I'm Going Viral

Her face stayed suitably grave - after all, they had been talking about the deaths of his close family members, and while she was able to set aside grief it did not mean she was insensible to others' needs - until he mentioned teaching the children. Her face softened, a subtle change that brought an extra warmth to her falsely-youthful features. They had always wanted children, her and Lanse... she would never have children of her own, now, but that did not mean she could not find joy in passing her knowledge to others' children. One did not refuse the comfort of a hearthfire in a cottage simply because they may no longer sit by the fireplace of a palace.

"Certainly I would be more than happy to help with the younglings," she assured him, before standing and stretching with a brisk efficiency quite at odds with the softness of her face moments ago. A moment of self-examination with the experience of someone who has long since learned their body's limits, but she nodded firmly to herself. She was tired from her journey, yes, but nowhere near exhausted. She had energy and strength to spare for this. "I see no reason to put off what we can do now, if you are amenable to a spar," she added, with a faint smile for him. It would be an interesting test of her skills, certainly. She was not much older than he was, not yet out of her prime physically, but she was barely taller than his elbow and built along much lighter lines.