February 12th 2021 8:57 AM

“Ailith.” Her name was drawn out with a casual drawl, as if they had merely met on the street and stopped for small talk. “‘Bout time you got here. We have some things to discuss.”

“Elijah. May I just say, you’re looking pretty good for a dead guy.” Ailith took in her surroundings, automatically searching for a other assailants, but there was only Elijah, her friends, and Ashrin, limp in Elijah’s grasp.

“Well, when you’ve got unfinished business like I do, there are certain… loopholes you can use to make sure you finish it.” Elijah was a truly grotesque sight. His skin was a sickly ashen colour, his head twisted to the side, neck bulging from where Ailith had broken it months prior. It was enough to turn a person’s stomach. “Now, enough small talk. My business is simple, Ailith: I want you you dead.”

Ailith scoffed. “That doesn’t sound like something I’d enjoy very much.” Ailith’s senses were honed in on Ashrin, focused on just how close to the edge of the cliff she was, completely at Elija’s mercy.

“I don’t care much about what you’d enjoy,” Elijah sneered. “It’s like this. You jump off this cliff, I don’t drop sweet Ashrin here. Once you’re dead, I move on. I go to rest, and you’ll never see me again.” Elijah shifted, hoisting Ashrin up to dangle slightly over the edge of the cliff.

Ailith had no doubt he would drop Ashrin without a second thought. “Just how far down is it to my certain doom?” Ailith was playing for time, desperately trying to find a scenario that didn’t end with her broken and dead at the bottom of a cliff.

Elijah just chuckled. “Let’s just say it’s far enough. I’ll give you to the count of five. You or Ashrin, make your decision. One.”

Fuck. She couldn’t let Ashrin die, what would she tell Amos? Sorry, your old boss, who I brutally killed, came back from the dead and dropped your girlfriend off a cliff, whoops? Ailith could practically hear the gears in her friend’s heads turning, looking for a way to get her out of this, the tension palpable behind her.

“Two.”

Gods, what choice did she have? Die now, hope Ace could bring her back, and get rid of Elijah forever. Don’t do it, let Ashrin die, and live with that guilt for the rest of her life.

“Three.”

And if she didn’t do it, what then? Elijah would just come back until his business was finished. What would stop him from targeting one of her friends to get to her? Was that a risk she was willing to take?

“Four.”

Time’s up. “Wait.” Ailith took a steadying breath. “I’ll do it.” She took a step forward, stopping only when a hand clamped onto her bicep. She didn’t have to look to know it was Feyra who was holding her back, trying to stop her. Ailith clenched her jaw, resolve wavering for a split second. She reached up, have the hand a squeeze before removing it gently. She stepped away, not looking at Feyra or the rest of her party. Ailith knew if she did she’d break, and she refused to give Elijah the satisfaction.

“Cutting it close, Ailith.” Elijah smiled at her as she approached, but all she could see was a twisted grimace.

“Yeah well, I have problems with taking orders. Let Ashrin go, I said I’ll do it.” She was right at the edge now; looking down, she could see nothing, only inky blackness.

“Now, that wasn’t part of the deal. You go first, then I release her.” Ashrin was looking at her with wide eyes, still unable to move or speak.

“I have no way of knowing you’ll keep your word. You’re sending me to my death, it’s the least you can do.” One last ditch effort to protect Ashrin, to control the situation even slightly.

Elijah’s face twisted in annoyance. “I never got to five, Ailith. Shall I continue?”

“No! No, that won’t be necessary.” Ailith turned, heels hanging over the edge, back against the void. She could see her friends, watching and waiting, Feyra shaking her head desperately at her. You’re doing this for them. That is worth it. With a grin and a wink, she tipped herself backwards, falling into nothingness.

---

Oh gods, oh gods no. Fuck this guy. I will kill him. Feyra’s mind was screaming at Elijah for not just staying dead, and at Ailith for even entertaining the idea of jumping off a cliff just because some undead asshole said to. There had to be a way out of this, she just couldn’t see it yet. There had to be, she wouldn’t accept any other option.

“Wait.” Ailith’s voice rang out, steady and clear. No, no. What are you doing? “I’ll do it.” No, don’t do that, do anything but that! Feyra reached out desperately, a last ditch effort to stop Ailith from making this stupid, reckless decision. Her hand landed on Ailith’s arm, gripping her tightly, holding her back. Ailith stopped, body tense. Thank the gods, it worked.

