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tomtenadia · 2 years

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Meet the Whitethorns - An ALB outtake

Here I am again to the world of ALB. I honestly miss the gang at east station pretty badly. For a wee while I have been working on some outtakes and this is the first one. It’s set three months after their wedding. This is a 6.8k monster with Rowaelin honeymoon in Wendlyn. A few notes: In modern AUs my Rowaelin first girl is called Maya. I did a bit of research for this fic and apparently in Maori culture it means bravery, courage and well...now I think the name is even more perfect.

Secondly, they visit Mistward and in my head I have an exact image of how it looks like. There’s a castle in Italy near Genova. this place is called CASTELLO DELLA PIETRA the stone castle and this is Mistward for me.

Enjoy ❤️

“Why can’t we fly like all normal human beings is beyond me,” Aelin closed up her hiking backpack and turned to her husband who was finishing preparing the few bags needed for their trip.

They had three weeks of honeymoon and had decided to go to Doranelle and meet his family. She had been excited. Alas, her hubby refused the idea of flying commercial so they were going to drive to Rifthold, take a ferry to Varese for the six hours trip and then drive all the way to Doranelle. His excuse was that she was pregnant and she might find driving more comfortable. Aelin knew better. As an ex airforce pilot he could not suffer having other people flying and he did not trust commercial pilots. So in the end she had caved. It was going to be two long days on the road, but they had an hotel booked in Varese for the night.

“I am not trusting the life of my pregnant wife in the hands of one of them,” his strong hand slid on her hips and moved at the front on her baby bump. They had been married for three months already and they had to wait a bit before going away. Aelin was going to take officially over at the academy after the honeymoon. Until that point she did a lot of training with chief O’ Neill and had spent her days learning the ropes of her new job. She was excited. Stepping down as captain had been hard, her team had organised her a big shindig on her last day and at the same time she had appointed Manon as her successor. Asterin was going for the lieutenant exam so that she could then take over on truck. Luca had officially transferred to hazmat and they were now looking for a new candidate.

“Liar. You hate commercial pilots.”

He kissed her neck “Come on fireheart, stop stalling.”

He grabbed all the bags and started walking towards the door. They were still getting used to their new house. Actually, they were still getting used to being married. Aelin still had a flutter in her stomach whenever she referred to him as her husband. It still felt so unreal. They were married and they were going to have a baby too. A deep grin broke on her face.

“Wait for me, buzzard, you cannot leave without your trusted navigator.”

His laughter echoed from outside. She grabbed her small backpack and locked the door behind her and joined him.

“Go in the car, I am done here.”

She took a seat and adjusted the special seat belt adapter that he had bought for her. Apparently he had done extensive research and had found the safest way for her to wear a belt without risking hurting the baby.

“Here I am, the bag with the snacks is behind you,” he placed the two water bottles in the cup holders in the middle “and plenty of water.”

Aelin leaned towards him and kissed Rowan on his lips “what type of music do you want?”

“Rock?”

Aelin connected her phone to the car’s bluetooth and started the music while Rowan fiddled with the sat nav.

“Let’s go, fireheart.”

They arrived at the ferry terminal in Rifthold three hours later. They had stopped a few times to allow Aelin to stretch her legs and have small food breaks. The ferry terminal for Varese was in the south of the city and it was massive. It had a lot of destinations. Rowan followed the signs for the ferry to Varese and queued with all the other cars. They had arrived early and they could now relax.

“Have you updated your uncle?”

“Yes, they are expecting us. Our cottage is ready and told me that they will keep the family at bay for a couple of days so we can adjusted first.”

Aelin patted his leg “I want to meet your grandma. They stew lady.”

Rowan laughed “Grandma Ciara will love to cook for you.”

She turned to him and kissed his jaw “thank you for doing this.”

He chuckled “I love the idea of showing off my wife.”

Twenty minutes later the cars in front of them started to move and they knew they had finally started loading the vehicles.

Aelin was excited.

“See? The ferry is far more fun than the plane.”

“The jury is still out.”

