Video | Both Courts

[bythewaves]

[ When the video starts it is to a burst of laughter and calls for 'More!' - this is a tavern, somewhere in Cothromach, perhaps, considering the number of dwarves visible.

There is a minstrel seated by the fire, silver harp in his lap, and he swigs back a drink that has obviously just been passed to him in reward for his last song to roars of approval. The silver eight-rayed-star on his cloak may be familiar, although his features are curiously a little blurred, as if hard to hold on to in the flickering light. But his voice now - his voice is probably very familiar to some. ]

Well now good sirs, another is it? And what would you have of me? Joy or sorrow, war or peace?

Sing us something to get us laughing, boyo!

[ He bows in thought and then smiles ]

Ah, then, this one perhaps might suit, considering recent events eh?

[ And he launches into a rolling rollicking tune with a very familiar subject ]

Oh the world will talk of a ruddy fox
Across all time and space
And not because / o’ his fearsome claws
Or punch-attracting face

The monarchs try / to win their war
and finally take the day
But that damn fox / with all his plots
keeps trying to get his way

As popular as a mangy rat
He’s sure he’s so much better than that
Reynard, that phony king in Eachdraaaidh
A pox on that / phony king in Eachdraaaidh

Grabbin’ at a throne / to call his own
Pretendin’ he’s the king
[stage whispered:](We’d rather shove him / in a box)
(and out a fairy ring)

He throws an / angry tantrum
if he cannot have his way
Moans o’er his shard / ‘cause life’s so hard
then allies does betray

He’d like to think that he’s the first
but we all know he’s just the worst
A pox on that / phony king in Eachdraaaidh


He kidnaps all / our dearest friends
And robs us from our beds
but mark, we’ll yet / collect that debt
and crush that fucker dead

We’ll party hard / and party long
when that damned fox is gone
but until then / through mount and glen
we’ll sing this catchy song

So sing it loud and sing it long
Let nobody forget this song!

The scurvy’d, fleabit phony king in Eachdraidh

The snivellin’ grovellin’ / measly weasely
blabberin’ jabberin’; /gibbering jabberin’
blunderin’ plottin’ / wheelin’ dealin’

Reynard! That phony king in Eachdraaaidh


[ ooc: with thanks to Waver-mun & Kaldur-mun, who wrote this. And yes, Mags is going tavern to tavern and singing this ]

Comments

[bythewaves]

Not particularly. [ Maglor shrugs ] I suppose I have a fondness for the songs of my childhood, but that is merely nostalgia speaking. I enjoy the tunes of many folk and many subjects, and would be hard pressed to choose a favourite. What of you?

[steeledskin]

As a child, I loved the songs about knights and heroes. Beautiful love stories. [ but now she knows they are all of them lies. ] Of late, I find more enjoyment in hymns. And in the ballads of my home-lands, in the far North of Westeros.

[bythewaves]

[ He flashes a bright smile at her ]

Ah, you make it easy for me, for tales of knights and heroes and love stories I know, and hymns as well, although none of your world, obviously. Although I suppose the difference between my tales and yours is that oftentimes I know or knew the players, eh? The tales I know best are those of my own kinfolk, after all. I would love to hear the ballads of your home, as well!

[steeledskin]

They are cold tales -- [ she warns him, but with a smile. ] Like the words of my family: Winter is Coming. The North is a wintery place. But I would gladly share them all the same.

[bythewaves]

Cold or warm, they are your tales, eh? And that makes them worth the hearing.

[ He laughs softly at her words ] Ai, but you must not let young Master Jack hear you say those words - or rather, perhaps you should. In his own world he is the bringer of winter, the spirit whose coming heralds it as well as its shepherd and guide. I think he would be most pleased to hear that in one world, at least, his coming is part of the tales of the world.

And I will tell you mine - an exchange of tales, hm? The best sort of currency.

[steeledskin]

Jack of the Frost? [ she brightens. ] I know him. Knew him. He was here the day I arrived -- and showed me such wondrous enchantments. I have not spoken with him since his...return.

[bythewaves]

Ah! You have met! [ Maglor smiles and nods ] I am sure he would be glad to speak to you. He seems, I think, to have been very lonely in his own world, which is a pity indeed. My elder brother is fond of him, and I can see why - he shines very brightly - a kind and loyal heart.

[steeledskin]

-- You have an elder brother in these lands?

[bythewaves]

I do. [ Maglor's eyes are fond ]

Maedhros is his name - you may see him on the lockets, but I suspect you will hear his voice before you see his face. But he is unmistakable - tall and with our mother's red hair and eyes that burn still with silver fire.

