[After he speaks, Ashe falls into a silence broken only by her quiet, irregular breathing. His plea has her conflicted; to ask such proves he loves her, so very much that he wouldn't want her to live a life devoid of feeling her own love returned. But no, she's defiant. How could she ever feel this way about another man? She can't, won't -

Dampened lashes settle against her cheeks, her gaze locked away until she can find the strength to return it to his own, and she squeezes his hands in equal measure.]

... I know why you ask this of me, but I -

I could never find it in myself to love another. Not after... None could ever touch my heart as you have.