I had this on my drafts so posting my sort of canon compliant jaroden headcanons though you can take many of them as Jaron & Roden headcanons as they work for both shipping and non shipping dynamic.
They sneak out of the castle sometimes and Jaron will take Roden to places he loved to visit as a kid in Drylliad. Of course they both get scolded by Mott later. 🥲
They go to Tarblade together sometimes post series to meet the pirates. The horrible singing of the pirates makes Jaron regret it everytime.
Their new year resolution includes : Next time we fight I will win! And it is both of them saying at the same time. Which is a problem. Lol.
They can argue about silly things making Tobias the mediator. Once they fought so much they talked through Tobias despite being in the same room but it was funny. Poor Tobias though. 😔 (posted an incorrect quotes once.)
If they find a game they would love to compete against each other in it.
Roden has sometimes seen Jaron climbing to the roofs and it's mostly because of his night patrol duties. He makes no mention of it though.
Once they were in Benton on a mission and Roden showed his town to Jaron as well! 💙 they even visited Roden’s old orphanage!
Jaron has been making sure all orphanage in carthya are in good condition so he helped Roden fix his orphanage too! (This is actually a day off in benton fic i posted if you are curious.)
Jaron celebrates the anniversary of the day Roden became his captain and thinks it's worth celebrating though Roden does not. He once invited Roden to his favorite ledge to gaze at the view that day to celebrate the day.
They talked a lot about the past on the ledge. (This was the 730 days fic so not spoiling much.)
Actually Jaron invites Roden to ledges many times. And sometimes he would tease that Roden is slow at climbing leading to them bantering. lol
Since Harlowe told Jaron of Roden's birthday he celebrates it every year. 🥹 also since Roden likes food, Jaron makes sure the cake is the best cake ever.
Roden was too late to realise Sage was Jaron and Jaron teases him about it often.
Also Jaron fell asleep on Roden while on ledge once. (I drew an art of them.)
They do like to pass their free time sword-fighting sometimes. Lol.
Bantering is probably their love language. <3
Roden once carried Jaron like a sack of potatoes when they were on a mission and Jaron didn't want to retreat as Roden wanted him to. (A wip and also frieren and apothecary diaries just made me think of this.)
Jaron and Roden will spend Nila's birthdays with her and she loves to spend her birthday with them too! (It is my Nila birthday fic)
Roden once intentionally lost to Nila in a game and Jaron later realized that. Jaron loves to see this soft side of Roden. 😭 (Roden is soft towards kids. He gave a sword to Fink on his birthday once!)
Roden still feels horrible about many of the things he did in the past sometimes but Jaron reassures him and is willing to forgive him.
In fact Roden felt bad he couldn't do much for Latamer but Jaron reassured Roden that Latamer probably forgave him and would want him to be happy.
Jaron still has nightmares of the war and many of the things he went through in the books and Roden will try to help him in the way he can, reminding him how it's all over and how he trusts jaron to overcome them as well just like he had overcome everything in the past as Roden believes nothing is impossible for Jaron. That's the kind of faith he has on Jaron
Roden always loved doing gunpowder experiments with Jaron but whenever they went wrong he blamed Jaron for them and got worried. Lol.
once on a diplomatic trip to an enemy kingdom they once again staged an argument and enjoyed it. But they would meet each other in secret to discuss plans. ( it is part of a wip I haven't written yet)
Roden won't admit it always but he loves doing crazy stuff with Jaron. Though Jaron knows it.
I just love how they have huge faith in each other to overcome difficult situations and how they would try to motivate each other in trying times. Especially Jaron. He does that more than Roden but I love Jaron’s inspirational words to Roden! 🥹
Roden doesn't like Tobias's romantic poems for Amarinda as much as Jaron doesn't like them. (They both think they are cringe and wouldn't want to be around when Tobias is talking about them.)
Roden often asked Harlowe about Havanila. He feels sad that Havanila died only a year before he got to meet Harlowe. Harlowe says if she lived she would have loved to see Roden too.
It wasn't Roden’s fault but the fact Havanila died from sorrow over Roden’s presumed death hurts Roden.
In a way Roden does understand what Jaron went through as Sage since he was an orphan his whole life. He sometimes thinks how that life must have been more hard for Jaron as he lived in luxury before he became Sage.
