She approached, and the girl turned back to look at her as she got closer. Her face was a mess. Snot and tears covered her face. Gwen saw Nadia but didn't recognize her through the tears. She wiped her face a bit, trying to clean herself up but only succeeding in smearing it further across her face. Gwen thought she would get scolded for acting to childishly and crying on the ground in front of the altar's statues. Nadia didn't scold her. She just sat down beside her in a slightly more ladylike fashion.

They sat there quietly, looking each other over for a long moment. As Nadia saw the tips of Gwen's pointed ears grow red with embarrassment, she finally broke the silence. "It's alright. A lot of us lost someone. All of us could use some time to grieve." She smoothed out the wrinkles on her skirt idly, trying to hide her trembling hands as her own tears welled up. "Who did you lose?"

Gwen leaned away from Nadia, wanting to get away. She had never been good with other people or girls her own age and worse, she started recognizing the Princess. "I--Eh, *sniff* um..." She wanted to retreat, to run away again. But her bleeding feet and trembling legs would probably not support her. Worse, Nadia had reached out and grabbed her hand, locking her firmly in place with the weight of a feather. Nadia's hand was soft and small, smaller than her own hand. As Gwen looked back at the princess, Nadia's green eyes looked into hers. Gwen could see a desire to help, and own sadness reflected back at her. Gwen moved back closer to the Princess. Her response was blubbery. "I... I losht my fader. Den, today I was t-tod my m-mom died, too." Gwen felt herself empty out on saying that. It was the first time she said it, and it felt more real when she did. Then, she was filled with horror as her mother's face wouldn't come to her mind. She couldn't remember what she looked like.

Princess Nadia put an arm around her, and gave her a loose hug. Gwen wanted to hug back, but couldn't. "Tell me about them. I want to hear about the ones you love. Maybe I can tell you about my family also." Princess Nadia's eyes were watering, just shy of tears.

Gwen nodded and began. "My mom, she was witty, dedicated, and always cheerful. Dad could be a bit cold, but he cared for me. I remember when he rescued me from a hole I fell into and scraped my legs on as a child. He carried me home and bandaged me up. He spent the rest of the evening hugging me. My mom, she would always take my birthday off, she would play with me for the entire day playing the most ridiculous games. One time she dressed up as a fairy and danced with me through the streets. Then there was the time we were kicked out of the public baths because we were having too much fun. Dad scolded both of us then, but he laughed all the same when we told him." She paused for a moment to catch her breath, and wipe her eyes. She couldn't remember her mother's face. She cursed herself for forgetting and curled up into a ball. "I want to go home to them. I-I don't remember my mom's face. Why? I want to see her again. It's been so long. Why did she have to leave me, too. Why?" Her tears came back in full force. She wanted to go to sleep and never wake up. Maybe then she'd see them.

Princess Nadia just pulled her in tighter, letting Gwen's head rest on her chest. "It's alright. It's okay." Her own tears came up as well, dampening Gwen's hair. "I never knew my mother. She died before I could remember from illness. So I'm happy to hear you talk about your mother. Maybe I could've had that too. My father was always busy, but he always had time for me. I would interrupt his meetings and he would just pick me up and continue on with me in his arms. When I painted on one of his robes, he saved it, and wore it around the palace when it was just us. He was proud of it.

"Nikalai, my eldest brother was always a bit distant, but he was nice. When he was reading, he would let me listen in and read over his shoulders. He always had a stack of books close at hand. Cherim was cool, he always knew how to look good, and was always willing to give a loud speech, often just to see me laugh. Stalm, was my youngest brother, older than me by only three years. He was always happy to play with me. When everyone else would tell me to go away, that they couldn't play with me, Stalm would arrive. He could be bossy, but he was always fun. I miss them all. I want to go home to them too." Princess Nadia put her head against Gwen and began crying in ernest. "They left me and, I don't know what to do. I just wanted to get married to Dante. Help where I could. I didn't want to rule. I didn't want this!" Gwen for her part, hugged her back. "Dad. Please come back. Please." They sat there and cried for a long time. Occasionally, they would tell another small story, but they always just sat there. Crying and hugging each other.

They didn't notice the priests returning from the Palace, nor when they tried to talk to them. The priests, for their part, realized they wouldn't budge them and left. They returned with Saphira, Brandr, and a group of guards. Saphira immediately figured out what was going on and asked everyone else to wait outside. This wasn't something soldiers should see, particularly of their new Queen, and she knew Brandr would probably end up bowling her over in his clumsy attempts to comfort her. She walked into the Cathedral quickly but only noticed Gwen halfway there, then sighed. She had to ask herself whether the Angels led them here or not, but would save that for the priests.

They didn't react as she came close, seemingly too busy crying into each other to notice. But putting her hand on their backs gently brought them back. "S-Saphira?" Gwen was the first to respond.

"What are you doing here?" Princess Nadia asked immediately after.

Saphira smiled sadly. "What do you think I'm here for? The Queen sits down in the Cathedral and cries for a few hours, and we're just supposed to wait for you?"

Gwen and Nadia separate from their hug. "What do you mean I wasn't gone that long."

"It's nearly midnight now Nadia. You've been gone for hours." Both of them sit up and look around a bit. They didn't even notice it had gotten so dark.

"So we've just been sitting here, hugging, and crying for hours?" Gwen responded.

"Yes, and both of you look like it. Come on. Let's go back get you two cleaned up." Nadia stands up quickly, but Gwen stays.

"I don't know. My feet hurt and-"

Saphira looks at Gwen's feet and fully realizes what's wrong with them. "Of course your feet hurt. You've got popped blisters." She gives Gwen a scathing look and then scoops her up. "Now you're coming with us, whether you like it or not. Come on, your majesty. Let's head back." Gwen shifts in her grasp but is too embarrassed to say anything about it.

"Y-you're stronger then you look." Saphira laughed a bit. Walking back to the doors she quickly turns to Brandr.

"Could you carry this young lady for me. I don't think I'd make it back the whole way." She smiles at him mischievously.

"Not a chance. If Maria saw me carrying a girl around she'd have my hide. Yarrik, you carry the young lady." The guard who seemed to be the youngest amongst them. Steps forward and gives an embarrassed affirmation to them. He turns around and offers his back to Gwen. After a bit of awkward shuffling, she's put onto his back. The other guards do their best to not laugh at Yarrik. Yarrik, for his part, takes the quiet cajoling with steadfast stoicism. Gwen was less pleased, idly wishing to be back with the unarmored Saphira, and doing her best to not be uncomfortable with her bottom on his hands. Regardless, she wrapped her arms around his neck and let herself be carried.