It took all of five minutes for Thayer to get dressed and be ready with a portal. There were no details yet - what would be waiting for us on the other side.
"These are going to be my people too, Thayer. I want them to see...To see that I'm trying. I'm here." was all I had to say to convince him to let me go. Thayer might be concerned for my safety, but, the thoughts of his people meant more to him. His people, in general, meant more to him. I tightened the cloak around myself, the one Thayer had given me. I took a deep breath to steady my thoughts - I had to appear calm. I had to appear with my shoulders high, the stance of the warrior that stood in front of me. Thayer had put on his armor, sword tucked safely at his side as he strode through the portal ahead of me.
I had expected screaming. Thunderous noises, explosions, maybe. Something along the lines of what I had seen in movies all those times. Anything but what stood in front of me.
Three houses entered my view, farm houses perched in order together along fields. Or at least, what was left of them. They were all set on fire, burning and falling apart before my very eyes. I followed and tried to match Thayers quickened steps as he strode in front of me, on a mission. I was too busy trying to keep up that I hadn't even noticed when he stopped walking, I slammed into the back of his armor with a loud thunk.
He extended an arm, indicating that I should stay behind him. I peered over, trying to see what he did. A group of five sat in the dirt, watching their houses burning. Quietly watching, no tears streaking their faces. Two women and three men, hands tied in rope as they stood next to each other. Their faces were shrouded in the shadows, but you could still see the expressions they wore. Only rage. Pure, hot rage as they watched the Prince of Autumn burn their houses down. Their lives. I searched in the dark shadows for him - I knew he was here. It was like you could feel his very presence.
It didn't take long to find him - Silas. Striding in on his large steed, slowly. Mockingly slow. It was him that broke the silence, the snaps and cracks of the fire being the only thing that filled the air as Thayer stood in front of me as if he were a shield himself. He made no move towards Silas, he only waited.
"Brother - I had quite hoped you would show up. What do you think?" Silas asked, throwing an arm up to show his doings. It made me sick - how evil someone could be, just by a simple want. A thought. Was it just to toy with us? Just to give us a reminder of what he could do on a whim - burn three innocent families homes to the ground just because?
"What are you doing, Silas? This is a clear violation of the treaty-"
"This group here is guilty of treason - I did you a favor. They....Disliked your engagement to a halfling. They had plans to do away with her. I believe gratitude is in order, not only did I save her from the water - I have caught the people responsible as well." Silas seemed almost amused.
My eyes whipped between Silas and the people on the ground - even if they had bribed the nymphs to drown me - it was still Thayers business. These were still his people. Silas was overstepping, and he knew it. He didn't care. He was just looking for a way to show off.
"Edith told me you saved her from the river - For that, I am grateful. For that, I am willing to overlook this and let us part ways, but only if you stop now, Silas." Thayer tried to even out his tone, seem calm. It worked, for the most part, but I couldn't see his face. I could only watch as Silas peered behind his brother, eyes locked onto mine as he seemed to smirk.
"Did she tell you what she was doing out there beforehand? How they got her?" He questioned. I stiffened. It's not like Thayer didn't already know my hesitations, concerns - my unwanting. It didn't have to be rubbed in his face, however. But that's what Silas wanted. He wanted to make his brother feel small - undesirable. He wanted to make sure his brother knew that it had been over my lack of feelings towards him that allowed the nymphs to get to me - my misery with the whole situation to blame.
"Silas-"
"She was sobbing - crying out into the night of her lack of wanting to marry you. She was too busy wallowing in her own self pity, she didn't even realize they had ahold of her. I suppose I could have put her out of her misery, let her drown. I did ruin a good pair of boots by diving into those waters, you know."
A shiver went down my spine as I realized I hadn't been alone, that he had been watching me. At what point did he get there? Did he enjoy watching me be clawed down into the water? My lips tightened into a fine line, not wanting to give out any emotion on my face as he looked at me with disgust.
Thayer was fuming. I could tell - even from behind. His shoulders were tense, his stance rigid. Thayer didn't make any move to respond to his brother, no sound left his lips as he watched him across the yard from us. You could hear the house burning - floors falling atop each other, windows breaking from the flames. Even standing across the yard from the homes, I could feel the heat of the flames burning my cheeks. Silas was alone, he had acted alone. He wore no emotions in his blank face as he asked, "What would you have me do with them?"
