#pine green Terrasen green

[acourtofquestions]

[leiawritesstories]

queen's crown

rowaelin + kiddos // written for April microfics @throneofglassmicrofics using the prompt "Crown"

word count: 725

warnings: none :)

enjoy!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Staghorn Crown of Terrasen sat atop its emerald-green velvet pillow, the gold spires that resembled antlers jutting proudly up into the still, silent air of the throne room. At its center, the kingsflame bloom encased in crystal seemed almost to glow, the scarlet and crimson and orange of its petals radiating warmth and light.

The princess rose onto her tiptoes and fixed her wide-eyed gaze upon the crown, the pedestal just barely taller than her head. At the sound of footsteps entering the throne room, she startled, and her elbow knocked into the pedestal as she wobbled, trying to keep her balance.

She stared, her wonder turning to horror, as the crown tipped off of its cushion and tumbled towards the floor.

But a swift, wintry wind brushed through the throne room, caught the crown, and deposited it neatly back on its cushion, its tendrils wrapping carefully around the princess as she wobbled on the steps.

"Are you alright, little love?" Her father's voice, her father's wind.

Six-year-old Alanna Whitethorn Galathynius felt her lower lip shiver as the tears slowly spilled out of her eyes, the same bright pine as her father's. In an instant, her father was there, scooping her up into his arms, soothing her.

"I--I almost broke Mama's crown," Lana half-sobbed, burying her face in her dada's warm shoulder.

"Shh, little love, it's alright." Rowan carried Lana back to her rooms, where her mother was waiting, concern on her face. He kissed the top of his daughter's blonde head. "You know Mama and I would never let anything happen to you, Lana."

She sniffled. "I sorry, Mama."

Aelin took her daughter from her mate's arms, giving him a brief, tender look. "Lana, lovey, you mean so much more to me than that silly old crown." She cupped the little girl's face, meeting Lana's teary gaze with her own steady one. "Were you trying to see Mama's crown?"

Lana nodded. "Auntie El said you used to try and see it all the time when you were my age."

A distant, yearning smile slipped across Aelin's face. "That was...a very long time ago. I'm surprised she remembers." When she was a child, Aelin had often slipped into the throne room to stare at the crown from a distance, a memory she'd almost forgotten until her daughter brought it up.

Calming, Lana touched the bracelet that curled around Aelin's wrist, a smaller version of the crown with golden prongs like antlers. An everyday crown. "It matches."

"Yes, it does." Aelin kissed Lana's forehead. "Do you want to go see the crown, lovey?"

Lana's big green eyes lit up. "Yes!"

"Alright, then." Aelin stood up and took Lana's hand, and with Rowan at her back, ever the hovering buzzard, she led her daughter down to the throne room. Together, they walked across the quiet, shadowed expanse of the room, its soft darkness broken by the sunlight that streamed in through the arched windows along the walls.

At the front of the throne room, she lifted the crown's cushion off the pedestal, slowly knelt down in front of her daughter with a flicker of a grimace of discomfort, and set the cushion on the ground. Lana's expression widened with wonder as she clung to her mother's hand and stared at the crown.

Rowan knelt next to Aelin, concern creasing his face. "Are you sure you should be--"

"I'm fine, you overbearing buzzard," she sighed, one hand drifting to her very rounded stomach.

A tiny mirror of her father, Lana pressed both of her small hands to Aelin's bump. "Mama, baby?"

"Baby is just fine, lovey," Aelin promised. Gently, reverently, she lifted the crown from its cushion and raised it into the shaft of sunlight, causing light to radiate off of the kingsflame bloom. As her daughter and her mate watched, she carefully lowered it onto her head, feeling its familiar weight settle over her.

Lana stared raptly. "Mama so pretty," she murmured.

Aelin smiled as she lifted the crown off her head. "One day, my daughter, this will be yours." Lana held very still as Aelin placed the crown atop her small head, holding it in place so it didn't slip down the princess's face.

