"Sparrow!" I said hurrying forward. Rowen cradled her shivering body to his.

"She needs dry clothes and something warm to drink," he said walking out to the hall.

I nodded, going ahead. "Anders! Can you get something warm to drink, soup or just warm water? Our little stowaway is Rowen's sister. She's nearly frozen," I said, grabbing the first sailor I found. He nodded. "Bring it to my room," I said. He then hurried off. "Alakay, please go inform the captain. I'm taking Rowen and Sparrow to my room," I said, then led the way to my small cabin. Although I argued that I did not need my own room I was the queen and thus they had not been willing to even listen to my arguments. Rowen quickly stripped Sparrow's clothes off and pulled a blanket from my bed wrapping her in it. Going to my trunk I pulled out the smallest shirt I had. "Here, put this on her then wrap the blanket back around her," I said.

Rowen nodded his thanks. "You're going to be okay," he whispered to her in their native tongue.

A few minutes later, a knock at the door brought Anders with chicken broth. "The cook says to let him know once she's finished this then he'll send down some bread," he said.

"Thank you, Anders," I said. After he left I took a seat beside Rowen. "Oh Sparrow, you're soaked," I said. Quickly standing back up I grabbed a towel. Then I reached forward and gently started drying her hair trying to get some warmth back into her little body. I stayed with them for a little while longer before making my exit to give them time together and inform those above on what was happening.

I stayed on deck for an hour before going below to check on Rowen and Sparrow. Sliding into the room I found that they were now laying on my bed. Sparrow snuggled against her brother's chest sound asleep. "How is she?" I asked softly.

Rowen sat up as best he could. "Tired, hungry, and cold, but she will be alright," he said running his fingers through her hair. "I don't know what went through her mind that made her think this was a good idea," he said, shaking his head.

Smiling, I took a seat beside the bed. "Her thoughts were she could help and if we wouldn't let her she'd just prove it. I often had that thought when I was her age," I said.

"And I'm sure that it got you into just as much trouble as it has and will get this one into," he said with a sigh. "She wants so badly to help, but so often that help leads to more trouble."

"Yeah, it takes a while to understand the difference between wanting to help and being able to help. With you as her brother, I don't doubt she will learn that difference though," I said.

Rowen let out a soft laugh. "It might kill me, but yes, she will learn," he said. "I'm just dreading the talk I will have to have with her tomorrow. Not only will she not see how she could have caused tremendous trouble, but her images of Nivetara are not what we will be facing."

I waited for him to continue, to share part of his story. I was dying to hear. However, now would not be the time. He remained silent as he watched his sister sleep. "I can sleep elsewhere so you two can have this cabin tonight," I said softly.

He quickly shook his head. "No, I don't want to put you out on account of me. If you're alright with it though, it would be nice if Sparrow could stay. The men may be kind, but I don't know them all and Sparrow is just a child," he said.

"Of course. She's a welcome guest," I said, smiling at him.

"She is no guest. She is a little stowaway. Tomorrow I will be having a conversation with her and the captain. Typically a stowaway would be put to work and then imprisoned in the country they land in until they can be transported back to their origin country," he explained. My eyes went wide and he quickly shook his head. "I just want the captain to explain the severity of what she's done. Then we will work together to find ways for her to earn her keep," he said.

Rowen stayed in the cabin until nightfall. He then said his goodbyes and went to his quarters. I quickly got into my night clothes and quietly climbed into bed with Sparrow. She moaned slightly then curled in beside me.

The following morning I woke before Sparrow did and lay watching her. During the night she'd tossed and turned causing her hair to be everywhere. Not long after her eyes fluttered open. "Sam? Where's Rowen?" she yawned.

"Good morning little one," I said brushing her wild bangs out of her face. "Rowen went to sleep with the men. You slept with me here in my cabin. Are you feeling better?" I asked.

She nodded as she sat up. "Is Row super mad?" she asked.

I sat up and grabbed my brush hoping to bring her hair into a manageable state. "He's upset that you would try something like this. It was very dangerous," I said.

Sighing, she leaned back as the brush pulled her hair. "Everyone on the ship is safe though. King Syrus is a good man and so are his people," she defended.

"They are. However, there are other dangers. You could have been injured down below or there could have been other stowaways. Then, where we are going is not a safe place," I tried to explain.

"But it's my home! I have a right to go back. I want to know where I came from and I want to help you," she said turning around to face me.

Smiling, I nodded my head. "And those are good points. However, there are counterpoints to each. Rowen knows what is best. He knows the state of Nivetara and if now would be a good time for you to go back. Then as for you helping me, I needed you at home," I said, turning her back so I could finish her hair. "Let's get you dressed. You have a conversation with Rowen to get to," I said, laughing as she groaned. Her clothes were still soaked and so I did the best I could. Grabbing a shirt of mine I pulled it over her head then tied my belt around her waist turning the shirt into a dress. Hand in hand the two of us headed to the deck. Rowen was standing with my brothers and Nate. I felt Sparrow try to slip behind me. Pulling her hand I shook my head. "You knew what you were doing was wrong. Now you must face the consequences for your actions," I said.

