In The Library
She awoke in the night. Most nights all she had to do was roll over and sleep would easily find her. Not tonight. After an eternity of tossing, she decided to find a distraction. Maybe reading something would calm her brain enough to doze off.
Keeping as quiet as possible she made her way down the hall and to the large, double door entryway. She slipped into the dimly lit room and was immediately hit with the smell of cedar. Awestruck by the number of cluttered shelves that lined the walls she wondered where to start. Walking up to the shelves, Garnet began reading the titles of the books looking for something to catch her eye.
"Couldn't sleep either," Rye, said with a yawn, catching her off guard.
"Do you have to walk so quietly?" she grumbled fighting the urge to mirror his yawn. She turned to look at him, "my brain just won't shut down."
"Well, there are plenty of distractions in here," moving towards the desk, pulling out a board and a small case, "chess?"
"I don't play it too much. Can you give me a refresher course?"
Garnet woke on the library couch, sun streaming down on her face. She had no idea how she had gotten there, the last thing she remembered was losing her third game in a row. She lay there, wrapped up in Rye's jacket, unwilling to move knowing that it would mean another day of trying to figure out what was wrong with her and the gate. She didn't want to deal with any more questions about how she was feeling and wanted to just have a day to get her thoughts together. Wanted to try and figure out the emptiness that seemed to consume her after a visit to the grotto where the gate dwelled.
"Good morning, demoiselle. Do you think I can have my coat back?" Rye yawned, he was sitting on the opposite side of the sofa, her feet in his lap. "We have to get dressed for breakfast."
"It's warm and I'm keeping it. I don't feel like moving, right now." She sighed, pulling the coat over her head.
"I'm pretty sure I can get you off the couch," he softly chuckled running his fingers across the bottom of her foot.
"You wouldn't," flinging the coat at him, trying to fight the urge to laugh. She caught the mischievous look on his face and squeaked as he leaped for her. Slipping from the couch, "I thought you were supposed to be the grumpy one?"
"I guess I'm just a morning person," he laughed, draping the coat over her shoulders. Seeing her expression change as they both heard the ruckus of the other three coming down the hall, "what's wrong?"
"Just more tired than I thought," what she had wanted to say was how tired she was of the ongoing questions and concerns. She knew saying that would make him worry and then he would faun over her the way the others had been over the last few days.
"Are you sure that's all you want to say," concerned look on his face as he hugged her close to him. Her only answer was a small nod as she hugged him back. "How about we get you to your room and get you back to bed. I think my brothers and I can find something to do while you get some rest." Another nod was his answer as Garnet pulled away allowing him to lead her to her room.