And the Queen of Terrasen looked at the future queen, her heart full to bursting at the sight of her family.

~~~

TAGS: please lmk if you want to be added/removed :)

@live-the-fangirl-life

@superspiritfestival

@thegreyj

@wordsafterhours

@elentiyawhitethorn

@morganofthewildfire

@mariaofdoranelle

@rowanaelinn

@house-of-galathynius

@tomtenadia

@julemmaes

@swankii-art-teacher

@charlizeed

@booknerdproblems

@earthtolinds

@goddess-aelin

@sweet-but-stormy

@clea-nightingale

@autumnbabylon

@darling-im-the-queen-of-hell

@llyncooljones

@silentquartz

@aelinschild

@renxzs

[shallyne]

Daylight

This is my very first tog fic (that isn't a crackship) and my very first rowaelin fic and also my very first entry for @throneofglassmicrofics and for my dearest @timesconvert || I hope you'll like it!

This is a song fic based on Taylor Swift's song Daylight

Words: 818

TW: triggering canon scenes mentioned!

Aelin looked at Rowan, really looked at him as he talked to Fenrys and realised once again how lucky they were to be here. How much shit they went through to even get to this point at all and how far they’ve come since they first met, how fate hat fucked them up so thoroughly that they still healed and Aelin realized right then how lucky she was to be able to heal, right beside her mate. What an honour it was to not only be able to have him at her side but to be there for him, too, at his side. Yes she looked at Rowan because Rowan was what she could look at and what she wanted to look at. She saw him and he saw her, she never wanted anything to change about that.He loved her, saw through all her faults, the lines she had crossed in the past to survive, her saw her and he loved her,

She still felt guilt about how easily she had trusted Arobynn, how trusting Arobynn was her only chance at survival at only 8 years older but especially that she had harboured hope that he wasn’t the cruel man she had witnessed over and over again, how he had failed her last test in trust but Rowan...he still loved her throughout her misplaced hope in Arobynn and every fucked up thing she had to do to get them where they were now, to get to a peaceful life.After they went through so much darkness, through endless nights, he was the light at the end of the tunnel. Rowan was her daylight, the breaking of dawn. He had helped her leave the young assassin behind and step into the role of Queen of Terrasen.

Yes, Aelin finally was out of the dark, thanks to her beautiful mate and she finally had the peace to take the time to look at him and appreciate him and love him.

Although there were nights they took a long, long time to appreciate each other it was something different to look at him now. How his posture had become relaxed, how the darkness had left his eyes, less haunted than ever, and his sassy remarks, Aelin huffed a laugh that had both fae males looking over their shoulder. She waved for them to continue their conversation, a smile glued to her face. Yes, his sassy remarks definitely increased, but she couldn’t blame him, it was the very same for herself.

After what felt like twenty years full of darkness, he was her daylight and Aelin liked to believe he felt the same about her.

The darkness was finally over.

Fenrys sighed after Rowan clapped him on his shoulder, he turned around, mocking a bow and bid her goodbye. Aelin stuck out her tongue before Fenrys had fully turned, and saw a hint of a smirk as Rowan walked towards her, the sun shining behind him, making him look like there was a golden glow around him.

After Sam, she hadn’t believed she would ever find a love so all consuming that her whole body would react to everything, but here she was, her mouth drying up at the beauty of her mate.

“Are you done with your broody male conversations?” she asked, picking at her nails.

Rowan plopped down beside her, his familiar pine and snow scent enveloping them. “You can’t really call two people a club, can you?”

Aelin shrugged, turning her face and cherishing the sunlight. “No but you probably planned another broody fae male meeting where you talk about…well…broody fae male stuff.”

Rowan huffed amused and she felt how he leaned closer. “What have you laughed about earlier?” he asked, his voice quiet and deep,

Aelin hid her shudder at the pleasure that brought his voice and turned her head towards her mate, meeting his beautiful green eyes. “Wouldn’t you like to know, buzzard?” Rowan only raised a brow, waiting for her to continue. She sighed, “I was just...I’m happy.” she admitted. Happy that she now could live a life where she could choose what she wanted. That she could be defined by the things she loved, not the things she hated. She wouldn’t be defined by the things that she was afraid of or the things that still haunted her in the middle of the night. They would be defined by the things that they love, they would become the people that made them happy.

“Me too.” Rowan said and although he wasn’t a man of big words, she saw the emotions in his eyes.He knew what she thought and he agreed.

Rowan stretched his hand out, for Aelin to take, and she did. He pulled her up and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Then they began walking, into the bright future that awaited them. Full of laughter and life and light.

[tomtenadia]

Detours to you - Chapter 1

It's the weekend and after the brief prologue here I am with chapter 1. I have 12 down so far and feel more confident about this one. After two failed attempts, it seems that picking the remains of both it helped. It's not going to be a super long fic. I aim at 20ish chapters. There will be some angst but nothing too extreme. I have kept Puck, my angst monster at bay. Maya will be the official provider of fluff and cuteness,

Happy reading

Aelin was enjoying her day off with her daughter.. Maya had started school back in August and when she was at work it was her parents picking her up and keeping her until she could retrieve her. On that Saturday though, Lysandra and Elide, her business partners at the bookshop had pushed her to go and spend a day with her daughter.

It had been five years since they opened the shop. It had been hard work and long days and a lot of bureaucratic hoops to jump in. But they had made it. 

But as her dream of owning a bookstore became reality, the other half of her life fell apart. 

Rowan. She hadn’t thought about him in a while and wondered if he was fine. 

Rowan. The man she had gone as far as to admit he was the love of her life. Her soulmate. They had been happy, but life had other plans. All their dreams and hopes got swept away in a sea of pain and hurt.

She had let him go. Even knowing she was pregnant with his daughter she let him go and be with his family. His father’s death had destroyed him and the man at her side had transformed in an emotionless shell. So she had begged him to go. Neither of them wanted to do long distance so when he came back for his last visit, a mere month after, she called it quits. It had been the hardest thing she ever did in her life but it was for the best, and now she also had a new life to think about. 

Her daughter.

Their daughter.

“Mama, the piano is so pretty.”

Maya’s voice brought her back to reality “Yes, so much.”

“Can we have one?”

“Not yet, baby.”

“Okay.”

She stared at the piano and her fingers ached. When was the last time she played? Her parents still had her piano in their house.

It had been a spring evening of five years ago. She and Rowan had gone to her parents and he had badgered until she caved and played. He loved to listen her play and every time they were at her parents he would beg her.

That night. That was the last time she played. Because no long after life went to shit.

“Wanna go to Emrys for hot chocolate?”

The girl’s pine green eyes lit up in joy “yes, a big one.”

Emrys was their favourite cafe ran by Emrys and his husband Malakai. The man doted on her and Maya and they were regulars.

Aelin loved the atmosphere of the place. It always felt cozy. Also, Emrys made the most luxurious hot chocolate in old Orynth. It was a cavities paradise but she did not care

They walked the familiar path until they reached the shop with its colourful awnings and walked in.

“Hi Emys!” Squealed Maya who was still trying to learn to pronounce the man’s name.

“Hello munchkin, did you have fun with your mum?” The man came out from behind the counter, kneeled in front of her and mussed her hair.

“We went to the science museum. They have morning for kids and Maya loves them.”

“I know all about the stars and I can see the Lord of the North.”

“Aren’t you a bright little thing?” Maya giggled and they took a seat at their favourite table and Emrys, not long after brought them their drinks. They had both hot chocolates, but Maya was not heavy on the sugar. Her daughter was five and she had to look after her. Aelin was a lost cause in terms of sugary stuff, but her daughter was far too young.

“Do you want to go to the ice rink after?”

“Yes, mama.”

Aelin loved spending her days off enjoying with Maya. Her girl was growing fast and every moment was precious.

“Mama, can I play hockey?”

Hockey in Terrasen was a religion and the national sport. The local team, the Stags had been the reigning champions for the last three season and they were leading the current one too. Her father had introduced her to the game since an early age. They went to games together and it slowly became their ritual. Aelin became a fan and she used to go to all home games. Now she had started taking Maya too when the girl became interested after she watched it on tv. Aelin admitted that watching burly men whacking each other on ice had its charm. 

“Do you want to play hockey?”

“Yes mama, I love it.”

“Ok,”she added. She’d have to look for some junior teams around the city. Sport would be good for Maya. “I will look if I can find a team for young kids.”

“I want to play with the Stags.”

Aelin laughed and mussed her hair with tenderness “One day when you go pro in the THL, my love.”

Maya gave her a huge grin and took a bite of her cinnamon roll.

*

Rowan drove home in a haze. He honestly could not remember the drive home. His body just acted on pure muscle memory.

His mind kept going towards the little girl he saw at Aelin’s hand.

He stepped into the house and dumped the bag onto the floor and felt sick. Slowly he walked to the kitchen for some water. He stared at his kitchen slowly, but his mind was stuck on an image.

Was that really his daughter? Had Aelin kept such a huge secret from him for all these years? The air got sucked from his lungs and the sickness came back. 

Rowan slumped on the sofa and closed his eyes pinching the bridge of his nose.

He then grabbed his phone and called Lorcan.

“Hi man.”

“Lor…”

“Damn you sound like shit. First day jitters?”

He was meant to start tomorrow as Chief. 

“Can I come to your place?”

Silence “Sure.” Another pause “Ro, are you okay?”

“Please?”

“Sure, I am still at my old place.”

Rowan thanked him and went to the door, wore back his shoes and jumped in the car.

He arrived at Lorcan’s flat a good half an hour later. He had to cross the whole city and the traffic was getting worse as they got closer to rush hour.

At the flat he climbed the block and reached Lorcan’s floor.

Lorcan let him in with a worried expression “Come it will be just us. Elide is still at work.”

He and Elide had married a few months before he left for Wendlyn. He was happy for him. Lorcan had a shitty childhood that messed him up. But Elide had managed to get past that grumpy disposition of his and won his heart. He had been very thankful to the petite woman. 

“Take a seat. Want a beer?”

Rowan shook his head. He only wanted answers. 

Lorcan sat on the sofa but Rowan stood and paced.

“Hey, you look like a wreck.”

“I was in town, today.” His breath came out ragged “I saw Aelin.”

“Shit.”

Rowan was silent and kept pacing, his heart racing as he prepared to ask the question that terrified him. “Lor, she was with a kid. A little girl.”

He turned and stared at his friend and his breath caught. Lorcan gave him an expression he knew well. He knew something and Lorcan was the worst at keeping secrets. 

“Is she my daughter?” The question left his lips and the terror spread through him.

Lorcan stood “Rowan…” he paused and then all the worry drained from his face and an angrier expression took over “Yes. She is. Her name is Maya and she is five, she is your daughter.”

Rowan stood frozen in place. His body shook with anger. His pacing resumed and his hands were in his hair in a nervous gesture.

“How?” His voice a deep growl “Lorcan, why I was never told. I am the father.”

Lorcan sighed. Elide was probably going to kill him. When Aelin had announced the pregnancy to her group of friends Lorcan had threatened to call Rowan. He and Aelin had a huge fight and from that day she quickly became his least favourite person. He tolerated her only because his wife was a good friend but he would keep his distance. He would have to grovel to his wife but his friend was distressed and he was done lying.

“I wanted to tell you but she made us all promise.”

Rowan’s face went dark with anger and the lines of his face got harsh.

“So, everyone knows.”

Lorcan nodded.

Rowan slumped on the sofa burying his face in his hands “I have a daughter.”

Lorcan was silent and let his friend mull over the situation.

“What do I do?” He burst out standing up again and resuming his pacing “I got rights I assume? I am her biological father.”

“I can check with Vaughan, he is the lawyer, I am just a firefighter.”

Rowan then stopped “When was she born?”

“January 10th.”

Rowan did a bit of math and turned out that while he was travelling back and forth from Wendlyn, Aelin was likely already pregnant and probably knew. Again that sense of suffocation and panic.

“You need to talk to Aelin.” Lorcan looked and he saw fear in his face. They were both firefighters, had a lot of hairy calls and many brushes with death, but that was the first time he saw deep fear in his friend’s features.

“I know.” He admitted quietly.

In that instant the front door opened and Elide’s cheery voice reached them. 

Rowan grabbed his coat “I have to go.”

Elide entered the living room and stopped at seeing a face she hadn’t seen in five years “Rowan?”

“I am out.” He ignored the woman and turned to his friend “Thank you, Lor.”

He quickly left the room and Elide turned to her husband “Is Rowan back?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t seem surprised.” Elide stopped in front of her towering husband and glared at him “How long have you known?”

“A month,” he admitted quietly “He got a job as chief and he told me before the big announcement was made.”

Elide groaned “So is he back, back?”

“Yes, the transfer is permanent.”

Elide started pacing “Lor, you haven’t told him… about you know what.”

And when her husband stood silent Elide feared the worst “Lorcan?”

“Of course I told him,” he burst in anger. He and Elide had totally opposite opinions on the matter and both Elide and Lysandra had taken Aelin’s side. “Damn Elide, he is the father and he needs to know.” A deep growl “And he saw Aelin with Maya. He asked me and I told him. I am done keeping secrets.”

“He saw her?” Horror etched on his wife’s face “Lor, you should not have told him. You know how Aelin feels about it.”

“Sure. Keep siding with a woman who denied the father the right to know his daughter. Rowan has the right to meet Maya.”

“That was not your call to make.” She shouted back in anger “Lorcan I am so mad at you.”

“Elide, I love you but you are so wrong on this.”

“Have you thought about the repercussion?”

“Elide, he saw her and Maya is basically a clone of Rowan’s.” And the he walked out of the room, leaving his wife alone.

Elide walked angrily to the kitchen and started preparing dinner.

Lorcan stepped at her side, incapable at being mad at his wife for too long “El, I had to. You have not seen the state he was in when he came to me. Think about it, would you ever do that to me?”

Elide placed the pan down and looked up at her husband “No, Lor.”

“Exactly, so why do you defend her so much?”

“She is my best friend.”

“I know baby, and Rowan is mine and I cannot see him in that state.”

His strong arm wound around her waist and pull her closer “They will need us.”

“I know,” a soft whisper against her husband’s chest “I know.”

*

Rowan drove home and parked the car in the driveway but instead of going back inside he went to the back of the house and lay down in the garden.

The stars were out on that clear night, the Lord of the North bright up. He stared at the constellations. His father had taught him their names when he was a kid.

He wondered if his daughter, Maya, the name was the cutest thing ever, he wondered if she would enjoy staring at the stars. He would love to teach her.

He closed his eyes and prepared himself for the battle ahead of him.

He had a daughter and he was going to fight for her.

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[yourfoolmoon]

Just realized that while the books describe many times how Rowan smells like snow and pine just like Terrasen (and home for Aelin), the colors of Terrasen are also SILVER (Rowan’s hair) and GREEN (Rowan’s eyes)

How poetic is that? Now I’m crying

[f1ameheir]

there had ever only been one thing harder for aelin to do than forge the lock   . . .   and it was to admit that her husband was right.      the sidewise glare of her eyes as he speaks with carefully picked words , trying to retain what little peace may happen to remain between the queen of terrasen and the high lord of the night court , is all she gives him in regards to admitting such.      because as prideful aelin was , even she knew better.      knew how one ally could make or break the outcome of the war.      if not for the man who carried himself with a larger god complex than her own , then for the people who lived in this world.      who just wanted a happy life just like her own people.      for them aelin would fight.      (   but it did not mean her behavior would be flawless.   )

letting her shoulders drop , fingers combing through the freed hair as her eyes turn back to his own.      those pine green eyes that had been her beacon.      her reminder of the home she fought and was willing to die for.      any flame that lingered within began to fizzle the longer her gaze kept against his until a breath of surrender was uttered.      aelin loved this man with all she was and would ever be , but gods she loathed when he was right.

before she could speak however , there is laughter that keels through her lips at rowan’s snide comment.      his little back up plan of sorts if rhysand did not yield his ego to what aelin had to offer.      ❛   i say we offer him to abraxos.      manon has sent word here and there of dry spells of no good game for him as of late.   ❜      light began to grow back in her eyes as her body relaxed  on the edge of the bed.      as that laugh he managed to pull from her somehow broke through the hardened shell she had adorned as soon as she stepped foot in velaris.

the words don't warrant a response, rowan knows better than to engage in something he's not quite ready to address, but he does allow a small quirk of his lips. she's not wrong, as aelin often isn't, but telling her would only end up opening up a can of worms that they don't have time to deal with right now.

instead, he stares hard at the back of the high lord's head, frown etched into his forehead. "his asking leaves a lot to be desired," he agrees, sighing before turning to face his wife, "but he did ask for help."

it's a diplomatic answer, a safe one that won't really fan the flames of her anger any more than what's already been said, but rowan keeps his gaze on her and her only. as usual, aelin's the only one that keeps his attention, and like any time he's in the same room as her ( the same realm, the same universe ), he feels a pull to her that won't let go until he's near. so different than how they first started, and yet even then there was that invisible string that pulled him in.

"i'm not saying we have to oblige, especially not if he keeps up this attitude that's getting real old real fast, but we've come all this way to hear him out. the least we could do now is at least make sure there's isn't anything we could do to help." he doesn't need to mention that when the situations were reversed things were even more dire for them. friendships and allyships were the one thing that kept them strong during their war, the cliff that held strong against the crashing waves.

"but," an appeasing sentence, one that's intended to bring that mischevious smile that makes him sweat and burn to light, the wheels in her head turning right before his eyes, "if he keeps it up, we can leave. or simply let fenrys on him, he hasn't had a good run in a while."

[mariaofdoranelle]

Wedding Break - Part 2

Masterlist

Thank you so much for all the love I received in part 1 💗💘💛💓❤️

Warnings: language

Word count: 2,6k

Adrenaline shot through Aelin’s veins, and her eyes darted back to the tree, her best escape. Still monitoring the prince, she slowly moved to the side, in a way that could stop Roman from blocking her way out. He cleared his throat before she could flee.

“You can answer me a few questions—“

“There’s not a chance—“

“Or I can ask the guard to show you the way to your room, since you’re clearly lost.”

Aelin froze on her spot, just the thought of losing her only scape had a grip on her breath greater than she’d like to show. By the triumphant smirk on the man’s face, he knew he had won.

With arms crossed, she narrowed her eyes at him. “What do you want to know?”

He leaned on the wall, mirroring a relaxed version of her movements. “For starters, why did you break into my bedroom?”

She opened her mouth to speak, but then closed again. “Can we have another question?”

The prince took a deep breath. “Okay, then. Why did you jump from your balcony?”

For Mala’s sake, there was no chance she’d get out of this without telling him, was it? “If you really want to know, I was trying to temporarily leave the castle. Your guards won’t let me.” Ronan’s eyes were filled with amusement instead of the irritation she anticipated, which made her comfortable enough to explain further. “I just need to speak with my father, and then I’ll be back.”

Ronan tilted his head, trying to make sense of it. “Your father... who’s in Terrasen.” And then something clicked and his eyes went wide.

“You’re going back to Terrasen.”

Aelin shuffled her feet, second-guessing her choice to tell this stranger about her plans. “I need to discuss a few things about the wedding.”

“Why didn’t you do it before the decision was made?”

She swallowed, trying to ignore how humiliating it felt to say this out loud for the first time. “Because I found out I’m engaged this morning.”

“That’s odd. You’ve been the talk of the castle for weeks now.”

“I know you guys want me to stay, but—“

“I don’t.”

She frowned, confused by his statement. And a bit offended too. “I don’t get it.”

“Have you considered that my cousin might not want to marry you as well?” he asked with raised eyebrows.

Aelin’s cheeks started to burn, and she looked away to avoid his gaze. No, she was so focused on her own doom she hasn’t thought about Endymion’s feelings for a second.

“Well, Ro...” she trailed, forgetting his name again.

“Rowan.”

Aelin ignored the chill his deep accent sent down her spine.

“Rowan. Will you let me go, then?”

He smirked. “I have a better offer for you. Come on in.”

