.

indutiae : truce, armistice, suspension of hostilities.

A smile blossomed over her face again as she nibbled absently on a raspberry scone. "I understand; you can be confident that I will guard them with my life."

He rolled his eyes but felt gratified.

They sat in companionable silence, or perhaps it was only a mutual truce.

Maeve flipped through the papers with a quiet rustle and made notes on her parchment.

Severus studied the painting and then watched the fire lick away at the logs in the grating. Somewhere, between one breath and the next, he sank into the chair with a sigh and closed his eyes.

Edited by the comma-monster renaid.