Roden can never say no to Nila if she wants to play or spend time with him. (He loves his niece!)
When Darius mentioned about Jaron’s spice cake dream as a kid, (I mentioned it in my Jaron headcanon) Roden was most eager to know about it. In fact he is probably the most eager to know about many of Jaron’s childhood embarrassing stories.
It's not too hard to get Roden involved in a pillow fight or snowball fight. Jaron always provokes him to join it.
Once Jaron and Darius had a pillow fight as siblings but then Fink joined it wanting to have fun as brothers and then the pillow accidentally hit Roden. It was thrown by Jaron and he immediately asked Roden to join and he joined! Tobias got in too thanks to Darius not being sorry for throwing the pillow at him. Amarinda wanted to join them when she found out later for fun. Imogen didn't join as she thought it's too childish and seeing Amarinda's eagerness told her 'not you too.' (Amarinda quietly and sweetly envies the boys for having fun I think considering her life ) Actually Mott was annoyed by the fight too considering the feathers in the room. Poor Errol.
Harlowe doesn't ever lecture but he does talk calmly about what is right and what is wrong and Roden doesn't like it.
He once said Harlowe would lecture him when he did something wrong but Jaron couldn't believe it and Roden explained how Harlowe might be nice to Jaron but in his calm and quiet way can lecture Roden if he needs to.
I think Harlowe sometimes tried to mediate Jaron and Roden arguments or fights. Only Harlowe could do that as they both listen to him! ( considering how nice harlowe is, I think jaron sometimes listen to him.)
In Fink’s birthday once Roden got a swordsmith make a sword for Fink and gifted it to Fink when his older sword was getting smaller for him. This shocked everyone but Roden has a soft spot for kids so it definitely happened!
Roden knew enough of what Jaron went through in the dungeons in the Avenian camp from Harlowe and Tobias who were there later with him.
Also Harlowe sometimes soothe Jaron when he wakes up from tst nightmares, and Harlowe spoke of it to Roden once a little and so he knows how traumatic the war was on Jaron. Roden couldn't comfort Jaron like Harlowe and Mott but he would try in his own ways sometimes to talk with him about it.
He would remind Jaron how he overcame things and won the war so there is no reason to be scared about it. Also Roden trust Jaron enough to overcome his trauma too and he said it once. Roden thinks this is the least Roden could do to help Jaron since Jaron did so much for Roden by giving him second chances and helping him to become the captain when he lacked the confidence.
Roden doesn't try as hard as Jaron to hide his pirate brand. He takes pride in being a pirate and everything that happened in the camp taught him a lesson. Though he knows if people knew Roden is a pirate they might go against him.
Roden had fun doing the fake fight with Jaron. But he was also nervous setting out to take control of Gelyn’s garrison as his soldiers were not listening to him even before then. He knew the battle would be hard if he didn't find his way to be the captain Jaron and Carthya needed him to be.
He didn't lose confidence until later when the soldiers directly told him they don't accept him as their captain and would probably lose the war because of him.
Jaron's words did help him get his confidence back. But then when Jaron had to go to rescue Mott and Imogen, Roden didn't like not being there to help and protect Jaron as the captain of his guard. Yet he swore to himself he would work hard to keep the northern border secure and be the captain Jaron hoped he would be.
When the fake news of Jaron’s death reached Roden and his men, Roden couldn't believe it and wanted to believe he was alive though he felt he was hoping in vain as he knew well Jaron did walk into an obvious trap set up for him. Broken as he was, he knew the war would be over if they didn't fight back.
So Roden took control of his emotions and encouraged his men in their fight as they needed to win the war for Carthya and Roden knew wherever Jaron was he wouldn't want Carthya to be taken over by its enemies.
Roden's encouragement worked and this is actually when Roden earned his position as the captain of his army!
If the king is dead or captured wars are usually over then but the most important reason why war continued was because Roden didn't give in and neither did his men and the carthyan citizens and they all fought back!
Lots of men in the army died in the battles he faced and it hurt him but he knew they had to continue fighting for Carthya so that their sacrifices didn't become meaningless. And that's what he did.