Car deck crew directed them to where to park and Rowan followed the instructions. Once settled, he got ready “just grab the small backpack.”

Aelin got out and he grabbed his hand.

Once on board, Aelin dragged him on the outer deck. It was July and it was a beautiful summer day. Her hoodie was tied around her waist, she had her TFD baseball cap and sunglasses. They walked stern of the ship and Rowan was fascinated by the loading operations. Aelin, leaned against the rail at his side, her head gently against his shoulder. As on instinct Rowan’s arm went behind her back and pulled her closer.

“Is the weather going to be nice in Doranelle?”

Rowan nodded “yes, uncle says they are having a great summer. They are very much inland but he has prepared the swimming pool.”

She looked at him and smiled brightly “can we have some lazy days in the pool?”

He kissed her head “of course, we are not going to explore everyday.”

She squealed “I have a new bikini.”

“Fireheart, we are guests, do not scandalise my family.”

She buried her face in her husband’s chest “I am five months pregnant, I am getting fat and horrible, I can’t afford anymore tiny bikinis.”

Rowan groaned. No matter how much he kept repeating her that he still found her attractive and no matter how much he showed her at night, she still did not believe him.

“You are gorgeous.”

She scoffed loudly.

His hand landed on her bump and caressed it gently “I love all of this. You are carrying our child. You are stunning. Our girl agrees.”

They had discovered the previous week that they were going to have a girl. Rowan had been over the moon and Elide had told her he had showed up at the firehouse with the picture of her scan and attached it to the fridge with pride.

The safety announcement over the tannoy broke the silence and they watched the stern ramp closing and felt the engines becoming alive.

Soon the ropes were removed and the boat pushed away from the pier.

Rowan pushed Aelin to one of the chairs and they both sat down enjoying the sun and watching the city slowly disappear.

“As soon as we loose sight of Rifthold, there is nothing but sea for a few hours, we might want to go inside, it will get cold.” In response she snuggled against him.

It was six hours later when they finally docked. Back in the car they disembarked and Rowan set the sat nav for the hotel in Varese. It was evening already and were both starving.

They still had a couple of hours before sunset.

Rowan skilfully drove away from the harbour area and as they got closer to the city Aelin was speechless. Varese was not like she had imagined it. She could see skyscrapers and it looked much bigger that Rifthold and made Orynth look like a puny place.

“Varese is the capital and it’s probably the richest part in the continent. It has a huge financial district and an extensive city centre. We will have a proper tour one day.”

“Did Ends work here?”

Rowan shook his head “No, but Micheal did. Enda told me that Micheal worked for three years with a super famous company and that for all that time he lived in a luxurious flat in the city centre and had a salary that was huge. All expenses paid and work trips in first class and all those perks.”

“Why did he leave?”

“Such jobs have a downside. Enda told me that he started to be unwell, suffered from ulcers and so many more stress related issues. So he resigned and moved back to Doranelle and got another high paying job but not as high end.”

“And now they have a restaurant, far more relaxing.”

Rowan chuckled “Neither of them have any regrets. Micheal said that investing all the money he saved from his fancy job, in a restaurant, was the best decision he ever took.”

The restaurant had become a success in a very short time. Most nights it was fully booked and Aelin and Rowan or any of the firefighters could get a spot just because they knew the owners.

Very recently a famous food magazine had placed them in the spotlight even more after a renowned chef reviewed their food.

“They have done such a good job.”

Rowan brushed her hair “We have arrived.”

Aelin looked outside and gasped at the tall building in front of them “Fancy.”

They checked in for the night and Aelin was heading for the stairs but Rowan grabbed her wrist “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Buzzard, baby girl and I are not going in the trap.”

He sighed “Aelin, you are pregnant.”

“Exercise is good.”

Rowan shook his head in resignation “Fine, I will see you in an hour.”

Aelin scoffed “We are on the seventh floor. More likely less than five minutes.”

“Not going to happen.”

She glared at him “I can do seven floors with 30kg of equipment in a run. A baby bump will not stop me.”

“I will have the oxygen ready.”

