#rip sam cortland

[justallihere]

so i just read a theory on how xaden is not the next tamlin but rather the next sam cortland

if this happens to be true fourth wing will become a standalone because i can not deal with anymore trauma from these damn books

i read to be happy not to cry 😭

Personally I don’t think Xaden is going to be the “next” anyone! Comparing all popular romantasy to SJM is a recipe for disaster because SJM has a very specific writing style that’s pretty formulaic. RY is an entirely different author writing a different story! Is she going to rip our hearts out? Yeah probably, but that’s half the fun. Enjoy the ride friend 🫶🏻

[cloudywriter]

the best kept secret

aelin week - may 2nd

prompt: aelin and the magic of friendship 

where have i been? idk. xoxo 

(cw: mild language)

masterlist

~~~

Most people would say they have no idea when their feelings for their best friend began to shift. Rowan, however, knew exactly when it happened. 

It was two months into freshman year, October 2nd to be exact, and Aelin showed up at his doorstep - they were neighbors after all - all giddy with her cheeks flushed a bright cherry red. The hue made her blue eyes stand out like a stray highlighter mark against a crisp white page. 

She told Rowan she finally had her first kiss. Sam Cortland had kissed Aelin goodbye after their outing to the pumpkin patch. 

At first, Rowan thought the feeling that bloomed like a weed from the pit of his stomach was betrayal. Rowan and Aelin were supposed to do everything together and yet she had had her first kiss and he had not. He soon realized no, the emotion didn’t come from him feeling left behind it came from him wishing he had been Aelin’s first kiss. As soon as Rowan realized the ugly truth he pushed it down. He pushed it down, down deep hoping the feelings would eventually dissipate - that they were only a fluke, a rush of teenage hormones. 

It had been four years since then and senior was coming to a close, yet those pesky emotions never subsided. He even had his first kiss with a girl named Remelle, a fault he was still unable to leave in the past. His feelings only grew as did the jealousy Rowan felt every time a new boy took interest in Aelin and she entertained their advances. Sam, Ilias, Nox, Dorian, Chaol, and even one of his own best friends, Fenrys. 

Rowan had been in a foul mood for three days straight now and all because he overheard Aelin talking with Lysandra. A conversation where Lys pushed Aelin to tell her more details about this ‘guy’ she likes. Aelin hadn’t given up anything before Rowan had backed off and decided to eat lunch in the library rather than at the table with his friends. 

Now, Rowan was in an even more foul mood as he sat at Aelin’s white desk staring at the crappy paper flowers she folded out of boredom one day and various pictures of them on her bulletin board while she lounged on her bed behind him still so blissfully unaware of his intense desire for her. They were studying for their upcoming AP Biology exam and Rowan was about to rip his eyes out to keep from staring at any more flashcards. Seriously, why were photosystem II and photosystem I labeled out of order? 

As if she was reading his mind, Rowan hears Aelin slam her textbook shut behind him flopping back on her bed with a huff. 

“If I look at this book anymore my brain will fall out and disintegrate,” she groaned, wiping her eyes with the palms of her hands. 

“Are you suggesting you still have a brain to even do that?” Rowan hummed, swinging around in her desk chair to face her. Even dressed in sweatpants and an oversized ratty t-shirt Rowan really still thought she looked beautiful. She raised her arms above her head high enough that her shirt rode up exposing some midriff as she stretched. Rowan looked away focusing on a spot of chipped paint on the wall instead. 

“So… I overheard you and Lys talking earlier,” Rowan trailed off suddenly cursing himself for even bringing it up. It would only hurt him more for her to talk about it but some self-destructive part of him wanted to know who. 

When Rowan looked back at her he saw her eyebrow raised, urging him to go on. 

“You like a guy?” Rowan coughed out. Aelin looked shocked before schooling her features back into neutrality. “I- what did you hear? Did Lys say something to you?” She stumbled over her words. 

“No, no. I just overheard,” Rowan clarified. 

“So, you were eavesdropping, Whitethorn?” She questioned. 

“Maybe unintentionally,” he admitted and Aelin smirked before her face fell a little. “It’s no one though, Ro. Don’t worry about it. It’ll never be a thing.” 

“Why not?” He pressed, his heart pounding uncomfortably against his ribs. Aelin’s gaze darted away from him and she began scratching at the side of her nail like he knew she did when she was nervous. 

She shrugged a single shoulder weakly before bouncing off her bed. “I have to pee,” she declared in very usual Aelin fashion and walked straight into her bathroom shutting the door behind her. 

Rowan sighed and leaned back in the chair allowing it to tilt back until it hit the wall. It connected with a clang, knocking the lacrosse stick he’d stuck against it earlier to the side. The stick slid down the wall stopping when it knocked into a bookshelf nailed to the wall with a thump. A book plunged on contact from the shelf landing at Rowan’s feet. He huffed, leaning forward again to replace the book. 

It was a black composition notebook like the ones given out in science class with a worn cover. Its corners were beat up and bending inwards. Aelin Galathynius was written in neat penmanship on the front with a faded lipstick stain above it. 

Rowan opened it a little expecting to find some doodles or even notes from an old science class but instead, the journal was full of pages of writing. Some were crammed with sprawling colorful script that looked rushed and loopy while other pages were filled with neat graphite paragraphs. As his eyes skimmed over the pages he realized quickly he was looking at a diary of some sort. Aelin’s diary. 

Guilt rose to the surface. 

She complained lamely of classes, of her parents' silly rules, of Chaol, and of her arguments with Aedion. Nothing worth much interest until his eyes snagged on his name. The guilt rose higher, banging at the door of his self-conscious but the urge to know was overwhelming and his eyes moved of their own accord. 

I wish there was some way to tell Rowan I love him. 

His stomach dropped so far he thought it would exit out of his body and splatter on the carpet below him. 

The door from the bathroom opened with a creak and Rowan fumbled with the notebook desperately trying to make himself look as inconspicuous as possible. 

It was too late. “Where did you get that?” Aelin demanded. Her eyes were sweeping and narrow, undoubtedly pissed. 

“I- it fell from the shelf and I went to put it back but you know, well, I don’t know. I’m sorry, Aelin, so so sorry. I’m really fucking stupid,” Rowan’s words jumbled together. 

“Did you read it?” She pressed as color rose to her cheeks and her expression grew hard. “I-,” he started, fumbling as he tried to process all the thoughts moving like a freight train in his head. 

She loves him. She’s pissed. He read her intimate thoughts. He invaded her privacy. She loves him too. 

“Rowan! Did you really fucking read it? Are you-” 

“I love you too.” 

“What?” She stopped her rant. 

“I love you too,” he reiterated. He thought he felt his dinner climbing up his esophagus. He was ready to puke as the confession left his tongue and took flight. 

“Rowan,” she breathed.

“It’s the truth, Aelin. It’s been the truth for years now.” Rowan continued. 

“Why didn’t you ever say anything?” Aelin asked, her voice lacking any malice. 

“Because I’m really fucking stupid.” 

She smiled and he smiled back.

~~~

i’ll try to write more again idk. busy year :,)

#aelin #aelin ashryver galathynius #rowaelin #aelin x rowan #rowan x aelin #rowan whitethorn #rowaelin drabble #rowaelin au #rowaelin fanfic #rowaelin fanfiction #aelin week #throne of glass fanfiction #throne of glass

[illxminaefxles-blog]

If you think about it, Sam Cortland is essentially the Finnick Odair of the TOG fandom.

just sayin’

#throne of glass #tog #sarah j maas #sjm #sjmaas #sjmaas fandom #tog sjmaas #sam cortland #rip sam cortland #sam cortland deserved better

[qwertyngina]

i just saw this and iM BAWLING MY EYES OUT SAM CORTLAND UHMOOFOGJFHDHGFKS (i can’t find the artist’s name ok i just found this on pinterest plskdhsj)

#throne of glass #sarah j maas #queen aelin #sam cortland #rip #imma go back to crying

[collectingotherpeopleswords]

“I love you,” he breathed against her mouth. “And from today onward, I want to never be separated from you. Wherever you go, I go. Even if that means going to Hell itself, wherever you are, that’s where I want to be. Forever.

