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[rowancrowned]

FORM: Sending Crystal
SENDER: Thranduil
RECIPIENT: Anyone with a Crystal
WHAT: Thranduil tells a very elfy bedtime story for the benefit of any and all. Mostly all.
WHEN: Evening of Solace 10
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: ELF STORY TIME: BY ELVES, FOR ELVES (AND OTHERS)

It seems that there has been a bit of cultural exchange occurring lately. I would not have it said I did not do my part, so I offer the Inquisition a story. It is true—I was young when Beren came to our halls, but I vow that I speak only truth, if prettied to make it more appealing to all sorts of ears.

And if I stumble during the telling, I ask for forgiveness, for I know the Lay best in Sindarin, which so few speak here.

[ he settles into a more melodic tone of voice, one that rises and falls as he works through the story in an unhurried pace: ]

A king there was in days of old:
ere Men yet walked upon the mould
his power was reared in caverns' shade,
his hand was over glen and glade.
Of leaves his crown, his mantle green,
his silver lances long and keen;
the starlight in his shield was caught,
ere moon was made or sun was wrought.

[ for nearly two hours thranduil speaks for the benefit of all who care to listen. recalling from memory, he speaks of thingol and melian, of lúthien, with a fierce fondness that hints at a connection deeper than historical. of beren, he is less fond, clips the verses. he tells of their meeting, of thingol's reluctance to allow the marriage, of an impossible bride-price held by the deceiver. of trying, and failing, and the lovers succeeding once they came together. of the mortal fear of death, and the triumph over it.

the sun, hovering above the horizon when he starts, is set and skyhold's ramparts crowned with stars when he finishes. the heroes return to thingol and melian with the silmaril, healed the king, and looked to the queen: ]

His daughter returned to his halls,
his grief lifted, she was absolved.
When King turned to his Queen,
expecting joy at what they had seen,
Melian had naught to say,
knew where her daughter's Doom did lay.
She turned her back to Luthien,
and spoke no more of her again.

[ however unsatisfying the ending is to listeners, he ends it there. very faintly off to the side, there's the rasp of a glass against the wood as thranduil pauses to drink and recover his voice. the noise breaks the illusion he's spun so carefully, and sounds begin to filter in. crickets from the garden, a whuffle or two from bill the pony.

his voice rasps, a bit, when he speaks, despite best efforts. ]

Goodnight, Skyhold. May we all dream well.

Comments

crystal

[ombranera]

[ It makes for fine listening for a short while, but then Lucci fusses and Zevran has to tend to him. He turns on the crystal some time later to find Thranduil continuing and again- excellent background chatter for both himself and his son. It even helps them both doze for half an hour before, yet again, fussing. Teeth are such difficult things for an infant.

To find that it has continued for this long- Zevran balances a sniffling babe in one arm and crystal in the other once it winds down to a finish. ]

Fascinating tale, my friend. Truly worth taking the time to tell for all to hear.

[rowancrowned]

Do I detect sarcasm, my friend? [ if he does, thranduil doesn't seem to mind. they are going to orlais. he has greater concerns, though he would prefer to be on zevran's good side- little birds still have sharp beaks.

the straw mattress crunches as he shifts. ]

How does your son fare?

[ombranera]

A bit, perhaps. Honestly I was going to lead in to some manner of innuendo regarding your stamina but it seems a little odd to be doing so with an infant in my arms.

[ Tact, apparently, is a thing. Who knew? ]

Well enough, he is sleeping longer in the nights for the most part.

[justice_is_blond]

Mm. You've a... [he breaks off into a long yawn] You've quite the voice for storytelling. I should hire you next time I need to fall asleep; I wish I didn't have matters I was working on. But forgive me, I'm left with a question. You said all of this is true... but how can a crown be made of leaves before the sun's made? Are these special non-sun-needing leaves?

[rowancrowned]

[ he'll take that as a compliment. ]

Before the sun rose, the stars were enough. Those that could not survive without the sun slumbered, alongside the beasts that needed the light.

[justice_is_blond]

So your Maker made things in two shifts? Did he say why?

