#earthrunes

"Why, if everyone rushed off and joined Fiona, who would appreciate proper shivers and blood curdling moments of refined terror? A whole source of spine tingling dreams swiped left on? Not on your watch" A touch dramatic but supportive

"Precisely." Huff!

"Well, I'm pretty sure you can count on Gerd and Sylvi to stay out of houses..they shall likely go wide eyed, and may happens even gasp in fear like proper young lades, and though I know your ears are delicate, a proper 1950s scream of horror might yet be in one"

"Oh, I can bear the decibels of a proper scream."

"Lost art, am I right? I mean, I've seen the old movies, true scream queens, professionals, who knew the value of showmanship and giving abject terror it's due. Most actresses in today's movies just..curse. Now I'd do the same I admit, but still, where is the respect for the pyschological plunge their characters are supposed to be undergoing?"

"Ah, the world today..."

"Now, I've been told by some that some of the best scream queens actually had a touch of sluagh blood in them, kinian you know? they iddn't have to whisper, and while soft spoken, when it was time to face a terror on the silver screen, they opened up and gave an aria of a fear realized to honor their fae kin. Sometimes family makes you proud, no?"

Her eyes sparkle. "They do!"

"Gerd loves that stuff" Siv says

"Me? I addmit, I want the girl to draw her sword or musket and take the monster out" Sheepish

"Often the Screamer is also the Last Girl... have you not noticed thus?"

"Mmm you know, I hadn't," Siv says "I may have to ask Aunt Kerri for a look at her collection"

"They survive, and move forward in the world... less innocent, aye, but stronger."

"If they began as fearless, where would the triumph be?"

"IS this another pitch to persuade me away from Fiona?" A slight grin

"Mayhaps?"

"In truth, no."

"Fair," She says "I've been scared, trust you me, and I'm not wanting to join Fiona to be fearless...I'm hoping to join it because I like the cut of their jib and I feel I'm already walking the Lion's path"

"Fair enough...."

"You know, I did consider a house, once."

"But.. no. I would be free."

"Trolls are never free, nto really" Siv says thoughtfully "And when we are, we don't stay that way. I don't mean we have to have someone give us orders, but we have to bind ourselves to something greater. Probably why the sidhe were so surprised when we didn't all bend knee when they returned. They forget that causes come in more forms than Lords"

"We don't seem them as chains though it's... just we feel the connections more than most" Siv says "Mother and da might disagree"

"I... I fear I would resent an Oath, that it would become a cage."

"Earl hasn't pushed you has he?" Brows narrow

"He has not. I..." She purses her lips. "He would, I know, swear in a second if I wished."

"And sometimes, I fear that he might think I love him less..."

"Nonsense" Siv says "I've met Earl less than ten times and each time he spoke about two things.. art... and you... and when he spoke of you he talks about how you believed in him when no one did."

"He loves you fierce, but even a fool can see he knows you love him just as fierce"

Mmph

"Oh, he just needed the right audience... and he has found others who see his gifts."

"Aye, but let us talk more on this idea that you might love him less? You've gone on missions for him. Gone to parties for him, crowded ones, you've stood toe to toe with folks that would belittle him. He sees this, knows it. Hell, maybe you've rubbed off him a bit, but for his sake you get pretty darn trollish"

"Well, I love him..." That spills out, and she blushes. A sip of tea. "Pardon."

"Never apologize for love, for devotion to your heart, and for the strength it brings you even when you fear you show your weakness." Siv says ...then a smile escapes, "Boom. You've just been Fionaed"

A raspy chuff, Siv might recognized her not-laugh.

Jennifer stirs slightly

"Oh, poor dear," Siv says "I think she's waking up. I better get her back to Bergen. Do you want me to tell you how it goes?"

"Please!"

"then I will" Siv smiles "Good to have a friend around here to visit on top of things."

"Did.. I just fall asleep in my own tears?" Jennifer looks embarrassed.

"A good cry is tiring" Siv assures her, "No shame in that"

“Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts." Bronte reassures.

"O Bronte," Jennifer gives the dragonling a soft but firm hug "If you had a twin sister, I'd try to lure her to live at my house. I'd make a whole wall of my room a library for you"

Siv looks at Zara, "Careful , Raven. Your Bookwyrm might start a bidding war for her services"

Bronte trills.

"Oh, she might. Glutton that she is..."

Jennifer says "oh no I'd never try to split up a winning team, but.. it was very nice meeting you both and I do wish I had a bookwyrm in my life"

"You never know. There are others... while I raised Bronte from egg, I know some have itchy feet and wander the world."

JEnnifer nods, seeming to get an idea, "First, Elegan gets his , then..maybe"

Siv nods "Let's go, nice meeting you again,Raven. "