#Aelin watched the boat until it disappeared trying not to stare too long at the clean unstained sand beneath her boots

[acourtofquestions]

Rowaelin Chapter 41 Kingdom of Ash:

She'd rebuild it—what she had been.

Perhaps one last time, perhaps only for a little while, but she'd do it. If only for Terrasen.

Rowan swooped from the mast, shifting as he reached her side at the rail. He surveyed the night-black sea beyond them. "You should rest." She slid him a glance. "I'm not tired." Not a lie, not in some regards. "Want to spar?" He frowned. "Training can start tomorrow."

"Or tonight." She held his piercing stare, matched his dominance with her own.

"It can wait a few hours, Aelin."

"Every day counts." Against Erawan, even a day of training would count.

Rowan's jaw tightened. "True," he said at last. "But it can still wait. There are ... there are things we need to discuss." The silent words rose in his animal-bright eyes. About you and me.

Her mouth went dry. But Aelin nodded In silence, they strode into their spacious quarters, its only decoration the wall of windows that overlooked the churning sea behind them. A far cry from a queen's chamber, or any she might have purchased as Adarlan's assassin.

At least the bed built into the wall looked clean enough, the sheets crisp and stainless. But Aelin headed for the oak desk anchored to the floor, and leaned against it while Rowan shut the door.

In the dim lantern light, they stared at each other.

She'd endured Maeve and Cairn; she'd endured Endovier and countless other horrors and losses. She could have this conversation with him. The first step toward rebuilding herself.

Aelin knew Rowan could hear her thundering heart as the space between them went taut. She swallowed once. "Elide and Lorcan told you... told you everything that was said on that beach."

A curt nod, wariness flooding his eyes. "Everything that Maeve said." Another nod.

She braced herself. "That I'm-we're mates."

Understanding and something like relief replaced that wariness. "Yes."

"I'm your mate," she said, needing to voice it. "And you are mine."

Rowan crossed the room, but halted a few feet from the desk on which she leaned. "What of it, Aelin?" His question was low, rough.

"Don't you..." She scrubbed at her face. "You know what she did to you, to ..." She couldn't say her name. Lyria. "Because of it."

"I do know."

"And?"

"And what do you wish me to say?"

She pushed off the desk. "I wish you to tell me how you feel about it. If…"

"If what?"

"If you wish it wasn't so."

His brows narrowed. "Why would I ever wish that?"

She shook her head, unable to answer, and stared over her shoulder toward the sea.

It seemed like he would close the distance between them, but he remained where he was.

"Aelin." His voice turned hoarse. "Aelin."

She looked at him then, at the pain in his words.

"Do you know what I wish?" He exposed his palms, one tattooed, the other unmarked. "I wish that you had told me. When you realized it. I wish you had told me then."

She swallowed against the ache in her throat. "I didn't want to hurt you."

"Why would it ever hurt me to know the truth that was already in my heart? The truth I hoped for?"

"I didn't understand it. I didn't understand how it was possible. I thought maybe ... maybe you might be able to have two mates within a lifetime, but even then, I just ….." She blew out a breath. "I didn't want you to be distressed." His eyes softened. "Do I regret that Lyria was dragged into this, that the cost of Maeve's game was her life, and the life of the child we might have had? Yes. I regret that, and I wish it had never happened." He would bear the tattoo to remember it for the rest of his days. "But none of that was your fault. I will always carry some of the burden of it, always know I chose to leave her for war and glory, and that I played right into Maeve's hands."

"Maeve wanted to ensnare you to get to me, though."

"Then it is her choice, not yours."

Aelin ran a hand over the worn wood of the desk. "In those illusions she spun for me, she showed me variations on one more than all the others." The words were strained, but she forced them out. Forced herself to look at him. "She spun me one dreamscape that felt so real I could smell the wind off the Staghorns."

"What did she show you?" A breathless question.

Aelin had to swallow before she could answer. "She showed me what might have been—if there had been no Erawan, if Elena had dealt with him properly and banished him. If there had been no Lyria, none of that pain or despair you endured. She showed me Terrasen as it would have been today, with my father as king, and my childhood happy, and..." Her lips wobbled. "When I turned twenty, you came with a delegation of Fae to Terrasen, to make amends for the rift between my mother and Maeve. And you and I took one look at each other in my father's throne room, and we knew."

She didn't fight the stinging in her eyes. "I wanted to believe that was the true world. That this was the nightmare from which I'd awaken. I wanted to believe that there was a place where you and I had never known this suffering and loss, where we'd take one look at each other and know we were mates. Maeve told me she could make it so. If I gave her the keys, she'd make it all possible." She wiped at her cheek, at the tear that escaped down it. "She spun me realities where you were dead, where you'd been killed by Erawan and only in handing over the keys to her would I be able to avenge you. But those realities made me ... I stopped being useful to her when she told me you were gone. She couldn't get me to talk, to think. Yet in the ones where you and I met, where things were as they should have been ... that was when I came the closest."

His swallow was audible. "What stopped you?"

She wiped at her face again. "The male I fell in love with was you. It was you, who knew pain as I did, and who walked with me through it, back to the light. Maeve didn't understand that. That even if she could create that perfect world, it wouldn't be you with me. And I'd never trade that, trade this. Not for anything." He extended his hand. An offer and invitation.

Aelin laid hers atop his, and his callused fingers squeezed gently. "I wanted it to be you," he breathed, closing his eyes. "For months and months, even in Wendlyn, I wondered why you weren't my mate instead. It tore me up, wondering it, but I still did." He opened his eyes, and they burned like green fire. "All this time, I wanted it to be you."

She lowered her gaze, but he hooked a thumb and forefinger around her chin and lifted her face.

"I know you are tired, Fireheart. I know that the burden on your shoulders is more than anyone should endure." He took their joined hands and laid them on his heart. "But we'll face this together. Erawan, the Lock, all of it.

"We'll face it together. And when we are done, when you Settle, we will have a thousand years together. Longer."

