A/N- Kind of forgot I wrote Fanfiction for a while, oops :)
***Dorian's POV***
I woke up to a tail hitting me in the face, repeatedly.
"Fleetfoot enough!" I said pushing her tail to the side. She just looked at me, licked my face, and jumped off the bed to go stand by the door letting out that pathetic whine. I looked at the ceiling and groaned, why did I get stuck watching the dog? I heard footsteps padding back toward me and suddenly a nose was shoved in my ear, followed by a sloppy kiss across the right side of my face.
"Alright, alright! I love you too," I laughed. She yipped excitedly and practically bounced to the door, aching to be outside of the room.
Swinging my feet over the edge of the bed, I shoved them into my boots and headed toward the door, finally giving Fleetfoot her freedom. She took off down the hall and skidded to a stop in front of Celaena's door, or Aelin as she now prefers to be called.
It was a little weird thinking about her as Aelin, my archenemy. But I guess she's always been my father's archenemy, not mine. She was and always will be my friend.
Fleetfoot started whining and scratching at Aelin's door, she must be in there. I strode down the hall, about to grab Fleetfoot so she'll give Aelin some peace when the door opened. Fleetfoot practically flew into the room and I heard a shout of surprise and Aelin's ringing laugh.
I met Aelin in the doorway, she was practically dying she was laughing so hard. When I saw the cause of it I joined her.
On the floor of the room was a man with a look of complete shock on his face. Fleetfoot had taken it upon herself to sniff out the new intruder to her lady's room. She was walking all over him, constantly sniffing and occasionally licking his face. He did not seem to be enjoying it.
"Aelin, get it off," the man said, almost a plea.
"She's just checking you out Rowan. I think she likes you." Aelin managed to reply between gasps for air. He shot her a glare which sent her into another fit of laughter. I decided to have pity on the poor man and called Fleetfoot to me. After a long pause, she obliged and trotted over to have her ears scratched.
"Ah, I'm sorry Rowan but the look on your face," Aelin said, finally recovering from her laughing bout. "You act like you've never met a dog before." She crouched down to pet Fleetfoot and she leaned into her, obviously enjoying it.
"Not a normal one, no. Not in a long time." He said, slowing standing up, trying to recover some of his dignity. For the first time I got a proper look at him. He was tall, probably around 6'4" and a warrior from the look of him. He carried an arsenal of weapons and looked like he had just returned from a long journey. His long white hair hid most of the tattoo that covered the majority of the right side of his face and neck. We stood there awkwardly for a moment while Aelin fussed over Fleetfoot before I stepped forward and introduced myself.
"I'm Dorian," I said sticking my hand out.
He looked at it for a moment for a moment before he reached out and shook my hand. "Rowan."
...
***Aedion's POV***
Ren was being impossible, again.
"I just don't see what the big deal is. So what if she has another warrior to protect her. It just means she's safer than she was before."
"But he's fae," I practically snarled back. "Who knows where his allegiance really lies. For all we know it could be with Maeve."
Ren stopped sharpening his sword and set it aside to look me square in the eye. "If there's one thing I've learned from being around Aelin it's that she always has something up her sleeve and that although we may think she's insane it always works out. When we went to rescue you and Dorian from the castle, I thought there was no chance in hell we were going to make it out alive, much less with you AND the prince. But we did."
He hesitated then continued, "It's not like you to go against your cousin. You've always trusted her judgement before, why would you question it now?" That made me pause. I had been overreacting a bit, I hadn't even held a conversation with him yet. Ren was still waiting for an answer.
"I...I don't know. I just don't like him."
"You're jealous," a voice said from behind me. The captain strode into the courtyard. "You're jealous of the fact that she is friends with someone who is bigger and scarier than you."
I sputtered. "I am not...why would I possibly be...jealous!? I'm her cousin and soon to be bound to her by blood. I am her closest confidant, I have no one to be jealous of, others are jealous of me!"
Ren and Chaol shared a look.
"Jealous," Ren said.
"Defiantly," agreed Chaol.
I glared at them both before turning on my heel and storming off to the training area. I needed to burn off some steam, I was NOT jealous.
...
***Aelin's POV***
"So you're really willing to teach me?" Dorian asked.
"Well it's not really going to be just me, Rowan will be helping."
Dorian looked slightly confused as he looked at the fae warrior walking besides me, "No offense Aelin, but why isn't Rowan going to be training me."
Rowan answered, "When people with powers are trained they are normally trained by someone with an opposite power. That way it's safer for both of you in case you lose control. Your magic manifests normally as ice, so Aelin will train you. But since you have raw magic, I will be helping."
Dorian nodded his head in understanding and asked, "raw magic?"
"I means that your magic can manifest itself in more than one way," I replied. "For example you might use ice in one instant and flame in the next or have immense strength or control the air ect."
"It basically means we have no idea what you can and can't do," Rowan butt in. I glared at him.
"Well I wasn't going to put it THAT bluntly." I shot Dorian an apologetic look.
He shrugged, "I'd rather have it bluntly than try to do something and accidentally blow up the manor."
Suddenly Fleetfoot, who was walking besides Dorian, took off ahead of us toward the training compound where the sound of soldiers sparring resounded.
We picked up the pace, wanting to find out what had Fleetfoot so intrigued. Inside was not a surprising sight. Fleetfoot was leaning against Chaol's legs, one of her favorite people after Dorian and myself, as he watched the on going events in the "arena" from his seat on one of the side benches. He smiled at us in greeting but was unable to move as Fleetfoot was sitting on his feet. Ren, sitting next to him, nodded his greeting, but made no move to get up.
I turned my gaze toward the sparing match going on in the center of the area where Aedion was currently battling five guards. Battling might have been the wrong word, annihilating was probably better. They stood no chance whatsoever, the fight looked like it would be over within a minute.
I leaned down to pet Fleetfoot as Dorian asked Chaol, "How long has he been like this?"
"This is the fifth match," he answered. "He's running out of opponents. They all can tell he's in that kind of mood."
"What kind of mood?" asked Rowan frowning, looking between Aedion, Dorian, and Chaol. Dorian and Chaol hesitated before Ren finally butted in.
"Well you see...whenever the general *chin jerk toward Aedion* gets angry about something he likes to blow off steam by pummeling someone."
"Or something when opponents run out," Chaol added.
"I take it this happens often?" Rowan asked.
"Well more or less, last time he broke a couple of practice swords," Dorian replied. "It's not that big of deal, everyone blows steam off somehow and this is just how he does it."
Rowan frowned, looked to where Aedion was trying to find another opponent insane enough to challenge him in his current state, and sighed.
My head snapped up and I looked at him and asked what are you planning?
Your cousin needs to burn off steam and get himself under control. Plus, I never properly introduced myself.
Now is not the best time Rowan! You and I both know that the main reason he's like this is because of what he thinks is between us.
He didn't reply. All he did was shoot me that arrogant grin of his before edging thru the crowd to get to Aedion. A growl ripped out of my throat, startling my companions and Fleetfoot, but they were the least of my worries.
This would NOT end well.