Sage sort of let out a soft breath in response to her quiet comment, staying silent for a moment, thinking. "Let yourself grieve. Let it out. Give yourself some time to think, to figure out your emotions. Then just keep moving forward, one step at a time," he noted softly. He pulled back slightly so he could meet her eyes, offerig her a small smile, though it was heavy with the thoughts of the people he'd lost too. "Its gets easier," he promised. "It doesn't seem like it...but it will. Focus on the good time you had with her. Celebrate her life while you mourn. It makes it better, in time," he added, hoping she trusted him enough to just keep going. Keep trying. He had given up when Lizzie died...he knew what it was like. How easy it was. He hoped she would be stronger than he had been.

Anya felt her brows pinch together as she listened to him, though only really glanced up at him for a moment before she had to draw her eyes away. She felt awful. She felt like she needed to lock herself up somewhere and never come out. But, what was she meant to do now? Her parents were gone. She was in charge, now. And, right then, she was curled up on someone's couch, crying into the shoulder of someone she barely saw anymore. This had to have been the first time she'd even been down here in years. It didn't seem like it would get easier... things felt like they'd only go down hill from here, and downhill fast. She just nodded and buried her face into his shoulder, trying to hide the tears that were still fighting their way down her face. She didn't know what to say in response to him... all she knew was that she really didn't have a choice but to keep on going.

Sage just let out a soft breath, wrapping his arms around her when she fell against him again, holding her tightly. "Install a reagant for a few weeks, while you grieve," he suggested. "Give you time to figure it all out without worrying about the throne right away," he added. "Then when you're ready, the kingdom will be waiting for your coronation." He felt a small smile cross his face. "And no one will be prouder of you then me," he added softly.

Anya nodded quiely, although as he kept on going, her tears just got heavier, for whole other reasons. She didnt understand him, how he could so easily try and make things okay. But, he was, and it was working. She wrapped her arms around him and sobbed into his shoulder. She was devastated, but maybe she wasn't entirely alone, not in the way she thought she was. At least someone would be waiting for her on the other side of it all, and trying to help her through it. She thanked him quietly, although made no effort to move. There was so much riding on her... but he was right. Let someone else handle things for a while until she was ready to keep going.

Sage just held her tighter as she cried, hoping he provided some bit of comfort to her. She'd come here for him though, and he was glad she'd sought him out. He'd do his best to help, and if she'd come for help then that meant he'd been helpful before, too. It was good to know how efforts had meant something to her. "You'll be alright," he murmured softly to her, not letting go quite yet. Not until she made the move to pull back. He understood needing someone, and the peace their embrace brought. He wouldn't take that from her, not until she was ready. "And you know if you ever need anything, I'll be here," he added softly.

Sage just held her tighter as she cried, hoping he provided some bit of comfort to her. She'd come here for him though, and he was glad she'd sought him out. He'd do his best to help, and if she'd come for help then that meant he'd been helpful before, too. It was good to know how efforts had meant something to her. "You'll be alright," he murmured softly to her, not letting go quite yet. Not until she made the move to pull back. He understood needing someone, and the peace their embrace brought. He wouldn't take that from her, not until she was ready. "And you know if you ever need anything, I'll be here," he added softly.

Anya nodded gently to him, although just kept holding onto him for another ten or so minutes, until she didn't think she could cry anymore. It all seemed like so much. She didn't know what would happen next, not really, but she was thankful to know that she had at least one person. His comment was so simple. That he'd be proud of her. It gave her something to work towards. She'd make sure he'd be proud, eventually anyway. He was right, though. She needed time to mourn, accept what had happened even if it was the last thing she wanted to do. She sat up after a moment and wiped her face dry, trying a small smile. "Thank you, Sage," she whispered softly.

Anya nodded gently to him, although just kept holding onto him for another ten or so minutes, until she didn't think she could cry anymore. It all seemed like so much. She didn't know what would happen next, not really, but she was thankful to know that she had at least one person. His comment was so simple. That he'd be proud of her. It gave her something to work towards. She'd make sure he'd be proud, eventually anyway. He was right, though. She needed time to mourn, accept what had happened even if it was the last thing she wanted to do. She sat up after a moment and wiped her face dry, trying a small smile. "Thank you, Sage," she whispered softly.

Sage released the girl when she finally moved to sit up, though stayed close enough for their shoulders to brush, having a feeling she didn't want to be too far from another person. He nodded when she thanked him, offering her a soft smile. "You'll be alright," he noted softly. He did believe in her ...he'd known she would become queen one day, and he'd always known she'd make a great leader. In all honesty, he hadn't expected to be here to see it. Of course this was all terrible for her, with her parents dying and all the rest ...but he was glad he'd get to see her coronation. To see her grow. Thrive.

Anya sat there quietly for a moment, her shoudler pressing lightly against his for a while. She took a glance over at the clock, her eyes still red and watery. Two hours had nearly passed. She felt bad that she'd come down, woken everyone up... but glad she had. It had helped, even if it was only a little bit. She sighed softly after a moment, and gave a short nod. "Yeah," she murmured. She'd be alright, eventually. Maybe not right then, but at some point it would be like this had never even happened. She'd forget about this bit. One day. Right then, though, she was just so grateful that she had someone there, willing to help.