"It's going to get cold tonight." August explained as she held out a mug of tea for Izzy. Night was falling fast and she knew that it was nearly time to seal up the cabin to sleep. "I don't know how you want to handle living situations, but you can take the fur coat if you need."
"I don't want to take anything from you," Izzy insisted.
"But you're also not allowed to freeze to death on the floor," she pushed.
"So then we share it." Izzy blankly stated.
August studied her face for a moment before reluctantly shrugging in agreement. Internally the thought of sharing a marginally small coat for warmth with the Princess of her sworn enemy seemed very wrong. But there was something about her ocean blue eyes and small smirk that she couldn't find a way to say no to.
Izzy took a long drink of tea and let the warm liquid fill her mouth. When she was at the palace, one of the handmaidens would always bring her a fresh pot of tea before bed. It was one of the many consistencies of palace life and for a moment it made Izzy forget where she actually was.
August walked over to the fire and quickly allowed her energy to seal the small flame into place for the night. The princess was far too preoccupied with her drink to take much notice in her housemate's affairs. As she grabbed the coat, August placed her fingertips on the edge of the doorframe. Her breath caught for a moment as she felt the energy pull from deep within her and out to seal in the walls of the cabin. They would be safe for the night at least. Nothing could break through a protection spell.
With the coat in one hand August went and sat down in the dark corner. The fire was bright enough to allow her to see but dark enough that she felt privacy in the moment. She bunched up the only other small blanket and tucked it under her head, bringing the coat around her.
She heard the sound of the princess's mug clinking as she set it down on the floor away from them. The rustling of her body traveling up next to August's made her breath catch in her throat once more. Izzy's cold hands slowly opened the edge of the coat as she worked her way under it. Her fingers slowly made their way onto August's chest as she rest her head down onto her shoulder.
The sound of the fire crackling kept August company through the night as she found that she couldn't sleep. The princess had fully tangled her body into hers and it made it difficult to breathe. Not because she was heavy by any means, but August was afraid any wrong move would wake the sleeping beauty and she would move away from her. Something felt strangely right about it all. She liked the feeling that she was protecting Izzy. She wanted to protect Izzy.
From the corruption of her own father to the Rhyles lurking in the forest. The princess was not the product of evil that her father was. She deserved so much more than an Aldham palace could give her.
August wasn't one for emotions, but for tonight she let herself hold the princess close as she slept.
That was until the fires began.