Following Rowan to his room, the welcoming smell of pine and snow almost rooted Aelin to her spot. She first saw his green walls covered by symmetrically arranged framed posters, and then noted that every boyish feature of his room was so tidy it almost looked comical.

She made herself at home and sat on an armchair, leaving for him the one on the other side of the coffee table.

“So, what’s your offer?”

“I can get you out of the castle and drop you off at the airport.”

“That sounds sketchy. You’ll just do me this huge favor and ask for nothing in return?”

Rowan frowned. “It’s a pretty basic favor, actually.”

Aelin pursed her lips. This deal still felt a bit off, but it was better than climbing off a tree and improvising her way out of the gates. She sighed and got up from her seat. “Okay, then. Let’s go.”

He stared at her with incredulous, bulged eyes while Aelin waited for him to get up with both hands resting on her hip.

“Are you coming?” Aelin sneered.

“Not now!” Rowan finally said, “I wouldn’t put past Maeve putting the city on lockdown five minutes after you’re gone.”

She tilted her head. “So we need to leave at night.” He just nodded from his seat. “That’s very cloak and dagger. Let’s do it.” Aelin said, smirking like Hellas himself.

“I’ll pick you up later, then,” he decided, assessing her with those piercing pine-green eyes. “Meet me at midnight.”

˜˜˜

For someone who was willing to escape with nothing but the clothes on her back, packing a travel bag was more challenging than she thought it’d be. Aelin was used to sneaking out of the castle every now and then, but never to make an international trip. Her duffel bag wasn’t big, so she packed only essential items like money, clothes, cosmetics and chocolate.

Aelin had just bought her plane ticket when two booming knocks sounded on her door and Aedion came inside.

He threw himself on her couch, resting his feet on the armrest. “You missed lunch today.” Aelin’s heart started pounding when she remembered the reason she didn’t attend lunch today, but she didn’t answer. The tense silence didn’t stop Aedion, though. “Evalin told me what happened.”

“Really?” Aelin said instead of really talking about what happened. The way her throat was closing up was as intense as Aedion’s gaze on her, and she knew her reaction would define his.

“Yes, really.” He clenched his jaw. “She asked me to make sure you keep it together.”

This news sent a sharp pain through Aelin’s chest, but she hoped her face didn’t show how much she felt. After all that happened, that was her mother’s main worry. This kind of behavior wasn’t surprising, yet here she was. “What did you say?” Aelin whispered. She was leaving. She was fixing this. With or without her mother’s approval this time.

“I called her a manipulative bitch and stormed out,” Aedion mumbled, shrugging. “Look, I know you don’t like it when I meddle, but—“

“No, it’s fine.” Aelin’s voice broke mid-sentence and her eyes brimmed with tears, but she took a deep breath and forced her gaze on the ceiling to stop them. Aedion has always been her fiercest ally inside the castle. Not that his competition was strong, though.

It turns out Aedion had come to take her to dinner, so she didn’t need to dodge his questions for long. He didn’t comment on her apparent resignation or choice of clothing, and she was glad. Aelin wore a pastel blue dress that fell below her knees and modest makeup. No trying to bend the royal dress code’s rules this time. If Aelin needed to act like everything was alright before escaping, so be it.

The seating arrangement was a complete nightmare. Stuck between her mother and Prince Endymion, Aelin had to choose between angry conversation and completely awkward conversation. Jokes on whoever arranged this, her focus went solely to her food. The fish’s rich yellow color caused by the sauce, accompanied by strong herbs and vegetables was the best thing she could interact with for now.

“You look great, darling. Are you feeling any better?”

Just like that, her meal felt harder to swallow than usual. After all that happened, Aelin hated how she reveled in her mother’s praise, but the small nod and approving smile Evalin sent her way after seeing her choice of clothes for the evening was an annoying kind of joy.

“Sure,” she answered her mother. Aelin needed to act like everything was according to Evalin’s plans, but it was more difficult than she expected.

“I’m glad.” Evalin opened her mouth to speak, but then closed again. In a lower tone, she said, “I love you, Fireheart. I’m just trying to do what’s best for you.”

Aelin’s throat constricted even more, so she took a deep breath and went back to her food before her emotions got the best of her. The worst part was that she knew her mother was telling the truth. Deep in her bones, Aelin knew how much her mother loved her. Their main point of conflict has always been about Evalin not wanting to accept what Aelin thought was best for herself.

By the time the dessert came, her focus was mostly on how long was this dinner going to be. Aelin was trying to control her bouncing foot, and it was hard to swallow the food when she didn’t even know what time it was. At least Rowan was there, so he couldn’t blame her if they were late, but it still made her antsy.

“Princess,” Endymion called, making the whole table go silent.

Aelin’s heart stopped. Dear Mala, did he notice something? She slowly turned to him, forcing a pleased expression.

“I heard you’re a great fan of literature. May I take you to the Royal Library after dinner?”

“Of course,” Aelin answered. Endymion’s face looked so kind it was hard to refuse. The fact that the whole table was listening played its part too.

However, there were only three people smiling after their exchange.

Evalin, beaming like the proud mother she was.

Queen Maeve, the way she curled her lips portrayed a satisfied look that wasn’t hard to decipher.

And Rowan, trying and failing to hide his wicked smirk.

˜˜˜

“So, what do you like to read?” Endymion asked while Aelin was looking around, mesmerized. The library was open, with one large floor and a mezzanine. The ceiling was painted with mythological narratives, but there was a huge, golden chandelier in the center as well. It was stunning, and Aelin could’ve spent days here if she wasn’t leaving tonight.

She focused her attention on her fiancé for the first time since arriving, but he didn’t seem upset. “I like Terrasen’s classics, and—“

“I read your profile.” He smiled. “I’m asking what you actually like to read.”

“Oh.” Aelin blushed and bit her lip. “I really do like them, I just happen to also like books that don’t belong in a royal library.”

Still grinning, he said, “I know just the section.” And led her towards some cartography books. There was just them and one employee filling an iron cart with books about the Southern Continent, and Aelin was confused until a door opened and she entered a secret passageway.

Not knowing what was going on, Aelin’s pulse picked up until a light turned on. She let out a small sigh. It was a large hallway with a superhero themed decoration, some bookshelves and two couches. It was simpler than the main library, but cozier.

Getting closer, she recognized a few fantasy titles she’d read and comic books Aedion collected when he was younger in the bookshelf.

“Endymi—“

“You can call me Enda.”

She smiled, glad he was being nice, but not wanting to give the wrong impression. “Enda, this is amazing.”

“Thank you.” After a stretch of silence, he continued, “Rowan’s mom made it for us when our... taste divergence began.”

Princess Rory. Aelin was only fifteen when she and her husband passed away, but it was hard to forget how devastated Doranelle’s people were. Not wanting to press on the subject, she grabbed one of the comics.

“I like Captain Rolfe’s stories.”

Enda raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms. “Really?”

“Yes, really.” She smiled inwardly, still leafing through the book. “Aedion loved it, so we’d play around the castle pretending he was the captain and I was his first mate. My parents didn’t like it, but Uncle Orlon found it so adorable that one Yulemas he gave us a small boat that never sailed, just for us to play. I think I was eight at the time.”

“I never met him, but he always looked like the kind type to me.”

“He really was.”

As much as Aelin was beginning to enjoy Enda’s company, she needed to finish getting ready to flee. She couldn’t afford to miss this opportunity, so she needed to ditch her fiancé. Soon.

“So—“

“Look—“

The corner of Enda’s lip tugged in a smile. “Rowan told me about your plans for tonight.”

When Aelin’s mind processed what he’d just said, her heart was already beating a mile a minute. Her eyes went wide, darting around, searching the easiest exit in case she needed it.

He held his hands up. “I’m not mad, I promise.”

Taking a step back, she assessed him. “Are you sure?”

“Look, Aelin, this situation isn’t ideal for me too.” He sat on the couch. “I didn’t have much of a say in this deal, and apparently neither did you.”

She slowly reached the couch and sat facing him. “Go on.”

“Do I need to?” He sighed. “The rumors about my sexuality are pretty much true, and I had to break up with my boyfriend because of Maeve’s deal.” After a beat, Enda added, “I’m not mad at you, though. Just to be clear.”

She grimaced, realizing just now that Enda’s situation was a lot worse than hers. “I’m sorry.”

His expression softened. “Don’t be. Me and my boyf- ex-boyfriend, I mean.” Enda leaned back on the couch, running both hands through his hair. “Dorian and I knew Maeve wouldn’t let us get much further, so I’m just happy I got to spend three years with him.”

Aelin sat by his side, not knowing what to say. Her chest ached when she thought of him, being sold in a marriage which he couldn’t even grow to love the other person. Orchestrated by his own aunt.

Like he’d read her thoughts, Enda continued, “Before you go, I just felt like telling you that you seem to be someone very easy to love.” He sent her a watery smile. “I just can’t do it romantically, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be partners in every other way.”

Tears started pricking Aelin’s eyes, so she focused her vision on one bookshelf and took a deep breath. “Thank you, Enda.” She looked back at her fiancé and swallowed. “I think we’d be pretty good allies.” Aelin straightened her posture and forced a smirk. “If we ended up married. Which we won’t.”

Enda tilted his head. “We can be allies in not getting married, then. I can even do some damage control while you’re gone.”

Her eyes sparkled, and Aelin leaned back on the couch. “Tell me more.”

˜˜˜

Aelin has always liked when her clothes reflected how she felt, so she was a little disappointed over her lack of spy catsuits to wear. The black, tight-fitted shirt was close enough, but the tailored brown pants she chose was a far cry from the dramatic vibe she was aiming for.

It was almost time to meet Rowan, and she had everything ready. Everything Aelin thought she’d need, at least. She braided her hair once more to forget about her churning stomach, but the way her hands were slightly trembling didn’t help with that task.

Her last few minutes passed like a few hours, but when her phone started vibrating, she knew it was time to go. However, a knock sounded on her door before she could leave the room.

Her heart pounded with the possibility of it being someone else, but she relaxed after opening the door and seeing it was just Rowan. His outfit was a far cry from the spy vibes Aelin anticipated for the night, but she wasn’t in the place to complain.

“You’re late.”

Aelin frowned. “No, you told me to meet you at midnight. It’s midnight.”

“Yes, and you didn’t meet me when the clock struck midnight.”

She rolled her eyes. “Are you always like this?” Aelin closed the door, and off they went.

“If Maeve turns these marriage deals into a thing, I very much pity the princess who ends up married to you.”

“Brat.” Rowan snorted. “After this, I hope I never see you again.”

Aelin didn’t detect any kind of hostility in what he said, so she knew exactly what he meant. If she succeeded, there was a chance they might never see each other again.

She smiled. “I hope I never see you again as well.”

Part 3 is out!

A/N: If you’re a swiftie reader from the future I just want to be clear that Midnights isn’t out yet so I have no idea what I just foreshadowed with “Meet me at midnight”

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[justreadertings]

Till Death Do Us Part- Chapter 10

Author’s note: “It’s here! It’s finally here! ...the big one!” I am SO. EXCITED. for you all to read it. This def is longer than the last chapter, and I cut it short lol. I want to hear all your comments and theories, every intrusive thought you might have. I’m about to mess everything up so hard. Thrilled about the chance to break your hearts. If you want to be added to the taglist, lemme know! As always forehead kisses and chocolates all around- Magee

masterlist    

TW: cursing, mentions of violence, mentions of war, sexual content, and Lyria (sorry squad)

4120 Words

Till Death Do Us Part Chapter 10

Aelin knocked on the heavy door, quickly. In a rush, she knocked again, and again, until a bedridden Rowan appeared on the other side. His silver hair was distraught, and it looked like it did when they were little and woke up in destroyed forts. They watched each other, her panting from her run to his rooms, no thoughts, no expectations.

“Later?” She asked him.

He watched her face again. Then snaked his hand around her arm, her skin awakening at the touch. He was just as eager to avoid an argument too, it seemed. “Later,” he told her voice gruff.

The word sank into her soul, and something began to ache in her as he pulled her inside his rooms, and closed the door slowly. She could not think, could not breathe, as he backed her up to the door. She panted as she looked up at his harsh, beautiful face. Aelin did not ask what he was doing, did not ask the millions of questions still on her tongue when Rowan brushed his lips, so soft, against her cheek, setting her aflame. Did not ask a damn thing when he seemed to like her gasp of response, and could literally feel his chuckle rumble through her body.

Oh gods. She couldn’t help it, couldn’t help but forget her country when she grabbed Rowan’s face, and pulled him down for a needy kiss. It was everything she thought it would be. She needed him so badly. He kissed her hard, the wood of his door rattling against her back. She could smell his pine and snow scent, feel his warmth against her chest.

She moved with him as his tongue traced the seam of her lips. She opened for him without hesitation, and he swept in to claim her even more. She could die- die- from this. And she had survived a lot.

Aelin hummed as his mouth lowered to press hot, wet kisses down her throat. She panted as he groaned against her neck, “Gods, Aelin.” Her mouth opened as he slid a hand down her nightgown. Slid his other hand up her leg, massaging the muscle there. Not balking. Not questioning. Tracing maddening lines, his strong fingers starting to squeeze-

“Say it again,” she panted. 

Rowan’s mouth moved to the other side of her neck. He hummed a question, sucking on the space just above her collarbone. 

“My name. Say it again.”

Rowan continued his assault on her senses for a moment more, before returning to looking at her. He pushed her wild hair out of her face, the gesture sweet, yet possessive, then traced her open mouth with his thumb. His green eyes nearly undid her. 

“My queen,” he ghosted, tilting her head back. His mouth hovered just above her’s, his tone worshiping. “My Fireheart,” he moved his knee between her legs, settling the ache there. Gods, how did he know what to do? How to make her feel this good, this right? Finally, his lips tracing her’s, he breathed, “My Aelin.”

And then he kissed her again, claiming her again. She was going to combust, just from this. To hell with Terrasen, to hell with their duties. To hell with anything, she’d just stay in here, ignoring all of it, and make love to him all day. She could do it, she could ignore the complications and the knocking. 

Rowan kept kissing her, but her brain paused, even as it felt so right. Why was there knocking? It was growing louder, louder, just as he starting moving that hand on her leg up to where she needed him, just she was nearing something she had never felt before-

“Your Highness!”

Aelin bolted awake, sweat drenching her. She didn’t know where she was, who she was. 

“Your Highness, it’s time to wake up!”

Aelin’s skin was set aflame as she realized her dream. It was a dream. Good fucking gods. She was panting, hand trying to calm her thundering heart. How was she going to face today? Face Rowan? Especially when her nightgown was still slick with her sweat, and she had a pulsing ache in her lower stomach. 

She rubbed her face, trying to forget the feel of it. She couldn’t stop obsessing over what that kiss had felt like. It had felt so real. So… she clenched her legs together. She could not do this. She couldn’t… gods. 

She was to be crowned Queen of the United Lands of Terrasen today. She was to have a formal wedding to Rowan today. Aelin closed her eyes and fell backwards on the bed again. Today was going to be a rutting clusterfuck. For all of them. 

-Five Days Ago-

Aelin hadn’t really seen much of Rowan for two days after the invasion. She had done formal moving in again, her clothes being moved to Yrene’s workspace, another dress fitting with the woman, who’d made her laugh the entire time. Or she’d been asked countless questions about the coronation-wedding. 

Every time she saw Rowan, he seemed to be talking to a guard, to his Cadre, to the council, about the safety measures of the event. He looked tired, stalking around, glancing at every window. The break in had rattled him.

It had rattled her, too. She hadn’t really slept well since, but had grown to begrudgingly accept Chaol’s constant presence around her, slightly appreciating the safety measure. It was silly, she’d killed men for less up in those mountains- but she rested easier knowing that there was someone watching her door. As much as his past unnerved her, as much as his lack of humor bothered her… she could appreciate the effort. 

When she’d come back from the meeting, the first thing she’d seen was that her room had been… ransacked. It was the only room in the entire castle that had been touched. The thought had made her stomach turn. They were looking for her. It made her decision about the very public coronation all that smarter.

Her brow had furrowed, though, that with the destruction of her things, skewed about her floor, that her bed had not been touched. She knew that her bed was the first place those men tended to look. Flashes of rough hands passed through her memory.

In a moment, without thinking, she’d opened the door to her bedroom and into her foyer. Chaol was standing guard there. He turned those thoughtful brown eyes at her.

“Thank you,” she’d told him. “For tonight.”

Chaol had only nodded, solem. “It’s my job.”

Aelin leaned softly against the doorframe. “Making my bed wasn’t.” No one had done something that was a simple kindness for her in a long while. He did not seem like the type of man to go out of his way to do sweet things. He kept surprising her. 

He only stared back at her. As if he didn’t know what to say. She saved him the trouble. “Goodnight, Chaol.”

Even though dawn was just finally breaking, he ended up smiling, something tight lipped and small. But still. It was a smile. “Goodnight, Aelin.” 

Since then, she and her guard had been living in a strange harmonious relationship. He had his own rooms, set close to her own. It was nice to know that should another invasion happen… he’d be there.

Other than that interaction, though, she’d kept mostly to herself. She had been keeping away from the dining halls all together, fearing that perhaps the mother of Rowan’s child would be there. Which was ridiculous because it was her home. Gods, that baby haunted her mind. They were going to be a family. Rowan was going to have a family again. And she was going to have… just him. Like always. And he wasn’t even her’s.

She knew it was unbearably selfish, that she should be grateful the Gods had even let either one of them live long enough to have a family again… but she was hatefully jealous. Of course, she wasn’t entirely without a future. She had Terrasen. Her lovely, awful thing.

But she couldn’t avoid Rowan forever. They were both called into one of their many ballrooms by a High Priestess who walked them through the ceremonies. Aelin had been nervous, at first, but just as it did whenever it was just her and Rowan… she’d felt like a small child again.

“Why are your hands so dry?” She’d asked him as they were told to join them.

Rowan, who’d seemed to be feeling the same way as her, had snorted. “As opposed to?”

Aelin had shrugged a shoulder. “Mine are always hydrated. I’m not a monster.”

We define monsters very differently, he had said to her mind.

Aelin had just lifted a taunting brow. Perhaps. 

The Priestess seemed… very done with them. She’d quickly walked them through the wedding, and then left it up to Rowan for the coronation part. Aelin had been ready to practice the words before Rowan’s expression turned sour.

“We’re not doing the coronation first?” He’d asked.

The High Priestess only stood, opened-mouthed for a moment. She said, a bit hesitant, “It’s not my decision to make.” 

Aelin watched as the words registered in Rowan’s brain. He frowned. “Coronation first,” he told her. 

The woman glanced at Aelin, then back at Rowan. She thought perhaps they looked identical with their crossed arms, and stony looks. Under her breath, the Priestess said, “As you wish, my King.”

Satisfied, Rowan had turned back to her. Aelin had smiled, and told him, putting the fear of the monarchy in people, buzzard? How tyrannical you’ve become in my absence.

Yes, Aelin. Because you were always the well behaved one.

She had only snorted. Yes, they were dutifully avoiding an array of important conversations… but this was better, maybe. Easier. 

It felt so blissfully easy. 

But her heart tugged as Rowan squeezed her hands, and asked, “Do you, Aelin Ashryver Gala-”

“Whitethorn.”

They both stopped glancing side-eyed at the Priestess. Her face was red, but she said, again, “Whitethorn Galathynius,” she corrected. “As by law.”

Rowan’s hands tensed under her’s, and she couldn’t help it. A laugh bubbled out of her. She couldn’t stop the laughter that consumed her. It was just so wild to her. Whitethorn Galathynius. They were- oh gods. It hit her again as she glanced at his calculating face. They were married. It occurred to her, perhaps for the first time, what it meant for their country.

They really needed to have a conversation. 

“I’m sorry,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m sorry, I just-”

Rowan squeezed her hands, and she looked into his green eyes. A fair bit of humor rested in them, too. It was a pleasant surprise.

It’s weird, she admitted.

Rowan nodded at her. It’s weird. A thought seemed to strike him. Remember when we were young, and you wanted me to change my last name? You said that if I was going to live in “your” castle, I should live with your name, too. 

Aelin rolled her eyes. Yeah, I remember. You got pissed at me and told Maeve what I said. And then she was pissed at me. He smiled at the memory. You’re bringing this up, why?

