Sighing softly as he spoke the words he needed to, Elisabeth understood. [i]She understood[/i]. For so many arcs, she had felt alone…but it had been by choice. How would she feel now if everyone she knew and cared for was taken away?

Alone.

Taking her hands away from his face, she did the one thing that the young mage knew she needed to. Ezner had been feeling alone – and he needed to know he wasn’t anymore. Slipping her arms gently around his torso, she settled her head against his body, just holding him, closing her eyes, and listening for his heartbeat. She didn’t speak for a few bits, letting her presence ground him. He needed that, more than he needed words.

After a few bits, she finally allowed her gentle voice to reach out to him. There were things he needed to know.

[b]“Before I left, I went back to that little stairway behind the Marketplace. I talked to you…and I left the blanket you had the night you stayed at my house. I felt like I needed to tell you things, like how I wanted to help you and that I was sorry I couldn’t. I felt like I let you down. But I promised you and myself that I would help someone else. I told you that you were my first friend and that I would never forget you…and I never did. I told you that you changed my life and that the two trials we spent together were special. You had no reason to trust me and yet you did. You allowed me to start trusting people. There are a lot of things I wouldn’t have now, if not for you and those two trials.”[/b]

Gently raising her head, letting her sapphire gaze find his eyes, Elisabeth told him the last thing she had said. [b]“And I told you that I missed you. And I did. You are not alone anymore. I’m here. Whatever is hurting you, we will figure it out. I promise.”[/b]

She simply held him, waiting to see what his reaction would be to what she said.