Don't mind me, just crying cause I'm re-browsing through the books & realized in Heir of Fire when Aelin/Celaena says:
"Because I am lost," she whispered onto the earth. "And I do not know the way."
It was what she had never been able to tell Nehemia--that for ten years, she had been unsure how to find the way home, because there was no home left.
Her mother does not reply. That decades silent voice, calling her “Fireheart” asking why? Why does she cry? Suddenly just… stops?.. as Rowan enters.
Right after those words, Rowan enters.
Rowan, who calls her Fireheart (same as her mothers voice did when it began speaking to her).
Rowan, whose eyes are pine green, whose hair is silver; same as Terrasen (her homes) colors.
Storm winds and ice crackled against her skin before she registered Rowan sitting down beside her, legs out, palms braced behind him in the moss.
Rowan, who smells like snow; the very smell she recognizes as home.
She raised her head, but didn't bother to wipe her face as she stared across the glittering lake.
Rowan, who she immediately recognizes, who she knows without sight or sound (much like the voice); who she finds in the dark, like a star (a constellation) a compass (like the Lord of the North that always points home) & one that she recognizes just as easily, knowing where to find it in the sky even beyond her blurred tears.
Rowan, who is the embodiment of her home; even then. Soon to be in the Queen of Shadows days (before he even reaches her) she’s reaching for him in the night. And as called in Kingdom of Ash when she is “safe”, when she is finally “home”; in Terrasen or not. Her person that is described as “her way back to the light”… so she is no longer lost. — No, voice answered, because Rowan was the answer.
Yes, she is Evalin’s daughter. But Evalin forsook the Ashryver name by marrying Rhoe, into Terrasen and into House Galathynius.
Let me explain.
In KoA, Elide explains that Lorcan has to be called Lorcan Lochan, because he is marrying her, i.e. into her family. I think this makes Terrasen law pretty clear; the surnames depend not on gender, but on who is marrying into whose family. By this logic, Evalin is no longer an Ashryver or a princess of Wendlyn. The moment Evalin married Rhoe, she became Evalin Galathynius, not Evalin Ashryver Galathynius. Meaning Aelin’s name is Aelin Galathynius, and not Aelin Ashryver Galathynius. Again, this has nothing to do with gender and everything to do with the house in power; if the roles had been reversed (meaning, if Rhoe had married into Wendlyn and into House Ashryver), Evalin would have kept her name and Rhoe would have been called Rhoe Ashryver.
This also applies to Aelin and Rowan’s marriage.
Rowan married into Terrasen and into House Galathynius, just like Evalin. Meaning, he has forsaken the Whitethorn name and his title as Prince of Doranelle in favour of House Galathynius and the title of prince-consort (and not King of Terrasen, as I see the fandom loves to call him). House Galathynius is the house in power, meaning that by marrying into it one forsakes all previous allegiances. So Rowan’s full name is Rowan Galathynius, and not Rowan Whitethorn Galathynius.
Bottom line; Aelin’s full name is Aelin Galathynius, plain and simple. It is not Aelin Ashryver Galathynius, and it is certainly not Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius (which I have no idea how some of you even concluded).
Rowan is such an overprotetive mate and husband to aelin when she's pregnant and once their daughter is born, His heart is completly torn in half and will do anything to protect her
FIND ON A03
-over the nine months Aelin is Pregnant Rowan is super protective of her. he does everything for her and at first she hated it and then apreciate it once she could barely see her feet over her belly.
-they decided they were going to name their child after Aelin's parents. evalin for a girl and Rhoe for a boy. This was Rowans idea to honour her parents and their sacrifice and when he told her she broke down crying.
-The nursery is all set up, painted Terrasen Green with White mountains. Rowan Does everything. He spent all morning putting the crib together. he refused any help, saying that it was his job.
-Rowan accidently put the Crib together wrong and it fell apart. laughing Aelin and everyone else helped put the nursery together. Aedion helping Rowan with the crib. Rowan was a little pissed but was glad for the help.
-Lysandra brought so many gifts Aelin felt so spoiled. Her entire nursery was filled with only the best and newest things for the baby. Including a stuffed toy of a ghost leopard she got customly made. To protect their child.
