Elariel gave Tae'loren a wry smile when his arm draped around her shoulder. Her normal colour returned to her face after she thanked the server. She watched as they drank and bit her lip. She knew that her own skills would be diminished if she allowed herself to steel herself as they did. Then again, Tae'loren was right. They were working with different things. Alcohol may lower inhibitions, but it would wreak havoc with her concentration.<br/><br/>But Elariel could understand the need for Tae'loren and Aeo'leth to take such an approach. When her lover kissed her cheek as he rose to leave, she gently cupped his face to her for the briefest of moments before releasing him, savouring the feel of his lips on her skin. Even though they had been joking, there was something rigid in the way that the Hunter and his friend walked now. As Elariel stood and thought of the work she needed to do she could understand. There was a grimness to the preparations they all must make for their mission.<br/><br/>"Ready to go, Lass?" The dwarf that had teased her returned and took up the jug of ale for her as well as her goblet. "Why don't yeh follow me an' I'll get you somewhere nice to study them books of yours." He nodded to the weighty pack slung over her shoulder.<br/><br/>As Elariel and the dwarf walked through the halls of the Keep he explained a bit of its history to her. She smiled as she listened, glad for the reprieve from her own racing thoughts. He made for a rather talkative companion right up until he pushed open the door to the Keep Library. He informed her that she was free to look at any of the books they had, but warned her that it was unlikely that she would find much of use. Though, he explained, she would likely have the place to herself as everyone would be terribly interested in participating in whatever combat practice her 'tall and sly' looking companions would be able to offer her. He explained that if she wanted to use the guest rooms she could ring a bell in the corner and someone would come to guide her there. She thanked him profusely as she took a desk by one of the tall, stained glass windows and started to unpack her things.<br/><br/>Hours slipped by as Elariel studied. She sketched out images of the somatic components and practised the vocal commands until she did need to indulge in some of that ale. She stood and leaned against the stone wall beside the desk she had chosen. The cool illumination now coming in through it spoke to her of the dwindling daylight outside. Less than an hour, she guessed, if just how dark the library was getting was anything to go by. She sighed and leaned over, pressing her palms against the stone and lunging up and down to get some blood flow back into her legs. When her aching limbs had a little life restored to them she returned dutifully to her seat to exploit the last of the light before they turned to the flickering shadows that the candles and lanterns around would cast.<br/><br/>If anything, Elariel was becoming more conflicted. She was certain, now more than ever, that her side of the plan would work. The spellcasting was something that she could easily muster. However, she was becoming less assured of the smoothness in general. She knew that Tae'loren and Aeo'leth had seemed confident with their success, but there were just so many unknowns. She wondered to herself whether Roe'nor and Neras would be expecting them. Surely they knew Elariel well enough to know that she would not let them get away with this. Not only because they were holding innocent individuals captive, but because their discoveries back at the Temple could not be dispersed.<br/><br/>Even though she had intended to study, all of the concerns started to build and swirl in her mind. Elariel was a thinker, not an infiltrator or fighter. A powerful spellcaster, the most powerful of her generation to be sure, but the looming mission was beyond anything she had engaged in before. And, what's worse, is that she knew that Tae'loren and Aeo'leth were the ones who were risking their lives for it. She let out a sigh and shut her book, resting her hand on her forehead. She had studied enough. What she needed now was to clear her mind.<br/><br/>Slipping off the wooden chair Elariel tugged off her cloak and set it onto the hard stone floor beside her. She sunk down on to the fabric, crossing her lithe legs beneath her and lining her back straight up against the wall. She took a few moments to slow her breathing and closed her eyes, focusing on slowing her racing thoughts and entering a semi-meditative state. She knew she needed to remain aware of her surroundings, so she would hear any noise if someone approached her, but it was that time of the evening when she needed to slow down. To rebalance herself. To focus.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>