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#i couldn't help but include rowan too
bubbles-for-all-of-us · 6 months
Note
protective jealous lorcan x reader where reader is part of the cadre and is flirting with someone else,, maybe he insults her or something and lorc steps in fhidsnfikdf feel free to take this wherever you want lol
Maybe I deserved it
Lorcan didn't know, he couldn't tell when he had grown so protective of you. He had seen your potential before anyone else did. He had watched you. Never dropping his gaze from your frame. The way it moved. The way you possessed your magic. The way to yield it to your call.
There was a gentleness about you. Something that none of the males that were a part of the cadre carried with them. At least not openly. Gavriel, maybe, was the sweetest of them all but even he possessed a lethal look. One that many feared. And no one dared to question. But your strength came with tenderness. The softness that wrapped around everyone who came close to you.
Lorcan knew there was something special about you. Something that drew him closer to you the day the three of them came back home to you making dinner in the kitchen. It didn't seem to take anyone else aback. But Lorcan. Lorcan couldn't move. At the moment you handed him a bowl with warm soup, something within him snapped. Something that will never be the same. Something that changed him as a male. That brought his worst fear to life. He pushed his chair back quickly. Knocking the ball over as he stood and walked away. You called after him but he didn't listen. His heart was beating against his chest too loudly.
Everything changed after that night. You had no clue what you had done wrong. Neither Gavriel nor Rowan were much help when you ask them. You tried to approach Lorcan but every time you did you get dismissed. Or he just walked right past you. He refused to train with you. He refused to go on missions with you. He barely ate in the same room as you did. No longer come to your room to read or simply share a drink. It's as if you had died to him.
Your chest ached. There was always something about him. Different. People feared him but not you. Yes, he was deadly. Maybe he was death himself. But all you saw was someone desperate to be loved. Someone you knew you could love. But you quickly realized that Lorcan was a male who didn't care for such things. And now with him ignoring you. With him not even glancing your way. You knew that you had to kill out the last flame that burned within your chest. Sacrifice the longing for a happy ending. Because the happy ending you wish for clearly didn't include him.
That's how you found yourself in one of the taverns. Tight leather clothes exchanged for a flowing dress. Twirling as males spun you around in the middle of a dance floor. You were intoxicated, yes. But the last couple of weeks have been torturous. You needed an escape. Even if it was hard to find one in the city. But you were desperate for it. Clawing for it. Ready to settle for crumbs. Twisting the golden curls of a male in front of you.
Lorcan saw red as he watched you. His drink abandoned for a long while now. The only reminder of it was the way glass pressed against his palm. Even Gavriel, who usually kept away from commenting on things like this growled next to Lorcan. The whole cadre was protective of you. To them, you were a family. A sister. They protected you no matter what. The fact that all of them sensed danger pleased Lorcan's worries too.
You were spinning around one moment the next sharp hand took hold of your hair, yanking you to the side. You let out a shriek. Way too intoxicated to catch the attack before it happened. "Fea whore", the voice snarled, "what more are you good for than to be bedded". The male shoved your body against the wall. The impact made you let out a painful exhale. Your hands fumbled to reach for the dagger strapped to your thigh.
"You little whore...", yet the last word the male spoke sounded more like a gasp. And when you opened your eyes a dark black shadow was wrapped around his throat. Choking out the air and keeping any sound at bay.
"I dare you to say it to my face", a low voice appeared, making you quickly jerk your head to the side. Lorcan's eyes were pitch black as he stared at the male in front of him. You felt arms reaching for you, flinching slightly. Only to let out a breath of relief when you sensed Fenrys. The male clawed at the invisible rope. "Say it", Lorcan dared, loosening his magic around the male's throat, "Loud and clear so everyone could hear". It was a dare. One no one who knew what power Lorcan held would dare to say.
The male shook his head and Lorcan chuckled, "What a pity. Shat your pant's already?". Lorcan turned his back towards the man taking a couple of steps back. The male's shoulders sacked with relief. But before he could take another full breath a dagger ripped through his flesh. Gasps erupted. People fled the taverna. All curiosity gone.
You watched the blood coating the floor. You've seen death plenty of times but this... A tight grip on your upper arm brought you back to reality. Lorcan was dragging you towards the door. "Lorcan", it was Gavriel who growled in warning. Yet none of the males followed. "That was...", you started but Lorcan cut you off, "He had no right to talk to you like that. You are a part of the cadre". You looked at him in disbelief, "My title. Your title doesn't give you a right to kill an innocent man". Lercan let out a loud growl, "Innocent? Do you know what was going through his head? Do you know what...", he stopped, taking a deep breath in. As if he was breathing fire.
"Maybe I...", you started but Lorcan quickly cut in, "Don't you dare finish that sentence". It was a warning. Maybe I deserved it. Those words even if unsaid skinned Lorcan alive. "You are the best thing that had crossed the gates of Doranelle. The only reason why the sun finally fells warm here. Why...", his voice died down. Lorcan never opened his heart to anyone. Not like this. All you could do was gape at hum. His face twitched. "If anyone deserved anything in there, it was that bastard. Not you", with those last words Lorcan turned away from you. Striding for the woods in speed you could never match.
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frenziedslashers · 10 months
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Baby Come Home;;
A/N: I have NOT seen GOTG Vol. 3 and probably won't until they release it on dvd unfortunately! I don't have the time to go and see it in theaters so please do not put any spoilers in the comments or tags! I am very much in love with Peter Quill though and have been since I saw gotg vol. 1 when I was like- 11 lmao. BUT ANYWAYS- here is this little thing and I hope that you guys enjoy it. I will be including a marvel character list in my master list for those who want to send in requests. I probably won't do a lot of characters for marvel though since I am still pretty hit or miss with the fandom! This was going to be solely fluff, but then I got carried away...
Pairing: Peter Quill x Trans Masc!Reader
Warnings: Blowjob, piv sex, reader uses he/him pronouns, minors dni!! If I need to add more please let me know. This is also NOT proofread, so beware lmao
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Peter Jason Quill. A man of mystery, wonder, and most of all. The man of your dreams. That's at least what he tells everyone when he mentions you.
You'd dent it whenever he'd bring it up. Claiming that he wasn't that important to you. He was a want, not a need!
Yet, as the days passed on. He was beginning to become a necessity in your life. Everything from his dorky grin, to his sarcastic sense of humor. He was your boyfriend. Your Star Lord.
As the days went on, it seemed like he spent less time with you. You were venturing with him and the other guardians for so long. But things got dirty with Rowan, and Peter was scared he'd lose you. Afraid that some space villain could use you to their advantage. A hostage situation that Peter couldn't bare to even think of.
"I want to help," you told him, but he only smiled. Reaching up to brush some hair from your eyes.
"Baby, you can help by holding the fort down. You're safer here," "I can take care of myself, Quill," you spat, and he chuckled at your spitfire attitude. "I know you can, why do you think I like you?" He teased and you rolled your eyes. Crossing your arms across your chest. "I need something to look forward to when I get home," he cooed, holding your hips while swaying the both of you lightly. Pulling your body against his while his head leant closer to yours.
A giggle did happen to escape your lips. Leaning up to press a kiss to his nose. A snicker leaving his mouth at your action. His grip tightening a bit as you reached out to wrap your arms around his shoulders. "All right, but my Star Lord better be quick. I might have to find someone else to bug if he takes too long." You spoke with a small pout, and he sighed. "Well, your Star Lord doesn't like the sound of that. He'll be home as quick as I can," He cooed, leaning forward to press a loving kiss to your lips. He was mesmerizing.
He took forever to come home it seemed. The first few nights were fine. You could handle a few days by yourself, but on the fourth night? That's when it started to feel weird. To feel as if something was missing from the comfort of your bed.
Someone.
Peter wasn't the quietest sleeper, but he was a distraction from your thoughts. You were able to lay on his chest and focus on his heart beat and deep breaths. Or the sound of his faint snoring. Even the sound of him talking in his sleep here or there. He was truly a mouth even in his sleep.
You found yourself curled up on your shared bed many of the nights. Lying on your side while humming the songs that he would play or sing for you. Even going as far as listening to the CD's on the CD player that he happened to find. Falling asleep to the songs that he would often hum around your home. It was comforting and felt like maybe he was there.
Peter on the other hand felt more lost than ever. He found himself looking over his shoulder for you. Thinking of a topic of interest or question to ask you and blurting out the beginning of the sentence before he finally realized that you weren't there with him. Getting a weird glance from his crew mates.
When he was finally on his way home he couldn't move any faster.
He was racing back to your shared home faster than any man had ever raced. Rocket had even dropped a few comments about it. Something about how you had him wrapped around your finger. Or something else, he wasn't quite sure. He could care less to listen to what the talking raccoon had to say.
When Peter got to the house it was empty. The door was locked, and the lights were off. His face fell as he stepped into the dimly lit home. His key for your home in hand. Shutting the door with a click of a button. His eyes scanning for any sign of where you could be. He needed nothing more than to pull you in for a hug. To lay down with you and never let you go again.
"Baby?" He called out, dropping his coat and bag on the nearest chair. His hand holding over his blaster when he heard movement in your bedroom. "Hey, you in there?" He asked, furrowing his brows before pushing the door open with the tip of his boot.
His shoulders relaxed when he saw you standing in the center of the room. Facing the door with wide eyes. The glow of the city lights that bled through your bedroom window left a glow around you that made you look like some celestial life form to Peter.
"Hey," He repeated, the both of you staring for a moment or two again before you jumped into his arms. Peter leaning back to lift you off the floor a little. Then dropping you back to your feet. Arms wrapped tight around your waist.
"I didn't think you'd ever come back," You spoke dramatically, and Peter snorted. "Me? I always come back. How could I leave someone as hot as you waiting?" He teased, and you rolled your eyes. Pressing your hands to his chest while looking to the side. "Nevermind, maybe you could have stayed away another week," you sneered. Which of course, Peter just laughed. Leaning down to press a kiss to your cheek.
"Hm, I could have, but what can I say? I like torturing you." He sighed, leaning his forehead against the side of your head. "I see you're wearing my shirt anyways?" He spoke with slight question. Reaching down to tug at the fabric that hung off your body. It fit you nicely, in his opinion. Something about seeing you in his clothes just did something to him. It always did.
"Shut up before I regret giving you my house key," you snarled, looking you at your lover. A mistake that you'd surly make again.
He was staring at you with such a mix of adoration and mischief. Grinning while running his hands on your sides. "Quill," you warned, but he didn't listen. You knew he wouldn't, either.
His lips were pressed on yours in seconds. Holding you in place with a firm grip. You were thankful. Sure that if his hands weren't holding you up, you would have melted to the floor. Every kiss from him felt better and more intoxicating than the last.
A soft laugh escaped past his lips. The noise bleeding into your own mouth. "What?" You asked between kissed, and he only shook his head. "Just thinking about how much I fucking missed you, is all." He sighed, leading you over to the bed before peeling his uniform off. Tossing everything on the ground. If it weren't for you, your home would be a mess with how he littered all his belongings everywhere he went.
"Miss me that much?" You asked. Your eyes wandering your lovers body as he stripped down to nothing but his boxers. Climbing into bed beside you. "Oh, you don't even know. Got so bad Drax was telling me to shut up about you," He snickered, kissing the side of your face while pulling you closer.
It wasn't until he mentioned Drax that you remembered why he was away for so long. Why you had to stay back and 'hold the fort down,' as he said weeks prior.
"Is everyone okay?" You asked, and he furrowed his brows. Nodding his head while pulling you just a little closer. "Yeah, of course they are." He assured. "We're the Guardians of The Galaxy, Baby. We ain't goin' no where." You could only roll your eyes at his words. Reaching out to drape your arms around him while rolling onto his chest.
"I'm glad you're safe," you muttered against his skin. You weren't even looking at him and you could already see the giant smile on his face. "Yeah, I'm glad you are too." He hummed, reaching out to rub the side of your face. Guiding your head up in order to look at him.
He stared at you for a while. His eyes swimming in yours. Finally parting from your gaze to look over the rest of your features. His thumb swiping over your cheek, then your lips. "God, I missed you," he whined, pulling you in for another kiss. Just this one felt needier than the last. Curiosity surging through you on what spurred this on. Did something happen while he was away? Or did he just miss you that much? Then again, it was Peter. He was always pulling you in for kisses that almost always turned into more than just a kiss. The man was far from innocent, even if he liked acting that way at times.
He rolled you on to your back. His hands sprawled on your sides before they rubbed down to cup your ass. A cocksure grin pulling the corners of his lips tight. "You're such a perv," you hissed against his lips, but he only laughed. His lips trailing from yours, down to your neck. Kissing and sucking. Making sure that there were marks the both of you could see in the morning.
"How much did you miss me?" He asked you with a brow raised. Kissing down your chest. His shirt being the only thing that kept his skin from yours. "Come on, humor me," He pleaded with a grin. "I missed you," "Yeah, but how much?" He asked again, smiling a bit more when you rolled your eyes. "A lot." He snickered, hands running under the shirt to grope at your skin. "Good boy," he teased with a smirk. You wished you could melt away with all his playful remarks. Hide and never be seen again, but you knew if anyone would take care of you. It'd be Peter.
"Have I ever told you how handsome you are?" He asked, tugging the shirt up your body. You moved to help him pull it off of you. Leaving your upped half bare. Which left Peter with ample room to mark and oggle.
