Eternal Starlight: Celestial City

Chapter6

She could sense his every intention, predicting his next move and the one after that. He was panting, clearly exhausted, while her grin widened, a clear sign of her victory. "What’s the matter?" she taunted. "Are you throwing in the towel?" she inquired, her tone dripping with mockery.

"All right, all right, I give up," Xander conceded, a hint of mischief in his eyes.

The women erupted in cheers, but Liora wore a knowing smirk, fully aware that Xander was merely pretending to surrender. As she turned her back to him, she declared to the group, "Ladies, remember, you can always predict your opponent's next move."

In an unexpected twist, Xander lunged at her, flipping her onto her back and pinning her wrists above her head. The women gasped in shock.

He leaned in close, his voice low and teasing, "I know you possess the gift of foresight, kitten. You were using it to anticipate my moves. But instead of relying on that, why not tap into your fighting skills if you have any?" he whispered, a smirk playing on his lips.

Liora leaned toward Thorin, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "This is about to get intense," she remarked.

Thorin chuckled softly in agreement, clearly entertained by the unfolding drama.

Elowen, with a wicked grin, struck Xander in the groin, causing him to double over in pain, only to follow up with a swift knee to his face.

The women erupted in cheers while the men responded with playful jeers, exclaiming "oooo" in mock surprise. Xander stumbled slightly.

Elowen’s grin spread across her face as she teased, "What's the matter, sunshine?" Blood trickled down his chin as he wiped it away, trying to regain his composure. Elowen smirked, "I didn't know douchebags could bleed," taunting him. The atmosphere shifted as they engaged in a full-blown fight, Xander managing to pin Elowen down, his weight pressing against her back.

In a swift move, she elbowed him in the ribs, a tactic she had learned from Rowan for escaping such holds. With a sudden burst of strength, she flipped Xander onto his back and landed on him, delivering a series of punches to his face. He retaliated, knocking her off, both of them now disheveled and smeared with dirt and blood, looking worse for wear. They continued to spar until exhaustion set in, collapsing onto their backs, the match ending in a draw.

Elowen was the first to rise, her chest heaving and face glistening with sweat as she struggled to catch her breath. Just as Xander attempted to get up, she placed her hand in his face and shoved him back down, eliciting laughter from the onlookers.

Elowen caught sight of Liora, who wore a sly grin that hinted at mischief. "How many individuals discovered their mates last night?" she inquired, her tone a mix of curiosity and authority.

"All of them, My Lady," Liora responded with a tone of utmost respect, her demeanor unwavering.

"Are all the Courts still present?" Elowen pressed, her gaze sharp and commanding.

"Yes, My Lady," Liora confirmed, maintaining her poise.

"Very well," Elowen acknowledged, her mind already racing with thoughts.

"General, I need you to gather all the Courts in the Hall, along with their mates," she instructed Thorin, her voice firm and decisive.

"Of course, My Lady," Thorin replied, bowing slightly in deference.

As Elowen exchanged a charged glance with Xander, his arms crossed defiantly, she narrowed her eyes at him, silently conveying that their unresolved tension was far from over.

With determination, Elowen donned her Illyrian fighting vest, unfurling her magnificent wings as she propelled herself into the sky, soaring toward the grand hall with purpose and resolve.

Elowen perched regally upon her throne in the opulent grand hall, having taken the time to prepare herself before the arrival of the Courts and their mates. Beside her stood Liora, exuding an air of quiet strength. As the guests began to stream in, Elowen's eyes were drawn to Xander as he walked in, accompanied by a striking redhead whose beauty was hard to ignore. She quickly reminded herself to refocus on the bustling crowd that was filtering through the entrance, determined not to let her curiosity about them distract her from the lively atmosphere around her.

"Welcome, everyone! Congratulations to each of you on discovering your mates last night," Elowen announced, her voice warm and inviting. "I know you are all curious about the purpose of this gathering." She continued, "For those of you who have found your mates, I am honored to bestow my blessing upon you. You are free to leave with your mates if that is your desire, or you may choose to remain here together. If you wish to stay, please consult with Liora; if you prefer to depart with your mates, come and speak with me." Her attention was drawn to Xander, who stood amidst the crowd next to the redhead. A flicker of jealousy ignited within her as she noticed him lean in to kiss the woman gently on the head, whispering something that made her giggle and playfully swat at his chest. Elowen couldn't help but roll her eyes at the sight.

Liora observed Elowen's fixation and quickly discerned Xander's intentions. A sly smile crept across her face, fully aware of the game he was playing.

Clearing her throat, Liora signaled for Elowen to straighten up and regain her composure. Elowen caught the cue and adjusted her posture, drawing the attention of those around them. One by one, the group approached Liora and Elowen. Each offered warm smiles and respectful bows to Elowen. A sudden chill ran down Elowen's spine as she sensed a gaze upon her; when she turned to investigate, she found Xander leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed defiantly. A wave of jealousy washed over her as she wondered about the striking redhead who had been by his side. "Why should I feel jealous of that douchebag?" she chastised herself.

