The essence of the woman had changed to one he disapproved of. And hearing her mumblings with clear distaste in her tone, Aslak tilted his head to get a better view of her visage and addressed the avoiding woman.
"I didn't say that to upset you."
"... I know."
Coming to lift her head and catch sight of the serious man looking into her eyes, Ewelina's hardened visage managed to loosen up as realisation that no fault lays on the man beside her.
"As you are from the North, will you fall ill if you soak your feet here?"
Devoid of teasing, his question was sincere. Wondering if being raised as a weak one from the outside would make her cross of the stream a reckless action.
Ewelina, fortunately, could see through the man's toughness, that even when rudimentary, it conveyed his sincerity with the ignorance the lands he was rooted to consented.