Happy

Chaol Westfall, First Hand of the King of Adarlan and subsequent Advisor huffed angrily as he knocked on the door leading to his King's set of rooms. Dorian was supposed to meet him for breakfast to talk about the new division of settlements to the east of the kingdom. He was supposed to rehearse the terms with Chaol at lunch before the big meeting with his subjects. A meeting that was only an hour from now.

"Dorian, I swear if you don't answer this door right now I am going to kick it down." What the hell was the King doing that he was still in his rooms at this hour on such an important day?

When there was no answer, Chaol had the strong urge to growl. "Dorian Havilliard, I am going to break down this door within the next thirty seconds if you do not open up!"

There were no guards around by Chaol's request, if only to save Dorian the embarrassment he was getting. Out of all the days to sleep in. Counting down in his head before he burst from the frustration, Chaol was quick to reach his breaking point. "Three, two," he muttered, "one."

Just as he was about to kick down the door, it opened.

Chaol cursed.

"Ugh, not you."

That beautiful witch with the white hair and those stupid pretty eyes stood in front of him clad in a simple tunic that seemed hastily placed. "Good morning to you too, Advisor," she said smoothly, no doubt the same voice she used to entrap Dorian or whoever else was near enough to listen.

Chaol sneered. "What is he doing?"

She smiled, but it was nothing natural, more like a predator watching its prey. "Sleeping."

The Blackbeak Matron had been staying over more often, while Dorian kept leaving more often. A fool, that's what the King had turned into. Inviting this creature into his life, his bed. The First Hand almost pushed past her, but that meant he had to touch her and he would never do that. "Tell him to get up and come talk to me immediately."

Manon seemed more intent on observing him. "Why?"

Why? Conceited brat. "This doesn't concern you," he snapped, his temper rising. "Now get your boyfriend out here this instant or I'm going in there myself."

She tilted her head, but stepped aside. "Go ahead."

A taunt. And Chaol begged the gods for patience and tolerance. If he punched her right in that symmetrical face he would tempt death itself-and not from Dorian. He still considered it, wondering how exactly she would retaliate. Glaring, Chaol slinked past her, avoiding contact at all costs, feeling a chill down his spine at having those iron nails so close.

Dorian was suicidal, daring to sleep next to this woman. The same one that followed his movements closely as he made his way to the King's main room. "Dorian." The young man looked like he was having the time of his life as he slept, his hair was mused and his bare back visible with the sheets barely covering his behind. When Chaol repeated the name, Dorian merely shifted a bit.

Shaking his head, the Advisor felt the witch approach. "Heavy sleeper," she explained, like she knew him more than Chaol did.

"I thought witches don't sleep with their lovers."

Manon shrugged, walking toward the King with feline grace, her feet making no sound as she approached. "They don't."

That caught the former Captain off guard. "Why do you?"

She paused, as if thinking about it. "I'm not sure," she admitted before passing a hand over Dorian's dark hair. A gesture that was so different from what he knew about the Ironteeth that Chaol took a step back in complete appalment. "Dorian," she muttered and the former Captain huffed in amusement. Dorian wasn't going to wake up by talking softly to him-

The result was instantaneous, the King waking up with a breath. "Hey, what?"

"Your Advisor is here." The same one shaking his head in disbelief.

Dorian's eyes were all for the witch and Chaol secretly chided him for letting himself get tangled in her web. The King made a move to touch her face or her neck, but Manon moved out of the way quickly, facing Chaol with a neutral look on her face. Interesting.

It took Dorian quite a bit to look away from her, but when he spotted Chaol that half-drowsy, half-dreamy look outright disappeared. As the King sat up and almost fell out of bed in the process, his subject crossed his arms. "Crap, what time is it?"

"You have an hour."

As the man stood up in all his bare glory, Chaol pointedly looked away. "Why didn't you wake me?" Came the accusation.

