Throne of Glass and ACOTAR Stories

Burnout--Rowan's POV

This is an actual scene from Heir of Fire, which means actual quotes from it are being used. Caution: I only swapped POVs.

Fun fact: this was in honor of ToD's arrival.

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"Easy," Rowan breathed as Aelin's flames started to grow wilder.

"I know," She gritted out, clearly annoyed.

She'd been doing well controlling the flames, though her skin gleamed with sweat from the effort. He knew, and sensed that with the amount of magic Aelin has, she shouldn't be tiring so soon. It shouldn't take this much of her focus and control.

But then he reminded himself that the main reason the princess struggled was because she was simply terrified of using her power. For what reason, he didn't know, but he hoped she got over it soon.

"When can I stop?" Aelin asked, shifting on her feet. He noted the flame twisting slightly with the movement.

He swallowed, calculating. A part of him wanted to see just how far that limit was, but she hadn't eaten since lunch, and she seemed to be tiring at a faster pace than he had expected. "When I say so," He decided. She needed to get past this fear.

Irritation sparked in her eyes. "I'm sweating to death, I'm starving to death, and I want a break."

"Resorting to whining?" He taunted, but...it was true. He silently cursed himself for it, but he allowed a flicker of his magic to send a cool breeze her way. His stupid heart--once idle and broken--skipped a beat when she moaned. "Just a little while longer."

She seemed to relax slightly, opening her turquoise and gold eyes, as if his words had sparked a little more determination.

The flame seemed to dance with the beautiful music playing around them, and he flashed back to that day she'd saved Luca from the ice.

"Easy," He said, his eyes widening as he sensed the common denominator. "Music. That day on the ice, you were humming." He sent another breeze in her direction. "Let the music steady you."

The flames only burned brighter.

"Easy," He ordered, but she didn't seem to hear him.

"Steady." The flames were growing hotter, and he started to sweat himself. Oh gods...

"That's enough for now," He demanded, reaching for her arm. Pain seared the moment his skin touched hers, and he let go, hissing. "That is enough."

She looked to him, slowly. Too slowly. Oh gods, what had he done, what had he done...

The gold in her eyes glowed with the embers, as if the flame was using her. She turned away from him, continuing to burn.

No. "Look at me," He commanded, and fear, genuine fear for the first time in centuries clenched his heart. "Look at me."

Aelin didn't seem to comprehend what he'd said. She only stared at the fire, her body tensing. Oh gods, oh gods...

"Let the fires burn on their own," He said, his heart still thundering. Aelin looked back to him, the turquoise draining as the gold glowed brighter. If she didn't let go, she was going to burn herself to death. Couldn't she see that? "Aelin, stop right now."

She opened her mouth as if she was going to say something, but quickly closed it as she squeezed those burning eyes shut.

"Let go," He tried. She only winced, and he clenched his hands into fists. "Aelin, if you don't let go, you're going to burn out completely."

Still, she didn't stop.

"You are on the verge of roasting yourself from the inside out," He snarled, and she opened her eyes, distant pain flaring in them as she fell to the grass. The fires flared, people screaming and the music faltering. He focused wholy on Aelin as the grass sizzled and burned underneath her.

"I'm sorry," He hissed, swearing. She was gasping as the flames stopped, but he knew she was still burning inside.

"Breathe. Breathe," He demanded, near begging.

She was sobbing now, shaking from where she lay. He needed to get help.

He sprinted, running as fast as his legs could carry him as he found two female healers already rushing toward him.

"Where?" One asked, and he gestured for them to follow him back to Aelin, who was still sobbing.

"Can you stand to carry her?" The other healer asked. There aren't any water-wielders here, and we need to get her into cold water. Now."

Rowan didn't hesitate before lifting her into his arms, hissing in pain. Gods above, that flame burned.

He summoned invisible ice to coat his  arms as they ran. There was no way in hell he was letting her die, especially considering it was his fault.

He ran up the stairs, guiding them to the nearest tub.

"Get her into the water," The first healer said.

He wasted no time quickly dumping her into the water. Immediately, steam rose from where she burned, and he swore again.

"Freeze it prince," The second commanded, and he used his magic to freeze the water.

Her fire only raged once more as the tub started bubbling.

"Get her out!" He reached for her immediately, hissing as she burned him again. He quickly made his way for the next tub, and froze the water the moment he set her inside. The ice melted almost instantly, but he continued to freeze it.

"Breathe," He hissed in her ear, kneeling at the head of the tub. The water still steamed. "Let it go—let it get out of you."

She took a shuttering breath, and he nearly sighed in relief. "Good," He panted instead, his arms searing with pain.

He continued to freeze the water, and that wild fire magic melted it, the two locked in a battle on its own. The flame started to slow—to tire.

Eventually, the flames stopped, and he relaxed slightly as the water turned warm, and stayed that way.

"We need to get those clothes off her," the first healer said as he made room for them to start stripping Aelin down.

He kept his eyes on her face, red and glistening. It was obvious now that she was exhausted, but at least now she wasn't about to burn herself to death.

"Just answer yes or no. That's all you have to do," He said after a while, and she nodded slightly.

"Are you in danger of flaring up again?"

Aelin paused before answering. "No," she whispered, barely loud enough for even him to hear.

He relaxed a little. "Are you in pain?"

Steam hissed. "Yes."

One female exited and came back with a bucket of water and two washcloths. He took it from her, nodding in thanks as he drenched the cloth in the freezing water.

"We will prepare a tonic. Just keep her cool."

Aelin relaxed slightly as he placed one drenched cloth on her forehead and wrung the other above her.

"The burnout," He said quietly, the fear fully subsided. "You should have told me you were at your limit."

Those eyes opened to peer up at him, the gold back to normal. He wrung out the cloth again.

"If you'd gone on any longer, the burnout would have destroyed you. You must learn to recognize the signs—and how to pull back before it's too late," He commanded. "It will rip you apart inside. Make this..." He shook his head. "Make this look like nothing. You don't touch your magic until you've rested a while. Understand?"

He waited for her to nod her reply before ringing out the cloth once more. A minute later, he stood, slinging the cloth back over the side of the bucket. "I'm going to check on the tonic. I'll be back soon." When she nodded again, he left, the panic reducing to worry. Gods that had been a close call.