Tension left his body in such a rush when he heard her speak his name that he had to put a hand to the wall next to him to keep himself upright. Twining his fingers softly with her own, he was in the process of bringing them to his lips when her words gave him pause.

Keeping his head downcast, his eyes flickered upwards to meet her own gaze and he gave a slow nod before he was pulling her into his strong arms. The wall supported him as he simply held her, one of his large hands stroking through her hair, the dark strands separating and rejoining as he combed through. Right now he felt he could die happy and content - just as long as she never left his arms.

Castles in the sky always seem fully attainable in the moment that they are dreamed up.

"I wish," he began in a low voice, his eyes sliding closed as he pressed his cheek to the top of her head, "that I could be content with that. Content to be alone. Merlin, I've been alone for so long," he confided.

"Char," his voice ached with need as he tilted her face up to look into her eyes, "would it make things any different if I told you I love you?"