If anything, he had expected crying- not for her to question his story. Though it was, perhaps, a reflex defense- find a way to put a crack in the story, to let hope through, however faint. Owen hated to ruin that, but even still, he knew he couldn't leave her hoping for something that would never come true. "I saw it," he replied, quietly. "I wish I hadn't. I wish I could offer you some hope, or at least something more than this, but I cannot. You weren't meant to find out this way," though he supposed that the impersonal notification the knighthood would have likely sent wasn't much better, "but I would swear on my life that it is the truth."
Safer together as two. The rogues had taken out five of the King's best knights, but Owen didn't want to remind Gabrielle of that- if they were attacked again, he was keenly aware that he would not be able to protect her, injured as he was. "You have done more than enough for me already, my lady," he replied, quieter.