After the War... There is Peace

The One & Only

Chaol was grinning like a fool as he watched his friends...no... his family being reunited. His wife, Yrene got to Aelin first, wrapping her in a loving embrace. Jose was behind her mother, peeking out from between her legs every so often to see what all the fuss was about. Chaol chuckled to himself, thinking about how rare it was for Jose to be shy in front of anyone. Maybe it was the 6"4 territorial fare bastard standing right behind her. Jose squealed as the giant picked her up and gently placed her on his shoulder. Aelin seemed to be bringing out the best in him.

It was this thought that made him blind to his surroundings, completely unaware of the two figures running at him full-speed.

"OOF." Chaol's body jerked at the sudden movement of his two best friends catching him a great bear hug. He cursed himself for not noticing their plan to catch him off guard. Laughing as he squeezed them tight, Chaol stepped back to get a good look at the one-missing link of their trio. Aelin beheld him as well, sporting her infamous mischievous grin. Her hair was noticeably longer, but other than that, she looked the same. I guess that's what immortality does to a person. Nothing at all, Chaol thought.

Of course, what he said aloud was this: "Boy, how you have aged!"

And of course, this led to Chaol getting pounced on by the feisty woman, Dorian following suit because why not? They played a game called: "Keep Chaol down for a long as possible." I don't think I need to tell you who's losing. It was only until a throat cleared that they remembered their manners or lack thereof. A small throat at that. Three sets of eyes looked down to see Jose peering at them, probably wondering what in the world was going on.

"Why hello, there Josefin," Aelin said in her most sweetest voice.
"Hi, how do you know my name?" Josefin asked.
"I've heard a lot about you through the grapevine."
"Oh...what grapevine?" 

Aelin chuckles as she bent down to whisper in her ear, "I heard you have a puppy?" After that, Jose was no longer awkward, quite the opposition actually. She grinned from ear to ear, leading the Queen of Terrasen to her room. Why? To play with puppies of course, if you're counting Dorian.

It was a little past the early afternoon before Jose finally decided to get up. No sign of her daddy, which meant that he allowed. She yawned, stretched her legs, and threw the cover from over her. Sorscha barked loudly at the end of the bed, clearly  not liking being woken up from her slumber. She jumped down and began to scratch at Jose's door, whining. Uh oh. Jose knew what that meant. She hopped down as well, slid her flats on, and rushed out the door, Sorscha at her feet. She knocked on her parents door, which was across from her own room. No answer. They must have been somewhere with Dorian.

Josefin looked down at Sorscha, wondering what to do. Sorscha peered up at Jose, still whimpering. Jose has never been outside without someone to accompany her, and it was always her mommy, daddy, or Uncle Dorian. What was she doing to do now? Sorscha really has to go.

She decided to scour the halls looking for anyone she might know. She knew at least a handful of healers or guards well enough to have them help her go take Sorscha to do her business. All she had to do was fine one of them; it wouldn't be that hard, but she knew she was running out of time. Sorscha was only newly trained, and even though Jose knew no one would be mad at her, she didn't want to look like a failure for not being able to take her own puppy to use the bathroom.

Jose was in the middle of coming up with an excuse as to why she couldn't take her Sorscha outside in time when she ran smack into a wall. No wait... not a wall... Jose looked up. A Rowan! Jose knew him! Well, at least she had just met him last night... he told her the best stories she has ever heard!

"Rowan!" Jose cried.. "Please.. I need your help, Sorscha has to go really bad!"

"Sorscha?"

"Yes, my puppy.. we have to go now!"

Jose wrapped her little hand into his ginormous one and took off. She was obviously going to slow...because the Fae picked her and Sorscha up and carried them outside. Josefin was so relieved she  felt as if she could die peacefully. Rowan chuckled as he watched her take in big gulps of air as if she had just got done running out of the castle carrying a small child and a puppy.

"Well, look who it is... finally decided to wake
up huh?"

Aelin appears behind Jose, taking her for surprise. Jose just grinned up at her.

"Next time, why don't you have your favorite guard wait outside your door to take Sorscha," suggested Aelin.

"Good idea," Jose laughed.

The two walked to a swing and sat down. Aelin and Josefin that is.. since Rowan sauntered obviously having something else in mind rather than gazing at the scenery. It was nice outside... warm and relaxing instead of the sweltering heat Rifthold was accustomed to.

"Elentiya?" Aelin told Jose that she could call her if she wanted instead of Auntie Aelin.

"Yes?"

"Could you tell me a story?"

"Hm..let's see.. ah well I know one story that you may already know.. but this time you'll hear it from a different perspective.."

"Ok, I'm ready," Jose replied just as Sorscha, who had been previously rolling in the grass, jumped into her lap, staring in her own way that she was ready too.. Jose laid her head down on Aelin's shoulder, and her aunt began to finger through her unruly hair ever so softly.

"Once upon a time," she said to her, to the world, to herself, yet again, "in a kingdom long since burned to ash, although now rebuilt, there lived a young princess who loved her kingdom.... very much."

THE END