#earthrunes

"I could look in the book again, see what others are spoken of."

"I am... well, hesitant, about direct destruction."

"I suppose I could bring it to Emmitt. But..." She frowns.

"But you want to do this yourself" He nods "I know my lady, she is, rightly proud. And... this is your quest, am I guessing right?" Not mocking or judging in tone

Sigh. Nod.

"Then perhaps this is an avenue that might, well, even if it doesn't bear fruit, it will narrow down options?"

he strokes her hair lightly about her ear as he talks. Liberties taken. Paramour adored.

"I know, there are very few wilder Namers. But I wish to know it now."

A smile escapes him despite his best efforts.

"I should, mayhaps, have studied more practical arts. I could, were I Clementine, smote the chain with a Holly Strike."

"Or melt it to slag with Pyretics. Or freeze it and shatter it like a teacup."

"There are times I suspect you find that..crude"

"Well..."

"I do, atimes, envy your arts."

"Or Clementine's. I know only the barest trace of Primal. And no Wayfare. I would, if I could, know them all."

"Maybe you will. " He nods "Of course, you're not going to try to learn a new one now I suspect. You'd blame that for not mastering naming"

"Had I not learned to Veil..."

"True"

"Fear not," he runs fingers along her side lightly, "As the years take you, as you wither and wizen in time, you will grow more and more powerful, no doubt you will be a hag witch most feared, a namer, a soothsayer, who takes elder forms like raven and spider.. who whisks herself across the world with a thought." A whisper in her ear "For now, you will have to deal with limitations in your sleek youthful form- oh such a curse it is whatever could we do with it?"

She sighs. "I love thee."

And she nuzzles his neck. "I would Oath thee. Mayhaps it would be ravens we find, and not songbirds. Or mayhaps the Sparrow, which guides souls in death..."

"And I love thee" He nuzzles back, then she speaks further and, surprise and delight fills him, "Why not a bat ? let folks protest it's not what's supposed to appear?" he searches her eyes "Do you mean it?"

She tangles her fingers with his and nods.

"I have been thinking about it for some time."

"I have never wanted to Oath before."

His fingers and hers interlock, she can feel his excitement and hope even as he tries to keep his features with dignified reserve "I would never insist of it, never demand. you've given me so much"

"No, I want to."

"It doesn't feel like a trap. I feared a trap - oaths were always thus. I thing to cage me, to hold me, to control me..."

"I do not fear losing you if we did not... I would not entrap thee, nay, I believe the Oath may be released if both are willing..."

"You want to," Oh he almost glows "I want to as well. And I would never use it to control you. never"

"It... it feels like a way to shout my love." She pinks.

"I mayn't shout. But I wish to proclaim this."

"To the cobweb filled rooftops" A soft squeeze

"Aye."

"I..when? Where? " He says

She leans against his chest, studying their intertwined hands. "I thought, perhaps, during Carnival. Twas Carnival when I realize you were the one I chose, after all."

A blush "So it was."

"You may not have known that... it was a difficult day, in many ways. Many things happened. And even then, I still almost drove you away completely."

"Thank the Dreaming that didnt occur. Oh I was so insecure then. A harsh word from you could be a spear point "

"I did not even know what I wanted."

"But now? Now it is simpler. Magic, a library, and thee."

"My art, you believed in it when... when so few did. You became my muse then, I seized you for such purpose like a drunkard finding a wine barrel" He confesses "I was afraid I'd scare you away"

"Well.. that terrible phone call..."

"I was afraid."

"I had pined and swooned for one who did not see me. And I had danced back and forth with one who would have changed me."

"But you saw me, and did not wish to change me, and desired me, as myself."

"How could I not?" He says "Zara, you.. you were so...are so perfect. Seemingly frail but with a core of strength, a mask of reserve but passion lighting up your eyes, so clever, so insightful, and yet eager to drink in ever more knowledge. A slender girl who was a glutton for knowing. How could I not see you and be fascinated? And the more i learned, the more I loved"

Pink again.

"See? My poet. My Poet, my Hunter, my Artist, my Warrior..."

"In thee, I have all the lovers I could want. Thou hast as many faces as the moon."