They walked in silence, the only sound their boots striking against the stone floor. Dorian had tried multiple times to start a conversation. He had brought up the meeting with Ansel in the afternoon, Manon's letter, even books, but Aelin had just continued to stare straight ahead. Giving up he sighed placing his hands in his pockets as he followed her. People scrambled to get out of their way, stopping to gape at them as they passed. Dorian could only imagine what they were thinking. Here was their King calmly walking down the hall, his shirt torn and covered in blood. A smile formed on his lips. If Chaol was here, he would be yelling at him right now. He missed Chaol, it had been months since he had heard any word from him.

As they neared the stairs to his tower he could make out Ress talking with the guards posted at the bottom of the stairs. Hearing them approach Ress turned to face them taking in Dorian's appearance. "What the hell did you do!" he demanded glaring at Aelin. She didn't answer, instead she grabbed Dorian's arm and shoved him forward towards the stairs. Ress raised his eyebrows stepping in-between Dorian and Aelin. She gave him a look that could have set his soul on fire. Gods she was pissed. Dorian placed a hand on Ress' shoulder as he said, "I'm fine, a training mishap. No harm done. We're just going to go clean up before our meeting." He grabbed Aelin with his other arm pulling her up the stairs away from Ress before she killed him.

Dorian opened the door to the tower, Aelin walked past him stopping just a few feet inside. He closed the door sighing ready for the yelling that was destined to happen. But the room remained silent. Aelin hadn't moved she was still standing with her back towards him her arms wrapped around her body. Dorian ran his fingers through his hair, where did he start?

"Aelin…" She didn't move. "Aelin I'm sorry." Nothing. He moved closer to her wrapping his arms around her waist from behind. She didn't flinch. Grabbing her hips he spun her forcing her to face him, but she wouldn't look him in the eyes. "Aelin please say something." She closed her eyes as she exhaled through her nose. "I could feel it." Her eyes shot open, a tear rolled down her cheek. His hand caressed her face his thumb wiping away her tear. His brows scrunched together, he didn't understand. Her hand brushed against his shoulder circling his wound. "This.. I could feel this. I could feel all of it." Dorian grabbed her hand, his eyes wide. "The bond?" They hadn't talked about it, he had just assumed. He had heard the legends of the mate bond. Gavin and Elena had been mates, and Gavin was one of his favorite heroes as a child.

After last night Dorian had felt closer to her in a way he couldn't explain. He was always drawn to her like the air surrounding her had an electric charge pulling him closer. Aelin's turquoise eyes were staring at him. "That's it isn't it? The mate bond?" She nodded, biting her lip. "It was terrible Dorian… I can't handle feeling your pain… it broke me." Finally understanding why she was so upset Dorian held her close.

"I'm fine." he whispered in her ear. He was more than fine, he had been able to shape his magic into something other than ice for the first time. The thought made him smile. Aelin glared at him, "Don't put me through that again!" Still smiling he kissed the top of her head. "I shall try my best to avoid injuring myself solely for your sake. In the meantime how might I make it up to you. Let's see… cake…. chocolates…. shopping?"

Aelin smiled as she leaned forward brushing her lips against his. "I'm sure that you'll think of something." Pulling out of his embrace she unbuttoned her shirt tossing it in his face as she stalked off towards the bathing room.

(Aelin POV)

Late, they were so late! Beside her Dorian was trying to make himself look presentable as they ran through the servants halls towards the council room. The meeting was supposed to start twenty minutes ago. They had left early, deciding to take a little detour to the library. However, they had ended up in a dark secluded corner of the library. Aelin smiled as Dorian cursed colorfully beside her, as he finished buttoning his shirt tucking it into his pants. They came to a screeching halt as they reached the end of the servants hall. Opening the door into the main hallway of the stone castle, Aelin stepped out first glancing around she waved Dorian forward. His hair was still a mess. Aelin smiled as she gestured for him to fix it. More curses escaped from his lips as he ran his fingers through his hair trying to tame it. Aelin was busy trying to do something with her own hair, she didn't have time to re-braid it, so she left it down.

As they neared the council room, the guards posted outside opened the door. Aelin lifted her head, straightening her back as they walked side by side into the council room. She had never been in this room before, it was a comfortable size. Windows lined the walls allowing a copious amount of natural light to spill into the room. In the center was an enormous round table that occupied most of the space where all the members of the Adarlan council and her court were sitting. She felt Dorian's hand squeeze her shoulder. "Sorry to keep you waiting, let's go ahead and get started shall we." He lead her across the room offering her the seat to his right at the head of the table. Aelin took the seat as some Lord she didn't know started giving the reports. She looked at the faces seated around the table, most of whom she didn't know. Directly across from her sat Ansel. She was of course wearing her signature wolf armor, her red hair draped over her shoulder. Aelin noticed that she had not stopped staring at her from the moment she walked in the room. Rowan sat beside Ansel, and Aedion and Lysandra were sitting together a few chairs down. Lysandra met her stare giving her an all too knowing smile. Aelin felt herself blush. Did she know everything, or was it that obvious?