"All the time," you responded with a blush. It seemed like one of his favorite things to do was compliment you. Shower you with praise and remind you how loved you really were. Even if you didn't have anyone else. You always had him, and he was sure to let you know that any chance that he got.
He bit the side of your stomach. Your body jolting at the sensation of the pinch of his teeth. "Quill!" You snapped, and he giggled. "M'bad," He slurred, his fingers hooking in the hem of your pants. Dancing up through his eyelashes. "May I?" He asked, and you sighed.
You nearly said 'yes', but a smirk of your own fell on your face. Pursing your lips to stifle a laugh. "No," you spoke in a teasing tone. Curious how he would act to your attitude tonight. "Come on," He whined. Laying his chin on your stomach. "What's a guy gotta do to get in his boyfriends pants?" He pouted. His agony only making you snicker.
"How much did you miss me?" You asked this time. Quill knew what game you were playing. Truthfully, he was all for it, too.
"More than you can ever imagine. I'd like to show you, too," He hummed, staring up at you with such a dreamy gaze. He always looked at you like this. As if you hung the stars and the moons that circled the system. You were more of a God than any God he ever heard of. If he could worship you more than he already did, he would.
"What if I show you?" You quipped, his brows raising with curiosity. "I'm all ears, handsome."
You took your time. Shifting your body while motioning him to lay on his back. Peter couldn't move fast enough. It had only been about three weeks away from you, but he was so pent up already. Aching for any touch you had to offer him. He could eat you up if you'd let him. Be embraced in nothing but you.
Once he was on his back, and you were onto of him. He was more antsy than when he was in control of the situation at hand. His body squirming beneath you while his hands fought to find a place to settle. Your hips, thighs, beside him on the bed, he couldn't decide.
His hips thrusted up when you reached down to palm his erection. His face scrunching up with a mix of pain and pleasure. "Shit," You only laughed at how needy he was. Taking note of how red his face turned when you did. "Missed me a lot, huh?" You teased. "Hey, what can I say? My hand doesn't do the trick when I got you at home," He shot back with a grin. He was something else.
You slid down his body. Hands trailing down his chest, stomach, and then hooking on the waist band of his boxers. Kissing the skin that your hands trailed over. Even planting a kiss on the tip of his clothed erection. Peter let out a groan at that. His head falling back while his chest began to heave. He was already such a mess, and you had barely begun.
Peter let out a grunt when you tugged his boxers down. Lulling him to lift his hips so it would be easier to move them down. "This how much you missed me?" He asked, a moan slipping out at the end of his sentence when your hand ran over the tip of his dick. "You have told me before that I'm better with my actions over words," you half answered the question. Leaning down to lick up his shaft before he could even get another snarky word out of that damn mouth of his.
"Oh dear Lord," He sighed, his hand coming to tangle in your hair while you took him into your mouth. "You're like my own personal angel, I swear," He rambled. Something he often did when you sucked him off.
When his hands tugged a little harsher at your hair, and his hips began trying to thrust up into your throat. You knew he was close, but you didn't let him finish. Pulling off of him with a 'pop' that left Peter whining out in annoyance. "I was so close," he stammered. You already knew that, and he knew that you knew.
When you began climbing over his body he was quick to straighten up. His eyes now focused on yours. Watching you intently as your face grew closer to his. "I love you, Star Lord," he smiled, a soft gaze in his eyes that quickly grew mischievous. "And I love you, Baby," he lulled, gripping your hips before positioning you over his tip. "Shall we?" He asked, watching as you smiled while rolling your eyes. Only answering with your actions rather than your words.
You leant down to lock his lips with yours. Sinking onto him at a lenient pace. "God I missed this," you both sighed into the dark room. You both had missed this, but you also just missed each other. This just happened to be the closest way you could both get to each other.
His hands gripped at your sides. A grunt rumbling from his chest when you moved. "I'm not gonna last long," He breathed out, his eyes already growing heavy. His breath rugged and hips struggling to be still.
"All right, then make it quick and good, Peter," you complied. Rolling your hips while motioning your head to the side. Peter taking the hint to grab and flip you onto your back. The fight to be still was gone. Now he had permission to move as fast as he wanted.
His thrusts started out long and hard, but he was quick to speed up to a pace that had you both making noises. Moans, grunts, pants, cries. All of the above could be heard from your home. Echoing and bouncing through the walls while Peter bounced you on his dick.
"Pete," you called out, and he was there in an instant. Leaning down to lock his lips with your own while one hand came in between both of your bodies. Rubbing your clit while he fucked you just right.
For saying he wasn't going to last long. He wound up lasting longer than either of you thought he would. Able to bring you up to your orgasm before he pulled out and came on your stomach. A mess that he would clean up for you. Just like his trinkets and clothes that he scattered around your home. That was something he would save for later. Right now he was exhausted. Worn out from mind blowing sex, and his long journey where he hardly got any rest.
"Are you able to stay for a while?" You asked, your chest rising and falling with each deep breath that you took. "Yeah, probably a week or two before Rocket decides he wants to steal something shiny," He muttered against your shoulder. Pressing a chaste kiss to the skin. "Good. I have more planned for us than just sleeping together," you tittered, and he smiled. "I wouldn't want anything less, sugar."
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pvrkacciosan · 6 months
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The Heart of the Lioness: ☽⋆26⋆☾
To Ignite the Kingdom of Ash
The Heart of the Lioness Masterlist
Previous Part
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☽ - Empire of Storms - ☾
Brielle stayed to sit with Aelin, long gone were the tears. Lysandra too had slipped from the room moments before,  giving the fae females a moment.
Brielle reached across to Aelin's leg, taking her hand that rested atop there. Clasping her hand within the warmth of her own.
"I'm telling you this. As I intend to follow you onto my dying breath."
Aelin sat upright, the rim line of her eyes red with the colour coming back to her face from throwing up moments before.
"I sent letters to the Pride members that aren't already here. Many are now on their way and a word from any of them - a group of soldiers will be at your disposal. All of my sixteen members each command about one hundred spies, from across the continent and in the south."
Aelin's expression was a mix of shock, Brielle didn't blame her, couldn't. No one out with the Pride every knew their exact numbers. No one living anyway. Well. . . Until now.
"Many are making their way here now. I already have some moving to Terrasen. They range in species and talents which I know will be useful." she squeezed Aelin's hand.
Brielle had spend enough time around Maeve to know when something was still plaguing her mind. Coaxing it from Aelin was all she needed. Brielle didn't have to speak the words directly, she knew the Queen of Fire understood.
Aelin cast her eyes down to her own hands, warm with heat, "We will need more." the queen hesitated, drawing a heavy breath before she looked back up, "More fire."
Brielle's blood came alight, racking her thoughts and memories for any spy, lord or person known to the Pride around the continent. If there was other magic wielders, Brielle would find them.
It was Aelin's turn to grip the other females hand, "I know you don't talk about it." This was one of the few time Brielle saw Aelin hesitate with her questioning, "But the Golden Death."
Every nerve in her zapped, she forced herself to not pull her hands from Aelin's, felt her body flush with heat.
"Do you have anything in your arsenal that could help us. What did you do?"
The memories from Vallen made her skin prickling, and not in the way Fenrys made it ignite. This was painful, uncomfortable.  She just had to keep breathing, In and Out.
"Maeve has been trying to get me to open about that for years. Baba Yellowlegs was after the same information. Both interested in exactly what I did with my powers that day." Brielle glanced down to her own hands, could still see the stains of the blood on her skin. "A city of ten thousand gone-" she clicked a finger in the space between them, "Just like that."
Aelin fell deeper into her thoughts, Seemed content to move on. 
Brielle raised her chin, she was going to be devoted to Aelin more then she ever was to Maeve, "If there is any way for me to get that level of magic this time, I will harness and use it for you."
She could tell it was struggle for Aelin to not gawk, usually she was more put together then this, but she had just had one of the most staggering of realisations recently. Brielle finally rose up, aiming for the door when she sensed Rowan's approach.
"Why now?" Aelin asked, 
Brielle paused by the door, meaning every word remembering that friend she had lost all those years ago in the city now left to nothing but ruins, a damning that had almost cost her everything. Including herself.
"Some people are worth it."
☽ - Kingdom Of Ash- ☾
It became clear enough that Cairn enjoyed finally having the power to hold over her. Now that Maeve had given him unhinged access to his playtime.
She had spent the better part of almost a month being tortured alongside Aelin, Chained to a wall alongside a lethargic Vera held up in the room along with Fenrys.
The veil of sanity was slipping, she knew this was the payback. Ever lashing, burning, knife against her skin, broken bone. The only difference she wasn't being healed the way Aelin was. Those wounds lay open and exposed.
And the worse thing about it all, Brielle could see Fenrys struggling through everything, but with each time Cairn turned his attention to her, she felt the power shift in Fenrys. Her mate was inches from her, yet she couldn't reach him.
Brielle could only hold out against the pain, hiding her suffering to minimise his own, and to not get himself killed by doing something reckless. The physical torment she could deal with, but the psychological. . .
Her blessing, she could speak freely. As could Vera, but they kept their voices hushed to anyone passing outside could't hear them and inflict more suffering on them all.
Vera was left physically unharmed for now, she had just lost a lot of weight, dropping to almost half her healthy size. The sight seized the Lionesses' heart every time. The protective side of the Brielle wanting to lash at Cairn every time he stepped into the room.
It had taken Brielle almost two weeks to heal from the dagger Isaiah stabbed her with, her muscles still twitched painfully if she turned awkwardly or too suddenly. Most of her body ached now from the scars littering her body. 
The ground was cold beneath her, she often rested with her eyes closed, listening to Vera sing softly, a comfort they had all come to depend on. 
There was jangle of keys outside the door, her eyes snapped open in alert, the wolf in the corner propped his head up from where it had rested atop his paw.
He shifted not but an inch in her direction, the only comfort they could share to each other beyond the blinking, Brielle had taught it to Vera and Aelin. For when words couldn't be spoken they could stay connected.
The door spun open, Cairn stood there, expression sour, missing its usual devilish grin. Looked right in her direction, She wanted to curl further into the wall, to shy from him. But her muscle were too stiff from sitting still to move.
He stormed his way in, passed Vera and Fenrys, passed his table set up with an array of tools. He reached for the locks chaining her to the wall. Pulling them off with a rattle he moved back towards the door, 
Brielle tried to rise to her feet quickly, she stumbled and Cairn yanked on the chains, her knees clattered painfully on the stone. Fenrys growled low, Brielle cut him a look. They couldn't afford any sort of defiance, Brielle couldn't risk it.
"I'm okay." she whispered, his ear twitched, the only indication he had heard her words.
Cairn puller her up, Brielle didn't resist when they continued out, and began to assent up a curling set of stairs, The door was sealed behind her, she couldn't get the chance to look back.
Cairn continue to drag her by the chains up the stairs. Until they emerged into light. It was blinding after spending so long in the dark, She tried to blink, if to bring her vison back somehow.
"You know the price for defiance." Cairn was so close to her, she felt his words against her skin. She jerked her head back, skin crawling from the wrongness of him near her mating mark. 
The chains were unclasped from her wrists. Felt the warmth of her magic pooling back into her blood, healing the blemish's on her skin.
Cairn casted his gaze down as some of the disappeared, a sneer replacing his expression, in anger. He had not been able to display his work on Aelin, but on her skin. She was a canvas for his work. Not anymore, Cairn continued to scowl at her, gathering up the chains, 
"Brielle." the familiar voice, shot hope lunging through her, She spun and raced for Connall. Throwing herself at her mates brother. His arms wrapped around her, his scent was so similar to Fenrys that Brielle breathed it in, imagining the situation might be different, the male different.
She kept herself hugged to the comfort of him, felt the low growl in his chest as he directed his stare at Cairn. She didn't move until she was sure Cairn had left.
"Gods Brielle..." Connall pulled away, holding her shoulders he began to inspect the marks on her skin, His gaze lingered on his twin's mark on her neck, his jaw twitched and as though she had blinked it away, the pained expression on his face disappeared. 
"I can't hate him enough for what he's done to you," he closely inspected a scar on her shoulder, left by a dull knife. Her gut coiled at the memory of the scars, She could feel everything in her shattering,
She wobbled where she stood, knees unhinging, Connall grabbed her around the midsection before she dropped, hooking one of her arms over around the back of his neck to hold her weight against him.
"Come, let us get you cleaned up."
The castle was quieter than she remembering it being, less soldiers and staff wandering. Perhaps in an attempt to conceal the Queen of Terrasen. Connall guided her to the baths, leaving her to clean herself up whilst he fetched a plate of food.
Brielle had eased into the warm water and relaxed, allowing the heat to wrap her ached muscles, Connall finally reappeared, plate in hand.
He paused for a second before committing to coming in, sitting he held the plate for her, allowing food to be picked from it.
"I- I'm sorry I didn't help sooner, but she forbi-"
"Connall, there is nothing to apologise for."
He shook his head, keeping his eyes on a flame beside the tub, The candle was small but emitted enough light so she could see the visible conflict on his face, whilst he stayed watching the small light flicker.
"It's not right. I-"
"So help me."
Connall attention finally snagged up from the candle, Brielle twisted, pushing her chest into the side and propping both elbows on the side, Connall shifted, the redness in his cheeks barely visible in the dim candlelight.
"I need your help. As the Lioness of the Pride."
Connall started at the worlds, mouth falling open, he hurriedly checked the room lowering his voice, "You-" he squinted "You lead the Pride?" the bewilderment in his tone could have made her laugh, 
"Females can lead notorious groups too, you know." She picked at the food, smirking at him while she placed some in her mouth.
