Sam and Celaena spent the rest of the day in Celaena's room. They weren't exactly sure if they were allowed to, but they supposed that Chaol wouldn't have given them instructions if they were not meant to be obeyed, and neither of them were in the mood to further get on Chaol's nerves, as amusing as it was.
Celaena stretched out on her bed, sprawling herself luxuriously across the plush velvet cushions and quilt, embroidered in gold etchings. She smiled at Sam, who stood at the foot of the bed.
"What?" Sam asked.
"Nothing," Celaena said. "But, you do know that Chaol knows who I am, right? So does Dorian."
Sam started. "They know? Celaena they can't know! If the King found out-"
"The King does know, Sam."
Sam's eyes widened with fear. "But, Celaena, how does that-"
Celaena chuckled. "For an assassin, Sam," she interrupted, "You're surprisingly dense. Of course the King knows. He would have found no reports of thievery on some 'Lillian Gordaina.' I'm surprised you haven't figured this out already."
Sam frowned down at her. "You could have told me this earlier, Celaena."
"What? And spare you the embarrassment? I think not."
"Wait. Does that mean he would know that I'm not Nox Owen? Do you think he would know who I truly am?"
Celaena cocked her head to the side. "I hadn't thought of that. I presume not, considering no one, that I know of, has confronted you."
Sam nodded, looking at the burning sun in the sky outside of Celaena's balcony. "Who knows. Maybe Nox Owen was a real person. Is a real person. Lysandra might have just stolen him away and given me his name and story."
Celaena considered this. "A long time ago, I would have laughed at you for being ridiculous. Now that I know what I know, it seems like something that Lysandra would do." There was a moment of silence. Then;
"How was she? Lysandra? How did she seem?"
Sam sighed, pinching his temples. "She seemed . . . She seemed almost happy when I left, like she knew that I would have a chance at a new life. At freedom. Like helping me escape had lifted this huge burden."
Celaena smiled faintly. "I suppose it would have."
Sam nodded and tore his gaze away from the horizon, focusing on Celaena's beautiful eyes. He came and sat down next to her on the bed. He looked back down at his hands, which were folded in his lap. He fiddled with them for a few moments.
Celaena sat up, worried. "I know that look. What is it, Sam? What's on your mind?"
"It's just . . . We haven't talked about us yet, Celaena. Who we are going to be. Who we were."
"You mean, us being together?"
Sam nodded nervously. Celaena smiled at his shyness. She found it endearing, an odd, alluring trait for an assassin.
In all honesty, Celaena didn't know what to do. She didn't think that it would work, with them both competing for the title of being the King's Champion.
Would it be possible for them to find love once again? Even when everything that had happened lay between them?
Celaena didn't know.
****
Arobynn was already having a foul day, and the news of Sam were sure not to improve his mood.
YOU ARE READING
After Everything
Fantasía"it was like a dance. a dance of silver and blades and speed. they danced around one another, moving in time, as if it had been rehearsed a hundred times before. they fought like old lovers, as if they knew the others next moves like it was written...
