A Story of Fire and Darkness (A ToG and ACoTaR crossover)

Rune

Where Aelin had been uneasy staring into the dark before, now she felt as though she could get used to this.

She had thought that Rune was just a figment of her imagination. Eventually she had to block out Rune, when she was at the Academy.

And eventually, Rune stopped trying to talk to her.

Aelin refused to feel remorse, or regret for her actions. At the time, she had been fighting for her life.

"It's been a while since I last saw you."

Rune snorted and rolled their eyes condescendingly.

You see me every time you look into the mirror, love. You just don't want to admit it.

And Aelin supposed it was true. Because, well, the face looking back at her was her own.

Once upon a time, Aelin had been a lost, lonely little girl. She had been weak and frightened, wilting and dying. So, at the time, she created a version of herself that was everything her younger self wanted to be.

Strong and fearless. Powerful.

She wanted to desperately, to not care. About anything. So, her younger self began the process of recreating herself to be exactly as she wanted to be. But she soon realized that she could never be completely rid of the weak, terrified girl who had started it all. So eventually, once Aelin had finally perfected Rune, she let them be her closest confidant.

Rune had always been there, always in the edge of her vision, and that had given her comfort. At first, Rune had been faceless, but eventually, Rune began to take shape in Aelin's mind. At the time, the easiest face for Aelin to look at was her own, and in her young mind, she began to place her own features over Rune's, with a few exceptions. Her memorable eyes became golden, with no blue in sight to remind her of her mother. Long golden tresses became dark hair, cut close to Rune's head. Their ears were pointed and her canines sharpened, her form lean and strong.

Rune had truly been a striking character. They were everything Aelin had wanted to be and more.

Then, when Arobynn had caught her talking to 'herself' one day, she was faced with the longest time of confinement she'd ever been forced to endure at his hand. He had thought she was mad.

After that, he'd convinced Aelin that she'd gone mad too.

She'd stopped talking to Rune after that.

"You're right," Aelin sighed, studying Rune, "but somehow, I feel like it's not that simple."

Intelligent golden eyes narrowed, and Rune tilted their head dangerously.

You would be correct.

"So what's going on?"

A lot of things that you have been too arrogant to pay attention to.

And there was another thing that young Aelin had wanted to be.

Dangerous.

"Well, I have had my plate full, as of late," Aelin drawled.

Yes, yes, woe is me, I don't care, Rune snapped, finally outright glaring at Aelin, You forget that I was there for all of it, Aelin, I already am aware of your struggles. But you may have won the battle, Aelin, but here, the war is raging. I've held them off as long as I can, but you're too damned stubborn to see past your own nose!

Aelin narrowed her eyes at her darker counterpart.

"I killed Maeve and Erawan. That was all that I was destined for and I did that, now I am working to bring peace to my life, not war."