Eliad slowly made his way to sit a table in the main room of the Prancing Pony inn since Tahandil was nowhere to be found. He closed his eyes, relaxing. He hated to feel cooped up in one room for long.
“Comfy, are we?” asked a familiar voice.
Eliad opened his eyes as he glanced over towards Tahandil, sighing softly afterwards.
“I wanted to get some fresh air,” said Eliad. “Well… Fresher air than the room.”
“Be my guest,” said Tahandil, shaking his head. “But next time, open a window, you hear me?”
“Sir, yes, sir…,” replied Eliad, sighing softly again.
“Good,” chuckled Tahandil lightly. “Now… Are you hungry?”
Eliad opened his mouth to say otherwise but stopped as his stomach growled.
“Stay here,” smiled Tahandil, shaking his head. “I will get the food. What would you like to drink?”
“Tea please…,” answered Eliad, blushing in embarrassment.
Tahandil nodded and walked to the bar.
“Two teas and can you fill this up with whiskey, my good man?” asked Tahandil, handing Barliman his flask. “Oh. And would you mind making two of your specials for tonight?”
He took his flask after it was filled up and slipped it in his pocket before taking the cups of tea while heading back to the table after paying. He set the two teas in front of Eliad.
“There you go,” said Tahandil. “Your food will be done soon.”
“Thanks, Tahandil…,” said Eliad, taking his tea into his hand.
“No worries, my friend,” replied Tahandil, bowing his head slightly.
Eliad glanced down at his tea, falling silent. Tahandil walked over and took the two plates of food and headed back to the table, placing one by Eliad and the other on his side.
“Eat,” said Tahandil, sitting down across from him.
He started to dig in. Eliad blinked as he saw the sudden plate before at Tahandil then back his plate once again, starting to eat.
“You seem to have an admirer,” said Tahandil. “Well, before she left.”
“Really?” asked Eliad, looking up at Tahandil while raising a brow. “What’d she look like?”
“Blond hair, somewhat of a light blue shirt,” answered Tahandil.
Eliad nearly choked on his food before clearing his throat.
“That’s…Bryn…,” said Eliad. “She took care of me before when I fought this man named Doraku.”
“I see,” chuckled Tahandil. “Oh. And I think in the custom of Bree, you chew your food before you swallow, makes it where you don’t choke. I don’t know what you had done in Angmar. I surely see a lot of people dying from not chewing.”
“How would I supposed to react then when you mentioned someone that I knew and really preferred not to tell her what happened to me?” asked Eliad, rolling his eyes.
“You act like a child when you get hurt,” said Tahandil, sighing. “I want to do this, breathe fresh air that, don’t want people to see me hurt. You, friend, are quite the show.”
Eliad shook his head before going back to eating without another word. Tahandil chuckled before he continued to eat as well.
“I just…don’t want to bring too many people in my troubles…,” said Eliad, glancing down at his food.
“You already have,” said Tahandil. “You just have to deal with it now.”
“Am I…in the wrong?” asked Eliad. “For all of this?”
“I don’t know,” replied Tahandil, shrugging. “Life is too short to worry about it. If people know, well, they know. If they don’t, they don’t. No need to worry about the small things when there are bigger problems at hand.”
“Perhaps you’re right…,” said Eliad.
“I am, my boy,” smiled Tahandil. “I am.”
He then chuckled lightly.
“I’m glad that I’ve met all of you,” said Eliad, giving a small smile.
“I can’t speak for the others,” said Tahandil. “But for me, I am glad I have met you, too, my friend.” He stood up and made his way to the door. “I will be back, Eliad. You get some rest. If something does come up and I don’t remember, tell Aeruthuil this: the full moon is silent this day.”
“Tahandil..?” frowned Eliad in concern, moving to stand up in order to follow him.
“Yes, my friend?” asked Tahandil, stopping but did not turn around.
“You’re…going..?” asked Eliad.
“Don’t worry, Eliad,” replied Tahandil. “I will think of you, my friend. And it might choose my decision for me, but I cannot make any promises. I must go and this time, friend, you cannot follow.”
Eliad seemed to be taken aback by his words before casting his gaze down.
“Why not..?” asked Eliad.
“Because you are injured and must rest and I am going on a far trek that will take me weeks to come back from,” answered Tahandil. “As I said, I will be back… But it will be a while.”
“Promise..?” asked Eliad.
“I can’t make that promise…,” replied Tahandil.
“…Alright…,” said Eliad, keeping his gaze down. “…Tahandil.”
“Yes, my friend?” asked Tahandil, breathing steady.
“When you get back, let’s spar,” said Eliad.
“You got it, Eliad,” chuckled Tahandil softly.
He then made his leave, leaving Eliad alone. Eliad did his best not to cry, did his best to mentally tell himself that it was not a goodbye but that they would meet again.
