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Essie leaned against Farrendel as his fingers clasped hers beneath the table. It was good to see Farrendel’s family so happy. Weylind was even smiling while Melantha was laughing out loud.

In all those quiet, sedate dinners with Farrendel’s family, Essie never would have expected they could be capable of this much noise and laughter. Sure, Essie’s brothers were still by far the loudest, though she suspected Rharreth could probably laugh with the best of them if he wasn’t on his best behavior at the moment.

But there was genuine happiness around this table instead of the tense, quiet discussions she had experienced when she had first joined the family. At the time, she had assumed the tension was caused by her presence. But, perhaps, she had not been the only reason.

“Have you ever seen them like this before?” Essie whispered in Farrendel’s ear.

“Yes, but not in a long, long time.” Farrendel swept his gaze around the table. The smile that tilted his mouth seemed caught between happiness and a wistful kind of sadness. “This is what my family was like when I was growing up. Before Dacha was killed.”

If she and Farrendel had children someday, she wanted them to grow up seeing this side of their elven heritage, not the stiff and formal version filled with all too much tension. Not to mention that it would make the half the year that Essie and Farrendel spent in Estyra much more pleasant.

“I’m so glad we’re going home to Estyra tomorrow. It will be nice to spend time with Illyna and everyone there. We weren’t there long before we left for Aldon.” Essie leaned her head on Farrendel’s shoulder and stifled a yawn. It had been a long, tense few days as they rushed to the border to see what they could do for Melantha.

“Yes. And I cannot wait to show you Estyra in the wintertime. You will love it.” Farrendel released her hand so that he could instead tuck his arm around her. “There is a large hill north of Estyra where we elves go boarding. We should bring hot chocolate for everyone and start your mission to introduce it to all of Tarenhiel.”

“Sounds perfect.” Essie let her eyes fall closed, though she told herself to stay awake. She pictured her and Farrendel sitting on a sled, Farrendel’s arms warm and strong around her. “What is boarding?”

“You stand on a large, flat board and slide down a hill. Is this not something you humans do?” Farrendel’s voice rumbled beneath her ear, his breath brushing against her face.

“No, we go sledding, where you sit down on a wooden board with a curved front and go down the hill that way.” Essie opened her eyes so that she could reach over and pat Farrendel’s chest. The image in her mind shifted from being held inside Farrendel’s arms to standing there in the cold while her thrill-seeking husband balanced on a board and whooshed down a hill. “Of course, you elves would show off your superior balance by standing on a board instead of sitting on it. I’ve seen my brothers try something like that, but they usually fall.”

“Perhaps your sleds are designed differently than our boards.” Farrendel tilted his head, his voice low so that only she could hear. “If you want to try, I will help you balance with me.”

And, now she was picturing Farrendel holding her steady as wind whipped past them and she screamed in utter terror.

But, it probably would not be that bad. Farrendel would keep them balanced, the way he had while they were ice-skating. How big could this hill be?

“Sounds perfect.” Essie grinned and felt the complete happiness seep into her muscles and bones.

As the evening grewlate, Melantha and Rharreth climbed down the stairs from the shelter to where Zavni, Vriska, Eyvindur, and Brynjar waited along with the rest of the troll guards who had come along. While they all remained tense and alert, there did not seem to be any trouble between them and the Escarlish-Tarenhieli armies filling this encampment.

Still talking with members of the Escarlish royal family, her family lingered in groups on the forest floor or took their time walking down the stairs from the shelter.

“Melantha?” Farrendel’s voice was quiet behind her.

She turned to see Farrendel approaching her with his wife Princess Elspetha still at his side. Melantha glanced to Rharreth as he rested his good hand on her shoulder, lending her a steady warmth with his presence. His other arm remained in a sling, still healing as her magic worked to repair all the damage from Drurvas’s ax.

For a long moment, Farrendel and Rharreth regarded each other. Melantha glanced between them, seeing the new respect layered over the wariness. As much as she might wish it, her husband would probably never feel at home among her family. But as long as Rharreth no longer hated Farrendel, Melantha could be content with that.

Rharreth tilted his head in a nod to Farrendel. “I thank you once again, Laesornysh, for your assistance in the Dulraith today. It was an honor to fight beside you, and I...” Rharreth paused for a moment, and when he spoke again, his voice had a rough edge. “I regret the part I played in your capture and torture.”

“And I regret that I assassinated your father the way I did.” Farrendel’s shoulders hunched, and he glanced to Elspetha beside him as she rested a hand on his chest, tucking herself closer to his side.

Melantha patted Rharreth’s hand still resting on her shoulder. This was more reconciliation between Rharreth and Farrendel than she had expected.

Rharreth gave Farrendel one last nod before he turned to Melantha. “Take all the time you need, my queen.” He strode several yards away, giving Melantha space as he talked in a low tone with Zavni.

At least he understood and was willing to give her this time. Soon, they would cross the new bridge and return to Kostaria, and Melantha was not sure when she would have another chance to see her family. It could be months. It could be years. When she left this time, she wanted to make sure she left nothing undone or unsaid.

When she turned back to Farrendel, he was studying her with those grave, silver-blue eyes of his. “You appear to be well.”

“I am.” Melantha smiled, and the gesture felt more natural on her face than it had in years. “I am happy in Kostaria. I have found the freedom to be myself there.”

“I am glad. And...I understand.” Farrendel glanced over at Elspetha, sharing a smile with her as he squeezed her hand. But when he turned back to Melantha, his expression was solemn again. “Will you...will you write? To let us know you are all right?”

She would never deserve the level of forgiveness he was giving her. “Of course, I will.” She swallowed, not sure if she dared ask. “Will you write in return? Though, I guess I should ask Elspetha to write, if I want to receive anything more than a sentence.”

“Yes, I will write. But, you are correct that Elspetha would be more verbose.” Farrendel’s gaze was warm and gentle as he glanced down at his wife. The sight would have angered Melantha before, but now she was just grateful that Farrendel had found such love.