"This is for the Summer Court to decide - you overstep. If they are guilty of these crimes, they will pay for it by my judgment, Silas. You forget yourself." Thayer hissed, pure power coming from him. It shocked me - to hear him speak like that. I had never even pictured him angry, this was...Unnerving.
"I gave them each a chance to admit to their crimes, to lessen their punishments. I gave them time to speak their peace, but the evidence shows they are guilty without a reasonable doubt. When they wouldn't leave the house, I simply made it impossible to stay in. I didn't break any code within the treaty. Take a look for yourself - I have sent for the findings to be delivered to your estate." He only shrugged.
"If that is true, then you need to release them into my custody where we can conduct our own investigation. These are heavy accusations, Silas, and you had no right to act alone on this when it does not concern you or your court." Thayer almost begged. He'd do anything to not have any bloodshed. If anything, if the accusations were true, they'd simply be sent to one of the prisons to sit there.
"She would be dead before you'd had the chance." Silas sighed, looking down at the people that glared at him. "They were planning to sneak onto her property, once the Nymphs had failed in what they were paid to do. I always knew you were so....Careless, with your toys," Silas shook his head, "But - you ought to keep a better leash on your people, Thayer."
"What is it that you want, Silas? Is it simply to cause issue's within my court, or are you aiming to gain something more? What business do you have here?" Thayer spat through his teeth. He knew his power wasn't a match for his. I would be no toy - no pawn for Silas to use against Thayer. I marched around Thayer, holding my head high as I did. I had tried to think of something to say, something to show these people that had paid the nymphs to kill me - if it were true. He knew he wouldn't be able to beat him, if it came to that. My stomach turned again at the thought - the mere imagination of what he could do. Thayer was stalling. Trying to give them time - to do what, I didn't know. Maybe more were coming. Maybe he was waiting to see what Silas would do. If it was true, if they had truly planned to commit treason - the treaty would still be in tact. Silas's doings, no matter how heinous, would be justified. Thayer had to wait to see if he'd do anything more, anything that meant he'd be able to move against him.
"Do you not see it, brother? Are you willingly blind, or did your magic really dwindle that much during the war?" Silas taunted. I looked at Thayer, confused. He didn't look my way once as his brother spoke, his green eyes locked in on Silas.
"Silas-" He warned, but was quickly interrupted.
"Are you going to let them get away with it? Are you truly that weak, that feeble - you'd let these... simpletons kill your bride?" Silas yelled across the field, neck muscles tight as he projected his voice across towards us. "I can't tell if you're truly weak, or just that low. I will make the choice for you."
"Edith, turn around-" Thayer began, but it was too late. My eyes were locked on them the entire time. The few seconds it took, if that. I watched as the skin of their faces began to tighten against the bone - as their eyes began sinking into their head. As their skin began to rip, tearing from how tight it stretched. Their mouths opened as if to scream, but no sound came out. As their bones began to show, black and thick with tar, then begin wither, turning to dust. As if they'd never been.
"It's death, Edith. His power - his very presence. If he wants one man - a hundred men dead...He snaps his fingers, and it's done. Their very body will decay a hundred years in a matter of minutes, and they'll drop. He does it without even thinking - without blinking. I don't know what he wants with you. I don't know what angle he's playing at, but, I can't let him get his hands on you. I will create a barrier, he won't be able to step foot into the palace until we know what he's up to." Thayer whispered into my hair.
My hand flew to my mouth, covering it to muffle the sounds coming out. Thayer had tried to grab me, turn me around, hide me, but I refused. I wanted to see - I had to see. This wouldn't be the first time dealing with him - hiding from it now would do me no good. I watched, and turned my head to where Silas sat, calmly watching on his horse at his horror. He met my gaze, staring me down as I wiped the fear-fueled tears from my eyes. I had no words - nothing to encompass what I truly felt. I blinked - the vision of their decaying faces burned into my eyelids. He would get this once to see me fazed, but next time, I wouldn't falter. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. When I opened my eyes, he was gone. Thayer and I stood alone, watching the burning houses as if none of this had ever happened.
I didn't register when he led me away, I don't know when he had opened the portal. I didn't listen when he told me he'd be right back, he was going to speak with his Council. I didn't look when he left me alone in a bedroom, door shut behind him. I waited until he was fully gone to vomit in the nearest thing I could find. I took a shaky breath, wiping my mouth. I was covered in a cold sweat. I didn't think I'd ever be able to stop seeing their faces. Their flesh as it ripped and tore across their faces.
