The young shepherd winces at the reaction - a couple of tears track down his cheeks, his hand shaking around the glass of water.

"Herbert. My love. Please...please promise me."

He tries to take in a breath and it sticks a little in his chest - another cough squeezes his lungs, rattles him, sends blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His voice is shallow when he speaks again.

"I need you to promise me...so that - so that when I - when I fall asleep, I...."

He chokes again, but this time on tears that he can't hold back any longer.