A Court of Mortal Love (ACOTAR Fanfic)

Chapter 15

Vela ran back to the pond with the willow tree, the sentry wailing with each jolt of her legs. I wished I could cut him free, and let him fall to the ground behind us. But I couldn't let go of Vela's mane, or I myself would fall.
    Lucien lay lounging on the grass, Elain just picking a berry from a bush when we crested the hill and Vela slowed. I dismounted as fast as I could. Lucien scrambled up with alarm as I raced for Elain, and with a sob, grabbed onto her arms.
    "What's wrong? What is it?" Elain questioned, wide-eyed, glancing toward the bloodied mess on the back of Vela. "Is he okay?"
    "He is the one that hurt me," I gasped. "Take me home. Take me back."
    "What?" Elain glanced toward the sentry again. "That soldier—"
    "Please," I had already turned, making my way toward Lucien's horse.
    "I don't know how to ride," Elain sputtered, racing to catch up with me.
    "Wait!" Lucien called, reaching out to touch my arm.
    I whipped around, my hand already on his horse.
    "Vela won't let me near her," Lucien said simply, and I let out a growl of fury.
    "I can't ride with him, Lucien, I can't—"
    "Then leave him here to bleed away," Lucien said softly. "Tamlin would not question your choice."
    "Tamlin would question my choice, because I am of no importance to anyone, and it was more important for him to let that rapist free!" I snapped, but shoved Lucien away, forcing myself toward Vela. Another sob wrenched free as I neared her, and smelt the sentry's blood.
    "Ellaena, you don't understand."
    "I understand perfectly, Lucien," I whirled, gasping for breath. "I shouldn't even be upset right now. I shouldn't even be arguing with you. I don't even know you. I don't know anyone. I only matter to my father, and even then, I'm not sure it's me who matters, but just the memory of your mate."
    Lucien's eyes flashed with anger at the mention of my father, and he reached out, grasping Elain's arm.
    "You don't understand," He stated simply, again. "All you need is time with us, so we can all know each other. And it is the kind of time that we—that Tamlin—wants to give you. So no. He wouldn't question if you left him here," He jerked his chin toward the sentry.
    My brows pinched together, and I wiped at my nose. "But why?"
    "Because what happened to you is of every importance. You weren't found for no reason—you are here for a reason, to be with us. I think we all really like you," He glanced at Elain, who gave him a nod, "and we appreciate that you are here now."
    "But... but... that doesn't even make sense."
    "Doesn't matter," He sniffed.
    "Yes it does," I sighed, but he shook his head.
    "Well, we already care about you a little so," Again, he gestured at the sentry.
    "Ugh," I raged, and turned back to Vela. "I'm not leaving him to bleed out on the grass! That's... that's just wrong."
    Lucien's mouth quirked up at that. He glanced down at the grass before taking a step closer. "I think that's rather honourable of you, Ellaena."
    I glanced to Elain, who was fiddling with her fingers, staring at me with worry.
    "Focus on Vela, Ellaena," Lucien said softly. "Focus on her, while you ride. Home is not too far," He combed back his blazing red hair, and I clenched my fists at my sides.
    I nodded once, and turned back to the mare, just as the sentry moaned again, letting out a racking sob from his wounds.
    "Are you done you miserable conversationalists—"
    "Shut up!" I growled at him, then placed a hand on Vela's neck as she nuzzled me. "Let's go girl. Go fast."
    She nickered as I tried hauling myself into her saddle, barely making it in. I wrapped my skirts about me, tucking them in safely as I laced my fingers in her mane. With one word, she jolted forward, and ran.

    

The stable-hands were shocked when they saw me ride up on Vela without the High Lord, her flanks covered in blood, but they would not come close to the mare.
    "Take him off, please," I gasped as I dismounted, and they risked a step toward the mare. Vela snorted, and reared, and the sentry screamed in pain. "Are you serious?" I groaned, turning to the mare, holding her reins steady. "Come on girl. Please."
    She turned, her eye rolling over the sight of me, and I tossed down her reins with fury. She snorted, and yanked her head from me.
    "Fine," I said, making my way to the sentry, and untying some of the knots that Tamlin made.
    He gasped in pain, and turned his head to me. "Be careful—"
    "You shut up," I snarled, tugging at a knot, "Or I'll pull that disgusting tongue of yours right out of your mouth, and you can have your own turn deciding if you like the taste of blood filling your throat."
    When the last knot released, I tugged on his breastplate, and he fell to the ground at my feet, shouting in agony. His skin was white, his wounds gushing more from the fall.
    I stepped toward Vela, taking her reins and leading her away as the stable-hands drew near to the screaming lump on the ground. As soon as I entered the stable, the horses snorted, and turned their heads toward us. Vela whinnied low to them as we passed, her hooves clopping on the cobblestones.
    It was a blessing, I supposed, that no one could care for her but Tamlin—or myself, for that odd matter—for I spent about an hour brushing and washing her down, making sure to get every last speck of blood. I fed her, and watered her, and let tears leak from me in periods as I did so. By the time she snorted in bliss, and turned her back to me, closing her eyes, I felt peaceful, and I made my way back to the house, trying to ignore the spot of blood in front of the barn, soaking through to the earth beneath.
    Elain and Lucien stood as I entered the house parlour, glancing at my bloodied skirts. Elain led me to change into a new gown, and when we came back, she set a plate of cookies before me, as well as some tea.
    I set my eyes upon the two-story windows open to the front lawn, where the flowers were still covered. It was a shame, really. The image those flowers would have made, complete with the lawns pond, the trees, the birds, the blue sky—it would have made anyone breathless.
    The seconds ticked by as the plate of cookies vanished to Lucien's growling stomach, and I held just the one between my fingers, gazing out the window.
    We were all waiting for him to return. Waiting for the sight of him walking up the steps, the door opening as he walked in, shutting it behind him.
    But only silence stretched on. Silence, and the sight of birds, flitting from tree to tree.
    "What was it?" Lucien finally asked, breaking the silence, and Elain set down the teapot a bit too hard at the question.
    I did not move my eyes from the window, the cookie trembling in my fingers. "They said it was a wraith," I whispered.
    Silence ensued once more.
    The room darkened as the sun set in the distance, beneath the thick line of trees across the fields of rolling hills. I could see herds of deer prancing past, and an elk ventured from the forest cautiously. I perked up at that, remembering the sight of the antlers on Tamlin's changed form as he snarled at the Wraith.
    Was he okay? Was this normal?
    I turned to Lucien. His eyes were already watching me. He opened his mouth before I even had time to ask. "He'll be back. He does this every week."
    "Wraiths?" Elain said, folding away the book she had been reading.
    Lucien shrugged, his eyes flickering to her. "We haven't seen wraiths in a while. But it's nothing Tamlin hasn't dealt with before."
    I turned my gaze back to the window, just as the High Lord rounded the hedges, striding toward the front door.