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Could have sworn she felt the there with her, those whom she had loved with her heart of wildfire Whose stories were again inked upon her skin

And as the crown came down, as she braced her head, her neck, her heart, Aelin let her power shine For those who had not

Darrow set the crown upon her head, its weight heavier than she’d thought

Aelin closed her eyes, letting that weight, that burden and gift, settle into her

"Rise," Darrow said, "Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen"

She sed a sob And slowly, her breathing steady despite the heartbeat that threatened to leap out of her chest, Aelin rose

Darrow’s gray eyes were bright "Long h the hall, echoing off the ancient stones and into the gathered city beyond the castle "Hail, Aelin! Queen of Terrasen! "

The sound of it from Rowan’s lips, from Aedion’s, threatened to send her to her knees, but Aelin sestured to the awaiting throne, to those last two steps

She would sit, and the ceremony would be done

But not yet

Aelin turned to the left Toward Aedion And said quietly, but not weakly, "This has been yours from the day you were born, Prince Aedion"

Aedion went still as Aelin pushed back the gauzy sleeve of her gown, exposing her forearm

Aedion’s shoulders shook with the force of his tears

Aelin didn’t fight hers as she asked, lips wobbling, "Will you swear the blood oath to me?"

Aedion just fell to his knees before her

Rowan silently handed her a dagger, but Aelin paused as she held it over her arainst all odds, beyond all hope, you fought for this kingdom For me For these people Will you swear to continue to do so, for as long as you draw breath?"

Aedion’s head bowed as he breathed, "Yes In this life, and in all others, I will serve you And Terrasen"

Aelin smiled at Aedion, at the other side to her fair coin, and sliced open her forear it to him "Then drink, Prince And be welcome"

Gently, Aedion took her arm and set his mouth to her wound

And when he withdrew, her blood on his lips, Aelin smiled down at him "You said you wanted to swear it before the entire world," she said so only he could hear "Well, here you go"

Aedion choked out a laugh and rose, throwing his arhtly before he backed to his place on the other side of the throne

Aelin looked to Darrow, still waiting "Where e?"

The old lord sestured to the throne "The last piece of this cere

Aelin suppressed her sain as she turned to sit

Halted at the sures who poked their heads around the throne rooh that everyone turned to look

"The Little Folk," people h the shadon the aisle, wings rustling and scales gleareenish hands, laid their offering at her feet

A second crown Mab’s crown

Taken fros--wherever they had wound up after the battle With them, it seemed As if they would not let it be lost once et

Aelin picked up the crown they had laid at her feet, gaping toward the s who clustered in the shadows beyond the pews, their dark, wide eyes blinking

"The Faerie Queen of the West," Elide said softly, though all heard

Aelin’s fingers tre to the point of pain, as she surveyed the ancient, gli crown Then looked to the Little Folk "Yes," she said to them "I will serve you, too Until the end of my days"

And Aelin bowed to them then The near-invisible people who had saved her soThe Lord of the North, who had survived, as she had, against all odds Who had never forgotten her She would serve them, as she would serve any citizen of Terrasen

Everyone on the dais bowed, too Then everyone in the throne rooone