Valentine chuckled quietly, reaching out to bump his nose gently against Dock’s cheek in an effort to comfort her. She was always so worried when it came to her children, though it was hardly surprising given the experience she went through with her first.

“You are stronger than you think,” he admonished gently.

At the mention of Oswin, he smiled again, making every attempt to ease her anxiety with his own relaxed attitude. Valentine cared for his children deeply, and they all knew that if they ever needed him they had only to say, but in general he had a laidback approach to parenting. He tended not to worry about most things, remembering very well that he at that age had always been very resilient.

“You’re not selfish,” he replied simply, his tone kind but earnest. It was the last word he would use to describe Dock. “Just a concerned and loving mother.”

He smiled, wanting her to see how true the words were.

“If you’re not ready we don’t have to rush anything. Oswin can wait a while,” he continued. “Or we could take her to visit the Crossing or Tinuvel ourselves sometime, if that would make you feel better.”

VALENTINE
you bleed just to know you’re alive