Louloutte – Gavriel? Yes. More action? OFC! Thank you so much for you review! I'm actually finished with all the exams now and I have finally started to get my life back, aka time to write. I hope you pass yours with flying colors! Once again, thank you!

Antagonist406 – Fluff, fluff, fluff, guess what! I got you some more fluff! Of course it's a good idea, it was mine… Okay, let's be honest… I HAD A GOOD IDEA! OMG, mark this date as the day "TildaL had her first good idea ever!" Okay I wasn't today but still. Sorry for rambling, but my brain is fried!

Crazygirl061952 – Today is your lucky day, I won't kill you! Come on "no pressure", are you kidding me? That's called pressure! Haha, thank you so much for all that pressure… Omg I'm scarred to upload this chapter now. What if it's not ass kickingly, mind blowingly awesome enough? FUDGE!

Thank you all! Your support means the world to me and I can't thank you enough.

Chapter 38. The lost son

Aedion's perspective

The man staring back at him had a feline appearance, with tawny eyes, golden hair and elongated canines and pointy ears that was usual for the Faes. It was no question who the man was, he was certainly Gavriel, The Lion, one of The Cadre and Maeve's eternal slave. The male stared back at Aedion with a grim facial expression. Aedion held his sword, ready to protect his Queen.

They stared at each other, opponents sizing each other up. Gavriel was well-muscled but there was no question about his flexibility, he had the same lethal grace as Rowan and Aelin, learned from years of training under cruel masters.

There was no exchange of pleasantries. Only hard looks.

"Relax cub, I'm no threat to your Queen." Gavriel's voice was monotone and emotionless but his nostrils dilated as he breathed in Aedion's scent. By now he probably knew Aedion's whole bloodline.

"Then, what are you doing here?" Aedion didn't expect an answer, but he felt obligated to ask.

"I'm protecting my Queen, just as you are protecting yours… That's the only thing I ever do." Gavriel looked away, but Rowan could see the tension around his features. Well, that was interesting. Aedion took a deep breath and the males scent bothered him once again. Something about it was far too familiar, what was it?

He didn't have time for this, with a slight nod as a goodbye Aedion started to walk away.

"Wait… Was her death painless? Your mothers. Rowan told me…"

Aedion didn't turn around. Had Gavriel known his mother? What had Rowan to do with everything?

"No, it wasn't." Aedion started to walk again, leaving the Fae behind, trying to get the picture of his dying mother out of his head.

Aelin's perspective

She never wanted to leave the soft bed and his warm embrace, never fill her nose with anything else than his scent.

The poison had left her system but she still felt sick, her head was aching and throat was sore. Rowan's nearness distracted her from the worlds' problems and she felt completed in his arms. He kissed her head and Aelin murmured to him that she wasn't leaving this bed anytime soon. Rowan started to move.

"You aren't leaving either."

"I'm not?" Rowan grinned at her and said; "Is that an order?"

"Yes." Rowan stopped trying to get out of the bed and Aelin grunted happily, Rowan's chest shook when he laughed at her.

"Then what am I going to do my bossy Queen?" His voice was soft and Aelin smiled at him.

"You are going to kiss me." Rowan groaned.

"Your demands are so hard, your highness." Then he kissed her and Aelin tangled her fingers into his hair.

Someone slammed on the door and Rowan was out of the bed and armed, ready to defend her.

"You can put on some pants, it's Aedion."

Aedion' perspective

The door was unlocked and Aedion was let in. The second the door was closed behind him, he turned to the giant shirtless Fae, with flames shooting from his eyes.

"You knew!" Rowan smelled the air and nodded. Aedion couldn't believe it was true, the old bastard had known all along and hadn't told him. Rowan took a step closer and looked down at him.

"I also know what Maeve will do if she finds out." Aedion was about to scream at Rowan when Aelin snapped.

"Be quiet, both of you!" Aedion was about to protest. But she gave him a look that told him he better listen. She sat in the bed, wearing Rowan's shirt, her hair was a mess and her eyes was tired. But at least her face had been healed.

How hadn't he seen it before? She looked so much like his mother, Aedion's heart ached. Rowan and Aelin gave each other a look.

The realization was like a stab in the back, she had known as well. Aelin nodded as she knew what he had realized and took a deep breath.

"Aedion, go and get Chaol. We are eating breakfast with the king in half an hour and if any of Maeve's men are in your way, find another way to go. I don't want you to threat any with a sword." Aelin gestured to the sword Aedion still was holding ready in his hand, she had realized what had happened. "We will discuss the matter further when I'm not being watched not fully dressed."

Aedion blinked slowly, trying to wrap his head around what she just said. It had sounded strange, Aelin rose his eyebrows and gave him a look that told him to think.

Being watched. By whom? Maeve was watching them. He gave Aelin a confused look, how did she know? She gestured to The Amulet of Orynth, the Wyrd key.

Aelin's perspective

Rowan and Aelin dressed before heading to the king's private quarter. They walked hand in hand down the limestone halls when Rowan suddenly stopped and headed to a window.

"The rebels." He pointed to a man who came running across the courtyard.

Aelin's heart dropped. If the rebels were here, that meant that so was Emrys and her news was going break him. The sound of footsteps sounded in the corridor and the King came walking surrounded by six guards.

