~28~
For many of them, it was an almost silent journey back to Orynth. The riverside confrontation, though it had luckily not come to physical blows, had taken an awful lot out of them emotionally and mentally. Despite their mental exhaustion, the delighted pleasure in having Lyria as a prisoner was rampart.
Having the woman who had been threatening their queen all year in their custody provided an almost buoyant atmosphere. Soon, when the trial for the woman and her conspirators was over, life in Terrasen would be able to go back to normal. No more threats of war… No more threats against the royal family… The thought of a job well done… Terrasen now to be forever free…
The one thing that bothered Aelin on the journey was that no matter how bright and undimmed the future of Terrasen now seemed, the future of Adarlan now seemed that bleak. After the atrocities that Adarlan committed during the war, what the southern kingdom had put her homeland through, Aelin couldn't exactly bring herself to be merciful. But at the same time, she was still concerned about the fate of that kingdom.
Even though Dorian had only been supporting Lyria due to the compulsion of her magical influence on him, he had still turned his back on her, his fellow monarch, and that was something that she could not bring herself to forgive. Even before Lyria had gotten her hands on him, Dorian had still abandoned her and Rowan, ignoring the death threats that were being made against his friends. And because of his actions, Dorian was in a pickle of his own making. As much as Aelin hated to admit it, Dorian was likely going to spend the rest of his life in prison, or be executed for his actions these last few months, and in spite of their broken friendship, a part of Aelin sorrowed for the young man she had once called friend.
Despite her rather negative view of Adarlan, Aelin was still very much aware that the kingdom would still need to have a future – even if that future meant that Adarlanian territory would be cut up and split between the neighbouring kingdoms.
"What are you thinking about, Aelin?" Aelin jumped in her saddle at the sound of Aedion's voice. "Now, I don't want you to go round thinking about Dorian and Lyria until the trial starts. I know the aftershocks of this will ripple around the world for years after this, but we can worry about it after the trial, not before. Right now, I want you focusing on your relationship Rowan and the child you're having. After everything that has happened over the last few weeks, I'm honestly surprised that the child hasn't decided to arrive early."
"If I'm telling the truth, Aedion," Aelin replied, "I don't think there will be much longer to wait."
"All the more reason to get back to Orynth soon," Aedion said firmly.
Aelin simply nodded in agreement, for Aedion was right, in more ways than one. Whatever was going to happen in the future was going to happen, and no amount of worrying about the future would make it come any faster. Despite her concerns about what was going to happen in Lyria and Dorian's trial and what may happen afterwards, it was time for her to relax and enjoy her life, for the first time since she was eight years old. Now, at nearly twenty one years old, she felt that she was finally able to understand what true happiness was.
Aelin smiled to herself as she spurred her horse forward to ride at Rowan's side. Life was starting to look good for once, after a lifetime of chaos and uncertainty. It was time for her to face the last of her demons and forge her own future.
As Rowan turned in his saddle to smile a happy smile at her, Aelin knew in that moment that her future was destined to be at his side for eternity. She could hardly wait to finally hold her child in her arms at last.
Trapped in the heavily guarded prison wagon at the back of the caravan, Lyria was completely and absolutely livid. Standing on her toes to see out of the tiny window, she could just barely see the bitch riding beside Rowan, saw him reach out between their horses to take her hand. It seemed that the bitch hadn't understood anything from their confrontation earlier, if she hadn't yet lifted the spell she had woven over Rowan. Hadn't understood that Rowan did not belong to her.
But Lyria was still deluding herself into thinking that she would be exonerated at the coming trial. And once she was, and the bitch's child was born, well, then Lyria would have her final revenge. Taking the child away from her, so that it would be raised by Rowan and Lyria alone…
Lyria was sure that the bitch would surely die of heartbreak at being separated from her only child, and then Lyria would not have to do anything at all. For Lyria would no longer be a clear suspect in the bitch's death, and her child would never remember her. Lyria would be the only mother the child would know, and Rowan would learn to be happy with her again.