Because how could those kids have known? Fondness filled his face. Whitethorn Galathynius.

She tilted her head at him, features soft. Whitethorn Galathynius, she repeated. 

And with that, Rowan repeated the words that would finally give her her country. When they were finished, their hands lingered. It felt like he was saying it, saying everything she wanted to hear. That he missed her, that he hadn’t stopped thinking of her, once, when she was gone. That perhaps they could start over, that this was a good thing.

“Aelin,” he started, dismissing the Priestess. She slipped out the doors. “I don’t want you to think I don’t trust you.”

Her brow furrowed. “Why would I think that?” A bit of accusation rang in her voice.

Rowan sighed. “Because I know you’ve seen me planning this. I want you to be queen- Gods,” he chuckled a bit, “Gods, I want you to be queen.”

“But?”

He squeezed her hands. “But I want you to be safe. We will not be repeating that night.”

Deadly claws nearly poked out from her skin. She became wild when she thought about the second invasion of their home. “No,” she said, voice dark. “We will not.”

In a moment, they were not royalty. They were two deadly warriors. Aelin, though she would not wish danger onto him, yearned to know what he would look like with a weapon in his hands. 

“Are you ready?” He asked her, tone low. 

“For?” 

Rowan glanced behind them, as if he could see it. “To go in that room?” Aelin’s heart dropped. Goosebumps appeared on her skin. Rowan told her, “I’ve gone in there twice… since everything. Once for my coronation.”

“And the second?” She asked.

His eyes traced her’s. “To pray.”

Her body tingled, voice strained a bit. “I thought you didn’t believe in the Gods.”

Rowan’s hand came up to cup her cheek. “I don’t.” Her hand slowly rose to his. “But I thought you could use it the day you came home.”

Her heart caved in a bit. She thought her knees could buckle any moment. But she only laughed for him. “I did.”

“Have you been back in there?”

Blood and gore, destruction… her papa, her mama, Maeve- she shut her eyes tightly. “No.” She answered, tightly.

Rowan opened his mouth to speak, but once again, the door to the ballroom opened. They were always being interrupted, right when she thought they might talk to each other. Aelin was even more irritated when it was a brown haired beauty on the other side of the door. 

Rowan’s hand slipped off of her face. He glanced at Lyria, holding her stomach at the door. Aelin peered at her belly, trying to see if there was a curve there, already. 

“I’m sorry to interrupt.” Gods, her voice was so soft. It was annoying. Aelin hated that sweetness. Even when she was a little girl Aelin was never that sweet. She tried not to resent herself for it.

“What’s wrong?”

Lyria glanced between them. “I can come back?”

Rowan’s eyes fell to the way she was pressing her hands to herself. “Is something wrong?”

The woman’s eyes filled a bit with tears. “I-” she glanced at Aelin, but continued, “I’m bleeding.” Alarm filled Rowan’s features. “Spotting,” she corrected. “But I’m still… Rowan, I’m scared.”

Rowan turned to Aelin, and she just shook her head. “Go.”

Something indistinguishable filled his face. He squeezed her arm. “I will be there,” he told her. Confusion rang on her face. “I will be in that room. We’ll walk together.”

Her heart squeezed, but she only nodded. “Go.”

“Later?” he had asked her, again.

“Later,” she whispered. 

-

That was five days ago. And “later” had not happened, except for her dream. That dream was going to be the death of her. Her jaw clenched, even as she soaked in the bath. There had been maids bustling about, setting out creams and lotions for her to put on, so she couldn’t even… take care of herself. The warmth of the bath actually made her more uncomfortable. 

How was she supposed to appreciate probably the most important day of her life when she was obsessing over a literal fantasy? 

She had on a slip and a robe when she made for Yrene’s workspace, still fairly uncomfortable, feeling wrong in her own body. It had been a great, long while since she had felt desire like that. At first, Chaol had said nothing, but his eyes repeatedly slipping to her made her snap, “what.”

His eyes widened at the outburst. “Are you ok?”

She frowned. “I’m just… irritated.” Her skin was crawling, more like it. Not that Chaol needed to know that. They were friendly- but not that friendly. Perhaps she’d tell Yrene. No, she scratched the thought. She probably needed to not tell anyone. Ever.

“Are you nervous?” He inquired, honestly.

Deflecting, she asked, “Are you?”

Chaol snorted. “It’s your big day, Majesty.”

Aelin huffed, dragging her feet like a child. “I’m not queen, yet” she reminded him with no small amount of perplexity to the comment. And annoyance.

Choal’s brows furrowed. “I’ve always believed titles are not awarded by name. It is by the work put in.”

Aelin thought the answer sounded remarkably familiar to her seamstress’s. And speaking of… here she was. She stopped at the door, turning to her guard. 

“Yes,” she admitted. “I’m nervous. But more than anything… I’m ready.”

He just nodded, holding the door open for her. “Majesty.”

Aelin’s heart warmed. She could get used to that. To the strange pride in her guard’s eyes. 

While she was still uncomfortable… she was already feeling better when she’d slipped into the golden workroom. Yrene’s face was sunny, poking out from beyond that gorgeous white and gold gown. 

“Hi, Yrene,” she said, suddenly more nervous seeing the dress.

Her seamstress smiled, calmly, as if sensing the tension in Aelin’s shoulders. “Hi, pretty lady. Ready?” She gestured to the gown.

Suddenly, Aelin felt like she couldn’t breathe. Maybe it was the dress, or the meaning of it, or the day, or the realization just how big this all was. A shaking breath escaped her lips. She closed her eyes for a moment, thinking of his voice, so long ago, it felt. It was some of the best advice anyone had ever given her. “I am Celeana Sardothian and I am not afraid.”

She counted to ten. Repeated in her mind, a bit humorously, “I am Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius. And I am not afraid.”

“Aelin?” Yrene questioned, her soft hand resting on her arm. 

Aelin opened her eyes. “I’m ready,” she said.

-

Music was playing from beyond the doors, something light and pretty. Aelin knew that out there, sitting in the pews, was her country. Ready to see her, see her be married and crowned. 

Her stomach turned. She was trying to not be afraid, but… the last time she was here, she saw horrible things. Things no twelve year old child- no person- should ever have to see. She shut her eyes, wishing she could rub them. 

Kohl had been placed above her eyes, and smoked out, along with other products that made her look more lively, so touching her face was out of the question. And she couldn’t exactly mess with her dress unless she wanted Yrene to kill her. 

As anxious and sick as the gown had made her the days before… it might be the most gorgeous thing she ever put on. Aelin had to appreciate the finer things in life- and this dress was the utmost finest. White and gold panels lined her stomach, a square neck highlighting her assets. It was made of thick fabric, a pretty lace train circling her waist and stretching dramatically in front of her. All of it to match her mother’s crown, a large, golden thing with the Lord of the North made of diamonds adorning the top. 

Chaol and Fenrys stood just outside the door, so in the small hall before then, she was alone. The security was higher than she’d ever seen it in her life, her king and council calling for aid from Perranth, her neighbor kingdom. The Lochans, Marion and Elide, were set to go back to their home, soon. 

Aelin didn’t even have time to think about that. She heard her mother’s warnings about safety rattling through her head, her father’s great pride in her one day being queen, Maeve’s stories of strength and unity. But most of all, she thought about her and Rowan, of how today would change everything, just as it had changed a million times before. 

She wished she could pace, but her dress did not allow for such things. There were a cabal of court ladies all ready fluff out her train when those doors opened, and that big aisle was all her’s. 

Until the door opened, and Rowan slipped through the doors. Her heart stopped a bit when she saw him, in white and gold, matching her. A golden bandolier traveled down his chest, and like he had when they were small, he tugged on his finery. At least, he did before his hands dropped, slacked to their side. Her chest felt like it was full of balloons when he sighed, and whispered, “Aelin.”

She had to block out the image of his possessive hands all over her, of his lips close to her ear, whispering her name. Of her begging him to say it again. She clenched her legs together. 

She felt his presence then, and when she looked up, his eyes were worried. “Are you ok?”

Aelin blinked. “Am I- why?”

He hesitated, but tucked a tendril of her hair behind her ear. “You looked… lost.”

It hit Aelin, then, how emotional seeing them dressed this way made her. They were to be king and queen, rulers of the land. They were starting their lives, here, just as it was always planned. For them to rule at each other’s sides. 

Aelin pressed her hand to his broad, muscled chest, fingers straightening his bandolier. “I’m a lot of things,” she admitted. “But I am happy.”

Rowan tilted his head, watching her. “We’ll get through this, too.”

She exhaled, eyes fluttering closed. His hand came around her face, and it was like they’d never left that ballroom, returning to their same state. It reminded her that she never actually found out if Lyria was ok. But she figured if… if something happened, she’d know. Aelin knew they still needed to talk. Desperately so.

“Rowan?” She asked in a whisper.

“Yes, Fireheart?” 

Her whole body ached with his words. She smiled up at him, feeling wholly sentimental. “Congratulations.”

His brow furrowed. “On?”

“I heard you got married.” A serpentine smile graced her face.

Rowan pinched her side, and she batted him away. “Brat.” 

She laughed, nudging him. “Is it so bad for me to wish my best friend a happy wedding?” His smile faded. Aelin tilted her head at him. 

“Actually, I have to talk to you about that.”

Her own grin slipped off of her face. “What’s wrong?”

“If you don’t want to… it’s ok. I understand, completely.” 

Aelin’s heart started thumping, but she just pinched his arm. “Tell me.”

Rowan stared down at her, open. “It is a wedding, too.” 

“I’m aware.”

He squinted. “We want to show a united front.”

“Rip the bandaid off, Rowan.”

He grimaced, and she wondered if he thought he was hurting her. It seemed to be the reason he avoided doing many things. To save her from some sort of pain. Still, he told her, “We should kiss.”

Her heart stopped. “What?”

“I’m sorry, I told them this wasn’t a game, I-”

He continued rambling, and even as her whole body was aware of every place they touched, she found a smile. “Rowan.” He was still talking, so she reached up and grabbed his face to make him look at her. “Buzzard.”

He kind of sunk into her hands. Tired boy, she thought. “It’s ok.” She hoped she wasn’t smiling like a fool when she told him, “Actually I think it’s a great idea.”

Rowan’s eyes widened. “Really?”

She shrugged. “It’s you I’m more nervous about. You’re the one with a… it’s more complicated for you.”

Rowan seemed to look like he wanted to say more. She wondered at what point they would sit down and talk everything through. If they were going to rule, they needed to be transparent. It was what they were best at. Or at least, it was. A long time ago.

Either way, the Stagian Suite began to play, the anthem of the Old and New Terrasen. She used to love to play it on the piano, and Rowan would sneak into her lessons to hear her play.

He’d asked her to teach him. But that was a lifetime ago, and their country had nearly killed them before she’d had the chance. 

Rowan offered up his arm to her. “My Queen?”

Her heart tugged. She took his arm, the trumpets blaring, the doors behind her opening so her dress could be held just so. And though there were hundreds of people in those pews, security high, she could see nothing but Rowan. She remembered a long time ago, the promise they had made to their guardians.

All of it for Terrasen, she thought to him. 

It seemed Rowan remembered it, then, in that moment too. His eyes caught her’s.

All of it for Terrasen, Fireheart. 

Taglist: 

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[thegreyj]

Excuse me, but that's not my name

I hinted at this on my masterlist, and now finally publishing it. I wrote it like almost two years ago, but I thought I should try posting some of my older stuff too!

This is just a random high school reunion AU oneshot from my collection, I hope you enjoy!

CW: fluff, humor, mentions of bullying

Word count: 3,4k

Excuse me, but that's not my name

Closing the front door behind her, Aelin kicked off her heels and dropped her keys on the bowl next to the pile of mail Rowan had picked up earlier when he had gotten home. A quick glance at the stack was almost an automatic reaction, which usually didn’t stir any interest in the woman’s head. Today, however, there was something that stood out from the generic white letters. A light blue envelope with “Aelin Ashryver Galathynius” written with neat letters on it.

Must be from someone back when I wasn’t married, Aelin thought. She did add Rowan’s last name to that seemingly neverending name of hers. Plus, she was very particular that all her names were used and to get a letter without one name just felt wrong. Someone might think it funny or even stupid to get so many feelings over a mere name, but for Aelin, her name was her story – an important story too, of how she grew up to be the confident woman she is today. She wasn’t like that always, no, Aelin used to be a laughingstock back in high school. It got to a point where she first dropped her ‘Ashryver’ name, then tried changing her name entirely to ‘Celaena Sardothien’. Thank gods she didn’t go through that officially.

“Did you see the letter that came for you in the mail?” Aelin’s musings were interrupted by the voice belonging to the man of her dreams, her husband.

“Yeah, didn’t open it yet though,” Aelin responded, picking up the envelope finally and trotted towards Rowan’s voice. He was laying on the sofa, reading a book with his glasses perched on his nose. Aelin almost drooled at the sight – she really did win the lottery when she got Rowan as her husband. Six foot four tall, solid muscle, striking tattoos against his slightly tanned skin, the most gorgeous pine green eyes and silver hair. And the accent. Oh, so good. Despite Rowan having lived in Terrasen for so long, he still hadn’t lost the lilt from his voice.

“Done daydreaming about me, love?” Rowan chuckled as he caught Aelin staring. She blushed slightly, then regained her bearings and just grinned at the man still laying on the sofa.

“Well, I can’t help that you look so damn sexy the way you hold that book, and the glasses on your nose… Gods, I might just ravish you for dinner instead of the takeout I brought.”

This made Rowan grin just as brightly as his wife did, and his eyes took on a predatory gaze. He set the book down gently, rose from the sofa and slowly walked towards Aelin, almost like a hunter trying to reach its prey. When he was right in front of the gold-haired woman, he could hear her small, sharp intake of breath, like she was anticipating something unexpecting. Which was the reality of their life. Neither ever knew what the other was about to do, so all the possible scenarios from Rowan throwing her to his shoulder and running to the bedroom, to him stripping the clothes off her and having the dinner off her body went through her mind. Probably all scenarios, except for what actually happened next.

Rowan reached his hand slowly towards Aelin and quickly snatched the letter from her hands. He then ran from their living room, giggling. Giggling. Her giant hunk of a husband giggled while stealing a letter from her. Aelin joined the giggles and ran after him. She found him perched at the end of their bed, opening the letter.

“Hey, what happened to not opening anyone else’s mail?” Aelin tried to sound upset but ended up laughing. She wasn’t actually mad about the fact that Rowan was opening a letter addressed to her. They fully trusted each other, so this was not unusual with the two of them.

“I have to check who the secret admirer is sending letters to my wife,” Rowan simply responded, still with that silly grin on his face. “So, I can then find them and show them you’re taken. They left out the name I gave you, this is outrageous!”

“Opening a mere letter helps you with your machismo, Whitethorn? Alright, be my guest then,” the woman kept up their light banter. “But no, really, I haven’t the faintest idea who this is from, so open it up. I want to find out who dares to write me a letter without actually putting my full name to the front.”

By now, the folded paper had been pulled from the light blue envelope, and Rowan began reading the letter out loud. With his special commentary of course.

“Dear Aelin – who dares call you dear in a letter, unless they are your family?” Rowan gruntled but began again. “Dear Aelin, I hope this letter finds you well – what is this, the 19th century? Finds you well, sure. I have been tasked to form a group and contact them in order to start the preparations. A sort of special operations team, if I may say so. Seriously, whoever wrote this is living some sort of a fairytale. Who writes like this anymore? I remembered you participating in similar tasks back in high school – oh so a high school friend then – and thought you would be a perfect addition to our team. It has now been nearly 10 years since our graduation from high school, and we are organising the reunion. Oh, it’s your reunion soon,” Rowan stopped reading for a bit and looked at Aelin, who did not look very happy with the thought of seeing her peers from high school.

“As I mentioned, I was tasked with forming a group to organise this reunion and would very much like for you to be a part of the team. Please respond to me as soon as possible. I have enclosed both my email and my phone number at the bottom of this letter. Kind regards, Kaltain Rompier. Well, love, it seems you are asked to organise your reunion,” Rowan chuckled at the fire blazing from his wife’s eyes.

“No. Absolutely not. I hated them then, I still hate them now. Kaltain Rompier was a bitch who bullied me back then and I’m sure this is just her attempt to bully me more somehow,” Aelin crossed her arms and looked like a sulking toddler, which just made Rowan laugh.

“Love. Love, listen to me. I get how bad high school was for-,” Rowan was interrupted by the fiery woman in front of him.

“How could you get that, mister popular star athlete who every girl wanted to date, and all the guys wanted to befriend? How could you get how fucking bad the entire experience was for me?” Aelin was on the offense now. Rowan raised his hands in defense, trying to show his wife he was on her side.

“Alright, I can’t fully get that, but I know you and I understand you, and I can imagine based off of what you’ve told me. But if you back out now, you’re just letting them win. What a better way to show off the new, absolutely stunning, confident version of you, than to beat them at their own game?”

Rowan did have a point. A tiny point, but a point, nonetheless. Aelin could help with the organising of the event, then participate in the event and just show off her amazing, successful life. She hugged Rowan, thanking him for bringing her back from her insecurities again. It wasn’t often Aelin fell to the old version of herself, but sometimes the bullied girl showed her emotions through the cracks of the confident, grown-up armor. Thankfully Rowan loved and knew how to handle all versions of Aelin, which made life easier nowadays.

--

It was now almost three months later, Aelin having done a lot of the organising from the comforts of her home, such as booking the venue and listing the names and addresses of their peers. The other three, including Kaltain, did more of the hands-on preparations, which meant Aelin did not have to meet up with them face to face. She did call them a few times to clarify things and to assist them on choosing the color schemes and similar things.

The event was happening tonight. Aelin had spent the entire morning being pampered to lower her stress levels, and then spending time on the phone handling last minute preparations to increase her stress levels right back up. Rowan was going to be her plus one, and he knew better than to be on her way today of all days. Instead, he had gotten dressed when it was necessary, and was now wearing his tailored three-piece tuxedo while waiting for his wife.

Aelin was finally ready, wearing a dress Rowan had bought for his wife. A black, skin-tight dress with an open back and some thin, golden chains holding the dress up and together, almost highlighting the dragon tattoo on her back. She had pulled most of her hair up, leaving just a few strands down, and very little makeup to enhance her natural beauty. She wasn’t wearing any other jewelry except for the wedding and engagement rings from Rowan, and a thin bangle on her wrist which Rowan had gotten her on her 25th birthday. It had “Fireheart” engraved on it.

“Wow, love. You look… breathtaking,” Rowan said as he stood up, with a smooth motion closing the button on his jacket and offering Aelin her coat.

“Thanks, buzzard. You look delicious,” Aelin winked. It seems that a lot of the stress from before was now gone, or at least more hidden. Rowan chuckled at her comment.

“Shall we?”

--

At the venue, the two of them separated with a kiss. Rowan told her he’d go find their table while Aelin was asked by one of the venue managers to handle some very last-minute detail, which apparently only Aelin could do, or at least that’s what that Rompier lady had told the manager. Aelin was slightly pissed that she couldn’t simply enjoy her evening as she had planned, or at least try to, but she handled the issue with speed and grace, and then finally began her walk towards the room. Many people were whispering, trying to figure out who she was. Aelin had changed quite a bit since high school, when she had been a shy music geek who almost everyone made fun of.

Rowan was facing similar whispers, most of them wondering how the hell he had ended up on this particular reunion, seeing as his 10-year-reunion had been three years prior. He had been a senior when they had been freshmen, and he had been the biggest star athlete of their school back then. Everyone still remembered him, as he had set some records which, still to this day, were undefeated. Simply smiling at anyone greeting him, but not staying for a chat, he found their table right in at the front of the stage. “Aelin Ashryver Galathynius and date”. Again, they had forgotten a part of her name, which made him frown. He didn’t mind being simply Aelin’s date tonight, no need to steal her thunder. He was proudly showing Aelin off today, since he had the most beautiful woman at his side – as he always did, if you asked his opinion.

Aelin finally made it to the room, but she wasn’t about to mingle. Instead, she quickly spotted the silver head of her husband, seated at one of the small tables at the front. Many women in the room were staring at him in adoration, which brought almost an evil smile to Aelin’s face. They could look all they wanted, but they most certainly could not touch.

