#earthrunes

The girl looks up from her book "Oh. I'm sorry, if you and a friend are about to have tea I can go"

"Well, that remains to be seen. Would you care for some refreshment? I do seem to have extra."

"oh, well, that's very kind, I'm Gail Liddel"

"You may call me Zara. I am the Librarian."

"Nice to meet you, Miss Zara." She curtseys, then asks "Oh, it's your book I've borrowed then. Would you like it returned.? I have read it numerous times. "

"No, you have signed it out. I trust you know how to take care of a borrowed book, nu?"

"Yes,'m" She nods and moves to the small corner table "I do like tea."

"I fear it does not do any tricks." Zara pours the girl a cup.

"Oh, tea is trickier than some know"

"Aye?" She mutely holds up the sugar bowl, asking Gail's preference via eyebrow lift.

the girl says "Ah, bit of cream, probably more sugar than I should have " A blush She IS just a kid

Zara adds THREE lumps, and the fresh cream.

"Perfect, thank you, Miss Zara"

"You are welcome, Miss Liddel." Zara's own cream is... lumpy...

The childling says "If.. I might ask an impertient question?"

"You may. It is the duty of childlings to ask such."

"The tea is welcome but do you always have tea with every visiting childling?"

"I do not."

"Curiosier and Curiouser" She mutters, then says "Then to what do I owe the honor?"

"Celebrity and curiosity, I would think." She sips.

"Celebrity? AH..." A blush "of course. You would know the connection"

Zara nods.

"I could ask why - but then, I imagine an familiar friend is a comfort in a new place." Of course books are friends.

"Yes, I wonder what our family founder would have done if she knew"

"Oh?"

"Oh yes , it's... let's just say Alice Lidell was more than merely the inspirationn for CS Lewis stories. And because of him, and her time in the dreaming, we... tennd to breed true... and the curse continues"

"Curse?"

"I've said too much" the little girl frowns, the weight of the world on her for one so young

Zara sips. "The Jabberwock?"

"Oh I have the vorpal blade for that, but I am hunted by it ... until I won't be" A frown

"And that is... why?"

"Forgive me, Miss Zara, but I don't know you, and while there have been sluagh in the family, you aren't..well, you're not family. "

Zara shrugs. "I am not. I asked as a courtesy."

"A courttesy?" She looks baffled "I know what courtesy is, of course and would not deny you show it, but in this context I'm no sure I grasp?"

"Ah. So, you have a secret curse, and a storied family history. I am certain it is fascinating."

"And I, child, am sluagh."

"Ah," She frowns

"I mean no insult. I understand, I am a stranger."

"Not everyonne believees sluagh have a right to snoop" A sulky pout "But yes. Well, let's jus say you won't find any wilder or Grump Lidel Kithain"

"That.... is an unkindness."

"We are cursed, you see? The same thing that powers our blood to draw fae souls means we sputter out before the togail. Always we come as childrenn.. and then?" She shakes her head "Fortunately we have kinian who know, who grow up and warn us."

"Feh. And Susan deserved better, too."

"Ah, the Pevensies... and, of course I'm named for Dorothy who may have been a relation.. Gail instead of Gale"

"But much of the family history is a muddle" She sips "Did that answer your question, Miss Zara?"

"It posed more, Miss Liddel. But yes."

"Lovely tea"

And tea they have, with Zara wondering about the Liddel Curse