sacrifice what you are for what you can become
He's only relieved that she understands, doesn't take what he says and twists it. That's happened to him far more than he'd like. He does have to admit, for all the good intentions he has, things don't always come across that way. As for what Wessex tells him, he can only respect it. He has a part to play in all of this, small as it is, and he has to make do with that. Accept it. Let go of the things that are out of his control.
"My family will have plenty of spare supplies..." is all he offers in acceptance to the proposal. For the time being, he can't - or doesn't want to - respond to the other thing she says, in a hushed tone, but his eyes do meet hers in that moment.
His curiosity fades as Wessex makes no immediate discoveries of anything significant. He gets up to his feet, dusting off his hands and his clothes, now preparing to present Wessex with his gift. He's oblivious to the small cues she gives off as he moves towards the parcel he set down moments ago. Then, unexpectedly, she's walking off into the next aisle of books. His brows furrow and his mouth opens to tell her to wait but he stops.
When she returns minutes later, Henry's immediately asking, "What is it? Something bad?" He's slightly surprised when the book is handed over. He takes it into his hands and examines the contents with a worried expression.
His expression slacks but only with the realization that it is exactly as he feared; bad. "But that's.. exactly what you've been preparing to do..." trap them, that is. His fingers clasp around the book as he shuts it, having seen enough. His troubled gaze swivels up towards Wessex, feeling his heart sink. "Do you think it will still work? Maybe if someone..." were to be inside, to lure them... but he doesn't want to say that out loud. Even then, would such a sacrifice be made in vain? The skin between his brows wrinkles and his mind churns. "So this is going to be up to if you can beat them by sheer force, isn't it?" Numbers, skill, teamwork. "Do you really think you can?"
"My family will have plenty of spare supplies..." is all he offers in acceptance to the proposal. For the time being, he can't - or doesn't want to - respond to the other thing she says, in a hushed tone, but his eyes do meet hers in that moment.
His curiosity fades as Wessex makes no immediate discoveries of anything significant. He gets up to his feet, dusting off his hands and his clothes, now preparing to present Wessex with his gift. He's oblivious to the small cues she gives off as he moves towards the parcel he set down moments ago. Then, unexpectedly, she's walking off into the next aisle of books. His brows furrow and his mouth opens to tell her to wait but he stops.
When she returns minutes later, Henry's immediately asking, "What is it? Something bad?" He's slightly surprised when the book is handed over. He takes it into his hands and examines the contents with a worried expression.
His expression slacks but only with the realization that it is exactly as he feared; bad. "But that's.. exactly what you've been preparing to do..." trap them, that is. His fingers clasp around the book as he shuts it, having seen enough. His troubled gaze swivels up towards Wessex, feeling his heart sink. "Do you think it will still work? Maybe if someone..." were to be inside, to lure them... but he doesn't want to say that out loud. Even then, would such a sacrifice be made in vain? The skin between his brows wrinkles and his mind churns. "So this is going to be up to if you can beat them by sheer force, isn't it?" Numbers, skill, teamwork. "Do you really think you can?"
HENRY
