He had a point. Natalia had grown so accustomed to traveling with a group that dealt with politics and negotiations between warring kingdoms, she'd forgotten that other traveling warriors weren't necessarily mired in those kind of societal machinations. It was a peculiar thought. She couldn't even fathom the idea that a single word she said, or even the briefest act, wasn't done without the thought that it would impact someone else's impression of her.

"Oh, I see... I'm a little envious. It must be nice, to live so freely." It was a statement of respect, humbly admitted.

Slowly she eased her arms from around his neck as he placed her down at long last, though she didn't lie back just yet.

His statement about pouncing gave her a wide-eyed start, just as crimson touched her face. "No, that wasn't what I was suggesting!" They might have bickered, but it was hard to imagine an ally on the battlefield ever behaving in such a disgraceful manner. Natalia was hardly afraid of him. "I merely wanted to ensure that you were comfortable. I won't have you sleeping on the floor as if you were some sort of dog." The very idea!

She looked at the couch, knuckling her chin in thought. "Are you certain the couch is acceptable? If you wished, you could simply wake me in a few hours and take the bed for yourself."