A small sound came out of her. "Elena said the Lock requires—"

"We'll face it together," he swore again.

"And if the cost of it truly is you, then we'll pay it together. As one soul in two bodies.

Her heart strained to the point of cleaving. "Terrasen needs a king."

"I have no intention of ruling Terrasen without you. Aedion can have the job."

She scanned his face. He meant every word He brushed the hair from her face, his other hand still clasping hers to his chest, where his heart pounded a steady, unfaltering rhythm.

"Even if I had my choice of any dream-realities, any perfect illusions, I would still choose you, too."

She felt the truth of his words echo into the unbreakable thing that bound their very souls, and tilted her face up toward his. But he made no move beyond it.

She frowned. "Why aren't you kissing me?"

"I thought you might want to be asked first."

"That never stopped you before."

"This first time, I wanted to make sure you were ... ready." After Cairn and Maeve. After months of having no choices whatsoever.

She smiled despite that truth. "I'm ready to be kissed again, Prince."

He let out a dark chuckle and muttered, "Thank the gods," before he lowered his mouth to hers.

"You're my mate." Her words were a breathless rush. "And I am yours."

The world might have been burning around them for all she cared, all he cared, too.

"Together, Aelin," he promised, and she heard the rest of the words in every place their bodies joined. Together they would face this, together they would find a way.

Together we'll find a way, their mingling breaths, the crashing sea, seemed to echo.

Together.

[tomtenadia]

Island Dreams - Chapter 15

Chapter 15 is here.

Our gang is away on an adventure. Writing this chapter was actually quite fun. I really hope you will love it.

The song that Aelin and Rowan talk about on the beach is this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uspq0Iq4tc This is a live version where Bruce Guthro sings it alone. For me it's an incredible love song and I think it's perfect for those two. It always give me goosebumps.

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As promised at 7am on the dot Rowan reached Aelin’s house, but the trio was already out of the house waiting for him. They loaded their bags in the car and they got on. Aelin taking the passenger seat beside Rowan. “I am in charge of the music,” she announced “I am going to make you listen to some amazing stuff.” And she looked at Rowan. He was aware he had created a monster and that Aelin had become obsessed with Peat and Diesel and Runrig. He smiled. “Can you cope with three crazy tourists in the car? Lysandra buys tacky fridge magnets as well.” “Yes, babe, that’s a bad habit.” Commented Aedion. “Thank you.” echoed Rowan. Aelin poked Rowan in the shoulder and he pretended to bit her finger and she cackled in response. Lysandra was attached to the window on her side of the car and Aedion had his chin on her shoulder and they were both looking amazed at the landscape.

“As a Londoner born and bred all of this looks alien to me. In a good way but so strange. We have been driving for twenty minutes now and since we have left town we haven’t seen a single car.” Commented Aedion “We are surrounded by moors and all these small lakes.” “Lochs,” Rowan corrected him “We don’t have lakes in Scotland. We call them lochs.” “So, is Harris another island we are crossing into?” Asked again Aedion who was super curious. “No,” replied Aelin proud of the fact that she knew the answer “Lewis and Harris are one big island, but Lewis is the northern part and Harris the southern one. They are quite different in character.”she pointed at the landscape outside “We are still on Lewis and the landscape is flat because it’s all peatlands. Once we cross into Harris, all of a sudden it gets rockier and hills just pop up.” Then she looked at Rowan with a smug face and he gave her a huge grin of approval. They were driving when Aelin shouted to stop.”Rowan pull over please.” “What? Why?” He asked and did as he told him. Aelin bolted out of the car and a minute later he saw her hugging the road sign. “Really?” “Look, it’s my village.” She shouted pointing at the sign saying Baile Ailein “It’s just a little different but it sounds the same and it’s my village.” She jumped in front of the sign and Aedion and Lysandra joined them. “Fireheart, it means Allan’s village.” “I don’t care, in Gaelic it looks almost like my name.” Rowan went back to the car and came back a minute later with his camera and snapped a picture of her. He was planning to have a massive collection of pictures of her by the end of the trip. “Get back in the car, we are in the Lochs area of Lewis and there are some incredible views.” They all listened to him and jumped back in the car. Aelin had taken a photo of the sign and was now posting it on social media bragging that on Lewis there was a village with her name. “Aelin, are you getting used to drive on this small roads?” Asked Lysandra noticing the skilful way Rowan navigated the narrow roads and wondered about her friend. “I am getting used to it. The first few times it was downright scary. Now it’s fun.” They finally reached Harris and they took a group photo under the sign that said “Failte gu Harris.” Rowan included. He had caved in the end. When a little later Aelin noticed the first hint of Luskentyre she squealed out in delight “We are almost here. Lys, look out of the window.” Rowan smiled at her. Her happiness was infectious. “Stay calm, and sit back down.” She had leaned all the way forward with her face almost against the windscreen. Rowan pulled her back. “You are nulling the seat belts.” She glared at him. Aelin began protesting when she noticed Rowan was not stopping “Where are you going?” “Shhh…” “Is this even real?” Commented Lysandra when they drove a stretch of road that was very close to the sea. She was stunned by the colours. She had seen Aelin’s pictures, but seeing it in real life was different. Rowan kept driving until he reached a parking space. “What is this?” She asked him. Rowan huffed “Will you trust me?” The four of them started walking the path and as soon as they spotted the beach the two women took off running shedding shoes and clothes as they ran straight to the waters. Rowan sighed “Are they always like this?” Aedion laughed out loud and patted the man on the shoulder “Welcome to my world, my friend.” By the time they reached the beach the two women were down to their swimsuits, their clothes scattered on the sand and were now in the water up to their knees both screaming in happiness. Rowan and Aedion collected the clothes and joined them on the shoreline. Rowan stopped when he noticed Aelin. Her bathing suit was blue like her eyes, but the his eyes trailed down to her full hips and her long legs. And then up again. He was paralysed. And he was glad he had two doctors in the group because he was going to be in need of CPR quite soon. “You feel exactly like I do.” Aedion added when he noticed Rowan’s face “I met them the first time in a bar. They were still interns. I had no idea which one to hit on. But Aelin was with the idiot already. I tried my luck with Lysandra but it took me a long time to get her.” “They are…” “Yes, we are two lucky men.” And Rowan grinned. Yes, they were. He finally managed to move again and reached Aelin, his arms went firmly around her waist and pulled her to him for a passionate kiss. Now that Elias was out of the picture they had finally allowed each other all the kisses they had held back before. And his mind went to the day in his office. “Do you like the beach?” He asked her against her lips. “I was never here when I came to Luskentyre. I stopped way down the road.” “I imagined, loads of people do that.” He kissed her again “But see those dunes?” He pointed out with his finger “we can walk on the sand around them and we reach a lovely spot that gives you an incredible view of Luskentyre.” She knitted her hands in his hair “No comments about my swimsuit?” Rowan grinned “The very limited piece of clothing you are wearing? Is that what you call it?” He played jealous for a bit “I hope you remember how to perform CPR because I will need it soon.”

