A really crowded room with Sileas, Questa, Yehudit and Oscar sharing it.

Sileas couldn't believe it. It was the night before her wedding. Millie was making any necessary adjustments to her wedding dress before she would change into her midnight blue gown for the feast being prepared in the kitchens. Sileas was trying hard to keep her hands off of the fabric because Millie had repeatedly fussed at her for leaving sweat behind.

Yehudit moodily stared at a wall. "I shouldn't go... I shouldn't even be here."

It had only been two weeks, but Yehudit had become noticeably paler and thinner. But she had not had any rages. Or admired any shirtless guys.

"Of course you should. You are my best friend, and I want you there. And I want you to try to be happy," Sileas said.

"Demons don't belong at weddings." Yehudit said.

Sileas sat down next to her. "If I say you belong at the weddinng, you belong at the wedding." Sileas had ceased trying to remind her that she was only half demon.

"What if I kill someone?" Yehudit asked.

"If you get all angry and filled with rage, I'll stab you in the hand with my knife," Millie offered.

"I might kill you then." Yehudit said anxiously.

"I'm dispensable," Millie said with a shrug. "We'd best get you in your blue gown before Wulfsen shows up," she said to Sileas.

"He's gonna spot her stark bloody naked soon enough." Questa said, playing with her shiv.

In reply to Millicent Gerthrim (msg # 10):

"You're not dispensable." Yehudit said. "You belong more than I do."

"But he's not supposed to yet. And Sileas wants to keep her dress a surprise until the ceremony." Millie sighed softly as she glanced at Yehudit. "Of course you belong."

Yehudit quietly looked at her hands. Millie did not get it. Yehudit suspected that Sileas got it but denied it.

"Not like she's got anyfink ter hide. And 'e's probably seen stark bloody naked ruddy ladies before. Rich nobles like 'im can afford the best 'oore 'ouses." Questa said as she slipped her shiv into the sheath she had crafted for the occasion.

"Of course I do have something to hide. Wulfsen hasn't seen me without my clothing yet," Sileas fussed. She carefully hung the dress up before the changing screen in the corner. At least with the intricate steel work on the shoulders, it stayed on the hanger. She pulled on the blue velvet and came back around so Millie could lace it up in the back.

"Yer got pregnant wiv all yor kit on?" Questa asked innocently.

"You forget that it wasn't Wulfen," Sileas said as Millie shoved her down on a seat. Millie was trying to tame Sileas's wild hair into something at least somewhat elegant.

"If yer rolled 'round wiv one lad and plan on rollin' 'round wiv this lad soon, I don't spot why yor so particular about 'im seein' yer stark bloody naked a wee early." Questa said casually.

"Because I want to do this properly and have everything above board."

"Yor gonna do it on a board, then? Then woss the big fancy bed for?" Questa asked.

"No," Sileas replied as Millie braided sections of her hair. "I want everyone to fully believe the babe is Wulfsen's."

"So yor gonna do it right on the table in front of evry geezer? Is that wot above board means?" Questa asked.

Yehudit wanted to see shirtless men. She hated herself.