His breath catches in his throat. The Warriors of Light have hugged him before, showed their affections in their own small ways, and this hug feels no different. His eyes heat up, threatening to shed tears into his friend's long hair. But...tempted though he is to return the hug, he finds he cannot. His arm hovers over Hythlodaeus' back...and then falls back to his side.

"Why...?"

Why are you so kind?

It's too much to bear: tears begin to roll silently down his cheeks.