She stuck out her tongue and started walking to the stairs, with her backpack on to prove a point.

Rowan took the lift with all of their luggage and chuckled at how stubborn she was. Had they ended up at the topmost floor she would have climbed to it.

The lift was slow and picked up a few people along the way. He had a look at his watch and wondered where Aelin was. Probably panting halfway through and cursing her stupidity.

The lift pinged at he finally reached his floor. The doors opened and he froze. Aelin was leaning against the wall with a smug face.

“How?” he asked as he egressed the lift with the bags.

She walked to him and gave him a kiss “Training,” her hand brushed his long hair “many years of training, although I doubt I will be able to pull it off once I am much bigger. I was a bit slower than usual.”

A few hours later after a shower, they were getting ready to hit the town for dinner. They had decided to leave the car and use public transport. The hotel was near a subway station. Rowan was familiar with Varese and was the one in charge. He was taking her to his favourite restaurant from the southern continent. According to him this was an institution and had been there for a long time, passed down the generations in the family.

The place was a good six stops away and she loved they had been lazy and took the subway. She had been amazed that it had nine lines. Orynth had three and Rifthold five.

Once they re-emerged Aelin looked around her. They skyscrapers were gone but they still had a lot of modern building around them. They turned a corner and she spotted a firehouse. On instinct she pulled Rowan towards it. It had four rolling doors and Aelin rose on her toes to look inside and see how many vehicles they had.

“I thought you were hungry.”

She told him to shush while she stared. A moment later a woman came out “Hi, can I help you?”

“Hi,” she walked to the woman “I am a fellow firefighter from Terrasen and I was just admiring your firehouse.”

The woman laughed “come in, have a look.”

Aelin grabbed Rowan’s hand and followed.

They stepped inside and Aelin gasped in amazement. The firehouse was huge, it had four vehicles and an ambulance. She was so jealous.

“I am captain Isobel McKenzie.”

“Captain Aelin Whitethorn-Galathynius.” She then paused “Sorry, I mean chief. I am an instructor now,” and she patted her belly “My husband here is a paramedic at east station.”

They all shook hands and the captain showed the vehicles and Aelin was fascinated by the truck for the rescue squad.

“Every company has a rescue squad.”

Aelin was really envious now. In Terrasen for now they only had them in the regional areas but Dorian was working with the commissioner to get them one.

Rowan let the two ladies chat and he walked to the paramedics and introduced himself.

It was a good hour later when he managed to drag his wife out of the firehouse and towards the restaurant.

“Twenty seven houses, Ro. That’s awesome.“

He squeezed her hand “Varese is much bigger than Orynth. That many would be an overkill.”

“Ten, I am not asking much.”

The restaurant was not far away from there and once they arrived Aelin realised a pit had opened in her stomach and was ready to polish off the menu.

And that she did and Rowan joked that he had to apply for a mortgage.

“Rowan, this was amazing.”

He nodded happily “this place is incredible.”

“But now we are walking, I ate so much that now I look seven months pregnant.”

He kissed her head “We can start, but if you get tired we take the metro.”

In the end Aelin begged him to take public transport and rode the last four stations back to the accommodation and she also took the lift and Rowan celebrated internally.

The following morning they had a massive breakfast at the hotel and set off for Doranelle. They had a good five hours journey ahead of them. Aelin had her face attached to the window and was staring at the landscape passing by. Rowan explained to her that they were bypassing Doranelle altogether and were taking a more direct route to his uncle’s place. She saw the city in the distance and her mind went back to when she visited him. When they broke every rule.

Her hand landed on his thigh “I was thinking about when I came to visit.”

He chuckled “Feels like a lifetime ago…”

“A different life… different us.”

He grabbed her hand and kissed it and placed it back on his thigh.

The more they drove away the more civilisation got scarcer. They were surrounded by farmland and forests.

She then looked at the sat nav and saw an ETA of three minutes and excitement started to rise.

“See that in the distance? That’s uncle Ellys’ farm.”

The closer they got, the bigger it was becoming.

Rowan drove along the driveway and a couple was outside waiting for them.

