A Symphony of Ice and Shadow

Chapter 1

Aelin was furiously pacing the length of the dining room when her daughter decided to tell her the news. If Aelin still had her fire, she knew that this room would be incinerated. "Mom, it's not that big of deal. You have four other children that could be your heir. Rhoe would make a great king" Evalyn said.

"Eva, the big deal is" Aelin said, almost mocking the nonchalant way her daughter said the phrase. "We have been training your entire life for you to become queen and now you decide to throw away all of that training?" Aelin made eye contact with her daughter, and she was slightly impressed that Eva didn't back down from the gaze. Rowan always commented that Eva got her stubbornness from her mother. She angrily looked at Evalyn but also could not look at her daughter without having a small amount of wonder. She was always amazed how similar her daughter looked to herself. Evalyn shared the same blond hair; however, Eva's hair was cut to shoulder length whereas Aelin's was down to the curve of her back. Eva inherited Rowan's pine green eyes. "Mom, I know you have raised me to be queen and I will always be grateful for all the opportunities that you and father have given me. But I don't want to be queen. I want to be a healer. Like Yrene. I want to train at the Torre Cesme" Eva said. "There is a reason that I have my healing abilities."

"Why can't Yrene train you here while you become queen?" Aelin argued, refusing to back down.

"Mom" Eva pushed.

"Evalyn" Aelin pushed back. There was silence among the two females for what seemed to be forever. Evalyn got up from her seat at the dining room table and went over to her mother. Evalyn hugged her mother and said quietly "I will always be your little girl, mom. I will be safe because you taught me to be safe. You taught me to be strong just like you and I am so thankful you are my mother. But I have to figure out my path on my own." Evalyn saw a tear go down her mother's cheek, but she didn't say anything, just hugged her tighter.

"Just be careful" Aelin finally said, hugging her daughter. Evalyn pulled away from her mother, gave her one last smile, and made her way back to her room. Aelin stared at the door her daughter went through, hoping that her daughter had not grown up and was going to come bounding through the double doors for a Yulemas feast and scarf down all of the pudding set out on the table. She and her daughter always shared the love of chocolates and sweets. "You did well, Fireheart. For a minute there, I thought you and Eva were going to bring the palace to ruin" Rowan said, coming up beside his queen. Aelin, forgetting that her mate was in the room with her, flinched as he spoke, coming out of her thoughts. "She was right. She needs to figure out who she is on her own" Aelin said. "And if she can stand up to me, she can stand up to anyone." Aelin looked up at Rowan who looked down at her with a grin. "I am assuming that we are having a farewell gathering before she leaves for the Southern Continent" Rowan said.

"Of course," Aelin chirped. In fact, this was the perfect excuse to wear her new dress and shoes she had the tailors make for her a week ago. Oh, how she loved new dresses and shoes!

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Marion nearly groaned when she saw the signature invitation from the Queen of Terrasen. Marion hated parties and she most definitely hated forcing her body into a corset. She almost threw the invitation into the fire when she caught herself.

Asterin would most likely be at the party because she adored parties, so having her friend there would make it bearable. The party was also for Eva, who would be leaving Terrasen soon and travelling to the southern continent. Marion always liked the eldest of the royal children. She was always kind to Marion and treated her like a little sister, even though Eva already had two. So, Marion would not miss saying goodbye to her friend; even if it meant she would have to shove her full figure into that horrendous contraption called a corset.

As Marion read the invitation, she also remembered another reason why this party would be better than previous gatherings. The best reason, actually. Rhoe, Eva's younger brother by two years, would not be in attendance because he had been away for several years. Marion smiled to herself and the thought of not having to interact with the prince gave her the motivation to plan her dress.

After going through her closet for the past several minutes, Marion heard the teasing tone of her mother "My daughter must be ill if she is looking through dresses." Marion treasured the relationship she had with her mother. She could tell her mother anything including childhood crushes, heartbreaks, even when she made a mistake and did not know how to fix it. Her mother had always loved Marion unconditionally and for that, Marion would always be eternally grateful. Marion also knew her mother and father had horrible childhoods and done their best to make her and her brother's childhood happy.

For the most part it was, until she had to go and mess it up, Marion thought.

"Aelin is throwing a farewell party for Eva in two nights. So, I thought I should go to say goodbye" Marion said from inside her wardrobe.

"Well, I must inform your father then as well. You know how he loves social events" Elide said and Marion snorted, thinking of how irritated her father would be when he was told he would have to interact with Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius outside of normal duties. She knew that her father would go just to please her mother, but he would be irritated the entire time. "Aelin should have sent us the invitation a week in advance just to prepare father" Marion teased back. Elide chuckled and sat down on her daughters' bed.

Marion grabbed the dress she was looking for and turned around to look at her mother. Marion could see how, being Lady of Perranth had aged her mother over the years. Her dark brown hair had streaks of silver and wrinkles were forming on her face, around her eyes and mouth. Her dark eyes held happiness in them, but there was something behind that happiness as well. The exhaustion that came with being Lady of a strong city in Terrasen. Something Marion knew would come to her in time, since she was next in line to become Lady of Perranth after her mother and father passed.

"I was thinking this dress?" Marion asked. Elide and Marion both were never much the fashion type. Among all of her mother's friends, Aelin was definitely the one to go to when it came to fashion. Marion thought back on all of the times her mother told her about when her parents got married. Apparently, Aelin wanted to make sure her mother had the perfect dress and guided Elide through all of the latest trends and fashions. But since Aelin was not here to give her two cents, Marion settled for her mother, who was much better at determining appropriate attire compared to herself. "Very pretty, but does it have to be black?" Elide asked.

"Mom..." Marion said and Elide surrendered. Marion hung her dress on the chair next to her bed, so it was ready to be packed when they left for Orynth in the morning. "Do you know who all will be there?" Marion asked her mother.

"I am sure Asterin will be there with Manon and Dorian. Maybe your brother can find a way back before the party" Elide said. Marion doubted it, Adrian always had an excuse not to return home since the accident two years ago. This made Marion guilty every moment because she knew how much it hurt her mother and father to not see their son. And the worst part was, she knew it was her fault. That was why she still lived in Perranth at twenty-three years old; she wanted to remain in a safe place so nothing else would happen due to her mistakes. The only other places she visited were Orynth and Rifthold. "I am sure that most of Terrasen will be there. You know how Aelin loves parties."

Marion smiled to herself at the thought. Aelin did know how to throw grand parties. "Maybe someone new will be there too. Someone handsome" Elide teased. Marion smiled at her mother and said "It will happen when it is supposed to. I just haven't met them yet. You know I want what you and father have."

"I know, sweetheart. I want you to find that as well" Elide said. "However, you also need to leave Perranth to find someone."

"I know, mom" Marion said, looking down and studying her hands very intently so she didn't have to make eye contact with her mother. "I will. When I am ready" Marion said.

Elide reached up and cupped her daughter's face with her hand. She kissed Marion's forehead and said "Goodnight, sweetheart. I love you. We will leave in the morning."

"Night, mom. Love you too" Marion said as her mother left her bedroom chambers. Marion lied back in her bed and stared at the ceiling of her bedroom. She knew she would have to leave Perranth eventually; but she did not know how she could face the world, let alone herself.