She looks to Krogstad, with the others that stand with him, that travelled so far with her, and he offers her a smile. Fjorleif is speaking to Baghirathi in earnest, and then moves towards Krogstad to greet him. A member of the household, yes, but an old friend as well, and she embraces him warmly. Between the two matriarchs, Krogstad, Nørgaard and Benedicte, she was certain that the people who helped them on their challenging journey would be rewarded, and those of Talonhold still recovering elsewhere would have aid sent to them. Nørgaard, a man only a few years older than herself, with a wife of his own he is eager to get back to, catches her eye and nods. It will be done, his expression says, and she nods back in turn, relieved. Good people were so much at her side, she barely knew what she had ever done to deserve them.

Everything feels a bit hazy after that. Making it back through the hall, seeing some faces that she had known her entire life (nobility, members of the household, each so valued) and felt that she was home, but it was Lakshmi's hand holding hers that made her feel steady, safe, that she could keep moving one foot in front of the other and stand upright long enough to make it to some sanctuary.

She follows, follows, until they are alone in a place where they were truly alone (at least, as alone as they ever could be,) and she tugs Lakshmi's hand. Stop walking, and just pleads her wife to come closer to her, now they have this moment. Where they are hardly matters. She's barely registered their actual location.