Walking down the dilapidated, ransacked streets of Millshaw, a couple held hands as they conversed in the night. Both hooded and cloaked, Nimraph and Eira walked through the small town. Passing some sprawled out scrap wood from the orc raids, Eira tried to distract herself from the destruction by asking, "How did a cookbook wind up in your library?"
She spoke in a light, amused tone. Deep down, however, she did not like the idea of going to that library.
As they passed a run down, half ruined cabin, Nimraph shrugged a little, chuckling, "Likely borrowed it without thinking."
Eira shrugged, "It's great that you have it, either way. I could always improve."
Nimraph responded as they ascended the hill, "Think I borrowed this book from Dem."
As they approached the property of Nimraph's grand library, Eira shuddered. She gulped, uneasy. Yet, she always smiled at Nimraph when he looked at her.
The courtyard's purple flowers, cherry blossom tree, and gorgoius gazebo were all splended joys to Eira. The nature outside the house was incredible, and she had always enjoyed relaxing at the gazebo with Nimraph or reading to the boys under the tree. Despite it all, she did not look forward to the inside. She hid her discomfort under her hood and a smile as they entered…
Eira felt goosebumps as her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting and dark walls. She purposefully kept her hood up as she entered the grand library. As she trailed behind, Nimraph strode inside. He hummed softly, pacing around to try and find the cookbook among the many bookshelves.
As her footsteps echoed across the main room, Eira shuddered as she passes a dark artifact, finding herself staring out of a stain glass window. She was whisked back to a memory of staring outside the purple stain glass window of her father's estate. She looked out, through the dark ash skies and parched black ground, into the direction of what would be Nurn. She wished she could fly there, but she was trapped in Gorgoroth. She was trapped in her father's twisted, dark fortress. She shivered as she continued to look out the window, longing and craving for something more.
In the present day, Eira turned from the window and continued to wander her husband's unintentionally cruel reminder of her past.
Nimraph eventually found a book. He turned and looked around for a bit before finding Eira. She had frozen in front of a dead watcher, still feeling the phantom dread.
Nimraph lifted a brow, "Something wrong?"
Hearing Nimraph's voice shook her out of it. She turned to Nim, hood still covering her frightened eyes, as she gave him that sweet smile he adored, "No, I was just thinking."
Nimraph furrowed a brow and stared at her, not believing her.
Eira felt put on the spot. Her poker face would not work on him easily, but she was unwilling to ruin Nimraph's sanctuary with her selfish fears. Dammon and Briar were just fine in this place, and Nimraph felt calm and relieved here. Why could she not feel the same? It made her feel guilty. So, she would fake it. She would pretend to not be unnerved or even frightened by this library. She would do it to make her husband happy.
She hastily came up with a cover, "My run in with Rue is still bothering me."
Nimraph nodded uncertainly, "Okay..."
Eira approached Nimraph, pointing to the book in his hands, "Is this it?"
Nimraph smiled, "Yes, the cookbook."
Eira did her best to disguise her anxiety to leave this place as her excitement to return to her own cottage. "Then come on! This is the first time I will have gone to my house since before the drought!"
She darted out towards the doorway, eager to see her home... and eager to escape this cold library.
Nimraph, however, trailed behind. It was as if he did not want to leave his sanctuary. Still, he followed his dear Sari Mosa outside.
