In Which Everything Goes awfully right

Healer

Caution: Mature Content ⚠

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Aelin

I'm currently curled up in a ball around my own body. Wet tears are streaming down like a river. It's been two days, and my father hasn't woken up.

But I'm not going to lose hope. I can't lose hope. It's the only thing that's holding me from collapsing and drowning into my sea of devastation. He has to wake up. I mean, he has woken up before in an alike attack, he had survived many attacks a thousand times before.

Two knocks.

I lift my heavy head up. There's a shadow under the door.

"Aelin?" The voice sounds familiar, but I don't reply. I just stare at the wooden barrier.

I've been refusing to open for anyone since I ran away after seeing my father with the doctors gathered around, all heads bent down, with my mom holding back a scream.

Asterin hasn't been around ever since. I haven't seen Theon or Zander since the day I technically locked myself in and ordered my guards not to allow anyone in.

"Will you please open this goddamn door Aelin, or I'll break it in myself!"

Then I hear a laugh. "Okay, I'm breaking your door in 3...2..." 

"Fine." I rush to open before anyone gets hurt.

"Hey, I missed you, little girl." He pulls me for a tight hug to which I hold on too tight.

"I missed you too, what are you doing here? When did you arrive? Wait, Are you here alone?"

"Woah easy with the questions!" He laughs at my excitement.

I have the right to be excited, I haven't seen him for a year now.

"How are you holding up, little girl?" His tone is now calmer. 

How am I doing? Am I holding up? My mom is refusing to talk to any human being of any kind. Asterin hasn't been around for a while, and I, well... I've been curled up in my bed for 72 hours.

"I'm good. How are you? How about you answer my questions now?" I am so not ready for a mental breakdown right now.

"Well, I was hoping to stick around for three months, I arrived just a day ago, and I've heard your unstoppable cries for the whole night. I couldn't just sit there and watch. I am here all alone. I wanted to spend time with my cousins and their future husbands and hang out with you all, little girl." He sends me a warm smile before he pulls me into a hug and rubs my back.

"So, Noah, any news from the big city?" 

I've never been out of this place. I've always been on the safe side of the world, over-protected by my parents, with my father always lecturing about the outer world, and how we're being protected with a thousand guards marching around,  greeting me with million bows a day.

I wonder what it feels like to be free outside.

Noah lets go of my numb body and speaks, "Well, the city life hasn't changed much. The noise is still there, the streets are still crowded with rushing souls and running business-men hurrying to work, women holding babies and children, the shops are still crowdy, the fake sales are still there," he lets out a laugh and I join, "Cats are all around the city, dogs are barking non-stop, the trees are... un-describable. The green leaves are back again, and the wind is always a happy melody, to my ears at least," We laugh again.

I wish I could go there and experience that. It feels... Free, Wild and... Young.

"Hey..." Noah lifts my chin with his finger. He looks me in the eyes, then pulls me for a hug again, "It'll all be alright, okay? You'll visit the city, with Theon. I just know you'll be happy. Soon enough." I take a step back from the hug.

"Aelin?" I feel a hand land on my back. It's Theon's.

"Hey..." He says with a sad look.

He pulls me into a tight hug, and I wrap his body with my hands. He grabs my waist and pulls me in for warm embrace and kisses the top of my head.

I missed this. I missed being wrapped in his arms. I miss feeling loved by someone who doesn't lock me in or judge my decisions or only give me orders.

"Aren't you two cute?" Noah interrupts the silence. He then heads to the door, "I will leave you two alone." He then turns to me, "Aelin, always play safe."

I roll my eyes at his naughty joke. It's the only joke that he's been repeating for the last eighteen years of my life.

Since the day I was born.

Theon grabs my hand and pulls me to my bed. We both sit down, with him still holding my hand.

I lean against his body. He's wearing a white t-shirt with black jeans. His muscles are neatly relaxed beneath the light fabric he's wearing.

"I missed you. How are you feeling?"

"My mom is refusing to talk to anyone, Asterin hasn't been around for a while, and I, well... I've been curled up in my bed for 72 hours, I'm not feeling so well."

"You look tired, I bet you haven't got an hour of sleep last night. I saw your lights on from the window, what can I do to make you feel better?" He asks.

So, he's been watching me all night. 

My heart skips a beat when he attaches his lips to mine. Our tounges move together in a lovely rhythm. He then gently pushes me down and lays his warm body over mine.

He kisses me over and over... Like he's washing all of my scars away.

All I could feel is the ticklish touch of his hands. I feel my heart pumping unbelievably fast.

I unbutton his shirt as he does the same for mine.

I feel my cheeks heat up.

Theon pauses his unstoppable kisses. He looks at my face, then smiles at me, "You look adorable when you're blushing." I gently bump his bare chest with my right hand. He smirks at my shy response.

I grab him by the neck and kiss him again. He goes still for a moment. I feel his body tense.

"Are you sure you want to do this? I mean... Are you ready?" He stares at me with his round eyes. I can see the concern in them. I can feel his fast heartbeat almost rip his cage open.

I roughly grab him and turn us over. I'm on top of him now.

I lean in and kiss him.

And that's enough for an answer.

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