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All characters belong to Sarah J. Maas

This is my first fic, so we'll see how this goes...

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Aedion Ashryver had gotten used to the cold and confining cell that he had been residing in for the past few weeks. His wrists and feet always felt tight (the guards not giving him any leeway with the shackles), and the scent of his excrements overpowering. But he knew that it didn't matter-not when he was going to die in three days. Aedion had heard, with his sensitive Fae ears, the guards talking about him. Well not about him, but her. Aelin. His queen, the one person that he was supposed to protect with his life. Aedion had heard things that he did not want to hear-things that had changed everything.

Once, he had thought that he would die alone-without Aelin or his Bane or even the Captain by his side-and he had accepted his fate. He had let her go when he had offered himself up to save the captain. Aedion did not regret his decision.

But Aelin…this whole thing was a trap for Aelin. The King was going to use him to get to Aelin. To capture his queen and to and kill her. And while Aedion did not doubt Aelin's skill as a warrior, the King of Adarlan was in another league entirely.

For he knew his cousin. He knew that she would sacrifice everything to save him-just like he would have done for her. And he knew that her death would be on his hands.

The guards pushed his evening bowl of slop and water into the cell. They always avoided looking at him, and he had given up studying their features and thinking up ways of killing them and escaping. Numbly, Aedion picked up the bowl and pulled it to his mouth. He ate the tasteless slop methodically and drank the water-laced with sedatives. He had given up refusing to drink the water. He had felt so, so thirsty and after a few bowls of that slop, he had practically drowned the water in a single swallow. Aedion could feel the sedatives slowly kicking in. He opened himself up, offering himself to the lull of the sedative, the lull of sleep. He was so, so tired. Only three days to go.

After gutting and beheading the four men in black uniforms, their remains and blood scattered in the vaults, Aelin Ashryver Galathynius was feeling much better. Aelin had wiped off the blood soaking Goldryn, and sheathed him at her waist. Her gloves were drenched in blood, and Aelin tossed them onto the body of a beheaded guard as a farewell gift. She was ready to confront Chaol.

Arobynn had mentioned that Chaol had headed towards the southern section of the vault tunnels, and Aelin did not doubt his words. Arobynn may have ulterior motives for his actions, but he knew the structure of the vaults better than anyone-even better than Aelin herself, though she hated to admit it.

By now, the noise and the fights had started again. Hesitantly at first, but the men (and women) who frequented this place were used to violence and killing. So Aelin Ashryver Galathynius lifted her chin and squared her shoulders, and sauntered off towards the door atop the stone stairs. No-one stopped her.

Aelin threw open the door, and the smell hit her immediately. She wrinkled her nose in disgust. Oh, how she wished Rowan was here, his pine-and-snow scent a welcome distraction. He would probably laugh if she knew she needed to smell him. Hell, he would probably whoop her ass if she dare let a disgusting smell stop her. Aelin shook her head, and shut the door with a loud clank.

Aelin walked through the cold tunnel, wishing that magic still worked in Adarlan. She was sick of the cold, and she had barely walked for five minutes. She had better see Chaol soon, or else she was going kill him for making her walk in the freezing cold. Aelin was getting worried that Chaol had already left the tunnels, which would have talking to Chaol harder. Not impossible, but harder.

It was another five gruesome minutes until Aelin finally heard voices. One female-the guard-and two male. Chaol, and someone else. An ally, perhaps? It wasn't until she was close enough to make out their features-though they of course could not see her-that she recognised him. It was the man with the twin swords that had captured Chaol that day. The man with Archer Finn-the one with the unchecked anger and aggression. The one there on the day Nehemia had died.

Aelin could feel her blood boiling inside her skin. Why was Chaol-Chaol!-talking to him? She couldn't understand, or even dream up, a reason why the man and Chaol were talking and not fighting. Though she could not hear what was being said, and even though both the man and Chaol seemed tense, they appeared to be friends.

Aelin would demand answers from Chaol. Right after she gutted the man and left his corpse to rot in this godsforsaken tunnel. Unsheathing Goldryn, Aelin Ashryver Galathynius strode towards Chaol, his guard, and the man, the promise of violence and death in her Ashryver eyes.

