Okay, this is something new I'm going to try! This idea's been in my head for a while now and I really want to expand on it. I hope you enjoy it! Also since my Oc does not make much of an appearance in this chapter, most of this content is Maas's words rephrased. However, this is the only chapter that will be this identical to the original story.
Also, please please please review. It doesn't even have to be criticism. You can tell me anything about the story. What you liked, what you absolutely hated. Tell me what you want to see happen, or what you think will happen, because yes! I do really care about your thoughts and really appreciate it when you take the time and effort to review.
PS: I do not own any of the characters except my oc. All other characters referenced belong to the gifted writer Sarah J. Maas.
After a day of hacking away in the innards of a mountain, Celaena Sardothien cocked her head in slight confusion when she saw a hooded figure standing with her usual six-guard escort. Fear welled in her stomach when the man introduced himself to the overseer. Chaol Westfall, captain of the Royal Guard. She took in a shaky breath and recited the words that got her through a year of torture.
My name is Celaena Sardothien and I will not be afraid.
The figure did not say a word to her as he gripped her too-thin arm and started leading her toward the housing space of Endovier's overseers and officials. The hooded man led her through multiple stairs and corridors, no doubt to confuse her and silence any thoughts of escape. However, Celaena had not failed to notice that they were going up and down the same staircase for minutes. She did not miss that they had zig zagged through the hallways.
She nearly scoffed at his failed attempts to confuse her. She was Adarlan's assassin. The best of the best, only to be rivaled by...her throat clogged up at the thought of her twin. Cassandra Sardothien, twin to Arobynn's protégé and the only one who is just as strong as her. She hadn't seen her sister in two years after she'd been shipped off to Calaculla. She doesn't even know if she's still alive. Her heart threatened to shatter. No. She had to be alive. She had to.
She pushed the thoughts to the back of her head and studied the man gripping her arm. She could tell through the cloak that he was fit and muscular, but his facial features were concealed within the hood. Another intimidation method. She watched him glance in her direction, causing her to flash him one of her famous grins. He quickly looked away and tightened his hold on her arm.
She suppressed a sigh when she looked at his cool leather glove that gripped her arm. Its colour looked like the dirt on her skin. Over the year she'd rarely seen the sun making her skin extremely pale beneath the dirt on her skin and filthy clothes. Having barely enough food to survive, her frame became small and bony, cheekbones and rib cage sticking out, making her look rather unappealing. You'd hardly believe that she had been beautiful. Though, it didn't matter anymore did it?
"You're quite faraway from Rifthold, aren't you, Captain?" she said "I bet you were coming with that army I heard marching earlier," She tried to get a better look at him without success. She could still feel, however, his eyes on her, assessing her, trying to read her intentions.
"What do you care?" he asked. She shrugged nonchalantly.
"Nothing."
He loosed a growl. A smirk tugged on the assassin's lips. Oh, how much she could enjoy spilling his blood all over the marble floor. She had snapped once before, when her overseer decided to push her on the wrong date. She wondered how the Captain would fare against her temper. She flashed him a conspirator's grin when she felt his gaze on her.
"Don't look at me like that," he snapped.
"Or what? You'll whip me? There aren't many things that haven't already been done to me, Captain," Celaena scowled. He looked at her for a moment, then he shook his head and grumbled something under his breath. Oh, he was making keeping still very hard for her.
As they turned into another hallway hung with iron chandeliers, Celaena tried to block out the shuffling of other slaves. Even after a year of listening to the dull clang of pickaxes, accompanied by the agonized moans of broken men and women, she still hadn't gotten used to such dreary surroundings.
Nowadays more and more rebels had arrived, mainly from Eyllwe, one of the last countries fighting against Adarlan's power. She would've asked them about news, but one look at their empty dead faces made her back away. They were already broken from whatever they'd endured at Adarlan's brutal hands. She wondered if they'd be better off at the butchering blocks rather than here. She wondered often if she was better off dead too.
She straightened at the thought of her execution. Her heart sunk. Is that why they were taking her? To finish her off once and for all? She is famous enough to be killed by the Captain of the Royal Guard himself. Though, why take her here first? A public execution, perhaps. Her throat closed up. She wouldn't even get the chance to say goodbye to Cassandra.
