Chapter 7: Home Again

Gareth Tanner stood at the south gate entrance to West Harbor, silently observing the sleeping village. It had been almost six years since he had been forced to leave and yet the village appeared to be unchanged. He began walking through the village and looking at the houses, most of which were dark, wondering about the people who lived in them. How would they react to him now? He wondered if they would remember why he had left and if they would even care anymore. He continued until he reached his foster father's house. Seeing the glow of a fire peeping through a window and the smoke rising from the chimney, he knew that Daeghun was there. Even though he had not sent word he was returning, it didn't surprise him that the elf knew to be home at this time. Daeghun had always had a mysterious way of knowing when he was in trouble or when he needed him to be there.

Pushing open the door, he entered and closed it quietly behind him. Setting his small pack on the floor near the door, he walked softly into the living area. The house was as he remembered, nothing changed here either. The couch, the bear skin rug in front of the fireplace, the various trapping and hunting equipment lying about. It was simple, rustic and achingly familiar and comforting. It was nice to know that some things didn't change with time. It was the simple anchors of home and family that made the ever changing world less scary. He thought that life outside the village would be more daunting if he didn't have this place to return to.

"Welcome home Gareth," Daeghun greeted quietly. "I have a feeling that you are not here to stay."

"I'm not," Gareth replied as he sat down in front of the fire. "I am on my way to Neverwinter, but could not resist coming home, even if only for a couple of days. I wanted to see Amie, Bevil, Tarmas, Georg and a few others, for I don't know if or when I will be back this way."

"Webb is not here," Daeghun pointed out.

"I know," Gareth said curtly.

Daeghun had kept his promise and managed to bring Webb to Gareth a couple times after the incident all those years ago that had turned two families worlds upside down. He did not blame his foster son or Webb for what happened, but it did happen and life in the village was forever changed. It had disturbed him greatly that so many in the village had sided with the Mossfeld's on the subject of Gareth and Webb being lovers. It had reinforced his decision to send Gareth away, but had also made it more difficult to protect Webb and keep his other promises. After three years of insults, snubs, and outright verbal and physical attacks, Webb had called it quits and left for good, not even saying goodbye to anyone.

"After Webb left the village, he came and stayed with me at the monastery for a time," Gareth finally broke the silence. "We were happy for a while, but Webb found the quiet, peaceful life of the monastery hard to deal with. The brothers and I knew that Webb would never be able to adjust to life there, so we asked him what he wanted to do with his life. It was no surprise to us that he chose to travel to Neverwinter in the hopes of joining the Greycloaks or the Watch."

"Is that where he is now and why you are travelling there?" Daeghun asked. He could sense some underlying current in Gareth, a tension regarding Webb and his stay in the big city.

"We wrote to each often after he arrived in the city," Gareth answered. "He had managed to get into a training program with the greycloaks and things seemed to be going well with him. His training in the militia here gave him a slight advantage over other recruits. However, I have not heard from him for over six months. That is why I am going to Neverwinter."

"How has life been for you at the monastery?" Daeghun asked. He knew that Gareth had loved the fact that the monks had so many books and tomes, and that they had travelled widely, collecting knowledge of places outside Neverwinter territory. It was the kind of thing that interested the boy and that he would not have had access to here in the village.

Gareth told him about the things he learned and the stories he heard. "The best part was learning how to fight, how to use my size to my advantage instead of using it as an excuse. I only grew a couple more inches since I left, and it was hard to let go of my belief that had I been bigger or stronger then things might have turned out differently."

"You felt that if you had been of a size with the Mossfelds that you would not have been beaten and thus not have had to leave?" Daeghun asked, slight incredulity in his voice. Seeing the boy shrug he sighed heavily. "Size did not help Webb when his brothers ganged up on him that day. Did Webb tell you what life was like for him in the village after that day?"

"He told me some of it, none of it pleasant," Gareth nodded.

"Webb stood over six feet tall and weighed considerably more than you," Deaghun said. "If his size did not protect him, how then could it have helped you?"

"I know that now, but it wasn't easy to admit to at first," Gareth said quietly. "I missed Webb terribly, and I even missed Bevil and Amie. I was alone at that monastery, cut off from all that I had known and loved. I was resentful and could easily have allowed my anger at Wyl and Ward to take over my life. I blamed them for everything and it took months for the monks to get me to see that I was only hurting myself by holding on to my anger. Once I did let it go, I was able to eventually see that being bigger would not have changed anything and move forward with my life. Still, it hurt deeply that I was seperated from everyone and many nights I cried myself to sleep, longing to feel Webb's arms around me, holding me, loving me."

