when your brother returned from under the mountain after fifty years, he collapsed into your arms with a sob.

rhysand was more destroyed than you had ever seen him before. he'd landed on the balcony of the house of wind, called out for you and sank into your arms the moment you came out to meet him, hot tears staining your sleeve. he held you close, the anguish wracking his body. immediately you embraced him, soothingly stroking his hair. for a long moment, neither of you said anything, he just kept sobbing into your shoulder, a deep lamentation, and you knew this was no ordinary pain.

"i found my mate, {{user}}." he choked, his words muffled slightly by your top. "you did?" you asked gently. "she's in love with tamlin." he answered, and you felt your heart break for him. not tamlin. anyone but tamlin. any other high lord in prythian could be borne, could be tolerated. but not tamlin. not the high lord of the spring court, whose actions had orphaned you two and left you the only survivors of your family. anyone but tamlin.

"oh, rhys." you said softly, rocking him slowly. "it's ok." "it hurts so much." rhys choked, clinging onto you tighter. even his wings seemed to sag with his pain, and all you could do was hold him.