He got out of the car and she followed. The man, his uncle, had hair as silver as Rowan’s and the eyes of a deeper green. The woman at his side had grey hair and deep brown eyes.

“Rowan, darling,” his aunt ran to him and Rowan and she giggled. They really were huggers and he was the odd one. He exchanged a manly pat with his uncle then he turned and grabbed her hand “May I introduce you my wife? Aelin these are my uncle Ellys and his wife Morwenna. They are Enda’s parents,” he explained “His brother was my dad and his sister is Sellene’s mum.”

Aelin extended her hand but she was enveloped in a hug by the family.

“Welcome you both, come in you must be exhausted. I have lunch cooking.”

Aelin followed the woman happily while Rowan and his uncle took care of the bags. Ellys had given them one of the cottages he rented to holidaymakers. They had tried to complain but he had been adamant that they needed privacy.

The house was beautiful and very tasteful. All around the living room there were photos and Aelin started pacing until she stopped at one in particular.

“That is Rowan, Enda, Sellene and Rowan’s dad at one of their camping trips. Rowan and Enda were fifteen, Sellene was seventeen.”

She stared at the image. He had a huge grin while he lifted proudly a fish on a spike. His eyes bright and alive.

“That was their last camping trip. Rowan and his family moved away the following winter.”

“He was a cute teenager.”

“They all were.”

Morwenna took her around a few more photos and Aelin almost burs out of cuteness when she saw a picture of a five year old Rowan and Enda “He is adorable, I know I am hormonal and all but he is so damn cute.”

“Who’s cute?” Her husband decided to arrive in the house in that instant. Aelin grabbed the photo and shoved it in his face “You. You are such a cutie patootie.”

Ellys burst out in a boisterous laugh and Rowan’s ears turned red.

Then on another wall she spotted a photo with a lot of people and the majority had silver hair.

“That was the last clan reunion,” explained Ellys “Yes, the Whitethorn is a big clan.”

“You really all have silver hair or almost.”

Morwenna giggled “It’s a family trait apparently. We found photos of very old ancestors and they had silver hair. The green eyes are not that prominent but a lot of us do.”

They finally took a seat on the large sofa and Morwenna brought iced tea and a few appetisers. Aelin was ravenous. The effects of the big breakfast were disappearing.

“Here, lunch will be ready soon but this will keep hunger away for a bit,” the woman winked at her “I also made chocolate cake for dessert.”

“Rowan, I love your aunt already.”

“It doesn’t take much. Promise her food and sweets and she is yours.”

Aelin lightly punched Rowan and he yelped in protest.

“So, Rowan how is being a paramedic going?”

Rowan had discovered that both Enda and Sellene had kept uncle Ellys informed about what was happening.

“I love it.”

Aelin leaned towards him and kissed his cheek “he is really good too. He finished top of his class and also was kept at my house as a reward. I am so proud of him.”

Morwenna smiled fondly at her nephew “your parents would be proud too.”

Rowan squeezed her hand and in that instant uncle Ellys cleared his voice “have you planned what to do while you are here?”

“I want to explore as much as I can. I want to go back to Doranelle and I need to see Mistward and of course I need to see all Rowan’s stomping grounds.” She grinned deeply.

Aelin stomach grumbled quite loudly and the group laughed and aunt Morwenna stood “I think it’s lunch time.”

“Damn buzzard, do all the Whitethorn cook that way? Because your aunt’s meal was incredible.”

After the meal they had gone to their cottage and while Rowan was unpacking, Aelin was sprawled on the bed in a t-shirt and shorts and her hand was caressing her bump “we are so full.”

Rowan chuckled “It’s a family thing. Wait for grandma…”

She sat up “I want the stew even if it’s in the middle of summer.”

He walked to his wife and kissed her neck and Aelin hummed and in that instant she felt something flutter in her belly and froze “Ro?”

At the panic in her voice he dropped the clothes and sat at her side “what is it?”

Aelin moved her hand once more and then squealed in delight and grabbed his, placing in a precise spot “she is kicking.”

