Brave, and entirely too aware of her situation, he thought again. It was unfortunate that a child should come to such conclusions. Perhaps kinder to her, given that she was entirely right, but not without its own sadness.

"Would you try to change things, if you thought that you could?" He smiled back, leaning down so that he might be at a better level to converse with her. He pointedly ignored the feeling of the earrings brushing against his neck and jacket as he did.