A/N- Sorry for the delay in updating. I've had A LOT going on in school. Anyway, this one is a bit longer than the last one, which would make most of you quite happy.

Also thank you all who have reviewed, I really appreciate it! And to MrDarcyFanatic: tradingmistakes has been made aware of her obligation to make me finish. And the story will focus on the friendship between Aelin and Rowan and the relationships between all of the other characters.

S/N- So, I wasn't planning on making this a multi-chapter fic. But I had a lot of other one shots planned and they will all fit into a story line, I think, so that's what I'm going to do.

S/N #2- Please don't be mad at tradingmistakes for not updating yet. She has been as busy as me if not more so with school stuff. Also, if you haven't read her story yet (Reunions) you really should. If you like mine, hers is like ten billion times better.

***Aelin's POV***

After Rowan and I had finished embracing, I pulled back, raised an eyebrow and we had one of our silent conversations.

You brought troops?

Well if you count our lovely friends from Mistward, then yes.

You didn't bring them, I said with a glare. You wouldn't dare put them in danger.

Not like I had much of a choice, he shot back. You don't mess with Emrys when he gets like that.

Idiots, they were idiots. They were going to get themselves killed. When I said they were welcome as part of my household I meant it. They didn't have to earn it. I shot another glare at Rowan as I stalked out of the throne room. If they came with Rowan they would have been detained at the gates, I didn't want to be unwelcome any longer than they had to be.

...

***Rowan's POV***

I internally rolled my eyes. Stubborn as always. So hell bent on protecting everyone else, not caring if they wanted to help or if she got hurt in the process.

Not that I could blame her, I didn't want the demi-fae here anymore than she did. War was war and soldiers were needed, but Emrys and the older demi-fae wouldn't be any use in a fight and they would die needlessly. Emrys wouldn't hear of it. As soon as he heard that I was coming to Terresan, he packed his bags. Of course Malakai came with him, and Luca too. And before I knew it, word had been sent out that Aelin needed help and demi-fae started pouring in from all over Dorrendale. They would fight for her, the queen who would recognize them and give them a homeland - a place where they were wanted and respected.

In a way I was glad for their help, we needed the men and their enhanced abilities made them twice as good as regular soldiers. But once they all decided to come, the voyage was delayed nearly a month. I just wanted to get to Terresan, to Aelin. I hated that she was on her own in a hostile country. But it's not like I had much of a choice. I had to wait for everyone to arrive and figure out a way to charter several ships to help bring the demi-fae over. Luckily that turned out not to be as big of a problem as I had predicted, seeing as the Ashryvers offered their services. Speaking of them, I should probably tell Aelin that they agreed to fight with us in this war.

I turned to follow her, looking over my shoulder at the young men she had left behind. It took almost all my will-power to keep my face neutral. The blond haired man (he must be her cousin) looked shocked, hurt, betrayed, and pissed off all at once. The two men who had their swords drawn looked extremely confused. It was greatly amusing.

This would be interesting; it seems Aelin already had several "connections" that she obviously didn't tell about me. I would have to talk to her about that, I need to know what they're allowed to know about me in case she had anything planned.

And with that I turned on my heel and took off after Aelin.

...

***Aedion's POV***

"Bloody fae!" I muttered under my breath as I followed Aelin and the fae thru the castle. After they were done reuniting, they both took off for the gates without exchanging another word. The only reason I knew they were heading toward the gates was because one of the guards told me that the fae had arrived with others, and that they had been detained outside the gates.

"Bastard," Chaol muttered right along with me. Well that was some consolation, I guess. The Captain was just as unhappy as I was with our current predicament. It seems that there is someone else in the running for Aelin's attention.

"She didn't greet me like that," Chaol said to me. "Did she hug you like that?"

"No," I replied, my tone darkening. "I've never seen her like that before." And it was true. When Aelin rescued me from the dungeons we were pressed for time. I hadn't even gotten over the shock of seeing her before we raced out of the castle and into the dark of the forest. After that she had been scarce, out on scouting missions and such, and we never really had a proper reunion. Not like she had just had with the fae.

"It just doesn't make sense," Chaol was saying.

"Why do you say that?"

"When I first met her, Celaena, while deadly, kept quiet and very much to herself. It wasn't until the very end of the competition, until she opened up to me. Even then it wasn't much. She was at the castle almost six months before I knew anything more personal about her. She was in Wendlyn for maybe three months. It just doesn't seem like her to let someone in that quickly."

"You're just jealous that she seems to like the fae more than you," I sneered at him.

"Perhaps you're right," Chaol said, looking slightly resigned. "But you are too."