A bit of distance away Aedion and Lysandra were having an intimate moment as well. “I have a feeling those two are going to disappear soon for a quickie.” Lysandra laughed and shook his head “They don’t do that.” “Well, their faces tell otherwise.” He replied. “They haven’t reached that stage yet.” And this time Aedion looked at his girlfriend in shock “They just kiss and hold hands. And apparently they only started kissing a few days ago.” “Lys, those are not kisses of someone who just started dating. That’s the kind of kiss I give you when you, I don’t know dress up with you amazing skirts.” “They are not even dating.” And now Aedion was stunned. “According to what Aelin said they did not put a label yet on their relationship. They are just taking it slowly.” “Uhm…” “But I have a plan.” She whispered “I was talking to Rowan at dinner and I did manage to find out the name of the cottage. I phoned them and found out that for their bedroom he had asked for two separate beds. I phoned back and told them there had been a mistake and that we needed two double bedrooms.” “You are wicked.” “I am just helping them. Aelin is happy and he is madly in love. They both are.” “Wicked, wicked woman.” He kissed her deeply.

It was forty minutes later when Rowan began being paranoid and gathering everyone back to the car. They quickly stopped at Scarista Mhor for some pictures and fifteen minutes later they were in Leverburgh for their ferry with still fifty minutes to spare and Rowan muttering that they had cut it quite too close for comfort. Once on the ferry, Aelin was disappointed that she was not allowed to leave the car. An hour later the ferry came to a halt and docked on Berneray, a little island that acted as arrival point and was connected to North Uist via a causeway. Once off the boat, Rowan pulled over to formulate a plan “Our cottage is twenty minutes away. What we can do is go there, check-in, dump our stuff and eat something. Then we can drive back here and spend sometime here on Berneray. On the way back we can go to Lochmaddy, buy some provisions for food and drive back to the cottage and relax for the rest of the day down at the beach and our ladies can even try and swim.” “Guys?” Asked Aelin turning her head to look at the back of the car. “I am good with anything as long as we get out of this car.” Rowan laughed “Fine, let’s go and dump our stuff and get settled down. Once that is out of the way we can finally start enjoy our holiday.” Aelin sat back and pulled her sunglasses down “Punch it!”

The cottage was in the most perfect location ever imagined. Lysandra and Aelin got off the car and had been staring at the views for a few minutes now. “Why bother going back to London? They need doctors here, right?” Aelin laughed and took her friend’s hand. She would have to tell her friend that she was not going back and she hoped Lysandra would understand.

Ten minutes later they were carrying the bags into the cottage and Aelin was impressed by Rowan’s good taste. The place was incredible. She saw him walk to what she suspected was their bedroom, but he was paralysed on the door. “Buzzard, you are supposed to go in.” Rowan turned and pointed at the bed. “So what?” “It’s a double bed.” “Again, so what?’ “I asked for two separate beds.” “Why would you do that?” She asked almost shocked. “I just… you know… I thought that you…” he fumbled “that since we are keeping things relaxed might not want to share a bed with me.” Aelin laughed, she pushed him in and closed the door and then pushed him to the bed “You can be so adorable.” She kissed him and pushed him until the back of his legs hit the bed and he sat on it. Aelin promptly straddled him, her legs at each side of his hips “I am touched that you care so much about my virtue, but that ship has sailed a long time ago.” He flinched. “Ro,” she caressed his face “Nothing needs to happen until you want it too. We can cuddle, kiss and be naughty without going the full way. It doesn’t bother me.” “Aelin, I want to… you have no idea.” He admitted staring into her eyes. “It’s just that….” how was he going to explain his feelings without sounding like a lunatic “I am an old fashioned idiot.” He blurted out “I only had sex with Lyria. I am the kind of guy who believes in joining that way actually means something. And I want to wait because for me it means commitment. And it doesn’t mean I am not interested in committing to you, because I am all in.” She left him talk, let him expose his raw emotions “We have just started this. Making love to the person I love means a lot to me. I am weird that way.” And he rolled his eyes, but when he looked at Aelin he noticed she had tears in her eyes “Are you crying because I am a pathetic fool?” Aelin kissed him trying to show him all the love she had for him “You are not pathetic. You are wonderful and I love you so much that my heart is about to explode.” She kissed him again. “And I love your old fashioned idea. I really do.” Another kiss “You are my weirdo. And just so you know… I am all in as well. To whatever end, remember?” He nodded slowly and lay down on the bed pulling her with him. “But I still want to kiss every centimetre of you.” She leaned over for another kiss. “Permission granted.” He replied sealing the kiss.

