hadriel | Video/Action if you're by the lake

[ 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. ]

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[Fingon will just go be sad in an empty palace in Nevrast. And then sing all of Turgon's least favorite songs, because he can.]

I could entirely believe Artanis could defeat Moringotto herself. But to be honest, I would be worried about what she set her eyes on when she was finished.

It is always halfway to chaos around here, isn't it? Still, we've managed so far. And I'm glad he and Celebrimbor are doing well.

[Liking Curufin again is a very strange feeling, though not a bad one.

Fingon gives him an amused, knowing look and speeds up to match. Come on, Maglor, he can follow that easily enough.]

They survived? That is good to hear. Your brothers knew something of their leaders [And his face falls slightly at that, thinking of Hurin] but they were less clear about what happened to the rest of the Edain. Are they well?

[Fingon gives him a slightly bewildered look, half people actually want to live like that, and half are you calling me some kind of public menace, which should confirm Maglor's suspicions of how he'd view the Shire.]

How did you come to know them, then?

[ .......Making him feel guilty is cheating ]

Knowing her, the whole world would have been too small! I am glad she married Celeborn, he seems to have been very good for her in general.

[ Maglor lifts an eyebrow back and transposes the song into an entirely different key in answer ]

They did, and they thrived, for a while! After the Valar came and finally overthrew Morgoth, they were given an Island, off the western coast. Numenor, they called it. One of Earendil's twin sons chose mortality, and he became their first king, Elros Tar-Minyatur. They became a very great nation, but in the end they grew overproud and listened too closely to Sauron, and they fell. Out of the ruin only a few survived - five greatships worth of refugees, plus those who weren't on Numenor at all when the great wave came and reclaimed the island for the sea. They are the Dunedain, now, and after a long struggle their star is again on the rise, and will hopefully remain so for a while! They built great kingdoms and fell to near ruin, but the day is come at last, with Sauron finally overthrown.

[ He laughs at the look on Fingon's face ]

Oh Finno! I may have been a wanderer, but even I occasionally get tired of self-flagellation and missed a warm bed and a bath. And there are no finer inns on either side of the sea than Hobbit inns - and most of the publicans are quite happy to house a minstrel, for a week or so! One goodwife decided that I was too thin, and all but demanded I stay with them so she could feed me properly. I worked at the Golden Perch for a year, I think.

[Yes. And?]

And does our Artanis know you've been watching closely enough to have opinions on her marriage?

[Ok, a bit trickier, but he can follow that still.]

Sauron's work again? [Sighing heavily] It sounds as though for all their valor the armies of Aman did a shallow job of cleaning up behind them. But at least their fate does not end in darkness. Are you in the mood to tell the whole tale now, or should I pester you for it another time?

[Hush, Maglor this isn't funny.]

I am glad that someone was feeding you, at least. Even in Tirion I wasn't always sure you were, when you caught up in some new work.

Do I dare ask what exactly these lovely and sensible people did to my poor bit of nonsense?

[ And CHEATING!!!! ]

Uh... [ That's a No, although of course, this being Galadriel, chances are good she is, at least, aware of her not-actually-dead stalker of her cousin ]

Yes, unfortunately. [ Maglor seizes on the subject change eagerly ] He was ever cunning, and he knew exactly how to flatter and manipulate. Eonwe let him go, at the end of the War of Wrath, after he sued for pardon. I believe the Valar thought him reformed - but they were sadly mistaken. [ There's a hint of derision there, Maglor hadn't thought he had reformed, nor had any of the other Elves, or... well, anyone who'd been actively fighting him ] He tricked their last king into trying to invade Valinor to seize immortality. I can elaborate further, if you like, but all the details I obtained second or third hand, as I did not stay long in Numenor after Elros died.

[ It is totally funny ]

Why, they turned it into a drinking song, of course!

[What's your point?]

I don't envy you explaining yourself if she shows up here. [True. Which means the fact that she hasn't sent out soldiers after him is...probably a good sign?]

You'd think the Valar would have learned something after having Morgoth lie to their faces for as long as he did. [Groaning. And then he pales-Maglor can probably see the moment the realization really sinks in.]

And they punished the king by drowning the kingdom? What- the whole country could hardly have had Sauron whispering in their ears, what were they thinking?

[Nope no subconscious projection here at all why do you ask?

And no it isn't.]

Well, so off from it's original, I suppose. Might be easier to sing tipsy, actually, I never thought to compare.

[ ...Turgon is just going to sit here and sulk now ]

I had hoped to simply avoid the topic, but...

[ But well... Galadriel And he will take what he can get! ]

Well...they rather did? [ Maglor winces and hurridely picks a few new keys to transpose into along with a few extra flourishes ]

According to reports they had started practicing human sacrifice. Of...well...anyone who disagreed with them but most especially anyone who was friendly with the elves or venerated the Valar.

[ is too ]

It rather is, if you want me to teach you the new words!

[He still loves you Turgon he just wants to emotionally manipulate you to get you to visit!]

At this stage that might be for the best. Denial will just put you in more trouble.

What? [Total bewilderment and utter horror flash across Fingon's face, and for a few moments, he can't think of what to say. The notes just trail off.] But...even then... five ships. There had to be more people who didn't deserve that than five ships worth....

[...Right?

Onto more important matters: your sense of humor stinks, Maglor.]

I would, actually.

[ Well little brother is going to pout the whole time! ]

Knowing her, probably!

[ A sigh and Maglor stops playing to reach out and grip his hands in comfort ]

It really was that bad. [ He says sadly ] The stories say the smoke from the sacrificial fires could be seen for miles out to sea by the end, maybe even as far as Tol Eressea, and it never ceased. Most of the Faithful got out as early as they could. Those five... sorry, nine? I'm not sure how many, in truth. Those were the only ones left who hadn't fled the Island years ago or were locked in the dungeons awaiting the next available alter. I'm sure there were young ones who didn't know better though, and there was poor Tar-Miriel, who should have been queen. They say she tried to speak against her husband, but he ... I don't know what he did to her, but the fact that everyone knows she was one of the Faithful but never left his side...

[ He shudders. Eol aside, the Eldar do not go in for spousal abuse. But he has lived and worked with Men. He knows how things can get, at times ]

She drowned, the stories say, trying to climb to the top of Meneltarma, the highest peak, to beg for mercy. But since no one was there to see and so cannot truly say... I... sometimes wonder if she was glad to die. Elros would have been broken-hearted.

[ He squeezes his hand ]

I would be glad to teach you.

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