A/N: I didn't really know how to end this, but I needed to in order to get things posted. This is the best I could come up with.
Disclaimer: I do not own Throne of Glass
A Parting of Ways
Aelin fussed over the saddle bags on the horse. Everything was in them, but she had to check five times over.
"Are you sure you're healthy enough for this?" She asked, an eyebrow arched.
"I'm not going to assassinate anyone," he chided her. "I'm just going on a glorified vacation."
"Are you sure?"
"No. I might go rogue after," he joked. She slapped his arm.
"You know I could send you to Doranelle instead," Aelin told him. "The Southern Continent is much too nice for you. Or, if you'd have liked, I could send you to the witches. You should hear what they do to human men."
He laughed. "I've heard the stories."
"Then get on with it."
"I'm sure you'll send me to both places someday anyways," he said.
"Only if you want to, but perhaps you're more masochistic than I thought? Or maybe Dorian's helped you get a witch of your own?" Aelin checked the saddle for the tenth time.
"I'm sure I'm going."
Aelin thought back to that conversation – only one day after Sam had come to Orynth.
"I wanted to see the world," Sam told her.
"And you're not ready to see me with Rowan?" Aelin asked.
"That's –"
"I know," Sam said. "It's obvious you're in love, but it's just- And you're different."
"It's weird for me as well," Aelin replied. "It will take getting used to. Go out in the world, have your own adventure. It's what you've always wanted."
Sam stared at her.
"If you're not ready for that, my trade minister could use an escort to the Southern Continent while he schmoozes with them into giving me more favorable terms in our latest negotiations," Aelin said.
"I don't know the last thing about trade."
"You may not, but I know you are certainly charming enough," Aelin replied.
She looked at him, suddenly regretting that conversation. She had just gotten Sam back three months prior. She didn't want to lose him again. At least this time she'd see him again soon.
A/N: The end! I guess what happens with Aelin and Sam's friendship is left up to your imagination, but I like to think in this scenario they develop a strong friendship with Sam going on weird errands for her and Aelin desperately trying to matchmake him so she feels less bad about him seeing her with Rowan. This then leads to a RomCom scenario of some sort and Aelin fails to match him because he has some normal shopgirl in Orynth that he's trying to protect from the chaos that is her court. May or may not write a oneshot of that added to this.