Her little world crumbled, as frail as the paper bound in the ancient tomes at her feet. She blinked into the darkness, her crown quirking sideways as her gaze adjusted to the shadows clinging to the walls, to the shelves, to each and every book and scroll. Her ears flickered, forwards and backwards, catching soft hoofbeats pattering against the stone. The shriveled heart in her chest pounded, thrumming, with each click as the thing in the dark grew closer, and closer. Until at last, the darkness opened in a collected hush, a painted stranger stepping into her narrowed gaze. Anything good there? She released a breath, suddenly annoyed at herself. He was just a stranger, an unknown face in the mysterious dark. Nimue was a witch. She was the monster hiding in the woods, in the shadows. Not this man before her. Her lip curled, but a moment later, it swept up into a small smile. She willed the muscles beneath her dappled skin to relax, her gaze sweeping over the ivory man before her. With a quick flare of her nostrils, she noted the distinct scent of Dawn clinging to his skin. Dusty roses and bound books and ink written onto scrolls. What she failed to catch, however, was the second set of hoofbeats clicking along the stone floor. Her attention entirely focused on the man before her, until the shadows stepped to the side to allow her king to enter. The witch unfurled herself from the cold floor, shaking free the chill settling into her bones. Her wicked grin only grew, as she inclined her crown towards Kasil. She took care with the suspicion lying beneath his words, but she did not share in his same feelings. Her Sight simply snapped open, the magic coursing in her blood sending a warm shiver down her spine. Only a second, a breath, a heartbeat, and the dragon of her power curled back inside of her. She found what she needed, and nothing more. "Our libraries are the best in the world," she mused, blinking in the dark and indigo light. Her voice was warm, uncommonly warm, as she tenderly shut the tomes circling her with her mind. "Always a pleasure to see you, my King," she said rather sweetly, her lips curled in an off-kilter smile. "And you, Zaius. Welcome to the catacombs." Her attention pulled to him, the lighter winged man to her sovereign's dark chocolate coin. The magic in her veins tasting of the memory of his arrival; but just enough where she discovered his name. No longer a stranger perhaps, but possible acquaintances. Deep in the darkness they were, in the heart of the court they all called home. @zaius @kasil boop <3 yes, you read correctly: nim was most definitely nervous about monsters in the dark xD hehe |