- Rowan likes to Watch Aelin read by the fire, a hand strocking her severaly swollen belly as she sips tea and reads her book. sometimes, he swears he hears her reading to the baby when she thinks she’s alone. every time it melts his heart, knowing how good of a mom she's going to be.
-one night Rowan wakes up to Aelin standing by the window, looking over Her kingdome.. he asks her what's the matter and she confesses that she is beyoned terrified about being a mother. he hugs her and tells her that they will figure it out together and that she'll never have to do it alone.
-Everyone stays at the castle in orynth a week before Aelins due date that way they wont miss it. Everyone is excited, Especially Aedion Who will be an uncle.
-Rowan and Aelin make Aedion and Lysandra the godparents of their child. Aedion cries and says it will be the biggest honour and will protect the child with his life. Lysandra also cries and hugs Aelin before treating her to a spa day
-Aelin keeps doing work even while heavily pregnant. she says that her kingdome won't wait even if their queen is With child. Rowan insists she slows down but stubbornly she waves him off.
-she waddles all around the castle. The pressure on her back made it hard to walk but still she pushed through. Some days she was in so much pain but still she pushed through.
-She never let anyone see her in pain, even Rowan who asked her all the time how she was feeling. Though he could see past all that and see how much pain she was actually in.
-One day During the middle of the night Aelins water breaks everywhere on their bed.
-Rowan is Imedietly awake, running For Yrene. Everyone else comes rushing out of their rooms at the commotion asking if she's alright.
-Yrene examines her and tells her she still has a while to go. Everyone stops in once and awhile and asks how she is. Rowan stayed by her side the entire time.
- later that afternoon Dorian and Aedion offer to sit with Aelin so Rowan could have a break to go eat something and bathe since he'd been by her side since her water had broken early that morning. He refused, snarling at how they would think he'd leave his mate and Queen while in labour. Aelin tells him it’s alright and that he could go since they still had awhile.
-The labour was slow. Aelin had many painful contractions and each time Rowan was by her side, letting her squeeze his hand. he hated seeing her in pain.
-Rowan used his wind to keep her comfortable and each contraction he damped her face with a wet towel. Constantly reminding her how beautiful she was or what an amazing mother she’ll be.
-it was late evening when Yrene had checked over her and informed them it was almost time for Aelin to start pushing. Rowans heart raced as he held his mate and kissed her on the forhead. telling her, he would never, ever leave her side.
-so Aelin pushed and pushed and pushed. Rowan held her hand through the whole thing. he made sure a breeze constantly covered her so at least through the pain she'd be comfortable.
-Aelin never screamed or showed how much pain she was in. she constanly kept a brave face. Rowan admired her for it, holding her tight through each contraction.
-Finally Yrene Yelled at Aelin for one last push. Focusing all her energy, She gave a large push.
-A large wail filled the room. tears streamed down both Rowan and Aelins face as yrene joyously announced “its a girl! You have a daughter”
-Yrene handed the baby to Rowan as she checked over aelin.
-Rowan sobbed as he observed their child. "She's beautiful" He exclaimed. the baby with White hair like his and the Ashryver eyes like her mother. small pointed ears that were smaller than his finger. chubby little hands and toes. He could stare at her forever and never bore.
-Rowan hands Aelin their daughter. she cries over her daughter and welcomes her into the world. Evalin marion Elentiya Whitethorn Galathynius. each part of her name an important part of her mothers life.
-After the birth, Aelin slept while Rowan rocked their child. He held his tiny daughter in his arms as he sung her lullabies and told her stories about his past.
-Rowan has never loved anything this much in his life. His sleeping wife and mate, their gorgeous daughter who resembled the both of them perfectly.
-when Aelin has the strength to see people she let's them come in, a few at a time.
-Aedion Lysandra and Evangeline went first. Each of them Sobbing as they looked at Their godchild. Lysandra laughs and tells Aelin how spoiled their daughter is going to be and how she will never go a day without knowing love or comfort like Aelin and she experienced. Aedion is speechless, a stream of tears falling down his face as he held his niece and goddaughter. Evangeline Gives Evalin a kiss on the forehead before leaving.
-Next was Elide and Lorcan. Lorcan mainly kept to the back of the room as Elide hogged Evalin, crying when she heard that her middle name was named after her mother. She thanked Them both and Confessed that her mother would have loved to be here, along with Evalin and rhoe. Aelin thanked Elide for everything. She has done. Lorcan clasped Rowan on the back congratulating him.
