Future of Terrasen

Chapter 14

This chapter is dedicated to both the amazingly weird Tidela471 and coconutc enjoy :)

Rowan paced back and forth, twigs snapping under his feet. Once Yrene had confirmed his suspicions and checked Aelin once again, he flew into the woods to think things over. He could lose his mate again. Aelin had managed to survive giving birth to Elentiya but how many times can Aelin beat death? She may have settled but some fae still struggled with the pregnancy and their magic could consume them. He would lose Aelin in a different way.

There was a rustle in the leaves on the ground. Rowan whirled, palming his knives. He scanned the darkness, looking for any sign of the person stalking him.

Two glowing green eyes looked back at him. His fae senses telling him that if he was mortal he would be dead by now. It was a ghost leopard.

"Oh," he said sheathing his knives. "Sorry Lysandra."

When she didn't shift or act like the woman his Queen so dearly loved, Rowan sniffed. There was no scent of the shifter. Just pure animal.

Shit. He slowly reached for his knives but the ghost leopard crept forward, growling.

Just as the ghost leopard raised its paw ready to charge, a second leapord appeared, rushing straight at the one growling at him.

It shoved the first one to the side. They were rolling around, biting and snarling at each other. Rowan stood watching as Lysandra tackled the real ghost leopard.

He wouldn't just leave her. Instead he studied the leopard, searching for a weakness to use against it so he and Lysandra could escape unharmed.

Just as Rowan saw the leopard expose its side, a shadow dropped out of the tree. The person's black cloak covered the leopard and Lysandra backed up slowly.

Aelin shoved back her hood to reveal her blonde hair and canines. She grinned at Rowan and moved the cloak to reveal the knife she had shoved through the ghost leopard's heart.

Rowan realised he had forgot to breath. His wife was glowing in front of him.

"Seems like a waste to burn such beautiful fur," Aelin clicked her tongue looking at the animal.

Lysandra shifted into her human form. She leant against the nearest tree. "Don't tell me you're going to keep it. It's stained with blood now."

Aelin shrugged. She really had no idea, Rowan realised.

"Could use a new rug," his Queen joked.

"Why was it so close to the palace anyway?" Lysandra asked, glancing at Rowan.

"Lack of food, sensed another ghost leopard hanging around the palace and it's mating season," Aelin teased.

Lysandra shuddered. "You have no idea."

"What were you doing here?" His wife turned to him. "Running away?"

"I can't run away. I'm king," he forced himself to walk towards her.

"Oh, so you can't leave because you rule this kingdom, not because you're my mate or married me?"

Rowan caught the twinkle in her turquoise eyes. He just couldn't bring himself to share her teasing. "Fireheart... I would never leave you."

Aelin cocked her head. "I know. I was just joking."

"We should get out of here," Lysandra said. "Before more come sniffing for a mate."

Aelin nodded and Lysandra shifted.

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Aelin took off her cloak and draped it over the couch. Rowan just stood watching her as she removed all of her weapons.

"Buzzard," she muttered as she dumped her final knife on to the table. She walked towards him and started removing his own weapons. "Is this what married life has come to?"

He didn't smile. He just stroked her hair as she set aside his weapons.

"I love you, Aelin," he said.

She silently removed the last knife he wore before she looked up and whispered,  "you're scaring me, Rowan. You can tell me anything. Well work it out together, remember?"

He nodded. "Has Yrene spoken to you?"

"Not yet," she said. "I woke up to find you gone. So I got Lysandra and followed your scent. Why did you leave?"

The words hit him so hard. He gripped her arms and restrained himself from shaking her. "I didn't leave. I would never leave you. Even if we were worlds apart, I'd never leave. I would find you."

Aelin pushed her hair out of her face and blinked at him. "I meant why did you leave this place?"

Rowan calmed the icy rage in his veins. He looked at his hands gripping her arms. He was probably hurting her and she was letting him.

Rowan let go of her. "I am sorry, I am so sorry..."

Aelin watched him move to sit on their bed. Her eyes wide as she said, "you're scared. Tell me the truth right now. What is scaring you?"

Rowan rubbed his face. "You. You are scaring me. I don't want you jumping out of trees or taking on a ghost leopard even if Lysandra is helping you. I want you to relax and not fight and-"

"You want me to not be me?" Aelin challenged. "You want me to be a good little house wife?" She raised her chin. "Well, sorry I'm the Queen of Terrasen. I will do as I damn well please."

"Gods, Aelin. No. I want you to be you. I love you. It's just I want to protect you and our child."

"Wants wrong with Elentiya?"

Rowan stood up and closed the distance between them. "She is fine. I wasn't talking about Elentiya." He placed a hand on his wife's stomach. "I was talking about our future child."

Hope you enjoyed it. Imagine if someone else told you you were pregnant! Anyways do we want this to be a boy or girl? Do we want it to survive? If so any name suggestions?

Thanks, Jess.