After the Empire (Complete)

21 - Rowan

The moment I walk back into the camp, I know that they've found another one. 

It's been the cycle, the routine. Every few days when I return from my watch they've had a new one bound in iron chain. Every time it has looked so piteous, so beautiful, so happy to see me. Every time it's answered the question wrong. Every time I've had to watch her melt into nothing. 

I walk towards the place where I can see Lysandra standing, her arms crossed as she leans back against a wooden post. She's looking at the ground, Like she can't stand the sight of whatever is in front of her. 

I force myself not to let is show on my face when I see it. Even after all this time, all these doubles, I still can't stop the tiny leap of hope my heart feels every time. But I force it down, because if I let myself hope my heart will shatter again when it isn't her. And if my heart were to shatter again, I don't think I'd be able to get up off the ground. 

It looks so beautiful, sitting in the wooden chair we have acquired for this purpose, iron chains wrapped tightly around it. I honestly don't know if the iron does anything to it's kind, but it's better than doing nothing. 

It's hair is short this time, unevenly shorn just above it's ear. It has a red scar above it's left eye, and seems to be sitting awkwardly in the chair, as though in pain. That glimmer of hope tries again to force it's way to the surface, but I push is back down. It isn't as though this is the first time Maeve has sent us an injured one. 

I don't meet the thing's eyes, though I can feel them boring into me. I force the words out of my mouth. "You have three words. Three words to convince me that you are Aelin Ashryver Galathynius."

Silence. A long, drawn out silence. 

I turn my back, because I'm not strong enough to watch it again. Not again. 

Then she speaks, and I freeze. 

"To"

I can't move

"whatever"

can't breath. 

"end."

I whip back around, staring at her. There's a tiny smile dancing at the corner of her mouth. 

"Say it again." 

It can't be. It can't be her. 

There's tears shining at the rims of her eyes now, lines of shining silver. 

"To whatever end, buzzard."

Lysandra stares at me, confusion on her face. Then a tiny, nearly imperceptible spark of hope. "No" she murmurs, "it can't be."

I don't know I'm moving until I've hit my knees in front of her. Until I've removed the chains holding her with shaking fingers. Until I've wrapped her in my arms and am holding her against my body. 

"To whatever end" she murmurs in my ear, her voice choked.

I let the tears spill out of my eyes. The tears I haven't let myself shed for weeks. I can feel her heart beating below my fingers. Her  heart. I bury my face in her dirty, bloodstained hair. 

"To whatever end, fireheart"

Sorry this chapter was so short.

I hope you enjoyed it anyways, don't forget to vote and comment below. 

Also, I'm toying with having this as the last chapter, and just adding an epilogue about what happens after the war. Let me know what you all think.