-Dorian and Manon brough gifts for the baby. A Red and Gold baby blanket. a symbol that their child will always have a place in Adarlan. And Manon gave a beautiful dagger… “just for decoration” Aelin laughed. When they left Aelin swore she heard Dorian stifle his tears.
-chaol and Yrene were last. Yrene gave the babe a full check to make sure she was healthy. Chaol congratulated both of them, a large smile across his face. he told Aelin how glad he was to meet her. he also informed them that he passed the news to nesryn and Sartaq who were away on their honeymoon.
-after all that, finally they had time to themselves. to love and adore and drool over their newborn baby. Evalin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-A year later Evalin is just like her mother. already walking she has her mother's spirit and determintion. She has Rowans lethal calm. when upset she never goes into tantrums but staring at her parents like she wants to murder them.
- her entire family spoils her rotten. She knows that if her mummy and daddy said No, she’s simply go to uncle Aedion and Aunt Lysandra.
-they would sometimes visit Adarlan. Eva loves running around, and playing with her uncle Dorian. The guards all protect her, making sure nothing happens.
-she loves music and some nights the only way she can sleep is if her father sits with her while her mother plays the piano forté. Rowan would stroke her hair as Aelin played beautiful songs.
-her Auntie Lysandra loves dressing her up. she has a special seamstress just for eva, who makes all her gowns custome for her. Like Her mother, Eva loved pretty things. Her auntie spoils her rotten, sometimes too much.
-Her mother still sings her old terrasen lullabies even when she grows older and insists she is to old for songs. But still it never stopped her from falling asleep soundly.
-Evalin inherited Aelins passion for books. For her birthday Her uncle Dorian gifted her so many books that Rowan and Aelin built her,her own small library where she could go and read.
-she also inherited Rowan’s wind power. The first time her power showed she was so scared but Rowan was smiling, his heart secretly breaking as her daughter trembled.
-It has happened in the library, her wind flew all the books off the shelves. It’s scared her because she thought she’d get in trouble. He tells her that she would never get in trouble and teaches her how to use her magic appropriately.
-when Evalin grows old enough she helps people in orynth. her Aunt Yrene teachers her about healing and her parents teach her about her duties as princess of terrasen. they never stifle her or tell her she can't, only that she can.
-she cares about her kingdome deeply and everyone in Terrasen adors princess Evalin marion Elentiya Whitethorn Galathynius daughter of the queen and king of terrasen
what must be wrong with me for my mind to create a scene where Sam is peacefully sitting or reading in the afterlife, only to have Nehemia come running in, waving her hand frantically, he gets up and follows her to where she finds Rohe, Evalin, Marion, and Cal, for Nehemia to say "its bad" and for them all to find where Aelin is in the world saying "it was all borrowed time anyway but I still wished we had more of it"
for them to put all their energy into her fight, to push their love down to her
A Rowaelin fanfic, set if Aelin’s parents had lived and she had met Rowan under normal circumstances, if Erawan and Maeve weren’t threats. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter One
Prologue: The Night Before
The moon was high in the sky as Aelin made her way through the palace courtyard and towards the river that ran beyond. It was well past the time anyone would be out here. She was confident in her abilities at keeping hidden as she strolled down the path and stopped as she reached the waters edge.
In the winter she wouldn’t even hesitate at crossing the river. Terrasen winters were harsh and bitterly cold. Parts of the river where it flowed slowly would freeze over from mid-December until February. But it was September, and that meant the water was running freely; so Aelin had no choice but to jump in and swim quickly across. If it wasn’t for her fire magic that was able to dry her off within seconds, she would hate that crossing more.
She checked behind her, ensuring no one was following and quickly made off into the night.
The walk from the palace into the city itself was not long if you were taking the normal route. For Aelin, she would have to go the long way round; traipsing through thick brush and woodland to reach the edge of the city.
After too many scrapes and close encounters with the ground she saw the distant lights of the city. As she entered the city walls themselves she marvelled at the white stone buildings and the way they glowed in the moonlight, the streetlights flickering in the shadows. It was louder here, the taverns only just opening for the night. A group of Fae stumbled down the street, arm in arm, laughing at each other.
