All characters belong to the lovely Sarah J. Maas.
FOUR
Sam couldn't stop sweating as he stood surrounded by four guards that were close enough to breath down on his neck. Archer was standing beside him motionless, not even showing one sign of anxiousness unlike he was.
He couldn't help it. He could feel the obsidian eyes of the King occasionally on him like he could see right through his charade. With an exasperated sigh through his nose, Sam observed the other twenty-two competitors around him.
Some were thin like snakes and others were burly and looked bigger than a bull. At least three guards surrounded each man and four surrounded himself. Three of other competitors were chained along with half a dozen guards watching their every movement, their every breath. This was far more serious than he thought.
One of the competitors, a tall brawny brute gave him a toothy smile and a wink. He was obviously seeking trouble that Sam wanted to avoid.
As his eyes flickered from face to face, he couldn't see the spark of mischief in their eyes. They were just blank, nothing shouted a challenge, nothing screamed intelligence.
The thick glass doors open and a blonde woman wearing a burst of colours on her two-piece gown and a guard with a stern look on his young face enter.
Celaena.
He bit his tongue to stop himself from screaming her name.
She looked amazing and healthy as ever, like she hasn't spent the last years working in the Salt Mines. Her eyes stayed locked on the marble flooring, not even bothering to look up until the King spoke.
His tongue was beginning to bleed.
"Now, we can finally begin since the last competitor has bothered to show up," he spat.
At first, she glanced at the prince beside her whom gave her a wry smile. A pang of jealousy hit him. No, he was just being ridiculous. Celaena would never love a Havilliard.
Her eyes scanned the each champion one by one in boredom. He expected her to freeze at the sight of him living but instead she didn't even notice him, like he was just another competitor.
Maybe she forgot all about him and didn't remember what the sight of him looked like. He sighed as he ran his fingers through his naturally untangled hair. He was being ludicrous. She would never forget him if her love for him was real and he was highly certain that it was... Or he just want it to be.
Just wait until this meeting is over. You will find her and she will remember you, he assured himself but doubt lingered in the back of his mind.
"In the next thirteen weeks you will be competing for the title of my champion. You will train daily and there will be a test once a week as you live in my dwelling," the King recited.
Only thirteen weeks instead of twenty-four. The implication that some us will die during those thirteen weeks was clear as day. Hopefully he would survive until then. Hopefully.
"There will also be additional tests that we will act upon whensoever we please. If you don't complete these tests in time or the result you submit is unsatisfactory, you will be sent back to living your worthless lives," he continued.
A test or two for thirteen weeks and with only having a week of training… Sam sighed louder through his nose. Archer slightly turns towards him and gives him a threateningly glance. He has to pretend to scratch the corner of his lips to hide his smile.
"The last four Champions will have a duel for the title a week after Yulemas. I am to depart next week and won't return until Yulemas but I will still be able to order for any one of you to be beheaded," the King pauses and gives Celaena a wide, sadistic grin. She turns pale but doesn't look away. Good girl.
"You're all dismissed."
The minute Sam exited the room, he searched for Celaena –turning down every corner and opening every unlocked door he came upon. The castle was like an endless maze and he soon found himself walking in circles.
He almost gave up until he heard her laughter, her beautiful joyous laughter that sounded like an angel's. He stood still and shut his eyes, focusing on the direction of where her laughter came from.
Straight, turn left then turn right.
Once he took the right that would lead him to Celaena he saw her with her arms linked with the young man who entered the room with her before, smiling like how she used to smile at him…
This felt wrong. He couldn't just barge into her new life without him, who knows how long it had taken her to find a liking to another man again. He ran his fingers through his hair and left it there, clenching his dark hair and sighed. She would be better off without him…
Just when he turned to walk away she said his name and he froze into place. No, no, he melted. Hearing her say his name was like drinking water after being stranded in the Red Desert. An affectionate relief.
"Sam?" Celaena called louder down the empty hall, sliding her arm out of Chaol's hold. She could feel Chaol Westfall's and the guards stationed outside her door eyes on her.
It couldn't be Sam. It can't be Sam. Sam was dead. She held his corpse herself in her own arms. But there he was, awkwardly turning around and smiling the same old smile he used to always give her.
No.
This must be the King's doing or she had finally gone mad. Sam couldn't possibly be here, here of all places. This was too good to be true.
"Celaena," he breathed, sliding his hands into his trouser pockets, shyly looking at her. He looked different. His dark hair has grown out and now a scar lives on his eyebrow to the top his eye but he was still Sam. Her Sam.
And then, she was running –running down the hall despite her massive gown and heels. Tears welled in her eyes as her body collided with his. With her up-do of curls fallen and her painful high heels discarded, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight enough that he couldn't manage to let go even though he wasn't going to.
"Well someone has gotten heavier," he groans, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her closer. Even though they haven't seen each other in over a year, he still insulted her even if it was jokingly.
She laughed through her sobs and smacked his chest. It was so Sam to joke even when she was a crying mess.
A hand harshly grabs her elbow and pulls her back. She is momentarily dazed until she sees Chaol standing in between them, his face inches away from Sam's, scowling.
"What is the meaning of this?" he roared, tightening his grip on her elbow. She could see her skin turning white and she bit her lip from screaming.
Sam grabbed his wrist, "let go of her, you're hurting her."
Chaol shoved his hand away and glowered, "Don't touch me filthy Champion."
"Then let go of me Chaol," she calmly said, pulling her hand out of his relaxing grip. She could see Chaol sudden regret of wording but she didn't care.
She side-stepped around Chaol and stood next to Sam, sliding her hand into his. It was soft and warm like the feeling he gave her when he smiled at her.
Celaena took a deep breath in and exhaled.
"Now that you've calmed down Chaol," she shot him a look that made even him cringe, "I would like you to meet Sam, Sam Cortland, my partner or I don't know what to call it…" She glanced up at Sam helplessly and he grinned.
"How about my fiancé," he murmured so only Celaena could hear and she heard it, crystal clear.