Final RP with Godric, edited for narrative and tense.
The Wayfarers returned to Suri-Kyla, but Godric lingered toward the back of the company with his eyes set upon Hallem. The commander quietly pondered and then bent down to scoop up a clump of loose snow. He packed it into a snowball and threw it to hit Hallem in the back of the head with a thwap. The boy staggered and immediately crouched down to make a snowball of his own in retaliation, but he paused when he saw Godric standing there.
“Was that you?”
Godric had already formed another snowball by the time Hallem turned around. The remaining Wayfarers passed forward into the city, leaving the two alone on its outskirts. “No,” he called back, launching his second attack. Hal ducked to avoid it, whipping his own snowball at Godric’s chest.
“Was too! You t-trying to p-pick a fight, sir?” he taunted him.
The big Rohir bent down to pick up a third, failing to dodge in time and taking the hit to his shoulder. “I just might!” With a grunt, he slung the next one, aiming low to strike at the knee. Hal feigned injury, limping. In a last-ditch-effort, he picked up a pile of snow and heaved it at Godric who took the snow-pile’s full assault. Beneath it came the sound of low chuckling. Suddenly, he lunged forward with his body and pinned Hallem to the ground.
“Ugh, you’re so heavy,” Hal whined, wriggling to escape. Godric kept Hallem in place with one hand to his chest while the other shoveled up as much snow from the field and onto Hallem as he could. Despite the chaos, there was a bright grin shining beyond Godric’s golden beard. “Wh-why!?” laughed Hal, pushing up on Godric’s shoulders. The man ceased his assault of snow, though he did not let Hallem free just yet. A moment of quiet passed before Godric lifted a hand to poke Hallem’s forehead, right above and between the eyes.
“Because I see you, Hallem Kemp, and I will always make time to notice you.”
Hal raised his eyebrows, at first in confusion for the affectionate gesture, and then for the following words. He opened his mouth, unsure of what to say. He decided, finally, on:
“Thanks. You were in me? I mean, switched.” Hal stared at him expectantly. Godric sat back, and Hal climbed out from beneath him, brushing snow from his lap.
“I was,” Godric answered in a calm tone. “And I know what it is like to be you, to not be heard. I know of Angmar and what you had to do there. I know far more about you than I ever thought I would.”
“Sorry. It’s my own fault,” he said with a grimace. The commander shook his head.
“I will tell you as I have told others, and myself. Do not let guilt settle in your heart, Hallem Kemp. You do what you do, because you care for others. I do what I do because of the same.”
“I guess that’s true, sir. You won’t tell anyone, will you?”
“I will not,” he answered. He went to stand, then offered the boy his hand. Hal took it without question and got to his feet.
“I knew I’d get you to have a sn-snowball fight, eventually,” said Hal with a playful grin. Godric smiled and brushed snow from Hallem’s shoulders before clasping both of them with his hands.
“And now we have. Let’s go warm up. I’m starving.”
“Yeah. I b-bet I’m m-more starving,” said Hal. He took off ahead of Godric and didn’t look back.