When the Carthyan mothers and daughters wanted to fight in the war, it was Roden who first trusted they could do it and made the some of the other men believe in them. Roden had a lot of respect for women, but he especially respected mothers since Roden grew up as an orphan. 😭
He was relieved to know Jaron was alive from Harlowe. He was happy that his friend and the king he had sworn to protect was still alive and he wouldn't have to fight the war on his own. He also knew now that Jaron is back, he won't let Carthya lose this war as Roden trusted Jaron's strategies even if they looked crazy. ( He did tell Lord Orison that he trusted Jaron to win the war.)
I think Roden’s a TSUNDERE. He acts tough or says he is angry and would hurt you but actually cares and is embarrassed to admit it. ( No one can change my mind about this because he thought Jaron’s the greatest king but won't say it and would only praise about Jaron when he thinks he isn't around. And even the whole trk climax is a proof of it.)
When Roden found out Fink was captured, he felt guilty for he didn't teach Fink how to use a sword no matter how many times he asked. This caused him to swear when the war got over, he would teach Fink swordfighting.
When Jaron went to Falstan Lake, Roden didn't want Jaron to walk into a known trap again but he was with Mott and an army so Roden let him go there and he also believed that Jaron won't let himself be captured again.
When he got captured in the war against Mendenwal's army, Roden did feel he failed as a captain.
It was the first time Roden was in a dungeon and being there in the same place in Farthenwood where Sage was chained in book 1 made Roden realize what Jaron went through back then and even a few days ago when vargan captured him. After all Avenians probably did torture Roden too when he was chained.
He didn't think Jaron would be captured again so seeing Jaron in Farthenwood dungeons surprised him till he later found out why Jaron was there.
Still Roden felt glad to have Jaron there as he knew Jaron could get them out. He still believed despite the situation they were in, Jaron could still win the war! ( which I why he constantly asked Jaron about his plans.)
He didn't ever believe Jaron would surrender, considering how much he knew him since book 1 and how even a broken leg never stopped Jaron in trk, so when Jaron signed the papers Roden could hardly believe it.
As he said he would be the first to follow Jaron to the devil's lair ( which is hell in Carthya) so even if he complained he didn't at all mind standing next to Jaron in the gallows. After all he was brave and he felt there was no one who would be hurt by his death. Also his friend was standing with him and dying together with him wasn't a bad thing.
He was willing to die for Jaron but it might have hurt him that Jaron chose to let Tobias live over Roden. He probably felt that Jaron cared more about Tobias than Roden. ( of course he didn't know that Jaron didn't plan to let him die.)
Knowing he had a father when he was about to die hurt him a lot as he wanted to go to him and spend time with him but he knew he couldn't. He was also glad that Harlowe didn't know this as it would hurt Harlowe watching his son die before him.
Harlowe was still near Roden when he woke up, but Roden didn't tell the truth to Harlowe as he couldn't do it.
It took several days after TST for Roden to reveal the truth to Harlowe. He didn't know how to begin it and he was looking for the right time too. Harlowe was also busy rebuilding Libeth and often remained away from the castle. Jaron did give Roden a little push as he said he had little to do with the reunion.
Harlowe was overjoyed to have his younger son back. Of course it was awkward and hard for Roden to get along with his father whom he didn't know about all these years but slowly they did end up forming a close father-son bonding.
Roden became a much better reader thanks to Harlowe's teaching.
Roden always wanted to join the king's army and that's mostly because of the stories shared by the old carthyan soldier who trained Roden.
Roden sometimes spoke of his dream to the orphanage kids and master Grippings. Roden said that when he would get out of the orphanage he would become a soldier who would join the king's army. Though he didn't expect to rise in rank as he couldn't read. The kids didn't believe it and neither did Grippings.
Roden's only friend in the orphanage of Benton was mostly Latamer because the orphanage kids weren't much friendly with each other and often fought the others for food which was scarce. Latamer was sick so he didn't fight Roden ever.
Though Roden did probably have one other friend besides Latamer.
Roden’s friends in the orphanage weren't really too close. ( I love to imagine latamer and roden being besties but then again roden didn't try much to save latamer when Sage threatened to harm latamer. )
Still Roden and Latamer were good friends. And Latamer's death that day shocked and hurt Roden a lot.
When Cregan tried to brainwash Roden into thinking he could be king, Roden was conflicted as he saw what Cregan did to Latamer but he also wanted to be someone who mattered.
