Video/Action; pretend this was posted at a normal hour

[inafadingcrown]

[The video feed flips on, focusing (after a few seconds of jostling around) on Galadriel, sitting on the steps of the Initiative Hold, her sheathed sword beside her. Having just finished training, she’s attired appropriately, wearing a simple dress and with her hair braided and wound about her head- displaying those pointed ears quite prominently for those who might have missed them before.]

I grow weary of the constant grey here. It is overlong since I have heard a running stream or seen the sunlight filtered through the forest canopy.

Tell me, those of you who have journeyed outside this city: does greenery yet remain in this world? It would do my heart well even to hear of it.

Comments

[inafadingcrown]

And I gather from your expression they are a people to be feared. [A gentle smile] Calm yourself. I mean you no harm.

[kingdom_of_song]

Aye, they're...

[If this woman was fae, why didn't she know these things? Perhaps a trick to lure him into lowering his defenses. Or..?]

They're nae good folk. Pleasing to the eye and beautiful of voice, but they'll lead a soul to their doom. They're sleekit people, they are.

[inafadingcrown]

"Sleekit?" [Another term she doesn't know.]

Regardless, I assure you that I have no interest in leading anyone to their doom.

[kingdom_of_song]

[Oh, Scottish.]

Sleekit means a person ye cannae trust. They're dodgy. Er, sneaky. Tricksy.

[Thoughtful pause.]

What are ye interested in, then?

[inafadingcrown]

I am interested most in returning to my people and seeing to their defense and protection. But while that is not within my power, it is to see to the defense and protection of those who have found themselves here alongside me.

Unless, of course, you mean my personal interests and pastimes- a much more light hearted matter.

[kingdom_of_song]

A noble thing. The fae--ah, elves?--have alien thoughts and ways. It's never certain what sort of things they believe they need tae protect themselves from.

[He holds up a hand.]

Speculation, not sayin' yer like that.

[Swann isn't counting out the possibility. Who can trust the fae? They could call themselves something else, 'elven' for instance.

[Sorry Galadriel. This will be a hard sell.]


[ooc: apologies for being so ridiculously late. bloody RL]

[inafadingcrown]

My people, at least, are not alien. In my own world, we face many of the same threats as Man. And, in the past, we have united to face them.

[ooc: Never worry about that. <3]

[kingdom_of_song]

'tis more of a figure of speech. Nae alien like the ugly buggers Wells wrote about, but something ye cannae wrap your head around. Alien ways. No-one understands why the fae do what they do.

But...

[He pauses, peering at her through the connection. It's a more thoughtful look than many people see.]

Yer an elf, not fae. Right?

[He asks very carefully, not sure if he should believe her answer to his question. But he would like to.]

[inafadingcrown]

I know. What I mean to say is that as much unites us as divides us. And you are not mistaken; I had not even heard the term "fae" until my arrival here.

[kingdom_of_song]

I've heard of elves as well, but they're nae so beautiful.

[Pause. Elves could be just as cruel as kind, just like the fae. They were simply a different sort. But, light elves...]

Ehm. One moment.

[Swann disappears from sight for a moment. He returns with a sheet of paper.]

How do you feel about this?

[He holds up an image.]


[ooc: it's an 'elf cross' or pentagram, used to ward off evil sorts of elves. it likely won't work on her, but he's testing her.]

[inafadingcrown]

[She actually laughs a little, mostly out of surprise.]

I feel nothing in particular. Should I?

[kingdom_of_song]

[Swann holds up a finger with a manic look on his face, then turns the paper over and draws something on it with an oil crayon.]

What about this?

[He shows her the image.]

[inafadingcrown]

[Now she's just intrigued.]

It means nothing to me, I fear. I trust I will receive an explanation of this at some point.

[kingdom_of_song]

[Swann tosses the paper and crayon aside, then waves his hands at the screen.]

Nae, nae. I just wanted to know... oh! Can I see your back?

[It's important, it really is.]

[inafadingcrown]

My back? Whatever for? [But that's not a no. She double checks that the tablet is propped up and then turns around displaying her perfectly normal back to the camera.]

Does that satisfy you?

[kingdom_of_song]

[Full stop.]

Aye.

[The tone is more like 'maybe', but until he thinks of something else, that's what she's going to get.

[And this is when it hits him. She's still an elf. For good or evil, she's still going to be terribly powerful.]

I had to know, you understand.

[inafadingcrown]

[He's right, in this case. She's terribly, awfully powerful. But it's by no means a given with elves of her kind.]

I understand caution when I see it, but I do not understand what purpose was served by your actions. Tell me, what did you hope to discover?

[kingdom_of_song]

'Twas testing old stories, that's all. No harm meant. Traditional wards against ah... harmful sorts of elves. Which apparently yer not. I found what I hoped tae.

[He's still enormously apprehensive, but he's not running off, either.]

Where are ye from, if ye dinnae mind me asking?

[inafadingcrown]

[She's satisfied with that answer, for the most part, after having discussed a similar subject with Susan.]

I do not mind in the least, though I suspect my answer will mean little to you; I hail from Lothlórien in Middle-Earth.

[kingdom_of_song]

Lothlórien.

[The name rolled off his tongue in a musical sort of way. If she's suceptable to his magic, which isn't the pushy sort and is mostly harmless, she might feel a warmth and a wee bit of joy as he says it.

[Swann brightened.]

Midgard! There are many tales from the Norse... is that where you're from, then?

[inafadingcrown]

[She certain does feel it- and recognize that there's something strange about it, but she says nothing and tucks her suspicions away for later.]

I fear neither "Midgard" nor "Norse" means aught to me.

[kingdom_of_song]

Och, well. 'Midgard' also means 'Middle Earth', or sommat like that. 'Tis how I was taught. It's where mortals live, half way between the branches and the roots of the World Tree. Yggdrasil, to some... but I doubt you know that name, either.

[Swann cannot think of anything else to ask her to make sure she's not an elf, fairy, or otherwise malign being. He's worried he's missing something, but his instincts--what he's been ignoring this entire conversation--are telling him to relax. He considered his instincts a bit daft sometimes.]

What do ye drink?

[He also has a habit of blurting things out when nervous.]

[inafadingcrown]

[There's a little startled laugh at the question.] What do I drink? That depends a great deal upon what I am offered. But I am most fond of wine, if that is what you wish to know.

[kingdom_of_song]

[Was she going to laugh at everything he said? At least she didn't say 'blood' or 'the tears of puppies'.]

Wine... of berries and flowers and whatnot?

[Or blood and tears?]

[inafadingcrown]

[If he keeps being adorably nervous, yes, possibly.]

Naturally. It is most usually made from grapes, however. Is that true for you as well?