Twenty minutes later the four of them were at the tiny car park at that would give them access to Berneray beach. Aedion and Rowan collected the backpack and the two women again ran away ignoring everyone. “We have been reduced to carrying backpacks apparently.” Luckily, Rowan had convinced Aelin to put her stuff in his backpack. “Aelin kept her swimsuit on and she told me she is adamant she will swim.” “Lysandra was the same.” “No chance they got lost right?” Aedion was worried. Rowan laughed “Aelin smells beaches like a bloodhound. They are probably in the water already and the clothes will be all scattered again.” A couple of minutes later they reached the beach and as Rowan predicted the women’s clothes created a trail along the sands and both Lysandra and Aelin were already in the water swimming and playing. “Ach well,” said Rowan and removed his t-shirt leaving him in his swimming shorts. Aedion followed and they joined their women. As soon as they approached both Aelin and Lysandra began making appreciation sounds. Rowan too off to a run and jumped in the water and reappeared in front of Aelin. She looked up and heat spread to her special place. His shorts, now wet, hugged his shapes and her mind began wandering to very dangerous places. His hair was wet and clinging to his face. With a swift gesture he pulled it back and Aelin agreed with Lysandra’s comment. Rowan was sex on two legs. He closed the distance and pulled her in the water and in an instant she was kissing him, forcing herself to keep her hands at bay. “Let’s swim a bit. The water is gorgeous.” Aelin nodded and realised that Rowan was in his element. “Just don’t laugh.” “Why would I laugh?” He asked her pulling her to him again. “You are a professional swimmer. You probably look awesome and perfect while swimming. I don’t. I do breaststroke and I look like an idiot.” Rowan laughed “I don’t care how you swim.” He turned and took two powerful front crawl strokes and Aelin’s mouth fell open. It was a beautiful scene to watch him break the water with experienced perfection. She gained some courage and started swimming towards him and felt like a fish with clumsiness problems. In front of her Rowan stopped and swan back to her. “You are doing it wrong.” He stretched and showed her how to do it correctly. Then he placed his hands under her belly holding her up and she repeated the motions under his instructions. “Better.” He told her “It can be a tricky one to master. It requires coordination or you end up using more energy than needed.” Lysandra and Aedion reached them a moment later. “Can we swim to the island in front of us?” Asked Aedion. “I can, not sure you guys.” Affirmed Rowan “I have done it in the past. But we need to make it there and back.” “I can’t” said Aelin looking at the distance. “Me neither.” Added Lysandra “we girls can stay here and play where it’s safe. You boys go and have fun and do macho things.” Aelin walked to Rowan preoccupied “Ro, I am worried.” She admitted, caressing his tattoo, brushing the surgical scar marring his otherwise perfect skin “What if your shoulder…” “I will be fine.” He placed his hands on her cheeks “I feel good about this.” She nodded and decided to trust him. “Just look after Aedion. He is a fish too but he is not an ex professional.” “Will do.” And he gave her one last kiss. Aedion kissed Lysandra and the two men were off. Lysandra and Aelin were suntanning on the beach when they noticed their two men on the beach of the island waving at them. They both stood and waved back. “I didn’t know Aedion could swim that well.” “He is no champion like Rowan but he is good. He swims regularly and he can cover quite a distance. I usually join him but after a while I just move to the shallow side of the pool and soak until he does his million laps.” An hour later the two men walked out of the water and both Aelin and Lysandra looked at them with appreciation. Aelin had never actually noted how attractive Aedion was. He was just a bit shorter than Rowan, but he had muscles too, and a nice and tanned skin. And his blond hair reached his shoulder. “He is putting muscles on. He has found this place in London where they do medieval sword fighting. He has joined it and he is learning to wield a sword.” “No way. I want to do it.” “Do what?” Said Rowan’s voice in front of her. “Aedion has joined a group to learn medieval sword fighting.. It’s so cool.” “It is pretty awesome.” The man added shaking his wet hair all over Lysandra. “The idea of you with a sword is terrifying.” Rowan added while leaning on the beach towel at her side. In response she poked his sides finding nothing but hard muscles. “How was the swim?” “Gorgeous.” Replied Rowan brushing his hand through her wet hair. “It was incredible. I agree. Never swan in such pristine waters.” Once they were all dry they went back to the car and drove the twenty minutes needed to get to Lochmaddy. In the village they bought food at the local supermarket. On their way back, Aelin was staring at the landscape when she noticed and bed and breakfast and told Rowan to stop the car. The place was called Rowan Tree and she pulled him out of the car and forced him to take a photo in front of the sign. They got back to the cottage that it was almost dinner time and Lysandra kept telling everyone that she could not believe how bright it was. In their bedroom Aelin complained she needed a shower to remove the salt from her skin. She almost suggested Rowan to join her but then realised that naked in the shower could lead to other stuff and she wanted to respect Rowan’s desire. So they took turns and in the end she was glad she has the shower for herself so she could look after herself and reach the release that had been building up for a while now. The four of them had dinner together, cooked again by Rowan, and after their meal they decided to spend the evening the two couples each to their own. Rowan took Aelin down to the beach in front of their cottage. They found a nice spot with incredible views and they sat down, Aelin as usual between Rowan’s legs with her back to his chest. “You shoulder is bugging you.” She told him. She had noticed his grimaces of pain. He denied it. “Ro, the swim today was a bad idea.” He shook his head “I just have to retrain the muscles. I will be fine.” She huffed “well, tomorrow I am driving. You can be the navigator but I am driving.” “Driving is not an issue.” “Buzzard, you have this discussion with Lysandra. She is an orthopaedic surgeon. Be my guest.” He yielded “Fine, you drive, but you listen to me.” She leaned back her head and begged for a kiss “Of course.” They sat in silence until Rowan noticed she was humming Every River from Runrig and kissed her neck. “You are humming one of my favourite songs.” His arms tightened around her “It makes me think of us.” She kept humming. “All the ways of my life, I’d rather be with you. There is no way, without you.” He sang to her “or the second verse that says but you came to me like the way of children, simple as breathing, easy as air. This is you.” “It’s such a beautiful love song.” She felt him nod. They stayed on the beach a little while longer but at the first yawn, Rowan dragged her back to their room. Aelin reappeared in her Cookie Monster pyjama and Rowan smiled, then she climbed in bed with him. “I am the little spoon,” she ordered. He pulled her down and wrapped his arms around her pulling her body to his and burying his chin in the crook of her neck. “Another thing…” she grabbed his hands and moved them to her breasts “these, they camp here.” Rowan gave them a little squeeze “Oidhche mhath, mo chridhe.” “Whatever you just said.”

