Disclaimer to the queen. Sarah J. Maas.

Not AU

Dedicated to Spirit of Fury who asked for this ages ago but I never did. I'm sorry it like...you know what just read it

Lysandra had dropped her non-existent handkerchief again. It was excuse to get away from Rowan and Aelin being all heated...and doing that thing where they speak without speaking.

Aedion, being smart, decided to help Lysandra and leave the love birds be.

"Those two really need to get a room," Lysandra said.

"The furtherer away from me the better," grumbled Aedion. The last thing he needed to hear was those two...

Lysandra turned to him and grinned. "True. The last thing we need to hear is Aelin moan-"

"Please don't finish that sentence."

Lysandra laughed and Aedion decided that she could tease him any day as long as she was happy, something they hardly had as the fears of war snuck up on them.

"You're not too bad, wolf"

"Same could be said for you."Aedion cocked his head and added. "Well when you aren't speaking about my cousin and her man."

Lysandra nodded. "She's Fae, he's Fae...are the not that word. What's it again?

"Mates?"

"Yes that."

Aedion was not sure how to rely so be did to the best of his abilities. "Around campfires, we used to tell stories of them. Maeve's warriors - or Cadre as Aelin likes to call them. The rumor has it that Rowan was a ruthless warrior but he became even more so when his mate died."

She paled. "Is it possible to have another mate."

He shrugged, "It's never happened. I doubt it could to be frank. The love between mates is supposed to be something sacred."

"I don't get it then."

"What?" Aedion said, his head tilted.

"How do they seem so in love?"

Aedion frowned and followed her gaze at the pair. They were smiling at each other like no-ones business. The looked so happy and complete.

"I don't know."

Lysandra shook her head and faced Aedion. She gave him and soft smile and he knew she was so vulnerable and raw right now. He knew that he had to be the strong one. He reached a hand out and touched her face but she stepped back, startled. Too soon. Lysandra stared just past Aedion at Fleetfoot and Evangeline. The two were playing in mud. "I'd do anything to save them, you know."

Aedion sucked in a breathe. "It's something we would all do."

Lysandra looked away from the girl and dog. She stared at Aedion with a harsh expression instead of the playful one she usually had. "If I were to not make it, I fear for Evangeline."

"Don't say that. There's a chance-"

"A mere possibility. This is war Aedion. We might not make it. God's now we don't have the odds in our favour."

Aedion ground his teeth. "I've been in wars, Lysandra and I've survived but you have to have hope."

"And what if there's none left?"

"Then you think of something happy, a dream, a future and you hope for that."

Lysandra took a shuddering breathe and curled into herself. She looked ashamed and she was. "I'm sorry that I said that. I just..."

Aedion nodded. He understood her do well, it was odd. "It happens to the best of us, believe me."

Lysandra stretched her arms over her head and shifted in her ghost leopard. Aedion grinned at her form. The ghost leopard jumped on Aedion and he fell onto his back. She licked his cheek and ran towards Evangeline and Fleetfoot. Aedion just stared after her with a smile on his face.

He really liked her.

This was supposed to be light playful banter but it wasn't. I'm sorry I'm such a failure. Anyway... I've posted a lot of one shots so if you want to request one, please do. I do not continue one shots.

Guys IM DYING FROM LAUGHTER,

My tab corrects Aedion to Addison...