Afraid. Perhaps only Artie was the only one brave enough to use that word towards Herriot. Most people wouldn't describe a little tyrant who could kill in cold blood as 'afraid'. Then again, most people didn't see how Herriot trembled when Artie found out his first secret, gave Larkin the power to unseal his magic, and found out another secret of his. Of course, no one would believe Artie that he was afraid.
Then again, Artie didn't need them to understand for now. All she wanted, for now, was to pick out a good choice. Since she would be the one choosing, she didn't want her choice to fail. This might not be for her own son, but didn't she already make a half-baked promise to Selvig about their children? If she couldn't choose a good woman for Herriot, then what was her guarantee that she made a good choice in trusting Selvig?
