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ladyescapism · 8 months

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The Fourth Archeron Sister - Part 4

summary: the baby of the family, Deirdre Archeron, is growing up and finding herself. on place she has already found is in a unknowingly requited crush with a certain shadow singer. will they be able to find each other? or will expectations, honor, and other forces get in the way?

a/n: sisterly love at its finest ;) also, sorry for the super long part, i just don't want to keep breaking this up.

Part 3

warnings: nightmares, slut-shaming, assault (but he deserves it)

wc: 4,600

‘I have a date tonight,’ Dierdre thought to herself.

What was she going to wear? What should she do with her hair? She had no idea. She thought of asking Feyre, but she’s going out with Rhys. Mor? No, she’s in the Court of Nightmares. Nesta? She doubted her siter would come but it was worth a try.

She used a magic messenger box to send a message to Nesta.

I have a date tonight with the grocer at 6. Will you help me get ready? I don’t know what to do. If you are busy or not feeling well, don’t worry about it.

-Deirdre

As she placed the note in the box, she recalled the first time she used one.

“So, I just place the note in the box, close the lid, say the person’s name who I want to receive the message and the note will appear in their box,” she said as she regarded the box with suspicion.

“Yes,” Az said. “It’s nice for non-emergency messages that don’t have any important information.”

She turned to look into his kind eyes.

“Is it magic?”

“Yes.”

“But I don’t have anyone to send messages to. Nesta and Elain are here and Feyre…” she trailed off.

Was in the Spring Court. Spying for her court and leaving her behind again.

No. No, Feyre was doing what needed to be done for her court and she would have to deal with it. She wasn’t a child who needed to hold her big sister’s hand to put on some clothes or walk across the street.

“I know,” Az said, snapping her attention to the handsome male.

She tried to remember if Az and Feyre were friends.

“Yes or no. You and my sister are friends.”

“Yes.”

The memory faded as a message popped into her box.

Of course, I’ll come. See you at 4.

- N

Odd. Nesta didn’t usually read messages that quickly, let alone respond to them. That means that she only had an hour to tidy her apartment and take a bath.

After speed cleaning her apartment, she was mid-bath when she heard a knock at the door.

With soapy hair, Deirdre scrambled to put on her dressing robe and make her way over to the door.

“Well, I hope you don’t plan on going like that,” Nesta deadpanned.

“No,” she said back. “I just assumed not smelling bad was the first step in impressing a date.”

Nesta just hummed in agreement.

Deirdre realized in that moment that Nesta hadn’t been in her apartment since she moved into it. Even then, she stepped inside that living space, looked out the window, made a comment about the view and then left.

“Well, let me go finish rinsing my hair,” she said, trying not to be awkward. “Feel free to sit in here or in my bedroom.”

Her sister just nodded.

Damn her and her silence.

As Deirdre walked out of the bathing room, she found her sister rooting in her closet.

“All you have are blouses, long skirts, and trousers,” Nesta said matter-of-factly.

“Well, it’s all I need really.”

“You can afford more, and better.”

“I don’t know how to shop for much else.”

“Non-sense. Mother used to take us shopping-” she cut herself off.

“I hardly remember Mother, let alone going shopping with her.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“I have one dress, it’s just not in the closet,” she offered. “Should I get it out?”

“Yes, let me see.”

Deirdre kneeled at her bed and felt for the box.

This dress was the only nice thing that Deirdre had ever felt comfortable buying for herself. It was long, black made of thick linen but with a faint floral pattern embroidered pattern done in a glossier thread along the neckline, cuffs, and hem.

Nesta looked at it like she looked at everything. As in, Deirdre couldn’t tell if she liked it or not.

“Do you think it’s too fancy for a simple dinner?”

“Its lovely,” she said after a moment of contemplation. “If you’re overdressed for where he takes you in this, he’s not worth your time.”

“You think its simple.”

“It is. But it also has an elegance to it. Prefect for you. Now put it on.”

Deirdre nodded as she made her way to the bathing room.

“Not in there,” Nesta said quickly. “You’ll get it wet. Put it on in here.”

Dierdre looked at her sister in annoyance.

“Oh, I’ve seen you naked plenty of times before, you prude. Just put on the dress.”

“Yeah, before. It’s different now.”

Nesta leveled a look at her.

“I have boobs now,” she whisper-shouted, mostly joking.

“Oh wow, like I’ve never seen boobs before,” Nesta said with dry sarcasm.

“Ugh, fine.”

Deirdre dropped the robe and put on her undergarments. As she begun to put on the dress, she started struggling to get the dress on over her head. She felt Nesta come over and start helping her move the dress down her body.