Sam Cortland, Assassin’s Blade

#throne of glass #assassin's blade #sam cortland #Sarah j mass #celeana sardothien #celeana x sam #literally the cutest #sam is a precious cinnamon roll #I love him #why Sarah J Mass why would you #rip my baby #don't get me wrong #rowan x aelin #is engame #but still celeana and sam were adorable #there I go again #with my unrealistic expectations of romance #this isn't my fault okay #blame it on books

[little-prying-pandora]

Men of Throne of Glass ½

#throne of glass #tog #rowan #rowan whitethorn #dorian havilliard #king of adarlan #aedion ashryver #wolf of the north #prince #chaol westfall #hand to the king #sam cortland #rip #crown of midnight #heir of fire #queen of shadows #empire of storms #tower of dawn

[separatist-apologist]

Hehehe what about a most satisfying in bed TOG version?

Lorcan, Dorian, Rowan, Chaol, Aedion, Fenrys, Gavriel, Sartaq, and Sam Cortland

I don't know some of these characters well enough so its gonna be on vibes alone at times. Sam Cortland, for me, is a dead dude. I didn't read the novellas OR Chaol's book which I'm told is where Sartaq lives? And I didn't read the last book either so RIP Gavriel I guess.

9- Chaol because I never liked him and he brooded way too much for my taste. Is both way too impressed with himself AND deeply insecure. Weird combo

8- Wasn't Sam Cortland, like, 17? I don't remember a lot about him.

7- Sartaq. I know nothing about him, just assuming this is true

6. Fenrys- I feel like he has a good sense of humor about things. He's the guy who turns into an animal, right? I rest my case.

5. Gavriel- Aedions father, he could get it. I love a DILF. Wait. Is he the one who becomes an animal? If so, I rest my case again. Am starting to realize I don't know a lot about these characters

4. Lorcan- He's like, 7ft tall so I'm assuming his dick is big. It's literally a tragedy if isn't. Strong and silent type. A mix of Eris/Azriel. Like he's pointing and degrading me, but also not making me feel bad about it afterwards. I'm whose little slut? His little slut.

3. Aedion- Switch him with Lorcan please. I forgot he was on the this list. What's his skill again? Swords? Being a little too into his cousin? Would fuck him, though, I love a man with big hands and idk what it is about Aedion, he radiates big hand energy

2. Dorian- I can feel the hate messages as I type this. I can explain my reasoning. But for now, I DO remember shadow hands. Love that journey for me

1. Rowan- HEAR ME OUT. So toxic. Also did you see Dominique Wesson's drawing of him today? Would I marry this man? Absolutely not. Would I get thrown out of a bar screaming/fighting/kissing in the rain/throwing a beer bottle that smashes into another patron because he's under my skin. Absolutely. And then would we fuck up against the bricks until my dress was ripped? Also yes.

My friends would stage an intervention and they'd be right but I'd look back on that time fondly

#i tried with this one #but all we really learned is i dont know this universe well

[rowanwhitethornisbae]

Faking It Chapter 1

Rowaelin Fake Dating High School Au

A/N: This is going to be told through Aelin and Rowan’s POV’s but will also feature other characters. 

masterlist

Aelin Galathynius had never been this pissed off in her entire life. 

“I need to focus on myself.” 

“You can be a lot to handle sometimes.” 

If Aelin hadn't been so shellshocked she most definitely would've slapped that grimace off his ruggedly handsome face. Chaol Westfall and her had been dating for as long as Aelin could remember. Grade six graduation, he was there. Grade eight dance marathon, him again. First day of high school, Chaol. Junior prom night, guess fucking who. 

Now, she was barely a week into senior year and everything was already going to shit. It’s not that she was completely torn up about the breakup - she wasn't - it was more about her pride. Aelin’s bitchy side could not believe that she hadn't been the one to dump him first. They’d barely spoken to each other all summer long. Aelin had been lifeguarding at a pool on the south side of town and Chaol had been a camp counsellor on the north. Still, their friend groups crossed over in every way possible. Aelin was the head cheerleader, leader of about every committee you could think of, and as Aedion liked to call her, “Queen of Terrasen High”. Chaol was, you guessed it, the football team captain and starting quarter back. They were the textbook couple in every way possible. Still, despite the cheerleaders and football players hanging out nearly every night, Chaol and Aelin had barely talked. It had been that way since their huge fight on the last day of junior year. They’d claimed to forgive each other, but never really had. They’d both said some really fucked up shit. Still, Aelin couldn't bring herself to be completely regretful of what she’d said to him. 

“This is a good thing A.” Her best friend Lysandra was saying beside her. “You’re way hotter than him anyway.” 

Snapping back to attention, Aelin smiled. “I am aren't I.” She laughed. 

“Hell yes.” Lysandra assured her. “He was never in your league.” 

Aelin laughed and threw her arm over her best friends shoulders. School was out for the day and they were heading out to meet Aedion for a drive home. Ignoring the faint anger in her gut, Aelin had to admit she felt more free. She hadn't been single since the sixth grade - save the small break her and Chaol had taken in 10th year. Aelin didn't like to ponder too much on that time in her life. 

A blast of warm air hit her as they pushed open the heavy doors to the school. Aedion’s face broke into a wide grin as he spotted them. As soon as her and Lysandra reached him he pulled her into a bear hug. “Welcome to the world of miserable and lonely single people. You’re gonna love it.” He messed with her hair and she groaned for him to put her down. 

“How the hell do you know already?” She asked.

“Oh my sweet naive cousin. Everyone knows.” He smiled sympathetically. 

“Everyone?” Aelin said, a hint of desperation in her tone.

“Everyone.” Aedion echoed. “It’s the biggest news to hit the school since, well, you and Chaol took break.”

Aelin swore under her breath. “Can’t people focus on their own lives for once.” 

Lysandra laughed softly. “We need to find you a rebound.” She said, bouncing on her toes. “I finally get the chance to be my best friends wingman.” 

“I don't want a rebound.” Aelin said frowning. 

“Would you rather Chaol find one first. He broke up with you, you’re already losing.” 

Damn Lysandra. She knew that Aelin was probably the most competitive person alive and could literally never shy away from a fight. 

“Fine. Who?” She swung open the door to Aedion’s car and climbed in the back.

Lysandra clapped her hands together and joined her in the back. “How about Fenrys Moonbeam?” 

Aelin shook her head back and forth. “No way.”

“Why?” Aedion asked. “He’s unfairly attractive.” 

“You date him then.” Aelin shot back. 

“Maybe I will.” He smiled wickedly at her in the rearview mirror and pulled out of the parking lot. 

“How about Sam Cortland.” Lys suggested. 

For a moment Aelin considered it. Despite being a year younger than her, Sam was extremely cute. His messy brown hair and constant smile didn't hurt matters. 

“Too nice.” Aelin insisted. “I’ll feel too bad about using him.” 

Lysandra had just begun naming someone else when their car slammed into something else. Aelin’s body lurched forward uncontrollably, head slamming into the seat in front of her. 

“Fuck!” Aedion swore. “Fucking hell!”

Aelin didn't even have time to revel in the fact that Aedion had actually cursed. Instead, she surveyed her body to make sure she was alright. Lysandra appeared to be doing the same and they both exchanged weak smiles of comfort. All three of them slowly got out of the car to see who exactly they had run into. 

Aelin was stilling rubbing at her temples when a voice sent a chill down her spine. 

“Are you fucking kidding me Ashryver?” He said. 

Heart racing, Aelin lifted her head slowly and met the anger filled green eyes of Rowan Whitethorn. He looked absolutely flawless in his leather jacket and white tee. His too tight jeans were ripped around the knees and cuffed just above his black combat boots. Rowan’s silver hair was messy and unkept and his tattoo was just as beautiful as ever. The vibrant green of his eyes never failed to take her off guard. Eyes that were now staring directly at her. 

He blinked twice, the only reaction he would show, and went back to yelling at her cousin. 

“I’m sorry man.” Aedion was saying in the background. “I didn't see you.” 

“It’s not his fault.” Lysandra jumped in. “We were all distracted.” 

“Let me guess.” He snarled back, tone as pissed off as ever. “Discussing the recent breakup.” Rowan was looking at Aelin now, waiting for a response. 

“Something like that.” She mumbled, not looking directly at him. 

“Didn't hear that princess.” He said loudly.

“Fuck off Rowan.” Aedion yelled, subtly stepping between them. “It was accident, send me the bill for your bumper. We’re going now.” 

