#elaris

King Garonimus & Queen Allegra, Princess Galatea's parents

The first and last dragonborn made it out of apocrypha (wdym it's not the canon ending ??)

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Rainy days…. Perfect for a light reading 🙂 Here is a small passage in a long book, still in the making… The Silence of Eternity  (Inspired by the music of Yakuro — Road of Silence.)

The battles were over, hatred finally left. Storms gave way to a moment of earned peace, in the dust of time. The hearts finally rested, leaving only the minds to do their overtime. Lingering breaths slowly, reluctantly, started their ascents, leaving the past behind… or, bringing them to light. 

Sunlight drifted through the tall windows of the Palantine manor again, but this time with no shadows in sight. The rays came warm and lazy, draping over polished floors like soft blankets, almost caressing the hearts of those, that almost forgotten how to feel alive.

The scent of lavender and baked bread gently replaced the sweetness of burnt lilies, and the birds returned. At the far end of the vast manor, a piano played. A melody not quite formal, not quite improvised, soft, and full of ache.

Ella sat in their chambers, listening to the sound. In the quiet comfort of the soft velvet chair, her gaze rested on the garden below, though her eyes were distances away. 

A journal rested open on her lap. Hand lay over the ink, smudging her fingers, and the letter beneath. The letter, she just couldn’t bring herself to finish. On the page, half-blurred, half hidden, confessions of a soul, maybe… warring with itself:

“My Dearest Star, 

I didn’t believe peace could last. 

I could only hope…

But… maybe it’s not meant to last forever. 

Maybe it’s meant to live inside us, even when the storms return.  

And they will…..

But we’ll be ready. 

Because we have each other.

…. ”

Marcel gently took the quill from her hand, and tucked it behind her ear. He didn’t say anything. Simply took a seat beside, and listened to her whisper.

” Strange,” Ella turned, and the ink smudged her ear.

 “ How the world can hold such horror… 

   and such peace…

   in the same hand.”

Marcel weighed his words with quiet care, then, in that low, measured tone that carried centuries, he spoke:

” It is balance, my love.”

“ Creation and ruin have always shared a pulse.”

He leaned close, brushing a lock of hair behind her pale ear, and the quill fell to the ground like a feather, leaving only a gentle smudge behind. 

He whispered without a sound, but she heard every word.

” Perhaps peace is only precious,” he said softly,

“ because it remembers the cost.” 

The rising sun wrapped him from behind, making him appear both beautifully human, and not entirely of this world. A faint smile touched her lips, and the war seemed to quiet its sound.

” Yes…” she whispered.

“ Perhaps.”  

After a long, silent pause, Marcel reached into his coat. He drew a small, black notebook, trimmed in delicate silver, like glowing stars. He placed the ancient journal in her hands without a word. 

She touched the soft leather, and the book sighed. Her hand brushed over the stars, and the leather rippled with her fingers, like a gentle breeze over still waters. The ancient book opened on its own.

Inside, the pages held nothing, but her name. Her true name. Written again and again, in different hands, in reverence, in fury, in awe. Every ally, every life touched, saved, or soothed, every soul who remembered who she truly was.

And yet, she could not make out the word. The pages moved at their own pace, not yet ready to speak her name out loud. Marcel’s steady hand reached out gently, closing the notebook with it, and the journal stilled with a sigh. 

” I kept a record,” he said, when she finally looked up.

“ Not as a servant.

  Only… as your witness.”

With misty eyes, she gently set the notebook on the table, and reached for his hands. For a long moment, she simply looked at him. While a tender smile on her lips, the fight within took on the fire, long held within… and so she whispered:

” I love you…” – 

… And spoke his true name. Marcel stilled. His name, the one, once forbidden to speak out loud for all time, now, though light as a feather, touched the air, and the world took a pause.

Light blazed through gauzy curtains, painting the room in molten gold. A gentle hum followed close behind, like a choir, gentle and rhythmic, lingering in the weightless air. A warning. An invitation, No… a lullaby. 

~Marigold Flowers Bloom In Late Autumn~

AO3

Chapter 5

“Scars and flowers on my skin, marks of the ways I was loved”

Nesta frowned, her hands clenching the fork, as she saw Eris and Elain walk into the dining room. The night court party had frozen when they saw them walk in together, Adira only a couple of steps behind. “So this is where you have been?” Nesta thought, examining Elain and Eris. She could see that Adira was also displeased at the sight. “We have that much in common,” she thought, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

Hours after Elain fainted they all had been directed to their rooms where she and Cassian had changed from their Illyrian leathers into something more proper, she had put on a simple grey dress with long sleeves decorated with stars, Cassian had opted for a formal white shirt, and some pants. She regretted changing, if she needed to fight Eris it would have been easier in her leathers, not that she couldn’t still put on a good fight.

She followed them closely as Eris guided Elain to the chair next to Nesta and as the “proper” gentleman he moved the chair for her. She could see Rhysand’s eye twitching a bit, he has always hated males going after Elain’s affection. Feyre, Emerie, and Gwyn were all shocked yet the young priestess had a small blush, she had always had a soft spot for romance scandal, no matter if it involved her friend’s sisters… 

“Thank you,” Elain whispered to Eris embarrassed from all the attention and a small blush appearing in her cheeks. Her reaction clearly pleased Eris as he chuckled and inclined his head towards her before moving to his seat at the head of the table with Rhysand to his left and his mother to his right.

“Has everyone enjoyed their afternoon?” Eris asked his guest, grabbing his cup and swirling the liquid in it.

