AN: I own nothing but possibly Lauen, who's shown up in a couple other fics now, most notably "Fate of Finduilas." Written for Lindahoyland on LJ.
The beginning of March had always been a quiet time around our household. Around the last week in February, just as the last snow of the year began to melt off, Father would prepare for an annual hunting trip, often accompanied by King Elessar when his majesty could be spared from his duties.
"Can I come, too, Father?" I asked, as I always did since I was old enough to recognize the pattern.
My sister Lauen was beginning to add her pleas as well, but Father ever answered us both the same way. "Perhaps later in the year, 'Boron," he would say, ruffling my hair. Prince Eldarion and I had come to use such nicknames between ourselves to recognize our friendship, but it was rare for my father to call me that outside of this time of the year.
"But where are you hunting, Poppa?" Lauen did not hide her disappointment as well as I might, but she was younger than I and not in training to become a ranger.
"North of here." Father shrugged. "I do not yet know where the game will lead us. Be good for your mother while I am gone."
"Of course, Father. I wish you luck on your hunt." I held my sister back so that my parents might make their private farewells before he left.
Barring some disaster or urgent summons from Minas Tirith, Father returned in mid-March, usually about the sixteenth. He was generally wet and empty-handed upon his arrival, looking and smelling as worse for wear as Eldarion and I might have after a day exploring some of the muddier caves around Henneth Annun, but always happy to see us. Mother never mentioned his scent, I noticed.
"We have a gift, Elboron," he whispered to me once, upon his homecoming. "But we have many other things to treasure before we take it."