"Queen Aelin and prince Rowan, good morning. I hope you are feeling better today." She nodded. The king had joined them by the window. "I see that we will have to wait with the breakfast."

Aelin met the man just inside one of the castle entrances. He bowed deep with sweat dripping from his forehead. Then he stared at Aelin with big eyes. She raised her eyebrows and waited for him to talk.

"Your highness, I'm coming with a message from the rebels here in Wendlyn," he stuttered. Aelin didn't know if it was her presence or the fact that Rowan stood behind her that scared the man.

"Then, tell me."

"They request you to join them, they have set up camp west of the city." Aelin nodded and dismissed the man. She sent words to Aedion to come after them and bring Chaol. Then Rowan and Aelin left.

People stopped when Aelin and Rowan rode past them. Heads turned and the daily activities where forgotten. Aelin could hear the crown whisper about the foreign queen, about her. The fact that she was riding next to prince Rowan Whitethorn was forgotten. A woman stepped forward and Aelin halted the horse. The crowd fell silent.

"My family lived over there." They woman met Aelin's gaze without any hesitation.

"I will not tell you that they are alive, because I don't know." The woman took Aelin's hand and Aelin smiled slightly to her. "But know that I will devote my life to make sure that our families will be freed."

Aedion's perspective

His own thoughts were taking over. His father was alive, was here. But he wouldn't be able to talk to the man, because Gavriel had promised his life to the evil queen. And Aelin had known who his father was all along. Aedion could understand why the old bastard had kept it a secret, but Aelin? She hadn't understood how it was for him to lose his mother as a child. But after the world went to hell, she had lost her parents too, wouldn't she give anything to get them back? Couldn't she understand that Aedion needed to know?

But did he know? Would he really care about a man he had never met before, a man he had only herd stories about? No, still he needed to know. Didn't she trust him enough?

He arrived at Chaol's room and ignored the man who stood stationed outside the door, Aedion didn't need to identify himself. The whole castle knew who he was after the past weeks. Why knock? He flung the door open and stood eye to eye with the captain. Aedion only waved to him to join walked out of the room once again. He didn't feel like small-talk.

"Where are we headed?" Chaol asked.

"Breakfast with the king. I guess you heard what happened yesterday."

"Yes." Chaol was the perfect company when Aedion didn't feel like small-talk.

A man came up to them. "Queen Aelin wishes for you to join her in the rebel camp west of the city."

Aelin's perspective

They reached the western gate and was let out. Aelin's heart was beating in an abnormal paste and her palm was sweaty. Rowan rode closer and placed a hand on her leg for a second.

It's not your fault.

It is, he would had been alive if it wasn't for me.

Maybe, maybe not. But I know you wouldn't be here and Luca wouldn't be able to live with that, I wouldn't be able to live without you.

It was comforting to leave the city behind. But she would soon have to tell Emrys why Luca wasn't with her. That she had killed him.

They reached the camp and Aelin was shocked by seeing the crowd. There had to be at least a thousand men and woman, females and males. Once again all heads where turned. The people started cheering when they saw her. But they soon fell silent. A way was made through the crowd and Emrys came walking to her. He gave her a bright smile but it faded when his gaze met hers. The old man shook his head.

"He wanted me to tell you that he loved you." Aelin felt numb, her word where empty and the only thing in the world was Emrys's tears. Aelin dismounted the horse and walked over to him. He embraced her and his body shook of sob. Soon he stopped crying and took her face in his hands.

"He died for what he believed in." Aelin shook her head.

"No, he scarified his life for me." Her voice sounded strange.

"That's what I said. What he believed in." Emrys embraced her once again. "I'm so glad you returned my girl."

He took a step back and fell to his knees in a deep bow. A few followed his example and a second later everyone bowed to her. Aelin shook her head. She didn't deserve their allegiant and respect. She hadn't done anything to earn it.

Aelin helped Emrys to stand, she squeezed his hand before letting it go.

"Stand up." The people did as she asked and Aelin turned around and met their gazes.

"I'm not the one to bow to. I'm not the one who deserves your gratitude and respect. I didn't free magic by myself. I didn't lead a rebel group. No, I worked and bleed alongside my people. Was a slave of Adarlan. I live today, only because of others scarifies. I'm no hero, I'm no Queen. I'm a survivor, just as you are. I wasn't the only one who suffered. The people of Terrasen wasn't the only people who lost it all. Erilea wasn't the only continent that was affected by the war. Families where separated, people died and suffered." Her voice grew higher. "But we have suffered enough, we have lost enough and we are done waiting.It's time to find our way out of misery. It's time to take back what's ours. Join me, let us show them that even after losing it all, we have everything left to give. Let us show them that they can sweep us of our feet, but we will rise again, stronger and we will stand united. For our families, friends and for the people we love and for those who no longer have anyone to fight for them. Our enemies last breath will be our name."

The crowd started cheering and Aelin rose her fist to the sky. Screaming from the top of her lungs.

"We are the people of many nations and we will be those who free Erilea. If we die, we die for our freedom." The crowd roared and Aelin did as well. It was time to stop hiding. It was time to fight.

My name is Aelin Ashryver Galathynius and I will not be afraid.