something about rocks and windows

There were several long heart-pounding moments between when Ember got to the top of the stairs to when Erik came quietly (or as quietly as his large frame would allow) running up the stairs and back into view. He's soaked from the rain beginning to pour more heavily outside, looking quite the pitiful sight, but also quite attractive as his wet fur clings to his bulk, every youthful muscle on display. He was clearly going through the same adolescent glow up that she was going through as well, that transition from awkward puppy to regal adult. Thankfully Hearthstone is kept warm all winter long and her room was even warmer and drier with her fire, so he'd be better in no time. Really what Ember was most worried about was his throat, blue eyes moving to the crystals jutting through his neck as he came up the stairs. She remembered the damp and wet irritated them, so right now her only goal was getting him dry and comfortable.

The princess greeted the prince with a sweet smile and a happy nuzzle of her cheek against his in return, feeling just how much wetter his fur was compared to hers. He cleared his throat and that guttural sound just emphasized Ember's hurry to get him dried off. While he might have been embarrassed, Ember didn't shy away from his cryptid nature, his rough hewn behavior just a part of him she'd known since their meeting on his family's mountains. Erik apologized, Ember cocking her head to the side as she fixed him with a puzzled look. What was he apologizing for? When the answer turned out to be the rain, Ember just sighed and rolled her eyes, shooting the much larger brute an amused smirk. "Oh stuff it, you. C'mon, let's get you dry before you lose your voice." Ember gently nudged Erik's shoulder with a bump of her head, ushering him swiftly and as silently as she could down the quiet hallway until they reached her bedroom about halfway down. Smiling up at her friend, Ember opened the door and led him inside.

Ember's bedroom was a representation of her personality painted into the physical world. The space was open, warm, inviting. A large queen-sized canopy bed occupied most of the space, the deep red curtains drawn back to reveal the matching red sheets and bedspread over the mattress. A vanity stood near the bed, littered with Ember's brushes, oils, perfumes, and jewelry. Next to the door was a wolf mannequin, adorned in her leather armor that matched the rest of the Hallows warriors' armor. By the balcony door and tall glass windows that looked out into the rainy night, a desk was covered in books, papers, and quills; Ember's workspace. As soon as Erik was inside, Ember quietly pushed the door shut and slid the latch back into place, guaranteeing them privacy so no nosy guards (or siblings) could come sniffing about. In here, the air was warmer and drier, hopefully making it more comfortable for his throat.

"Come in and get dry," she said as she crossed the room to grab the wool towels she'd used to dry herself off with after her bath and tossed them over to Erik. "Sorry I don't have any fresh towels, but they're better than nothing." She could have snuck downstairs to pilfer him a fresh towel, but that would risk attracting more attention to her technically trespassing viking boy hiding out in her room. Hopefully he didn't mind that they were a little damp and smelled like her. A flash of lightning through the windows lit up the roiling black sea, and a moment later a clap of thunder shook the heavens overhead. Phew, glad Erik got inside when he did! Ember grabbed her brush and moved over to the fireplace to lay down on the plush rug laid out before the hearth, inviting her rugged prince over with a sweet smile and a paw patting the space next to her. "So I'm guessing you didn't just sneak into my family's castle in the middle of a storm to say hi to me," Ember teased him playfully, her flowing tail curling around her shapely hip so she could continue to brush her long fur into a silky smooth sheen while they talked.

"Ember Carpathius"