[She spares him her thoughts about Fergus, how she worries about him. He hasn't remarried. It's not that she'd expect him to so much that she knows he's still grieving. Highever is empty. He left a family and came home an orphan. She wishes she'd thought to request for leave from the Wardens for a while so she could see him. When she goes home, she just might.

Elissa faintly smiles, fondness in the corners of her lips and in her eyes.]

And always will be. We're lucky to still have each other.

[At first, she consented to sit back and have some of her tea while he spoke. But she stops mid-sip to listen, eventually setting the cup down. He's absolutely right, of course. She's done much of the same. But perhaps she's pushed too far as well in her hopes of pulling their misshapen group together for some semblance of unity. She nods.]

I don't know Bethany well enough to know her circumstances. She's a sweet girl, though. [And witty to boot.] Anders was all right with being conscripted. It was that or be dragged back to the circle. Things just went...horribly wrong when I left Amaranthine. I still wish I knew all of what happened but he won't tell me.

[That, in itself, is strange. It's as if she's come back to find the front door's been locked on her.]