When will I see you again

It broke Artorias' heart to see all the internalized guilt Lia piled onto herself undeservedly. Even in the clear case where she had been a victim, she somehow found a way to blame herself, finding shortcomings in herself that he didn't see. A cruel life and an unforgiving world had broken her down until she was barely a wolf, nothing more than a belonging, a possession to be owned and displayed and used. Artorias vividly remembered the day he'd seen her in that slavers' market, demure and obedient to a fault as if her life depended on it. That was because it had. Artorias couldn't begin to comprehend the cruelty she'd endured at the hands of the wolves that came before him; it just didn't make sense in his head why anyone would mistreat anyone like that. Yet as he held the shaking, sobbing form of Lia while she vented out her pain and remorse, the young alpha was forced to face the reality of a world so cold.

Lia sniffled and buried her face in his chest fur, muttering barely above a whisper that she didn't want him nor Briar to get tired of her and that she loved them. Artorias breathed a slow sigh, massive azure paw gingerly combing his claws through her scruff and stroking the back of her head. "We would never do that, Lia. You don't ever have to fear that," he reasserted with adamant yet gentle resolution in his voice. "You're ours, and you will always be ours. Nothing is taking you away from us." He could feel the lithe fae growing heavier in his arms as she fell into a state of total relaxation, the alcohol and emotional catharsis seeming to drain her of her energy. A gentle smile touched Artorias' lips while he shifted to lie down on the furs beneath them, still clutching Lia as he moved to bring her gently down with him so he wound up on his back and supporting her above him like she were using him as a pillow.

The poor girl had been through so much and looked exhausted in every way a wolf could be worn down. He waited to see if she'd say anything else or just drift into sleep. If she did, he wouldn't disturb her or move her. This feeling of safety to prove that she mattered was what she needed.

"Artorias Carpathius"