A/N: Disclaimer: I don't own the Throne of Glass Series. However, I do own a copy of the books.

Chapter 1: Approval

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Dorian's POV

He rubbed his neck, his entire body aching from the magical workout he had yesterday. Aelin had taught him how to keep multiple shields going at once with his magic, throwing whorls of fire mercilessly at him. He already knew how to summon a shield, but having the ability to summon several easily was a challenge.

It was even more especially difficult when the same hawk would swoop from the hovers of the trees and stare at him for hoursif analyzing his every move-he even swore that it was smirking at him.

It was most likely his mind playing tricks on him due to his failure. No bird would have the audacity to, gods above, watch a person play with magic.

Dorian didn't even know if he was human; he only knew that he was someone. But he wasn't exactly normal either with his ice powers. How would his kingdom exact to the years of the ban on magic to the Crown Prince having magic?

Chaol was silently walking beside him, one hand tucked in his front pocket, the other hand resting on the hilt of his blade. Chaol was always the one to resent anything out of the ordinary, especially change, even if was for the good-which is why he now had seemed to resent the friendship with Dorian, who had ice powers. Chaol had been spending most of his time training Ren, something Dorian didn't entirely mind. Ren was too pugnacious for his own good and caused people to have too many headaches, a skill that could definitely pass as a magic.

"Who do you think trained Aelin while she away?" Dorian asked, trying to break the uncomfortable silence as they both meandered through the yard. He often enjoyed the peaceful walks with Chaol, even if most of the time they were silent and contemplating on some other subject at hand.

Aelin was a ruthless trainer, contrary to her ruthlessness before she had left-this said a lot considering she was Adarlan's most notorious assassin. Dorian knew without a doubt that she had changed to the point where she was someone else. He had only wished that he could have been by her side to preserve the ounce of friendship that had to whatever had happened.

But if hadn't stayed in Adarlan, he wouldn't have met Sorscha. But if hadn't met Sorscha, who else would have developed the tonics and stolen his heart? Yet if he had left Adarlan, he would have saved himself the heartbreak from her death wrecked upon his father.

It wasn't that he and Aelin weren't friends-no. He still attempted to teach her billboards, a skill she somehow wasn't gifted with out of all her extreme talents. During her victory in killing his father-something he hadn't entirely minded (he hadn't even shed a tear, to his surprise), she had to fight Dorian face to face.

Despite the collar on his throat that controlled his actions, he could see the pain in her eyes as she slashed her blade towards him. Her option boiled down to killing him-she couldn't use her magic, and beheading was the only option.

Then, in a split second, the magic towers were destroyed. By who was still a mystery to him. A group of five animals had savagely destroyed each tower, along with the help of the remaining Terrasen army and some demi-Fae from Mistward.

Swiftly, Aelin burned his collar, and they had embraced. But Dorian still knew that she was wary of him from their encounters that were forced upon his father. He was the enemy, and he had killed some innocent people. In some ways, Dorian was also changed. He could no longer view himself as the innocent.

"Obviously someone who had magic," Chaol replied evenly, "Though I still think it's possible that Celaena could have learned to control her magic out of the force of sheer will."

"It's Aelin," a different male voice said.

Both heads snapped towards the woods where The Fae was standing. No one apparently knew his actual name, or apparently didn't want to speak it. Multiple tattoos decorated his entire body, an action Dorian found repulsive, and a huge one stretched across his entire face. He was sturdy, large, and as infuriating as it was for Dorian to admit, good-looking.

Aelin, after overthrowing his father (she'd consumed him with her flames till a pile of ashes sat at the bottom of the throne) and ensuring some form of peace in Adarlan, had literally flown into The Fae's room to do who knows what. They obviously had a connection, and it made Dorian envious. That male was usually beside Aelin, and if he wasn't, there was this bird (who was one of the five animals that destroyed the towers) that always got on his nerves.

"It refers to the same person." Chaol said tightly, his hand tightening on the blade. Dorian knew Chaol would lose a fight to a full Fae, so he froze his friend's hand. He didn't care if Chaol thought of him worse now-peace was what drove Dorian nowadays.