With a deep breath, Sparrow squared her shoulders and nodded. She released my hand and walked up to her brother. "I'm ready to talk," she said. He nodded, but said nothing as he took her little hand and led her away from the crowd of people.

"Land ho! Port side," Anders called from the crows nest.

"Land? I thought it was supposed to take weeks to get to Nivetara!" Sparrow cried, grabbing my hand and pulling me to the left side of the boat.

I stood beside her and narrowed my eyes on the landmass in the distance. "That would be nice. However, we can't possibly already be there," I told her. Sparrow scrunched up her brows.

"Sam's right. That landmass would be Forgotten Island," Nate said, walking up on her right.

Sparrow turned to me in confusion. "Forgotten Island used to be called Shamwari Island. Shamwari is the word for friend in our trade language. Years ago, before even my father was born, Auroja, Nivetara, Moshad and Eskaly had castles on the island. They would gather and celebrate their friendship. Then disagreements came and war followed. No longer was the island a place of peace and friendship, but of war and turmoil. The island was abandoned and the castles fell to ruin. The island is now a hideout and a place one does not go for a good time," I explained.

She nodded slowly. "So the island's name was changed to show the loss in friendship... why can't they just get over the past and start new friendships?" she asked.

Nate smiled down at her. "Maybe someday they will. It takes a leader from every kingdom willing to work together," he said.

"Sam! You can do it! You can bring back Shamwari Island!" she said, throwing her arms around me. She grabbed my hand and ran to Rowen. "Ro! Sam's gonna bring back Shamwari Island!" she cried excitedly.

"Now hold on! I am just starting my new roll. I have a lot to learn before starting a multi-nation treaty," I said.

"And you have a lot to learn about cleaning and caring for a ship's deck," Rowen said, grabbing her hand as she went to run away.

"My hands hurt from yesterday's lesson! Give me a break!" she cried, trying to free herself.

He shook his head. "You knew there would be consequences. If you weren't prepared to face them, you shouldn't have stowed away."

"This is stupid! You just want to see me hurt. I won't go," she cried, glaring at her brother.

Rowen turned calmly and stood above her. "You know that's not true. You're mad at the situation, not me."

She shook her head. "No! I'm mad at you! Now let me go!" She then pulled back her free hand and attempted a punch with her left.

Rowen easily caught her fist. He narrowed his eyes on her and she froze. "Enough! Let's go," he said moving his hand to her shoulder and guiding her away from the small crowd.

"What just happened?" Shepherd asked looking around.

"I'm not sure... but this vaguely reminded me of Alex and Sam's first meeting," Nate said.

I shook my head at the playful jab. "Sparrow doesn't think that her punishment is fair. She was arguing that she shouldn't have to," I said.

"You understood that?" Louis asked, raising an eyebrow.

I shrugged my shoulder. "Bits, but mostly I've heard her arguing multiple times this past week," I said.

Benedict nodded. "She'll understand in time. Now, let's get to practicing!" he said, nodding for us to find an open area. A few days ago he'd started us on sword drills. We were awful. None of us realized how different it would be to fight on a ship with the moving waves rather than firm ground.

"I for one will be glad to get on solid ground," Alakay said as he stumbled as he tried to deflect my sword while a rather large wave sent the ship up. We were three or four days out of Nivetara and each day had taken to practicing swordsmanship.

Grinning, I continued my advance. "I for one don't mind the advantage it is giving me," I said, as I pushed Alakay into a corner.

Alakay dropped his sword and lunged at me knocking me to the deck. He quickly tore my sword from my hand and pinned me down. "Although we may be on a ship, I still have advantages," he smirked.

Laughing, I let my body relax waiting for Alakay to get up. After a moment he got to his feet and pulled me to mine. "How's it going Sparrow?" I asked as she came walking by.

She groaned as she came to stand in front of Alakay and I. "The consequences of a stowaway stink. My hands are going raw scrubbing the deck and the splinters are awful," she said. Alakay and I did our best to hide our amusement. "I just hope on the return trip I've paid for my crime and won't have to do as much,"

"Where are you heading now?" I asked.

She nodded to the stern of the ship. "I have to help Anders check the riggings," she said.

"Do you happen to know where Rowen is?" I asked. Each day we had been spending time together so he could instruct me on Nivetarian culture and manners. However the past few days he hadn't been around much.

Sparrow pointed to the crows nest. "He's taken a turn in the nest," she said, before saying her goodbyes and heading towards Anders who was calling her name.

