[ open ]

[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

[apostafuckyou]

The circle in Ferelden. [And then a hidey-hole in the Hinterlands for awhile, but no one needs to know about that.] You're one of them comin' outta the rifts, then?

[rowancrowned]

[ he knows where that is, one for him, good job. ]

I am. I am from a world we call 'Arda'.

[apostafuckyou]

I see. Is it very different from here?

sorry about the access thing, sorry, icon hovering

[rowancrowned]

Extremely. [ and he will always speak fondly of his home. ]

And I cannot be quite sure how much of the differences are from your Veil, and how many are more ... natural.

[apostafuckyou]

How do you mean? You're saying the Veil changed you?

[rowancrowned]

[ ignoring that question shh. ]

Elves occupy a... different position in the order of things.

[apostafuckyou]

I see.

[That's a surprisingly large amount for Raylan to process.]