Fireheart: A "Throne of Glass" Fanfiction

Chapter 13

Abraxos wouldn't go farther than the edge of the gaping hole. Aelin looked down into it, her eyes stinging from the noxious gas, and saw the lake of lava boiling.

She saw a cave on the other side. Manon had given her a wingsuit, something she developed to save witches who fell from their mounts. Aelin had been trained in its use by Bronwen. Aelin opened her arms and dived.

She tucked and rolled into the opening, running hard into it. The mountain... She could feel its fiery heart pulsing. As though it called to her. Its what made her look into the distance in the first place.

She could do this.

She made it to a large, unnatural room. The walls were covered in markings. Wyrdmarks. She kept going, still not where the pulse came from.

After a few minutes of running, her lungs burning, she made it to the end. In front of her, on a small stone podium, sat a flame. It raged, making her sweat even before she entered the room. It burned from nothing. No wood, no oil- nothing. She put her hand out. It burned, but her flesh remained unharmed.

No matter how close she got, the heat didn't hurt her. She read the inscription on the podium.

"In case you lose your spark, young queen. With love, Mala." Aelin looked at the flame again. With a breath, she put her hand into it. The flame poured into her, enveloping her entirely. The power surged through and around her. Aelin could hardly breathe.

It finally settled, and Aelin searched her power for a bottom. She laughed to herself as she found none. She could sense a bottom- somewhere, deep down. It wasn't infinite. But... It was far, fsr greater than a commoner's gift. She raced back up.

The lava had gotten to the cave, but the edges had cooled. Aelin absorbed its heat further. The lava became rock. The gas and smoke began to clear, and Abraxos landed on the now-strong surface. Manon studied her, then a smile creeped up her face.

"So, the Fire-Bringer returns." Manon said.

"I did miss her." Aelin said, mounting Abraxos.

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Aelin used the wingsuit again to land on the tower.

She tucked and rolled, sprining to her feet in an instant. She spotted Nehemia standing by Rowan.

"There she is, my little rebel!" Aelin took a knee as Nehemia ran and hugged her.

"You went to the burning mountain?"

"I did. It won't burn anyone anytime soon, my love." Aelin kissed her head and stood. Her court was silent.

"Your power... Its back." Lysandra said. Not a question. Still, Aelin nodded.

"Mala left a portion of power there. Its not infinite like her previous gift, but... Its not nothing, thats for damn certain."

"The mountain won't... Whatever it was about to do?" Ren asked.

"Not for many ages, Ren. Orynth is safe."

"Yeah, my momma will protect it!" Nehemia yelled defiantly. Her court laughed, and even Ren cracked a smile.

"Your Majesty." Evangeline called from the stairs. "Lord and Lady Westfall are here."

"Thank you, Eva. Come, Nehemia. Lets go see Celaena."

"Celaena is bossy." Lysandra choked a laugh.

"Yes, she is." Rowan said with a grin.

"You have no idea." Aedion agreed.