Chapter 15

Awkward and tense would be the only fitting description as yet another staring match occurred between Rowan and Sam. They were seated around Freys kitchen table in her apartment above the store, with Sam seated beside her and the unwanted guests across from them. At least unwanted in her opinion, but Sam had invited them so she would have to play along.

She sighed silently. She had planned a small private and quiet lunch with Sam, where she would slowly build up to revealing her secret as Frey had adviced. But that was out of the question now.

She had never seen Sam like this, so overprotective and territorial with other men around. As the staring match continued Lysandra was the one to finally break the silence.

«So, Celaena, how did you and Rowan meet?» she asked sweetly.

Well they hadn't truly met until now, but apparently Rowan told them something else. Wondering why he would bother with such a lie she just answered as vague as she could.

«He's an old friend of the family.» she avoided looking at the strikingly handsome fae, which was an effort to do since he was seated right in front of her. «And when should we expect Arobynn to come striding in?»

«He won't,» Wesley was the one who answered. «because he's dead.»

Celaena blinked, at a loss for words. Of all the things he could have said, she had not expected that.

«How did that happen?» Sam asked, ending the staring match to look at Wesley, and she was keenly aware that the old brute's gaze went straight for her. She tried not to notice and instead focused Sams knee that brushed against her own.

Lysandra shifted slightly in her seat, and glanced at Rowan. «I did it. With Rowans help.»

«Really? You did it? What did you do, strangled him with those abnormally large breasts of yours?» Celaena asked mockingly, smirking at the courtesan. Lysandras nostrils flared as her eyes shot daggers at her.

«You know, Celaena, there's this little sharp object with a pointy end called a dagger. It's really easy to use, even for someone as dim as you.»

«Maybe I should try one of those, then preferably on your ugly face.» she retorted, and accidentally met Rowans eyes for a second before glaring at the courtesan again. She could have sworn the fae brute was struggling to keep a straight face.

«You would just miss again.» Lysandra said sweetly.

Celaena shot out of her seat ready claw that woman's face off, Sam instinctively grabbed her wrist to keep her from attacking. And Wesley stood and held a protective arm before Lysandra.

«Cool down, Fireheart, we're all friends here.» Rowan said in cool calm voice.

«The hell we are. Despite everything, I don't know you, and they are not my friends either.» Celeana hissed at Rowan, giving him a glare that would have sent a lesser man running. «And you don't get to call me that.»

Lysandra opened her mouth to give a nasty retort, but Rowan interrupted her.

«What do you mean 'despite everything'?»

She had said too much, hadn't meant to leak that information. So she just pulled her hand out Sams grasp and made for the door, but Sam came after her and stopped her before she got to leave the room.

«Cee, wait. Let's at least hear why they came, alright.» her heart stumbled at the nickname, it sounded so intimate, personal. She liked it, a lot. Her anger cooled as she met his eyes. «Give them five more minutes, please.» he said softly so only she would hear, and she was about to agree to his terms when Rowan spoke up again.

«Varese.» he said, and both she and Sam turned to look at him. «That's where we met. You were eighteen sprawled on a rooftop drunk as hell, and stinking like a vagrant. I was in my hawk form watching you as you stuck out your tongue at me.»

She just stood there staring at him as the hazy memory settled in her mind. She blinked twice, noting the confusion on Wesley and Lysandras faces, and felt Sam glance between her and the fae prince. She swallowed.

«I don't know what you're talking about.» But she knew exactly what he was talking about, but it was impossible. They were just dreams and visions, not memories. At least that's what she tried to tell herself.

She turned on her heels and stalked out of the room and went straight to the kennel downstairs.

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Once again Rowan flew above the city, this time to calm his raging heart.

He couldn't describe the feeling of hearing her own real heart beating in her chest, and seeing her again had taken his breath away. Even though she had been mouth to mouth with Sam, which filled him with conflicting feelings. No. He wouldn't be jealous, he saved Sam so that she wouldn't have to live with that loss, that pain.

He had to befriend her again, and so far he had done a poor job of it. But he saw that glint in her eyes as he mentioned Varese, she remembered something. He had no idea how much or even how, but she did.

He would not give up. He needs her to remember, the world needs her to remember. And he would not let her be taken away from him again.

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Celaena stared out across the ocean, the sunset colouring it a magnificent pink.

She was sitting on the beach, her knees tucked against her chest and she rested her chin atop them. The sand had been turned to glass, after her numerous unsuccessful attempts at lighting the candles, and glinting in the sunset as well.

She heard Sams footsteps approach as he climbed down the rocky slope behind her, then he sat down and brought an arm around her shoulders and pulled close.

After sitting in silence watching the sunset, she spoke up.

«He was right. That was exactly how he and I met.» she said silently.

«But your seventeen, not eighteen. How is that possible?»

She didn't have an answer so she said nothing, falling back into soothing silence. Whenever she dove into the dream she had always focused on the magic lessons, it had never occured to to look anything else. In her heart she knew it was more than just dreams, more than guiding visions. She didn't know why or even how, but she knew that they were memories. Memories hidden in her mind that she now had to unlock one by one.

The sun was now so low on the horizon that a few stars were starting to become visible. She took a deep breath and raised her face to the stars above, and closed her eyes. She felt different, like she was changing. Or maybe she was just waking up from a long slumber, but she felt light and safe in Sams arms.

«You asked me the other night if I ever wanted to go back to Terrasen.» she felt him turn to her, so she opened her eyes and met his. «The true answer to that is that I have to. I have to go back, and I hope that you'll come with me.»

«Wherever you go, I go.» he smiled and kissed her forehead. She prayed that he would feel the same way after tonight. Embrace it, and make it beautiful. She took a breath in through her nose and released it through her mouth to fight the rising fear in her chest, and stared into Sam questioning eyes.

«My name is not Celaena Sardothien, that's not who I am.» she shifted to sit on her knees before him and took his hands in hers, her heart beating wildly as memories of a nursemaid fighting of an assassin to buy her time filled her mind. And she embraced it. «My real name is Aelin,» she didn't think he was breathing, she knew he had waited for her to open up to him after Arobynn taunted him about her secrets, «Aelin Ashryver Galathynius, and I'm not afraid anymore.» her heart wouldn't slow down as she waited for his reaction.

Sam got up on his knees, and tucked her hair behind her ears then held her face in his hands. He stared into her eyes for a long time without saying a word. Then he smiled and placed his forehead against hers.

«That explains a lot.» he said with a small glint in his eyes. Her heart dropped, fearing the worst. Her eyes must have betrayed her because Sam continued. «That explains why you are the most wonderful woman I have ever met.»

She huffed at him. «I'm not a saint.» she said and wrinkled her nose, and Sam laughed softly.

«That's not what I meant.» he brushed a hand over her heart. «You have a kind heart, I have seen it in action firsthand, and I think you would be a great queen because of it.»

She threw her arms around him and squeezed him tightly against her, as he wove his around her as well. She breathed him in as she said the words that was soaring around in her head, «I think they'll like you more than me, actually.» he didn't answer, but he hugged tighter against him.