Wildfire and Stars Eternal

Chapter 42: The Farewell

A/N Ya'll I'm stupid and I forgot that I wanted to write Tessia into the Starfall scene. If you're here and haven't seen the updated version, go back and re-read them! Ok, enjoy!

Honestly, I wasn't sure if I was ready to say goodbye. 

"You know, from what you've told me, time seems to run differently in your world," I told Aelin as we walked through the river-house. "It could be years before we see each other again." 

"Well, the good thing about that is, we're immortal," Aelin said with a smile, poking my arm. "I'm just glad it all worked out to where we can see each other again." She sighed melodramatically and threw an arm across my shoulders. "I'd miss you terribly if we never met again." 

We both fell silent as we walked into the courtyard, where Rowan, Rhys, and the rest of my friends waited. Beside me, Aelin took a deep breath, then released me and walked over to her mate. She turned to face my family, hefting the long dresses in her arms. 

Mor and I had let her keep both of the dresses she'd borrowed. She'd claimed they'd never fit either of us again, anyway, because she'd consumed so many sweets while wearing both that she'd popped the seams at the waist. 

"There's no way you did that to both dresses," Mor had said.

"You underestimate my love of sweets," Aelin had replied, her smile extremely smug. 

I'd never really planned on keeping the dress, anyway. Green wasn't my color. 

At Rowan's side hung a sack he'd borrowed from Cassian. Inside, the tiara Rhys and I had given Aelin rested, along with the painting I'd made her, both wrapped in cloth to protect them. And strapped across Aelin's back was the Illyrian sword she'd claimed after I left it on Hybern. It seemed only fitting she kept it. 

Aelin met Rhys's eyes as I came to stand beside him. "I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you for what you did." Her eyes traveled across all of us, even Cassian, who'd made a full recovery. "All of you."

"Our pleasure, Majesty," Mor said, bowing her head a bit. She inhaled, then darted forward and grabbed Aelin up in a hug. "Oh, you're so annoying, but I'm going to miss you." 

Aelin laughed and hugged her back. "I'll miss you too, Mor." 

Mor released her and looked over her shoulder at Amren. "Don't pretend you won't miss them too, Amren." 

Amren rolled her eyes. "I'll miss having another sane person present in this court." 

"Aw, what a compliment," Aelin said. She looped her arm through Rowan's and beamed up at him. "Did you hear that? She thinks I'm sane." 

"I am speaking of Rowan, of course," Amren drawled, inspecting the fat ruby ring on her finger. Cassian snorted, covering his mouth to stop his laugh as Aelin glared at him. I couldn't help but grin as she handed her dresses to Rowan, then walked over to Cassian and jabbed a finger into his chest. Azriel actually took a step away at her expression.  

"Despite your overall oafish behavior, I'm going to miss you as well." She said. Her gaze shifted to Azriel, who was smiling slightly watching her berate his brother. "And you, even though you pretended to drop me." She spun away from them, nearly smacking Cassian with her golden braid. She took one step back toward Rowan, but then she swiveled on her feet and reeled her arm back. She punched Cassian on his shoulder before he even had time to yell. 

"Ow!!" He complained, grabbing his shoulder and glaring at her. "Oh, sure, Mor gets a hug, I get punched!" 

Aelin stood on her toes and rubbed Cassian's head with the tips of her fingers. "You were the one who complained about getting hurt every time you see me! I'm just here to make sure we don't break that streak." 

Cassian shoved her away, but I caught the smile on his face as she finally turned to Rhys and me. 

"I know it's been said before, but the debt I owe you both..." Aelin inhaled deeply, her eyes shining. "I can never dream to repay it. I hope you both know how grateful I am to you." 

"It's nothing for what you were willing to do for my people, and my family," Rhys replied. To my surprise, he bent at the waist, giving Aelin a swift bow. When he rose, his eyes shone with emotion. "I know we never really spent time together while you were here, but I count you as my friend, Aelin Galathynius." 

Aelin stared at him for a moment, merely smiling. Then she jumped forward and threw her arms around his neck. Rhys laughed and returned her embrace. Aelin turned her head to look at me and extended a hand. 

I smiled and took it, and she jerked me forward into her shared embrace with Rhys. 

"I wish you both every happiness," She whispered so only we could hear. "And I wish you luck with telling your family that Rowan and I knew about the babe before they did." 

I couldn't help but laugh at that. She stepped back, grinning. She squeezed Rhys's shoulder, then turned to me and wrapped her arms around me, resting her chin on my shoulder. 

"I'll see you again, Feyre." She told me. "I don't know when, but I'll be back." She stepped away, her eyes shining as she smiled at me. "Maybe next Starfall. Or maybe I'll pull you all into Terrasen for Yulemas." She laughed, turning to walk back to her mate. "A little kidnapping will really set the holiday mood." 

She turned to face us all one more time, her fingers clenched around Goldryn's hilt at her waist. She met each of our eyes. "I hope to see you all again soon." 

"If you need us, you know where to find us," Rowan said, taking Aelin's hand. Suddenly, he frowned, as if realizing something. "Wait. What happened to the Cauldron's magic?" 

Rhys shrugged. "Drakon and his people took it back to Cretea. Near as we can figure, when Aelin killed Deanna, all the stolen magic was sent back to where it came from. It seems perfectly normal again." 

"We've decided not to question it," Amren sighed. "Be thankful it all turned out alright."

"Oh, believe me," Aelin laughed, holding up her hand and summoning her crackling fire. "I am." She grinned at us all, then looked down at the Wyrdmarks Mor and Azriel had drawn for her. She inhaled sharply. "I suppose this is goodbye, then. For now." 

"For now," I repeated. We all took a step back, giving them some space. Aelin kneeled down and finished the last Wyrdmark, then stepped back, taking her mate's hand again. 

"Moment of truth," Rowan mumbled. There was a collective inhale as we all watched the Wyrdmarks carefully. For one sickening moment, nothing happened. 

Then the marks began to glow, and the portal opened at Rowan and Aelin's feet. Aelin grabbed her dresses from her mate, and met my eyes one last time. 

"Don't be a stranger, Cursebreaker," She said, winking. Then she jumped into the portal, dragging Rowan with her. 

Magical Feyre cosplay by corinne_thorn!!

😭Goodbye, lovely Feysand and Rowaelin interactions. I shall miss writing you.