MacLeod had stood there for a minute, watching Liadan as she had began to cry. He thought he had said something wrong, and even though he wanted to comfort her at that moment, he had not because he was worried he would make her feel even worse...
But what could I have said...it had to be my fault, but how?
Very soon after that, he had noticed the other students gathering around her, and he had shyed away even more, thinking that if they saw him around her they would blame him and put who knows what sort of hex on him...he had crept back into the shadows, feeling despair from the thought that he had done this, but as he heard her speak and introduce him as well, he realized that he had been silent for far too long. Running into the crowd, he placed himself next to Liadan, and putting his hand on her shoulder, he whispered "Are you ok?"
He looked at the crowd around him for a moment to see if they had anger upon faces, but quickly looked back at Liadan. "I'm so sorry I haven't said anything until now...I thought I had said or done something to make you like this, and my guilt froze me to the spot...oh goodness, what have I done? What has brought you to this pitiful, saddened state? If I can help, I will do anything you ask. It pains me so to see you like this..."