#earthrunes

The cake was delicious, each side of it, though earl blushed at the implications of lock and key on some levels. "Either tthis Fiona place is getting to me, or it's gotten to Delores"

"Oh, I know it has gotten to me. Alas."

"Well, not entirely alas" He says as he eats another bit of his part of the cake "Tastes delicious." A pause "I have ah.. something for you.. uhm.. you might want to wear later tonigght"

Zara pinks. "Aye?"

He offers up a .. ah somewhat cllinking chiming package in a dark velvet bag "I might not have been so bold had someone admired craft work."

"I fear mine is less exciting..." She retrieves a box, and offers it in exchange.

He takes it "Ah, but probably less selfish " A wink "Toggether?" At seeing what's inside

"Together." She opens hers!

And he opeens his

Out of hers slides one of Kylie's work, much like the one Coradel seized fast, but of less bright metal and... in a spider web pattern, and definitely more for Zara's slimmer build

Inside is a titanium band, set with a center stripe of amythests.

"Oh zara" He says excittedly

"I fear I may impose too much of mine style upon thee... but, well.."

"You do carry it so well."

And he blushes "I shall find it's match for thee" He says a bit guilty "I thought the Spider web chain.. ah, you hinted at an admiration for Kylie's work but that you wanted to avoid a shanda"

Zara is pink again, but smiling.

"Well, this is for a private display, nu?" She leans over to kiss his cheek. "I am thine." Repeating it from before, enjoying the sound of it.

"Very private" He says "I should , in a jealous rage, likely flash any else who saw thee into some place horrible, a blazing desert, a frozen mountain... a mall in Christmas time. "

a wink at that last

A soft chuff.

He has slipped the ring on, and assures her "A perfect fit"

"Good. For thou art mine," Satisfied gloat.

And the raven sings again, a coincidence? May haps not

"Forever and gladly" And he pulls her to him and kisses her "I am thine, thou art mine, and we are each others" He kisses her again. his ardor stirred by oath and the passions of the moment

"Mayhaps I should lock the door?"

"Aye ah.. "" A blush "Vashti is..." he looks around, only to see that Vashti has indeed slipped out. Pookas may prank but manners are important to moths

"I had planned to take the basket down to my River... but it is snowy..."

"Mmm well, love then... " A look "Ladies, I would ask a favor of thee?"

And the spiders scurry out, not just to give space and true privacy... but to surrounnd the door knob should any try to enter the library!

And what follows, well... is private.

(Fade to even MORE flowers)

--------

In the aftermath, Zara is back in her white dress, though her hair is more tousled. She sends a text to her family, with one of Vashti's photos - Zara and Earl gazing into each others' eyes, under the lace awning (chuppah!) and framed by books and flowers. (Miriam, told you it was perfect)

Clem also gets copies, and in at least one shot, Earl's ring might be seen if one looks

It is this last that may cause a backlash on a BIG Scale

As Zara gets a Text from Clem

TXT: You two got HITCHED????

TXT: No. Oathed!

TXT: That's what I said, HITCHED!

TXT: 😛

TXT: I want to know all about it! How, when? I know WHY! Where do we send the gifts? When do we visit?

Zara makes a face at her phone.

"See, this is why we kept it officially secret."

Earl looks over "What's .. oh"

"Gifts?"

"I'm surprised they haven't mentioned the after oathing banquet"

TXT: And when do you want us to throw the banquet?

TXT: I don't want to cause any big fuss

"...Banquet?"

"Yeah, I'm sure they'll make it kosher... but ah...yeah." he says "We take Oaths of true hearts as.. uhm.. like marriages"