[eolasemah]

[Refraining from comment out of respect, Sina pauses her writing to rest her head back against the chair where she sits in the library. By the time he's finished, she is curled tightly and sleeping there, fully relaxed and dreaming not endlessly of that empty beach in the Fade, but of Thranduil's story. It's a welcome respite.]

crystal

[universal_charm]

_{[ His voice had been a pleasant cadence in the background as he works on lesson plans for the different students he has to meet their individual needs. It was a bit harder than he thought to teach this sort of thing than he had thought. Thranduil's tale was a nice counter point to his work, and he does filter out portions of it as his attention focus. He comes around when he can sense Thranduil winding down, listening to the last lines intently. ]}

Shakespeare would be jealous.

[rowancrowned]

[ what's a shakespeare, kirk? ]

I have known many fair minstrels. Theirs is the real talent. But I am pleased you enjoyed the lay.

[universal_charm]

_{[ Some playwright everyone things is so great, but let's be honest - he's most famous for a play about two teenagers being stupid. ]}

It made for nice background music while I worked. Though I didn't think that anyone could rightfully compose and memorize a song several hours long.

[fledglingenchanter]

[Sadira was never one to fall asleep during her lectures in the circle, but his melodic voice was oddly soothing and more than once she found herself drifting off-- a rare feat given her difficulty in sleeping at night. When the melodic speaking finally ends, the slight rasp of his farewell stirs her mind enough from drowsing, she lightly fumbles for the Sending Crystal.]

Thank you for that.

[rowancrowned]

You are quite welcome, lady...?

[fledglingenchanter]

You need not address me as such, as I'm not noble born, but Sadira will suffice, messere. Might I have your name in return?

[ancarrow]

[Eirlys listens with rapt attention, glad that she's saved the more mundane tasks of chopping and preparing herbs for this afternoon so she can listen uninterrupted and not feel guilty about it.]

That was truly beautiful, Ser. I'm honoured you chose to share it with us.

[rowancrowned]

I am honored that you enjoyed listening. It has been many years since I last recited, and I feared I would forget a verse.

May I ask your name, my lady?

[ancarrow]

Eirlys Ancarrow, of Gwaren. I work in the healing tents. It was wonderful, hearing stories of elves, even from another world.

[samahl]

[While others might complain about the length, Cyril easily falls into listening to it, once it's over.]

That was lovely.

Do you have many stories like these?

[rowancrowned]

[ a dalish accent is hard to forget, he knows that voice. warmly: ]

I am gladdened. I have many- for many years, we did not have writing, and so sang our histories, our knowledge.

What sort of tales do you like best?

[samahl]

This might sound strange...

But do you have tales about men who love men? Or is that sort of thing frowned upon in your world?

crystal.

[nonsibi]

[Bellamy listens to the whole thing, more interested than he'd let on; too engaged in the story to fall asleep. The ending is unsatisfying, but that's not his first comment.]

What made you tell that one?

[rowancrowned]

It is the shortest.

[ in reality: he knows what is coming in orlais, and thinks it prudent. ]

And I chanced that it had a variety of themes, enough to please.

[apostafuckyou]

That was nice.

[Despite the faint praise, his voice still sounds a little dreamy, like he hasn't woken up from the story yet.]

Sorry, I mean...I'm glad you shared that. Thank you. [Raylan only came in a ways through, but he got the jist.]

[rowancrowned]

I am happy to share the histories of my people.

[ neatly demure- perhaps because he has seen so many pride demons, perhaps because he knows how to play nice once in awhile. ]

May I know whom I speak with?

[iknowlove]

[ It's finally, at the end of it, the sound of the glass on the wood that wakes her. That and more comes flooding in a moment later, the usual sounds of nighttime filtering to her, and a quiet sigh is the first sound before she speaks. ]

I'm afraid I missed most of that tale, but... it was refreshing to listen to. Thank you for sharing it.

i am so sorry, i never got the notif for this!

[rowancrowned]

You are quite welcome. May I know who enjoyed my story?