A Court of Lost Stars

The peaks of the palace glistened as though they'd been embedded with studded diamonds. Perhaps they had, Hollis thought as he roamed the Winter Court. Not alone, of course. 

Hollis was never alone.

The city was active today, more so than the past week. An ice storm had blown in from the west, covering everything in a thin, glossy sheet, including doors and windows. It made it difficult for civilians to sell at the market or hunt game. So, earlier that morning, Hollis had requested from his father that he deliver food and other necessities to the homes in the Winter Court. Kallias had delightedly agreed, and Hollis didn't waste time gathering the necessary supplies before setting out into his court.

As always, he was accompanied by two massive Illyrian Warriors. Over the years, he'd met many of them as they interchanged the act of being his bodyguards. None had ever been cruel or affronted; all of them were cold in their disposition. Every pair he'd met rarely spoke to him, or anyone else, for that matter. Hollis liked to think he might see a different side of the Illyrians in another setting- less hostile and more apt to smile.

It wasn't that he never had privacy. They stood outside the door when he bathed or relieved himself. He understood his father's request, but there were often times Hollis wished he could be alone. Truly alone. He wanted to entertain a girl in the city without an audience. It didn't matter that they tried to busy themselves with another task. They were always nearby, and they could always hear them. Hollis' visitors had dwindled significantly over time, but how could he blame them? Not all women wanted to be heard while she climaxed, and Hollis booted the ones who asked if his protectors could join, too.

Hollis vividly remembered the first time he'd been assigned Illyrian protectors…

Hollis watched his father run his fingers through his hair as he paced back and forth across the throne room. Though he didn't remember this room, he was fairly certain the last time he'd been in here was the day after he was born, and his parents named him Prince of the Winter Court. It was a beautiful room with elegant crystal designs and pristine seating, tarnished by the dark that had settled on their day.

The Spring Court had attacked Velaris using Autumn Court soldiers.

Hollis didn't know where Nova was, and maybe that was for the best.

"Will she be okay?" He asked through the cracking of his voice.

His mother, hand on his father's shoulder, offered a warm smile that didn't match the terror in her eyes, but she didn't answer him.

Hollis stared at his father's usually clean attire, now covered in soot. His shoes had blood on the marble. Taking a deep breath, Kallias gazed upon Hollis. The tension had always been there, but now his father didn't try to hide his uncertainty. Carefully, he crossed the room and placed his hands on his son's shoulders.

"The Night Court is attending to their wounded, and they will arrive here. We will devise a plan to keep you safe."

"I don't care if I'm safe," Hollis frowned, "I want to know that Nova is."

"She is safe." Rhysand's voice came behind them, and they all turned toward the entrance. By his side was Feyre, and behind them two others. One Hollis recognized, and the other he didn't. "And we intend to keep her that way, but right now, we need to focus on your safekeeping."

Hollis frowned. "My father said Tamlin was imprisoned."

"He is," Feyre assured him, stopping just short of them, "But we can't be certain he worked alone. It would be unwise not to take precautions."

Kallias spoke now, voice firm as the ice that gathered outside, "I won't send my son away. I understand your reason for Nova, but Hollis will remain here."

"We assumed you may feel that way," Cassian said, crossing his bulky arms over his chest, "But face reality, you don't have enough warriors or the skills to handle an invasion."

Feyre quickly cut in before Kallias took offense, "We offer our assistance to you by Cassian and Ansel remaining by Hollis' side at any given moment. For the time being, at least. Until the threat is gone."

"The threat will never be gone," Vivane murmured, but she didn't look at the Night Court, she could only stare at Hollis. "He would be a prisoner in his own home."

Kallias clenched his jaw and swallowed harshly, "I would rather he lose liberties than attend his funeral."

Blinking, Hollis turned to stare at his father, but he wouldn't look at him. His eyes were fixed on the Illyrians ahead.

Hollis parted his lips, "But-"

"This is not a choice," Kallias replied harshly, "You will remain here, and we will accept aid."

