(Voice)

[handofsilver]

(The sound of harp-strings begins the transmission. Each note is pure, ringing in the air long after the string has been plucked. After a moment or two, the song ends and the player - Celebrimbor - sighs.)

Do you believe language has the ability to heal beyond simple comfort? If so, could song be a stronger healer still?

Not my music, of course, but...others. Masters of the craft. (Like his uncle.) As a child, songs chased away my nightmares. Why should adults be so different? I think it is because we do not listen as well.

(Private to Curufin.)

Are you free?

(/)

Comments

voice

[am_i_a_monster]

I like your song.

I think talking is one way of healing trauma. Like therapy, you know? But it has to be with the right person. And music can help too. I have nightmares too and Hannibal sometimes played music when I did, before I came here. I don't think it's just age.

[She still sees herself as a child in some ways.]

It's the amount of trauma. When there's a lot of nightmares, it takes more than music to chase them away.

voice

[handofsilver]

You are very wise. I think it would be easy to talk to you. (Some are naturally more healing than others. Ironically, it is usually those who have experienced a great deal of pain themselves.)

voice

[am_i_a_monster]

I don't know about wise, but I like to think I'm easy to talk to. Maybe.

[A small pause.]

Do you have nightmares?

voice

[handofsilver]

I have nightmares when I am sleeping and waking. (She might discover a new talent! His visions are horrifying.)

voice

[am_i_a_monster]

When you're awake? Like you hear things? Or see things? Or more like flashbacks of your past?

voice;

[hasitsthorns]

Music's always helped me in the same way. It's never, like, healed any physical wounds but... It does help with the mental ones at least.

I wish more people took it seriously when I say it can help.

voice;

[handofsilver]

The mental and emotional ones are the wounds of which I speak. They seem to scab over - only to open again when I am reminded of them or what caused them.

(His voice gentles.) I take you seriously.

voice;

[hasitsthorns]

Yeah, people say time heals all wounds but... I don't know about that. It's been decades for some of mine and they still re-open when I seem to least expect 'em to.

I'm glad someone does, at least. I've gotten used to it but music means a lot to me, so- Always nice to meet fellow musicians who appreciate it same as I do.

(( ooc: heyo! i'm on hiatus until probably mid-april due to life stuff so i will still be painfully slow if you'd rather drop/handwave this and start something new when I get back lmk!!! ))

[bythewaves]

You've kept up your lessons!

[handofsilver]

I must or you will notice!

[bythewaves]

I would not blame you for stopping, Telpe! But it does make me happy.

[handofsilver]

You would not openly blame me, but you would make a face.

[bythewaves]

[ He laughs softly ]

I would not! [ He objects ] Not in front of you!

[handofsilver]

Does it truly make a difference if it is behind my back? It's still a face, Uncle. (He doesn't like anyone being upset with him.)

[bythewaves]

Ah, Telpe! I promise, I wouldn't fuss! You've always been a crafter, nephew - why should I mind if you play or don't?

[handofsilver]

It was all I had when I couldn't walk well. I missed my little harp. (She - yes, she - is one of his favorite crafts.) Do you like her sound?

[bythewaves]

Did you make her? She's lovely! [ Maglor hums in approval ]

[handofsilver]

I never liked for my harps to be too ornate. Their sound is what matters. (He will choose the ugly harp with a voice as sweet as honey every single time. Of course, since he made her, she is lovely in her own right.) Would you like to meet her?

[bythewaves]

I can't imagine that you would make anything less than beautiful, nephew. [ Maglor smiles ]

I would love to, if you don't mind.

[handofsilver]

I would be honored if you played her. (It's a tradition with all of his instruments! Maglor has to "bless" them.) Should I meet you or are you near the house?

[bythewaves]

I am in the sitting room, at the moment.

[handofsilver]

Then expect company! (He holds his harp against his chest and walks, barefoot to the sitting room. Once there, he holds out the instrument, grinning.)