Ailith reached up, taking Feyra’s hand in hers. A spark ran through Feyra’s body at the contact, before the world crashed down when Ailith removed her hand, moving forward without a backwards glance. She removed my hand. She’s going through with this, she can’t be going through with this, no no nonono. Ailith tipped backwards over the edge and Feyra felt her heart fall with her.

---

Ailith could hear faint sounds of action above her as she plummeted down into the dark. She hadn’t fallen far when a blinding white light appeared above her, coalescing into the shape of an angel; one of Ace’s spells, no doubt. The angel caught her gently, it’s embrace warm around her. Looking up, Ailith could see Elijah, still dangling Ashrin over the cliff face, as a Xiv shaped blur leapt off the cliff above her. As Xiv fell, Elijah dropped Ashrin, the dark elf coming back to herself enough to let out a yell as she plummeted downwards.

From the angels arms, Ailith watched Xiv and Ashrin fall past her, out of sight. She hoped Xiv had a plan; she couldn’t just sit here and wait for something to happen. Twisting, she jumped for the cliff face, scrambling back up. Cresting the top, she took off at a sprint, racing to Elijah, intent on making him suffer for what he’d done.

Ailith rushed him, swinging her cane recklessly, all technique out the window. The only thing that mattered was causing pain, any sort of pain. Feyra’s arrows sank into Elija’s flesh next to Ailith’s face, but she didn’t flinch; Feyra’s aim was true. Ailith pummeled Elijah, taking satisfaction in using his old weapon against him, watching the diamond swirl with energy.

She should have seen Elijah’s next move coming, but when he grabbed her and dragged her over the edge, she didn’t try to fight it. The wind streaming past her whistled in her ears as she twisted and bucked, limbs flailing, trying to scramble out of Elijah’s grasp. Dying would solve the Elijah problem, but with Xiv and Ashrin falling as well, Ailith wasn’t sure Ace had enough magic to bring them all back. A well placed blow to Elijah’s nose broke his hold long enough for Ailith to push away from him and towards the cliff. An enraged roar spewed from his lips and Elijah continued falling, past the edge of Ailith’s vision, as she scrabbled for a hold on the sheer face of the cliff.

Ailith could feel the skin on her palms tearing, her fingernails breaking as she grabbed for a handhold. Finally, her boots found purchase, their magic adhering to the rough wall suddenly, halting her descent immediately. The sudden stop flipped her upside down, body slamming into the cliff with a thud. The breath was torn from her lungs, hip joints screaming as it felt like her legs were about to separate from the rest of her body. Ailith was pretty sure she felt at least one rib break, and the back of her head felt like it had been gouged open where it slammed against the rock. Moaning, she blinked the spots from her vision. Even with Xiv’s magic lenses in her eyes, she couldn’t see anything but darkness all around her.

With every bone in her body screaming, Ailith righted herself and started hauling herself up the cliff, one painful step at a time. She climbed for what felt like forever, until her lungs were burning. She was pretty sure that if she looked at her fingertips, she would see bone; she made a mental note to avoid testing that hypothesis. Ailith looked up for the hundredth time, hoping to finally catch a glimpse of the top. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw Feyra and Talus peering back at her, faces full of worry.

Ailith let out a faint cry, vaguely aware that the wet on her face was now a mix of blood and tears. She climbed the last few feet, muscles shaking with exertion, breath coming in wheezes. She raised a hand to Talus, his steady grip on her forearm a gift from the gods. Feyra took her other arm, the two of them hauling her over the ledge. Ailith promptly collapsed on them, arms flung over their shoulders in a semblance of a hug. Feyra gently manouvered Ailith to a sitting position, Ailith trying not to pass out from the pain now that the adrenaline was wearing off. Feyra and Talus both remained silent, Talus keeping watch over the cliff while Feyra pressed her hands to the worst of Ailith’s wounds and whispered a spell.

Ailith felt her head start knitting back together, her broken rib and fingers aching a little less. Feyra never said a word, avoiding Ailith’s eyes the entire time she looked her over. Ailith got the distinct feeling that she was in trouble, and the thought made her gut churn. Dimly, she realized that Ace was nowhere to be found, but before she could voice her concern, a white light began rising towards them. Ace’s angel appeared, holding a very much alive, and Ailith could only assume, very pissed off Xiv.

The angel set them down gently, turning wordlessly back to the cliff and flying back down. “Xiv, thank the gods,” Ailith gasped, pulling them to her side, gritting her teeth against the lingering pain in her arms and hands.

