He didn't let anyone in the cabin, his territorial fae habits showing loud and clear. Nothing and no one was getting near his mate.
Until on the fourth day, Elide sternly reminded him that if he was so against sleeping, the least he could do was eat and drink. And that Aelin wold likely need sustenance when she finally awoke.
And so he gave in, opening the door enough for the girl to slide through bearing her tray of supplies. He growled viciously at Lorcan and the lion standing in the hallway beyond and both had retreated, palms up in surrender and understanding.
He watched Elide like the hawk he was, following her round the small room, until she eventually snapped, whirling round declare that out of everyone on the ship she was the last likely person to hurt Aelin and that despite how pretty the young queen was, she was not that way inclined, before telling him in no uncertain terms to back off.
So Rowan retreated back to his chair and turned his attention back to Aelin, still sleeping soundly, her breath less shallow than it had been days before.
Elide finished moving her supplies onto the desk at the end of the room, bandages, a jug of water and two wooden cups and a pot of what smelled like steaming fish stew, and headed for the door. With a last, long look at Aelin, she slipped back out of the room, the door clicking shut behind her.
The room was silent once again, Aelins breathing the only occasional sound.
He knew he should eat, knew he should rest, but he couldn't relax. Not yet. Not until she woke and he knew undoubtedly that she was alive. That this wasn't some trick of the damned gods, to let him find her, only to lose her all over again.
His looked out of the porthole to his left, surveying the grey sea beyond, his thoughts drifting to those very gods and the price they were demanding for defeating Erawan. He wouldn't allow it. Could not believe that they had fought and lost and found each other only for it to mean nothing in the end.
And he knew. He knew that if the price for defeating him was Aelin's life, then his own would be short lived too. Because despite what he had promised her, despite this vow and this bond between them, he would not live without her by his side. These past months had been torture enough. He was not willing to do it again.
If Aelin sacrificed herself and faded into the afterworld, he would be going with her.
But he would find a way out of this bargain Elena had made. He would find a way.
Despite himself, his temper rose at the thought of the former Queen, at the thought of what she had so blindly agreed to. The Queen who was promised.
He took a deep breath through his nose, and closed his eyes. Counted to ten. And when he opened them again, his anger still present but somewhat depleted, he turned his head back to his love and a sob escaped his throat.
For when he turned to her, lying so still on the bed, he was met with turquoise eyes ringed with gold staring at him.
He watched as her lips parted and closed again, as her throat bobbed,as if trying to form words that would not come. It occurred to him that she needed water but he was too shocked to move. Too terrified to tear his gaze away in case this was all some dream and that when he looked back, her eyes would once again be closed.
So he just sat and stared at her.
And before he could stop them, his tears finally broke free, as she swallowed one final time and through broken and chapped lips, rasped "Rowan".