Locked in the same prison wagon as Lyria, Dorian took a more pessimistic view of the situation. He knew, deep down Dorian knew that he was only in the situation he was in because of Lyria. Because she had tricked him into marrying her, and she had enspelled him to destroy the lives of his friend. Even while under the influence of Lyria's magic, Dorian was still aware that he had failed to stop her while he was still free to do so. In that moment Dorian was well aware of his failings and knew that he had failed to assist Aelin and Rowan out of mere jealousy.
Dorian was finally able to admit to himself, that he had been jealous of all of them, of his friends. Jealous of the happiness they had found with their partners, jealous of the happiness and responsibility that parenthood had brought. Had been struck with the utmost jealousy at the thought of being left behind and forgotten.
Perhaps that had been why he had attempted to force his relationship with Manon, rushing into the engagement when it was more than evident that she was not ready for such a commitment and was perhaps even thinking of leaving him. Dorian wasn't blind, after all. He had seen the way Athril looked at Manon, the way Manon had looked at Athril, and had known that she was thinking of leaving him. And the mere thought of that had been too much for him to bear.
So when Dorian had finally snapped and refused all of Aelin's and Rowan's requests to help them deal with Lyria, he had been exactly vulnerable enough to make him easy prey for her. And that was something that he truly hated himself for. If only he had been stronger, then maybe none of this would have happened. His jealousy and vulnerability had brought about the destruction of his kingdom. And that was something Dorian was never going to forgive himself for. Never.
Not that Dorian would have long to reconcile himself to the truth of what had happened. For one, he was still magically bound to Lyria and would likely remain so for the rest of his life. For second, Dorian was well aware that the rest of his life would not be very long. For his actions, for his betrayal of his allies and friends, for his part in Lyria's plots, willing or unwilling, Dorian was well aware that he would either spend the rest of his life in prison or be executed.
If Dorian were to die, his sole regret was the fate of his kingdom. Instead of stepping up and accepting responsibility for the fate of his kingdom and people the way Aelin had, he had resented the responsibility. He had seen it more as an obligation – a noose around his neck, a blade hovering over his neck, ready to strike at any given second. And not wanting the duty and accountability that had been handed down from his ancestors, he had let his bitterness and antipathy grow, until he was of no use to anyone but Lyria. He owed Adarlan more than he had been able to give it.
And in that moment, as Dorian made his final journey to Orynth, his final wish, his final hope for a better future was that whoever it was that ascended to the throne of Adarlan after him was someone who was worthy of the title of king the way he never was. And so with that hope in his heart, he was able to ignore Lyria's endlessly self serving prattle, her endless ranting and raving and prepare himself to meet his end.
Rowan smiled to himself as the walls of Orynth slowly became visible in the distance. As long as Aelin was by his side, he reflected, he was always going know where home was. For his home was wherever she was. And for the first time since he had heard the news of Lyria's supposed death two centuries before, he truly felt happy in a way he didn't think he had ever been.
Of course he still missed his family back in Doranelle, but Aelin and the child that was due any day now were just as much his family now. And if Lyria was bitter because she was unable to realise just how much happier he was without her now that he had finally moved on with his life and accepted her 'death', than calling her a damn fool was putting it mildly. Even more so now that Aelin, their baby and Terrasen in general were his home.
He desperately wished that Maeve had never manipulated him and Lyria into thinking they were ever mates, but as Aelin had reminded him after the confrontation, no amount of wishing could change the past. You just had to accept it, and do what you could to change the future. That was what really mattered.
Though it was with a heavy heart that he faced the walls of Orynth this time, hoping that the castle and city guards had the preparations in place for the trial and for holding Lyria and Dorian prisoner in the castle dungeons until then.
Despite himself, despite how much he had grown to hate Lyria over the last year, he still hated the idea of her and Dorian being their prisoners. Rowan had, at one stage truly cared about Lyria and he had grown to truly care about Dorian as a friend. He had never thought that he would one day be presiding over their trial.