“I may have miscalculated,” they muttered hoarsely, leaning just slightly into Ailith.

“It’s okay, I won’t tell anyone,” Ailith whispered back, letting herself sag against Xiv in relief. The four of them didn’t have to wait long for Ace’s angel to appear again, this time holding Ashrin, followed by Ace. The dark elf appeared dazed, slowly taking in the group gathered on the clifftop as the angel deposited her as well. “Ashrin, I am so sorry.” Guilt curled in Ailtih’s stomach at the thought of Xiv and Ashrin dying because of her.

“It’s alright, I got better. I’ve never died before, so that was a new experience. Can’t say I get many of those at my age.” Ashrin’s tone was casual, but it did nothing to lessen the guilt Ailith was feeling.

Ace got to work healing Ailith, Ashrin, and Xiv, telling them all as she did that Elijah’s soul had left his body, but she didn’t think it had gone to the Everyshadow. Ailith knew it was only a matter of time before he came back in a new form and attempted to finish what he started.

As they made camp that night on the cliff, Ailith watched Feyra. The redhead hadn’t said a single word to her save a healing incantation, and it was eating away at her. Ailith knew Feyra was probably mad at her; she had tried to hold Ailith back from jumping and Ailith had continued anyway. Steeling herself, Ailith made her way to where Feyra sat with her back against a wall, digging through her bag. When Feyra didn’t look up, Ailith sat next to her, careful to leave space between them.

“So. Are we going to talk about this, or…” Ailith trailed off, trying to keep her voice steady. Feyra didn’t answer, instead grabbing her sketchbook and pointedly ignoring Ailith’s question. Ailith let out a shaky breath, eyes screwed shut, jaw clenched. Feyra didn’t want to talk to her. Ailith had a made a mess of things, as she knew she would eventually. Nodding to herself, Ailith got up slowly and sat by the fire, waiting to take watch once everyone had gone to bed.

It was eerily quiet down here. As Ailith took her watch, the silence was almost loud, devoid of any noise yet screaming in her head. A faint shuffle of feet behind her, accompanied by the faint smell of pine that somehow still lingered even after almost a week below ground, alerted her to Feyra’s presence. She sat down next to Ailith, dressed only in her travel clothes, her armour and bow discarded for the night. Her hair shone in the firelight, making Ailith’s heart do something funny in her chest.

“Are we still not talking?” Ailith’s uncertaintity and fear manifested in aggression, the question coming out more accusatory than she meant it. Feyra sighed, silent for a beat as she collected her thoughts.

“I’m sorry I didn’t say anything earlier,” Feyra murmured to the fire, shadows dancing across her face. “I was… Well, I suppose I was angry. But you need to know how terrifying that was, Ailith.” Feyra turned to her then, eyes wide and shining. “I didn’t know what to do, there was nothing I could do. I thought you were going to die, that was it, I’d never see you again. You can’t do things like that, Ailith.” Feyra’s voice rose, almost shouting. Ailith had rarely, if ever, heard her like that in all their travels together.

“You’re right.” The words didn’t come easily. “I am sorry. If the roles had been reversed I… Yeah, I get it.” Ailith felt the guilt coil tighter. She looked down at her hands, new scars shining pink on the fingertrips. “It would have been worth it though.” There was a shift in the air as Feyra tensed next to her. “I am just one person – one human person. I am disposable, replaceable. The four of you, you are special. Dying for you, for this party and Ashrin, that seems like as good a way to go as any.

And now Elijah is still out there, biding his time until he can catch us off guard again. What happens when he comes back? What if he hurts Xiv or Talus? Or kills Ace? What if he- Gods, Feyra, if anything happens to you, I don’t know what I’ll do. Knowing I could have prevented it, I would lose my mind. I couldn’t live with myself if he targeted you because I didn’t die today. Keeping you safe… it would have been worth it.” Ailith was breathing hard, hands shaking in her lap. She couldn’t look at Feyra; she felt like she was back at the edge of a cliff, teetering, barely keeping her balance.

“You’re an idiot.” Ailith’s head snapped up at Feyra’s words, retort on the tip of her tongue. But Feyra was looking at her, seeing her, leaning closer, her tongue darting out to wet her lips and Ailith was frozen.