Rowan waited and his expression morphed in one of pure joy as soon as he felt a kick from their daughter.

“She is here, she is really here.” He sat down and pulled Aelin to him, while his hand never left the bump “Thank you fireheart for all this.”

She looked into his green eyes and caressed the face of the man who held her heart. Even after three months Aelin sometimes was still incredulous at the idea that they were finally married. They had been through so much that it felt at times that happiness was not in their futures, but now, looking into her husband’s eyes she realised that they just needed patience “I love you, Rowan,” a gentle kiss on his lips while her hand joined his on her belly “and I am so looking forward to meet our daughter.”

“Motherhood is making you cheesy.”

In response she gently punched his arms and Rowan fell on the bed and pretended to be in pain “You violent woman…”

Aelin then kissed him and straddled him “can I make it up to you?”

A deep laugh escaped Rowan’s lips and he pillowed his hands behind his head “I am all yours.”

The following morning aunt Morwenna welcomed them with a gigantic breakfast and had packed food too for their excursion.

“Ro, three weeks at this rate and I will have a food baby too.”

He grinned at her “I told my aunt you eat a lot.”

It was their first day of exploring and Rowan had decided to start easy and a bit later to allow Aelin to relax a bit.

He dumped the backpack in the car and the food bag too and made sure Aelin was properly settled.

“Do you have everything? Last chance for a quick bathroom break.”

“I think my bladder is behaving at the moment.”

“Good,” a quick kiss and he went to the driver’s side. They had decided to start with Mistward fortress on that day.

The road towards the fortress had started with lowlands until peaks had started to appear in the distance “those are the Cambrian mountains, Enda and I loved hiking there and dad would take us there for our camping trips.”

Aelin grabbed her guide book and started reading more info on the area “is there a long climb to Mistward?”

Rowan shook his head “no, less than a kilometre. They had to place the car park south of it because it was the only location and you will see why.”

Aelin squealed excited and went back staring at the landscape around her.

It took them a good forty minutes to reach the base and start the climb with the car. At the car park she looked up and gasped in amazement. The fortress was perched on the rugged edges of the ridge of the mountains and spread along it in a structure that seemed almost too fragile.

Rowan got out and took her hand “we are climbing slowly. They have steps.”

Aelin grinned “I am a pro at steps.”

Turned out that pregnant Aelin was not as good as she thought and they had to stop a few times. She complained but Rowan just waited at her side and passed her water without saying anything.

Once at the top, Aelin sat on a bench and cursed mountains and steep staircases.

The fortress lay in front of them and she stared at it in amazement.

“It’s a stunning place.”

Her husband grinned “wait to get to the lookout point to be truly amazed.”

Aelin grinned and she patted his leg “I am rested, let’s explore.”

They walked around the grounds and Rowan stopped in a room “There are legends connected to Mistward and Doranelle in general,” his arms went around her waist landing on her bump “It is told that Doranelle was the land of the immortal fae,” he started and Aelin sank back in his chest “The castle in Doranelle was the residence of the fae queen and Mistward was were all the demi-fae would end,” he explained, remembering all of the stories his father had told him “They would have to prove themselves to be admitted into Doranelle.”

“That’s mean.”

“She was a cruel queen and hated all the non purebloods.”

She turned in his arms “are all these stories in books?”

Rowan nodded “in Doranelle we can go book shopping and buy you a book with all the legends from Wendlyn.”

“You are the man of my dreams,” Aelin grabbed Rowan’s hand “Let’s keep exploring…”

He finally took her to the outpost and Aelin gasped at the amazing view. They could see all around them and as far as the Great Ocean. The sight was breathtaking.

Rowan pulled his wife to his chest and his jaw landed on her head “over there there is home, you can’t see it but Terrasen is in that direction,” then he turned their bodies and they stared at the Cambrian Mountains, some of the highest peaks still had some snow “they are almost just as stunning as the Staghorns.”

Rowan chuckled “I love them but nothing beats Oakwald and the Staghorns, they are too majestic.”

