lostladyofesgaroth:

          How—? Skirts whirling as she spun around her small home, Runa huffed when she realized she was just about out of, well, everything. That was far too unusual for her. Things never got this careless… but then again, things happened. And, unfortunately, the nearest place for supplies, be it food or otherwise, was Esgaroth. And as much as she didn’t want to make the trek (especially not in the winter—she was avoiding the cold like the plague), she had to. Taking care to dress as warmly as she could, she pinned her hair back up before leaving her home and heading towards Lake-Town.

          Occasionally, she’d meet the eyes of some stranger in Lake-Town and offer a smile, and get only an odd look in return. Sometimes whispers and a quick shuffle away. It gave her pause, but it was not in her nature to think too hard on it. Pushing it away, Runa just went about her business. Which is what led to her frustrated argument with a vendor.

         ”There is no way that many potatoes fetch such a price. Certainly at least half is more close to what they’re worth.” She pointed out, dark eyes narrowing at the vendor.

          “—Aye, that would be so if it wasn’t in the dead of winter, Lady. Either pay up or leave.”

          Even if she was absolutely annoyed by the manners, she just grimaced before handing over the coin, and snatching the vegetables away from them. Honestly. She knew the Master was ridiculous, but this was the worst it had been in years. Sighing, she turned to leave when she found herself colliding with another—causing the very things she had just bought to fall out of her basket and… of course, right into the water. “Oh!” Fighting the urge to curse, she glanced up to the person with an apologetic smile.

          “Sorry. Seems I wasn’t looking where I was walking.” And lost a week’s worth of food for it too. Good job, Runa. “I’ll just be going… Sorry again.”

_{Bard did not pride himself on being the most graceful of creatures, but surely he was not quite this hopeless? Apologies at the ready - and an offer to purchase more of the groceries to cover her loss, of course - he looked at the woman… and felt his blood run cold.}

_{Ashen his complexion turned, shock stealing his breath and gripping his heart in an iron vice. Impossible, it was impossible, yet there she stood, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world, but it was far from it. For she had disappeared, many years ago (10 years, 2 months, 14 days), she had disappeared and he had searched, losing himself further and further until his duties as a father had slowly begun to center him again. He had let go, oh merciful Lords of Old he had let go of her, he had mourned her and thought her dead. He had given up.}

_{“It cannot be,” he whispered, voice thick with emotion - grief, gladness, but there was anger also, helpless anger crashing over him. He had dreamed of this for many nights, had dreamed of finding her, of her finding him, of pulling her into his embrace, where she belonged. In the end, it was not meant to go quite so wonderfully, this faithful reunion of theirs. Confusion and anger drove him, anger at himself for daring to let go, anger at her for standing there as if it meant nothing, as if he were a complete stranger…}

_{The distance between them was crossed in a haze, his hands gripping her upper arms in a manner most unkind, but he was a man full of memory and heartache renewed, and he did not, could not, understand.}

_{“You are dead,” he spoke, the words hoarse, but his hands told a different story, for he could feel her now. She was as real and alive as he was. “You are meant to be dead, how can you be here–”}