CH-1
Aelin couldn't sleep. She kept on hearing that strange sweet melody, but tonight it was louder and it seemed to pull her towards itself. She hadn't told Rowan, evident that his involvement might bring complications, for more than once whenever she opened her mouth to confront him about hearing anything, the melody had abruptly shut leaving the sweet notes lingering in her mind. She suspected many behind the trick, mostly the ones opposed to her reign, which seemed obvious.
Carefully Aelin peeled herself from his arms and padded across their grand room towards the heavy wooden doors. The guards immediately stiffened on her approach, she winked at the one nearest to her and lifted her long elegant finger to her lips. The guard nodded hastily. The queen was on one of her midnight strolls, that meant no escorts, not even the king.
On the way Aelin leaned over the head balcony to gaze at her beautiful kingdom. She could make out the civilians' accommodations over the silhouette of the tall trees created by the moonlight. Except for the tiny star like illuminations, everything was dark and silent. She imagined little children nuzzling into their parents, feeling love and security. The elders content from living their final days in tranquility. Lovers embracing, happy at the fact that no longer they would have to part, not at least in this life. The warriors ravishing the proximity of their families and homes.
The cool winds played with her now shortened golden hair. Terrasen was theirs and nobody could take it away, not even the Gods. She had died once for it and she was willing to do it for a thousand times if this peace and serenity was what came out of it. It was worth everything. She turned and continued her walk, letting the music guide her. Whatever it was, her embers hadn't resisted yet but she could feel them resonating to the song's rhythm as if dancing to it.
She reached the bottom floor and found herself in the royal garden. Except for a few guards concealed expertly midst the pillars, it was empty. Most of her court members had returned to their respective lands. Lysandra and Evangeline had settled themselves in Caraverre. Aedion had insisted on staying with his bane for some time and since she hadn't been very hospitable with the Allsbrook and 5 other noble families, they had refused to stay in the palace. That meant she and Rowan were the sole residents of the ginormous palace. She passed the ponds which shimmered in the moonlight. The light bouncing off silver scales on the fishes created mesmerising swirls.
Her breath caught in her throat when she saw where she had been led to.
The royal cemetery.
Her feet wont move.