"It wasn't such a sacrifice," he murmured, closing his eyes and reveling in DG's embrace. He'd kept them safe, or as safe as they could be. If he'd shared his secret, Azkadellia would have destroyed the O.Z. long ago. As it was… well, she was going to destroy the O.Z. anyway, but at least now they had a chance.

The queen he'd adored with simple, unquestioning loyalty was still alive somewhere because he hadn't told. DG, the child he'd loved with a fierce devotion, had grown up, safe, because he'd held his tongue.

DG was a child no longer, and no matter how hard he tried, his scrambled thoughts couldn't hold onto the idea that he'd played with her when she was young, spent hours concocting elaborate toys to make her smile and take her mind off of the darkness that permeated the palace. She'd gone away, and he'd missed her shining light, even though he hadn't known that was what he was missing until the grown-up DG smiled at him, bringing hope back to the world. Then he'd known only that he needed her, although he couldn't have said why.

When he felt her lips brush gently against his head, just to the left of the zipper, then he understood why. She wasn't for him though, even his muddled brain knew that. Old enough to be her fath- favorite uncle, odd- looking at best, and now quite literally a half-wit. No, DG wasn't for him. Not with Cain around to look after her.

He still got to talk with her, put his arm around her, protect her as best he could. He could even offer her comfort about her mother, even if he couldn't give her a name. "She was happy to make the sacrifices she thought were necessary. Everyone should love someone that much."

He understood now about sacrifices in a way he hadn't when the queen told him about the choice she'd made. He'd given up his most prized possession- his intellect- because their safety was paramount. Now he was giving up something even more valuable as he watched DG take her place at Cain's side, and he couldn't regret it, because her happiness mattered most.

In the end, it wasn't such a sacrifice at all.