The Archer's Words Hit Their Mark, Impaling Him With Ice That He's Left Frozen In Their Wake. It Could

the archer's words hit their mark, impaling him with ice that he's left frozen in their wake. it could all be chalked up to just lashing out at how unfair the cauldron has been to her, if she weren't telling the truth. feyre has seen every side of him, past the mask down to his bare bones, unlike anyone else. his naive hope that maybe it wouldn't be enough for her to run away, that maybe they were two sides of the same coin ... he realizes now that it was foolish, some desperate attempt at escaping the fate that seems to be already cemented for him: he will die alone, with only himself to blame. he had plenty of time to come to terms with that under the mountain, even made peace with it. but the cauldron brought her to him, as if she were his saving grace. it turned out to be some twisted joke, dangling everything he's ever wanted right in arms reach — & that's where it'll stay.

he finally remembers how to breathe, though there is no sign of any mask. the prince of darkness, wrathful & cunning ... gone. there is only him, with a hurt in his eyes that he can't seem to have any control of. " i know what i am. do you? " he grasps at any piece of himself he can pick back up, attempting to compose himself. " it sounds like we aren't so different then. aren't you making those same choices, now? " his gaze hardens, fingers slicking back night kissed strands, before closing the book in front of him. a desperate attempt to dismiss her, this conversation. " you've had enough training for today. "

@rhysie said: “So this is your opinion of me? Thank you for explaining so fully.“

“ you dare have the nerve to act surprised? isn’t this what you wanted? the image of yourself that you’ve painted for the world to see? you’ve played your part so well. ” i almost laughed, harsh and bitterly, devoid of any humor. the wicked and biting beast buried deep within me lashed out, with unyielding vitriol, knowing exactly where to strike. i could not see past my fury — blinded by rage and the frightening and staggering reflection i saw mirrored back to me in his violet eyes. the girl with hate in her heart — rigid detestation for this cruel and unjust world that had taken so much from me, leaving me starving and begging on my calloused hands and knees. knuckles bloodied by force, with permanent welts and scars. pure loathing directed towards those that had secured my fate — the only countenance for the utter revulsion i felt towards myself. rhysand was the creeping shadow i couldn’t shake, always looming over me and casting back my own shame and devilry. the dark veil he enshrouded himself in, the same one i felt infecting my heart. both products of what we had been forced to do. we were the same and i hated him for it. “ you’re a coward, rhys. hiding behind a mask, because it’s easier than admitting what you truly are. alone. scared and alone, which is all you’ll ever be, because that is the choice you made. ”

@draconikia : kisses rhys cheek and pats him. pretty highlord.

fingers tousle through cassian's hair, messing up onyx strands as he leans into his touch. he plays off the comment with a mere shrug, lips turning into a small smirk. " it appears the lord of bloodshed has gone soft, hm? "

PROMPTS FOR THE BUDDING ROMANCE *  assorted dialogue, adjust as necessary

i never thought something like this could happen to me.

when they said you were hurt... i've never been so afraid in my whole life.

i almost lost you.

you are the most special person i have ever met.

are you blushing? did i make you blush?

here, take my jacket. you're shivering.

i don't know how to function around you. i struggle with words.

you have an easy way of making me feel breathless.

you have no idea what you do to me.

i've never met anyone like you before.

you've been a great friend to me. better than a friend. someone i can turn to in my darkest times.

next time, warn me when you pull a stunt like that. i want to be with you.

i don't know where i'd be without you.

you came right when i needed you.

i was just thinking about you, and here you are.

i had a dream about you.

i've tried seeing other people... but they're not you. they're not who i want.

i'll protect you. i promise.

i haven't taken my eyes off you since you walked in.

this is new for me. feeling like this.

i'm sorry. i just had to see you.

you mean absolutely everything to me.

is this what happens when you fall in love?

do you feel the same way about me?

i thought i could handle seeing you with someone else, but i was wrong.

i don't know what to say. you make me forget how to speak.

you make my head spin.

do that again. that was cute.

i couldn't wait around anymore. i have to tell you how i feel.

stop! you're making me blush!

i've never felt anything like this before.

go easy on my heart. please.

my heart has been broken so many times in the past... but you won't hurt me, right? i can trust you.

you're very distracting, you know.

was that flirting? were you just flirting with me?

you're different. you're not what i'm used to.

you can keep holding my hand, you know. you don't have to let go.

i like it when you held onto me. that was nice.

this stopped being a fling a while ago.

everything changed for me last week.

when i saw you with someone else... it broke me.

could you see yourself with me?

i wish i had the strength to tell you how i feel.

i could be your date.

what if i asked you out?

i've been flirting with you this whole time.

this doesn't have to be a date if you don't want it to be.

we could... try. see what happens.

meeting you was the greatest thing that ever happened to me.

sorry, what did you say? i wasn't listening. i was... distracted.

i came as fast as i could. they said you needed me.

just stand behind me. i'll protect you.

you are... so infuriating. you know that, right?

i know what i said before... but i was wrong. about everything.

maybe we could try again?

you mumbled my name in your sleep again.

