A/N: A continuation
Disclaimer: I do not own Throne of Glass
A Reunion
Sam was surprised to see Lysandra enter behind Aelin the next day. The former courtesan sat on a chair much more primly than her counterpart. Before even greeting him Aelin shoved a spoon of food at his mouth.
Lysandra grabbed Aelin's arm and moved it to place the spoon back in the bowl of soup. Sam's eyes widened. "Shouldn't you greet them?" She stood and leaned down to hug Sam.
Aelin hugged him after Lysandra had finished her long and tearful hug.
Lysandra placed a bag on the bed. "Aelin thought you may need some cleaning, so she brought supplies for the healers." She stared at Aelin.
Aelin opened the bag and took out the various expensive things: soaps, lotions, towels. "Only the finest. I would bathe you myself, but I think that Rowan and Aedion would have a fit."
"You're married," Sam said. "I don't expect anything from you."
"That doesn't mean you're not my friend," Aelin replied. "And that I've seen you naked. The territorial bastards be damned."
Sam just glowered. "Why are you here?"
"Come now, let me answer your question," Lysandra replied.
"I didn't ask you."
"No, the one you asked me yesterday," Lysandra replied. "Yes, once I got my magic back the first thing I did was reduce the size of my tits, but only after saving Aelin's husband."
Aelin snorted, trying not to laugh at what had to be a shocked expression on his face. Sam didn't know Lysandra could be so crude.
"Oh, come on, he could've saved himself. Though I do admit your heroics lead to you vomiting quite effectively," Aelin said, looking at a faint black stain on an expensive rug.
"Anyways, how are you Sam?" Lysandra asked him.
Sam found it hard to fall back into a rhythm with Lysandra and Aelin. They were still an odd couple. It was stranger still to talk to someone who was familiar but a complete stranger. Aelin was a mystery. The conversation helped him learn more.
A knock interrupted their talk. "Aelin?"
"Yes?" She trilled, somehow expressing sarcasm.
A man entered the room – not just a man, but the King of Adarlan. "We need to talk. Lysandra can stay here."
Aelin looked annoyed but stood up. As they walked out, he could hear snippets of their conversation. It was mostly Aelin taking jabs at him about drinking habits and the witch queen interspersed with both complaining about some meeting or negotiation.
With the queen gone, Sam listened to Lysandra's history. He was so shocked when he learned of her magic that he couldn't ask questions, though he did ask her about Aelin. She didn't disclose much, stating that Aelin didn't tell many people anything.
Finally, Aelin came into the room. Despite her calm demeanor, he knew he tells: she was nervous.
"Dorian's closing the portal tomorrow?"
"Why?" Lysandra asked.
"He's worried it will become corrupted or malfunction when Manon leaves Orynth, hence he's closing it before she leaves," Aelin told her. "That means we need a plan."
She looked Sam right in the eye.
"Yrene says you're well enough to travel in a wheeled chair or to be carried to Orynth if need be, and we have healers there who can help you," Aelin replied. "Or you can stay here in Rifthold, your home, with an open invite to come to Orynth when and if you choose to do so."
Sam didn't respond.
"I would be happy to have you in my court if you so choose. I'm limited in the dirty work I can carry out and assassins aren't needed as much in this time of peace, but I could think of no one better to fill that role than you."
Sam hoped his facial expression conveyed his disapproval of that plan. He was done with killing.
"You could also be a spy for me, travelling around to gather information. I'm sure our army could take you in as well," Aelin offered. "Or, if it would suit your tastes better, you could come to Orynth and live a normal life: learn a trade, get married, own a business."
"I'm not saying what I'll do," he replied. Sam noticed the slight frown on Aelin's face. "But I will go to Orynth with you."
Aelin's eyes lit up and she gave him a bone crushing hug.
"We did say we'd leave Rifthold. Together," He stated.
"Together," Aelin affirmed.
Dorian looked at Aelin as if she had grown a second head. She knew she was acting unusually happy, but it wasn't something she thought he'd be completely surprised by. When they crossed the portal he stared on as she gave Rowan an extra steamy kiss, one that promised she'd make up for the lack of physical affection over the last week. Dorian looked exactly as confused as she wanted him to be.
