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 Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 9:15 pm
It had been much, much too long. She knew it now.
The last time she had played had been at Glyph's party. Before that... too long, too far away for her to remember. She had spent her time waiting, waiting... Watching and waiting for someone that might very well never return.
There was nothing else to distract her from the truth of that fact now. Both her sons were far away, writing their destiny. Her daughter as withdrawn as she had been in the last few years.
Her heart longed, would perhaps always long - it was not ready to give up yet, and give up it would not.
But she could not wait any longer, like the white queen she has styled herself to be. She was no queen. She was Music.
And Music she would be.
She had taken a guise similar to her host - long black hair, and bright blue eyes - and brought her harp down to the market. She settled in the middle, and started to play, plucking strings for the first time for so long. She did not need an instrument - but she liked to have one, nonetheless. It felt that, as time went by and as they were played, that they gained an history... a life of their own.
It would not be long before she had a crowd.
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Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 10:43 pm
Eilaer had been on his way to setup in his usual spot to play when the sound of an unfamiliar harp caught his attention. He tucked his wings in behind him and picked his way through the growing crowd carefully. Finally he spotted the source of the music- a tiny black haired woman. She was not anyone familiar, he would certainly have remembered her or at least the presence her music seemed to have. It was lovely, melodic...just like she was. He held his own harp in his hands, careful not to disturb the strings and interrupt her playing.
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Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 11:00 pm
At first, Echo did not seem to notice the growing crowd around her. It might as well not have existed, as she lost herself in her art for the first time in far, far too long. She fingers plucked the strings with a precision, and a speed that would make her audience think she was utterly familiar with her instrument... which was true. But to Eilaer, it might look different. She played the harp with a speed and skill that easily rivaled the masters, in spite of her apparent young age.
She stopped when her song finished, letting out an happy, content sigh. Yes... Yes, that was much better. When she opened her eyes again, Echo finally noticed her audience... and more importantly, the man holding a harp.
She smiled, and patted the space beside her. This was why she did this under mortal guise... Mortals were often too shy to join her, once they knew exactly who she was.
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Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 11:30 pm
That she played so well certainly was interesting. He watched her hands as they plucked the strings. Natural talent maybe or an extraordinarily good teacher?
Eilaer seemed a bit surprised when she paused in her playing and seemed to pick him out of the crowd like she knew he stood there. Me? He shot her a questioning look before moving out of the crowd and over to join her. It was hard to refuse a request like that when the people around them were watching them both expectantly. He sat down beside her and rested his harp on his lap. "Start and I will follow." That would be simple enough, he knew most of the common tunes from around this area by heart now and if she played something else , well, he could improvise.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 12:05 am
Echo smiled and nodded, happy to have some company. She settled on a slower tune then, familiar to him, something she would not accidentally lose him in the middle of as the first song had ended up at. A slow, even, and rather touching melody, through one that had no lyrics written to accompany it.
Perhaps she would remedy that, one day.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 7:37 pm
The bard listened for a round or so before joining in at the appropriate point; it would ensure that he had indeed been thinking of the correct song and make things a bit more interesting for those listening. Following along was easy enough with the tune she chose. After a while he just closed his eyes, trusting his hands to find the right notes.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 7:52 pm
The song continued on for a few more minutes, and when the two were done, the crowd clapped their approval before dispersing again - merchants returning to their stands, and shoppers returning to their errands.
"Thank you." Echo said with a smile. "It has been a while since I have had someone play alongside me.... Are you new ? I do not remember seeing you before..." She asked, curious about who the man was.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 8:23 pm
Eilaer breathed a contented sigh once the song was done, eyes finally opening again. "It was an honor, truly, to play with you. Your playing is exquisite." He smiled, hands coming to rest on the frame of the harp on his lap. "A few months...give or take a handful of days. I usually play on the other side of the marketplace, but I thought I might come give a spot over here a try today. I am glad I did." The smile widened into a charming grin.
"I confess I have never seen you before either. May I ask your name?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 8:53 pm
"So is yours." And it had been. Not perfect, obviously, but very enjoyable. He had brought his own 'voice' to the music, and it was something she could treasure.
"I have not played for quite a long time." Not like this, at the very least. "My name is Echo... And you would be ?"
She saw no need to hide who she was any more than she already was.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 9:32 pm
"My name is Eilaer, Lady Echo." The winged elf stood and offered her a hand. "Would you like to come have tea with me? I know of a lovely little place, just up the way." He was intrigued and would like to talk with her more, if she would allow it. All professional of course, even if his behavior might seem like his intent lay elsewhere. He was genuinely curious about who was the master she had learned to play from.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 9:46 pm
The invitation made her smile. Why not ? "Certainly. Lead the way ?" She was as curious about him as he was about her, and she had to admit... The attention was quite flattering.
She got up, and carefully put her harp aside, in a way that she could carry it without damaging it.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 11:32 pm
Where he lead her was not quite a cafe, it was an inn. Hearth's Light Inn to be exact. "Probably not what you expected, but the innkeeper has some really lovely tea brews." He held the door for her with one hand while cradling his harp with the other. "Go ahead in, it should be fairly quiet at this time of day." A hand gesture might have accompanied his words had his hands not been otherwise occupied.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 11:41 pm
Not what she had expected, no, but it certainly looked like a nice place - one she might find enjoyable, even. "Thank you." She stepped inside and waited for him to rejoin her before they were seated properly.
"You've said you've been here for a few months... Where do you come from ?" Echo asked, definitively curious about Eilaer.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 11:50 pm
"Everywhere." Eilaer settled his harp on the bench beside him and leaned against the table between them. "I grew up in the mountains, but since I left home all I have done is wander around and collect songs. It is the only thing I ever wanted to do." His sister had said more than often enough that it was a waste of time, but she was a magi what did she know? His wings ruffled a bit and resettled.
Sylvie, the innkeeper, came by and Eilaer asked for a tea blend he thought his companion might like. It was one of his favorites. "I know there are other bards in town, how is it I have never heard talk of you before? Someone with your skill generally does not go unnoticed."
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Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 9:37 am
Hmmm. Very. very interesting. "A noble goal, for sure." Of course she could be considered... Well, biased on the subject. "I have not wandered too far, myself... I have lived here for years. That might be why you have not heard too much mention of me." The smile that drew on her face was amused, indeed.
"Or you might have heard of me, but you did not realize it back then." That was easily possible, depending on if he knew other bards or not.
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