My steps faltered, and I stopped just inside the doorway as Chaol continued on toward the gates. He had hit the nail on the head. I was jealous. No I was more than that. I was jealous and infuriated and some feeling I couldn't quite name. I had only seen the fae for all of about a minutes and I already hated his guts. What was wrong with me? They couldn't be that close, all they did was hug. It was a greeting that's all, if a bit inappropriate. No commoner should be so casual with my queen. He didn't even bow! Just a slight incline of his head, like he was an equal. Which he wasn't. He must be taught his place.

With a slight growl I straightened my shoulders and strode out into the sunlight. Whatever she had with that fae had to be eliminated. He most likely bewitched her with some form of magic, the damn bastard. I lengthened my stride. I must protect her from him and Maeve.

...

***Aelin's POV***

I quickly weaved thru the busting courtyard, dodging bystanders, merchants, soldiers, and the occasional court nuisance who was vying for my attention. By the Wyrd they were annoying, always trying to get me to do things for them. Normally I just had Aedion intimidate them or Murtaugh distract to them. I turned my face so they wouldn't recognize me and hurried to the gates.

As I approached, the guards recognized me and straightened to attention. But I wasn't really paying much notice to them; I was looking only at the people surrounded warily by soldiers who had swords out and at the ready. Emrys was out in front, his hands in a placating position.

"What in the wyrd do you think you're doing," I asked in an infuriated tone. How dare they threaten my friends! They weren't even fighters!

"Your Majesty these fae came and demanded to speak with you, we were just about to send them away and-"

"No I meant why are you threatening them? Have they done anything to antagonize you?"

"No m'lady but-"

"Then there is no need to threaten my guests is there?"

"N-n-no Your Majesty" The guard looked terrified. Good. I would have to talk to Aedion about making sure the guards understood that the fae were not our enemies.

I turned toward the demi-fae, "I am so sorry. Welcome to Terresan." They looked tired and travel worn, but proud and determined.

Emrys stepped forward, "It is quite alright Elentyia. I don't expect anyone to take a bunch of demi-fae showing up with ease."

I moved forward to shake his hand saying, "You might not, but I do. You're family and should be treated as such."

Emrys smiled and pulled me into an embrace. As I pulled back I saw hope and joy spread across the faces of the other demi-fae, many of whom I recognized from Mistward.

Emrys opened his mouth to reply when his eyes shifted to something behind me. I was half turned when I heard the soldiers draw their swords and start shouting commands.

I looked to see what the commotion was, my hands already reaching for my daggers. It was Rowan. I was confused for a moment before I realized why the guards were upset, Rowan had probably shifted in front of them and then flown off to come find me. Such a Rowan thing to do.

"He's alright, let him thru," I ordered the guards.

"M'lady are you sure?" I answered that with a nod of my head before turning my attention back to Rowan.

"Took you long enough," I said to Rowan. "I think you're getting slow in your old age." Behind me I heard the sharp intake of breath from some of the demi-fae and Luca choking back a laugh.

Rowan just rolled his eyes and said, "I can still out run you on your best day Princess." I just smirked. I knew he could too. Rowan as the only person better than me in everything, oddly enough I didn't really mind.

"Now don't you two go fighting again," Emrys scolded. "You've already curdled all the milk in Wendlyn; I would hope you'd be able to avoid doing the same in Terresan." That got a chuckle out of Rowan.

We looked at each other and simultaneously said, "We'll try." Both of us cracked wide grins.

From behind me I heard an awkward cough. I turned and saw Chaol, looking rather confused and out of place. Exiting the courtyard was Aedion, looking pissed and determined. I was confused for a moment until I remembered that I hadn't told them about Rowan. Oops.

A/N- So I know a lot of people have different opinions about how Rowan and Aedion will act in future books. The way I view it is this. They are both characters we have only seen for one book, where they both didn't experience a whole lot of growth and development. By that I mean we haven't seen them at their worst or at their very best. We don't know how they'll react in all situations or what all their feelings are.

For Rowan I know people expect him to stay all somber and mean. I don't think he will. So far we've only seen him when he was in the pit of despair and when he was crawling back out of it. His journey shadowed Aelin's in Heir of Fire. We don't know what he was like before Lyria died or before he met her, like we do with Aelin and Sam/Chaol.

So, I have decided to write Rowan how I would write Aelin. Throughout Heir of Fire it is pointed out several times that Rowan and Aelin are reflections of each other. And that is exactly how I'm going to write them. Rowan will have an attitude similar to Aelin's, maybe a tad bit more serious, to reflect his age and experience, but otherwise pretty much the same. He will be funny, serious, overprotective, snarky, and everything we love about Rowan.

As for Aedion, he won't change too much from people expectations of the book. I do think he'll be a bit possessive and childish and jealous at times, but I can back that up from the book so...yeah.

This has been a PSA.