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Post by Sarea Riel Dirao on Jun 24, 2014 12:42:38 GMT -6
The chord sounded tuned. The string vibrated against the bow. The patrons were watching as the tavern fell silent, their eyes fixed on the beautiful elven maiden by the fireplace.
Soon, the music picked up again from its fermata, and the roaring laughter resumed once more. Sarea smiled as she played eighth note upon eighth note, with the little grace notes adding just that small bit of colour to the tune. The fire roared in a manner similar to the glottal chuckles of the patrons at their wooden tables, swinging their tankards from side to side. It had been so long since she'd been in front of a crowd this excited to hear music. In fact, last she'd done this was at Fort MacNiel before the winter fell on Wildgard, and she was forced to remain in the Basilica to remain warm.
She finished the song with a quick swing from her bow, and the sound echoed out while the patrons cheered and clapped. Sarea bowed, her skirt swooshing slightly as she did so against her legs. She smiled at the crowd, her green jaw tattoos stretching with her cheeks. They really seemed to love her music...either that, or she was just too cute for them not to love her.
"Play us another one!" Cried out an obviously intoxicated cat kintu.
"Yes, yes! Another sounds spectacular!" A man in green and gold hollered in response.
"Of course, of course!" Sarea replied in a light tone as she readied her instrument for another go. She hadn't had this much fun in months, and she wasn't going to stop anytime soon. "This one you can dance to as well, if you'd like."
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Idina Doc
Wildgardian
Could we start again, please?
Posts: 258
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Post by Idina Doc on Jun 24, 2014 13:19:28 GMT -6
A little blonde approached the doors of the tavern, a pleased smile on her face. The Hammer Tavern was the only place she could get a decent cup of tea nowadays, and she felt more comfortable asking for a non-alcoholic beverage here than she had at the Fort. Taste buds already anticipating her drink, she walked with a little skip in her step.
The more she came close to the tavern, the more the noise inside seemed to grow. It must be busy inside tonight, and it sounded as though everyone had something to be joyous about! Idina was even more eager to enter the tavern now. After all, a positive atmosphere would do her very well!
With a little push, the door opened, and the music among the happy cheering became apparent: it was hard to hear anything above the voices while outside. She knew that music! Quickly scanning the men at women around the room, she tried to find the source of the lovely tune... Ah! There she was! Sarea's long hair swayed as she moved to her song, and a smile brightened her look even more than the light of the fireplace could. The healer subconsciously smiled at the sight. It had been a while since she had seen her friend, and she was glad she looked so happy.
The song drew to a close, and she waited for the elf to scan the crowd before moving. Once she thought she had seen her, Idina waved excitedly with both hands, hoping not to call too much attention to herself but to still be noticed by her. Then, she made her way up to the bar before another song could start, placing her order for a hot mug of tea and taking a seat. She would wait and relax a little bit before dancing, she decided, since she knew she would be dancing to Sarea's music at some point tonight.
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Post by Sarea Riel Dirao on Jun 24, 2014 14:44:17 GMT -6
She swayed with the music, notes filling the air as they bounced off the wooden walls of the tavern and redirected themselves into the ears of all the happy customers. They bobbed up and down, their cloaks and skirts billowing like clouds as their small feet tapped the wooden floor in merriment. There were clearly some who knew how to dance, and others who--well, it was all for fun, wasn't it?
Sarea flicked her blonde locks out of her right eye and looked over at the bar, where a familiar straw hat and short, blonde locks showed that her old friend Idina was the one that had waved to her before she'd started the song. And, of course, she was drinking tea, in a tavern. Even Sarea knew it was common practice to order at least one alcoholic beverage, even if it was just a simple glass of spiced wine, before having tea.
The girl hadn't noticed that her music had gone up a semitone while looking at Idina, but neither did anyone else. What a relief! She thought to herself as she continued.
The song was reaching its point; the point where she would normally do something a little more rambunctious to get her audience going even more. With a cheeky grin, she immediately changed the music from a quick jig to a slow lament, and all the customers stopped their dancing to look over in confusion.
"What?!" Cried out the kintu as he caught his breath.
"Rubbish!" Yelled a round woman, followed by murmurs of agreement.
Then Sarea continued her lament, not caring what they yelled at her. And she continued, whilst walking forwards, her eyes closed. And she continued as she stepped onto a wooden chair. And she continued, finally standing atop the wooden table nearest the chair. Finally, she was at the very edge of the table, and it looked like she might fall, but instead her eyes shot open and the music immediately switched back to its jig-like tempo; at that moment, the patrons laughed in amusement at her little prank and continued dancing, with Sarea joining in on top of the table, her skirt flying about as she kicked her legs one in front of the other.
At last, the song ended, and Sarea jumped to the ground as she hit the last chord, her face wrinkled and eyes clenched from laughter. It had definitely been too long since she'd had this much fun!
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Idina Doc
Wildgardian
Could we start again, please?
