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

Chapter 20-Aelin

"Why would I be able to translate it?" I cried as I flung my arms up in the air. There was no way I could possibly know some language from the beginning of time.

"Can we go in the house and talk about it, I think you might be the key to the whole thing," Rhysand said calmly bringing his hands up in a pleading gesture. Azriel and Cassian exchanged a look, Rhysand must not beg very often. I reluctantly nodded, we'd already gone through this much trouble.

We all went inside and gathered around the table in the dining room and Rhysand carefully carried two halves of a large, tattered book into the room. Although they looked old and musty, I could sense the power radiating from it, calling to me.

I took one look at the scrawlings on the first page and said, "there is no way I can read that." Just the look of the black lines swirled across the paper made me shiver, but there was something eerily familiar about the symbols.

"There's no way that this could be translated?" Rhysand asked. I was about to shake my head and crush his hopes when I remembered Nehemia. Her memory crushed me every time I thought about her. I couldn't focus on how she was gone, I had to think; Nehemia had mentioned things about extremely old languages, extremely old magic. Maybe she'd know something about this one, she told me never to contact her again, but it had to be done. For Myriam. If Rowan lost his first child, he would be even more heartbroken, knowing that he could've done something to save her, and I would never forgive myself.

"There may be one way, but it could cost us dearly. This plan may bring hideous monsters into this world, and we may or may not even be able to have the book translated," I said quietly. Rowan and Dorian looked at me with eyes wider than I'd ever seen; they knew what I was implying and they didn't like the idea at all. Dorian had firsthand experience to witness what happened when I opened the portal. Last time, I almost didn't make it out with my life, let alone a child's life. But this won't be last time. I'll be more prepared. This room is filled with skilled warriors, it's nothing we can't handle.

"It's worth a shot," Rhysand said, "what do you have to-"

"You don't understand," I yelled, cutting off his words. My eyes started to water at the thought of seeing Nehemia again, only by doing the one thing she specifically asked me not to do. "If I do this, I will be breaking every law of the universe. And if something goes wrong, I may pay for it dearly," I looked at Rowan as tears slid down my cheeks.

I saw the realization dawn on his face and he said, "no, you can't. I won't let you do this." He came to my side and held both of my hands while pleading, "Aelin please, please don't do this."

"I'm so sorry, Rowan," I stifled the tears that were threatening to fall. He didn't deserve this. Hadn't he been through enough already? If something went wrong and I lost this child, it would rip him to shreds. He'd hate me forever. I should just go home. Go home and leave these people to fend for themselves, I didn't owe them anything anyway. I could go back to the kingdom with Rowan and have this child and everything would be alright, but doing this would save his daughter with his mate. Myriam was the closest thing he had to Lyria. My child couldn't compare with her.

But I knew I had to do it, because I knew deep down that if I were in their position, I'd want any help I could get, no matter the cost.

"Gods, I'm sorry. Everything will be alright and if it doesn't... Please forgive me," I whispered one more time before Rowan stormed out of the house. I saw a flash of light through the door and saw a white-tailed hawk fly away.

I turned to the others and through tears, I saw Dorian and Aedion standing uncomfortably, not knowing what was happening. Lysandra grabbed both of their arms and led them outside as I sat in one of the chairs with my head in my hands. I heard Lysandra tell them about my pregnancy, and what could happen if I went through with this plan. I heard both Aedion and Dorian's sharp intakes of breath and I knew they wouldn't let me get through with this. But they also knew nothing could stop me.

Mor and Feyre had taken seats beside me and were rubbing my arms and murmuring things to me but I couldn't hear them. All I could think about was how devastated Rowan would be if things went awry. He'd blame himself for not trying harder to keep me from doing this. Not only would he hate me, he'd hate himself.

I had to do this, so I wiped my eyes, took out my dagger and said, "Rhysand, give me your hand."