Chapter Text
“That’s my necklace.”
The conversation around the table came to an abrupt stop at Elain’s quiet declaration. Cassian’s fork hovered in the air mere inches from his open mouth, Rhysand lifted his gaze from where he was burping Nyx, and Azriel’s shadows seemed to freeze atop his shoulders.
Elain simply looked at Gwyn as she lifted her goblet towards her lips and took a small sip of wine. Gwyn, who had been chatting with Lucien about Valkyrie lore, seemed to be at a loss for words. It was the first time Elain had spoken to Gwyn, in fact it was the first time Elain had spoken to anyone since the dinner had started.
It was Nesta who spoke first.
“I thought you said the necklace was a gift from Clotho, Gwyn?”
Gwyn’s cheeks flushed red as the Inner Circle, Lucien Vanserra, and her Valkyrie sisters stared at her. Despite making great strides in leaving the library, Gwyn was still not used to the attention of lots of people.
Clearing her throat, Gwyn reached for her own goblet of water as she spoke.
“Clotho gave me the necklace the day after solstice, stating that it was given by a friend who wished to remain anonymous.” Gwyn seemed to shrink into her seat a bit more. “I’ve never received a gift before, the Priestesses at Sangravah deemed gift-giving frivolous-- when I received this necklace, I assumed that the anonymity was simply in the nature of gift-giving.”
Gwyn lifted her head towards Nesta and looked embarrassed. “Is anonymity not normal for giving and receiving gifts?”
Nesta shook her head, and opened her mouth to say something else when Emerie spoke, “No, Gwyn, gift giving is not usually anonymous, unless it’s between a suitor and their intended.”
At her words, Elain and Azriel tensed as Gwyn’s eyes widened like saucers.
Emerie continued, “At least for Illyrians, when an individual wants to court someone, traditionally the first gift is given anonymously, signaling to the receiver of the gift that someone intends to court them. Within a few days of the anonymous gift, the suitor will make their intentions known to the recipient of the gift, who will then agree to traditional courtship.”
Mor broke out into a fit of giggles at this. “Is this why you were so mad when I found you in my apartment with all those gifts?” Emerie turned bright red as Mor continued, “Oh beloved, I didn’t realize it was so important to you, I’m sorry I teased you.” Mor leaned over her chair to kiss Emerie’s cheek as she whispered, “I loved the gifts, and I officially accept your declaration of courtship.”
Emerie’s flush deepened, but instead of being embarrassed she looked thoroughly pleased with herself.
After rolling her eyes at Mor and Emerie, Nesta turned back to Gwyn. “So the necklace was a gift of courtship? Are you currently being courted?” Nesta leaned so close to Gwyn that they were almost nose to nose. “Gwyneth Berdara, do you have someone special that you are keeping secret from your sisters?!”
Gwyn’s embarrassed flush began traveling down her neck as she stammered out assurances that she wasn’t seeing anyone. Lucien took pity on her and gently touched her shoulder. “Gwyn, it’s a beautiful necklace that looks lovely on you. Gifts don’t always come with ulterior motives. Perhaps this person wasn’t thinking of courtship at all, maybe they just saw something beautiful and wanted to give it to you.”
Elain’s lips pushed together in displeasure as Lucien flashed his a smirk that was eerily similar to a fox and teased, “Why just hearing you say you’ve never received a gift before is so damned depressing it makes me want to buy you something.”
Azriel, who had remained quiet throughout the entire conversation, was staring daggers at Lucien, or more importantly, Lucien’s hand where it was resting on Gwyn’s bare shoulder.
If anything, Feyre looked more confused. “I don’t understand, if the necklace wasn’t a courting gift, why was it given anonymously? And more importantly, why did someone steal one of Elain’s necklaces and give it to Gwyn?”
Elain seemed to wince at this, as Gwyn reached around her neck for the offending piece of jewelry. “Elain, I had no idea this was your necklace, I didn’t realize it was stolen, I’m so terribly sorry.” But just as Gwyn got the clasp undone, Elain spoke.
“It wasn’t stolen,” Elain said lowly, her voice akin to a whisper.
Next to Gwyn, Lucien tensed.
“I returned the necklace.”
The rest of the table seemed to relax at this. “Well that settled it then,” Cassian remarked. “Elain after you returned the necklace someone else must have bought it and given it to Gwynnie here,” he smirked, winking over at Gwyn, “Now we just have to hunt down this secret admirer of yours.”
Lucien, looking back and forth between Azriel and Elain, sighed deeply. “That’s not what she meant. Elain didn’t return it to the jeweler. She returned the necklace to her illyrian suitor.”
Rhysand’s gaze turned murderous from his seat at the end of the table.
Lucien’s voice sounded sad and resigned as he said, “Elain returned the necklace to Azriel.”