Video/Action if you're by the lake

[bythewaves]

[ He's drawn to water, he always has been, and it's no different here. This world is strange, and although it is joyful to see again the dead, it is very strange, too, and he retreats, away from the bustle of his family, down to the water's edge with his harp, to try and get his balance back.

(He has to be well. Maedhros and Curufin will worry, if he's not. Elrond too. He can't let them see)

Anyone who walks past will hear it, although they might not realise that it is a harp, at first, but the song ripples, moonlight on the water, the stars clear above, the emotion carried through on clear notes that seem to blend into the sounds of the world around them despite there being no stars or moon, here. And then the voice, deep as the rolling sea, full of heartrending sorrow, but climbing to defiant hope.

Sometime during the performance the phone flips on, bumped, maybe, to reveal Maglor crouched over his harp, singing.

Pay attention, and the song will tell you a story, even if you don't know the language he sings in - war and blood and tears and light-against-the-dark. ]

Comments

text; oh god i'm sorry

[ghostlocked]

yo enya sorry to interrupt ur serene harp times but whered u get that?
the harp.
im in the market for a guitar.

looooooooool audio because he doesn't get text yet

[bythewaves]

My apologies, but I fear I do not know this Enya that you confuse me with. But this? This my father made for me, long ago.

[ghostlocked]

yeah dw abt it. she sings shit kinda like what uve got goin on.
so the harp came here w. u?
damn.
wish i had my guitar. as a fellow musician tho do u kno if theres like a music store around here or somethin?
havent quite got the lay of the land yet.

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor is squinting so hard at this text like ????????? ]

I... forgive me, but the text is not very clear, I fear I do not really understand most of what you said there.

And I am sadly very new here, so I do not know what there is around. I ... could ask if my brother and my nephew know how to make a guitar?

[ghostlocked]

[sorry my dude he uses proper english for no man.]

o yeah? same here. i came in w. all those steampunk crab things a few days back.
and whats there to not understand? wtb guitar.
hmm. do that and keep me in the loop but im gonna scope out my options before i resort to some homemade thing.
no offense.

Private

[utulien_aure]

Congratulations; you've just volunteered for the cultural exchange program some of the others have been trying to arrange.

[Not that Fingon hadn't been planning to bring Maglor along anyway, of course.]

I don't believe I recognize this song. Is it one of your own?

Private

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor yelps, startled, the song shattering around him ]

Fingon? Where.... what... [ He stares around for a moment before blinking at the phone ]

Oh I... did I disturb you? Sorry...

[ he nods ]

Mm. I... probably I suppose I've been writing it since Alqualonde. I just... never finished it.

Private

[utulien_aure]

[Choking back a laugh] If anything, it sounds like I disturbed you. Your phone must have turned on while you were playing.

[Pausing.]

Ah. I should have guessed.

Are you all right?

Private

[bythewaves]

I'll try to put it somewhere else, next time. [ He says awkwardly ] I'm ... not used to it, I suppose.

[ He hesitates ]

I'm ... better? [ He hazards ]

Private

[utulien_aure]

Trust me, Kano, no one is going to object to hearing you play. But if you need some time alone, that's a different matter.

There's something. [Though Maglor's standards for "better" seem to be pretty low these days.]

Is there anything I can do to help?

video

[am_i_a_monster]

That was a sad song.

Are you okay?

video

[bythewaves]

[ He blinks and looks down at the phone ]

Ah... forgive me, milady. I did not mean to disturb you. I... do well enough, I suppose.

video

[am_i_a_monster]

You didn't bother me. Was that a butt dial?

video

[bythewaves]

'Butt dial'? [ He puzzles over the words briefly ] Oh! No, I'm not sure how it turned on. I must have knocked it off the rock beside me, I think.

video

[am_i_a_monster]

Not the worst time for it to happen. I liked your harp playing.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaction~

[loveathousandyearsgone]

[Maglor is faaar too predictable. Elrond claims a seat beside him without immediately speaking, only giving the other elf the Look whenever Maglor looks at him.

Then nudges him gently.]

You do not need to be alright. You have many reasons not to be.

<3

[bythewaves]

[ HE IS N.... okay maybe he is a bit.

He blinks at Elrond and shrugs awkwardly ]

I... I am alright?

[loveathousandyearsgone]

I do not need to be placated as I was as a child. [He speaks mildly, gently even.] Though I love you no less for trying to be alright despite the pain I see you in.

[bythewaves]

[ He flushes, ducking shyly ]

Ever the healer. I... do not want to worry people.

[loveathousandyearsgone]

[He leans in to press a fond kiss to Maglor's cheek.]

Let me worry about you? It would make me feel better.

(Video)

[handofsilver]

(Someone else will worry as well. He keeps his distance, leaning his back against a tree as he listens. He is little more than a shadow with silver eyes, as quiet and still as moonlight. But the song effects him and he draws a shuddering breath, wrapping his arms around himself.

They all have blood and tears overflowing.)

(Video)

[bythewaves]

[ Sssh no, he's out here SO THAT you don't worry stop worrying its okay


They will call the Noldolante his greatest work, although Maglor isn't so sure of that himself. But it is the work that he has never been able to complete, until now.

He sings it all and does not spare himself, the joy, the grief, the hope and despair, the loss of all that their hands had touched.

(But not quite everything. The best parts are still the best parts, and some of them lived)

He doesn't even notice Celebrimbor there, and he plays until his hands bleed. ]

(Video) -> (Action)

[handofsilver]

(The blood has him moving and the video darkens to pitch black as he ends the feed. Then he is closing the distance between them - having known where Maglor sat - and gently he comes to kneel beside him, a hand hovering over those precious fingers.)

Stop, Uncle. Your hands will thank you.

(Action)

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor surfaces from the song at the hands on his, blinking up at Celebrimbor confusedly, hands falling still ]

Tyelpe? What are you doing here?

(Action)

[handofsilver]

(He takes out a bandage from his pack and quickly, skillfully wraps up Maglor's hands.)

Seeing to a Master Bard's ailing hands.