Throne of Roses

Chapter 16

Aelin and Rowan were both late to breakfast which the children definitely noticed and were constantly asking about their whereabouts looking increasingly worried with every minute. After about thirty minutes one of the smaller children burst into tears demanding to see her Aelin which made the other children worried and soon most of the them were in tears including Aelin's own two kids. Aelin's court were doing their best to calm the children down and stop their crying. This made Rhys relies two things one if anyone ever managed to hurt Aelin Terassen would make them suffer and two despite ordering her around those children truly loved her and would be loyal to her till their last breath.
'What did you do to the poor children.' Rowan asked his court jokingly when he finally came into the dining room. Few of the kids run up to him and hugged him, most stoped crying upon seeing him but some were still in tears.
'Where's Aelin?' A boy about five asked.
'Am here, sorry we were so late but prince Rhoe wouldn't stop crying.' Aelin said holding a little bundle wrapped in blankets in her arms, she walked into the room only after she said her latest son's name. Her statement was met with gasps and soon she was circled by the children all being unusually quiet despite their evident excitement. Those that hugged Aelin were gentle, many asking the royal couple how they felt and when was their new prince born.
'Did you get enough sleep?' Asked one of the older kids half whispering. When Aelin and Rowan did not answer the girl, she ordered them back to bed and some of the others (very gently) pushed them back into the hallway.

Two hours later Rhys and Feyre set out to look for Aelin, when they arrived at the royal chambers they found four of the older kids (two boys and two girls around sixteen) standing outside the door, they gestured for Rhys and Feyre to be quiet but allowed them to get closer.
'Aelin and Rowan are sleeping.' Whispered one of the boys.
'Did they tell you to stand here?' Rhys asked them also whispering. They looked at him as if he grew two more heads.
'No, they told us to go have fun but we don't want anyone interrupting their sleep.' Said one of the girls.
'You love them don't you?' Feyre asked.
'Why wouldn't we? Aelin and Rowan are working hard to keep Terassen happy, safe and wealthy.' Said the first boy.
'Before Aelin became queen the orphanages didn't exist. If your parents died or threw you out you either ended up in a brothel or died begging on the streets. Aelin banned brothels and created orphanages.' Said the other girl, her eyes lined with silver. Feyre feared that she was in a brothel for a while before Aelin was crowned. From the expression on the kids faces Rhys and Feyre knew there was more to why they were so loyal to Aelin.
'You should talk to Lady Elide and Lady Lysandra. They can tell you more about why Terassen is so loyal to our Queen.' Said the girl after a moment.

'What did they tell you?' Asked Elide as Rhys and Feyre we're approaching her. They paused a few steps away, eyebrows raised.
'You went to look for Aelin, the kids are probably still guarding her door and when you came in here you were looking for someone so what did they tell you.' Elide said and Rhys and Feyre realised for the first time how observant the Lady of Perranth was.
'They told us to ask you why Terassen is loyal to Aelin.' Rhys said observing Elide very carefully. Pain washed over her features and she smiled weakly at them.
'Aelin said that you had the power to go into someone's mind, this is not a topic to discuss with so many children around. But since she trusts you and I trust her judgment you can go into my mind and see for yourself.' Elide said and Rhys didn't miss the warning in her voice. He nodded and saw Elide's memories of her Queen, of everything Aelin has done and sacrificed for her people for Terassen, everything Aelin continues to do and sacrifice and will do so for centuries to come.