The Loss of a Forgotten Lover

I bring our attention now to a character mentioned only twice in the Samuel narrative: Paltiel the Son of Laish. Paltiel married Michal (1 Sam 25:44) after David left her when he escaped (1 Sam 19) from Saul's wrath after his wedding to Michal. David's subsequent relations (or lack thereof) toward his wife demonstrate that theirs was, unsurprisingly, a loveless marriage; though early on in the story Michal shows deep affection for David. But when David sends for his wife (apparently to shore up his claim to the throne- he wasn't exactly lacking for wives at that moment) we see Paltiel, in misery, following his wife weeping all the way to Bahurim (2 Sam 3:15-16). In this moment, we feel for a secondary character, and we hate David. In this moment, we see that love was alive and well in Biblical Israel, and that it did not always conquer all. We mourn for and with Paltiel, even as most of his story remains untold. And without a careful reading of the text, he remains largely forgotten and unknown.
An interesting play on his name also happens in the story. When Paltiel is introduced, he as called Phalti, which according to Young's Analytical Concordance means "Jah causes to escape." This conjures up the memory that the only reason Paltiel is marrying Michal is because David escaped from Saul's assassination attempt six chapters earlier.
But in the second story, he has the name Paltiel, meaning "Jahweh delivers." This can be seen as him delivering Michal back to David, or a reminder of David's original deliverance that led to this character. But I can imagine that the character may have prayed for God's deliverance all this time. He followed his beloved wife, weeping, to a husband who despised her. This was a situation beyond his control. He could only pray for deliverance. And David took Michal, and despised her. And Paltiel was left to return home. Alone.