#if dorian havilliard was a real the world would be a better place

[a-court-of-valkyries]

Book boyfriends should exist and it's a crime that they don't

#the world would be a better place if they were real #eris vanserra #dorian havilliard #lucien vanserra

[dawninlatin]

Queen of Peace - chapter 11

A Manorian High School AU

Words: 2601

AO3 Link

Masterlist

Summary: Manon Blackbeak is flawless, untouchable. From the outside at least. Her grandmother pushes her to achieve greatness, and she doesn’t let anyone get too close in fear of being hurt. How can anyone love her when not even her parents could?

Dorian Havilliard has always felt safe and confident around his friends. He might not have the greatest of families, but with Aelin and Chaol by his side, nothing can go wrong. That is until he tries keeping his greatest secret from them.

What will happen when Dorian and Manon gets to know one another? Can two lost souls find their way back together?

And the heart is hard to translate

It has a language of its own

-Florence + The Machine, All This and Heaven Too

«Manon! Gods, are you okay?» Asterin ran over to her, voice frantic, eyes lined with worry.

Throwing a glance over her shoulder, Manon contemplated the crowded hallway. There were too many nosey ears and eyes that could eavesdrop.

«Not here,» Manon hissed to her cousin, pulling her into an empty classroom and closing the door behind them. This wasn’t a conversation meant to be had in public.

For a moment, none of them said anything, and Manon let her eyes rove over Asterin. She was seemingly unharmed, and Manon couldn’t stop the wave of relief that coursed through her.

The same couldn’t be said for herself. She’d spent a grueling hour that morning trying to cover up the thin cut on her cheek, but to no avail, the angry red line still visible. She hoped Asterin was too distracted by the fact that she had just been kicked out to notice.

Uncomfortable silence filled the room, and in lack of better words, Manon asked her cousin, «How are you?» She wasn’t sure if she wanted the conversation that would surely follow.

«I’m fine,» Asterin answered, looking down at her shoes. «She was so eager to get me out that she didn’t even bother to fully yell at me.» She let out a low laugh, but it was devoid of any emotion.

«Anyways, I’m staying with Hunter from now on. I should have left months ago.»

Manon didn’t say anything, only crossed her arms. Her grandmother’s words from last night echoing in her mind.

If I hear you talk to her, so much as look at her, I’ll make you regret it.

This was a mistake. She should have ignored Asterin from the second she approached her. Already, Manon was disappointing her grandmother, was ruining everything for herself. How could she be so stupid? So weak?

She had lain awake most of the night, worrying about her cousin, trying to convince herself that she didn’t really care where Asterin was. For she was merely a distraction, an obstacle, keeping her from reaching her goals, keeping her from doing better.

I truly thought you could be different from your mother. Better.

She would. She would do better. Be better.

Yet here you are, that vicious voice in her head whispered.

«You can move in with us too. It’ll be a bit crowded, but we’ll figure something out. I’ve already clarified things with Hunter. We’ll figure this out, Manon.»

Manon blinked in confusion, taking a step away from her cousin, who looked at her with such worry, such pity. Manon didn’t want any of it.

«What are you talking about?» she hissed back, brows furrowing.

«You can’t stay there. You don’t have to endure her anymore.» Asterin’s eyes were burning with clarity, with determination.

«And why not?» How could she possibly think Manon wanted to move away from their grandmother? The woman who had done everything in her power to make sure they succeeded in life. To make sure they didn’t end up like their own mothers. And here Asterin was, throwing it all away. It was her own fault, Manon said to herself.

Asterin nodded towards her cheek, saying in a quiet voice, «She did that, didn’t she?»

Manon stilled.

Was it that obvious?

She focused her eyes on the wall, a feeble lie ready on her tongue. «I don’t know what you’re talking about. I startled Abraxos and he scratched my cheek. It won’t even scar.»

Guilt churned deep in her stomach for bringing her innocent cat into this, but she couldn’t handle Asterin’s judgement if she had known the truth.

It didn’t work though, for Asterin said, «We both know that’s bullshit. Abraxos wouldn’t hurt a fly.»

And it was the anger in Asterin’s voice that made Manon meet her cousin’s gaze once more.

Betrayal, that was the name of the thing burning in Asterin’s eyes.

«Why do you keep defending her?» Her voice was shaking, with anger or sadness, Manon didn’t know, and Asterin didn’t budge.

«She only wants what’s best for us,» Manon said, chin held high.

«You can’t possibly believe that? She’s insane, Manon.» Asterin was raising her voice. Anger, then.

«Where would we have been without her?»

«She kicked me out. She doesn’t care about us.»

Manon scoffed, crossing her arms once more. When she stayed silent, Asterin said, «How can you be so blind?»

She could feel her anger growing at Asterin’s accusations. How could she be so blind? Asterin was the blind one for throwing it all away. For choosing something as stupid as love over her own future. Manon was done with this conversation, wanted to end it as fast as possible.

Which was why she delivered one last blow to Asterin. «Getting kicked out is the least you  deserve after getting yourself knocked up by a boy who will leave at the first sign of some real responsibility. Don’t come crawling to me when you find yourself homeless and heartbroken. You’re off the dance team, by the way.»

Asterin had opened her mouth to say something, but she quickly shut it as Manon’s words hit her. Tears began gathering in the corners of her eyes, and she placed a protective hand over her still-flat stomach. The sight made Manon want to vomit.

She was certain that Asterin would run crying out of the room, but she didn’t. Instead, she took a steadying breath, looked up at her cousin with narrowed eyes, and hissed, her voice as vicious as ever, «I thought you were different, but you truly are her creature.»

Manon slumped against the wall as Asterin left the room, not understanding why it felt as if she’d been punched in the gut.

You truly are her creature.

-

Dorian had been staring at the same page for five minutes now. All day, he’d been looking forward to lunch, to finally finish the thrilling book he’d started reading earlier that week. Except it was impossible to focus.

Everywhere, it was so loud, too loud. The cafeteria, his friends, his own head.

The past week had been stressing, to say the least. Manon still wouldn’t talk to him, and he hadn’t had the chance, either, since he barely saw her at school. It was as if she’d become a ghost.

He tore his eyes away from the book to scan the cafeteria, hoping to spot that white ponytail somewhere in the crowd. His heart skipped a beat as he spotted Asterin, Manon’s cousin, but she was sitting alone, Manon nowhere in sight.

As he finished scanning the room, his eyes met Aelin’s. She lifted an eyebrow in silent question. Everything okay?

Shaking his head, Dorian shifted his gaze to the door. He jumped slightly as he spotted something resembling white hair, but it wasn’t Manon, and he couldn’t help the disappointment that filled his body.

When he looked back at Aelin, her face said, Don’t worry. She’ll come to you if she wants to talk. Giving him a kind smile, she dived back into the conversation she’d been having with Rowan and Chaol. Dorian had no idea what it was about, so he tried to focus on his book.

Don’t worry.

She made it sound so easy.

Nothing about the he was missing Manon was easy. In fact, it was close to driving him insane. And it was only the tip of the iceberg of the many worries he had…

Like yesterday, when he’d had to sit through another one of the weekly family dinners.

Dorian wasn’t sure what was worse. His parents fighting or them pretending everything was fine.

Through the entire dinner, he’d fought the urge not to vomit. All because of his father, sitting there, spewing out offensive comments, one after the other, his mother, pretending she didn’t hear any of it, and his brother, throwing ridiculous tantrums just to get their attention.

And it had been another dinner, where courage failed him, Dorian still hiding the fact that he was bi.

Someone in the cafeteria laughed a little too loud, and Dorian had to stop himself from covering his ears. He glanced at the clock. There were still 20 minutes left of lunch break.

«I-I have to get some air,» he stuttered to his friends, abruptly standing up, his chair scraping against the floor.

Before any of them had the chance to reply, he was out the door, heading towards his spot in the library.

He would have opted for outside, but it was pouring rain, so the library it was.

As Dorian rushed for the hidden alcove, he willed his breathing to calm, his head to keep quiet. All he wanted was some peace to read his book and not think so much.

What he hadn’t expected, was to find Manon.

-

You truly are her creature.

Since the argument with Asterin the day before, this had been the sole clear thought in Manon’s head.

She couldn’t focus anymore. Not in her classes, not at dance practice, not at night, when all she wanted was deep, dreamless sleep. Instead, Manon laid awake, worrying.

It was all too much. She couldn’t possibly keep her promise to her grandmother when she was unable to focus. She had a math test tomorrow, damn it, but whenever she tried to study, her mind went blank.

Luckily her grandmother had left for work again that morning. It made it all a little easier when she didn’t have to constantly lie about her schoolwork.

Manon had no idea what to do when she got a bad grade on that test though…

Right now, it felt as if the world was moving faster than what she could follow.

And all that guilt, for lying to her grandmother, for what she’d said to Asterin, for failing, again and again. It was choking her.

She’d gone to sit in the library, in that hidden alcove where she’d first met Dorian, during lunch, didn’t want to risk running into Asterin in the cafeteria, or the rest of her dance team for that matter. The news that Asterin was off the team hadn’t been met very well.

At least the library was better than the girls bathroom. Her life hadn’t gotten that sad yet.

You wouldn’t be so lonely, had you not pushed Dorian away, a voice echoed in her mind.

Manon cursed it.

Still, thinking about Dorian made her feel all strange. Was she missing him? Was this what was happening?

It had been a mistake to befriend him, if she could even call it that. A stupid mistake.

After she’d finished her lunch, Manon glanced at the clock and saw that it was still 20 minutes left of the break.

She relished the stillness of the library. Here, breathing was a little easier, thinking, too.

That was, until a panicked-looking Dorian appeared around the corner of the shelf.

It felt as if they were back to that day, months ago, when they’d first met.

«Why do you always show up whenever I want to be alone?» Manon tried her very best to hide the surprise and comfort and sadness in seeing him.

Her words seemed to pull Dorian out of whatever stupor he’d been in, and he gave her a narrowed look. «That was one time, and lucky for you, I’m not in the mood to talk right now.» His shoulders sagged at the last part, but his voice remained empty, cold.

As he sat down next to her, Manon was tempted do gather her things and leave, but she didn’t, as if curious to see what happened next.

You can’t stay away from him, can you?

She sighed, leaning her head back and closing her eyes.

Dorian didn’t say anything, the silence stretching out, becoming uncomfortable.

Sighing once more, Manon asked, «What’s up with the mood, anyway?»

