Eilis smiled as tears filled her eyes in gratitude at his words.
With a soft slight tremble in her voice, now having found a little more courage and a little more daring she sighed in relief.
"Arn...I have to ask...since I..." She looked away in shame and doubt and balled her free hand into a fist out of frustration at her own insecurities.
"Arn...how bad is it? Am I really hideous?" She asked though she barely managed to force herself to say it. She had felt her tattoo's and she had caught flashes of her image in pools of water, but none had been a clear mirror for her to see the damage done to her. Sure she saw the lines she could see, but those on her face and back...those she hadn't seen. 
She had scrubbed so hard that first night in her new freedom, so desperate had seen been to rid herself of them. When they proved impossible to erase she had cried herself silently to sleep, after that came the acception. Whenever people caught a glimpse of her they turned away, with clear distrust and disgust written in her eyes.
"I know I must look aweful. I just want to know the truth...so please don't lie." She pleaded softly looking back at him with resigned eyes.