I hear you've been sad

He continued to watch Asla, remembering the days when she had been tiny and energetic, chasing foxes out of the chicken house when she was tiny enough to be squashed by them. Or bouncing on his stomach like a playground and laughing about the stars. He hated how time robbed him of their innocence, those little joys. Not that he would give up Satira and Arc for the world, but he wished to see Asla smile again…

“You are my daughter, and I will always worry about you, but - as you wish.” he agreed softly. Looking back at the roaring flames for a long moment. “I didn’t realise it was so late, did I wake you?”

"Speech"