Chaolaena💕

An End

The rest of the story takes place after Queen of Shadows.

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Chaol dreaded the day long before it came. The day Celaena would be crowned Queen of Terassen. The day their paths would stop crossing.
The last time Chaol had even seen the young queen was shortly after she shattered the glass castle. She had gone to her Kingdom not long after. That was 2 months ago.
He wore a formal white tunic, contrasted perfectly against his black pants. He styled his rich brown hair.
When he heard of his invite to her coronation, he didn’t even believe it. And while he was sure Celaena fought tooth-and-nail for it, he was even more surprised that Dorian would go as well. It was not a well-kept secret―if even that― that the lords and ladies of Terassen had nothing but resentment towards Adarlan and its children.
The last few weeks―months, really―had all been complete chaos. A chaos that left him desperate for tranquility and certainty.
But amidst the uncertainty, he knew one thing that was true: His love for Celaena would never falter, never miss a step, and never in a million years would it cease to exist.
The now-king and the former-captain were exhausted from traveling around the continent, but it would be one of, if not the, last time they would get to see Celaena. The real Celaena. Not the one hidden by formalities or anything like that. Not the one trying her hardest to be Aelin. If they had to travel for a month by foot, they would have done it.
“Are you ready?” Dorian asked under his breath as they strode toward the throne room of the palace. Its grandeur even more shocking than the last time he’d been there.
The palace was the same as it had been ten years ago, its gold and silver decor shining and glittering in the sunlight. He supposed his father would not have destroyed Terrasen’s riches if he could have kept them to himself. A lot of things did change, though. Especially on the outskirts of the Galathynius residence. 
“For what?” Chaol knew what he meant. He just didn’t want to admit it.
Dorian looked at him with a look he supposed fathers gave their sons when they were disappointed in them. But the very thought of Dorian with a child made him smile from amusement. And with a witchling…
He was happy that Dorian had found someone, even after Sorhca. Even if standing next to Manon Blackbeak would never be natural, or it would never not make him afraid, even if just a little. He was happy for his friend.
“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” he said stiffly, then squared his shoulders.
Dorian sighed heavily. “I know how much you love her, but I just want you to be happy. With or without―”
“Please.” That was all the captain said. A silent prayer. A mournful wish.
There was a sorrow in those words that Dorian wouldn’t have wished upon his worst enemy. A sorrow that made him want to cry.
The king nodded, knowing that if he continued, Chaol would shatter.
They reached the throne room and there she was. With a deep green ball gown, signifying the colors of Terrasen, the colors of her family. Her short golden hair down and her Ashryver eyes shining.
She stood there, admiring the throne that would be hers in a couple of hours.
Dorian cleared his throat, and Chaol shot him a rather menacing look. Celaena turned around and Chaol smiled involuntarily.
“Your Majesty,” Dorian bellowed playfully.
“You know it's still ‘Your Highness’, Your Magnanimous Holiness,” Celaena returned the tone.
Dorian didn't hesitate as he wrapped his arms around Celaena. Beckoning Chaol to do the same. He did. The three of them stood there for a long time, neither of them moving. All of their eyes watering.
When they finally pulled back, Dorian looked into Celaena's eyes and said quietly, "I'll always be there for you," wiping a tear off his cheek and smiling at her. With that, he turned around, leaving Chaol and Celaena alone.
She shifted her gaze towards Chaol, who stood there still mesmerized by her. Her weight shifted from one foot to another.
How far away were they from the assassin and the captain?
It took a while for Chaol to stop staring into her eyes―the turquoise and gold eyes he loved. “Celaena, this…this isn’t the end.”
“I know.” She smiled half-heartedly. “Chaol, I… I want you to know that I love you. I’ve loved you for a long time, and I will always love you.” Her eyes started to water. “But I know I can’t force you into something you do not want. And I also know you don’t want this,” she motioned to everything around her. To her palace, filled with gold and silver; to her throne, embroidered with gems; to her crown, and the heaviness it held. And as she did it, she realized she didn’t want those things either.
“It's alright,” he said in a comforting manner as he wiped a tear off her cheek. “Everything is alright, I promise.”
Celaena wanted to lean into his warmth and let the world crumple around them. “And as much as I want to, I can’t leave my people alone. As much as I want to flee with you, I can’t,” she continued as her voice cracked.
Chaol pulled her into an embrace, and let the seconds pass by. “I love you―never forget that." They leaned in, and their lips met for just a second. A goodbye. "But I also know Terassen loves you as well,” he whispered into her ear.
She nodded hysterically, wanting to believe his last few words. Forcing herself to do so. Her arms wrapped around him, not wanting to be separated―ever.
“Thank you… for everything,” she uttered against his shoulder as she let her tears cloud her vision.
Celaena turned around and didn’t look back. Because if she did, she might have ran to him. Ran with him.

Celaena had been wandering around the Galathynius residence for a while now. Long enough for her memory of it to almost come back entirely.
She was eyeing the seamless decor of gold and silver, whose paths crossed with emerald accents making the colors of the kingdom apparent. Glancing at the different styles of rich furniture and the different fabrics or materials they used. Mesmerized by the fact that everything would be… hers.
But somehow, that was the worst of it all. Knowing that a year ago she was killing for money, and that now, she could give thousands away and still be as wealthy.
It felt like she hadn’t earned it. Like she had just been lucky. And others, well, not as lucky.
Her steps quieted as she heard the voice of someone, someone she knew. Aedion.
From the door frame in which she stood, careful to not be spotted, she noticed her cousin frowning and didn’t know why.
His eyes were fixated on someone she couldn’t quite see.
That didn’t matter once a soft, female voice flew through the air like a leaf in the wind. When it voiced his name, Celaena realized that seated next to him on the blue, velvet sofa was Lysandra.
“You seem distant,” the shifter said in a voice somewhat louder than a whisper and Celaena thanked the gods for her fae-hearing.
“Well, I’m fine,” Aedion responded in a condescending manner. A manner that made Lysandra smile. Even if just a little.
“Listen here, you little prick.” Her grin widened. “I know you.” It then softened. “And I also know when you’re sad or angry. Or when you’re happy or scared.”
Those words left Aedion mesmerized. So much so, that Celaena felt like she was intruding. But she wanted to stay, just for a bit longer.
“I think you’re just imagining it,” Aedion said after a while and then chuckled.
“Come on, tell me,” Lysandra whispered as she leaned in.
“It's nothing,” he said. But as his eyes landed on Lysandra’s, he gave in. “It’s just… I wish I could do more.”
“Whatever do you mean? You’ve already done so much!” she said in a high-pitched voice.
“It’s just that she… I want to do more to help her.”
“Who? Celaena?” The woman in question shuddered at her mention.
Aedion nodded.
“Look, I know that Celaena loves you. And that she wants you to be happy. She wants you to do what you want to do,” Lysandra said in an assuring voice as she took Aedion’s hand.
He didn’t say anything for a while. “I want to be there for my people. For her… For Celaena and for Terassen,” a tear rolled down his cheek.
Her name still felt weird on his lips. He hadn't quite adjusted to her not changing her name completely, just her family names.
“And you will,” said Lysandra as she wiped it away with her thumb. “Of course, you will,” she whispered.
It was then that Celaena backed away into the shadows, longing for the world to stop spinning.