Cassian & Nesta / Uwhar
Cassian & Nesta
Nesta immobilized a warrior's broken wing, she had spend all the time after the attack taking care of injured warriors and citizens.
As she finished, she walked to the next one, lower arm broken, exposed bone, she cleaned the wound, warning that she would have to put the bone back in place, the warrior just stared forward, holding the arm of the chair tightly with his good hand, a silent ‘do it'.
When done, she bandaged the warrior’s arm, then a healer gave her the numbers of how many more would need any treatment, and their number of healers, who had no other option but treat the wounded ones the same way she was doing.
Nesta nodded at the healer, then took care of a few more people, the last ones, who had minor injuries, before finally walking to her house, where she paced to the kitchen, washing her hands.
“There is something falling from your pocket.” A voice, Elain's voice, Nesta whirled to her sister whipping her hands in the kitchen’s towel and taking the almost falling small gloves from her loose pants’ back pocket. “I didn’t imagine you would use pants at…”
“It is easier to move with them.” She held the gloves tightly, curving her fingers in a fist.
“How are you?” Elain asked as her older sister walked to the table, sitting in a chair, sorrow on her eyes, “I am sorry about–”
“Do not say it.” She sniffed, smelling the wine breath from Elain's mouth.
“But the disease–”
“Remiel had the disease because of the curse, he is out of Prythian, so he is healthy again.”
Elain stared her sister, flames on her blue gray eyes, “And you are certain, because –” her sister’s stare was enough to make her stop talking.
Nesta lifted her brows, tighten the grip on her hand, “Amren told me about the human ships in the New Lands, if this disease wasn’t a curse exclusively on Prythian, they wouldn’t have even arrived in there.” She felt a tremble on the bond, Cassian calling for her.
Something is happening? He asked as she opened their connection, he felt her emotions.
No, it is just Elain here. When are you coming home?
In a couple of minutes.
Good. She felt a caress on the bond.
“Why did you come here?” Nesta asked.
“I wanted to see how you are.”
Nesta lifted a brow in distrust, “Something more?”
Elain waited a few seconds before answering, “Azriel's eyes were injured, the damage is similar to that blacksmith’s son several years ago.” Nesta blinked slowly, remembering about that event, and realizing the real reason for her sister visit, “Do you have a idea about how much time he will stay blind, for a Fae?”
Nesta tilted her head “Two, maybe three days.”
Elain nodded, then pressed her lips in a thin line “How is Cassian?”
“Dealing with our son's absence on his own way.”
Elain's gaze were fixed on her sister's eyes.
“Anything more?” Nesta asked
The brown eyed female shook her head, “I should go.” She whirled.
“How was the attack, on that city?” Nesta said suddenly, crossing her arms in front of her torso.
“Harsh, according to what Feyre told me.” Elain said, she didn’t knew details about it then changed the subject to the first thing she thought, “What they did to the bastard children here?”
“Their mothers took them to the ships, who didn’t have one were taken by their caregivers.” She said narrowing her eyes, trying to understand the reason for this question.
“Have you seen the underground projects?” Elain asked.
“Yes, they started to build it two weeks ago.” Nesta answered looking at the gloves on her right hand, she needed a few days alone with Cassian, “How many bottles of wine you had to drank before finally being able to come here?”
Elain inclined her head before shaking, her lips pressed in a thin line, “I should go.”, a heartbeat later she winnowed.
Nesta kept her gaze at the small gloves, until she felt a strong hand on her shoulder, she didn’t know how much time had passed until this moment.
Her eyes found Cassian's, sorrow on his face as he stared at the gloves.
“He is alive.” She said as a solitary tear fell from his right eye.
“I know.” He swallowed, rubbing his palm on her shoulder.
“Humans wouldn’t get in the South Continent. If it wasn’t a Prythian’s only issue, they wouldn’t even have arrived in there.”
“I know.” He pressed his lips in a thin line, his eyes surveying her face, “You are hurt.” He stared at her left hand, which had the palm on her tight.
“It is not serious.” Nesta stood, putted the gloved back on her pocket, then used her right hand to grab Cassian's, leading him to their room. As they arrived, she walked to the window, leaning in the wall as she stared to the outside.
Cassian removed his armor, leaving only the pants on his body, he walked close to Nesta, gently took her lower left arm, walking to their bathroom, “What happened?” his voice was hoarse, he said while holding up her wounded hand.
“I removed a ash arrow from a soldier’s leg, there was a spike on it, but I realized that when it was too late.” She said look at the scratch crossing her palm.
Cassian opened the sink, cleaned her hand, then searched for any splinter in the wound, when he found none, he bandaged her hand, “Please, be more careful in the next time.” Be cupped her face with both hands, lightly kissing her lips, his eyes were still wet.