«I thought you wanted to be alone?»

She didn’t answered, only stared, raising an eyebrow.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Dorian said, «It’s just…a lot, right now.»

Then everything poured out of him.

«Senior year is more stressing than I thought, and my parents are fighting all the time, which makes it really hard for me, because I’ve been trying to come out to them as bi for months, but my dad keeps being a homophobic asshole and I don’t think my mom knows what planet we’re on, and then you stopped talking to me all of a sudden and just-»

He groaned, head falling into his hands.

Manon had no idea what to say, what to do. She’d never been good with emotions. So she asked about the least complicated part of what he’d revealed. «You’re bi?» There was no accusation in her voice, or shock, only curiosity.

Dorian let out a breath of relief. «Yeah,» he said, voice weak.

«Cool,» was all Manon said in answer.

«You don’t care that I’m bi?»

«Why the fuck would I care about that?»

Dorian looked like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t. Instead, that awkward silence returned.

Manon felt like she had to say something again. «I mean it Dorian, your sexuality is none of my business.»

«Thanks,» he said, giving her a tight smile.

Manon looked down at her hands, picking at one of her nails.

«So,» Dorian started, drawing a deep breath. «Why are you brooding in the library?»

She gave him a look that said, I’m not answering that.

«You’re the one who started this conversation.» Dorian stretched out his long legs, getting comfortable.

Oh, she wasn’t getting out of this one.

«I’m just-» Manon sighed, not knowing where to start.

I feel like a constant disappointment to everyone.

I feel like a failure, a liar, a fraud.

I miss you.

«I’m lonely,» she said.

Dorian searched her with those blue eyes of his, his expression going sad.

«Maybe you wouldn’t be so lonely if you hadn’t ignored me for weeks,» Dorian suggested quietly, still looking at her.

«You know nothing,» Manon hissed.

The realization of what she’d said, what she’d accidentally referenced, hit them both at the same time, and Dorian’s chuckle was quickly followed by one of her own.

«I’m sorry,» he managed to choke out between the fits of laughter. «This isn’t funny,» Dorian continued, but it was. It really was.

Why had she thought it was a good idea to ignore him? Manon asked herself as she tried, and failed, to control her laughter.

Because for the first time in weeks, she could breathe again…even if the breathless cackling said otherwise.

But everything it felt light, and easy.

Maybe…just maybe, this was what she needed to stay focused. To do better.

The only thing she was sure of, was that laughing with Dorian made her feel good, worries be damned.

When the laughter had died down at last, a few giggles still escaping them, Manon and Dorian were sitting against the wall, face to face, eyes locked on one another.

«Why are you staring at me?» Manon whispered, butterflies in her stomach.

Dorian swallowed, not breaking eye contact. «I’m contemplating how stupid it would be to kiss you right now.»

Manon drew a shuddering breath, all while gazing into those blue eyes. She could get lost in them.

To hell with it, a voice said inside her. A voice she hadn’t heard before. It sounded wise, and confident, and Manon decided to listen to it. To hell with it, indeed.

Then she leaned in and pressed her lips to his.

A/N: What's up my dudes!

As always, it's been forever since last time, but hey! It wasn't six weeks this time....

Things are starting to happen now, though! Next chapter will be a filler, and therefore quite short, but that means I'll hopefully get it out in the near future:)

Taglist: @fireheartdreamerstarborn​ @bookishwitchling​ @ladywitchling​ @kit-12​ @onfma​ (this is a taglist for ALL my manorian fics, let me know if you want to be added!)

#manorian #manorian au #dawninlatin QoP #manorian fic #manon x Dorian #dorian x manon #manon blackbeak #dorian havilliard #throne of glass #throne of glass fic #sarah j maas #sjm

[brandyovereager]

The Phoenix Effect - pt. 2

It’s been yEaRs since I updated this fic...chapter 3 will be up soon though. For real soon. I’m being serious this time.

On ao3:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22195906/chapters/53250523#workskin

Summary: Rowan is in Rifthold with Dorian when a strange phenomenon sweeps the land. Those once dead are popping up alive. Everyday, more and more are Reborn. One day Rowan encounters a Reborn young man who refuses to give his name, only asking to know the whereabouts of Celaena Sardothein.

--

That was the beginning of it all. Upon further investigation it was determined that each person in the wandering mass by the west gate was previously pronounced dead and laid to rest. As days went on more and more lost souls appeared and were reunited with their loved ones. Hundreds of bodies buried six feet beneath the earth, were suddenly born anew. It seemed the dead were returning, and the royals in Rifthold didn’t know what to make of it.

There was now a process in place for identifying and helping the Reborns. Specialists were enlisted to take people’s names and find their homes—or a new home if their previous one was lost. They tracked down family members and brought them back together. There were shelters put in place to house those whose families hadn’t been found yet—or never would be.

While the phenomena never lost its awe, Adarlan managed to get a hold of the situation. Impossible as it may seem, many had back the ones they lost, and that was a blessing not to be questioned.

Everything was just about under control, until Rowan was summoned to deal with a young Reborn who wouldn’t cooperate. Up until now they’d had only positive interactions with the Reborns—after all they were only trying to help them—but apparently this young man didn’t appreciate their methods. This young man hadn’t been discovered, in fact he’d managed to evade detection until he approached the specialists asking if they could locate someone for him.

They could, of course, they did that everyday for hundreds of Reborns, but they insisted he go through their full process of Reborn reassimilation. That was when the young man had become highly ‘uncooperative’.

Rowan could hear them as he approached the reassimilation checkpoint. They were fairly obvious, being the only ones conversing contentiously. There were several specialists circled around a boy in his late teens with a deep tan and thick brown hair. He didn’t seem like the problematic or vicious type, but he was definitely angry. Rowan Whitethorn had dealt with enough disputes amongst soldiers to know when a man was really mad, versus just trying to fight his overwhelming fear. This boy was afraid. The specialists were right in assuming he needed help, but it would seem he needed a special case of it.

“Counselor Ykrith, if you wouldn’t mind I’d like to take over assisting this young man.” Rowan drew each man’s attention away from the other.

“Your Majesty, there’s really no need to concern you, we have a process here that makes everything work just fine.” Rowan did a mental eye-roll in true Aelin fashion. Yes, Ykrith, obviously everything is working fine.

“I am aware of your process, as I’m sure this young man here is as well, but if you work with people long enough you come to understand that they don’t fit into processes. Personalities can’t be written into the lines of policies. That’s why it’s important to have just sovereigns, and why I will be excusing you to continue your work with the other Reborns.” Ykrith at least had the decency to look ashamed as he walked away, never mind that he also looked insulted.

The Reborn young man was now examining Rowan with a curious eye.

“You’re not a Havilliard.” The adolescent had a soft tenor voice. He was young, but old enough to sound like a man.

“No, indeed I am not.” Rowan couldn’t decide if he was irritated at being examined or impressed by the boy’s intelligence.

“Yet they address you as Majesty.” He was observant, definitely impressed then.

“It is my appropriate title.” No matter how uncomfortable he still felt when addressed as such.

“What country do you rule then, and why is a foreign king assisting Reborns in Adarlan?” He was skeptical. He’d probably been given reason to mistrust strangers with how young he had died.

“My Queen, Aelin Galathynius of Terrasen, is a compassionate ruler and dear friends with King Dorian Havilliard. She sent me here to help as a favor to him.” It felt both wonderful and painful to speak her name. It’d been too long since he was in her presence.

“I thought Aelin Galathynius was dead?” Ah, yes, this boy had missed the recent chaos and revelations.

“You, like most others, thought wrong. My Queen is very much alive, and the world is all the better for it.” Rowan’s tone gave no room for questions, and the boy could tell not to press further. Rowan decided to return to the reason he came.

“What help did you come here for and why did you have a problem with Counselor Ykrith’s process?” The Fae was a soldier, a no-nonsense, get to the point male.

“All I needed was the location of a person. Ykrith wanted information about me I wasn’t interested in giving.” Rowan’s eyebrow rose just the slightest amount. The boy had a secret, probably multiple actually.

“You know if you’re looking for a loved one that’s actually what the specialists do, and they give you lodging while they do it.” It was a dare, one that made it clear Rowan understood he was involved in something underhanded.

“I’m aware, but my situation is a bit more complicated than that. I can’t let anyone know who I am or who I’m looking for. It’d put us both in danger, if we aren’t already.” This boy was worried, and not just for himself. He needed to find this person, but he also needed to protect them.

“Is someone after you?” It was more an offer for help than an actual question. Obviously someone had been. It would explain why the teen had been killed.

“This isn’t new for me, and besides that I can handle myself. I just wanted to discreetly get some information but it looks like that’s not possible.” With that the boy started to turn away but a firm grasp around his bicep stopped him. Rowan stared him down with a gaze as immovable as his grip.

“I get that you can handle this on your own, but there’s no reason you should have to. I happen to be an expert at this sort of thing and could use a bit of excitement with all the court posturing I’ve been doing as of late.” The young man’s face turned analytical again.

“Does your queen know what sort of hobbies her husband keeps?” The question made Rowan want to laugh. This child had no idea.

“Yes, in fact she’ll be quite disappointed to hear she missed out.” The gleam in the Fae’s eyes was equal parts amusement and admiration as he spoke of his mate.

“Can you get me the information I came for? Without drawing attention?” The Reborn held his own against Rowan’s gaze and it earned a bit more of the warrior’s respect.

“You’ll soon find I’m quite adept at both those things.” And many, many others the male thought.

The young man flashed a sly smile that had the corner of Rowan’s own mouth twitching upwards.

#throne of glass #throne of glass fic #throne of glass fanfiction #tog #tog fic #tog fanfic #tog fanfiction #rowan #rowan whitethorn #rowan x aelin #rowaelin fic #rowaelin #aelin #aelin ashryver galathynius #aelin ashryver #aelin galythinius #sam cortland #sam x celaena #SJM #sjmaas #sjm fanfic #sjm fic #sarah j maas #celaena sardothien #the phoenix effect

[nashville-escort]

Friendly Reminder and Dorian's "money" problem.

Fantasy books aren't real. So to all those Throne of Glass fans out there whose theories I read that said that they think Dorian would just abandon Rifthold because it's half in ruins and he doesn't have the money to rebuild it let me just say that Sarah can do anything she wants. And her books are as far from realistic as can be.