“Whatever.” Rowan didn’t look at her once. He only got back in his dented black car, flipped Aedion off, and hit the gas. 

“Come on A.” Lysandra said softly, wrapping an arm around Aelin’s trembling form. She pulled her gently back toward their car. Aelin could feel Aedion’s gaze on her, yet for some reason she couldn't bring herself to care. 

After a few more minutes of silent and awkward driving, Aelin couldn't bear it anymore. 

“I’m fine guys.” She said with as much confidence as she could muster. “Please stop looking at me like I'm a time bomb.” 

Lysandra laughed and smiled. “Whatever you say A.” Aelin had never been this grateful for her best friend. 

“How about Rowan.” Lysandra continued. Every thought left Aelin’s head and she jolted upwards in her seat. 

“Are you insane? Are you literally fucking mental. I would get burned alive then have a conversation with him.” Aelin was practically yelling now. 

Lysandra only shrugged. “What’s the one thing that hurts more than sleeping with the best friend?” She asked Aedion. 

“Sleeping with the guy you told him not to worry about.” Her cousin recited, smirking in the rearview mirror. 

“Absolutely not. No way in hell.” She paused. “Besides, he wouldn't even give me the time of day.”

Lys squealed. “So you’re considering it.”

“No.” Aelin murmured, ignoring her friend’s pointed glares. 

“Alright.” Lysandra finally relented. “Just think on it.” 

“Fine.” Aelin nodded, and went back to staring at nothing through the car window. 

                                                     ~~~~~~~~

“Lorcan!” Rowan yelled out. “Where are you guys?” 

“Out back.” Came the booming yell of Lorcan Salvaterre. 

Sighing, Rowan put his coat back on and walked through the house to the back door. Only, Fenrys greeted him, patting him on the back and moving over on the couch. “How was your day?” His friend asked. 

“Horrible.” Rowan admitted. 

Fenrys stuck out his bottom lip. “How come?” 

“I talked to Aelin Galathynius.” 

The rest of the group instantly stopped whatever conversations they’d been having and whirled towards him. Fenrys’ eyes were blown wide open as he struggled to find the words. 

“Explain.” Lorcan said at last, falling back in his chair. Vaughn and Gavriel were staring at him cautiously, as if he might have another breakdown.  “Her cousin hit my car.” He grumbled. 

“The first time you speak to Aelin in nearly two years is because you crashed into her car” Vaughn reiterates. 

Rowan only nods. Fenrys, bless him, somehow restrains from laughing. 

“So do tell.” Gavriel gestures for Rowan to go into more detail. 

“I made some comment about the breakup, she refused to look at me, I basically mocked and condescended her, and then Aedion told me to fuck off and I left.” He reached down into the cooler for a drink. 

“Um wow.” Lorcan sighed. “Nice going asshole.” 

Rowan just held his beer out in salute and took a long drink. He was more than ready to forget about the whole day and move on. Unfortunately, his friends seemed less inclined for his plan. 

“The news of their breakup is all over the school.” Fenrys told them. He had always been their number one source of gossip, considering the rest of them despised most social interaction. “Guys are already placing bets on who can sleep with her first. Cairn bet Nox 1000$ he can nail her by Dorian’s party this Friday.” 

Rowan tried and failed to ignore the tightening in his chest. 

“Will she even go to that?” Gavriel posed. “Dorian is Chaol’s best friend anyway.”

“She’ll be there.” Rowan blurted before he could take it back.

All eyes again flipped to him. “Why don’t you make a move Rowan?” Lorcan asked, a smirk etched onto his lips. 

“Fuck off Salvaterre. I hate the bitch.” Rowan snarled. 

“You didn't seem to hate her so much when - “ Fenrys began. 

Rowan was already up and moving before he could hear the end of the sentence. He ignored their calls of apology and to come back, instead getting into his car and pulling out. At last, he pulled into the parking space in front of his aunt’s house and leaned his head against the car window. 

It had barely been a week and his senior year was already shaping up to be a fucking mess. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Throne of Glass Tag List 

message me, leave an ask, or comment to be added

@queen-of-glass

@courtofjurdan

@fictional-horan

@bamchickawowow

@julemmaes

#rowan whitethorn #rowaelin #rowaelin angst #fake dating #aelin galythinius #throne of glass #kingdom of ash

[mudeokis]

i’ll never get over how sam cortland got captured and tortured and was murdered in cold blood while celaena did as promised and didn’t try to intervene in the mission. she packed their things while sam was away. the fact that she was so worried as time went by and sam hadn’t come back yet but didn’t do anything because she had faith sam would do it is heartbreaking. the fact that sam had planned their getaway and arranged the transport that would sail in five days. the fact that sam died thinking of the promises he’d made to the love of his life and how unfair it was to have everything ripped from him when he’d just started to discover life with celaena, whom he’d been in love for years. but the worst thing of them all? how sam cortland never heard celaena say “i love you” even though their love for each other was that obvious.

don’t hmu i’m not okay

#sjm #incorrect quotes #book #book quotes #samlaena #sam cortland #celaena sardothien #aelin galythinius #sam x celaena #throne of glass #tog #the assassin’s blade #the assassin and the empire #the assassin and the underworld #the assassin and the healer #sarah j maas

[writtenonreceipts]

For the Drabble challenge, how about 107. “You, me, two liter Dr Pepper, and a movie. You in?

Thanks for the prompt!  Enjoy dears

You and Me

Aelin looked at the note plastered to the elevator doors and cursed.

OUT OF ORDER

Why in the hell was it out of order?  She aimed a well deserved kick at the metal doors and marched to the stairs.  She’d kicked off her high heels the second she’d entered her apartment building, after the night she’d had they weren’t worth keeping on.

She cursed and began the climb.

Despite the fact that it was barely eight o’clock on a Friday, the stairwell was quiet and empty.  Aelin was grateful for that fact, not just because she was moving embarrassingly slow but she was practically doing a walk of shame.

Oh no shenanigans had happened.  She hadn’t dallied too long or done anything explicitly Manon-esque, the opposite actually.  She was supposed to have a date.  She was supposed to be getting into shenanigans and dalliances and explicit Manon-esque instances.  

It truly was her fault this had happened.  In all honesty she should have realized the night was cursed to begin with.  Her favorite dress somehow had gotten a rip in it resulting in her wearing a slinky purple number Lysandra had loaned her.  Aelin didn’t have Lys’ curves so the dress felt a bit flat when Aelin had pulled it on, but she was running late and she had to get to the bar on time.  And then there had been the fact that her phone battery died and her credit card was maxed out.  Truly Aelin should have known better than pursuing the night as she had.

But for some reason she still had it in her head that she and Sam Cortland were soulmates.

Even if he did work for Arobynn Hammel.  And consequently left the bar thirty minutes after Aelin had arrived to take care of an assignment Hammel had charged him with.

While Aelin might not have the breasts or ass that she wanted, she deserved more than one cheap drink and half an hour.

She threw open the door to the fifth floor and made her way to her apartment.  She was barely down the hall when she heard the laughing and the music.

Aelin cursed.

She’d given Lys a key while her apartment was being painted.  It turned out Lys had invited everyone they knew.

Slowly making her way down the hall, Aelin paused outside the door to apartment D26 and pondered if it was worth entering.  She barely registered the sound of footsteps coming up behind her.

“You know the point of doors is that you actually have to open them, right?”

The lightly accented voice sent a shiver up Aelin’s spine, but she kept her face impassive as she turned to meet her neighbor’s eyes.

Rowan Whitethorn was too attractive for his own good.  For anyone’s good, really.  Tall, broad shouldered, and glorious bronze skin--Aelin was convinced he was a god.  If only she didn’t hate him.

“Shut up, Whitethorn,” she snapped. It wasn’t her finest comeback but she would chalk it up to being tired and ready to erase the happenings of the night.

“And stood up too,” he added, his eyes trailing over her dress, her shoes, and general disgusted with life look.

“And you?” She gestured to the grocery bag and bottle of soda he held. “Is Dr. Pepper going to solve your problems.”

“I’d imagine so,” he replied candidly.

Aelin snorted as from somewhere in her apartment a loud peal of laughter erupted.  She cringed already thinking of what mess of drinking games or strip poker she’d be pulled into.  Any other night and she would readily join in.  Any other night when she wasn’t feeling pathetically rejected.

