She didn't answer his question but asked another, "Do you like it? Being a prince?" Nobody had asked such a question to him.
"Not really." Besides he was a prince just for name. He had no army, no men, no power to his name.
"That makes two of us." Aelin said sadly.
"Dont you like being the queen? Dressing up? Attending royal rituals?"
"No. I dont. Well, the dressing part yes. Do you like this gown? My mother gave this to me as a gift." she began rattling about where the cloth had come from. Rowan had no doubt when she grew up, she would have a shrap tongue.
He let out a chuckle. God, it had been years since he had genuinely laughed.
"Something funny, buzzard?" she glared.
Buzzard!
Men ran from him and she had just called him a buzzard. He had to praise her daring.
"Nothing, Princess." he said while flashing a grin. Again.
They were quiet again. Rowan could now see her mother. They were just fifty feet away.
"Are you scared of me?" she asked quietly.
He looked at her. There was pain in her eyes. Pain and sorrow.
"No. why?"
"Everyone is. Well, not Aedion but that's one peron. Thats why." her voice was low.
"And why is everyone scared of you?"
Instead of answering she just set a nearby bush on fire.
Heir of fire andf ash.
"I cant control it. I accidently set things on fire. My mother's worried for me. My father sometimes gets angry. I try, I really try to control my fire, but I cant."
This girl who was barely six, people were scared of her. Ran away from her. He felt his heart strain.
He wanted to soothe her, this precious cinnamon roll, "I have magic too." and he stopped her fire with his wind magic.