Do you expect anyone to believe that the money Aelin schemed from Arobrynn is enough to rebuild the five cities in her kingdom and their castles and Orynth and it's castle as well? These are cities we're talking about! Not small towns.

I know how Dorian can get money to rebuild his city. And have more than enough left over to expand his palace and grow his crops and build a lot of other things in terms of military and help expand his economy. It all goes back to his family and their history and all those mighty kings before him. I won't say it out loud or make it public because the last thing I need is for sarah to turn right around and give my ideas to make Dorian's kingdom powerful and give them to the last person I want to have them.

Anyway, Morath is Dorian's city. It's in Adarlan. It was given rule to Duke Perrington but the person ruling it now is not Duke Perrington. The same way Dorian's birth father never got the chance to really rule because he was being controlled by a demon.

Once the war is won Dorian can take back all the gold from Morath that the Duke took from the coffers in the castle when he left the capitol before HoF. That's should be enough to rebuild his city. And his magic can do the rest, remember? Dorian's magic can do anything he wants it to. All he has to do is wave his hand and the roofs and pieces of houses can put themselves back together again. It's like a simple "Reparo" Harry Potter spell.

He doesn't need money to rebuild his city when his magic can rebuild things on its own. And his water magic. To cleanse and scrub off the blood and dirt in his streets and the walls, and then dissolve into the ground to water the earth, so yeah.

It's like in EoS when Aelin and Aedion and Lysandra got done killing a group of Adarlan soldiers because they were on Aelin's damn temple or something, she used her fire to do something to clean the place up.

Now he will need money to build the things as far as military and things to help his economy. His magic can grow crops and make the ground fertile but you can't always rely on magic.

But the plainest solution to Dorian's money problem is right in front of his eyes, and has been there since before Adarlan was founded and will continue to be there long after he dies. And under his feet. Part of it goes back to the Havilliard family and a lot of stuff I believe he, and we, still don't know.

I have a lot of ideas that will help Dorian and make his kingdom powerful and prosperous but it just sucks that I'm not the one writing these books. If anyone can give me one damn good reason as to what makes Aelin so much better than Dorian I would love to hear it.

Is it because she's been through hard times in life? So has Dorian. and that's just life. Is it because she's willing to sacrifice herself to save the world? So is Dorian. So what is it? What makes her better than him?

The answer is nothing. The answer is this is not Dorian's story. Yet. The answer is Aelin is the main character of the ToG series. But if there ever is a series that revolves around Dorian do you really think him or his kingdom or his court should take second place to hers?😕 Why? I don't get any responses to those questions and I would love to hear some.

@worldofsarahjmaas @sjmaas

#dorian havilliard #throne of glass

[theladyofdeath]

Kings and Queens {ch 12}

Summary: A Throne of Glass AU inspired by the Breakfast Club (1985). Five students come together for Saturday detention, and realize they are not all that different. You can read previous chapters here.

Author’s Note: WARNING: this chapter includes sensitive content, including references to drugs, abuse, and depression. The reason I started this fanfic, and the reason I love the Breakfast Club, is because it deals with real life shit. I have dealt with all that is listed above, so if you are hurting and you need someone to talk to, I am here for you.

You are loved, and you are important.

Enjoy. <3

Aelin

11:45 a.m.

 I knew that Rowan and Maeve did not get along. It was not difficult to see, although the two rarely interacted. He had told me that story, before Sophomore year, about how Maeve and his mother didn’t get along, about how his mother despised her elder sister.

I hadn’t realized, however, how much built up anger he had towards the bitch. But, as he turned toward the four of us, and a deadly, incredibly attractive, smile spread across his soft, pink lips….I knew a burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

He had let out anger toward Maeve, yes, but also anger over everything else he had endured.

A soft round of laughter erupted from our unconventional circle. Well, from everyone except Dorian.

“Are you okay?” I asked, causing his eyes to instantly connect with my own. He hadn’t realized he had been lost in thought. “Still feeling uneasy?”

I don’t know what Dorian had done in his time away from us, but he looked like a disheveled mess.

“I…” he trailed off, then squared back his shoulders as he faced Rowan. “Is it true?”

Rowan’s smile faltered at his question. “Is what true?”

“That you’re a bully. That you’re as bad as they say you are,” Dorian shook his head. “That you pick on your peers to feel better about yourself.”

A criminal.

I blinked at Dorian, who I did not think would ever have the guts to ask what he just did to someone with a social status like Rowan’s. I respected him a little more than before at the small show of bravery.

Rowan Whitethorn crossed his arms, and when he did, Dorian instantly looked as if he regretted opening his mouth in the first place. He carefully considered his words before he replied, “Would you like to know what I did to get in here?”

Dorian hesitated. “I – “

Rowan smiled, wistfully, as his head tilted slightly to the left. “It’s okay. I am not ashamed.”

I had to admit I was equally as curious.

During our conversation earlier, it was the only thing we hadn’t covered.

Dorian, I am sure, had stopped breathing.

A deep, shaky sigh escaped Ro as he looked at me. “I have done things that I am ashamed of. I won’t pretend like I’m perfect when I very well know that I am not. At first, when I started here Sophomore year, I did react out of anger, and malice. I was pissed at the world, and I felt alone.”

Guilt and regret hit me like a punch to the gut as his eyes drifted from mine to Dorian’s. What had occurred two years ago was not instantly forgotten with our conversation earlier. There would be hurt for a while, and we would both be traveling down a long road of trust and forgiveness.

“One night, I looked in the mirror, at the cuts and bruises on my face, just after my parents had told me how disappointed they were in me, in my current behavior….” He paused, and shook his head. “It was the night before they left to go on the business trip that they didn’t –“

Pain. There was pain flooding those beautiful, green eyes. It was the night before they left for the business trip that they hadn’t returned from.

“I told them I would change,” he continued. “I promised that I would return to my true self, if I could remember who that was. That was the last conversation that I had with my parents.”

Your mother would be so disappointed in you, Maeve’s words from earlier repeated in my mind as I listened, silently. She meant it as a threat. She knew what would hurt him the most.

“A few days later, when I got the hospital call from Fenharrow, saying that there had been an accident…..That there was nothing that I could do, that it was too late…..That anger returned. And, if I’m being honest with you, it never left.”

I glanced at Dorian, to find something in his eyes had vanished and been replaced with sorrow.

Rowan shook his head. “You don’t need to feel sorry for me. Death is a part of life, unfortunately. Which is why, although my anger had once again settled, it was different. As I walked through the halls of Havilliard High, I saw kids picking on others half their size, or for what they liked, or who they believed in, or because they looked different….and that…..that is what made me mad. From that day forward, I took it upon myself to stand up for the outcasts.”

“You bullied the bullies?” Lysandra’s eyebrows raised.

Rowan chuckled, softly, as his hands folded in his lap. “To receive this invitation to detention, I had punched Archer Finn in the nose. It broke, to say the least.”

My head snapped up, eyes narrowing as the next word escaped my lips. “Why?”

He looked at me again, those perfectly sculpted, soft lips fallen into a suppressed grin. “I had overheard that he was harassing someone that I used to know. He was not treating her as she, or any woman, deserves to be treated. I thought he should know.”

Memories of his hands on my ass, sliding up my sides toward my breasts, as he pressed me up against my locker after school ran through my mind. I hated Archer Finn. He had been absent the day before, which I was grateful for, but unsure why of.

It was because Rowan had broken his nose, and Archer was too much of a pretty boy to be seen in any state less than perfect.

Two years. Two years, we hadn’t spoken, and he was still protecting me. He protected me against Arobynn, and Archer, too.

And he would have been okay if I had never found out.

I was speechless, my jaw hanging open, limply, as I took it all in.

“The people here may think I’m a criminal, and I’m okay with that,” Rowan shrugged, brushing it off. “They made up their minds about me a long time ago, and in that time, I have learned not to care what others think.”

Dorian was watching Rowan as if everything he had ever thought and believed was being put to the test. In a way, perhaps, it was.

“I’m sorry,” he said, then. “About your parents. Good people do not deserve to die young. My mother died when I was three, and I do not remember much about her, but my father….” He shook his head, trying to find his words. “If I had the choice to end his life, if it would bring your parents back, I would.”

It was a bold statement. One that forced our attention from Rowan, to Dorian. Rowan nodded his head in thanks, and appreciation, as Dorian realized he needed to expand on his words. He took a deep breath, then stared at the floor. “I do not have one happy memory with my father in it. Every memory of my father involves pain, in some form.”

We were all silent before Aedion had the courage to ask, “Why?”

“His expectations are too high,” he said, softly, staring at his twiddling thumbs. “They always have been. I was not able to hang out with friends, or go on field trips, or play outside. I have been forced to read thousands of books about nothing that interests me, only to be tested in the end. If my grades are not perfect, I get punished. If I tell my father no, I get punished. If I stray from the path he has set before me, I get punished.”

“What path it that?” Aedion asked, once more. His father was absent, and had been since the time he was young. His mother, my aunt, was an alcoholic. He knew what it was like to have parents that were not ideal.

We all did.

Dorian took yet another deep breath before connecting eyes with my cousin. “Have you heard of David Havilliard?”

“The guy who’s, what, second in line for the throne?” Lysandra asked, glancing at Aedion for confirmation. “Doesn’t he serve on the King’s council?”

Dorian nodded and realization swept over me. Before I could ask, Rowan did. “He’s your father?”

“He is,” Dorian whispered, waiting for us to respond.

We didn’t.

We simply looked from him, to the statues behind us, the statues of his ancestors.

“You’re a Havilliard?”

His cheeks reddened as he nodded in response to my question, before simply stating, “Now you know why he must punish me when I am less than perfection. I am longer down the line, and the chances of me ever sitting on the throne is less than miniscule, but still…..”

He drifted off as I rose to my feet, and placed my hand gingerly on top of his. He did not cower, he was not shocked, he only gave me a soft smile of gratitude as I said, “That does not mean he should punish you. You deserve better than that.”

It was then that I noticed the bruises, the scars, on his arms, and I knew those markings far too well. He noticed my staring, and withdrew his hand, but my eyes stared firmly into his. “I, too, get punished when I do not meet standards.”

We watched one another, Dorian Havilliard and I, as our souls connected on a strange, unknown level.

“Is it because of him that you’re here?” Aedion asked, if only to break the silence. “In detention?”

Dorian Havilliard grinned, a sultry gesture that suited him, as I seated myself back down next to Aedion. “Somewhat.”

