He freed himself from his own tangle of limbs that evening. Unsure what had prompted him to partake in slumber, but regardless he was awake now. The sun almost ready to dip below the horizon. Perhaps he would find someone else who had suffered the same fate as him — or perhaps someone who had not yet settled in for the night.

Slowly he patrolled away from his makeshift bed out towards the river that Kynareth had shown him. Surely he might find someone around a water feature. It was the source of life after all.

Oh, but what if not?

He felt sure he could find somewhere else to stick his nose.

He noticed her quickly when she chuffed for him. Head pulled up as his eyes took in the view of her. Small and wispy. Scarred too. A woman with stories to tell, surely.

Yet, for the moment without words, all he could focus on was her petite size. Patroclus knew he was not a giant — especially compared to some here — but she made him feel as though he was.

Hello, He murmured softly to her. The last thing he wanted was to spook her off. Still he made a move to close some of the distance between them so they might converse without waking whatever was in the area.

Couldn't sleep?

She seemed even smaller this close. He felt that he might break her simply by speaking too loudly or blowing a bit of air her way. Rude, perhaps. Surely she would not be here if she was so weak. Kynareth seemed clear about the strength of those here.

He found he was quickly charmed by her voice. Almost otherworldly in a way. Accented in a way that he had never heard.

Oh, afraid not. He offered back with a thin smile.

I'm Patroclus. It is a pleasure to meet you, Aerin, even if the circumstances seem unkind to us. Light laughter filtered through the end of his words.

He settled down into a sphinx-like pose, comfortable and at ease around her already. Perhaps lulled into a sense of security merely from her petite size.

Indeed I am. He admitted in a warm rumble. Patroclus felt...soft here. Gentle compared to how he taunted Kynareth. Kindly swept up by Kynareth and Nyra just outside of the Strath. Offered my services as a sort of...supportive counseling type.

This would be the first time he discussed it with someone who was not the leading pair. Perhaps it would be good for him. Make his social talents known, an open offer for those who needed it.

He settled into the silence of her anxieties. Unaware of the thoughts that swirled within the will-o-wisp. Patroclus had dealt in matters of the mind and heart for some time, but he was no mind reader. He worked with communication.

Which she finally supplied him with. Even if it was only a little shred to start with. He could work with this.

The first thing he'd offer would be a warm smile, golden eyes fixed on her paws for a moment. I see. A slow start as he hummed in thought. Wondered the best way to approach this with her.

Is this something you would like? I will always be honored to listen and help, but you must want it too. He did not run a business of sinking teeth into fresh wounds, so to speak.

His heart grew heavy in his chest, liable to burst right through and sink into the earth. Patroclus had not met a woman of her kind in many ways. A slave. He could only imagine what such a history detailed for someone who held such a status. He had seen his fair share of men and women who held lower positions, but never something so...boldly degrading.

There is no instant cure, I am sure you are aware. He hummed softly with a careful thoughtfulness in his tone. If there had been such a thing he liked to think others would have marketed it sooner.

We can...talk. Discover where your heaviest burdens are and how you conquer them. Reassurance in his tone as he offered a warm smile. We do not have to start deepest. This may very well be a long process.

He motioned softly, if she would like to settle near him. It was easy to felt as though they were no longer strangers. She was keen to open up to him and he was keen to help lift her burdens.

Is that why you could not sleep? Do they keep you up at night? A tentative set of questions before he tried to pry into the contents of what her dreams might hold. He did not know what waited for him on the other side of such a question.

He made mental note of the things she said. Only in the day for a few hours, never in caves, in the woods. It was useful information. Truly. Good things for him to pick apart or to leave be. While he had his hesitations about ripping into the meat of things so early, she did not seem inclined to pull back yet.

Why not caves? Patroclus asked in hushed tones, warm and soft. He wished to tread all of this with a fine feather-light weight for the time being.

A husband, someone who was supposed to protect and love had used her vulnerability against her. He could not imagine such a man. Such an anyone. If there ever had been a tragedy, it seemed to be here within the petite battle-worn woman.

I am sorry to hear this. He answered honestly, softly. Now he was not a medic but. . .

Have you tried perhaps a bundle of chamomile or lavender in the evenings? To help you sleep through the night more. Thin lipped as he considered his suggestion. Sometimes the...stress of things is worse when you are not getting the basics we all need.

Tea.

He had never heard such a thing. Admittedly it sounded...untrustworthy to him. A new concoction by some medicine man he did not know. Patroclus could not, in good faith, suggest such a thing right away.

Yet she lit up with the words she spoke and perhaps he did not have it in his soft heart to crush her hopes so suddenly with his concern.

We could go together, He suggested softly. Speak to him. Me as your...council of sorts and you with your own knowledge. The man did his best to keep any worried tones hidden under warmth. I have not heard of this practice he advertises and I am keen to hear more from him.

That will work very well. No need to waste time on this. She required help and he was here to help provide that.

Stay with me. He offered with a little motion of his head. They could find something to do. Perhaps a simple patrol with lighter conversations or an exploration of the river.

If she would like, he could easily fill the time with talk of himself. Tales of his valley empire back home. The kindness, the handsomeness, the drama. Anything to keep her mind away from the darker things.