“That’s why I said almost.” After their exploring Rowan took her to the gift shop where Aelin ended up buying a book about the actual history of Mistward, then one about all the legends of Wendlyn and one about the fae and the immortal lands.

“You bought the entire shop?”

“They had interesting titles.”

Slowly they made their descent back to the car park and once back down Rowan took her exploring some of the surrounding areas until he noticed Aelin getting tired and he took them both home “You can finish the day in the pool.”

“Whitethorn, that is an amazing idea.”

The following morning they started a bit earlier. The day before they had spent the rest of the day at the pool and in the end his uncle and aunt had suggested a barbecue and the four of them ended up having a great meal near the water. Now they were back in the car and Rowan had decided to spend the day in Doranelle and Aelin was excited at going down the memory lane.

“I want to go inside the castle this time and join a guided tour. The first time I was too busy trying to spend all the time I could with you. This time is different and I want to do all the touristy things.”

Rowan grinned “as my lady commands.”

Rowan left the car at a park and ride just outside and then they took the subway all the way into the centre of Doranelle. As they exited Aelin spotted the castle standing tall in front of her, with all the rivers behind it. The place was just as stunning as she remembered it. Aelin walked to the ledge and stared at the rivers joining behind the castle and her hand brushed her belly “Dad and I started our journey here in Doranelle,”

Rowan’s arms sneaked around her frame and joined hers on the bump “your mum bought a dress that made your dad melt.”

“Shhh… she doesn’t need to know that, we are just sharing interesting moments.”

Rowan kissed her head “This is where I think I started falling hard for your mum.”

Aelin hummed and leaned against his hard chest and closed her eyes, letting his scent envelop her.

They both remained in silence until Aelin pushed away and grabbed his hand “come on buzzard, your wife and daughter want to play tourist.” He grinned and took her hand. He was still getting used to their status but he loved how the word wife sounded on his lips. They had done it. Somedays he still had to shake his head incredulous.

“Using our daughter it’s very unfair.”

She walked to him and grabbed both his hands “because I know that you’d do anything for your favourite women.”

That was true. They were his everything.

Aelin had loved the tour and had been fascinated by the history of the country. She also had fun glaring at a few women eating Rowan with their eyes and making comments that had now been appropriate. Rowan had managed to rein her in and avoid bloodshed.

After the tour he had taken his wife for lunch on one of the river cruises. He chuckled as they queued and Aelin started scanning the boat to make sure it looked safe. He was now used to her firefighter mode kicking in at the most unexpected moment.

“I hope the boat is safe and properly maintained.”

Rowan groaned and apologised to the other people. It was Orynth tower all over again.

Turned out the boat had been safe and they had an amazing small cruise with a superb lunch. Rowan’s phone was filling up quickly with Aelin’s pictures and some with him too. He was going to plaster his locker door at work with their pictures.

It was only later on in the afternoon when his super energetic wife had started complaining about behind tired. He bought her ice cream but eventually he dragged her home with the promise of massages. Aelin had caved very quickly.

The following day Aelin was relaxing by the pool, suntanning and enjoying the peace of the countryside. Rowan had gone out with his uncle on some mysterious errand. She had spotted the two men busy in hushed conversations a few times and was now curious to know what they were planning.

She was engrossed in her book when Morwenna joined her on the long chair at her side, a glass of iced tea in her hands too.

“Mind if I join you?”

“No, please.”

The woman relaxed in the chair, releasing a deep breath “that’s all the morning chores of the farm done.”

“Is the farm busy?”

She nodded “all our cottages have a constant turnaround. It’s rare they lie empty.”

“Now I feel bad that Rowan and I used one.”

Morwenna patted her arm “don’t even think about it. I haven’t seen Rowan in a very long time. When he called us I could not believe it. Ellys and I have been counting down the days to thsi visit.”

Aelin sighed, after the wedding they had discussed honeymoon ideas and she had pushed for Wendlyn, she wanted to meet his family. He had caved, admitting that he wanted to resume contacts once more.

“I know about Lyria, about his past. Sellene told me, but promised not to tell him. It broke my heart when she told me.”

