Archive of Our Own

Elain took a moment, staring at the hand he held between them. She slowly lifted her hand towards his, but not yet making contact as she spoke, “Afterwards, I’d like to get to know you, as a friend.” She smiled, still holding her gaze on the distance between their hands. It was as if Elain didn’t want to end things without starting something new. Like she was planting a seed of hope. For him, for herself, for all of us perhaps.

Lucien tilted his head in admiration. “Yes. Friends. I’d like that very much.” He took a step forward, closing the distance between them and took her delicate hand in his. Elain then finally looked up and allowed their eyes to meet. No more awkward tension, no more resentment, no more forcing themselves to endure each others presence and prove something that needn’t be. Their hands remained together for a moment before their gazes changed from gentle acceptance, to determination. We all felt it then, something in the air shifted. Even though it was perfectly sunny and beautiful out, and still a few hours before nightfall, we all felt electricity and heat and something magic surround us. As if lightning was about to strike, and we were drowning it in, when suddenly.. it snapped. Releasing all of the electric tension it was shrouding us in. Lucien and Elain jumped back from each other but held eye contact, both with equal expressions of shock and excitement. But then quiet tears began to cascade down their smiling faces. 

Everyone was silent and unmoving. Then one of us broke the tension. “No way.” Amren spoke, taking one small cautious step forward, before glancing at Rhys. I looked to him, as he surveyed my sister and Lucien with disbelief. “Their bond. It’s gone. How? It shouldn’t be possible.”

Elain let out a soft breathy laugh. As did Lucien. Then he spoke to her, “It’s kind of lonely isn’t it, even though that’s exactly what we wanted.” Elains hands came up to her mouth, almost like she was trying to hold back a sob. She remained smiling but squeezed her eyes shut for a moment to clear her eyes of tears. She nodded and sniffled, then let out another laugh as she used her palms and wrists to wipe her face before she looked to Lucien once more. 

I couldn’t believe what I saw next. Elain had thrown herself onto Lucien. He wrapped his arms around her waist and spun her around. The two of them laughed and held each other tight in a swirling hug. I don’t know how they did it, but in that moment I didn’t care. I let out a short laugh. Astonishment coated me. I could feel the happiness and relief emanating from my sister and friend. Rhys looked utterly fascinated, yet somehow not surprised. I think after all we’ve been through, not much can throw him off anymore.

Lucien had gently placed Elain back on her own two feet again. Although Lucien wasn’t a huge male, he was so much larger than her. In height, and strength. He released them from their hug, and she slowly pulled her arms back from around his neck and placed them at her sides. They stepped back from each other but held eye contact.

“I have to go now. I need to see Vassa. Thank you, Elain. I’m glad to have met you. I’m glad to be where we are today.” He leaned forward in a bow, with his hand placed on his chest. 

Elain followed his lead and entertained him happily with a curtsy. “The feeling is mutual, my friend.” She stood up straight and graced him with a gentle smile one last time. “Go on now, she’s waiting for you.” She placed her hand over her own heart at those last few words. I couldn’t tell if Elain was just being sweet and encouraging, or if she really could in that moment see and feel through Vassa, with her gift. Lucien gave the rest of us a smile, more with his eyes than anything, before he subtly bowed his head to Rhys, then me, before he turned and hopped on his horse, and began to ride off into The Day Court.

Rhys was the first to jump at the opportunity to ask the question we were all dying to know. “Care to explain how you and Lucien just casually broke your bond and made history?” 

Elain took a moment before she turned away from Lucien in the distance to face us, then giggled, “I think the cauldron has a crush on me.”

