It wasn't a difficult conclusion to make, not with how readily Mikh'tan tilted his head inot that touch, just utterly soft for the attention, the comfort of the arm around him and that sweetly kind tone.

And part of him wanted to deny. To assure Hythlodaeus that surely it wasn't that bad. But... it was true. And he didn't have it in him to lie about it, not when asked so directly, a watery little chuckle slipping from him.

"As... long as I can remember." He admitted finally, voice soft and small.