Elowen glanced back at Xander, who seemed to be enjoying her internal struggle, his expression one of bemusement. She rolled her eyes, noticing Thorin and the redhead departing with Liora, and felt a flicker of confusion at them and their sudden exit. Thorin approached her with a broad smile,“Whose the redhead?” Elowen’s curiosity piqued

"She's my mate," Thorin declared with pride, but Elowen's curiosity deepened as she recalled the earlier assumption that the redhead belonged to Xander. “I thought she was Xander’s mate?” Elowen asked, confusion lacing her voice. "No, that's Xander's sister. She's an Illyrian like us," Thorin clarified, his pride evident. A wave of embarrassment washed over Elowen as she realized her jealousy had been misplaced.

"What is her name?" Elowen asked, eager to know more.

"Her name is Tauriel," Thorin replied, his eyes sparkling with affection.

"I'd love to meet her.” Elowen suggested thoughtfully.

"Okay!” Thorin exclaimed, his excitement palpable.

The crowd began to thin after Liora and Elowen had taken the time to engage with each individual, offering heartfelt congratulations to everyone present. Elowen felt a swell of happiness for those who had discovered their true mates, yet her mind drifted back to thoughts of Rowan. A pang of uncertainty struck her—could he have been her mate? She mentally dismissed the notion, shaking her head to clear her thoughts.

"Elowen?" Liora's gentle voice broke through the haze of her contemplation, pulling her focus from the ground.

"Yes, Liora?" Elowen responded softly, her attention now fully on her friend.

"I want you to know that the Elders and I are incredibly proud of you for the selfless act you performed for those outside our Court. I believe both Rowan and your grandmother would be proud too," Liora expressed warmly.

Elowen's face lit up with a genuine smile. "Thank you, Liora. Your kind words always lift my spirits. I truly appreciate your support."

Liora returned the smile, her eyes sparkling with encouragement.

"I understand you had a dream about Rowan last night," Liora said, her curiosity evident.

Elowen nodded, her expression turning contemplative. "Yes, I did. He urged me to let him go. Then tell me to ‘stay with him’. I'm struggling to understand what he meant. Initially, I thought he was referring to Thorin, as we've grown close. But now, I'm uncertain, especially since Thorin has a mate now. I doubt his mate would be comfortable with him spending so much time with me to check on my well-being," Elowen explained, her voice tinged with confusion.

Liora nodded thoughtfully. "Mm, indeed."

Just then, Thorin burst through the door, his face beaming with excitement. "Elowen, you said you’d want to meet Tauriel! Come out and say hello!"

Both Liora and Elowen exchanged glances, and Liora encouraged her with a smile. "Go ahead."

With a bright smile in return, Elowen rose from her throne and approached Thorin, who was practically glowing with enthusiasm. Tauriel and Xander were engaged in conversation, but as Elowen approached, their eyes locked, creating an instant connection.

Tauriel turned to Elowen, offering a respectful smile as she bowed. "My Lady."

"Please call me Elowen," she said, her smile radiating warmth as she embraced Tauriel tightly.

"Have you sorted out where you'll be staying?" Elowen inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"I haven't, actually. My brother and I have always felt that if we ever find our mates, we shouldn't live together with them," Tauriel clarified, sharing a glimpse into his beliefs.,

"Tauriel," Xander cautioned, his tone sharp. "You don't owe that witch any explanations."

Tauriel’s expression looked horrified at what her brother said.

"And you’re an egotistic, self-absorbing, conceited douchebag!" Elowen retorted, her gaze fixed defiantly on him.

Xander's eyes widened in surprise at her boldness, a smirk creeping onto his face as he reveled in the fact that he could easily get underneath her skin.

Tauriel stifled a laugh, her hand covering her mouth at Elowen's fiery insult directed at her brother.

Turning her focus back to Tauriel, Elowen's demeanor softened as she offered, "You can come stay with me. I live alone, and you’ll have a stunning ocean view along with your own bathroom."

Tauriel eyes sparkled with astonishment at the invitation. "Are you really sure? I don’t want to be a burden."

"Absolutely! I’ve never had siblings, so having you around would feel like I would have a sister," Elowen replied warmly, her smile genuine.

Xander and Thorin exchanged glances, silently communicating their thoughts on the unfolding situation.

"When can I move in?" Tauriel asked, her excitement palpable.

"Whenever you want," Elowen assured her, still smiling.

Xander's gaze remained fixed on Elowen, curiosity piqued about her intentions.

Meeting Xander’s stare, Elowen asserted, "I need to speak with you privately."

Xander sighed, rolling his eyes in annoyance.

"Thorin, please fill Tauriel in on the house," Elowen instructed, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

"Excuse me for a moment; I’ll prepare your room when you decide to move in," Elowen said, her smile brightening.

With a graceful motion, she unfurled her white wings and ascended into the sky, heading back to the House of Light.