While still looking at the ceiling, he spoke. "You said not to bother you," he sent a pointed look at Manon, "but because I know you're an idiot, I came by."

Chaol let himself look back toward the bed as Dorian went to his dressing room. "At least we have an hour."

The Advisor looked at the witch, who was still watching him. Her focus made him uncomfortable, enough that he had to address it. "Do you always stare at people like that or am I just a special case?"

She blinked and he noticed how pretty her eyelashes were in discontent. "Is it bothering you?"

"Yes," he snapped. Those gold eyes merely narrowed.

"Now, now, be nice to each other," Dorian said as he stepped between them in a white and green tunic. He faced her first. "Chaol's my closest friend and my Advisor." The King turned to Chaol, who uncrossed his arms. "Manon and I are courting-"

"You could be married to her and I still wouldn't trust her."

The witch huffed, her lips curling into a barely concealed smirk as Dorian cleared his throat. "I know you don't like this." Clearly. "But if and when she is your Queen, you need to at least show respect."

'If and when'? Queen?

Chaol pushed Dorian out of the way as he moved right in front of Manon, enough to share breath. She did not move away as he spoke. "You think I don't know your game?"

She moved closer, but didn't touch him. Her scent was nice, and he would have enjoyed it on any other female but her. "If I had wanted the throne, I would have it already, Chaol. I have no interest in your human affairs."

The man flinched back, surprised at hearing his name in her voice. Dorian stepped in, but Chaol held out his arm in front of him, keeping him back. "Do you love him? Because I think he deserves better than you."

"Chaol…" Dorian started, but he paused when Manon crossed her arms.

She looked straight at the King. "He knows what I feel."

"Yeah, and what's that?" Chaol asked.

"None of your concern," she said as she raised a finger and her nail grazed the former Captain's chest. His response was immediate, jumping back and swatting away her hand in the process. Dorian tensed, but Manon let her arm drop to her side.

Chaol shook his head, turning to Dorian. "Let's go, or I might actually punch her."

The impertinent harpy actually chuckled, chuckled, and the King turned to her in obvious admiration, so entrapped Chaol grabbed his arm if only to stop himself from doing something he might regret later. "Let's go," he repeated with more force and Dorian stumbled, holding his hands out to stabilize himself.

"Alright, alright." They began to move and then the fool stopped. "Wait," Wyrd have mercy on him, Chaol thought as Dorian turned to Manon. "Dinner, yes?"

She nodded once slowly and Dorian pried himself away and walked toward the witch. Chaol pretended not to notice the muttered goodbyes, or the kiss, before he made his way to the door. When Dorian fell into step next to him, there was a ridiculous smile on his face. With an equally foolish spring in his step, the King kept his grin. "I've never been so happy to attend a meeting."

Happy…

Despite everything, despite his aversion to the Blackbeak, despite disliking the way her wyvern scared the horses, despite having to get Dorian in the morning to attend his meetings, despite the danger the witches posed, Chaol let himself drown in the word.

Happy.

His friend was happy.

Dorian was happy.

And for now, that was all that mattered.

Do you think Chaol will ever 'warm up' to Manon? Or will there always be this rift between them? It will be interesting to find out.

eternity1012323 – I think Manon would definitely swing out a knife or flash her nails to protect Dorian without even thinking over it.

jadegreen343 – I think she is definitely warming up to the idea of a future as Queen, but at this point she isn't really consciously aware of it. Dorian is definitely giving it more thought though.

Crescentclaw – The whole Clarisse thing was meant to be thought provoking-many 'what if's to think about. I'm really happy that I make you excited for the next book, it's a big compliment!

Guest – Dorian is definitely adorable

As always, a huge thanks to everyone that reviewed, faved and followed! To be honest, I never thought my one-shots would receive this much attention nor that I would have written a whole 15 chapters of it within a span of three months! Thanks again and I hope you enjoyed this new installment! Stay tuned for more!