Kingdom Of Stars

Chapter 2: Celaena

Celaena Sardothien blinked and adjusted as the light hit her. There was a groaning noise and the coffin sprang open. She would've tumbled out if not for the chains holding her in. She cursed silently. First step, getting this damn mask off. She needed to shift back into human form otherwise the iron would continue to weaken her. And she also needed to stay in fae form or she wouldn't heal. She would still feel the iron in human form, just not as much. But what was the best thing to do? Once she shifted she was vulnerable and it was unlikely she would have the magic to shift back again. She made the split second decision and closed her eyes again. A moment later, a bright light flashed thorough the coffin. There was an audible gasp from outside and a head poked in. A servant. And they didn't see a queen. Instead they saw an assassin, chained and very human, glaring at everyone, her eyes hooded with pain.

Celaena's body ached and stung as her healing process stopped all together. She held back a scream as her back brushed the iron again. She could get through this. It was the thought of Rowan that kept her going, kept her sane. A figure came into view. Cairn. Her lips pulled back from her teeth and she snarled at him. He laughed softly and grabbed hold of her chains, yanking her out of her prison. She tumbled onto the floor, unable to brace herself with her hands. Her teeth sung as they hit the cold metal floor and a second later she was hauled roughly to her feet. Then two guards grabbed her and pulled her out of the room. She looked around as they walked on. The room they had just come from was probably an entrance hall, though Celaena had never seen it before. She kept her eyes open, not trusting her human ears. Luckily, her body hadn't reacted too badly to the sudden loss of magic. That was good. They passed her a shirt and she shrugged it on quickly. She had left her other one on the beach when she was taken.

She managed not to stumble as she was brought through endless corridors. She used her almost forgotten training to work out where they had gone. 3 right turns, 2 left. Straight on. Another right. 2 left. And then they arrived at a set of wooden doors. She glanced at Cairn but he just glared at her, twitching his whip. She turned away. Then the guards threw open the double doors.

She was shoved inside and Cairn followed, still gripping her arm. The room was misty and she couldn't see what was in front of her. As they approached, the mist cleared and there, in all her evil, bitchy glory, was her evil, bitchy aunt. Celaena fixed her with a state and her aunt smiled her serpentine smile.
"Hello Aelin." Celaena didn't speak and Maeve kept going.
"I hope you enjoyed your journey." Celaena nodded.
"Well the customer service wasn't amazing but overall I think it was pretty organised." There was a slight cough from next to the throne and celaena peered into the gloom.
"Ah Fenrys. Nice to see a friendly face."
The male smirked at her from next to Maeve's throne. It was no secret that he hated the dark queen. Maeve clenched her fists on the armrests.
"Enough of your games Aelin." But Celaena smiled.
"Aelin? Do you not recognise me aunt?"
Maeve's face went pale and she froze.
"Not possible." Celaena smiled.
"I am still Aelin. But I'm also someone else. And you've met them before." She paused for effect.
"I'm honestly surprised all your fae warriors didn't notice the human. Or maybe they saw what they wanted to see?"
The queen was glaring at her, undisguised hatred simmering in her eyes.
"You would risk shifting back? Losing your magic? For what?" Celaena smiled again.
"We both know I couldn't beat you without magic as Aelin. But I might be able to do it as Celaena. As the assassin." Maeve stared at her for another second.
"You will pay for your arrogance Aelin Galathynius." Celaena faked a yawn.
"All I hear is chit chat. Can you get on with whatever you dragged me out here to do." Maeve didn't rise to the taunt.
"As you wish."

She snapped her fingers and Fenrys emerged fully from her throne. She motioned to Cairn and he stepped forwards, placing his whip on the floor. Then he stood behind her. Maeve smirked.
"Kneel." Celaena rolled her eyes.
"Yeah. That's not going to happen." The queen smiled.
"I thought you might say that. So that's why I devised a fitting punishment." Fear sparked inside of her but she shoved it down, turning around to gesture to Cairn.
"Him? I'm pretty sure there are bunnies more intimidating than that guy." A growl echoed behind her and she laughed softly. But the queen was still smiling.
"Hold her Cairn." Celaena resisted as the fae grabbed her arms and shoved her down onto her knees, before ripping off her shirt again, exposing her back still raw and bleeding. Maeve nodded slightly and Cairn waved his hand. A rough feeling spread across her back and her wounds partially knotted back together. Not fully but enough. Then the queen gestured to Fenrys and he stepped forwards nervously and she spoke.
"Now Fenrys. Pick up the whip and walk over to our lovely queen." For the first time, real fear rose within her and again she pushed it down. Fenrys looked sick and repulsed. He was fighting the order but the blood oath prevailed. He couldn't disobey. Slowly, so slowly, he walked over and stood behind her. Cairn stepped back slightly, still holding her on the floor. She refused to plead or even close her eyes as Fenrys drew back the whip and struck. It wasn't a hard blow, designed to inflict minimal pain and damage. This didn't go unnoticed. Maeve frowned.
"A little harder darling." She gritted her teeth as it hit again, ripping through flesh. And again. And again. Warm blood ran down her back, so strange in contrast with the cold iron on her. Maeve grinned and he kept going. When he sliced it down again, blood spurted and she let out an involuntary cry of pain. Her nails dug into her palms, cutting straight through her skin. She moaned as it came down again. Oh gods the pain. And she wasn't healing fast this time. She said the words over and over in her head. My name is Celaena Sardothien and I will not be afraid. My name is Celaena Sardothien and I will not be afraid. A scream tore out of her as the tattoo on her back was ruined again and again. The words that Rowan has so lovingly etched into her skin, the stories of her beloved dead. All gone. It was a lesson for her and a lesson for the male wielding the whip. The sound that echoed in her dreams cracked in her ears. Hope was gone.

As she thought this, a warmth spread through her and a voice spoke in her head.
Don't lose hope. There is always hope. Even in the darkness there is some light. Don't stop fighting now.
And so Celaena gathered her courage and fought on. And when at last Maeve gave the order to stop, both her and the fae male behind her were breathing heavily. She lifted her chin and looked at Maeve. There was nothing human in her gaze.
"I will get my magic back eventually aunt. And when I do, I'm going to get out. And I'm going to find you. Then I'm going to kill you." The queen looked mildly unsettled.
"Take her away. And prepare her for tomorrow." Cairn bowed and murmured an ok. She stood, her black gown swishing behind her.
"Fenrys, come with me." The male cast her a look over his shoulder and followed the queen out.

And Celaena allowed herself to be lead back to her cell.