It took hours.
Hours of stories.
Hours of questions.
Hours of jokes.
Hours of celebration.
Slowly the elves who only knew him on sight or by title dispersed, leaving lords, ladies, captains, advisors… family.
Even then, hours passed.
He was impatient, but showed only patience. Furious, but laughing brightly. Finally his all-knowing father lifted a glass to him. "While glad to have you home and safe, I fear your travels wear upon you. Go, take rest. We'll see you at the evening feast."
With a slight inclination of his head he left the group, his feet unerringly guiding him down the halls without conscious thought, guards bowing their heads to him as he passed, but saying nothing.
The door creaked open under his tender touch, but closed silently. Without a whisper of sound he entered the adjacent bathing room, stripping himself before stepping into the pool of hot water. He cleansed himself thoroughly, leisurely, letting the water do most of the work as he had not been able to do really since leaving. Coming out of the water he found a drying cloth along with his traditional night clothes set on a table for him, as they often were.
He smiled faintly, pulling the worn soft clothing on, closing his eyes for a moment in the blessed feeling that he had stepped back in time, back to before all of this, back to when things were not so tainted with what he couldn't change, and couldn't deny.
He waited for a time, savoring the old routine, combing his hair dry, prolonging the moment. Finally he got up, and stood in the doorway to his bed chamber, watching the glowing fire for a time as it reddened the room.
Eventually he couldn't keep on pretending he didn't want to know, and turned his gaze to the bed. His lips turned up of their own volition, and he silently began the trek across the room. He slipped into the large bed, pulling the thick covers up over his shoulders, pressing his face to his pillow.
He pulled back with a sudden laugh. "It smells like you."
She blinked once—clearing sleep—before smiling, inclining her head. "I know."
They studied each other for a long moment, then reached out, fingers meeting for a moment before twining. A faint smile touched his lips.
She smiled faintly as well and freed her hand, moving onto her other side, presenting him her back. He accepted, moving forward until he was pressed as close to her spine as he could be. Dropping a light kiss behind her ear, he drew a deep breath of her before sighing in relief.
Welcome home.