Egfor was unable to sleep due to the heat. He lay there for a while, unsure if Dem was awake or asleep. His breathing was slow and deep, so he assumed asleep. He slowly rolled out of bed, throwing open the windows to let a breeze and the moonlight filter in.
Egfor folded his arms on the sill and leaned out looking around the property of the estate bathed in moonlight. He breathed in deep the scent of the warm summer night, of rain that fell earlier that day. He could faintly smell the stable from here and the horses. It was a comforting scent to him. The faint smell of pine and other trees could reach him at his perch.
He closed his eyes and focused on the sounds; a soft breeze rustling the leaves and grasses. He heard a fountain bubbling and the sighs and snorts of the horses. Very faintly he could hear one guard talking to another, though not close enough to make out words. He opened his eyes when he realized he heard no crickets. No sooner had that thought crossed his mind then he heard a wolf howl. He murmurs, "That would do it." He enjoyed the feeling of the breeze on his bare, sweat soaked skin. He was never one to thrive in heat. Quite the opposite.
He felt something on his arm and without thinking, brushed at it. Egfor froze and violently recoiled and flapped his arms in the air, reeling back from a vile moth, all the while trying to be utterly silent to not wake Dem. He shuddered and brushed himself off, pausing when he heard a faint laugh behind him, causing him to turn suddenly, "Oh, grandfather it's you-- I'm naked!"
The elder waved a hand dismissively as he stood near the door, appearing as a human tonight, "I'm dead, I don't care."
Egfor rolled his eyes, grabbing light linen pants and tugging them on.
The elder man grinned, "I think some of the guards are beside themselves in fear seeing a ghost walk through the walls and up the stairs."
Egfor groans and shakes his head, "Poor Dem has to deal with that tomorrow."
Hagdil gave that old man cackle, "I know. I don't know a single elder who doesn't delight in the occasional mischief."
Egfor thought of his own mother, "Alright, I'll give you that." He glances over to see Dem still asleep, then looks back at Hagdil.
Hagdil spoke before Egfor could, "I am glad your mother followed my urges here. She is a wise woman and can teach, but there is a difference between wise women and men, especially men like us."
Egfor pulled up a chair, "Men like us?"
Egfor jumped and nearly toppled the chair over as another Dunlending spirit appeared before Hagdil. Egfor clutched his heart and hissed, "For the love of all the gods above and below… If I had known I was expecting visitors I would have gone to the grove."
Hagdil waves a hand dismissively, not caring, "This is Osian, my husband later in life." Egfor blinks as he registers that, "You remarried?"
Hagdil 'sits' on a chair that does on exist, as Osian stands behind him, resting his hands on his shoulders. Hagdil nods, "My wife, your grandmother, fell in battle defending our cartref from the forgoil. Your mother was just about three summers old. I was raising her myself and succumbing deeply to my depression. I met Osian at my lowest point and he healed me and my heart." Hagdil rested his hands over Osian's and smiled up at him.
Egfor took a moment to take in the sight of the couple. Hagdil bore a striking resemblance to Egfor, though with a longer beard, shorter stature and stark white hair, suggesting he was more fair haired in his youth. He shared the same stormy blue eyes that Egfor did and seemed to have the same archer's build. Osian was a taller, broader man built like an ox. His beard was shorter and more taken care of. His hair was a grizzled grey with some black remains in it. Egfor couldn't quite make out his eye colour. He could tell the two men adored and loved each other deeply, even after death.
Egfor's vision swam and he didn't see Hagdil and Osian anymore, but he saw himself and Dem as old men, their wedding bands shining brightly on their aged hands. The love for each other hadn't diminished or faded with age, only getting stronger in ways that Egfor could only dare to dream of. Egfor felt tears well up in his eyes, quickly wiping at his face and taking deep breaths to control his emotions so he wouldn't wake up Dem.
Egfor fanned his face with his hands and cleared his throat, "Sorry, sorry. What were you saying?"
Hagdil chuckles, "We'll be back later to teach you how to reveal your spirit to your husband. For now, we should let you get back to sleep. Good night."
Egfor nods quickly at that, smiling, "Thank you, I'll speak to you later." Hagdil 'stood up' from his non-existent chair and took Osian's hand. Together, the two spirits walk right through the closed door, likely scaring more guards on the way out.
Egfor heard a faint, startled cry, chuckling to himself. He finally stood up and put the chair back, crawling back into bed with his beloved husband. He smiled, feeling the strong arms wrap around him and pull him closer as he drifted back to sleep.
