[She nods slowly, hiding well her satisfaction that he's behaving as she had hoped. She just has to try not to overdo it - she doesn't really care for being pitied, especially over a false story.]

Thank you. But it was long enough ago now, I don't mind. It's nice, actually, having someone who will listen.

[She gives him a reassuring smile, pauses, then leans against the countertop, standing nearer to him.]

It was just hard, in little insidious ways I hadn't seen at first. I was an outsider. Everyone there had perfect pale skin and I stood out like a sore thumb. I fell in love and had a son, but the boy's father left us - and how could I hunt bounties or defend villages from threatening monstrosities if I had a son to raise?

[She seems to stop herself, and sighs.]

Sorry, I didn't mean to get on this topic, I had intended to tell you the exciting stories only.