The next morning, Rowan had everything ready with the precision of a military officer getting ready for a mission. He made breakfast, prepared their lunches and filled their water bottles. His and Aelin’s backpack was all ready with all they needed. From fresh beach towels, to a hat, sunscreen a hat, sunglasses and his hoodie for Aelin in the off-chance the weather turned. He was pleased to see that Aedion was just as ready as him. “He is an ex-military brat. You two would get along.” Commented a sleepy Lysandra. “If we let things to you and Aelin we would be in bed till three in the afternoon and spend the rest of the day at home.” Rowan hid a laugh. He liked Aedion. “Ok troops, let’s march.” And while Lysandra was sleepy, Aelin was live and alert. In Rowan’s arms she had the best sleep in her entire life. They reached the car and Aelin took the wheel. “Why are you driving?” Lysandra sounded almost worried. “Rowan’s shoulder needs some rest.” “I noticed you seemed to have issues with it yesterday.” Lysandra added, with the eye of someone who did that for a living. “Old injury.” He flinched. Aelin took his hand and squeezed it. “I had a gym accident and suffered a complete tear of the rotator cuff. The tendons came off the bone.” “That’s a nasty one. What kind of surgery they did on you?” “They had to go for an open repair. The tear was far too big for an arthroscopic one.” He explained. “I have repaired quite a few of that type of injury. Rehab can be a bitch.” “Ro, just let me know where to go by the way.” “You are fine, keep driving, I’ll tell you when to turn.” She drove a bit longer “When we pass Clachan drive for a little longer the turn right at the first junction you see.” She did exactly that. “Now keep going until you reach the causeway and cross it. On the causeway the women were squealing. They had white sands on one side and blue waters and they had no idea where to look. Rowan pushed Aelin’s face “you look on the road, Fireheart.” “These roads are really small…” said Lysandra with apprehensive tone. “Now just follow the main road. Eventually it will finish and we will reach a farm.” They eventually reached their destination and Rowan gave her a kiss as a prize. For half an hour they wandered around the extensive white sands until Rowan called them back to order telling them that it was time for the main attraction of the day. Aelin tried to coerce a bit more info out of him but he refused. They were back in the car and Aelin kept driving under Rowan’s instructions “We are about to leave North Uist and go onto Benbecula, a very interested island joined to North and South Uist by Causeways and the whole island is pockmarked by lochs. It’s something quite spectacular.” Once they reached the second causeway Aelin stopped the car and very quickly she and Lysandra took some pictures. Back in the car an angry Rowan waited for her “You are not supposed to do that. That was a very dangerous manoeuvre.” “It was for a moment and there was no one coming anyway.” “That was a stupid thing to do. End of of the discussion. Now keep driving and at the junction there is a sign. Follow for Eiliean Fhloddaidh.” “The what?” She asked feeling stupid all of a sudden. “Just turn left at the junction, please.” His tone had a thick layer of annoyance. “Keep driving, pass the causeway and drive until you find the car park.” Five minutes later they arrived at destination, Aelin got off the car and slammed the door with a bit too much force. Rowan glared at her. Then grabbed her hand “Let’s go.” The four of them walked in silence for a little bit longer until Aelin spotted something moving on the rock “Are that…” “They are seals…” added Rowan with a big grin. “No screaming, you two. No touching, especially if there are pups. We keep our distance and admire them in silence.” They quietly moved closer and Aelin started squeezing Rowan’s hand “They are seals…” she whispered “They are adorable.” She looked at Lysandra and noted that her friend was in the same state of amazement as her. Rowan took out his camera and with the expertise of someone who had done it plenty of times he got closer without scaring away the animals. A moment later he noticed Aelin at his side. Her arms around his waist and her eyes full of joy and surprise. He took a picture of her while she was admiring the seals. It took him and Aedion a bit of time to convince their women they could not spend the day there and they had to keep going. They stopped again at another stunning location just after the causeway leading to South Uist, they had a quick coffee break in a lovely cafe then the two women did some shopping in two crafts shops. The second one was a place specialising in Hebridean jewellery and Rowan bought Aelin a simple necklace with a pendant as blue as her eyes and all the waters of the beaches she loved so much. Slowly they made their way south and Rowan had them stop at some archaeological sites. Aelin hugged a few more standing stones until they finally reached the pier in front of the causeway to Eriskay which Rowan explained was were they meant to go the following day to take the ferry to Barra. By the time they got back to the cottage they were all exhausted and after a nice meal, they all went to bed ready for their new adventure the following day.

