Isabella

Elain was still staring at her even as she conversed with Nesta. Her plea for a conversation about Tomas having gone unheard. Isabella knew what she would say. The rumors she would try and address and quite frankly Isabella was not in the right head space to deal with them right now. Elain must have seen that exhaustion in her eyes for she had just nodded.

Tea fixes everything, Elain had declared when she saw her tears. Finally leaving her be after her dramatic interruption when she strode into the kitchen and interrupted Cassian's stories about all the meetings he screwed up. It was sweet of him to comfort her so but also concerning considering the amount of times he unintentionally insulted one of Rhys ministers. Not to mention the times where Cassian had intentionally insulted Rhys' ministers.

Looking at them now in the sitting room the Feyre's family couldn't be more different than the Queens and human traditions. Rank was always enforced here, even in the peace of our own homes the husband had the final say and the Queens still had their families bow or courtesy to them.

It has Isabella on edge, watching Rhys and Morrigan sip tea and converse like normal everyday people. As if they weren't the leaders of an entire country. Were they even called countries?

"What's got you frowning?" Azriel raises a brow at her from where he's leant against the mantle of the fireplace. Isabella nearly curses the male out when he question draws Cassian's attention back to her. She had finally got the overprotective bat to stop worrying.

Even Morrigan had stopped listening to Rhys in favour of staring at her curiously. Isabella clears her throat, buying herself a second time as she takes note that her sisters are still stuck in conversation with one another.

"I was just thinking about the differences in our cultures." Morrigan stiffens, glancing at Cassian who seems to be dreading bad news. But it is Rhys who has perked up, "I thought we were rather similar in the fact we have Seven High Lords and you have Six Queens, the female counterpart to our male leaders. So to speak."

"And yet we have one less ruler than you." Isabella arches a brow, eagerly seeking out an intellectual conversation that she rarely gets from her husband. "We're arguably at a disadvantage."

"But your Queens are united as one." Rhys leans forward, bracing his arms on his knees. "Does that not make up for the missing Queen?"

"That or the winnowing power they apparently have certainly makes up for it." Morrigan grumbled and Isabella finally looked away from Rhys. There was an odd look in the female's eyes and Isabella stiffened at the judgement she could feel prickling at her skin.

"Oh," Feyre exclaims, tittering over with a hesitant smile. "You haven't been properly introduced."

Morrigan's smile shifted into something welcoming and warm, if a bit forced, when Feyre appeared by her side. Isabella smiled politely for the sake of her sister, shifting her gaze to Nesta in silent conversation.

Help me.

Nesta narrowed her eyes. I wasn't aware there was a threat.

Isabella flared her nostrils slightly, tilting her head. Don't play coy and back me up.

Her twin rolls her eyes. Oh fine you big baby.

The exchange was over in a matter of seconds but Azriel was staring at her curiously when Nesta came to stand by her side at the settee. Isabella stared back at the male, gaze hard as Nesta stared expectantly at a now nervous Feyre.

"This is Lady Morrigan," Feyre perked up and Morrigan rose to her feet, offering her hand in greeting. "Please, just Mor. There's no need to be so formal."

"At least this one doesn't have wings." Nesta commented to Feyre and the males bristles while Morrigan's expression dropped. Part of Isabella wanted to frown at her sister, the words were too far but she knew it was her twin's way of protecting her family.

"And the viper speaks at last." Morrigan retorts, appraising Nesta while Isabella remains silent. Cassian had gone still in the seat beside her and she could see the battle lines being drawn. This woman- this female, had sway over her new friend and Isabella wasn't sure why the thought had her bristling so much.

Morrigan's eyes seem to glaze over and when Isabella saw her head twitch towards Rhys she realised they must be conversing silently. The thought had her bristling. Either he was reprimanding her, commanding her to be civil or the introduction of a female into the trio of males allowed for a whole new dynamic.

One where she couldn't consider the High Lord an ally.

"You were impressive today." Morrigan states suddenly, sinking back into her seat as she turns to Isabella. "A little brash but I rather think the Queens liked that."

Was this a bad compliment or condescension? Either way Isabella wasn't sure if she could speak up against Morrigan, not after the draining events of the morning.

"And you were entirely underwhelming." Nesta answered for her, settling down next to Isabella on the settee as she tilted her head in a purely predatory manner. "Did Cassian relate the events of the meeting once you left? Morrigan was like a precious ancient relic to the Queens."

Feyre gnawed on her lip, clearly agitated by the clashing of personalities. "Nesta, please-"

"No." She simply replied, continuing to stare down Morrigan. "The Lady Morrigan here clearly has something to say and I will not be... Civil, about it until she has voiced her complaints."