“If everyone would please be seated, so we may begin with the speeches before dinner. Dinner tonight will be served buffet-style, so everyone will be collecting their own food when the time is upon,” Kaltain had found her way to the stage by now and her screechy voice was annoying Aelin already, before the event had even time to officially begin. She did manage to sneak to sit beside Rowan as everyone else was distracted trying to find their seats. Once everyone was seated, Kaltain picked up the microphone once again.

“First of all, I would like to offer a very warm welcome to all tonight. I’m so happy to see each and every one of you here on this special evening. I am absolutely certain we will all be enjoying the event as we reach back to our fondest years to reminisce, look back to the predictions made at the end of our senior year and maybe see some of them come true too,” Kaltain had a bitchy smirk on her face. Or maybe the bitchy face was a norm for her. Aelin certainly thought so.

“We have quite a few speeches prepared, so let’s start with those. First of all, I’d like to call to the stage our beloved principal, Murtaugh Allsbrook!” Kaltain began applauding as the old man began his trek to the stage. As the principal opened his mouth to give his speech, Rowan turned slightly towards Aelin and whispered in her ear.

“That old bag is still the principal? I thought he’d be dead by now,” Rowan tried to lighten up his wife with a joke. Aelin snickered quietly, so it was working. He made funny comments about all the people giving speeches, whether his comments were true or not, at least he had managed to make Aelin’s mood a bit brighter. When the numbingly boring, but mandatory speeches were finally over, Rowan told Aelin to stay still as he would get their meals. He knew precisely what Aelin would want to eat, and he was happy to do a small act of pampering for his wife. Aelin thanked him with a kiss and went scrolling through her phone.

Rowan found his way to the buffet line and realised his mistake. Staying still in the line opened up opportunities for the others to engage him in conversation, and he didn’t want to be too rude, as this was supposed to be Aelin’s night.

“Rowan Whitethorn! Thought I recognised you,” came a screeching voice behind him as a hand touched his arm. A hand which did not belong to his wife, but to one Kaltain Rompier.

“Yes, indeed it is I,” Rowan replied with uninterest and tried to unsuccessfully shrug her hand off.

“How have you been all these years? You still look just as good as you did back in high school. I used to have the biggest crush on you back then,” Kaltain giggled trying to flirt. “You can’t still be single, not with those looks.”

“Oh, no. Happily married thank you very much. Here as my wife’s plus one,” he finally managed to get rid of the hand as he grabbed two plates and began collecting food on them.

“Hahaha, of course,” Kaltain giggled again. “And just who might your wife be? Do I know her? Of course, I know her since she is here, hahaha.”

Luckily someone came by to talk to Kaltain, so Rowan could escape that horrid woman and finish the plates for him and Aelin. He was walking back to their table, when he noticed someone trying to flirt with Aelin, but looking like they got turned down. The other person had turned away by the time Rowan reached the table, setting down the food in front of the bottomless pit he called his wife.

“Ooooh you got everything I wanted, thank you buzzard!” Rowan just smiled and began eating his salmon as he watched the incredible woman beside her wolf down the entire plate of pasta and fried things.

--

Dinner was now over and there were some videos shown that took people right back down the memory lane. Rowan spotted Aelin’s picture a few times. She was so different now; no wonder people didn’t recognise her. In high school she used to wear overly large clothing, her hair was dyed to a darker colour and puberty hadn’t been kind to her either. But even in the pictures, Rowan found Aelin to be beautiful. Her eyes were the one thing that had not changed, and even back then her eyes showed Aelin’s soul if you knew where to look. She looked to be in peace while playing the instruments in the pictures.

One thing in particular made Rowan frown. As they were showing the yearbook pictures behind on the big screen, there were “most likely to” slogans written underneath a lot of the names. Most likely to be successful, most likely to be married with kids, most likely to be a celebrity and so on. But the thing written under Aelin’s picture did finally make him realise how bad high school had been for his wife. Most likely to die a virgin. These slogans were submitted by others, in good jest, but this had to have been pure malice. He now knew why Aelin had never shown her yearbook to him. He grabbed Aelin’s hand in a comforting gesture – to him or to Aelin, he did not know.

As the evening went by, so did the “fun” games too. The most successful of the games was a back down the memory lane trivia quiz – even Rowan had somehow ended up in a question there despite being a few years older. They also hosted a photo booth, which Aelin and Rowan took advantage of to take some... more promiscuous pictures, as well as some cute ones. Neither of the couple wanted to mingle a lot with others, so they just stuck with each other, flirting and joking together. A few of the people who’d been in the music program with Aelin had come by to exchange a few words. Quite a few ladies tried to come by to chat Rowan up, who just responded to them by kissing Aelin on the cheek or the neck, or even occasionally a full-blown kiss on the lips to deter any of the annoying women.

When the mingling was dying down a bit, Kaltain – the self-appointed hostess – decided to finally wrap up the evening.

“Hello again everyone. I hope you have enjoyed the evening tonight; I know I have. We have had quite a few surprises here tonight and some not-so-surprising things come out as well. I would like to thank every single one of you for coming tonight, it wouldn’t have been a success without you all. Now that we have had the pleasure of reminiscing the good old days and had some fun, I’d like to thank a few special people tonight,” Kaltain began her speech.

“Yours truly, I, Kaltain Rompier, was tasked with bringing together the team to organise this whole shindig, and we did a magnificent job even if I say so myself. I’d like to thank my team next. Nox Owens, you did an amazing job with the decorations. Would you please stand up so everyone may applaud you?”

The man in question rose from his seat and had a small grin on his face. Everyone in the room clapped their hands in appreciation.

“I know I could not have done this without Yrene Westfall’s incredible assistance – you knew her as Yrene Towers back in high school. She sent out all the invitations and made sure our dinner tonight was as tasty as it was!”

It was Yrene’s turn to get up for the applause. Her long curls flowed down her back and her brown skin was glowing – probably due to the very visible reason. She was pregnant. And apparently, she is married one of the class heartthrobs too - Chaol.

“Last but not least, bringing to the table her incredible skills at acquiring people’s personal information, as well as choosing and booking our gorgeous venue, Aelin Ashryver Galathynius!”

As Aelin rose from her seat, silence fell upon the room. No one had expected the gorgeous blonde at Rowan Whitethorn’s arm to be the Aelin they knew from high school.

“Um, excuse me, but that’s not my name. At least not my full name. I’d appreciate my actual name used, which is Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius. Oh, and I most certainly will not die a virgin,” Aelin said that with so much conviction and confidence, you could literally picture her dropping the microphone. Rowan simply grinned from his seat, taking her hand and kissing it. Someone started applauding at the back, and the others joined in. Aelin simply stood and enjoyed the attention. For the first time in her life, she enjoyed the attention by her high school peers.

Aelin 1 – high school 0.

--

Tags: @rowanaelinn | @morganofthewildfire | @tomtenadia | @leiawritesstories | @aelinchocolatelover | @backtobl4ck | @wesupremeginger | @goddess-aelin |

[live-the-fangirl-life]

Stolen Stamps

Aelin Galathynius x Rowan Whitethorn - Stolen Passport Oneshot

“You took me on a trip just to break up with me so I stole your passport” - Prompt from @dailyau

I don't know where this came from, it just kinda happened, enjoy! Minor Chaolaena, Rowaelin endgame

Masterlist | Read on Ao3

Warnings: Language

2494 words

*******

The faint hum of the air condition filled the meticulously organized room in the back of the post office.

“Ms. Galathynius,” A deep, accented voice addressed her.

Her gaze on the tall bookshelf in the corner jerked back to the man sitting across from her behind his desk. His hands were crossed, and the sleeves of his shirt were rolled up to his elbows, exposing part of a tattoo that wrapped around his muscular arm. She tried not to watch as the muscles shifted as he leaned forward when he spoke to her.

“Can you please explain to me why you were trying to mail a very,” He paused, glancing at the messily-wrapped bundle on the center of his desk, “suspicious-looking package to the Adarlan embassy in Antica?”

Aelin opened her mouth to try to explain, but no words came out.

He raised a silver eyebrow and waited.

She sighed, “I swear, it’s not what it looks like.”

***

The cab ride to the airport was a blur. So was the flight, and the ride to her hotel. It wasn’t until Aelin locked the door of her hotel room and set down her bags, that the events of the day finally hit her.

Whether it was adrenaline or shock or relief, she couldn’t be sure. Aelin fell back onto the bed and rubbed her face, groaning. She thought back to that morning when everything had been fine.

Fine, not great, just fine. That’s how things always felt with Chaol, just fine.

Her brain was still working through what happened when she jolted up from the bed, eyes wide.

“Shit. What did I do?”

Aelin scrambled towards her purse and rummaged through it. She couldn’t find it; maybe she didn't take it. She turned the bag upside down over the bed and watched as her things fell out. She pushed aside her little paperback mystery novel, her lipstick, her boarding pass, she moved aside a wrinkled coupon and froze.

“Fuck.”

***

After wearing a track into the carpet with her pacing, Aelin decided to call Lysandra. It was going about as well as she expected.

“Lysandra, I did a bad thing.”

Aelin chewed her fingernail between her teeth, a bad habit she couldn’t kick when she was stressed, as she tried to tell her best friend what just happened. She was standing on the small balcony of her hotel hoping the fresh air would help clear her mind. So far, it wasn't doing a great job.

“Aelin,” Lysandra’s voice sounded amused through her phone, “This is you were talking about, you’re going to have to be a bit more specific.”

Rolling her eyes, Aelin ran a hand through her hair. “I did a petty, horrible, impulsive, really bad thing.”

There was a long pause as Lysandra seemed to realize how serious Aelin sounded.

“Okay. Now I’m getting worried.” Then a sharp gasp, “Was it illegal? Have you been arrested? Are you calling me from a foreign prison?”

“Lys—” Aelin tried cutting in, she wanted to stop the hysterics before her friend’s imagination got out of hand.

“When you told me you were going on a trip with Chaol I thought you’d be spending time on the beach, not using me as your one phone call from a dirty jail cell hundreds of miles away!”

“Lysandra!”

“And where’s Chaol? Is he there with you?”

“Lysandra, stop! I haven’t been arrested, I’m not in prison, I’m fine. Actually, I’m great.” Aelin closed her eyes and sighed, trying to scrounge up some guilt but failing. “Actually, it's because I’m feeling great that makes what I did so much worse, because I don’t really feel bad about it.”

“Don’t scare me like that.” Her friend's voice echoed in her ear. “If you’re fine, then tell me what happened and tell me why you’re calling me at,” she paused and groaned, “six in the morning.”

“Sorry,” Aelin winced, “I’m still on a different time frame.”

“Still? Where are you now? Are you not in Antica anymore?”

“Slow down, Lys.” Aelin loosed a breath and ran a hand through her hair, “I’m back in Terrasen.”

“What? When did you get back?” Lysandra sounded confused, and Aelin couldn't blame her, after all, she was supposed to be in Antica for four more days.

“Today. Less than an hour ago. I’m at a hotel, I just needed to clear my head.”

After a moment of silence, Lysandra asked again, “Where’s Chaol? Have you talked to him about whatever this is? Not that he’d help much “Lysandra muttered the last part, but Aelin still heard.

Here we go, Aelin thought, “No. We broke up.”

“What?” Lysandra was definitely awake now. “Really? Oh, honey, I’m sorry if you’re hurting, but good for you, I never really liked him.”

“Yeah, I know.” Aelin barked a wry laugh, “He dumped me, actually.”

“He dumped you?”

Aelin barked another laugh, getting angry as she told Lysandra the rest, “Get this, that bastard invited me on this trip specifically to break up with me”

“What the actual fuck?”

“Yeah, and honestly?” Aelin took a deep breath, feeling a mess of emotions as she explained. “I can’t blame him.” She amended herself quickly at Lysandra's sound of protest, “I don’t mean about taking me on a trip to do it, because that’s fucked up, but I mean the actual breaking up part. I knew it was going to happen sooner or later, it was more about who would pull the trigger first. Come on, Lys, you knew I was more excited to spend a week on the beach than to spend a week with him.”

Lysandra snorted, “Yeah, Ace, I knew that. I was hoping you realized that, too.”

“Well, I did. So, I left. I’m back in Terrasen, there was no way I was staying there with him any longer, that would’ve been too weird.”

Aelin could hear Lysandra’s coffee machine buzz to life through the phone and suddenly wished she had a cup of coffee. Once she figured this mess out, she’d go find a cafe.

“Right. Okay,” The brunette’s voice rang out, “let me get this straight, Chaol took you on a trip solely to break up with you, and now you’re back in Terrasen while he’s still on the Southern Continent. I’m still not seeing what exactly you did that’s making you freak out.”

At that, Aelin flopped back onto the bed and flung an arm over her face, groaning.

“I know breaking up with Chaol is for the best, Hellas, I feel relieved. But at that moment, I was so angry. I was furious that he’d take me on this trip instead of just doing it at home like a normal-fucking-person—I mean, who takes a break-up vacation? Anyways, when I was packing my things to leave, I, kinda, sorta, took something of his.”

“Aelin…what did you do?”

Aelin looked at the foot of the bed where the remains of her purse were strewn over the blanket. Her eyes caught on two matching little booklets with gold seals on them.

“I stole his passport.”

***

“Ms. Galathynius—”

“Aelin, please.” She cut off the silver-haired man behind the desk.

The only change in his stoic demeanor was a small twitch of his lips. “Aelin. Can you explain what exactly you’re trying to mail, that looks like that—”

‘That’ being the layers of spare newspaper she found tucked away in her hotel room haphazardly wrapped and tied with the thread from the complimentary sewing kit, also from her hotel room. She hadn’t been able to find any tape. Aelin thought if she brought it to the post office then she could re-package it with actual materials, but she’d chosen not to unwrap it before getting there. An obvious mistake.

“—to an official, protected, government Embassy?” His voice was stern and his green eyes steady.

This looked bad. Aelin could easily admit that this looked really bad.

She placed her hands on his desk and watched as his eyes tracked the movement. “I can explain. It's definitely not as bad as I’m sure you think it is.”

He remained silent, watching her expectantly.

She caught sight of the nameplate on the side of his desk. “Mr. Whitethorn—”

“Rowan, please.”

Did he sound amused?

Taking confidence from that, she sat up a little straighter and said, “Rowan,”

His mouth quirked a little higher as she said his name.

Clearing her throat, she started again, “Rowan, you can open the package, I assure you it's nothing bad. It’s just a passport.”

One of his eyebrows rose skeptically, “A passport?” He asked doubtfully.

“Yes, a passport. That’s why I was trying to send it to the embassy. It belongs to my b—ex.” She stumbled over the last word, still unused to Chaol’s new title.

He—Rowan—looked even more intrigued.

“You’re mailing your ex their passport, but decided to wrap it in the most suspicious, threatening way possible?”

Aelin winced. “I didn’t have many options.” She chuckled, remembering trying to tie the string together in the hotel bathroom’s fluorescent lights. “I thought I could fix it once I got here, but I didn’t even have a chance to ask for materials before being escorted in here.” She waved a hand vaguely and looked around his office.

Rowan was fully smirking now. He leaned back in his chair and watched her for a long moment. “It is my job to confiscate suspect packages. Especially when those packages are being sent to, say, a government building.”

Leaning forward slightly she smiled and told him, “Well, you seem to be very good at your job.”

Gods, was she flirting? She and Chaol literally just broke up. But she couldn’t deny she was attracted to Rowan. Not with the way his pine-green eyes lit up with amusement or the way the muscles in his arms flexed when he shifted in his chair. Not to mention that tattoo; she was a sucker for tattoos—and she’d never told him this, but it always disappointed Aelin that Chaol never even considered getting any ink.

Good gods, she was flirting. And not very well.

Still smirking, Rowan leaned forward and asked, “Care to tell me why you’re sending your ex their passport?”

Was it her imagination or did he say ‘ex’ like it was the most interesting word in his question.

She couldn't stop the small smile twisting her lips. “I don't see how the ‘why’ of it is any of your business.”

Rowan surveyed her and Aelin tried not to blush under his gaze. She couldn't stop herself from comparing him to Chaol, he never made her feel this flustered with just a stare. Rowan's eyes tracked her face, tracked the way her cheeks heated, and she tried with all her might to fight the blush.

She wasn’t a teenager with a crush, she was a woman who knew how good she looked and was very attracted to the man whose eyes had not stopped roaming over her. She fought down the blush and flipped her hair over her shoulder, smiling charmingly at him.

He seemed to like it and his grin widened before putting on a faux stern face.

“I try to be as thorough as possible, Aelin,” Gods, the way he said her name made her toes curl. “It would make things easier if you explained why. I could finish my paperwork quicker, get this thing sent off, and we’d both be free of this passport and your ex.”

Wow, he wasn't beating around the bush. She liked it.

He sent her a slow grin, “I’d be able to take my break at nine, and go for a cup of coffee.”

The way he said the last part left no room for guessing what he meant. He wanted to take her out for coffee.

A small part of her hesitated, she had just broken up with Chaol. But on the other hand, he took her on a fucking breakup vacation, so screw him and she could do whatever the hell she wanted. And she wanted Rowan. She wanted to go get coffee with Rowan.

So she smiled, winked at him, and said, “I’m mailing it back to him because I stole it from him.”

Rowan’s smile faltered and he blinked.

“You what?”

“I stole it from him.”

He stared at her another moment before a chuckle escaped his lips and he was shaking his head but smirking.

“You stole his passport.” He sounded very amused as he wrote a note down, most likely for the report he’d have to file.

“Yup,” Aelin’s grin turned feline, “He took me on vacation to break up with me, so I stole his passport and left him there.”

Rowan stopped writing and looked at her with raised eyebrows, “He’s still there? You have his passport, and now he’s stuck,” Rowan glanced at his notes, “in Antica?”

Aelin laughed; a loud, cheerful, sound that filled the office and pulled a small grin onto Rowan’s lips.

“Okay, I’m sure you think I’m a bit crazy,” Her grin didn't falter, “but it was impulsive and as soon as I realized what I actually did, you know, kinda leaving him stranded there, I tried to send it back to him. I couldn't remember what the hotel was, so I figured the embassy would be a good choice given it's a passport, and he is from Adarlan.”

“He’s from Adarlan, you’re not?” Rowan asked.

Aelin smirked, “That’s what you got from what I said?”

He matched her smirk, “That's what I want to know.”

“No,” Aelin shook her head and glanced out the window in his office, “I’m from here, Terrasen is in my blood.”

It seemed like that was the answer Rowan was looking for. He smiled, wrote down a final note, and looked back at her.

“I think that’s all I need right now, Aelin,” Again, the way he said her name sent butterflies flitting around her stomach.

He stood up and she did the same, pulling her purse back over her shoulder. He walked around his desk and opened the door for her.

“Aelin,” Rowan’s voice made her pause as she stood in the open doorway.

“Yes, Rowan?” she looked up at him expectantly with a small smile.

“I take my break in half an hour, there's a coffee shop just down the block, if you want to hang around or come back then, I'd like to take you out for coffee.”

Aelin smiled brightly at him and nodded, “I’d like that. I’ll come back in half an hour.”

He grinned and held her gaze another moment before she turned to leave.

“Oh, and Rowan?” She turned back to look at him but saw he already—or still—had his eyes on her.

“Yeah?”

“You don't have to use express shipping on that, it's fine if it takes a couple days.”

The sound of Rowan’s deep laughter followed her through the doors.

*****

Taglist:

@acourtofsnakes @allthebooksunderthemoon @astra-ad-mare @becarefuloflove @bisexual-genderfluid-loki @booklover41802 @charlizeed @cookiemonsterwholovesbooks @danibutterr @doubt-less @emily-gsh @enormousbooklover @foughtconquered @fromthelibraryofemilyj @hakunamatatazz @i-have-but-one-brain-cell @in-love-with-caramel-macchiato @jorjy-jo @lemonade-coolattas @mariamuses @mayhemories @midsizewitch @miserablesmusings @morganofthewildfire @nehemikkele @rowaelinismyotp @rowansfirebringer @sayosdreams @sheharahu @sleeping-and-books @stardelia @story-scribbler @superspiritfestival @surielandiareendgame @swankii-art-teacher @tomtenadia @westofmoon @whimsicallyreading @ladygabrielli1997 @moodymelanist @realbookloverproblems @gracie-rosee @julemmaes @yesdreamblog

[acourtofquestions]

Anyone else find it interesting that Heir of Fire has Green cover editions? It’s called Heir of FIRE you’d expect Orange on all, right?? But some have green, 1 might call it… Pine Green… 👀👀 as in Hello, Rowan ;-)

[sassyhobbits]

Flowers in your Hair

a/n: so sorry i havent been able to put out writing in a long time! ive been busy and also the words havent been flowing properly so...

anyway, here’s something that had been sitting on my computer for a while and I hope everyone enjoys!