"I know but," Connall looked at the ceiling, the laugh he suppressed pulling a smile onto his face, "All those years" he breathed, gathering in the knowledge of what she had been doing. Those last ten years, alongside her work from Maeve, without any of them knowing it was her, until now.
Connall took both of her hands, meeting her gaze, "It would be an honor to serve the Pride. And their Lioness."
Brielle flicked her damp hair over one shoulder, "Some would call me their queen."
"Oh I'm sure."
~
Nothing about her room felt like home anymore. Not that it had always felt as such but now...
It felt wrong to rest on top her bed. The one comfort she had grown used to, the halls of the castle were a stark contrast to the warm and joyous glow of Aelin's group. Not enough candles could be lite to replicate her room as such, the edges of her fingers were raw from her insistent picking at the skin there.
Pacing across the room once more, Brielle spun when her door open, Connall had arms full with papers, 
She gestured to the desk in the far corner, moving to shut the door behind him. There was not a sound in the hallway outside, nothing beyond the faint footsteps anyway, 
"I got any I could grab" there was the ruffle of paper, as he placed it all down. Brielle stood shoulder to shoulder with him, simply staring at the desk now unseen under the heap of parchments. All reports from the battle almost a month ago on that beach,
Brielle swallowed at the memory, the remaining scars littering her skin feeling tight, a building itch surrounding each one, allowing her to pinpoint their exact location on her body.
Silently , and without a word they both got to work. Connall might had remained in the castle more then the rest of them, but that didn't make him an idiot, he too had earn a right in Maeve's ranking order. Together as the candles burned on, they scanned every report, and message on each page. Taking note of every mention of which Captain were absent, 
Brielle knew her effort that night wouldn't be to an entire waste, not at the mention of ships turning against one another, the death toll ranked on up by Fae warriors turning on one another, 
Brielle stopped at one particle report, signed by Captain Zakurio. There wasn't a resembled amount of time for how long she stared at the name, the signature. Analysing. Calculating. She was going to enjoy this. 
There was a thundering knock on the door to her room. Connall sat up from the desk, Looking down to where she was cross legged on the floor, an array of papers surrounding her, 
"Come out, come out Kitty." Cairn's voice made her spine seize up. Brielle pounced for the door as Connall made haste in gathering and throwing all the reports under her bed and away from sight.
Grabbing the handle Brielle pulled the door open, there he stood, She revulsed to pull further away, but blocking his view by pressing her body to the door was the most effective way to keep him from reporting anything to Maeve.
"Don't call me kitty." She seethed, 
"You better watch what you say to me  Kitty."
His words shot a spear through her, She cast her eyes to the silver on his belt, the knives there the sight of them made the muscles in her constrict so much that it was actually painful.
Cairn straightened slightly, Catching onto the noise of Connall shuffling around in the room "You have a visitor do you?"
Brielle felt Connall tap her back, she pushed the door wider, Allowing him to step beside her, Without looking she knew. He was trying to resist growling at the other male.
"Without yours, so you move to his brother. Didn't peg you for the sort." Cairn's words made an overriding anger bubble inside her chest, she dug her nails into the wood of the door, 
"Bit late for the dickish remarks is it not? Don't you have some pathetic project to be attending" Connall snarks, 
Cairn looked amused, "I do, Just ask Brielle here. Her mate, spy and traitor Queen are proving to be an amply amount entertainment"
She couldn't breath, Connall stiffened at her side, 
"But her majesty has requested your presence, and I " he placed a mocking hand to his chest, "the ever loyal servant have been sent to fetch you." Brielle almost shuddered away in revulsion as Cairn reached to grab her arm. Instead she steadies her breathing and allowed the male to drag her out the doorway.
A cage of her own making. Stay calm. Breathe. They will stay safe if she followed the rules.
She could sense Connall somewhere behind them, but whether he was clearing and hiding the evidence in her room or following wasn't certain. Cairn continued to pull her along, fist tightening until the skin pinched under his grip.
Gritting her teeth, Brielle matched her pace to keep herself from tumbling over. They made way into the throne room, Maeve by the window didn't turn to acknowledge their arrival, Brielle scanned the room quickly marking no guards and thankfully no Isaiah, 
The owl sat on the edges of the throne, a forever watching eye.  Brielle tried to not pay it too much attention as Maeve turned, Cairn threw her forward. Keeping herself from growling at him made the muscles in her jaw hurt.
He scoffed before exiting the room, Leaving her alone with the fae queen.
"I hope you've enjoyed your choice so far." The queen picked at her nail, Unbothered.
Brielle said nothing. Forced herself to do so beyond the snide remarks that were bursting to rise to the surface, the words unworthy of the hate she harboured.
"No?" Maeve hosted an innocent expression, "I asked Cairn to make you as comfortable as possible. He is rather. . . accommodating." 
Breathe.
"Fine. Silence it is." Maeve strolled back towards her throne, perching herself upon it, the owl flapped to be above her now, those sharp eyes tracking everything. "I have a task for you, for old times sake, I'd love to see how you work without the Blood oath."
Brielle couldn't stop her breathing from becoming uneven, tried to calm it, but that would be of little use, not as Maeve smiled grimly. "I have a lord, I know he has men to give me. I need you to get information. . . persuade him to my cause."
Not speaking now was easy, not as every nerve inside her seized up. Felt the heat of sweat at her neckline, 
"If you do not perform to my standard, I'm sure you will know what will await you upon your return." Maeve draped a hand over her cross knee. "So best not to disappoint me." She waved a hand, "Dismissed. Cairn will give you orders."
Brielle stood, for a second more then the dismissal, If the lives of her mate, Queen and friends weren't on the line right now, she could happily snap Maeve's neck in two, glowering up at the queen, cast her eyes to the owl and could have sworn she saw the avian animal shake its head as though it had spied her very thoughts.
The unnerving pierce of the owls stare, its own judgment of the situation palpable in the air between them, Brielle pushed herself to step back, not turning her back on the queen until she was within distance of the door,
Stepping from the room, she took a second to lean into the wall. A moment of silence passing through her. Around her.
A cage of her own making. She would reap the consequences, as they were hers alone to bare. But despite everything that could happen, Brielle grasped to one memory, one moment. She had meant what she said on that beach.
She was going to Kill Maeve, so off she left, trapsing back to her room, to begin the planning that would bring around the death of the great Fae Queen of the East.
. . .
Taglist: @dreamiezpsycho @lunaralaraspace @mis-lil-red @mali22 @the-fae-are-taking-over
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Text
Friends Don't Look At Friends That Way - Chapter 4: Age 16 (during the summer)
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word count: 1.941
read on AO3 || masterlist
*drops chapter, laughs nervously and slowly backs away*
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chapter summary: the one about first love
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"Go, Rowan!" The shout echoes over the volleyball field where Rowan and a few others from the Lacrosse team are currently playing beach-volleyball. Before, Aelin would have been the one to shout the encouragement at her best friend. Now, it is his girlfriend who does that. 
It's a beautiful and sunny afternoon in mid-July and Aelin and her friends are hanging out at the beach. She never would've guessed that she would be friends with the sports clique, but here she is; her best friend climbing the ranks of the lacrosse team and dating one of the cheerleaders, and her, dating the lacrosse team's goalie. She and Chaol have been together since March now, when he'd officially asked her to be his girlfriend, and Aelin couldn't be happier. 
Right now, she's lying on a beach towel in her bikini next to Lysandra and Nehemia, who are also cheerleaders. Even though Aelin isn't part of any of their school's numerous sports teams, she has become well acquainted with most members of the lacrosse team and most of the cheerleaders, simply because she is spending so much time around them: during lunch at school, at the practices she watches, and at the game's after-parties. 
A few other girls, including Remelle, are lying on a towel closer to the field and watching the game. The boys had quickly decided that simply lying in the sun is way too boring, so they'd procured a volleyball (from where, Aelin truly doesn't know as, to her knowledge, no one has brought one) and started a game.
Rowan and Chaol are on one team and as far as Aelin can tell, they are losing. Aelin grimaces a bit. Chaol could get a tad competitive sometimes. But never mind, she'll just have to take his mind off it. For now, she goes back to her conversation with the other girls.
"Lys, you have to tell me where you got that bikini," Nehemia is just saying. "It looks stunning on you."
Lysandra laughs. "Oh stop, Nehemia. Have you seen yourself in that bathing suit?" 
Aelin joins in. "You guys both look amazing and you know it." She rolls her eyes good-naturedly.
"Oh, and so do you, little miss sunshine," Lysandra teases her.
"What do you mean?" Now Aelin is the one to laugh.
"Oh, just that you've been smiling a lot lately," Nehemia jumps in. "Are things going good with Chaol?"
Aelin's cheeks warm a bit. She's not used to talking to people about her relationship yet, even though it's been almost four months.
Lysandra conspiratorially leans over to Nehemia. "Uuh, she's blushing! That means yes."
"Stop it, you guys," Aelin has to laugh again. "Yes, things are going good. We've almost been together for four months now!"
"Oh my god, that's true!" Nehemia smiles at her. "Any special plans?"
"Yes, like maybe some hanky-panky?" Lysandra suggestively wiggles her eyebrows.
"Hanky-panky?" Nehemia snorts. "How old are you?"
Aelin can't help but agree, though her smile dims slightly. Lysandra notices. "What is it? Have you guys not…?"
"No, not yet," Aelin answers, catching her meaning. "I just don't think I'm ready yet."
"Hey, that's okay," Lysandra tells her. 
"Yes, it's good that you know your boundaries," Nehemia agrees. 
"I know," Aelin tells them, but her smile is still not fully back.
"What is it then?" Nehemia looks at her imploringly.
"It's just…" Aelin starts, but doesn't know how to explain. 
"Hey, we're here to listen if you want." Lys reaches out and gently squeezes her arm.
She smiles in thanks. "I know. It's just sometimes when Chaol and I are making out, he takes off my shirt and stuff–and I'm okay with that," she quickly interjects, already seeing her friend's expressions turn mutinous. "But then he always tries to take it further and take off my pants as well, but I tell him to stop, because I'm not there yet, and I think he's losing his patience a bit."
"Have you tried talking to him about this when you're not in the middle of making out?" Nehemia's question is gentle.
She shakes her head no. "Not yet."
"Then maybe try that sometime," Lysandra suggests. "Then you can talk about your expectations and boundaries and you won't feel like he's forcing you to do something you don't want to."
"He's not forcing me to do anything," Aelin is quick to say.
"That's good," Nehemia tells her. "But it might feel that way if you don't talk about it."
Aelin supposes she can see the logic in that. "Thanks for the advice, guys."
"Always," they say.
"Now, let's ogle some lacrosse players, what do you say?" Lysandra's suggestion elicits another fit of laughter among them. 
"What's so funny?" A shadow suddenly falls over them and Aelin looks up.
"Babe!" She's surprised the game is already over. "Did you win?"
"Not today." He looks a bit disappointed by that.
"Then let me take your mind off it," she offers.
The other girls let out wolf whistles. 
"Oh stop it guys," Aelin laughs.
She and Chaol take a little walk along the shore. He takes her hand in his and intertwines their fingers, and with the sun shining on them, Aelin is perfectly happy. Then, when they're a bit away from the others, he stops her and turns her toward him. His lips come down to meet hers in a kiss and Aelin meets him eagerly. Their kisses now are nothing like that first awkward one during spin the bottle all those months ago. His lips are soft as always and his chin has a slight hint of stubble that tickles her. She can feel his tongue glide along the seam of her mouth and opens for him. This, Aelin thinks, she'll never get sick of. The taste of him in her mouth and his scent in her nose. The combination overwhelms her and makes it impossible to think about anything else. She wishes she could stay in this state forever. 
After a while they go back to where the others are just starting to pack up the towels and put some of their clothes back on. Aelin sees Rowan standing with Remelle, her hands on his neck, his on her waist and their lips locked. She looks away. 
Aelin guesses she should be used to it by now, their public displays of affection. Rowan and Remelle have been together since February, after all. That night of the party really has changed everything, Aelin has been right about that. But it doesn't matter how often she sees the two of them kissing, and they kiss a lot, there's always this slight tug in her stomach that makes her avert her eyes. 
When she looks back in their direction (because even though she doesn't want to, sometimes she can't help herself), luckily they have stopped kissing. Rowan is actually looking right at her, a smile blooming on his face when he catches her gaze. 
"Ace! A few others and Melle and I are going to eat something. Do you want to come?"
She gives him a smile back and turns to look at Chaol. "Do we wanna join? I could eat."
He gives her an apologetic look. "I actually can't, babe, I promised my mom we'd do family dinner tonight."
Aelin frowns. "Okay. Well, have fun then."
"Thanks." He leans down to give her a quick goodbye kiss and then heads towards the parking lot.
Aelin turns back to Rowan. "Well, it's just gonna be me, but yes, I'm in. Where are we going?"
"Just to Marion's."
"Sounds good."
"Do you need a ride or did you drive?"
"I came with Chaol, so a ride would be good."
"And he just left?" A slight frown mars Rowan's features.
"Well, he has a family dinner and I wanted to come with you guys," Aelin defends her boyfriend. Rowan does this sometimes, subtly criticizing things Chaol does. As if he wasn't the one who left her to go home alone at that party all those months ago because he wanted to stay. If it hadn't been for Chaol, she would have been left alone.
