His mouth flattened, frustrated at himself. It took a moment before he spoke. "Lydia. I do not think you weak. I know that you have lived with dangers, some of which I cannot even understand. And you have survived without me. That is not weak, to have survived what I saw," he glanced at the water, to hint at the memory, "or what you have told me."

"But. If I could take some of the burden off of you, you might do so much more than survive. I would like to see that. For you." If he took care of the protecting, maybe she could do...he didn't even know what. But something better than mere existing.