Sage smiled softly at the girl's attempts. "Anya, I love you, you know I do, but I can't stay here any more than I can stay at another village with higher status. You can act like we're equals, but we're not, and neither am I with anyone else in any of those villages." He shifted slightly, though stayed pressed up against the girl. "It's easier to work and find food and clothes and whatnot down there where we're all low and trying to survive than going somewhere else where they deny me everything and keep me out of everything," he pointed out gently. He knew she wanted to help, but really there wasn't much she could do. He knew they visit eachother...he doubted they could stay apart knowing the other was right around the corner.

Anya groaned softly before giving a gentle smile. "I just want to help you a little. I don't want you to struggle anymore," she breathed quietly before dropping her head a little. It was truth enough. She wanted to do something to help him, make life easier for him... maybe that'd change his views on life a little. Well, she was kidding herself a little with that thought. Even if she did manage to get him to let her help, it wouldn't change too much. Even when she was sending him money, nothing much changed. In fact, that was when the idea formed. She sighed softly before shifting a little so that she was resting on her side. "I don't want to see you being eaten by rats when I come and find you," she murmured, though instead of the down beat she seemed to try on a more amused tone, though it didn't work too well.

Sage nodded and squeezed the girl slightly. "I know," he murmured. He knew the girl didn't really want to think about this, but it was a reality she'd have to come to terms with. He knew what would happen to him, and he wanted Anya to know these things...if she did come down there and didn't find him, or at the very worst did find his body, then she'd know. And it would be better than just wondering or hoping he was still out there somewhere. "Look, don't think too hard about it, alright," he asked gently. "I'm not going to die where you'll be walking down the street and find me...I'll be somewhere more closed." Maybe it wasn't helping anything, but no way was he just going to fall over in the middle of the road or something. He'd be in the woods somewhere. Ideally, next to Liz, but he doubted that would happen.

The girl furrowed her brows a little... he was trying to make it sound better, she knew that but there wasn't much you could do to make death sound any better than it was. No one wanted to find out someone they loved had died, but it was inevitable with Sage. He wouldn't last long. She'd come to terms with that, but it didn't mean she couldn't try and make the time he had left a bit better. She couldn't make him not want to die, to leave, he'd made that apparent, but she could try and make what time he had left a little bit better, even if he didn't do it to himself. "You will come to see us though, right? You're not just going to leave us wondering what's happened to you?" Maybe it didn't sound great, but if he came to see them now and then, then when he stopped she would know he was gone... she wouldn't have to worry anymore. It'd hurt, of course, but not as much as wondering where he'd gotten to. She'd go see him too, of course, but she had to admit the village was pretty terrifying to her now.

Sage offered the girl a soft smile and a nod when she asked her question. "Of course I will." He wasn't going to be able to stay through the day often, but he had more time off of work...maybe he could be with Anya at night instead of working. Either way, he'd make time to come see the girl. He only had to keep himself alive, and he was sure Anya would have food or something she'd practically throw at him if he lost any more weight or anything out there. "I have more free time now," he reminded the girl gently, speaking of Lizzie's death. He curled Charlotte up into a more comfortable position and yawned, getting tired. He patted the girls arm gently and shrugged. "You can't get rid of me while I'm still alive, not now," he joked, though the girl probably wouldn't laugh at that.

Anya sighed and gave a slight chuckle, though it was a little empty. She wasn't going to give him a real laugh about this sort of thing... she simply didn't find it amusing anymore. "I don't want to get rid of you," she reminded quietly before pecking the boy on the cheek. She'd definitely see less of him when he left, but at least he'd promised to come past and say hello every now and then. It would form some sort of comfort, and it meant she could fuss over him for a little bit... make sure he was warm enough and had food, which, if he was giving his money to his father, wasn't too likely in her eyes. She could try and keep him alive for as long as she could, even if she didn't get to see the boy all that much. She'd just have to make the most out of the time she did have with him... and she definitely was planning to do that once he was better again. He'd stay until he was sure she was safe, which wouldn't be long, she didn't think. Sure, the rebellion might spike up again, but it wouldn't be so bad this time, not if the guards were training properly. Maybe a couple more weeks, at best.

In all honesty, Sage was going to find an excuse to stay at the castle for as long as possible. He didn't get so stir-crazy since he was training the guards and screwing around with Luther in more...wild ways. And really, he wasn't looking forward to having to deal with his father again, or leave Anya. He knew he could come to visit, but he wasn't sure how often, or for how long. He'd just have to make the most of the time they had together - treasure it. Keep the memories close to heart so when he died it wouldn't seem so...depressing he supposed. He was more than fine with dying, but he also wanted to make the most out of his life. He almost wished he'd dyed while sick...dying while fighting for something was better than just collapsing. Though, he supposed working to death was still doing something. He doubted that would happen, though....it was probably more of a thing where his dad took all the money, so he slowly just...starved and worked too much and then lay down somewhere he wouldn't get back up from. Most of him wished he could just come here to be with Anya when he died, but he wouldn't want the girl to have to deal with that.

Anya sat quietly for a little while before curling into him a little. She wasn't planning on staying, and she'd probably leave in a bit but it was nice to curl up next to him. Charlotte was there, too, so despite the slightly more down conversation, even just her presence was enough to make everything seem a little bit kinder, even though she was sleeping. She sighed gently before patting his shoulder and giving a small smile. She wasn't going to be down just because of what they'd just talked about. No, she needed to get used to the whole thing, but she didn't want to make any more of the time she had with him seem too much worse. The memories she wanted of him would be happy and safe, without the fear of death or injury. Most of their happy memories were short-lived, at the moment. They were happy until something went wrong... even that night in the cave, which was meant to be the last goodbye, they ended up being kidnapped. She wanted more memories that were good... happy. And now that they weren't constantly worried about being attacked, it seemed like the best time to do it.

(Wanna do a little time skip? lol)

(lol I was just going to suggest that)

Sage was glad that Anya had decided to let go of her worries, at least for the moment, and decide to have a good time, just the two of them. He wasn't counting Charlotte as really being there, since she was asleep. Eventually, he ended up drifting off himself as well, having exhausted himself talking to people. He was glad to just lay there with Anya and cuddle up, really. The days went by pretty much the same, though he forced himself up and about more and more each day. The doctor was finally letting him out of the doctor's ward after another week and a half or so, and he was, admittedly, pretty excited to get out and go about the castle in the way he so chose. Plus, he could screw around with Anya again, which he was definitely looking forward too...and he knew she was as well.

The next couple of weeks were... slow, to say the least. But for once, she didn't mind. Before, things almost seemed a little quick, but she was just... happy. Not worried, or scared, not waiting for anything bad to happen, simply content. In the past, her time in the castle seemed boring, but she was welcoming the safety and warmth between their walls. She didn't feel as trapped as she had been. Even working for her mother seemed a bit better. The woman had always been quite good with Anya, you could maybe go as far as saying that she was kind, but she was more... lenient. Not trying to control the girl's every move. She wasn't quite sure what had brought about the change in her mother, perhaps she got a fright during the little invasion, but Anya wasn't likely to complain. Luther wasn't being forced upon her by the woman, either, which was definitely a good thing. She'd even seen a bit of her father... it was a little sad to think that she was excited about that, but the man had been alright too. He'd spoken to her, which was lovely. She was never sitting around, never bored, and she was only really hiding away in her room in the afternoons when the castle was a bit quieter. Which was what the girl had been doing now... just reading quietly before going to get showered and comfortable as the light slowly dimmed.