SUMMARY: Aelin Galathynius has been living an easy life. Her parents died in a carriage accident, but other than that, her life is pretty ordinary. Other then the fact that she is the Princess of Terrasen, and the last fire wielder in the world. She has a personal magic trainer (Rowan Whitethorn), and amazing boyfriend (Sam Cortland), two loyal best friends (Lysandra and Elide), multiple people owing her a debt in some way shape or form, a scary aunt (Mauve), a prince who eats like a fine lady (Dorian Havillard), and Chaol. Could her life get any crazier? Who doesn't want a self brooding, ancient fae warrior training them? I know Aelin sure doesn't, well maybe not for long. After all, somethings can change because of an evil demon wanting to destroy the world.

(age 10)Aelin's PoV:

There was a strange, ancient presence in the castle when I awoke. I knew that my parents had been talking about getting me a personal trainer for my fire magic but I hadn't thought that they would go through with it. And with Aedion off at war camps… Well, now it was just me. Me and Elide but, if you want my opinion, I don't think Elide likes me very much.

When I was walking down the stairs that led to the grand hall I heard my parents talking to a woman. A woman's voice that I had never heard before but knew all too well. The voice of an ancient fae queen that isn't a fan of the demi-fae. The voice of my Aunt Maeve. I brought myself to the door to hear what they were saying.

"Thank you for this Maeve. I really hope that he can do this for her. I'm just so scared that she won't survive after we follow through on the plan," I heard my mother saying.

There was a muffled reply then this, "Do you really think that this will work? I mean she's only ten!" I heard my father yelling to my mother and Aunt, "I don't know if disappearing to the-"

I turned to walk away so I wouldn't have to hear anymore of that. What did they mean by "disappearing"? Was something going to happen? And who was the "he" they were talking about? Was it Dorian? Sam? Aedion? I decided not to think about it.

ONE WEEK LATER

"Princess! Princess!" That was the first thing I heard when I woke up this morning, before dawn I noticed. Somebody was yelling in my ear.

"What?" I snapped, "Who is waking me up at this ungodly hour?"

"I'm sorry," said a voice from my bedside table, a voice I instantly knew as Lady Marion, "I'm so deeply sorry, Aelin." This made me suspicious that she wasn't just apologizing about waking me up before the butt crack of dawn.

"Lady Marion? What is it?" I asked, my voice muffled by the pillow my head was currently resting in, "What's happened?"

"There-there was a accident and-and, oh Aelin I'm sorry. I just-I'm sorry Aelin," she started, that was when I noticed tears were streaming down her face, "Aelin they're dead. Oh Fireheart, I'm so sorry Fireheart-"

I cut her off, "What are you sorry for? Who's dead, Marion? Who's dead?"

"Your parents, dear. They were coming back from the manor, and the driver got distracted and-" her voice broke, "And," she took a deep breath before going on, "And they crashed into a tree. No survivors. Oh, Aelin. Oh, Fireheart…"

I stopped hearing. Stopped breathing. I just, stopped. Dead. That word echoed in my head. No survivors. That meant I was alone. Aedion likely wouldn't hear about this, and he wasn't due back until my coronation, and that was in 8 years. Dead. Dead. Dead. I exploded with a scream, and the room erupted into flames.