--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But saying that she wished he could…" description: "\"“But saying that she wished he could return with her to Adarlan, to Terrasen, was pointless. He had no way to break his oath to Maeve, and she had noth..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcb/sarah-j-maas-58_rowan_but-saying-that-she-wished-he-could-retu_316638.png" --- # But saying that she wished he could return with her to… ![“But saying that she wished he could return with her to Adarlan, to Terrasen, was pointless. He had no way to break his oath to Maeve, and she had nothing to entice him with even if he could. She was not a queen. She had no plans to be one, and even if she had a kingdom to give him if he were free…” quote by Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcb/sarah-j-maas-58_rowan_but-saying-that-she-wished-he-could-retu_316638.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcb/sarah-j-maas-58_rowan_but-saying-that-she-wished-he-could-retu_316638.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcb/sarah-j-maas-58_rowan_but-saying-that-she-wished-he-could-retu_316638.png) > ““But saying that she wished he could return with her to Adarlan, to Terrasen, was pointless. He had no way to break his oath to Maeve, and she had nothing to entice him with even if he could. She was not a queen. She had no plans to be one, and even if she had a kingdom to give him if he were free … Telling him all that was useless. So she left Rowan in the hall. But it did not stop her from wishing she could keep him.”” [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character longs for a love bound by duty, recognizing that promises and lack of power make reunion impossible, yet the desire persists. **In simple terms:** She wishes for love despite impossible circumstances. Key Takeaway Accept limits, cherish feelings. Themes longing duty power love Mood melancholic hopeful Type literary emotional When to use this quote - unrequited love - political alliances - personal sacrifice - self‑acceptance Key Concepts fate commitment personal agency Questions to Reflect On - What would you do if love conflicted with duty? - How can one find peace when desires are unattainable? A Different Perspective Even when constraints are clear, emotional yearning can remain strong. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Left Rowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-rowan-2992531/) [Oath Maeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oath-maeve-2992530/) [Return Adarlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/return-adarlan-2992529/) [Rowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rowan/) [Wished Return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wished-return-2992532/) ## Related quotes > [I was informed... that some... were dreaming and wished to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/i-was-informed-that-some-were-dreaming-and-wished-to-return/) [Zebulon Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zebulon-pike/) > [“Celaena was introduced to some of the people, but most didn’t cast a look in her direction. And wasn’t that a lovely change from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/celaena-was-introduced-to-some-of-the-people-but-most-didn-t-cast-a/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Rowan was hauling her away, shouting her name, but she couldn’t reach him, couldn’t stop that pull toward the other creature. Teeth pierced the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/rowan-was-hauling-her-away-shouting-her-name-but-she-couldn-t-reach/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“In her bones, in her blood and breath and soul, she was so, so tired. Talking to anyone was too taxing. Which made Rowan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/in-her-bones-in-her-blood-and-breath-and-soul-she-was-so-so-tired/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“She suffered with her own thoughts until Rowan finished with his weapons, then took out their skin of water and rinsed his hands, neck,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/she-suffered-with-her-own-thoughts-until-rowan-finished-with-his/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Do what needs to be done, Elena had told her. Well, she’d needed to leave before Rowan shredded her into so many pieces that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/do-what-needs-to-be-done-elena-had-told-her-well-she-d-needed-to/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Impossible. No one could get through those shields. Not even Rowan-rutting-Whitethorn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/impossible-no-one-could-get-through-those-shields-not-even-rowan/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“But she didn't want to know - didn't want to think about the Sun Goddess and her agenda as she flung herself on Rowan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/but-she-didn-t-want-to-know-didn-t-want-to-think-about-the-sun/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Rowan beheld all Aelin was and is, and he was not afraid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/rowan-beheld-all-aelin-was-and-is-and-he-was-not-afraid/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“She met those pine-green eyes, and he opened his mouth again, but she made a small noise. “Before we say anything else …” She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/she-met-those-pine-green-eyes-and-he-opened-his-mouth-again-but-she/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“He spoke the common tongue, and his accent was subtle—lovely, if she was feeling generous enough to admit it. A soft, rolling purr. “Fair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/he-spoke-the-common-tongue-and-his-accent-was-subtle-lovely-if-she/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I've never taken a woman on a beach," - Rowan Whitethorn”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-ve-never-taken-a-woman-on-a-beach-rowan-whitethorn/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“enough to die from it. If it were possible to love someone enough that time and distance and death were of no concern. “Am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/enough-to-die-from-it-if-it-were-possible-to-love-someone-enough-that/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“She laughed, and squeezed him. He was here, and he wasn’t something she’d made up, some wild dream she’d had, and— “Why are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/she-laughed-and-squeezed-him-he-was-here-and-he-wasn-t-something-she/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“The Queen of Faedom lifted an elegant hand, gesturing to the warrior. “Prince Rowan—” Prince. She swallowed the urge to turn to him. “—is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/the-queen-of-faedom-lifted-an-elegant-hand-gesturing-to-the-warrior/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) ## More by Sarah J. Maas > [“Light it up, bitch.' 'Light it up, asshole,' ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/light-it-up-bitch-light-it-up-asshole/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“What does he look like? The question was soft- tentative. I knew who he meant. I interlaced my fingers through Rhysand's and squeezed tightly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/what-does-he-look-like-the-question-was-soft-tentative-i-knew-who-he/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Lysandra chuckled, a surprisingly deep, wicked sound—probably a laugh she never let Arobynn or her clients hear. “Some night soon, I’ll sneak back in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/lysandra-chuckled-a-surprisingly-deep-wicked-sound-probably-a-laugh/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I love you. I am in love with you, Rowan. I have been for a while. And I know there are limits to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-love-you-i-am-in-love-with-you-rowan-i-have-been-for-a-while-and-i/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Perhaps Nesta will take up the blood-drinking habit, too. I certainly believe her threat to rip out my throat. Maybe she'll enjoy the taste.