--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was not there to save my mate when she…" description: "\"“I was not there to save my mate when she was murdered, either,” Rowan said at last. Dorian straightened. Aelin had told him plenty of the prince’s his..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/sarah-j-maas-58_gaze_i-was-not-there-to-save-my-mate-when-she_690354.png" --- # I was not there to save my mate when she was murdered… ![“I was not there to save my mate when she was murdered, either,” Rowan said at last. Dorian straightened. Aelin had told him plenty of the prince’s history, but not this. He supposed it wasn’t her secret, her sorrow to share. “I’m sorry,” Dorian said. His magic had felt the bond between Aelin and…” quote by Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/sarah-j-maas-58_gaze_i-was-not-there-to-save-my-mate-when-she_690354.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/sarah-j-maas-58_gaze_i-was-not-there-to-save-my-mate-when-she_690354.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/sarah-j-maas-58_gaze_i-was-not-there-to-save-my-mate-when-she_690354.png) > ““I was not there to save my mate when she was murdered, either,” Rowan said at last. Dorian straightened. Aelin had told him plenty of the prince’s history, but not this. He supposed it wasn’t her secret, her sorrow to share. “I’m sorry,” Dorian said. His magic had felt the bond between Aelin and Rowan—the bond that went deeper than blood, than their magic, and he’d assumed it was just that they were mates, and hadn’t announced it to anyone. But if Rowan already had a mate, and had lost her…”” [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 reflects on missing a chance to protect a loved one, realizing bonds can be deeper than obvious ties. **In simple terms:** Missing a chance to protect a loved one. Key Takeaway Cherish and act on deep bonds early. Themes friendship loss protective instincts magical bonds Mood sad reflective Type narrative emotional When to use this quote - romantic relationships - magical alliances - life‑changing decisions Key Concepts moral duty unspoken connections regret Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize hidden depths in relationships? - What actions can prevent regret? A Different Perspective Even strong bonds can be hidden, leading to missed opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) ## Related quotes > [“After a moment, his father looked up from the list and surveyed her. "Well done, Champion. Well done indeed." Then Celaena and the King…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/after-a-moment-his-father-looked-up-from-the-list-and-surveyed-her-2/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Do you still love her?” He didn’t know why he cared, why it was important. Chaol closed his eyes for a moment. “A part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/do-you-still-love-her-he-didn-t-know-why-he-cared-why-it-was/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“And his eyes … Haunted, but clear. Alive. Chaol’s vision burned and blurred. She had done it. Aelin had done it. Chaol’s face crumpled.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/and-his-eyes-haunted-but-clear-alive-chaol-s-vision-burned-and/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Dorian said smoothly, “You will find, Rolfe, that one does not deal with Celaena Sardothien. One survives her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/dorian-said-smoothly-you-will-find-rolfe-that-one-does-not-deal-with/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“How long will you keep her here?” Dorian said, looking down the stairs. She had attacked the Captain of the Guard in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/how-long-will-you-keep-her-here-dorian-said-looking-down-the-stairs/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Rolfe looked over his broad shoulder at Dorian. “Rumor has it she was your Champion this fall. Do you wish to deal with this?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/rolfe-looked-over-his-broad-shoulder-at-dorian-rumor-has-it-she-was/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I didn't realize I looked that bad," Dorian said, his voice raw. He knew then--that the demon inside the prince was gone. Chaol wept.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-didn-t-realize-i-looked-that-bad-dorian-said-his-voice-raw-he-knew/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“She stepped closer to the prince's horse. "Dorian," she said. A command and a challenge. Sapphire eyes snapped to hers. No trace of otherworldly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/she-stepped-closer-to-the-prince-s-horse-dorian-she-said-a-command/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“And I would,” Dorian said, leaning forward before Aelin could snarl at the ignored letter. “We win this war, and you have the two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/and-i-would-dorian-said-leaning-forward-before-aelin-could-snarl-at/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [That was ridiculous," I told Dorian, once she'd left. "She's not the kind of person to fall for your flirting." "On the contrary," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/that-was-ridiculous-i-told-dorian-once-she-d-left-she-s-not-the-kind/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“Then don't criticize if you can't offer a solution," said Dorian. "It's easy to want peace and love in hypothetical situations - then reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/then-don-t-criticize-if-you-can-t-offer-a-solution-said-dorian-it-s/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“The little kitten has claws", Dorian said intrigued. "I like that." ~Dorian Vlakhos”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-j-greene/the-little-kitten-has-claws-dorian-said-intrigued-i-like-that-dorian/) [Amanda J. Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-j-greene/) > [“It scares the living daylights out of everybody. Present company excepted, I’m sure.” “I don’t really do living or daylight,” Dorian said. “I’m a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-parry/it-scares-the-living-daylights-out-of-everybody-present-company/) H.G. Parry > [“Don't call her Tally in front of Clay", Dorian said, thinking of the small human female who loved Clay so desperately. "He's a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/don-t-call-her-tally-in-front-of-clay-dorian-said-thinking-of-the/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [“Sin is the only real colour-element left in modern life.' 'You really must not say things like that before Dorian, Harry.' 'Before which Dorian?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/sin-is-the-only-real-colour-element-left-in-modern-life-you-really/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## 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 Gaze quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [“Taylor said a prayer for the man, and apologized out loud. Knowing there was nothing left to do, she turned to leave. As she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/taylor-said-a-prayer-for-the-man-and-apologized-out-loud-knowing/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“If it makes you feel any better, he’s been all sad doll lately too.” “What are you talking about, Chels?” Chelsea stopped walking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/if-it-makes-you-feel-any-better-he-s-been-all-sad-doll-lately-too/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“Rodrigo tried to draw a deep breath, but his chest was too filled with anguish, rage and guilt. He kissed his ash-coated fingers. “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-valdez/rodrigo-tried-to-draw-a-deep-breath-but-his-chest-was-too-filled-with/) [Lisa Valdez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-valdez/) > [“still feel the same way? Could he have changed this much on the inside too? Struggling for the right words, I opened my mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-wild/still-feel-the-same-way-could-he-have-changed-this-much-on-the-inside/) [Meredith Wild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-wild/) > [“Being held by him, kissed and mastered, taken under and swept away, enthralled her in a way she—an independent woman if nothing else in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-sumner/being-held-by-him-kissed-and-mastered-taken-under-and-swept-away/) [Tracy Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-sumner/) > [“Don’t you remember how hot we were together, Lane? God.” He takes a quick breath through clenched teeth and runs his hand down my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-a-valentine/don-t-you-remember-how-hot-we-were-together-lane-god-he-takes-a-quick/) [Michelle A. Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-a-valentine/) > [“She knew how to play him so very well. He slipped his hand around hers. "Friends," he repeated roughly. Her smile was bright enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-smith/she-knew-how-to-play-him-so-very-well-he-slipped-his-hand-around-hers/) [Kathryn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-smith/) > [“Damn.” Phineas turned the Big Boy off, then noticed he’d left the box on the bed. Damn, had Zoltan seen it? He stuffed the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerrelyn-sparks/damn-phineas-turned-the-big-boy-off-then-noticed-he-d-left-the-box-on/) [Kerrelyn Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerrelyn-sparks/) > [“Now you," Grandma barks at him. "Yes, you, the invisible truck driver," she added, giving me a wicked grin. "Go stand next to Rose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/now-you-grandma-barks-at-him-yes-you-the-invisible-truck-driver-she/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [His fingertips slid down from my face, lightly stroking the line of my neck, down toward my shoulder. Everywhere he touched, a trail of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/his-fingertips-slid-down-from-my-face-lightly-stroking-the-line-of-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) > [“You know when I said I didn't need you?" I asked. He lifted one brow. "I was so wrong.I can't find words to express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/you-know-when-i-said-i-didn-t-need-you-i-asked-he-lifted-one-brow-i/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [“I didn’t say it just to get you to jump. I’m in love with you, Zane,” he admitted in a calm, clear voice. “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-urban/i-didn-t-say-it-just-to-get-you-to-jump-i-m-in-love-with-you-zane-he/) [Madeleine Urban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-urban/) > [“This explains so much," she said, clucking her tongue in mother-hen fashion. "You're compensating for this withered appendage." Withered appendage? What the devil was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/this-explains-so-much-she-said-clucking-her-tongue-in-mother-hen/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) Browse all 15,087 Gaze quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I was not there to save my mate when she was murdered, either,” Rowan said at last. Dorian straightened. Aelin had told him plenty of the prince’s history, but not this. He supposed it wasn’t her secret, her sorrow to share. “I’m sorry,” Dorian said. 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