—————

Back at the house of wind

“I asked the cauldron for help. It visits me in my dreams sometimes, or maybe I subconsciously find myself seeking it out. Who knows. I don’t remember when it started happening. I just know when it first happened, it seemed.. happy to see me. I don’t know why that comforted me, but it left me unafraid. So I asked it for help, and it said it would grant me a wish. Everything else is a bit hazy.“ My sister paused for a moment. To catch her breath, or maybe to calm her excitement. “When Lucien and I shook hands, I made my wish. I let some of my power flow through our bond, and I called out to the cauldron. I don’t know if he knew what I was trying to do, but he joined me!” Her face met ours with a big smile, excitement beaming from her eyes. “I felt his power begin to mix with mine. Not his fire, but Helions power. We weren’t fighting each other, it wasn’t filled with resentment and refusal like it usually is. I think in that moment, because we’d finally come to peace with everything, and the cauldron’s help of course, we managed to break the bond.” Elain had almost a pained look on her face, as she recollected her memory of the bond snapping. I don’t know if a bond breaking would feel the same as it had for me when Rhys died, or when our bargain was forcibly broken by the King of Hybern. But if it was anything similar, I understand the pain she felt. Elain took a breath and centered herself once more.

“I’ve had more excitement in the last few years of meeting you three sisters, than I have in my entire life.” Amren muttered as she rubbed circles on her temples.

After Lucien left, we came back to the house of wind to meet with Nesta and Cassian. Once we were all gathered, Nesta, Elain, and I pushed our chairs facing each other. Cassian and Rhys stood behind us, while Amren sat on the edge of the dining table. 

Nesta turned her head to the side, glancing sideways at Cassian. “Does Azriel know?” Elains cheeks pinked at the mention of our shadowsinger. 

Rhys answered instead, “No. He should be returning soon with Mor.” He spoke sternly. I glared at my mate to question him for his tone. In turn, so did Nesta and Cassian. I gave a quick glance in Amrens direction out of curiosity despite my better knowledge to assume she couldn’t care less, but found even Amren giving Rhys a look of tired displeasure. “What?” He retorted.

I quickly spoke, denying Nesta the chance of reaming my mate a new one. Although on this specific subject, I could’ve considered allowing it. “Ever since you caught whiff of Azriel’s feelings for Elain, you’ve been annoyingly against it. Why?” 

Rhys threw his hands up in surrender, “I am not against it.” He looked to Elain as he gently spoke his next words. “I am not against you two. You are free to choose whom ever you wish.” Rhys looked over the rest of us as he lowered his hands. “It’s.. complicated. But,” He looked to Elain once more. “I won’t stand in your way any longer. I promise.” I squinted my eyes in suspicion at him, and he responded to me privately. 

I’ll explain later, we can revisit the details with the rest of them further down the road. He gave me a look, like he was pleading for me to understand. I was still confused but I had a feeling this went deeper than I’d expected. My heart wrenched.

Elain broke the silence, tearing my focus from Rhys. “I wouldn’t have let you anyways.” She challenged him and then laughed. Everyone had paused for a moment while we processed Elains statement. Then an unfamiliar but wonderful sound followed. Nesta snorted, covering her mouth trying to hold it back, but then Cassian cracked and exploded with laugher at the obvious entertainment. My mates shoulders dropped as he groaned, a look of annoyance plastered across his face. Amren was shaking her head at the ridiculous scene. I did the same. 

“House,” Nesta crooned, “I think this calls for a celebration.” She smirked and leaned back in her chair in a show-off manner. Cassian’s hand fell over her shoulder and he grinned at her words. A wave of magic then flowed through the air as food and alcohol appeared on the table before us, and colorful delicate decorations scattered throughout the rest of the room. Flower arrangements, garlands, and vines crawled along the framework. Pink and red rose petals rained over Elain for a moment and a blue and pink flower crown plopped onto her head. Her jaw was floored and her eyes gleamed in amazement. My sisters and I shared glances and giggles, our legs pushing into each other between our three huddled chairs as our laughter spilled out of us. I took a breath and allowed myself a moment to capture this memory. I’d have to paint it later. It would be such a colorful piece. We’ve had our moments, and things have been better since Nyx came. Nesta and I have come a long way, but scenes like this were something different. Untainted, pure, and full of love. I wish I could stop time and live in these moments forever, but since I can’t, I’ll make do with my canvases.

