When the Kingdoms Met the Courts

Chapter Three - Welcome to Orynth

   Aedion Ashryver stood staring sceptically at Aelin, trying to decipher why she was letting these strange people into the palace so haphazardly. He didn't trust this Rhys guy, no matter how charming he appeared. 

   "Aedion, chill. I'm sure it's fine," Aelin attempted to reassure him without much luck. Her hair fell in front of he face and she swatted it away like a fly.

   "I can't believe we're doing this," he muttered under his breath, earning him a glare from Aelin. "What? I would've thought as an assassin-fae-queen you'd be far more suspicious of this." 

   He looked into the trees, at a nearby spider that just caught an insect in its web. The web itself glistening in the sunlight, shimmering like the night sky.

   "I am. Trust me."

   He sighed and looked forward. The trees were obstructing their vision, making it difficult for them to see the capital city of Terrasen. They were surrounded by tall black ash trees, standing high above them.

   "I don't get this. Once upon a time, you would have been lecturing me about being so careless. I can't believe the tables have turned."

   "Things change, Aedion. We've experienced it first-hand, we all have." 

   As they took off down the hillside, Aedion heard the gasps of their new companions as they first sighted the city of Orynth. He heard them as they whispered to each other words like "Astonishing" and "Extraordinary". He chuckled silently under his breath, although doubting that no one heard him.

   Out of boredom, Aelin began playing with sparks of fire on the tips of her fingers. Rowan put them out with his ice, but then darkness coated both their hands. They turned around to see Rhys with a smug smile on his face. The darkness coiled around Aelin and Rowans hand, but retracted when Feyre slapped Rhys's arm.

   As they reached about mid-way down the hill, he gazed off into the city. The breathtaking palace stood at the far end of the city, surrounded by elegant buildings and monuments crafted delicately by some of the greatest artists in the lands. The slums were hidden in the shadows, around the lower section of Orynth.

   He smiled under his breath, glancing sideways at Aelin. She smiled back, with the smile truly reaching her eyes. She had changed this kingdom so much when she was crowned queen and had continued to do so.

   They took the long route, wanting to avoid citizens. It sounds horrible, but they put on such a fuss that sometimes it just isn't worth it. That, and the fact that they had six strange fae walking alongside them, which could potentially upset the civilians.

   The scenic route, as they liked to call it, included walking through some of the most stunning gardens in the whole of Erilea. The bright colours of the flowers gleamed in the sunlight and the leaves were the healthiest green they could be. The sky was bright blue, with little clouds cluttering up the sky.

   Aedion thought back to when he was younger, when he would sneak out of the palace with Aelin to play in these gardens. Eventually, Orlon would have to drag them back inside before Aelin set the whole place on fire.

   Then he thought of Lysandra. Once they arrived in Orynth, this was one of the first places he took her. Her face let up as soon as she set food inside the gardens. Of course, she was in her ghost leopard form. He thought of her eyes, how they especially stand out when she's shifted, they are eyes he will never forget. They are a deep and divine shade of green, which matches the spring leaves. Aelin grinned at him, as though she could read his mind. He lightly slapped her and she pretended to be offended, all though you could clearly see the sarcasm in her eyes.