She was at the edge of a cliff and Feyra was with her, lips soft on hers, hesitant and seeking and oh. Oh. Ailith’s hands came up to hold Feyra’s face, thumbs stroking across sharp cheekbones. Feyra buried a hand in Ailith’s hair, tugging her closer, melting against her. Ailith wanted to be closer, closer, until she couldn’t tell where she ended and Feyra began. Her whole body thrummed, her nerves alight and buzzing. Feyra sighed into the kiss, tugging at Ailith’s hair gently, and Ailith felt herself tip over the edge of that cliff, Feyra an anchor pulling her down. This, she thought. This is worth it.

February 7th 2021 9:36 PM – February12th, 2021 8:17 AM

Fucking demons, Ailith thought to herself as she scrambled up the walls of the building next to her. The monstrosity they were currently engaged with followed her movements, massive head swiveling towards her. Ailith took the opportunity to strike two quick blows to it’s neck and jaw. An arrow whistled past, sinking into the creatures shoulder as it let out a bellow.

Ailith’s ears rung with the sound and she shook her head to clear it, eyes squeezed shut as she found her bearings. Opening her eyes, Ailith sawa that the monster’s attention was no longer on her. Instead, it’s yellow eyes were fixed on where Feyra stood at the end of the alley, bow raised and ready to fire again. Ailith could hear the snarls in the creature’s throat as it launched itself towards Feyra with inhuman speed.

Move! Ailith screamed in her head, willing Feyra to duck into an alleyway, but she held her ground and loosed another arrow the charging beast’s chest. Unleashing another bellow, it lowered it’s head, horns aimed at Feyra. Ailith could only watch in horror as the horns caught Feyra and flung her down the alley, body hitting the ground limply and rolling to a stop.

Get up. Get up! Ailith watched, waiting for Feyra to rise to her feet, but she stayed terrifyingly still. Aillith burst into action, sprinting and jumping across rooftops, leaping and rolling down past the creature into the alleyway. She practically threw herself at Feyra, knees quickly becoming wet with blood. Ailith’s vision was filled with the colour red – Feyra’s hair in a tangle across her face, the gaping wounds in her abdomen, the blood soaking the ground. There was so much blood, so much red red redredredred.

Gods, not like this. Ailith furiously dug through her bag, yanking out a healing potion with shaking fingers. Throwing the stopper away, Ailith tipped Feyra’s head back and poured the potion into her mouth, trying not to spill a single, necessary drop. The potion empty, Ailith sat back on her heels, eyes trained on Feyra’s face, waiting for her eyes to open, for a sign of green amongst all the red.

“Come on, come on!” Ailith gritted out, painfully aware of the beast snorting and pawing at the ground as it decided whether or not Ailith was a worthy target. Ailith moved to shield Feyra’s body with her own just as Feyra’s eyes flew open, tight with pain as the wound in her abdomen began to clot, skin slowly knitting itself back together at the edges. “Oh, thank the gods,” Ailith sighed. With numb hands, she gathered Feyra up and shoved her towards an alleyway, away from the monster and it’s deadly horns. Ailith would unpack the sheer terror she felt at seeing Feyra still and broken later, right now she was only focused on killing the snarling creature in front of her.

February 3rd, 2021 9:25 PM

The streets of Kaskaden were eerly, blessedly quiet. From her vantage point on top of the city walls, Ailith could see doors hanigng open, wagons overturned, and some personal possessions that were left behind, forgotten in the rush to evacuate. Ailith could feel a layer of dirt and sweat on her body, a faint ache in her side twinging with each breath.

Hostras would be arriving at dawn, and The First and Last had actually managed to evacuate the entire city in the night. Ailith hadn’t had the chance to change out of her ball outfit, the burgundy suit now dirty and stained. She had barely slept, but it was worth it. The sun was rising, and Hostras would arrive to an empty city; it was a small victory, but Ailith would take it.

The silence was rended by a sound like thunder, the unmistakable pulsing of wings. Above them, Hostras materialized, burning his way thorugh the east wall. No one said a word, watching the destruction silently, knowing that every battle won in the months leading up to this, every slight victory, had been for nothing.

Ailith was so caught up in her own thoughts that the soft touch on her hand actually startled her. Feyra took Ailith’s hand in hers, lacing their fingers together. Anchored once more, Ailith squeezed, a small, desperate attempt to offer comfort. Xiv shuffled towards them, helmet in hand. Sparing one last glance at Hostras’s red form against the otherwise blue sky, Ailith gripped Xiv’s shoulder with her free hand, and was engulfed in darkness.

