Touring Velaris
Category: Uncategorized

The banging on the door was a steady almost rhymic beat before Herdis was stopped, her mate standing behind her to take her fist in his hand and press a kiss to her knuckles. "You will wake the dead if you keep that up," he told her leaning low into her ear. His warm breathe made her shiver and he knew just what he was doing so she turned her head sharply, "Rhys stop it. And he better be dead in there if he isn't opening this door when I want to see my sister. The only reason I haven't asked you to blow through this damn door is because I don't want to be scarred for life if they are doing something on the other side." Rhysands chuckle behind her was the only sound for a moment and then Herdis called loudly, "Listen to me you white wolf bastard. Open this door, I want Asa and if I don't see her soon ill knock this whole damn mountain down on your head!" Rhysands amusement was clear behind her and when the door snicked open she eyed the large man on the other side of it.

Grimm to his credit looked barely bothered by Herdis and her volume as she pushed past the man. He was a wall of solid but she skirted around him and called in a softer but happier tone, "Asa, wake up, i'm taking you to the rainbow today." In the doorway low deep voices spoke but Herdis didn't have to linger to hear them. She knew that her mate intended to take the man who would likely be her new brother in law soon enough out to see the courts and see about his new duties in the Night Court. But Asa had been the one to come here in broken turmoil, amid a rift with their parents. So Asa was her only focus, her only worry. She stood at her sisters bedside and said, "Don't make me jump in there. I don't want to smell like Grimm all day, but I will if I have to get your ass out of bed." From the doorway Rhysand now stood alone, Grimm in the bathroom to get changed and her High Lord asked with a dark brow high on his face, "Trying to make me jealous my love?" Herdis blew him a kiss and then whispered to him down their mental bond, "You can tell me just how jealous you are tonight when we are home alone. And later when you are out with Grimm and he wants to worry and check on Asa remind him she's fine and i've got her?" He inclined his head to her and then stepped back for Grimm to get through the door.

Grimm however stopped and went to where Asa still lay in their bed, groaning slightly. He whispered to her and even got her to face him, her lips raising to meet his before he took his leave of the sisters. Asa lay in bed blinking then though her eyes felt gritty and pained given how tired she was and how she had cried the night before. Knowing her parents hated Grimm and refused to allow her to be with him had made following him to her sisters court an easy one. But now she realized how much bad she had brought right to his doorstep and her guilt made her want to curl into herself. "Ohhh no you don't," her sister spoke above her head before the sheets were ripped from her body. "Herdis go away," she moaned but her sister slapped her bottom, half exposed in Grimms shirt and got her to sit bolt upright. "Was that really necessary?" she moaned and her sister stepped back and motioned to to the bathroom.
"I bought you clothes, and we can sort out more clothes today. But mostly today I am going to show you around. Take you to the rainbow. Show you all the art shops and artists. It will bring some color to your cheeks and it will show you that not just Grimm has a place here. That you arent alone. But first wash, the clothes will be on the bed and ill be waiting in the hall ok?" Herdis waited for an answer and when she got a nod from her sister she did as she said she would and clicked out into the hall.

Asa waited until she was alone before she actually shifted from the bed and moved into the bathroom. Peeling off Grimms shirt she moved into the spray of a shower, her tangled blond hair hanging heavy down her back. She scrubbed her skin, her hair, like every grain of filth that spilled down the drain would make her feel lighter. But her mind was tangled in the events of the night before. Her mother seeing her sex torn dress, her admission that she loved Grimm, the resulting fight. She had used the power linking her and Grimm to find him and then he had brought her here, where they were safe and free to be together. But her mind whirled that her staying could make things harder for him, harder for her sister and her mate who took them in. Cutting off the water she brushed her hair standing in a towel before she went back into the bedroom and plucked up the dress her sister left her. It was pale pink, brushing the floor and in the softest silk she had ever felt. It was exactly like something Asa would have picked for herself and it made her feel just a little better. She was out of her depth but her sister was here and had her back. Between Grimm and Herdis, this could all be ok.

"You done in there?" Herdis called through the closed door, her voice muffled before Asa called back, "Yes!" She was slipping her feet into sandals before Herdis tossed her a sweater, "Its still a little brisk with morning breeze so put that on too." The two sisters couldnt have been more different. Where Asa was pale, with blonde hair and their fathers height Herdis was short, akin to their mother though still taller then Amora. She had warm tones to her skin and raven hair that gleamed in the morning light. Asa was pulled out by looped arms, and Herdis used her own magics to move the sisters from the tower in the House Of Wind, to the streets of the city below. 

"So this is Velaris, the city Rhys fought so hard to protect during their own dark wars. The whole city is beautiful, but the part i want to show you we call the rainbow. Its a whole section of the city thats protected by the rest, it houses all the artists, the painters, sculptors, cooks, actors, everyone who brings a little light and beauty to the Night Court." The crossed an old stone bridge, with water rushing just loud enough under them to dull any other sounds around the sisters. Herdis pointed out shops, she stopped to talk with patrons and shop keepers alike, always introducing her sister. "Shes older, but doesnt look it a day right?" Herdis said with a laugh to an old potter whos wares she had used in slowly sliding gifts into Rhys offices and the townhouse. The man handed Asa a small bowl, nothing fancy till you looked inside and saw the subtle waves etched into the clay. He likened the waves to her eyes, the same blue as a busy ocean and the sisters continued on, Asa holding her bowl tightly thinking of the mans kindness long after they had left him.

Asa ran her fingers over the waves in the bowl as she asked her sister looking out at the bridge again, "Is it always like this? So tranquil, so happy and nice?"
Herdis nodded her head, dark hair caressing her shoulders. "Its is. Its not always easy to maintain. Rhys has had a hard go of keeping this jewel protected. I think thats why hes so keen to have Grimm here with us. Hes strong, hes smart, and between him, Cassian and Azriel theres nothing that could touch this city. And no pressure but i think that you being here with him will be good for the pair of you. I mean, you both have been through hell, literally. But this is a place for healing. In the library across the river theres a haven for survivors of unspeakable horrors." Herdis knew her sister had been at the mercy of unkind men before so she didnt expand beyond that, knowing she would understand. "Theres classes and lessons on the rainbow for all kinds of art. And Rhys keeps all this safe with the cover of the Court Of Nightmares... what everyone else assumes is our actual court. The boogiemen that people see there means nobody notes what a gem this city is. A safe place where you can heal. And super pretty scenery while you wait for mom and dad to stop being mean to Grimm right?" She added with a smile and nudge of her elbow.

Asa couldnt help but think he sister was right. It might be a while before she could go home and know her parents wouldnt attack the man she loved. This was as good a place as any to try and foster some good will with them. And this was a stunning place to lick her wounds from her parents and spend time with Grimm. He had saved her without a second thought, she had come to him in tears and asked him to take her away, and he had without a question. As he always had, he put her first. This was a way for her to put him first, to make sure that he was taken care of. With this court he could become something other then the protector of the princess. And she could be with him while he did that. She nodded her head slowly. And then offered a half smile to Herdis before she spoke again. "I want to stay. Though im tired, it was a very very long night last night and i feel like i need about a years more sleep. And i want to see Grimm," she added with a tip of her head forward. "But i want to stay. This could be so good for Grimm, and I want to be with him while he does what he needs to do. Besides nobody at home will accept us being together. Here is better for now." She wanted a soak, and to curl up next to Grimm and sleep again. But even while she thought of the sad turn of events that had brought them here she smiled, a true smile because she was hopeful about what was to come for them here in Velaris.



Written by both Asa & Herdis of Yggdrasil

Back to Blog List