Chapter 1
**This story is set after Maeve and Erawan are defeated**
They danced. Rowan couldn't stop admiring his beautifully breathtaking wife and mate. Her burgundy dress and her golden hair, and her smile. Her smile took his breath away every time.
He spun her over and over again until she was so dizzy, she had t0 lean on him to keep her balance, not that she minded. His pine and snow still sent her to heaven. The music played and the people of Terrasen danced to the fast music. Eventually, the music slowed and it was time for the king and queen to dance.
With Rowan's hand at her waist and her head on his broad chest, Aelin felt like she was finally happy. She hadn't been happy for the longest time. While the three years she spent trapped by the forces of Maeve were pure torture, and she had to endure every second of it to keep her court safe. Aelin always knew that Rowan would find her. And he did. He'd found her and brought her back to claim the throne.
"I love you," he murmured, sensing the change in thoughts. "Fireheart."
She smiled, "I love you too."
Just like that, for the rest of the night, the smiled and danced and ate, surrounded by everyone they love.
"I would like to make a toast, please," Aelin called, raising her glass. "We fought hard, and we made it. Not all of us did, though, and I would like to say that even though Aedion and Lysandra are no longer with us, they will forever be in our hearts." Her voice cracked, but she stayed strong. Stayed strong for her people, shoving her feelings down so deep, they were hidden to everyone. Almost everyone.
"Do you need to go?" Rowan whispered, rubbing her back soothingly.
She looked up at him, her face stained with tears. "Yes, please, but you don't have to come with me. I'll go alone. Just to freshen up."
He raised his eyebrows, disbelievingly. She grinned. "I said I'm okay, I'll be right back."
With a soft kiss on the forehead, he let her go. Adarlan's former captain of the guard approached Terrasen's king, his wife at his side.
"Your Majesty," Chaol bowed, Yrene following.
"Lord Westfall, Lady Westfall," the king smiled, staring at the scars marking the lady's neck. Scars made at the hand of his wife.
"Where's Aelin?" he asked, looking around for the queen. Rowan snuck a glance at the grand staircase.
"She went to freshen up," Rowan said. For a slight moment, he felt a pang of sharp pain, not coming from him. "Excuse me, enjoy the ball."
He darted up the stairs to find his retching in the bathroom. "Aelin?"
She muttered something too low, even for his Fae ears to hear. He heard water running. "Fireheart, are you okay?"
"Yeah, just go," she mumbled. He walked in, slowly, and opened the washroom door.
Her face was red and her eyes puffy. Rowan pulled her into a tight embrace. "We'll get through this."
She laughed. "I've gone through this before, you know."
"So have I, Fireheart," he whispered into her hair. He kissed her hair and she tilted her hair up meeting his lips. She smiled.
"Why'd you come up here?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.
He answered, "I was worried."
She shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Overprotective Fae males."
