Ariel smiled. "Yes you're right," she said. "It definitely would be more polite and Grandmother might be unhappy if I didn't bring you to see her first, but I just wanted to make sure. I know how Grandmother can be. I thought it would be best to at least offer you a temporary reprieve."
Ariel walked to the front door and it opened soundlessly. An older woman with dark hair pulled back from her face in a low bun appeared from behind the door. "Hello Ms. Ariel," the woman said. "Mr. Zane! How wonderful to see you. I know Ms. Evyn will be so happy to see you again. She's in the library." "Thank you, Lisbeth," Ariel said as Lisbeth took her cloak then took Zane's. "Can you bring us some wine please? That walk has made me dreadfully thirsty." Lisbeth nodded and hurried off. Ariel and Zane walked down the main hallway to the library.
Ariel smiled as she always did when she came to the library. One of the largest rooms on the main floor of the house, the library was expansive and contained more books than most small libraries. Floor to ceiling bookshelves lined every wall, with 6 more rows of bookshelves dominating three quarters of the room. Each shelf had sturdy wooden ladders set in tracks that the length in order to reach the books on the higher shelves. To the left was the small sitting area comprised of 4 well stuffed chairs, a low slung table, and an ornate oak desk. Ariel saw her grandmother sitting in one of the chairs, apparently engrossed in a book. As Ariel and Zane entered the library her grandmother glanced up, delight streaking across her face as she spotted Zane.
"Look who I found today at the market Grandmother," Ariel said laughingly. Evyn quickly put down the book she was reading and got up and crossed the room. She reached out and wrapped Zane in a quick hug. "Hello my dear," she said as she released him. "It's been far too long since you came to visit. How have you been? Please come sit. You know how I love to hear your stories." Evyn reached over and kissed Ariel's cheek and led the pair across the room. Lisbeth came in with a tray laden with wine, bread and cheese. "Thank you my dear," Evyn said as Lisbeth put the tray down on the table. "You can just leave it. We can serve ourselves just fine." Lisbeth smiled and nodded then retreated from the room. Once everyone had wine and had gotten settled Evyn looked at Zane. "So," she said. "Tell me all about your adventures."