"Louis!"
"You've finally returned!"
The first voice was Emily's, her snow-colored shawl draping over her shoulders, eyes slightly red, yet still maintaining the grace of a noble lady.
She threw herself into his arms, her hands trembling with urgency.
The latter was Sif, with silver-white short hair still smeared with dust, standing frowning at the side, coldly muttering, "You actually dared to come back."
But before she could finish, she lowered her head and hugged him too, turning her face away, unwilling to let him see her eyes welling up.
"I've only been gone a few days, and you both act like you've lost your souls." Louis chuckled softly, embracing them both in his arms.
The travel dust covering Louis seemed to melt away in that moment of warmth.
"Ten days..." Emily murmured, looking up with eyes brimming with undisguised longing, "You promised a reply in three days, but we could only hear about you from the mouths of wounded soldiers."
