[ the implication sinks in slow, like heavy molasses over a rare treat, and maybe it's her emotions have already wrung themselves dry, but Margaery finds that she doesn't feel anything. nothing but a small prick of surprise amidst the numb acceptance - for both the act itself and the knowledge that Ellie didn't receive any particular closure from it. ]

I'm glad you're alive.

[ she thinks of it as winning, a triumph, but after the small snippet of Ellie's world she's seen, she can't presume it'd feel the same for her. ]

And that you're here.

[ her face is still ruddy from the heat of her breakdown, but Margaery braves the embarrassment of being seen and leans back to offer Ellie a small smile. ]

I know this is probably not what you signed up for when you thought to come here. But thank you. Truly. I had thought to carry this burden on my own for the rest of what life I have here. And now I see that was a foolish undertaking.