Celaena responds to Maeve’s whipping of Rowan by seizing control of her fire and wreathing Doranelle in harmless wildfire. She threatens to burn Maeve’s people if pushed, proving that her strength lies not only in power but in control. Celaena then reveals her conclusions about Maeve’s past: Maeve tried to steal the Wyrdkeys, killed Athril when he opposed her, and feared Brannon’s descendants because of their fire.

After extinguishing the flames, Celaena refuses Maeve’s demand for Goldryn, claiming the sword by blood, fire, and darkness. Celaena then opens part of her mind to Maeve and shows a vision Narrok had given her: Aelin ruling from Orynth with the Wyrdkeys, worshipped and feared as a near-divine queen. Maeve believes the vision is a true threat, though Celaena understands it as a warning about what Celaena might become if she kept the keys.

Maeve insists that Rowan still belongs to Maeve, so Celaena reveals the golden ring hidden in Goldryn’s scabbard: Athril’s family ring, which Maeve has sought for millennia. Celaena uses Maeve’s attachment to the ring as leverage, offering it in exchange for Rowan’s release from Maeve’s blood oath. Maeve reluctantly agrees, speaks the formal words, and Rowan sheds blood to complete the breaking of the oath.

Once freed, Rowan immediately kneels before Celaena and offers Celaena his own blood oath. Celaena initially resists because Celaena does not want to enslave Rowan or become that kind of queen, but Rowan argues that the oath will protect Celaena from Maeve and declares, “I claim you, Aelin. To whatever end.” Trusting Rowan and herself, Celaena accepts, and Rowan drinks from Celaena’s wrist, binding himself to Celaena’s court.

Maeve orders everyone out, then vanishes as a white barn owl. Celaena and Rowan flee Doranelle without stopping for Rowan’s belongings and reach a quiet inn miles away. At dawn, Celaena asks Rowan to tattoo Celaena’s scars; as Rowan works, Celaena prays in the Old Language for her parents, uncle, Lady Marion, Nehemia, Sam, her court, and her people. The tattoo turns Celaena’s hidden grief into visible remembrance, ending Celaena’s shame over the dead Celaena has carried alone.