The evening grew late, and the party didn't end. The Hallows certainly knew how to throw an event. There was food in abundance, and music played on an ancient looking piano. People danced and enjoyed themselves. Their children got into trouble, and wore themselves out. He saw Citadel snoring beneath a table. More importantly, he saw the exhaustion on Ignitas face. On his wife's face, as the social event wore her down.

He kissed her check and tugged at her with a hooked paw. “Come on” he whispered urgently. “Let's make our escape while no one's looking,” he grinned, pulling her away from the party. Back to the library where he has gotten permission from Art to sneak off to.

It became a blur. The faces melded into one, the voices a hum in the background, the strange music she had never heard before played its melodies in one ear and out the other. Several guests ago she had lost her ability to say thank you, or speak any words at all. She had nibbled at the copious amounts of food but was too busy trying to respond to the guests and give them nods of greeting before she could sit down and enjoy the delectable dishes. The wines she tried still didn't sit right with her, she avoided the sweet red wine unfortunately, even though it seemed to be the drink of the night.

Suddenly her... husband kissed her cheek and tugged at her, whispering something she could barely make out. She dolefully followed him into a quiet corridor, not altogether aware of what was going on as she wasn't altogether aware of anything such was her overwhelm.

Suddenly they were in a room and it took a minute for the quiet and the smells to permeate her consciousness. It was familiar, and it drew her tired eyes up slowly slowly up to his face. She blinked as if she was waking from a dream. She took a deep breath as her awareness came back to her, waking her up to the gentle surrounds. Books towered over them to the side... Books! The Library! Her eyes sprang back to life as the spines called out to her. She sighed with a truly happy smile.

"Books..." She mumbled dreamily pulling herself closer to the shelves. The smell of the books welcomed her, "I like books." She mumbled, only able to speak in short sentences, "I like you..." She blinked as she turned to...her husband.

"Basilisk" | "Ignita"

He led her to the castle’s library. He could see the lost, overwhelmed expression on her maw. He understood, to a degree. He had found himself growing frustrated more than once at the attention. The constant noise, movement and people. The sudden still and quiet around him was a balm to his overtaxed soul.

Ignita… Ignita did not overwhelm her. Her presence was not a frustration, but a comfort. Seeing her smile loosened the last bit of tension against his heart. Ignita, however, still seemed overwhelmed. Overwhelmed, and tired. Perhaps the library had not been the best choice. It was still someone else’s room, and she didn’t seem to have the wherewithal to read.

He gently grabbed her paw again, and led her away. Not back to the crowd, but through the corridor again. This time, to the room Artorias had put aside for them. He nudged open the door and brought her inside. Privacy, and quiet. “Here, little one.” He said, gently pulling a blanket across her shoulder. He tugged her head into his lap as he sat. “Rest.” he whispered in her ear.


"Basilisk" | "Ignita"

Oh, they were leaving again? He tugged at her paw as she reached out to stroke a spine. She was waking up! It'll be fine! They entered the corridor, where was he taking her this time? Before she could process fully he had whisked her away into a private bedroom. It wasn't that time already? She didn't know if she had it in her yet. The quiet deepened and she found she felt like she could breathe again. He heard him call her little one, and she was, it was cute. She didn't mind, too much like putty to truly protest the blanket of her shoulders and the pose of her head coming to rest in his lap.
"Oh... Alright.... Just... just a little while. Just going to close my eyes. Then we can go back. Can't leave... your own party too early... right?" She asked dreamily as she faintly blinked and relaxed into him.

A little time later she blinked and drew in a wakeful breath. She was able to think clearly and her mind returned to her.
"What kind of book would you read, Husband?" She asked into the stillness. The murmuring of the party still going on strong. She reached up and stroked the fur she could reach on his chest.

"Basilisk" | "Ignita"