After the War... There is Peace

Joy

The sun is shining so brightly in Rifthold that Chaol takes a break from his diligent work to wipe the beads of sweat from his brow. Many of the guards pause to do the same. It's been hard rebuilding the city after the war, but worth it. Chaol intends to do everything in his power to get his kingdom back to its former glory, thought it won't take long with an excellent King such as Dorian.

It's only been a few months since Yrene, Dorian, and him rode off after their hard farewell with Aelin. He had never seen her cry as much as she had that day. It made him beam with happiness to know that she would now be ruling as Queen in Terrasen alongside the Fae warrior, Rowan Whitethorn. If anyone deserved happiness, it was Aelin.

"Lord Westfall"

Chaol turned to see one of the head guards stop his work and approach.

"Look, I know you've been working really hard alongside us, but I think we've got it under control from here. You should head back to the palace to check on that wife of yours.

Chaol would have refused but Yrene was getting closer and closer to her birthing date. He wouldn't want to miss anything, especially if she went into labor early. So Chaol nodded his head thanks and got on his horse.

Chaol arrived at the palace and went in search of his wife. As he tied up his horse in the stables, he heard two voices of joyous laughter. One of them belonging to a male. Not just any male; his brother and King of Adarlan. The other belonging to the woman whom he'd given his heart to; the woman carrying his child in her womb.

He walked over to where that wondrous sound was coming from. Laid before him was a scene he knew he would never forget in a million years. There was his beaming wife, Yrene, laid against the wall, covered in puppies. And then Dorian, who was also laying down, flat on his stomach trying (but failing horribly) to push off a pack fluffy, golden puppies. There was so much joy in their faces that Chaol's knees threatened to buckle.

It was then that Yrene looked up from the pup that was currently resting his little head on her swollen belly. Her smile grew even wider as she took in him leaning against the door frame. Dorian followed her gaze, wearing that infamous lazy grin of his.

"I'm glad to see that you guys can get along just fine without me"

Dorian chuckled, "Actually, we were just reminiscing about all the good times we have together."

Chaol bit back the retort on his tongue as he saw Yrene trying to get up. Dorian got to her before he did, letting her balance on his shoulder awhile before standing fully. Chaol smiled at the sight. Yrene planted a small kiss to his cheek before she, to Chaol's amusement, waddled out.

Dorian walked up to Chaol and laid a hand on his shoulder. The look in his eyes said enough words.

"She's going to be an amazing mother. And you'll be the most brilliant father there is,
Chaol."

"Don't forget about how lucky they'll be to have you as their uncle."

As Chaol walked out, something like pride shone in the his brother's eyes.

It right up until Chaol reached his bedroom, with a special treat for Yrene, that he realized he was flat-out exhausted. He guessed he had been doing a lot of work lately, but he would have to fall back in order to prepare for the new babe. He opened the door to find Yrene already half-asleep beneath the blankets. He knew how tired she must be, especially having to carry around all of that extra weight around. Never once, though, had she complained. In fact, she often glowed in that golden way of hers that Chaol could never seem to get tired of.

He carefully laid down the chocolate cake slice that she was craving a few days ago on the table. He crawled around her into bed, but not before gently laying a soft kiss right atop her swollen belly, entwining their hands together, and laying them gently over where he placed his lips. He had never been more at peace, and fell asleep listening to the soft, steady of his loving wife beside him.