(third lemon cake) voice ✧ open to both courts

[steeledskin]

( VOICE: OPEN TO BOTH COURTS )

Fellow [ ... ] shardholders. Seven blessings upon you all.

[ sansa is back in caer glaem, but there is no visual recording to accompany this address. (perhaps foolishly) she believes she may be somewhat protected from joffrey's attention. she would avoid an address altogether, but she feels there are those in the opposing court who ought to be quietly warned against the evil presence in their midst. trouble is, she doesn't know their names. and so here is a quiet attempt to draw out some of those people she'd spoken with at the very outset of using these lockets. ]

These lands are impressive. I have spent the larger part of two turns of this moon travelling them. Their roads are hard, perhaps, but I find myself oddly...pleased that I made any progress at all. [ there is a quiet (and honest) reverence in her voice. improvement and daring is not a thing she expects of herself, and so the mere understanding that she can now build a fire or ride a horse for days? it kindles something in her heart. a spark of pride. ] Seelie. Unseelie. Both territories boast beautiful landscapes -- I should like to see them painted, perhaps. Are there any artists in either court? Painters? Sculptors? [ ... ] Have we any musicians? These kingdoms must have their own songs. I would fain learn them.

From what played at the first feast, I imagine fairy music must always be a delight.

[ a protracted conversations, perhaps. but she hopes to catch the ear of wary allies and would-be friends. and as for her public behaviour? ah, well. she will be alayne stone a little longer. she is not ready to reclaim herself in one headlong rush. small steps and little leaps must be made. ]

(ooc: this post comes on the evening of june 27th. if your character is in caer glaem and is more apt to find here somewhere around the castle, go ahead and hit me with an action thread instead. i'm good with it. )

Comments

it's cool!

[steeledskin]

And yet you use them to learn good things. It's admirable.

[inafadingcrown]

If it is admirable, you would find a great many of the Eldar to be so; it is hardly unusual.

[steeledskin]

Is that a difference between elves and all the rest of us, my lady? Are elves less...[ evil. ] Corruptible?

[inafadingcrown]

[-ah. That gets a slightly sad little smile] There are some among my kind who would claim so. But this view is both dangerous and misguided, I think. Our history provides examples enough of Elven corruption.

[steeledskin]

I would hear stories of the elves -- if you had the time to tell them. Happier stories, however.

[ not the ones about corruption. ]

[inafadingcrown]

[She gives a thoughtful little hum] Has Thranduil spoken to you of Doriath? Or of Thingol and Melian?

[steeledskin]

He has not. Will you, my lady?

[inafadingcrown]

I will, and gladly.

Doriath was the fairest Elven realm East of the Sea, while it lasted, and Thingol and Melian were its king and queen. Melian was a Maia- a spirit, if you will. The Valar are the powers of our world, children of the thoughts of Eru, the one, and the Maiar are like unto them, but lesser in power. Thingol, however, was an elf.

In the early days of our history, the elves lived in Middle Earth, under the stars, for the sun and moon were not yet in existance. After a time, however, the Valar learned of our presence and they were eager to meet these strange new being which had been foretold to them. And they wished also to protect us from the dangers that were then present in Middle Earth. But the elves had seen little of the Valar and they feared them, so they would not go. In the end, three brothers were chosen to go with the Valar to see the Undying Lands for themselves and report back to their kindred. Thingol- or Elwë, as he was then known- was one of these.

They left and returned and they did, indeed, begin to lead their people West. But before Elwë reached the harbors which would take him and his people to their new homes, a curious thing happened.

He came upon Melian in the forests of Nan Elmoth. Their eyes met and an enchantment fell upon them. Centuries passed and Elwë's folk looked for him high and lo, but still they stood. In time, some of Elwë's people moved on without him, accepting his brother Olwë as their king. Others lingered. And it was these who finally found Elwë when he and Melian left the forest together. Elwë had grown tall, taller than any elf that has lived before or since, and his hair had turned a stunning silver.

They were wed and together they built the kingdom of Doriath- protected it with their might, ruled it with their wisdom. [There's something distinctly nostalgic in her tone there.] They were quite extraordinary.