————— 

Later

Amren and Cassian were each holding a bottle of wine, they’d abandoned glasses an hour ago. I was lounging on the chaise with Rhys, my back pressed against his chest, his arms wrapped around me. We were all flushed from the alcohol and full to the brim with all the food the house was spoiling us with. The fireplace crackling in the background, its warmth spreading throughout the room. Nesta and Elain were using flower petals they’d gathered into a pile on the floor, to make pictures and sculptures of things. Each of them guessing what the others creation was, or was supposed to be. Nesta let out a frustrated grumble, “Are you cheating with those little visions of yours?” 

Elain gasped dramatically, “I would never use my powers for evil!“ Nesta rolled her eyes and huffed in response. Cassian teased with his deep drunken voice, “Don’t be a sore loser Nes, art just isn’t your strong suit. Why not challenge Elain to a duel next?” Elain swiped at the pile, and motioned her two stacked fists like she was holding a dagger, and pretended to drive it into her chest. “I surrender.” She rasped. She opened her fists slightly and crushed up red petals fell through her fingers, giving the appearance of blood exploding from her imagined chest wound. Laughs and cheers filled the room at her impressive performance, before a clapping and whistle sounded from the front door. All of us looked over to see Mor and Azriel were the source of the extra cheers. “What are we celebrating?” Mor beamed.

The two of them took a few steps closer before they both froze and stared at Elain. Though Elain’s eyes were fixed on Azriel alone. Mor’s looked between the two of them, and then over the rest of us. “How?” She demanded. Her eyes shot to Rhys, and we all knew he was silently explaining everything to her the way he does. Nesta got up and walked right to Azriel’s side, and gave him a smile. She patted him on the shoulder and he broke his gaze away from Elain only for a moment to recognize Nesta was reassuring him, but his gaze quickly found its way back to my other sister. “Cassian.” Nesta called out to him, which he responded to by putting down his bottle of wine beside the chair he’d been lounging in, and trotted towards her, both making their way upstairs and out of sight. Amren was the next to get the hint, “Thanks for the wine.” her tone, intoxicated with satisfaction. She swirled a hand in the air, gesturing her thanks towards the house as she got up and stalked for the entrance. I swear I almost felt a glimmer of giddiness in the air around us. Rhys and I got up next, and nodded towards the entrance for Mor to follow. Leaving Elain sitting on the floor by the fire, surrounded by flower petals and a crown of pink and blue still resting over her cascading golden brown hair. Azriel stood a few feet away from her. His hands in tight fists by his sides. Gaze fixed on her big brown doe eyes. The tension in the air was so thick I could cut it. Something electric filled the air and pulled taut between them. Rhys, Amren and Mor all tensed and slowed their strides, so I had to push the three of them to keep up the pace and hurry us along. I can understand Mor’s resistance due to curiosity, but what has Rhys and Amren almost stopping in their tracks? I couldn’t care to ask yet, I just wanted to give my sister what she needed in that moment. Privacy. Freedom. Azriel.

Once the door shut behind us, I whispered, annoyance bleeding from my words, “What’s gotten into you? We should go!” They all exchanged looks and then turned to me. 

Amren spoke, “You can’t smell it, girl? Didn’t you feel it?” 

—————

Azriel’s POV

The moment Mor and I appeared in the house of wind and saw everyone, I knew. I saw the determination on her face before we parted ways for our missions. I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but the look she gave me.. it made every nerve in my body come alive. I love Elain, and although we’ve never exchanged those words, I know she loves me back. I need her to love me back. She was going to officially reject the bond with Lucien on this mission, I could feel it. And she was going to make him accept that. No matter what it took. Despite us keeping our distance from each other, these feelings never faded. Not even for a moment. The cauldron, the mother, they are wrong. I wouldn’t let fate tell me who I can and cannot love. I choose her, and if she chose me, I refuse to let anything, or anyone, come between us again. 

But as I took a few steps closer.. I realized it was more than that. She hadn’t just simply rejected Lucien. My heart damn near exploded in my chest and pushed all the air from my lungs.  My dear, what have you done?