It felt like it had been the first time in days since Valan had smiled; but in the wake of everything, here was his son. Suddenly nothing seemed as important as it had moments ago. It was true that there were most likely still Darkspawn in the forest. Two such large attacks in the space of days was a very bad sign indeed. The clans would have to be warned. The forest was no longer safe.
But for a moment, he just ignored all of that. In a few minutes he would begin to make sense of things, to talk of Darkspawn and the Dalish and just what all these strangers were doing here with Faer. But for the moment... he was reunited with his son. After Aera died, Faer had been the only family remaining to Valan. It was true that clans were very much like family, but it was still different from the bonds held by blood. It was something that might be impossible to describe to someone who was not a parent though.
Sheathing his weapons he clasped Faer's shoulders with his own strong, weathered hands and let out a soft laugh. He had thought the boy banished. He'd thought he might never see him again. His fears had even worried at him, telling him that Faer could die out there and he would never know. And yet, here he was. "And I, you," he spoke softly, nodding. "But I left the clan some days back. I thought to find you... or at least know what had happened to you." Tradition told him he should have remained with the clan. But a father's love had overridden that tradition. Aera would have agreed, were she still alive.
He took a moment simply to bask in the joy of finding him alive and well again, but then reality came dragging back and his eyes scanned the group. "Where is Jaden? Is he not with you? And who are these people? The forest has become a dangerous place, Faer. You would have been better off far away from it."