#earthrunes

(After a prize is claimed, zara may reach for her clothes only to find a box with Earl's hand writing on a note and a bow)

the note says: To my shining moon on dark waters, if this is only half as elegant as you are, it will be transcendent upon you. Love always, your hunter Earl

The dress within is dark, rich, and oh so proper! And in a hatbox, a hat! So fancy!

Many kisses for Earl, and a hat donned.

Quite jaunty.

"You look amazing" He smiles between kisses

"Oh, the hat has a very small secret fold." he shows , "See right inside? It's not big enough to hide much but,well, it's the principle isn't it?"

A sluaghish grin. "...Aye..."

The library door opens and shuts, the tread of boots on the floor.....

Zara quiets, listening....

He pauses and looks. He cannot see in the dim as well as she

Someone is roaming the stacks methodically, searching.

He is suddenly glad his pants are on, and makes sure his shirt is as well

"August?"

The footsteps hurry, and sure enough, August himself rounds the corner. His expression glows briefly, happy, then he tamps it down. "Hi! Hello. Hello, Zara. Hi, Earl."

She shyly fades back a step, closer to the troll. "Merry Yule."

Is glad his hair isn't too mused and looks like quite the gent, "Merry Yule, August. Did they catch the Tauntauns?"

"Merry Yule." he nods "Yes, they did. Three of them, in fact, and I think one will be gifted, one traded, and one kept."

"Aye? How wonderful."

"Good , I know Oswald was excited."

"He did very well. It's good to see you. Both of you."

"The thane? who knew..." She tucks her bangs behind her ear, then nervously fusses with her braid. "I have your Yule gift..."

"I... I trust you got the Hanukkah ones..."

"I did! I loved them. Thank you."

"I sent you some Hanukkah gifts too." Worried.

"I got them in the mail at the last minute, though, did... did you get them?"

Earl smiles and fights the urge to play with Zara's braid.

She nods. "...Aye..."

Fidgets, then she scuttles off to get her bag. "I've your gift."

A small package, light and flat... she holds it out to the sidhe.

He steps forward and takes it, glancing from her to the package and back again. "Thank you. Ah. Merry Yule."

"I have one for you, too."

"Ah. Aye."

earl reaches for his coat in the corner

"I, ah, I put it here, just in case.... " He goes to the drawer that's 'his' in the librarian's desk. ".... so, ah, here...." He offers it to her, a gift wrapped box "Merry Yule. Earl, for you...." He offers a second package.

She takes the package, murmuring a soft thanks.

"thanks, August. I have one for you."

Earl exchanges packages with August

Earl received a set of brushes and a gift certificate from an art supply house. Zara, a mug that seems to have book titles on it, but they are all blacked out.

A puzzled look at the mug as she turns it in her hands. August's gift is a framed print, yellowed and brittle but still legible. "The Lamb" by William Blake.

"Zara, this is wonderful. Exquisite. Thank you." Sincerely, admiring the gift.

"I couldn't find a whole book, and this is a leaf from the second printing, not the first...."

"But the poem made me think of you."

"That's what makes it wonderful." Softly, looking at her.

"Open the gift August gave you, Zara. I'll go next"

"...Aye..."

Careful unwrapping - Zara always strives to take the paper off intact...

As she puzzles at the mug, August explains "When you put a warm drink in it, the titles are revealed. Books that have been banned."

"Ah!" delight!

A shining smile at her delight.