Finally, they stopped before a set of colossal red and gold glass doors, so dense she couldn't see through. The Captain nodded at two of the guards and gripped her arm so hard it hurt. He yanked on her arm, but she resisted against his push.
"You'd like to go back to the mines?" his mouth twitching in amusement.
"Maybe if you tell me what's really going on, I might not feel so inclined to resist," she replied sweetly.
"You'll find out if you follow me," he retorted as dread knotted in her stomach. Yes, this was it. This was the last day she would breathe.
The doors opened as he shoved her through the room full of ornate designs. In total fourteen guards surrounded them-all carrying the royal emblem stitched on their uniforms. She swallowed the bullet in her throat. These were guards born and raised to kill ruthlessly and loyal only to the Royal Family. Her heart stopped when everyone bowed towards-
Towards the ornate throne the Crown Prince of Adarlan was lounging on.
"Your Highness," the Captain said, dipping into a low bow. He took off his hood exposing his cropped brown hair and honey brown eyes. Celaena had to admit that she found him rather appealing, making her more conscious of her filthiness.
"This is she?" the Crown Prince questioned. Westfall nodded as both of them looked at her expectantly. When the assassin made no move to bow, the Prince lifted his chin higher. She almost laughed at the idea of bowing to him during her last moments alive.
She heard the sounds of loud footsteps booming behind her, and before she could register what was happening, she was thrown across the marble floors. Pain shot through her veins and blurred her vision. Due to her bound hands, her joints were unable to align, resulting in tears to well up in her eyes.
"That is how you greet your future king," the man gripping her neck spat.
She hissed and bared her teeth, her eyes gleaming in promise of a slow death. She turned to look at the kneeling bastard. His size rivaled her overseer's, wearing reds and oranges that matched his thinned hair. His obsidian eyes glittering, he gripped on her neck harder and she held the urge to growl. If she turned a few inches to the right, she could throw him off balance and disarm him immediately but...her shackles dug into her stomach, and she felt hot, boiling rage turn her face crimson.
After what felt like decades, the Crown Prince of Adarlan spoke, his voice flat with boredom. "I don't quite understand the purpose of forcing someone to bow when the point of the gesture is to show allegiance and respect." he paused "It is clear that you respect me, Duke Perrington, but we already know that Celaena Sardothien bores no love or respect for my family. So perhaps you're trying to humiliate her." she felt his gaze on her momentarily before he asked the Duke: "Don't you have a meeting with Endovier's treasurer? I wouldn't want you to be late, especially since you came all this way to meet with him."
Acknowledging his dismissal, the Duke grunted, released his grip on the blonde's neck, and strode out of the room. When he left, Celaena allowed herself to peel her cheek off the floor and rise. She was startled when she saw the prince. Dorian Havilliard was smiling at her with eyes of crushing blue, like the raging oceans, which contrasted his hair that was darker than night. He wore rich clothes embroidered in gold with the Royal Emblem covering the entirety of his chest. Celaena mentally cursed his achingly good looks.
She fidgeted when she watched him frown,"I thought I asked you to clean her," he said to Captain Westfall. She self-consciously gazed at her rags and scar peppered skin and felt a slight spike of shame. She wondered if her sister looked any better than her. The two looked nearly identical except for one slight difference most overlooked: their eyes. At a passing glance, Celaena's eyes appeared as blue, gray, or green, but they were a bright blue with an inner core of gold. Cassandra's eyes were similar except the ring surrounding her pupils were actually orange. A fatal mistake, it was, not to notice, for Cassandra was usually much more forgiving than her sister and usually made much quicker deaths. Despite their unusual eye colour, it is usually their long golden hair that attracted the attention of many. In short, Celaena and Cassandra Sthe Hehien were born beautiful and charming, but more dangerous than many tend to think. Her thoughts were interrupted when Captain Westfall replied
"I didn't want to keep you waiting,"
Dorian shook his head when Shall made move to grab her. "It is not necessary yet, I can see her potential." he paused and looked at her again "I don't think we had the pleasure of a proper introduction. You probably already know, but I am Dorian Havilliard, Crown Prince of Adarlan, perhaps most of Erilea." She ignored the swirl of emotions that crashed through her a at themention of his name. He surveyed her tense body before raising a brow "You seem a little young." he noted. "I've heard many interesting stories about you. How is you're stay at Endovier so far?"
