#cohl

                              *Estrella*

They say I take after my father in looks and my mother in temperament. With my inky hair, dark complexion and mischievous smile you’d think us twins. There weren’t a lot of features I inherited from my mother except the smattering of freckles on my cheeks and the ring of blue-grey in my otherwise violet colored eyes. Oh, and the bits of power from every court in Prythian. The gift willingly given to save my mothers life just so happened to be the gift that kept on giving. I couldn’t summon the full extent of their powers but some abilities were quite useful even at a trickle of their strength. At the present moment, I could kiss the feet of High Lord Tarquin for bestowing us with water manipulation.

It was an unseasonably hot night in Velaris and Ritas was filled to the brim with writhing bodies. Music filled the air making my pulse jump and my head swim. Well, I do suppose my head was also swimming thanks to the generous helpings of sweet red wine being offered left and right. Swimming… my head was swimming… Oh, yes, thank the cauldron. I summoned water from my fingertips and filled a goblet to the brim, the liquid dripping down my face as I took it in three large gulps. I was filling my second glass when a chill crept up my neck and nipped my nose. It could only mean one thing. I turned around and was greeted by the loudest squeal I had ever heard followed by a bone crushing hug.

“ ESTRELLAAAA! Thank the mother I am SO happy to see you. Mor and Selene are driving me mad! They won’t stop telling stories of their adventures in Cretea after the wedding and if I have to hear one of those tales again my brain will quite literally melt.”

“It’s lovely to see you too cousin and I am happy to rescue you but could you please do me a favor?”

I pointed at my glass of now warm water and put on a soppy frown. Cohl was heir to The Winter Court and could summon ice in the blink of an eye and so he did, effectively turning my bathwater goblet into a refreshing ice slushy. I could only muster a few snowflakes on a good day.

“Can we please get out of here, I’m staying at the House of Wind and could use some help navigating. Your roads always confuse me. They all look so different.”

I scoffed at his statement, recalling the image of The Winter Court into my mind. One giant snowball, not a variation of color in sight. No wonder he was lost in Velaris, this was practically a maze to him.

“Yes yes, let’s winnow out. Mor and Selene can make their own way back.”

And so we went, arm in arm into the night, giggling all the way home.  

**************************

In the early hours of the morning my eyes fluttered open. Something strange had stirred me awake. It was a sound.. not my name but something else. A howling…but was it? We didn’t have wolves here in the north. That was distinctly a southern region beast. I scrubbed at the sleep in my eyes and stumbled out of bed. My head immediately started to pound as I was not-so-kindly reminded of mine and Cohls detour to another tavern. We had caught up over flaming whiskey, a drink he had never tried and was indeed floored by, literally. After scraping him up off the ground, we half winnowed and half walked back to The House of Wind. A million steps later and here I was, in my mothers old quarters. Sometimes I felt like I couldn’t escape the shadow of my parents. They were everywhere. I stood, legs shaky as a newborn doe and walked to the terrace. The sky was beginning to turn colors; periwinkle, pinks and purples. I took in the sight of my home, the beauty of it and felt an unfamiliar tug at my heart. Then, out of nowhere, a warm breeze. It was both alluring and alarming, the way it wove itself in and out of my fingers, lifted my hair back from my face. It smelled of flowers and grass and earth. No, not flowers. A flower… one I had never smelled in my life. Before I could think on it any further the sensation was gone along with the breeze and smell. I lingered there for a moment longer then crawled back into bed, my head insisting on more sleep. As my eyes closed I had the vaguest feeling that I was not entirely alone. It did not scare me, not one bit.

                                  -Andras-

I woke with my heart slamming against my chest. For the love of the cauldron, was this really happening again? The same dream for a fortnight. Thorns, roses, wolves, stars and the moon. It was going to be the end of me any day now. The sun had not even peeked over the hills yet and I was wide awake. I turned my face into my pillow and let out a groan that could have woken half of Prythian. A moment later and I was rolling out of bed and headed into my bathing quarters. I chanced a look into the great golden vanity mirror, something I did not do often since the dreams started. The darkness under my eyes had gotten worse and my cheekbones had become more prominent. Even my hair was protesting. When had I last ran a comb through it? I could not recall. Anyway, what did it matter.. I wasn’t the son who needed to put on airs for anyone. That was my brother Hensel’s duty as first born heir to The Spring Court. I swiftly turned from my reflection and drew a bath. Once it was filled to the brim with suds, I stepped in, a great sigh of relief escaping my lips. Perhaps this would help me fall back to sleep. I only hoped that scrubbing my skin would in turn scrub away the images that haunted me every night. It didn’t.

