Throne of Glass, #4
Queen of Shadows
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter 29
Overview
Rowan steadies Aelin after Aedion’s angry departure and reveals that Lorcan has followed Rowan to Rifthold, likely as Maeve’s weapon in the hunt for Aelin and the Wyrdkeys. The threat raises the stakes around Aelin’s hidden plans and makes Rowan’s protection both strategically vital and emotionally complicated.
Aelin and Rowan’s bond deepens through vulnerability and teasing, especially when Rowan rejects Chaol’s accusation that Aelin is a monster. By morning, Aelin also repairs the rift with Aedion, offering him the chance to take the blood oath later and beginning to reshape Terrasen’s traditions around her new court.
Summary
After Aedion leaves in anger, Rowan stays with Aelin in her bedroom while Aelin paces and wrestles with the burden of leading others. Aelin fears that every wrong move could ruin the people who depend on her. Rowan acknowledges that Aelin will make mistakes but reminds Aelin that Rowan swore the blood oath because Rowan believes Aelin can bear the role of queen.
Rowan then reveals the urgent reason Rowan came to Rifthold: Lorcan is in the city. Rowan tracked Lorcan from near Mistward to a ship and believes Lorcan may have followed Rowan in order to find Aelin and, through Aelin, the third Wyrdkey. Aelin and Rowan discuss Maeve’s possible motives, Lorcan’s lethality, and whether Maeve might use other members of Rowan’s former cadre to hunt the remaining keys.
Aelin asks whether Gavriel would obey Maeve even if that meant harming Aedion, now that Rowan has revealed Aedion is Gavriel’s son, but Aelin postpones the answer. As Aelin and Rowan prepare to sleep, Rowan hesitates over sharing Aelin’s bed because of appearances, safety, and Chaol’s likely interpretation. When Aelin admits Chaol blamed Aelin for what happened in Rifthold and called Aelin a monster, Rowan firmly rejects the charge and tells Aelin that if Aelin is a monster, Rowan is one too.
Aelin insists Rowan sleep in the bed, and their argument over propriety turns into teasing. Aelin deliberately wears a revealing nightgown to unsettle Rowan, then jokes with Rowan about scandalous clothing and Lorcan murdering Aelin in her sleep. The banter lightens Aelin’s mood, while Rowan privately struggles with his attraction to Aelin and the boundaries Rowan is trying to maintain.
At dawn, Aelin rises before Rowan and begins making breakfast. Aedion enters, and Aelin puts Aedion to work chopping vegetables. Aelin and Aedion apologize without dwelling on the previous night’s insults, and Aelin admits Aelin should have told Aedion about Rowan’s blood oath.
Aedion explains how much the oath meant to Aedion and how Aedion once expected to receive it. Aelin tells Aedion that Terrasen can make new traditions and that Aedion and Ren may both swear the oath if they choose. Aedion declines to do it immediately, saying Aedion will wait until Aelin is crowned and the oath can be made before the world.
Who Appears
- Aelin GalathyniusStruggles with leadership, learns Lorcan is near, teases Rowan, and reconciles with Aedion.
- Rowan WhitethornComforts Aelin, reveals Lorcan’s arrival, vows protection, and wrestles with attraction and boundaries.
- Aedion AshryverReturns after the fight, apologizes to Aelin, and postpones taking the blood oath.
- Lorcan SalvaterreAbsent but central threat; has followed Rowan to Rifthold, likely seeking Aelin and the Wyrdkeys.
- MaeveDiscussed as the likely force directing Lorcan and pursuing control of the Wyrdkeys.
- Chaol WestfallAbsent but influential; his accusation that Aelin is a monster still wounds her.
- GavrielDiscussed as Aedion’s father and a possible danger if Maeve commands him against Aedion.