"I'm home!" Ethari called as he entered his and Runaan's home.

Oh, how nice it felt to think that again!

His and Runaan's home! Not just his own home! Because his dear, darling husband wasn't dead and he was back with him!

In fact, he was sitting right on the couch.

"I heard you coming! Welcome home!" Runaan smiled back over his shoulder and Ethari beamed back, quickly rushing over to hug him.

"Ah!" he however didn't expect Runaan to let out a pained cry and in a flash jumped off him.

"Are you okay?!" he cried worriedly, quickly learning the answer to his own question when he stopped Runaan craddling his arm.

Or, where his arm was supposed to be.

He had been euphoric with happiness upon learning Runaan was alive and thanks to Rayla and her friends would be coming back to him, having spend the day he'd be coming all day at the entrance of the village.

When Runaan finally appeared the first thing Ethari noticed was that he was missing a horn which, while not good, wasn't too bad since more warrior-elves had lost horns or pieces of them.

He was however horrified upon noticing that besides the horn Runaan was missing a whole limb.

Apparently it was a result of the assassin's binding that wasn't removed in time like with Rayla.

Now Runaan only had a tiny stump wrapped in bangages left.

"I'm okay. You just caught me off guard." Runaan groaned, giving Ethari a tight smile that didn't fool the smith.

"Ru, you're hurting." he sighed, meaning not just the physical pain.

He couldn't even begin to imagine how the other was feeling.

For nearly his whole life Runaan had been a natural fighter who used his skills to protect those he loved in the end, however he couldn't to any of that like this.

He was still getting used to having one arm and struggled even with what one could consider the most basic things.

Ethari could and would never in a million years consider Runaan weak or fragile or anything of the sort, but that didn't stop Runaan himself from doing so.

As much as he tried to hide it, he could see the pain in those normally bright turquoise eyes.

With a sign he gently wrapped his arms around his husband again, this time more mindful of his stump.

"I know you're gonna be alright." he whispered, pretending to not hear the shuddering breath Runaan took as he clung to him with his remaining arm.

"Yeah, I know too. I've got you with me after all." he whispered back with a small smile.

"And you you always will." Ethari told him earnestly as he gently pressed their foreheads together.

They sat like that for a while, their eyes closed as they soaked in each other's company.

Then Runaan's words of having him while going through this gave Ethari an idea.

He sprang up with a gasp, causing Runaan to look up at him in surprise.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing's wrong! I just think I know how I can help you out! I won't tell what it is for now but I can promise I'll show you when it's done! You just focus on healing and getting better!" he promised, leaning forward to quickly pepper his husband's face in kisses before rushing out the door to his forge, promissing to be back in an hour or two for dinner.

Bursting into his forge he grabbed a paper and pencil and strated sketching.

"Yes, this could actually work!" he grinned down at his finished design.

A design of a prosthetic arm that he was sure would fit Runaan perfectly.