Lillie wanted to rail at him, to tell him that the elves were right to hate the guards; ones like Dalbach for their racism and violence, and ones like Ordhan who were too afraid or too uncaring to intervene. But she held her piece. What could she say to change his mind, or the situation he found himself in? She hated what he didn't do, but she didn't know what it was like to serve in the guard, only through him. He was bitter about it, and it was clear that the things which occurred bothered him. It was also clear he felt helpless.
Lillie might have argued that the Alienage was only dangerous because the guards and humans ruled over them with fear, but she also knew that there could be violence between elves there. There were elves just as vile or bad as certain humans. It wasn't something that spared any race, and lawlessness seemed bred in those who were constantly beaten down.
On another level she understood what he did, the fear of self-preservation. She focused on that, trying to overlook what her conscious told her. She would still do as she intended, and go check up on the elven family tomorrow. Some good would be borne of Ordhan's complaints, not simply the easing of his conscious. "There is nothing you could have done, Ordhan. Dalbach would have struck out against you if you tried, no doubt. Or you would have gotten in trouble. It's not the sort of thing that gets reported. If it was, then nothing would be done about it." Her words were simple facts, not seeming to care one way or another, a simple truth of life in Denerim and the standing of elves.
Her fingers slid through his hair again, stroking and soothing, then slipped down to massage his shoulders. She did not know how to offer him comfort for this. Did he feel guilty for doing nothing? He never said as much, but Lillie could imagine he did. She could soothe him and offer an ear. She would hope that it was enough.