The full weight of it crushed against him, the look in her eyes smothering what indifference he had felt about his situation before. He hadn't been exactly content, well aware that he lacked her presence and support. He had lived alone before, but in only meeting his equal did he know what it was to be whole. Without her, he was aimless and uncertain, lacking her better instincts to temper his worse ones. He wished that time had moved differently, that it wasn't so distant from their last night together. But he couldn't keep that moment at a standstill, no more than he could move mountains.

He faces her, standing straighter as she presses close to him. He leans against her touch, holding her gaze with his own, apologetic and worn. Fingers brushed a stray curl from her brow, amazed at how soft her skin was. Did he really forget? That shouldn't be possible?

She would understand how he came to accept his existence here. She knew better than anyone what it was to be alone and without a place that felt like home. As much as he loved Winterfell, it had never been his. It belonged to his brothers and sisters, the trueborn Starks, while he had nothing in the world to claim as his own. Only a woman that had come to represent family and home to him, though he couldn't explain why.

He shook his head, "When I first woke, there was a problem. Some of my memories were missing." His eyes apologized, even though he wasn't the reason for that loss. "I only my life up until I was named king. You were awake then, but neither of us knew each other or spoke during the confusion. Sansa saw you and told me later, when my memories were returned."

It would raise more questions and unsettle her further, but she hadn't been asleep the entire time. "When I remembered everything, I waited for you. I came to find you everyday."