Though before Cregan brainwashed Roden, some part of him definitely wanted to be friends with Sage and even after it, Roden did wish if they could have been friends ( I didn't think initially when I read book 1 but now I think it might be possible. Roden was being nice with sage sometimes. )
In fact a part of Roden did believe Sage was his friend and thought Sage told him the truths. But when Sage was chosen to be prince, Roden felt Sage lied to him when Roden was honest about his wish to be king. To Roden friends don't lie to each other so he did feel Sage only pretended to be his friend and their friendship was a lie which angered him besides the fact Roden didn't become king.
I don't think Roden initially wanted to be friends with Tobias though as he was acting like he was superior to Roden and Sage.
Roden knew pirates are bad and joining them is wrong but he felt Sage tricked him, took his place and also only pretended to be his friend. Also Cregan's words and his anger kind of blinded him. ( I think Roden’s revenge implied that he knew he was doing the wrong thing.)
Roden has a soft spot for kids. Which was why he fell easily for Fink's fake crying trick. 😅 Though Roden wouldn't ever admit it and act tough about it before others. ( specially Jaron and Tobias)
During the jaroden fight in the pirate camp when Jaron said that he thought they were friends and wanted to be his friend, that's when Roden realized that his idea about Sage only pretending to be his friend back then was wrong.
Of course Roden wanted to apologise for all he did and for breaking his leg in anger after their fight when Jaron was unconscious in the hut. But he didn't really know how to start apologising as he knew what he did were horrible things.
He didn't think he deserved forgiveness which was why he really couldn't understand for a very very long time why he was made the captain of the king's guard, a position that is almost as big as the king's.
He couldn't talk to Jaron after seeing him in pain all the way from Tarblade Bay to Libeth because of him. Which was why they probably didn't have a single talk after Jaron’s surgery. ( idk why else jaroden didn't talk post surgery as I thought they would talk.)
They definitely had their first proper talk after returning to Drylliad!
Roden might have felt a bit lost when he first came to the castle because of what he wanted to do before and how things changed and now he is the king's captain.
Tobias explained Roden at some point what had happened after jaroden fight in tunnels in book 1.
Jaron explained the rest, post trk and he said more clearly as to why he had to be Sage to Roden since Roden was still confused about how Sage is also Jaron. ( i did feel in trk it took him a long time to realize it as he refused to believe it even when pirates didn't doubt that Jaron is alive.)
Roden also apologised to Jaron several times for breaking his leg during the time skip. He felt terrible about doing it and often wondered why Jaron didn't just tell anyone the truth. He knew why but still the fact Jaron didn't tell anyone of this always surprised him.
Since the first time Roden met Harlowe though they didn't know about their father-son relationship, Roden did feel the connection sometimes whenever he talked to Harlowe. So did Harlowe!
Tobias had a hard time to get along and be friends with Roden post trk. Even after Jaron explained everything to him.
Roden's men didn't accept him as their captain since day 1 and made it obvious but Roden didn't tell anyone about it so Jaron didn't know it though he suspected it a little. Roden actually wanted to deal with his problems on his own.
He liked the idea of causing explosions with Jaron using gunpowder but when they were about to light the gunpowder he told Jaron to light it as he got the feeling it would certainly get them into trouble.
Of course after seeing the explosion from the first gunpowder experiment that downed several trees and almost started a fire big enough to burn the castle, Roden immediately started arguing with Jaron that it was his idea. As if Roden wasn't willing to do it.😅 His argument was Tobias was right and they should have listened to him when he warned them.
That night when Mercy attacked the castle with the Prozarians and Harlowe got injured, Roden was in despair ( considering how he told Jaron before he left to hurry as they don't have much time. That's the last we heard him speak before he got on page after a long time.)
Roden was almost about to lose his father whom he learned of only a year ago. The fear of becoming an orphan again definitely haunted him during book 5. He didn't even get to spend much time with Harlowe and many of his soldiers also died in the attack. ( I like to imagine some if the soldiers might have become Roden’s friends). So Jaron wasn't the only one in despair. Roden was too!
Roden was forced to call retreat of his men in that situation which he would never do in a normal battle.
He also blamed himself for the attack. He was the captain but yet Mercy escaped his eyes and got inside the castle under the disguise of a sentry.
