After four years of peace in Erilia, Aelin Ashryver Galathynuis wasn't accustomed to being followed by Chaol Westfall, hooded and quiet. "I can see you Chaol." She snapped at the chestnut haired man who thought he was being sneaky. Aelin heard a shuffled and a muffled grunt as Chaol fell to the ground. "Idiot." She mumbled. "I should have known you would notice me." he said, standing up straight, rubbing his hands together. "Yeah, you should have." she said bitterly. "Any reason you were following me in the first place?" Aelin asked him. "His highness asked me to watch you." Chaol replied. "Rowan…" Aelin thought. "I'm fine. Go be with your husband." Aelin gave her friend a slight smile. "To be frank your highness, I don't think you're fine." he said stiffly. The queen felt her fire flare up, and it appeared on her hands. Chaol noticed this, "See? You're not 'fine'." Aelin felt a hand on her shoulder. "Fireheart, let's go to bed." Rowan. Aelin turned her head and threw a sorrowful look at her husband. "I know Fireheart." He said. Rowan turned her towards the way he came. "I've got her Chaol." He said to the captain of the guard. Aelin turned to look back at Chaol, who had started to walk away. She let Rowan walk her to their bedroom.

"I know it hurts. Trust me Fireheart. I know." Rowan thought of Lyria, his pregnant mate who had died after he blindly went into battle for his former master, Maeve. Aelin shook her head and hugged herself tighter as she looked out the window. "I'm fine. Really my love." She assured him. Rowan could see the tears behind her eyes. Gods, her eyes. They were filled with such emotion he couldn't even begin to sort at all out. Rowan led her to the bed, but she stopped nearly a foot away from it. "The bed." She trailed off, not wanting to finish her words. "Okay." Rowan said, understanding. She pulled her close to him, but she pulled away and walked back to the window. Rowan sighed. It would be like this for some time. Loss does things to people that no one could understand.