“And you,” she gently caressed a big bruise on his chest as his hands were on her shoulders, “Stop letting them beat you that way.” Her face was unreadable, but he knew what she felt, feel what she felt. Cassian just nodded in silence.
oOoOo
Uwhar
4 months passed since their arrival, Viviane walked to the kitchen of her apartment, the one she lives with her sister and son, her abdomen was slightly bigger, but still could pass as no pregnant.
She received informations about the place she would live, just like every Prythian citizen who came here, she received a guide about their rules, obligations, rights and duties, how their government system is: a presidential system, where their citizens elect their leaders.
“He is ready.” Salena said, walking close to her sister with her nephew on her arms.
“Good.” She tried to smile to her son, trying to hide her worry. On this place, it is required to every kid to attend school, regardless of their social or financial position, and this was Arion's first day at it, “Where is his backpack?”
“At the living room.” Her sister glanced at the place, their apartment was simple, warm colors in the walls and light decoration, it was bought with their own money. Most of the nobles bought houses, some even bought mansions, Viviane choose to not attract too much attention, she didn’t knew exactly were the poorest went, but the Uwhar government assured they would be sheltered.
Viviane walked to the living room, where she took the backpack, her sister had already checked if everything listed by the school was in there a day later, then glanced at the clock, “Come on, or he will be late.” She went to her building's hall, being followed by her sister, locked the door, then they walked to the elevator.
“Any answer from him?” Salene asked, straightening her nephew's clothes while her sister pressed the elevator button.
Viviane shook her head, tighten the grips on her hands holding the backpack, she tried to communicate with Kallias through the bond several times, she still could feel he was there, but didn’t got any answer since her arrival at Uwhar, “No.”.
“Have you tried letters?”
“Their wall keep magic from escaping, also, the distance is too big.” She pressed her lips in a thin line, the distance… That could be the reason for she not getting a answer from her mate, since when she was in the ship, she still could hear him through the bond, but at a certain distance from Prythian, it became lower, and lower, until she wasn’t able to hear him anymore, when the ships were one day to arrive in the Uwhar city.
They kept in silence until the elevator arrive in the ground floor, they walked outside it, passing through the lobby, where a male High Fae concierge, in grey formal clothes and a hat in the same color, greet them.
The two females greet back, then walked to the outside, the day was cloudy, threatening to rain, but the temperature was warm. As they walked by the main streets of the city, the number of cars was big, just like the citizens in the sidewalk.
The pale female asked herself how the local citizens could walk close to the sidewalk's edge, during her first days, it was told her how much dangerous cars could be, it was also told how much useful and helpful they were if used with responsibility, but she still couldn’t stop her fear when walking in the outside.
She looked ahead while walking, several extreme tall buildings around, some had right angles, there were a few billboards warning about the wind strength of day, followed by a change in the text, to big flashy sentences, which said: Strong wind. Flys are prohibited in the moment to your safety. Keep your wings tight on your back. Winged children with less than 13 years old must be accompanied by their responsibles. If necessary call emergence for help.
“We should have one of those, in Prythian.” Salena said, glancing at billboard.
“Yes, that would prevent accidents by the inexperienced and young Faes, I think.” Viviane remembered a few histories told by a winged Fae friend of her years ago, about how his young nephew was learning how to fly and a strong wind came to him during his lessons and carried him to their wintry mountains.
The High Fae holding the backpack looked forward, where a female human, who had a child in the same age and school uniform in her arms, walked, which indicate they where in the right direction.
At the school street, they could see several adults with their children in uniforms, most of them were humans and mixed breeds, they all were going to the main gate of the school, Viviane and Salena did the same.
As the females walked in, the school's employees gave them a few directions, which guided them and the other parents to the main lobby.
“Look, so many children.” Salena said more to herself than to her sister, the place was full of children in age similar to Arion, “I think that if we put all the children from our Court in a place like this, it would still not be so crowded” She said poking her sister's arm, calling her attention, “What do you think?”
“I agree.” She said quietly, the noise in the place was worst than the outside, her son was using his hands to cover his ears, she tried her best to not do the same.
“Do you need help, moms?” a female employee with human appearance asked, then she smiled, revealing her sharp blue teeth.
Viviane ignored the mistake made by the female, it has happened so many times since their arrival that neither she nor her sister bothered to correct people anymore in the first interactions, she took the paper with informations about her son's registration from the front pocket of her light blue jumpsuit, “Yes, I am looking for his class…” her last words were low, “We are new here.” She held up the paper.
“Oh,” the employee’s eyes surveyed the females, then her gaze fell on the one holding the little boy, her blue dress style was definitely different if compared to the usual dresses that the other females wearied, “Well,” she smiled in understanding, taking the paper from her hand, “Are you from Prythian?” the pale female holding the backpack nodded, “I saw in the news. I am glad that you all were able to arrive here at time.” She waved a hand to the hall at her left, “That hall will lead you to the nursery lobby, the teachers will instruct the kids in a queue, then they will be lead to their classroom, as this is the first day, the parents will stay in their classroom for a few minutes, the adaptation period, when finished, if that is the parents’ wish, they can stay in a waiting room with other parents until their class period be over…” the female gave them more informations.
oOo
Viviane's eyes surveyed the waiting room as Salena talked with a female human, the room had couches and chairs, some of them made to accommodate wings, close to the main window there was a table with kettles of coffee and tea, jars of water, and a tray with mugs and glasses. As the time passed, more adults walked to the room.
