[ He interprets her small tug at his hands as a request to kneel, and he does as she requested without hesitation. ]
You are yourself, and that is enough. [ And even as he says those words, he tries to take the message in them to heart as well. He is who he is, and that will have to be enough because there is no changing what has happened. ]
Am I alone now? [ The question is, of course, theoretical, as he is not. He has Lantaa now, and her familiar, if she counts. And of course, what remains of the household staff.
It has always been himself who made himself feel isolated and alone, when that was not entirely the case. It seems to him now that his problem was being so focused on himself and his problems that he ceased to look outward at the world around him, to see that he was not truly alone. ]
I had hoped you would say that. [ Because there is the smallest part of him that believes he has very little to give her, other than himself and his care, and he would not blame her for wishing to leave. But there is no doubt in his mind that leaving is not an option for either of them, not anymore. ]
Lantaa. [ He slides his arms around her and draws her in against him just slightly. ] Lean against me if you need to. [ And it seems to him that she does, so he intends to offer all the support that he can give. ]
no subject
You are yourself, and that is enough. [ And even as he says those words, he tries to take the message in them to heart as well. He is who he is, and that will have to be enough because there is no changing what has happened. ]
Am I alone now? [ The question is, of course, theoretical, as he is not. He has Lantaa now, and her familiar, if she counts. And of course, what remains of the household staff.
It has always been himself who made himself feel isolated and alone, when that was not entirely the case. It seems to him now that his problem was being so focused on himself and his problems that he ceased to look outward at the world around him, to see that he was not truly alone. ]
I had hoped you would say that. [ Because there is the smallest part of him that believes he has very little to give her, other than himself and his care, and he would not blame her for wishing to leave. But there is no doubt in his mind that leaving is not an option for either of them, not anymore. ]
Lantaa. [ He slides his arms around her and draws her in against him just slightly. ] Lean against me if you need to. [ And it seems to him that she does, so he intends to offer all the support that he can give. ]