Lysia finally stopped hiding in his chest, but when she asked to be put down, Bane didn't respond at first and kept walking with a smile before looking down at her. That was when Lysia saw the aged look in his expression. It wasn't much, but even with his child-like face, she could still see it.
"Do you think I can carry you for a bit longer?" Bane whispered, and his words made her blush, but then she went back to pushing her face into his chest. She didn't want him to see her cry again.
50 years was nothing to an elf, but that was more than half a human's life. He had been gone for only a moment in her eyes, but Bane had spent 50 years alone. Bane tightened his grip as they walked, and Lysia returned the gesture, balling his shirt in her fists.