Her Name Was Aelin Ashryver Galathynius (A ToG High School Au)

The truth is out (to like two people)

Aedion and I entered the canteen. I scanned the room, seeing if anyone else who knows 'Celeana' is here. I couldn't see anyone, so it seems that I'm off the hook for now. It was a close call with Lysandra, but I'm glad we're okay now. At least she won't question why I get nightmares so frequently.

"So, the guys. Who are these 'guys' you speak of? And where are they? I can't exactly see anyone desperate for you to sit with them."

"Oh ha ha. I think you'll prefer this to meeting my friends anyway. Elide, over here?"

"Eli- oh my god." It clicked when I saw her get up from the table she was sat at. Elide Lochan. When Lysandra said Elide I didn't think it could be this Elide. My Elide.

"Aelin!" She shrieked, and ran over to me. Well, as fast as she could. She limped horrifically, I wonder what could have happened to leave that limp. She pulled me in for a tight hug, her frame even smaller than my own. She had grown out her dark hair, it came down to her waist now, where as the last time I saw her it was just brushing her shoulders. Then again, that was ten years ago.

"You're right. This is way better than meeting your friends. We all have a lot to catch upon, and I'd rather not repeat myself a million times. Is there somewhere quiet we can talk?" I stepped out of Elide's hug to look around.

"Oh yeah. You guys go grab some food, I'll meet you there."

-

"So, I hate to be the one to ask, but is this the part where you tell us where you went for ten years?" Aedion asked, arching one of his eyebrows. I swallowed, nodded, and started to speak.

-

I awoke screaming. A nightmare. A horrid one. It shook me to my core. So I went to my parent's room. I tried to talk to them, but they didn't answer. I tried to shake them awake, but they didn't wake up. I climbed into bed with them and fell asleep. This time, I awoke to someone else's screams. Marion's, Elide's mother. I looked around. My parents were never asleep. Their eyes were wide open, completely blank and lifeless. I was covered in their blood. I was eight at the time. 

-

Marion cleaned me up and took me to her house. There I played all day with Elide. We were already very close friends, as our moms were as close as sisters. I stayed with her and Elide for a week. Then one night, Elide's uncle came to visit. He tried to kill me. But Marion got in the way, and he killed her instead. Marion told me to run, so I did. I never knew what happened to Elide. I  still carry the weight of that and her mother's death to this day.

-

I ran until I fell into a river. It was below freezing in temperature, considering it was a cold night in the middle of winter. I tried to keep my head above water, but eventually I went so numb I couldn't move. Two strong hands pulled me out of the water just before I lost consciousness. I now know that it was Arobynn Hamel, The King of Assassins.

-

Arobynn adopted me as his protege. He made me change my name, and I eventually became Celeana Sardothien. He worked me harder than any other person in that place. When I started to favour my right hand, he made me break it so that I could fight with my left just as well. He didn't take no for an answer. The only thing that got me through the years in that place was Sam.

-

Tears were rolling down my cheeks. I looked at Aedion and Elide. ELide was crying to, and Aedion had the silver of tears lining his eyes. Elide took my hand in hers over the top of the table.

'You are the strongest person I've ever met," She said, "I mean it. I don't care that you left me. You went through far worse. My mother died so that you could get away. You honoured her last wish by doing so. I can't blame you for that." She stared right at me, daring me to deny it.

"So you had to... kill people." Aedion stated. I nodded my head shamefully.

"It's okay if you don't want to talk to me anymore, I can go-"

"No!" He grabbed my arm as I started to stand up, "sit back down. I lost you once. I'm not losing you again over something you had to do to survive. I'm going to have to wrap my head around it- but I love you Aelin. I don't care what you've done." Elide looked at me up and down as I sat back down.

"That's not the full story, is it? There's more, isn't there?" I nodded my head, tears falling even faster. Wow, I've cried a lot today. That wasn't my plan for the first day of school. 

"I don't think - I don't think I'm ready to talk about that yet."

"It's okay," She gave me a small, reassuring smile, "I get it. For some things, you need to let it heal for a while before you can talk about it." Aedion nodded in agreement.

"Thank you for understanding. I know it's not exactly... relatable." I wiped my tears, putting in a smile. "Now then, time for my chocolate cake."

-

After dinner I sad goodbye to Aedion and Elide, and went back to my room. Lysandra was putting on a long coat. She had her make up and hair fully done up, like she was going out.

"Do you have a date?" I asked as I pulled my shoes off and sat down on my bed.

"Kind of. Arobynn wants my... services." She sighed.

"Oh Lysandra... I thought you were close to paying off your debt to Clarisse."
"So did I. Then she doubled it when she realised I was what most of her clients wanted."

"Are you close?"

"Not by a long shot. Don't worry, I won't tell Arobynn about you."

"Thank you." I said, solemnly, "I wish there was a way for me to help."

"Don't try to talk to me about it when I get back. When I get back, it will probably be very late. Don't wait up."

-

"You waited up." She stated as I walked through the door, "I told you not to."
"Go have a shower. I have a surprise for you when you get out." She looked at me apprehensively, trying to see if I was up to mischief. I pointed towards the bathroom, and she sighed, but obliged and went in. When I heard the shower going, I started cutting up a chocolate cake.

"Where did you get cake from?" Lysandra came out of the bathroom about twenty minutes later, fully dressed in some seriously fluffy pajamas. 

"I stole it from the kitchens. Thought you could use a pick me up. Chocolate cake helps everything."

"I agree with you there." She took a slice and started to eat, and I did the same. 

"You know, my old room mate, Nehemia, was so uptight. I had to come up with a different excuse every other day as to why I was going out. She never bought any of them. She probably thought I was out partying or something."

"Then I will believe every shitty excuse you feed me. And I'll have some sort of cake when you get back."

"Seriously?"
"Hey, we have to stick together. And it gives me an excuse to eat cake."

A/N

How did you like that? I'm starting to think of starting an acotar fanfiction as well. I just love SJM's books too much. Have you read House of Earth and Blood? If you have, what dd you think? If you haven't, are you planning to?