Aelin looked at the woman in surprise.

“We are a big family, we look after each other and Sellene was very heartbroken when she came back from Orynth and told us of his situation. I think she was looking for a way to help him.”

Aelin’s hand went on her bump where she could feel her daughter move lightly “he was…” a deep sigh “when I met him, he was in a very dark place. The woman was ready to divorce him and pregnant with another’s man child. She lied to him,” anger rose in her “and he kept blaming himself. Those two women destroyed him. It took me a while to convince him he was worthy of being loved.”

“I have never heard Sellene being that mad at someone.”

Aelin chuckled, Sellene had been such an amazing support.

“Thank you for looking after him and making him happy.”

Her thumb brushed absentmindedly her wedding band “we helped each other. He is caring and sweet and I can’t wait to see him being a dad.”

Morwenna chuckled “I bet he will be like his dad. Involved in every aspect of the child’s life. It pained Alistair greatly when he had to deploy,” she looked at Aelin “he reminds me so much of his father.”

The two women remained in silence for a while, pondering of those words.

“Are you ready for the big gathering tomorrow?” Morwenna was the first one to break the silence.

“I am absolutely excited at the idea of being surrounded by the whole clan.”

Morwenna laughed happily “Nana Ciara is already preparing the stew and apparently a massive feast. She had learned that Rowan married a woman with an appetite and she is delighted.”

“Apparently she is a legend. Sellene, Enda and Rowan filled me up on her.” “My husband might be the head of the clan, but she is the heart.”

The baby kicked hard and Aelin laughed “my daughter is excited too apparently.”

The two women spent the afternoon outside and Aelin indulged in a swim too.

It was later on in the evening when the two men came back to the estate and Rowan joined Aelin. Morwenna went back inside and Aelin was alone soaking in the pool.

“Fancy some company?” Rowan towered from the edge of the pool and at her nod he pulled off his t-shirt, remaining in his swimming trunks. He had probably changed before joining her.

“Come here, your daughter loves to be a little fish.”

Rowan swam to her and stopped between her legs and his hands landed on her bump “you like, swimming?”

He felt a kick and leaned forward to kiss his wife.

“Where did you and your uncle do?”

Rowan chuckled and sat at her side, pulling her closer. He had spoken to his uncle and told him of his plan and Ellys had helped him right away. “We went to see a cottage.”

She turned her head with curiosity.

“What about us buying a house here in Wendlyn? Like a holiday place.”

Aelin squealed in delight “Really? I’d love to.”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded.

“Uncle helped me. There is one place not too far from here. I can take you see it.”

“Please.”

They soaked in the pool until dinner time and Rowan told her all about the cottage in the countryside.

When the day of the clam meeting arrived, Aelin was excited and woke up early too. She was giddy and apparently her daughter felt her happiness too and had been a little hellion. Rowan made her a very light breakfast claiming that lunch was probably going to be quite substantial but Aelin ignored him complaining that he could not let his daughter and fat wife starve. Rowan replied with a resigned sigh and a gentle roll of his eyes.

Slowly the clan had started to trickle in later on in the morning. Aelin and Rowan were at the centre of attention and wether he was eager to keep to the sidelines, Aelin transformed in asocial utterly and made friend with all of his relatives. Within an hour she had collected their phone numbers and exchanged social media profiles. He shook his head. He was amazed at her easiness at social interactions, a skill he envied her a lot on some occasions.

“Looks like Aelin is already one of us,” uncle Ellys voice reached him as he stepped closer “Nana already loves her.”

Rowan stared at his wife and chuckled as he noticed her and nana Ciara involved in a deep discussion, probably about food.

“It will be nice to have you and your family here from time to time.”

Rowan smiled at his uncle “Yeah, I want our daughter to learn half of her roots and it’s very important for Aelin too.” “Come on, I can see nana calling everyone to battle station. I hope you skipped breakfast.”

The two men joined the big table that had been prepared outside in the garden. Rowan joined Aelin and together they walked to the main table with nana Ciara, and uncle Ellys and his wife.