“C’mon,” Rowan said jutting his head to his apartment, which was just across the hall from Aelin’s, “You, me, two liter Dr Pepper, and a movie. You in?”

Aelin blinked, staring at him. “What?”

“Please, Galathynius, you look like your night went to hell and need to get over it,” Rowan said. “I’ll even let you pick the movie.”

Aelin continued staring.  She and Rowan Whitethorn barely exchanged even one word on a good day.  

Finally she relented. “I hope you like romantic comedies then my friend, because it’s one of those nights.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” he replied, a soft smile flashing across his handsome face.

Alright, Aelin relented as he opened the door to his apartment, maybe she did like him a little.

end.

tags: @aelinchocolatelover

#aelin and rowan #drabbles #answered #prompts #fanfic #throne of glass #throne of glass fanfic #rowaelin au #rowaelin #aelin galathynius #rowan whitethorn

[knittingdreams]

Fireheart - Chapter 6

Short and sweet update today! The rest of the chapters are easy to find on my blog, there’s not many posts up yet n_n And remember, you can read more on Ao3, I uploaded a new chapter there today too! :D

CHAPTER 6

Reminiscing

The days turned into a week, and Celaena wasn’t any closer to finding out anything about what had happened with her family. She had managed to settle into a good routine, her body was almost used to daytime, and a little golden glow was starting to show on her cheeks and hands as well as her legs, the only parts of her body that were seeing the light of day. 

She was making up a plan to sneak into the top floor, where Dorian’s father's penthouse was, when she heard the front door of her suite creaking open. She stood up slowly and moved over to the wall, pressing her body behind her bedroom door, waiting. She listened to the light steps on the hallway getting closer, and her legs flexed a bit without even thinking about it. She had no weapons in hand, but she didn’t need any. She waited, crouching, listening.

As soon as the steps were on the threshold, they stopped, and Celaena could see the shadow of a man lurking, looking around the room, probably surprised to see it empty. Had Arobynn sent someone to check on her? Or had anybody found out about her? She didn’t have time to think about it because the figure jumped into the room, closing the door behind him in a quick motion and leaving her without cover.

“Gotcha!” A known voice yelled, and Celaena’s fist stopped mid-air as a palm collided against it.

“For fuck sake, Cortland!” she screamed. “What the fuck are you doing here? And why would you sneak up on me like that?” She took a step back, looking at Sam up and down and frowning as he let go of her fist.

“For fun?” 

Celaena pressed her palms against her face, not able to believe this intrusion to her privacy. Once the shock was gone, she walked over to her bed and dropped into it again, resuming her relaxed position from only a minute ago. 

"So, are you going to explain what brings you here?" She asked, nonchalant, as Sam still stood by the door. 

"Thought I'd check on you. We've been in school for two weeks already, you made it into the cheer squad and you start training on Monday, I'm just wondering what you're going to do about…" Sam looked lost for words and looked down, red colouring his cheeks. 

"Are you worrying about me wearing the uniform? Why don't you mind your own fucking business, Cortland?!" She said outraged, standing up and walking right past him and out of the room. Sam trailed behind her, and she could almost feel the apology stuck in his throat. 

"Sorry," he said once Celaena reached the minibar and pulled out a can of cream soda. 

"Why are you even here? What if anybody saw you coming in? Dorian could be around-" 

"Do you think I'm that stupid?" Sam cut in. "No one saw me, I can get in and out of this building without a single pair of eyes catching sight of me, and you more than anyone should know that!" He almost growled at her. 

They were standing right in front of each other now, anger burning their skins and flushing their cheeks. It was a stand-off, one that Celaena didn't plan on losing. 

"I don't need your help," she said for what felt like the millionth time. 

"You can't always do everything on your own, Celaena," Sam said, his voice turning softer as he said her name and took a step back. He turned his back on her, running a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry for what happened that day, I could never apologize, you keep shutting me out, and I… I was only trying to help-" 

"Out!" Celaena growled. "Get out of here before I rip your throat out." Tears were threatening to come out, burning behind her eyes. 

Sam turned around slowly and looked at her with such sadness in his eyes, that she almost broke. 

"Now," she said, a bit softer. It was a plea, and she could tell Sam knew how she felt. After all, they had been close enough to know each other as no one else did. 

Sam nodded once, slowly, and made his way to the same door through which he had entered merely minutes ago. Before closing the door behind him, he peered in and looked at her turquoise eyes. 

"I really am sorry, I will forever feel guilty for what involvement I had in what happened, and I know I could never make it up to you, but I wish I could." And then he was gone, the door now closed between them. 

Celaena breathed in deeply, trying to avoid the memories from that night from catching up with her. She had been so close to getting out, so close to success before Arobynn's men had found her. She had been stupid, and reckless, and she had been fully aware of the consequences her actions could have brought. But no, it had been so much more, it had been torture, humiliation, and so much pain. 

Her hand mindlessly moved to her lower back, rubbing the harsh skin close to her tailbone. The worst of the scarring was low enough to be hidden by high-waisted pants, and she thought, hopeful, that she could adapt the uniform to hide them too. She went back to her bedroom, grabbed the cheerleader uniform off the dresser, and tried it on. 

"I can work with this," she told her reflection. She could raise the waistline without any problem.

She dropped back on the bed and opened up her computer, thinking about checking up the blueprint of the hotel again. She wanted to work out the best way to get to the penthouse on the floor above so she could set up some hidden cameras. To her surprise, she found a bunch of messages on the screen instead. 

Nehemia: Are you going to the party? I would love to see you there my dear friend!

Dorian: I'll have a cocktail made in your name if you delight me with your presence tonight. 

Lysandra: Party at Dorian's tonight, it's Friday, and you're part of the hive now, so I expect to see you there. 

Celaena wondered if that was the real reason Cortland had shown up at the hotel. Maybe he wanted to see if she was going to Dorian's party. She was absolutely sure the guy would have gotten an invite too. He had become a pretty popular kid, even if he didn't mingle with the same crowd she did. Sam had befriended almost everybody at Adarlan Elite High in as little as two weeks. He was the one every single girl was dreaming about, like a new toy that they wanted to possess. She could see the appeal, there was no denying that Sam was really good looking. 

There was a rough history between them, one that was a bit like a broken rollercoaster ride. 

Celaena still remembered the day she had arrived at Arobynn's mansion. He had carried her broken and tired body up the stairs, and had nested her in a bed with warm blankets. A doctor had come over to check on her, and multiple people had tried to ask what was wrong with her, what had happened. She couldn't talk about it, she couldn't get herself to express out loud what she thought had happened. 

In the middle of that first night, she had woken up screaming, terrified. She had had a nightmare about the plane crash, she had felt the collision against the water again, she had seen her parents disappear under a mass of water as her mother had pulled on the tag of her safety vest. The young version of herself had held her breath as soon as the water had filled the plane’s cabin, and her body had shot up through the surface, her shoulder bumping against the wreckage as she soared up. In reality, she had made it out, but she had dreamed of water filling up her lungs and flames engulfing her world instead. 

She had woken up sweaty, screaming, and had found a pair of small hands steading her, a little voice telling her everything was going to be alright. For a moment, she had thought it was Aedion by her side, but this kid hadn't had blond curls, but short light brown hair instead; and his eyes weren't bright turquoise as hers, they were the color of honey. 

"It's okay, you're okay, it was just a nightmare," the kid had said. 

"Who are you?" She had asked, feeling lost and confused. 

"I'm Sam, I live here, with Arobynn... The man who found you," he explained as the girl Celaena had been back then, had looked at him wide-eyed. 

She had remembered then that a man had found her on the shore after who knew how long. She had expected him to take her to the police as they did in the movies, but there had been no patrols, no lights, no ambulances. Just a black car with tinted windows taking her into a big house. 

"Where are my parents? Where's mum?" She had asked the boy when the memories had hit her all over again, her eyes still soaked with tears. 

"Girl," he had said softly. "Your parents are dead."

She had cursed and screamed and yelled, and through it all, Sam had sat there patiently, waiting for the tantrum to be over while he tried to comfort her with soft words. 

"It will be okay, you get used to it after some time.” He had said after she calmed down. “My parents died years ago, and I don't even remember them much." The young blond girl had thought he didn't sound as sad as he should have been about their deaths. 

