~ ELRETH ~
She was almost asleep, just beginning to nod off when the pounding began at the door.
Aaryn leaped out of sleep—and out of the furs—like a cat with its tail on fire, sprinting before he'd even left the room, still naked.
Elreth's heart leaped into her chest as she threw back the covers, instinctively grabbing Aaryn's shirt and shoving her arms into the over-long sleeves, pulling it around her as she darted after him.
"El, let me handle this! We don't know—"
"Just get the door!"
It was happening. Whatever that heavy thundercloud had been hanging over them since the peace treaty, it was already coming home to roost.
As she and Aaryn threw themselves around the corner and into the Great Room, Elreth prayed that whatever it was it would end this, once and for all. No matter which way it took them. She needed this done. Finished.
She'd do anything to make it happen.