Chapter Text
AZRIEL
His shadows began having a mind of their own. He would be on his way to find Elain in the garden and when he got there he would see a few already flitting around her. He often wondered if they told her his secrets, the things in his heart that he wasn’t ready to speak aloud. If they did she never let on, she would turn around from her flowers and smile at him. The smile that made every trial he went through that day worth it.
ELAIN
She wasn’t sure when it started but once in a while she would look down and find a shadow twisting around her feet.
They never spoke to her, she would sometimes try and feel silly at her failure. She would look around the garden to make sure no one had seen her whispering to shadows.
They seemed to be investigating her, a thought that made Elain nervous. Did Azriel think of her? Did he think of her the way she thought of him? That could explain why his shadows would want to see her, but she would banish the thought as quick as it came. He is your friend, and he loves Morrigan. That she knew for sure. How could she compare to the beautiful, kind blonde? That’s where his heart belonged.
Elain sat at the end of her bed, biting her lip. Eyes darting to her bedroom door every few moments.
Cassian and Azriel were leaving for a mission. While no one would confirm to Elain where they were going, the secrecy around it confirmed her worry. It was dangerous.
This fueled Elain’s anxious state, she knew they were about to leave and couldn’t decide if it was her place to go down and wish them well.
That was something you did with your love or your mate. Besides a moment they had shared a few weeks ago, Elain was nothing more than Azriels friend. The thought made her chew harder on her lip.
Nesta would be there holding Cassians hand so tight he would exclaim “Cauldron woman! I know you’re worried but I’m going to need that hand in order to return home” before pulling her in for a kiss that would make everyone groan. She quietly laughed at the thought.
She stood quickly “These are your friends and if anything happened and you didn’t say goodbye you would never forgive yourself”
Making her way to the door and pausing at the handle. She moved back a few steps to look in the mirror hanging next to the door. She adjusted the flowers she had carefully placed in her hair that morning. Bringing her hands down from her hair she looked at her reflection “What are you doing, quit stalling” She knew no one would care what she looked like, she also knew that she wasn’t worried about what the others in the group thought of her hair. Just one person.
Opening the door and trying to look as casual as she could she made her way down the stairs only to find they weren’t in the foyer like she thought.
“Sugar” she cursed to herself as she picked up her skirt and swiftly made her way down the stairs to the front door. Pulling it open with more force than she intended she found the group on the front lawn. They all turned at the sudden flurry of motion behind them.
Elains eyes moved to Azriels first and her heart quickened at the smile he gave to her.
“There she is” Cassian exclaimed. Lifting her off the ground with one arm and twirling her in a circle. “I thought you didn’t want to wish me luck” With his back to the group he set her down and winked at her. She quickly kissed his cheek “ Good luck Cassian” and he smiled as he stepped back to the group.
Everyone tried to look busy in conversation but all focus was on Elain as she made her way to where Azriel stood. “I was worried I wouldn’t get to say goodbye,” he said casually, his hands resting on the hilt of the sword at his side. Her eyes shot from his hands to his eyes, this admission from Azriel surprised her. She scrambled for the right response. “Oh, well I wouldn’t miss saying goodbye to everyone” She fumbled out and immediately regretted. Yes, she cared for Cassian but everyone could see the reason she ran out in such a haste. She would go over that slip of words in her head all night.
He looked back at her giving nothing of his thoughts away.
“ Well you better be off..” she stepped back slightly. Looking down trying to hide the emotion probably written all over her face.
“Elain” Azriel voiced as he took a step forward and wrapped his hand around her wrist gently pulling her back to where he stood. She looked down to where his hand still held her wrist and up to his face. Her skin felt cool where he touched. “I’m never far away if you need me” He slid his hand from her wrist to her palm as he brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed it softly. Her mouth opened slightly.
Releasing her hand he stepped back not taking his eyes off hers before he turned to Cassian.
The two Illyrians shot into the sky and disappeared. The remainder of the group made their way inside, Feyre squeezing her sister’s arm as she passed.
Elain stood in the same spot, looking at the sky and cursing herself for not saying what she had gone over in her head for the last hour.
A cool sensation still on her wrist brought her out of her own thoughts. She looked down and twisted her hand back and forth. There where Azriels hand had been was a thin shadow, circling her wrist like a bracelet made of black mist. She looked around, did he give this to her? She held her hand up higher, and the shadow moved up her arm twisting up to her ear “ Hello Mistress” it whispered.