Looking at Cassian and Ansel, Hollis frowned but solemnly nodded. It made sense, he supposed, and perhaps his mother was wrong. Maybe the threat would be found within a week or two, and everything would return to normal.

"I spoke with Thesan," Rhysand said, his voice smooth and calm—mainly for the sake of Hollis. "Aside from the Autumn Court, he and the other Courts will also be sending aid. Cassian is in the process of creating a border around your lands."

Kallias nodded, "My soldiers can share with them what they may need to know…" He furrowed his brow and ground his teeth. Something brushed against his mind then, a voice.

Do not think we don't believe you can't protect your Court. This is bigger than all of us, and we all must stand against it.

"Yes," Kallias nodded and said more softly, "I know."

Hollis stared at this father. For the first time, he didn't see the man, the High Lord he'd always been to him. The impenetrable force that kept their Court safe. He was scared, too, and somehow that comforted Hollis. He couldn't explain why it made him breathe a little easier, but it did.

Hollis, his protectors, and his horse, Winter, traveled from home to home. They pried open doors and offered baskets of supplies to the families inside. Whenever their pale faces greeted him and their weary frowns turned into grateful smiles, Hollis felt a little warmer inside his hollowed chest.

"Oh, thank you," Jane smiled as she took the basket with wrinkled fingers, "Won't you come in? You must all be frozen going around like this."

Hollis smiled crookedly and shook the ice from his snowy white hair. "We don't have many more homes to visit, but thank you. Do you need any firewood, Mrs. Daniel's?"

She waved her hand and smiled around the crinkles of her face. "No, dear. I can manage with what I have."

"Alright," he smiled. Well, if you need anything, we'll just go down this way."

As her hunched form turned from the door, she smiled. "What sweet boys." She closed the door with a soft click behind her, carrying her basket.

Hollis glanced over at Caspian and Bran. "Could you put a few extra logs by her back door, just in case?"

Nodding, Bran quirked a small smile before turning to retrieve the logs. Hollis and Caspian continued to the next home, where they were met with a similar reaction from the old man who lived there. Jane and Brutus were the first humans to reside in the Winter Court after his father took after the Night Court and opened their borders to those in need. Every day, Jane and Brutus fought and bickered, but Hollis felt that the way they got under each other's skin was a little too obvious, and some hidden feelings may lie beneath them. Perhaps far beneath, but they were there nonetheless.

"Did you know she stole my squash?" Brutus said as he took the basket shakily, eyes brilliant blue under his gray brow. "I know she did. One moment, I have it, and the next, I see it on her dinner table."

Hollis smiled softly, "Do you think perhaps she received a squash from the market as well, Mr. Haymaker?"

"Oh, I doubt it. Take my advice: Never trust a woman with your squash," he said, pointing a crooked finger at him.

Biting his lip, Hollis wondered if they were still talking about vegetables, but he nodded and said, "I will heed your advice and keep an eye out for any… squash thieves. Have a good morning, sir."

When the door closed and Hollis spared a glance at Bran and Caspian, he couldn't help but smile a little as they tried to stare up at the sky to refrain from laughing. For the first time in a long time, Hollis could have almost laughed, too. 

Almost.

It didn't take much longer to visit the remaining homes and ensure they had enough wood to burn and water to boil. When it was time to return to the Palace, they walked Winter back to the stables.

"You carried a heavy load today," Hollis spoke gently as he removed her harness from the stall and removed the brush from the pail. Taking his time, he ensured any tangles from her mane and tail were combed through. Winter was getting on in years, so Hollis took extra care of her. Some might even call it spoiling, but as strange as that sounded, she was his best friend. She'd been there for him when he needed a friend the most.

Silently, Hollis exited the stables. His protectors were no more than ten feet behind him, vigilant, as always, as they entered the palace from a discreet side door. It led straight to the kitchens, which was Hollis' goal. The scent of warm vanilla smacked him in the face, just before Celeste pointed a spoon at the three of them.