Chaol had been tense the whole way to meeting Ren in the tunnels. It didn't help that Nesryn kept looking over her shoulder every five seconds either. Chaol had met Nesryn four days ago, when she came to Adarlan to join Ren and Murtaugh. She was supposed to be guarding Murtaugh, and since Murtaugh was away, she had taken to accompanying Ren and Chaol when they were away from Celaena's apartment.

"No-one's following," said Nesryn, as she threw another cautious glance over she shoulder. Chaol nodded, and continued walking, picking up speed.

Nesryn had taken to walking two steps behind him and Ren at all times, and at first it had been annoying. But Chaol was used to it now, and it was comforting knowing that someone was watching his back.

When they finally saw Ren, Chaol almost sagged in relief.

"Any trouble?" asked Chaol as Ren sheathed his blades.

"Avoided some guards on my way here," said Ren. "They were heading towards the vaults."

Chaol stiffened, but it was Nesryn that replied. "We didn't see any guards when we were meeting with Arobynn Hamel."

Ren tensed. "Do you think they were following us?"

Chaol shook his head. They were discrete while heading here, and he was sure that they hadn't left a trail. But if they were being followed…

"We should go soon," said Nesryn, her brown eyes taking in everything in their surroundings. Which, at this point, were just some stone walls.

"How was the meeting, by the way?" asked Ren. "Did Arobynn tell you why he wanted to meet?"

Chaol's felt anger rising up inside him at the memory of Arobynn. He had been sitting in front of Celaena's old mentor-the one that had hurt her and killed Sam-and he couldn't kill him. Oh, he had itched to jam Demaris into Arobynn's stomach and watch him bleed slowly to death. But he knew that Arobynn's guards would be beside them before he even unsheathed Demaris, and well, Arobynn wasn't the King of the Assassins for nothing. Chaol didn't know if he and Nesryn could live through the fight if he had given in to his brashness.

"Not very well," Chaol admitted. "He wanted to know about Aelin-if we could help him get into contact with her."

"And Aedion?" asked Ren. "Did you find out anything of use?"

Chaol shook his head. This whole trip was a waste. A complete and utter waste of their time. Arobynn had been playing them, fuelling Chaol's anger, and he had fallen for it. Fool.

"Chaol," hissed Nesryn. Chaol looked up. Ren and Nesryn had already drawn their swords, taking their position beside him. Chaol unsheathed Demaris, turning to face whatever threat was lurking in the tunnels.

What he saw almost made his heart stop. Though she had red hair only reaching to her collarbones, Chaol would recognise her anywhere. Lean, with turquoise eyes ringed with gold. Those eyes were flashing with murder and rage. Celaena.

She was not wearing the ring. Chaol had not expected that one thing to hurt so much-especially since so much time had passed since Celaena had left for Wendlyn. But seeing her finger-bare, without an imprint that hinted that she had just taken it off-broke Chaol. Just a little. He still loved her, and knowing that Celaena was Aelin did not change that. Even after knowing she was returning as Aelin, not Celaena, and knowing that he should have let her go, he still couldn't.

"Stop. Celaena, I can explain. Put down your sword." Chaol. It had been a while, but hearing his voice almost made Aelin stop in her tracks. Though Aelin no longer loved Chaol, at least not in that way, she couldn't deny the rush that flowed through her.

"What are you doing with him?" she asked through gritted teeth. He had better have a good explanation, or else. The man was looking at her with a shell-shocked expression. So he recognised her. Good.

"Ren is on our side, Celaena," said Chaol in a calm tone. "He has been working with me and Aedion when you were away in Wendlyn."

Aedion. Chaol…he had talked with Aedion. Were they friends?

"What is going on here?" burst out Ren. "Why is the King's Champion here in the tunnels? Isn't she meant to be in Wendlyn…"

And then it clicked. Aelin Ashryver Galathynius was in Wendlyn when she killed General Narrok. Celaena Sardothian was sent to Wendlyn to assassinate the Wendlyn royal family. Chaol had known so much about Aelin, and had kept it secret from him and Murtaugh. Because…because…

Celaena Sardothian-Aelin-smiled at him, and it sent shivers up his spine. He had tried to kill his queen. Numbly, Ren sank to his knees.

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