Noctisardor Bypass geburtshilfe

mahler listened and did not interject. he had rejected her and ordered her away, putting cruelty where he had only meant firmness. yet in his fierce resistance the gargoyle had gone too far, and wounded laurel's already delicate and bruised heart.
for a long moment he did not speak, and when he did it was with a voice that hung heavy in the threat of grief. "i am sorry that i have led you to believe that you are some sort of — charity," he said, unknowingly perhaps echoing the woman's own thoughts. "do you remember that you helped me to build rivenvood?" mahler began again, more steadily, seeking and holding her gaze if she would allow.
"you came to me vhen i vas still at the broken boulder. and you followed me here. you helped me to claim the bypass from those who vere vonce there. and you have been here since, in spite of my — cowvardice."
mahler paused, took a breath, lifted his chin. "you are here because you belong here, laurel. this place is — should be — vas meant to be;"
staggering before he so many times,
"— a home, to all of us. and no more to anyvone else than you, laurel."
"it seems i have — i know now that i have harmed so many. in these moments, remaining graf feels unethical. an unearned thing that must be rectified."
a long pause. he turned his gaze over her children. "all three of you belong here. i have alvays felt that, laurel. you are not here because i allow it to be so. you are here because you earned the same right to this land as i."