Prompt: Aelin Dying

Aelin POV

We did it, I thought. I looked up and met the eyes of my mate, who had killed and butchered valg all day, but still managed to look beautiful. Not that I was going to say that. Rowan smirked at my thoughts and I let out a laugh. I crossed the distance between us and put my hands around his waist. Oh how good it was to be alive!

"You know you don't smell to bad yourself." Rowan mumbled into my hair. Grinning I looked up and brought my mouth to his. We stood there locked in an embrace, happy, free and beautiful. We had won and I was going to savor every last drop. I pulled away with a small smile on my face, and I opened my mouth to say something but then I felt a searing pain through my heart, and I dropped like a stone. No, no, no! I felt my spirit lift from my body and I viscously tried to go back, but a strong current came through and I was swept away into the darkness.

Rowan POV

I let loose a horrible roar. I rushed to Aelin's side but it was to late, she was gone. For the first time in a decade, I cried. Tears streamed down my face freely as I held my carrnam, my queen and my mate. Aelin so beautiful so beautiful in her victory, had died in the end. Some dark part of me whispered, Two mates gone. Just like Lyria I thought. I sobbed even harder and cradled Aelin's head.

"Haaa… haa... mighty… warrior… ha..." I heard from a almost lifeless body. I stalked over to the Valg, filled with such hate, I think he was glad to be dying. Knowing I only had minutes I drew my dagger and severed each of his appendages. Than I sliced his chest open and watched the light leave his eyes. I didn't enjoy it, all I felt was emptiness. And cold, such unbearable cold. Without my Fireheart I was frozen to the bone.

Present Time

I walked around the dig site, watching architects dig for long forgotten secrets. I don't know why I accepted this job, but I did. I sat down and watched my fellow workers slowly try to unbury the secrets of the battle of the Valg. I was legally supposed to be wanting this, but I wished that they would never uncover the place as Aelins death. My thoughts were interrupted by two loud whoops. I looked up a saw that two architects had found a, coffin? No, no, no! I walked over there and found that they indeed had uncovered Aelins coffin. It was preserved by magic that shuddered awake and curled around me drawing me closer as I peered over the coffin and saw Aelin preserved in all of her benevolent beauty. Some tears leaked down my face as I remembered what I had tried so hard to forget. I looked up and and silently asked all the gods why?