Two hours later the manor woke. I could hear the maids preparing the decorations for Calanmai, an ancient ceremony that is held to signify the start of Spring. Another year, another ceremony, all the same. I’d have to be present for the revel even though it bored me half to death. Hensel on the other hand was more than excited to attend Calanmai. Being a High Lords heir had it’s advantages with the female and male fae alike. I was aware of his sneaking off into the stables to exchange “words” with his consorts. I couldn’t help but to laugh and turn my attentions elsewhere.. usually the magnificent spread of food on the tables. This year it would be more of the same.. always the same. Except this year my dreams had kept me awake for many many nights and I was in definite need of some sneaking and reveling.

____________________

“Hensel, Andras, you know what I expect of you in the coming days so please be on your best behavior. We have new guests coming in from villages all over the court and they will be enjoying the festivities with us for the first time. I do hope you will be most courteous and respectful to everyone. Hensel! for the love of the mother TAKE YOUR FEET OFF THE TABLE.”

I peeked under my curtain of dark hair to my brother on the opposite end of the table. His feet were indeed up and least surprising was the berry pressed between two toes, ready to eat. Hensel was the spitting image of our father; golden mane, eyes green as sprouting leaves and a shit eating grin that could rival that of The High Lord himself. Watching them both assert their dominance was like watching two great lions stare each other down. It never ended well. The only time our father wasn’t met with resistance from Hensel was during Calanmai, so to his great relief, my brother took his feet off the table. A lion recognizing that his next big feast depended on someone else.

“Andras darling, have you had a bath yet today? I could have one drawn for you at once if not.” My mother was the fiercest person I’d ever encountered but when it came to me she seemed to have a soft spot.

“I did have one earlier this morning… do I really look that bad?”

“You look like hell frozen over little prince” said Hensel, while tossing the berry I imagined was in between his toes onto my plate.

I threw the berry back, “ You might want to clip those talons from your feet before tonight or you’ll risk impaling one of our new guests.”

Hensel flashed me a less-than-savory gesture and I returned the favor. We grinned like fools for the rest of breakfast while our parents grilled us on proper etiquette for the nights to come.

*Estrella*

“ Amren, where exactly do wolves roam in Prythian? “

Amren slid her eyes up from the handful of jewels she had been polishing. I never called Amren anything but her name, although I suspected she’d be okay with me calling her Aunt if the feeling compelled me. Everyone in The Inner Circle was Aunt or Uncle to me.

“They are native to the southern courts.”

“I know that.. I just mean to ask where exactly..”

Amren cocked an eyebrow and said “ You know where. Your mother and father forbade me to speak of that court with you. Don’t think bringing me handfuls of jewels is going to soften me up child.”

I wrinkled my brows and stuck my tongue out at her. Immediately realizing the grave mistake I turned around and ran for my life. I had barely made it out the door before a ruby encrusted slipper flew past my ear.

**************************

“ Aunt Nesta, can I ask you a question about your life before you were made fae?”

My aunt was sitting in the library of the large treehouse her and my uncle Cassian had moved into together years ago. She sat barefoot, feet curled underneath her, scribbling in a volume of text that had strange markings on the pages. When she closed the book and turned her attention to me, I noticed the authors name… Nesta Archeron. She had become quite the scholar since being turned fae, particularly in ancient magic thanks to Amren having taught her years ago.

“ Yes, you may. No, I cannot tell you anything of your mothers time in the south.”

I sighed, “ That’s okay because this question has to do with when you lived in the mortal realm. Did you ever see any wolves? Hear them howling? I could have sworn I heard one the other night and it woke me from sleep. Have you ever heard of one traveling up this far north?”

My aunts eyes glazed over at the memory that was tugging her mind. She seemed very far away at that moment, lost in a time before now, nearly 20 years ago.

“I had not encountered the wolf until Feyre had brought back the pelt. It was a giant beast and she made good money for the furs. It all happened so suddenly, one moment we were sitting around a fire and next a monster comes bursting through our cottage door. We were all so frightened, the beast was demanding to know what happened to his wolf companion. It took me a few blinks to realize they had been High Fae-“

I must have looked eager for the information because she immediately snapped out of her daze and looked me square in the eyes.

“Wolves are dangerous creatures and you will not seek them out. Had it not been for the wolf in the forest that day we might all live very different lives. I’m happy here with Cassian and our family, but know that I have thought of my mortal life many times in the years and still yearn for it in some ways. Don’t be a fool Estrella.”