#feyris

They were walking for hours now. Feyre didn't have the right shoes to wander such long distances and no potions to ease the soreness and she doubted Eris would let her gather the necessary ingredient. Not that Feyre had any time to grab either of these things when her village was attacked and burned to cinders. Feyre had fought, wearing her powers out so much that she only felt an echo of it right now, only a drop lingering, and this after hours of using her powers. It wasn't unusual, witches were powerful but it took them a long time to recharge. Some could destroy armies but slept a week through pure exhaustion afterwards. The less powerful you are, the quicker you recharge. She had made it out, running to the rendevouz point she agreed to with her sisters, who helped villagers escape while Feyre stayed back and fought. Although when Feyre arrived she found nothing but chaos. Smoke, bodies, the stench of burned meat and blood. That's when she met Eris, who had told her that her sisters were save in the north and that he would take her there too. Feyre declined, telling him to go fuck himself. Eris told her it wasn't a request. Feyre had debated to fight, she had debated to run, to call him out on his bullshit but a little voice in her head said, what if he's right? What if he leads you to your sisters? Since then she had made it her duty to ignore him.

Until he took a path that guided them away from their main route. "Where are you going?"

Eris looked over his shoulder, letting his eyes rove from Feyre's muddy shoes up to her messy hair, scrunching his nose. "The sun is setting, we'll seek cover for this night and continue tomorrow. Come on, I know a near cave." he didn't wait for Feyre to agree, knowing she would follow. Stomping after him, Feyre seethed and debated to kick him in the back of the knees, imagining how he would react. Would he curse? Scowl? Trying to put her back in her place? Threaten her? Feyre stifled a giggle, feeling slightly lighter as she followed Eris into a small cave. There was a little campfire in the center and Eris sat against a wall, waving his hand to start the campfire, which movement made him wince. He turned to look at her but Feyre's eyes were fixed on his shoulder and she cocked her head.

"You're injured." She looked down at her hands as Eris scoffed, feeling the tiny spark of power that was left inside her. Sighing, she told him, "Turn around?"

He eyed her suspiciously but turned around. Again, it made Feyre angry because he didn't see her as a threat at all. But she shook the anger, laying her hand on Eris’s shoulder, which made him flinch. She focused on the spark, reciting spells that she had memorized long ago in the old language until the spark was almost snuffed out. Wordlessly, she walked to the opposite wall and sat.

"Careful Archeron, it seems like you care." Eris mocked with smirk, rolling his shoulder.

Feyre looked at her feet, trying to ignore the flames in front of her, "Don't flatter yourself, you're slowing us down if you're injured."

He didn't answer immediately and a silence grew between them. It wasn't uncomfortable, to Feyre's surprise. They just sat there, lost in their own thoughts for a few minutes.

"Why do you even care? The last I checked they treated you like shit." he broke the silence.

Feyre wished she wouldn't have spoken at all. Wished he wouldn't be right. "The last time you checked was two hundred years ago." she snapped. "That's a lot of time."

Eris laughed but there wasn't a hint of humor in it. "The last I checked was on winter solstice." he told her. Feyre's eyes snapped up, meeting his russet ones over the fire. "I was close and I...well, I thought I should take a look." he shrugged. "I saw you preparing meat as your sisters sat in front of the hearth. I wonder, did they even remember that it was your birthday?"

Feyre swallowed. "Tomas Mandray."

"Excuse me?"

"They were talking about Tomas Mandray." Feyre told him. "He wanted to marry Nesta."

Eris snorted. "He hates witches. I don't feel particularly sorry that he died in the attack." Feyre smiled slightly and it took Eris a few moments until he deciphered the reason. His eyes shone with glee, "Oh Archeron, you killed the Mandray boy?"

Straightening her legs, she replied, "I don't know what you're talking about. He stumbled and cracked his head open. My hands are clean of his blood."

Eris chuckled, "See? Two hundred years barely changed anything."

She shook her head. "A lot changed since you left, Eris."

His smile vanished. "I see, you're still mad."

"You turned your back to serve for your father." she grit out.

Eris leaned forward. "I will never serve for my father." he growled. "Trust me, if I could kill him I would but there's a lot more that depends on this. I can't gamble this, I need to become the next High Lord and if I have to play a few of his games, so be it."

"A few games? Like burning down a whole village of innocents?" Feyre jumped up. "If so, you did it, Eris. They are all dead because of you!"

Eris jumped to his feet too, walking over to Feyre in three long strides. "I didn't know what my father planned until it was too late, Feyre. Nothing of what happened today I approved of!"

"Do you want me too swoon for such a noble deed? Oh, you didn't approve! Good job. Forgive and forget, right? I'm sure bards will compose songs about you, oh he came for the villagers but it was too late, such tragedy!" Feyre seethed, stepping forward.

"What do you want to hear, Feyre?"

"The truth!"

"Fine!" he said, "I didn't come for the villagers!"

Feyre nodded, "Not surprised–"

"I came for you." he breathed.

Feyre went rigid, staring at Eris. Staring into his eyes for any hint of a lie. "Huh?"

"When I heard that my father send soldiers to attack your village, I was filled with terror. Honestly, I barely remember hoe I managed to get here because all I was thinking about was you and that I would set the world aflame if anything happened to you. I decided that I wanted the throne two hundred years ago to make this court a safer place for you." he sighed. "I can't. I realized this today. I can't make this a safe place for you until my father is dead, so I'll risk sending you north."

"Risk?"

Eris shook his head. "Forget that." Feyre opened her mouth but Eris said, "He's...Rhysand is cunning but he is a man of his word and he promised to take you and your sisters in and that you will be safe at all times." he took a deep breath. "I don't need you to take this all in at once but I need you to stay in the night court while I take care of my father and when I'm done we...we can talk about whatever this is. Or not. However, you will always have a home in the Autumn Court when I'm done."

Tears were rolling down Feyre's cheeks. "I can help you–"

"You can help me when you stay with Rhysand. I will take up your offer if I need it but first I need to know that you're safe. You are exhausted, Feyre. Healing me took the rest out of you. Go to the Night Court, heal, recharge, rebound with your sisters. I will find you."

"You'll find me?"

"Always."

Feyre sniffled. "Good, because if you won't find me, I will find you and I won't be nice."

Eris smirked. "Good." he said, "Now rest, tomorrow will be a long day."

Happy Dragon Age Day!!