A Court in Flames

Chapter 20

Aedion's POV

"Rhoe! Get back here!" Lysandra shrieked after chasing the two-year-old around all day. He had managed to evade her all day. Cunning little shifter. "Aedion! Get your hulking ass out here and help me!" She shouted. "Rutting Ashryver."

"Fine! I'm coming!" I called after her.

"Cal! No! No! No! Do not-! Ugh!" Why did we ever agree to look after Cal? I thought as he ran into the pond while chasing frogs.

A sudden roar had the children coming to a halt.

"Okay! Enough all of you! Cal. Come with me and Rhoe you listen to your mother!" I shouted.

"Now! You know better than to chase frogs before a meeting, Cal." He looked down.

"Sorry, Uncle Aedion." He muttered.

"Now. None of that. I want you to go up to your room and bathe. Get in some clean clothes and come down to the meeting and apology to all of our guests for your tardiness," I told him.

"Yes, Uncle Aedion." He scurried off.

"What are we going to do with them, Lys?" I asked her as she came in and handed her my cloak.

"I don't know. But I gotta change. My dress is ruined." I kissed her cheek before she rushed off to get changed and I hurried off to the meeting.

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"So. Your Majesty. I know that we've met over the past couple of months. I'm sorry for being late. I've been taking care of my good friend's son while the two of them are on vacation and he decided to chase frogs again. But down to business."

"Right. So we've been wondering what exactly our mineral rights are considering Terrasen."

"What mineral rights?"

"See that's exactly my point. There are none. We would like to improve that for Melisande."

"Yes, I understand that that's what you want. But, this is our country. Terrasen is free from any rule from exterior forces and thus there are no mineral rights to other countries. End of discussion."

"Well, then I hope Terrasen is prepared to go to war." 

"What are you talking about? We won't give you minerals and you then decide to declare war on us? You do realize that Terrasen has strong allies from the Wastes, Adarlan, Wendlyn and Doranelle?" The King looked at his ambassadors as if he hadn't realized that it wouldn't just be Terrasen that he'd be up against.

"Well, we would then like to discuss our trade agreement.

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I didn't know what to make of the conversation I'd just had.

"Do you think Melisande is looking for a reason to go to war against Terrasen?" I asked Lysandra as we rode a carriage to Orynth to discuss the meeting with Rowan.

"I don't know. We've had loose ties with them since the war ended. It might be because of what Ansel did on Aelin's behalf. But, I think they might be out looking for revenge and now that Aelin's gone-" Lysandra trailed off.

"Maybe... But this is definitely something Rowan needs to hear about." She nodded.

"Agreed. He'll know what to do. At least, I hope." She replied while looking out the window.

"Me too. You've seen how he and Fleetfoot have been, recently. I don't think that dog is ever going to let her go. Neither will Rowan. I don't think any of us will." She nodded.

"I'm going to get some shut-eye before we arrive. These two are exhausting me." I smiled as she turned into a ghost leopard and fell asleep on the floor.

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"You're sure?" Rowan asked me as we sat in the meeting room. I couldn't help notice the huge bags under his eyes and the way his skin had paled since the last time I saw him.

"No. I just explained that are you even paying attention?" He had a far off look in his eyes.

"Yes." I looked at him.

"Then what did I just say?" I asked and he nodded. "Rowan. For the love of- When was the last time you had a good night's sleep?" I asked while waving my hand in his face.

"Huh?" I just glared at him.

"Rowan. You need to sleep. You haven't heard a word that I've said." He just looked at me.

"I can't. I keep having dreams of her saying that it's my fault and then I wake up and she's not there and I'm up for the rest of the night." He told me.

"Rowan. Look. If you need a break-" He cut me off.

"I can't Aedion. I know what I'll do if I take a break..." He looked at me and I saw the sorrow in his eyes.

"Rowan... She wouldn't want this. She'd want you to be happy." I walked around the table and sat down beside him.

"I know. But, I can't be happy without her. She's my mate, Aedion. And after Lyria..." Right Lyria.

"I just-" A knock sounded effectively interrupting me.

"I came as quickly as I could. Seems like I arrived just after Aedion," Dorian said as he walked in.

"You did. I wanted to know, as allies, where you stand if Melisande decides to declare war on Terrasen?" I declared and Rowan looked up at me.

"I suspected as much," Dorian replied.

"Can someone fill me in here?" Rowan asked wearily.

"I was just explaining this to you for the past half hour, Rowan!" I said, exasperated. "We just met with Melisande's King and he started asking about mineral rights and declaring war. Then when I went to explain that we were allied with Adarlan and the wastes, etcetera, they decided to talk about trade rights instead. I mean how much more transparent can you get!" I shouted.

"Melisande has a king? Since when?" Rowan asked.

"Where have you been! They've had a King for almost a year. I've been meeting with their king for almost a year!" I threw my hands in the air.

"Maybe I should just join Aelin. I'm no use at all." Mine and Dorian's attention immediately snapped to Rowan. "I'm not happy without her..."

"You can't do that! We're on the brink of war, Rowan! Terrasen needs you! You swore during your wedding with Aelin that you would always, always protect Terrasen. No matter what," I shouted.

"Rowan. I know you feel hopeless right now. I know you feel as if this is your fault. But it's not. It's no-one's fault but the bastards who killed her," Dorian replied while putting a hand on his back. "Plus. Why would Aelin want you to die? I thought of everyone here that you knew she would do anything so that everyone else could survive?"

"He has a point, Rowan."

"Okay." He looked up and there was confidence in every line of his face. "So here's what we're going to do..."