“Just wonderful,” Feyre answered before Rhys could, positioning her hand on top of her husband's. 

“I see you did find something in the gardens Elain,” Nesta commented. 

“A productive excursion,” Eris added and drank from his cup hiding his smile. 

“Anyone did anything else?” Elain asked changing the topic nervously and looking around the table. 

“Emerie and I took a look at the library,” Gwyn answered Elain, the young girl feeling for Elain, “It’s a wonderful library Nes,” she added, “You will love it!” 

“Not feeling like reading Gwyn but thank you,” She replied to Gwyn, eyes still on Eris who playfully raised his glass to her, enjoying the lack of control from Nesta. “Could you show us the training ground tomorrow?” 

A loud noise caused the table to fall silent as Rhysand slammed his cup on the table. 

Elain froze at the sight of her brother, the seriousness and the harshness of his eyes, he looked every inch of the stories about the High Lord of the Night Court, the cruelest and most feared of the High Lords. Netsa smirked pleased with it.

“I believe he won’t have time for that Nesta,’ Rhysand spoke coldly, eyes sterned, you could see in his eyes that he wished he could strangle Eris. “We have plenty to discuss, don't we Eris?” Rhysand asked, a finger tracing the rim of his cup. 

“But of course,” Eris said, a wicked smirk on his face as he put his own cup down. I am sure one of my guards will be able to show you lady Nesta. " He offered, “Your High lord, High Lady, and I have much to discuss alongside the Seer.” 

The dining room went quiet fast, Elain held her breath as the tension grew in the room. 

Emerie uncomfortably coughed as she choked in some water, the tension so high she could barely breathe, that seemed to break the tension and everyone looked at her, Emerie went up in flames embarrassed, “I am so sorry” he rasped out, still coughing from chocking, Gwyn was quickly next to her worried,” I'm fine Gwyn,” she managed to murmur and cleared her throat.

Cassian was the first one to make noise and laugh, followed by Elain, Nesta, and everyone else. Even Amren found it funny. As the laugh seemed to die, the air tensed again. “Can I ask what you have to discuss with my sister?” Nesta, brave as always, broke the ice by asking directly to Eris, a predator looking at a predator.

“Well, as the High Lady of Night, I would assume she should be informed of whatever happens in the war room,” Eris answered with ease. Picking up his cup and drinking, he turned his head and saw the staff approaching with carts full of food. Let us enjoy the food, and we shall continue politics over the desert,” he smirked and raised his cup to her.

Elain clenched her fork and looked around, her family was on edge and Eris was making it worse, she wished she had sat closer to him so she could kick him to make it stop. She tensed up as she looked up and saw Eris looking at her, this is what a hound in search of a game must look like, hungry,  eager, and she wished she was wrong but she knew there was more there, lust, years of balls and gatherings thought her how to detect lust behind the eyes, she needed not her sigh to know what Eris must be thinking, that idea alone brought heat to her neck and cheeks. 

“The food is delicious,” Feyre complimented Adira and Eris, who gracefully bowed their heads in thanks. Dinner continued. No clear topic was discussed at the party; everyone talked among themselves and with the host until the plates were retired, and Eris offered drinks and coffee.

“Well, High Lord,” Nesta said, swirling the tiny spoon in her cup, and mixing the sugar and bitter black liquid. "What do you have to discuss with my Sister?”

Eris smirked and put his glass down. “ As I said, I expected the Honorable High Lady to join us in the war room. " He was interrupted by Nesta's cold and dominating tone.

“I do not mean my sister Feyre,” she says coolly, picking up her cup. What business do you have to discuss with Elain?”

Eris, with an unmoving expression, turns his head towards Elain and says, “Oh, I was not aware Nesta wasn't informed of our agreement.”

Elain looked at Feyre and Rhysand, who both froze for a moment before Rhysand laid his hand on Feyre's. " We hadn't had time to discuss this before we began preparing to come here,” he said, looking at Nesta. I apologize for keeping this information from you, Nesta."

" We thought it better to disclose Elains involvement here once things had settled, we never imagined that our arrival would cause so much commotion," Feyre explained, tone apologetic and looking directly at Nesta, for most people that look would have been of a sister looking for forgiveness, for Elain, she knew it was the face of Feyre concentrating and looking into Nesta's head speaking to her.

"Of course," Nesta said with a forced and polite fake smile, "I do wish. to be present tomorrow if it's okay with our gracious host?" she announced as she looked back at Eris.

Nesta hand shook from anger as she lifted to grab her cup, seeing that she quickly placed it on the table and Cassian, always the gentle and lovely husband placed his on top of hers, "I got you Ness." the silent expression comforting her and making her feel more grounded.

"But of course, "Eris smiled, the smile never reaching up, a fake smile, Nesta thought and she felt herself glow with pride, he was bothered by her request, a win for Nesta tonight.

"Then it's a good moment for us all to retire to our bedrooms," Adira responds with a smile and claps her hands forcing everyone's attention, her eyes never leaving Rhysands.

"Of course," Rhysand says with a formal tone, not backing down from Adiras little domination tactic.

Once again the tension built until Elain, against her own better judgment, stood up, "Well I feel incredibly tired still, I will see all of you tomorrow morning," she said placing her hand in her chest and smiling towards Eris and everyone else then she turned to face Adira, making her break eye contact with her brother, "Thank you for dinner, it was delicious." she smiled.

"I'll walk you to your room Elain." Nesta stood up, turned to ,Cassian and caressed his cheek, "See you in our room," she told Cassian who nodded and kissed the palm of her hand.