A/N – So I've been working on this for a little while and found it quite difficult to write in places and I'm not entirely happy with it so please do tell me what you think.

Chapter Three

The days passed after their fight with the skinwalkers and Rowan found them no less irritating than the days before the encounter. Aelin still could not shift on command, could not shift at all and it infuriated him. He knew that she was capable but whatever had allowed her to shift before was not something she could easily replicate. It was driving him insane, trying to figure out new ways to teach her and help her to master something so basic. It was a difficult task to teach something that had been instinctual for him for over three centuries. His own memories of those basic techniques and exercises were hazy. He doubted that they would help her anyway, he had never been afraid of his power while she had been taught to loathe everything about her heritage.

Their encounter with the skinwalkers had also made her nightmares worsen considerably and quite often he would lay awake for hours, his heightened senses picking up on her mumbling and screaming even with several floors between them. Even when he slept her voice invaded his dreams, mingling with Lyria's screams. It made it easy to hate her. Especially when all they did was waste time, sitting up in those forsaken ruins for days on end.

He had hoped when he took her there that some part of the ancient Goddess would remain to help her and guide her to the peace that would help her shift but it had gotten them nowhere. She hadn't even known where they were until that sunny day where she wandered around the area. It was perhaps one of the most civil conversations that they had ever had. He hated the sadness he saw in her eyes when she talked about wanting to see everything, the pain that draped over her young shoulders. He had called her a child, but there was nothing youthful in her eyes when she looked out over the horizon and told him that she didn't envy his long life. He didn't tell her that it was possible that she still may settle into her immortality and live far longer than she would wish to. He also didn't tell her that he envied her short lifespan.

He studied her every chance he got, trying to work out some way to get her to shift, what made her tick. She had a sharp mind, picking up on the discrepancies between his words and the storied Emrys told about the temple. Questioning the differences between the Fae she remembered and those she had met since arriving on this continent. He hated to think about the slaughter of his brethren across the sea, it was a decision that had never sat well with him. It had gone against every instinct he had not to protect his own kind no matter how distantly related they were. Maeve would not be moved though and as her blood sworn, he could not act against her orders. It was one of the few times in his life that he had regretted taking that oath. He was glad that she had not asked for more information.

Then Malakai and his men had found another body not far away and he cursed her for keeping him trapped at the fortress watching her sit on her arse when he could be out hunting this thing and saving lives. So he took her with him to see the body so that she would understand what she was keeping him from doing; what she was costing him. She was an assassin by training perhaps she would prove useful but he doubted she knew anything he hadn't already learnt over the long years. Right now though he was willing to explore any avenue in order to stop this creature, whatever it was.

To his surprise she hadn't proved completely useless. He had discounted the creature she encountered in the barrows due to the locations where the bodies had been found but once he thought about it more closely he could not ignore the similarities in the attacks. That still didn't help him figure out what exactly the wretched creature was but it was step forward, another piece of the puzzle. She had suggested speaking to the locals to find out what they knew but they didn't have the time now. Her inability to shift was trying his patience as it hindered his efforts. He'd considered it before but he knew the humans would never speak to him voluntarily. Humans had long memories when it came to wrongs against them; they were rightfully distrustful of Fae like himself. Why did this girl constantly infuriate him by bringing up the failings of his queen? There was a small part of him that wondered if she were doing it on purpose, he wouldn't put it past that calculating mind of hers.

Then she went and shocked him in a completely different manner by insisting they bury the woman's body. He left her to do most of the work, too consumed with self-loathing to offer much help. This girl who was so consumed with grief and rage, this selfish, spoiled brat of a princess was the one who had thought to do something so simple not for herself but the soul of that woman. It was horrifying to realise that he would have just left her to decompose in that stream, that he had left the others much the same. When had he become so callous?

They stood before her pitiful fire, all that she could currently offer, in silence. He called a warm breath of air to fuel the fire and consume the corpse. He silently promised the woman that he would find the creature and destroy it so that no others would meet her sad end. He wondered if Aelin had done the same. As the embers finally died the two of them began the solemn trek back to Mistward.

The next morning Rowan rose early and began his trek in the predawn light. He ran the whole way, preferring to feel the physical exertion of the journey than to fly. He found the site of the first body easily enough and it smelled even more rancid now that decay had begun to set in. No animal had disturbed the remains so he set about gathering wood for the fire and arranged if around the body just as the girl had yesterday.

He watched the pyre burn; fed by the swift winds he summoned and begged the unknown victim for forgiveness. As he stood watching the fire burn in the morning light he could have sworn that he felt a warm presence watching him with faint approval but there was nothing except the crackling flames. As the flames died down he set off once more to offer another victim their long overdue farewell.

He returned to Mistward feeling a little lighter but still frustrated for he had no idea what to do next to identify the killer. He needed more information and the only way he was going to get that was from the humans but they'd close ranks if a Fae warrior waltzed in asking questions. He had flown back to the fortress and now perched in a tree overlooking the kitchen.

