"I understand." Artanis nodded, keeping her eyes on Elissa, trying to read her posture and her tone. She certainly didn't want to intrude where she wasn't wanted, but something about this woman pulled at her. Maybe it was just the familiarity- empathy, compassion. But it just felt wrong to ignore the state she was in.

"Perhaps I might offer my assistance? It was not long ago that I was in your place." Double meanings, even here. It would be easy enough to assume that Artanis had simply meant she was also a recent arrival, but... that wasn't quite it.