Posts: 258
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Post by Idina Doc on Jun 25, 2014 0:41:16 GMT -6
Having been confused herself by the change of mood in Sarea's song, Idina studied the lovely elf girl's face. Was she reacting to the outcries across the tavern? ...No, in fact, she was grinning to herself... The healer realized what was likely to happen a moment before it did. As she watched, the bard positively shone with amusement with herself when she returned the piece to its previous tempo, and at the bar, her friend's laughter joined the chorus from the tavern patrons. It was fantastic to see her so happy!
She applauded loudly when the song came to its close, whistling her support with the aid of two fingers in her mouth. Hoping to catch Sarea's attention, the human girl beamed, her face almost matching the elf's in gleefulness. Only almost; it wouldn't be right to overrule the musician herself after a piece like that!
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Post by Sarea Riel Dirao on Jun 25, 2014 11:21:41 GMT -6
As the crowd applauded and whistled, Sarea looked over at Idina, her face beaming like a rainbow. The bard skipped over on her light feet and bowed in front of her friend.
"It's so lovely to see you again, old friend!" She cheered as she dove in for a hug.
Sarea knew Idina wasn't much of a hugger, but the elf couldn't help herself. Once the Fort had closed itself off for the winter, Sarea had not seen most of her friends, including the healer. In fact, the winter had brought much pain to her heart. As beautiful as the Basilica was, being stuck in it all winter wasn't Sarea's idea of a fun time. Getting out and performing, however, was.
"Did you like that last song? I wrote it this winter. It was boring in the church, so I decided to write that one about...well, about fun!" She cried out as she playfully raised her hands in the air.
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Idina Doc
Wildgardian
Could we start again, please?
Posts: 258
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Post by Idina Doc on Jun 25, 2014 15:26:22 GMT -6
"Wonderful to see y-- oof!" was Idina's response as she received an enthusiastic greeting and hug from her friend. The girl meant it all in good nature, she knew, and it was so nice to see her so happy. Unfortunately, the healer had never had much of an idea of how to respond to such a gesture, and this didn't do much to reciprocate; she felt less guilty about this after giving Sarea a few pats on the back, however.
"I did like it!" she assured. "And you did well to get the spirit of fun across!" She laughed delightedly at the bard's joy. "Music does sound like a good way to make the winter more bearable!"
She then paused, and upon a moment of thought, her expression changed into something more serious. "Hang on, did you say you were at the church? Did you stay here during the winter?" The freckled girl reached out and took both of the elf's hands in both of hers, holding them together. "Were you warm enough? I heard this winter was dreadful!"
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Post by Sarea Riel Dirao on Jun 25, 2014 21:47:24 GMT -6
Sarea removed herself from the girl's arms and bowed. "Glad you liked it, Idina. Music really does make the winter more bearable, even with the cold church. I spent half the winter with a runny nose and sore lungs." She sat down and smirked. "But some beauty and artistry can be found even in the harshest of climates, I find. A soft lament from lightly fallen snow, or a portrait of a winter night's sky?"
Sarea's eyes wandered slightly off and away. "I used to find beauty in the worst of places. I'd call it art, but people would call me mad. I guess that's what happened when you tried to make a ballad out of a deadly battle." Her eyes fluttered, tears forming in the corners. She'd once regarded that one piece as her masterpiece, but had since abolished it. There were words in it that just brought too much pain, and too much sorrow.
Anxiously, she spun her ring and smirked. "Sorry about that. Anyways, how did you spend your winter?"
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Idina Doc
Wildgardian
Could we start again, please?
Posts: 258
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Post by Idina Doc on Jun 25, 2014 23:10:31 GMT -6
She very much enjoyed listening to Sarea talk; while her expression would change in relation to what was being said - worry upon hearing the elf had been sick, a calm smile as she described her artistic views - Idina offered no comment until she had finished. When the maiden passed permission of speech onto her, she laughed softly before speaking.
"To be completely honest," she began, "I spend a good majority of the winter in bed. The lack of sunlight and harsh conditions of the season tend to make me feel... heavy, I suppose. Thus, I did not stay here." A warm smile spread across her face, as though a happy thought had crossed her mind just then, and she continued, "Thankfully Lila wished to stay with me regardless of my mood, and she and I found a cabin quite out of the way in a wood more southward. We stayed out there while we waited for the spring to come back. And how lovely it is to see it again; to see friends like you again!"
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Post by Sarea Riel Dirao on Jun 26, 2014 16:38:27 GMT -6
"Well, I'm glad Lila kept you warm!" Sarea smiled warmly as she stroked Idina's shoulder.
She then lifted her finger to her face, eyeing the two rings on her index finger; the first was a thin silver band with an azure gem on the top. She'd replaced her slim, black wand with it over the winter, as it made casting easier, as she explained to Idina. Another ring sat upon that same finger; a plain, silver band with royal blue outlining the inside. On the top, there was a blue slit that shone in the light of the fire.
Looking at the rings, Sarea pondered. Idina was so very lucky to have someone in her life to keep her warm when cold winters arrived. Unlike her. She hadn't had a person like that in years.
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Idina Doc
Wildgardian
Could we start again, please?
