The sun was swallowed by the trees as Aelin stumbled deeper into the forest, darkness creeping up around her.

She couldn't see the sky, the leaves of the trees were too long and thick, all she could focus on was moving forward, stumbling deeper into the darkness. The trunk of every tree stood firm, rooted deep into the soil beneath her. An icy breeze whipped her hair, needle-like against her rough, cold skin. Aelin gasped for air as she fought through the endless branches surrounding her, her body becoming drained of energy. Her head was pounding, every muscle in her body aching. Her knees shook violently as she clutched tree after tree for support; her hands becoming numb as the cold took over her.

She had been walking through this forest for two long, painful weeks. Or maybe more, she couldn't remember. But she had no other choice than to wander deeper and deeper because she needed answers. Answers which were only to be found in the heart of this horrendous forest.

It wasn't this bad at first. The sun had warmed her back and the trees had remained sparse, offering only the slightest protection from the heat emanating from above. Yet, as she had progressed further, the sun had slowly disappeared, leaving her cold, miserable, and lost.

The solitude didn't bother her as much. She had grown to like the quiet. It was peaceful, giving her time to think and plan out her next move. What awaited her was unknown, so she tried to sort through the thoughts in her head as she walked to keep herself occupied and prevent her dwelling on what might be coming.

As for supplies, the food she had taken with her had been devoured by the third day, and so she had been surviving on the pulpy, red, funny looking berries that hung on many of the trees she had crossed. Hunting was not an option, she had no idea what creatures lurked in the blackness. There was a rumor that beings worse than wild animals dwelled in this forest and she didn't want to attract any unnecessary attention. This was also why she was shivering; she hadn't started a fire once in the past two weeks - precautions.

She'd let the darkness consume her even when the freezing weather made it difficult for her to keep moving.

The mosquitos annoyed her the most. Their constant buzzing was driving her crazy. Most of her skin was red from the endless bites she had received. Those fiery little devils were feasting on her blood but she was too exhausted to kill or shoo them away. Perhaps the reason she felt delirious was that they had drained enough of her blood to leave her weak and frail. She felt disgusting in her own skin; her clothes were torn, her skin covered in cuts from the thorns slicing her. The blood on the surface of her skin had frozen by now but the cuts still hurt like hell.

She had to stop. She needed to stop. Exhaustion had overwhelmed her completely; every bone in her body felt broken and painful. Her throat was dry from the lack of water, eyes bloodshot from the lack of sleep. They were hardly open as her legs gave out beneath her and she crashed to the ground.

Her head collided with something hard, pain shooting throughout her body, not helped by the lack of sleep. Getting up felt impossible, her body may as well have been shutting down. Pain coursed through her as she jerked her arm forward, pressing it against the freezing earth in an attempt to push herself upright. She let out a low screech as she scrambled to her feet, using every ounce of strength she had left. Relieved, she took a deep breath holding the air in her lungs as she moved forward, the scent of wet grass and mud clinging to her nostrils.

She frantically gazed around, looking for some kind of clearing - somewhere she could clean up and rest. Continuing on didn't matter anymore, if she did not sleep soon she may well die of exhaustion.

"Fuck," Aelin cried, breaking the silence. This was the first time she had spoken in a while, her voice rough and dry. Even this small movement shot pain through her body, causing her to stifle a groan. Her head felt as if it were exploding, her breaths getting more and more uneven. She moved her head around desperately looking for any source of water.

From the corner of her eye, she spotted a small area clear of trees. It was hardly any different from the rest of the forest, except that there was a small pool of water in the center, surrounded by mud. It smelled of something rotten but Aelin paid no attention as she ran towards it, collapsing next to the water, not caring that she was covered in mud. She reached her hands forward dipping them into the surprisingly warm water. Her skin prickled, as the warmth penetrated her frozen fingertips. She rubbed her hands together to get the mud and blood off of them, causing the injuries on her hands to sting painfully.