Aedion cleared his throat as Dorian continued to grin foolishly at himself before he finally indulged us. “I got caught smoking weed in the restroom before school.”

“What?” Rowan whooped, causing Dorian to glance at him sheepishly. “Who caught you?”

“Maeve.”

“She caught you herself? I’m surprised you’re still alive,” Rowan mumbled, before shaking his head.

“I was so terrified that she must have taken pity on me,” Dorian sighed, his eyes losing focus as he remembered. “I was so anxious though. I had a test that my dad was….Well, anyway, I was anxious. I needed something to calm me down. Chaol – I mean, a friend of mine –“

“Chaol Westfall is a pothead?” Lysandra interrupted, a sly grin of her own forming. “Who would have known.”

Dorian began to panic. “Don’t tell. I mean – if word got out that he has –“

“Relax,” Lysandra assured him. “Safe to say what is being said in this room will stay in this room.”

He nodded, his shoulders loosening before he met her gaze once more. “What did you do to get in here?”

She shrugged. “Nothing.”

“There had to have been something,” Rowan urged. “No one gets sentenced by Maeve for existing. Well, with the exception of me, maybe.”

Lysandra smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. “No, I mean, I’m here by choice. Maeve did give me detention, but I did it on purpose.”

I felt my eyebrows lift into my hairline. “I don’t understand.”

“I told Mr. Perrington to fuck off,” she said, “just because this – “ she gestured around her, “was a better alternative.”

“To what?” Dorian dared to ask.

Lysandra’s eyes went misty as she replied, “To being home.”

Dorian nodded, understandingly. He watched her as she collected her thoughts.

“They’ve never laid their hands on me,” she answered his unspoken question. “They don’t pretend I exist long enough to do that, or anything else.”

None of us knew what to say, so we remained quiet while a slow tear slid down her cheek. “They ignore me. They never wanted a child, so they pretend like they don’t have one.”

Aedion scooted his chair closer to hers, and laid a gentle hand on her lap. She gladly accepted it, her fingers quickly intertwining with his.

As soon as I got a minute alone with him, I was going to ask him a million questions about that.

“I understand that,” I told her, but she was not impressed.

“What do you know about feeling ignored?” she snapped, and I supposed I deserved it.

I didn’t want to tell them why I was there. I was not proud of it, and no one knew why. Well, I suppose everyone knew why, but they didn’t know the truth beneath it.

“More than you’d think,” I assured her, but she only scoffed.

“Please,” she rolled her eyes, as she dried them with the sleeves of her baggy cardigan. “People in this school praise you when you breathe.”

Having to convince myself not to get mad, I only nodded. “Okay. Fine. Perhaps Aedion can convince you then that the spotlight is not a glorious place to be.”

Aedion looked uncomfortable. I had put him on the spot. I had challenged him: her, or me, your family and best friend.

Something in Lysandra changed, though, because her hate and anger had dissipated as she looked behind her, to Aedion. She knew more about him than I thought she did.

“Rowan and I have something in common, it seems.”

Rowan just glanced at my cousin, a curious expression lightening the hard lines on his face.

“I also threw my fair share of punches to get in here.”

I had heard the rumors, but when I has asked him about the incident the night before, he didn’t want to talk about it.

“There had been rumors floating around, which I’m sure some of you have heard,” Aedion began, scratching the back of his head, “about my sexuality. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never been ashamed of who I am. I’m not very outspoken about where I stand, but I’ve never denied it. I have been with both boys and girls, I am attracted to both……..on Wednesday, I went to the locker room after school to change for conditioning, and every one stopped. The guys started hiding their chests, and scurrying out of the showers…..Everyone went quiet, watching me. When I had asked Galan why, he had said that there have been rumors spreading. People were saying I was gay. I addressed it, of course, and told them all the truth. When I was done, Cain pushed me against my locker, called me a….a slur that I will not repeat.” Aedion stopped, and faced Rowan. “I did a little bit more than break his nose.”

“An ambulance came.” Dorian blinked, watching Aedion in awe. “You knocked him out.”

Aedion nodded. “I am not proud…..but, I do not regret it either.”

“You shouldn’t,” Rowan spoke up, giving Aedion a clap on his back. “He deserved it. You shouldn’t have to go through that for being who you are. No one should.”

Aedion smiled, genuinely, then looked at me as if to say, Sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.

I gave a subtle shake of my head, and an encouraging smile in return. I knew what had happened, I had pieced together enough of the information.

My heart ached for what he had to endure.

Cain was an asshole, though, the whole school knew that.

“The spotlight is not always good,” Aedion agreed with my statement from earlier. “It is not always rewarding. I only wanted to play football, and to hopefully one day get a scholarship, but unfortunately, it came with a whole lot of hell, too.”

“What happened to you, then?” Lysandra asked, and it took me a moment to realize she was talking to me. “Why are you here?”

Four sets of eyes drifted in my direction, and I blatantly stared at the floor.

“You were on the roof,” she said, when I didn’t answer.

I nodded.

“There’s more though, isn’t there?”

It was Dorian who had spoken, but it was not him who I looked at.

It was Rowan.

A soft pain remained lost in those green eyes, as if he had a hunch that something awful was about to be said. Without warning, he brushed back a lock of my hair, and rested it softly behind my ear.

“I was on the roof,” I confirmed, “but it was not because I was painting a penis across the bricks, or whatever it is that they’re saying.”

Aedion’s whisper found me from across the aisle. “Why were you there, then?”

I met his gaze as my voice broke. “I wanted to jump.”

The reality of my words settled the room into a deep silence, and that mist returned to Lysandra’s eyes as she nodded. Not because she was hoping I had, but because she knew. She understood. She had felt the same pain before. “Why?”

It was a simple enough question, but the answer was anything but. Dread and agony filled my soul as I remembered that I had never told anyone any of it before. Not even Aedion, whom I loved more than most.

That’s not true. I had told Rowan, those years before. He knew my life. He knew my pain. He had missed some bits and pieces, but he knew.

It was because of that that his hand rested gingerly on top of mine, and silver lined his eyes as he absorbed my words.

My eyes stayed on Lysandra, though. They did not stray from hers. “I would judge me too, if I were you. I would think I am a bitch, and I am, for some of the things I’ve done. I am not proud of who I am. I am not proud of who I have become. I once had a greater destination than this, than befriending Kaltain and not standing up for myself before I got in too deep. This girl….The girl that roams these halls, though, that is not who I am. It is not who I want to be, and yet, I cannot break ties from her, from that girl. I can’t stop her. I am controlled by the spirit that lives in me within the halls of this place, and I don’t know how to make it stop.” A single tear slid down my cheek as I shoved the words out of my gritted teeth. For the first time in two years, I let my walls down. And as I did, and the salty taste of my broken heart fell through my lips, and I let the tears fall freely, I did not blink or shriek back as I kept my eyes on Lysandra’s. “Then I go home…..I go home, which is a place meant to be my safe haven, and I’m still scared. Although I am free to be me, I can’t concentrate because I’m terrified that he will be in a bad mood, and that he will find something to blame on me.” I felt Dorian’s fingers brush along my other hand. They held me, Rowan and Dorian, as I told my story. They held me up so that I would not crumble, so that I could face my demons, publicly. “Sometimes I hate my parents for dying when I was little, even though they couldn’t control it. Sometimes, though, I just can’t help it. I hate them for giving me this life, for giving me to him.” Arobynn. I couldn’t even force myself to say his name out loud. “I have no excuses for the things that I have done. I have no excuses for being a bitch, none that make up for the pain I have caused, anyway. But, my life is not ideal. I am a fake. I pretend, every day, that I am living the fucking dream……but I walk through these halls, and although everyone knows my name, I feel so damn alone. I feel lost. I feel numb. So, I walked up to the roof. I stood on the edge, at the ground underneath, and debated whether it was a better end. If I would have felt less pain that way…….I couldn’t, though. I got down, my knees and hands shaking, and I collapsed. I remembered the good things, the memories that I have kept within my heart to dwell on in times like that…..and although I am not happy now, that I have scars and pain that I have hidden for far too long, that I pretend to be someone I am not every day….It will not last. I will heal. There are better days ahead of me. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and I will keep going until I reach it. I will not give up. I will not be afraid.”

No one said a word. They didn’t have to, I could read it on their faces. The soft sob that I let fall from me was slowing down, as the weight that I was carrying rose from my shoulders. I felt lighter. I felt safer. My breathing was heavy, as my eyes remained on Lysandra’s, unblinking.

“Perhaps we are not all that different after all, Princess.” She gave me a small smile, in which I returned. “You are worth it. Your life is worth it.”

“So is yours,” I said. Then, “I’m sorry your parents are dicks.”

“That’s what I said,” Aedion said from behind her, easing the tension that had surrounded us.

I began to laugh, and I didn’t know why, but the others joined me. We were five kids who came into this room hating one another….All except for Aedion and myself. We were not all that different, though, and I never would have known. We were too quick to judge.

Yet, as I sat in that circle, in a group of five, with strangers, and those from different lifetimes, I had never felt so at home.

I had never felt so safe.

“So, what now?” Dorian asked.

I looked at Lysandra and smiled. I felt then as if we could be great friends.

She nodded, as if sensing my thought, and leaned back into Aedion. “We make a toast. To self-worth, to the future, and to the light at the end of the tunnel.”

@bigbangt1963  @throne-of-ashes-and-beauty @sarah-akhavan@gcarroll@kortanna@nightquart @notjustanyoldfangirl @superhuman-imagines@iwouldtrusthagridwithmylife@callmeladytypewriter@saybell1994@2-bookmaster-2 @eye-of-elena @shadowsinger-fireheart@inejcalmarekaz@viridiantopaz @books-are-friends-not-objects@raven-the-dark-titan@theantisocialbookworm310@whydoyoucareaboutmyusername

#kaq #kinds and queens tog #throne of glass #empire of storms #fanfic #fanfiction #my writing #rowaelin #rowan a #aelin #rowan #manon #dorian #chaol #lysandra #aedion #lysaedion

[scribomaniac]

One Step Ahead, Chapter 5: Pool Sticks and Road Trips

Rowan knew that letting Celaena out of his sight was not an option. If he lost her now, he'd most likely never be able to find her again. Not on his terms, at least. And he couldn't go back to Maeve—or Arobynn, for that matter—empty handed. So after the golden haired assassin left the bakery, he waited sixty seconds before following her into the main streets of Rifthold. This part was easy. Now that he had her scent, Rowan could follow Celaena to the ends of the world. He was all but invisible, and would be harder to catch than the wind in one's fingers. He stayed three cars behind at all times, and, when possible, two lanes to the left. He trailed her down street after street, his green eyes never wavering from his target. Celaena was slippery, he knew that first hand. He wasn't going to let her slip away from him again.