Rowan seems to accept this. "Let's go then."
Marion's is a nice, vintage-looking diner in the heart of Orynth. It's actually quite close to their school, so it's a popular hangout spot. This afternoon, it's only half-full, most people making the most of the nice weather, which means Aelin and the others have plenty of space to choose from. 
They go for a booth in the back, Rowan, Remelle and Connall, Fenrys's brother, sliding in one one side and Aelin and Fenrys taking seats on the other.
"Melle, didn't Lithaen want to come as well?" Rowan asks.
Remelle shrugs. "She said she forgot she has to babysit her brother tonight."
"Oh, okay then," Rowan says and starts to hand out menus.
Aelin is in the middle of deciding whether to get a burger with fries or just the burger, when a friendly voice asks, "What can I get you guys today?" 
The others start giving their orders and finally it's Aelin's turn. "I'll take a peach iced tea and the cheeseburger with fries, please," she tells Elide, their waitress. 
"I like me a woman who can eat," Fenrys says, looking appreciatively at her. 
"You wish," she says, shoving his arm. 
He looks over at her, mock outrage in his eyes, a hand dramatically clutching his chest. "You wound me! Here I am, baring my heart to you, and you so callously reject me."
Aelin lets out a cackle. "You're amazing, Fen."
 "I don't think I will recover," Fenrys continues, undeterred. "Connall, do you remember the arrangements for my funeral?"
"Delete your search history," his brother deadpans and the whole table bursts out in laughter. 
They talk a bit more about a new movie they might watch together soon, when Fenrys excuses himself to go to the bathroom. 
Aelin is looking at Connall, who is telling a story about a date gone wrong in a movie theater, when she feels a nudge against her leg. She looks over at Rowan, who gives her a little frown. "What?" she asks, confused. 
"I didn't know you and Fenrys were such good friends," he simply says, his voice low. 
The questions throws her for a second. Is Rowan actually complaining she has friends?
"I have other friends than you," she says, and if her tone is slightly colder than normal, that's okay too. It's his fault after all that she even had to look for other people to hang out with at all. Once he started Lacrosse, he became very busy with practices and games and after-parties, and when he and Remelle started dating, he started having even less time for her. 
"Yes, of course," Rowan answers, slightly taken aback. "I just didn't realize…"
Aelin lifts her eyebrow in question. "Didn't realize what?"
He looks at her for a moment, searching her face. "Nothing. Sorry, forget it."
Now she looks at him for a beat. "Okay." She turns back to Connall who is just reaching the end of his story.
It's weird, Aelin thinks, how she and Rowan aren't quite on the same wavelength anymore. He's her best friend and she knows him better than anyone, except… she's not even sure that's true anymore. 
Relationships change, she once heard her parents say. She doesn't remember whose relationship they were referring to at that moment, but she supposes the statement is universally true. Aelin just isn't sure whether she likes the changes that are happening between her and Rowan; or whether she is slowly losing her best friend.
---
let me know your thoughts and theories in the comments or reblogs! <3
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tag list:
@yafandomsnet
@rowanaelinn
@thegreyj 
@elentiyawhitethorn
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mrs-emma-swan-jones · 6 years
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My completed Heir of Fire (and one of my favorite stagings as well!!) has finally been photographed!  I have to say, this one might be my favorite defacing for TOG, at least so far.  I still need to finalize designs for the remaining books, but I really love how this one turned out.  I’ll be doing The Assassin’s Blade next, so stay tuned for that, as well as the timelapse for Heir of Fire (which should be up soon). 
Until next time...
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whimsicallyreading · 3 years
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“I just realized I’m desperately in love with you-“
Prompt Day One for Rowaelin Month
~
"Rowan, take a picture of that one. It's so cute." Aelin fawns quietly.
Rowan gives a long-suffering sigh. "There are a thousand of them here. Do you have to pester me into taking a picture of every seal pup we come across?"
"Her name is Fleetfoot, and yes. Isn't that the whole reason we are here?" Aelin looks at him equally annoyed, a strand of gold spun hair freeing itself from beneath her parka.
"I'm here to study the behavioral patterns of tiger seals and orcas in a rapidly shifting environment. You are here to keep our equipment functioning. If you keep talking, neither of us will finish our jobs and escape from this wasteland." Rowan switches the lens of his camera to focus on two male seals who were squaring up with each other in the distance.
Rowan nearly threw his camera over the boat and jumped off into the coastal waters of Argentina when he realized who had been assigned to assist him on this expedition.
He'd insisted that only he and one other make the trek across the Antarctic. Insisting a large group could impede the quality of his research. When they agreed, Rowan thought they would send him with Lorcan or Brullo. Both were accomplished survivalists and scholars—valuable additions to any team.
Instead, it was Aelin Ashryvver who waited for him at the dock. The most annoying newbie on his floor. Dorian insisted that her knowledge of mechanical engineering would make her invaluable.
So far, she was just a verifiable pain in his ass.
She sat around bored as Rowan spent the day writing notes and snapping photos. Occasionally she helped him set up microphones. On one instance, she fixed their ATV. It was the first and only time he'd found her truly useful.
Rowan couldn't wait to go home.
"Alright, we have the cameras positioned. We should head back to the base. The temps are dropping. We need to warm up and eat."
Aelin nods quietly, she would never admit it, but the severe temperatures are taking a toll on her. It was amazing how important something like fat is in a frigid environment. Rowan is naturally covered in layers of dense muscle. While Aelin is fit herself, she's still small and the first to feel the effects of persistent cold.
Watching the seals, she occasionally found herself jealous of their thick layers of blubber that kept them comfortable. She should have carb-loaded before they set sail.
They hop on the snow ski and traverse quickly over the powderlike substance.
~~~
When they reach the Terresen South Pole station and ditch their coats, they fall to the floor in a cascade of flurries. Rowan's spine straightens for the first time that day. Their coats were dense. With the additional weight of all of the equipment he carried, there was a perpetual bend in his spine.
It was a huge relief to be inside a climate-controlled building—light layers, freedom movement, and feeling in all of his extremities. Tossing that coat off was the pinnacle of his daily routine on this mission.
That is until he realized it was freezing.
Walking over to a light switch with urgency, he flicks it a few times. Nothing happens. Anxiety wells in his gut, and he hits the wall a couple of times before flipping the switch again.
"Shit," Rowan hisses.
"The power is out," Aelin's eyes widen with the realization. "That's not good."
"I thought I was the scientist, but look at you stating the obvious," Rowan growls as he shrugs his jacket back on. It wasn't nearly as frigid inside the insulated building as it was outside, but it was still bitterly cold. Keeping warm would be their first step in survival. Without heat, shit could hit the fan for them very quickly. Thankfully their satellite phones should still be functioning; he'd charged the battery the day before. There should be enough juice in the phones to send out a mayday call even without power.
Aelin doesn't put on her jacket. Instead, she heads in the direction of the lockers with a look of determination plastered on her face. It was a look he'd slowly begun to grow familiar with, mainly when Rowan was holding a ration packet she wanted. It made him uneasy.
"Where are you going?" Rowan calls after her, picking up her jacket. He wouldn't be held responsible for his younger, female partner freezing to death. HR at the University would have his head on a stick if she died on his watch.
He follows Aelin to her locker, where she's already sliding a grey jumpsuit over her clothes.
"I can fix the engines," Aelin pulls her zipper up. The jumpsuit covered head-to-toe, but they weren't nearly as warm as their snow gear. He could already see a slight blue-ish tint to her lips. "They probably just stalled. All I need to do is go down, diagnose the problem, and fix it. Easy as pie."
Ignoring the massive oversimplification of their situation, knowing it was a lost cause, he focuses on the immediate problem. "You need to keep your jacket on," Rowan thrusts the article of clothing at her. Her color was concerning him, and the longer she went without the thermal garment, the higher his stress became.
Aelin gives him a long-suffering look, all too similar to the one he gives her. "And get my hood or a sleeve caught in one of those beasts? Those machines are massive. Getting snagged could rip my arm off or kill me. It's like you don't even have a master's in engineering and a spotless safety record," she smiles at Rowan's scowling face. "Oh wait, that's me. Let me do my job, Dr. Whitethorn."
Before Rowan could argue, Aelin was gone down the stairwell towards the engines.
Dragging a frustrated hand through his hair, he tosses her jacket on the floor. His time is probably better spent getting through to their mission handlers on the satellite phones anyway.
~~~
Two hours later, Rowan has long finished his call with Dorian.
Their expedition leader had asked if they wanted a recovery team sent out to them, but Rowan hesitated. He was on the mission of a lifetime. He'd spent years waiting for approval to research at the southernmost tip of the world. It would be a devastating blow to his career and his pride for it to be cut short. The selfish part of him wanted to stay. The rationale, reasonable part of him was aching to stay the full duration of the expedition.
"You know, Dr. Whitethorn," Dorian spoke carefully. "There is a reason we chose Aelin to accompany you. She may be green and lacking a doctorate, but she's a miracle worker at what she does."
"Are you asking me to put my life in the newbie's hands?" Rowan asked without his standard vitriol. The situation and the cold had left him with no energy to be spiteful. He'd heard talk of her capabilities amongst the guys, and he'd seen a fraction of it when their snowmobile broke down. Rowan thinks back to the look on her face when she'd gone down the stairs. The steely determination of a warrior marching off to do battle.
Dorian laughs as if there was something funny about two of his most stubborn colleagues getting stranded in the south pole by themselves. "I'm not asking you to do anything. It's your call."
Rowan closes his eyes and contemplates their options. His head told him they should call the extraction team before they were nothing but frozen corpses. Yet, his heart didn't want to leave so soon. There was still so much work left to do.
Could he rely on Aelin?
"We will stay for now. Expect a call in twenty-four hours with a progress update." Rowan disconnected the transmission without any of the standard formalities.
After the fruitless call, he checks their food supply. Rowan scans the shelves, comfortable they wouldn't go hungry any time soon. Their only concern would be keeping all their shit from freezing, including their water. Rowan triple checks that everything is insulated, sealed, and stored away before moving on to other essentials, like batteries.
Another hour passes as he takes inventory, and Rowan is starting to feel the cold more than before. His nailbeds slowly shift from blue to white beneath his thick gloves, and he can't control the slight quaking spreading up his limbs.
When Rowan hears the doorway to the stairwell creak, he goes to check in with Aelin on her progress.
What he finds when he opens the locker room door sends his heart to his throat.
Aelin's hands loosely grip the zipper of her jumpsuit as she weakly attempts to free herself. Her face is a ghostly white, and her movements sluggish.
If she weren't moving, he'd have thought she was already frozen.
"Aelin, are you good? Talk to me." Rowan rushes to her and helps Aelin step out from the jumpsuit.
"I fixed the engine," Aelin coughs into the crook of her arm, her voice scratchy from the cool air. "It will be a couple of hours before they can catch up and heat the building."
Rowan rips off a glove and holds a bare hand to her cheek. Aelin's skin is freezing to the touch, even to his own icy hands. He notes that she isn't trembling the same way he is. It's not a good sign, the biologist in him notes. He knows it's her body growing too weak to keep itself warm.
"Sit down. You're freezing," Rowan helps her slide to the floor and looks at the discarded jacket that's still lying there. It won't warm her quick enough.
"Rowan?" Aelin speaks from her slightly slumped position.
Rowan is pacing, trying to think. They don't have a means of warming water for a bath. Laying next to the generators is too risky.
"Rowan," Aelin murmurs, her eyes drooping. "I can't feel my feet."
Rowan looks at her, and for a moment, she looks like an ice princess. Her blond hair is slipping from its braid and coiling across her colorless face. The cerulean blue of her eyes was the brightest color he now saw regularly beside the southern lights. They stood out even more starkly now.
It was all wrong.
"It's going to be alright, Aelin. You said the power is back on?" Rowan lifts her into his arms, her freezing nose burrowing into the crook of his neck.
"Yeah," she rasps against his shoulder. "But it will take a while for the building to heat."
"We don't need the whole building to heat. Do you trust me?" Rowan trots down the hall, careful not to bump her against the narrow doorframes.
She mumbles something incoherent into his shirt. "I trust you."
Rowan is thankful that the cold keeps the flush from his face. He reaches the desired room and fiddles with the control panel on the wall. A wave of relief hits him as the room behind the heavy door audibly hums to life.
"Okay, here we go." He says more to himself than Aelin. Rowan ditches the jacket and pulls his long-sleeved tee over his head. The buttons of his pants are next, leaving him in only his boxers.
Turning around, Aelin looks weary but not surprised. "Nice abs."
"Thanks," He says and kneels next to her, eyes searching her face for permission.
Aelin dips her head, "I'm not shy, Whitethorn. Don't fret."
Rowan helps Aelin maneuver her stiff limbs out of her garments until she is left in nothing but her bra and panties. Her face is pained as even more of her is exposed to the cold.
"Hurts," Aelin grits through her teeth, and Rowan gathers her up again. The icy room is like barbs against his exposed skin, but he's not in a position to complain.
The minute he carries her into the balmy air of the sauna, Aelin flinches. "Oh, that smarts."
"I know. It's going to suck for a bit while your blood recirculates." Rowan consoles softly, knowing he would also feel the cramping as they got their blood moving.
Drastic temperatures changes weren't the ideal way to warm up, but they'd spent far too long in the cold. He needed to get Aelin shivering again. It was the body's natural defense against the cold, and when a person could no longer shiver, it meant they were dipping into the realm of hypothermia.
