It's interesting how differently we interpret this character. I see him as an anti-leader. It seemed to me that he kept saying it, how tiring it was, how unfit he was for it. I agree that caring for orphans is a very different story than leading a grove. However, I didn't see a happy man in the epilogue, when I watched the friendly version on YT he seemed more cheerful. With Tav it was full of melancholy and heaviness.
This is mostly fanfiction on my part, but I attribute the meloncholyness to suddenly having nothing. I also feel like he was dealing more with self doubt, rather than being anti leader.
The curse hes been trying to lift for 100 years is lifted, and hes no longer arch druid. Thats been his whole life for a century, nearly 1/4 of his life. And its all gone in like a few months.
He litteraly has nothing, and after being so consumed by his duties, thats very very jarring for him. It would make sense for him to be drawn toward something like the orphans.
What was it he said? Something like he lets things consume him, or he gets too focused on the task at hand? Hes trying to find something to do with himself that will make a meaningful positive impact.
I do agree tho, that maybe what might be more helpful for him, is to wander and take a sabbatical with his beloved. Re discover himself. Reconnect with nature. Lord knows the guy has earned it.
