You knew that Rhysand didn't ask you lightly to return to the Court of Nightmares, he knew better than most about the trauma that you experienced there. It had been centuries since you had last been back to The Hewn City, having made your departure and never looked back to the place you had grown up. You never thought that you would have to return, Rhys had promised to never make you go back once you had joined his inner circle, but you knew he needed you to go back, and your needs were lesser than what good would come from the visit.

The visit itself was terrifying you but he had explained the plan for your journey there and what was needed of you, and you agreed as there was no one else to do it, even if you would have nightmares for the next decade after returning for only a matter of hours. You tried to keep a brave face after you agreed to join him before excusing yourself from the conversation amongst the Inner Circle and scurrying away to let your emotions overcome you.

You choked on a sob as you pressed your back against the wall, trying to not let your quaking knees give up underneath you. Your chest heaved as you tried to calm your breathing, but the fear of tomorrow's endeavour took over every ounce of your being. You were caught in your memories and fear, only to be brought back to reality when someone's hand cupped your cheek. Instantly you snapped back to reality to see Cassian looking down at you, a concerned expression on his face.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

Your head shook violently, denying any good that could possibly come from returning to the place that had destroyed you. When your views hadn't aligned with those of your parents, of the mass population of the Court of Nightmares, you realised that you couldn't sit by and accept life in that way. Your parents weren't impressed, they were expecting to gain so much from selling you off into a marriage and when you escaped their grasps, they made it very clear that you were no longer a member of their family. It hurt you terribly to lose the people you thought were meant to be close to you, but you luckily found the family you actually wanted amongst the ranks of Rhys' inner circle.

Cassian paused looking you over as he tried to think of the best way to help you. As you silently sobbed, your body shook. He wrapped his arms around you and held you tightly in an embrace until you were able to calm down enough to rest your head on his chest and slow your tears.

"It's going to be okay," he assured you.

"I can't see them," you croaked. "What are they going to say?"

He offered you a sympathetic smile, not actually knowing but wanting to make sure you were going to be okay through something that was clearly distressing.

"I don't know but if they say or do anything, they are going to have me to deal with," he said.

You quietly thanked him, moving your arms to wrap around him to be able to return the embrace.

~*~

Written by Charlotte.

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