Between Rowan and Aedion there was an empty chair, the only empty chair at the table. Panic flooded through her as she suddenly realized that chair had been left for her. What sort of message had she just sent without even realizing it! It was too late to do anything about it now. Sighing she tried to concentrate on the words being said by the Lord a few seats over. He was rambling about something dealing with the ships and ports. Occasionally Dorian would ask appropriate questions. This went on for at least an hour, Aelin was only half listening. Her thoughts were filled by a certain King sitting beside her. Dorian was leaning carelessly on his left elbow, his brow furrowed with concentration as he listened.

Aelin traced Dorian's body with her eyes. She watched as his arm muscles tightened slightly under his shirt when he was annoyed, and how is lips would twitch when he wanted to laugh. She was no longer aware of anyone else in the room. Her magic thrummed under her skin, it was addictive and she wanted more. Dorian kicked her under the table jarring her back to reality as he winked at her. Crinkling her nose at him she turned her attention back to the rest of the table.

"That concludes all of the matters of state from the council, your Highness", said some other council member Aelin didn't know. Dorian nodded. The council members stood excusing themselves. Leaving only Aelin's court and the Queen of Briarcliff remaining. Dorian straightened and turned his attention to Ansel.

"As I'm sure you have gathered, I am King Dorian Havilliard, and I would like to extend Adarlan's warmest welcome to you Queen Ansel of Briarcliff." He stood and bowed. Aelin was shocked.

Ansel smiled a devilish smile as she too stood and dramatically bowed. "Why thank you, your Highness. Though I guess we are just going to pretend like I'm not some foreign prisoner that has been dragged across a continent, just to be used as a pawn in your war under threat of death." If Dorian was surprised by her response he didn't show it. He remained smiling, "Why of course we are your Majesty." Ansel placed her hands on her hips. "Good, then I would like the guards reduced outside my room, I've noticed that nobody else has six guards outside of their room. And as I am not the only trained assassin turned Queen it seems fair."

Dorian studied her for a moment before he nodded, "Agreed. Anything else?" "I want to be allowed to visit town as I please" "Absolutely not!" Aedion interupted. Ansel turned and growled at him. Rowan stepped in-between them. "That's not for you to decide little Prince." she purred as she faced Dorian. He looked at her cautiously, "Why?" "I've never seen a city like Rifthold before, and we walked through it so quickly on the way in, I didn't get to see much of it" she muttered. Aelin was shocked by her response. It actually seemed honest, but she couldn't trust her not after what happened. Dorian tilted his head to the side, "So long as you have an escort from someone inside this room." Ansel smiled. "Is that all?" Dorian asked. Ansel shifted her eyes off Dorian and onto her.

"That's all I have for you little King" Ansel remarked. "Hello, old friend" The smile Ansel gave her sent a chill down her spine. She felt Dorian step closer to her. "It was so nice of you to send your dogs to fetch me after all these years, Celaena." Aelin stood, her hands formed into fists. "Some great assassin you were, so soft. You couldn't see what was right in front of you." Aelin stepped forward. Dorian placed his hand on her shoulder, pulling her backwards as he stepped in front of her.

"While you are here, your Majesty you will stay away from Queen Aelin, except for in meetings such as this. And you will refer to her as Queen Aelin Ashryver Galathynius of Terrasan or something of equal respect. Understood?" Ansel clicked her tongue looking at both of them. Nodding she smirked and stalked out of the room. Rowan and Aedion followed after her.

Lysandra let out a low whistle. "She is quite the little fire ball." Aelin rolled her eyes. "She is nothing but talk, and her words are poison not to be trusted." Dorian squeezed her shoulder, his hand moving down her back resting on her hip. "Oh, Aelin you might want to fix your shirt, you missed a button." Glancing down she realized Lysandra was correct cursing she fixed her shirt as warmth flooded her cheeks. Lysandra laughed. "Was it that obvious?" "To me, yes. For everyone else, I don't think so. Although you choosing to sit next to Dorian instead of with your court did make a statement." Aelin gripped the side of her face as she huffed. "I know" Dorian pulled her closer to him. "Let them think what they want" he whispered in her ear. Lysandra took one last look at them, smiled and left.