#elsewhere

Earl takes a breath and lays out the dark purple gift shaped like a heart.

Earl has been finding notes all day. Lilac and slate blue and silver-gray paper, folded into swans and tiny bats...

"Mark but this flea, and mark in this,   
How little that which thou deniest me is;   
It sucked me first, and now sucks thee,
And in this flea our two bloods mingled be"

A smile at that.

ANother - "Though he had wont to search with glazed eyes,
As though he came to kill a cockatrice,
Though he have oft sworn, that he would remove
Thy beauty’s beauty, and food of our love,
Hope of his goods, if I with thee were seen,
Yet close and secret, as our souls, we have been."

Quite a BIT of John Donne, to be honest...

"Now I'm almost feeling I didn't contribute enough in my gift" He says

He gathers each as a treasure, and looks about for his lady.

Zara is home from classes, setting out candles.

"John Donne," he smiles

"Aye. He understands."

"And here I was ready to go with the old stand by, Lord Byron"

He aids in putting things just so, but knows to let her lead.

And besides, he watches her as she moves "I remember first seeing you...the way you moved caught me even then. No strut or stomp for you, you flow, you drift... shadows stretching with no sun needed"

A purr. "Byron is also wonderful."

"I remember you, too - so shy, in Clementine's wake."

"And I remember the first time a truly saw thee... the truth of thee..."

A smile, "I'll recite his she walks in beauty to you later, you're the first one who made it make sense for me." At her mention of him "The truth of me... you saw it before I did. "

"Sluagh have keen eyes. But I did not need them, no - not when I saw you painting. Remember you, the moonlight and the fiddle? The garden..."

"The music , yes, who knew I would find the greatest warmth under the press of eyes of autumn."

"Warmth and cold. My touch is ever ice, nu?"

"Your touch maybe cold yet somehow it never fails to heat me in respond. You stir my own embers to flame, dark river , and you've been doing the wondrous ever since."

He looks at her "I remember you on the wingback, book in your hand, hunched over it, like you were feasting on the words. I never wanted to be a living sonnet more than that moment."

"Thou art a sonnet. As harmonious and deep and captivating as any..."

"Careful, or we may not make it to the tea, and I definitely want you to open my gift" Indeed, he's not joking, his eyes are alight with a growing hunger.

"Oh! Gift!" A tiny clap, gleeful greed.

He offers the large heart in purple paper, it has a weight to it, not too heavy.

"Ooo..." She tests it, and tries to guess...

Jewelry? It doesnt' have movable parts, but the feel is right

"Mm.." She unwraps with care.

And the dark crown of spiders glistens in the candle light.

"What? How?"

"I had help, but when you said how the spiders were sworn to the crown not the EIluned, I figure she didn't need it anymore" A smile, "It's got a ward on it, crafted by Uncle Emmit, to protect the treasure from scrying"

"Ah... oh, this.... this, I cannot top, my Love."

"Feh" he smiles and takes her hand, "Like I said. I had help. I cheated. Do you like it? If you don't it's okay."

"It is wonderful." She stretches up to kiss him.

He bends down to meet her for that kiss.

"I rather planned to feed thee and send thee to sleep... not my most creative gift..."

"Are you kidding? The poems, the candle, and thee? "

"Aye. Though am I not always thine?"

"And that is why there can be no contest, should be none, for you gave yourself to me, a gift.. and in your embrace, I am richer than a king, I am more blessed than a prophet. I am greater than a titan. No, love such as that can not come at a price, for it is priceless."

She snakes her arms around him. "See? My Sonnet."

And another kiss... the candles might melt a bit if he isn't reminded

Zara, however, does melt... in his arms, that is.

Well, tea not like she can't see in the dark later and help him with same... later.. much much... later.

And meanwhile, thirteen spiders gather about 1122, their hero, their rescuer!

(End Scene)