Dorian also knew Chaol would always call Aelin her previous name. Celaena was the person they knew and were connected with-Aelin wasn't. She was a stranger and a force not to be reckoned with.

The Fae's eyes narrowed. "Is it really the same person?"

Chaol opened his mouth, but didn't have time to speak as The Fae stalked away back into the woods, where there was a flash of light.

Dorian shrugged his shoulders at Chaol. At least Aelin, or Celaena, or whatever name she preferred to be called sucked at billboards still. There was one connection.

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Chaol's POV

"He might as well rule the world with that ego of his," Ren says, appearing from the opposite direction, his arms crossed.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Dorian roll his eyes. "He's a guy with his own personality who's probably done twice the accomplishments we've ever achieved. He has a life, and his own ideals, and we'll respect that."

Chaol had observed that ever since Dorian's collar was destroyed, he had been acting like the ultimate Buddhist monk. "You'll respect that; I won't," Chaol said.

Simultaneously, Ren seethed, "Bullshit. You un-humans act all superior. You've got no right too-I've got my own ideals and my own life, and nothing's gonna change that. You wanna act all wise? You're failing miserably, and-" he cut himself off, no doubt before he started cursing, something Chaol appreciated, then glared once more at Dorian. "Anyways, the queen wants to see us."

Dorian said nothing, just turned his head away with a slight nod in walk to the gardens, where most meetings occurred.

In the clearing, there was Aelin and Aedion, and that damned hawk on Aelin's shoulder. Chaol's heart skipped a beat as his eyes took in Aelin. There was a time when she would look at him like that, would return his feelings. Chaol didn't know what Aelin thought of him. He only could guess what Celaena thought of him.

"Dorian, Ren, Chaol." Aedion nods his head towards each of them. "Sorry for the quick notice."

"Oh, so you speak for her now?" Ren sneers, jerking his head towards Aelin. "She gonna discard us now, now that war's over and she has no need for regular people now?" Chaol watched Ren rub his side where he had been burned by Aelin's fire by accident.

Chaol found himself saying, "You've been ignoring anyone who hasn't been with you since you left for Terrasen. Since you're queen and all, I suppose that our titles will be given to your closer friends?"

The bird huffed, spreading out its' feathers as if it could intimidate them. Chaol wanted to pluck each of the bird's god damned feathers and burn them.

Dorian had said nothing until now, his face tightening drastically, then announced, "If you've played us like pawns, just because we don't have that connection to Celaena anymore, then consider yourself almost as bad as my father."

Chaol was shocked. Dorian has always spoken nicely about Aelin's rule and so forth. In fact, so far anything that came out of Dorian's mouth was somehow a compliment or somehow promoted peace.

"You forget that I, too, was a mere person." Aelin says, avoiding their looks. "I had summoned you three so I could bond with you all."

Silence.

Seeing that neither of the three was inclined to speak, she continued, "Now it seems as you think as lowly as me, I won't do such a thing."

Bonding meant Chaol and she could be more than friends. He mentally cursed himself. Why did he always have to ruin everything with her? Her words were a blow worse than a sword's stab into his heart. Bonding meant that she hadn't detested him as much as he thought. Now? He could only assume the worst.

"But I'll give you a chance. If you get the approval of anyone from the cadre, I will bond with you," Aelin finished. The cadre consisted of the five animals that had destroyed the towers that prevented magic, allowing Aelin to rule The King of Adarlan's tyranny. How the hell was he supposed to get approval from animals? Besides, the only animal from the cadre that was seen was the hawk, which was almost always around her.

Her eyes connected with Chaol for less than a second, but he could still see the hurt their words had inflicted upon her. Chaol stared at the ground, not knowing what to say. His eyes flickered back up to say something, anything.

But she had already left.

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A/N: Well...it certainly will be fun writing about the parts where Choal, Dorian, and Ren don't know that the Hawk is also actually human. As the fanfic progresses, I may stray from the character's already developed personality from the original books for some reasons such as humor.

Lizbeth