Before the meal started Ellys rose for a speech “It gives me great pleasure to have the clan gathered on such a joyous day. We Whitethorns are a big family but it’s always a great moment when we can add one person to this clan,” he indicated Aelin “You are officially one of us now, and so is your daughter. Welcome.”

Aelin nodded and sniffled then stood slowly, a hand on her swollen belly “My daughter and I are very happy to be part of this. I have lost my family a long time ago and I am left with a cousin whom I love like a brother. But being part of this makes me very happy,” she turned to her husband “And I hope to have in the future many more of these gathering as Rowan and I have decided to buy a place here too for holidays.”

Rowan stood at her side with a grin “Aelin and I are in the process of acquiring a cottage not far from here. I have been far away far too long, but no more. I want my daughter to know the rest of her family.” His arm sneaked behind her back and pulled his wife closer.

All the participants cheered and nana Ciara walked to Rowan and Aelin and hugged them both “now let your wife sit down and let me feed her.”

Aelin burst out in a loud laugh and took her seat once more and the old woman arrived a moment later with a gigantic dish full of her stew.

The woman’s green eyes landed on her in expectation and Aelin took a first spoonful of food.

What she was nor expecting was the explosion of flavours in her mouth. Her eyes closer to savour it and images of woods, nature and snow hit her. The stew brought back memorise of summer adventures with Aedion in the Staghorns, the feeling of home. Enda had done a grand job on his version but this, the original, was completely different experience.

“This is the most amazing stew I have ever tasted in my life.”

The old woman nodded in approval and then every one started grabbing a helping.

Rowan kissed Aelin’s head “Told you.”

The meal had gone on for hours and Aelin realised she had missed that tradition. Family really was important for the Whitethorns and she loved it.

She was walking around the garden to shake off some of the food when she spotted Rowan walking towards her with nana Ciara in tow.

“Nana has something she wants to say to both of us…”

The woman smiled deeply and took Aelin’s hands “You are having a girl, isn’t it?”

Aelin nodded and brushed a hand on her bump.

“And have you two settled on a name?”

Rowan looked at his wife “Nothing that we like, we have read a lot of options…”

Nana smiled then her hand went on Aelin’s bump and in that instant the baby kicked hard “There is a name which is local to here in some of the more remote communities, that I think it will be perfect for your little girl,” the woman paused and stared at both of them “It’s Maya. In the language of one of the tribes deep in the Cambrian mountain it means courage, bravery.” With that she left and Aelin looked at Rowan “It’s perfect.”

He pulled his wife close to his chest and kissed her head “It really is…”

The honeymoon had passed in a breeze, far too quick for Aelin’s taste and now they were in front of the farm where uncle Ellys was helping Rowan to load the car. They had explored all they could, Rowan had taken her to some of stomping grounds in teh woods and he went down the memory lane with her.

Now, three weeks later they it was time to say farewell and Aelin stared at all the boxes and extra bags.The family had inundated them with gifts for the wedding and the baby and Rowan had stocked up in foods and spices from home that he struggled to find in Terrasen. Those three weeks had been perfect and she was happy at the idea that they will soon have a cottage all for themselves to get back to. Uncle Ellys had promised Rowan to keep him updated on the works. They were giddy and excited for this new adventure in their lives.

It was a few hours later when they were back on the ferry. The boat had pushed away from the pier and Rowan and Aelin were standing on the stern outer deck and watched Wendlyn slowly gliding away. Rowan moved behind his wife and his hand reached at the front, including Maya in the embrace “thank you for making me do this.”

“I love your family, Ro.”

His face disappeared in the crook of her neck and in that instant their daughter kicked hard, probably to make her opinion heard.

Rowan looked at the sea ahead. Looked towards home and to a life that he had searched for, for a long time. He chuckled, he would have set fire the hangar himself if he had known it would have brought him his dreams and the woman in his arms.

The love of his life.

On a wall of their home, now hang now a picture of the clan Whitethorn with a smiling Aelin in the middle beside nana Ciara and uncle Ellys.

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