The first swing came swiftly, the stick whooshing in the air as it landed on hers. It blocked the attack immensely but Fennis pushed harder onto it. A growl escaped his lips but she pushed back, fighting the force. She finally succeeded, his steps falling back as she swung her stick swiftly from the side grapping to his side while he retracted his own. But the attack was stopped as Fennis curled his fingers around its tip, fighting the pressure.
She was smarter. Much smarter. Using her right leg, she lifted it high enough to meet his hand slamming onto it. His hand unbalanced, tightened fingers losing as she pulled another swing from the opposite direction. It was fast enough. The stick met his lower stomach.
He lost his step and using the tip of her stick, she flung it into his stomach. Much harder. He fell down with a thud, the ground groaning as he fell. Aelin relaxed back as his stick landed besides him. She loosened her posture, her breaths unsteady. "Third time, and I won again." Her voice was hoarse and raw. She drew in breaths fighting against the growing ache in her limbs. "You were better the first two times."
"Yeah well I wasn't as tired and hurt," Fennis muttered as he sat up. His breaths were just as unsteady as her, his tunic wet from sweat. "You're pathetic, what's the use of being a Faerie if you can't even fight. I mean I'm better than you and I don't even have the healing, strength and senses you do." She threw her own stick to the side. Her hands reached for her hair, pulling back the escaped strands behind her ear. Fennis slowly stood, muttering curses. She smiled to herself, satisfaction cruising through her as she crossed her arms. "Yeah well I get it you're better. Even though you're a mortal." Fennis groaned as he clutched his stomach. His forehead gleamed with sweat, his hair a mess as he pressed it to the back.
She thumped onto the ground, Sitting uneasily as she caught her breath. Her chest moved swiftly, her throat dry, nostrils flaring. "Where are my promised weapons?" She asked looking at Conan, his eyes stilled on her including everyone around them, except Fennis who slowly limped towards the inn.
His face looked flustered, eyebrows lifted as he graciously walked towards her, his muscled body shaking as he walked. His lips curled into a smirk, the snarkiest he'd ever shown her as he crossed his arms, muscles flexing through his shirt. "You didn't really fight me did you? Got to defeat me if you want extra weapons." She let out a deep breath, throwing her head back, groaning. Her bones ached, muscles sore.
She reached her hand towards him. A failed attempt to get up as he walked away. She let out a scoff pushing onto her arms as she stood. Her bones ached in return. Aelin clutched her hands to her side as she braced herself. "You know for such an old bastard you surely have no manners." Conan froze. She watched his back, grinning, as his muscles tensed shoulders lifting. He turned around, his grey eyes gleaming with mischief. "Says the girl who almost clawed each of our faces." His voice was stern as it always was, but it had softened. No sign of alertness.
He braced the stick in his right hand, tightening his grip on it. "It's called the element of surprise, but you wouldn't understand." She lifted up her chin, her narrow eyebrows furrowing. "Say that again and I'll stab you, with a really really long and rusty knife."
Aelin threw her stick to the side, knuckles white as she turned them into punches. She would rather hit that flawless face with her bare hands. Maybe make up for what he'd done earlier. Conan followed behind throwing his stick to the side as well. "Am I that bad? A rusty knife. Really?" She slowly moved to the sides, her footsteps light. He followed behind moving slowly in the opposite direction. "I'm really going to enjoy this," she murmured.
With that Aelin charged towards Conan. The first punch was swift, pushing against the air as it missed his face. Conan dodged to the side, ducking below her hand as he did, Aelin turned around firing another punch towards him but it missed from inches as Conan dodged it again. She turned around but too soon a punch met her jaw. Her teeth sang jaw aching immensely as she moved her hand to it, rubbing the side of it. "Fuck," she cursed. She looked over to Conan who stood at the side, lips pulled into a wide grin. But it wasn't just proudness and satisfaction that clouded it.
He was enjoying it.
Something snapped inside of her. A calm took over her body, her blood rushing, heart pounding. She drew in a deep breath. Her body tensed then relaxed entirely. Even her limbs stopped roaring in pain.
Then she struck.
