A Court in Flames

Chapter 25

Rowan's POV

Lorcan should be arriving in Adarlan today. If nothing stopped him.

We'd been lucky so far. Dorian, Manon and Sellene were offering aid. It was surprising when we found that we'd be going against the Khaganate and Briarcliff. They'd been our allies during the Valg war and somehow Melisande had convinced them to turn against us.

"Rowan?" Someone asked tentatively.

I snapped at them, "What."

"It's just that I have a report. I've found why so many countries are determined to go against us." I turned to find Lysandra staring at me. "They think you killed Aelin. We all know you would never do such a thing, but the other countries, the ones not so close to us believe that... You and Aelin weren't mates and that you killed her so you could be king." She was wringing her fingers.

I just felt a silent rage building inside of me. Why the hell would I ever harm Aelin! I am more likely to kill myself than hurt a single hair on her head.

"I know that you didn't. Terrasen knows how much Aelin loved you and you loved her. They saw you build that theatre for her. And buy her chocolates whenever she asked. And gave her books and took her shopping. No-one- I- have never seen her so happy, Rowan and if her cousins and the rest of the world don't understand that then there is nothing we can do about it. 

"Do you know what she would say if she were here, Rowan? She would say 'who gives a damn what the rest of the world thinks? Let's go rattle the stars!' That's what she would say. So... let's do that. Let's rattle the stars for Aelin, for Terrasen, for each other and for ourselves."

I felt my lip twitch. She would say all of that and more. She'd come up with a crazy, insane, suicidal plan that would save everyone else. Gods. I missed her smile and her laugh and... her. And then there was this feeling in me. This feeling that told me I wasn't alone anymore.

"Well! What are we waiting for? Let's make a plan to rattle the stars!" And for the first time in six years I smiled.

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Elentiya's POV

I was flying. My wings spread out and speeding along on the wind I had created. Cauldron, this freedom... I could stay up here forever. I would stay up here forever if it weren't for my need to eat and drink and my family.

I glided back down to the clearing and shifted. I saw my mom smiling at me.

"Aelin!" Feyre shouted.

My mom put her head in her hands. "I don't know. I. Don't. Know. Feyre. I am not putting Elentyia at risk!"

"Aelin... You need that sword. It's a symbol. Plus, Elentiya is perfectly capable of stealing it. Do you know how powerful she is? Her ice and wind and fire. It's the perfect combination of magic!" Lorcan said. What are they talking about? 

"What sword?" I asked.

Mor stood up, "There's a sword that your mother blessed with a small fraction of her fire magic. And you know how there's a war coming up?" I nodded. "Well, your mother needs it because it's such a powerful symbol and you're the only one who can reach and sneak into the war camp that Rowan is visiting and steal it."

"Why can't Feyre?" My mother protested.

"You know it has to be Elentiya." My mother sat down in defeat.

"I'll do it, mom! I can! I can get it!" I stood strong and proud. I could and I would. For my mother. For my kingdom. For my future. For me.

"Are you sure?" She asked me, concerned. I nodded. "So here's what you need to know..."

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I flew over the encampment. It was a decently sunny day which was good for me.

I was searching for and red reflective ruby in the sun's glare. Or the silver hair of my father.

My wind kept me in the air when my wings grew too tired. I kept waiting for my prey to show itself. Maybe they got the wrong day? But no. There he was his silver hair gleaming and on his back... Goldryn.

My eyes narrowed on him. It was now or never. If I couldn't pull this off I knew my mother would come raging into this encampment and take it.

I started my dive. No-one seemed to notice until I was about ten seconds from crashing into the ground I spread my wings.

I heard a shout, "ROWAN! LOOK OUT!!" A wind hit me, but I was prepared, my shields were already up. Arrows were firing at me, but the bounced away harmlessly.

I extended my claws and he ducked, revealing my prize. As I landed. I picked it up in my front claws and with a single beat of my wings rose in the air and let the wind do the rest.

A shriek reached my ears and when I looked back I saw Rowan following me in his hawk form.

I turned to face him and he nearly crashed into me. I puffed smoke from my nostrils before I landed.

"Look. I need that sword back." He tried approaching me, but I shot into the air and led him straight towards the sun that was now starting to sink below the horizon. He was slower than me as I climbed higher in the air. I levelled out when the air started feeling thin. When he levelled out behind me, I smiled at myself and dove.

I led him over the rendezvous point. I saw my mother and as I flew over the roof a second time I dropped it.

She held out a hand and caught it by the handle just before it clattered on the roof.

Her other hand gripped Mor's and they disappeared. I screeched to a halt three roofs down where I landed, shifted and gripped Feyre's hand before she winnowed us back to my mother.

I was greeted with the welcoming embrace of my mother. I had succeeded.