Sileas was continuing on to the main hall, but stopped when she heard Wulfsen's voice. She turned. "There you are!"

"What's wrong?" Wulfsen asked with concern, his arms going around her.

"Nothing," Sileas lied, only to be betrayed by her voice coming out in a high squeak.

"Something is wrong." Wulfsen said, rubbing her back. "What is it?"

She shook her head stubbornly. "I don't want to ruin tonight. I'm fine."

"You're upset." Wulfsen said. "Let me help you." He said gently.

"Lek was looking for advice on Pinja, and he had said it was like she blamed herself. I mentioned that is part of the whole thing, that I blamed myself a lot during my year in seclusion. To which he replied, "She did nothing wrong and hadn't deserved it." Which is true, but the way he said it clearly means he feels I had done something wrong and deserved it. I know I was never close with Lek and Millie but I had no idea he felt that way about me. It hurts."

"Surely he didn't mean- If Lek meant it I'll give him a whipping." Wulfsen said.

"He claims he didn't, but usually when things pop out of someone that way, they've usually been at least thinking it."

"Sileas, Lek is obsessed with Pinja. He was thinking about her, not you, not even subconsciously." Wulfsen said. "He thinks about her all the time, even when he's asleep I hear him say her name."

Sileas's eyes flashed. "Are you saying I've overreacted????"

"No, of course not." Wulfsen gently rubbed circles in Sileas's back. "You misunderstood him and thought he believed you deserved to be raped... Being upset would be a natural reaction to that."

"I still think he did. I bet everyone but Mama and Papa did," Sileas sniffled.

"Lek knows you better than Pinja." Wulfsen said. "Why would he think you deserved it when Pinja did not?"

"Because of my background, growing up on the streets. Having a whore for a birth mother," Sileas pointed out.

"Lek doesn't put much stock in such things." Wulfsen said.

"I hadn't thought anyone in the family did. But the only reason I didn't think they did is because I had convinced myself they didn't." Sileas lay her head against his chest.

"I'm sure none of them think that way of you." Wulfsen said.

Sileas let out a small sigh. It was hard to believe they didn't think of her that way after believing it herself. And there times and moments that she still felt that way. "I suppose," she said, unconvinced.

"Where you came from doesn't matter." Wulfsen said, rubbing her shoulder.

She nodded against his chest, her cheek resting against him.

Wulfsen kissed her. "Are you ready to go to dinner?"

"I am," Sileas said, mentally pulling herself together.

Wulfsen stepped back to look at her.

Sileas looked up at him. "What?"