Faster than she'd ever been, she ran towards Conan, who took a defense position. The wind pricked her skin, its gentleness relenting her from getting to him. The first blow was to his diaphragm, sending him flying back. Conan's face lost its color as he held it tightly, kneeling over it. His eyes widened, lower lip slightly trembling as he regained his position. Taking deep breaths to make up for the lost ones. She clenched her fist into a tight punch, her body getting warmer with each passing second. He slid to the side again, ignoring the blow entirely. But once another kick met his face, he fell to the ground. His cheek grew red from the impact, pain written all over his face. She got on top of him, preparing to return his punch with her own. She pushed in every ounce of energy she had remaining, her fist piercing through the wind.
And then it met his face.
~
Astra walked into the room chuckling. She had never witnessed anyone landing a punch on Conan. Aelin had proved her worth, and yet being a mortal and winning against a Fae male who'd served as a general for Alynth's army. Surely that had been a blow to Conan's pride. It had impressed Astra. Her skill, techniques, moves. She'd found it so formidable that she had spent the rest of the day learning from her. Even though Autumn didn't look much happy about it, she'd known the archer was pretty impressed herself.
Autumn had always been a fierce warrior and a cunning soldier, but The sun had sunk, a pale blue now crossing into the sky. Astra opened the door to her room.
Her heart skipped a beat, eyes throbbing as she looked at the man lying in bed. He had one of his hands behind his head as looked up at the ceiling, the other resting on his stomach. She'd been dreading this. Having to come back to the room and face him. Each step she took towards the bed screamed back at her. Every fiber inside her seemed to resent this. She looked at his rising chest, moving up and down. The silence felt deafening. So utterly painful. The uneasiness made her uncomfortable.
"I can't do this," she finally spoke, breaking the dreadful silence between them. Conan didn't move. Her voice sounded wheezy, dry as she did looking at his calm face. "I know you only want to protect me and help me and stay by my side, but I can't Conan. I can't do this without you. I know all this makes you mad and this decision, my decision, makes you doubtful. But have you not noticed, how hard I'm trying?"
She looked at the ground, tears threatening to fall. She took a deep breath, holding her fire and tears inside. Conan sat next to her. Though he made no move to embrace her. Still as death he looked at her. He let her speak.
"I'm supposed to be this Queen everyone looks upon, giving the right orders, making the right decisions. It's not that simple. Everyone thinks I have the answer, that I know the way, but the truth is I'm just as lost myself. I'm so scared. Of every decision I make. I can be wrong. I can make mistakes."
She forced herself to look at him, only to find him looking at her. The intensity that passed through them in that moment, she'd never felt it before. "And you," her voice broke as she placed her trembling hand on his face, cupping his cheek as she caressed her callous thumb on it. "You are always there for me. You never leave. If I fall, you help me up. So why are you doing this? I need you Conan Maxwell, more than anything and everything. I need you."
He didn't say a word. But the regret and pain had gleamed in his eyes with every word. They sat there. Silent for what felt like an eternity. The air still lingered with unspoken words, but Astra was thankful. Utterly grateful he didn't say anything. That he'd let her speak today. She'd needed this. She slowly got up. Shuddering a breath as she did. But Conan caught her half way. His hand clutched onto her wrist, gentle but longingly. She looked back at him, to see the remorseful face.
He pulled her closer, still seated as his lips crashed onto hers.
The kiss was gentle, soft. Their lips moved in perfect sync, a warmth present. It wasn't of wanting or hunger but affectionate and wistful. A remorseful kiss. The tenderness was present, but sparks shook her entirely as it soon turned into something more. He kissed her passionately. In a wanting and desire that neither of them could avoid.
He pulled her closer, as she ran her hands through his curly hair. His grip tightening as his tongue swept in, their lips locked in a never ending conflict. She let out a slight moan as their tongues intertwined, leaving both of them vulnerable. He pulled her towards him. She sat on his lap, legs tightening around his waist as his lips moved to the back of her ear. She could feel his hardness from under her, only adding to her thirst. The thirst for him.
The kisses felt heavenly as he slowly made his way to her neck. Taking his time devouring each part as he slowly kissed her, whispering to every part that she was his and he was hers. Each kiss sent satisfaction all through her. Her heart thundered. Her throat felt dry. Her quiet moans, the only noise around them. She threw her head back as Conan's kisses became even more hungry, both of them lost in a fierce battle. Her hands explored his back as he moved lower and lower.
"Do you want this princess?" He asked, color flustered from his face as he pulled back forcefully. His eyes glinted with wanting. For more. And more. So did hers as she found her voice again, her skin begging for his touch.
