A Court of Chaos and Coral (Amren x Varian)

Chapter 8: Amren

Song of the chapter:
The Night We Met - Lord Huron

Eris had woken, just as Amren had known he would. He was in a very weak state, Thesan had told them after he went back in to make sure Eris had, in fact, regained the ability to move. He reported that he was sitting with Azriel, and did not wish for any visitors yet, which they had all obliged to. So, they ate in Rhysand and Feyres suite, in the shockingly large dining room attached. 

Though Amrens mind was elsewhere. It was in the Summer Court, with her mate. What could have possibly been written on the piece of paper to make Varian react like that? He had always been a very relaxed Fae, to the point of concern, and now that he was gone, and, so worried about whatever had happened, she knew something was wrong.

The correlation of events seemed so unfortunate to be coincidental recently. It was almost like the Mother was out to get here, with the flooding, and Eris, and the visions, and... everything else. To much, it was too much, even for her.

No one spoke to her over dinner. No one dared look at her. No one thanked her for her efforts to save Eris's life. No one mentioned that he would be dead, Azriel too, without her. They wouldn't be clinking glasses and laughing if that had happened, would they?

Gwyn had returned to Dawn the moment the new had reached her. Emerie and Mor, however, still were in Autumn, taking care of things, burying Meredith's body. She just hoped they had the good sense to put the knife Beron had wielded away for further inspection. Best get that thing away from the public before Thesan got any more business too soon.

The table had just decided that Nesta and Cassian would pick up Mor and Emerie the next day when Varian appeared in the room, drenched to the bone, tears pouring down his face.

~

Amren had never moved quicker than she did when she bolted over to him. He looked down at her slowly, shaking.

He then looked up to the room and cleared his throat. "I am taking Amren to Summer. I do not know when we will return." He said it with much to much authority for someone dripping salt water on the floor.

Before anyone could argue, he winnowed them away.

~

"What the hell, Varian! What happened?" Varian had winnowed them to a patch of forest, and the moment they had landed, had walked off.

"Varian!" Amren snapped, storming after him. "Tell me what is going on-"

She cut of short when she caught up with Varian, who was standing on a cliff edge overlooking Adriata. 

The whole city, destroyed. Almost every inch of it waterlogged and crumbling. The only building that stood strong was the palace, which would be very difficult to get to, as it was surrounded by water. The bridge to it would be the only way to get over without drowning. A few houses on the outskirts, that would have been too high for the water to reach, had survived, but only just.

"What happened?" She whispered, placing a hand on her mates back.

"Tsunami." He croaked, motionless. "Barely anyone got out." He gestured to his left, where a gathering of maybe three hundred faeries stood.

"That's it?" She cried.

"That's it." He mumbled, still gazing over his city.

The sound of shuffling in the dirt behind him made him turn. A dryad stood tentatively, wringing her hands under a cloak.

"Yes?" Varian said quietly, holding back a sob.

The dryad blushed slightly. "We just had a question, but if now isn't a good time-"

"No, now is a fine time. What is your name?" Varian scrubbed at his face.

"Alis, my Lord."

"What is your question, Alis?" 

"We were just wondering if we could go back down to our houses yet." She gestured down to the city.

"Oh. Yes, I suppose you can. Tell anyone who's house is too damaged to wait here, they will stay in the palace until... other arrangements can be made."

Alis nodded. "Thank you for your generosity, my Lord."

The dryad turned back to the group, but something she had said itched at the back of Amrens mind.

"What of Tarquin and Cressedia?"Alis had not said prince, or sir, she had said "my lord".

Varian pointed to a pair of bodies lying on the ground, under a beautiful tree. White hair, twin to Varians fell across the rocky ground, moonlight reflecting off dark, damp skin.

Tears crawled up Amrens throat. "Oh, Varian..."

Her prince- her High Lord shook his head. "They tried to help, I know they did."

Amren placed a hand on his cheek, urging him to look at her, which he eventually did.

"I have something to tell you, Varian, and this is neither the time nor the place, but I think it is important you know now."

He frowned. "Go on..."

She tugged at her hair slightly, taking a minute to find the courage.

"I'm pregnant."