A Court in Flames

Chapter 36

Aelin's POV

"No. A little to the left," I said while Cass and Az moved a banner for me. Feyre was left with the task of keeping Elentiya away from the garden while we prepared. "A little more... Stop! Perfect." I admired the garden.

There were a dozen bonfires, waiting to be lit, lining the pathway. I watched as a maypole was raised, curtesy of Amren and Lysandra. There were many tables holding all sorts of confections from cake to fruit and chocolates. There were streamers and banners and flowers everywhere.

I finished the last decorations as the sun was setting. Exactly when I had told Feyre to bring Elentiya out.

"Woah! This is incredible, Aelin!" Lysandra said and I was beaming. 

"Just wait until later," I responded with my fiery grin. "I hope she likes it."

"I'm sure that she'll love it and whatever you have planned for later." I heard the door swing open and turned to see Feyre and Rhys come through the door.

"Wooooah. That's impressive." Rhy gave out an appreciative whistle when he looked.

"Is she ready?" I asked. I felt a flicker of doubt cross my mind.

"She'll be down in a minute or so. She wanted to add something as a surprise," Feyre explained

I leaned against a tree. When the door opened again I stood up straight only to find Mor and Petrah come out. A small gleam of disappointment entered me.

I looked around the garden and saw Elaine, who was sitting on a bench near the garden admiring all of the work that had been put into the night's preparations. Az was sitting on her right and Lucien on her left. I was leaning against a tree by Lysandra. Cassian was sitting near where Nesta was drinking. Amren and Luna were just lounging by the door. Mor and Petrah went to sit down on the other side of the door.

I had insisted that we spent Beltane/Calanmai/Elentiya's birthday with just the Night Cout, Petrah and Lysandra.

The last drops of the sun fell below the horizon just as Elentiya stepped through the door. Her dress was a simple orange-gold with hints of red with an ice-blue sash, her hair was braided back and her eyes were wide as she stared at the scene before her.

"Happy birthday!" We all shouted and right on cue, the orange petals fell from the trees where they'd been held by nets I had carefully installed and then burned away. I let a flicker of magic spread to the huge bonfires that had been awaiting lighting. I lit them starting with the two by the door and moving towards me. She gasped.

I held out arms for her and she ran into them. "Happy birthday, Eshne," I whispered the word in the old language. The word Rowan had often whispered to me. I pushed the thoughts of him out of my mind.

"What does Eshne mean?" She asked me as she gazed up at me and I smiled down on her.

"It means little fire in the old language," I told her. 

"It's beautiful." I smiled again. "Can you sing a song in the old language?" She asked me with a hopeful expression.

"I'm not a great singer, but I can if you really want me to." She nodded and I began. I sang the song I had sung the first Beltane I had spent here. I sang the song that reminded me so much of Rowan that it hurt and I did it because I don't think I would ever deny my daughter anything.

When I finished Elentiya asked me, "Why are you crying, mom?" I smiled at her.

"I'm crying because I love that song so rutting much," I explained. A half-truth. I did love the song. And I loved the memories that came with it. She smiled at me again. Cauldron, I love that smile. But also because of how much it reminded me of Rowan.

As Elentiya devoured the chocolates I couldn't help my mind wandering to thoughts of Rowan and how I hadn't even let him explain. Maybe I should've. I was so preoccupied that I hadn't even noticed the fire that was starting to singe the bottom of my Terrasen-green dress.

Elentiya's POV

While my mother had sung that beautiful song, the song I didn't understand. I had seen the tears fall down her face. It was the same face I had seen often for the past couple of weeks.

Maybe she was just so happy that we didn't have to worry about wars and pain. But... it was the same face I had worn whenever I was sad.

As the moon was nearing the middle of the sky I saw sparks dance at the tips of my mother's fingers. Then a huge serpent of flames shone and slithered into the sky. I watched as a dragon came to life beside it.

They danced in the sky and when a fire hawk joined them the flickered before glowing stronger than before. The fire creatures dimmed in comparison to the stag that joined them, a flame in between his antlers. The Lord of the North.

I watched in awe as they danced in the sky. Then I heard a voice. Deep and ancient and powerful. He was singing and the flames flickered out. To say the least, I was confused as my mother ran. I followed in my dragon form as she ran through the trees. Cauldron! She was fast.

I landed as she continued on and came face-to-face with a fae male. He had silver-hair and a wicked tattoo down his face. My father. I wouldn't let him near her, though. Not after what she had said to him. 

He tried to go around me, but a wall of flames appeared. He darted in a different direction and my eyes could hardly follow him but my mind created a wall of ice. He'd have to knock me out or wait to get out of here.

"Let me through." He demanded. I just hissed in response. A flicker of irritation crossed his face as I blocked the entire area in ice and fire and wind. He sighed in defeat. And as he looked past me I felt the air leave my lungs. I shifted and fell to my knees as black dots came to my eyes. My magic wasn't working against him.

Of course, it isn't, Elentiya. He's your father. He had had years to master his magic I had mere months. I threw a shield of hard air around me and my lungs flooded with oxygen.

I felt his magic pushing against mine. Hard. I let go of the shield around me. My magic was weakening quickly. I couldn't risk letting him past. Not yet.

As my magic winked out and I threw small shields where he tried to escape I felt the air leaving my lungs and I had to push back with my own to keep from passing out. I knew my eyes were glowing. The golden center like flames and the outer ring was glowing ice-blue as I used my magic.

As I fell to my knees, my magic still stopping him from leaving, I started seeing black dots blocking my vision. I lost consciousness as a ring of flames burst all around me.