Ariel remained in still shock for several seconds longer, staring at the door. She only turned to Meesei and Sabine as an afterthought.

Sabine had her own look of fear about her. She sat tensely in her chair with no lack of guilt in her thoughts.

"We would have needed some time anyway, but thank you," Ariel said with a calmness that contradicted her face. "You had best not trouble yourselves, Rukeewei and I will work through this."

Ariel brought a hand to her side and lifted herself out of her chair.

"He is just scared, sister," Sabine said. "It is okay, talk to him when he calms down, he would not..."

"I know, Sabine, I know," Ariel laid a hand on Sabine's shoulder and tried to smile. "I just didn't want to hurt him, and I..." Ariel's eyes reddened and she tightened her lips. She tried finishing her sentence, but it came out as a sob.