You really don't, I didn't even do it for you.

But you did it. No one else did.

Plenty of people would have if they could.

Do tell, I can't seem to meet any.

...I'm pretty sure most of the people in Nargothrond objected on the grounds that it wouldn't work and would just get people killed, not on the grounds that it wasn't worth doing if they could.

Maybe.

Even if they wouldn't have... It doesn't give you any obligations toward me. You're not in my debt. Beren's not in my debt and he's the one I actually saved.

Well, yeah, he didn't ask you to do it. I did.

...OK. I understand where you're coming from with this and I think you are wrong but I don't think I can convince you of that.

Probably not. Being convinceable to back down hasn't really helped me much in life.

Sigh.

Unfortunately I do not really feel comfortable getting lots of emotional support from people who feel strongly obligated towards me.

Why not?

...

You owe me your boyfriend's life so now you will sympathetically listen to me talk about my family issues? That's... It's just unappealing. It feels exploitative. Especially when it's over a debt I don't think you actually owe.

...I'm a princess. Everyone'll do whatever I say. It'd kind of suck to accordingly never have any friendships.

I guess.

Definitely.

Is... is that what happened?

Uh, no? I just figured out the thing I actually wanted to avoid, which was 'people spending time with me and doing things for me even though they didn't want to', regardless of whether they felt obliged to.

...Oh. Should I assume from your phrasing that you actually want to spend time with me and help me regardless of your imagined obligation?

Yeah, obviously.

...So, it probably sounds dumb but I had not even considered that as a thing that could happen. Ever.

Hug

I, um, think I'm bad at having friends.

Kinda sounds like it, yeah.

In my defense, it is not a skill that I've had much reason to develop or opportunity to practice.

You're not actually doing all that badly at it.

Smile

I am really glad you were the first person I met when I landed here. I'm... You're a good person.