"If I could have done anything to change what happened, or to make it possible for you and Webb to be with each other sooner, you know that I would have done it," Daeghun said, holding back his own tears at the sorrow in Gareth's voice.

"I know that you did what you could and I am at peace with what happened now," Gareth smiled at him. "I was fourteen and still a child in many ways. I guess like all children I expected you and the other adults to have all the answers, to have the power to make things perfect."

"No one has that power, not even Tarmas," Daeghun said dryly.

"True, but he would have you think differently," Gareth chuckled. He was about to say more when a knock on the door stopped him. As it was unusual for anyone to come to their home late at night, neither man could imagine who it would be, and both immediately thought something must have happened.

Daeghun opened the door to find Tarmas, Georg and Merring standing there. "I am surprised to see the three of you here tonight."

"Tarmas told us that he believed Gareth had returned," Georg answered. "Is it true?"

"He is indeed here tonight," Daeghun said and stepped back to let the men enter, not bothering to ask how the wizard knew of Gareth's return. As each man came to a stop in the living area, each were surprised by the changes in the boy they once knew so well. He seemed almost a stranger to them.

Merring saw a painfully handsome young man, his curly, shoulder length, rich brown hair framing a fine featured face with deep set, chocolate brown eyes, like those of a deer. He was only slightly taller than he had been, but he had definately gained weight and seemed to be much bigger for it. He was dressed in simple tan trousers, soft brown leather boots, and a plain cream colored tunic. Despite the simple clothes, he would definately catch the eye of many a young man and woman.

Georg saw a quiet, self possessed young man, with an air of command about him. He sensed that the lack of a weapon in Gareth's hands meant nothing. Gareth had other weapons now, hidden weapons, and was a quiet threat to any who might seek to harm him. Obviously, he had recieved some kind of battle training at the monastery. It was something Georg could not have taught him and that he would never have gotten in the village.

Tarmas saw that Gareth met his gaze with confidence, the eyes holding knowledge and wisdom. Gareth had apparently used his time away very wisely and utilized the intelligence the wizard had always known was there. At least some good had come of the terrible tragedy all those years ago. Yes, they had missed having the boy in their lives, but now he could see that it was the best thing that could have happened to Gareth. He had always despaired over the fact that Deaghun let the boy run wild and had not insisted on book learning. His belief in Gareth's intellect was now proven, and he had the Mossfelds to thank for that, albeit grudgingly.

"Are you simply going to stand and stare at me all night?" Gareth's voice was a smooth baritone, filled with amusement.

"Sorry, but you look so different," Merring smiled.

"If I passed you on the street, I would not be sure I knew you," Georg said as he went to take a seat on the couch. "Missed having you around all these years."

"How long do you plan to visit with us?" Tarmas asked. "I know that Amie has missed you and would like to see you."

"I will only be staying a day or two," Gareth answered. "I am travelling to Neverwinter to take care of some personal business. Even if I wasn't, I doubt that things have changed much around here, not from what Webb told me of how people treated him. If that is the case, then my being here would only cause more problems."

"Can't say for sure, but you're probably right," Georg agreed. "At any rate, tomorrow is the High Harvest Fair. Do you think you will attend it?"

"I'd forgotten about that," Gareth mused. "Time doesn't seem to hold any meaning while you're at the monastery. I seldom marked the passing of the days."

"There will be folks from all around coming to the Fair," Tarmas said. "Most will not know of the problems you had here six years ago."

"But those that do are not above causing trouble or bringing undue attention to you," Merring cautioned.

"I have been away for so long that I feel out of touch with the day to day happenings in a village like West Harbor," Gareth told them. "You are three of the people I wished to see while I was here. I will most likely stay around the house tomorrow."

"I believe that Amie and Bevil are planning to try for the Harvest Cup again this year," Tarmas told him. "As this is the last chance they have, they might wish for you to join them in the endeavor. Whether or not that would be a good idea, I really couldn't speculate."

"As I don't plan on staying for long, it is probably best if I don't participate," Gareth said firmly. "I feel no need to associate with or try to impress the villagers. They turned their backs on Webb and myself years ago and that is their loss. Amie and Bevil can come visit with me at the end of the day when the Fair is over with."

The others acquiesced to Gareth's wishes and dropped the subject. They had six years of catching up to do and not much time to do it in. They filled Gareth in on the important events and happenings that he had missed. Gareth told them about his life at the monastery, including his training as a monk, and his journey to Neverwinter and the reason behind it. It was not until the wee hours of the morning before any of them sought their beds.