Pulling away from her mate, Aelin spoke. "I may as well go celebrate with Rowan."
"May I remind you that you have penned in an afternoon ride with your parents?" Lysandra asked her. "One I would not like to take alone with Aedion, Gavriel, and them."
"Tell them I'm too busy on another ride."
"No," Lysandra replied. "You're coming as moral support or your parents will see Aedion ride me."
Dorian choked.
"I didn't know you liked such boring forms," Manon commented.
"Exactly why Aelin must come."
"Fine, then get out," Manon replied. "I need my own afternoon ride as I won't get one for a while."
Aelin was disturbed by the dilation of Dorian's pupils. That was enough motivation to grab Rowan's hand to walk to the stables.
When she arrived Lysandra did indeed turn herself into a quarter horse, apparently determined to avoid conversation with the couple that were as close as she would get to in-laws. They hadn't brought up her past, if they even knew, but she wasn't eager to let them know. For the first time in a long while Aelin had noticed Lysandra making a concerted effort to cover up her brand with bracelets and long sleeves.
Aelin's parents were in riding gear. They were chatting politely with Gavriel, but it was clear they kept themselves distant from him, still wary of his connection with Maeve. Aelin knew her mother was still simmering with rage for his role in the death of Aedion's mother.
She approached her parents with Rowan. They had warmed to him somewhat more than Gavriel, if only because they knew he was her mate, but they were still skeptical of him. They had only known him for one week, and most of that time he had spent away from them working to make the celebration possible. This marked the beginning of their true acquaintance with him.
"I'm glad to see you," Aelin said as she greeted her parents with kisses on their cheeks.
"We're going on our own ride," Rhoe announced, indicating the men. "A hunt."
Aelin snorted. "Us women aren't invited?"
"No," Rhoe replied. "I would assume you're able to hunt, but Evalyn wanted you to herself. Us men are dead meat to you." He laughed and walked away. "Come, men!" Gavriel quietly followed and Aedion begrudgingly went along. Rowan gave Aelin a kiss before leaving for the stables to get his horse. Evalyn went with a groom to get horses for the women.
"Does this mean I get to ride you?" Aelin asked Lysandra. "I thought you said you wouldn't kiss Aedion because he looked too much like me."
Lysandra shifted back, tired from the magic. "You are enough to handle when you're not in this form, thank you very much."
Aelin made kissy faces at Lysandra jokingly. "He's taking care of you?"
"Of course he has, just like any fussy old maid," Lysandra replied.
"Not in the bedroom?"
"Oh, that as well, but you know that." Lysandra shrugged. "Though right now we're more focused on getting things into place. Our house is only just being built."
"You're not worried about the ghost leopards?"
"They seem to like me. I go hunting with them sometimes," Lysandra replied. "It upsets my stomach, but it's rather relaxing to be in the wild with them."
The clop of hooves led Aelin to turn her head. "Then ladies are we going riding?" Evalyn asked.
"Let's go," Aelin said. She helped Lysandra up onto her horse before mounting her own. Evalyn was already on her horse. "Where are we going?"
"Somewhere less easy then the mens' route," Evalyn answered. "I don't recall taking you on this one as a girl, but I went there when I was stressed."
"Are you sure you're well enough for that?" Lysandra sounded genuinely concerned.
"I need to meet with Georgina tomorrow. Gods know I need stress relief," Evalyn explained.
Aelin snorted. "Georgina found out about Dorian's little portal and decided she wanted to meet with you of all people?"
"She is of my generation of royalty. We're supposed to have a comradery, though she does not appear to realize females do more than sit around and sip tea," Evalyn lamented. "I don't blame Dorian for hiding Manon from her. If a fae female offends her sensibilities, an ironteeth witch must be far less than her ideal."
Aelin found herself liking her mother more.
"As Queen you'll be expected to join us for lunch and tea tomorrow," Evalyn instructed.
Aelin found herself liking her mother less. "Can I-"
"No, you cannot use the excuse of your cycle, pleasuring your mate under the guise of needing an heir, meetings, necessary training, a need for rest after a week of festivities, vague urgent matters, being in a bad mood, sleep, or anything else. You're Queen," Evalyn reprimanded her. "I know you were considering it."
