memory. open to both courts.

[orcsurfing]

[ All around is white, snow whips across the picture along with long strands of pale golden hair. A pace or two away a couple figures stand huddled together, pressed against a wall of a mountain. Two tall men, four hobbits whose heads barely stand above the surface of the snow, A DWARF* that stands a little taller yet still, and a greying man dressed in greys in a pointed hat. The image, oddly enough, shows them from somehow above all. ]

If Gandalf would go before us with a bright flame, he might melt a path for you.

[ For some, perhaps a familiar voice, for others perhaps not. Light of heart and little troubled by the storm. The man in the pointed hat answers him. ]

If Elves could fly over mountains, they might fetch the Sun to save us.

[ But no matter the wizard and elf exchanging jabs at each other, there are still Men with ideas here. One speaks: ]

Well, when heads are at a loss bodies must severe, as we say in my country. The strongest of us must seek a way. See! Though all is now snow-clad, our path, as we came up, turned about that shoulder or rock down yonder. It was there that the snow first began to burden us. If we could reach that point, maybe it would prove easier beyond. It is no more than a furlong off, I guess.

[ Another - the tallest - answers him: ]

Then let us force a path thither, you and I!

[ And for a moment there it seems that would be the end of the conversation, the camera - so to speak - follows the toiling men, the way they work through the snow with great trouble yet also with some success. Yet not before long, Legolas speaks up again, his voice rising easily in the noise of the snow storm. ]

The strongest must seek a way, say you? But I say: let a ploughman plough, but choose an otter for swimming, and for running light over grass and leaf, or over snow - an Elf!

[ With that said, he springs forth nimbly. The camera briefly showing his feet on the snow, sinking but only a little, leaving little imprints in the cover of snow. And he runs light and easy. ]

Farewell! I go to find the Sun!

[ He says with a last look to Gandalf first, then to the toiling men, Aragorn and Boromir. For them, he has a wave of a hand, before he speeds off. ]

( ooc; paraphrased book excerpt, sassing off to a maia, have at! visual aid, I mean what. *blanche is a loser kill me now I FORGOT GIMLI )

Comments

video;

[boutant]

[ Aaaand there's a giggle. ]

Did you find it?

video;

[orcsurfing]

[ Ah, people with a sense of humour! He certainly enjoys such. ]

I have found it, but alas! She had more important matters on her lovely head at the time, so I only brought them hope and good tidings for our predicament.

video;

[boutant]

[ The best kind. ]

Sometimes that's all you need. Of course, that looked like a lot of snow.

[orcsurfing]

[ Exactly. He grins, brushing aside a short strand of hair that falls out of a small braid running over his forehead and into his eyes. ]

It was, not a distressing matter to an elf, a mere nuisance if you will, yet my companions were not as lucky as myself. An avalanche caught us, a foul will did not wish us to cross the mountain, [ The memories of that time are a mixed thing. The darkness of Moria still haunted him at times and the sight of a Balrog. ] but we succeeded what they wished to stop nonetheless.

[boutant]

If they survived the avalanche, I'd say they were plenty lucky.

[ too much snow ]

But I'm glad you were able to succeed, whether the sun was able to come back with you or not.

[orcsurfing]

[ He nods in agreement, indeed, luck... was plenty on their side on that day and many following. Luck and sacrifice of so many. ]

Thank you. It was... most peculiar to have my thoughts lead to this, on this morn. Memories bittersweet, yet I would never trade them.

[boutant]

I'd say the weirder part is that it was shared.

[orcsurfing]

That, of course, is a given. [ And his smile may have a hint of sadness to it, recalling Hermione's memory that was shown to all without her having a say in the matter... ] Who or what plucks those of our minds... how do the lockets show them? This sort of magic Art is beyond me, I am afraid.

[boutant]

I'm not sure. It doesn't seem like there's an obvious pattern to the memories or the people they belong to, but I also don't know most of them.

[ Oh! Which reminds her- ]

I'm Ariadne, by the way.

[orcsurfing]

Well met, Ariadne. I am Legolas, son of Thranduil.

[ He bows his head in a greeting. ]

They seem to expose people's great suffering and pain, moments important and profound, though not for all. [ Well, himself for one, and he can't be any more grateful that whoever it is has not plucked the memory of Celegorm to show all. ] The sky itself has returned to normal right as the memories began showing on the lockets. I would have thought the disturbance responsible were it not for this.

