My take on how Chaol reacted to Celaena when she came out of the mines.

I do not own any of the characters nor the main story. All credit to those go to the lovely Sarah J. Maas. Some of the diolage comes directly out of Throne of Glass.

Chaol hated traveling. It wasn't so much the act of traveling itself, more the fact that there was so many more opportunities for their group to be attacked. Plus it didn't help that he was not looking forward to the destination, nor was he fond of who they were going to see. But they had been traveling for over two weeks, and they had reached the end of their journey. Chaol glanced over at the Crowned Prince. Dorian was looking up at the giant wall of Endovier with a look of dislike on his face. Chaol couldn't blame him; the wall was huge and dead looking, seeming to glance down at the men before it with boredom, as if it had more pressing things to look at on the other side. Chaol had sent a small party ahead of them to inform the overseers of their arrival, and when the doors opened for the prince and his guards, Chaol knew that the party had reached Endovier safely.

Dorian was silent as they passed through the door, but he had been silent for most of the trip. Chaol didn't say anything either as they passed into the mouth of the wall. It was late in the afternoon, and as the party reached the other side of the wall, Chaol could hear the sounds of misery and the crack of a whip, the days work having started a long time ago. Death was everywhere, and the few slaves who were out in the giant yard looked broken and battered, with eyes that were glassed over. Chaol suppressed a shiver. He had no way of knowing if Celaena Sardothien was as broken as the others were.

Celaena. Probably the most notorious assassin in the world. Chaol knew almost nothing about her, only that she had been captured a year ago and had killed more men than Chaol cared to think about.

"Gods, what a shit hole."

Chaol looked over at Dorian, who had a look of disgust on his face. "This… this hell...oh, Gods."

Chaol had to agree. He had imagined Endovier many times on their journey here, but he had never imagined it this grotesque. But however gresume he found the mines, Chaol was here on a mission, and he wouldn't let stray thoughts interrupt their goal.

Their small group was intercepted by four men armed with swords, daggers, and lethal looking crossbows. They surveyed the group, and when their eyes landed on Dorian, all four of them bent into low bows. They exited their bows, and the largest, the leader, got right to business. "Work has been going on for several hours now, and the assassin is in one of the farthest mines. We can get her now, or you can wait till work ends and get cleaned up while you wait."

Dorian smiled. "Lets go with the second option. I could use some rest." The overseer bowed. "Your highness."

Their party dismounted, and Dorian and most of their guard were led to a small house. Chaol stayed behind, wanting to find out as much about the assassin as he could before he met her. Chaol walked toward the large overseer. "Chaol Westfall, Captain of the Royal Guard."

"Benjin Lark, Head Overseer at this death pit." Chaol gave a short laugh as they shook hands. "So… here to rescue the young assassin, are you?" the overseer remarked upon dropping their hands. "Yes. The prince believes that she is needed at the palace." Benjin snorted. "Good luck getting her to do anything." Chaol looked quizzically at the overseer. "Why? Is she broken?" Lark laughed. "Oh, no. Not like most of the slaves, anyway. She's... had her spots, though." Benjin turned to the captain, suddenly very serious. "Don't ever underestimate her. She is the most brutal killing machine I have ever seen, and I live in Endovier. She'll skin you alive if she can, so keep away from her. If I didn't know better, I would say that she's Death, come to judge us all." Chaol knew that Sardothien was an assassin, one of the most feared, but he had thought, hoped, that she would have at least been dampened in the endless mines. "have you seen her in action?" Benjin laughed cruelly. "Oh yes. About… three months after she landed here, she exploded. Killed her overseer and 23 guards. It was total blood shed." Chaol stared at the man in shock. "She… she tried to escape?" he managed to get out.

"If you want to call it one. She never tried to make a break for the doors. Best attempt we've ever seen, though. Usually, escapes only make it three feet. She made it over three hundred. She killed some of my best men, with nothing but two swords. She got a finger tips away from touching the wall. She cut everyone down in her path. I'm surprised she ever got caught and sent here."

23 men? Chaol didn't say anything. He had come to rescue one of the worst criminals in Adarlan, offer her her freedom… he hadn't come to negotiate with a cold-blooded, heartless killer. Although, he didn't know what else he should have expected. At that moment, Chaol wanted nothing more than to grab Dorian and his guards and get the hell out of Endovier. But he couldn't. Dorian needed a champion, and the Prince was determined to have Celaena.

Chaol gave a short nodded to the overseer, made some excuse about needing to see to the prince, and made his way towards the house was small and dark with narrow hallways and small rooms. Chaol walked through it, going up and down its many flights of stairs and was soon familiar with all the exits and routes through it. The walls were thin and easy to hear through. Chaol hoped that would discourage the assassin from trying to escape. After a good half hour of walking through the house, Chaol went to the rooms that had been set aside for the Prince and his guards. Not that they would be staying here, Chaol reminded himself.

Chaol entered the spacious room to find Dorian wiping his face down with a wet towel. "There you are! I was beginning to think that you had fled from the camp." Chaol snorted at Dorian's greeting. "Yes, and leave you here to rot. No, I was simply taking witht the head overseer." Dorian looked up. "Find out anything interesting?" Chaol lend against the wall next to the door. "The overseer says that she's sane, although I want to test that before we take her out of here." Chaol wondered if he should tell Dorian about Sardothien's trip to the wall. He decided against it.

"Has she caused anymore trouble since coming here?" Dorian inquired. "Well, she hasn't stopped her killing, if that's what you mean." Dorian nodded. "I guess I didn't expect her to go quietly. I guess I just hoped that she… I don't know… had some kind of soul or conscious?" Chaol watched his friend struggle with words. "I know what you mean." Chaol said, simply.