the peace. Elain enjoyed these meals mostly in silence, only chiming in when something was asked of her. Watching the drama unfold was more entertaining than being a part of it.
The fact that they could have these dinners at all was a miracle, she supposed. Everyone had come home from the war fully alive, if a little rough around the edges. Elain figured that she would rather have this than no family at all.
Elain had never been without family. Feyre was here with her now, Nesta had been there before. Their father, even in his injured state, had been there for a while. Even Greysen and his father had been part of her family for a time. But the rest of these figures, were they her family? Or were they Feyre’s family that she was generously sharing to make Elain feel better.
Unsure of the answer, Elain looked up from her plate to meet the eyes of Azriel, the shadowsinger that sat across the table. Azriel was the only one of the motley crew she actually felt any connection with. Dark and mysterious on the outside, Azriel had a heart of gold that Elain wished the whole world could see.
Azriel smiled at her from his seat, reaching for his wine glass. The quiet man always made Elaine feel welcome and not so out of place among these loud people.
Elain reached for her own wine glass to salute him, as they did so often at these events, but just as she picked up her glass, she dropped it. Crystal shattered on the table as a blinding pain shot through Elain’s head. She curled over and held her temples before sliding out of her chair.
Warm arms caught her before she hit the marble floor and giant wings shielded the light from her eyes. Elain opened her eyes to Azriel’s worried face hovering over her. Feyre was there, crouched next to him, asking her what happened.
“It felt like…the cauldron. Myriam and Drakon must have arrived home and put it in its final resting place.” Elain rubbed her temples one more time as she looked up at Azriel. “I think I’m okay now, the pain has passed.”
Azriel was hesitant, but he stood with her in his arms and placed her back in her chair. Rhys magically removed the broken glass and placed a new one on the table in front of Elain, along with a tall glass of water. Elain reached for the water and took a large drink.
The others dug back into their meal, but Azriel lingered for a moment. “Are you sure you’re alright?” he asked quietly still slightly bent over to her level.
Elain nodded, “Yes, it was just a flash. I think that…” Elain trailed off as she looked up at the massive Illyrian standing over her. Everything was exactly as it should be except for the white string of light that fell from the center of his chest. Elain reached up and brushed the string, marveling at its beauty.
Elain looked around the room. Threads of white light now appeared on every person in the room. Other threads of light appeared too, but not everyone had them. Cassian’s string was brighter than Azriel’s, but Feyre’s was the most vibrant and glowing of all of them.
And her thread led directly to Rhys. Several other ropes of light connected them, but that white one was the foundation for everything else.
Elain looked back at Azriel. “I think that they may have just dropped it into place or something. I’m fine now.”
Azriel stood and returned to his meal. Feyre glanced at him, not commenting on the exchange.
Elain tried to continue her food, but the new lights distracted her. Nobody else seemed to see them, so they prattled on happily while she stared at the new magic. Mor had a twisted band of yellow that led off to the north somewhere. Cassian’s white string seemed to fly off the balcony into the city.
And Azriel’s white string led directly to Elain.