Wistful Reunion

For a while as they walked, his smile remained. Could not really be banished even if he tried to, which he did not. He felt no need to bother to hide his contentment. In part, being here again and more importantly, seeing his friend once again. No matter the changes, no matter how much time had passed, that feeling always remained the same. Brought forth far easier than centuries before, away from the frantic creation of magic once unheard of, far from the stress of their continued existence balanced on a knife edge. Danger remained without a doubt, but it was nothing like it had been before.

Of course, as much as he was more than willing to set certain questions aside for later. For a time that they could talk openly without burdening those here, like the young girl now upon his shoulders. Some things it seemed to the wolf, could not wait, the obvious first thought lingering in the air even without being spoken aloud. And an answer that caused the mage to halt entirely. It explained a lot, so very much in actuality, but that did not stop the sensation of concern that ran through him in that moment. The guilt of not having woken, of not being there, but perhaps he needn't have been? Questions yet to be answered, all in good time, as he resumed his pace moments after. That's... I see. We have far more to catch up on than I first thought. A pensive expression held for no more than a second or two before it was gone, the edges of his mouth turned upwards once more, he did not want to sour the moment. Not here at least.

Instead, his focus turned to those around them, including that of Aelera as she greeted him, and offered a small wave of his own as she turned to him. While none of those about the dense forest bothered them, there were those he remembered here. A few faces that seemed surprised to see him alive and well, he could not blame them for that. Not when he had been one of the last to settle into a slumber, a fact he still hadn't yet divulged to any soul. No one else needed to hear about what he'd witnessed in that final year alone. Though perhaps Feredir should, one day.

Of course, it will be as the lady says. A touch over-dramatic, but it was purposeful, a grin and a knowing smile directed at the young elven. A superfluous incline of his head out of respect, as if he were addressing someone of great import and for some she was, and to him? Well he had always enjoyed seeing any young elvhen child happy and free-spirited. Even if he had encountered them far too rarely in his travels.