Pressing his forehead to hers helped keep him in place. Twining their fingers together helped settle his breathing a bit. Listening to her voice--finally, after all that time apart and all the pain that nearly stopped him from getting home--helped ease the last bit of his nerves.

"They're more than strong. But they-- should not be alone."

They should have a monarch to stand before them. They should have a leader to keep a straight spine and a fervent call to stand strong while their warriors kept the borders safe.