Apparently her mother knew certain habits of hers hadn't gone away. "Did Rowan tell you?"
"Lysandra did," Evalyn looked to her niece.
"Traitor," Aelin gasped at her friend.
"What can I say? Your mother asked me what excuses you proposed when you didn't want to do things," Lysandra replied.
"You even felt the need to mention the one about producing an heir?"
"It is a concern, but not an excuse," Evalyn replied. "Particularly now that you're going to settle. I know a newly mated fae couple will be a little overzealous in bedroom matters, so I won't hold that against you as long as it doesn't get in the way of your duties."
"I don't want to talk about this."
"What should we talk about then? Lysandra's former career?" Evalyn dropped the bomb.
Lysandra stiffened.
"It's served her very well in making the women of your court stay in line – the men as well. I didn't realize how socially intelligent she was," Evalyn stated. "You could learn a few things for her about using more graceful tactics."
"Something else," Aelin said.
"Fine, we'll talk about you and Rowan," Evalyn continued. "How did you meet?"
"Well, he trained me," Aelin narrated.
"No, start with you being passed out drunk on a rooftop in Varese," Lysandra crooned.
Aelin sighed and turned back the beginning of her narration. "It started with me being drunk on a Rooftop in Varese…"
Rowan was trying to impress his father-in-law in the way he'd impress a fae male: swift riding, a large kill count on the hunting trip, and accuracy in his shots. Rhoe was still unimpressed. Aedion and Gavriel had gone their own way some time before, leaving the two men in an awkward silence.
So far they had gotten several birds, but once the first deer was downed they worked together to gather the meat.
"I'm not the one that's suspicious of you," Rhoe said without prompting. "I see how devoted you are to my daughter, and I see how she looks at you like you're her favorite thing."
Rowan looked to his father in law.
"Evalyn is the one you need to worry about," Rhoe said. "She's the one worried about Maeve, even after your two killed her."
Rowan stayed silent.
"Though we both enjoy seeing Aelin so happy with you."
Yet again, Rowan didn't reply. He didn't know the right response.
"So tell me, son," he looked towards where Rowan was butchering the deer, "How did you meet my daughter?"
Finally, he had a response. "Do you really want to know?"
"I know my daughter is difficult," Rhoe replied. "Was she drunk? Or acting defiant for no reason? Or dirty beyond what any princess has any right to be?"
Rowan laughed. "How did you know?"
"She started breaking out of the nursery at an early age, you know," Rhoe replied. "Too young to get drunk, but we all knew she'd break out to go to seedy pubs later in life. I know I did, and Aedion was showing interest in following my example before I died."
"Well, then, father," Rowan related, using the relation Rhoe had. "It began on a rooftop in Varese…"
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Once they were back at the palace the family reconvened for dinner. Manon had joined them this time – one last dinner before setting out. Their other guests had left earlier in the week, but Manon stayed for Dorian's portal. Gavriel and Aedion were still missing. Rowan hoped they were bonding instead of struggling with Aedion's bad personality.
"You know what I heard," Evalyn introduced the dinner topic. "Rowan and our daughter's love story."
Rowan couldn't help but wonder how they got onto the same topic – but he should have suspected that Aelin's parents would have hidden motives in things, like their daughter.
Manon perked up.
"Should we tell them how you and Dorian met, witch?"
"It's certainly more romantic," Manon replied. "If those books you've lent me are any indication."
Rowan looked at his wife. Just what sort of books are you reading?
Aelin smirked. Do you want me to show you?
"It seems to have worked out well," Rhoe concluded. "Given that you two are communicating that easily."
"Did he tell you about Aelin's first bout of jealousy?"
Both Aelin and Rowan wanted to groan. Remelle.
"No," Rhoe said. "You'll have to tell me later, given that I doubt the couple is inclined to share."
Manon grinned. "Did you kill her?"
"I have some regrets about the situation," Aelin replied cryptically. "Though I suppose you also don't murder Dorian's former lovers?"
"He has far too good taste in some women to kill them," Manon said. "At least with Kaltain. I haven't had the displeasure of meeting the others, though I'm sure he wouldn't mind me cleaning up those little problems."
