King Thranduil was lying on the ground, his ribs aching, blood soaking his clothing, from the wound he just got from the spider that managed to injure him. He'd been so worried for his son he let his fear get the best of him. He was looking at his death, in the form of a giant spider, hoping against all hope that his son was alive, when the spider stopped. He didn't understand what was going on but he tried to take advantage of that moment of respite and tried to drag himself towards where he thought his sword had landed. He knew he wasn't moving fast enough, and he started sweating. He inched his way towards the sword that seemed ever so far, when he heard the spider screeching in that awful way they did when they were dying. He rolled on the back, and there it was, lying in a pool of it's own entrails, it was dead, several knives sticking out of it. A dark shadow moved towards the spider, and then started plucking the knives out. Even with his elven sight he couldn't make out what or who it was, not on such a dark moonless night. And then the person turned towards him. Thranduil tried to move but the spider poison was already working making him truly helpless.
"Don't worry you're safe. I'll take you back to your people." The king tried to answer, to demand but nothing came other then small noises he couldn't control. The stranger pulled his torn clothing to the side studying his injury. All of a sudden he was hit by a strange smell, sweet yet strong, for certain not female. His mind got lost in images of strange, exotic woods bathed in the golden light of dusk, and the world went dark.
It was almost midday by the time Daechir reached the Last Homely House. He went straight for the stable to leave Shadow all settled in. He grabbed his things and headed for the house keeping his hood on. He could feel curios eyes on him but he didn't slow down. When he reached Lord Erestor's study he knocked, waiting until he heard him calling him to enter. He walked in closing the door behind him. He took his hood off and waited. He saw his father's eyes widening, obviously disbelieving. Erestor got up,circling his desk, and stopped right in front of him. He saw it coming, and stood still even though his cheeks his face was burning from the pair of slaps he just received. And then just as quickly he was wrapped in his fathers arms and held tighter then ever before. His father held for what seemed forever and when he finally let go of him he could see tears in his eyes.
"I'm sorry Ada, I'm sorry we left like that."
"It's alright, as long as you're well". They went to sit on the little couch by the desk.
"Your sister,where is she?"
"I'm sorry Ada, she got a bit stuck in Minas Tirith. But there's nothing to worry about, really, she's fine and she'll be here as soon as possible."
"I'm sorry I hit you" his father looked down obviously ashamed of his outburst.
"It's alright Ada it's not like I didn't deserve it." He gave him a smile while trying to think of something to say that would lighten the mood. "How do you like my new haircut Ada?" He ran his hand trough his short hair that looked as it had been hacked of with a dwarfish ax.
"What happened to it?" his father shook his head, like he always did when his children were being particularly silly.
"Ah well... it sort of caught on fire,so it had to go." he grinned cheekily at his father.
Erestor sighed.
"I don't really want to know, do I?"
"No not really." He looked carefully at his father. Everything looked the same at first glance. His long dark hair as beautiful as always, his movement as elegant but the eyes were sad. He started apologizing again.
"I'm sorry Ada, we didn't mean to worry you like this,but you would have never let us go. We just wanted to see all of Arda, explore, just.." he trailed off not knowing what to say to make things better.
Erestor looked at his son, so much like him when he was his age, yet unlike his son he never had the courage to leave and venture into the world alone. Yet his son had not been alone, his younger sister followed, his ever faithful companion. They did things he had only dreamed of.
Trying to put aside his son's worries, he took hold of his hands speaking very carefully.
"It's true that I was angry at first, and afraid for what might happen to the two of you. Not a day went by when I didn't worry for you,but after a while I realized that keeping you here was just as bad for you. I just wish you would have waited until you were a bit older." Erestor stood up. "And also I wish you wrote so that I knew you were well. But all that's past now, so why don't we go settle you in. You're probably tired."
"That sounds great. Thank you, Ada."
He threw himself on the bed. The room looked exactly as he left it. He was content, actually downright happy that his father had forgiven for running off nearly twenty years ago. It was spring, he was home and everything seemed right in the world.