He'd been with traumatised girls, who had grown up with an abusive father, or mother for that matter, who were repeatedly beaten in their youth. And there was very little he could do about that. Comfort them, caress them, try to give them some strength by trying to restore their own dignity. But they were all street-girls, and he was doubting whether or not to try the same with the princess. But it was all he could do, show her he was there for her. He moved closer to the girl, inch by inch, until his chest was against her back. 'D'not fear, girl. It is'I. I'ma be hold'n you, when we sleep. I'be protecting you'.<br/><br/>He gently moved one of his arms underneath her body and the other over her, wrapping both arms around her, pulling her body against his. He gave her another kiss, this time at the back of her neck, for it was the only place he could kiss the girl. And before he closed his eyes, he whispered, 'I cann't take yer bad dreams away, but I'be protecting you, girl. Y'r safe wiff me'. He held on to her as tender and gentle as he could, not moving his hands, but their bodies were tightly against one another, and his soft breathing in her neck should count for something he thought. And although he closed his eyes, he didn't fall asleep.<br/><br/>Hood never needed much sleep, and when he did, he was a very light sleeper. All the years since he started as a pick-pocket in his youth, rising the ranks of the Guild, he had to be on the look-out for trouble. For the guards, for the then-leaders of the Guild, sleep could kill you, if you weren't paying attention. And all those years of training to stay alert helped him now, relaxing his body strengthened him, sleep he could do when they were back in the city and when he had brought the princess back to the palace.