January 24th, 2021 3:52 PM – February 2nd, 2021 1:30 AM

Looking at herself in the mirror, Ailith could admit that she looked pretty damn good. She had never paid much attention to her appearance before, opting for comfort over style, but today was a big day. She wanted everything to be perfect.

Her hair was pulled back on one side in her usual braids, gold hoops glinting in the strands. The burgundy colouring of her suit brought out some colour in her face, the forest green of her pocket square accenting the suit nicely. Taking a deep breath, Ailith grabbed her cane and the five wooden circles she had been working on for the past month, giving one last glance at the mirror as she left the room in search of her friends.

Ailith made her way down the stairs to Sully’s tavern, blessedly empty this early in the evening. She wondered if he had closed the place down to give them some privacy and made a mental note to ask him about it later. Ace, Talus, and Xiv were waiting at the bottom, all dressed in finery, and looking the cleanest Ailith had ever seen them. Ace was dressed in a beautiful black gown, complete with a hood and flowing arms. Talus had taken his chain off for the evening’s festivities and was dressed in a simple, dark grey suit and bowler hat, greatsword gleaming. Xiv had opted to keep their typical outfit, but Ailith did notice that some of the bigger blood stains and dents had been buffed out.  She opened her mouth to ask after Feyra when Ace gasped, eyes fixed to the top of the stairs.

Ailith turned in time to see Feyra emerge onto the landing at the top of the stairs and the sight took her breath away. Dressed in a gown the same colour as Ailith’s pocket square (Ailith made another mental note to send the tailor a gift basket for her service), breastplate burnished and shining, hair bright as fire with her family’s diadem proudly gleaming from atop the curls and braids – Ailith was sure in that moment that she had never seen anything so beautiful in her entire life.

Time skipped while Ailith stared, catching up only once Feyra reached the bototm step. She was looking at the group with a blush on her cheeks, still not used to being the centre of attention, which struck Ailith as funny because Feyra was always the centre of her attention. Ailith cleared her throat against all the words she suddenly wanted to say. “You-” Ailith cleared her throat again. “We all clean up pretty nice, eh?” It was true, but it wasn’t what she really wanted to say.

“Oh, thank you,” Talus rumbled. “I do feel weird without my chain though, like I’m naked or something.” Ailith snorted a laugh, grateful to Talus for directing any attention away from her awkward slip of the tongue.

“Speaking of wearing things, I actually have something for everyone before we go.” Ailith handed each of her friends one of the wooden circles, pendants for Ace and Feyra, pins for Talus and Xiv. “I made these as a sort of uniform for us. So people can identify us as The First and Last. If you don’t want to wear them, I underst-“

“Of course we’ll wear them, Ailith!” Ace cut in, immediately putting her pendant over her head, settling it next to her Every Shadow pendant. Smiling, Ailith watched her friends examine their gifts. It was a simple design, the logo Xiv designed for them months ago surrounded by a circle, making a medallion of sorts. Ailith’s heart hummed with pride at the sight of everyone wearing something she had made. Her gaze focused on Feyra, watching as the other woman pressed the shape to her chest. Ailith touched her own pendant in response, face burning slightly.

~x~

The First and Last stood behind a closed door at the top of a grand staircase, waiting to be ushered into the ball. Ailith could feel the excitement rolling off Ace as the girl fidgeted, chattering away at Talis. Xiv was much more reserved, standing in their typical unaturally still way. Behind her, Ailith could hear Feyra trying to control her breathing.

One by one, Talus, Ace, and Xiv were announced and each one exited through the door, leaving just Ailith and Feyra. Taking a deep breath to calm her own nerves, Ailith turned to face Feyra. “Hey,” she murmured. “You’ve got this. You’re Lady Feyra Amberwood of Dragontower, the most incredible markswoman on the entire continent. This is nothing.” Ailith put a hand on Feyra’s bicep, watching some of the tension drain from Feyra’s face at the contact.

Feyra looked like she was going to say something, brow furrowed in thought. The footman chose that second to call Ailith’s name, breaking the moment. Ailith smiled at the redhead, giving her arm a squeeze. “I’ll see you down there,” she said with a wink. Ailith stepped through the door and onto a landing, searching the crowd for her part as she began to descent the grand staircase. She found them waiting at the bottom, Talus and Ace grinning as they applauded with the crowd. Unable to resist an audience, Ailith spun her cane as she reached the bototm, earning a whoop from Talus.