The sauna was an added addition for the comfort of the researchers who visited the Southern base. It was a great tool to warm people after spending hours in the harsh climate. He'd heard tales of it from colleagues who'd visited the base before but hadn't yet saught to use it himself. Rowan was too focused on the mission. It hadn't carried any appeal for him until this moment, and now he was beyond grateful for its existence.
Rowan sits on the floor instead of the bench so that Aelin can curl up comfortably in his lap. Skin-to-skin contact was one of the best ways to help a person regulate their body temperature. He soothes a calloused hand over the length of her arm, trying to spread what remained of his warmth to her skin.
Aelin's cheek rests against his chest, and Rowan uses one hand to free her hair from its braid. The curtain of gold fans across her back, and he has to resist the urge to run his fingers through its waves.
He'd noticed how beautiful she was the day they first met at the university. Out of respect, he'd immediately repressed those thoughts. They were professionals, and Rowan wasn't about to ruin his reputation fawning over the new, young blonde on their floor.
But with her laying half-naked in his lap, it was hard to disregard how pretty she was. It wasn't even just her appearance. The girl was magnetic in every way. People paid attention when she walked in, and she claimed the lion's share of air in the room.
Fenrys and Conall flirted with her remorselessly. It secretly irked him. Rowan had long since memorized the way she laughed and how she'd smile as she shoed them away. It was all good-natured fun for them, but it always made Rowan irrationally angry. The time she'd showed up at the annual Christmas party in a green velvet dress with an open back nearly left his brain on the floor. His eyes had raked the smooth plains of skin, only turning away when she'd tried to catch his eye.
If he'd been paying attention, he would have seen her look of disappointment.
Rowan had written it off as an infatuation—a natural response to seeing an attractive woman. The scientist in him wanted to boil it down to chemistry and hormones. Cold facts that could diagnose the way he felt every time he laid eyes on her. Yet, as Rowan laid there with a hurting Aelin in his arms, he began to wonder if there was something more.
Her pain was making his chest physically ache.
A pair of arms snaked around his waist, and his body jerked. Aelin looks up at him sheepishly. "Sorry, I'm just really comfortable."
Rowan relaxes, "It's fine."
The steam in the room is slowly building. Rowan can feel the cramping beginning in his legs. Aelin's weight on his thighs was not helping the slightest, but there was no way in hell he'd move her.  
"My body is aching," Aelin says lightly, but he can hear the strain in her voice and feel a slight tremble running through her.
"That's good. Can you feel your feet?" Rowan can no longer resist, and her hair parts between his fingers like strands of gold silk.
Aelin tightens her arms around him, "Yeah. A bit. I didn't realize how numb they got until I took off my boots."
There's a slight tickle at his back, Aelin's finger tracing a pattern against his skin. A flush of warmth rushes through him, not from the sauna.
He's in unending deep shit.
"Aelin," his voice wavers uncharacteristically. "Do you have a boyfriend?"
The fingers on his back continue making their delicate patterns. "No."
"Aelin?" He asks again, but she cuts him off with a groan.
"Stop asking me questions and just kiss me," Aelin grips the back of his head and pulls his lips down to her's.
An inferno blooms inside his soul.
Aelin could never be a winter queen. She was the raging embodiment of summer. A burning ember he'd carried from the north into this land of ice. As his lips move against hers, he swears his body is lit ablaze, and when Rowan opens his eyes, he's delighted at the flush he finds unfurling across her cheeks.
"It's suddenly a lot warmer." Aelin laughs, looking more lively even as her body starts to quake from the warmth finally reaching her.
He kisses her cheek and tilts her ear towards his lips, "Aelin?"
"Another question?" Aelin's smile curls into something feline. "Is this that scientific curiosity the university is always going on about?"
"I just realized I'm desperately in love with you,"
Rowan lets the truth fall from his lips. It was just the two of them. They were the only human souls in this far corner of the earth. There was no one to stop him as he finally lets the emotions he'd been repressing until the moment Aelin was in danger wash over him.
"That's not a question," Aelin responds after a moment, her tone light and jovial.
Rowan smiles. "It's not."
Aelin curls back up against Rowan, enjoying the feel of his skin against hers. An embarrassing sound of contentment escapes her, which worsens her blush.
Not forgetting their original purpose in the sauna, Rowan grips her hands and massages them between his. "You have no response?"
"Not one that HR is going to like." Aelin winces as her hand spasms, and Rowan methodically works to ease the ache.
"Say it anyway," Rowan implores. Screw the university. He was tired of living for his work alone. Nothing outshined this moment, holding this woman in his arms. He could find a new job, but if Aelin reciprocated his feelings, he couldn't find another one of her.
"Well, I thought it was pretty obvious when I wore that dress to the Christmas party and then found a reason to walk past your office every day." Aelin huffs and looks up at him, "Don't tell me you didn't know?"
Rowan was speechless.
Aelin's eyes twinkle with amusement. "Rowan, Dorian, and I are friends. Did you know that?"
"What?" Rowan blinks confusedly. That was common knowledge, but he didn't understand why she was bringing that up now.
"Dorian and I go way back. He knew I had a thing for you, and I told him sending me on this trip was unethical when I'm such a new hire-" Aelin trails off, waiting for him to grasp her point.
"Wait," Rowan looks down at her, bemused. "Dorian was trying to set us up?"
"Human recourses won't like that very much either," Aelin grins. "But Dorian would keep our secret. He owes me a lot of favors."
The sauna's temperature had slowly been rising, and Rowan could see that his skin was returning to its usual color. Aelin still looked a bit pale, but it was probably residuals from being so close to freezing.
She'd risked herself to save the expedition and successfully fixed the engines. Rowan didn't believe for one second that Dorian only sent her in an elaborate attempt to set her up. She was bright and cunning. He was lucky to have her along with him.
"You got here on your merit," Rowan presses a soft peck to her lips as he soothes her unvoiced concern. He refused to let her doubt her level of skill. "But if the feelings are mutual, I would love to take you on a date when we get back home?"
"I would love that," Aelin crawls off his lap and holds a hand out. "Come on, now. We need to eat and sleep. We have seals to observe."
Rowan accepted her hand. Forget the seals. He would have a difficult time keeping his attention on them. His eyes were glued to her bare legs as they moved and the way her hair swung free of its constraints.
She smirked over his shoulder. Aelin knew precisely what she was doing to him.
Rowan had traversed to the end of the world to understand the natural universe a little better. While he hadn't unlocked any great mysteries, he couldn't help but think what he did find was better.
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rosachaotic · 3 years
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Remember when i said Talbott and Cereza werent over? Yeah.
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I promised yall i would write a continuation of this. For those dont remember that happend, here
Anyways enjoy the fanfic!
Warning: none?? Its more just angst then fluff.(but sorry for my bad english and wording im not very good at writing and I wrote this on mobile)
It's been two months and few days since the big argument Talbott and Cereza had on the hospital wings.
This all happened because Cereza tried to do all the investigation and take down R by herself, but of course that plan failed and it backfired on her very badly. She fought the wizard in white and almost died because of it, losing her consciousness after he ran away, fortunately she was found by Moody who was searching for her after her twin brother said she went missing and was taken to the hospital wings.
She was scolded for it of course, and after that her friends went to visit her. All of her friends were worried for her, especially her twin brother Michael who jumped into her hugging her tight, crying, not realizing her whole body was in pain before he quickly let her go.
After a long chat with her friends and twin brother Talbott got in but he didn't look happy, he asked for everyone to leave him and Cereza alone because he wanted to talk to her, everyone left confused to what was going on.
Outside people could hear both Talbott and Cereza arguing with each other, Talbott was disappointed that Cereza lied to everyone including him about not having any information that could be useful for Circle ot Khanna and that she did is by herself he thought she was dead she could have died because of her reckless decision, Cereza tried to explain herself by saying she thought what she was doing was the right because she wanted to protect everyone which didn't make Talbott feel any less worse but the opposite. Both kept arguing with each other until Talbott storms out of hospital wings not looking at his friend's faces who were waiting outside, Penny tried to stop him but he just ignored her and walked away, once everyone back inside to the hospital they saw Cereza holding back her tears but she did a very job at it once everyone was inside and started crying.
----
Cereza rarely saw Talbott after what happened, she only saw him on the classes they shared but even then he didn't even talk to her, she decided to let it be not wanting to bother Talbott and she thought that this was the end of their relationship. This broke her alot, the happy girl that was always smiling and giggling all the time wasn't there anymore, not only she felt bad for what she did but she thought she lost one of the people she loved the most.
That was until Cereza got a letter in the morning, Andre gave it to her and said "It's from Talbott." She quickly opened the letter and read the paper that said:
"We need to talk. Meet me after dinner in the courtyard."
-Talbott
She thanked Andre for the letter who nodded and said "I hope everything works out for you guys." And left, Cereza also hoped that things would work out but she couldn't help but feel anxious about it. What did he want to talk about after dinner? Why did it have to wait?
"Does he want to end our relationship once and for all?" Cereza thought all day, Cereza knew how to be patient but this waiting was killing her.
During dinner she barely ate anything, Rowen(M!Rowan) was trying to make her eat something but she couldn't.
"You have to eat something, you can't sleep with an empty stomach." Said Rowen, worried for his best friend trying to make her eat. He knew about the letter, Cereza told him about it and he knew how nervous and anxious she was because of it.
"I can't, this wait is killing me.'' Cereza said anxiously.
She then looked around, noticing that Talbott wasn't at the ravenclaw table or at any table of the other houses.
"Did you see Talbott walk in?" Asked Cereza, still looking around, Rowen shook his head.
"No, I didn't, I don't think he is coming for dinner today." Rowen took a bite of his food as he said that.
"Why? Do you know about something??"
"No, no, but...Penny said she didn't see all day, he didn't go to any of his classes." Cereza felt her heart drop, this wasn't like him, he would NEVER miss any class, if there was something Talbott was proud of himself is that he was an excellent student.
"This isn't like him…" Whispered Cereza."I cant, i have to go."
"Wha- B-But dinner time isn't over yet!"
"I'm sorry Rowen, but I have to go."
"...Okay, good luck Cere!"
Cereza nodded and left the great hall running, she opened the big door to the corridor and rushed past the students to the courtyard.
As she got outside she looked around.
There he was, sitting on the tree trunk looking at the stars just like he would when he waited for her for their dates.. Cereza sighed with relief knowing that Talbott was okay...or was he?
She took a deep breath and walked toward him, stopping right before him.
"Hey…" Talbott jumped at hearing Cereza's voice, he was probably so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear her walk in.
"Oh, Sorry I didn't hear you coming in…" Said Talbott awkwardly.
"Its okay…"
"..."
"Penny said she didn't see you all day, you also didn't come for dinner as well."
"I felt sick all day and I wasn't hungry."
"Oh...I'm sorry, I hope you're better now."
Silence took over, the only sound they heard was the cold night wind, making things kinda awkward. Until Talbott coughed and said
"Sit here with me." He tapped right next to him, Cereza then climbed the tree trunk and sat right next to him.
Again, the awkward silence.
Cereza then looked at the sky, it was a pretty starry night, she could see some shooting stars.
" The night is beautiful tonight isn't it?" Asked Talbott, breaking the silence.
"Yeah. It is beautiful."
"It reminds me of when we used to have our dates here, you would make wishes for the shooting stars."
"Stupid wishes, I know." Cereza giggled at her own stupid self.
"I never thought they were stupid." Said Talbott.
"Even the one where I wished for a giant puffskein?"
Cereza shook her head smiling a little bit and she also noticed Talbott was smiling a little as well, she missed seeing him smile, but they weren't there to watch the stars.
"Hey, if that's your wish, who am i to judge?
"Talbott-"
"Yeah?"
"Listen, I-I know you said you wanted to talk to me in your letter, but I want to say something first." Said Cereza nervously, while staring at the floor.
"...Go ahead."
She took a deep breath and then looked at his warm striking hazel, who met her golden eyes. Then she finally said:
"...I'm sorry."
"...Wha-"
"I'm sorry for what I did, Talbott. It was very dumb of me try to all of that on my own and it was and it was insensitive and bad of me not to tell you guys the information I had about R."
"Cereza-"
"I should have trusted you all to defend yourselves without my help, I shouldn't have lied to you guys about not finding anything."
"Cereza listen-"
"I shouldn't have done that, I could have died and i didn't thought about how you, my family and the rest of our friends would feel about it if I died, you were right when you said things wouldn't get any better if I-"
"CEREZA!"
Cereza jumped at Talbott who raised his voice at her, he gripped her shoulders and made her look at him, his eyes staring at her but he didn't look angry he looked sad.
"Just...listen to me please."
Cereza nodded and whispered "sorry" and let him talk.
"Look...after what happened, i couldn't stop thinking about that night on hospital wings. That night kept playing in my head over and over every time I went to bed...I felt awful"
"Huh-"
"I felt awful, Cereza. After I calmed down I realized what I just did and how I shouldn't have talked to you that way, but it was too late, I was already at my dorm and I couldn't bring myself to come back."
"..."
"I was ashamed."
"Is that the reason why you were avoiding me?"
Talbott nodded, he took a deep breath as if was holding himself to not cry.
"I thought you hated me."
"..."
"So I avoided you and everyone else as well, it was painful."
"Tal I-"
"I should have thought of your feelings, how were you feeling that made you do all of that yourself."
