it's mercia

Miri had noticed the trap on the floor. Even called it out before carefully stepping around it. She had very intentionally planted the balls of her feet on either side of the pressure plate in front of the bookshelf.

And it was an effective strategy. Until it wasn't.

Miri was carefully searching the shelves within her reach, finding scrolls and artifacts worth swiping into her open pack beside her on the floor. She was also checking the spines of the texts, mostly by feel and scent.

Just because she couldn't read didn't mean she couldn't tell there was something valuable on this shelf. Why else would someone put a trap in front of it?

She was eagerly looking for a book that might catch Gale's eye - she really enjoys the way his eyes light up when he gets his hands on one. Though she won't pretend to understand why, watching Gale lose himself in one of these bound paper stacks is endearing.

Maybe she should learn how to read them-

"Ooh, what have we here?"

Gale's voice draws her out of her reveries. Miri turns her head to see him coming to look at the shelf, already nearly just behind her.

"Lethallin, wait-"

Too late to stop his approach, unfortunately. Gale reaches over her shoulder to a higher shelf and his foot comes down onto the pressure plate.

*Click*

There's a hiss and the bookshelf swings inward suddenly.

And with both of them leaning toward the shelves, they tumble forward after it. Gale lets out a squawk of alarm as they fall awkwardly.

Miri only just manages to catch herself with a grunt as she falls into the wall of the small space behind the bookcase. A catch immediately undone by Gale crashing into her with an 'oomph' and squishing her against said wall.

They're plunged into darkness when the bookcase-door swings shut behind them - surprisingly quietly.

"Mystra's mantle-" Gale groans having whacked a knee against the wall in the tumble. As soon as his senses orient he realizes he is putting his weight against what must be Miri, given the squish of skin and firmness of muscle.

"Gods above," he gasps, pushing backward as much as he can - which isn't far - an inch or two at most before his back collides with the back of the bookcase. Barely enough to take his weight off her, let alone enough to break contact. "Are you alright?"

"Nngh-" Miri catches her breath with a groan, the wind having knocked out of her in the collision. She exhales sharply as she shifts and stands straight. "Alright..."

She's pressed almost flat against the wall. Gale's hands are pressed to the stone on either side of her to try and keep from inadvertently touching or leaning against her.

Despite his efforts, however, Gale found himself pressed flush against her back, impossible to prevent the way they made contact from chest to knee.

"Are you hurt?" Miri murmurs back.

"No, no, I'm fine," he responds, his breath still a little strained. For now he has to rely on feel alone - eyes unadjusted to the sudden dark. "Blind at the moment, unfortunately..."

She hums an acknowledgement. The gloom is thick even for her eyes. Not that there's much to see. Non-descript, smooth stone walls ahead and on either side.

Gale shifts his weight slightly, but the movement causes him to press against her even closer. Feeling the heat of her body against his - the way his hips are pressed snugly against the curve of her backside - is nearly enough to make him groan.

"A bit of a tight fit, isn't it?" Gale murmurs, his mouth mere inches from her ear.

Miri hums an agreement, "Not designed with two in mind."

Gale huffs a sardonic chuckle. "Indeed not."

Miri shifts, looking up and over her shoulder to better examine the space. Gale stiffens - her movement making him acutely aware of the way the planes of his body press against her petite frame. A more intimate proximity than he'd ever expected. Though a lie to say he hadn't thought of it before.

His heart starts to thump uncomfortably - and the heat that courses through him when her rear presses against his hips just so as she moves-

It's just adrenaline from the fall. Nothing else. He tries to take a deep breath to still the fluttering of his heart - but so close to her hair, her neck, he can smell the earthy, sweet scent of pine on her. Almost overwhelming in the darkness.

Miri can hear the thrum of his heart - feel it against her back. And in such small quarters, with his hands planted so close to her head, she could acutely pick up his scent. Warmth, leather, magic... and something more.

Stronger, when she turns her head.

She pushes it aside - he cannot help it. And she shouldn't get caught up in it. The back of the bookcase, from what she can see over Gale's shoulder, is solid metal.

"This does not look like a trap," Miri murmurs, shifting slightly as she examines the space - unaware of Gale's struggle and trying to ignore the flickering embers of her own. "Perhaps a hiding space?"

Unfortunately for them, it was a hiding spot definitely intended for one person.

He tries to focus on her words, and not the way her body feels against his - soft, yet toned.

"Perhaps," he says, his voice a little huskier than usual. "A secret compartment, a panic cell..."

Gale can feel her moving - only barely able to see as his eyes adjust to the dark. The more she moves, the harder it becomes to ignore. Her back against his chest, her legs against his thighs, her hips against-

"I do not see a latch," Miri continues. "The door behind you is flat - flush with the wall.'

Gale's breath hitches softly. His fingers press more firmly against the stone wall.

"Maybe it only opens from the outside then," he replies.

Miri sighs noisily, the sound trailing into a terse growl. "I was afraid so. Can you use Knock?"

As if the scent of her wasn't distracting enough, the growl sends a sharp thrill of...something through him. He swallows hard, struggling to keep focus and composure as his body reacts to her proximity in ways that he isn't quite ready to admit.

Still, he manages to find his voice, clearing his throat. "Yes, I- I can use Knock. Hold still."

Miri freezes in place, head still turned to the side - catching sight of the soft purple glow of the orb mark. Her eyes widen slightly and flit up to his face with concern.