Before Deirdre could even try, Nesta was already doing up the buttons along the back.

Deirdre tried to look at herself in the mirror but found herself looking at her sister instead.

Nesta had a look of concentration on her face as she fastened the buttons. When she had to move Dierdre’s hair out of the way, they made eye contact in the mirror.

“See,” Dierdre broke the silence. “I can’t wear dresses all the time. I would never be able to get dressed.”

“You would learn.”

As Nesta finished, Deirdre began to look at herself in the mirror.

She looked good. The square neckline enhanced her boobs but was high enough that she didn’t feel exposed. The seams of the dress gave the illusion of a slim waist and fuller hips. And the embroidery caught the light just enough to give it a little flare.

“I don’t think you need much makeup,” Nesta said, looking at her sister’s face in the mirror. “You have clear skin, so maybe just a touch up under the eyes, some kohl on your lashes, and some rouge on your cheeks and lips and you’ll be fine. And we’ll put your hair up to show off your neck and face.”

“Whatever you say.”

Nesta did all that and they still had an hour left before Deidre had to make her way to the grocer to meet Alex.

“Would you like to stay for tea?”

“Sure.”

Nesta sat down and stated rubbing her hand along her bump as Deirdre made some tea. She went with ginger for Nesta.

As she prepared the tea tray, she tried to make conversation.

“I’m surprised that Cassian let you out of his sight this late into the pregnancy. I remember Rhys was extra protective over Feyre during her pregnancy.”

“He is sitting on the roof.”

“Should we invite him in,” Deirdre asked with concern.

“No, I told him we wanted to chat for a bit in private. The roof was the compromise.”

“Oh.”

She finished making the tea and sat down with Nesta and poured them both a cup.

“Thank you for making ginger. I know you don’t like it, but it helps with the nausea.”

“I know and you’re welcome. Besides, I think I’ve gotten used to the taste.”

“No, you haven’t. You grimace every time you sip.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Yes, you do.”

“You’re impossible.”

“And you’re stubborn.”

“Pot, kettle, black.”

“I didn’t come here to argue.”

“And that’s not why I invited you over. You’re right. I don’t like ginger, but I made it because I know it makes you feel better, but I didn’t want to ask and make you feel like you had to say something else for my sake when you came all the way here, stressing out your mate in the process, to help me get ready for a silly date.”

“That’s why I said thank you,” she said quietly. “And it’s not silly. It’s a big step in gaining more independence.”

“But I am independent. I live by myself.”

“I mean emotional independence. I don’t want to offend you, but you rely on Feyre a lot for emotional support and assurance when that should come from yourself.”

“I do rely on Feyre for a lot. But she took care of me, of us, for so long that I don’t think I know how to take care of myself, emotionally at least.”

“Well, today marks the first step.”

They sat and drank and talked for the next 45 minutes. It was the longest they had sat and talked, just the two of them in, well, ever.

After she collected what she would need for her date, they made their way downstairs.

When they got outside, Deirdre pulled Nesta in for a hug. Well, as much as a hug as they could get in with the baby bump in the way.

“Thank you for coming,” she whispered in her sister’s ear.

“Anytime,” she whispered back. “And I’ll have to take you shopping for dresses before I get busy with the baby.”

They pulled apart as Cassian landed beside them and wished Dierdre good luck on her date.

“And remember,” he said as he gathered Nesta in his arms. “If he tries anything sleazy, then use those self-defense moves I taught you on him and then run to the River House. Rhys and Feyre aren’t home, but Az is there looking after Nyx, and he’ll take care of you. Also, you look great.”

The sudden mention of Az made a wave of guilt wash over her, but she pushed it down as she assured them both she would be fine and waved to them as they took off.

She made her way to the grocer and sighed a breath of relief as she saw Alex there waiting for her.

“Alex,” she shouted to get his attention.

He turned his head and began to walk over to where she was.

He was a handsome male, with shaggy brown hair and deep brown eyes that crinkled around the edges when he smiled. His build was slim, but not scrawny, and he was scarcely taller than her.

“Deidre, hey! You look amazing.”

“Thank you,” she replied, heat rising in her cheeks. “I hope it’s not too fancy for wherever you have planned.”

“Maybe a little,” he said, smiling sheepishly. “But no matter. You always stand out in a crowd. Now you’ll look the part.”

He was dressed in dark brown linen trousers and a crisp white shirt. It was plain, no embroidery or dye, typical of the working classes of Velaris for nicer occasions.

“Come on,” he encouraged, offering his arm. “Or we’ll be late.”