He knew he couldn't win like this so despite the condition of the castle he had to escape with some of his men who were with him, to make sure they could be safe. He hated leaving behind Tobias and Fink. After what happened to his father, he couldn't afford to lose more of his friends. So he vowed to come back stronger than before and drive the Prozarians out of carthya before he escaped.
He also didn't want to leave behind his injured father but trusted Amarinda and Tobias to take care of him. Though he did tell Tobias desperately that he must make sure Harlowe lives before he left. 😭
At some point Roden did overhear the prozarians discuss that Jaron had the Scope. This was how he might have known that Jaron hid the truth about losing the Scope when Roden asked him about it in Belland last time. Though he couldn't believe it at first but knowing Jaron he knew Jaron probably did bring the Scope and kept it a secret from everyone.
As Roden was feeling guilty about how he let the Prozarions attack the castle, he wasn't really angry with Jaron. He was now used to how Jaron kept secrets. Even if Prozarions might have come to Carthya for the Scope, Roden let them attack the castle which he saw as his own failure as the captain of the guard. He was busy being angry with himself than with Jaron. ( i think it as he never mentioned anything about the Scope after they met again and I am glad he didn't mention it.)
Next day the news of Jaron’s death hurt Roden just as much as it did in tst. He couldn't believe it as it's Jaron who by now had survived many impossible things. The fact that Roden let Prozarians attack the castle in disguise hurt him a lot more now as he felt he was responsible for Jaron's death and as well for what is happening to carthya and what happened to his father. 😭
He knew Carthya was doomed without Jaron so he tried to keep his emotions in check and acted as captain to save Carthya.
At some point he met Darius who escaped when the Prozarians tried to capture him. ( thanks to Mott I suppose) Darius was broken by the news of Jaron’s death too but they both knew Carthya needed to fight against the Prozarians. Darius probably wasn't friends with Roden before but sharing their grief for jaron and combined determination to free Carthya from Prozarians made Roden an Darius friends during that time in book 5 off page.
So Roden and Darius ended up working together to form a counterattack plan. (It was said attacking Prozarians from two different sides was their plan. That's why they came separately with their armies.)
Roden went to Tarblade bay after planning. He planned to get the pirates to carthya as pirates are bound by an oath to answer when a fellow pirate is in need. Roden was also a pirate.
Roden was very angry with how Mercy fooled him and got inside the castle . And it was why he thought Jaron was dead and that harlowe was injured . Which was probably why without thinking he went straight ahead to attack the person who was wearing Mercy's clothes. (Turned out to be Jaron and that moment was so funny. One of the few best moments of book 5.😆)
Roden was overjoyed and definitely couldn't believe his eyes that Jaron was alive. Yes they didn't get much time to talk after their reunion because of the battle around them but Jaron being alive gave Roden confidence that they could win the fight.
At first Roden couldn't get why Jaron called retreat in the climax of book 5 but he trusted Jaron enough to realize that Jaron would definitely find a way to win the battle. Which is why he said that he knew Jaron had to call retreat to win in the ending.
Don't know where he got the horse for Jaron but I think that Roden gave Jaron a beautiful nice horse might be because Jaron once wanted to ride the larger horse Roden was on in tst after Drylliad battle but Roden refused to give the horse to Jaron. ( actually they could have ridden the horse together yk.😆🤭)
Roden thanked Tobias and Amarinda when he saw his father well after several days of not seeing him during book 5. 😭
Roden and Harlowe definitely had a talk post book 5 and Roden apologized to Harlowe over and over as he still felt he was in a way responsible for the castle attack.
Eventually Jaron had to take some of the blame away from Roden by telling him that Jaron himself was also responsible for the attack too as prozarians came to carthya for the Scope. So they can share the blame if they want. (Knowing Jaron he probably thought that and said it )
At some point post book 5 Jaron told Roden that sentries should never be hooded though it wasn't needed as Roden learned his lesson after how Mercy got inside the castle. He was extra careful about his captain of the guard duties after book 5.
Fink was good at sword-fighting in book 5 because of how much Roden taught him and practiced with him post book 3.
Roden had a lot to say to Castor ( who was imprisoned now) for what he did throughout book 5 and how because of him Carthya was almost doomed by the Prozarians and mostly because of how Roden’s father got harmed. Also because of what he did to Jaron and how he wanted to harm Fink and Tobias.