"You know nothing!" She had spat on his face. "I'm not like you, and I will never forget my parents!" 

That had been the start or the turmoil. The first few weeks at Arobynn's place she had been so angry with the brown haired boy for implying such horrible things that she had stayed away from him, or insulted him whenever they crossed paths. Eventually, young Sam had stopped trying to befriend her. 

When they started training in combat by the age of 12, they automatically became rivals, like it was meant to be. There were other kids around, others that came and went, but the two of them were the best ones, the ones that were constantly in the spotlight of Arobynn’s attention. They pushed themselves to beat one another, and that’s why they had become the best.  That was the same reason why they had come to know each other so well. 

Celaena laughed at the memories, lying back on her bed. 

Their relationship had gotten better by the time they became teens as they had no other option but to work together. They had to learn how to fight side by side instead of always against each other when they had joined a few illegal tournaments as partners. It had helped them learn about teamwork and tolerance, but Celaena had still kept her distance. 

Teen fighting was something they had endured for the past three years. Arobynn was one of the biggest gamblers in the scene, and he had made a lot of money out of the pair. 

The rules were few, but they were inflexible: 

-No punching on the face, as no one wants to bring the authorities’ attention to a heap of kids with black eyes and broken jaws.

-Last kid standing, wins.

-Only kids under 17 years of age allowed.

Simple and efficient. The fights always took place in underground basements that looked more like dungeons in the middle of the night, and that had been most of Sam and Celaena’s lives for the past years. The fighting had only been interrupted by break and entry, and a few espionage missions. Just your typical teen life, Celaena thought and laughed to herself.

The guild though, was at another level. They were Arobynn’s most trained and elite fighters, the ones that formed his inner circle.

Celaena thought about the tournament Arobynn had talked about. She knew good money would be involved, and she couldn’t lie to herself, she enjoyed the fighting. She wondered why she hadn’t been selected for it. Truth was that there had never been any females in the guild, but Celaena had always been hopeful that she could be the first one, that she was strong enough to make it into Arobynn’s team of most skilled and profitable fighters. But that had been all before the incident. 

Suddenly pissed off, Celaena closed the computer and stood up from the bed, walking over to her dresser.

“Fucking Sam Cortland,” she muttered as she ruffled through her clothes.

Not only had he taken her place on the guild, but he had gone and fucked everything up a few months back. He had betrayed her, and it had cost her greatly. Not only physically, but her relationship with Arobynn was now strained, and she couldn’t help but blame her lack of involvement with the guild for what had happened back then. Arobynn didn't fully trust her anymore but she needed as much money as she could, she needed to solve her parents’ murder to make sure she could pay him back what she owed him, and move along. 

She was ready to buy her freedom. But Arobynn’s fees were high.

She put on her black leather leggings, the ones that had net cut outs and transparencies on the upper tights, and then laced up her black high heel boots. She found a V neck dark purple top with long sleeves, and then rolled them halfway up to her elbows. She stood in front of the mirror for a moment, putting on her contacts back, touching up her makeup and adding some deep purple lipstick. 

There was a party she needed to attend, and an office she wanted to break into.

#throne of glass fanfiction #tog fanfic #fireheart #sam cortland #celaena sardothien #arobynn hamel #dorian havilliard #chapter six

[highqueenofelfhame]

"X has cold feet about getting married to Y and runs away from their wedding" sounds like a great one for whatever ship you want. Just feed me angst I beg you.

She had been here before. 

Aelin Cortland-Galathynius had done the whole wedding thing before. She’d been dressed up in a pretty white dress that was a smidge too tight but not so much that it was uncomfortable. There had been a veil trimmed with lace hanging over her face while her she blinked up at the ceiling in and effort not to cry. 

She had made her way down the aisle, the beautiful brown haired, brown eyed man waiting at the end for her with his hand outstretched for her before they’d even hit the halfway mark. It was like he’d been so excited to marry her it was an effort to keep his feet from meeting her halfway and taking her from her father right then. Their friends had even laughed a little, because how typical of Sam it really was. He was always overeager when it came to Aelin. 

Aelin had done this before, with a different man, in a different dress. 

It was the reason why she wore a blush colored dress rather than an ivory one. It was why there was not a stitch of lace on her gown, why there was no veil. It was why her bouquet held no roses, why there was no red allowed at her wedding. It had been an official request on the invitations as well. No red. Because she had seen Sam’s white shirt stained with blood eight hours after their vows when their car crashed into a drunk driver and ended his life. 

There was no red at this wedding. 

Sam had never been alive to see her change her name anyway. He never knew she hyphenated it and it would kill her to drop Cortland from her name soon. She hated that for years the left side of her bed had been so cold and empty until Rowan had filled that space the best he could. 

It wasn’t that she didn’t love Rowan. Gods above did she love him so much that it knocked the breath from her when she looked at him and realized that he was her forever. That maybe, if soulmates were real, he was hers. But that didn’t stop the fear from creeping in. It didn’t stop the way her hands now shook with anxiety and terror at leaving the reception because the last time she’d left her own wedding reception she had become a widow. 

It was a split second that she’d been left alone. Alone to stare at her reflection, to realize that this dress, too, was too tight. Alone to look at her face and remember Sam’s and think about what Rowan would look like waiting at the end of the aisle. She had been left alone, the same way Sam had left her alone in the world. 

And she couldn’t take it. In a last ditch effort to calm her nerves she tried to call Rowan but knew it was useless. Rowan was already waiting for her at the end of the aisle, waiting to become her husband. 

So she started running. 

Running and running until the breath was ripped out of her lungs while she sprinted down the street barefoot, having lost her shoes a few blocks back. Aelin kept running until she had a stitch in her side, until she was bent over with her hands on a tree in a park retching and retching the few contents she’d had in her stomach onto the earth. 

And then she was running again, deeper into Oakwald forest, running through streams and brambles and bushes. Running until she collapsed under the heavy weight of her dress, until she was a heap on the forest floor and ripping at the back of her dress to unzip it, to get it off. Her nails were scraping her skin so hard she knew it would scar, knew she was likely getting blood on the dress but it didn’t matter. It was already ruined anyway. 

Her head was spinning, she couldn’t breathe and she could swear that there was a gaping hole where her heart was supposed to be, could swear that through tear-filled vision it was beating erratically. Surely that was why she was so lightheaded, because all the blood was falling from the hole in her chest.  

When she finally got the dress unzipped and she could take in large gasping breaths, she ran her hands down the front of her dress, ruining it with broken, bloody nails and and a bleeding heart. 

She supposed there was red at her wedding after all. 

@starseternalnighttriumphant @the-regal-warrior @shyvioletcat @westofmoon @westofmoon @empire-of-wildfire @kandasboi @schmlip-scribble @iamthebonecarver @silvermindwarrior @whiskeybusiness1776 

[bellamyblakru]

ooooh...oohhh...ohh okay.

i happen to love sam cortland...like, a lot, so, uh, dont read the prequel after the series because im already crying knowing what happens to him......

rip to my heart.

#ashley reads #the assassin’s blade #throne of glass #throne of glass novellas #sam cortland #celaena sardothien #like ouch #HE JUST SAID BC I LOVE YOU #AND MY HEART WENT LIKE 💞💞✨💞✨💞✨✨💞✨💞 #JFC #IM GOING TO CRY #POOR KID #he deserved better than his ending and im not even done with the assassin’s blade #aelin galythinius #i love her so much #even as celaena #first time reading this #i couldn’t bring myself to listen to him die #but here i am

[mrsren]

Wow, Sam Cortland just ripped my heart out. Where do I sign up for compensation for EMOTIONAL DAMAGES.