"I'm going to go talk to Rowen. I'll see you later," I said, before climbing up to where Rowen was. He glanced at me when I got to him, but said nothing. I stood silently with him for a moment looking out at the vast blue waters. "Rowen, did I do something wrong?" I asked.

He quickly turned to me, raising an eyebrow. "Why would you assume that?" he questioned.

"Well for the majority of the trip you have been very open. Part of all the activities on the ship. However, over the past few days you have started to slip into the shadows. We've stopped our daily cultural lessons. The only one you really talk to is Sparrow and even she has mentioned a change," I said, carefully.

Rowen sighed running a hand through his hair before leaning his arms onto the top of the rail. "It has nothing to do with you, nothing to do with anyone on this ship but myself," he responded. "When we first boarded the ship it felt like a dream, that maybe what we are doing isn't real. However, the past few days as we come closer to shore I am hit by the truth of our situation," he said, standing and turning to me once again. "The day we landed in Auroja, I promised myself I would never go back. I was set on never returning to Nivetara. Yet here I am sailing to the land I never wanted to step foot in again, and to top it all Sparrow is here. I never wanted her to come, to face what our mother and I had to."

I took a step forward. "Rowen, what is it that you left behind? Once you started to tell me, but we were interrupted. What is it that had you so set on never returning?" I asked softly.

Rowen stood silent as he looked at me. His body tense as whatever it was he feared raced through his mind. "It seems now is the time for us to finish that conversation," he said, then turned back to the ocean. "My father, Mikkel, was the son of an earl. He grew up in the lap of luxury. Each year his family became a little more wealthy and a little closer to becoming a duke. Even as an earl, they were often included in the higher circles," he said.

"Wait! I thought that your father worked on a ship. Why would the son of an earl hold such a position?" I asked.

He glanced at me with a slight smile. "If you let me, I was about to get to that," he said. He nodded as I quickly shut my mouth. "My grandfather was often sent to other nations on tasks for the king. Each time, my father would go with him. It was on these trips when they stopped in Beyset that he met my momma. She was the daughter of the dockmaster. They fell in love and my father was set on marrying her, even though she was Aurojain and below his station."

I gasped. I knew that Yavana was Aurojain, but knew little else. "So your father gave up his title for your mother?" I asked.

Rowen nodded. "In a way. He was actually disowned. His father was furious. Tried everything to stop him, but my father was a determined man. He was willing to give everything up to be with momma. They were happy together. Papa got a job working on ships. He started out as an able body sailor on the ship that Eliakim was quartermaster. They became fast friends and Papa quickly made his way to be Eliakim's first mate," he paused as he thought of the next part of his story. "Things were good. Soon I came along and knew no other life. We were happy, even happier when Sparrow was born. When Sparrow was just over two and I was ten the ship that father worked on was tasked with taking Lord Dokken's daughter to Moshad to wed a Moshadian prince. Lord Dokken is one of the higher Dukes in Nivetara and so this was a tremendous responsibility and an honor," his fist tightened on the rail.

"Rowen, if you don't want to continue I understand. This is a lot more than I expected," I said, reaching out to place a hand on his shoulder.

He shook his head. "It feels right to share, let me continue," he said and with a nod from myself he did. "No one knows what really happened, but the ship never made it to Moshad. Lord Dokken's daughter was never seen again. A few men made their way home, all with their own stories. The one thing that remained the same was that my father and Eliakim had some part to play. Father and Eliakim stayed for a month then disappeared. When Eliakim was in Jarrow it was the first I saw of either of them since that day," he said, his voice breaking. "Momma tried to keep our life the same in Sayven, but with the blame on Papa we could not. Momma lost the job she had and the house we lived in. We moved to the docks where the dockmaster took pity on us. However, the docks of Nivetara are not a place for children to grow up. We remained for a few more months before making our way to Priaport, but there was little for us there. The people were kind, but there was no work. We made our way to Malika, but the same fate awaited us there. So when Sparrow was four and I was twelve we moved to Jarrow where we have been since."

"Rowen," I said, not sure what else to say. I had heard stories of what people thought their past was. Some rang slightly true, but none could compare to what Rowen and just told me.

"I fear what we will face when we reach shore. I look like my father. I fear what people will do, how they will act, seeing the son of a man that was turned out first by his family, then by his country. I fear how they will treat Sparrow," he said, slowly turning to look at me.

"I can't stand here and tell you that with years I am sure things have eased. What I can tell you is you are not going back alone. You are my brother and I will stand by you as one. I know that my own brothers see you the same. We will all be standing beside you. Each one of us has come to love Sparrow and will do all we can to protect her," I told him, placing my hand back on his shoulder.

He smiled at me. "And I thought I was the one that was to be standing beside you in all of this," he said.

"You will be. I know that you will be by my side when I need you. However, when you are by my side remember I am by yours," I said, smiling up at him.