[ Julie had assured him the demon did not physically harm her, but the intensity of her reaction worries him. Something about the encounter is painful to her, and he doesn't know if it's because of what the demon may have said to her, that the demon preyed on her in the first place—lying to her about what it was—or something deeper he cannot yet fully understand.
He waits while she gathers her thoughts, searching her face. His brows wrinkle. ]
Julie. [ He cups her cheek. ] You didn't. You have nothing to apologize for.
[ If anything, the responsibility lies on him. He should've been more careful. Quicker, perhaps. Noticed that something was wrong before it was too late. He knows Jaskier will tell him that isn't realistic—that he'd been abducted for a handful of weeks and spent a handful more recovering while the demon surfaced. That may be true. It still doesn't lessen the sense that he hadn't done enough. For her or for Ciri.
no subject
He waits while she gathers her thoughts, searching her face. His brows wrinkle. ]
Julie. [ He cups her cheek. ] You didn't. You have nothing to apologize for.
[ If anything, the responsibility lies on him. He should've been more careful. Quicker, perhaps. Noticed that something was wrong before it was too late. He knows Jaskier will tell him that isn't realistic—that he'd been abducted for a handful of weeks and spent a handful more recovering while the demon surfaced. That may be true. It still doesn't lessen the sense that he hadn't done enough. For her or for Ciri.
He hesitates. ]
Why do you think you hurt me?