#dreaming

Earl bows

The lady turns, "Ah, you I know," She says to Zara, "I might not have, but you made it so. You borrowed one of my names. I am pleased it suits"

She tilts her head, eyes widening a touch.

Earl mutters "Persephone" eyes wide

"So I have been called" the being says "But then, like some, I have more than one name. Speak, dear lady. Here, you will find the winds lend even your voice enough power to be heard. I will it so so they do."

A smile, and an apologetic/thankful gesture.

"I am pleased to have brought joy and not wroth in the borrowing, Lady."

"One who cannot lose cannot learn" she says with a shrug "Even if I had lost the name entirely, I would have learned from it. Why comes thou, Little Persephone?"

"To see. To learn. For wonder."

"Few seek me out these days, Autumn is a court no more. " She says "But you are wise to seek what fills you. " A nod then a look to Earl "And you?"

"I would see her happy" Earl says

Mmm the woman says. But does not speak on that

"But it was once a court, aye?"

"And... there are arts..." a curl of shadow.

"Aye, and you know of them. Is that why you have come, to learn that art? I thought I had released it into the world again so it might not be needful to come to me to learn" Autumn says

She shakes her head.

"I have learned some, and may learn more... but.. the Court? The rumours of that are true?"

Earl raises a brow, and Zara can guess his look ..this being 'released' the art? that.. speaks of odd dynamics for the Dreaming, unless it is a boast

"Once, four courts there were, " She nods "One for Each Season. But Holly Tyrant and Oak King are vain lords, it's amazing they agreed to split the wheel at all..."

A sniff.

"Even yet, barely. Winter rarely holds more than a day."

"Aye , perhaps the greatest of their crimes was they actually made me sorry for Spring" Faint look of dignified disgust then "Oh, Winter has gained.I watch the world. The return of the winterhouses...a lopsides balance to be sure but not all blame falls on Summer"

She nods. "Aye, and I am glad of it. But..."

"But.. it sits not well with you" She says

"Neither feels like home."

"Betwixt and Between does not quite cover does it, as if... even mixing their codes does not quite fit, but rather is a patchwork that no matter the stitching is off"

Zara nods, emphatically.

"You cannot escape your winter and summer sides... that bargain is set. And I would not break the world anew even for a devoted supplicant" She says then whispers low that zara barely hears 'Not yet"

"But I.. I would wish to know of what was. Is Spring a lady, too?"

"Oh, we wear many forms.. Winter Queen or Holly Tyrant? Call Winter what you will.... and I have been Hunter as well as Hunted... I have played witch as well as wizard. Lord or Lady. But perhaps you find me this way because you expect me to be. There is something of every season either side of the sexes. "

"Ah." A consideration and a nod.

"I have been been a crone, oddly liberating" SHe ponders

"A worthy role, respected."

"So few see that" She agrees and the autumn leaves about her whirl like a floating crown

'So many blind."

"Ah, and so alike... in their difference. The Seelie would be honorable, for they shudder at having any see them as not so. And the Unseelie quaver at the idea of restraint. Oh how alike they are"

Zara nods.

Earl does not quite understand, but he is used to that

"Tell me of your self, little persephone"

"I..." Blink.

"I am a witch. And a Librarian."

"Why?" Curious tilt

"Witches walk where they will. And Librarians know what they wish. I bend no knee, I do not swear to Summer or Winter or any elven crown."

"Oh you maybe one of my daughters indeed," She says pleased. "Spring dances with Summer and flirts with winter... I? I am defeated, but I am not beholden."

"Then that is not defeat."

"Oh, child, you must accept loss if you wish to understand Autumn fully" a pause 'There there are old sayings about battles not wars"

"You live, aye?"

"I do," Persephone Major says to Minor

"So. That is a victory, too."

"Had I continued the war then, spring too, it would have been Pyrrhic . Perhaps survival is my victory" A shrug "Perhaps not. Our time begins to dwindle, Little Persephone .... you have hungry eyes still. How may I fill you?"