He ached in that instant. A terrible and deep longing overtook him. But Njal did not move, he gave her the space - believing that she somehow deserved it. He had become a lot more distant from her physically, but now with the woman before him, Njal realized he was emotionally more attuned to things. He felt her hurt, the way he felt his own. Her love came next; under the guise of forgiveness Proudheart drew close again, and she buried herself against him.
"It's been a long time..." Too long. And it was his fault.
They were together. They were more than that, far more. Njal was the mountain that rooted her, and she was his fire - his sun, his stars. Burning for him. How could he have let that go?
Proudheart's warmth overwhelmed him. The entire situation was overwhelming, really. But as she sank against his chest he did not move, save to cradle her close with his body; he would sit with her forever, if she wanted him to. The mountain would never move again if that was what the sun would ask of him.
There was a new conviction in his voice when Njal spoke again. A strength. His rumbling question was muttered softly as if to not break whatever spell she was under, but there was pride there again. His adoration for the woman rolling to the surface.
"Will you stay?"