"Are you alright?"

His eyes dart over her features, barely visible in the low light provided by the gods forsaken orb. The thing seems to throb in retaliation as her attention flickers to the mark on his chest. Her concern allays his desire for a moment in favor of shame.

Gale forces a shaky smile, trying to brush off her concern with a nonchalant wave of his hand.

"I'm fine," he assures her, "Just a little winded from the fall, is all."

She scrutinizes him briefly, clearly unconvinced. But she doesn't press him on it.

"As you say," she says softly.

In truth she's just as affected. Miri's grateful he can't see the way she flushes in the dark or hear how her heart pounds. She can feel all too well the press of his hard length against her. And it is not the loudest of his inadvertent signals.

Miri has to suppress a growl of frustration at herself. It's foolish for her to get so flustered by his unintentional response. It's just nature's way.

As her gaze lingers on him, Gale has to fight to maintain a facade of normalcy. Acutely aware of the reaction his body was having to her.

He swallows hard, trying to will his body to calm. He needs to think. To cast a spell. And this was not the time or place for such things. But gods…

She notes acutely the downward turn of his lips and furrow of his brow as he looks back at her.

"Ah- sorry! I will stop distracting you."

Miri clears her throat softly, turning her gaze back to the wall in front of her and trying to make herself small. Trying her best to let him cast so they can get out.

A part of him almost wished that she wouldn't stop distracting him. A not very quiet part of him. Gale wants to lose himself in the way the curve of her hip fits so perfectly into the cradle of his, the soft brush of her hair against his chin…

But the ever brightening glow of the orb is a poignant and painful reminder. He attempts to steady his breathing and focus his thoughts - to get his body under control. It was just a physical reaction to touch. Nothing more.

"No, it's fine," he reassures her, "You're not… not distracting me."

"Okay," Miri finds herself saying - anything to keep herself from saying something foolish instead.

The longer she's trapped in this small space with him - breathing his scent, feeling his heat- the more difficult it gets to stop herself from pressing back against him. Or more.

She takes a slow, shuddering breath, trying to center herself.

But the sound is like a sweet torture for him, sending Gale's thoughts spiraling away from him. He wants to hear that shuddering breath in his ear, hear his name on her lips…

He swallows hard, his body taut with an almost unbearable tension. The urge to simply press her against the wall and give in to the urges roaring to life within him was becoming difficult to ignore.

Miri clears her throat again, fighting the way his scent fills her senses. Having his wrists so close is like torture. She presses her forehead against the cold stone wall in front of her, trying to cool her flushed skin.

Gale swallows hard, his eyes drawn to the nape of her neck as her braid slides forward, his thoughts spiraling. How would her skin taste, if he dared to kiss her there? How would her breath hitch if he found a sweet spot on her throat that made her shiver…

Gods, what is wrong with me? He was usually so in control, so disciplined… and yet here he was, practically panting with want for this woman.

He's better than this gods damnit. He's a wizard! A scholar - a man of discipline and restraint! He would not give in to base instincts.

No. Not now. Focus on the bloody door, he told himself sternly. Just get the door open and get out of this gods-damned coffin before you do something truly stupid.

Taking a deep breath, and priming his fingers, Gale finally manages to summon his focus enough to cast.

As the magic took hold, there was a soft *click* as the lock disengaged and the bookcase shifted, opening slightly. Gale lets out a heavy breath of relief.

"We can… we can get out now," he says softly.

Miri looses a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

"Mielikki enaste," Miri sighs out, already grateful for the influx of light and fresh air. "Thank you, Gale."

"Of course."

As Gale backs into the bookcase to push it open, she follows after. Miri tips her head back with another grateful sigh as they step out into the relative openness of the room.

Gale takes a deep breath as the cool air washes over him, a balm to his overheated skin and the thrumming tension in his body. But when he turns to find her right behind him, head back and face flushed, he feels the spark flaring to life again.

He snaps his head to the side and tries to keep his gaze averted. But her breath is a bit ragged, her hair slightly mussed from being pressed against him... It was a deliciously disheveled look, and he wanted nothing more than to-

He shakes his head again, pushing the thought away and clearing his throat.

Now is neither the time nor the place, Gale. She is a friend, he tells himself firmly, A colleague. And she wouldn't want a partner that might explode mid-coitus...

Miri stretches her back with a groan, and Gale has to look away again, pointedly busying himself gathering up his things.

She likewise recovers her pack and slings it over her shoulder. And definitely doesn't stare as he bends over to retrieve his pack.

Miri certainly wouldn't be thinking about how he felt pressed against her when she got back to her tent. Definitely would not think about him hot and hard against her, or the intoxicating scent of his-

"Well! I think that was enough excitement for one afternoon, no?" Miri gives him a grin as he stands and faces her. "Back to camp?"

Gale chuckles softly, returning her smile with a strained one of his own. Back to camp and the privacy of his own tent, thank the gods.

"Yes!" He hems slightly, trying to cover his over-enthusiasm. "Yes, I think that's quite enough excitement," he agrees.

His gaze flits over her as she readjusts her pack. She looks so carefree and comfortable, completely oblivious to the effect she has on him...

"Back to camp it is." He bows at the waist and extends an arm, "After you."

Miri gives him a playful grin at the gesture, and he can't help but smile in return.