Aria listened to Sage, still focused on getting him fixed up. "No it's okay." She said, giving him a small smile. The storm was getting worse. "Honestly, I was really worried about you." The girl said looking down. She knew Sage needed someone to stay with him through the storm. "Why aren't you in the castle?" The girl asked quietly, looking over at the boy after she sat down in a chair.

Sage sort of just sighed and rubbed his eyes, trying to stay awake. "are you sure," he asked. "I don't want to be a bother," he sort of half slurred before attempting to sit up, though he failed rather miserably and then flopped back down on the bed with a sigh and looked over at the girl dully before turning to stare blankly up at the ceiling. "Because the new queen got what she wanted from me and decided she'd better get rid of me," he grumbled. "She replaced all the guards so they're loyal to her....if I go back there I'm pretty much dead," he admitted with a small shrug. "Though I'm not so sure that would be the worst thing ever," he snorted.

Aria listened to every word Sage said. "Sage... you're not a bother at all." The girl said, walking over to sit next to him. "You need to relax though. It will help." She said, giving the boy a gentle smile. She looked down and noticed his ring again, turning to look at hers shortly after. Why was she still wearing it? The girl quickly took it off her finger and stuffed it in her pocket, hoping Sage hadn't noticed it.

Sage sighed slightly and then gave her a small, admittedly rather loopy kind of smile. "well yeah but I'm probably ruining your couch...I'm all wet," he mused when she told him to relax. Though, he could feel his body taking over and his eyes fluttering shut, no matter how hard he tried to stay awake.

Aria chuckled softly. "It's okay... i'm used to it." Aria said, mentioning to Caroline, who was walking over to her, dragging her blanket along behind her. "Mom? I'm scared." Caroline whimpered, sitting down in Aria's lap. "Why is... Dad, here...? I thought he wasn't coming back because.... oh yeah, he loves someone else now." Caroline said after thinking for a bit. Her response made Aria look away. "Um... he got hurt Caroline." She said quietly.

Sage sort of winced at his daughters comment and rolled over slightly so he wouldn't show how much that hurt. He still loves Aria. ..still loved all of them. But she obviously didn't feel the same way, and the kids didn't even know who he was. Caroline only knew him because he's come by the days before. Henry had never even seen him. But he passed out after thinking that, which was probably for the better, be a use everything hurt right about then. So, so much.

Aria watched Sage fall asleep before taking Caroline back to her bed. She said goodnight to her and walked back out to where Sage was. She stayed by his side most of the night before falling asleep on the ground next to the couch.

Sage stayed that way I til around dawn, and the light that had started to filter through the window woke him up. He sat up with a wince and groan, and noticed aria on the floor. He sighed, still feeling rather bad about it all, but didn't want to put her in any danger. He draped a blanket over her and wrote a note telling her he didn't want her in any danger and not to worry. He had his cloak, and he still had a bit of money for food. After a moment of hesitation, he also wrote 'love, Sage'. He set it by her hand and then limped out of the house. It hurt, but he'd live. He had to. His kingdom was in danger.

Aria woke up shortly after Sage had left the house. She read the note, tears flooding her eyes. The girl ran to the door and stood outside. "Sage! Sa-" She chocked on her tears, sitting down on the ground below her. Caroline must've heard her. The young girl turned the corner and hugged her mother. "It's okay Mom. Don't cry. Maybe Dad just went to the store...?" She said, trying to make Aria feel better. Aria shook her head. "No sweetheart. He left this time." She said. "I don't think he's coming back..." She added. Caroline gasped, her eyes welling up with tears. "Like... I'm never gonna have a dad to take care of me?" Caroline whispered. Caroline had seen many other little girls walk through town, holding hands with their moms and dads. "Mom?" She asked quietly. "Yes Caroline?" Aria answered. "Will I ever get to hold Dad's hand like other girls do?" She said. Aria winced, looking to the ground. "I... I, don't know." She answered.

Sage sort of limped around to the market, grabbing some food and a different outfit to blend in with the people who lived on the streets. He cut his hair choppy with his knife but kept it long so he could hide his face somewhat. He also kept his cloak over his face, and stayed in the shadows. He stayed near the shops where he's met Aria the last time, so he half hoped that she'd come and find him. But he just didn't want to put her or the kids in danger. Hopefully she's understand it was out of love and nothing else. He was planning on taking the new queen out....she was awful....but he'd live on the streets until then. The next few weeks passed quickly, and he'd been working on taking out certain important people to her cause. He was starving by then, thin and bruised and cut up, and so tired all the time. Maybe it was the whole not eating or drinking much sort of thing. He looked like any other street rat by then, but his plan was working, if he could last long enough to get to her.