I didn't register where I was until I looked around the room - fear instilled deep into my heart. There was a large bed, with golden colored bedsheets. Art work covered the walls, stills of the ocean and rolling hills covered in flowers that stood out in contrast to the stark white walls of the room. I sat down on the bed, wrapping my arms around myself. Whatever he wanted - whatever he was trying to do, it was a show. He'd been wanting to show off his power, to find a reason to that wouldn't affect him later.
It felt like hours until Thayer came back into the room, looking tired. Ragged. Circles lined under his eyes as he quietly shut the door behind him.
"It was true," He mumbled, "The treaty remains in tact, for now."
"Why would he care if they planned to have me killed? Why make such a show of it?" I asked, looking up at him from spot I perched on in the bed. He only shook his head, pacing again in front of me. "Maybe I could try-"
"No. You won't be going anywhere near him, Edith. I can't let him get you. You don't know what he's done."
"Then tell me, Thayer. Tell me what he's done." I begged, wanting to make some sense of it. Yes, I saw his power, raw and terrifying. But I had no idea what he's done with it, what he's done to instill such fear into Thayer besides the hinting "what - if" of the prophecy. As if sensing I was pushing him, I had no plans to relent, he began to explain.
"You've read about the war, I assume. Between us and the Winter Courts. It was then that Spring and Summer joined together, why we all reside here. There had been some whispers - rumors, for a few years beforehand, about what the Winter Court had planned to do. I had heard that they were taking in humans, had plans to move out towards the mortal realms. Nikolai and I tried reasoning with them, whatever they wanted out of the mortal realm could be found an easier way. Hell, we'd send our own spies out if it meant avoiding invading the mortal realm. Silas had the power to stop it, had the relationship with the Winter Courts to convince him otherwise. Instead, he sat back and watched. Waited. He had been whispering in their ears the whole time, leading them. Then, when battle finally broke out, he just walked onto the field and.... You saw what he does. Both sides lost countless people. Our own parents. He just sat back and watched the whole thing. There is no reasoning with Silas - he always has his own agenda. His own gain. After the war, we asked him why. What it was within the mortal realms they were looking for - what he was looking for. He only signed the treaty and left. Didn't speak a word."
I had read a short passage about the war - the war that brought on the treaties. Each side had lost too many to continue fighting. Each side had nothing to gain any longer. I had assumed the Winter Courts were simply going to taunt the humans - as the Fae loved to do. Loved to show off their power, take people just because they could. I wasn't surprised to hear that Silas was behind it, using the Winter Court as a puppet. He must've found whatever it was he was looking for, putting an end to it before anyone else could take it from him. It didn't change the fact that now, he was after something else again. I wanted to know what it was.
"He won't hurt me, Thayer. If he planned on it, I'd be dead already. You know I would be." If I could just talk to him - ask him what he was trying to get at. Maybe I'd be able to mediate somehow - do anything other than sit and watch while Thayer tries to fix or find whatever it is that's going on.
"This affects me just as much as it does you. You can't possibly deal with this on your own, Thayer. Let me try to help." I begged, looking up at him. He didn't meet my gaze, "Edith - I understand you want to help. I'm glad you want to. You saw what he's capable of. I wont - I can't let you risk yourself. You'll help by being here. Train in defensive magic, if you'd like - just be here. Where I can make sure you're safe. That will be the biggest help right now. There's nothing to do until we know what it is he wants, anyways." Thayer said, walking up to me now. He took my hand as he spoke, looking down at me. I didn't have the power to practice any magic than what I already could, but it wouldn't hurt to try. Wouldn't hurt to give me something to do.
I sighed, looking into those green eyes as he stared down at me. He almost looked desperate, hoping that I wouldn't argue with him. I half wanted to, to tell him that I refused to sit back and watch Silas taunt him. Us. After all, once the wedding was over, these would be my people even if I didn't want it. Even if it were not my choice. I once had told myself I would seclude myself the rest of my life here, lock myself in a room and pretend none of it was my issue. I couldn't do that now. I couldn't sit by and let others die or be victim to petty killings just because Silas felt like having fun over his brothers weak halfling of a wife. It was true that if Silas were doing this aside from me, had not involved me - I probably wouldn't have cared the way I do. It was guilt that fueled my want to help. He was trying to toy with me - show everyone how weak I was, that I needed Thayer to save me. Someone to save me. I simply nodded, looking around what was now my bedroom. My life, right before me. I didn't know what was in store for the future, didn't know what was going to happen.
