#debukefarmhold

And takes her hand

He does not squeeze hard, but it is clear he's drawing strength from her support

"I mean, did she know you knew." A whisper, for him.

"Yes."

"DeVere and she.. talked about it. She was... so guilty seeming" He explains "Hated herself so much it was hard for me to hate her"

A frown. "Aye."

"Yeah, I realize now that my father and my dad... well, Herb isn't a bad guy... but he wasn't a , you know, dad. DeVere was the best dad he could be, but he could never be my father. And mom... mom was merely human, and who isn't? At least a little?"

"It... it's hard, when family isn't quite what you hope them to be."

"Compared to your challenges, I have no right to whine" He says, another squeeze "Sorry"

"I.. no!"

"No, I wasn't trying to.. I.. I was trying to empathize..."

"I know" He says and smiles "I didn't think you were fussing at me.. far from it I just.. realized how much you help me be strong. Your example"

"I have a great gallant giant to lean on."

"hah" he says softly a,nd then comes to his parents cabin, and he knocks softly.

The door opens, and Eloise peeks out "Earl. You're back" She nods to Zara "Zara...you're well?"

"Lady Eloise." A bow.

"Just Eloise, please. Come in, come in" She opens the door "We've been wanting to talk to you"

Earl guides Zara in

Zara does a good job of fading into the background - there to support Earl, not to draw attention.

"I became.. a troll" DeVere says as if embarrassed, "Naturally I lost all sense of the sublime and much subtlety. I fear I sought out a ..setting honor straight" He sighs

"Some of us DO survive it, dad" Earl says, but then realizes "oh you tried to talk to.. oh that's how it got started"

A soft sigh. Trolls.

DeVere hears the sigh and looks rightly chastised. Yes. he was blue, and he was weak

"It got started a long time ago," Eloise says "But oh goodness, my manners. Please, both of you sit down, and have tea. We'll relate it word for word as best we can"

"Tea would be lovely, thank you."

Eloise pours an excellent cup it turns out. Using china that is.. oh, she's even using the china with the slightest signs of age and use.. a hairline crack on this cup, a chip msising from that. It's a tea set that is both lovely, and yet has history. One suspects she has learned how to prepare Tea for Deverse long ago

Zara murmurs her thanks, mannerly.

And they relate what happened, DeVere explains word for word how it happened "I can only thank Mountain Emmit for taking advantage of my temporary non sluaghness to fuddle me and slow me down, long enough for Chief Sylvi to negotiatte things"

Eloise tries to be gentler on Herb's side... but there's no hiding some things "and I lost my temper when he..ah.. said some negative things about someone I care for"

A sniff!

"He insulted you , my son, and she slapped him" DeVere says "Forgive my bluntness but it needs must be said"

"DeVere" She fusses at him blushing

"it surprised us all, even your mother" the sluagh grump says

"I cannot condemn it." Sip.

"Well, I was ..very angry" She looks at Earl "I'm sorry, Earl. I should have fought harder for you years ago"

"Ma," he says "It's okay. It's.. what happened then?"

And they tell the rest of the story, how Sylvi interceded and had them open up to ideas of new chances. And Zara MIGHT suspect a bit of a spring magic involved

"And what do the two of you intend? To marry?"

"I would love nothing better but ah.. so soon after her divorce might be seen to be......" DeVere says and looks to his beloved

"A shanda, aye."

The kinian woman says "And it might out Earl too soon as a..."

"Not a DeBuke" Earl says, finding it ironic

"I'm so sorry, Earl. I mean, we should have resolved this one way or naother, but we don't have to tell anyone that you were not Herb's son. "

That from his mother

Zara frowns.

DeVere says "now that I am myself again I can bear the secret, Earl. A light weight if it saves you trouble"

Earl frowns too and looks to Zara

"As if family is naught but blood. As if Earl as not fought and bled and suffered for the farm."

"Aye" A nod "This Earl has earned ten times over" DeVere says proudly "And , Ido not think Clem would deny him"

"He has bound himself to its defense with more than blood." Little chin jut.