A Court in Flames

Chapter 2

Aelin's POV

I woke up from whatever it was they had used on me only to find I was in an iron coffin.

No! I can't be back here! Deep breath, Aelin. Deep breath. My name is Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius and I will not be afraid. 

The coffin lid slid open. I am Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius and I will not be afraid.

I looked around the room. There was iron everywhere. And I am thoroughly trapped.

I started cursing in my head as a whip came out.

I am Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius and I will not be afraid.

The words that had helped me through, Endovier, the Valg, Maeve, the would help me here.

I will not be afraid.

2 weeks later

Their leader brought me out of the iron room every day in iron chains and an iron mask.

He warped my thoughts. Sometimes he'd change my thoughts to be, 'I am nameless and afraid', or 'I am worthless and no-one is coming'. He was like Maeve and I didn't know how long I could last this time.

Rowan's POV

I was helping out in the Mistward kitchen alongside Luca and Emrys. They were asking me about how Terrasen and Aelin were doing when a worn-out looking messenger came in.

"I was told I could find a Rowan Whitethorn Galathynius here."

"That would be me."

"We need to speak in private."

I nodded and led him to a forest clearing and surrounded it by wind to block listening ears from hearing.

"What is it?" I demanded.

"I'm Nox Owen and I was sent to give you this message from Lady Lysandra Ashryver." Lysandra? She wouldn't be sending messages unless things were dire.

"She told me to tell you that Queen Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius has been captured by unknown forces."

Aelin. Captured. Again. This is all my fault. If I hadn't left her alone.

"When did this happen?" My voice was breaking slightly and I almost collapsed on my knees. I had failed to protect her again.

"Two weeks ago."

Two weeks. Aelin had already been captured for two weeks.

"Thank you for this information." I managed to say before I ran as fast as I could for the fortress.

I burst through the door and grabbed all of my things as fast as possible. It felt like my brain had gone onto auto-pilot. My wife, my mate. Captured.

"Rowan? Are you okay?" Emrys called.

"I have to go."

"Why?" Luca asked.

"Because I need to find my mate and bring her home."

With that, I took off. It took two days to run to the nearest port and find a vessel that was small enough to be propelled fast enough by my winds but big enough that it wouldn't capsize by the waves.

The week and a half I spent on the sea, pushing my magic to near-burn-out. Then shifting into my hawk and flying to Orynth, taking another two days.

I continued to curse myself for being so slow, for being away for almost two months now, for letting Aelin be in captivity for a month.

The marble towers of Orynth came into view and as I glided down to the steps I heard Aelin call to me. No. Not Aelin. Lysandra. 

I landed in front of her and shifted.

I shot a glance around before baring my teeth, "Where is she."

She shot a look around, "I think it's best we discuss this in private."

I nodded before following her back into the castle.

We walked to the meeting room in silence. When we arrived I wrapped a cold wind around the room trapping all sound in and all other sounds out.

"Why are you pretending to be her again."

"We couldn't let the kingdom fall apart again, Rowan. And with neither of our rulers, we needed someone. We needed to at least appear united. And I'll have you know that Dorian has been sending out his soldiers to search Adarlan and we've been sending our soldiers out to check ours. Manon's been doing the same and we got the news that Doranelle and Wendlyn are helping, too."

I buried my head in my hands.

"Rowan. We'll get her back. We just have to stay strong until then. For the Terrasen. I just hope she'll start feeling better."

"What do you mean."

"She was throwing up every day of the week she was taken. I don't know what could've caused it besides sickness and now with this." She threw her hands in the air. "I just don't know, Rowan."

"She's sick? And captured?" I felt my despair grow.

"Well we don't know the cause, but pretty much."

The door flew open and I lowered my shield.

"Rowan. Thank goodness you're here." Aedion said in false cheerfulness.

"But, what happened?" I asked Lysandra.

"I went to go get her some tea for her stomach and by the time Fleetfoot got me to go check on her... she was gone. I'm sorry, Rowan. I failed you. I failed her."

"It's my fault. I left for two months. If I hadn't-"

"You both need to stop it. Aedion, for the last time, it's not your fault you were just trying to make her feel better and Rowan. You had no idea that this would happen so just don't even start. Now you two need to come to terms that it was a series of unfortunate events that led to this. So let's figure out how we can fix it instead of wallowing around in your own self-hate and being completely useless to Aelin."

"She's right, you know." I turned to find Fenrys leaning against the door. "You two are turning into useless potatoes. Well, Aedion is. Since you just got back. Although," He drawled. "You did immediately start searching for her last time. So maybe not."

Unfortunately, Fenrys was right. Gods above, I hate it when he's right. And when I looked at Aedion it was pretty obvious that he was thinking the same things I was.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's find Aelin."