Disclaimer: The "Throne of Glass" series and anything you recognize in here ain't mine!

TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter contains one censored cuss word, emotional struggle due to affects of torture, and a brief vague moment of a character's memory of torture. Not too intense but please read at your own discretion.

CHAPTER 5:

One year later...

With everyday now that passes, Aelin feels herself slipping. Disappearing without her consent bit by bit. She'd been trained to handle torture. Knew to detach herself from the events. Knew to breathe and remind herself of who she was and for whom and what she had to survive. Knew to tell herself that it won't last forever. But as more and more time went by, it was all getting harder to remember, harder to do. It's been four years. Four years and they won't give up. Four years and she hasn't given in. Held out for four years; perhaps she should be proud of that. Perhaps she would be... if rescue were near. If this was the end of it. But no one is coming for her. No one will help.

It'll never stop.

There's no way of getting herself free. She knows because she's tried. She's tried far more times than she can count to find a weakness in her binds. She's tried goading and manipulating Maeve's lapdogs. She's watched, waited, for opportunities. She's even resorted to asking the healers. But it was all ineffective. They'll never help. They'll never stop. It'll never stop.

"Aelin?" Someone calls nearby but she doesn't hear it.

It'll never stop.

They call again, tone somber, carefully laying a hand on her arm, "Aelin."

She only remains staring off, lost in reliving the horrors of the latest session. Breathing shakily.

mYet the next call from a higher, sweeter, voice, is like a guiding light, "Mama?"

She turns her head slowly to the voice. Fenrys stands beside the altar with Rhoe perched on his hip. The pair gaze down at her with varying degrees of worry written on their faces. Rhoe is quick to break the solemnity though, delighted grin springing onto his face, "G'morning, mama!"

Fenrys sits on the platform without further preamble and releases Rhoe who quickly scoots over to Aelin.

Gradually, Aelin feels both calm and some level of herself come back as she looks him over. She takes in the soft features still rounded by his young years, the healthy hair that's sticking straight up messily on one side of his head, and the dazzling eyes staring down at her in concern. Rhoe asks, "Are you—" He's interrupted by a rather large yawn, "—okay?"

She swallows hesitantly, her throat still sore from earlier, and whispers, "Yes." He's not reassured despite her answer so she pastes on a big smile to make the lie more believable. It must be successful because Rhoe happily beams back.

He sits back on his heels and bounces up and down then saying, "Guess what! I read— I read "At"! In my book."

Aelin's smile softened into a genuine one as she breathed, "You did?"

The toddler nodded continuing, "Yeah! All over! I readed it. To my ribbit and—"

"Your ribbit?" Aelin asked momentarily lost.

Fenrys jumped in to translate, "His new stuffed frog."

Rhoe picked back up, "He's green. And his hands are um—they're—mama look—like this," He looked down as he laid his hands flat on the stone and did his best to move his fingers into three sections, mimicking the odd positioning.

Aelin tore her gaze from his sweet face and lifted her head to look at his hands. She responded quietly, "Yep, they look just like a "ribbit's"."

The three-year old giggled briefly then resumed his happy rambling; reveling in his mother's undivided attention.

"Rhoe," Fenrys broke in during the third exaggerated retelling of what happened with his tugboat bath toy weeks ago, "Didn't you want to tell mama about what else happened yesterday?"

Rhoe fell silent, fidgeting with the edge of Aelin's shift, then repeats, "What else?"

Brows raised, Fenrys prods, "When you got scared with the fly...?"

Rhoe let go of the material with a cry of, "The bug!" Eyes wide, mouth set in a slight pout he looked at Aelin, "A bug was in—in—in my um room. And he flied! Here!" He grabbed his ear.

Aelin gasped dramatically, "He didn't!"

Rhoe nodded wildly, "He was so loud! Said bzzzzz and I— and— and he went and flew and I don't know where!"

Fenrys tried to move the story along kindly, "And what happened after the fly landed? What did you do?"

"I watch him," Rho answered simply, twisting toward Fenrys.

Aelin prompted this time, "Then what?"

Rhoe turned back and picked up, "Then—then he walked at me. And scares me!" Rhoe rocked on his knees, scooting around as he built up the story, "Bug bites!"

Aelin glanced at Fenrys, hoping he informed Rhoe that flies can't bite or hurt him. Her heart about stopped then as she heard the finale of the tale.

Rhoe mimicked an explosion with his hands as he finished, "And then he whoosh! And blue— and he—and Fenrys said magic! The bug all gone!" Rhoe beamed, proud of his conquering the fly, but Aelin was frozen.

She stared at her son in shock and whispered, "Your magic's shown up." Her eyes darted sharply to Fenrys then, seeking confirmation.

Fenrys mirrored her mix of emotions in his gaze and nodded, stating, "He has your fire," A huff, "Burned straight through half of the rug! There weren't even any ashes left from the burned portion either. It seemed different—his magic. I mean it was unmistakable fire but it looked more like... the glow of stars."

Aelin looked back at Rhoe, taking it all in. Then said hoarsely, "My little starlight... I'm glad you're not hurt." He just shrugged shyly, so Aelin added, "And I'm happy that you got the bug."

Rhoe brightened at that and pulled himself nearer to Aelin. He paused abruptly though, looking at her raised arms.

Aelin saw the uncertainty and crooned, "Come here, Rhoe."

The young prince needed no further encouragement. He laid down; snuggled close against her side.

Aelin inhaled her child's scent deeply then asked her friend, "Does she know?"

Fenrys shook his head, "No, not yet."

Aelin knew this day would come. Knew it was the main reason Maeve wanted Rhoe. The strong magic that would surely be in the veins of her and Rowan's child had been too great a temptation for the dark queen to pass up. She knew it would happen, but it didn't make her fear it any less now.