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/perhaps-nesta-will-take-up-the-blood-drinking-habit-too-i-certainly/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“To being the most fearsome and imposing girls the world has ever seen.” Celaena raised her goblet high before she drank. As she swallowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/to-being-the-most-fearsome-and-imposing-girls-the-world-has-ever-seen/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“have no interest in prisoners or battling today,” Manon said. The Queen of Terrasen gave her a grin. “Good.” Manon turned away, barking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/have-no-interest-in-prisoners-or-battling-today-manon-said-the-queen/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Well, I'm late for something incredibly important," Lucien said, and before I could call him on his outright lie or beg him to stay,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/well-i-m-late-for-something-incredibly-important-lucien-said-and/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Holy gods. He'd frozen the whole damn lake. He was THAT powerful?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/holy-gods-he-d-frozen-the-whole-damn-lake-he-was-that-powerful/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“She bellowed the last word with such soul-deep hatred that he felt it like a punch to the gut.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/she-bellowed-the-last-word-with-such-soul-deep-hatred-that-he-felt-it/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Afraid she and I had a summer romance?" That insufferable grin was still there. "I hope you did. I certainly enjoyed myself this summer."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/afraid-she-and-i-had-a-summer-romance-that-insufferable-grin-was/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“There are different kinds of darkness,” Rhys said. I kept my eyes shut. “There is the darkness that frightens, the darkness that soothes, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/there-are-different-kinds-of-darkness-rhys-said-i-kept-my-eyes-shut/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“So you’re going to ask Ress and Brullo to just leave a back door open so you can sneak in?” “Don’t be so simpleminded.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/so-you-re-going-to-ask-ress-and-brullo-to-just-leave-a-back-door-open/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Gently, he pulled my hands away from my face. Gently, he took my cheeks in his hands and brushed away my tears. I didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/gently-he-pulled-my-hands-away-from-my-face-gently-he-took-my-cheeks/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I barely saw my silk slipper as it flew through the air, fast as a shooting star, so fast that even a High Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-barely-saw-my-silk-slipper-as-it-flew-through-the-air-fast-as-a/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) [Explore all 1,807 Sarah J. Maas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) ## More Rowan quotes > [When we first started, me and Rowan hated each other. I don't know what it was. We just didn't get along. We were forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-harper/when-we-first-started-me-and-rowan-hated-each-other-i-don-t-know-what/) [Luke Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-harper/) > [“The Queen of Faedom lifted an elegant hand, gesturing to the warrior. “Prince Rowan—” Prince. She swallowed the urge to turn to him. “—is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/the-queen-of-faedom-lifted-an-elegant-hand-gesturing-to-the-warrior/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“She laughed, and squeezed him. He was here, and he wasn’t something she’d made up, some wild dream she’d had, and— “Why are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/she-laughed-and-squeezed-him-he-was-here-and-he-wasn-t-something-she/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“enough to die from it. If it were possible to love someone enough that time and distance and death were of no concern. “Am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/enough-to-die-from-it-if-it-were-possible-to-love-someone-enough-that/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I've never taken a woman on a beach," - Rowan Whitethorn”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-ve-never-taken-a-woman-on-a-beach-rowan-whitethorn/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [I'm troubled by how much I like Rowan Williams. I think it reveals character flaws in myself that I'd rather not think about. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-webb/i-m-troubled-by-how-much-i-like-rowan-williams-i-think-it-reveals/) [Robert Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-webb/) > [“He spoke the common tongue, and his accent was subtle—lovely, if she was feeling generous enough to admit it. A soft, rolling purr. “Fair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/he-spoke-the-common-tongue-and-his-accent-was-subtle-lovely-if-she/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“She met those pine-green eyes, and he opened his mouth again, but she made a small noise. “Before we say anything else …” She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/she-met-those-pine-green-eyes-and-he-opened-his-mouth-again-but-she/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“ They've found me. They know. Rowan, love, if you ever find this. I love you. -Alexander 1692 ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-a-fuller/they-ve-found-me-they-know-rowan-love-if-you-ever-find-this-i-love/) [Tara A. Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-a-fuller/) > [“Redwyne does not give a fig, he thought, but Rowan looks fit to gag.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/redwyne-does-not-give-a-fig-he-thought-but-rowan-looks-fit-to-gag/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Death makes the whole world kin. Rowan wondered if a world without death would then make everyone stranger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/death-makes-the-whole-world-kin-rowan-wondered-if-a-world-without/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“Rowan beheld all Aelin was and is, and he was not afraid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/rowan-beheld-all-aelin-was-and-is-and-he-was-not-afraid/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“There was no lane line, no net, nothin to keep them apart but the well of her will. But that kept losing bricks”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/there-was-no-lane-line-no-net-nothin-to-keep-them-apart-but-the-well/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“Asshat! You Darth Vadered me!" (Delaney to Rowan)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-duncan/asshat-you-darth-vadered-me-delaney-to-rowan/) [Diana Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-duncan/) > [“But she didn't want to know - didn't want to think about the Sun Goddess and her agenda as she flung herself on Rowan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/but-she-didn-t-want-to-know-didn-t-want-to-think-about-the-sun/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) [Browse all 47 Rowan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rowan/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But saying that she wished he could return with her to Adarlan, to Terrasen, was pointless. He had no way to break his oath to Maeve, and she had nothing to entice him with even if he could. She was not a queen. She had no plans to be one, and even if she had a kingdom to give him if he were free … Telling him all that was useless. 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