Hush now, [ he soothes, careless, his hands as gentle stroking her back as hers are tight. he could not pull in a full breath without his ribs straining, but he does not need to. he looks at gwenaëlle, to confirm that he is doing it right, holding it even as he continues to stroke down adalia’s spine as he would with a fussing elfling, designed to ground and remind that all is well. ] I am least of all things flighty, Adalia. I will be here as long as you have need of me.

[ and she will hold him to it, for she has the age denied the people, and will have more. she is too young and too adrift, and he has nothing but stubbornness borne of age holding his bones weighty and fast. at least in that, they will mesh easily. ]

Adar, [ he corrects, and looks away from his wife, ] ‘father’ is adar in Sindarin, but you will need to teach me your mother-tongue as well, I think.