[b]As much as Ella wanted to defend her actions, she knew she couldn't. Even as she confronted him earlier she knew she was wrong to do so. Marken treasured her properly, and did everything in his power to keep her safe at his side. He wasn't thinking of the terrible position Ariana was in when he killed her, he was thinking that his fiancée needed him to protect her, and acted on that impulse.

"My anger wasn't actually directed at you," Ella finally admitted as she looked down at her drink, "I shouldn't have even said anything, but after Ariana died, I felt so pathetic and useless. I couldn't save myself from the job I had; you had to help me escape. And even though I tried, I couldn't save Ariana from herself or your sword. I can't do anything but be a pawn in other peoples' schemes."

Ella took a long, heavy drink from he glass until it nearly stole her breath, her fingers shaking a bit as she topped off her rum and she tried to compose herself. She almost looked like she cut down Ariana herself, obviously blaming herself for what had happened in the stables.

"I won't ask you to forgive me... I certainly wouldn't."[/b]