And despite what Aelin said about her friendship with Dorian being over, he knew that she still cared about him in her way, even if she refused to show it, refused to admit it to anyone, not even to herself. Deep down, despite Aelin appearing to be coping quite well, he was worried truly worried about how the stress from the trial would affect her.
But despite everything, despite the chaos and nightmare they were living through, Rowan looked over at his Aelin and was truly happy. He could hardly wait until their baby was born, could hardly wait to meet the child that was the product of their love.
Chaol waited anxiously at the gates of Orynth castle, flanked on either side by Athril and Manon, as well as several of the older Terrasenite lords who were too old and unfit to travel to the battlefield.
Chaol had merely not wanted to travel to their selected battlefield, not knowing if he was strong enough to face Dorian again, not after what had happened. Yes, Chaol was willing to admit to himself that his abandonment of Dorian, his defection, had probably left Dorian bitter and angry, therefore all the more open to Lyria's manipulations. Yes, Chaol was perfectly well aware that his old friend had only killed his father while under the influence of Lyria's magic. But Chaol didn't know if he could bring himself to forgive Dorian for it. Chaol had attempted to accept what had happened, but was still struggling to move past it. Spending what time he could with Aelin, Aedion, Rowan, Yrene and their child always managed to boost his spirits, he had found, however.
He didn't know if he was strong enough to face Dorian on that battlefield. He didn't know if he was strong enough to face Dorian know. In all honestly, Chaol still didn't know if he was strong enough to face Dorian now that he was most likely a prisoner.
Athril hadn't wanted to go south to the battlefield either, Chaol knew, due to his depression and sense of self loss, of self-failure. However, Chaol had noticed that Athril's depression had been getting somewhat better recently. He'd been spending less time locked up alone in his room, more time with Manon Blackbeak and the Thirteen, talking to those around him a little more. Chaol hoped that Athril found some measure of peace and acceptance.
When it came to Manon, however, Chaol didn't know why she had decided to remain behind. He again suspected that it likely had something to do with her broken engagement to Dorian. Despite Manon's and Athril's fledgling relationship, he felt that it would likely be too hard for her to face Dorian, especially now that he was technically 'married' to Lyria.
"What do you think happened? We haven't heard anything yet," Athril said eventually, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
"From what Endymion was telling me, I highly doubt that it came to a battle," Darrow said slowly, clearly tense. "It sounds somewhat as though Lyria has somewhat of a hero complex, if you can call it that. So I would think it would presumably be fairly easy to capture both her and Dorian, simply because Lyria is too arrogant to think that she could be caught and punished for her actions."
Silence descended upon them again, even more tense and uncomfortable than before. "Despite myself, I don't like the thought of Dorian being held prisoner," Manon said quietly. "Both Chaol and I used to care about Dorian, after all, and there is still the future of Adarlan to be considered. We still have to be mindful of that."
"If King Dorian had truly cared about his kingdom and his people, he would never have allied himself with Lyria, magic spell or not," Darrow said more sharply than he had intended to.
Manon just looked down at her feet, surprising Chaol by accepting the rebuke. Chaol was again surprised by Athril wrapping his arm comfortingly around Manon's shoulders. Manon simply leaned into the contact, starting to smile slightly.
That smile started to slip, however, as movement was finally spotted in the distance. The return of the army, most likely with Lyria and Dorian in tow in the prison wagon that Aelin had once spent weeks in on her way to the Endovier slave mines. For the first time Chaol wondered how she had felt, knowing what was to come.
"They're coming," Darrow said unnecessarily.
Chaol swallowed harshly at the words. Now the hard part began. Now he would have to sit back and watch as his old friend was tried for his crimes. He would have to sit back and watch as he was sentenced to either life imprisonment or execution. He just wanted this whole mess to be over and done with. He watched in silence as Aelin and Rowan came into view at last.