As she scrubbed her skin, she thought once more of why she was here and what she had to do. This was all because of that amulet. Her amulet. It wasn't a magical artifact that would protect her from evil or a locket that held the key to some other dimension, it was a plain necklace but it was the only thing she had left of her mother.

She did not remember how long she wore it or how long it had been with her, only that it had once belonged to her mother. Aelin did not remember her the slightest. It was sad, yes, and Aelin had spent most of her life wishing she knew her, wishing she knew what her laughter sounded like or how her face lit up when she saw her daughter.

With time Aelin was able to forgive herself for not having the opportunity to know her mother. Maybe it wasn't her fault; her mother had died giving birth to her, she knew she needed to stop blaming herself. It wasn't her fault she was raised by a killer.

Rick Ferdinand. The man who raised her to become the notorious murderer she was today. She met him when she was eleven, she had tried to steal money from him. He was intrigued by the little girl who was willing to risk stealing from the King of Thieves himself. So the next day, Rick had paid her foster parents a small fortune and she was thrown into a new life as a killer.

Her foster parents were glad to be rid of her, they had feared her ever since she had cut off her foster father's finger when he tried to make her work. So, when Rick purchased her he made sure she never disobeyed him, no matter what he had to do. The scars on her neck and ankles said enough. He had taught her how to be deceitful in order to survive, like how to evade capture after killing, or surviving and escaping from prison.

From building a fire from scratch to the most effective ways to torture someone, Rick had taught her everything he knew. He had made her the best. On her fifteenth birthday, she made her first kill. She'd butchered the man with such brutality that her name 'Silent Slayer' had become a household name to every whore, soldier, and villager in Tropilus. After that, the noblest men in Tropilus hired her to kill the most ferocious men and women. She'd learned to relish in her name, in the legacy she left with each severed head, to love the fear and power it gave her. All until two years ago, when Rick had crossed a line she'd always kept.

That was when she realized she was a monster hiding in a human's skin and she ran away from Rick, from the title she cherished, and from herself.

Aelin squeezed her eyes shut as the past washed over her. Too many painful memories had been awakened, recollections of the betrayal, of him. She took her hands out of the pond, scooping some water in her hands and splashing her face. The water burned against her skin as she rubbed her fingers on her cheeks, rubbing off the mud and blood. It brought her back to her senses, enough to realize that she was slowly sinking. Furrowing her eyebrows, she forced her eyes open and looked down.

She was in a mud pit.

Aelin thrashed violently, trying to escape the pit, straining her legs in an attempt to move them. She was now more attentive than before. She realized the movement was pushing her deeper into the darkness, the mud enveloping her. How had she not detected what was going on? Mud had reached her stomach now, the wetness all over her. She pressed her hands onto the ground, the small rocks and vines piercing into her palms, trying desperately to break free, but her efforts only seemed to make her sink faster. Her elbows ached as she fought to keep them upright, but the weeks of running and lack of sleep had left her too weak to pull herself out.

The horrendous smell of dirt and mud now filled her nostrils, making them flare, she gagged and let out a scream, her dry and feeble voice barely making a sound. She gasped for breath as the mud reached her shoulders, the weight of it swallowing her entirely. She stopped struggling; she couldn't move. Everything around her was still. The breeze had stopped, the forest quiet as a graveyard. The night seemed endless and, perhaps she was crazy, but she thought she heard the forest call her name. It echoed from tree to tree as if the forest itself was desperately trying to keep her awake.

Anything to keep her fighting.

Aelin closed her eyes as the mud reached her neck, welcoming it as the darkness enveloped her.

She was unconscious by the time the mud reached her face.