Reading her worry, Fenrys promised, "I'll do my best to keep it hidden from her for as long as possible."

"Even if she doesn't see, all she has to do is ask you." Aelin sighed.

Fenrys combed his fingers through his hair, "She may not though, who knows."

"She will." Aelin closed her eyes and focused on the warmth of her son's small form. She heard his breathing quiet and steady out and looked at Fenrys in question, mouthing, 'Did he fall asleep?'

Fenrys looks down at the boy and grins tenderly, nodding. He explains, "We got woken up by a crash from some maids out in the hall earlier. This one was too alert then to go back to sleep, so we decided to come see if you were up too."

They both watched as Rhoe nuzzled closer to her and a small huff of breath sounded, but he remained in deep sleep.

Fenrys lowered his voice, "It amazes me how easily you can get him to sleep. Since we finished the book, reading it to him is the only way I can get him to sleep now. I read it to him every night, at every naptime, and at least a dozen times in-between. He carries it around with him everywhere."

Aelin had seen him bring it on several of their visits— and she'd always obliged when he'd asked her to read it to him. But there were more times that he came down empty handed. Her brow creased as she asked, "Why doesn't he bring it down here that often?"

"Because you're here, I think," He replied easily. "The storybook in the only thing he has of you so it's comforting when he can't be with you. He still..." He looked at the pair with a sad smile, "He still cries when we return to our room after seeing you, you know."

Aelin's stomach clenched, "Still? I thought you said he's been calming?"

"He was— well I thought he was— but it's not been often and I'm not so sure it's better," Fenrys propped himself up on his elbows as he reclined back on the unyielding surface, "He's either going over to the spot we stand in to transport to you and laying down and crying himself to sleep there, or he's grabbing the storybook and laying down hugging it in total silence for an hour. And either way he won't respond to me— except to occasionally push me away or ask to go back to you."

"Have you been explaining to him why he can't?" Aelin asked.

"No, I've mainly been focusing on assuring him that we will later."

Aelin scoffed, "That's not enough. He needs to know why."

Fenrys jaw went slack with incredulity, "Oh right, like explaining the situation will make him feel better. I can just see it, "Mama's being tortured for information right now but then once she's cleaned up and conscious again—"

"Don't be a smart*ss," Aelin hissed. "I just don't want him thinking I don't want to be with him because I'm always sending him away."

Fenrys looked away dismissively, "I don't think he thinks that, Aelin."

"You don't know though," She pressed.

"You see how excited he gets when he sees you," Fenrys shrugged, "I don't think he'd light up that way if he felt that you didn't want to spend time with him."

Aelin wasn't convinced, "He gets excited because he's three."

"He gets excited because he loves you and feels loved by you." Fenrys stated firmly.

"Crying himself to sleep doesn't sound like he feels loved." She countered.

Fenrys sighed wearily but didn't comment.

For a few minutes, Aelin contemplated quietly before venturing hesitantly, "Maybe if I tell them where... they... are, things will be better for both of us."

Fenrys jerked in surprise, eyes darting around worriedly, "Are you serious?"

She only swallows tightly, staring at the rocky ceiling in answer.

Fenrys sat up, shoulders tense, "You know whatever would happen, it would be anything but "better"."

"Would it?" Aelin breathed, "Rhoe could go home, could be with Rowan. And I—"

"And Maeve would kill you, Aelin." His tone hardened, "Do you think that'll be "better" for Rhoe; losing his mother?"

Aelin squeezed her eyes shut. Tear drops slipped out and down into her unkempt hair.

When she doesn't respond, Fenrys pleads, "Don't let them win."

Memories of the last session replay over in her mind again: Cairn. The extra guards. The sweating, shaking but concentrated healer. The hands and tools keeping her mouth open. The glass shards. The pain. Her body's swallowing reflex working against her. His gleeful taunting, "I know the location of the keys is in here... somewhere..."

"Aelin," Fenrys calls, looking down at her sorrowfully, a grounding hand on her arm again.

"It'll never stop," Aelin shuttered, straining steadily against her shackles, "It'll never stop. It's been four years."

The older Fae's heart sank at the reminder of that fateful day on the beach. Four years ago today. At a loss for words, he could only sit with the captive queen as she lost herself in the agonized mantra, "It'll never stop. It'll never stop. It'll never stop."

TOGTOGTOGTOGTOGTOGTOGTOGTOGTOGTOGTOGTOGTOGTOGTOGTOGTOGTOGTOGTOGTOGTOGTOGTOG

It's a week later that Aelin is startled awake by the clattering of the iron box's lid opening. Two sets of coarse hands reach in quickly, pulling her out. A glimpse of his stony expression is all she sees before Cairn shoves the old black sack over her head.

Metal links rattle in front of her. The guards at her sides continue holding her up as someone swiftly attaches a new chain. Her worn muscles protest and she stifles a groan at the added weight. A testing tug results in a pull on both her wrist and ankle restraints. Charming.

She's yanked forward as Cairn grabs the chain and leads them out of the cell saying, "Hope you enjoyed playing parent."

A/N: Howdy-hey! Hope you enjoyed the update, the next two chapters should be up soon! Also the first one shot of the companion story "Outtakes of a stay-at-home-male" is up now for those of you who were interested! I'll be updating that one when I'm about half way through each of the chapters for this story. Thank you thank you thank you for all my awesome reviewers and followers! Your support and words make my day :) :) :) Also tiny sneak peek; the next chapter will not be a time jump but will pick up where this one left off. The one after will be another time jump though. Question: Aren't you all just in suspense about when rescue will come? Will it even? *chuckles maniacally* Until next time~ V