[a-court-of-wanting-rhysand]

SO THE MINIATURE COLLECTION ARRIVED

and aside from Kingdom of Ash randomly not coming with the rest of the series sucking.. the mini collection is actually something i didn't know i needed ? (this update post turned into a comprehensive review and i'm sorry in advance)

(book depository is where i got these from and they ship seperate , hence why koa is missing.. but got that free shipping tho. in total they were $149AUD)

ALSO got my shipping confirmation on 6/11/19 and arrived 13/11/19 from uk to aus

here they are next to the paperback koa for scale

so whilst the front cover is pretty much identical to the full sized hardcover counterparts the backs of each books mention the character and colour for each different version instead of the blurb

now for each version (incase you had forgotten) with the assassins blade for example every time sam (or sam cortland in this case) is mentioned his name is written in the said colour for the book

i will say be VERY VERY VERY careful with the paper in these books they are super thin and silky and like you bet they're gonna rip easily so BE CAREFUL (theyre really nice to touch tho wowow)

now lemme talk about the prices. using the prices on book depository which is where i purchased these the original tower of dawn retails for $14AUD while the mini is around $28AUD.. but the original heir of fire retails for $15AUD and the mini is only $16AUD. with tower of dawn being the most expensive and heir of fire the cheapest (these numbers have been rounded to the dollar)

between the original paperbacks and the mini collection aside from a few cosmetic changes there isnt really alot of differences between them. you could get one over the other and not miss out on anything.

(crown of midnight paperback vs. crown of midnight mini)

the font size differences are definitely expected for the size but for those with visual issues it might be an issue

a throne of glass size reference in comparison to all its other physical versions (but also it just looks cute ok)

the pros and cons.

PROS

a good travel size

lightweight

something new for your sarah shrine

CONS

font could be hard to read

its the same damn book but smaller and just as expensive

is it worth it?

yes / no

as much as these are the cutest things in the world, i cant say they're worth it if you cant afford them. i don't regret them i love them so much but id say this for all the special editions. you're buying the same book you already own with like little to no difference. although this doesn't mean DO NOT BUY. they're fun and cute and could probably fit in your pocket so if you decide you need to take the entire throne of glass series on holiday with you, you're not gonna lose all your luggage space. but if you're thinking rent or this series its not worth your time

although lemme say i don't remember if this is a limited exclusive but even if it was i cant even say if its worth it. if you wanna save up or get someone to buy you a few for christmas go ahead but you don't really need them now. they can wait

tl;dr RENT IS MORE IMPORTANT BOOKS CAN WAIT

also i still love u sarah  ૢ(❛◡❛✿)  ૢ

shoutout to u if u read this far <3

#a review #throne of glass miniature collection #throne of glass #sarah j mass #tog #aelin galathynius #no spoilers? #crown of midnight #heir of fire #queen of shadows #empire of storms #tower of dawn #kingdom of ash #the assassins blade #books

[aelin-and-feyre]

When We’re Married Chapter 9

Rowaelin Arranged Marriage AU - Fic Masterlist

TRIGGER WARNING - This chapter deals with torture, kidnapping, and death. If you do not feel comfortable with any of these subjects, this chapter is not critical to the overarching plot. It is simply Aelin explaining her past and has no sway on how you will interpret the rest of the story if you choose not to read it. Please take care of yourselves. <3

Aelin’s senses wake up before she does and slowly begin to register things. The taste in her dry mouth is horrid. Her head pounds with the residue of alcohol. The sound of birds chirping outside her window grates her ears. And she’s hot. It feels like she’s sleeping under five blankets or in the midst of one of her wildfires. In that same groggy state between asleep and awake, she tries to kick off the covers—and instead hits a leg. A shin, to be precise, of a long, muscled leg attached to a large, burly body whose arms are wrapped tightly around her from behind.

In the second that it takes Aelin to fully awaken, she feels pure panic course through her veins, down her spine, and twist her very muscles into terrified tension. But then she smells Rowan—that sweet pine and fresh snow scent—and she hears his muffled grunt as he buries his nose farther into her hair. Her body unclenches and almost melts into him, almost lets his strong hold and heady scent lull her back to sleep in comfort and safety. Almost. Aelin’s brain catches up just in time.

He’s in her bed. This mass of pure Fae is laying beside her, taking up half of the huge bed, his legs just slightly entwined with hers, his breath cascading against the nape of her neck, his chest pressed against her back. Her back. Aelin cringes as she remembers her last waking moments the night before. That was decidedly not how she wanted him to find out about the ravages of her skin. And she’d been so out of it that she hadn’t been able to give him a coherent answer before she’d passed out.

Aelin’s cheeks burn with shame and embarrassment. She wouldn’t have blamed him if he had left the room in a huff—left Orynth completely, even—to get away from the broken female that she was. To get out of a marriage to a person so destroyed.

Her heart quickens exponentially as she reminds herself that he is here, in her bed, holding her instead. He stayed, had probably held her all night to give her that sense of comfort only he seems to be able to give her. Rowan had seen her scars and had not turned the other way.

He must have questions. And Aelin will have to answer them. The thought makes her heart drop to the bottom of her stomach. It beats so loud she’s sure the entire palace can hear it. The prince may not have fled last night, but if he knew why she’d received the marks, if he knew what selfish actions had led to them... would he stay then?

A kiss is pressed to her shoulder and Aelin knows that Rowan is awake. She wonders how long he’s been feigning sleep, and guesses he awoke the second she kicked his leg. “Your heart is all over the place, Aelin, it’s starting to scare me” his voice is rough as he strokes the plane of her stomach with his thumb.

“Sorry,” she murmurs, her own voice sounding strangled and tired.

“What are you thinking?” How is he so calm?

Aelin turns her head so she can see one side of his face. Sleep hangs in his expression. He looks more exhausted than she’s ever seen him, and it’s not just because they danced until the early hours of the morning. She ventures he was awake most of the night. Her heart aches.

“That’s your first question? What am I thinking?” She has to turn away from his caring, inquisitive face. He’s too much for her.

Rowan’s toes brush the arch of her foot under the blankets. The touch is so painfully intimate, it catches Aelin off guard, makes her breath catch. “I only have two questions.” As he wakes, his voice loses its sleepy roughness and changes to its usual rugged tenor, Aelin discovers. “One, what are you thinking that is making your heart beat like a wildfire? And two,” the softest kiss caresses her shoulder again, like Rowan can’t help himself, “do you want me to leave?”

The notion is so foreignly revolting that Aelin’s hands fly to his own around her waist and hold them there. “No,” she says forcefully, though her mind did not convey the word to her mouth beforehand. Briefly, a part of her mind considers that if she had answered differently, Rowan would have gotten out of the bed and left like it meant nothing. She knows that and, at the same time, knows that for him to leave in this moment would have meant the opposite of nothing.

“Good,” Rowan says. Then, he is shaking her hands from their hold and turning Aelin in his arms so that she faces him. The maneuver is perfectly swift and effortless, reminding Aelin of the experience and strength of the male in front of her. “I really didn’t want to go.” The whisper is accompanied by the prince pulling his arms from around her only to push her bedhead hair behind her ears.

Aelin leans into his palm and closes her eyes. If she tries hard enough, maybe she can avoid this conversation forever. She realizes that he is shirtless, which does nothing for her fraying nerves

“You didn’t answer my first question yet,” Rowan reminds quietly, his thumb tracing the line of her cheekbone.

Her eyes are still closed when she responds. “I’m thinking that you are absolutely crazy to still be here after last night.”

This time, both of Rowan’s eyebrows stretch towards his hairline. “I enjoyed last night quite well. Only a couple times did your friends threatened to maim me if I hurt you and I think most of them were joking. You danced splendidly and I liked having you in my arms for so long. Plus, I believe I won the first round of our competition. Why would any of that make me leave?”

Aelin held up one finger. “Firstly, you most certainly did not win that round, I was practically all over you and everyone could see it.” His eyes light up with the challenge but Aelin interrupts before he can retort. He’s dancing around the subject because he thinks she doesn’t want to have this conversation—and he’s right—but it’s time to tell him everything. Especially after this morning, she knows she can trust him. “Secondly,” she says, and takes his hand. She moves it over and around her waist and places it at the base of her spine, where the longest of the scars’ ridged edges taper out to meet pale skin. Through the thin fabric of her nightgown, she knows he can feel the twisted flesh. Especially as his nostrils flare slightly and she can see the pure fury blazing behind the practiced calm in his eyes. Not mad at her, no, but at the people who caused the marks. “I’m talking about this part of last night.”

She expected Rowan to remove his hand, to skirt away from the brutalities in revulsion, for his eyes to fill with pity. Instead, when Aelin releases her grip, his hand travels up the length of her spine, tracing that longest, curved scar with the pads of his fingertips. His touch is soft but not hesitant and it continues until he’s cupping the back of her neck like he might pull her even closer to him. Like he might lean forward to brush her mouth on hers. All nonchalant pretense is gone from his expression.

