If that is the case, and all of you are offering your assistance, of course I will not turn it down. To have the aid of one such as Ardbert, and that of yourself and your sister? I am not foolish enough to think that such aid is anything but invaluable.

And... I think you have more strength than you realize. Of course, for now, a map of the settlements is more than enough.

[ Aymeric tilts his head to one side as if considering her and her words carefully. ] Some things do not change. Appearances may change; the state of one's health may very clearly change. [ He gestures to himself as if to underline his point. ]

You are still you, and I would know you anywhere.

[ His eyebrows lift in surprise at the sudden speed and force of her answer. It surprises him, but it pulls him away from his thoughts that are trying to take a darker turn. ]

How can I stand to be with you? There is no one else that I would rather be with, even after everything that we have gone through.

[ He feels her arms move to circle his shoulders, and then he feels her hands on either side of his head, guiding him until he's resting against her. He doesn't pull away or resist her movements, simply letting her guide him where she will. He's far from angry; instead, he just wants to stay like this, to rest against her and be with her. ]

I may always have responsibilities, duties, tasks that must be fulfilled... But by that same token, I will always have a responsibility and a duty to you that must be seen to as well, if not above everything else, when the situation calls for it. When it does not... it is about finding that balance, but I must say that you will always be slightly above it all, in my mind.