"Humans have different standards of cleaning up," Aelin pointed out.
"Yes, but she can certainly intimidate them out of the palace," Evalyn said. "It was how I won your father over despite my lack of prowess in battle."
Manon didn't seem excited at that lack of excitement.
"But I'll be meeting with his mother tomorrow. I'll put a good word in for you," Evalyn told the witch queen. "I can't guarantee Aelin will."
"And why would you do that?" Aelin asked her mother.
"You know my feelings about Georgina," Evalyn replied. "I need to keep her on her toes."
Aelin looked at Manon and then her mother. Manon looked suspicious of her fellow queen's plans. "Perhaps we'll need to do something about that."
"Perhaps," Her mother repeated, grin mirroring that of her daughter.
Rowan looked to see if Rhoe's face was anywhere as near as exacerbated as his own. It was. Apparently Ashryver's had a way with endless planning.
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Sam was waiting for Aelin to pick him up. When the door opened it wasn't Aelin that entered but rather Lysandra, pushing a wheeled chair for him. A huge male followed her into the room. The man looked a shocking amount like Aelin. This wasn't her husband – it had to be Lysandra's.
"I'm sorry, but Aelin was caught up in some rather annoying drama. It's the price of being queen," Lysandra told him. "At least she's making an attempt to make it more interesting for herself."
The male looked less than pleased to be with her.
"Aelin made me drag along her male clone to help since she couldn't be here," Lysandra said, acknowledging her husband. "Now, into the chair. If you're not strong enough Aedion can transfer you, or just carry you all the way."
"I'll do it," Sam said. He struggled on shaky legs and weak arms. Aedion eventually had to use two hands to hold him up as he turned himself.
Lysandra fussed over Sam as he sat down. She draped a blanket over his legs and smoothed it out before doing a quick comb of his hair. "Can't have you looking like a vagrant when you enter the Palace."
"Palace?"
"Where do you think the Queen of Terrasen lives?" Lysandra asked. "Or, more precisely, you think Aelin would turn down the riches of a palace? Even if she wasn't Queen, well, you'd been to Celaena's apartment."
Sam looked like he was holding back laughter despite the bewildered look on his face.
"Is it finally hitting you that she really is a Queen?"
Sam wouldn't admit it.
Lysandra laughed that beautiful laugh of hers and left the room. Aelin's cousin grunted and pushed him out of the room with little ceremony. He was unceremoniously thrown over the male's shoulder at the bottom of a flight of stairs. Lysandra had a guard carry the wheeled chair up and up.
Sam saw a finely furnished tower room at the top filled with books and books. Fine clothes spilled out of the closet and onto the equally fine sheets of the bed. A desk sat below a window. It was a place Aelin would have enjoyed. Was this her room?
Then out of the closet came King Dorian. To Sam's surprised he was half-dressed. "Lysandra?"
"I'm sure you've heard of the meeting today and that's why you're in this state," she simply replied. Her eyes appraised him.
"I need something to wear to it," Dorian replied. "Or some way out."
"Have Manon stage a kidnapping," Lysandra suggested.
"Or kidnap her yourself," Aedion contradicted.
"I'm not trying to start an international incident," Dorian replied.
"Taking Manon to your room would suffice," Aedion rebutted. "You'd both enjoy it more than whatever you're bound to suffer at Aelin and her mother's hands."
"How so?"
"I don't know much other than Evalyn's hatred for your own mother," Aedion said. "But Rowan tells me that Evalyn and Aelin had a strategy meeting last night in the war room. They involved the kitchen staff in it."
"Oh, I wouldn't call it that," Lysandra said. "It was just a bonding experience between a long-parted mother and daughter."
"I don't trust them," Aedion said.
Lysandra turned her head. "Well, then, you can go and find your own escape route in settling Sam in. I'll be occupied a while longer helping Dorian and Manon get ready."
"Females," Aedion mumbled under his breath. He sat Sam back into the wheeled chair and brought him deeper into the bedroom towards a portal – one that showed a far more opulent room on the other side with no occupant to be seen. "Is Manon in there?" He called back to Dorian.