Arrogant ass.
"I couldn't be happier," she crooned as she called her hands to fists.
"You look alive. It is quite interesting when the life expectancy is a month."
"Quite a mystery I'm sure."
"She has quite the toungue. And she doesn't sound like a member of the rabble," Dorian commented to Chaol.
"I definitely hope not!" Celaena interjected.
"Your Highness," The Captain growled at her.
"I beg your pardon," she said all-too innocently.
"You will address him as 'Your Highness'."
Celaena batted her eyelashes mockingly and returned her attention back to the Prince.
Surprisingly, Dorian laughed. "You do know that you're a slave right? Has your sentence taught you nothing?"
She gave him a grin that sent men running. "It's supposed to teach me something?" He let out an amused short.
"And you never tried to escape?"
A wicked smiled spread across her lips. "Once."
He raised his brows in surprise and turned towards the Captain. "I wasn't told that."
Chaol gave the Crown Prince an apologetic look. "The Chief Overseer informed me this afternoon that Sardothien had attempted to escape nearly reaching the wall."
"What happened?" Dorian asked.
The assassin's gaze became cold as icy venom laced her words. "I snapped."
"That's your excuse?" Chaol demanded. "She killed her overseer and twenty-three sentries before they caught her. She was a finger's tip away from the wall before she was knocked out."
"So?" Dorian asked.
Celaena tried to leash her temper without success. "So? So! My shaft is more than three hundred feet away from the wall!"
"So?" Dorian repeated.
"Captain, how far does one go before being shot in Endovier when trying to escape?" Celaena asked.
"Three feet," he grumbled. "Endovier's sentries usually shoot down a man before he's moved three feet."
"You knew it was suicide," Dorian said, any trace of amusement gone.
Looking at his face she realized that it was a bad idea to tell him about the wall. "Yes."
"But you're not dead."
"You're father wanted me kept me alive to enjoy the services Endovier has to offer for as long as possible." she paused. "I never intended to escape." The pity in his eyes was enough to make her want to bite his head off.
"Do you bear many scars?" Dorian asked, abruptly changing the mood. He smiled and strode towards her. "Let me view your back." Celaena frowned at this, but she turned around to let him see. She scowled at him when he started yapping about her wretchedness.
"Not all of us have the same privileges that Your Highness has," she merely replied.
He clicked his toungue as he circled around her, examining her scars.
"Hm, from what I can see there are three large scars and maybe some smaller ones. Not as bad as I thought but...well I guess the dresses can cover them."
Celaena held in her snarl. He wasn't telling her something and she was growing increasingly annoyed. Especially since he was within strangling distance of her.
"You better step away before I tear your pretty face off," she said in a lethal calm before a raging storm. At that, several soldiers sheathed there swords and Chaol pulled her away with enormous force. However, Dorian didn't move his eyes were bright with challenge when he replied
"Such bold words from someone whose freedom is on the line."
Celaena went rigid at the word freedom. She can be free again. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine Dorian Havilliard to give her a chance to be free. She raised a brow, urging him to continue. The two men exchanged a glance before Dorian cleared his throat.
"I have a proposition for you."
Her chest tightened. A proposition can mean many things, and it may not work for her favor. But perhaps this proposition can lead to escape. Once she got past the wall she would run and run until she can't run anymore. Then she would run to Calaculla to free her sister and together they could finally live a normal life. Last time she got so close...she would be able to do it.
"I'm listening," was all she said.
Dorian's eyes shone with amusement as he walked back to his throne and crossed his legs. He waved a hand. "Leave us. Chaol, stay where you are," he said. He turned towards her again and sighed.
"My father got it in his head that he needs a Champion."
Celaena paused for a moment to take in what he just said before laughing. "You want me to be your father's Champion? Wait, wait-don't tell me he's managed to kill everyone! Surely there's one honorable knight, one lord with a heart filled with courage."
Chaol snarled behind her, but she paid no mind too him. This was too funny-Her! Celaena Sardothien the King's Champion! She turned back to the prince indicating he can continue his absurd ideas.
"My father needs someone to help him maneuver around difficult people."
"He needs a lackey to do his dirty work," Celaena said.
