Progression of Rowan Falling for Aelin

tanjelisa:

DISCLAIMER: This is my personal opinion. I’m in no way stating what I say here is canon or accurate. It is my personal interpretation. If you disagree with my opinion or want to share your view on this with me-go for it! But, if you are going to send me hate, do yourself and me a favor and don’t bother. 

The Initial Attraction

Rowan grinned. “There you are.” Blood-her blood-was on his teeth, on his mouth and chin. And those dead eyes glowed as he spat her blood onto the earth. (Heir of Fire Pg. 160)

I don’t think Rowan liked Aelin at all during this point in time. We know based on Aelin’s suspicions that he did at least care, however little, about Aelin’s welfare when he anonymously left fresh clothes for her outside the bathrooms after she soiled herself. But when he bites her and he tastes her blood, his dead eyes glowed. They became alive because he tasted that raging fire burning steadily within her blood and very being. He has a very animalistic reaction to her blood and it’s likely that the Fae side of him recognized an equal in her (however much he wants to deny it). But it’s after he tastes her blood that he asks her the first real personal question which is “Does your lover know what you are?” Her response to his question causes him to have an emotional response, probably the first one he’s had in a century, possibly because the Fae side of him has already become “possessive” of her. 

Grudging Respect: The Beginnings of a Partnership

“So breathe, and shift.”

Though every instinct screamed against it, she closed her eyes. Took a breath. Then another. Her lungs opened, full of cool, soothing air, and she wondered if Rowan was helping with that too. (Heir of Fire Pg. 170)

This is the first time we ever see Rowan and Aelin legitimately working together instead of against. It’s a matter of survival and the two manage to pull together. Rowan pushes Aelin to be better, to go out of her comfort zone by forcing her to shift all while helping her each step of the way. She in turn, helps both of them to live when she unleashes her fire against the skinwalkers. In the end, the two manage to survive a life threatening situation and a grudging mutual respect develops between the two. 

Friends?

Rowan raced beside her, but made no move to grab her. No, Rowan was…playing. 

He threw a glance at her, breathing hard but evenly. And it might have been the sun…but she could have sworn that she saw his eyes alight with a glimmer of that same feral contentment. She could have sworn he was smiling. (Heir of Fire Pg. 232)

I definitely feel that in this scene, Rowan is immensely proud of Aelin for shifting on her own for the first time. He’s watching her take in the world with her heightened senses with this pure and utter joy. She’s feeling that sense of freedom he feels as a hawk and as a “super speedy” Fae. He’s smiling because he can now share this experience with her. 

Bonus: Rowan dutifully carried every bag and box Celaena bought…

Rowan the hawk has officially been domesticated. 

Equals

“Together,” she said, and took his outstretched hand.

Right before this scene, Rowan and Aelin have the brawl of the century. They beat the shit out of each other all while yelling and snarling at each other the entire time. Now, I don’t condone violence of any sort…but I must say that I’m incredibly glad that Rowan and Aelin fight. They fight because they care and by fighting they clear the air between each other and come out stronger. After that fight, Rowan begins to understand Aelin even better understanding her aversion to sacrifices and her deep rooted fear of losing the people she loves. It’s after that fight that the two acknowledge each other as equals and begin to open up to each other in ways that they have never for other people in their lives. They have begun to wholly trust each other. 

Real Attraction?

She smiled against the pillow, and his hand stilled for a moment-then started again. (Heir of Fire Pg. 375)

Probably the first time in months that Rowan realizes that Aelin is beautiful. He’s startled because he’s never seen Aelin truly happy. But now that he has, he’s taken completely off guard and to be quite honest, it makes the shipper in me squeal. 

Whoops! He’s fallen head over heels for her.

When she finished, Rowan merely passed her more of the tonic. She smiled at him, and he looked at her for a while before he smiled back, a different smile than all the others he’d given her before. (Heir of Fire Pg. 489)

Total goner. Aelin tells him her full story and the entire time, he just listens. He doesn’t say anything because he knows he doesn’t need to. And when she smiles again, he just looks at her. He just studies her. He’s probably thinking that she looks truly happy for the first time. He’s thinking that even though the past and the losses she has suffered will always be a painful memory to her, she has accepted it, moved on, and found happiness in the present. Obviously, I personally don’t know what the exact kind of face Rowan is making, but I wager that his face is soft and filled with affection (maybe love) for Aelin). It’s why he makes a different smile. He’s happy for her because she has walked out of that dark period of her life. 

She’s a new person. She’s stronger. And Rowan is proud of the person she has become. He loves her even more because he has discovered a new side to her. And maybe at this point in time, he knows he is a goner.