[ River labelling his decision to use a false identity as fear stills him. He wonders how much of his mind can she see into, because what else could it be but that? For her to pluck his name from thin air like he's some sort of open book. For her to understand that the source of his paranoia, all of his years of layered anger, hatred, and distaste of injustice, all stems from fear of a relentless, uncaring beast whose hunger could never be sated? 

Another thought rises to the surface as her gaze rises to meet his: that he would take care of her. This young girl with a penchant for reading books about theoretical physics and calculus, with a childlike wonder for this new world and its magic so bright that it seemed to blot out any other worry she might have. ] 

I am afraid. 

[ Of bleeding eyes, of unseen things in the dark that crippled River with so much fear, of never seeing his loved ones again. He reaches out again to brush more of those tears streaking down her cheeks. ] 

But we can't let them control us like that. That's how they win. It's how they make it seem like the only way out is by never fighting back. [ Quiet conviction swells in his voice. ] You're stronger than that, River.