*I do not own any of the characters or anything, all of that is Sarah J Maas's. All that is mine is the story line.*

Aelin POV

We were having dinner when the guards interrupted us. It was me, Rowan, Manon, Dorian, Lysandra, Aedion, Elide, Fenris, Chaol and Yrene. It was a nice dinner, filled with a lively discussion, so when the guards burst in, Rowan was already up on his feet. Seriously? I asked this to him through the bond, seeing as he was already just ready to protect me. He responded with a look that could only be from someone as overprotective as Rowan.

"What is it?" His tone was somehow filled with worry, even though we were practically the strongest group of people in all of Erilea. Rowan, my husband, the proud protector of the land. He was waiting for the nervous guard to respond when his look changed. Before, he had been overprotective, but now he was plain worried. What could make one of our palace guards freaked out, and scared? Usually, they weren't so happy to talk to Rowan, but they were fine with it.

"Uh, Your Majesties, there's a Fae woman outside. We shackled her in iron, but she agreed to come as long as she could have an audience with you." He looked at Rowan and then me, his eyes hitting downwards at the floor. What a nervous wreck he was, I thought. Then I though about his news. A Fae woman? A stranger? What would she be doing here, wanting to see me. I didn't know of any Fae left in Erilea, or anyone that would really care enough to come and see me here in Ornyth. Maybe this was just some peasant Fae woman, with some strange need to see me. Whatever she had come here for, the chances were that she wouldn't find it.

"Bring me to her," I said, before Rowan could say anything. "I want to see why this Fae woman is here. She probably has some silly request, and then we will get along with dinner." I gave a pointed look at Rowan, and then back at all my friends. "Shall we?"

I entered the throne room, staring daggers at the woman in front of me. Or female, rather. From the look of her, her pointed ears and immortal feel, she was definitely Fae. Her hair was a sort of golden blond color, her eyes looking down at the ground, as if she was weak. Still, I was weary. Some may see one as weak, but she might be a wolf dressed in sheep clothing. Still, with a second glance, she seemed intimidated. Good, I thought, that's the way things should be.

With a second glance, I spoke. "Who comes to see me, Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terassen?" She gave me another look, and her eyes stared directly in to mine, her green unwavering. I wondered if she saw the queen I strived to be, or just some random half-Fae. My voice was cold as I used it. "Answering me, would be better for you."

She gave me another look, and said, "I am Feyre Archeron." I stared at her for a second, hoping that the name would ring a bell. Maybe somewhere in me, I would be able to find some inkling as to who I was dealing with.

"Where are you from, Feyre Archeron?" Rowan was the one who spoke, the one most likely to know where she would be from. Somewhere in Wendlyn, maybe?

I looked at Rowan again. Do you have any idea who she is? I waited for his answering, hoping it would be the one I wanted, not the one it probably was. No, I guess we just have to wait and see.

We looked back at her as she responded. "You are mates, are you not?" I wondered if that look we gave each other said too much. "I hope that makes you understand where I need to get back to. I don't know where we are, but I need to get back to Prythian. My mate is there, with my child."

Child. She had a child back there, something she had left behind, somehow. "Why should we help you?" My tone was clear, as a queen I could not concern myself with her. Even though I understood the desperation to get back to your mate, that still didn't say anything as to helping her. It was her mate, and mates always find each other. Me and Rowan have proved that, through anyone who tried to separate us.

"Because I am High Lady of the Night Court." High Lady? What was that? There were ladies and queens, not this 'High Lady' jabberwocky.

Manon had decided to respond this time. " There is no such thing as 'High Lady'. There are only queens and kings, ladies and lords. Unless you prove to us that here is some reason we should possibly ever help you, then by all means, show us. We would rather see that then your nonsense."

She just looked at us, simply, as if annoyed. Honestly, I wondered why we were even trying. There was obviously nothing different about her, nothing special.

That was when she decided to disappear into night and smoke, leaving her iron chains on the ground and winnowing closer to me. Then I understood. She had to assert herself, show us that she wasn't any damsel. She was a fighter, and I understood exactly who she was. She, Feyre, was not like the Fae I knew from Wendlyn. Feyre was made of something else. Even if High Lady wasn't a tittle here, it obviously meant something to her. If Feyre couldn't be held by iron, we would have to figure something out.

"I understand you." It came out suddenly, from Feyre. "I was never treated right by the people in my life, until my mate came. We rule a territory - over in Prythian. I don't know what craziness I'm here for, but it's not my fault. I trust you know where I'm coming from, Aelin."

It was a bold move using my name, but I guess I understood. Even though she was only a 'High Lady', she was something you knew not to mess with. Although, I was not someone she underestimate.

I looked Feyre straight in the eyes as I said, "I won't underestimate you if you won't underestimate me."

She grinned. "Deal."