Finally the sisters slept, It was hazy how long had past since he went to get Uidelloth. The first day was hard. Harder than Amgaladh could have possibly imagined, the moans and gasps of pain in the house of healing bit by bit shattering a wall he had made up through the past few years. As if the sounds made by friends carrying with it the pain they felt, all of their voices and feelings echoing within the young elf.
Perhaps he saw some of him in her before Arnelloth even left. It was too overwhelming to see her like this when he first came into Naestad Abad. It was as if it was repeating again, the moment that he ran away from. The images of the past flashed and twisted, Amgaladh barely aware if he was back home in Eryn Lasgalen or in Thamas Lorn. The memories of then and the sounds of now mixing. “I am as useless as I was back then. I wait and watch for that is all I can do.” He remembered asking for Ellothon as if a final push from a drowning man, being sucked deeper into a pit of his own making.
He cried… it was all too much. But crying in front of his friend who stood strong, it did make him realize… Arnelloth was here now, Lothoniel was here now, Dimelloth was here now, they had returned and they needed help. So when he had raised his head to look back at his eastern friend, though the tears were still running down his cheeks a new kind of strength shone behind his eyes. A fire he felt could carry him for a few more centuries forward. I won’t run away from a past I couldn’t change but work now for I can change today. Bit by bit… all that I can do. He would go back in there… face that fear he felt looking at Arnelloth and face the weakness he felt within himself. None of those would be able to stop him from helping today.
With Uidelloth by the side of Dimelloth he was sure to make both sisters stay as comfortable as possible, they could forget their thirst or hunger but he wouldn’t. He had been a Northrim for a while now and he would put those skills into use now in a way he couldn’t guess he would have to. Amgaladh then on mostly stood and watched from far away, giving them space and somewhat blending into the room in that way most Northrim were great at. Interjecting only when he deemed it absolutely needed.
It was indeed a relief when they had finally slept on the chairs, he wasn’t yet tired. It had been long now, still, the healers were doing their duties but it was all a little bit quieter. Amgaladh walked up closer to the two beds Arnelloth and Lothoniel laid in.
The very first thing he did was to check if Hiril Lothoniel was sleeping, he wouldn’t wish to admit to any worrying events while the Hiril listened… He wouldn’t run away from his past but Lothoniel’s anger was still a scary concept. It was best for both of them that she would hear of his antics and troubles later. So when he was sure enough that she wasn’t awake he went to stand at the other side of Arnelloth’s bed. Kneeling.
“I…” It was still difficult to see her like this, but he wouldn’t give in to fear. He spoke half whispering. “I really trained a lot when you were gone, each day I could work harder thinking you would be all the more proud if I used that day to improve that bit more…. And I did wait! I often went to Duillond and waited a top the trees in the afternoon so I could jump in on you one day when you returned… I won’t let them feel tire or thirst looking after you, so don’t worry about them. Just rest so we can take walks again soon.” A sigh escaped him, even if she would most likely never be aware he said those words perhaps somehow they would help her. His friend was back and speaking like this had relieved him and made it even more real. His eyes closed with a smile, today he would work his best.