"If you want to put it crudely, yes. His Champion would keep his opponents silent."
"And if I accept?"
"Then after six years you'll be free again."
"Six years!"
"If you decline," Dorian continued as he leaned back on his throne. "you will remain here in Endovier." And die here was what he didn't need to add.
Before the assassin can fully contemplate the decision Dorian continued.
"However," he said, "there's a catch." She schooled her face to neutrality as he toyed with his ring. "The job isn't being offered to you. My father wanted to have fun with this, so there'll be a competition with other thieves and assassins that were chosen by the King's council to ultimately compete in a duel. If you win," he gave her a half smile, " you'd officially be Adarlan's Assassin."
She didn't smile back. "What other assassins?" she demanded.
"None as famous as you," He reassured her. "If you win, and prove to be skilled and trustworthy, my father has sworn to grant you your freedom. And, while you are the King's Champion you'll gain a considerable salary." He paused for a moment while crossing ankle over knee. "That reminds me, you will not be Celaena Sardothien, but acting under an alias."
"An alias?" Celaena said, her mind was still reeling from all the information she'd been told. She could be free, but after a competition against some nobodies from gods-knew-where. Then six years of being the King's crooked dagger. Was it worth it? And her sister was locked up too...
"Yes, no one knows that you're so young and my father would like to keep it that way." He explained. This stunned Celaena for a moment. No one had the slightest idea who she was? Then who did they think was slaving in the mines?
"If you agree to this, to be my Champion-"
"I agree," Celaena blurted before quickly adding, "on two conditions."
The Crown Prince grinned and gestured her to go on.
"First, I want my twin sister, Cassandra Sardothien, to be freed from Calaculla-I want her to be living with me during my... stay." Dorian's grin faded as his eyes widened slightly, but said nothing. Celaena took it as a signal to go on.
"And," she swallowed, "if I lose this thing, you send us back to the same place. So if she goes back to Calaculla, I go there too."
She watched him exchange glances with Chaol before turning back to her. He forced a smile on his lips and said
"You're wish is my command." He waved a hand towards Chaol. "Take her to her rooms to be cleaned up." He stared at her. "Your sister will arrive a few days after you reach Rifthold. You'll depart in the morning. Do not disappoint me, Sardothien."
After another day of labour under the wearing Eyllwe sun, Cassandra Sardothien's mood did not improve when she realized that this was not the direction to her shaft. It definitely didn't help that they had assaulted her leg again making it hard to keep up with two guards gripping her arms. During her stay in Calaculla, Cassandra had snapped three times. By the third, her overseer decided to injure her leg severely and forced her to learn to run with it. Since then he has been repeatedly injuring the same spot to prevent her from escaping. She grunted as the forced her to move faster, her bare feet being scratched and poked by the rough sand and rogue rocks. She wondered what in the world would require her to be somewhere that was not her shaft or her labour station. It couldn't be her execution. Not when the King ordered her to be kept alive. Not when they could've every single time she snapped.
They dragged her along when she noted that they were heading towards Calaculla's sentries living quarters. They passed countless corridors, each more extravagant than the last. The guards stopped a few minutes later in front of one of the corridors. It had sparkling gold chandeliers and a believer carpet, but with no doors in sight. Cassandra narrowed her eyes when she saw a man in a dark cloak approach her. Before she could process anything, the cloaked man grabbed the hilt of his sword and slammed it into her face, making her world go black.
When Cassandra woke again she found herself on an unfamiliar bed. She sat up immediately, alarmed by the foreign surroundings. What had before she was knocked out? She tried to remember as far back as possible, causing her temples to throb in pain. She ran a hand through her hair to attempt and nullify the pain, when she realized her hair was clean. She looked at her hands to reveal her scarred tanned skin clean. Someone must've scrubbed her clean. Then it hit her. Whoever washed her must've seen her injured leg, which might be uncovered. She scrambled to pull up the silk robe she was wearing and sighed in relief to see her leg still wrapped.
She looked around her beautiful suite, a million questions buzzing in her head. Especially when she saw another bed, twin to hers, near her. She went still when she heard noise come from what she assumed was the bathroom. She heard the click of the door opening and braced herself to whomever she would be living with. She didn't know what to expect.
But seeing her twin sister walking out of the shower wrapped in a navy blue robe was not it.