"Yes."
~
He'd felt worse than he had since the last of his kingdom's rule. Miserable and pathetic. Forcing himself to not speak to her, pushing her away. He hated that he had done it. But what she had said to him, that she was burdened and scared, he'd never looked at it that way. So he swore himself to stand by her through each decision. To protect her, and satisfy her, and make her happy. To serve his Queen.
Conan woke up to the breeze sliding into the room. Chills went through his body as he recalled the events that had happened. He looked over at the princess that slept peacefully, lost in a world of her own. Her face portrait comfort, her lips pulled into a straight line, chest moving up and down. She looked even more graceful in her sleep, her beauty streaming in the dancing moonlight. His eyes felt drowsy, lips dry as he slowly got up. The bed only slightly wailed as he did, his hair falling right over his eyes as he brushed his fingers through it. The night howled to him, the room awkwardly silent as he took one last look at the woman who slept in the bed. Calm and tranquil, as her breaths flew around the room.
Conan crept out of the room as quietly as he could, being extra careful as he made his way to the roof.
~
The breeze kissed her skin, moonlight twirling around her as she stared into the depthless night. The darkness obliterated everything, only leaving the sky with millions of twinkling stars as a blanket for it. The stars were visible for as far as she could see, gleaming and glinting and glistening. They shone magnificently as she stared into the abyss of darkness, drowned by her thoughts. Each sparkled with its own beauty, some brightly and fiercely while others hid behind them. This was beautiful. Absolutely breath-taking.
From being a scared kid, to a rebel teenager, she'd sneak up to the roof of Rick's unholy mansion and watch the stars that gazed at her. Their beauty and whispers caressed her each night, from when she would cry, shaking and trembling and cold, to when she would be exhausted and tired, covered in a strangers blood.
The sound of footsteps behind her didn't alert her in the slightest way as she kept searching the sky full of distant stars. The footsteps were tiresome and slow as they closed in, creaking sounding beneath the gentle thuds of boots.
"What brings you here, Conan?" Aelin said as she tilted her head half way, her eyes stilled on the black boots that approached behind her. Once the thuds and creaking stopped only then did she stand up, her bones making an unfamiliar cracking sound as she did.
The first thing her eyes landed on once she turned around was his muscled chest. Of course he wasn't wearing a shirt. She forced her eyes upwards to look at his eyes. His eyebrow was lifted, a smirk on his face. "Like what you see?" His voice seemed blander, eyes glossy as if he'd just woken up. She swallowed quickly, not for a second, breaking the stare. "I've seen better," she replied, crossing her arms, as she sucked on her tooth watching him flex his muscles. Even with everything that went down between the two of them, there was always something different with them. Cheesy one might say. It wasn't attraction, never in hell could it be, it was something bigger. Something that infuriated her, made her blood rush. Her nerves shot, heart pounding as she forced a smile.
He walked closer, maintaining a safe distance between them as he continued, "What are you doing here? At this time of the night?" She rolled her eyes at him, scoffing in irritation. "Gazing at the stars, what do you think you stupid man?" He narrowed his eyes at her, lips gaping as he did, leaning his face closer.
He shook his head, a huffed sound escaping his lips as crossed his own arms, cheeks fluttered. "Yes I realized soon enough," Conan muttered. "Look I don't really care what you do, though I'd be happy if you ran away," It was Aelin's turn to roll her eyes. "All I came here to say is, I advise you stay away from Astra, I do not trust you and if you even think about hurting her, I'll obilerate you from Earth's existence. Even though I know she is happy with her decision, doesn't mean I'll let you get to her. And if you even think about it. I. Will. Kill. You."
Aelin only stared at him in disbelief, incredulity written across her face. She clenched her jaw as she took a step closer to him. One single step. "Brutal, she replied, "I understand initially. It will be taken into consideration. Though now that we have opened our lists of advice, I'd like to offer some to you as well." She took another step.
This game they'd been playing from the moment she'd seen him was exciting and infuriating and frustrating. It was a long way to go. But what he didn't know was that she had played this game much longer than him.
"Next time you decide to get all intimate with her, maybe be in a more discreet place or suggest to her to hold her moans." Another step. They were inches away as she leaned in closer. She could hear his hitched breaths, and the warmth radiating off of his body.
