Yet...

Rowan couldn't find it in her to open her eyes.

Finally, Alvaro reached the huge tree, gently setting Rowan down on it before grabbing a rope and gently tying it around her waist, just in case he couldn't reach her in time if she fell. "Okay! Here we are." He was smiling widely as he touched down next to her on the same large branch she stood on.

The view was amazing, it was as if you could see everything up here. Alvaro's village, the distant human villages, and even further along, the human palace. Where Rowan's parents lived.

Rowan grabbed Alvaro's arm and gasped, "The... that palace! I didn't know... that you'd be able to see it from here." Mother... Father... Rowan missed her parents, even if she didn't regret her decisios. This freedom she'd found ment everything, as did the people who stumbled into her life. "Thank you, Alvaro... I-" Her voice threatened to break, "I didn't realize how much I wanted to see the palace." Rowan would probably never go back. It wasn't who she was, or where she felt safe, but knowing her parents legacy still stood... well that meant the world to her.

Alvaro's wings fluttered lightly every nowang again as he took in Rowan's emotions. He'd been slightly worried that she would be mad at him for assuming she'd want to see her old home. Now though, he knew that he'd made the right decision. The look on Rowan's face... he could tell that she'd settled into her life but she missed her parents. In some ways, Alvaro could relate, though he didn't have the opportunity to see his parents ever again. He was happy that at least Rowan knew that they were still there.

"It wasn't a problem Rowan, I come up here often to think and thought you might enjoy the view. I've heard from the returning faeries that your parents' are still holding strong and that their kingdom is the place to go in the human world. Your siblings are doing good as well, happily married and the youngest son will be crowned king in a few years. Though I don't quite understand that part, I just thought I should give you an update." Alvaro smiled softly, his emerald eyes glowing as bright as the sunset.

im pretty sure rowan left before gwen had the helio

Rowan blinked, "Youngest... son?" There was another one? She knew of the twins - Fenor and Helen - as they had been some of her best friends growing up. But for there to be another... How... interesting. Rowan didn't know how to feel. She wondered what had happened in all the years she had been gone. It was good to know they were going strong, at least from the outside. Rowan knew that even if something was seriously wrong that Aldwin and Gwendolyn would keep it hidden, in order to keep the people calm.

'The helio' lol Yea I think she did, Alvaro can explain. I also totally didn't go back to the old forum and figure out approximately how old Helio is or anything lol

Alvaro realized that perhaps Rowan didn't know about her newest half sibling, he was a relatively new addition to the royal family. "Yes, his name is Heliotrope, I believe he is 10, maybe 9 though I am unsure. He is the heir to the throne though no one is exactly sure why Prince Fenor isn't taking it. Anyways, is there anything else you wish to know? I will happily answer any questions you may have." Alvaro was happy to help Rowan in whatever way he could, as she was his closest friend and the best human he'd ever met in his life.

Rowan smiled to herself. She knew why Fenor wasn't taking the throne. He was never the leader type of person, and if the news she heard was true, he found a lovely wife, who was the ruler of a kingdom far away. It is likely he left the kingdome to be with her, as she would be the new Queen and supreme monarch.

Alvaro looked at Rowan, her smile was so brilliant, it amazed him that she could still be so happy despite all that the woman had been through. Even he still had his moments where the despair seeped through the cracks of his walls that he'd put up...

Regardless, Alvaro was happy that he'd done something that brought a smile like that onto Rowan's face. She deserved to smile like that.