Seeing Herbert like this is so strange for Alfred - usually, if one of them is curled up in fear in a situation, it's himself. It's almost surreal, really, feeling the panic coming from his lover, seeing him clutch desperately to him like he's a lifeline.

He casts about for ideas, frowning faintly before planting a kiss on Herbert's forehead.

"Okay - let me do my backup plan. Sit up for just a moment, okay? And hold on. I will not leave the room. I promise."

And as soon as he can, he's leveraging a bit of that enhanced speed, zipping around the room as fast as he can to grab out extra blankets, throws, even longer coats to toss them up and over the posts of the balcony. Fortifying the drapery. Building a fort.

Once he is satisfied, he climbs through and shuts the way behind him, a lit lantern in hand to be hung just above.

"There. Okay. It's not a castle made of chairs and my mother's blankets, but - it's more comfortable, I think. We're safe in here."

He offers a soft smile, a little sheepish.

He had himself been a...frightened child, after all.