[ All Trahearne does is watch Ori as she speaks, trying to understand the meaning behind her fleeting smile. It must be bittersweet--letting go of a friend to save the world. Or of fondness at the thought of her deceased friend? Or knowing that she would not be able to reach out to her friend despite not being able to do so?

He only realizes he's crying when he blinks, and his vision blurs. Something clenches in his chest, in his throat. He wonders if his second-in-command is doing the same--is he thinking of him? Does he suddenly come across things that remind him of Trahearne and pause to think similarly as Ori does, much in the way Trahearne has done since awakening here?

There's no way to know--Trahearne could never tell what was going on in his head. He could have forgotten about his former marshal by now, for all he knew. But...out of total selfishness, he will take Ori's words as his.

He swallows, easing the lump in his throat. ]

And...I'm certain your friend would want to reassure you that this is what they wanted. And that everyone they left behind should keep forging onward, to live their lives well and fully.

[ He is, selfishly, only speaking for himself. He doesn't know the details of Ori's friend's circumstances, of course. But that doesn't make the situation any less painful.

It wasn't like there had been any other way for him, either. ]