With his fingers buried in her hair, Rowan says, “I am not going to force this conversation. I was not supposed to see this last night and just because I did does not mean that you have to tell me anything. You do not owe me any answers, Aelin.” His tone is decisive and earnest. Aelin is taken aback yet again.

“Don’t you want to know-”

“I don’t care what the story is,” Rowan interrupts, his eyes blazing with sincerity. “I don’t care if you never tell me. I care that you are safe now, that the ghosts of this do not still haunt you. And if they do-” He breaks off and his hand moves to clasp her left hand. He kisses the knuckle of her fourth finger, where her wedding ring will sit in a week. “If phantoms plague you because of the scars on your back, I care that you let me stand beside you to help fight them.”

Aelin turns her head to bury her face in the pillow. Her breaths shudder through her as she fights off tears. Here is this male, offering himself to ward off her demons, to stand with her to defend, and she’s marrying him. He is going to be by her side for the rest of her life. He should know what he is fighting against, why her flesh is so ruined, who made her this way.

Rowan lays patiently beside her as she thinks. His hand continues up and down the length of her spine. He was right, she doesn’t owe him an explanation but, with everything that is happening between them, she wants to tell him. She wants to share everything with him.

So Aelin blows out a long breath into the dented pillow and turns to face the prince again. “For many years when I was a teenager, I spent the summers in Adarlan’s capital of Rifthold. Where I trained with Sam Cortland.”

...

Her voice is quiet but the space between them is small and intimate so Rowan can hear each word with perfect clarity. He steels himself for the story, willing his reflexes to relax so he doesn’t punch a hole through the headboard or rip one of her pillows to shreds. He keeps his hand on her back, trailing his fingers again and again over the mottled skin carefully. It helps to steady him, touching her, but the harsh reminder of her scars also shocks his senses into alertness.

It’s intoxicating, being in this bed with her. He stayed up most of the night, his mind racing with all the possibilities while simultaneously being lulled by her scent and the feel of her skin. About the time the clock struck four, he convinced himself that he doesn’t care what happened to her, only that he never wants it to happen again. Grateful does not even begin to express his emotions when she did not kick him out of her room. And when her tired, sad voice starts weaving the tale of her past, the honor of her trust fills his chest and his heart aches.

“When I was sixteen, I dated Dorian and Chaol in the same summer,” she cringes as Rowan raises a brow, “It wasn’t pretty. The next summer, when I went back to Rifthold, I fell in love with Sam. He was training in the same facilities I was but we were only passing acquaintances, sparring partners at most. But Dorian and Chaol were avoiding me for the most part and I spent more time in the training rooms. Sam did too.

“He challenged me, made me see things outside of my princess bubble. He wasn’t careful or afraid of me, like some were, and he loved me for myself—not my magic or my title. I was young and unbearably full of myself but I knew I loved him. I also knew that my duty to my country would never allow us to be together.” Aelin rubs her eyes tiredly. “So we decided to run away.”

Rowan silently listens, watching for tears or trembling. He can only guess what toll this storytelling is taking on her and he hates it.

“There was so much wrong with the plan. I was already predicted to Settle, so we wouldn’t have been able to live the life either of us wanted. My power was too recognizable, as well as my face and eyes. I had money and we both were extensively trained but there were too many variables that could alter everything. But I foolishly believed that because I loved him, I could make it work.” To distract herself, Aelin traces the outlines of Rowan’s tattoo along his bare chest. “I only told Dorian that I was leaving, but I told him the wrong place, in the opposite direction of where we were headed because I knew people would come looking and I wanted them to be preoccupied.”

Rowan can see exactly where this is going and he wants to stop it. His hands on her back itch to pull her closer and hide her from the memories. He wishes he could turn back time and stop it from happening altogether. But Aelin perseveres.

“Unfortunately, both Sam and I had enemies, people who wanted to hurt Terrasen and those that had been scorned by Sam in one way or another. Rourke Farran, the second hand to crime master Ioan Jayne, orchestrated our capture.” Silver lines Aelin’s eyes and Rowan feels it like a punch to the gut. “We didn’t even make it out of Rifthold and anyone looking for me were heading toward Eyllwe.”

A tear slips down Aelin’s cheek but Rowan catches it before it can hit the pillow. “We were kept in an iron basement for a week. My magic completely smothered, they questioned and tortured me for information. Sam—I think they were just torturing Sam for the fun of it. Or to hurt me, to persuade me to answer things I didn’t know.” A hand lifts to touch her back. “I acquired these on the third day. They filled the wounds with iron shavings so my magic could not heal them.”

Rowan’s hands curl into fists, clenching and unclenching as he fights his Fae instincts. Stay in the moment. Stay with her. She’s safe. She’s okay. Because he couldn’t help himself, he pulls Aelin closer. She rests her forehead against his chest and wrapped her own arms around his torso. He smooths her hair down her back, kissing the crown of her head. It’s a few minutes before she finds her voice again.

“Sam died the day before help finally arrived. They’d taken his eyes and carved his flesh but he managed to say that he loved me one last time before-” The pain and sorrow that drenches her scent makes tears prick Rowan’s eyes. A shuddering breath wracks Aelin’s body as she fights for words. Rowan murmurs soft noises to soothe her, desperate to alleviate her pain and not knowing how.

Finally, “They’re all dead now.” Aelin’s tone is broken, matter-of-fact. “I made sure of it. They found me and took me back to the castle where my father and mother waited. There were people who could heal the scars if I wanted them to, but I stopped them. Sam had died and I had lived, and I didn’t want to make that fact disappear.” Her fingers touch his tattoo again. Rowan knows all too well what its like to want a reminder, to feel the shame of your past every day. “Dorian and Chaol stayed with me for weeks afterward, making up for neglecting me even though I didn’t blame them at all. They got me through the following trials and executions. But I haven’t been allowed back to Rifthold since.”

Aelin tapered off into silence, her story done, but her tears nowhere close to dry. Rowan readjusted to lay on his back, Aelin draped over his chest as he cradled her there. He had seen his wife’s brutalized body after she had died, but to watch as the person you love is tortured to death... Rowan couldn’t imagine what that was like. And the fact that the princess survived, that she became stronger, continued to train, and could now smile and laugh—Rowan felt his heart fill to the brim with pride and respect and... love.

When Aelin’s maids knock on her door a half hour later, Aelin had finished crying but the two of them continued to lay there in bed, holding each other. The ladies back out of the room slowly, the door closing behind them with a soft click.“I suppose the rumor that we shared a bed last night will help our plan.” Rowan remarks. Aelin chuckles half-heartedly. The breach in their silence is both welcome and needed.

“In my long life, you are the strongest person I have ever met,” Rowan told her quietly. Aelin tilted up her face to meet his eyes. “People older and wiser than you have fallen apart after far less than what you experienced.” Including him. He brushes a stray strand from her cheek. “I will stand by you for the rest of my life and be honored to serve you.”

“You make me happy, Rowan,” she murmurs with a weak smile. “Stand by me and I don’t think my demons will ever dare tread near me again.”

“Then I will do just that, to whatever end.” The invocation of their earlier promise makes Aelin’s eyes brighten.

She settles contentedly against his chest. “To whatever end.”

...

“We have people to entertain,” Aelin reminds her fiancé a little while later. “A wedding to plan, food to eat.” At the reminder, her stomach grumbles. Honestly, the princess is surprised that her bladder hasn’t forced her out of bed yet.

Rowan tightens his hold around her shoulders. “Or we could ditch all of our responsibilities and stay like this for the rest of the day. I’m sure that would spread some rumors.”

Aelin looks up to him, surprised. His expression was playful and loving, his hair mussed in the perfect picture of bedhead. And just like the other day, Aelin can suddenly see herself waking up like this for the rest of her life. Minus the sobbing and heart-wrenching admissions, of course. But starting every morning in his arms, with his scent enveloping her as surely as a blanket, his kisses peppered along her face. She thinks that would be quite a nice way to spend her life.

Rowan’s sudden agreement to that fact is startling. “Since when are you okay with shirking duties?” She asks.

The prince gives her a devilish grin. “Since I had you in my arms for the night with nothing on but a skimpy nightgown.”

