He held her close and let her cry, resting his hand at the back of her head, much as one comforting a child might. "Gaia forced you to do something that is not in your being to do, Hel." Sean softly whispered at her ear. "But you did protect us. If Gaia forced you into this, you made it so the ravens did not suffer. She can take no pleasure in that."

Sean pulled back a bit and held her face in his hands; his light gaze meeting hers. He hated seeing her this way. "Please do not punish yourself for this. No one is to blame but Gaia."