Her whole soul feels like an exposed nerve. Every feeling she had was over the top. What she really wanted to do was to curl into his side and forget that the rest of the world existed. Forget her past, the uncertain future, all the hurt and the pain they'd both experienced. She just wanteed to linger in his embrace for the rest of time, to hear the steady thudding of his heartbeat against her.

This, of course, cannot be. Life demands sacrifice and pain, and she knows this. She's always known this.

She murmurs her disapproval into his skin at his soft admission, not wanting to accept it. Siobhan knows not what he was doing elsewhere, but she is certain that he had some sort of reason. It had to have been something important to take him away from the Ridge and it's occupants. And, she rationed, even if it was not. Even if it was frivolity or a one night stand, it was his right to be away and she would not add to his guilt.

As he pulls away, she meets his gaze. In hindsight, in spirit, she would taken any of their abuse, and gladly, if it meant that the foals would be safe. The fact that she is safe and they are not burns her anew each time she thinks of it. Even if they had raped her and filled her with their unwanted seed, she would have dealt with it as best as she could. Siobhan is more than thankful that it is Bjorn's child that grows in her womb, wanted and already loved by both parents, but she would like to think that even if she were forced to carry a child against her will that she would love it all the same.

The children didn't ask for their existence. They were not responsible for the circumstances in which they were created.

Siobhan listens but does not respond to his comment, a part of her acknowledging that even though she might feel as though it should have been her, Bjorn may feel otherwise. The Lagoon thugs were not likely to kill the children, else why take on the pretense of kidnapping them? Isabel, for better or worse was too young to be forced into motherhood, and Siobhan knows in her heart that Sigurdr will do what he can for his sister.

He, like his father, possessed more strength of character than many of the other stallion's on these lost isles.

She does not miss his usage of the word love either, and it warms her slightly. A smile, weak though it may be, is offered and she nods in acknowledgement of his statement. The red mare stays quiet as he touches her again, running his soft touch down her body and over the edge of her body to where their union grows.

The grin she offered before, so weak on her lips, grows in strength at his murmured exchange. She knows not what words he whispers to their child, but the tone is endearing and she rests her head on the length of his back. His closeness comforts her, and in her gloom tinted comfort she becomes pensieve.

"I do not know how you do it," she murmurs to the air after a moment has passed. "How you stay strong."

The memory of her daughter's face swam before her eyes and she closed them, drawing in a breath. "I was sick with worry every time Laoise was away from me. A blubbering mess, really."

A soft chuckle slips from her at the memory of the rambunctious filly. As a new mother Siobhan had never felt so out of her element as those first few days. The little dark colored girl had been born running, all bravery and attitude.