“Lady Feyra Amberwood, noblewoman hailing from Dragontower!” The footman announced Feyra and the crowd went silent, waiting with bated breath to see the recently found lost daughter of Dragontower. Ailith was hit with a sense of deja vu as Feyra emerged onto the landing and began floating down the stairs. Ailith couldn’t help the broad smile that spread across her face at the sight, pride swelling within her. Gods, she had it bad. Feyra’s eyes found hers and didn’t leave, not even when she reached the bottom of the staircase and had to walk through the crowd to get to her. Ailith could swear the world slowed, the crowd blurring out, leaving just the two of them.

A ripple of movement through the crowd interrupted the reunion, murmurs of unease making their way to the group’s ears. “You are no Amberwood!” The ripple crashed down on them in the form of an elderly Elven woman, her screech drawing everyone’s attention. Ailith could only assume this was Feyra’s forewarned grandmother. She tensed, ready to out herself in front of Feyra and shield her from the old woman’s vitriol, but Feyra beat her to action.

“I’m sorry you feel that way,” Feyra replied coldly, drawing her chin up haughtily. If she realized everyone’s eyes were once again on her, she gave no indication.

“Valindra, please. Calm down.” Mani materialized out of the crowd, addressing the woman in a low voice. “This is neither the time, nor the place for this.”

Valindra scoffed. “I will not calm down! I was not told that this, this… halfbreed gold digger would be here tonight.” Ailith dug her fingernails into her palms, fists shaking with the effort of not punching the old crone in the face. The only thing keeping Ailith off the woman was the crowd; she refused to embarrass Feyra at an event as important as this one.

“Valindra! You are making a scene at the Emperor’s Godsell Ball, that is enough.” Mani’s voice was calm, but Ailith could see the anger in his eyes.

“You are no kin of mine,” Valindra hissed, apparently unbothered by Mani’s warnings.

“Whether you like it or not, grandmother,” the word laden with sarcasm, “your son – my father – made his choice. And here I am.” Pride laced Feyra’s words, voice unwavering.

“That is enough Valindra. Leave. Now.” Emperor Exantir’s voice boomed above the crowd, cutting through the uneasy tension in the room. Heads swiveled in his direction, eyes darted between him and the two woman at the bottom of the stairs.

Valindra turned her attention to the Emperor, fixing him with a glare. “Are you just going to toss her aside when you’re done with her too, Xernax? No, I suppose not. She’s not her mother.” A few gasps sounded throughout the room as Valindra’s accusation rang through the silence.

The look on the Emperor’s face was something close to murderous. “No. She’s not. Now get out.” Ailith turned her attention back to Valindra, watching as the woman’s face twitched and soured as she realised there was no room for negotiation. With a flick of her wrist, Valindra gathered her personal guard around her and turned to leave. The crowd started moving again, shuffling and murmuring to each other as the show ended.

Feyra stepped in front of Valindra, blocking her from leaving. “I’m glad you don’t think we’re kin. I have my own family right here.” Valindra took in The First and Last with a sneer on her face. Ailith met her gaze steadily, imagining the feeling of the elf’s nose breaking under her fist. Valindra stepped in close to Feyra, mouth close to her ear.

“You should have died with your scum mother.” The whisper was faint, only meant for Feyra, but Ailith’s hearing was too good. Ailith heard a faint snarl cut through the air around her at the woman’s words, only realising when Xiv nudged her that the sound was, in fact, coming from her. Ailith felt Xiv pat her jacket pocket, the same one that held the potion of invisibility they had given to her before dinner. Count on Xiv to be plotting for Ailith while she was too preoccupied not beating an elderly woman with her cane.

Feyra remained still, eyes fixed on the middle distance as Valindra swept her way up the stairs, guards following closely. Quickly, before the crowd began paying too much attention, Ailith ducked down and took a gulp of the potion. A tingling feeling spread through her as she held her hands up in front of her face and watched them disappear. Silently, Ailith followed Valindra and her guards out the grand entrance of the castle, into the central courtyard.

Once safely outside, Ailith dropped the invisibility, calling out to Valindra. “Excuse me! My lady!” Valindra turned back, waving her guards away upon recognizing Ailith.

“What do you want, girl?” Valindra appeared bored, if not somewhat annoyed at Ailith interrupting her departure. Ailith had always thought elves were beautiful creatures, Feyra was evidence of that, but looking at Valindra all she could see was ugliness; hate and prejudice twisting Valindra’s face into something hideous.

