Alethea listened, perhaps more cautiously than was truly necessary, as her companion spoke. It was obvious to her that he felt sadness, although she could not distinguish if it was for himself, for her, or for both of them in her presently withdrawn state. He assured her that he didn't wish to argue with her, for which she was grateful, and then continued on to express his own concerns. She couldn't disagree with him. Not really. She knew all of this to be true. Yet she still hesitated.<br/><br/>After he had finished speaking, she was silent for a moment. "I would ask that you not put aside your convictions, for me or for anyone, although I appreciate that you would do so," she spoke somewhat hesitantly. "But I am no more capable of sitting back and doing nothing than you are. Going into hiding, pretending we aren't involved or culpable in what is to come, hoping we are not discovered. We can't live like that. Either of us," she replied, staring down with a contemplative look in her eyes.<br/><br/>"It is not that I do not wish to help. It is not that I want to do nothing. I'm just... afraid. What if we end up making things worse? What if we aren't good enough?" she wondered. "I want to make things better, for those here and those we know if the future, I am just afraid that we'll end up making things worse. There are so many things we don't know. Are we really capable of succeeding in this?" she asked, although it was unclear whether or not she was expecting an answer. It was, however, clear that she had stopped withdrawing herself an blocking his thoughts, instead allowing him back in, feeling his presence in the Force once more.<br/><br/>"I know that the chances of us getting home are infinitesimal. I know that, and that's okay. It's sad, but it's okay. My worry is not for myself, or for us. My worry is for everyone else whose futures our actions will influence," she admitted, finally looking up at him. Of course, while this was mostly true, it was not entirely true that she was not worried for him. She was. She was afraid that the shape he was in now would be nothing compared to how she might find him in the future. And most of all, she was afraid that he would die, and she wouldn't be able to protect him. But she knew that this was something every Jedi faced, and she couldn't ask him not to fight any more than he could ask this of her. At any rate, she dared not admit this fear aloud, as such a thing implied some form of attachment, and while such things were not forbidden in their own time, they were forbidden here. Instead, she brushed the thoughts away and continued, "But I suppose I shouldn't be afraid. The Force chose us. Obviously it was for a reason. We are both plenty skilled, and perhaps our skills together are what is necessary to bring about the necessary change. Maybe we are capable. But knowing that and really believing it are two different things, aren't they?" she gave a very small smile, letting out a sigh.<br/><br/>"If you believe we can do this... I will agree, on the condition that we do it carefully. We cannot afford to act without thought, without a plan. It's impossible to foresee every possibility, but we have to try. We must do our best to account for what we can and plan accordingly. We owe it to all those counting on us. We owe it to the galaxy to act with care and caution, but to act nonetheless," she finally agreed, although it was clear that, despite her apparent determination, she had yet to vanquish all of her fears.<br/><br/>After a moment, she stood. "We have a little time before we reach Tatooine. I think it's best if I spend that time meditating. Perhaps you should rest a little, too," she suggested as she turned to leave, hesitating at the doorway. "For whatever it's worth, if I had to be stuck in time with anyone, I'm glad it's you," she admitted honestly, looking back at him and giving him the smallest of smiles.<br/><br/>But she didn't turn to leave. For a moment, she hesitated, as if momentarily warring with herself before turning back towards him and, rather than leaving, she stepped towards him and, without warning, threw her arms around him, burying her face in his shoulder. "I'm sorry. But if it's okay with you... could I just stay here for a moment?" she basically whispered the words, perhaps her attempt to minimize the emotions she could not presently mask. Perhaps she should meditate instead, but for the moment, she found that she was content here. His arms brought a comfort and a warmth that the Force could not. She wouldn't cry or anything like that. She didn't need to, nor did she want to. But the warmth he shared,  the comfort it brought, was not something she was ready to let go of just yet. Not unless he wished it, of course. If he did, then she would go. But she hoped he wouldn't.