"...You had all the rights to react the way you did, it was a stupid and dangerous decision that I made."
"But I still shouldn't have said those things to you."
"..."
"I let my emotions take over me, my heart dropped when I saw Moody carrying you to the hospital wings....blood all over you and you unconscious and i thought i lost you..."
"..."
"When i heard you were alive, I was so happy and relieved...but when i heard about why you did that when I heard Michael talking to Moody I...I dont know what came over me, i was angry and disappointed"
"...I know-"
"Not only on you, but mostly on myself"
"..W-why? Why were you angry at yourself??"
"Because I thought I failed you, I couldn't protect you, I couldn't be there for you."
"But it wasn't your fault-"
"Let me finish..."
"..."
"But that doesn't excuse what I did, i didnt think about what you were feeling, how you were feeling. Your feelings that made you do this and your feelings after it...I called you selfish but I was even more selfish…"
"Tal…"
Cereza's hand went to Talbott's cheek, who jumped at her touch but then rested his face on her hand holding her hand even more close to his face. He closed his eyes while he felt her warmth on his skin again after so long.
"I'm sorry Cereza, I'm sorry for what I did. I'm sorry for everything."
"I forgive you."
Talbott's eyes quickly opened as he looked at her, he was surprised but it also looked like a heavy weight was lifted off his shoulders. She continued:
"But...do you forgive me as well?"
"Of course I do."
Cereza also felt as if a heavy weight was lifted off her shoulders as well, she smiled as she felt tears run down her face and she had to take off her glasses to clean it.
"I-I thought...I thought you called me to end everything between us." Said Cereza as she cried while she tried to clean her tears off her face. She was shaking a little and her breath was also shaky.
"I would never do that." He whispered. "If anything, I was more afraid of you wanting to break up with me."
Talbott got closer to her and hugged tight on to his body, catching her by surprise.
Cereza returned the tight hug, smiling while tears rolled down her face, Talbott also had tears rolling down his face who tried to hide by hiding his face on her shoulder but his shaky breath and the way he sniffed quietly gave it away he was crying. Cereza's hand went to Talbott's hair and was caressing his hair.
"I thought I was going to lose you." Whispered Talbott, not wanting to let her go.
"I thought the same thing…" Cereza whispered back, kissing his head.
Both of them stopped hugging each other as they cleaned their faces but still kept close, Talbott's hand travelled to Cereza's face and caressed her cheek, his hand was cold as always but Cereza never cared about that, she liked his touch.
They both stared at each other, they both knew it was awkward the way they stared at each other but they did not care, their gazes were filled with intense love.
Talbott kept his hand on Cereza's cheek and kissed her other cheek gently but his face didn't move away, in fact he kept face very close to hers moving only a little to her lips, their noses were touching each other and they could feel their heavy breaths, Cereza closed her eyes as she felt her heartbeat go very fast and her face was red, Talbott heart also felt like it was going to jump from his mouth and even his ears were dark red. He brushed his nose on to hers but then kissed her nose, he caressed her cheek once more smiling, Cereza then opened her eyes and saw his smile and smiled back at him. Both of them giving loving smiles at each other.
"I love you." Said Talbott.
Cereza's hand went to Talbott's face and to his cheek as well, as she sighed and smiled again.
"I love you too, meu amor.'
Talbott's smile grew as he heard again the loving way Cereza called him using her first language, while they didn't have their first kiss yet what matters is that they were both together again.
"Just promise to me that you will be more careful." Said Talbott.
Cereza nodded.
"I will...but, do you promise to never leave my side?" Asked Cereza, Talbott chuckled and said:
"I promise, my sunshine."
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acciowests · 3 years
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From Lorcan With Love
WORD COUNT: 1707
SUMMARY: A "From Lukov With Love" inspired ice hockey x figure skating AU featuring Lorcan Salvaterre and Elide Lochan from "Throne Of Glass"
Lorcan and Rowan arrive early for training and walk in on a figure skater finishing her session. It isn't until she falls that Lorcan rushes forward, helping up the woman he learns is called Elide and immediately begins to fall for her charms.
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"You know, you didn't have to wake me up this early, right?" Rowan drawled as they pulled into the Orynth Rink parking lot. With their first game of the season taking place next Friday, Lorcan Salvaterre - Goalkeeper of the Terrasen High Hawks - had booked out the rink for three whole hours of practice. Along with being Lorcan's best friend, Rowan Whitethorn was also the captain of the Hawks, their school's ice hockey team. Despite having napped for most of their journey, Rowan's brows were furrowed in a tired frown, his lips in a thin line as he stretched in his seat.
The capital's Ice Rink mainly housed ice skating: including singles figure skating, pairs ice dancing, as well as the annual sectional competitions and sometimes the national one also. None of that meant much to Lorcan, he just knew the Orynth Rink also showcased professional Hockey Teams, such as the Orynth Stags; a team he had dreamt of being a part of since he started his ice hockey journey at seven-years-old.
"Stop complaining, old man," Lorcan chuckled, smirking at the silver-haired boy. "Get the bags from the trunk will you?"
Sticking up his middle finger noncommittally, letting it fall into his lap, Rowan climbed out of the car, rounding toward the back of the vehicle. Lorcan switched off the engine and stepped outside. Grabbing the gym bag full of their gear, Rowan hauled it over his shoulder as Lorcan locked the car, the two boys walking through the parking lot and toward the rink.
The changing room was empty, as Lorcan expected, and the two boys changed in comfortable silence. They pulled on their team jerseys: deep green with silver writing that displayed their name and number. Paired with sweatpants and their elbow and shoulder pads, as well as their shin guards, the boys shoved their bags into the lockers, along with their phones, and headed out to the rink. Walking off the ice with skates on had always felt weird, even with the skate guards that protected the blade. Heading down into the stadium, Lorcan's eyes locked onto the lone figure skater within the rink. The clock overhead told him she still had fifteen minutes left, which meant he and Rowan had fifteen minutes of waiting.
Slumping down into a seat, Lorcan set his elbows against his knees, leaning forward and watching the petite, raven-haired girl dance across the ice. Beside him, Rowan drummed his feet lazily, Lorcan ignoring him completely as he listened to the sound of her blade across the ice.
When, and if, he saw figure skaters, they were always wearing glittery costumes in shades of reds, purples and blues. And though he was sure most skaters did dress down for practice, the girl before him looked like she dressed in the dark. Which, if she had booked a three hour practise, she just might have. Ignoring the grey leggings and burgundy sweater showing a Perranth Skating Club logo, she skated as though she was in front of thousands. Each turn was sharp but smooth, each of her jumps or leaps landing perfectly - to Lorcan's untrained eye, anyway.
"I was thinking we could do some new drills. As captain, I reckon we have a good shot this season. I think we could rank high, come out on top," Rowan started, interrupting Lorcan's gaze.
"Right, yeah. If the others even get here," Lorcan sighed, not that he minded. He was much enjoying his time watching the beautiful skater.
"Chill out, Lor. There's still five minutes, they'll be here," Rowan insisted, nudging Lorcan's shoulder.
Shrugging, Lorcan turned to face the rink, just in time to watch the skater turn back into a jump. She took off from the back outside edge of her skate, using her toe pick to help her spin twice, and just as her foot hit the ice, her ankle gave way. An echoing thud rang out around them as she hit the floor, her thigh and butt slamming down onto the ice as she fell.
Before he even realised what he was doing, Lorcan stood, rushing down the rows of seats and towards the rink. Removing his skate guards and tossing them to the side, Lorcan stepped onto the ice, skating over to the girl who was now curled up, a hand against her thigh and stretching a leg out before her.
"Hey, you okay?" Lorcan called, coming to a stop beside her and offering her a hand, "That looked like a pretty nasty fall."
The girl chuckled, rubbing her thigh once more and taking his hand. Her palm was surprisingly soft, cold enough to send a shiver through him as she gripped tightly. Hoisting her up, Lorcan didn't miss the wince that slipped between her lips. Before he could say anything, she shook her head, "It's fine, it's just my ankle."
As she stood before him, Lorcan tried not to smirk at the immense height difference between them. At least a whole foot. Instead, he just nodded, "Well, that jump looked pretty hard. From what I've seen you're a pretty good skater. You shouldn't let one fall get you down."
"Not good enough. I should be able to do that jump in my sleep. There's no way I'm going to win sectionals like this," she sighed, running a hand through her hair. Her left hand, Lorcan realised, was still in his. She hadn't put her ankle back down onto the ice, instead, she rested it against her other foot, off the ground where there was no pressure on it.
"What happened? Is it just a strain?" Lorcan asked, hoping he wasn't being too curious. His eyes were drawn to the flush of her cheeks, bright red against the pale shading of the rest of her face. With her mop of black hair against glowing skin, she looked ethereal.
"I wish," she scoffed, "No, I broke it a few years ago and it never healed properly. I lost my axel completely, had to relearn my entire program and make all the moves easier. I already lost regionals, I can't afford to lose sectionals too," she explained, her chest rising and falling.
"Well, how long until sectionals? Maybe with some assistance, and physiotherapy on your ankle, you might be able to win?" Lorcan suggested, watching the girl's eyebrows slowly furrow as she looked up at him. They were thick and black, arching over her face and defining it fiercely.
"You don't know when sectionals are?" she asked, as though it was the most obvious question in the world.
Lorcan chuckled, shaking his head, "Oh, no. I'm not a skater. I play ice hockey."
The girl blinked, her eyes widening, "Oh... Oh my god, I'm so sorry. You probably have no idea what I was just talking about, do you?"
Lorcan couldn't help but laugh, loving the way the girl's lips curled into a smile as he did so, "No, but it's fine. I can tell you're very dedicated. I'm Lorcan, by the way, Terrasen High Hawks."
"Terrasen High? Wait, Lorcan as in Lorcan Salvaterre?" she asked, brows raising. Lorcan knew he recognised her. He could have sworn she was in the year below him, he would remember her face anywhere.
"The one and only. You're a junior, right?" he replied, helping her skate back across the rink and toward the entrance. She reached for her skate guards as he remained on the ice. Slipping his hand to her elbow, he helped her balance as she stepped back onto the stone ground.
"Right. Elide Lochan, Perranth skating club," she smiled, sticking her hand out. Lorcan shook it happily, loving the warmth that radiated from her like electricity.
"Perranth is lucky to have you represent them," Lorcan smirked, biting down on his bottom lip. There was something about the girl before him, something that made him feel completely giddy inside. If his teammates saw him like this...
Elide rolled her eyes. Chocolate, Lorcan noticed, the perfect shade of swirly hazelnut. "Now you're just being kind!" she laughed, a melodic sound that he wished he could capture forever, "Thanks, by the way, for helping me up. I probably would have just laid there until my session was over."
Lorcan grinned, something he didn't do too often, "Well, you're lucky I was here. Couldn't have you catching a cold, can we?  I heard hypothermia is a killer."
Pressing her lips together, Elide shook her head slowly, "No, I suppose we can't."
With an obnoxious slam, the doors to the rink swung open. The remainder of his team poured out, dressed and ready for their training session. A blur of green and silver, plus the grey, black and navy blue of Adidas sweatpants. Gavriel was at the front, the oldest on the team, his golden hair tied back in a bun and a grin on his face as he reached Rowan.
Rowan stood, patting Gavriel's shoulder and moving down the rows of chairs. "Lorcan," he called, heading toward the equipment cupboard in the corner of the rink, "Help me get the stuff out!"
They always borrowed sticks and pucks from whatever rink they were training at. Lorcan only used his own stick for final games, an object of good luck. They would also have to drag the goals out, setting them up to actually have something to shoot at.
Offering Lorcan a smile, Elide stepped back, rocking on her good foot, "So, I guess I'll see you around then?"
If he had his phone to hand, he would have asked for her number right there and then. But, he didn't. As she turned to walk up the steps toward the changing rooms, Lorcan called, "We have a game next Friday, will you be there?"
Elide stopped, looking over her shoulder and smirking, "Depends, are you inviting me?"
Pushing down the chuckle that tickled his throat, Lorcan nodded, "I am, and maybe we could hang out afterwards... Just the two of us?"
"Sure, sounds fun. See you Friday, then," Elide confirmed, turning almost immediately and rushing up the stairs.
Lorcan watched until she completely disappeared from view. He could smell the cinnamon and elderberries scent that lingered in her wake. Elide Lochan. Friday couldn't come sooner.
* * *
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𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭 | 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 - 𝐎𝐧𝐞
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Rowan glanced at his pocket watch and attempted to swallow his irritation.
How was it only nine-o-clock still? He had already suffered through enough social niceties to last a lifetime.
Now, he listened with but half a mind to his cousin drone on about the night's guests. His head was filled with all the tasks he needed to see to, including searching for a new governess for his sons. His boys kept chasing away every woman he employed and he was hesitant to hire a tutor, because he believed they needed a woman's influence too, now that his own wife was too ill. The physician had done all he could but there was not much hope she would wake, loathe as he was to admit it. Perhaps he should have accepted his mother-in-law's offer and send the boys to their her after all?
"--and Arobynn's here too—"
That caught his attention. "He is?"
"Mhmm. Look, over there, no, no, to the left—besides the pretty redhead, yes, just so."
A man stood by the entrance with a red-haired woman on his arm, tall and muscular, with a fine-boned face. His auburn hair were pulled back into a bun, offsetting his pale skin and the fine cut of his suit was a stark reminder of his prominent position in society, despite the whole stigma around tradesmen.