~

Aelin woke up to her body rising and falling rapidly. She compelled her eyes to open, steadily allowing the light to set in. She let out a small groan as she sat up and saw what was happening. A horse. She was on a horse. A stunning white mare, rippling with muscle, its movement swift and fast. Aelin looked around and, for miles and miles, all she could see was dry, barren land. She was alone, the horse her only companion. Clearly, the mare knew where it was going and ignored Aelin's attempts to change their course. Giving up, she desperately cast back her mind to the last thing she remembered, trying to piece together how she got atop this horse. The sun glared down at her, boiling her skin, as her head swam with questions.

How did she get out of the mud pit? Where was she? How long had she been asleep? Whose horse was this?

Her thoughts were cut off as an unpleasant odor penetrated into her nose, making her gag. It was revolting and made her sick to her stomach. Trying to locate the smell, she looked down at herself to that her originally blue tunic was now stained brown from the mud. The scent was coming from her.

Her legs started to hurt from sitting on the horse for God knows how long. She shook her head slightly, taking in a deep breath. She still felt tired, her head aching, her muscles sore. She looked in front of her, holding a hand to her forehead to the sunlight from blinding her. Sweat covered each inch of her body, causing her mud-laden clothes to stick to her. If she didn't know better she would have believed she was a vagrant.

Suddenly, the sunlight was blocked, not by her hand, but by a building that became clearer and larger with every step they took towards it.

Heart dropping, she realized where she was. Despite preparing herself for this for weeks (it was all she had thought about as she journeyed through that forest) her heart sped up, anxiety overwhelming her.

She was in Herondale. On her way to Riona's castle.

Riona. She was brutal. The queen of Earth. The one who had Aelin's amulet.

The castle was made entirely of grey stone, polished to shine in the sun's light. There were four towers on each side, standing high and mighty. Vines crept over most of the castle, concealing the secrets within. The windows were made of blue stainless glass, yet nothing from inside was visible through them. The castle itself was as old as the Queen. The small flowers that decorated its walls only added to its glory, yet they were dull, blending perfectly with the rest of the scene.

Behind the castle were vast mountains, cut in half by a magnificent waterfall. The mountains were huge, dwarfing Aelin as she made her way towards them. The scene was alluring. Even though it looked breath-taking, Aelin knew everything was designed to serve Riona; protecting her, defending her.

Spurred on by the sight, the horse neighed and moved increasing its speed. Aelin wished she had been given a chance to clean herself up and look less like a beggar. But, at this point, it didn't matter. She went through her plan one last time in her head, she'd had it memorized for days. Even as her heart pounded louder and louder she made sure none of her anxiety showed, keeping a stoic face as she finally eared the castle.

Eventually, the horse stopped right outside a large brown gate, connected by chains to the top of the tower. She slowly dismounted, stumbling a little on her still weak legs. Once she regained her balance she looked at the intimidating open gate in front of her. Riona herself had summoned Aelin. Breathing deeply, she took a cautious step forward. Then another. Before she knew it she was walking inside the castle, through a long and narrow passageway. Like the outside, the castle's interior was also made entirely of polished grey stone. She walked through the dark corridor until her ankles were wobbly and her feet hurt.

Then came a black marble door; the only thing separating her and the Queen of Earth. Aelin let out a shaky breath as she reached for the golden door handle, gently pushing it down. The door creaked as it opened, a slight breeze caressing her skin and ruffling her hair. Composing herself as best she could, Aelin walked in.

The room looked nothing like a room. It was as if she stood in a forest, surrounded by trees. A throne in the center was made entirely of vicious-looking vines that ended in spikes. Each vine was embroidered with gold and flowers bloomed out of them every few inches. Large, bulky trees surrounded the throne, providing some sort of protection from the outside world. The floor was stone like the rest of the castle but water flowed across it from each corner. On either side of the throne sat two mighty tigers staring at Aelin with their deadly golden eyes. They were both so still Aelin might've thought they were dead if it weren't for their growling.

And on the throne sat Riona herself.

