Rowen eased herself out of the flighter and had an idea.

"Could we watch the sunset from the trees?" she asked hopefully. Ayren smiled at her.

"That's a great idea."

Rowen began scaling the nearest tree. Soon, she reached a branch toward the middle that had a sizeable distance from itself to the next sturdy branch. "Help," she called.

Ayren fluttered up and linked his fingers together to create a foothold. He flew a few inches in the air to close the remaining gap.

Rowen shrieked at this, clinging to the branch as if her life depended on it. "Shit, Ayren," she hissed, "I'd like to not die climbing a tree!"

"Here lies Rowen," Ayren intoned in a deep voice. "An odd death. Felled by a bad-tempered tree."

"Culprit assisted by one færie," Rowen added, mimicking his voice. Ayren laughed and slowly flew beside her, giving her a boost when need be.

They finally reached a branch where they had a wonderful view of the now halfway-set sun. Ayren settled behind her, in case she fell.

Rowen resisted the urge to lean back into him. Instead, she focused on the sunset.

"I've always loved sunsets," she whispered. "Mom takes me to this lake sometimes with a perfect view of the sunset. We'll just sit and talk about actual, meaningful crap. It's the only time she'll act like an adult now." She sighed, tapping her fingers absently against the tree trunk.

Ayren finally spoke. "Rowen?" She carefully turned around to face him.

Ayren stared at her, an odd expression on his face. her heart skipped a beat and she stopped breathing.

"Guys?" Jason's voice rang through the forest, and the moment was gone.

"Up here," called Rowen. Ayren flew down to help Jason up.

By the time Jason reached the branch, the sun was gone, slipped behind the horizon to wait for another day.

"I saw you guys land," Jason told them, panting slightly. "I think I was the only one who saw it, though." Ayren nodded.

"Besides sunsets, this is my favorite part of the day," Rowen murmured, watching stars appear in the night sky, as if someone was flipping on switches.

"Why?" asked Ayren.

"Everything about it, I guess." Rowen shrugged. "The fact that some of those stars are dead, but they live on through their light. And that they're huge flaming spheres of gas burning so far away. The constellations. Their beauty. I just...love everything about the stars, I guess."

Ayren made a little noise, somewhere between a laugh and a hm. "They've always made me feel small."

Rowen traced Orion's Belt with her eyes. "That's always been the point, hasn't it?" she murmured. Neither of the boys responded.

*

Ayren made himself a comfortable nest of sorts in the tree trunk. An abandoned bear owl nest was a cozy nook to curl up in.

"What's a bear owl?" Jason asked quizzically when Ayren explained where he would be sleeping.

Ayren snorted, clearing out the hollow of egg fragments and feathers the size of his forearm. "They are some bigass owls, my friend."

"Well, we're gonna head back to camp," Rowen finally said when he was done. "You sure you'll be fine out here?"

"I'm a big boy." Ayren grinned at her. "I can take care of myself."

"Okay." Rowen grabbed Jason's hand and they walked off into the darkness.

Ayren stayed awake for a long time, thinking and watching the stars out of the nest entrance. As he finally drifted off to sleep, he decided that he agreed with Rowen.

That has always been the point.

*

Rowen awoke to a throbbing pain in her back and a spiking headache.

She carefully and painfully stood, holding her head in her hands, trying to remember where she was. Then she remembered.

She and Jason had crept into camp late last night. Instead of waking an official to procure a sleeping area, they had simply crashed in Maria's tent, Jason on two chairs pushed together and Rowen on the floor.

Jason was still sound asleep, mouth open slightly and head hanging off the chairs. It look horribly uncomfortable.

"Hey." Rowen prodded him. He opened his eyes blearily.

"Wha - owwww." His hands flew to his neck and he gasped in pain.

"Breathe through it," Rowen suggested, trying not to laugh.

"Damn, that hurts," he wheezed, carefully getting to his feet. "Ow, ow, ow."

"Oh, suck it up, you big baby," Rowen laughed.

A raspy voice sounded behind them, startling them both. "God, I missed you guys."

"Maria!" Rowen shrieked, hugging her friend and stepping back to let Jason through. He had obviously completely forgotten about his aching neck.

Rowen stepped toward the flap of the tent, suspecting what was about to happen...

Sure enough, Jason kissed Maria. With a small smile, Rowen went outside, where she found a small group of medical færies waiting.

"There's an, um, very...emotional...reunion going on in there," Rowen stammered awkwardly.

"They're kissing," said the lead medic flatly.

"Yes, they are," Rowen responded. "And there is no way I'm letting you in there. Come back in five. Shoo. Shoo." She waved the confused and grinning medics away from Maria's tent. Sighing, she shouted into the tent, "Five minutes! Ready, set, kiss!"

"Go away!" Jason countered. Laughing, Rowen obeyed. She headed to the king's tent to talk over the day's game plan.

Rowen didn't find any trouble from the guards, but noted that they followed her in, stopping by the exit and resting their hands on their swords.

"What's going on?" she asked the king quietly. He rose, keeping his eyes trained on her. Rowen couldn't help feeling like this was a predator/prey showdown.

"Multiple soldiers reported seeing you bombing the enemy from above with a strange soldier whom nobody recognized." The king stopped, staring deep into Rowen's eyes. "This army has to stay loyal and strong in its beliefs that you are some holy saint here to save us all. If you undermine this by fraternizing with the enemy - "

"He's not the enemy!" Rowen snapped, and instantly clapped a hand over her mouth. But it was too late.

The king's eyes glinted with triumph. "Explain yourself. Quickly."

So she did. She told him of the horrible trials Ayren had undergone, of how he had been a true friend and comrade in finding Maria. She explained how many times he had rescued people, proven himself worthy.

The king listened silently, eyebrows furrowed. When Rowen finished, he stroked his chin and turned away from her.

"This is...information we hadn't known," he finally said slowly. "All we knew is that he had worked for Terr and was a ruthless assassin."

Ayren's a murderer. Rowen had known this, deep down, but to hear it said out loud...she shivered.

I love a murderer.

"Rowen? Are you okay?"

She blinked and shook her head slightly to dislodge the unwanted thoughts. "Fine. I just...it's been a lot, sir. This past week or so, I mean."

The king nodded. "I know. And I trust your judgement. You may fight alongside Ayren. Today, I want you to continue attacking from above."

"Sure thing," Rowen agreed, spirits rising.

"Oh, and he's not allowed in my camp."

Rowen swallowed her protests and nodded curtly. The king was being extremely generous as it was.