A Court of Dusk and Dragons

3

Fisrae yawns as she sits at the table poking at her bowl of fruit. The others are talking and laughing as they dig into the porridge, fruit, meat and various other breakfast dishes. All apart from Cevas, who stares at his bowl, tiredly. He had probably stayed up all night to make sure that creature hadnt returned. Fisrae stifles a yawn and shakes her head.

"Whats the plan then Fizz pop?" Vebren questions with a smirk, using the nickname somewhat hated but tolerated.

"We go to Terrasen at dawn. Ziolael is heading to the Southern Continent with Chaol and Nesryn." Fisrae sighs, as always the group had awoken a couple of hours before dawn. Ziolael nods. "So I hope youre all packed."

"We didnt even unpack." Lavas grumbles. Fisrae shoots him a look.

"After you finish, get ready to leave." Fisrae offers, standing and leaving the room.

***

Fisrae looks at the horizon with tired eyes as she sits on her white mare. Cevas and Vebren sit on either side of her on brown stallions. Lavas glides above them in dragon form with Erica and Kailtin on his backs.

"How are you feeling?" Vebren asks, serious for once. Fisrae shrugs.

"I guess Im fine. I have to stay in a good mood for Aelin. Shes going home. Not like I can." Fisrae sighs. Vebren and Cevas share a look. The prince- well king was talking with Aelin. Rowan, Aedion and Lysandra were mounting their horses. They had packed light, taking only the barest supplies. Mostly weapons. However, Lavas carried everything that the seven owned, which was barely anything. The king finally moved away from Aelin and she mounts her horse, nudging it into a walk. She moves to the head of the company, where Rowan rides a sleek black stallion. Aelin reaches across the space between them and takes his hand, gripping it tightly. A small smile dances across Fisraes lips as they ride down the barren path, through the gateway Aelin made in the glass wall, and into the city streets, where people pause what they are doing and gape or whisper or stare. And as they pass by the Royal Theater, which she remembered had stayed silent for months or even years, there was music - beautiful, exquisite music - playing within.

***

For three weeks they rode straight north, keeping off the main roads and out of the villages. There was no need to announce that Aelin was on her way back to Terrasen.  The summer days grew cooler the farther north they rode. The five dragons tooks turns in flying above. Four in the air, two on the ground. Fisrae would sometimes fly with one of them or run along in her maned wolf form. The terrain grew steeper, hillier, and the world turned lush and green and bright, the rocks becoming jagged granite outcroppings. The sun had barely rose as they climb up a particularly steep hill, sparing their horses from carrying them.

"Its just up the hill." Aedion says from Aelins left.

"What is?" Aelin asks, finishing her apple and chucking the remains behind her. Lysandra, wearing the form of a crow, squawks in outrage as the core hits her. "Sorry." Lysandra caws and soars skywards, Fleetfoot barking merrily at her as Evangeline giggles from atop her shaggy pony.

"Youll see." Aedion points to the hillcrest ahead. Aelin looks at Rowan, who had been scouting ahead, with Lavas, for part of the morning as a white-tailed hawk. They crest the hill and halt. Aelin releases the reins and takes a staggering step, the emerald grass soft underfoot. Aedion touches her shoulder. "Welcome home, Aelin." A land of towering mountains - the Staghorns - spread before them, with valleys and rivers and hills; a land of untamed, wild beauty. Terrasen. "Right there." Aedion points to a small, weather-worn granite boulder carved with whorls and swirls. "Once we pass that rock, were on Terrasen soil." Aelin walks towards that rock; she runs a hand over the rough rock. Then she steps beyond that stone. And at long last, Aelin Ashryver Galathynius was home.

(Sorry that its short but the book ends here and I aint starting the other book towards the end of the chapter so *shrugs*)