"I don't have any complaints with you." Morrigan's cutting glance to Isabella didn't go unnoticed.

"Mor." Cassian reprimanded but it was all the words he offered in Isabella's defence. For a moment her heart broke, this male she had always seen as a protector had gone silent. But then she saw the pain in his eyes and realised this was important to him too.

"We are not asking you to like us, Morrigan." Isabella finally spoke, doing her best to stumble through the political minefield of their current situation. "But I will ask that you respect us, and coming into our home with glares and snide looks certainly does not reflect the relationship your court seeks to have with my people."

There, trap the damn bitch in a political web.

Isabella rose to her feet and Nesta took the extra space as an opportunity to lean back and spread her arm across the back of the settee. A queen lounging on her throne as she stared down her enemies.

"I need to get back to Oliver." Isabella stated before turning to Rhys and Azriel, "Which one of you is going to walk me home and explain how the Queens know about my child."

"That would be me." Rhys' voice was thick, guilt shining in his eyes as he rose to his feet.

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"I spoke about a woman I had met and her family." Rhys began once they were walking in the brisk cold. Isabella didn't look at them, instead focusing on the dark sky. It will be the Winter solstice soon. Feyre's birthday. "I didn't give them names and I kept it vague as I could. All I wrote about was how I had come to respect and care for these humans."

"Respect." She mused, tasting the word in her mouth and Rhys sighed.

"Mor is set in her ways, she's not good with change and her battles are not mine to fight." He states plainly and Isabella sighs.

"Yet she is your third-in-command to reel in."

"I wasn't aware it was a political meeting."

"Of course it was." She snaps, stopping in place to face the ignorant lord. "Don't play naive here. I am not Feyre, I was raised to be a political figure, I know all the tricks and rules. What did you possibly hope to achieve by allowing Morrigan to battle it out with my sister."

"Why didn't you interrupt." He asks instead and Isabella scoffs.

"I asked first."

"And my question is more important."

"Is it?" She whispers, something dark lacing her voice. "I'll tell you my truth if you tell me yours."

He stiffens, but something softens in his gaze and he nods. She watches as his throat bobs and eyes flutter as he glances away from her for a moment.

"Feyre is naive. I thought I could marry her, secure the safety of my court and her. We're friends, it would be an amiable match that many would be envious of." He gives her a knowing look. "I'm sure you can appreciate my situation there."

She sighs but remains silent.

"She is too young, it would be cruel and wrong for me to have a relationship with her. If I'm honest I've taken on the role of her teacher and mentor- an older brother if you will and I think we are both content to keep it that way."

"So when Feyre wanted to introduce Morrigan to us..."

"I advised her to be careful, told her it would be too soon to bring in someone like Mor." He sighs and gestures for her to continue walking. "But Velaris has been eye opening for her, Morrigan too. Again, it's that childish desire to show off your accomplishments to your older siblings. She wanted your approval and I think she wanted you to follow in Mor's footsteps."

"She wants us to conform to the pretty image you have painted." Isabella observes and Rhys nods mutely.

"I'm exhausted and terrified for my family." Isabella answered since it was only fair. "The Queens reminded me how vulnerable we are. They can winnow. They can leave and escape the carnage and disease whenever they want. I am bound to this land and should war come tearing through there is no escape."

"You would always have a-"

"Don't." She whispers, not ready to hear his offer. "Please don't."

He clears his throat, nodding before staring at the light of her home in the distance.

"Morrigan's judgement was just a reminder of how I have failed as a mother, as a sister."

"You haven't failed." His voice is firm, resolute, even as his jaw ticks with barely concealed rage. "You are a good mother to Oliver, he loves you and you have raised him wonderfully."

"He's hungry." Isabella answers, voicing her latest fears. "There will be little food to put on the table soon and he is a growing boy. One who loves literature and art, yet we cannot afford books for him to read."

They're nearly at her home now and Isabella becomes increasingly aware of Rhys' proximity to her. He should have left by now and they both know it.

"Will you let me support you?" He finally asks when they pause by one of the trees. "Please, if not in money then let me bring you food and things for Oliver."

She swallows nervously, her pride snarling at the male before her. But they need help. She knows they need help. Learning that the Queens didn't care, that they could abandon them any second. Not to mention the truth in their words. She's doing a crap job at protecting her son.

"Bring the food for dinner and then we'll see."

A/N: Isabella finally allowing a fraction of help.

Thoughts on Morrigan's character? I have conflicted feelings about her as a feminist icon along with her treatment of Cassian and Azriel