~~~

Despite everything Aelin Galathynius had endured in the kingdom of Doranelle, she could still find immense beauty within the city of rivers.

She had never really gotten a good look at the city. When she came with Rowan the first time to get answers about the Wyrdkeys from Maeve, she had been far too nervous to bother to take in her surroundings properly. The second time she was in Doranelle, she was trapped in an iron box. 

But this time, Aelin was visiting as a queen and was able to fully take in the splendor of the last stronghold of the Fae.

Even though she knew the city of stone and water had been built as a deterrent for Brannon and all of his ancestors (including her), Aelin found the bright streets charming. Her head was practically hanging out of the window of their carriage as they traveled towards the Whitethorn estate. She didn’t want to miss any details, this time. 

Aelin’s husband sat beside her, holding her hand and sending fond glances at her every once in a while. Though he hadn’t admitted it aloud, Aelin knew part of him was excited to show her where he had grown up properly for the first time.

It had been two years since the end of the war and Sellene had invited Aelin and Rowan to Doranelle for a brief visit. Aelin had been so wrapped up in everything her kingdom required that she hadn’t realized she was aching for a change of pace until one was offered to her. Besides, it had been far too long since Rowan had visited his home, anyway.

Aelin knew they were nearing the Whitethorn estate. Selene had wanted to meet here, where no bad memories lingered for Aelin. She truly appreciated her care. It would be nice to be able to enjoy the visit without unwanted memories hanging about.

Doranelle was quite pleasant this time of year. While in Terrasen, snow still covered the mountains, in Doranelle, the airs were much warmer and the snow had all melted away. The first grasses and flowers had already begun to sprout. 

Aelin’s gaze caught on a group of Fae milling about a small patch of green, setting up tables and decorations. Her brows furrowed. It wasn’t any holiday that she was aware of.

“Ro, what are they setting up for?”

Her husband glanced through the window to see what she was referencing. “Ah. Imbolc, I believe.”

“Imbolc?” Aelin repeated, testing the unfamiliar word on her tongue. “I’ve never heard of it.”

“It’s a minor holiday for the Fae,” Rowan explained. “To celebrate the end of winter and the return of spring. My uncle will likely be holding his own get-together tonight on the estate.”

Aelin turned, grinning at her husband. “A party?”

His lips pressed together tightly. “I’m afraid that my family does not have the same definition of celebration as you do, Fireheart.”

Aelin waved a dismissive hand through the air. “It’s a celebration, isn’t it? It couldn’t be that bad. Even if your family is filled with boring old men like you.”

Rowan scoffed, throwing an arm around Aelin’s shoulders and tugging her close. He kissed the top of her head before murmuring, “Believe it or not, they’re far more boring than me.”

