Author's Note: Hey guys. Thanks for the recent follows and favorites. I really appreciate it and it is all the reviews, favorites, and follows that encourage me to keep writing and not give up! Anywho we're not done with it all just yet so keep your eyes peeled if your do that sort of thing. Ummm yeah read on.
The return trip to Greenwood had been slow and rather awkward. There were many injured and even more dead. No one really walked with a purpose or unaffected gait. Some leaned to the left, others to the right, while others still limped along or trailed behind weighted down by grief. Despite the near demand from Thranduil that Himelon ride on the elk with him the raven haired male had chosen to walk. Overall Himelon had avoided contact with Thranduil since leaving Imladris. He would barely look at the blonde and did all he could to not speak or touch Thranduil. Subsequently the Elven King was left sinking ever further into a pit of self blame and guilt. He took the raven haired elf's actions as an expression of anger or perhaps even hate for what had happened. It was illogical Thranduil knew and yet he couldn't seem to banish such ideas from his mind. Every time Himelon would stumble or bump into something on his left side Thranduil couldn't stop the flash that reveal to him, through memory, the reason why.
Watching the raven haired male attempt to fire a bow and arrow or grab onto things with his left arm was even more painful. In time Himelon would likely recover some resemblance of normal use with his left side but it was still too soon. Attempting to use his left arm to grip or pull resulted in a rather obvious grimace and recoil while Himelon whimpered from the pain. With the bow and arrow the discomfort had been obvious while the arrows angled sharply left. Himelon seemed to notice and after a few days of trying, despite being told not to, the raven haired elf had managed to recover his use of bow and arrow.
When they crossed the border into Greenwood the group had been met by overjoyed men, women, and children alike. All of them greeted the returning elves with song and flowers while they searched for their sons, husbands, wives, and children. It was obvious to all that the number returning was drastically smaller than the number who had left. Thranduil had left Greenwood with and army that was 800 strong and returned with only 400. Those were the survivors. The number of elves who would be able to fight again and who had returned with only mental scaring was, at best, 200. Despite the large numbers who had fallen everyone was grateful that not all of Greenwood's soldiers had left and that the King was unharmed. Much to Himelon's embarrassment it soon became common knowledge as to why the King was unharmed.
Most of the elves who had shielded him until the dragon left had proudly accepted the praise while the raven haired elf had awkwardly snuck away from the crowd and back to the room he had previously been given. Thranduil had tried to follow but had ultimately been detained by the many elves and elleths attempting to care for him. Some offered food and drink while others insisted on making certain he was uninjured. For about 30 minutes the courtyard of Greenwood was a bustling mess of reunions, extra healing, and general fussing. Thranduil himself had been rushed off to his personal chambers to be tended to. It was not proper for a King to be so dirty or look so tired. At least that's what a white haired elf who was one of his personal servants kept going on about. The starlight haired king did have to admit though, bathing in warm clean water and falling into his soft bed felt amazing.
As Himelon snuck off and away from the fussing crowd of elves in the courtyard he became very aware that he was being followed. There was a young servant elf with brilliant orange hair and violet eyes who was sneaking along behind him rather badly. Himelon ignored the other male and gave a small chuckle and shake of his head as he closed the door to his guest chambers and was about to lock them when there was a sharp knock.
"Wait!" the voice had been shrill and almost feminine, "Don't you want anything?" Himelon furrowed his brow and quirked and eyebrow as he opened the door to reveal the orange haired elf. The young male had seemed startled and rather flustered by the raven haired elf's expression before trying to press his way into the room. Trying being the key word. He was ultimately only able to wedge himself halfway into the room before being thoroughly obstructed by Himelon.
"Explain." the word had been a soft demand. Himelon wanted to know what the orange haired elf had meant. Even more so he wanted to know why the other had been following him without identifying himself. Yet again the violet eyed male was startled and took a few steps back while fiddling with his fingers before answering.
"I'm supposed to help care for guests," the orange haired elf stuttered slightly and averted his gaze, "but you looked upset and I didn't want to make anything worse. So…do you need anything? Like a bath or food?" The last two questions had been accented with a nervous smile. The young male was rather socially awkward and that fact in an of itself drew a soft smile from Himelon's lips.
"I'm not upset," the raven haired elf chuckled, "just lost in thought. A bath and some wine would be nice. If you have any that is. Perhaps a change of clothes if something is available as well." Himelon accented his request with a gentle smile as the orange haired elf beamed and trotted off. It was the first time since his arrival that Himelon had requested anything of the servants in Greenwood. He was usually too shy or felt such a thing would be inappropriate given his position as a prisoner-guest. However the other had asked and Himelon had found himself feeling less like a prisoner and more like a guest as of late. He had also become all too aware that he would need some help with things that had previously been easy. That however was not something he was will just yet to admit verbally to anyone. When the orange haired elf returned Himelon had bathed and enjoyed the wine. It was a rich red wine that was heavy and sweet with a strong hum of alcohol. It was a comforting sensation and flavor that reminded Himelon of the wines he would often enjoy in Valinor. Letting out a sigh and finishing the glass Himelon crawled lethargically into the large soft bed with silky sheets and fell into a deep sleep face down and snuggled into the pillows.