Behind the curtain

As had been his routine since the pirate attack on his home, Artorias conducted a late night patrol around the castle grounds before turning in to bed. With all of the excitement around Briar and Lia moving into the Hallows at long last, he knew his beloved had been exhausted by the end of her days, and he'd seen her off to bed before he started his final patrol of the night. Walking through the quiet stillness of the evening, Artorias paced over the high castle walls, fiery amber eyes scanning the surrounding woods through the darkness for any signs of threats. Despite his heightened security, he still refused to close the gates of the Hallows at night. What if somebody came in the wee hours looking for aid or shelter? No, the Hallows would remain open, just as his mother had intended it to be.

Satisfied with the silence in the night, Artorias began to descend the stairs from the walls down to the courtyard and gardens below, content knowing that Serenity would keep an eye out through the night. The weather was thankfully clear, though the air was noticeably cooler in the Austerian winter with a hint of moisture in the air. The grass was dewy and damp beneath his paws when he walked through the gardens and the nighttime sky above was partly cloudy with a few patches of clear sky poking through to show the shining stars above. All in all, while it wasn't awful, it wasn't exactly his ideal weather to be outside in. Which is why it came as such a surprise to the young alpha when he saw a familiar flame-hued coat amongst the gardens.

"Lia," Artorias greeted her with surprise in his voice and on his face. The Aegis padded closer, settling himself in to sit beside her on the cool grass. He was quiet for a moment while he simply settled into her company, following her fire-kissed gaze up to the nighttime sky overhead. "Couldn't sleep?" He raised a curious brow in her direction, giving her all the invitation to speak her mind as she felt comfortable doing.

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian" | "Corbin" | "Argent"