"I knew he was fond of flaunting convention but escorting his mistress to a ball?"
"You haven't heard?" James approached them with a drink in his hand. "She is not his mistress but an adoptive daughter of sorts and his apparent heir."
Fenrys choked on his drink.
"He named a girl heir to his trade empire—and not even his own blood—stupid!"
"Spoken like a man," said the gentleman and shook his head. "He raised her himself, is introducing her to all his associates and she doesn't look dumb either."
James nodded towards the redhead he had seen earlier, dressed in the finest black silk with a neckline low enough, it bordered on scandalous. Her copperish-red hair were pinned into an elegant coiffure with pretty, gold hair combs and a simple, pearl necklace completed the striking picture she made. Her sharp, defined features were barely beautiful until she laughed—a musical sound in itself—and he wondered whether he had seen anyone prettier.
"If hers was the last face I ever saw, I'd die a happy man." Fenrys sighed and walked off.
James rolled his eyes. "He's about to seek an introduction to her, isn't he?"
Rowan's lips twitched up.
He had always liked James. The man was completely without artifice and his enthusiasm for everything was so infectious, no one could remain angry with him. He had spent a few summers with the Galathynius children, until their youngest daughter was abducted and the visits stopped.
"I say you must frown a little less, sir, unless you wish to give offense."
Rowan looked up, startled at being addressed by the object of his thoughts. She looks even lovelier up close, thought he.
"I detest these events."
"So do half the people in this room and yet, appearances must be maintained."
"Deceit is not in my nature."
The lady frowned. "It is not deceitful to pretend you are interested in an event in order to spare your host's feelings."
"Your motive may be charitable but it is no excuse for dishonesty."
The lady looked amused but did not pursue the topic further. "I hope you will forgive me for speaking without a proper introduction, sir. I am not a fan of convention."
Rowan smiled.
An unmarried woman, not even of age, and already a heiress to a trade empire—by all accounts, she did not seem like one.
"I will, if you allow me to remedy the situation now." He bowed with exaggerated formality. "I am Mr. Rowan Whitethorn of Harcomb, in Doranelle."
Her cheek dimpled. "Miss Celaena Sardothein—my father—"
"Mr. Hamel, yes, I know." He almost cringed at how rude he sounded. "He and I, we are—"
"—business associates, yes, I know," she teased with an impish grin, replying in a poor imitation of his own deep voice.
Her eyes twinkled with amusement, filled with laughter and mirth—turquoise orbs, ringed with brilliant gold.
All of his resolve flew out of the window. "Miss Sardothein, will you allow me the pleasure of leading you into the first set? The dancing is about to commence."
"The pleasure will be all mine."
In hopes of starting a conversation, he said, "You are a fine dancer."
"I would have believed you to be a liar if we hadn't already established that deceit of any sort is your abhorrence."
He smiled. "And if I were being insincere?"
"I would take it as a compliment to myself, for it will mean that you are acting on my advice from earlier about lying for the sake of appearances."
They fell silent again.
"We must talk some, you know," said Rowan. "For someone who claims to be concerned with appearances, do you not think it would look odd for us to spend a half hour together but in silence."
She startled at the sudden statement. "Introduce a topic then and I will do my poor best to maintain the conversation."
Rowan complied and was pleasantly surprised to find her lively and good-humored and well-informed on most subject from current fashion disasters to books to political bills and movements. Her arguements were passionate and far from taking offense at his dry humor, she matched it with witty quips of her own; and to top it alll off, she was as skilled a dancer as a conversationalist.
Rowan was almost annoyed when the song came to an end. He could not recall the last time he had been half as well entertained.
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"You will be the death of me, you foolish, foolish chit!" screeched the old matron.
Fenrys had allowed himself to be dragged into a bookstore, which happened to be one of his least favourite places, by his cousin, James—the second son to his uncle, Lord Rhoe, the Earl of Narrowcreek—and was now eager for any sort of amusement. He turned towards the high-pitched shriek with interest.
A young lady stood near the shelves, tall and proud, even in the face of her mother's ill-bred manners.
Her blonde hair fell down in waves, half pinned by dragonfly-shaped hair combs. The fabric of her dress was fine enough for her to belong to the first circles and yet, he could not recall seeing her—or her mother—anywhere.
"Ungrateful child! Wait until I tell your father what you did; he will be most displeased."
She bit her lip to contain her mirth, though her cheeks flushed with embarassment. Her eyes flitted to the door and back, as if she was looking for some escape.
"Poor girl," the bookshop owner murmured.
The following words had the unfortunate attention of drawing the mother's attention towards the owner.
Lord Fenrys almost laughed at the alarmed look on the owner's face when she began lamenting to him instead and then looked over at the lady who was staring at the door with a thoughtful look, as if wondering whether or not to attempt an escape.
She must have decided in it's favour because she gathered her skirts and made a mad dash towards the door.
Fenrys realised he was standing in her way and hastened to move but it was too late—
"Darn!" cried she.
The commotion drew her mother's attention and upon spotting her wayward daughter lying on the floor with a grimace, she rushed over with a whole new litany of complaints.
Fenrys could have sworn the lady cursed under her breath.
"Stubborn, stubborn child! I told you not to run off without me but oh, how you love vexing me," shouted her mother in her high-pitched voice. "And what are you doing, bothering this fine gentleman over here? You had better not to talk to anyone if you are determined to refuse them all. You broke that poor man's heart—"
Fenrys quirked an eyebrow in interest, looking thoroughly entertained.
Her cheeks flushed further.
He frowned.
Up close, her face looked awfully familiar. He searched his brain for an answer.
A memory flashed in front of his mind. A highly unconventional black dress, a tinkling laugh and a ballroom.
Realisation dawned.
"Miss Sardothein! Fancy seeing you here," said he. "I almost didn't recognise you because of the hair."
"The hair? Oh, yes, I am very fond of dyes, but you have caught me in my natural state."
"I find you lovelier than ever. If you will forgive me for prying, I could not help but observe you haven't bought a thing yet, even though I know you to be a great reader! Is the reading material not to your taste, Miss Sardothein?"
Celaena answered wryly, "As a matter of fact, the books here suit my tastes very well—It is only that I am not allowed to buy books for a month—as punishment."
"No books! And what awful crime did you commit to merit that?"
"I rejected a marriage offer."
"A capital offense!"
Celaena smiled, "Indeed."
"I hope you are appropriately ashamed of yourself!"
"Horrified at my own audacity, really."
The lady looked up at him and grinned; Fenrys' own face turned pale and his mouth fell open in surprise. Ashryver eyes! She had ashryver eyes—like James, Aedion, and their mothers Helen and Evalin and—gods. The little poem his cousins had made up in childhood came to the forefront of his mind.
"The fairest eyes, from legends old,
Of brightest blue, ringed with gold."
But how...?
He looked at the woman again: her eyes bright and mirthful and thick eyelashes resting on her cheek, the face tugged at his memory; and she smiled so impishly, he had seen that smile before—
"Aelin," he blurted out.
He was startled when her smile dropped and recognition flickered in her eyes.
Fenrys shot an alarmed look towards the shelf behind which James had disappeared. Aelin was here! But how could this be? His heart thumped loudly inside his chest.
"Aelin?" She inclined her head in question.
He smiled uncertainly.
Was she really his little cousin? Aelin had been five year old when he last saw her.
But if he was wrong about this, could this come to bite him in the ass? She was certainly as old as his cousin would have been, had she been alive and she had the same unruly blonde curls and those ashryver eyes, teeming with life.
It couldn't be...
Arobynn's adoptive daughter.
"Yes, Aelin was my favourite cousin—you, uh, you remind me of her."
"If she is your favourite, then I am inclined to take that as a compliment." Celaena—Aelin?—smiled again, though her eyebrows remained drawn still. "The name does sound familiar. Perhaps I would have heard of her in the newspaper? The society column is a great source of amusement to my father. He reads it aloud to us from time to time."
Father? He wondered if she was talking of Arobynn or Mrs. Rhunn's husband.
Fenrys smiled sadly. "That is not possible for you see, my cousin died when she was five."
At least I thought she died.
"I am sorry for your loss." Then, with an arch look on her face, she asked, "If she was like me as you say, she must have been delightful."
He chuckled. "An absolute troublemaker."
"Definitely like me then," said she, sparing a look towards her mother. "I should leave now, before my mother lists you off as yet another suitor!"
And before he could think to stop her, she curtsied and scurried off.
Fenrys stared at the door, somewhat dumbfounded. Aelin is alive. He marvelled at the thought and then wondered how on earth he would inform her family—James would be ecstatic and his father would have to be informed, and Edward would have to be called to London, gods. Edward!
Aelin had been missed by all but no one grieved her as the poor man had.
Edward would be ecstatic; everyone would.
Fenrys ran towards his cousin out of breath, who was still examining titles in one corner.
"Fenrys, god, slow down, man! Whatever happened? You look like you saw a ghost."
He blinked.
Then, without any attempt at tact or discretion, he blurted out: "Aelin is alive."
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"Aelin, Aelin, stop that—no, look at your frock, mother will be so angry, no, Aelin! You will hurt yourself like that."
The man watched, concealed behind the ridge as a little girl skipped from one mud puddle to another, blonde curls bouncing up and down as she moved. Her elder brother followed at a more sedate place, calling out admonishments and threats, not that they had an effect on her.
Aelin grinned over her shoulder and ran, leading her brother on a merry chase.
The man was still debating how to go about abducting the girl when fortune smiled upon him; she twisted her leg and fell down, prompting the boy to run towards her.
"It hurts," she whimpered, refusing to stand.
The man smiled maliciously and waited as the boy looked around. "Very well," he said finally. "If you promise not to go anywhere, I will fetch papa. Do not move, Aelin."
The boy rushed towards the manor house, ignoring the twisted knots in his stomach and burst into his father's private study. In his panicked state of mind, it took a few attempts for Rhoe to make sense of his garbled words.
A foreboding feeling rose in his stomach.
She will be fine, he tried to reassure himself. Aelin, troublemaker that she was, had had a lot worse than a twisted ankle.
But his alarm grew the nearer they came to where she was supposed to be and his heart pounded inside his chest. All colour drained from his face when they didn't find Aelin where she was supposed to be.
"Are you certain this is where you left her?"
Edward nodded.
Rhoe suddenly felt dizzy, his knees buckled and bile rose up in his throat.
He reined himself in and with admirable composure, organised search parties to search around the estate and the neighbourhood.
The search carried on until late that night, when an express rider from the nearby magistrate arrived with a letter: a nearby warehouse had burned down earlier that day and two bodies were found: a man in his forties, who could not be identified and a seven year old girl who had on a silver anklet bearing the word fireheart and requested Mr. Galathynius' presence tomorrow at the warehouse to confirm the girl's identity.
Rhoe folded the letter, excused himself from company and sent his sons to their beds.
Then he entered his study: the study no one was allowed to enter without permission—except his Aelin—slumped into the armchair by the fireplace and wept.
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note: ...and it's here. I have so many drafts of this chapter lying around, I'm surprised I actually finally posted it lmao.
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avidrawsthings · 3 years
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Reina and her Stand: Atabey This post is a rewrite of her profile. After some thinking, as much as I loved the original drawing still, I went ahead and redrew it to include some of the details I wanted to add in and change up. (tbh at this point I'm not too sure about Atabey's new look...lol) The original one is here for anyone interested. Sorry for the upcoming wall of text lol I promise the others won't be this long.
Atabey is named after the supreme goddess of the Taínos, representing Earth and all bodies of water, as well as fertility. Atabey (the Stand) has the ability to create hard light constructs limited only by Reina's imagination. For reference, the powers function identical to Green Lantern, only that Atabey's constructs are pink.
As a natural born Stand user, Reina first manifested Atabey when she was a toddler and bonded with her almost immediately. Atabey is fully sentient and capable of speech. With Stands being so rare in the Wizarding world, she was only ever seen as a special type of ghost that could physically interact with things. Her bond to Reina could only be explained as a unique trait born from her own developing magic. What they couldn't explain was how Ginger, her pet chicken and familiar, had a spirit of her own.
Prior to attending Hogwarts, the only other person aside from Ginger that Reina knew had a Guardian Spirit of their own was her brother Ricardo (Jacob), who has one called Dreamscape. Rowan would be the first one to see Atabey after Reina showed her on the Hogwarts Express. At school, Merula was terrified of Atabey and avoided her whenever she could, resulting in Reina and her friends not being bullied by her as much.
That would change in their 3rd Year once Barnaby was added into the mix. Having his own Spirit named Dagda, Reina would have her first real Stand battle against him, and a crazy one that would end up in a tie thanks to the pair passing out from their respective injuries. In a separate timeline, their fight ended after Ben manifested his own Stand as he tried to stop Merula and Ismelda from sabotaging Reina and Barnaby's fight. (This will be explained further in his profile)
Later in their third year, Reina would meet Talbott and wouldn't learn of his own Stand until they've officially become friends some time later. Late into their 5th year, a chaotic series of events consisting of ambush, abduction, and a Port Key mishap led to Reina being rescued by the Joestar group just as they were preparing to leave Hong Kong. Not wanting to return to Hogwarts just yet due to all the stress she's endured for most of that school year, Reina instead chose to stay with the group to help them on their journey.
She would remain in contact with Rowan and Talbott the most thanks to the use of enchanted pocket mirrors that functioned like the magical equivalent of video calls.