Not taking his eyes off her generic blue car, Rowan pulled out his cell phone and called Vaughan. The white haired man knew when he needed help, and Vaughan was the best researcher in Erilea. He could dig up the dirt on anyone. Politicians hates him, lords of the underworld loved him, and Maeve owned him. Jaw twitching at the thought, Rowan waited patiently as the phone rang and rang. That wasn't unusual for the dark haired man, though. Vaughan was a man of few words, and often screened his calls to limit social interaction. Eventually the ringing stopped and a female automated voice told him to leave a message, “Vaughan,” he greeted, merging into the right lane when he noticed Celaena heading towards the off ramp. “It's me. I need help with some research. I need you to look into the Galathynius family—and their murders—ASAP. I need everything you can find. Thanks,” he hung up. Rowan wouldn't consider himself a man of few words, especially not compared to Vaughan, but he wasn't one to beat around the bush and waste his and Vaughan's time, either. “Where are you going?” He wondered aloud to himself as he followed Celaena down Main Street, past the Rifthold police department, fire department, justice building . . . all the way down to city hall. The tall, imperious building was one of a kind, and almost entirely made of stained glass. The mayor had sanctioned the extremely expensive renovation of the building immediately after he won his first election several decades ago. Rowan shook his head the the monstrosity, wondering how much, exactly, it had cost the city to build.

The cleaner didn't have time to put much more thought into the price of the building, though, when Celaena's car pulled into city hall's parking lot. Frowning, Rowan couldn't for the life of him fathom why Adarlan's Assassin would willingly walk into such a place. Instead of following her into the parking lot, the white haired male turned right and parked on the street two blocks away from his destination. Running his fingers through his hair, Rowan took in a deep breath before stepping out of his car and back tracking towards Celaena. Walking into city hall, Rowan found a security guard and asked, “Excuse me, my wife came in here just before me while I was parking the car, but I can't seem to find her,” he furrowed his brow and scoffed good naturedly. “Women, right? You take your eye of them for one second and—” he trailed off, rolling his eyes for extra measure and the security guard chuckled.

“Yeah, know what you mean. What's she look like?”

“Long blonde hair, white, about yay high,” he raised his hand to his shoulder before adding, “and gorgeous enough to make a model jealous.”

“A model, huh?” The guard scratched his chin, “Yeah, I saw someone that fit that description. Pretty little thing. She went down that way,” he jerked his thumb down the stair well. “Probably wanted to see the old vault—it's open to visitors during business hours, y'know?”

“I didn't know,” he did, but he decided he'd go with the wide eyed tourist look. “Thanks for you help.” Rowan headed down the stairs, smirking to himself. He knew it had been a gamble, parking so far away and giving Celaena such a head start in such a large building, but he also knew that nine out of ten secutity guards were men, and that Celaena was way too attractive to go anywhere without attracting the male gaze. That's what she got, he supposed, for being hotter than the freaking sun. He stepped off the stair well and looked down the hall in the direction of the vault, then walked in the opposite direction. The vault—an empty one, especially—held no interest for the assassin. There must have been something else drawing her down here. The sound of barking laughter, just barely audible, made his ears twitch, and gave Rowan a direction to start his search. Just a few hundred yards away was a solid oak door, muffling the sound of a woman and two men. Not bothering to knock, Rowan swung the door open and narrowed his eyes on a strange sight. Celaena—Adarlan's Assassin, Celaena—was standing off to the side of the room, a pool stick in her hand, looking for just a brief moment like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar before she quickly schooled her features. And on the other side of the pool table stood two men. Both looking at him with wide eyes and one with a mouth agape. Both whose presence was more shocking than the next. Closer to Celaena stood Chaol Westfall, son of the police commissioner and rising star of the police department, and closest to Rowan stood Dorian Havilliard, son of the mayor himself.

“Well, well, well,” Rowan growled, “what an interesting gathering of friends.”

Westfall moved fast—faster than Rowan would've given him credit for—and drew his gun, training it on the spot between Rowan's eyes. “Hands on your head, Whitethorn,” he ordered.

Barring his teeth at the younger man, Rowan slowly began to raise his hands, acting the part of a submissive criminal, ready to give himself in. Chaol's brown eyes stayed glued to his form, but he wasn't infallible, Rowan knew that was true of everyone, and he had to blink sometime.

There.

Rowan didn't hesitate. Diving to the ground, he ducked into a somersault well beneath the gun's range, and as he sprung out of his gymnastic movement, lunged for Westfall's waist, tackling him to the ground. Placing one hand around the police officer's neck, and the other around the wrist which held the gun, the Cleaner squeezed one and used the other to break the grip around the weapon. Forcing his knee into the man's sternum, Rowan secured the gun and placed it against Westfall's forehead. “Try that again,” he warned, leaning in, “and the next time you blink, your eyes will stay closed.”

Something hard and thin slapped against the side of his jaw. Flicking his eyes to his left, he saw Celaena standing over him, pool stick in hand and poised to strike. If it were anynone else, he'd have laughed outright—a pool stick, really?—but this was Adarlan's Assassin. And if Rowan could think of at least three ways to kill someone with that pool stick, he knew without a doubt that she had already thought of five. And considering the hard line of her mouth, and the fire burning behind her eyes, the white haired man knew she also wouldn't give him a second chance. “Put the rutting gun on the floor and get off my friend,” she hissed.

Running his tongue over his teeth, Rowan sighed and nodded. If it were anyone else, he thought. Or if he had just a bit more room between them. But it wasn't and he didn't, so he dropped the gun and peeled himself off the red faced police officer. “That's what I get for being distracted by a gun . . . I should have gone after the real weapon first,” he said, raising a brow at the assassin and adding a charming smirk to complete the look. “Interesting company you keep, Celaena.”

“I could say the same thing about you,” she never took her eyes off him—never blinked, either, damn her—and kept the pool stick trained on his chest. Her brow rose, mirroring his, “Didn't know you and Arobynn were so chummy.”

His smirk fell, “How'd you—?”

Her eyes glinted, “A little birdie told me. Now,” she finally relented and let the pool stick's point fall to the floor. Rowan knew better than to assume that meant she let her guard down, she could still bring him to his knees in less than three moves if she wanted. Westfall coughed to the side of them, but neither of their gazes wavered. “Why are you following me?”

“I told you,” he shrugged, forcing his muscles to relax so as to seem casual. It wouldn't work of Celaena, but if he could get one of the other two to let their guards down, step just a bit too close, the winds could easily change to his favor. “I need that ring.”

“Oh, yes,” her upper lip curled, “for Maeve.”

“I don't mean to interrupt,” a gentle voice called from behind Rowan and both criminals blinked. Then, continued their silent conversation from before.

Truce? Celaena's eyes asked warily.

Rowan nodded slowly, Truce.

“Or, well, actually I do,” that voice continued, much more forcefully and with a bit of bite than Rowan hadn't expected from the mayor's son. Both Rowan and Celaena turned to give the dark haired man their full attention. “Forgive me Celaena,” Dorian said in a tone that was not at all apologetic. “but will you be needing Chaol or my assistance now that our game has been interrupted? Or are we free to leave?”

Scoffing, Celaena rolled her eyes and cocked her hip, “Shut up, Dorian.” She said it like it answered his question. Her eyes flickered to Wesfall, whose neck was slowly turning a dark shade of purple, and her eyes softened. Rowan's nostrils flared dangerously, and he suddenly felt the impulse to throttle him all over again. Swallowing down the sudden rush of anger, Rowan tuned back in to the conversation. “Get out of here, you two. I'll call you both later.”

Dorian nodded, and took a step towards the door, the paused and took a deep breath before looking into Rowan's green eyes. “Just so you know,” he said in a low voice, “Celeana borrowed a book from me, and if anything happens to her and I never see that book again . . . I'll be very put out.” Havilliard turned heel and walked out of the room with his chin held high. Rowan supposed that was how politicians delivered threats. How strange. Westfall was more direct, though less articulate, as he left the room, making sure to check the white haired man's shoulder on his way out.

Once the door closed behind them, Rowan turned back around to find Aelin staring at him with her tongue sticking out. Snorting, Rowan shook his head, “That's attractive.”

Shrugging, she replied, “I know.” Rolling her neck, she tossed the pool stick onto the velvety green table top and sighed, “You're never going to give up on this ring thing, are you?” Rowan raised a brow. He didn't need to justify that question with an actual answer. Glaring at him, Celaena growled out, “Fine. I'll give it to you.” Rowan felt his shoulder slump in relief, but then she started talking again and all the tension that just bled out of him was drawn back, “On one condition.”

Holding back a groan, the Cleaner asked, “Which is?” He was really getting tired of doing everyone's dirty work. First the ring, then the necklace—which he still hadn't brought up to her—now this. His life was turning into a joke.

Smiling coyly at him, Celaena took a step closer and placed a hand on his chest, making his heart stutter traitorously, “Come away with me.”

“What?” He breathed out, sure he had heard her incorrectly.

“Come away with me. I'm going out of town for a few days and I want you to come along.”

All Rowan could think to ask was, “Why?”

“You're easy on the eyes,” she shrugged. He leveled her with a look and she grinned mischievously, “And I find road trips boring.”

“So bring one of your law abiding friends,” he jerked his chin towards the door that Westfall and Havilliard exited out of just minutes ago. “Or someone less likely to kill you in your sleep.”

“See? You're making things more exciting already,” she poked his chest, as if that settled everything. Then she held out her hand, “So, what do you say? We have a deal?”

“A few days on the road with you, and you'll willingly hand over the ring? No trickery?” Rowan clarified. Celaena nodded, her smile never wavering. Sighing and realizing this would be the path with least resistance, he nodded and shook his head. “Fine, we have a deal.”

#tog #rowaelin #throne of glass #rowan whitethorn #aelin galathynius #celaena sardothian #one step ahead #tog fanfic #dorian havilliard #chaol westfall #let me know what you thought!

[mytileneve]

11 Questions Tag - Part III

Thanks to the lovely @starzablaze @captain-timetraveldreamer @readinglikewildfire  for tagging me!

