Only You

Homeward

Aelin and Rowan didn't hang around much longer inside the house. Despite Maeve's disappearance they had no doubt that Connall and the other soldiers living inside would find them sooner or later and with Rowan injured and Aelin's minimal skills, she'd rather not face them. She also didn't want to push her luck with Gods— she had been lucky Maeve had been that desperate to retrieve her magic— but she wasn't sure she would be able to recreate something like that again.

Aelin hadn't let go of Rowan's hand for the entire walk back to the others. They had ambled back to where their last camp had been, finding the others waiting there too. All of them taking a sigh of relief when they saw the two them.

"Thank the Gods." Fenrys had uttered when he spotted them walking through the trees.

Aelin had huffed out a laugh and Rowan managed a smile before collapsing onto the ground, his body weak from the injuries and the healing that his magic was attempting to do.

They had argued for a while about whether to stay where they were for the night or if they should make their way to the village just a couple miles south. The journey would only be an hour or two, depending on the strength Rowan had. It was still dark, the evening setting in for good. Fenrys had exclaimed the woods around these parts were full of all manner of beings, and none of them would want to be stuck out there with them. Rowan had been inclined to agree.

So despite the late hour, the five of them decided to leave the little camp they had made for themselves and walk to the village. Aelin lit the way with her flame, using it as a shield around them as well, not willing to risk any of them to the creatures of the night.

The village was quiet as they entered, the late hour meant that most people had gone to their homes. Luckily for them the inn was open and the owner was slouched over the bar with an ale in his hand.

Aelin helped Rowan onto a seat and stood by him as Lorcan went to speak with the owner. He exclaimed he only had two rooms left, but Lorcan had assured him they would make it work.

The five of them moved up the stairs and through the dingy halls stopping in front of the first room.

Fenrys had assured Aelin that she and Rowan could have that one and they would make do with whatever was left.

She helped Rowan sit on the bed, she cursed as Rowan winced in pain.

"I should see if they have a healer in the town."

"I don't need a healer. I'm fine."

She gave him an incredulous look. "You're making a face every time you sit down or stand up. You're in pain Rowan."

He shook his head. "I don't need you to fuss. I've been in this situation many times; I just need to sleep. My magic has been cut off for a while and it just needs to recover before I can heal myself."

Aelin didn't want to argue with him. Rowan had been in battles before, he knew what he was doing. But she couldn't stand to see him in the pain he was.

"Stop staring at me like I'm going to crumble with any small movement." Rowan moved himself further onto the bed, lifting his legs up and lying back, letting his eyes fall shut.

"Just come to bed, Aelin. We have a long journey tomorrow and I just want to hold you tonight."

She warmed at his words and hastily rounded the bed and took off her boots and cloak before crawling onto the bed and reaching over to take Rowan's own boots off too.

"You could have done with a bath."

He glared at her, stretching his arms above his head.

Aelin grinned. It felt like the first smile she had given in a while that she actually meant.