For his part, Tristan remained the silent companion. It was better that he didn't try to engage her conversation right now, he understood that whatever she was thinking about at that moment was important enough not to interrupt. She needed to come to terms with all of this on her own, without being helped by anybody, except when and if she needed another leg to stand on. He could be that for her, he was perfectly willing to be her foundation of support if she needed it. Her stronghold, even.
From day one of them meeting he'd always felt this incessant need to protect her, to be there for her. That feeling only increased now, along with the urge that grew every moment that passed to reach out and brush fingers through her hair that never seemed to stay out of her face. He could feel her holding onto his hand even tighter as they got closer and he put his free hand on top of hers briefly before she broke away from him. He stood back a few feet with his hands in his pockets until she finally swung the gate open and when her voice broke he stepped forward behind her, placing comforting hands on her shoulders.
"It's as real as you and me, Charlotte. Sometimes there just isn't an explanation for how something is, you just have to believe." She looked even paler then usual, and Tristan couldn't help feeling instantly more worried. Maybe this had been a bad idea... Too late to turn back now though, unless she wanted to, and then he would dutifully follow. There was no reason to rush this. Any of this. He had to keep reminding himself that too.