Throne of Glass Chapters 37–40 Summary & Analysis

Summary: Chapters 37–40

Chapter 37

Celaena goes with Chaol to the temple for Yulemas services, where they both promptly fall asleep, leaning on each other. Chaol shoves her awake in time for the procession of the gods, a ceremony in which nine blindfolded children walk down the aisle and present nine temple-goers with a token representing a god or goddess. One of the girls stops in front of Celaena and presents her with a golden arrow, symbolic of a blessing from Deanna, goddess of the hunt and protection of the young.

Chapter 38

Celaena has Philippa dress her for the masquerade Yulemas ball, determined to attend in order to keep an eye on Nehemia should she indeed be the root of the evil in the castle. Philippa dresses Celaena in a jaw-dropping gown and helps her convince her guards that she has been invited to the ball by feigning lateness and a rushed departure. One of them, Ress, escorts her to the ball, where she is instantly recognized by Dorian. Dorian is awestruck upon seeing her, but misses his chance to ask her to dance as Chaol takes her hand. Faking politeness at first, Chaol whisks her off to the side, furious that she has come against his orders. She convinces him to let her stay, and spends the following hour watching Nehemia. The princess shows no sign of ill intent, and Celaena regrets suspecting her. They have a short, pained interaction as Nehemia is leaving. Afterwards, Chaol refuses to dance with Celaena, and Dorian appears to take his place and lead her onto the dance floor.

Chapter 39

Dorian is happy as can be dancing with Celaena, but she seems distracted. Chaol watches them dance and is approached by Otho, a courtier looking for information about Lady Lillian. Chaol tells Otho nothing, and leaves after a while longer, unable to watch Dorian and Celaena together.

Kaltain watches Dorian and Celaena dance before she is approached by Duke Perrington. Pushing down her repulsion of Perrington, she feels the need to get rid of Lady Lillian in time to become Dorian’s choice of wife before Perrington can propose to her.

Celaena leaves the dance at three in the morning and is escorted back to her room by Ress. There, she finds Dorian waiting at her doors, and she lets him come inside with her. Once they are alone he kisses her. They kiss for a while until Celaena remembers that he is a Havilliard, making her unsure of what she wants. She draws back and says she wishes to go to bed. They kiss a few more times; he leaves, and she goes out to the balcony, feeling happy.

Dorian walks back to his rooms, resolute in his desire to be with her regardless of the challenges, and Chaol watches Celaena dance on her balcony, unseen, wishing he could be with her.

Chapter 40

Two days before the last test before the duel, Celaena awakes to find Dorian entering her room. Over the course of the conversation that follows, she names her new puppy Fleetfoot, and endures Dorian’s teasing about their kiss the night before, feeling embarrassed for liking it. She teases him back, and goes to get changed after he makes a comment about the scars on her back.

Kaltain is walking through the greenhouse with Duke Perrington. He tells her she seems down, and brings up Dorian and Lady Lillian; Kaltain tells him she doesn’t trust Lillian, and Perrington tells her the truth, that Lillian is actually the infamous assassin, Celaena Sardothien, and she is here to compete for the title of the King’s Champion. Perrington plots with Kaltain, telling her that he will set up an opportunity at the final duel for Kaltain to slip just enough poison into Celaena’s ceremonial wine to cause Celaena to lose control in her duel with Cain. Perrington admits that this is the king’s plan, that both Perrington and the king want Celaena’s death to look like an accident to Dorian. Perrington hints that once Celaena is dead, Dorian will be Kaltain’s for the taking, and Kaltain agrees to do as he says.

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