@feydarling : tilt. you take the sender's chin in your hand and make them meet your gaze.

fingers drum against the bar top impatiently, eyes darting over to the door at any sign of movement. such a feeling is one rhysand's never had to experience before ... anxiously awaiting, half expecting to be stood up. with every interaction, feyre's kept him on his toes, unwavering to whatever he throws her way. it seems today will be no different. it's somehow thrilling. ( he tells himself it's the fact that she's dating his enemy, though he knows — she is no pawn in this, truly. that aspect, however, is an added bonus. )

he jumps to his feet at the first sign of her, concealing his shock with a feline smirk. the bar he picked is ... unimpressive, to his standards. half empty, with only a few patrons taking notice of him, whispering quietly amongst themselves. a place he would never know about otherwise, just decided purely to spare him of any allegations of being a snob. as she approaches, he takes her in: how she still smells of coffee beans, how tousled her hair is, as if she had to rush here after her shift. even after working all day, she still manages to look beautiful, effortlessly so. he can't resist temptation, throwing any promise of behaving out the window, as his hand tilts her chin upward. " hello, feyre darling. you look ravishing. "

" i've given up trying to enforce a curfew with you years ago. " warm laughter echoes through his throat, hand sliding to idly trace over illyrian markings across the nape of cassian's neck. " i wanted an update on the camps. " he neglects to mention the worry that plagues his thoughts every time he has to send him there. his safety is of little concern — no, cass can handle himself. but every visit is tolling, even for him. to be rejected by your own, even now ... he shakes it off, pulling features into a smile. a tsk. " though, perhaps that can wait. i can smell now that you're in desperate need for a bath. "

vaguely offensive considering cassian had been paying homage to the particular decadence and beauty of his highlord. but then again, cassian is just back from three solid weeks of training in the illyrian camps. there isn’t a single part of him that wouldn’t benefit from a long hot bath and sleeping for four straight days. maybe his opinions on proper behaviour towards your highlord is skewed? a nuzzle to rhys’ neck as his curls are ruffled. a humph.

‘ tired s’all. why’re you up? is it past my curfew? ‘

his focus lingers on the crimson staining her cheek, a scowl forming across his lips as the fingertips lightly brush against flesh. there's a tenderness to his touch that he barely recognizes himself, as amarantha's threats ring clear in his mind: she was not to make it out of here, alive. the lengths she'd go through to ensure of that, were enough to make his stomach churn with gut wrenching guilt, & crippling fear. yet, it only manifests in the way his jaw clenches, his exterior otherwise blank as he assesses the damage done to her.

" me? i warned you — " his frustration boils over, losing any sense of calm for only a moment. it takes every ounce of strength he has to hold himself together, to push aside his anger — only for her sake. quickly, rhysand composes himself, distracting himself with the buttons of his coat, words losing their punch. " i was trying to avoid all of this, was i not? yet for some reason, you had to listen to to your precious tamlin. where is he, by the way? oh, i know. far, far from here. " he removes his jacket with a click of his tongue, eyes rolling before shoving it towards her. " it's freezing in here. take this. "

the room was small and suffocating, with out any windows to let any air or light in. i was going to die here — that was becoming abundantly clear with every passing moment and the sadistic gleam in amarantha and her cronies’ eyes. with the way she dangled my fate in the air, as if she were waiting for the precise moment — to draw it out and make it as agonizing as possible, sending an immeasurable message as loud as possible. simply a pawn in a game i never wanted to play, i only wished they could get it over with — to spare me the misery of waiting in this freezing room, with the promise of my death looming over me. somehow it was rhysand’s betrayal that hurt the most, knowing i had been foolish enough to allow him to get into my head. the cruelty and affection he shared with amarantha confirmed everything tamlin had told me.

“ y— ” i gasped against his hand, my back against the wall, as my eyes widened with surprise, before narrowing on him. i glanced once towards the door he had entered with ease and back to him. it didn’t make any sense, not after the callous disregard he had just shown me as i was thrown at their feet. the way he smiled as she pondered aloud the best method of pain. how he stood there as her men slapped me across the face, before dragging me back to this room. i shook my face free of his grasp, but was careful to keep my voice a low whisper this time, “ why would i ever trust you again? how do i know this isn’t another one of your mind games? ”