When do Rowan and Aelin get together

Romances

Aelin Galathynius

Rowan and Aelin first meet in Wendlyn when he is given the orders from the immortal Queen Maeve to take Aelin to see her. Upon meeting in Mistward, Maeve gives him the order to oversee Aelin's training before she is allowed into Maeve's realm in Doranelle.

The relationship between Rowan and Aelin at the beginning of Heir of Fire is strained, to the point of getting into fistfights and beating each other to a pulp. However, after going through a lot together, such as fighting to get rid of Skinwalkers, and hunting for dead bodies which were washed up on shores, a slow understanding starts to develop between them both. They soon start building a relationship as friends and Aelin/Celaena even remarks that she 'had loathed him', because she felt that she was looking at a 'mirror image' of herself.

Rowan and Aelin's relationship grows even more; they become more than friends but less than lovers when they become carranam during the battle of Mistward, thus 'claiming' each other. Rowan even proves his complete loyalty to Aelin when he swears the blood oath to her after Maeve freed him from her blood oath due to Aelin forcing her hand.

They have some parallels in their lives, such as their respective lovers being killed in gruesome manners and that 'collecting scars' was a result of self-inflicted 'punishment for (their) sins' due to their inability to protect others from themselves. They both share similar tattoos, Rowan's one stretching from the left side of his face to his torso; and Aelin's on her back, over her three main scars she received during her time as a slave in the Salt Mines of Endovier.

During his time in Rifthold, Rowan's relationship with Aelin grows very quickly. When they see each other after being months apart, Aelin embraces him and starts to cry, stating how much she had missed him. She later bathes him and contemplates about their relationship, how "the lines have always been blurred for them". And a day before Aelin and Dorian shattered the Glass Castle Aelin and Rowan kiss for the first time. 

After the battle in Eyllwe, it is revealed that Maeve led Rowan to believe that Lyria was his mate and then had her and their unborn child killed to break him. His real mate is Aelin, and they were married discreetly by the ship's captain under the witness of Aedion and Lysandra. He then seeks to find a way to free her from Maeve.

Lyria

Lyria was Rowan's believed mate. She was a flower seller in the markets of Doranelle. Their relationship, however, cost his favor with Maeve. When Maeve requested his presence to fight in an unnamed battle, he jumped at the chance to redeem himself, leaving Lyria in their mountain home, who unbeknownst to Rowan, was pregnant at the time. When he had been fighting for several months he heard rumors that the enemy was trying to reach Doranelle through a mountain pass. Upon hearing this news he returned home immediately, only to find her dead, murdered by soldiers. After he killed those responsible he went mad for ten years wandering the earth in his hawk form, and then Maeve found him and offered him a position among the Cadre. She has been dead 203 years, 27 days according to Rowan.

Maeve later reveals that she tricked Rowan into believing that Lyria was his mate and forced the bond. It was Maeve who sent the troops through the mountain passage and ultimately killed Lyria and their unborn child.

Friendships

Aedion Ashryver

When Aedion and Rowan first meet they are wary of each other, trading subtle comments and engaging in dominance battles. Aedion is eager to learn from Rowan and test himself against him, and is later furious when it is revealed that Rowan swore the blood oath, as he believed it was his by right. Rowan reveals that Gavriel is his father, much to the shock of Aedion.

The two eventually come to respect each other, with Aedion even referring to him as his brother. When Aelin faces the King of Adarlan, Aedion and Rowan battle the Wyrdhounds in the catacombs of the city and Aedion risks his life to protect an injured Rowan.

Fenrys Moonbeam

Rowan and Fenrys may have a confusing or unclear relationship, but Rowan may show a little affection. this can be proven by the fact what Rowan said to him when he took the blood oath and the nickname has given to him; "Boyo".

Rowan Whitethorn Galathynius is a Fae Prince, warrior, and formerly one of the six elite members of Maeve's Cadre. He is the King-Consort and mate to the Queen of Terrasen, Aelin Galathynius. He is also one of the main protagonists of the Throne of Glass series. Rowan first makes his appearance in the series in the third book, Heir of Fire.