“Oh, not much really. You’re performance back there was… something to behold.” Ailith kept her stance wide, shoulders relaxed, arms loose at her sides; she was the picture of peaceful. “I’m not sure your outburst was warranted, however,” Ailith continued with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

Another scoff. “She is nothing. An embarrassment and stain on my family name.” Wrong answer, Valindra.

“Funny,” Ailith said, stepping closer. “I think everyone in that room would say the same about you.” Valindra’s eyes widened, mouth gaping open at Ailith’s words. Ailith continued, unfazed. “If you ever speak to Feyra in that way again, if I catch even a whiff of you plotting or conspiring against her, I will make you very sorry indeed.” Ailith never dropped her smile, relishing the way Valindra’s eyes darted to where Ailith’s fingers drummed against the diamond on her cane.

“Is that a threat?” Her tone was incredulous, but Ailith caught a flicker of fear flit across her face. Finally, a crack in Valindra’s polished, uptight facade.

“No.” Ailith dropped her smile, voice deathly quiet. “That’s a promise.” Valindra’s face paled at Ailith’s words, jaw clenching as she turned back to her guards, walking quickly into the night.

Satisfied, Ailith spun around and headed back to the entrance, noticing the guards flanking the door for the first time. They exchanged a glance as she approached, clearly not sure what the protocol was for reporting a threat against a visiting noblewoman. “I was never here,” Ailith stated, flicking a gold piece to each of them.

They gaped at her for a moment before composing themselves. “Never seen you before in my life, ma’am,” the guard on the right replied. He was still a boy really, both of them were, stuck outside during the biggest party of the year.

“Good lads,” Ailith grinned as they opened the doors for her. She rushed back down the hallway towards the ballroom. She had a party to get back to.

Dancing was in full swing by the time Ailith returned, the night’s earlier drama apparently forgotten with the help of good music and booze. She found her friends where she’d left them, huddled together in the crowd. Ace saw her first, grabbing Feyra’s arm and pointing. They all turned to her with expectant faces.

“Where did you go?” Feyra whisper shouted above the music, trying not to attract the attention of the dancing couples nearby.

“No where important,” Ailith responded, breathless. She felt Xiv nod next to her, already piecing everthing together as usual. Ailith’s eyes skimmed over Feyra’s face, taking in everything that made her so blessedly different from the vile woman she shared blood with. Ailith searched Feyra’s eyes, brown locked onto green, and acted before she lost her nerve. She extended a hand, willing it not to shake. “Do you want to dance?”

Feyra stared unblinking for long enough to cause alarms to go off in Ailith’s head. Oh gods, maybe she overstepped, maybe she had misread everything. “I uh…” Feyra slowly raised her hand to Ailith’s. “I don’t know how.”

Ailith breathed a laugh. “Perfect. Me neither.” She grasped Feyra’s hand, revelling in the feeling of the calluses on Feyra’s fingertips, and led her to an empty patch of dance floor as an unseen band began playing a slow melody.

Ailith drew Feyra in, left hand resting gently on her waist, right hand in hers. She didn’t know where to look, how slow to move, where to put her feet; she rarely felt uncoordinated like this, heart pounding in her chest. Ailith let her head rest against Feyra’s, cheek brushing up against Feyra’s temple. She lost track of time completely, unaware of how long they stayed like that, swaying gently back and forth. Ailith felt a warmth settle in her, and for once she wasn’t itching to keep moving. Feyra was an anchor tethering her to the world, and Ailith was beginning to realize that she wanted nothing more than to be with Feyra like this.

Their adventures were incredible, challenging, eye-opening. Ailith loved their found family with her whole heart, but this, with Feyra… this is where she could see herself feeling at home, finally. Drawing back, Ailith was greeted by a soft gaze that was quickly becoming her favourite colour.

You’re beautiful. You amaze me every day. I admire you so much. I would do anything for you. Can I kiss you? Everything I am is yours.

Words crowded Ailith’s tongue, all of them unsaid as the crown prince cut in, asking for Feyra’s next dance. Ailith gave her a smile of encouragement as Feyra was whisked away. Ailith stood there for a moment, the unstable feeling returning as the warmth of Feyra’s hand in hers dissipated. Shaking it off, Ailith went off to find Xiv and drag them onto the dancefloor. She and Feyra had time, she told herself. Ailith could wait for her. She would always wait for her.