The next morning was another early start as they were planning catching the first ferry out to Barra. Rowan had stated that he was the one to drive because he knew the road and they had a time issue at hand. Aelin yielded and let him drive. They reached their ferry in time and forty minutes later they docked in Ardmhor on the isle of Barra. Rowan kept driving and told them that they were going to a fun place. Aelin noticed the huge beach appearing in front of them and was ready for some excitement. Until Rowan parked in the small car park of what turned out to be an airport. Probably the smallest airport she had ever seen. “Let’s go.” Rowan took her hand and guided the group to a safe location. Aedion’s eyes were wide in surprise. “This is Barra airport. The only airport in the world where planes land on the sand.” Rowan checked something on his phone and Aelin was amazed how quickly he had learned how to use it. “A plane is due in, in half an hour.” They walked along what they discovered was called Traigh Mhor, which just meant Big beach. They all removed their shoes and walked in the water, until Rowan noticed the sound of a propeller plan approaching. Quickly they made their way to a safe spot, ready to admire the landing. “See the windsock? It means the airport is operating.” Rowan kept explaining “The runaways are under water at high tide so the schedule of the flights is very connected with the tides.” He moved the group off the beach while the plane was on its last leg of its approach. “Have you done this? Asked Aelin fascinated. Rowan nodded. “They only fly to Glasgow. And it can only operate by day.” Finally the plane landed and Aedion cheered “As an ex RAF pilot, this was awesome. I’d become a commercial pilot just to do this.” Rowan laughed. After the excitement, Rowan drove them all the way north to the top of Barra, and then they made their way back down and Aelin realised that Barra had one main road that was basically a circular around the island. Rowan took them to a few short walks until they eventually reached Castlebay, the main and only town on the island. They had lunch in one of the cozy cafes and in the afternoon they took a boat out to Kisimul castle. Back in town Aelin discovered a place that made toffee and she stocked up for life and Rowan made fun of her and her obsession for super sweet stuff. And to finish off the day Rowan took them to the gin distillery and they had a tour and Aedion bought two bottles for himself. Eventually they made it back home ending another long perfect day. Aelin was on the bed waiting for Rowan to come out of the shower and was flipping through the photos on his camera. “You took a lot of photo of me.” She said when he reappeared in his shorts and t-shirt ready for bed. He leaned forward and kissed her “I have seen these places a few times already. You are my favourite subject.” She put the camera down and a moment later he was hovering above her, caging her head between his arms, his head right above hers. He lowered himself and kissed her and Aelin moaned at the feeling of his body pressed on hers. Her kiss deepened and her legs locked around his lower back pushing his pelvis closer to her body. His hands traced her sides, sliding her t-shirt upward, exposing her breasts. The previous night they had gone a bit further in their cuddling and he had taken very seriously the idea of worshipping her girls. His mouth found its target and Aelin arched her back when his tongue flicked her hard peaks. Her hands fisted in his hair and pushed him even closer. And when his hand landed between her legs she had to restrain herself from a loud moan. His hand never actually touched skin but she was positive he could feel how wet she was. She could imagine his smirk, if it wasn’t that his face was buried in her chest doing wonderful despicable things. His hand sneaked under her shorts and stayed on top of her knickers. But the fabric was so thin that she could have been naked. His finger started rubbing in the exact spot where she wanted him and a shiver ran down her spine. Her back arched again, trying to find friction against his finger. She heard Rowan chuckle against her bare skin and his mouth sent her reeling. Damn, the man had skills. Eventually release came and Aelin had to bury her face against his shoulder to muffle the scream of undiluted pleasure that rippled through her. She felt her body shake and almost whimpered as she rode her high. Eventually she melted on the bed, Rowan lowered her t-shirt and took his place at her side, giving her a huge grin “I guess you will sleep very well tonight.” And that she did.

[aelin-and-feyre]

Fireworks

Here’s a special edition Fourth of July ToG modern au fic! For @rhysand-and-rowan

Rowaelin, Lysaedion, Elorcan, Manorian

QueenAelin: Hey guys, 4th of July party at Ashryver lake cabin next week. Rooms for everyone, invite a friend or two! See you there! ;)

Rowan glanced down at his phone, raising an eyebrow at the invitation. The group chat consists of the usual suspects: Dorian, Lysandra, Elide and him. Of course, her cousin would probably be present there too, as it was his family’s cabin and Lysandra would be there, and Rowan can already predict who the other two would invite. Safe to say, Lorcan and Manon would make at least an appearance, if not stay the night. He is not sure everyone will end up in separate bedrooms however. In fact, Rowan would bet good money that only half the intended beds would be used.

He rolls his eyes because he is positive that Aelin knows all of this as well. In fact, his girlfriend is probably expecting to play matchmaker for the night, perhaps give Aedion the extra push he needs to make the final move on Lysandra, and maybe lock Dorian and Manon in a room together after the fireworks. He loves Aelin, and he knows that she really wants this party to go well, and so he will do whatever it takes to help her in making it so.

Fireheart: You’re my +1 so don’t even think about inviting anyone else, because you’re gonna be mine for the night ;)

Rowan can’t help the smile that forces it’s way onto his face. Perhaps a full day (and night) of fun with Aelin is a good enough incentive to be on his best behavior anyway.

Buzzard: Wouldn’t dream of it, fireheart, looking forward to it ...

It took a little convincing... okay a lot of convincing, but Manon finally agreed to come with Dorian up to Aelin’s Independence Day party. She begrudgingly packed an overnight bag, purposely allowing him to glimpse certain aspects of her sleeping attire, and loaded into his car the morning of the event.

Dorian is excited, well, nervous and excited. His relationship with Manon has barely gone past what their physical desires prompt them to do, and the fact that she is actually sitting in the passenger seat next to him right now to go to something that is important for him blooms hope in his chest that she may want something more as well.

Without moving his eyes from the road, one of Dorian’s hands drift to rest on Manon’s thigh. He notices out of the corner of his eye a small, sly smile perk up one side of her mouth and can’t help the grin that stretches his own face. “This’ll be fun.” He assures her again, and suddenly realizes that he may be assuring himself just as much.

“And if it’s not, you’ll make it up to me,” Manon now has a full fledged smirk resting confidently on her lips. “By convincing Aelin to let me set off the fireworks.”

Dorian laughs, squeezing her leg lightly and feeling his chest lighten, some of his nerves ebbing away. “Deal, witchling.”

“Aedion and Aelin’s family owns this place?” Lorcan inquires as they pull up outside a large wood cabin, a couple stories high with a wrap-around porch. He can already see the lake from the driveway, stretching away from the house and buzzing with life.

Glancing over at Elide, she is smiling happily, and Lorcan assumes that she has many happy memories here. “Yep, they’ve added on to it in the past couple years to accommodate the large gatherings they like to host. My favorite part is making s’mores over the fire when it starts getting dark.”

