Noctisardor Bypass Here I stand, still I'm drawn down to my knees.

john was thoughtful. heda resisted the urge to lean into the comforting, familiar warmth of his body. she feared it would be misconstrued as — but perhaps she did not understand the relationship between herself and john.
and it would be unseemly, disrespectful to him, she felt. she was a woman fallen from more grace than she knew, a widow too weak to finish her mourning, a strumpet's desires blossoming in her. and then she had deceived glaukos and found enjoyment in it. unmarried. malicious. reduced quite severely to an animal.
no. he would find a lovely new bride, and heda would preside over their wedding. and rivenwood would be filled with joy. 
that is what she saw.
"they won't be all right," the widow said faintly. "but they'll have to stay here either way. it's — for once it's safe."