"Now, listen here," she grinned, "You can have one each, and the rest is set for supper. Don't think you're gonna pull a fast one on me."

Hollis beamed brightly, "Oh, we would never…we just can't resist your cooking."

"Oh, I know. It's the best in the world. I take that honor," she laughed heartily, her dark hair tucked into two hairnets with a few strands sticking out around her plump face, "But if you think you can stick your finger in my frosting…"

Holding his hands up, Hollis smiled as he wiggled his clean fingers. "Never without permission."

Celeste eyed them for a long moment before handing over a premade plate with three massive cinnamon buns covered in thick icing. "Alright, you're growing, boys; go enjoy."

Chuckling, Hollis took the plate and nodded in thanks, "What would we do without you Cel?"

"Starve. Now get out of my kitchen."

They did, quickly. Hollis took a bun and passed it to Caspian. Though they didn't speak, they did eat sweet and gooey goodness. Sometimes Hollis might have thought some of the Illyrians were his friends, but it wasn't something he'd voice. The moment his father might think his guards might be distracted, he'd request a change from Cassian, and that would be that.

Hollis smiled at everyone in the palace as they walked past. He asked how their morning had been and addressed any questions they had. Soon, they ascended the stairs and entered his floor—it had been given to him by his parents when he'd turned twenty and needed more privacy. Instead of giving in to his request for a separate cabin he could visit, they gave him an entire floor of the castle. 

However, privacy for a Prince was only wishful thinking. 

They approached the door to his chambers, and as always, he entered, and they did not. He closed the door behind him, knowing one would stay at the door while the other took to the exit a few yards down. Technically, they were stopping threats from entering, but to Hollis, it often felt like they were merely keeping him in.

As soon as the door closed but didn't lock - he wasn't allowed to lock his doors – the smile he'd worn for the members of the Winter Court dropped.

Running his fingers through his hair, he discarded his jacket, followed by his silver and gold corset vest, and let it drop to the sofa. His massive chamber looked more like an expensive apartment or a small house rather than a single room. Equipped with a sitting room, kitchen, bedroom, and master bathroom, he could technically live here without ever setting foot in any other part of the palace.

Hollis slipped off his shoes, leaving him only in his white button-down shirt and black slacks. The ache in his head and chest pulled him toward the bathing room. Upon entering, he kept the lights off and only used the light of the small window above the tub to guide him. It didn't matter that his stomach was screaming at him. He needed to dull the other pain first—the pain that followed him everywhere he went.

He kneeled down in front of the sink and opened the bottom cupboard. Behind stacks of toiletries, he pulled out a half-empty bottle of Faerie wine. It sloshed about as he withdrew it from its hiding place and carried it to the tub. For a while, he'd tried the clear liquor from his father's cabinets, but soon, it hadn't been enough, and he needed to try something stronger. 

Anything to numb the constant flutter of anxiety in his chest. 

Anything to discard the gathering of dark thoughts in his mind.

Anything to quiet the voices that told him everything he did didn't matter.

It didn't matter how good he was to the people of the Winter Court or how polished his speeches were in front of his parents during important meetings. There wasn't a damn thing he could do to prevent the Courts from falling.

"The storms are getting worse, Vivane."

"Yes, I know, but he mustn't jump to the conclusion this is related."

"The other Courts are beginning to take notice of their own decline. It is only a matter of time…"

The memory of listening to his parents dread the future was enough for Hollis' eighteen-year-old self to grab his first bottle off the shelf.

Laying back in the circular tub, Hollis looked up at the ceiling as he took a long drag of his bottle. The only way they could potentially fix this would be to find Nova and join together, but the Night Court refused to reveal her location…and Hollis didn't want them to. 

It was insane, he knew that, but to imagine himself forcing Nova's hand in a ceremony that would change both of their lives forever. He wanted to protect his Court, but he also wanted to protect her, and if they did nothing, it wouldn't matter in the end. 

Perhaps the fall was the destiny intended for them.

Perhaps…they were all meant to suffer.