“Hi.” A fae female with feline nose, ears, bright green eyes, gray hair and a thin layer of fur in the same color of her hair on the skin, sat at her side in the couch, she used a purple dress with bell shaped skirt, her white corset was over the dress as most females in Uwhar use to wear, “I see you are new here, well I have a older daughter who also study here, and my youngest is on her second year.” She smiled, revealing her slight yellow teeth, her canines were sharp and longer, “I am Katherine.” She held up a hand in greeting.
“Viviane.” She smiled back to the female, taking her hand.
“Are you from Prythian? I think I saw in the television, when you walked out the ship.” Her curious bright green eyes surveyed Viviane.
“Television?”
“I will get it as a ‘yes I am from Prythian'” Katherine grabbed the High Fae's wrist, taking her to a medium sized black box, which was in front of the biggest couch, “It is a Television, or as my oldest call it, TV.” She pressed a button, then the device turn on, revealing a grainy almost indistinguishable image, the female with feline features touched in a thin metal that was above the television, “That is the antenna” she moved the metal until the image was slightly grainy,
“It is what 'pulls' the signal to the TV, and makes the video’s image better.” She smiled.
Viviane had her stare fixed on the device, eyes wide as she took a step closer.
“Use the remote.” Katherine took the object, giving it to the white haired female, she explained her how it worked.
The blue eyed female smiled, using the remote to change the channels, “How many of those Tvs, people have on their homes?”
“Mostly one, but as it is being upgraded, people started to buy a second… Do you want to see the school? I can show you… And I have a long free time until the class end hour…” she said humorously, both of her hands on the hips.
“I don’t want to –” Viviane got cut.
“As I said, I have a long free time until the Class end...” Katherine tilted her head to the door
“Right…” she said shyly.
“Good. Is your wife coming with us?” the female grabbed Viviane's wrist.
The white haired female glanced at Salene, “I think she is good with her new friend.”
“You both are a beautiful couple.” Katherine said smiling leading Viviane to the outside the waiting room.
“She is my sister, actually.” She said humorously, they were already walking in the hall when Katherine laughed, the High Fae was doing the same.
“I am so sorry.” She said between laughs, Viviane couldn’t stop herself from doing the same “To be honest, I found you two really similar to each other now that you said.”
oOo
“…And” Katherine said walking close to a door, they were at the right side of the school, “The waiting room for the parents', older kids like my daughter, they let it open only in the first day.” She whispered while opening the door and walking in, the white haired female followed her.
The room was similar to the one she was before, the only difference was on the less number of the seats, her eyes surveyed the place, she found the Peregryn's Captain in there, sat in a chair reading a book which she recognized by the golden details in the cover, being from Prythian.
His clothes’ style were similar to the ones people use in this place, probably trying to avoid unnecessary attention as herself, but he used no hat as most of the males. In a second, his eyes found Katherine and Viviane's gaze, he closed the book and stood.
“Do you know each other?” the female with feline features asked.
“Yes, but not properly…” she stepped closer to the Peregryn, “I am Viviane.” She smiled at him, a silent request to keep who they were in secret.
“Cai.” He smiled back, understanding on his eyes.
“She is Katherine.” Viviane said, the female at her side smiled to Cai.
“Nice to meet you.” Katherine extended her hand in greeting.
Cai took her hand without think, he had been doing it a several times since the arrival, “Nice to meet you.” He held the book with both hands, his wings tightly tucked on his back, “Can I talk with you, for a minute?” he said to Viviane.
But it was Katherine who answered, “Of course, I am going to turn on the TV and pretend that I am not listening.” She said humorously, walking close to the device, “I will be right here when you both finish”.
“Lady –” he got cut
“Viviane, please.”
“Right. Have you been successful on contacting your mate? My bond with mine… We never tried to talk mind to mind, we always enjoyed the act of speaking with each other, and didn’t have a necessity to do it until… Well…” he said low, ignoring the fact that the female in front of him wasn’t the only person listening.
Viviane answered him, also mentioned what she knew about the wall in the sea, which she learned by her neighbor, and the letters she tried to send. Cai only pressed his lips in a thin line.
“I am so worried.” he putted the book on his purse – a model similar she saw other males using – that was in the chair beside the one he was sat.
“Me either.” She crossed her arms.
A minute of silence, Katherine walked away from the TV, “Have someone already explained to you how the Television works?” Cai shook his head, “Well, that is the job for someone like me.” She smiled, grabbed the male's wrist, taking him close to the device, as they arrived, the female waved a hand to Viviane, as if she was calling her to come closer.