"No, she's with Elide," Dorian replied.
And through the portal they went. Sam was stunned at the opulence of the guest room and at the contrast that opulence had to the various sets of dirty leathers and open supply satchels strewn on the sofa. Whoever occupied this room didn't spend much time in such settings. A stack of novels sat on a nightstand, but there were no other books.
Aedion was quick to get him out of the room and into the hallway. Sam took in the tapestries and paintings covering the walls and the fine glass – stained and otherwise – that showed him the bustling city of Orynth. "This is it, isn't it?"
"This is Orynth," Aedion confirmed. He stopped in front of a large door and opened it.
Inside was decorated with the same expensive taste as the rest of the palace. Sam was floored and uncomfortable with the offering. Although Aelin had previously kept all the expensive things to herself, in some ways he felt more comfortable that way – he didn't know what to do with silk sheets or a large desk. The large windows had a gorgeous view of the mountainside unlike any he'd seen before.
"Is this – is this mine?" Sam asked.
"If you'll have it," Aedion said.
Sam didn't know how to reply. He was uncomfortable with luxury and didn't want the room, but he didn't want to turn it down. He didn't even know if Aelin would have a plain old room in the palace beyond the servant's quarters.
"Aelin thought you might be uncomfortable here, so she had another room made up if you want to see it," Aedion replied. He opened the next door.
This room still had much nicer walls and a plusher carpet than he was used to, but the furniture was closer to what he had gotten used to in Rifthold. The sheets were cotton and the bookshelf stocked with older volumes. In fact, he recognized most of the furniture and books from the guest bedroom in Aelin's warehouse apartment: home. "This is the room I want."
"She thought so," Aedion smirked. "But she also wanted to offer you the alterative because, and I quote, 'I was a selfish bitch to you.'"
That made Sam smile a sad smile. "Well, tell her that this is perfect."
"Good," Aedion said. "The healers will be up in a minute, as will the kitchen staff to bring you lunch. Aelin's spy chief, Nox Owen, and another member of her court, Ren Allsbrook, will be coming to see you today. She wants you to get to know us all in some way."
"And not subtly recruit me back to her side?"
"I would assume that too," Aedion admitted. "But you and I both know she doesn't tell anyone her secrets, and she especially doesn't tell them to any interfering males."
"No, no she doesn't," Sam acquiesced. "But you must tell me whatever plans she plotted for this luncheon today. I don't know anything about the players, but it sounds like a highly anticipated event."
"You only say that because you won't be there to watch the cat fight progress," Aedion sighed in resignation before turning out the door.
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Aelin sat across from Aedion. They both tried to act as perfect and polite as possible, the perfect little children of Rhoe and Evalin. Lysandra held a prim look they knew hid a smile while Rowan was past all pretenses of manners. He was smirking as he watched Dorian squirm next to his mother. They hadn't even gotten past the pleasantries and sparks already flew between Evalin and Georgina.
"Ah, I know where I had seen you before," Georgina mused as she saw Aelin.
"You must remember she was eight and your son could not pour tea properly," Evalin replied.
"Well, he is a boy. I don't recall Aedion pouring his tea well either," Georgina said. "No, I'm talking about the fact that she served as my husband's assassin. I can't believe I didn't recognize her – I guess I just assumed she wouldn't stoop so low."
"Or perhaps you were ashamed that my daughter is a better warrior than your son, the King."
Now Dorian opened his mouth as if to speak, but one glare from Aelin stopped him. He had to remember this was between their mothers.
"So much so that I found him a great instructor of his own, mother," Aelin replied. She wanted to amend that statement: Dorian's penis found him that teacher. "And now he can match most men at swords."
"And who was this instructor?" Georgina asked. "Dorian didn't mention him."
"Her," Aelin replied, refusing to elaborate. She didn't want her mother to bring up Dorian's relationship with the witch. No, that would be something that had to happen on Dorian's terms – and Manon's, for that matter. "Actually, a group of women, some of the fiercest fighters in the war – they turned the tide."
"Good my son didn't take one as a Queen, then," Georgina said. "He needs a lady, not a brute." The former queen looked over at Rowan and Aedion as subtly as one could.