She took his arm, and they made their way through Velaris. They made easy conversation about the weather, books they had read, and a play that was being advertised as they passed the theater.

They made their way into the southern part of the city, known for being a residential area, and Deidre found herself standing outside a tavern.

“I’ve never been to a tavern before,” she said nervously.

“It’s amazing, I promise,” he assured. “I know the owner and called in a favor to get us a reservation. It can get a little loud, but it’s a weekday so it shouldn’t be too crazy. The food is okay, but the drinks are better, and the atmosphere is so fun.”

She followed him inside.

Immediately, she was met with the smell of ale and bodies. The floors were covered in bits of food, like it was never mopped. There were people drinking, playing card games, and eating questionable looking food. And if this was the crowd on a weekday, she didn’t want to see how packed it was on a weekend.

She almost lost Alex in the crowd, given that he darted through the bodies, never looking back to make sure she was following. She made her way to the table he had already sat at. Before she could get comfortable in the chair, the waitress came over.

“Hey, Alex,” she greeted. “The usual?”

He agreed.

“And for you, sweetheart?”

“Um, a sweet red wine, if you have it,” she answered.

“Okay, be right back with that.”

“Thanks, Lara,” Alex said before she walked off.

Dierdre looked at him and forced a smile.

“I know this place can be a little much, but I wanted to give you a new experience.”

“No, I like it,” she lied. “I am more used to a quiet restaurant, but this is more exciting to be sure.” That part wasn’t a lie.

“I don’t mean to speak out of turn, but you seem a little sheltered. So, I wanted to give you to chance to get out more.”

“Well, I was living in poverty for many years as well as being sick. My sister, Feyre, has always been very protective of me, so it’s probably true that I’m sheltered.”

“I didn’t know that you were sick,” he said, sitting up in his chair more.

Dierdre folded her hands on the sticky table.

“Not anymore,” she assured him. “When I turned fae, my lungs healed within a few days, but I still got winded from the lack of exercise my entire life. One of the happiest days of my life was when I made the climb from the Place of Thread and Jewels to the River House without needing a break.” She smiled at the memory.

“Thank the Cauldron for that,” he said.

The words rang in her head. She didn’t have time to explain about what going in the Cauldron had been like for her before Lara came back with their drinks, and they placed a food order. There were only three things on the menu, so it didn’t take long to decide.

Just when their conversation picked up again, someone Alex knew walked in the door, and he excused himself to go say hello. She was left alone to contemplate what he said.

Just let it go, she thought. He made a bad assumption. If he says anymore about it, then you’ll say something.

Alex came back over with the friend in tow, introducing him as Maxen.

“So, Dierdre,” Maxen started. “What did Alex have to do to convince you to go on a date with him?”

“Free groceries for life,” she joked.

Maxen laughed. “Seems fair.”

Alex rolled his eyes.

“I’m kidding,” she corrected, sensing that Alex wasn’t happy. “It took him two months of flirting in his end to click in my head that he was, in fact, flirting, not just being nice. After that, I was pretty easy to ask out.” She turned to smile at Alex to find his happy smile had returned.

“That’s sweet,” Maxen said. “Well, I wish you two crazy kids a good night and I’ll see you later, Alex. And hopefully you too, Dierdre.”

“Good night,” she said, finding her way back to her seat.

“He’s a good guy,” Alex said.

Deirdre just nodded.

The rest of the meal was constantly interrupted by Alex getting up to greet people or people coming over to talk to him. Dierdre was alone for more than half the meal. She could swear that she heard the tell-tale whispering of Azriel’s shadows but dismissed the sounds as something else. When they finally finished and made their way out the door, Alex didn’t offer more than one or two responses to her conversation prompts.

When they made it back to her apartment building, she stopped and turned on her heel a few feet from the threshold.

“Thank you for the evening, Alex,” Dierdre said. “I really enjoyed myself and experiencing a part of Velaris I had never seen before.”

Alex gave her a knowing look. “You didn’t like it at all, did you?”

She grimaced a little. “It’s not that I didn’t like it or apricate it. I am just not a fan of loud, crowded places. That’s all.”

“I see,” Alex said shaking his head. “I didn’t realize you were so stuck up.”

She recoiled back like he struck her.

“Fancy Dierdre Archeron. Sister to the High Lady. So special and too good for a simple tavern with simple food, with simple people.”

She just huffed and turned to flee up the stairs.

“That tavern wasn’t too good for your sister.” That made her pause and turn to glare at him. “Oh, yeah. She went there all the time. Getting drunk and taking random males home. Maxen, the guy I introduced you too. He took her home once. I just thought that maybe sluttiness ran in the family, so I took a chance on you. But you’re a frigid bitch.”

