"Thinking of something?" 

She sends the question wordlessly as well, through their hands.

"Old knight," she says with a half-smile. 

Then she pats the bed. 

"Was ours."

Well that definitely complicates things.

She sends her wordless reaction through the link, confusion and sorrow and a feeling of stepping in to replace something she shouldn't.

"It is normal," Aria says softly. "To lose knights. Not common. But normal."

She says it so simply. Like it's that easy to get over it all. 

Suddenly Hibiscus has a lot more respect for this woman. Not because she doesn't care about her old knight - it's clear she does care - but because she had the courage to love even knowing she'd probably lose them. 

"... Do you want a hug?" 

"Yes. Very yes."

Gently she leans in, and hugs Aria. 

On her bed. That used to be - her marriage bed? 

She doesn't know. 

What a lovely tangle she's gotten herself into.

She parts from her a little unwillingly, and exhales. 

"I have... people waiting for me."

"I know this."

"Are you sure you want to love me anyway?"

Aria's lips quirk up, and she laughs. 

"Not a choice."

Hibiscus laughs too. Ask a stupid question. 

... "Okay. Feels very complicated, but... we can cuddle." 

She pauses. 

"Just cuddle. For now." 

"Okay." 

And Aria gestures to the bed, inviting Hibiscus to lay down. 

She sheds her leather armor, putting it back into her inventory, and lays down in the simple linen dress. 

Aria slips into bed, already having shucked her own armour, and embraces Hibiscus gently from behind.

... She's taller than her. 

Huh. 

She presses in, and closes her eyes for a little while.

It's simple. Cozy.

It helps.

Aria just holds her amid the soft sheets, and they rest together. 

It feels intimate. 

There's so much between them, and yet...

She's not going to think about the implications right now. She's just going to rest.

Aria hums gently into her ear, a wordless tune she doesn't know.

Slowly, like unclenching a muscle, she lets herself feel. 

God is she ever lucky to have met this woman inside an hour of being in this world.