Maybe that's why I did it. Maybe that's why I tried to reign in control of whatever I could - because some things were my choice. It's not like we weren't going to be married anyways, not like I wouldn't have to do this, anyways. He'd need heirs. I wasn't stupid.
I took the hand that Thayer had given me, pulling it over my shoulder. I slid my other up his chest, taking in the feel of his muscles beneath my hand. He welcomed my touch, leaned into it. Maybe he was also looking for a distraction from the horrific things we saw tonight, maybe he was looking for reassurance from the halfling that had been sobbing at the thought of marriage - I wasn't sure. I cupped my hand onto his tan cheek, leaning up to graze my lips against his. His breath hitched for a moment, just one, as he parted his lips in welcome to mine. I crushed my lips onto his, moving against his, as my hands roamed up his body and snaked their way into his auburn curls atop his head. We moved together for a moment like that before he wrapped an arm around my waist, moving us back onto the bed.
There was a small part of me - so, so small, that I hardly missed it as Thayer pulled away to rip his shirt off before crushing back into me, that screamed at the touch. That wanted me to pull back in disgust, but I ignored it. This was going to be my life, my house - my husband. I was going to have to get used to that fact. It wasn't that Thayers touch didn't feel good, his fingers setting me on fire as he grazed his hand across my chest. I moaned into his mouth, and he took the opportunity to slip his tongue inside. We fought each other for dominance before I let him win, let him slip my dress off of me. I watched his face, his eyes drunken with lust as they roamed my naked body. He hesitated a moment, looking up for one sober second to meet my gaze before whispering, "I told you no expectations - if you think I'm upset by what he said, I am fine. Don't do this if you don't want to."
Part of me, for a moment, did hesitate. It wasn't that Thayer wasn't handsome - you'd be blind not to notice the beauty in him. His lean, yet muscular frame. The sharp jaw, perfectly arched eyebrows. The green eyes you could almost confuse with jewels, none of that was what made me hesitate for a moment as my breath hitched. It was the cold, unnerving feeling that sunk into me. The one that screamed at me beneath layers, so deep down it was almost unrecognizable - muffled, that told me this was wrong. It maybe was, at the moment. I pushed it as far down as I could and reached out for Thayers hand, pulling him on top of me.
"No expectations." I breathed, pulling his lips back to mine. That was all it took - all the convincing he needed from me. I perhaps knew it was wrong, that it may have been misleading. He already had feelings for me, I knew that much. I was trying to catch up. I laced my fingers through his hair, deepening the kiss between us. He pulled his lips from mine, trailing kisses down my jaw and neck. They felt like little flames starting on my skin, slowly engulfing me as he kissed his way down until his head rest between my thighs. I invited him in, pulling on his hair as his lips kissed the apex between my legs.
I began to feel dizzy, my head heavy as I lifted it from the pillow to look at him. His fingers caressed me before plunging in deep, and I was shattering around them. He continued to pump them into me the whole time, slowing their agonizing pace before he lifted himself up and met my lips again, his tasting of me as he positioned himself between my legs before gently thrusting into me. I wiggled my hips, grinding into him, begging him to crush me. He placed his hands firmly on my hips, taking slow, long thrusts into me. I whimpered under him, digging my nails into his back as he quickened his pace, leaning his head down so his forehead rested against mine. I leaned up, rolling us over so that I was on top. I could control the pace as I rode him, not slowing down as I felt the sweat dripping down my neck, collecting on my legs, between our bodies together as he groaned beneath me, my hands gripping into his shoulders. I could feel his skin under my nails as I dug into him, not slowing.
Thayer fell asleep shortly finished, a hand laid gently across my side. "I promise you, Edith. I'll make you happy." He had mumbled into my hair before drifting out. I stared into the room, unable to close my eyes without seeing those faces again. While I laid with Thayer - at least my mind was occupied. Back when I lived in the mortal realm, I had to have the TV on to fall asleep. The sound & the light lulling me away, drifting me out of my own thoughts and fears, distracting me from what was going on. I couldn't sleep without it. Now, there was nothing. No fire to fill the sound of night, no snoring from the male next to me, only the sound of the buzzing in my ears from the lack of sound filling them.