Throne of Glass & A Court of Thorns and Roses: Two Worlds Collide

Chapter 29-Rowan

I rode alongside Aedion for what felt like eternity. Though I knew Rhysand could be trusted, I couldn't ignore the nagging feeling in the back of my mind saying that something was wrong. I couldn't stand the thought of Aelin potentially being in danger when I was so far from her.

I told Aedion to keep up the pace and turned my horse toward the carriage. The others sent me curious glances, but continued on with their conversations.

In a split-second, my horse was whining and falling to the ground. I scrambled to get away from it before I found myself stuck under its heavy body. I shifted the horse to find that it had an arrow piercing its side. It wouldn't stop jerking, so I decided to be merciful and end its pain. I barely noticed the others fly off their horses as well, and use their magic to deflect the incoming arrows. Arrows?

I quickly looked around and saw hundreds of arrows flying from the mountains to the right of us and yelled at everyone to get to safety, then I sprinted to the carriage. I deftly dodged dozens of flaming arrows and I tried my best to use the winds to my advantage and send the arrows away from us, but it was hard when my mind was so distracted. Getting Aelin to safety was the only thing on my mind.

When I yanked open the doors, nearly pulling them off it's hinges, Rhysand was already on his feet, a horrified look on his face. "The King-protect-Feyre," he whispered before she shot out of the carriage.

Aelin tried to run but I knew she wouldn't be able to keep up with the baby, so I grabbed her arm and yelled over the screaming, "stick with me!" I focused on sending the arrows away from all of us, but these arrows were enchanted with some form of magic; they would go in one direction then come barrelling back at us.

Hundreds of arrows were striking the ground right beside us but thank the wyrd, Aelin didn't get shot. I noticed Aelin trying to use the fire on the arrows to her advantage and it semi-successfully worked.

"Rowan you're slowing me down! Let go!" Aelin exclaimed. I let out a frustrated breath, I was trying to protect her and the baby and all she had to say was that I was slowing her down? I let go of her and immediately she made a fire shield around her just like we had practiced. She sent arrows straight back towards where they came from. I tried to do the same with the wind.

We made our way towards the others and I felt a tug on my carranam bond. I glanced at Aelin and nodded. Together, of ice and fire combined, we made a shield all around the group of us. Usually it was my power that felt never ending, like a bottomless well. Aelin was always the one to burn out, to over use her power in a short period of time. But this time, I could feel Aelin's power as much as my own. I wasn't afraid to use it, so I did. Her usually sparse power, was now in it's full glory. I could feel it in what felt like our carranam bond, see it around us, and see in in her gaze. The bond felt different though, like there was an extra cord attached-a stronger cord. It must have been the fact that she was using so much power. It was so great, so vast, I was surprised to say it was almost as powerful as my own.

Feyre was also contributing her powers to our shield and I inclined my head towards her in acknowledgement.

We all ran as fast as we could, but we forgot some of us weren't Fae. I grabbed Dorian and threw him over my shoulder, not gaining any protest. He was feeling a bit sticky, and his breathing was shallow, but it was most likely from all the sweat and running. Lysandra turned into a snow leopard which was nearly as fast as us. I was most surprised to see Aedion keeping up with our speed. His Fae blood truly outshined in his mortal body.

Once we were out of range from the arrows, Rhysand winnowed us to a spot in the woods a few miles away. We stopped to catch our breaths, and I gently put Dorian back down to see him immediately tip over. That's when I noticed his breathing was too shallow. Too shallow when all he had done was lay on my shoulder. My nose tickled with the scent of blood in the air.

"Dorian!" Aelin cried as she outstretched her arms to catch Dorian, who fell over so fast I barely had time to comprehend what was happening. Aelin lowered to the ground cradling Dorian on her lap. I had to fight back the pang of irrelevant jealousy that was surging through me.

"What's wrong?" Mor asked as she came our way from previously talking with Azriel a few steps away. Her expression turned horrified when she saw the state that Dorian was in.

"No. No. Not again. Not again," Aelin muttered over and over, tears spilling down her face. I could see the pure vulnerability in her eyes, and something inside me broke for her. She'd already been through so much, in so little time. Was that the same look she had as she held me, dying?

I bent down on my knees beside her and everyone did the same a few inches away. They still didn't know what was going on. I still didn't know what was going on.

I distantly noticed Aelin rip Dorian's shirt away from his body without even trying. Just under his ribs, was an arrow head pierced into his skin, just below his heart. He probably yanked it away in the commotion without any of us knowing. Stupid boy, did he not know to never to rip out an arrow.

"Dorian, no. No. This can't happen. Dorian keep your eyes open. Don't fall asleep, okay? Listen to my voice. Dorian," Aelin sobbed.

"So beautiful," Dorian whispered as he brought his hand up to touch Aelin's face, which turned red instantaneously. Then he immediately passed out, his heart stopped. I could hear it, and I knew everyone else did too. Aelin choked out a few more sobs, before Dorians wound started to glow. His heart started in an alarming rate all of a sudden.

I observed the wound and found that it was frozen. I touched it and immediately drew my hand back, the ice had started to spread across his body, frost coating his torso.

"Aelin, what's going on?" Feyre asked from behind her.

"His...magic. It's saving him," Aelin breathed out. I sat there, transfixed. I had never seen anything like this before. The ice was slowly wedging the arrow head out of his skin, as if the magic had it's own mind. Once the arrow was out of his skin, the ice glowed so blindingly bright, then it disappeared. Everyone was silent.

"Dorian?" Aelin whispered. Dorian's sapphire eyes shot open and he sat up only to realize he was in Aelin's lap and he scrambled off. He looked around and placed a hand on his abdomen, which was now thawing, water dripping off.

"What happened?" he asked, looking at everyone. I could see the fear in his eyes; he truly didn't remember the last few minutes.

We all looked at each other and I heard Aelin let out an exhausted laugh, joy brightening her eyes. Dorian smiled and everyone else hesitantly shared Aelin's relief. No one spoke for a few moments before Aedion said with a huge grin, "welcome back."

Withoutour horses, we walked a brisk pace until we found ourselves a few miles fromthe King of Hybern's castle.