Chapter 40

Alright, here goes... phew, sweaty palms.

Rowan dodged when his former comrades, who were once more bound to the evil queen, launched their attacks on him. He sent Lorcan stumbling back with a strong wind and locked blades with Gavriel.

«What in hell are you doing, Rowan?» Gavriel growled over their crossed blades, pushing hard against. «Betrayal is impossible with the oath.»

Rowan opened mouth to answer, but was interrupted by Lorcan who launched himself back into the fight.Rowan blocked the blow from Lorcan, and sidestepped one from Gavriel. Then he swung his sword, and threw ice daggers at the same time. But both attacks were blocked by his opponents, and they quickly followed up with new attacks of their own that he parried and dodged.

He retreated a few steps to give himself more room. «Like I told Lorcan earlier, Maeve is not fae, she has lied to us these years.» he grounded out just as Lorcan sent a wave of his shadow magic towards him. Rowan flung up a shield to deflect him, then sent ice daggers flying towards his friend. Gavriel, however, stayed back and seemed to hesitate.

Rowan heard Aelin taunt Maeve to join the fight, and to his astonishment, she did.

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She created a dome of fire around herself when the wolves launched at her, then she slammed it outwards throwing the twins far away to either side of the room. The smell of burned fur tickled her nostrils. She looked to the white wolf just as he leapt and disappeared through the air, and Aelin braced herself from the oncoming attack. Except it never came, instead Fenrys appeared at his brothers side and he shifted to his fae form. Connall lay motionless on the floor as his brother checked him, Aelin prayed that he wasn't mortally wounded.

In the corner of her she saw that a sudden wave of darkness came flying towards her, but she had gotten too distracted by the twins and did not react fast enough to parry the attack. A thin layer of fire sprung up a split second before the darkness hit, but did little to absorb the impact. Aelin was thrown backwards, a small cry of pain escaped her as she hit the floor. She rolled a couple of times before she sprung back to her feet, flared more magic into Goldryn, making in glow so brightly that it looked like a star, and charged directly at Maeve.

Darkness gathered around the dark queen as she too funneled her power, and then charged towards her with her sword poised to strike. Aelin roared a battlecry and swung her blade at Maeve's neck. Maeve grinned viciously and struck out with her sword and magic.

All sound vanished for a second as the two females blades struck, then an earth shattering boom followed shortly after as their magics erupted. The magic shockwave tore through the room slamming all the males against the walls, and cracks began to form on the floor and ceiling.

Aelin swiped left, then twisted her sword towards Maeve's legs while throwing a ball of fire at her right side. She spun to her left as Maeve slashed at her, and Aelin swung her sword in a wide arch at Maeve's exposed side only to be wrapped in darkness and wrenched from her hands. The sword clattered to the floor, and skidded away from the dueling pair.

Aelin drew her fighting daggers.

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Rowan scrambled to his feet after being thrown to the wall by Aelin and Maeve. He saw Aelin's sword slide across the floor, still glowing from her magic, and sprinted towards it while the cadre all around the room began getting their feet too.

He grabbed Goldryn, then spun around towards his Fireheart. The fighting between the females were vicious, a whirlwind of fire and darkness, of daggers and a sword. Rowan created a wall of hard air to keep the cadre busy for a little while, then spread ice across the floor. Maeve slipped on the ice, but did not fall down as he had hoped. However, the opening was all Aelin needed as she barreled into the queen, sending them both tumbling to the ground.

Rowan threw Goldryn at her, which she caught by the hilt and slashed at Maeve. Maeve snarled as the sword cut her down the side, but managed to move out the way without getting gutted.

Magic pounded against his shield, but it still held. Rowan grabbed his dagger, cut his palm then sprinted to where Aelin backed away from Maeve. Darkness began gathering around Maeve, building, growing. He reached Aelin, who was panting and sweating from the fight, and gave her his knife.

She sheathed her sword then dragged the knife across her palm, and joined her hand with his.

«Go, Fireheart.» he said, grabbing her hand tightly.

He knew she had been diving into her well of power for almost a week now, and it was time light up the world. He felt her free fall into his well, then dragging it up while mixing in her own. Maeve roared at then, no longer pretending be the ethereal queen she has been for years, and sent her massive wave of darkness hurtling towards them.