Aelin pushes away from him with a laugh and he drops his arms from her with little resistance. “Oh shut up, it’s not that thin.” But as she removes the covers and slips from the bed, she can feel Rowan’s eyes on her. Her cheeks flame. She waves toward the balcony. “Go get ready, I’ll meet you in the hallway in half an hour and we’ll go down to breakfast.”

She turns to look at him when he doesn’t answer and yelps because he is much closer than she expected. He stands a foot away, bare-chested and even though Aelin had just cuddled with him for hours, she averts her gaze. Rowan chuckles, cupping her cheeks and leaning down to kiss her forehead. “I’ll see you then,” he says. Before she can reply, there’s a flash of light and a hawk flies through the balcony door that opens on a sudden gust of wind.

“Show off,” Aelin mutters. And despite the taxing morning, contrary to her red eyes and sore throat, the princess is smiling and pink-cheeked as she gets ready for the day.

Masterlist

WWM Tag list: @queen-elain @ame233 @peoplethatliveonthepages @piyoi1029 @panic4 @sandcat10314 @highlady-of-slytherin @throneofstars @sierrareads @katexrenee @crazybookladythings @whatever9977 @demigodavenger @elainarch @bookofmaas @the-heir-of-terrasen @tog-trash @boo1244 @3am-reading @kowalskepie @acofar @mayhaps-perhaps-probablynot @ravenpuffslytherdor @random-fangirl @saltierthanbottomofapretzelbag @not-illegal-if-u-win @feeoly @dayanna-hatter @aelinashgalathynius @tyblacktrn @fangirlreadingmachine @becarefuloflove @dianasofia1999 @never-not-a-fangirl @gloster @firebitchaelin @feyrethedarklady @feyreacher0n @seven-atenine  @the-suriel-deserved-better @silenceofthe-angel @noorabooks @thestarsthatanswer @fiery-feyre @stuckinmyskinny-jeans @macabre-void @dontpanic1113 @cmoff1 @evalin-ashryver-galathynius @wolffrising @look-to-the-stars-and-wish @enchantingdreamerdreamllama @abillionlittlepieces @leulivy @whatever9977 @faelightsstarfall @sondrawr @nerdperson524 @firestardragon @voiceoftheroses @alexisnm95 @nish247 @captain-timetraveldreamer @ricekrispy @rolltide7 @booklover242 @emilyshi101emu @macabre-void @ravenpuffslytherdor @the-suriel-deserved-better @firebitchaelin @bookedeverynight @feyrestarseternal @fantasticallyuniquefeels @kaliejane26 @tyblacktrn @darth-aelin-targaryen @aelinthemaassassin @ronnuska @highladyofgothamcity @high-lady-of-rochambeau @anna-swims @tswaney17 @mysticfairychild @agentsofdreamsandshadows @firelordwinterlegolas221basgard @thealicelovesbooksandstuff @fangirllingsince1995 @jynxiesaywhat @highlady-assassin @abimomeopectore @highladyofthedark @massiverockcollection @mastercommandercaptain @dorianelle @empress-ofbloodshed @highladyofcoffee @justjessiehere @iconicillyrians @poisonwhiterose @elain1205 @rockinroar @kiss-my-maas @ultra-queen-of-fire-and-prythian @feyre-nightcourt @acer6437 @maai-chi @queengalathynius @acourtofstormsandempires @katexrenee @blackstallion221 @whatever-satan @casuallyonearth @meowsekai @awesomelittlebabydragon @cherryblossomfae @therapeuticrambling @withyoureyesbert @bananyaaa @indiefangirlflash @witnesstolove @rain-drop-s-on-rose-s @throne-of-wingspans @duende-blogger @illyrianbastards @i-serendipitous77 @onarell @killer98queen @loysydark @eeya02 @sannexwhoops @imafraidofthebigbadwolf @miraysmiles @crazyyaboutbooks @sensitive-illyrian-babys @dor-nelle @sugarcoated44 @miladyaelin @musicmaam @lizcantspell @cobwebsandstarlight @missanniewhimsy @stars-wholisten @takenbymyfandoms @massiverockcollection @huntress-of-velaris @homicidalbaker @soap-is-cool @manoncrochanblackbeak @heir2chaos @plifal @taylordowns1765 @starsofshadowanddust @joolsreads @stormingstaars @kickassunicorn @claudiamooner @empireofpainandfeels @translucentthoughts @highlady-if-you-may @lemoncheck @heir-ofashandfire @rowanismybae @cofeechocolates @acourtofbooklovers @limei02 @verfpothoofdmetspikkels @rowaelin004 @aster-ia @pharaohleviphantomhive @elephants-are-a-thing @bookstalker1 @booknerd197 @pineandsnowandstars @motherearthean @deannaslover @bookish-things-n-cats @currentlywearingfuzzysocks @galyxsy @theheirofnightandday @zainaboobetterthanyou @fandomfun13 @angrydinosauryouth @geekeryandsentiment @hopelesslyinlovewithbooks @tilly-y @beethedauntless @xxvickyx @cmoff1 @another-zero @highladyofantica @beelezebub  @writing-in-the-wings @rowan-stole-my-heart @rapunzelswiftie @goodie-giving-gecko-gets-gatos @court-of-fandoms-and-art @magikfanatic @magical-peaches @blackcatinthesun @miraysmiles @fortunafelicis @kickassunicorn  @city-of-infernal-devices @dreaming-of–cali @fantasyfoxgirl @bookaddictedness  @highlady-brittney @feyrethedarklady @random-fangirl @superwholinock @thisisvelaris  @roseteaofficial @chaotic-whatthefuck @ravenous-reading @marissa5670  @kill-me-please-and-thank-you @booklover41802 @thatbitchydonutcollector @little-bird-of-wisdom-2215 @amren-firedrake @procastersleep @elriel-haline-rowaelin @fucking-winchester-trash @webcraft4eveh @araujol1 @wandering-ocelot @magical-peaches @arwenbk3 @toomuchdamage @thecourtofadreamer @illyrian-highfae @amren-tiny-ancient-one @lorcanswife @volchitsa-fae @kef-incorperated @tardis-23 @kaliejane26 @basicbookbabe @daeniran @queensairai @filthycorrade @miss-anomis @the-court-of-terrasen @ships-n-things @dagypsygirl @thedancingreader5678 @dragonselene @galaticsupergeek @lisakristine104 @worldoffae @stellaireskies @aristofayns @mariamuses @mybookobsession @lovecakeandmore @lg-diamond-sky @mariah-omg @the-fandom-ness @jemcairrstairs @viajandosinalas @feysand-and-rowaelin @jurafinhaa @mikaylamee @badatgivingadvice @queen-of-fire-and-starlight @wishingtobemrswhitethorn @courtofdreamsandterrasen@thatbitchydonutcollector @the-mad-sherlock @deezrmuhsheeple @brittanyunrau @mybbyfeyre @booksandtea12 @acourtoffuckmylifeup @cordelnight @dragonbound135 @silently-killing-you @lady-katkat @fredsbootyisfine @all-for-an-a @mahetzi @slytherclaw713 @radioroses96 @lg-diamond-sky @demigodtribute47 @soaring-cities @house-of-galathynius @volchitsa-fae @nickyintheworld @bookishempire @ahhharry @writer-reader-traveller @louloutte9 @booknerdaelin @bookloverdemigod @lord-douglas-the-third @lemon-check @alxanxah @slytherclaw713 @black-boke @litterallynousernamesleft @tiredbutstillreading @mariejulie2000 @vanilla28 (If you would like to be added to this tag list, let me know!)

Forever tag list: @queen-archeron @rhysand-darling @nestaarch @little-bird-of-wisdom-2215 @aster-ria @sensitive-illyrian-babys @empress-ofbloodshed @beelezebub @mikaylamee @ladyvanserra @acer6437 @wolffrising @killer98queen @queen-of-fire-and-starlight @poisonwhiterose @wewhohavefailed @lizcantspell @fiercemidnites @dreamerforever-4 @illyrianbastards @rhysieorbuzzard @abillionlittlepieces @awesomelittlebabydragon @friestacosandzeus @lady-therion @throne--of-sass @indiefangirlflash @reelgals @lethalfumes @mariamuses @autumnleavesandangelswings (If you would like to be added to this list, let me know!)

#rowaelin #rowaelin fanfiction #throne of glass #tog #rowan #aelin #rowan whitethorn #aelin galathynius #wwm #wwm9 #my writing #arranged marriage