[ Aymeric is no fool. He knows full well that he has experienced his share of pain, but he will not have anyone place blame upon themselves for that, Alkaid least of all. He may not have known what becoming acquainted with a Warrior of Light would have brought, but he learned fairly quickly and he did his best to accept it and come to terms with it. As for his tempering, which he barely remembers, none of what happened was her fault but rather his own. He likes to believe that he has placed those difficult things where they belong: in the past, where they can have little or no bearing upon the present. ]

I think that I would enjoy your surprises very much, Lantaa. [ His lips turn up into a smile in response to her finger trailing along the ring he wears and refuses to take off. ]

I do hope that we have many more pleasant surprises to come.

[ He cannot help but examine her with worry in his gaze even when she gently rebuffs his concern. Pinpricks seem to cover his skin, and not because he has shed his own layers in preparation of the bath. But when he realizes she is preparing to remove her dress, he does not hesitate to take advantage of her pause, moving to assist with seeing it removed so that she can enter the bath as well.

If he had his way, he would place her in the bath and tend to her rather than sharing it with her, because her needs ought to come first. But he is certain she would frown, perhaps even puffing out her cheeks, and insist that he get in alongside her.

But lest he get ahead of himself, he reaches for the ties of her dress to help in the effort. ]