#earthrunes

Earl might be reminded of the grey-clad novice nurse, lovingly tending to the wounded Earl of Buhcanon in one particular Downton Abbey fic....

Earl smiles at that "Yet you fuss at me when I need healing" a reminder

"Well, yes."

"I see... don't worry, eventually I'll get sick with the flu of some sort again, no injury, but hapless and helpless and ..pretty darn useless"

"Oh, how awful... aye... you would be trapped in bed..."

"And too weak to enjoy it" a sip "But let's try to beat the odds and stay healthy for your college years. "

"Sounds a plan."

"This..." he sips tea and looks around "is nice. I mean, it's not just the library, or just the tea, it's.. us. Able to unwind, plan, joke...whatever we want. I... I like this" he admits

She leans against him and nods. "Me too."

"Oh, fall is going to be so lovely."

"it is" he says stroking her hair without even thinking about it really

"The leaves will turn to the colors of embers. The wind will gain just a hint of teeth. "

She smiles, letting her eyes close as his deft hands trail along her tangled locks. "Nights grow long, full of shadows and storiesss."

"And the wind gains a voice, and it croons to the moon, and the moon cuts through a sky clear of the summer heat, growing crisper..."

"The horsemen ride, great swirling shadows given life..."

"And the beasts of field and wood slip out to begin a time of feeding to be all the more ready for a lean winter. It's a harvest of sorts....old as the world. "

"Old as the world... almost as old as us, aye?"

"yes, almost as old as us..." he nuzzles

She nuzzles back, content, and for the moment - timeless.

(End Scene)