Fireheart: A "Throne of Glass" Fanfiction

Chapter 2

Aelin's rage turned the parchment to ash in her hands, the dust flowing to her feet. Aelin rose to her feet, Shadowsbane at her side.

"You come into my nation, my capital, my home, and you have a nerve to declare war on my people to my face? I'd say you were brave, but you're a fool."

"Rule of Warfare: To capture or kill a messenger is among the highest crimes a warring nation can commit, and is punishable by sanctions, embargos, and other such actions." Aya said with a smile. "In other words, you can't touch me. Not until I get back into Melisande, anyway."

"You think a border will save you? For the rules of warfare, I will allow you to leave the borders of Terrasen unharmed. But I can promise that you won't make it to your nation alive. I will have your skull in that case within the fucking week." Aelin said. "I will take your land and give it to Eyllwe. Your heirs will be stripped of lands, titles, and power. They will be forbidden to ever become lords recognized by Terrasen and its people. You will be destroyed, your kingdom forgotten, and your line discarded. That is the cost of your pathetic last stand. And for what? The Valg? Erawan and Maeve?"

"You may want to hold off such promises to your people. You need time to summon your armies. Mine are ready and waiting by now in the Florine, waiting to take me back home through the Avery."

"You won't make it past Rifthold, idiot." Dorian said.

"Oh, but we already have. Hellfire is beautiful." Dorian was enraged.

"That is an act of war." Dorian said.

"Obviously, princeling." She said. Aelin began to laugh. The room was silent as they all watched the Twice-Queen laugh as though a jester had just said the greatest joke in the world. Aelin calmed herself.

"You think you stand a chance? You stand in a room filled with my allies, any single of them more than capable of beating your spit of land into the ground, and you act confident in your chances. Tell me, Aya, how you intend to win a war when your Dark King failed?" Aelin said.

"Witch mirrors." Aya said. The room went quiet. "Erawan built a tower in Melisande he never got to use, and left a few Ironteeth prisoners in it, too."

Aelin backhanded the queen. Aya stumbled to the floor and looked at the queen in fear.

"I am becoming less and less inclined to let you live, Aya." Aelin said.

"But the Rules of Warfare make it clear, Aelin. You can't kill me."

"You will address her as 'Your Majesty'." Rowan said with a snarl.

"Erawan brought four towers against Terrasen. They all failed, except for the single one that managed one shot. Your will fail. And when it does, I will conquer your nation. Leave, before I change my mind, and pray to the absent gods that I need time to remember the skills of my past self." Aelin said, returning to her throne. The guards opened the door, and Aya scrambled out of the room.

"Allies, prepare your defenses. I do not call for aid, not yet, but in the event that she somehow beats me, you should all prepare to defend yourself. For now, all but Terrasen and Adarlan should remain officially neutral. I won't turn down supplies, but keep your armies and don't give everything away, please. King Dorian, do what you must." Dorian nodded, and the room emptied.

All that remained was her court.

King Consort Rowan Whitethorn Galathynius; Captain of the Queensguard Fenrys Moonbeam; Chief Advisor Lord of Allsbrook Ren Allsbrook; Prince-General and Lord Caraverre Aedion Ashryver; Lady of Caraverre Lysandra Ashryver; Lady of Perranth Elide Lochan; Lord of Perranth Lorcan Lochan; and Royal Messenger and Lady of Arran Evangeline Darrow.