The atmosphere of the Firelink Shrine grew tense with the new arrival of the man wearing a skull, and Delwyn could see by the way the young prince grasped his blade that he wasn't the only one who felt it. Delwyn put his bowl of stew down beside him; unnerved by the arrival of such an ominous guest. When the others began to welcome him into the group without delay, he couldn't help but feel guilty. Delwyn was not the type of person to be swayed by appearances so easily. Perhaps his time in Lordran had just put him more on edge than usual. The Masked Firekeeper also took note of Alaric's subtle note of distrust.
"Aye young prince. You be wise to not trust strange men. Especially in this land of all places," The Keeper chuckled, gently tapping the hilt of her sheathed weapon. "The bonfire is my home; and my home is a sanctuary to the cursed. Worry not for your own safety while you reside with me. Any who wish to defile the sanctity of the flame will answer to my cold steel." The threat was directed to everyone sitting at the bonfire; not just the strange man who had appeared. Delwyn did not see the Firekeeper as the fighting sort, yet her words held an odd sense of power to them that would surely make even the strongest of men quiver in fear. Although something about her statement seemed off to him.
"So, while we sit here at your flame you are our guardian. Am I to assume that once we depart, you'll care not what happens to us? Even if we do, and please do not take offense," he quickly turned to the newcomer, "end up finding ourselves travelling with a potential threat? If you will forgive the rash implication, I am sure you are just another weary traveler." 

The Keeper, growing impatient with Delwyn's babbling, spoke up.
"You catch on fast, Chronicler. Do not mistake me for your nurse, or your caretaker; or innkeeper for that matter. I guard the bonfire because it is sacred and because I was chosen to do so. I hold no grudge against any of you, but do not expect me to care if you hollow or not. If you want my honest opinion; you'll all hollow within one moon cycle. You may even hollow faster than that foolish king and his herd of lamb which he arrogantly lead to the slaughterhouse." Her cold gaze shifted towards Alaric once more, "Let us hope the apple fell far far away from that tree."
"Do not speak so harshly!" Before Delwyn could stop himself, he found himself confronting the Firekeeper on foot. His legs were shaking and every part of his mind was telling him to stop talking. "The boy has only recently lost his father to this awful curse. You may not care for us, but please find it within yourself to not tarnish the memory of a young man's father!" Delwyn stood there, feeling slightly nauseous. When he had realised what he had just done he immediately sat down and lowered his head towards the Keeper as a sign of atonement.
"Please forgive me. With all of your hospitality, I should not be so rude. I greatly appreciate all your help and would never ask any more of you."

The Keeper was silent, taking not of the young Lucas who was begging for more food. With a sigh, she handed the poor soul her own bowl of stew. After satisfying him, she turned and began giggling like a child.
"Perhaps you lot will last two moon cycles instead." The sound of the Keeper's cackling faded into the night with the embers of the bonfire.