1. Favorite smell? Cinnamon 2. Music preferences, and recs, if any. I have really eclectic music tastes and like a tonne of stuff. 3. If you were a famous personality, what would your most celebrated quote be? I don’t tend to remember the memorable stuff I say 😂 4. Favorite weather and favorite season. 15-20 degrees Celsius and Spring 5. Favorite beverage? Tea! (yorkshire tea) 6. Name 5 of your hobbies. Traveling, writing, bullet journaling and regular journaling, people-watching and reading of course. 7. What do you do when you’re sad or royally pissed? I answered this question for sad in Part II so I’ll just say what I do when I’m pissed. I don’t get angry that easily but when I do I need to vent because I’m hate confrontations and I’d always rather calm myself down then start fights. 8. Ideal s/o Intelligent, kind, caring, honest, funny and thoughtful. 9. Moon or stars? Why? Stars because you can almost always seen the moon but the seeing the stars is more special. Also, there’s a meteor shower (The Perseids) every year for a few days around the time of my birthday so every single year since I was little I’ve sat and watched the shooting stars on my birthday with my friends or parents and made a bunch of additional birthday wishes so I’ve always loved the stars. 10. When did you join Tumblr and why? Ages ago! Probably 5-6 years ago I don’t even remember. I had an aesthetic blog first and then got into fandom and just tried out loads of things. I started posting on this blog in March of this year though because I had the biggest book hangover after reading ACOMAF and knew I had to delve into the depths of Tumblr for fanart and fic because I was already trash  11. Eye and hair color + nature? Eye colour - hazel; Hair colour - silvery white (but my natural hair colour is light brown)

1. Dusk or Dawn and why? Dusk! Dawn kinda creeps up on you really slowly but the sun puts on a real show at twilight and it’s pretty hard to ignore. I sit in silence and watch at least 2 minutes of the sunset almost every single day. 2. Are you a tea or coffee kind of person? Tea 3. A story of a mischief done by you in your childhood. I skipped school when I was 9, before I even knew what skipping school was. I hated English class so I convinced a bunch of my friends not to go to our English class which was our last one for the day. We told the rest of our classmates that they were giving out free toys in the school shop so we could leave without being seen and for some reason they believed us and went except for this one girl who stayed behind, saw us leave and told on us afterwards. When the parent teacher conference happened, the parents of all the other kids who had cut class knew about it but my mum was the only one who had no idea because I never told her. Needless to say she was angry 😂 4. If you were given a wish what would you wish for? To adapt to life in Australia quickly and easily and to have fun on my year abroad before I go back home. 5. What do you wish to change about yourself and the world? I wish to be less harsh and critical and demanding of myself and I wish the world was more kind and empathetic.  6. Outdoor attire preferences?(fancy) As in formal wear? Chiffon, satin or silk are my go to fabrics because they kind of flow really nicely over every curve. I like pretty classic cuts, tight at the waist, flowing down and with more of a plunging neckline.  7. Which book character do you want to be your other half and why? I think either Dorian Havilliard, Cassian or Julian Blackthorn. They are all kind, compassionate, intelligent and loyal. 8. What would you do if you were given a million dollars? I’ve answered this in part I so I’ll just skip it now 9. Favourite colour and eye colour I don’t really have a favourite colour but I’ll say blue and favourite eye colour is blue too. 10. If you had to choose between your family and boyfriend, who would you choose? Family. 11. Favourite TV show and rec Friends, Parks and Rec, the Office, Game of Thrones.

1. Do you have any piercings or tattoos, what are they? I don’t have any tattoos but I have 5 piercings: four lobe piercings, two in each ear and a helix piercing. 2. Who is your style icon? Alexa Chung. Emily Ratajkowski. Jane Birkin. Vanessa Hudgens. Orion Carloto. Kate La Vie. (do yourself a favour and look these last two up on insta because they are so fab!) 3. Are you a night shower or a morning shower person? Night shower. 4. What do you study at school if you are at school? If you’re not at school what do you do instead? I’m at university and I study (broadcast) journalism. 5. Do you speak multiple languages? What are they? I’m fluent in English and Romanian, intermediate in French, can understand a lot of Italian and know a bunch of random words and phrases in so many other languages like Spanish, German or Japanese because I love linguistics so much! 6. What do you like most about where you live? I normally live in the UK but I’ve just moved 2 days ago and I didn’t time to see much of the new country where I live now so I’m going to say what I like best about the UK which is the weather. I bitch and moan about it all the time but as someone who’s lived in places where it gets really hot or really cold, the English weather is pretty decent most of the time. 7. Favorite piece of jewellery, why? My pandora bracelet. I’ve had it for 4 years now and worn it every single day. Every charm has been a gift and it has a special meaning to me. 8.  Whats one random fact about yourself? I get pins and needles in my limbs extremely easily. 9. TOG or ACOTAR? UGH! How can I choose?! ACOTAR just because I’ve read ACOWAR last and it’s more recent and fresh in my mind. 10. Do you like fantasy books with a lot of romance or does it not really matter to you? I love romance so I prefer if the book has loads of romance in it but I don’t read books with a romance element exclusively. 11. Favorite color! I don’t really have one but blue I guess.

I tag: @wpbianca99 @cass-ian @cassianandfenrysaremyboyos @highfaenesta @highlady-casandra @ultimaterowan @ships-and-saints @azrielsiphons

1. If you could only do three of these for the rest of your life which would you choose: reading, writing, dancing, singing, watching TV/films, playing sports, travelling. 2. What’s your most prized possession? 3. What’s one thing everyone should have? 4. How do you unwind after a long day? 5. What are 3 pet peeves of yours? 6. If you don’t like a book do you stop reading it or do you persist in the hopes that it will get better? 7. What’s the most beautiful place you’ve seen? 8. What’s a name you really like that you’d use for a character or future child? 9. What’s one thing you wish you had the courage to do? 10. What’s the nicest compliment you’ve ever received? 11. Have you ever done a random act of kindness or had a stranger do one for you?

#tag

[lonely-little-lovely]

Fight or Flight (Elorcan) pt 2

So this was originally supposed to be two parts- I might do a third, though. We’ll just have to see ;) 

Lorcan was, frankly, surprised he had been invited to Whitethorn's bachelor party. He wasn't even in the wedding party-he and Rowan hadn't been THAT close in a long, long time, and he knew he had been invited out of common courtesy, since Aelin the bitch-queen hated his guts. He wasn't too fond of her, either. Okay, he wasn't fond of her at all. 

   Yet he-and Vaughan, Fenrys and Connall, who weren't in the wedding party either- had been cordially invited to whatever the hell Rowan had planned. Lorcan, thankfully, hadn't seen bridezilla or any of her tittering bridesmaids; undoubtedly because they were already doing whatever Aelin had planned for her bachelorette party. There were only two days until the wedding- it would be easy to avoid her for that long. Tomorrow, he'd rest up from the hangover he planned on procuring, and then only wish her congrats on her big day before he, hopefully, never saw her again. Or at least for a few years. 

    The men in Rowan's wedding party were alright, he supposed- he knew Gavriel, of course, and the best man, his son Aedion. Chaol Westfall was a little pompous, but Lorcan would never see him again so that didn't matter anyways, and Dorian Havilliard was sort of like a puppy dog, but calm enough that he wasn't a problem. That didn't mean Lorcan was having a good time, though. It was barely nine and he already wanted to get hammered enough to forget about the awkwardness in the atmosphere. 

    But at least the tension wasn't between him and anyone else- at least, not yet.    

  "Any particular reason the witch didn't get her ass up here, Dorian?" Aedion drawled.     

 The raven haired man fixed him with a steely gaze, but Gavriel's son didn't back away, even at his father's long suffering sigh, the sigh that used to be reserved for only Fenrys. "Manon," Dorian said pointedly. "Couldn't make it. She sends an incredibly expensive wedding present, though, and we all know that will satisfy Aelin."    

  There were a few chuckles of agreement, but Lorcan was reeling at the name- a name Marion had spoken fondly of on the plane ride there. Shit- no. He was just thinking this up because he hadn't been able to stop thinking about the woman he'd met the day before. Hadn't been able to stop regretting not getting her damn number. Manon must have just been a common name that he'd never heard before.    

  Fenrys groaned from where he and his twin lounged in the leather couch of the private section they'd secured for the time being. "Does that mean her perky little cousin isn't coming either?" He whined. "Gods, what I would GIVE to have another encounter with Asterin-"      

"Don't be a pig, Fenrys," Connall rolled his eyes, grabbing the bottle of brandy Vaughan handed his way.    

  Asterin. Manon. Both names Marion had mentioned. Before he could open his mouth, Fenrys asked the question weighing on his mind for him. "Who exactly is in the wedding party if they aren't?"      

Aedion took a swig straight from one of the bottles and counted off on his fingers, "Lysandra, Aelin's best friend," by the flicker in his eyes, she was something to him, too, but he didn't elaborate, "Evangeline, Lysandra's foster sister, Nesryn Faliq, another friend-" a sly glance in Westfall's direction at that, "And our adoptive sister Elide."     

 Lorcan felt his heart sink just a little bit. No Marion. Perhaps it was just a small world and Marion knew two of Aelin's friends, but not Aelin herself. He poured another glass for himself, again cursing himself for being a prideful idiot and not asking for her damn number. Now he was never going to see her again.  -   

  Aelin got strippers. Of course she did. Elide shook her head fondly as they clambered back into the limo, all of them laughing. She wasn't shocked at all that her sister had gone all out as one of her last days as a 'free woman.' She had made several jokes about being 'put in shackles' in two days, but Elide knew she didn't mean it. She was hopelessly in love with Rowan, and everyone knew it.      

Faintly, Elide felt a little stab of jealousy, but she pushed it off. She wouldn't think about the fact that she'd never, and might not ever, feel the love both her siblings felt. And she definitely didn't think about the super hot stranger she'd met on the airplane.     

 Aelin's phone buzzed and she drunkenly pulled it out, gulping down another glass of champagne. She and Lysandra were already wasted, along with Ansel, who had joined them, and Nesryn was getting there, but Elide had only nursed one beer and one glass of champagne, and didn't plan on drinking any more. Vernon had been a drinker, and an abusive one at that. The blonde gasped, leaning on her and practically shoving the screen in her face, though she was waving it so fast there was no chance of actually reading it.     