Using speed she didn’t know she had, she made for Alex and cracked her open palm across his face. His head whipped to the side.

“Don’t you talk about my sister like that,” she spat, venom in her voice. She turned and practically ran for her apartment, fearing that he would follow her and retaliate.

She made it to her apartment and once inside, locked the door behind her.

Alex, nice, sweet Alex, who told her about the candies that would become her favorite. Alex, who seemed genuinely interested in her. Alex, as it turned out, was good actor that got mean when he drank.

She let out a shaky breath as she made her way into her apartment, stripping out of her dress and folding it neatly on the back of a chair.

I’ll deal with it, all of it, later, she thought.

After changing into her nightgown, she heard a tittering in the corner. A shadow. One of Azriel’s shadows.

“Tell him I’m well, shadow. And that I’ll speak to him tomorrow.”

Azriel always found it amusing when she spoke to the shadows directly.

He’s here he’s here, the shadows whispered to her.

“Come out come out wherever you are,” she sang, trying to make sure that Azriel never guessed that her night ended poorly.

He appeared in the doorway of her bedroom.

“Here I am,” he responded.

She immediately relaxed in his presence.

She gave him a lazy, tired smile.

“How was the date?”

“Fine,” she lied. “Probably won’t be a second one. We agreed that were better off as friends. No sparks.”

She turned to avoid his gaze.

“That’s a lie, Dierdre.”

“No,” she squeaked.

“Tell me the truth,” he demanded.

“Not tonight,” she pleaded. “I am not injured. Or harmed. I am just tired and want to go to bed. Please?”

“Okay,” he allowed. “But first thing in the morning, you tell me everything.”

“I will.”

She padded her way over to her bed and looked over her shoulder at him.

“I don’t need tucked in, ya know.”

He glared at her. “I know. But I’m going to stay until you fall asleep to leave.”

“Whatever suits your fancy,” she said, climbing into bed. “Can you cut the light on your way out?”

He nodded and silently made his way out of the room, doing as he was asked. She heard him whisper good night, but sleep was already well on its way before Dierdre could respond.

AZRIEL

He was beside himself with worry. He knew that she wasn’t physically hurt, he could see that when she came home. He could see the anger and sadness in her eyes. Alongside a little bit of fear. He wanted to go find the male and beat the answers out of him, but against his better judgement, he waited for Dierdre to wake up and tell him what happened first.

He stayed on the sofa all night. Not sleeping, of course. He picked up one of her books and leafed though it at one point but got bored quickly.

At one-point Azriel, though he heard her start to cry out like she used to and darted to her bedroom. But realized it was just the springs of her bed squeaking as she shifted in her sleep.

Azriel couldn’t help himself as he stared at her sleeping form, remembering the nightmares that plagued her for years.

“No, no, no,” she whimpered. “Let me go…leave me…”

He ran to her room as soon as the shadows told him that she was in distress. He looked at her, not knowing what to do.

“NO! NO! FEYRE!” she screamed.

He couldn’t let her stay in the nightmare any longer, but his presence might scare her. A tall, intimidating male looming over her bed.

The shadows were at the ready, eager to help the female they had come to like. They moved over her form, caressing her face and neck and gently tugging at her hair.

She awoke with a gasp, shooting up in her bed like she was poked with a hot stick. She was panting, breathless from the exertion of the dream.

“Hello?” She was asking like she sensed him or his shadows in the room.

He made noise and flicked on the light. She was looking at him, wide-eyed and terrified of whatever haunted her dreams this time.

“Azriel? What’s going on?”

“You were having a nightmare. I had the shadows wake you. It seemed better than to let you scream.”

Her faced flush in embarrassment.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“Never be sorry for something you can’t control.”

“I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“It’s fine, I promise. I was up anyways.”

She didn’t respond, just stared off into the distance. Azriel was never good with words but cursed himself for not being able to comfort the girl.

He turned to leave, fearing his presence would make her uncomfortable.

“Will you stay,” she asked.

He paused for a moment, then nodded his head and went over to the chair in her room.

“Yes or no. You were there when I went into the Cauldron.”

“Yes.”

“You were hurt.”

“Yes.”

“Feyre went with Tamlin. To- to spy on him.”

“Yes.”

“You tried to save me.”

“Yes.”

They went only like that for a while. Azriel figured that was what the nightmare was about and recounting it with a clearer head was helping soothe her.

She thankfully found sleep again, but the thought of leaving her side when she was in such a state felt wrong, right down to his bones.