Jaron in book 5 thought Roden would be angry with the Scope too if he knew so post series they had a talk about it and Roden said Jaron shouldn't have hidden it (though jokingly a little) but Roden was too angry at himself with other things (like letting mercy in and unable to protect carthya) to even think or be angry with Jaron. 🥹
Roden isn't as picky about food as Jaron. ( Though Jaron is only picky about castle food. He loves simple food people eats outside.)
Roden once showed Jaron and Tobias around Benton. ( his hometown)
He once visited his orphanage there post series. Master Grippings was angry to see him but later when he saw the king with him and realized Roden is the captain he was shocked saying Roden wasn't all talk when he said he wanted to join the army.
Just like Jaron, Roden wants to make his old orphanage a better place.
Roden misses Latamer even now and feels guilty for trusting Cregan because of whom latamer was dead. In fact he misses Latamer more whenever he visits the orphanage he grew up in.
Roden mostly like to attend birthday parties for the food.
Sometimes he doesn't end up having a gift for the birthday person as he didn't remember their birthday but then would try to come up with some present at the last minute. (Like he did it once on Tobias's birthday.)
Though Roden never forgets his favorite niece Nila’s birthday and always has a gift for her on that day. He also spends a great deal of time with her on her birthdays.
Roden loves spending time with Nila. Sometimes Jaron joins them and the three spend a time together.
Roden loves to spend festival days with Harlowe and Nila. Of course he would spend them with his friends too.
Roden didn't know when was his birthday until Harlowe told him. (Which is obvious.) His first ever birthday celebration consisted of a quiet family dinner with Harlowe and Nila spent in Libeth post tst and before tck.
Ever since Jaron came to know of Roden’s birthday, there will always be a celebration that day in the castle. 😅
Roden doesn't care much about having those celebrations as he didn't know of his real birthday and most of his birthdays in the orphanage was like any other normal day to him. Though he loves the cake and would ask for a gift from his friends when they plan a birthday party for him.
Roden hates books with big words but since Tobias loves them if Roden gets one such book as a gift he gives it away to Tobias.
Roden never gets tired of challenging Jaron for a fight though Jaron has a habit of postponing it.
Some of the jaroden post series friendly fights definitely happened in the King's Gardens as people wouldn't bother them there.
Carthyan army had a lot of new recruits post series. ( since army was depleted by the war.) Roden is very hard on the new recruits as most of those new recruits according to Roden are no better than Tobias.
Roden is serious when it comes to training the recruits and sometimes the constant mistakes of the recruits would anger him and he would complain about it to Jaron as it's Jaron’s army but then Jaron wouldn't even bother and just tell Roden not to break their legs in anger like Roden did to Jaron.
Jaron teases Roden sometimes how Roden was too stupid to realise Sage was Jaron for the longest time.
Roden and Jaron would argue about silly things and sometimes Tobias would be fed up with this though he tries to mediate. But Amarinda being near Tobias calms Tobias though. I think Mott's reaction to jaroden fight is just 'not this again'.
Once when Roden and Jaron argued they talked through Tobias like children despite being in same room. ( I posted it once.) And everyone was fed up.
Mott wouldn't let Jaron go out with only the captain of his guard as Jaron is king . ( But Jaron hates guards unless they are his friends.) So once in a while Jaron would sneak out through the tunnels with Roden to hang out as friends. Sometimes they would recall their book 1 fight in the tunnels when they sneak out and laugh about it now.
When Kippenger first came to visit Carthya, it brought war flashbacks to Jaron so he was distracted while he was in the meeting with him. Roden knew it and so did a few others but Roden didn't want Kippenger to notice it so he pinched Jaron under the table and that cause Jaron to stare and give him a stare conveying if he is asking for a death wish but hey it brought Jaron out of his distracted state. Post-meeting they probably had a long banter for that. (Also Mott had a lot to say about that to Roden.)
Jaron once definitely put ink on Roden’s face ( maybe while they were camping) and Roden didn't at all like that. When Fink did the same later, Roden thought it was Jaron too. Lol. ( Jaron's unmarried in my headcanons but when Catlyn put ink on Roden’s face, I think Roden blamed Jaron for it too. He would never be angry with a little girl.😭)
book 4 headcanons ( don't have much to say about him here as book 4 made everyone ooc but i tried to make a little sense of his actions using my headcanons)
Considering the number of times Jaron got captured in book 3 during the war, I think it had something to do about his insecurities about being the captain. Also Roden and Jaron both nearly got executed during the war so Roden might have thought he didn't do his job well. ( he did say he had been trying to protect since he became captain but Jaron never made it easy at one point in book 4.)
