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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Mostly the men, the Lady Haleth was always something of an exception! Even amongst my folk, more nis chose other Arts than war.

Most did! But she had a point too. Wars of immortals are no place for mortals to waste away their lives.

Life should never be wasted. It usually is though.

Sadly, this is far too often true. Her independence was a reflection of her people's - the Haladin never liked being beholden to any, no matter how much they might respect them. It kept them strong and wild, but it cost them dearly, too.

Being dependent has a price too. Maybe there's no good choices.

In war, sometimes there are very few. [ He nods ]

In the end, it all comes down to what you value most, I think. The Haladin paid dearly, but they considered it worth it - they are, in the end, the only ones who can rightly judge that.

For me, it's always come down to surviving and then freedom.

Mm, for the Haladin, I think they would argue that it was not surviving, if they had not their freedom. They were always a fierce and proud people - stalwart allies, and terrible foes. But they would not be beholded to any, not for love or gratitude.

I think you can learn to survive and live with anything, if you have to.

I think so too. [ Maglor smiles and shrugs a little ]

But I am old enough to have lived that truth.

You don't need to be old to have lived it.

No - but I find it helps!

It does? I've heard we don't really get wiser as we get older.

Well now, I was always of the opinion that if we don't get wiser, we are rather wasting our lives! No sense in repeating ones mistakes, if it can be at all avoided.

That's a good thing about being here. We can leave all the past mistakes behind.

[ He grows wistful, at that ]

Some, yes. But some things go too deep to be left behind, I fear.

Then you just have to find ways to live with them.

Easier said than done, at times, but you have the right of it. But there, I am being very rude, I think! All this time, and I have never asked your name! I am Maglor, at your service.

I'm Abigail. Nice to meet you.

A pleasure, Lady Abigail! Thank you for being kind to an old ellon.

What's an ellon?

A male elf. An ellyth would be a female elf. Although if you speak Quenya, instead of the more common Sindarin you would say Nis and Nissi instead.

You're an elf?

I am, little lady.

You don't look like you're from the north pole.

[ He cocks his head at her curiously ]

The North Pole? Why would I be from there? I did not even know the North had a pole, although I suppose it is not as if anyone other than the Lossoth live in the north, and even they do not know the whole of those lands.

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