Rowan pushes to her feet, turning to go into the centre of the river. "I'm done with this."

The Unseelie King doesn't let her move even an inch though. "Rowan, sit down and listen to me, until I am done."

A string of curses runs through Rowan's head as she sinks back into a seated position. "Can you just stop using my name? It's not right!"

He sighs. "I wouldn't use your name against you if you would just hear me out."

Rowan snorts in disbelief but doesn't speak. She motions for him to continue and he sits on the pebbly riverbank. The Unseelie King tilts his head back to look at the sky for a moment, his antlers gleaming in the light. He sighs.

"Shall I start at the beginning?"

Rowan doesn't respond. She can see emotions flicker across his face for a heartbeat, but when he looks back to her again, his face is impassive.

"I was walking in the forest when I met your mother. I was free of my duties for the day, something that happens so rarely in my life. As the heir to the Unseelie throne, I had much work to do. But for that afternoon, I was free. So I took the chance to enjoy the forest, the place I loved. Your mother was there too, she almost walked straight into me. If I had my glamour be any stronger, she likely would have. It didn't take long for us to become close, I snuck away from my role as prince whenever I could. Even without our growing connection, her unfamiliarity with my world was a perfect escape from it."

Rowan's mouth drops open. "You liked my mother because she made you forget?"

He quickly shakes his head. "Oh no! Of course not. I liked her personality, her free spirit. Her strength too. But is it so hard to believe that I couldn't just enjoy not having to worry about my duties for a short time?"

Rowan sighs. "I suppose it's not hard to believe at all. But you haven't explained, why did you leave Mum?"

"I was Prince of the Unseelie, their heir-"

"But that didn't stop you before!"

He snaps. "And I was beyond careful! Always watching my movements, the forest around me. Protection spells around the house, in addition to the protections already there. I did everything I could to keep her safe!" He sags. "Until it wasn't enough."

Rowan shakes her head. "I don't understand."

"I became King. My people were watching, they would have known I was sneaking away from them. The risk was too high for you both, no matter how much I wished to stay. I had to go to keep you safe." He smiles wistfully and looks down at the ground, flicking his fingers. A vine emerges from the ground and twirls around his fingers, curling over the back of his hand. "I did do one thing though, before I left."

Rowan fights it, but her curiosity is too strong. "What did you do?"

The Unseelie King's smile grows. "We chose your name. You may find out its meaning someday."

Rowan frowns. "But I know what my name means. It's a tree."

He laughs. "It's so much more than that. Go if you so desire, you're free."

The hold on Rowan's limbs disappears and she falls backwards with a shriek, slipping into the water with a splash. She comes up gasping, glaring at him. But she's laughing too.

"Really?" He shrugs. Rowan giggles for a moment before her expression sobers. She sits up in the water, water streaming off her hair. "There's one thing I don't understand."

"Oh?" He lifts an eyebrow at her. "What don't you understand?"

"Based on what you said, I think I can understand why you had to leave Mum and me. But why would you hide who you were? When I saw you in the clearing after the Seelie Lord, you didn't say anything. You weren't even going to say anything back there if Star hadn't made you stay. So why hide?"

Coillen sighs. "I have to admit, that wasn't the first time you saw me. The first time you remember, but not the first time you actually saw me."

Rowan frowns. "What, when I was a baby?"

He shakes his head. "No, more recently than that. It was I who gave you your runestones, and you saw me several times in the forest."

Rowan shakes her head. "But then why don't I remember?" Her father's face is full of sorrow and . . . guilt? Rowan stands, frowning. "Don't tell me you erased my memory!"

His voice is quiet. "I can't tell you that. I did take your memories of me. You were asking too many questions, it was putting you in danger."

Rowan glares at him. "Why would asking questions put me in danger?"

"For the same reason that you knowing about me would have. It could slip, and you knowing lessens the protections around you. So I removed your memories. But I can return them to you now."

"How?"

"It's quite simple. I removed them using your name, so I can return them the same way." Rowan sighs. Her name is being used a lot today. "Rowan, remember."
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Do you think he had a good reason? Should Rowan forgive him? What do you think is going to happen next? Tell me your thoughts!

Happy reading and I'll see you next chapter!

~Goddess of Fate, signing out.