[ He has already resolved to be there for both sisters whenever he can, because they should not face their fights alone. But even if he cannot be present, there are others who will most certainly stand with them if they are able. They are an alliance, after all, and where one may not be able to join in with a certain battle, there could well be another who can.

Any trials that he personally faces pale in comparison to the ones that they have seen and still lay before them. Even the thornier issues that he still wrestles with seem inconsequential when held up against what he has begun to see as a never-ending fight to put threats and evils to rest.

But for the moment, he wishes for the two of them to have a reprieve, as brief as it may be, and with only the briefest of pauses, he moves to sit beside her on the floor. It is something he has not done before, not that he can recall, but he would not stand on formality around her. ]

How odd, because I was about to say the same for you. [ He pauses then, glancing about as if to see where the steward and the maid are. They know a little of his intentions, because he did give them advance notice that he would be bringing a guest, but he has yet to inform them of their engagement. ] It would not do for the soon-to-be lady of this house to go hungry or thirsty, not when I could do something about it.

[ But at her next words, he is quick to bring out her gift once more and places it in her hand as requested. ]