He had the same feeling now as he looked at her. She was in a much better place but leaving her still was not an option.

Dierdre didn’t wake till 8 in the morning, hours past when Azriel usually woke. She padded her way to the bathroom before making her way to the living room.

She jumped a bit when she saw Az.

“I though you went home and were going to come back later,” she croaked, sleep still evident in her voice.

“I didn’t want to leave you when you were in distress,” he explained, hoping she wouldn’t be mad at him.

“Typical,” she grumbled, slightly annoyed, but not mad.

He followed her over to the kitchen area where she made morning tea for the both of them.

“I don’t normally eat a big breakfast, but I can make you something,” she offered.

A voice in head screamed at him to accept the offer, but he shook his head and took a seat.

They sat in silence at the small kitchen table, fixing their respective teas to their liking. The tension was thick in the air as Deirdre avoided meeting his eyes, trying to get away with not telling him about last night.

“Dierdre,” he started. “Remember what we talked about last night?”

She pursed her lips but didn’t say anything.

He just looked at her. A gentler version of the look he gave people he captured before demanding they talk. Same sentiment, less threatening.

“Promise not to get mad,” she demanded.

He just kept looking at her in the same way.

She sighed, knowing there was no getting around him. “It wasn’t a great date. We went to a loud, crowded, sticky tavern and he left me to talk to other people a lot. When we got back, and he could see that I was lying about having liked the tavern he called me stuck up.”

Azriel was clenching his fist under the table.

“Then, he said that,” she sucked in a breath, “one of the people he introduced me too was someone Nesta slept with and he was hoping slutiness ran in the family. Then called me a frigid bitch. I proceeded to slap him and run up here.”

Honestly, it wasn’t as bad as he thought. He was still fuming and ready to kill the male. Both for the comments about Deirdre and Nesta.

Azriel could feel his jaw clenching and his pulse getting louder in his ears as Dierdre’s words sunk in.

Slut. Frigid bitch.

The insults echoed in his head.

“Well,” she said, looking a little worried.

“Thank you for telling me,” he said quickly. “I need to get going. Thanks for the tea.” He stood up and took long strides towards the door.

“Wait,” she said.

He turned to look at her.

“Thanks for staying. And don’t do anything rash. Like try to find him or tell Cassian and get him all worked up too. It’s not worth it. He’s not worth it.”

She read his mind about his plans to go tell Cassian so they could find the male and teach him some manners together.

He just sighed and walked out the door.

“I mean it, Az,” she shouted after him.

He just glanced over his shoulder and wave goodbye.

He knew that the grocer boy Alex, had taken her to a tavern, a place she would hate, and left her alone at time, but he didn’t make the shadows follow her home. He wanted to give her a bit of privacy if they kissed or something. But he still showed up to her apartment without invitation directly after a date. She didn’t seem mad, though.

Muscle memory took him to the House of Wind without him even realizing it till he was getting ready to land.

Cassian wasn’t in the training ring. Probably because it was two hours past their normal training time. He moved to pick up a blade anyways.

Swinging it in no particular fashion, turning and stepping around the ring, he let the conversation with Deirdre run through his head.

He called me a frigid bitch, she had said. The insult had him reeling. I promptly slapped him and ran up here. He felt a slight tugging at the corners of his mouth at the idea of Deirdre slapping the shit out of someone. He would have paid good money to see it.

His movements stopped when he locked eyes with his brother.

“You missed training,” Cassian said. “Not like you.”

“I slept in.” Azriel was resisting the urge to tell Cassian the truth.

“You expect me to believe that?” Cassian crossed his arms. “You haven’t slept in in the 500 years I’ve known you. You could be balls deep in a female, and you’d leave her high and dry if it meant you’d be late for morning training.”

Damn it. Cassian knew him too well.

“I was busy.”

“Not with spymaster stuff. I asked Rhys if you were off on an assignment. And he said that unless an emergency came up, you were free for the next few days.”

Azriel tried to ignore Cassian and the burning sensation to tell him what happened.

But Cassian gave him a look. A look that said: Tell me where you were or what you were doing right now or I’m going to beat it out of you.

Not wanting to get beaten on right now, Azriel reluctantly told him what Deirdre had told him.

tag list:

@feysandzoyalailover @fanfictioniseverything @humanpersonlasttimeichecked @singhillada @marina468

#acotar #acotar imagine #acotar angst #azriel angst #azriel shadowsinger #azriel acotar #azriel x oc #azriel #acotar fic #unknowingly requited #idiots in love #sisterly love #feyre archeron #rhysand #cassian #nesta archeron

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