Lorcan parks the car and exits, swiftly walking around the hood and opening the door for Elide. He helps her down the large step from the cabin of the truck to the ground and slides an arm around her waist as she gets used to the uneven grassy driveway. She swats his support away and instead places her small hand in his large one. “Please don’t fight with Aelin today, I want to have fun with you.” Elide murmurs as they walk up the steps of the porch leading to the main house, both of their bags slung over Lorcan’s shoulder.

“No promises...” She looks up at him and gives her most ferocious glare, which Lorcan is not too proud to admit scares him just a bit. He squeezes her hand slightly. “But I’ll try.”

“Lysandra, looking radiant as ever.” Aedion greets as she saunters through the door. Aelin nudges him a little with a whispered reminder to tone the flattery down a bit. However, as soon as a certain fluffy friend gallops in behind Lysandra, Aedion’s meddling cousin is too distracted to be of much help.

Clad in an outfit made purely of red, white, and blue, Lysandra sashays towards him, an excited smile on her face. “Why, thank you, Aedion,” She replies, flipping her hair over a shoulder and revealing her swimsuit strap and the fact that she is fully equipped to jump right in the lake at a moment’s notice. “Where is our room so I can drop my stuff off?”

Needless to say, Aedion is a bit taken aback. “O-our room?” Lysandra raises an eyebrow as if to ask why he’s questioning her obvious attempts at getting into his bed. Aedion jolts with the realization of what’s happening and immediately jumps into action, placing a hand on the small of her back and guiding her down the hall to what he is now proud to call their room.

On the way out the door leading to the lake, Manon grabs an apple from the fruit basket. She tosses it up and down absently as Dorian guides her to the pier where everyone else is gathering in a large speed boat. Manon grins.

“Ten bucks says I can hit Lorcan with this apple.” She mutters to Dorian, already measuring the distance and arc of which she will have to throw said fruit.

Despite himself, Dorian grins. “Fifteen if you hit him in the head.” Manon sends an upraising side glance towards her companion before grinning back, taking a large bite out of the apple, and then chucking it straight towards the male currently stepping off the pier and into the watercraft.

She should have known better. With lightening fast reflexes, Lorcan catches the apple inches away from the side of his face. He crushes it slightly in his strong grip, and then tosses it so it rolls to Manon’s feet. “You lost this.” He grunts, then settles into a seat, his arm draping around Elide’s shoulders as she giggles.

Manon scowls back at the brute, kicking the apple away from her. She shimmies out of her clothes to reveal a solid red swimsuit and discards her former attire to the grass behind her. Dorian chuckles. “I think you owe me fifteen dollars.”

“I’ll find a different way to pay you back.... later.” She assures him with a sly wink and then pulls him with her to the boat.

Aelin absolutely adores watching Rowan drive the boat. With his shirt off and his tattoo on full display, he steers with one hand, his long silver hair flowing behind him in the wind. She sits in the seat next to him, supposed to be watching the tubers to make sure they don’t fall off, but it’s sometimes too difficult to tear her gaze away from her boyfriend.

Rowan catches her staring and smirks, flexing slightly and making Aelin practically swoon. Miraculously, he never sunburns, Aelin relishes in the knowledge that after today as he sits in the sun, his skin is going to be gorgeously tan.

“Eyes on the tubers, fireheart,” Rowan reminds, swerving slightly to force Aedion and Lysandra out of the wake. “I don’t know why I allow you to be spotter, you’re truly awful at it.”

Aelin gasps indignantly. “Excuse me, I am fantastic at being a spotter.” She says, feigning incredible self-importance.

“Well if that were true then you would have realized that Aedion just fell off the tube.” Manon interjects. Both Rowan and Aelin swivel to look and sure enough, Lysandra is the only one still clinging to the floating device, Aedion bobbing a little while back.

Aelin blushes and Rowan’s smirk deepens while he turns back to retrieve her cousin. “Lorcan is spotter now.”

Lysandra truly hadn’t meant for Aedion to fall off the tube. She hadn’t thought that he would get so flustered by her words. Aedion and her had been dancing around each other for months now; flirting, baiting, joking. Lys had wanted this gathering to finally seal the deal between the two of them, and so she had stepped up her game. Perhaps she had taken too many steps though.

The small, flat tube had four handles and allowed for one or two people to ride it in a variety of ways. The way Lysandra and Aedion had opted for was her laying on her stomach in the middle, gripping the two center handles, and Aedion straddling her as he held on to the outer straps. Rowan and Aelin had made it look so easy, graceful even. They moved as a team as the tube raced across the wake, adjusting their weight and supporting each other so that they wouldn’t fall off.

Aedion had done his best considering the circumstances. Lysandra making suggestive comments every other wave may have hindered his abilities somewhat. His final straw happened to be when Lysandra asked, “Are you planning on straddling me like this in bed tonight, wolfie?” Aedion lost his grip and was far behind her in a matter of seconds.

As the boat turned around to go back and fetch him, Lys reconsidered her strategy. Perhaps she should dial it back a bit... However, as Aedion swam to resume his position above her, a grin which had earned him the nickname is plastered on his face. He climbs back onto the tube and shoots a thumbs up to the boat. As soon as they are in motion again, Lysandra feels his mouth very close to her ear. “If you’d allow it, straddling you tonight is something I have at the top of my to-do list.”

Now it’s her turn to lose her balance as her arms turn to jelly and she blushes deeply. Aedion chuckles, sparing an arm for a moment to slip around her waist and hold her securely so that she might not fall. He somehow maintains the both of them until Lysandra is able to regain her strength and hold the handles once again. Needless to say, any plan Lys had to reign in her flirting now disappears.

Turns out Lorcan is an amazing skier. Elide watches him in awe as he deftly maneuvers over the wake, sometimes gripping the line with one hand and crouching to let his fingers brush through the water. When he finishes a couple circles around the lake, he relinquishes the skis to Dorian, who looks at them with wary eyes.

