Even two months after the battle, Manon felt sad. Normally two months would barely be a blink of an eye for an immortal, but with the death of the thirteen, nothing made her happy anymore. She could see that Abraxos also missing his girlfriend. He was a smart wyvern, much smarter than the other but to Manon's annoyance he had a strange love for wildflowers. He could spend an entire day just lying in a field of them. This was a tested theory and not something Manon wanted to do anytime soon. It was so boring just lying there next to him as he sunbathed and enjoyed his surroundings. At least the other man in her life, Dorian had a better sense of fun activities most of the time. She couldn't quite understand his passion for reading. Book after book after book. Thinking of Dorian made her feel strange. It was happy and excited and nervous all at the same time. She shouldn't feel this many emotions, she was an Iron-tooth which of the Blackbeak coven. Ahh, but she was also part Crochan, and the last Crochan Queen, the one to bring life back to the Wastes. The last one however could not have been done without het wonderful thirteen. They were really the ones who had fulfilled the prophecy and made the battlefield grow loads of flowers. Their final act of loyalty and friendship towards her, both as friends and subjects to a queen was yielding of their lives to destroy the last which tower. Without them Terrasen and the rest of the resistance against the Valg would have been in vain.

A dark pit opened up in the pits of her stomach threatening to make her relive the events of the war. Her grandmother gone, left Manon in charge of Blackbeak coven with no second. Asterin. Oh, why did Asterin have to yield. Any other which. Why did the thirteen have to do it. Her only friends I this harsh reality of life. Heavens above, even the gods had gone.

Her home the wastes, seemed to be the only thing that had benefited from the conflict. Her mission had originally been to return here and rebuild. That had been an easy task with the rest of the Crochans who had survived the war, helping where they could. The magic wards had been removed almost 2 years ago now so there was that which also helped in the process of rebuilding. Many of the Crochans actually enjoyed living in makeshift tents and sleeping under the stars which made it easier. They had almost finished and had set up a society with as little fighting as possible for a large group of witches.

Before she had left Terrasen after the war, she had told Dorrian that she would stay with him for a while in Adarlan. As a new king of a ruined place with some less than perfect predecessors, it was going to be hard for him to earn the trust of his people. The first thing that had been abolished with the start of his reign had been slavery, by Aelin's request. Manon's last words to Drorian before she had left to come here to the wastes was "I'll miss you Princling". It was time to go back to him, she decided. If a witch could have a mate, then he would be hers. As there had been no evidence as of yet if Dorian would settle and become immortal, it would be her goal to spend every second possible with him, just in case their time together was limited.

Abraxos seemed to know where they where they were going even though Manon had not told him. The journey barely took a day and a half to get to Adarlan, but it seemed like it took forever. Flying so near to the places where the battle took place and going past the tower where she had first met Elide brought back to many sad memories. Elide was in Terrasen with Aelin and had been given her parents land back. Half Blackbeak and half human gave her some advantages, most of which were taken away by that crippled leg of hers, which had not been looked at by a healer for her own 'safety'.

Dorian looked as dashing as she had left him. Brown hair and the radiant blue eyes watching her as if she was his everything.

"High Queen Manon" he bowed, acting formal as he greeted her in front of his court "a pleasure to have you join us. I assure you that you will be welcomed here, and from monarch to another, congratulating in rebuilding so quickly". There would be a much more relaxed environment tonight when it was just them.

"King Dorian" Manon replied, holding back laughter at this ridiculous mortal tradition of formal greetings. You either killed the opposing monarch or you didn't, that was how society should be run. If you didn't get killed at first sight, then take it as a peace offering. "it is a pleasure to meet you again, and I do hope that you have had success in reclaiming your throne since past events."

The courtiers standing next to Dorian looked terrified of her. Previously, her red cape would have been settled on her shoulders telling everyone who she was and giving her an air of confidence. Now, she only had her teeth and nails of iron. Literally. Rumours of something between the two had spread like wildfire but all had been shut down by anyone who was aware of Manon's terrifying past.