To Whatever End...

Twelve Years Earlier

Twelve years earlier

"Mama?" Lyria called, popping her head into the King and Queen's chambers. Lyria hadn't seen her mother all morning, and the seven year old needed to ask her something. "Mama?" Lyria called again, and again, no reply. The young girl was starting to worry. Where was her mom?

Lyria felt tears start to pool in her eyes, and she let them fall. Lyria left the royal chambers and quietly shut the door behind her. Sparks erupted from her shaky hands and she jumped, startled.

"Lyria?" The young girl turned to the person who called for her. "Papa!" Lyria jumped into her father's arms. He wiped the tears from her eyes as she cried. "What's wrong Lyria? What's wrong baby?" Rowan asked while he comforted his only daughter. "Mama. I can't find Mama!" Lyria cried and rested her head in the crook of her father's neck. Rowan looked at his daughter fondly, "Mama's in a meeting today, baby." Rowan told his daughter, and she looked up in surprise. "But Mama said she was gonna hang out with me today." Lyria said tilting her head in confusion. Rowan let out a chuckle at his daughter's child-like innocence. Who would've thought that his Fireheart could produce something that innocent. "Lyria? Rowan?" A voice called from the other side of the hallway, that caused Lyria to jump out of her father's arms and run to the figure. "Mama!" Lyria squealed and jumped up to her mother. Aelin welcomed her daughter with open arms, twirling her in a circle. "What are you doing, princess?" Aelin asked as she tickled the overly excited Lyria, who dissolved into a fit of giggles.

Rowan smiled as he watched his daughter and mate. For the first time, he felt truly lucky to have them both in his life. He felt born anew, having this peace, after what happened during the war. He stood there watching as his mate, wife, queen played with their daughter without a care in the world. Until he was knocked flat on his back.

Rowan looked down, only to find Brannon, Lyria's twin brother, clinging to his leg. Rowan grunted and stood, picking up his laughing son in the process. "You think that was funny do you?" He asked his son, lifting the young boy above his head. Brannon still laughed, if not harder. "I'll show you funny." Rowan said and brought his son down, playfully slamming his son onto his knee, then set his son down. Brannon was laughing so hard by then that he couldn't stand properly. Lyria hopped out of her mother's grasp and ran to her father squealing, "Do it to me! Do it to me!" And who was Rowan to refuse the princess's request.

When he sat Lyria down, Aelin walked up to her husband. She smiled at him warmly, and he tucked her into his side. They watched as their youngest children ran around the hall chasing each other. The couple watched as their family thrived in the peace they had worked so hard to create.

Their eldest son was away to a boarding school, mastering his fae abilities. And as the giggles started to fade, replaced by exhaustion, the couple picked up their children and walked into their chambers. Tucking the children into bed, Aelin gave her mate a look that said, meet me in the hall.

Rowan grabbed Aelin's hand, and they shut the door to their bedroom quietly. "What do you want to do about their powers?" Rowan asked his mate, concerned about their children's safety. The way Lyria had shot sparks scared him in more ways than he wished to admit. Lyria and Brannon were some of the most powerful fae children he knew of, and for years it had worried both him and his wife. Brannon had inherited his father's ice and wind, and silver hair, but his mother's sense of luxury and self-loving showed. Whereas Lyria was an exact physical match of her mother, but copied Rowan in every aspect of his personality. Both of the children had inherited the infamous Ashryver eyes.

Aelin shook her head slightly, and asked about what had happened in the hallway before her arrival. Rowan, like the hopeless puppy he was, told her every detail.

When Rowan finished the story, Aelin put her head in her hands and sighed. "Rowan..." She said losing her focus. He gripped either side of her face in his hands, and gently turned her to face him. "We need to train them, Aelin. I know you don't want to, but they need to learn how to control themselves." Rowan said in a tone that told her he hated the idea just as much as she did. It was silent for several minutes until Rowan sighed "Let's sleep on it. Okay." He said and kissed her forehead, holding her close to his chest.

They sat like that until the sun sank below the horizon. They enjoyed each other's company, and heat, until they both knew they couldn't stay out there any longer. Aelin suddenly gasped as if finding an answer after months of searching. "What if all of the children trained?" She said and Rowan looked at her quizzically. "What do you mean by all?" He asked. "I mean" Aelin started, "What is all of the children trained together. Cal and Kaltain Lochan. Or Rhoe, Evalin,and Ben Ashryver. Or Deanna and Grant Westfall? Oh, and we could invite Asterin and Roland from Adarlan. And when Marion grows older she could train as well. What if all of the children trained together? It would not just benefit in mastering powers, but also help the next court of Terrasen get to know eachother better than just meeting occasionally for a holiday or birthday." Aelin looked at her husband to see his reaction, but he just picked her up and spun her in his arms. "Aelin! That's brilliant!" He said and laughed while hugging his wife closer to him. He leaned down and pressed their lips together in such passion, that Aelin wondered if she would have time to write all of those letters before dinner.

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A week later, the last of the court of Terrasen's families had arrived, including the King and Queen of Ardalan. Aelin and Rowan proposed the idea in a meeting while the kids were in a separate room playing games. "What kind of training would this be?" Elide asked and some others nodded in agreement. "Basic survival skills, learning to wield and master their powers, learning how to use weapons. All of the skills they will need as they grow older." Aelin explained, and she could see the agreement practically written across everyone's faces. The cadre and Aedion agreed to the training first, and after that the rest of the parents voiced their consent to carry out training. After a long discussion about what was to happen, everyone poured themselves a shot. "Great." Aelin said, raising her glass, "Because I wish for this training to start tomorrow." The entire Court drank to that.