Aelin melted into her husband’s side, breathing in his pine and snow scent. He must have been exaggerating. Regardless of the opinion he held about his familys’ definition of celebration, it was a holiday. It was going to be fun.

....

Aelin had been completely, terribly, wrong.

Though she’d be dead before she admitted that to anyone. Especially Rowan. He would hold it over her head for the entirety of their immortal existence. 

The Whitethorn estate was a sprawling, beautiful piece of property. The home was almost a palace in itself, sculpted out of white stone in an ancient style. The gardens were stunning, well-managed even when Doranelle was just creeping out of winter. 

Aelin had met Rowan’s uncle once before. It was clear where her mate’s stony exterior came from. She greeted Rowan’s cousin Enda and his husband before receiving a warm welcome from Sellene, the Faerie queen of the east.

Technically, Aelin had just as much of a claim on Doranelle’s throne as Sellene did. Though she had absolutely no desire for another kingdom. Taking care of Terrasen was enough work as it was. 

She spent the afternoon greeting and being reintroduced to Rowan’s never ending stream of family. Her head was starting to spin as she attempted to tell the hundreds of silver heads apart.

But eventually, Aelin changed into a nicer gown as the sun began to set and time for the celebration to start crept closer and closer. It was a new piece of hers, long and white. The dress drooped off her shoulders, sleeves long and flowing. The skirts were airy, billowing around her legs and she strode around the rooms as she prepared. The dress was simpler than most of her other gowns, but it was beautifully made. 

Half of her hair was pulled back in tasteful braids, the rest of her golden waves were left to hang freely down her back. 

Rowan had kissed her and told her how beautiful she looked. With all the sweet nothings he whispered in her ear, it was unsurprising when he hauled her up on the vanity and started kissing her neck. Aelin was halfway through undoing his belt when they were interrupted by a polite knock on their door informing them that the celebrations were starting. 

Aelin had kissed her husband one last time with a whispered promise of, “Later.”

She was excited to celebrate her first Imbolc. The gardens of the Whitethorn estate had been decorated with white flowers and glowing candles, tables of food and wine flowing freely. 

She had high hopes that her husband had been exaggerating about how boring his family was and yet… 

It was nice, she supposed. There was a small band playing low, lovely songs, plenty of people milling about to make conversation with. The food provided was exquisite and the early spring wine simply wonderful. Rowan’s uncle and Sellene had invited other lords and ladies of Doranelle to the get-together. 

It wasn’t that she was having a bad time but… just beyond the towering gates of the Whitethorn estate, Aelin could hear others celebrating in a way that seemed much more intriguing to her. She could hear cherry, jubilant music, the sounds of whoops and cheers of delight. She could scent spiced meat being roasted and smoke from a bonfire. 

Aelin tried to focus back into the conversation she was having with Sellene and other ladies. Although part of her wanted to dance and drink until she was red in the face, she was a queen. And spending time with other royalty and nobility was part of the deal.

But she couldn’t stop keeping an ear out for that music.

…

Rowan was used to the kinds of parties his uncle threw. 

He started the evening with Aelin at his side. There were plenty of people in Doranelle who had wanted to thank them for their efforts made in the war. They both accepted their thanks gracefully, but when some of the warriors started asking for stories about battle, Rowan took over and allowed Aelin to find less dismal conversation.

He had kept an eye on her through the evening, admiring how beautiful she looked in that white dress under the moonlight. She charmed and dazzled all that she spoke to, a true queen through and through. 

Rowan got roped into a rather lengthy conversation debating some maneuvers made during a war he had fought over a hundred years ago. Eventually, he was aware of Sellene slipping up to his side, a quizzical look on her face.

“Where did your mate run off to?” she asked.

“She’s not here?”

Rowan sent a sweeping glance around the gardens, finding his cousin was right. Aelin was no longer here.

“She didn’t go to sleep without saying goodnight, did she?” Sellene asked.

Definitely not. It was far too early for her to go to bed, and even if she did, she likely would have found a way to coerce Rowan to come with her. Still, she certainly wasn’t in the gardens, but she was somewhere. And if Rowan knew Aelin at all…

His gaze snagged on the gates to the estate, finding one of the gilded doors opened a crack, leading to the music and laughter he could hear beyond. 

He knew where his wife was.

…

Rowan excused himself from the celebration on his family’s estate, slipping away before anyone could ask him where he was heading. He was out the gate, following the winding path down from the estate towards the surrounding village.

It was easy to find the celebration. It was situated on a small patch of green on the otherwise stone city. There were one or two bonfires burning, cooking some delicious smelling meat. There was a band playing bouncing music, a few Fae children running around, chasing each other, and stealing sweets. A large group of people dancing spun and leapt to the enchanting music. And, in the center of those dancing bodies, was the woman Rowan was looking for. 

Aelin was always stunning, but there were moments that took Rowan’s breath away. This was one of those moments.

The smile on his wife’s face was contagious as moved. Her cheeks were flushed a lovely shade of pink from either her smiling, her dancing, or likely the wine she had been drinking. Someone had twisted white flowers into her golden hair, she had lost her velvet slippers somewhere along the way, her bare feet moving swiftly across the grass. The hem of her dress had been stained by dirt, but Aelin didn’t seem to care. She lifted her skirts in her hand and twirled gracefully, locking elbows with another female before twisting towards another partner: a male who placed a respectful hand on her waist as they spun swifty. 

It made him happier than he expected to see Aelin learning the folk dances of Doranelle so quickly. It didn’t surprise him at all that she would master them.

Rowan wondered if the people around knew exactly who was dancing amongst them. Though tales of Aelin Galathynius had spread far and wide, she had only been in Doranelle twice. And neither of those visits had allowed her much time to make herself known amongst its people. 

Rowan, however, was much more recognizable. He pretended to ignore the curious glances people were sending his way, the hidden whispers. It was only so long before they put two and two together and realized that the woman he couldn’t take his eyes off of in the fine dress who had crashed their party was the Queen of Terrasen herself. 

Rowan didn’t know what possessed him, but he found himself slipping through the crowd, dodging the bodies of the dancers, until he had swept his wife up in his arms and began to lead her in the next dance.

Aelin’s face lit up in delight before raising a mischievous brow. “You found me.”

“You knew I would.”

She laughed. “I did. But I wasn’t expecting a dance. I only get those on special occasions.”

“It is a special occasion.” Rowan braced his hands on Aelin’s waist, lifting her as the others around them did this same. “It’s your first Imbolc.”

“Ah. I was hoping I convinced you with my stunning beauty and irresistible dancing.”

“Perhaps both are factors. Besides, my uncle’s party was growing dull.”

“Oh no! I’ve finally corrupted you into liking fun!”

Rowan flicked her nose and her laughter rang through the cool night air.

Although Rowan didn’t dance often, when he danced with Aelin, he always loved it. She danced with just as much grace and ferocity as she did when she fought. He would do anything to see that glimmer that shone in her eyes, to feel his magic and heart jump with joy to have her so close. 

The music sped up as it reached its climax, the dancers moving swifter to match the beat. His and Aelin’s bodies moved in question and answer to one another, not one misstep or fumble. Not that he expected there to be. 

The song and dance came to an end with Rowan twirling his wife back into his arms, both of them breathing a bit heavier than normal after exerting themselves. Aelin was smiling up at him, a few stray, golden hairs sticking to her forehead. Around them, people cheered and laughed, but to Rowan, it felt as if they were in their own world. 

Aelin threaded her fingers through Rowan’s hair, pushing up on her toes and pressing a lingering kiss to his lips.

“I think I love Imbolc,” she said breathily. 

Rowan smiled back down on her, kissing her again. “Then we’ll bring it back to Terrasen with us.”

Her grin didn’t fade as she rested her head against his chest. “I think I love you, too.”

Rowan held her close, resting his head on hers. 

He was pretty damn sure he loved her too.

[tomtenadia]

Rowaelin month - A helping hand

Rowaelin month day 6: university

A Helping hand ( @rowaelinscourt)

The title is horrible sorry. No warning, just a lot of fluff!!

----

Spring was in the air and the students at University of Terrasen had started to feel and enjoy the warmer climate after the usual harsh winters. 

The green in front of the main building was crowded with students deciding to study on the grass instead of in the library. 

An exception to this was Aelin. She found the green too noisy and distracting and, as a first year undergrad med student, that was not something she could not afford. The materials to revise were piling up and at times she felt as if  24 hrs in a day were not enough and the world did not have enough caffeine.

The science floor of the library was quiet and Aelin enjoyed the long table all to herself. It was rare but she assumed everyone was outside. That was fine by her.

She was revising anatomy and was now staring at a picture of a skeleton and tried hard to memorise the bones in an efficient way. Now she was dealing with the hand and the names just would not stick in her head. The carpal bones were the worst. Why bones had to have such weird names?

Aelin had her hand open and was saying the names out loud when a familiar voice stopped her.

“You forgot Pisiform and Triquetrum.”

She looked up and saw a head of silver sat opposite from her.

Rowan Whitethorn.

He was a third year med student and her big crush. They had friends in common and they had met during a night out. He had beautiful long silver hair and the most stunning pine green eyes. And if that was not enough, he was nicely built and his arse was a dream.

Aelin sighed and her head landed on the open book with a thud “anatomy is going to kill me.”

Rowan chuckled “I can help.”

Slowly Aelin raised her head and looked at him in disbelief “surely you have better thing to do than help a poor first year med student.”

He leaned back against the chair and smiled smugly “I can help, if you let me.”

“Sure, I have nothing to lose, I might even learn something.”

Rowan pushed his pile of books aside and grabbed her hand.

At the contact Aelin’s heart fluttered. She could feel calluses on his palm and wondered how he got them.

“I have a very nice mnemonic for you,” his finger traced a motion on her carpal bones “So long to pinky, here comes the thumb.”

Aelin wanted to laugh but she was too busy staring at his hand still holding hers.

“Scaphoid, Lunate, Triquetrum, Pisiform, Hamate, Capitate, Trapezoid and Trapezium.” His fingers did the circle one more time while he recited the names and pointed them on her hand.

“See? It starts with the proximal carpal bone nearest the thumb and ending with the distal carpal bone nearest the thumb,” his finger touched a point “this is the trapezium and it’s nearest the thumb. Trapezoid and Trapezium have a T and they are close the the thumb,” his finger moved again “Pinky stands for Pisiform and your proximal carpal bone nearest the pinky. Loads of P’s to remind you were it stands.”

Aelin stared at him in fascination. It was perfect. 

“That makes perfect sense,”

Rowan smiled widely “Fenrys has a much naughtier version but I think it’s more like a third date kind of confession.”

Aelin’s eyes bulged in surprise. Date? Did he just say date? “Now you have piqued my interest and I don’t think I can wait that long.”

The man in front of her laughed “Fine, but it stays between us.”

Aelin nodded solemnly.

Rowan sighed “Some lovers try positions that can’t handle.” And as her uttered the words the tip of his ears turned pink in embarrassment “Which I am not a fan of because it’s just lists them. Mine has an order to it.”

Aelin was laughing so hard that she snorted and was glad the library was empty at their end because  she was being far too loud. He was still looking ashamed of what he said and in that instant he seemed a lot cuter. Rowan was always shy and distant but in that instant she saw a side of him that she might learn to love very quickly.

“Fen has a collection of them,” his voice still quiet, while his hand never moved away from hers, fingers gently brushing her palm.

Aelin chuckled “I met Fenrys, I can only imagine.”

Rowan looked down at his hand and when he saw he was still touching hers he moved away slowly and a look resembling sadness passed on her features.

Maybe he could try. He had a crush on her since they met. Some seniors students had been asked to coach and help the first years. He had run his first session and Aelin had been in his group. She had been brilliant and Rowan knew that she was one of the best students in her class. She had struck him stupid, she was funny and had never ending sass.

He hesitated. Why would someone like her ever bother with him? The weirdo from third year?

“Aelin…”

“Go out with me,” she blurted out before he could say anything.

Rowan froze as he stared into her blue eyes twinkling with joy.

“I am sorry…” in a swift move she stood and made to close her books and walked away but Rowan grabbed her wrist oh so gently and she was startled by the contact.

“Aelin… I…” he breathed, too scared to admit his feelings “I like you, a lot,” the words finally left his mouth and a burst of confidence hit him “I had a crush on you for a while now. You are stunning and funny and fierce,” his gaze softened as he looked up at her “I love your sass and the way you scrunch up your nose when you are deep in concentration,” he fully grabbed her hand now “I love the freckles on your nose and the little tick up of your lips when you realise you know the answer to a question.”

Aelin stood in front of him in silence while he listed all the things he liked about her. She had no idea. Rowan Whitethorn, a third year student had noticed her and liked her. Her heart raced in her chest “You like me?” Incredulity seeped from her words surely she had heard wrong, blaming the stress.

“I do. I wanted to ask you out but you beat me to it.”

She chuckled hard “I will go out with you.”

He smiled deeply. A wide grin blossomed on his face and reached his green eyes now shining with deep happiness. Mala save her, he was stunning.

“But you need to tell me all of Fenrys’ naughty mnemonics. I might even manage to ace anatomy.”

He pulled her hand “It’s a gorgeous day. There’s a lovely cafe in the city centre with outside tables. We can go study there.”

“As long as you buy me pastries.”

Rowan squeezed her hand. He’d but her anything to see her smile.

[nikethestatue]

Please could you tell me which TOG book says Rowan smells like terranse and which book says NC smells like jasmine?

I really appreciate the information, it will be used properly to close some mouths

Empire of Storms--Rowan smells like snow and pine, and has eyes that are pine green. Terrasen smells like snow and pine. Rowan smells like Aelin's home.

In ACOMAF, when Rhys first takes Feyre to the Moon Palace, for their monthly bargain, when she wakes up and smells the air, the first scent that hits her is jasmine. Night Court smells like jasmine.

[theladyofdeath]

Is it possible to get a cute fluffy drabble of rowaelin as parents?

I love writing daddy Ro. Thank you for your prompt!

Croia pronunciation - cree-ah. Enjoy. :)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Rowan entered his wing of the castle, drenched in rain, after kicking Lorcan's ass a handful of times. He and Elide were staying in Terrasen for a couple of weeks, considering Elide was with child and soon would not be able to travel for quite some time. Lorcan and Rowan went back to their old training habits, waking up at dawn to run and spar.

It felt good.

But he was tired.

And wet.

Approaching their quarters, he could hear the softest, sweetest melody coming from the grand piano that sat in the far corner of their bedchambers. Rowan smiled, thinking that Croia must have asked Aelin to play the moment she woke up.

