He pulled the door open slowly, sure that it was one of his men, asking him to come eat or telling him that Helne said Aloy was looking "good". Surely it was the sun giving the appearance of red hair. It couldn't be her standing there.

He was so tired.

Her voice snapped him back to the present.

"Erend," she whispered. Was his heart breaking or growing? He couldn't tell. "I'm so so sorry" she whispered. She nearly brought him to his knees. He wanted to wrap his arms around her, to tell her she was safe and never needed to be sorry.

But she was so fragile.

"Aloy," he choked. "You're alive." she smiled at him, the exhaustion in her eyes not going unnoticed.

"Alive, awake and intact. Thanks to you. Erend, I-"

He interrupted her, not ready to hear another apology. "Come in and sit down," he said, stepping aside. Aloy did so slowly, still not feeling like her legs were completely owned by her body. The pain in her ribs was getting worse, and she wanted more sleep. She looked around his home, surprised by the amount of decoration. He motioned to a chair. She sat down gingerly, wincing.

"I'm surprised Helne let you out of her sight," he said. Aloy stared at him for a moment. He looked terrible.

"I didn't exactly ask her permission," she said quietly. His eyes snapped up to hers, frantic.

"She didn't release you!? Aloy, what are you doing here? What if you're still bleeding on the inside? What if something's broken? You-" Aloy slowly held up her hand, trying not to jar her already aching body.

"Erend, I'm going to be fine."

"You could have DIED!" he yelled. She shrank back in the chair. Erend ran his hand frantically through his hair. It was shaggy, unkempt. Aloy dropped her face into her hands. Erend sank to the ground in front of the chair she was sitting in. "I thought you died," he sobbed. Aloy didn't know what to say. All she could do was reach out her hand and run it through his hair. He reached up, his hand coming to rest on hers.

"Erend, I'm-" he held his hand up, interrupting her.

"Don't say sorry again, Aloy. Don't. I can't hear you say it again."

"I'll go back to Helne's." Erend sighed.

"Would you - I mean, if you wanted you could, stay here?" he looked up at her, eyes tired.

There was that strange feeling in her chest again.

"I really wouldn't want to impose any more than I already have, Erend. I can go back -"

"Aloy," he interrupted. "Stay. Please. There's a spare room, plenty of firewood, and I've cooked too much food to eat by myself. You'll be more comfortable here than at Helne's."

Aloy looked into Erend's eyes. He was exhausted. Was he asking her to stay for her? Or was it for his own peace of mind? Either way, she owed him. He had saved her life.

Or at least that was the reason she told herself she would stay.

She nodded, still staring into his eyes. Relief flashed across them, replacing for just a moment the exhaustion she had seen. He stood, holding a hand out to her. She accepted, and he gently helped her to her feet. "Let me show you your room." Aloy nodded again. They walked slowly down a short hallway, Erend still holding Aloy's hand. He led her to a small room, well-furnished and warm. She hadn't realized how cold it was in the Claim, and she was thankful to see a small fireplace tucked into the corner of the room. The bed was covered in furs, and Aloy couldn't help but think of how her bed in Rost's home was always made in a similar fashion. She turned to smile at Erend, who rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

"It's not much," he said. "But it will keep you warm, and more comfortable than the cot you've been sleeping on."

"It's wonderful, Erend. But am I taking the room from someone else?" he shook his head slowly.

"Never had anyone stay here," he said quietly. "Ersa used to tease me. Said 'you know, if you plan on marrying someone, they usually sleep in the same bed as you'. Laughed every time she came over. Never stayed here herself, just came over to check on me." Aloy felt a strange sensation creeping into her chest and throat. Had Erend been married?

"So your wife never stayed here?" she asked. The loudest laugh she had ever heard burst forth from Erend's mouth.

"Wife!? Haha, she thinks I was married! Must be better looking than I thought!" Aloy smiled. Erend wiped tears from his eyes. "Nope, never been married. I've lived here by myself anytime I've stayed. So, uh, sorry if old habits die hard." he smiled again, and Aloy found that she liked this expression much more than the worry she had seen earlier. "Now then, are you hungry?" Aloy realized that she hadn't given much thought to this since waking up. She moved a hand to her stomach, feeling it growl. She smiled back at Erend.

"Starving."