Okay we agree Jaron himself was ooc in book 4 too, so I think during the time skip he didn't give much importance to his friends which could have made Roden say Jaron treats them as servant. (I mean in the introduction and the first chapter Jaron didn't even much talk of most of his friends and barely said what they did in the timeskip.)
Roden definitely has anger issues. I see that along with it being an impulsive self defense during his fight with Jaron on shadow tide as the only reasons why he would stab Jaron’s leg. I am sure he was really really sorry and hurt about what he did in the heat of the moment. ( He apologised to Jaron about it more than once in the books in different scenes I remember.)
I love to think the reason Roden hid about strick having Darius's crown and sword and that he could be alive was because it was a sensitive topic for Jaron ( as Darius is his brother). It's more like why Jaron hid Darius’s death from Amarinda in book 1.
Also I think Roden wanted to be sure about the truth of Darius being alive as he couldn't believe it and it would change many things.
I think he didn't want to lure Jaron into a trap which was why he told Jaron to get off Belland and let him handle things but Jaron didn't do it and Roden had to make sure Amarinda is safe so he was forced to do it in a way. ( probably conflicts canon but I don't know why else he would do it. His actions were confusing. He even implied he would rather stand on the other side of the bars. )
Despite the situation they were in, Roden did not really lose trust in Jaron though. ( He said he still had hope for him to be able to stop it more than he he had on himself when Jaron was in prison.)
I don't think Roden wanted Darius to be his king but it was the harsh reality to him as Darius used to be crown prince. If he remained the captain he felt he would have to follow Darius's orders. (Don't know why else Roden would imply that as to Roden personally I think Jaron would always be his king but I think he felt that his job would require him to obey Darius as king. And also Jaron wasn't the type to go against his brother for the throne. I think Roden knew it better than anyone. )
Actually I am glad and happy that Roden didn't force Jaron to fight his brother to have the throne. (I might have ended up more or less hating him if he did that considering how Jaron’s mind was back then and how much he loved his older brother.) I think one of the reasons why Roden didn't do it was because to him that won't make Jaron any different from how Roden had been in the past.
Roden can't see people for who they are as clearly as Jaron can which was also why it took so long for Roden to connect the dots about Sage being Jaron. This is also why Roden ended up believing Cregan's words. And this is why Roden was perhaps the last one to realize how evil Wilta was despite how much he talked to her. ( Well Wilta manipulated and tricked even Jaron for a long time but Jaron was also the first one to catch Wilta's act after all. And besides that I don't think Jaron trusted Wilta much anyway considering how Roden and Wilta talking about Jaron annoyed him.
Roden did learn to predict Jaron’s plans. (Becuase of how close they had become as friends and how much they know each other now). He was right when he said he could predict Jaron’s plans. Like he said near the climax in book 4 that Jaron would fake an injury to give Darius time to come here and Jaron did agree that was supposed to be the plan but not anymore but Roden added that would be part of a larger plan requiring help from his friends. And Roden was right as Jaron just stalled time in the end to blow up Wilta's ships. 🤣 (Tobias could have told about exploding the ships to Roden but I think Tobias was lowkey not trusting Roden either so I don't know if I told Roden that plan.)
Roden did have a crush on Wilta but I think it was kind of puppy love. She was dangerously beautiful after all. And about saving Wilta from drowning, she looked like a helpless girl to him and Roden couldn't let a girl drown anyway.
He probably got over his crush on Wilta after book 5. ( since he didn't mention a word about liking her. And also I can't imagine him wanting to date a girl because of whom he almost lost his father and many of his men and his friends. 😭)
I think post book 4 Jaron might have clearly explained Roden why he made him his captain as Roden implied he still didn't understand it. ( They probably get to have a proper talk since the castle argument at some point.)
It took probably some time but since Jaron lost intentionally Roden and Jaron agreed later that Jaron is still the pirate king. I wonder if they had a proper fight to be pirate king again. 🤔
