Anya sat quietly for a little while, biting her lip and she pleaded with herself not to let tears run down her cheeks. Not again... Sage was being so good not to get tired of her and not asking her to leave... and it did make her feel better. She knew he was hurting to, and she wanted to help him... but in truth she didn't know how. She still felt awful for the day before, and she didn't know what would make it better. Eventually, though, she turned her hand to hold onto his and kind of curled into him... wrapping the arm that she was holding onto his hand around him in a type of hug... it wasn't particularly big or anything, just something that she hoped made him feel like he was wanted there. That she was grateful for him. The lump in her throat had finally disappeared, and she could finally breath now. She apologised again, telling herself that it was the last time she'd do it that evening before giving him a small squeeze.

Sage shook his head in response to the girls apology, sighing internally. "You don't have to be sorry. It natural to be upset," he hummed, curling into the girl when she wrapped her arms around him. In truth, having her there did help...and he did like his creature comforts. Maybe that was because he never got it before, and it was needed, or maybe it was some other reason. He didn't know, and he didn't particularly care. Some things, like emotions, you just couldn't understand. They were confusing, and by now, he'd just accepted the fact that his emotions didn't really like him.

Anya didn't really give a reply. He'd given her the same answer each time - which, honestly she was surprised about because she wasn't expecting a reply at all. It was more for her... maybe if she said it enough, it would start to mean something. But she knew that wasn't how it worked. It never was how these things worked, and, to be honest, she didn't care. It was more of a comfort to her than for him. "I know, but..." But what? But she was apologising to him because she was selfish and didn't want to feel bad about herself for bugging him. That sounded about right. She couldn't say that though. That she was only there right then because she felt bad about herself, and not because she wanted him to be alright. Of course, she did want him to feel better, she didn't want him to hurt... but humans were selfish creatures, and Anya was no exception to that.

Sage didn't press and make the girl answer the question. He wouldn't know the answer, either. She needed comfort...that was understandable. Humans were social creatures, and they needed eachother. Even him, who'd grown up on his own and could trust no one where he lived, melted into the girl's arms, or the arms of anyone he could trust, really. Anya had him and Att, and she couldn't very well act like this to the boy. He did feel glad she'd chosen him to help comfort her though...at least it meant now, when she was at her worst, she'd come to him, just like he'd come to her, and how he had come to her in the past.

Anya sat quietly for a little bit, just enjoying the peace. She was so glad that little Att didn't have to see her like this. She didn't want the child to think any less of her... he was still young, but she knew well enough that seeing someone you looked up to break down could hurt more than words could describe. And Luther was gone, now... someone who'd become the child's father figure, someone he aspired to be like, he was dead. She wasn't sure if the boy even knew... he hadn't asked about Luther so he must have... or, at lease he understood that he wouldn't be back any time soon. "Sage... do you think Att knows?" She whispered, though her voice was slightly muffed as she spoke into his back.

Sage glanced back at Anya when she spoke up, and eventually worked up the energy to roll around and wrap his arms around the girl, like she'd done for him. He hummed in thought, then nodded. "I think he knows something happened to him. He must have known when they took him out of the nursery and everyone was running around. He saw fighting." He shrugged slightly not knowing what else to say. "He might not understand death, but he knows he's gone. But he's adapted well "

Anya didn't really notice when the boy rolled over, but she kind of jumped when he wrapped his arms around her. Okay... so she'd definitely zoned out a little while thinking about little Att. She wondered how he'd deal with all of this as a whole. Luther, the future king was gone. And she needed someone to replace him... what if she couldn't find anyone fit enough to take the boys place? And what if they were no good with Att? That thought worried her... Luther was a big dofus most of the time... but he was good, and he knew his job. And he loved Att like no one else did... but what if the next guy wasn't like that? That was a thought that most definitely scared her. "I suppose that's right," she whispered softly before shaking her head and relaxing into his arms a little. She couldn't remember the last time she'd actually been properly held by someone... but this was nice, at least before she needed to go and round Att up.

Sage smiled and nodded, more than content to just...lay there with the girl for a while. It was peaceful. Besides, he had missed being able to lay there. "Att will be fine," he hummed to the girl, and sort of to himself too, since he wanted the boy to be happy too.

(Super short I'm out lol)

(No worries! I've been having exams all week so my replies have been a little bit dry. I'm not giving you much to work with lmao)

Anya nodded quietly as she rested her head on his shoulder... she wondered what he was thinking right then. And what Att was thinking, too. She loved the both of them, and Sage had almost become like a brother to her. And she was so... content just to lay there, in his arms where she felt like no one could get to her. She felt safe for the first time in a while... and she wondered if Sage felt the same, or if he just felt like he was baby sitting her until she broke down again. She knew Sage would be hurting... but the way she felt would be different to the way that he was feeling. She didn't know if she should scream or yell, or take her anger out on someone else... but no. She couldn't do that... and if she took the anger, the sadness and put it on someone else, she could very well hurt someone she really cared about... because right then, the only people in the castle were people she loved. After a moment she went to rest her head in the boys collar, just trying to get a little more comfortable. She couldn't stay for long, but she could enjoy the comfort he brought her for a little while.

Sage rested his chin on the girls head gently when she rested her head on his chest, closing his eyes. It was nice to just sit here and hold eachother...it was, in all honesty, what they both needed at that time. He did wish she wasn't leaving...once her and Att were gone he really would feel alone. At least he'd still have the doctor, though the way his luck was, the old man would probably have a heart attack or something and leave him completely alone. If that happened, he probably wouldn't handle it very well, so he supposed being alone wouldn't even matter anymore at that point. But it shouldn't get to that...the doctor was old, but he still had plenty of years left in him. Which was good, because right now, Sage needed everything and everyone he could get. He didn't trust very many people like he trusted Anya and the doctor, and even little Att. He was suddenly very thankful for them all, and wondered what would have happened if Anya had never shown up at that tavern. Well, he'd be dead one way or another. He let out a type of soft sigh and relaxed slightly... everything still hurt, more than he could ever express, but he felt like he could at least maybe fall into a decent sleep with Anya there.