After his blood oath with Maeve ended[2], he swore the blood oath to Aelin Galathynius and became the first official member of her court.

He is the most powerful full-blooded Fae male in existence.

Personality

Rowan is first seen as closed off, cold, and uncaring, mostly reacting with anger and annoyance at Aelin during the first few months of their training. Later on, after discovering more about Aelin's past, Rowan warms up to Aelin and is kinder and more caring, showing worry when she is hurt or weak.

Rowan is devoted by a blood oath to Aelin and will defend her at any cost. He is incredibly loyal and supportive of her choices.

As a warrior, hundreds of years old, Rowan is capable of cruelty and torture to protect what he loves.

Physical description

Rowan is tall (6'4) and broad-shouldered, with every inch of him seemingly corded with muscle. Like all Fae, he has vaguely arched ears and slightly elongated canines. He is described as having an accent, almost like a purr. He has tan skin and a wicked-looking tattoo etched down the left side of his harsh face that starts at the temple and flows over his jaw and down his throat, where it disappears beneath his clothes. Rowan and Aelin share a tattoo on their backs. He also has Gavriel's name tattooed on his arm.

He is handsome and has pine-green eyes, tan skin, and long gleaming silver hair. He later cuts his hair to short in Queen of Shadows, claiming that shorter hair is more useful for fighting.

Like other Fae, he has an animal form, which is a white-tailed hawk.  

Abilities

• Wind Magic: As a member of the Whitethorn House, Rowan possesses the ability to control and manipulate wind however he pleases. He can make cold breezes and warm breezes and can put out Aelin's fire with a thought. His magic also goes as far as to let him steal all of the oxygen out of the air for however long he needs to. He has much more magic than an average Fae.
• Ice Magic: As a member of the Whitethorn House, Rowan can control and manipulate ice. This is seen in Heir of Fire, where he freezes an entire lake during a training exercise.
• Lightning: It is mentioned on a few occasions that Rowan can create lightning, but it is unknown to what extent.
• Healing: Like all Fae, Rowan has advanced healing and great control over it.
• Immortality: Rowan, like all Fae, is immortal and cannot age or die unless fatally wounded.
• Shape-shifting: Rowan has an animal form as well, which is a white-tailed hawk. Even in this form, he can still control and use his magic.
• Combat Skills: Rowan is accounted one of the foremost warriors in the world, being able to defeat any other being in single combat and often defeat many opponents at once.

Appearances

• Heir of Fire (first appearance)
• Queen of Shadows
• Empire of Storms
  • Empire of Storms Exclusive (WHSmith) (mentioned only)
  • Empire of Storms Exclusive (Target)
  • Empire of Storms Exclusive (Barnes & Noble)
• Tower of Dawn (mentioned only)
• Kingdom of Ash

Trivia

• In Queen of Glass, Rowan's name was originally Raonn.[3]
• Rowan smells like snow and pine, just like Terrasen.
• His favorite food is a type of meat on a stick available from a street vendor in Doranelle.
• Carranam is derived from the Irish phrase "m'anam cara", which translates to "soulmate", or literally: "name friend". Rowan's carranam is Aelin.
• His favorite color is green.
• His magic is described as old and vast.
  • It takes him a full day to use it all, which is massive compared to most Fae.
• It is unknown who has more power, him or Lorcan, as Rowan is described as the most powerful Full-blooded Fae male and Lorcan as the most powerful Demi-Fae male.
• In Kingdom of Ash, Rowan had a dream of his possible future children with Aelin.

References

1. ↑ ToG character heights
2. ↑ Heir of Fire
3. ↑ Queen of Glass

Does Aelin kiss Rowan in heir of fire?

What chapter do Rowan and Aelin first kiss?

Do Aelin and Rowan sleep together?

What chapter is Rowan and Aelin?