He stops walking when Hawke covers his face, waiting patiently and watching the river so the other man feels no pressure. They have time. By all accounts, the two were the best of friends, so of course the loss hit hard. Even if they hadn't been, grief is a powerful thing.

Emmrich turns to face Hawke again when he speaks and shakes his head. "I'm with the Mourn Watch. Part of my duties are to support those who have lost, and sometimes those who have been lost. It's never easy, but it's important." His voice is gentle.

"Whatever time you need, we can take." Time is strange here. They both know it. Distance can also act oddly; sometimes standing in place for a time and then walking covers more ground than a mad dash. Emmrich is an expert on the Fade but even he will easily admit there's much he does not yet know. "Or if you have another need we can attend to that. I'm here, and until I wake up, I'm staying here. I'll continue returning until we're at a point to attempt an exit."

He needs to remember that his first priority upon waking is talking with the Caretaker. If anyone can get a Fade boat up a Fade river, it's them.