Amusement cracks through the neutrality of his expression at this assurance.

Across her knee, Ruadh is luxuriating in the attention. This too is a kind of comedy, as it must always be when such a fearsome creature is so plainly disarmed.

"I've something for you," he tells her, very serious.

It is such a foregone conclusion. Of course there is something for her. Ellis had seen to it months ago, without any consideration of whether Wysteria would be present on the holiday itself. Before the nightmares had worsened, or he'd acquired a new scar, or been unbalanced so completely in an elven temple, he had set something aside.

"I'd meant to pass it along in the morning."

This too, very solemnly. If there is humor in the idea that he would make her wait, Ellis is careful to banish it from his expression.