The girl was stood at her customary position scrubbing dishes without complaint. He always found it jarring to watch her in the kitchens, he'd assigned her to the duty assuming that the spoiled princess would find the task demeaning but she just got on with it. She didn't speak to the others but monitored their conversations while she worked, rarely showing any interest at all. Suddenly it dawned on him that the humans may not speak with him because he was Fae but Aelin appeared human for once her fragile form may prove useful.

She continued to scrub dishes as he turned the thought over in his mind, analysing how effective it may be and what the weaknesses were. First off was her attitude, all of the fae at the fortress were steering clear of her due to her unwelcoming scent but the humans would be just as off put by her sullen looks and unwelcoming body language. Maybe if he could get her in a good mood somehow.

Emrys and Luca had moved on to talking about the recent visitors to Mistward, a couple of demi-fae that were heading to the healers compound for training. If he hadn't been in his hawk form then he might have missed how Aelin suddenly froze for a few seconds and then forced herself back to her chores. He watched her carefully; she was on edge and listening closely to the conversation. He watched with keen interest, as she would start to turn her head in their direction and then catch herself. She kept this up for most of the conversation until Luca decided to pull her into it.

"Elentiya have you ever traveled to the commune?" She didn't pretend not to know what they were discussing but her reply had such an air of studied nonchalance that Rowan could immediately pick up on what she would not say.

"No I haven't." But I've always wanted to. He wondered why this girl would want to go to such a place. Her magic was not of a kind to learn healing and he would not have thought her patient enough to even try. She was an assassin by training, a queen by birth there was no room there to learn the art of healing but that did not mean that there had not been a desire.

I used to wish I had a chance to see it all.

The commune wasn't far; they could make it there and back in a day even with Aelin still in her human skin. It rankled that he would be wasting a day in visiting the commune when that foul thing still roamed but if it got him a shot at talking to the villagers he would accept the cost. It had nothing to do with giving the girl a chance to see some small part of the world, of the good in the fae.

The next morning, dawned bright and clear and Rowan awaited Aelin outside the kitchen door. As soon as she arrived at his side he strode off into the trees without a word; she followed without question. That was how they continued for a while until her curiosity got the better of her. He couldn't help the way his lip twitched up in a smirk as her restraint finally broke.

"Where the hell are we going?"

"Haven't figured it out yet princess?"

Her answering growl almost made him laugh, so predictable. He picked up his pace a little as she stomped along behind him. She was muttering faintly to herself, calling him an arrogant bastard among other things. He continued to increase his pace until she could no longer bad mouth him and continue to keep up at the same time. It was strange for Rowan to be taking the time to walk somewhere. Usually he would simply shift and fly to wherever he needed or run but he very rarely walked. He found that her pace was not as irritating as he usually found it; it was pleasant to be able to pay more notice to his surroundings.

They made good time and reached the edge of the compound by mid morning. The two of them paused just outside the perimeter, Aelin panting slightly from the exertion. Rowan watched her from the corner of his eye as he led her slowly into the complex. Her eyes darted around, taking in the simple stone buildings and the curious fae who watched their approach. She didn't miss a single detail as she kept pace with him. He saw the head healer coming towards them.

"Prince Rowan, we were not expecting a visit. I hope that there is nothing wrong?" Rowan was quick to reassure her and the woman turned her attention to Aelin who was still looking around in slight awe. Rowan noticed the shift in focus and introduced the girl while giving as little information about her.

"Elentiya, it is a pleasure to meet you. Would you like a tour of the compound?" Aelin slid him a sideways look and at his slight nod she readily accepted the offer. Rowan trailed behind them as they walked around, always watching her. He could not say that she was happy to be there, she was still too broken to show any real joy but there was a subtle change in her expressions; in her eyes. Her voice was different as well, less harsh as she peppered the healer with questions about anything and everything.

Rowan left her to her own devices while he walked around and spoke to the inhabitants of the compound, attempting to discover if any of them had noticed anything amiss recently. His enquiries came up empty however and soon it was time for them to leave, he could tell that she was reluctant but he would not take the risk of traveling back to Mistward in the dark.

Aelin was quiet on the return journey, a distinct change from her liveliness at the compound. She seemed to be lost in her own thoughts so he left her to her solitude. The only words he spoke to her were outside the entrance to Mistward, informing her to prepare for an overnight trip in the morning. He swept through the kitchen grabbing a plate of food on the way and returned to his rooms.

That night was the first night that he truly dreamed of Aelin. It was not her screams that haunted his mind that night but her as she could be, as she should be. Today he had caught a glimpse of what she had been before the abyss swept her away and his mind conjured up the image of her happy and whole. He awoke with the taste of her still on his tongue, the image of her smiling mouth behind his lids. He pushed the images away, locking them down with centuries worth of control. He rolled over and punched his pillow savagely; but even as he once again drifted off to sleep a pair of smiling turquoise eyes haunted him.