Gwen didn't know what to do. She didn't know what he needed. She just curled herself around him, holding him, wishing she could find the right words to say that could take her son's pain away. It was all she found she could do, just staying with him until he slipped into a sort of troubled, exhausted sleep. It was only then that she uncurled away from him.

She dabbed a sleeve at her face, rubbing away tear trails, and placed a hand to rest atop Laharl's head for a long moment, brushing it over his hair.

"I'm sorry," she whispered as though it would help, as though it would reach him in his sleep. "But your father's waiting for me. I have to go help find the door. And then..." And then Laharl could join them.

She pulled herself away and walked to the cell door, glanced back over at him, then finally took her leave.