[boutant]

[ Oh. Her expression flickers for a moment -- pain, almost, because she knows what has been done to him at the hands of someone she calls a friend. But she shakes it away, offers him another smile. ]

I should have guessed. You look alike.

[ But talking about the sky sparks her curiosity more. ]

I wonder... did you keep the star?

[orcsurfing]

[ Legolas cocks an eyebrow when her expression changes, but says nothing. You look alike says enough, she spoke with Thranduil, she knew. He doesn't let it show whether or not it makes him uncomfortable, his smile still in place. ]

I assume you have spoken with my father. We have been told we look like brothers more so than a father and son.

[ Much to great amusement of his dad, which in turn amuses Legolas until it gets to teasing. Either way, he nods at the question. A confirmation. ]

It needed me and my trust in the monarchs is wavering.

[boutant]

I have. I'd say that's probably true, too- [ she laughs a little, shaking her head ] but considering I've never seen an elf who looks old enough to be anyone's father, I think you have an unfair advantage.

[ All joking, of course; there's no reason for her to hold an ill-will toward elves because they're basically immortal. ]

I wonder if that has something to do with it.

[orcsurfing]

Not I, more so my father has that advantage!

[ But he is laughing lightly, just a little, not at all serious in any of what he's saying about himself and Thranduil.

Yet then he cocks his head with interest and curiosity. The star, much like many other things he finds important to keep close, is on his person now and he's tuned into it at all times, carefully so, with great care and affection (it's a star). ]

The star is still asleep, but it now seems peaceful.

[ Curious, he hasn't noticed the moment when simple lack of consciousness due to grave exhaustion turned into restful sleep. ]

[boutant]

Perhaps if you ever have your own children.

[ Aw, little elves. That's an adorable mental image.

Tucking some hair behind an ear, Ariadne leans forward to look at the star as Legolas examines it. ]

I don't know enough about living stars or memories or magic, I'm afraid.

[orcsurfing]

[ Ah, kids... Legolas knows perfectly well that his father would love to have grandchildren, that he'd love to marry him off at long last. Or at least for Legolas to show interest in someone appropriate, yet... well, here he is. Not a single person on his mind. ]

My father would quite agree with the wording of if, I think he had lost all hope of ever having grandchildren.

[ His own thoughts on the matter, he keeps to himself. ]

What I know is not from this world, and it is little anyway, so I cannot be of much help either. But they rest peacefully now, so that is something to cherish.

[boutant]

[ Sensing that she may have stumbled across something a bit delicate, Ariadne offers: ]

I'm sure my mother hopes for some herself. If it happens, then it happens, I guess. It's not a priority for me.

[ She shrugs. ]

That's definitely something.

[orcsurfing]

[ Not quite as sensitive as it could seem! It's a subject of teasing between him and his father by now and Legolas offers an understanding smile now. ]

Likewise! If you are content with your life why change it by force, yes?

[ He cocks his head curiously. ]

Have you saved a star as well?

[boutant]

Exactly. Besides, I have no idea what I'd do with a kid at this point in my life.

[ Figure it out, if she had to, but she'd rather not have to. ]

I put it with the others, when I was asked. I thought- well, I thought if it were me, I might want to be with others I knew.

[ She bites her lower lip, just once. ]

I hope it was the right choice for that star.

[orcsurfing]

Wise approach. The little ones cannot be brought to this world in times of war and turbulences.

[ 3elves, though, only ever having kids in times of long, long peace. ]

We have no certainty. I have none either, but it shines today despite all, beautiful and resting peacefully. So I too have hope, and nothing else, that I made the right choice. Perhaps we will know one day.

[boutant]

No, they have to bring the turbulence.

[ But she's laughing as she says it. ]

When it wakes, send it my best wishes?

[orcsurfing]

[ Oh now that makes Legolas laugh in turn. ]

And what intense turbulence they do bring! 'tis always both inevitable and undeniable!

[ Yes, he still perfectly remembers how he was as an elfling and the frustration he caused his father. ]

I will pass them on, when it does.

[boutant]

It's good to know that, at least, seems to be the same across universes.

[ Ariadne was the kid who colored on the walls. All of them. ]

[orcsurfing]

Across universes and peoples. To my best knowledge? Dwarven children can be as much troublemakers, and hobbits as well.

[ While Legolas climbed everything and especially all that he really shouldn't. ]

[boutant]

And don't forget animals. Nothing is more suspicious than a quiet puppy. Or, in my case, bandersnatch.