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thatrandombystander · 2 years
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I'm really glad to hear your opinion on Black Sails! I gave it a try but couldn't push through the first few episodes. But I'm willing to give it another shot if you say it gets much better !
Hi Mel!
It's been a couple years since I've seen the series but my overall lasting impression of it is very positive. I definitely remember season one being the weakest and including some Dark Edgy stuff for no real narrative reason, eg. sexual assault which I believe never happens again once the producers stopped pushing the writers to emulate Game of Thrones and let them do their thing
There are still sex scenes and strong violent scenes (which may not be your cup of tea) but from memory they're there for a narrative reason. One of the violent scenes that remember quite strongly was basically there to show us how horrific the perpetrating character is, not Edgy-ness for the sake of Edgy-ness
This video by Rowan Ellis is a well done comparison of the writing in Black Sails and Game of Thrones (Black Sails is very well-written), but uhh it's an hour-long video and discusses a bunch of spoilers (but not entirely about the show's ending despite the video's title) so I certainly wouldn't blame anyone for not checking it out. There are a lot of positive comments on the video which might help give you some insight into what people liked about the show tho
Obviously we might have different tastes, but it's one of my favourite shows and if you do decide to watch more I hope you'll enjoy it too
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westofmoon · 4 years
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🎃 trick 🍬 or 🍫 treat 💀
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follow up to this
Aelin takes her children trick or treating. Set ~10 years after the main story of my icydk au.
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Aelin fastened Seren into her stroller, tucking the corners of the blanket around the bundled up baby, it covered up her ragdoll dress but Aelin wanted to ensure the she stayed nice and warm. Seren cooed up at her, her blue eyes bright as she gummed at her pumpkin-shaped teething toy. 
A few feet away, Aspen and Aurelia were leaping over puddles from the earlier rain shower, Fleetfoot bouncing along with them. Her children had begged to bring the dog, since Rowan had had to work like to wrap up a case and couldn't be there with them tonight. Aelin hadn't had the heart to deny them, she was just as sad about his absence as they were.
Feeling a light tug on her dress, Aelin glanced down at Eyas still clinging to the skirt of her costume, a patchwork ragdoll dress that matched Seren's and Aurelia's. Eyas was watching his brother and sister, but then he looked up at her, the green of his eyes stark amidst the black surrounding them and the white and gray paint covering his face. Her little skeleton boy. His mouth was pulled down in a slight pout, and Aelin leaned down and booped him on his little black nose with a fingertip. A toothy grin broke out across his face and a little giggle escaped past his lips.
"Are we ready?" she asked loudly, so her other two children would hear over their laughing and Fleetfoot's yips.
The both halted, running towards her. "Yes mommy!" they chirped, bouncing to a stop next to her. Aspen was dressed nearly identical to his little brother. And Aurelia was still brandishing her little toy sword; Aelin and Rowan had had a time getting Aura to put the thing down for longer than a minute since she found it at the costume store three weeks ago, and now she was having a blast as a ragdoll warrior princess. 
Their costumes all coordinated, meant to look like characters from the kids favorite holiday movie. They had even wrangled Fleetfoot into wearing a pillowcase with holes cut in it to look like the 'ghost dog' from the movie, while Rowan was the skeleton man and Aelin his ragdoll love. But Rowan had had to work.
Aelin fastened Fleetfoot's walking lead, the dog sitting next to them looking at Eyas curiously. "Do we have everything?" Aelin asked her children. "You each have your bag for your candy?"
"Yes!" the chimed again, Eyas included.
But then Aspen frowned and looked up at her, his big turquoise and gold eyes sad and imploring. "Is daddy really not coming?"
"Oh, sweetie," Aelin crooned, running a hand through his silver curls. "Daddy really wanted to be here. Very much. But he- Fleetfoot! No! Don't lick the face paint!" She had to grab the dog by her collar and haul her away from Eyas, who's face she was attempting to 'clean'. After Aelin had just spent the better part of two hours struggling to paint the feisty little four year old. 
Fleetfoot looked up at her, giving her a dopey dog grin that said she was quite pleased with herself, tongue lolling out of one side of her mouth. "I know you want to help, girl," Aelin laughed, scratching the dog behind the ears, "but it's not bath time right now."
It was then she noticed that Eyas, too, was looking sad again, and wondered if maybe the dog hadn't been trying to cheer the little boy up. Aurelia appeared just as upset as her brothers. 
Aelin kneeled down before her children. She straightened Eyas's black and white suit collar, adjusted Aura's crown and smoothed a smudge on Aspen's cheek. "Daddy wishes very much that he was here," she told them. Rowan had said as much in the last text he had sent her, after she had sent him pictures of the kids in their costumes, and even a couple selfies of herself. "But he wants us to have sooo much fun, and not be sad! So lets go have fun so we can tell him all about everything we did and show him all of our candy when he gets home tonight, okay?"
They answered with nods and murmured 'okay's, each giving her a small smile. It made her heart ache, but she knew it would take more than words to cheer them up. And candy would be a good starting point.
So off they went to meet up with their trick or treat group, consisting of Lysandra and Lorcan and Dorian and their children. Like Aelin, their spouses were also stuck working tonight.
Aurelia and Aspen ran ahead, towards their cousin, Aedion and Lysandra's little boy, who was dressed as a pirate. While Aura began playing sword fight with him, Rhiannon leaped out from behind Dorian, holding her hands up like claws as she growled, "Grrar!" Her burnt gold eyes were near glowing behind her dark gray wyvern mask. Aspen let out a squealing laugh and darted around behind Lysandra as Rhiannon began bouncing after him, still growling.
Aelin laughed softly, until Eyas let out a startled noise and ducked in between Seren's stroller and her legs and she was forced to halt. She looked up from his panicked face to see what has scared him and nearly balked as her eyes fell on Callan and Moira's costumes. 
Raggedy clothes, sickly colored skin, covered in dirt and fake blood. Zombies, the both of them. She was even more startled to see that Lorcan himself was dressed the same. 
“Really?” she asked him as she finally coaxed Eyas forward, the little boy peeking around the corner of the stroller in terror. Lorcan gave an unconcerned shrug, and Aelin huffed a laugh, “I have a hard time believing Elide was okay with this.”
“Elide doesn’t know what costumes we picked out, ” Lorcan said with a wicked smirk. 
Callan ran over to her, causing Eyas to run around behind her. The dark haired little boy tugged at her coat and placed his hands on either side of his mouth as if to tell her some secret and whispered loudly, “It’s a surprise for mama, Aunt Aelin.”  
"Ah," she grinned at Callan and gave Lorcan a look that said she wished him luck when Elide found out. 
After a few minutes of wrangling the wild group of children, and letting Lys and Dorian fawn over baby Seren, they finally set out down the streets of downtown Orynth. 
Street after street, house after house. Aelin had taken a million pictures and videos to show to Rowan later, and to send to her parents. 
Being that it was Eyas's first time trick or treating, the poor little guy had been terrified to approach any of the doors. At the first house they visited, he had barely taken three steps up the sidewalk before he stopped and watched as the others collected their candy. Despite her encouragement, he refused to budge, giving her an imploring 'do I have too?' look, and only went forward when Aurelia had taken his hand and led him up to door to show him it was alright. 
It had been a little easier after than. He actually went to the doors, but he stayed behind his siblings and the others, and Aspen told her he wouldn’t say ‘trick or treat’. 
But her little boy, and all of her children were now smiling and giggling, their bags nearly bursting with all of the candy they had collected. And she could also tell they were very tired; little Seren had fallen asleep a while ago.
Ready to head home, they parted with the others, Lorcan and his kids tagging along since they parked in the same place. 
She loaded the children into the SUV, and as she was buckling Eyas into his booster seat he blinked his sleepy eyes at her, “Can we go see daddy?”
“Yeah, can we mommy?” 
“Can we, please?”
"Pleeease?"
Aelin looked at their pleading little faces, a smile pulling at her mouth.
Having overheard from where he too was buckling Moira into her own booster seat in the back of their car, Lorcan said quietly, “I was planning on taking these two down to the station to see Elide before we head home.”
Aelin turned back to her kids, still looking hopefully at her. It would make her husband feel better about missing out tonight. So she agreed, and after much hushed cheering, so as not to wake their baby sister, they made their way down to the Orynth Precinct. Once there, Aelin gathering the kids and Fleetfoot and transferring the still sleeping baby back into her stroller to head inside.
When they entered, Elide was sitting at her desk, working dispatch for the evening. She glanced up from her computer at their approach and gave them a smile. But then her dark eyes shifted, and Aelin knew the exact second she spotted her own children and husband because her smile tightened. 
Just before they entered the back hallway, Aelin saw Elide give Lorcan a withering look that said she was clearly not amused by his choice of costume and that he would never be in charge of picking out costumes again. 
Laughing quietly, Aelin pushed Seren’s stroller on down the hall to Rowan's office, her little ones staying close to her side. Eyas had his little fingers buried in Fleetfoot’s fur as he walked next to her. 
The door to Rowan's office was open and when Aelin peeked in, she saw him sitting at his desk, head bent over as he scribbled away at some paperwork for the case he and Fenrys had been slaving over for the past two weeks. She lifted a finger to her lips, gesturing to her children to be quiet as she stepped up to the door and rapped the frame with her knuckles. 
Rowan's silver clad head shot up in surprise, and when his green eyes landed on her, and then their children, his expression brightened, a big smile spreading across his face. “Hey.”
“Daddy! Daddy!” the little one’s chanted, running through the door and over to where he sat at the desk. 
He smiled down at them, turning his chair to face them as he leaned forward, “Why who are you?” he asked them in confusion, sharing a secret little smirk with Aelin. 
Aspen and Aurelia laughed, “It’s us daddy!” 
"What?" Rowan’s eyes widened in surprise. Eyas giggled as he clambered up into Rowan's lap, trying to wrap his little arms around Rowan’s middle. “I didn’t recognize any of you! You all look so amazing! I thought three little monsters had come to get me!” He grinned and ruffled Eyas's hair, then pulled Aura and Aspen in for a hug. “Did you have fun tonight?”
Three little heads nodded, "Yes!" 
"We missed you!" Aspen said, and then held up his candy bag as he bounced on his toes. "Look at all I got!"
"Me too!" Eyas chirped, showing his father his own bag of goodies.
"Wow! That's so much!" Rowan exclaimed, holding out a hand. "Can I have some?" Aspen's eyes widened and he yanked his bag away, looking outright scandalized. 
Pursing her lips, Aurelia looked through her bag and picked out a piece of licorice. "You can have this one, daddy," she said, her nose scrunched slightly.
Fighting back a laugh, Rowan took it from her. "Thank you, love."
Laughing, Aelin walked over to Rowan's desk, pushing Seren's stroller closer to the desk as Fleefoot curled up next to the door, ready for a nap. Rowan smiled up at her before looking down at the baby, reaching in to run a finger over her cheek. She was still out like a light. 
"Sleeping beauty has been out since we hit up Main," Aelin laughed softly, planting a hand on her hip.
Rowan glanced up at her, eyes bright and crinkled at the corners. "You say that like you guys pulled off some big heist." 
"We did," Aelin said proudly, smirking at him. "Did you see that haul? My children are talented." 
He grinned crookedly, the dimple in his left cheek appearing. "Need I remind you, Miss Ragdoll, that stealing is a crime? You could be arrested for that," he joked.
"Then I guess it's a very good thing that my husband is a police detective then," she said thoughtfully, pursing her lips.
Rowan's smile turned warm then. He lifted a hand to cup the back of her neck and pulled her down to him for a kiss. "Hello, my love," he murmured against her lips, and her toes curled in her boots at his rumbling tone. "I've missed you today." He kissed her again. 
"Miss Ragdoll has missed her Skeleton Man too," she replied. 
"Eeew," Aspen grumbled as Aurelia giggled at them, the two of them deep in the process of trading pieces of candy. 
Aelin glanced down at Eyas to find him completely conked out in Rowan's lap, his little head lolling back. Poor thing. Rowan leaned down and kissed the top of his head. "You should get them home and put them in bed. You can tell me about everything tomorrow."
She nodded her agreement. After rousing the sleeping boy and dog, they each gave their father another big hug and Rowan walked them over to the door. Aspen trotted on out of the office into the hall, holding onto Fleetfoot, as Aurelia held Eyas’s hand, the four year old rubbing his eyes sleepily. 
Aelin halted at the door, turning back to her husband. “Are you almost finished?”
He nodded, “Yes, as soon as I finish up this paperwork, I should be home within the hour.” He gave her a smile, leaning in closer as he added softly, “And Nehemia gave me next week off.”
“Good,” she grinned, rising up on her toes to give him another kiss. ‘Miss Ragdoll has missed her husband.” And then her voice dropped to a whisper as she added so only he could hear, “And she is really looking forward to rattling his bones tonight.” 
She pressed another quick kiss to his lips and pulled back, quirking a brow in amusement at the look on his face. And without waiting for him to respond, Aelin turned away and sauntered down the hall after their children. She could have sworn she heard him growl. 
Once she had the children loaded back in the car for the drive home and was buckling her own seatbelt, her phone blipped with a new message. She glanced down at the screen. 
Buzzard: I’m going to hold you to that promise, Miss Ragdoll.
Aelin couldn’t stop grinning the entire drive home.
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a bit more Rowaelin in this one, sorry it's not as cute.
and yeah, that's me blatantly having them dress as Nightmare Before Christmas characters, and the "little skeleton children" mentioned in the epilogue, lol
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