[steeledskin]

-- Does he not like to show himself?

[ she can understand it. she used to be more careful upon that front. ]

[bythewaves]

[ The briefest of pauses and Maglor picks his words carefully - he likes what he sees of Sansa and has no wish to lie to her, but this touches on private, family business, so in the end he keeps it simple ]

He prefers not to, yes. [ he shrugs ] He prefers to let me do most of the talking - perhaps he will change his mind with time.

[steeledskin]

[ she is not so naive as to not hear the quiet rumble of discretion that runs through the sentence. indeed, she might not have asked at all except she had thought the topic was safe territory given how it had been introduced. and now her cheeks flush with embarrassment because (as delicately as it had been handled) she cannot help but feel the rebuke.

she changes the topic quite swiftly: ] I have brothers within this very city. Two. And a sister.

[bythewaves]

[ Maedhros is just oversensitive, not that Maglor will ever tell his brother that ]

[ He smiles brightly at her and accepts the tacit apology, giving her one of his own in his answer ]

Two! And a sister as well - fortunate you are, Lady Keeper. I have six brothers, all told - one elder and five younger, although only Maedhros is here. [ Celegorm, of course, was also, but is no longer, and Maglor aches still for his loss ]

It is always good to have family near.

[steeledskin]

Six! [ she smiles. she isn't surprised. large families are not uncommon in her lands. instead, she expresses a vicarious delight -- a happiness and a love for countless siblings, as though she does indeed count maglor fortunate to have so many. ] I have two other brothers who have not joined us in these lands. There are six of us in total.

[ five starks; one snow. ]

[bythewaves]

Ah! So we have something in common then. [ He smiles back at her, acknowledging the shared bond of the joy and frustration of a large family ]

And four of them here! They must bring you a good deal of comfort.

[steeledskin]

Much comfort is found, yes. I have my little brother Bran, and I have my sister Arya. [ a beat. ] Jon Snow is here, as well.

[ the odd one out. ]

[bythewaves]

Two girls - fortunate is your family! I always did want a sister, but fate seemed to have other plans [ He confesses ] Ah well - I love my brothers all the same.

[ he tips his head a little at the phrasing ] Forgive me for asking but... he is your brother but his name is different?

[steeledskin]

[ here is one thing that is simpler in westeros: say the name 'snow' and all understand the quiet implication being made about a child's birth. sansa must tread carefully. ]

Jon is my half-brother. Though I love him with my full heart.

[bythewaves]

Ahh... [ A nod - his uncles are technically only his HALF uncles, so meet one of the few elves who is very familiar with half-siblings as a concept, although his are all illegitimate ]

That is good - tis always difficult when a sibling is not of full blood. [ considering Feanor and Fingolfin and drawn swords ahahahahasob ]

But I am glad to hear that you all get along. Forgive me for prying.

[ The noise and bustle of the market around them means at least the conversation would be quiet? ]

[steeledskin]

[ she fills her lungs. ]

You are not prying. I promise. My Lord Father acknowledges Jon as his natural-born son or else he would never carry the name Snow. Such names are telling features in my land. Snow; Waters; Flowers; Hill; Stone.

[ alayne stone was once a shardbearer here, before she shed the name and became this prim lady beside him today. ]

I MEANT TO TYPE LEGITIMATE I AM SO SORRY FINGOLFIN & FINARFIN

[bythewaves]

I confess that such names are a little strange to me! We Eldar do not use ... I believe Master House called them 'surnames' - to identify each other. [ It helps that it is very, very rare to have an Elf with the same name as another ]

You take them after features in the lands you live in? [ For so it seems to him - he likes them, they are all very natural sounding - snow, water, flower ]

[steeledskin]

[ sansa nods, approving of the elf's quick logic. ] The North is cold. The Vale is mountainous. They are Snow and Stone respectively.

[bythewaves]

A good way to do it, I think! [ Maglor nods. ] A quick way to tell where one is from. Perhaps Men shall do the same in my world, one day.

[ Not the Eldar, he thinks, who are always so slow to change ]

[steeledskin]

A gentle way of putting it, Master Bard. But mayhaps it's not how we see things in Westeros. The natural sons and daughters may not always think the same. I am not certain Jon always appreciates his.

[bythewaves]

It can be... difficult. When there are such divisions.

[ Enough to draw sword on your half-brother snorts Caranthir ]

I hope your family remembers that in the end, blood will tell. [ I will follow you promised Nolofinwe, all those years ago, and indeed he did, although Feanor left him behind. Across ice and grief and snow, to blood and tears, and eventually, to death in fire as well ]