"Welcome." Orlon's voice boomed through the hall. Bouncing off marble columns and walls so that the whole chamber seemed to be a vessel for his voice. One of the Fae stepped forward. He had short, silver coloured hair and pointed ears. The tattoos covering half of his face was wicked and beautiful in its simplicity. Thick black lines curling and intertwining atop his sharp cheekbones. If Aelin had known anything about the Fae dialects, she would have guessed they were words.

"Thank you." The Fae said. His beautiful face was impassive and his eyes, which were dark and all seeing, scanned over every one of them. " My name is Rowan Whitethorn and I am a member of Maeve's cadre. We are delighted to be here." He didn't sound delighted. More like he would rather be doing anything else with anyone else, but this. " These are my companions." He pointed to two males. They both had brown hair but one of them had it cropped short. " Lorcan Salvaterre And Fenrys Moonbeam." Aelin snorted, that couldn't possibly be his last name. That drew the attention of the short haired male and he grinned at her cheekily. " Remelle and Gwenevieve." He motioned to a dark haired beauty and a rather plain red head. " Luca and Miana. Emrys, Hassar and Ebadeen."

Orlon inclined his head. " You are very welcome." He said, addressing the room at large. " This is Lord Darrow" The man inclined his head. "Rhoe and Evalin Galathynius. Elide and Marion Lochan. Galan Ashryver and Aedion Ashryver. And Aelin Ashryver Galathynius."

Mingling with the Fae was awkward. Stiff secondary introductions were made, Elide and Aedion kept tight to Aelin's sides. Scanning the room for any possible threats. Aelin walked straight up to the boy called Luca and the female Miana who, Luca had his arm around. "I'm Aelin" She said with the smallest dip of her head. The Far youths bowed to her. "I'm Luca," The boy said. " and this is my mate Miana." He said it as if her were making sure everyone (Aedion mainly.) knew he had a claim on her. Where humans had spouses, Fae had mates. Partners and lovers for eternity. Miana grinned and elbowed him in the ribs. "When were you admitted to Doranelle?" Aelin asked. He had rounded off ears so he must be a Demi fae and Demi fae were only permitted in Doranelle if Maeve allowed it. He looked to be her age but with Fae you can never tell.

"Just last year." Luca said with an infectious grin. " I studied at Mistward for ages. I was beginning to think I would never make it."

" Luca!" The old male walked up behind him.

Luca turned to grin at him. " Aelin, this is Emrys. He is the Storykeeper at mistward."

Emrys offered a kind smile. " It's a pleasure to meet you Princess."

Aelin felt someone come up beside her.

" Emrys?!" A voice said in astonishment. Aelin turned to see her mother gazing at Emrys in shocked delight.

" Evalin!" Emrys grinned. " How have you been?"

"Wonderful!" Evalin said happily. " I see we have a lot to catch up on!"

" Indeed!" Emrys chuckled. Aelin quietly excused herself and left with Elide and Aedion, trailing in her wake. "He seems nice" Elide remarks, smiling. " Well you always were a sucker for manners." Aelin said with a laugh. Elide rolled her eyes. " Oh, while I remember , Lysandra, Evangeline and Fleetfoot will be visiting us tomorrow." Aelin gave a happy cackle.

Lysandra was the Lady of Caraverre and Evangeline was her adopted daughter of sorts. While not of noble blood, Lysandra had come to live in Orynth when she was sixteen. Previously from Adarlan she had fit in to the customs of Terrasen with ease and Aelin recalled the time that the two of them had torn around the castle, mock fighting with wooden training swords. When the Lord of Arren died, he had no children or surviving family so Aelin had nominated Lysandra to be that Lady of that county. Orlon had no objections seeing as Lysandra had come to Orynth to study politics after all and the council needed some 'fresh new blood.' Lysandra being Lysandra, had decided that a new start needed a new name and had promptly began plotting a new title for her territory. ( One could probably tell that politics in Terrasen were a little lax.) Aedion had been standing this whole time with a surly expression on his face, but he brightened when Lysandra's name was mentioned. Uncrossing his arms he stood straighter as if by using etiquette he might make time pass faster.

Aelin laughed. Aedion was even closer to Lysandra than Aelin was, the two of them had been inseparable for years until Lysandra had been sent away to Caraverre. Aedion often bemoaned being stuck in 'the company of noblewoman.' to which Aelin would teasingly ask if Dorian was indeed in the castle. Though admittedly Aelin would be overjoyed to see Dorian or Nehemiah again. She would even settle for Ansel of Briarcliff, whom Aelin had met on a trip to the Red Desert. Ansel was a mile more interesting than the Lord of Xandria.

There was someone behind Aelin. She had a sense for these sorts of things, just as she had a sixth sense for when the cooks in the kitchen were cooking anything that involved sugar. ( She had sources.) Aelin turned slowly to find three hardened Fae warriors behind her.

Aedion shuffled closer to Aelin, one hand on the pommel of his sword. Although the Fae were unarmed,( weapons had been removed upon arrival) they each, were almost twice Aelin's size and looked like they could snap her in half with one flick of a finger. Fenrys 'Moonbeam' flashed a smile at Elide and a wink at Aelin. Lorcan Salvaterre kept his arms crossed over his chest (Aelin could already tell he was a bastard.) but his gaze was speculative as he surveyed Elide. The other girl refused to look at him and a blush of roses spread across her cheeks. The other male Rowan Whitethorn was gazing at Aelin in horror, as if she had just kicked his puppy, or something. Which of course was silly because she couldn't even move in this ridiculous dress.

" Hello" She said addressing Rowan in bemusement at his expression. He narrowed his eyes at her then turned and stalked away into the crowd. " Who shoved the stick up his arse?" Aelin asked. Fenrys laughed. " Oh he's always like that." Aelin decided that she liked the brown haired male.

A/N:

I am nowhere near as good at writing as Sarah. , so this story is in my own writing style. Sorry. Please review. Tell me what you think. Let me know what characters you want me to write in and I'll do my best. This is one of my first ever stories so please don't be too hard on me. Thirteen is too young to suffer from anxiety.