Lorcan lopes over to Elide, undoing his lifejacket and letting it drop away from his glistening chest, water droplets streaking down his sculpted body. He grins at her, making her heart pound faster, but the moment ends when he shakes his head like a dog, splattering her with water. Elide shrieks, futilely attempting to shield herself from the onslaught.

The sound of Lorcan’s deep chuckle never fails to make Elide blush. “You’re sweet, Elide, but you’re not going to melt.” He falls into the seat next to her and jerks his chin towards Manon. “If anything, the witch over there should be withering away.”

Manon scoffs but provides no further comeback, instead opting to watch Dorian as he attempts to stand up on the skis. Elide lightly smacks his chest, partially just to make sure it’s as firm as it appears. “Be nice,” She reminds.

Lorcan grumbles, but places a small kiss to her temple anyway. “Fine, for you.”

“Aedion, you’re gonna get a sunburn if you don’t put sunscreen on your face.” Lysandra warns, holding up a bottle of lotion. Aedion grumbles but turns towards her anyway, allowing her soft hands to massage it into the contours of his face. He watches her as she works, reveling in the feeling of her delicate skin against his own.

She makes sure to cover every part of his face, her hands slowing as she finishes but her touch is not removed. Her gaze lingers on the strong column of his throat as her hands glide down it, ensuring that his skin will not burn. When her eyes once again meet his, they hold in a staring contest that feels like it lasts a century. Aedion doesn’t know what to say, or do, so he decides to just stay where he is, gazing into her deep, beautiful irises and hoping that the moment never ends.

Of course, it does when Manon makes a smart remark about them ‘eye fucking each other’. Aedion breaks the staring contest to glare at the woman, trying to come up with something to retort. Unfortunately, as Dorian’s hands massage sunscreen into the back of her legs, Aedion is made too uncomfortable to say much of anything.

Lysandra’s hands finally retreat from his skin and he takes one of them in his own, smiling at her adoringly. “Thank you for helping me.”

“Dinner!” Aelin calls a couple hours later, taking the platter of hamburgers from Rowan and walking them over to the outside patio set. Her friends gather around quickly, drawn to the smell of the grilled meat.

As they all sit down, Rowan’s hand clasped in Aelin’s under the table, she looks around at her gathering of friends and smiles to herself for a job well done. Fourth of July gathering with some of the most temperamental people and no one has killed any one else.... yet.

“Elide, is there anything else you wanted to do while we’re here?” Aelin asks from down the table.

Her friend swallows before answering. “I was hoping we could get a chance to make some s’mores tonight.”

“I know a girl who can build an amazing fire,” Rowan suggests around a mouthful of food.

Aelin laughs. “I think that could be arranged.” She glances around the table again, noticing that Manon and Lorcan are currently having a eating contest - seemingly designed that the winner is whoever can eat their burger the loudest while not breaking eye contact - while Dorian watches, thoroughly amused. Across from her, Aelin doesn’t miss the looks Lysandra and Aedion share, and guess that they aren’t going to make it past the fireworks.

Rowan squeezes her hand under the table, urging her to meet his eye and see the proud expression held there. She takes a deep breath and nods to herself. The night is going well.

Somehow, Elide was able to convince Lorcan to roast a marshmallow. It caught on fire in the first three seconds of course, but she appreciates that he tried.

As to be expected, Aelin’s marshmallow turns out perfect, and Elide looks so bummed that hers also burned that it spurs Lorcan to try again. He fails three times before finally figuring out what he’s doing wrong. Instead of sticking the gooey confection directly into the flames, Lorcan patiently holds the stick right above the coals and watches with triumph as it slowly turns golden brown.

Sandwiching the roasted fluff and a slice of chocolate between two graham crackers, Lorcan proudly hands it to Elide, who kisses his cheek in thanks. He watches, love in his gaze as Elide takes her first bite of her s’more, a joyous moan erupting from her lips as she does so. He brushes some graham cracker crumbs from her hair and smiles lightly. “Note to self: to make Elide moan, feed her s’mores.”

Unfortunately, Lorcan is so caught up in her responding blush that he misses the marshmallow thrown at his face. The feeling of Elide’s small hands carefully wiping away the sticky goo make it worth it, though.

The fireworks are breathtaking. And prompting.

Aedion and Lysandra end up sharing a blanket, somehow wrapped up in each other as they watch the explosions high in the air. Aedion sneaks a kiss on the top of Lysandra’s head, causing her to look up at him and smile. It’s not long after that that Aedion scoops her up in his arms and carries her inside, finally doing something about the feelings and tension that they have been swimming in for months.

Dorian ends up convincing Aelin to let Manon light the fireworks, and the two of them work together to set them off. Dorian loves watching Manon work, as she carefully lights the string and hurries back to where he waits a safe distance away. She follows each firework into the sky with her eyes and then immediately moves on to the next one. As soon as the very last one is lit, however, she grabs Dorian’s hand and leads him away from their friends. “I believe I owe you fifteen dollars...” Is the last thing heard from them for the night.

Elide cuddles up to Lorcan as the display goes on. She watches the fireworks but he watches her, noticing how her mouth parts a little when the explosion is rather wide, and her eyes shut for a split second when one is rather loud. They lay beneath the stars long after the fireworks are over, talking and reminiscing until they finally retreat to their shared bedroom for the night. Elide quickly rewards him for trying to be on his best behavior. Their room is locked for many hours.

Aelin and Rowan lay on the floor of the boat, cuddling adorably as they admire the show. Aelin has to admit that Manon does a good job. With his arm wrapped securely around her, and his fingers running soothing patterns up and down her side, Aelin can’t help but fall asleep. Hosting takes a lot out of her, and Rowan is simply happy to be there, holding her tightly and gazing up at the stars. A while after the last firework went off, Rowan carries Aelin to bed, slipping under the covers and kissing her forehead. “Happy 4th, fireheart, I love you.”

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