Aelin knew she was privileged, to live in a palace, to have maids and cooks and cleaners. She was happy there, with her family. But sometimes, when she would sneak off to see Sam, she wished she could have a life like this; a life of freedom, to do what she wanted whenever she wanted. The stolen moments with Sam were ones she cherished.
She approached the large store front, a dark wooden sign hanging above the door reading Little Library of Orynth. The real library of Orynth sat above the city, it’s walls protected with magic to ward off any unwanted attention. And whilst Aelin loved that library, she came to find the old librarians there to be too strict, too stuffy, to fully enjoy the books they held.
She had found Sam’s library years ago; when it was not Sam’s library. Her father had taken her there to browse the collection of romance books which were not available elsewhere. Since then, she had come back more times than she could remember.
Sam had always been there, in the shadows of the towering shelves and the dusty books. It hadn’t been until she was eighteen and Sam twenty that they had crossed paths properly. They had bonded over their mutual love for a series of books and had continued from there. It had been two years and every moment she had with Sam was precious.
She gave a few gentle taps on the oak door and waited. It was only a few seconds later when Sam was there, a smile on his face, dust covering his clothes and his hair messy. His classic look.
“You really need a haircut.” She grinned at him and placed a kiss on his cheek.
“And you really need to learn time management.” He kissed her right back and pulled her into the darkened library.
“I was trying to get away sooner, but Aedion was complaining about his new training—“ she trailed off. “You don’t need to hear about Aedion’s boring life.”
She grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled him closer. She took in his scent, old books, leather and a faint hint of lavender, before bringing her lips to his own.
She lost herself in the softness of his lips, the way he caressed her head as she leaned into him. Her hands found his hair and slid through the messy locks.
Sam broke away first, his hand finding her own, and slipping his fingers through hers. “I have a treat for you.”
“I hope it’s chocolate. Kasper has me on a diet.” Kasper was her trainer, and he had put her on a new diet, to try and curb her appetite for sweets.
Sam laughed. “Kasper can try, but we both know you will not be stopped when it comes to chocolate.” He continued walking, up the stairs and into the apartment above the library. It was rare to find somewhere like this in the city. Most buildings would house two or three shops over several stories; people’s homes were found just outside of the city walls, tucked away amongst the foothills of the Staghorns. Sam had been lucky. The old man who had owned this place before him had converted the floors above into a large, airy apartment. The ceilings were high, dark oak beams jutted across the ceilings, the walls a light beige, and the floor an old herringbone design, worn with years of footsteps. There were little touches of Sam dotted around; a painting he had purchased on a trip to the Southern Continent, a large rug which Aelin had bought him for his birthday. Scattered amongst his things were her own. Books, shirts, a hairbrush which perched on the mantle. She could imagine living here with him, and sometimes it hit her that none of this was permanent, that her love with Sam would one day have to end.
“It’s not much, but I found it when I was digging through some old trunks of books I found.”
Aelin snapped away from her thoughts and looked towards Sam who was holding a badly wrapped book. She took it from his hands, turning it over, shaking it to check that it wasn’t, in fact, chocolate.
“What’s the occasion?” She sat on the sofa, tucking her legs beneath her.
“Does there have to be an occasion for me to get the woman I love a gift?” She blushed at the words. It was still felt foreign to her, the concept of love, and the idea that she was in love with Sam and he with her. And every time he said he loved her, it would fill her with a warmth that she couldn’t describe.
She hastily unwrapped the book and her breath caught in her throat. “Sam… this is—“ she opened the cover. “This is too much.”
“I saw it and immediately thought of you. It’s from Eyllwe. I remembered you used to have a friend from there and you had always said—“
“I love it, Sam. Thank you.” She swept her fingers over the patterns and ridges of the leather, admiring the detail in the small book. The fact he had remembered Nehemia, that he had remembered what she had meant to Aelin… her heart swelled.
She didn’t know what to say, so she showed him instead. Slowly peppering kisses along his jaw, lower.
And lower.
He moaned at the feel of her. A sound that sparked something within. The lazy touches became faster as they both raced to take the others clothes off first; which were hastily thrown to the floor, neither caring where they landed. They were wrapped in each other’s embrace, their mouths moving together, Sam’s soft hands caressing her curves leaving warmth wherever he touched. Her breath was heavy as she let Sam pull her across the room, never straying too far from the other.
