Heavy With Responsibility

"Henry!?" Celia exclaimed. "Callum!" 

Alix was further amused when she ran forward and embraced Henry. However, he became perplexed when she didn't stop there and turned to the commander so she could give him a hug as well. 

Not only that, but the commander accepted the hug and returned it. 

In Alix's eyes, it felt like hell was freezing over. Even the women the commander danced with at banquets were never able to hug him with such familiarity as that. 

"What are you doing here, Celia?" the commander asked in an uncharacteristically gentle voice.

Henry felt mortified at the thought of his mother being there. He brought a hand to his forehead. 

He imagined situations where he was trying to practice and she ran out onto the practice grounds to try and save him. Even in the wake of powerful weapons, she would do something so ridiculous and not think for herself. 

"For how long?" Henry asked.