Throne of Glass, #2
Crown of Midnight
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter 7
Overview
Celaena accepts that Elena’s warning cannot be ignored and chooses to use Archer Finn as a possible route to information about the king’s hidden plans. She stages a meeting with Archer at the Willows, rekindling an old acquaintance while inviting him to dinner as part of her investigation.
The encounter also exposes emotional tensions: Archer’s charm affects Celaena, his mention of Sam wounds her, and Chaol’s jealousy reveals his deepening attachment. By the end, Celaena’s mission against Archer becomes intertwined with her search for the king’s power and her complicated bond with Chaol.
Summary
Celaena wakes before dawn with a headache and realizes her meeting with Mort and Elena was real. Though she still believes the world may be beyond saving, Celaena admits that ignoring Elena’s warning about the king’s plans could be fatal. Because Elena only told Celaena to discover the source of the king’s power, not destroy it, Celaena decides to investigate without directly confronting him.
Celaena also decides that Archer Finn may be useful. If Archer is involved with a rebel movement that knows something about the king’s plans, then gaining Archer’s trust could help Celaena learn the truth and find a way to fake Archer’s death. Celaena dresses carefully, summons Chaol, and sets out to stage a seemingly accidental meeting with Archer.
In snowy Rifthold, Celaena and Chaol walk through the fashionable district toward the Willows, the elite tea court where Archer regularly dines. Celaena has brought Chaol to appease his desire to help, but she orders Chaol to stay silent and look harmless. The two banter while waiting outside, and when Archer emerges, Celaena deliberately bumps into Archer on the steps.
Archer recognizes Celaena by the old nickname “Laena,” and both are struck by the change in each other since their youth at the Assassins’ Keep. Archer’s beauty and charm momentarily affect Celaena, while Chaol silently stiffens with jealousy and suspicion. Celaena tells Archer that Chaol knows everything and that she now works for the king after being released from Endovier, watching closely for signs that Archer is afraid because he has rebel secrets to hide.
Archer asks whether Arobynn knows Celaena is back, then offers condolences for Sam and for what happened at Farran’s house. The mention of Sam unsettles Celaena, and she reaches for Chaol’s arm for steadiness. Wanting to end that line of conversation and move her plan forward, Celaena invites Archer to dinner the next night; Archer agrees and gives Celaena his address.
After Archer leaves, Chaol and Celaena walk through the wealthy district in silence. Chaol is troubled by Archer’s intimacy with Celaena, Archer’s nickname for Celaena, and the evidence that Celaena once loved Sam deeply enough to seek revenge. Celaena explains that her history with Archer can help her learn about the rebel movement, then reassures Chaol that she hates being called “Laena,” easing Chaol’s jealousy and restoring their playful closeness.
Who Appears
- Celaena SardothienDecides to investigate the king’s power and approaches Archer to exploit their shared past.
- Chaol WestfallAccompanies Celaena, stays silent during the encounter, and struggles with jealousy over Archer.
- Archer FinnFormer acquaintance from the Assassins’ Keep; charming courtesan whom Celaena targets for information.
- Sam CortlandAbsent but emotionally significant; Archer’s condolences reveal Celaena’s lingering grief.
- ElenaAbsent presence whose warning pushes Celaena to investigate the king’s hidden plans.
- FleetfootCelaena’s dog, briefly present as Celaena wakes and reflects on Elena’s warning.
- Arobynn HamelAbsent figure invoked when Archer asks whether he knows Celaena has returned.