"Some people are trying to sleep here and you know, those moans get a little too loud." She whispered. Even in the dark she could see the embarrassment that enveloped him, awkwardness swirling around them.
With the move that she had played and won, Aelin found no trouble walking away, with her chin high, as her smile widened. Awkwardness and shame still reeked from him once she stepped back down and walked to her room, proud of her win.
Once she laid back in bed, sleep only took minutes to greet her.
A while later she woke up again. This time not because of muffled moans but because of the light that peeked into the room. It was time. Time to leave for the one place she'd been dreading to go to since they had discussed the plans. The truth was she didn't give two shits about the king no, it was her Amulet, and these bastards that she unwillingly was becoming slightly fond of, the thought of a cold blooded war, decisions, moves, pawns and kings and queens.
She was scared of responsibility.
The shower was just as cold and brutal. It had been less tortuous as she'd been too busy being nervous. Scared wouldn't do the job, no, but anxious and edgy. Maybe a little timid. For the occasion her hair had been let open, wet and dripping onto the back of her shirt. She didn't mind wearing the same clothes, considering that there had been worse times. Thanks to Rick who would leave her bloody in the same clothes for weeks after beating her. "It'll help you be grateful for what you have," he'd say, his restless, toneless voice nothing less than a tortuous itself.
Her cloak had been thrown over her head clouding her features, as she walked to the shore. A big, brown boat stood waiting, ready to ride into the awaited horrors.
"Took you damn long to get up," Jude stated as he turned towards her. She noticed how each of them stood, edgier than yesterday, frowning but showered and armed.
She herself had taken her time to analyze and choose her weapons yesterday, after winning brutally against Conan. She smirked at the thought of then and last night. He wasn't here yet. Neither was Astra. Her smirk widened.
She had chosen two twin swords. Polished and razor-blade sharp. They'd seemed light-weighed enough and easy to fight with, thus now they were strapped around her back, concealed by her cloak. More daggers and knives were also strapped under her clothes and around her belt.
"At least I got up, some people still haven't made it," she replied wheezily, avoiding a yawn. Jude only smirked back at her, as if he could see through her thoughts. He walked to her, a strong cardamom scent reeking from him. His hair was combed back, wet like hers. His cloak pressed against his back, sword peeking from the side.
"Nervous?" he asked sheepishly. She only shook her head. "You know I can scent it on you right?" He grinned at her, his golden eyes gleaming with delight. Of course he could. She'd forgotten about Fae and their senses. Hearing and healing were the obvious but scenting, their sense of smell. A curse she thought. Emotion even could be smelled. That was disturbing.
"Go make yourself useful," Aelin gestured her hand towards him. He seemed like he was going to say something. He would have but Astra and Conan walked towards them. Both dressed and showered like the rest of them. Colton joined her and Jude standing next to Aelin, arms crossed.
Conan caught her eyes but turned his gaze away almost immediately looking towards the boat as his cheeks turned red. "I bet a silver coin they've done it once," Colton whispered to her. She scoffed as she looked at him, surprised and amused. His lips had been curled up in a playful grin, eyes glinting. "I bet a silver coin they haven't. Not yet," Jude replied, staring at the both of them. She watched as Conan and Astra walked to the boat, followed by others. "Boys, boys," she started as she walked behind them, the boys following wistfully behind her. "Gold coin that they've done it more than once." Both of them stopped in their tracks looking at each other. She turned around to look at them, arms stretched to her sides. "So who's asking them?"
The boat screamed its goodbyes, the wailing painful to their ears. Its loudness crept away slowly as each of them stared into the deep blue ocean, hoping, a fool's hope but still. They hoped that whatever the next few weeks had in store for them, it wouldn't kill them and that they'd survive and win. Win.
And so Aelin whispered her goodbyes and prayed to the gods to watch over her. And help her and bless her. She whispered each of her prayers to Hyperion, the God of Light and Heavens, to Aengus the God of Wars, to Cliona the Goddess of the Wise, to Freya the Goddess of the Universe and Stars, to Astria Goddess of Dreams and Moonlight and to the remaining six Gods and Goddesses as well. But her prayers were extra long and desperate as she prayed to Seraphine, the Goddess of Fire and Sun. And she could've sworn she heard the Goddess whisper back especially when the shone brightly and brought comfort and assurance to her with it.
Thus they rode into the ocean and to Findara. The city of Sin, soon to be of bloodshed.