Pinja was still having a hard time eating. She did not think she would be able to eat if Aalyssa was not eating.

Pinja gasped when she heard the sound of glasses clinking from the Main Hall. The last time she had heard that had been at her own farce of a wedding, when Jack kissed her- or what passed for a kiss from him. Forcing his mouth against hers so she could taste blood from her own teeth cutting her lip, taste his foul breath of sour wine and ham.

Before Pinja knew what she was doing she had dropped the roll in her hand, fled from th tray to a nearby bucket and was vomiting.

"Pinja? What's wrong?" Aalyssa asked, leaping to her feet.

Pinja knelt on the floor beside the bucket.

"The glasses.... I can taste him kissing me." Pinja said, and retched one more time. "I-I'm too close to it, the feast, the people, the kissing." She said shakily.

"Hmm." Aalyssa looked around the room. "I'm not sure how to make it quieter in here. I'm actually surprised you could hear anything from the main hall with the door closed."

Pinja shivered. "I think I should go."

"Go? Go where?" Aalyssa was alarmed. Pinja was in no condition to even move to another room, much less travel.

"Some place I can't hear it." Pinja said, touching her cap. "Maybe I should go back to my room." Pinja still hated the thought of being alone, and dreaded the walk to the dormitory.

"If you wish. I can walk with you so you're not in the hall alone."

"Please." Pinja said. She was afraid to be alone, it was hard enough to be alone in her room but walking the keep grounds alone terrified her.

"Of course." Aalyssa grabbed her shawl. "Did you bring a wrap with you?"

Pinja shook her head. "No, just this." She picked up the book she had brought with her.

Aalyssa reached for another of her shawls and handed it to Pinja.

"Thank you." Pinja wrapped the shawl over her shoulders.

Aalyssa gave her a small smile. "You're very welcome."

Pinja hugged the borrowed shawl to herself as she stepped out of the door.

Aalyssa followed quietly.

Difyr opened the door to the healing room.

"I can fix up something for your headache in a minute." She said, then called to the curtained area. "Aalyssa! Millie is here."

"Thank you." Millie rubbed her temple and tried her best to fight her threatening tears.

Difyr stirred some powder into a hot cup of tea. She handed the cup to Millie.

"So what is bothering you besides a headache?" Difyr asked.

Millie blew on the steaming liquid to cool it just a hint. She let out a sigh. One of my customers believes that I should go husband hunting. I gave up on that dream long ago. It's always been fairly obvious no one would have an interest in me. I tried explaining that to her, but she wouldn't listen. On top of that, she wants to match her granddaughter with Lek, despite Lek being in love with someone already."

"You're still young- I was much older than you before I gave up on ever getting married." Difyr said. "But this client does seem to be sticking her nose where it doesn't belong."

Millie drank her tea and then stared at the cup still held in her hands. "It's not the age. It...it just hurts too much to keep wishing and dreaming for something that will never happen. There's just...something wrong with someone who has never had anyone care about her besides her twin brother. No friends, cousins that run the other way when they see me. My heart just can't take it. And I'll lose Pinja now that I've been convinced to take on an apprentice. I could use the help with the workload, especially as the homes are being finished and people can think about their other needs."

"You won't lose Pinja, you're her best friend." Difyr said. "I didn't think she would go back to helping you with your dress shop, not after what had happened to her... every time she sees a pair of scissors she has a flashback."

"I know, but she also won't be comfortable with someone she doesn't know being there all the time either."