The Assassin and the Queen

Chapter 4

Celaena couldn't breath. She couldn't move. She couldn't do anything except stare at Sam's face. His beautiful features were contorted in an expression of pained confusion, as though he were trying to match this new information with his prior knowledge of her, and something just wasn't fitting. She wanted to say something, anything to make this better, but for once in her life words failed her. 

Finally, after what seemed like hours, Sam nodded, agonizingly slowly. "Ok."

Celaena took in a deep breath. She could see that there were a thousand words on Sam's tongue, but he was keeping his promise. He was pretending that it was ok. She wanted to kiss him for that. Instead she said, her voice as forcebly calm as his, "Ok."

Aedion, blissfully unaware of the undercurrent of tension running through the room, smiled tentatively. His eyes were still glued to Celaena, exploring every angle and plane of her face. It was as though he thought that that moment might be a dream, and if it was, he wanted to remember every detail when he awoke. 

Celaena wished that he'd stop. They way he was looking at her, it was like all his dreams and prayers had been answered. If made it so she didn't have the heart to tell him that she would rather die a thousand times over than reclaim her throne. She was not fit to be a queen. 

Finally she said, forced calm in her voice "I have to go train."

Sam raised a single questioning eyebrow, puzzlement written across his features, but comprehension soon followed. There was no point in leaving now. Why run when you had already been caught?

Celeana stalked out of the room, Aedion on her heels. Frustration bubbled up inside her, cutting off her air. She hadn't meant that she wanted to train with him.  But of course he didn't know that. He didn't know her. Not anymore. The one person who did was standing behind her, and despite his promise she didn't know if he would ever trust her again. 

"Aelin." Celaena nearly froze at the sound of the name. Her instincts, the ones that had kept her alive all those years in Adarlan's slums, told her to run, told her to attack. She managed to control herself moments before turning her wicked blades on her cousin. 

"Don't ever call me that." the words hissed out from between her teeth, a command and a plea. 

Aedion didn't speak again for a long moment, then said "Why not?"

"It's not my name anymore."

"Of course it is! You can pretend all you want with the blades and the sneers, but I know you. And you will always, always, be Queen Aelin Ashryver Galanthius."

Celeana stopped walking and whipped around, causing Aedion to almost crash into her. "Let's get one thing straight" she snarled, "Aelin Ashryver Galanthius is dead. Dead. She died years ago. I am Celaena Sardothien. And I am no more a queen then you are a scullery maid."

Aedion wouldn't quite meet Celeana's glaring eyes. There was a small smirk on his face, an expression that infuriated Celaena. He didn't believe her. Despite everything he had heard about her reputation, despite the words whe was spitting in his face, he still thought she was just a silly little girl throwing a tantrum. She would come around. She would be reasonable. It was too much for her after what had happened with Sam.  

Celaena, realizing that nothing she said could possible change his mind, whirled on her heel and walked out into the training yard. 

Seeing the expression on Celaena's face, everybody cleared a path before her. When she yanked a sword off the wall and stalked to a training mat, even the neighboring mats were suddenly vacated. And so she stood, partner less, staring around. Daring anyone to challenge her. 

And there was Aedion, near the front of the group, still wearing that stupid smirk. She snarled aloud in anger, and stalked over to him. 

"You want proof?" she whispered it in his ear, but for the ferocity in her voice she may as well have been yelling. "Fight me. Here and now."

"I know you're probably good Aelin, but I'd hurt you."

"I think I can take it."

Aedion rolled his eyes. "Fine. But if I win you have to let me call you Aelin."

Celaena didn't bother responding. She simply walked back to the field and met his eyes. 

Aedion smiled slightly, and drew the sword from his belt. He came to meet her. 

The match was over almost before it began. By the time Aedion realized that he had to begin, Celaena was already moving. He barely got is sword up in time to block her vicious swipe. He looked at her reprochfully, but she was already into her next pass, attacking now from the other side. He finally noticed and reacted, but it was too late. She had her sword against his throat. If she sneezed, he would be dead. 

Aedion froze, staring in shock at the girl before him. She pulled her blade away, and threw it on the ground. She was still too angry to think about proper weapen care. 

"My name" she said, "Is Celaena Sardothien." 

Then she walked away.

Hey guys!

I'm back!! Thank you all so much for your comments on the last chapter, they were awesome, and it really inspired me to keep going with this story!

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