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor looks up with a smile from where he's been working on a new song for Elrond ]

Ah, but she's lovely. May I?

[handofsilver]

Please. (He hands over the harp, his sharp eye searching for any spots that need to be polished again. She is made out of wood - a much lighter material - and Celebrimbor has varnished it. The strings are metallic, of course, but they shine like silver.)

[bythewaves]

Has she a name?

[ Maglor brushes a hand gently across the wood then coaxes a soft scale from the strings, checking the tuning ]

[handofsilver]

Aerlinniel. Aerli for short. (He whispers, unwilling to talk over the notes.) The wood turned out to be surprisingly well-aged.

[bythewaves]

A lovely name for a lovely lady.

[ Maglor hums approval and then strike a bright chord, launching into one of the songs from the Dagor Agarleb, bright and joyful and fierce ]

[handofsilver]

She feels happy to me.

(His eyes glow with delight and he pulls up a chair nearby, quite glad to lose himself in such a joyous tune.)

[bythewaves]

I think she is.

[ Maglor smiles at him, the fierce triumph of battle gentling to old memories of gold and silver light, the sharp fierce joy of youth, when all the world seems at your feet ]

Voice

[utulien_aure]

Why downplay your own gifts, cousin? If only those as gifted as your uncle could move hearts, the world would be a poorer place.

Voice

[handofsilver]

I know I am not as gifted as him and I am not certain I want to be. His power...

It is as mighty as any sword. All I wish to do is heal.

Voice

[utulien_aure]

Then heal. Invent. Create what you will, be it made of metal or music.

Do not concern yourself with not being your uncle. Or your father, or anyone else. All you can be is yourself.

Voice

[handofsilver]

I think it was proven - unanimously - that me being myself isn't enough. (So where does he lack? He can't tell.)

Voice

[utulien_aure]

Apparently, the same is true for everyone not named Luthien Thingoliel. I will not say do not take it to heart, for I would not take that advice well myself.

But you were the wronged party, or so it seems to me. Do not make the mistake of believing the fault lies with you.

Voice

[handofsilver]

She was remarkable, wasn't she. (He doesn't hold it against her, but those genes. He could have used some of them. Sorry, Dad.)

If I had not been weak, he would not have overwhelmed me. I'm sorry -

My mind constantly reprimands me on that point. I know I was up against a Maia.

Voice

[utulien_aure]

She must have been.

[Exactly. Those genes, poor girl, she was half-Thingol- no wonder the world was so eager to give her superpowers to make up for it.]

Telpe. [His voice takes on a slight, sharp edge.] That's what he would tell you- but that does not make it true.

Or was Finrod weak? All the others he must have harmed over the years?

voice.

[nascere]

[ he's been listening. ]

That was beautiful. [ he pauses, curious: ] Are you talking about literally healing through singing?

voice.

[handofsilver]

Thank you. (Compliments are always nice.) Could be? The mind needs healing too and the emotions.

perma-audio

[divinusly]

[ After having quite the motorcycle adventure in the desert, getting to hear a nice song over the network makes for some well-deserved peace of mind. There's almost a nostalgic feeling to the music, as if with it comes a piece of his home. She finds herself replaying the audio once more before issuing her own response. ]

It takes but a string of six notes to sooth the soul. [ Quite literally in her world, music is its own domain of magic. Healing or offensive. ] Perhaps as adults it is not that some do not listen, but simply that they have not the time to indulge.

perma-audio

[handofsilver]

(He's glad he could share it. Music has been one of the few comforts since Sauron and while his body was less mobile, he had spent a good amount of time simply playing or singing or both. He smiles at her statement, curious.)

Why six? Is that a holy or magical number? (Everyone is always in such a hurry. But mortals need to be - life isn't guaranteed for anyone.) They should make time.

video

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Private to Celebrimbor. ]

For you, always!

video - Private to Curufin.

[handofsilver]

Are you up for a spar?

video - Private to Cel

[so_dark_a_road]

Yes! [ Smile ] How about right now!