"And yet these brutes serve an important role," Evalin said. "Just like my husband, they shut up and let the women do the work. We are more capable of politics. Certainly both will also sire strong heirs."
"My son is just as capable politically," Georgina replied.
"Are you calling him feminine? It would explain why he isn't pursuing an heir," Evalin said.
"Mother, please," Aelin said. "Dorian is simply not ready to court a Queen. He needs to remain focused on rebuilding. All the court ladies vying for him would be too much of a distraction."
Evalin snorted. "One would say he is already distracted."
Aelin tried to hold herself back from a retort.
"Only by your daughter and her court's shenanigans," Georgina replied. "He's only here because he rescued your daughter's former lover for her."
Evalin looked at her daughter quickly, telling Aelin that she had put things together. "Then why did my daughter do all the heavy lifting?"
"Ladies," Rhoe broke in. "I believe Dorian can speak for himself."
"Why would I when this is so much more entertaining?" The king gestured to his mother.
Georgina had no retort to her son. Evalin looked almost as angry, as if her years of pent up pettiness weren't used up.
"If you'd like to hear the gossip about my love life, I'm sure your friends have plenty of things to tell you, mother," Dorian said. "Surely you can relay all that to Evalin."
"See? Political skills," Aelin joked.
"And better table manners," Dorian replied. "Both our mothers have been staring at you spoon your soup in the wrong direction."
"Then perhaps they should be staring at Aedion," Aelin said. "Or worse, Rowan."
"You know I couldn't stand to do so," Evalin replied. "Maybe while you're out with your father in the mornings they'll need a refresher on table settings."
"I'm queen of Terrasen now, mother," Aelin said. "I'm sure I can change Terrasen's standard of table manners to suit their… 'skills.'"
Lysandra and Rhoe both laughed at that. Georgina sported a smug smirk while Evalin looked much less pleased.
Aelin looked over to Dorian, signaling that perhaps they needed to try a different train of thought to thwart their mothers. This meal already felt too long.
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It was close to his early bed time when Sam heard a knock on his door. A human man, one with dark hair who didn't appear to be much of a warrior, was an anomaly in this castle from what he'd seen of Aelin's court. The man brought a wheeled chair with him for Sam to use.
"I'm Ren Allsbrook, a member of Aelin's court," the man introduced himself with a sketched bow. "The Queen has requested your presence at our meeting."
Sam hadn't expected to be pressed to make a choice this soon, but maybe this wasn't that. What kind of queen had a council meeting at nearly 10pm? But of course Aelin would. If any queen would, it would be her – or it would be if she was still anything like Celaena. He decided this likely wasn't a ruse and got into the chair.
Ren wheeled him through a maze of hallways and through a magically controlled lift to get him to a higher floor. Ren explained they had made it with the help of a magic user to make moving furniture easier, but it was also useful for human transportation. Finally they arrived at a set of double doors guarded by a group of fae warriors.
"I've never understood why they have guards when the two inside are much more deadly," Ren grumbled. "Ren Allsbrook and Sam Cortland at the request of the Queen," he introduced to them.
One of guards opened the door and let Ren inside.
Sam was surprised to see that this was less of a formal meeting and more of a casual get together. Aelin was flopped on a couch in a loose tunic and wool pants. Her hair was loose and her make-up impeccable from whatever she had been subjected to earlier. Lysandra sat lounging on a chez lounge nearby, sipping tea. They looked up.
"For a second I thought that was the food," Aelin said. "But this is much better." Aelin hopped up and walked over to Sam. She pushed the wheeled chair next to a plush normal chair and helped him into it.
"Welcome, welcome," Lysandra crooned. "We were having a small party among ourselves to celebrate the end to this long week of planning and ceremony."
"Yes, anyways, let me introduce you," Aelin said, indicating two more individuals in the room. First she waved towards a small brunette woman. "Our strategist, Elide," and then to a beautiful fae male. "And our comic relief, Fenrys."
"It's nice to meet you, Sam," Elide said.
Fenrys raked his eyes up and down Sam. "Really nice to meet you."
"He's injured, Fenrys," Lysandra reminded the male.