Posts: 258
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Post by Idina Doc on Jun 28, 2014 19:10:07 GMT -6
It would have been hard to miss the way the elf was looking forlornly at her rings. Oh dear... Perhaps she shouldn't have spoken of her girlfriend in front of her...
Those rings that she wore were new, however, or at least new to Idina. Lovely, too. She could change the topic of conversation with those! Before she could ask about them, however, Sarea began to explain the first one. The elegant ring, with a brilliant bluish stone which the human girl couldn't identify, was her trade-out for her wand, she said.
"Oh!" the freckled girl cried after the explanation. "I have one like that, actually! Have a look!" She held out her right hand to the bard; the band on her ring finger was less intricate, but the iridescent opal resting on it made up for that in her mind. "I had a few options, but this one suited me best. I have not had it for very long," she confessed, "but I am happy to have it now!"
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Post by Sarea Riel Dirao on Jul 16, 2014 10:18:23 GMT -6
Sarea smiled as she looked at Idina's beautifully-crafted gem ring. "It's beautiful. Definitely suits you! Does it have any magical properties?"
Sarea sipped her drink and looked around at the tavern as Idina explained, taking in every word as if it were a song. She always did that. Back in Briton, where she grew up, she'd always be singing reminders to herself, or sometimes she'd make a limerick out of a sentence she was about to speak. It was the curse of a bard, but it was also a blessing. It was why she wrote music, and how she found themes for it.
She quickly realised that she'd been humming a melody to join with Idina's speech, and silenced herself with a humiliated blush. "Sorry, that was so rude of me."
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Idina Doc
Wildgardian
Could we start again, please?
Posts: 258
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Post by Idina Doc on Jul 16, 2014 10:32:01 GMT -6
After a quick word of thanks for the compliment, the freckled healer answered Sarea's question: "The gem itself can glow if I say the proper incantation, which is very useful in a dark place! And it usually glows a bit when I'm casting a healing spell, too. I think it is more of a channel for the magic I have than anything, but I do like how it makes me feel more in control of my abilities."
Idina lowered her voice as she spoke so better to her the melody the bard was humming. A part of her wondered if she was listening or not, but she told herself this was probably her way of paying attention. Everything was set to beautiful music in Sarea's world, it seemed! "No worries!" she assured the elf when she stopped and apologized. "It was hardly rude. It would be hard for such a sweet melody to be rude, frankly!"
There was another ring on Sarea's finger, however, that she hadn't explained. That was the ring she had been twisting nervously earlier, the healer recalled. "Is there a story behind this one?" Idina inquired.
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Post by Sarea Riel Dirao on Jul 19, 2014 21:43:52 GMT -6
Sarea smiled in awe: she'd seen rings with the same ability as hers, but only in old fairy tales. It wasn't as if she'd known anybody who'd ever had one, but now she did, and that was something extremely fascinating.
It was strange, though, that Idina found her impromptu humming just as fantastic.
But not was strange as Idina questioning her other ring.
The other ring! Sarea thought to herself, running her finger along the blue band cautiously before shoving it under her other hand.
"Well, that's another story. A long one..." She lied, and a tear came to her eye. "...It involved Jennis."
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Idina Doc
Wildgardian
Could we start again, please?
Posts: 258
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Post by Idina Doc on Jul 19, 2014 22:33:21 GMT -6
Jennis? ...No one by that name surface in Idina's memory, and she lamented this fact. The person by that name clearly had been of great importance to Sarea, judging by the look on her face and the hesitation with which she said the name. Something terrible must have befallen this Jennis... The Healer's heart swelled with sympathy. She kept the moonstone bracelet of her childhood on her wrist with a similar fondness.
"I apologize," she said softly. "You... You need not tell me the story if it is painful. It is a lovely ring, and it means a large amount to you: I am content with knowing that much." Having an idea of how the elf maiden registered affection, she held out an arm to her, offering a shoulder to lean on.
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Post by Sarea Riel Dirao on Jul 23, 2014 12:14:17 GMT -6
Idina's face was sympathetic, and she spoke of not needing to tell her anything about Jennis.
So, naturally, Sarea decided she'd tell her everything.
Everything from start to finish.
She started from the beginning, telling her that she'd found Jennis because of Faljere when they visited a tavern. Jennis was being assaulted by burglars, and her weapons were set aside, so Sarea had used a paralysis spell to give her the time to fight back. It was then that she'd seen the warrior's absolute beauty, skill, and wonder. She told her about the adventures they'd gone on, with Jennis as her guardian. They'd learned so much about each other, and how they were similar in having been removed from their villages. She told her about how they got married, and how they lived very happy years together.
She also told her about the Century War between the dwarves and elves, as well as Jennis' involvement and eventual demise. The last thing she said to her wife was 'Good luck' before Jennis had kissed her brow, and then rode off with the other warriors. Her death was brutal, and Sarea didn't even see her wife before she was put in the ground.
That was where the story ended.
"The bouquet you made for me was for her memory. Know that, friend." She added; however, not once did she bring up the ring, for if she ever told Idina what she had to do to obtain, she'd lose the only other friend she had.
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