A/N- Sorry this update took so long. I've had a lot going on with the end of school and finals. I do plan on finishing the story properly sometime before September 1st. I hope you enjoy!
The characters all belong to the wonderful Sarah J. Maas
***Aelin's POV***
My mind went blank. How do I explain who Rowan is? He's more than an acquaintance and a regular friend. We have a connection stronger than lovers, but that's not the right term either. I also couldn't tell Aedion that we were carranam either, for obvious reasons.
I turned to Rowan panic in my eyes, practically shouting a silent help. I could see the amusement in his eyes at my predicament, jerk.
"So Celaena, who are these..." Chaol trailed off gesturing to the demi-fae.
"Friends," I finished for him. "My friends are the demi-fae from Wendlyn. They are going to help us win this war." I completely ignored the fact that he actually wanted to know who Rowan was. Emrys nodded his head in agreement and rest of the demi-fae let out cheers of enthusiasm.
"Elentyia," Emrys asked, "do you have a spot where we can set up camp? It's been a long journey."
"Of course," I said. "Chaol, can you show them to the northern pasture?" He nodded and gestured for the demi-fae to follow him as he set off. He looked nervous, but at least he hadn't freaked out about them being half fae yet.
Emrys, Malakai, and Luca stayed behind.
"Elentyia, is there a place in the kitchen for me to work?" I smiled, of course he would want to work.
"I'm glad you asked. The kitchen has been lacking a proper chef since we arrived. The men have been taking turns cooking. I would be honored if you would take over the duties as head chef." It was true, kind of. The head chef had gotten sick about a week ago. The resulting chaos in the kitchen meant most people cooked for themselves rather than eat the questionable food the chef-of-the-day turned out.
Emrys looked surprised at my offer, but smiled and said, "Of course."
"On one condition though." He waited for me to continue. "That you continue with being the storyteller while you're here."
"I wouldn't dream of doing anything else." And I knew he wouldn't. Storytelling for him was as integral part of his life, just as fighting was for mine.
"Excellent, I'll show you to the kitchen and your rooms." He looked confused.
"But the rest are camping in a field." Emrys protested.
"Yes," I responded, "and you're working in the kitchens. You do not need to walk a mile every morning before the sun is up. You're here to help and that's fine, but your staying in the kitchen. End of discussion."
Emrys hesitated for a moment, then sighed, "Well I guess there's no point in arguing with you, lead the way Elentyia."
"Your Majesty," an infuriated voice said. "You will address the queen as Your Majesty and bow." SHoot, I forgot about Aedion.
"They will do no such thing," I said shooting Aedion a glare. I turned back to Emrys, Malkalai, and Luca who looked confused but were starting to bow. My eyes flashed, "Don't. You. Dare."
Shooting Aedion another glare, I turned on my heel at strode toward the kitchens calling over my shoulder, "The kitchen's this way."
...
***Aedion's POV***
She blew me off. She completely and utterly ignored me, all for the sake of her new friends. Who were they anyway to address my Queen like that?
I trailed behind the demi-fae following Aelin, trying to decipher how she viewed the newcomers. She seeming to genuinely like the older fae, the one she addressed with respect as Emrys, and she tolerated the other older one whom she called Malakai. The young gangly fae seemed to have no fear or Aelin or the far warrior. Aelin seemed to like him and answered all of the questions he asked her about weapons and the fortifications of the fort.
And the warrior fae. He stood around 6'5" with weapons glinting from under his cloak, he was a walking armory. But that wasn't my main concern. No, my main concern was how close he walked to Aelin and how comfortable she seemed around him. She had no fear, none whatsoever. The way he looked at her was even more unnerving. He had a small smirk on his face, like he was constantly amused by her very presence. It was really starting to grate on my nerves.
Aelin entered the kitchen thru the back door in the courtyard, her friends following close behind her. I stopped just outside the door listening to Aelin show Emrys around the kitchen.
"So this is it. I know it's a lot bigger than the one at Mistward. Do you think you'll be able to manage it?"
"I think we'll be fine Elentyia, I'll recruit some of the younger fellows to help if I need it," Emrys answered.
"Alright, I'll show you to your rooms then. You'll be staying in the northern hall, it's the closest rooms to the kitchen. Rowan, you'll be staying in the western wing right around the corner."
I saw red. The western wing. That was the wing that only our most trusted allies were allowed to stay in. That was where Aelin, Chaol, Ren and Murtaugh, and myself had rooms. Aelin was the one who had pushed for the separate wing the most, she didn't want anyone to be able to ambush us while we slept.
