A/N: Hi, This is my first TOG fanfic! I really appreciate any feedback and would appreciate any ideas for some one-shots. Enjoy! (Disclaimer: All characters and direct quotes belong to the amazing Sarah J. Maas.)

"Aelin," Rowan says softly.

Aelin was currently vomiting her guts up after leaving the deck when Fenrys had said those words

"I'm not feeling well," She said in a soft voice that sounded so unlike the queen he knew so well.

"Then let me in so I can take care of you," he growled.

"Just... Just give me a minute," she said.

She had locked him out —she had locked him out. He would wait ten seconds. He was debating how much time he would wait before he would wait before breaking the lock and coming in.

Aelin opened the door and came out. She had filled half a bucket. Her skin was pallid and her eyes were red-rimmed and dull. They had a hollow look to them that he hadn't seen since Wendlyn.

She took his arm that he offered for stability and avoided his worried gaze. He led her to the bed and slowly laid her down. He got up and got a warm cloth and rested it across her forehead. He began to stroke her hair as his mind was in a flurry about why she was this stressed. What exactly had set her off?

They stayed like that for a while—Rowan sitting up next to a dozing Aelin. Aelin started mumbling in her sleep and suddenly woke up. Aelin tried to get up but Rowan pretty much pushed her back down and told her to try to rest some more and that he would take care of everything that was urgent for a few hours.

"We need to talk," Aelin protested.

"Are you sure you want to right now?" Rowan persisted in his fussing.

"This cannot wait any longer," she said finally sitting up. She stood up on surprisingly steady legs and gazed into Rowan's eyes.

"You know Brannon's mark," she began. "The mark of the bastard-born—the nameless. Elena's mother gave up her mortal body to forge the Lock. Mala herself gave up her mortal existence so that Erawan could be banished. It was a one-use thing. When Elena stole the Lock to seal Erawan in his tomb, she didn't realize that her father meant to use it to lock him out of their realm forever. After Elena locked him away, she realized her mistake and knew that she had made a terrible mistake that she couldn't undo. So now, the only way to forge the Lock and purge this realm of Erawan's reign of terror is for one of her descendants to give up their mortal lives to forge it. I am one of her descendants and so is Dorian. When Fenrys said 'nameless is my price', I realized what Yellowlegs had told me. My mortal existence is the price for it. That is why I am a little freaked out."

Rowan was speechless. "What about Dorian? Why do you have to sacrifice so much?" he said.

"Dorian has been through too much. And for me… I am the expendable one," she said trying not to meet his eyes.

Rowan gently brushed away some of her tears that had escaped her eyes and raised her face to meet his gaze. "Fireheart, you are only expendable to yourself," he whispered to her. "I swear to you that we will find another way."

"Rowan…" she began.

"No, I swear—to whatever end." he said, his mind made up.

"To whatever end." she repeated back.

Insufferable Fae bastard.

You know you love it.

Prick.

Princess.

The Queen of the Wildfire and the Prince of Ice walked together out of the cabin and into the daylight to face every threat because they were mates and they would not be afraid.