Feel the Music

Failed Attempt (#67)

"You need to feel the music, become the music. Try it again." Maglor picked up the lute he had placed on the ground earlier to better give the two young elves some pointers.

As he plucked the strings and created a new tune for Elrond and Elros to dance to, he intentionally let his mind wander. For a moment he drowned out the screams that haunted his dreams and unguarded waking moments with the simple melody.

He watched the dark-haired twins as they tried to follow his earlier directions, stumbling over feet unaccustomed to the finer arts of the dance. He could not replace the father that had left them, nor the mother he himself had helped to separate from them, but he could be a teacher. And what better thing to teach than what he knew best?

There was a peace in the depth of good music, a freedom to be attained by giving your body over to the flowing rhythms, the clear notes and captivating melodies. And peace was what the sons of Eärendil and Elwing deserved, even if it was denied to him.

Silently cursing that his thoughts had turned dark once more despite his best efforts to focus on the sounds of his lute, Maglor opened his eyes and followed the twins' progress. Elros was getting better, his steps were more confident, enough so that he did give his body and mind over to the flow of the melody. He understood that knowing the steps was only a part of the dance, you had to know the steps, but you had to feel the music.

Elrond on the other hand … Maglor sighed, this lesson would probably take much longer than he had originally anticipated. He had not even thought it possible that an elf could look that clumsy.

-o0o-

Sounds broke off as Maglor lowered his lute and Elrond sighed in relief. He would never get this dancing down. He had remembered the steps, had practiced them over and over again until he could follow them in his sleep, and yet the simple grace that Elros seemed to find so easily eluded him.

It was almost as if something was missing, something that he could not name, and it was frustrating.

Luckily Maglor decided to end the dancing lessons for the day and for all Elrond cared, he did not need to start them again.

A/N: The first drabble in my attempt to take on NirCele's 100 drabble challenge.

quadruple drabble - 400 words