Velaris, or the City of Starlight, is a hidden city on the western side of the Night Court. It is home to the Court of Dreams, one of the two sub-courts of the Night Court. The walls of Velaris had not been breached in over five thousand years. The city remained hidden from Amarantha, thanks to Rhysand's sacrifice Under the Mountain.
Description
Velaris had been built like a crust atop the rolling, steep hills are flanked by a board, winding river, sparkling like deepest sapphire - the Sidra River - and snaking toward the vast expanse of water beyond, the sea. The Sidra River is loitered by ships with sails of varying shapes, making it navigable. At the northen edge of Velaris, curved to where the river bent toward them and flowed into their shadows, tower, like eternal guardians of the city, a wall of flat-topped mountains of red stone. Their middle and larger peak has holes and windows built in the uppermost part of it, in fact there is where resides the House of Wind, Rhysand's house for official business. To the north different kind of mountains surrounded the city across the river, a range of sharp peaks like fish's teeth cleaved the city's hills from the sea beyond.
The city's buildings are crafted our of white marble, warm sandstone and the same red stone of the flat-topped mountains that can be found in the northern edge of the city. Many quarters of Velaris are full of town houses with green copper roofs and white chimneys.
In Velaris many shops can be found with delicate tables and chairs scattered outside their cheery fronts, restaurants like the Restaurant where the Inner Circle go dining and nightclubs like the Rita's. Many of this buildings are heated by warming spells.
Velaris has four main market squares called Palaces, two on the southern side of the Sidra River and two on the northen side. We know the name of only three of the four squares: the Palace of Thread and Jewels and the Palace of Bone and Salt that sell respectively jewels and food and are positioned on the southern side of the Sidra River, and, the Palace of Hoof and Leaf positioned on the northen side of the Sidra River and twin square to the Palace of Bone and Salt. They are white-stoned squares flanked by Tehran pillars supporting the carved and painted buildings that watch over them and provide a covered walkway beneath the shops built into the street level.
What Velaris is mast known for is the artists' quarter, called the Rainbow of Velaris, where dwell the preforming artists, the musicians, the dancers, the actors. It is a brightly painted pocket of the city, built atop one of the hills that flowed right to the river'so edge. In the Rainbow of Velaris can be found a hundred galleries, supply stores, potters' compounds, sculpture gardens and anything in between. In this quarter is located a building with a golden top, the most famous of the five main theaters in the city. In Velaris there are also other smaller theathers and an amphitheater on the sea cliff.
History
There was a time when the Night Court was the Court of Nightmares and was ruled from the Hewn City. But an ancient High Lord had a different vision, and rather than allowing the world to see his territory vulnerable at a time of change, he sealed the borders and staged a coup, eliminating the worst of the courtiers and predators, building Velaris for the dreamers, establishing trade and peace.
To preserve it, he kept it a secret, and so did his offspring, and their offspring. There are many spells on the city itself—laid by him, and his Heirs, that make those who trade here unable to say anything about the city, and grant them adept skills at lying in order to keep the origin of their goods, their ships, hidden from the rest of the world. Rumor has it that ancient High Lord cast his very life’s blood upon the stones and river to keep that spell eternal.
A Court of Thorns and Roses
In Under the Mountain, 50 years before the events of ACOTAR, Amarantha tricked the High Lords into giving control over their powers to her. As Rhysand felt Amarantha ripping his power away, he used what little time he had to erase the city and the wards from the minds of the Court of Nightmares. He threw a shield around Velaris, binding it to his inner circle so that they had to remain or risk that protection collapsing, and used what little power he had left to tell them mind to mind what was happening as well as ordering them to stay away.
A Court of Mist and Fury
Feyre, Rhysand and his Inner Circle spent most of their time in Velaris. The city was a well guarded secret, the only people knowing that Velaris existed was the ones that were living there themselves. It was not on any map, or mentioned in any book beyond those written there.
In order to gain the trust of the mortal queens of the human realm and gain the second half of the Book of Breathings, Rhysand had to show them the existence of his city, as proof of his intentions. But the mortal queens sold him out to the King of Hybern, who then sent a legion of his soldiers to attack the city. They were able to secure Velaris at the end of the day.
Then when Rhysand, Feyre, and his Inner Circle went to Hybern to destroy the Cauldron, Amren stayed to defend the city while they were gone, as she was the only one powerful enough to stand a chance of holding the city until help could arrive.
A Court of Frost and Starlight
The Inner Circle resides in Velaris, which is still under the effects of the war with Hybern. They are slowly rebuilding their homes and bringing their lives back to normality. The city brings happiness to those who wander about, but some, like Feyre, are still scared from previous events.
Trivia
- Velaris' breeze smells like salt and lemon verbena.
- Rhysand says that Velaris was built to be viewed during the night.
- A legend says that the magic barriers that surrounds Velaris was built with the blood of an ancient High Lord of the Night Court, that he dropped into the stone and on the river.
Appearances
- A Court of Mist and Fury (first appearance)
- Wings and Embers (mentioned)
- A Court of Wings and Ruin
- A Court of Frost and Starlight
- A Court of Silver Flames