Aelin raised her hand and exhaled sharply, and fire erupted from her outstretched hand completely engulfing and smothering Maeves magic. An unearthly scream made his ears hurt as Aelin's flames went down Maeve's throat, burning her from the inside. The inferno went on and on, and kept burning long after the scream had died out.

«Aelin, it's done. You can stop now.» he grabbed his mate's face, forcing her to face him. Her eyes were dazed, as if she was far away. «Let go, now!»

She blinked at him, and drew a deep breath, then he felt her slowly pull out of his magic. He pulled her into a tight hug, severing their blood connection, and breathed in her scent. «We did it, she's gone.» he mumbled into her hair. He pulled away. «How are you feeling?»

«A bit dizzy, I think I went a little bit overboard at the end.» she said, and smiled a bit sheepishly.

«What have you done?»

They both turned towards the one who said that, and saw Lorcan kneeling by Maeve's ashes. Lorcan slowly looked up at them, lips pulled back in a vicious snarl, then he roared and ran at them with his blade raised.

Before he made it more than a few feet, Gabriel and Fenrys grabbed an arm each to hold him back.

«Lorcan, stop! Give them a chance to explain.» Gavriel said calmly. Lorcan's chest heaved as he panted heavily, but after a moment he nodded, agreeing to the terms.

So they did, Rowan told his old friends everything he knew. Told them of what happened in the original timeline, how it led to him going back in time to save Aelin from Maeve. For hours they talked, and after awhile Lorcan had finally calmed down, still stone faced, but no longer in a mood to kill them.

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Five days later, after Aelin had done an excessive amount of sleeping, they were summoned to the throne room. They quickly got dressed, Rowan in blue and silver tunic he had found in his old closet, and Aelin wore a long pine green dress with silver embroideries and a translucent shawl hanging from her shoulders. The dress hugged her curves, and Rowan could not for the life of him look away from where she sat before the mirror brushing her long, wavy hair.

«You look beautiful.» he said, walked over to her and touched her silky hair. He still couldn't quite believe it. Maeve was dead. They were together. Aelin was in front of him, a beaming smile on her young, beautiful face.

«You don't look so bad yourself.» she said, and winked at him. «It's a bit strange, isn't it. Being here... What do you think the meeting is about?» she rose up to stand before him, light glinting on her silver leaf earrings. She put a hand on his chest, the touch sent warmth spreading across his chest.

«We'll find out soon enough.» he said. «We should get going now.» before he decided not to go, and instead spend some quality time with his mate. She stepped in closer, pressing the length of her body against his, and tipped her head back to look up at him.

«Probably a good idea, but I would not complain if you acted on those thoughts you had just now.» she said, her breath a sweet caress against his skin. He swallowed, as she grinned up at him and stepped away. «Let's go.» she said, then took his hand and lead him out of their room.

The throne room was filled with people, nobles and courtiers from Doranelle. Everyone fell silent as he entered the room with Aelin by his side.

Gavriel stepped forward, and cleared his throat. «After several long meetings, and eventually a vote... It has been agreed by the council that Prince Rowan Whitethorn of Doranelle will be crowned King of Doranelle this evening.»

His heart stopped. Then stumbled back into beating again. Of all the things he thought would happen today, this had not been it. Him, king? He blinked at his friend who stood tall and proud in front of the crowd. Gavriel motioned for him to cone forward, and if it hadn't been for the encouraging squeeze from Aelin, his legs probably would have been glued to the spot. A ringing in his ears drowned out most of the sounds in the room, as he slowly made his way towards Gavriel and the dais.

He turned to face the crowd, as Gavriel began reciting the coronation rituals. He kept his eyes on the golden haired beauty who now stood at the front of the crowd, smiling broadly at him. He remember to say 'I swear' at the right spots, mainly because Aelin raised an eyebrow every time he was supposed to do it. Lorcan stepped forward, holding a pillow with a crown placed on top of it.

Gavriel lifted the crown, whose elegant spikes sparkled in the evening sunlight. «... Rowan Whitethorn, King of Doranelle! Long may he reign!» Gavriel declared as he placed the crown atop his head. The crowd echoed his words, sending his nerves into a riot. But he quickly reigned in his rearing emotions as he squared his shoulders and looked out over the people of Doranelle, his people, and his mate whose blue and gold eyes were lined with prideful silver.

King Rowan Whitethorn sat down on his throne.