#anywhere

************************

A soft knock on the library door frame at Earth Runes

"Aye?" An even softer response.

Siv peeks in "Lady Captain Siv ap Fiona, also just plain ole Siv, your friend, coming for a quick drop in to see how the adventure went" She comes on in fully with a smile

"Fffff."

"You are lucky it went well."

"ffftt? Lucky?" Siv says then takes her hat off and sits down casually "To this I say 'you're welcome'" and she gives a rather pleased with herself smile "Well how?"

"No-one was maimed, nor arrested... well, less certain about Magnus..."

"Ah, Magnus is fine" She says "And you arrested? Oh I'd be so disappointed in you, Zara. You're better than that"

Siv says "You enjoyed it i bet." Confident

"Feh!"

"Feh is not a no" Siv points out

"It isn't," she concedes.

"You and the man you love got to travel to exotic locations, solve puzzles, take risks together, and savor well earned victory" Siv says "I may not know you as well as some, Zara, but yeah, I think you enjoyed. You and Earl both probably kissed more than once during or right after. Maybe more than that...Celebrating life"

Primly. "That is not for discussion."

"Course not, but you could cop to the enjoyment of the actual adventure"

"You did steal steal from me..." Gently, without rancor.

"Aye, I suppose so, meaning when you found any items and recovered them you could honestly say in a room full of Gwydions the wreen't anywhere near a certain Garret in a certain hold when you did"

"Oh, you need not protect me from Gwydions. Truth, after all, is a gem of many facets."

A nose wrinkle "Ah, the old Eiluned phrase. I don't sit well with most Eiluned. Bad encounter"

"I am no Eiluned."

"I know, I like you" Siv smiles

"Though I do... ah... understand, mayhaps?.. the house. I respect their magical prowess, I sympathize witht heir curiosity - even if they CAN frustrate when working in opposition."

"They are a bit 'secrets for me, not for thee' at times" Siv says "Gerd likes them. Thinks they're fascinating blah blah"

"Aye. And they would find MY secrets!"

"Well, that's just rude of them" Siv says sympathetically

"Exactly." Huff.

"Sluagh secrets are for troll friends to slowly coax out with patience and quiet fondness" Siv nods "Not pushy Eiluned"

"Sluagh secrets are for sluagh, Siv."

"Spoilsport" Siv says but doesn't argue that one then a smile "Fine. Your secrets aren't my business. But I'm a Fiona, and I just wanted to help you and Earl patch things up. So yes, I did what I could to help. And I still think you're secretly glad I did."

"I may forgive you."

"What? you're not going to one day name a beloved daughter after me? " A fiona pout, that sort they think is endearing and often is, but one doesn't have to let them know that

Eyebrow. "No."

"A shame, Siv would make a great middle name" Siv says but the pout vanishes

"That is quite some time from now."

"Oh true" A nod "Years of good adventure left in us BOTH eyt thank you very much" She says

"I am certainly not interested in children right now."

"Miriam was my age, when she had me. Too young, nu?"

"oh" Sympathy "yes, far too young. " A nod

"Mind you, I'm glad you were born. I'd miss my friend" A smile

"You would not miss what you did not know, aye?"

"Though you might be birthdayless..."

"Aye, there's THAT" A nod "Geez that was surreal." But a fond smile "now that was a crazy adventure"

"Twas."

"Now, when the museum reopens... oh, Gerd would also enjoy that exhibit..."

"What exhibit?" Siv says thinking it over "Oh the weird murder pottery thing?"

"Staffordshire ceramics, aye!" A quiet sparkle. "They had a Red Barn set!"

"I'm missing something on how awesome this is I suspect" Siv says "This is a big deal? I was kind of wining things. I knew one inspired Dickens to write and figured being a library sort you'd like it. So what's the red barn set about?"

"Oh, they commemorate a murder most foul!"

A brow but she listens