[She rests a hand against his back as she watches his expression, frowning faintly in sympathy as he considers his answer.]

You shouldn't have to even ask me that, lethallin. You should know you don't have to push yourself into anything you don't want to do with me.

[She had hoped they were close enough for that to be common knowledge, but maybe it just needed to be made clear this once. It doesn't hurt to be sure he knows with no question, anyway. She could never fault him for being afraid to know more of the details of the future, not when it holds very little that's positive.]