"He's pretty, as pretty as Aelin described. Am I not allowed to admire him?"
"Not when you swore off relationships for another two decades," Aelin replied.
"I thought I was drunk when I said that?"
Suddenly Aedion and a black-haired fae male came into the room carrying several bags and boxes. Aedion shut the door behind him as best he could.
"Where's my husband?" Aelin demanded, albeit with a joking tone to her voice.
"Stopped," Aedion replied. "By your father."
Aelin raised a single eyebrow at that. "I thought they'd come to an agreement? No more overprotective bullshit about my safety?"
"No, not about that," the darker male replied. He set down the bags and began to pull out boxes of chocolates and bottles of alcohol on a coffee table. Aedion began to open the boxes, revealing trays of bar food.
"About the fact that our court prefers bar food to the palace chefs?"
"No," Aedion replied. "About how if you and Rowan aren't trying, you'll need to be more subtle."
Sam looked between the cousins, trying to figure out what was happening.
"Trying? Trying for what?" Aelin said before pausing, as if saying the word clarified things for her. "We're letting him inspect our sheets with his spies down in the laundry department, that should fool him enough," Aelin replied.
Trying for an heir – the last thing Sam wanted to think about her doing.
"Not if you're drinking as much as you have been this week," Aedion replied. "Rhoe said Darrow is complaining that no responsible woman would drink so much when trying to get pregnant. He's beginning to grow suspicious that you're taking a contraceptive herb."
"Why do I have the most important uterus in all of Erilea?" Aelin moaned out. Sam really didn't need to hear this.
"Because that uterus will produce the most important babies in Erilea," Lysandra reminded her.
"Fine, then, no alcohol for me until Darrow forgets about it. My consumption this week can be explained by the celebration, and my lack of fertility as usual by my fae body," Aelin replied. "Pleasing my father and Darrow." She grabbed a bottle of alcohol off the table and took a long drink directly from it.
Fenrys laughed. Sam smiled. Yes, this was still Celaena in some strange, strange way.
The doors opened with force and a fae male Sam didn't recognize entered the room with a put out look on his face. His eyes only lit up slightly when he saw Aelin, but it was clear he had no eyes for anyone else. This had to be her mate – Rowan.
"Did my father give you the talk?" Aelin asked him. "A bit late for that, I'd say, given we've been married over a year."
The male grunted and walked over to grab the bottle out of her hand. Instead of chastising her for drinking it he took a swig himself. He then handed it back to her and picked her up.
Fenrys wolf-whistled and Aedion groaned as Aelin grinned suggestively at them.
"Sit," she ordered her husband. He flopped back onto the couch she had been occupying. "In case you haven't noticed, we have guests." Or does talking to my father make you horny, you sick buzzard? She slid off his lap to flop over the arm of the sofa.
Fenrys barked out a laugh.
"Rowan, I'm sure you already know who this is," Aelin said, gesturing towards Sam. "But he requires introduction. This is Sam Cortland. He may well be joining the court if he so chooses, or he may settle in Orynth. In any manner, I expect you to welcome him appropriately."
Rowan nodded at him, but made no attempt to greet him until Aelin slapped him on the back. Then he stood up to shake Sam's hand.
"I know you're not one to say sentimental bullshit," she said to Rowan with an overdramatic sight. "But you respected him when he was dead, but now that he's alive it's back to the same male bullshit." You know he's no rival. Her look said.
"It's nice to meet you, Sam," Rowan introduced himself.
"It's nice to meet you too," Sam said sarcastically.
"Fine, bullshit done," Aelin announced with two claps. "It's time for refreshments."
"Ah, you know it's not done," Lysandra cooed. "It's never done with these men of ours. Aedion's still beside himself any time he remembers his poor, innocent little cousin is no longer a pure little virgin."
Aelin laughed.
Lorcan was the one to help his wife, Elide, bring Sam his food and drink while the others sorted out their own portions of the food. Ren tried to explain that this was apparently the normal state of things in the court: productive chaos.
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Lying in bed after a long gathering, Sam realized there was only one path he wanted to follow. Not right now, and not forever, but when he was recovered. He had to speak to Aelin. Alone.
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A/N: Dun dun dunnn…