She was like that, Croia. She certainly had her mother's heart and willpower - and stubbornness. Even though she was the spitting image of her father. Aelin had cursed the moment she saw Croia for the first time. Nine months and misery and she comes out looking like you? Rowan had laughed, knowing Aelin was secretly pleased their firstborn had Rowan's silvery hair and pine green eyes and full, pink lips.

He stood outside of the thick, wooden door for a moment, listening to his wife, the Queen of Terrasen, play the pianoforte. It had been a wedding gift from Rowan - one he had gotten her for their first anniversary, considering the first year of their marriage had been a complete whirlwind. Around year one, however, they began to finally feel settled in their new life together.

Rowan had marked the occasion with the piano, which had been made by a talented luthier in the city. She played it often, especially when Croia asked.

The beautiful melody came to an abrupt stop, and the most horrific pounding of the keys began.

Rowan chuckled as he pushed open the door and stepped quietly inside. Their backs were turned to him and Croia played, and he took the opportunity to slip off his boots by the door, then his wet socks. After hanging up his sword, he unbuttoned his jacket and shrugged it off. When he took a step forward, he caught an old floorboard that creaked, and the two fae at the pianoforte turned their heads.

Aelin's eyes softened as the music stopped and Croia hopped up on the bench. "Daddy!"

Rowan laughed as she ran toward him and into his arms, throwing her 4-year-old self around him. Her nose scrunched up. "You're wet and you stink."

"That's how your father usually comes home," Aelin said, approaching him. "At least there's no blood."

"You should see Lorcan," Rowan muttered, and kissed Aelin's lips, softly.

"Ewwww," Croia interrupted, pushing their two faces apart. "Get a room."

It was something she had heard the others say time and time again. Get a room. Their court had enough of their public displays of affection through the years.

Aelin threw her head back and laughed. "I think you spend too much time with Uncle Aedion and Fenrys."

Croia's face lit up at the sound of their names. Rowan swore she loved the two brutes more than her own parents.

"Daddy," Croia began, taking Rowan's face in her hands.

"Hmm?"

"I want to go see Colm." The new colt in the stables, only given birth to a few days prior.

Rowan pretended to think about it for a moment, and when Croia began to beg, Aelin couldn't help her quiet lighter.

"Okay, okay," Rowan said, and Croia's joy was evident. "Let me take a warm bath, and you get ready, then we will go to the stables."

"With Fen?" she asked, hopefully.

Rowan chuckled. "I'm sure Fenrys would love to join us."

Croia hopped out of Rowan's with an excited yelp and hurried through the door to her bedroom. In her absence, Rowan wrapped his arms around Aelin, who scrunched her nose, just as her daughter had.

"She's right. You stink."

Rowan grunted and kissed her, a little longer this time, before slipping away into the washroom for a relaxing bath.

A moment later, the pounding of the keys resumed.

So much for relaxing.

As he slipped into the warm water, though, Rowan didn't mind the obnoxious music. In fact, he wouldn't trade it for anything.

[mariaofdoranelle]

Royal Rebels — Prologue

Masterlist

I’m so so happy to show you this! I was going to wait a little more to post, but I got a little eager today and I already have an outline and 15k words so what’s the point of waiting? Lol

I’m going to use my general tag list now for the heads up and then make a different one for this au so let me know if you want to be tagged!

The prologue will be right below the synopsis. I hope you like it!

CW: cursing, small fire

Word count: 2,2k

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When Queen Maeve starts taking merciless measures to save Doranelle from an economic collapse, two old enemies, frenemies with benefits, lovers, acquaintances, Princess Aelin Galathynius and Prince Rowan Whitethorn, must reunite to reach one goal: kill Maeve without starting a war. However, as they get closer to the Fae Queen, Aelin and Rowan might need to overcome old issues and wounds in order to work together efficiently, considering how quickly they could become the prey.

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One year before

As Aelin sauntered into the closet she kept exclusively for her arms and armor collection, she mused about the line between loving a weapon and becoming one. Among her pieces it was easy to spot ones that were historical, personalized, jeweled, blades made of watered steel, armors made of gold. The room was big enough to have a small party inside, but Aelin didn’t want to stall. She took a deep breath, picked a dagger and some other blades and left.

Sneaking out of the castle wasn’t news to her, but she still got a little thrill on the first moments out on the streets. No guards, no bowing down or tiptoeing around her, not one person afraid of the Fire-Bringer. As much as Aelin looked forward to her future as a queen, she loved to be able to blend into the streets and just get lost in the crowds sometimes.

Thankfully, she didn’t need to ask directions to get to her favorite blacksmith. Aelin knew she could hire a small team just to forge and take care of her weapons if that was her wish, but she preferred to be discreet and take care of them herself. Every little thing Aelin did ended up being attached to her fire magic and reinforced people’s ideas on how she would act as a ruler, whether the opinion was good or bad. Her military power had been proved enough since her childhood, adding it to the attachment she had to her weapons and training... It would be too much, specially when Aelin’s temper occasionally got the best of her. Terrasen was a peaceful kingdom, if she tried hard enough, people would realize she could be a good match for a queen.

But she was used to it now, Aelin thought as she walked down the streets of Orynth and bought whatever street vendors tried to sell her, fulfilling her father’s exhausted wish that If you insist on sneaking out, at least help boosting the economy. When the sunlight got stronger and her skin started to tingle, Aelin thoughtlessly tugged at her magic, but stopped before her hand was filled with bright flames.

Anyway, her weapon situation wasn’t a real problem. Aelin could still do her thing. It just needed to be toned-down, so people wouldn’t perceive her as The Bloodthirsty Queen. However, that didn’t stop her from showing off to the few people she trusted, her cousin Galan being one of them. He was a bit late on his trip to visit her, something about two friends surprising him in Varese. She didn’t remember the details in the letter anymore, just told her court lady to include those friends in the arrangements.

Entering the costumer’s antechamber, Aelin waved at the blacksmith’s assistant, who already knew what she was there for. He immediately blushed and then waved back, but stumbled on a few boxes on his way because he kept looking at her while walking. Aelin only stopped to analyze her surroundings when an intoxicating smell of pine and snow assaulted her senses. When she looked for the source of it, there was a set of pine green eyes staring at her, sending a thrill on her body that made the flames beneath her skin dance.

Aelin had absolutely no control over her legs when she walked to him. It wasn’t even like her to flirt with random people. If anything happened, she would just tell herself she slipped and fell on hot stranger’s lap. “Well, that’s a fancy sword you have picked.”

Hot nice-smelling stranger had a tiny smirk on his lips before he opened his mouth and closed it again and looked at her thoughtfully. “Are you familiar with them?”

Aelin leaned on the table and stroked gently the blade closest to her. “Familiar enough to be one of Brullo’s favorite costumers. You seem like potential competition.” Aelin tilted her head, making her neck visible as her hair fell to the side, and sized him up.

Pine green-eyed stranger set his sword with a pine green hilt on the table and angled his body towards her, reducing their distance. “Is Brullo the blacksmith or the assistant? Do you think I can compete if it’s the latter?”

Aelin’s breath halted. “I think you can handle it just fine.”

Aelin could clearly see hot stranger’s pupils dilating until it swallowed most of his irises. “I assume you’re from Orynth.”

“I assume you aren’t.”

“No. I’ll be here for a handful of weeks, probably. It’s not up to me.”

“And that requires this gigantic sword?”

He twirled the sword on his hand. “I left mine at home, and you never know the next dragon you’ll have to slay.”

Was Hot Stranger a fantasy book reader too? Aelin smirked at him. “Are you here on vacation or on duty?”

Rowan glanced at a blonde Fae who had just neglected the weapons he was choosing to flirt with another costumer. After a deep sigh, he answered, “A mix of both.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Is that so?”

Hot Stranger snorted, “Sometimes you have to stop people from making a disaster.”

They were interrupted by the assistant coming with Aelin’s new dagger, which was absolutely stunning. Its size was perfect for her to carry around, and the blade was simple, slim and silver. However, the hilt was ornamented with gold in lots of small, wavy forms that looked like flames. She had payed in advance, so she put the blade away after admiring it for a little longer. Hot Stranger was looking thoughtfully at her when she focused back on him.

“What’s your name?”

Aelin hoped he didn’t see her fidget while she replied, “Celaena. Yours?”

“Rowan,” he said before slightly biting his lips, “Where can I find you in Orynth?”

She tilted her head and grimaced. “You won’t.” She wasn’t happy with that answer, he really seemed like a good ride. However, Aelin couldn’t. Rowan was completely off-limits. If her cousin Aedion or her father even suspected she had escaped the castle to buy weapons and ended up flirting with a foreign Fae stranger twice her size, she’d never see the end of it.

His brows furrowed. “Well, that’s a shame, Celaena.”

She took a deep breath. “Indeed.”

On her walk back home, Aelin kept replaying the moments with Rowan in her head, but she was sure it was because she was bored. In fact, she was so bored she got ready early reading in her room until Aedion picked her up.

“Excited, Ae? You’re not even late,” He said with raised eyebrows before linking arms with her.”

“Shut up. You know Galan is my second favorite cousin too.” Aelin was nodding at people they passed by with her chin raised as Aedion laughed in the middle of the hall.

When they entered the Throne Room, Galan’s party was already there. She smiled broadly at him and sent a tiny wave, until she swayed a little on her steps and her mouth fell open.

By the side of her cousin, was Rowan from the blacksmith and his blonde friend. Rowan was already blinking quickly at her, as if checking his own vision. When his friend whispered something to him, he gulped and straightened his posture immediately. Adding it to the sword she saw earlier, it was easy to tell he was a military man. He could be a general from a remote area of Wendlyn, that would explain why she had never seen him when visiting Varese. That thought made her smile, and when they looked back at each other, he nodded at her with a hint of a smile. Aelin didn’t even worry about lying her name to him, she seemed to be pretty much forgiven.

She had noticed Aedion eyeing her suspiciously, but she didn’t care. The announcement of the guests was mostly brief, but the longer it kept going, the more she became curious to know what he did back in Wendlyn with her cousin. Aelin’s heart started racing as Rowan started being announced.

Prince Rowan Whitethorn of Doranelle

Wait, what?

How in hell did Maeve’s nephew get inside her castle?

Aelin sensed Aedion’s body tense besides her, too.

Maeve, the creepiest person Aelin had ever known, even though she had only read letters from her. Asking her to visit Doranelle so they could get to know each other since Aelin was born.

Queen Maeve of Doranelle, the person Aelin knew was up to no good when it came to her.

Aelin had never set foot in Doranelle for a reason, but its Queen had found a way to sneak her people into her castle.

No fucking way.

After the guests were sent to their rooms, Aelin and Aedion locked themselves in a broom closet away from prying ears and started an emergency meeting.

Aelin blurted, “Do you think he’s trying to kill me?”

Aedion clenched his jaw, making some facial muscles jump. “Over my dead body.” He seemed to mull on something while started to crack his knuckles. “We should kill him first.”

Aelin’s eyes went wide. “Are you out of your mind? He’s the most powerful Fae alive, completely war material if we kill him out of the blue.” Her body stilled. “Maybe that’s exactly what Maeve wants.” Aelin was definitely not going to be the queen who murders her guests on their first day visiting.

As if sensing her thoughts, Aedion offered, “I can kill him if you want. Take the blame and shit.”

“No. Don’t.” Aelin’s thoughts were unfocused, her heartbeat racing as she thought on other solutions, but their hands were tied. Aelin started scratching her forehead. She didn’t know much, but of one thing she was sure.

Maeve’s best lackey was here on a mission, and her idiot cousin had just led him inside.

She knew Doranelle and Wendlyn were political allies, but she didn’t know Galan and the Whitethorns were freaking buddies.

Aelin was going to dismember Galan. And then incinerate what was left of her cousin.

One moment she was with Aedion, the other going towards the Guest Wing, her cousin hot on her heels. She didn’t need to ask which room he was at, the trail of his steps was easy to follow.

“Excuse me, boys. Would you mind staying back for a little while?” She said with a sweet smile at the castle’s guards stationed beside his door, who complied without a second thought. “Wait for me here, Aedion. You’ll know if you need to come.” Aelin stared at Rowan Whitethorn’s door for a few seconds and took a deep breath. It was going to be fine.

Then she set his door on fire until it burned to a crisp and barged into his room without announcing herself. But if you really thought about it, the fire was announcement enough. Despite her big entrance, Rowan didn’t even bat an eye at her. In fact, he was sat on a couch, tending for his daggers. Shirtless. But she wouldn’t be affected by his shirtlessness. It was absolutely disgusting, the way she could trace the movement of each muscle as he wiped—

“Good evening, Celaena,” he sneered her alias, “Can I help you?”

“Absolutely.” She sat on a chair across from him, her posture perfect as she assessed him.

Rowan raised his brows at her.

“I didn’t get to compliment your choice of sword at the blacksmith earlier.” She tilted her head. “Tell me, Whitethorn, apart from fictional dragons, which other fire-wielder creatures do you plan to kill with it?”

“I believe my plans didn’t work out the moment I reached Varese and was dragged here by Galan and Fenrys.”

Aelin’s pulse got even faster. Seriously? Was that really the best he could come up with? “Why would I trust Maeve’s killing dog?”

It was easy to spot Rowan’s nostrils flaring and the way he clenched his jaw. “I like to think I’d spend my time with something more challenging than murdering an attention-seeker little brat.”

“Then what are you here for? Watch me? You know, you must be very important to Her Immortal Majesty if she put you on nurse duty.”

He snarled, “I was not. Sent. By. Maeve.”

Aelin got up from her chair, her eyes wide. “I don’t believe you.”

Rowan rose from his couch too and scoffed at her, “Are you always this paranoid, Princess?”

“So, you come to Terrasen while your aunt has an scheduled visit to Adarlan and expect me to believe you have no hidden agenda?”

Rowan took a deep breath and said in a carefully controlled tone, “I command armies. Strictly. Do you see any troops here? Because she wouldn’t send me as a spy.”

Aelin squinted her eyes at him, trying to recall every detail in their exchange earlier. “Then what is the disaster you have to prevent?”

“Have you met Fenrys?”

Her eyes went wide. “Are you kidding me? He has charmed half the Court already!”

Rowan pinched his nose. “Of course he did.”

Aelin drew herself up to full height and narrowed her eyes at him. “I don’t trust you, Whitethorn. And I don’t give a fuck about your relationship with Maeve. As long as you lead her armies and benefit from her government, I’ll be monitoring you.”

She didn’t know who stepped inside the personal space of the other, but they were close. Dangerously so. Their short breaths were mingling as they studied each other’s enraged faces. Aelin took a step back and started to leave, but not without hissing, “Don’t you dare think this conversation is over.” Too bad she couldn’t slam his door.

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