For being over a thousand years old, she looked miraculously youthful, beautiful one might say. Aelin had heard many stories of the ruthless queen, how she had feasted on innocents and refused to provide aid to the injured after battles. If one were to judge her based on looks, they would have said she was the most breath-taking woman there was.

Her skin seemed to glow in the light emanating from above, revealing the perfect shape of her face. Her dark green eyes glimmered like stars, and her thick black eyelashes made her eyes appear darker, more intense. Riona wore a green dress, to represent the color of her realm and her powers. The dress had a slit right above the knee, exposing her bare leg. It reached her ankles, its tight, flowy material showing all her curves. Her long, thick hair was dark brown, the exact color of a tree trunk. It hung around her shoulders, loosely. Sat atop the queen's head was a crown. Unlike everything else there, her crown was the only non-earthly thing. It was a gold-tiara, with red rubies carefully crafted into it.

She had seen that crown before.

"Why, you should have given her a chance to clean herself up, Elijah," the queen tutted, disapprovingly, looking past Aelin. Her voice was anything but sweet, the rumors that it sent even the strongest warriors running seemed to be true.

Aelin spun around to find a beautiful man standing behind her. He was tall and muscular, his hair the color of pure snow, and his sharp jawline clenched slightly at the queen's words. He wore a black leather jacket on top of a grey shirt, it slightly revealed the shape of the toned muscle underneath. His hazel eyes were fixed on the queen, his body still as death.

Aelin turned back around to face the queen who had resumed looking at her with silent interest. Internally, Aelin was screaming, every part of her begging to run, but outwardly she remained calm, returning the queen's stare.

"What brings you to my castle, Aelin Morgenstern?" Riona questioned. Aelin swallowed quickly before raising her eyebrow. A bold move in front of the Queen.

"If you know my name, you probably know what brings me here. I'm here for the amulet sold to you by a merchant of Vernis. My Amulet." Aelin answered, repeating the words she had memorized.

It took every ounce of willpower she had to not run.

The queen let out a low scoff.

"Yes, yes I am very well aware of what you want. I have had my eyes on you for a while now and I should say, very brave of you to come to see me," the queen replied calmly.

"Let's cut to the chase, shall we. You have something that belongs to me and I want it back," Aelin demanded. She felt the eyes of the male behind her burning into her back. Gods, she had made a big mistake.

"Perhaps I shall help you, but only if you do something for me in return." A bargain. The queen was making a bargain with her. Aelin played along, deviating from her plan, a move that made her bones shake.

"And what is it you want me to do?"

The queen smiled faintly. Her eyes had now grown dark, the green in them clouded with black. "I want you to bring me princess Atarah Alastair, the last living Flame Bearer and heir to the throne of Ethopia."

Aelin's heart stopped, she was finding it hard to breathe. She clenched her fingers tightly to stop them shaking, her knuckles turning white. "Why would I do that?" Aelin questioned, her voice a little wobbly. Thoughts streamed through her head. What was going on? The plan she had meticulously come up with wouldn't work. Not anymore.

"Why you shall do that is not your concern. I didn't ask you questions and you will grant me the same courtesy," Riona leaned back into her throne, "However, I shall tell you this. war is coming, and I am only ensuring my victory." Aelin took another deep breath, her head throbbed painfully, all of her bones in agony because of how tense she was.

Gods help her. She'd considered killing the queen but this. . . She didn't know if this was better or worse.

"What if I say no?" she questioned, considering each option carefully.

"Then you return from here empty-handed, that is if you make it out, and I'll make sure that Amulet never sees the sun's light again," Helena proposed, casually.

Even if she was considering rejecting the Queen's proposal, those last words changed the whole scenario. Was this worth it? Did she need to do this?

With a deep breath, Aelin chose her next words carefully. She had to do this.

"It's a deal."

She had worked too hard, wasted two years for the Amulet. She had ransacked every street and house in Tropilus, questioning even threatening every beggar, vagrant, and commoner she found.

She would not retreat.