The back of his throat tasted bitter as he smiled. But this was necessary, wasn't it? He'd revealed a bit too much, trusted a bit too much, and it was Sif that had stepped away from it.
And it was only fair. He could no longer rely on his father, and it certainly wasn't fair to try to transfer any of that burden over to Sif, as he'd been tempted to do in that moment. It was his to deal with, and he needed to accept it.
"Hurry I shall, then. See if you can find my brother, if you please."
With an easy, graceful movement he slipped around her to get to the door. But he wasn't quite able to stop himself from reaching out, his hand running down her arm as he passed, his fingers momentarily finding hers and squeezing lightly.
Then he opened the door and stepped out into the hall, not looking back. It was cowardly, but he found himself glad that he couldn't see her face. He should not have done that, not after he'd gone to all the trouble of re-establishing the distance between them. It seemed he still hadn't entirely regained his rationality. Maybe he would once he was no longer in her somewhat sympathetic presence.
He strode down in the hall, taking the shortest course to his father's chambers. The throne room would perhaps be better, since it was public, but... he wasn't quite ready to face the throne room yet, and hopefully his father would still be in his rooms.
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And it was only fair. He could no longer rely on his father, and it certainly wasn't fair to try to transfer any of that burden over to Sif, as he'd been tempted to do in that moment. It was his to deal with, and he needed to accept it.
"Hurry I shall, then. See if you can find my brother, if you please."
With an easy, graceful movement he slipped around her to get to the door. But he wasn't quite able to stop himself from reaching out, his hand running down her arm as he passed, his fingers momentarily finding hers and squeezing lightly.
Then he opened the door and stepped out into the hall, not looking back. It was cowardly, but he found himself glad that he couldn't see her face. He should not have done that, not after he'd gone to all the trouble of re-establishing the distance between them. It seemed he still hadn't entirely regained his rationality. Maybe he would once he was no longer in her somewhat sympathetic presence.
He strode down in the hall, taking the shortest course to his father's chambers. The throne room would perhaps be better, since it was public, but... he wasn't quite ready to face the throne room yet, and hopefully his father would still be in his rooms.