Elthorin reached the table in the castle's central courtyard, covered in white snow, with a few red berries falling from a tree. The table was made of stone, as were the seats, and the large white tree provided shade. Ereinion was already seated there. Elthorin walked over and sat down.
-"Tell me what you know" Ereinion said.
Ereinion, who had been gazing at the landscape he rarely saw or enjoyed since the death of his mother, Queen Elenath, turned to look at his father, King Elthorin. He frowned, worried about his father's condition, the depression he had suffered, the egocentric gleam in his eyes gone, the wisdom that had always emanated from his mere presence. He took a breath, closing his eyes, and looked into his father's eyes.
-"Father... first of all, how have you been during this century of self-imposed exile?"
Ereinion asked with genuine concern, leaning slightly forward. Elthorin sighed, understanding Ereinion's worry. Before speaking, he took Ara in his arms so she could climb into the seat. Once Ara was in, she walked behind him and began to comb his hair. Then Elthorin looked at Ereinion and addressed him.
-"Well, ever since Annarrgeal brought Ara to me, I haven't had a single moment alone or in peace. Even though she doesn't speak, she has a lot of energy and gets into a lot of mischief,"
Elthorin said, frustrated, rubbing his temple with his eyes closed. But then he sighed and spoke again.
-"Well, that doesn't matter. I haven't had time for that, so... Tell me about Ara. Annarrgeal forbade her from speaking, beyond her name."
He asked about Ara again, wanting to avoid the topic of his depression. Ereinion, trying to ignore Ara's childlike presence, adjusted his seat and pulled out some papers with information about her.
-"This is some information my uncle Annarrgeal sent me about her. He warned me he was bringing her here; I already knew who she was."
Elthorin stared at him and grabbed the papers, almost snatching them from Ereinion's hands.
-"So you did know... what a great son I have, giving me a heart attack"
Elthorin said irritably, putting on his glasses to read.
-"Hmm..."
He began to read. The first page contained basic information: "Name: Ara, Age: 19, Height: 150 centimeters, Place of Birth: Solara..." Upon reading where Ara came from, he was surprised—such a hot and arid place. He looked up at Ereinion.
-"How can she stand this cold place if she comes from such an extremely hot place...? And how did she end up here?"
Elthorin asked Ereinion, confused. He placed the papers on the stone table, crossed his arms, and looked curious.
-"I don't know if my uncle Annarrgeal told you, but she was a slave, then she escaped about two months ago, and ended up wandering near the borders of Calanthor. When Uncle Annarrgeal was returning, he found her on the road, or so he told me"
Ereinion explained, giving a rough outline of how Ara ended up in Annarrgeal's hands.
-"Besides, in Solara, even though it's extremely hot, at night it's as cold as any other day here. For her, this is normal."
They both looked Ara up and down.
-"I don't know if my uncle Annarrgeal told you, but she was a slave. Then she escaped about two months ago and ended up wandering near the borders of Calanthor. When Uncle Annarrgeal was returning, he found her on the road. That's what he told me."
-"I thought I was 13 years old..." Elthorin murmured, surprised.
-"Is everything Ereinion said true? Ara..."
Elthorin asked Ara, surprised, trying to confirm the information Ereinion had given. Ara, who was finishing combing his hair, nodded, completely focused, paying no attention to what Elthorin and Ereinion were saying.
-"..."
Elthorin sighed, and in his arms he took her, sat her down beside him, and removed the comb and oil.
-"Now, at least tell me one word, anything, what happened?"
Ereinion watched attentively as his father treated Ara with tenderness, when with him it was different, perhaps because he was a boy and not a girl.
Ara, meanwhile, looked down, slightly nervous, something unusual for her, as she tended to be energetic and mischievous.
-"Father, don't insist, it could be a delicate matter."
Ereinion stopped Elthorin. He took a box from his clothing and handed it to Ara.
-"I heard you liked to paint..."
he said with a gentle smile. Inside the box were watercolors, brushes, and special paper for that type of paint. Ara happily took it in her small hands, excited, looked up, and smiled back at him with pure gratitude.
-"Go paint something over there. Ereinion and I have things to talk about."
Ara nodded, took the things, and got down from the chair, running back inside the castle.
Ereinion and Elthorin looked at each other, their expressions serious.
-"Father..." Elthorin interrupted his son.
-"I'm fine, son, don't worry..." He spoke softly, with a hint of sadness, but smiling, albeit weakly.
-"Okay... Father."
...
After a few minutes, Ereinion encountered Ara in the castle corridors. She was gazing at a portrait of the late queen, admiring its beauty.
-"She is my mother... Elenath."
Ara turned her head, unfazed by Ereinion's sudden presence. She simply looked at him.
-"She died in battle a century ago... I miss her."
Ara looked at him, understanding the pain of losing a loved one. Then she took one of the sheets of paper she had, a watercolor drawing of Queen Elenath, and handed it to him. She gathered her things, turned around, and returned to the table with Elthorin. Cheerful, she sat beside him and began showing him her drawings. Elthorin studied them with a serious but gentle expression.
Ereinion noticed that his father was slowly healing with Ara's help, and he smiled.