[She lifts up enough to return the embrace, bury her face in his coat, hiccup a few labored breaths. Her weeping is otherwise silent. After a minute or so, she is still, clinging to the warm body that helps her feel small. And feeling small against him, feeling his embrace, makes her feel less alone.
Wait.
Why was she thinking she would be alone?
She can't afford to be alone. She can't be self-sufficient anymore. Or rather, she doesn't have to be. She has Anders. She has...who else? She has Alistair. Sina. Zevran. Araceli. She might even have Merrick and Cyril, depending on what they choose to do after this. She doesn't have to be at Saeris' mercy. It takes a village, Zevran had said. And Pel has a village.
She pulls away with a faint smile, wiping at her eyes.]
I'm all right, [she says quietly. She is. She will be. Suddenly everything feels lighter, looks lighter. Her fatigue is her body working hard to support her child. That isn't such a bad thing, is it?] I think I'm all right. Is it--can you--never mind. I don't know what I'm trying to say.
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Wait.
Why was she thinking she would be alone?
She can't afford to be alone. She can't be self-sufficient anymore. Or rather, she doesn't have to be. She has Anders. She has...who else? She has Alistair. Sina. Zevran. Araceli. She might even have Merrick and Cyril, depending on what they choose to do after this. She doesn't have to be at Saeris' mercy. It takes a village, Zevran had said. And Pel has a village.
She pulls away with a faint smile, wiping at her eyes.]
I'm all right, [she says quietly. She is. She will be. Suddenly everything feels lighter, looks lighter. Her fatigue is her body working hard to support her child. That isn't such a bad thing, is it?] I think I'm all right. Is it--can you--never mind. I don't know what I'm trying to say.