Accidental Video | Seelie & Unseelie | sometime during a break in worm fighting

[bythewaves]

[ The locket comes alive with a voice - deep and wild as the sea, it sings a lament in a language that seems made for music. The songs starts partway, and it is obvious perhaps that the singer is not aware that he is being recorded. There is the flash of one of the Unseelie imps, before it vanishes offscreen to reveal the singer - a man, or something like one, dark haired and grey eyed, with his face turned up to the stars.

To any who listen, the words of the song will paint themselves in the mind - white ships and blood on the sand, a tall and proud people with bright banners beneath a new-born sun, fire and blood and tears unimaginable, and three brilliant jewels that rival the stars ]

Comments

[rapunzelf]

Yet the reminder does not seem to bring you joy.

It is a shame that one such as you should have become accustomed to having no audience, for is not music a gift which is sweeter when shared?

[She has a lot of feelings about songs.]

[bythewaves]

It brings little joy, but some things ought not be forgotten.

It might have been so, once.

[rapunzelf]

If it ought not be forgotten, why do you only sing for yourself? For something fit to remember yourself would, I expect, be valued by others as well.

Why is it not so any longer?

[bythewaves]

I have had little cause for joy in music of late, and those who once might have heard me are gone from me.

[ Beleg wishes for him to stay away, but Maglor wonders how he is to extract himself without seeming discourteous ]

[rapunzelf]

That is a great shame, for there is joy to be found even in the most sorrowful songs, for those who wish to find it.

Even should all be gone, it is clear that they are not here.

[bythewaves]

Perhaps there is, for others - but I cannot see it for myself.

[ Maglor shifts uncomfortably - well. What is one more shame to add to his list, after all. ]

Lady, it is perhaps not wise for you to hold discourse with me.

[rapunzelf]

Then I expect you're not looking properly, or are going about it the wrong way from the start. For even your song held a cold beauty, and there is a revelry in that.

[But then... oh. Her face falls a little at that.]

Why should it be unwise?

[bythewaves]

Maybe so.

[ Ah, he winces a little ]

I am of your opposing court, Lady. And... your Lord Father has little love for us.

[rapunzelf]

[Her head comes up proudly at that, and something fierce kindles in her eyes.]

My father is not here, and I do not have cause to share all of his views. Nor do I see what his judgements or opinions should have to do with you, for as far as I know he does not know you.

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor shakes his head a little ]

But he does, Lady, and you have likely heard of us as well, for Maglor Feanorion I am.

[rapunzelf]

[She doesn't react as much to that as he's probably expecting. Or at all, really. She doesn't seem to care.]

Heard, perhaps, but I know but little - as, I imagine, does Father.

[bythewaves]

[ the lack of expected reaction produces confusion on his part ]

Lady, your Lord Father has banned me and mine, and even forbidden the use of our mother-tongue.

[rapunzelf]

[This gives her some pause.]

I would think I would have heard of anything so monumental as that. If nothing else, Father does tend to tell us of his commands and edicts, so that they may be known and obeyed.

[Not that she always necessarily does, but it's typically not ignorance. And that's a pretty big thing.]

[bythewaves]

[ ... this makes no sense unless...]

Then... as strange as it sounds Lady, it seems that you must be from a time before such an edict is issued, for I assure you that it was.

[rapunzelf]

[There's another pause, and then she huffs a little in annoyance.]

Then you are another whose experiences outstrip my own. It appears I am surrounded by them.

[bythewaves]

I would apologise but twas not my doing - our hosts, it seems, have a strange sense of humor. In any case Lady, your Lord Father will issue such a decree, and it will be for good reason.

[rapunzelf]

No, I would not blame you.

If my Father will do as much, I imagine it will be for good reason. He is not accustomed to giving such commands lightly.

[bythewaves]

[ the smile is small and bitter ]

He will, and many will agree that it was wise. Will you not heed that decree and release me?

[rapunzelf]

[Her mouth sets into a small, stubborn line.]

As far as I can see, I would not be ignoring it. You are not in Doriath, nor am I, nor are we speaking in any tongue of yours.

[bythewaves]

[ Beleg help she's not listening.... ]

While this is true, it remains that your Lord Father thought my kin and I accursed and dangerous - and he was proven right, in the end.

[rapunzelf]

[Yeah it's not working]

You will forgive me if a lovely musician who sings songs of regret to remind himself of past sorrow does not strike me as particularly dangerous.

[Lu, no, this is where you are wrong.]

[bythewaves]

[ fine, let's put it nice and clear ]

But I am, Lady, for whose story did you think my song was of? Three times now I have struck down my people, and my hands are stained with the blood of kin. That I now regret my actions changes not the fact that I committed them full-knowing.

[rapunzelf]

[There's a pause at that - her eyes flicker with more pain than surprise, as it was something she had guessed, for all that she would have wished otherwise. The fact that these were his kin does invoke something of horror, but she had guessed that he had been singing of himself, for all that she would have wished it was a tale.

Still.]

And yet not all those who are dangerous are indeed dangerous to all.

[There's a pause, and when she speaks she seems somehow smaller.]

This is why?

[bythewaves]

[ just as soft, just as sad, but equally stubborn ]

It is. That our hosts have elected to place me on your opposing side suggests that your father was right.

[rapunzelf]

But is there a strict system to it? We are to fight a war, or so they wish, but as we have been brought here for the shards we are told we bear, would it not make a kind of sense that either side would bring all those they could find? It may only have been chance that I am where I am, and you are where you are. For I cannot believe that any action, no matter how great or terrible, can be the whole of what any person can be judged for.