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David noticed something was wrong when he rode up to his son's cabin.
Blaze, Gilan's ranger horse, wasn't in her stable. Instead, she was prancing around the cabin. He dismounted his own horse and went up to her, grabbing her halter.
"Take it easy," he soothed, petting her.
Blaze didn't jerk away, for she knew this man, but whinnied loudly.
Something is wrong
David soothed her and managed to calm her down by telling her he was going to make sure that her rider was alright. After he quickly made sure she was fed and watered, David knocked on the door.
"Gilan," he called, rapping his knuckles on the door.
He got no answer so he knocked again.
"Gilan?"
Again, no answer. David tried the door handle. Finding it unlocked, he pushed the door open slowly and gently. He found the house in order and everything in its place. Except for one thing. David spotted Gilan at his desk. He was sitting at his desk with his arms crossed and head down. David rushed over to him.
"Gilan!" he called urgently, shaking his son's shoulder. "Gilan!"
He got no answer, so, panicking, he checked Gilan's pulse. Finding it strong and steady, David relaxed a little.
"Gilan," he called again, shaking his shoulder once more.
David heard a quiet groan. He sighed with relief.
"Gilan."
The young man groaned again and slowly cracked an eye open. Upon seeing his father's face, Gilan sluggishly sat up and gave him a confused, albeit tired, look.
"Dad?" he said with a yawn. "What are you doing here?"
He yelped when David suddenly embraced him. David kept Gilan in the hug for a while before speaking.
"You were supposed to meet me at the castle two days ago," David answered, pulling away. "When you didn't arrive when you said you would, I thought you were in trouble so I came here."
Gilan blushed a little.
"Sorry," he said, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "I got kind of busy. That damn paper work, you know?"
Gilan let out a little laugh. Frowning, David finally took notice of all the paper that was on the table. Reports. Maps. Paper was just everywhere. Looking back at his son, David noticed that Gilan looked disheveled and exhausted. He had seen him like this once before.
"Have you been taking care of yourself, Gilan?" he asked.
David was sure that he knew the answer but he wanted to hear it from the ranger. Gilan looked away from his father.
The older man's frown deepened.
"Gilan," he warned.
The Ranger looked guilty back at David.
"I did sleep last night," he told him, giving him a nervous smile.
David sighed.
"You're exhausted and, I can tell from the lack of dishes in the sink, you're hungry too," he said, straightening up. "Come on."
David made his way towards his son's bedroom door. Gilan watched him with a confused look.
"Bed," David ordered.
Gilan's look of confusion changed to a look of annoyance. He opened his mouth to protest but his father interrupted.
"You need to get some rest, Gilan," said David. "We'll talk more when you wake up."
"But Dad…" Gilan tried.
"We'll talk more when you wake up," the older man repeated.
Gilan opened his mouth again but closed it when he saw his dad cross his arms. He saw no use in arguing with him so he got up from his desk and went over to his bedroom, David moving to the side so he could get to the door. Before Gilan could open the door, his father placed a hand on his son's shoulder.
"Rest well," he said.
Gilan gave him a tired smile before going in to his room to get some proper rest.