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Aelin still had nightmares, and as Rowan repeatedly told her, it was to be expected. She'd be through more than a lifetime of trauma in her short life, her brain had to process it somehow. But she thought she was moving past it; thought she was letting go. It had been 3 years since she took her place as Queen - since the world found peace, and she had been doing so much better, then Rowan had to leave for a training mission and they reared their ugly heads.
She didn't know what was real and what was Maeves doing, but she was free from the shackles for now and would not squander the opportunity. She leaped from whatever Cairn had laid her on and ran.
She moved swiftly, almost splintering the door she shouldered open, coming to a brief stop in a hallway. A small part of her subconscious recognised the place she stood, but she didn't listen to that part of her, too busy trying to find an escape.
Trusting whatever it was that guided her to turn left and run down the long corridor, she ran as fast as she could. Nearing the end, once again it told her to go right. As she ran, she heard a door open and a sob worked its way up her throat, no, no, no, please just a few more minutes , she turned left this time, and then she saw him. He was shirtless and his hair was a mess; he'd probably fought his way to her, but he was there. That meant that Rowan must be nearby and this time she let herself cry.
He signalled to her, to me, and she threw herself at him.
Lorcan felt the unsettled magic flow through the castle, as did Elide who lay beside him. She sat up and sighed sadly, immediately recognising what was happening, "poor Aelin, Rowans departure must be affecting her more than she has shown."
Lorcan ran his hands through his hair. He'd grown closer to the Queen, to his blood-sworn Queen, over the years and he hated to see her suffer. She was his sister now, part of the small circle of people he held close in his heart. Loving Elide had really made him soft; his past self would be disgusting, but new Lorcan revelled in it.
"I have an idea how to calm her hopefully, but there is a small chance it could make her worse," he grimaced.
Elide sighed again, reaching over to clutch his hand, "it's worth a shot, Aelin and Rowan know you'd never intentionally harm or distress her."
"I know, we've come a long way. I'd just hate to make her more distressed."
"You old softy," she smiled gently, "go get her."
Standing, he squeezed Elides hand before withdrawing and heading out to the hallway. He sensed her coming, and rightly assumed the blood oath was leading her to him, to the safety and reality he could offer. It humbled him still to know she trusted him after everything he did to her, to know subconsciously that he was one of her protectors.
Praying that this would work, Lorcan waited for her to turn into this part of the castle. As soon as she did, he signalled to her, to me, like he did three years ago, and it worked. She let out a cry and threw herself to him.
He picked her up and cradled her close to his chest, "ssh," he whispered ever so softly, "I've got you, it's okay. It was just a bad dream. There you go, that's it," he continued to keep him voice low, hoping to slowly draw her out of the nightmare she was trapped it.
Rocking gently where he stood, he continued to whisper to her. He told her the story of her freeing herself, of her leading their friends and armies to victory. He told her of Maeve and Erawan’s demise, and her place as Queen of Terrasen. She calmed as he rocked her, and she slowly started to drift into reality.
After several more minutes she lifted her head to look at him, "Lorcan?", she whispered, her voice scratchy from crying.
He hummed in response, not willing to break the calm silence that had settled over them.
"Thank you for saving me," she squeezed his arm that still held her, "now, and for helping save me back then."
He chuckled quietly and leaned down to place a kiss on her forehead, "you are very welcome, Aelin."
Looking down, he assessed her: he checked her pulse, and was glad to find it was slow and steady. Her breathing had slowed considerably, but it still occasionally shuddered as she worked off the last of the nightmare.
"Come," he whispered, holding her closer, "time to sleep."
She started to protest, knowing she wouldn't be able to go back to bed after that, especially alone.
"No arguing," he said sternly, "you need your rest. Even if you don't fall asleep again, you still need to rest."
Instead of walking the route back to her and Rowans room, he turned and headed for the room he shared with Elide when they visited.
"No complaining, you ensured we all had enough bed space to host the sleepovers you love so dearly. We'll have as many as you need until Rowan returns, which will no doubt be sooner than planned. There you go," he spoke as he walked to the bed and laid her in the middle. Crawling in to his still warm side, he reached a hand across to lay on Aelin's stomach as Elide did the same from her side, "go so sleep sister, we shall chase away those dreams."
Sniffling with the renewed tears gathering in her eyes, Aelin grabbed their hands in her own, keeping them resting on her stomach, "I love you both, so much. The siblings I never thought I'd have, but will cherish in my heart for whatever time I'm deemed worthy to exist in this world, and the next."
Leaning up to peer at them both, Elide smiled that gentle smile of hers, "we love you too."
"We will be with you in the next world," Lorcan whispered, "now rest, we have a big day ahead of us tomorrow."
Aelin sighed, a soft smile on her lips, "I'm telling everyone how soft you are, brother dear."
Lorcan scoffed, "you are a brat, go to sleep or I'll tell Aedion and Chaol that you offered to look after the many children their poor wives bore."
Aelin giggled at his poor attempt of a threat, "as if you'd miss an opportunity to play with the children, they love you every so much."
Before their usual banter could go on, Elide interrupted, "my gods you're worse than the children. How I'll survive in a few months when ours in born, I'll never know."
There was a long silence before a twin yell of, "What?!"