 "Dorian texted," she slurred. "They just-hiccup- got to the Sea King. Let's crash it?" Everyone else cheered, so Elide just went with it. She was sure Rowan wouldn't mind his fiance showing up drunk and throwing herself at him.      

They arrived at the Sea King-a bar downtown that they loved to frequent. Rowan wasn't much of a club guy, though Aedion had forced him to go to one strip club-something Aelin wouldn't appreciate in the morning- and Elide was sure he was more than comfortable to end the night at a place he actually knew. Aelin led the charge in her scandalous red dress and hot pink 'I'm the fucking bride' crown that she found just hilarious, and Lysandra and Ansel paraded after her, Elide and Nesryn taking up the rear.     

 It had been a while since she'd been to the Sea King, but Elide knew it well- it was classy, for a sea themed bar. She knew Rowan and her siblings wouldn't go to it probably at all if it wasn't. And the sea embellishes were subtle, too- no obnoxious sea wall paper or tables made out of boat parts, thank the Gods. The bridal party moved towards the back, searching for the men, and Aelin didn't seem apologetic at all as she looked into sections occupied by other people. 

    Elide knew her sister had found Rowan because she very loudly announced, "I'M HERE TO TAKE MY FIANCE HOME." 

    "You're really already hammered?" Aedion complained. "It's barely past midnight!" 

     "And how the hell did you track us down?" A slightly familiar voice-Vaughan she recalled- asked. Someone must have pointed at Dorian, because there were groans of his name. 

     "What?" The Havilliard defended. "It was getting boring." 

     "Are any of you sober?" The voice of Chaol asked, and Nesryn appeared in front of her in the doorway. 

    "Elide is," she said, gesturing backwards with her head. "She's barely had anything to drink." 

    Aedion, Aelin and Rowan knew why she didn't get drunk, but no one else did, and because she didn't want to bring the mood down, she teased, "One of us has to keep track of the rest of-" she trailed off as she entered the section and there was Lorcan, lounging on a leather couch with a glass of some liquor in his hand. 

    Shit, shit, shit. 

    He started at the sight of her before his eyes narrowed, putting two and two together. Nesryn had called her Elide, not Marion. Her cheeks went red at being caught in her lie, and everyone noticed. But they thought she was flustered for a whole other reason. Aelin was too drunk to go all 'protective big sister,' but Rowan and Aedion immediately zeroed their attention in on Lorcan. Fuck. Fuck. FUCK. 

    "I need another damn bottle," he grumbled before he was hoisting himself up gracefully and stalking past her, down the hall to the bar. She waited two seconds, paralyzed, before she hurried after him. Better to deal with him then all of her friends and family. 

    It took her a little longer to get to the bar with her limp, and he was already at the bar, waiting for his bottle, a 50 on the counter in front of him. She slid into the bar stool next to him, and he glanced over, a cutting smile on her face. "Fancy seeing you again, Elide." 

    She sighed, putting her head in her hands. "To be fair, I never thought I'd see you again." 

    He shook his head. "You talk with me for two and a half damn hours about books and music and whether cats or dogs are better, yet you can't tell me your real name? How can I even be sure the rest of the shit you spewed out was real?" 

    "It was," she said roughly before her shoulders sagged slightly and she shook her head. "I'm sorry. I just.. don't trust men easily. And I thought we were only going to dispense with pleasantries, not talk the whole time. I DEFINITELY didn't expect to end up at the same wedding." 

    He studied her for a moment. "You mentioned an abusive uncle..." he paused. "This really isn't any of my business, but... did he..." 

    She knew what he meant. "No," she shook her head. "He never tried that. But there were, uh, a couple of guys who worked for him that almost did." Bile rose in her throat, and she swallowed it down, shrugging a shoulder. "But they didn't, so it's fine." 

    "It's not fine," he said stonily, and how hadn't she noticed how tense he had gotten at the words? 

    "You're right, it's not," she agreed. "But it was years ago." She glanced back towards the hall, half convinced Rowan or Aedion would appear within a few seconds. "You do realize they think we had sex, right?" 

    The grin he flashed her way was predatory. "I like it when you blush." 

    She glared at him half heartedly. "And here I was, about to ask if I could make up being an idiot to you." 

   "I'm listening." 

    She bit her lip. "There's a 24 hour breakfast place down the street.. I mean, if you like breakfast food. And don't want to return back to-" there was a shout followed by what could only be Lysandra's cackling, "whatever that is." 

    He was already pulling back the 50 and withdrawing from the bar. "Breakfast food at midnight with a beautiful woman or watching your sister grind on my former colleague?" He asked, totally smirking when her face flamed red again at 'beautiful woman.' Bastard. "I don't know how I'll ever choose." 

    She withdrew from the bar, too, knowing his answer. "I didn't peg you as the joking type." 

    "To be fair, I've been drinking. And with Fenrys and Aedion all night." 

    "Okay, touche," she allowed, glancing again towards the hall. 

    "They're just going to think we're having sex again." 

    Not that it was any of their business who she slept with, anyways. "I don't care," she tipped her head up defiantly. "I want Belgium waffles." His chuckle chased her out into the night air, and, despite the chill, she felt warm.

#i just realized i talk about breakfast food in like all of my modern day AUs #I just really love breakfast food #elorcan #elorcan fanfiction #elorcan fanfic #Elide Lochan #lorcan salvaterre #elide x lorcan #rowan x aelin #aedion x lysandra #manon x Dorian #chaol x nesryn #aelin ashryver galathynius #rowan whitethorn galathynius #lysandra #aedion ashryver #rowaelin #dorian havilliard #chaol westfall #rowan's cadre

[dawninlatin]

Queen of Peace, chapter 6

A Manorian High School AU

Words: 2167

AO3 Link

Masterlist

Summary: Manon Blackbeak is flawless, untouchable. From the outside at least. Her grandmother pushes her to achieve greatness, and she doesn’t let anyone get too close in fear of being hurt. How can anyone love her when not even her parents could?

Dorian Havilliard has always felt safe and confident around his friends. He might not have the greatest of families, but with Aelin and Chaol by his side, nothing can go wrong. That is until he tries keeping his greatest secret from them.

What will happen when Dorian and Manon gets to know one another? Can two lost souls find their way back together?

And I’ve been taking chances

I’ve been setting myself up for the fall

I’ve been keeping secrets

From my heart and from my soul

-Florence + The Machine, Lover to Lover

Once Saturday arrived, Dorian had almost forgotten about his plans to meet up with Manon and discuss their project. He couldn’t blame himself for forgetting, not when yesterday had been so eventful.

He’d done it. He had come out as bi to Chaol. After months and months of keeping it a secret, of hiding, of hating himself for being unable to just say it, he’d done it. And Chaol’s reaction had been better than he could ever hope for.

There was still a long way to go, he still hadn’t told Aelin, or his family, but he had taken that first, terrifying leap of faith, and that mattered. His father probably wouldn’t have the same reaction as his best friend, but Dorian found himself not caring that much. As long as he had Chaol and Aelin, the latter whom he’d tell the next time he saw her, everything would be fine.

Then there was the case of Manon Blackbeak. Dorian still couldn’t quite believe that she had actually texted him, had actually agreed to meet up with him on a Saturday, of all days, to discuss some English project. Even as he walked through the heavy doors of the communal library, he had to pull up his phone one more time, just to be sure it wasn’t all some figment of his imagination.

But there she was, sitting by one of the many tables, a notebook open in front of her. She was staring straight ahead, looking as if she might stand up and bolt at any moment. Seeing her out of school was…strange, Dorian thought to himself. It felt as if he had entered some brand new, undiscovered territory, as if he had found a window, offering a look at who she really was behind the mask of uncaring coldness.

Walking towards her table, he wiped his sweaty palms on the front of his jacket, trying to calm his thundering heart. You have nothing to be nervous about, he told himself, but he didn’t believe it for a moment. Dorian desperately wanted her to like him. He wanted her to smile and laugh and talk about the things she cared about. He just really wanted to get to know her.

«Hey,» Dorian said as he reached the table, pulling out the chair on the opposite side of Manon, whom he now noticed wasn’t staring at nothing, she was listening to music. And she seemed fairly lost in it. I wonder what she listens to, some voice inside him whispered. «Hey!» he said again, louder this time. That seemed to get her attention. She didn’t greet him back, her pulling out her earbuds and placing them on the table the only sign she even knew he was there.

«What were you listening to?» he asked in a nimble attempt to break the heavy tension, the wooden chair creaking as he sat down.

«Nothing.»

Dorian couldn’t tear his eyes off of her. Even while she was glaring at him, looking as if she wanted to be anywhere but here, there was no denying the fact that she was beautiful. Manon was wearing her usual leather jacket and vintage t-shirt, but her hair was loose, swept over one shoulder, and she wasn’t wearing any make up except for a bright-red lipstick. It somehow made her look younger, softer.

Deciding to play this the usual way, Dorian gave her a once-over, before bringing out his signature smirk. «You look nice today. New lipstick?»

-

«Cut the crap already. I’m not here to make ‘nice’ small-talk or to pretend I actually wanna do this, so let’s just pick a book and get it over with. I have other places to be right now.»

She must have done something really bad, Manon concluded, because some god was punishing her in the most cruel of ways. Dorian Havilliard was sitting across from her, giving her a look that, to her greatest horror, actually made her toes curl. He was handsome, there were no other ways to describe him, with his stupid, pretty blue eyes and his stupid, curly, dark hair. The smart choice would be to stay as far away from his as possible. He brought nothing but trouble.

But you’re not smart, are you? You would have stayed away if you were. You truly are your mother’s daughter.

And it was true, what she’d said. She had other places to be, and coming here today was a risk, one she already regretted. Normally, she spent her Saturdays in the dance studio, honing her already flawless moves. She had to, if she wanted to stay on top, if she wanted to be the very best. Nothing else is good enough. Manon didn’t want to imagine what her punishment would be if her grandmother found out she had been slacking today. Even if this was all for a school project. Good thing the woman was currently out of town.

Her attention shifted back to Dorian as he cleared his throat. «I have been thinking a little, and I think we should do our project on Harry Potter.»

Oh, he had got to be kidding her, Manon thought as she schooled her features to look as unimpressed as possible. Had she been anyone else, she would have laughed at his suggestion, but Manon Blackbeak didn’t laugh. The only emotion she showed was plain, unimpressed boredom. It was simply easier that way. Better to push people away before they got the chance to leave.

Because how could anyone ever want to stay with her, when not even her parents could?

