Penelope listened as he began to explain himself. The knight paled as he admitted he had caught the illness that killed his mother. Whatever she had been expecting, it certainly wasn't that. The thought of losing him made the knight's heart drop. She didn't want to accept it and reeled from the information he had told her as he went on to explain it had been the reason he had gotten caught before.

She gave his hand a small squeeze as he intertwined their fingers and tried to assure her that him and Hazel would find a cure. She prayed that Hazel was as talented as he claimed and already had some faith in the herbalist after the success of raiding the Younisian castle and relying heavily on the henbane Crow prepared. However, at his last words, she flinched slightly, reminded that even if the herbalist was talented, they might not be able to cure Crow. Penelope let out a shaky breath and let go of his hand, only so she was able to wrap her arms around him in a firm embrace. She buried her head into the crook of his neck, softly pressing into him as she held him close.

"I'm glad she's helping you.. And if you trust her to be able to beat this, then I'm sure you two will succeed." She murmured. The knight paused, frowning for a moment. "But... even if things don't work out, I'm not leaving you behind Crow." She added softly. It might have been a bit of a foolish choice, considering that meant both futures for her were gone but she couldn't bring herself to leave him after the war if he was dying. "I already made my choice of what happens after this war. Even if that time is.. more limited that I thought, I want to be with you for as long as I can."

Penelope pulled back slightly to look at him and smiled halfheartedly. "And you should know that telling me not worry isn't going to work..." She hesitated, her smile fading as another thought crossed her mind. "I mean, what would have happened if that patrol would have run into you after I left." She shook her head, frowning at the thought of him getting caught by a patrol again. "The illness might get you killed with just its symptoms, Crow.."