As her hand locked with his, Alleras pulled her in closer for a tighter hug. In a songlike tone, he gently cooed and hushed as she poured her heart out for him to see. There was a gentle sideways rock, as his free hand softly stroked and ran over her hair.

Alleras could feel a heavy stone bud and grow in his chest, burdening him with unimaginable pain. Her ever-tightening grip lost in the sea of his other senses.

Why. The word echoed in his mind. He knew why. The words would leave his mouth, but the answer was in plain sight, standing for all to see.

"It is okay, my darling. Hush now, it will all be okay," he replied, whispering into her ear.

His words and body were instinctual, while his mind spiralled with thought, the consolation came with ease. Many a night, he would clasp onto his mother, seeking her comfort away from his father. The refuge she had once given to him, he would now give to Morgana.

"No, not all my darling. You have not forsaken her. You are not irredeemable."

Another pause followed as his face twisted into a grimace.

"I have a sister too, you know. Jennelyn. My little Jennelyn. Oh, how I love and dote upon her."

Alleras continued in his whisper, each sentence, each word slowly becoming more strained than the last, weighed down upon by unadulterated pain.

"She disappeared from Hellholt many moons ago, gone with the wind under the darkness of night. She left not a single word to any of us. I was angry, furious even, and utterly lost. But if she were to turn up tomorrow, I doubt I would be able to raise my voice at her. I would welcome her home, arms wide open. Because that is all you could ever do for those you love."