Grouse Thicket put on your war face

"I'll protect you," Dagfinn said, the words leaving his mouth before he could truly think them over. It was a kneejerk reaction, but not one he would really consider taking back, either. He would protect Laurel, and he didn't mean to hurt her pride or anything... but it sounded like maybe she needed to hear it, anyway. Like maybe she needed to know someone would take care of her.

He was sure Reek and Jhala (lol) would tell her the same thing, but he wanted her to know that he would, too. They were all in this together, now.

"If you don't want to fight, you can just stay behind me. No one will get past," Dag went on, perhaps a bit too confidently.