They were moving towards the bed; groans mixed into the frantic kisses, their touches fevered and rough as they made up for the two weeks apart. But Sam was gentle as he laid her on the mattress, his eyes devouring her. She heated at his touch, as he showed her all the ways he had missed her.
And when they lay there later, Sam’s head on her shoulder, his fingers trailing patterns along her skin, she didn’t think she could want anything more than she did right then.
The two of them dozed on and off, until Aelin’s stomach growled. Sam huffed a laugh at the sound. But neither of them made to move, they stayed wrapped in each others arms for a while longer. Sam was the first to break the silence.
“Run away with me.” Aelin balked at the invitation. Turning her head to look at Sam. He was looking back at her. “I know it’s insane; but just listen…”
He stood from the bed, rummaging to find some pants. Aelin watched his movements as he made around the room gathering up papers and books, before he laid them on the bed in front of her. “I’ve done my research. We could head to the Southern Continent and with the money I have saved and the inheritance from Terrance I can buy us a house with enough land for horses, enough room to raise children. It would be perfect, and the Southern Continent is beautiful, I know you would love it, Aelin.” Of course she would love it. And she was sure she would love the life that Sam was proposing, but in her soul she knew that it was a dream, one that would likely never be able to come true. She hated to ruin the bliss they had been in, hated the look on Sam’s face as he saw her hesitation. She shook her head once, clearing her mind, trying to think of the easiest way to say that his dream would always be a dream. But the words didn’t come.
Sam spoke again, “I know it’s insane. And you would be giving up a lot, I know. But there are other people who can take the throne Aelin.” He took her hands in his, eyes wide with excitement. “People have given it up for less.”
“What of my family, Sam?” Aelin stood then, grabbing the clothes that were strewn across the floor. “I love you Sam; you know that. But it’s one thing for me to be sneaking around with you here in Orynth, but to runaway from here completely?” She shook her head. “I could not do that to my family… to my kingdom.” Sam’s face fell, she saw the defeat in his features. “Is it not enough that we have each other right now?”
“Of course it is. But then what happens when you have to marry, when you have to produce heirs for the throne?” This had been a conversation she had wanted to avoid at all costs. She would be expected to marry, and her family would certainly not let her marry Sam. There was also the other small problem of her immortality. “We pretend that everything is perfect, we have our stolen nights, and we ignore the dark cloud that has been over us since we began this thing.”
“Can we not do this now? Please.” Aelin put on her shoes. “I have to go. Guests are arriving tomorrow and I need some sleep.”
“So we’re not going to talk about this?” He looked so hurt, so devastated at her leaving.
“Not tonight.” She kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you soon.”
She knew that he was tall, and handsome. That his hair was long and brown and his eyes were the blue of the sea, that he was a brave and kind and good, and that she had inherited his stubbornness and temper. The tales her mother painted of him made Aelin imagine him as a prince from a faerie tale.
But Aelin had never met him. Rhoe Galathynius had died mere months before Aelin had been born. But her mother had assured her that he loved her more than life itself, even though the last time he saw her, Aelin had been little more than a gentle bump in her mother’s belly.
They didn’t even have any pictures of him. So Aelin had grown up on second hand memories of her father.
Her mother, Evalin Ashryver, had been a med student when she had met Rhoe just outside of Stornway, a little town far to the south of Varese. She had been on break from school at the time, and the two had fallen in love near instantly. In the twenty years after his death and Aelin’s subsequent birth, she had finished her schooling and gone on to become a renowned surgeon.
When Aelin had turned five, Evalin had packed them up from their home in Varese and moved them across the sea to Orynth. Terrasen had been Rhoe’s homeland, and Evalin told her that they had always planned to move there one day, when things had settled. Being there made her feel like Rhoe was still with them, his presence surrounding them and bringing a peace to her still aching heart.
Aelin couldn’t fault her mother for it; not when it also let her feel closer to the man who had been nothing more than a ghost her entire life.
So Terrasen became their home. And they were happy. For twenty years Aelin was content with only her mother and stories of her faerie tale father.
Until one day, a few weeks after her twentieth birthday, when her mother vanished seemingly into thin air.