But that trick didn’t work on Dorian. She was just as cruel and cold with him as she was with everyone else, yet he didn’t shy away, didn’t leave her alone. It was why she couldn’t stay away either. He saw something in her that no one else did, something she kept hidden in the very depth of her soul. Him asking her about her music had been enough to unnerve her. She didn’t share her music with anyone, but for a second, she had wanted to tell him, to show him. Dorian threw her off balance, and it terrified her. Not that she would ever admit it.

«It might not be the most traditional of choices, but there are a lot of elements to analyze and discuss, and Mr. Norton wanted us to show independence and originality. And besides, everyone loves Harry Potter once they try it.»

«Isn’t it a children’s book?» Manon asked, and eyebrow raised in question. She didn’t want to be here, and she most definitely didn’t want to read his book.

«Oh, you sweet, innocent muggle,» Dorian drawled. A deadly glare was Manon’s only response to what was clearly some nerdy reference she didn’t get. She did not have the time for silly stories.

There was a glow in his eyes now, a glow she knew all too well, only because she got that very same glow in her own eyes whenever she read about nearly forgotten historical events or some long lost mythology from worlds now turned to dust.

«There is no way I am going to read Harry Potter.»

«Do you have a better suggestion?» As he said that, Dorian looked way too smug for Manon’s liking, but he had a point. She didn’t have a better suggestion.

Deeming her silence a good enough answer, Dorian leaned back in his chair, placing his hands behind his head. «That’s what I thought.»

At this very moment, Manon decided she hated group projects. She hated the lack of control, hated the fact that she had to compromise every damn thing, hated that her grade partly relied on a smirking bastard and his ability to analyze a book. A children’s book at that. This was her senior year, for fuck’s sake, she didn’t have the time for this. She had to focus, had to avoid any distraction, her future depended on it, but Dorian Havilliard and Mr. Norton’s idiotic assignment made that very hard at the moment.

-

Later that night, as Dorian was sitting on his bed, once again reading the opening words of Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone, he couldn’t help but think of how somewhere else in their small town, Manon was discovering this fantastic world for the first time.

He wished he could be with her right now, wished he could see her reactions to all of his favorite scenes. Would she laugh? Would she roll her eyes? Would she fall in love with it as much as he had? Dorian sincerely hoped she would love it, and after today, he had a feeling she was the exact type to get lost in a story.

Their meeting had been very awkward at first, and Dorian had nearly been sure she would get up and leave at some point, but as they had begun planning and discussing their project, they had eased into a natural, flowing conversation, undoubtedly being on the same page when it came to how they wanted to go through with their project.

Then Manon had come up with the idea of comparing fantasy to real life mythology, and it was as if a brand new person had taken her place. While she was explaining how fiction almost always came from real events, and how world history had helped shape most literature, Dorian had gotten lost in the sound of her voice, so eager and confident.

She had almost smiled as she went on and on about ancient legends, her eyes practically glowing, and Dorian had felt like the fucking chosen one himself for being able to witness it. Manon had shown him a glimpse of herself, of who she was under that mask of carefully calculated coldness.

Did the real her look at everything with such passion? Dorian didn’t know, but he was hell-bent on finding out.

-

Manon should have gone to bed by now, but that stupid book was impossible to put down.

She had been right, it was a children’s story, and yet it had sucked her in from the very beginning. Was Dorian lying awake, reading, just like her?

The world was quiet as her eyes hungrily roved over page after page, a single lamp lit in her otherwise dark room. She was all alone, with the exception of Abraxos, who currently lay sprawled on his back by her side.

Asterin had not come home tonight either, and merely thinking about it caused a knot to form in her stomach. She had been lying to her grandmother about it for weeks now, protecting Asterin from the punishment that would surely come if their grandmother ever found out, but Manon didn’t think she could keep up the charade for much longer.

I have done everything for you, to make sure you do not end up like your mother, and yet you have the nerve to lie to me? That ungratefulness will bring you nowhere in life. You are pathetic, weak, worthless-

Manon could feel the sting of a palm against her cheek as she heard her grandmothers voice speak into her mind. She was becoming distracted, especially after today.

Apparently, it wasn’t bad enough that she was lying about her cousin, she had also lied today about her whereabouts. Instead of spending the day training, she had gone to the library to meet a boy. Dorian Havilliard to be specific.

And Manon hated to admit it, but she had enjoyed the time they spent together. They made a good team, the two of them. She had tried her very best to stay cold and disinterested, but planning their project had made her eager. If all went to plan, they were going to nail it.

Then there was Dorian. Manon had been set on not liking him, but talking together was so easy, almost fun. And the time had passed so quickly.

Despite herself, Manon actually wanted to spend more time with him, wanted to keep talking and keep sharing ideas and thoughts.

Friends will get you nowhere in life. They will only hold you back.

Her grandmother was right. She couldn’t let anything distract her. She had to be better. Had to do better. Beginning with getting enough sleep.

Only one more chapter, and then she would put the book away, even if she had decided she wanted to stay at Hogwarts forever.

As Manon kept reading, she reached a scene that was so ridiculous she couldn’t help but let out a rich laugh, the sound echoing through the otherwise empty house. It was so earnest she felt it deep down in her belly.

And although she was smiling, the grin quickly faded away when Manon realized she could not remember the last time she had done so.

A/N: Started making it.

Had a breakdown.

Bon appetite.

Okay, on a more serious note, I did not think continuing this would be so hard, and I am nowhere near happy with how this chapter turned out, but I did try, so A for effort:)

Shortly after I published chapter 5 my mental health reached an all time low, and I found my motivation to be gone. I am doing way better now, and am still determined to finish this, even if it will take a loooong time.

When I started writing again, it seemed my brain had short-curcuited, so I apologize for how bad and out of rhythm this chapter is (what even is English, lol). I understand if you are disappointed, because so am I.

But I want to give a HUGE thank you to everyone who comments and leaves kudos and all that, without you, I never would have picked this story up again...Love u all!!

Peace&Love<3 -Dawninlatin

#throne of glass #sarah j maas #manorian #manon x dorian #manon blackbeak #dorian havilliard #manorian fanfiction #manorian au #throne of glass fanfiction #dawninlatin QoP

[nashville-escort]

🅸 🅷🅰🆅🅴 🅰 🆃🅷🅴🅾🆁🆈 😯😯😯😯

What if Dorian is more powerful than anyone knows or can even imagine?

Think about this....

Dorian is a year maybe two years older than Aelin. Dorian's father, his REAL father, said in QoS that he blocked out magic after Dorian was born to protect Dorian because the Valg feed on magic wielders.

So he had to know his son had magic right? No one even knew the Havilliard line came from Mala and, by extension, Brannon through their daughter Elena. Dorian must have shown signs of great magic when he was younger, like Aelin did.

But no one, not even Chaol, knew that Dorian had magic until HoF when he was nineteen. And Chaol and Dorian spent every second together. And how did Dorian not know he had magic?

I think that Dorian's father did a lot more for his son than people give him credit for. I think that he was powerful enough to wrestle control from the Valg for a second time and like Maeve, I think he did something to make everyone in the castle and around his family forget that Dorian had magic, even Dorian himself. Like we found out in ToD Maeve planted a huge lie in millions of people's heads, making people believe she was a Fae Queen when she really wasn't.

And how could anyone forget about what Nehemiah did? Nehemiah awoke Dorian's power in CoM with magic, a wyrdmark. But why was Dorian's magic asleep for all those years and Aelin's wasn't? I think Dorian's magic is so powerful that it literally had to be kept bound, asleep. And that's saying something, considering how everyone said how powerful Aelin's magic was.

And now, he has this full blown tremendous power that has matured with him yet he hardly knows how to use it. I think there's a lot about Dorian and his family that we do not know. Obviously his father was very powerful, being a birth born direct Havilliard. But what if he was more than that? And what about his mother? What if some all mighty goddess or the Three Faced Goddess herself, pulled a Zeus on Dorian's mother and it was actually her that slept with Dorian's father and conceived Dorian? Or his mother comes some powerful immortal bloodline no one knows about?

I refuse to believe that Dorian is just human.

Maybe a demigod. Dorian is a demigod. An immortal demigod. The most powerful magic wielder in the universe.

I really would love a Dorian series, set after TOG. And not only because I feel like there's alot about Dorian's family that is undiscovered, but we still haven't seen his evolution yet, his rise from the darkness and into the light. Nor have we also seen him build his court, The Shield, yet. The court that will defy the laws of the universe. As one.(the court that I gave him all on my Instagram) And we also haven't seen him rebuild his city and his kingdoms reputation.(all of this is on my Instagram @dorian.light.bringer and @dorianofthefrostfire)

I said many times I'll say it again. There is nothing that makes Aelin Galaynthius better than Dorian Havilliard. Like everyone thinking she's the right choice and she's the only person that can make the world a better place because she's not. Nor is she the only one with the power and determination to do so. In my eyes, Dorian is a far better person than Aelin ever will be, and has more kindness in his pinky finger than Aelin has in her whole body. I'm a young women myself, and I'm not the biggest fan of Aelin. It has nothing to do with jealousy because I would never want to be her in a million years, I just don't like her attitude. She's not classy. Being sassy and confident is one thing. But being borderline rude and disrespectful and arrogant to everyone is another. She's not perfect, and neither is Dorian. But no other character gets their flaws and poor decisions completely looked over and idolized the way she has.

The difference between Dorian and Aelin is Dorian doesn't take his bitterness and anger out on others. Even after everything he's been through he's polite and respectful...and he's kind. He's pure and good and he's everything this word needs more of. That's why Gavin named him his heir(all on my IG) and why I think he deserves the world and the world's beyond it. People that can stay delicate and can love and trust in a world this cruel, deserve everything. Love, fame, power, praise, the whole party mix. And I would give it to him, if I could and will and I would.

Everything that Aelin has, yet she's not even half the person Dorian is, is she?

And the author herself is a thirty something successful women, who is also a feminist. And 99% of her fandom is teenage girls so it would make sense that even though she created this sweet young man, who not only treats women with respect, but he's essentially everything us girls want in a guy, gets overshadowed and downgraded by this beautiful, fierce, strong young queen. It's kind of the same way many Cassandra Clare fans think Alec gets overshadowed by Jace and everyone.

BUT I've already said my thoughts on my theory about Dorian. And I guess it's a wrap for now.

Thoughts anyone?

@worldofsarahjmaas

#dorianhavilliard #throneofglass