I let out a low growl, waves of fury radiating off of me as I stalked away from the kitchen, thru the courtyard to go find Chaol and Ren. We had to do something before Aelin got herself hurt.
...
***Rowan's POV***
I followed Aelin thru the halls of her fortress with Emrys, Malakai, and Luca close on my heels. Her cousin had disappeared as soon as we entered the kitchen. I don't really know what to think of him, to be honest. But I do know that he does not like me, and I have no idea why not. Besides showing up unannounced that is.
As we entered an empty corridor, one I assumed to be the northern hall, Aelin turned to us and asked, "How was the journey over?"
I opened my mouth to reply but Luca jumped right in, speaking at full speed. "Oh it was horrible. We hit a really bad storm when we first set out and the captain was going to turn the boat around. Fortunately the next morning it was gone and we went on our way. The funny thing was we had an excellent wind the rest way here. It was almost like it wanted us to get to Adarlan as soon as possible, because of it the month long trip was cut in half!"
"Did it now?" Aelin muttered. "Well it's a good thing the gods decided to favor you on your journey." She gave me a long look, I merely shrugged.
She stopped outside of a door toward the end of the hall. Opening the door to her left she said, "this room is for Emrys and Malakai and the one directly across is for Luca." Aelin rocked back on her heels, biting her bottom lip as she waited to see if they like the rooms.
It took Emrys a minute to answer, "These rooms will do nicely Elentyia, thank you." The rooms were simple and bare but cozy enough. Each room consisted of a queen size bed with a thick mattress and several blankets, a dresser, a large fireplace, a small table, and two chairs. A large rug covered the floor around the bed.
"Thank you for the room Elentyia," Luca said. "Can you tell me how to get to the northern field? I want to go talk with the other warriors." Aelin nodded her head and gave him directions before he took off toward the demi-fae camp.
Emrys and Malakai had started to set up their room so Aelin bid them farewell and started to walk toward the western wing.
"You've been awfully quiet so far," she said to me.
"I've been observing, that's all. It's good to be back by your side again, that way I don't have to worry about you dying every five seconds." She rolled her eyes at that.
"It's not my fault I had the worst instructor in the world. He kept getting me into things without thoroughly considering them." I didn't really have a response to that, it was semi true. I hadn't been trying to get her killed, but I hadn't cared enough to steer her clear of all danger, that was different now.
"So," she said after a moment, "A good little breeze on the way over huh?" Her eyes twinkled with mirth.
I snorted, "The boats moved way to slow for my taste. Flying would have been much faster. And besides," I continued, "I feared if I left you on your own for too long you might perish from boredom."
"If only," she shot back. "The only thing I'm going to die from at this rate is suffocation in this council." I raised an eyebrow and waited for her to explain.
"The council, mainly consisting of myself, Aedion, Chaol, Ren, Murtaugh, and several men from my uncle's court, keeps trying to push for an attack on Perranth. It's complete foolery. We need to capture the port city of Suria in order to open a way for the Wendlyn soldiers into Terrasen. You did get their assistance right?" I nodded and she continued. "Anyway, before you showed up I was in the middle of a very long 'conversation' about the pros and cons of attacking Perranth. They don't see the point of capturing Suria. Now that you're here I was hoping you'd help convince them?"
She ended with a question and I rolled my eyes, of course I would help her. She smiled.
"So what do you think?" She asked. I could see the real question in her eyes, what do you think of my council?
"Well," I started, "The fort's not half bad. Your guards could use some work, they had no idea we were there until we walked out of the forest. And your-"
"That's not what I meant," she retorted.
I hid my smirk. "Not bad per se, they're just young and inexperienced. Unfortunately now is not the time to gain that experience."
She let out a resigned sigh, "I know, we know all the theories, but none of us have the experience necessary to wage a successful war. Even Aedion. Not all of us have some three hundred years of battle experience."
"Four hundred actually."
"Smart Alec," she said as she opened a door to the right. During the course of our conversation we had made our way to the western wing, passing several guards on our way. After I entered the room Aelin closed the door behind me. The room was pretty much the same as Emrys's room, the only differences were that the furnishings were a little nicer, the bed was a king size not a queen, and there were two dressers.
I turned and asked silently do you really need two dressers?
Well unless you want to put your stuff with mine...
Point taken.