Author's Note: Lyrics for Hardest Part of Love from the Children of Eden by Stephen Schwartz.
Q Me?: Chapter 14: In the Hall of the Elven King
Somehow I had expected the Elven King's citadel to look like Mad King Ludwig's Castle or maybe the Tower of London instead it looked more like a world's biggest rath (or should that be cairn? I'm certain the archaeologically inclined back at Headquarters would want to know but hey, that sort of thing was long over by the time Mac came around and luck of the draw there hadn't been much about Ahriman in prehistoric Britain.) The gates were a good sixty feet high and twice as wide but I still felt oppressed going through them.
"It's just the Wall, not even the Wind may breach it without the leave of the King." Peachy just peachy. Nice to know there was no going back. Not without the King's leave. But then what the hell would the king want with an old cripple? No sooner had we passed through the gates then there was an eerie wail the like of which I had never heard and hoped never to hear again.
A small girl with electric blue hair flew into the King's arms as she let out another one of those hair raising shrieks. I could have gone my entire life without hearing an honest to God banshee. I had never raised my hand to a child, not even in 'Nam, but I found my hand flexing on the third mind bending wail.
"Woe, and woe, and woe, to all the Created if the Starkindler is lost" she cried, back arched, hands braced against the King's shoulders, eyes rolled back in her head as he held her legs to keep her from tumbling backward. "While the Dread Lord plots the Weaver blithely trusts in the Peace of the Eternal and Lady Luck casts her wandering eye abroad. All shall fall if Fate is tempted to tarry too long away. A Champion rises but his way is blocked by the Starkindler's brother. Beware, beware, beware his sons or in their avarice they will destroy all. Send them, Tada, send them, send them or lose everything." She barrowed her head into his bejeweled shoulder and wept like a lost soul.
He rocked her a little singing softly to her and the shaking gradually faded into sleep.
"Our youngest sister, Aisling" Morcana whispered "She is a powerful seer but seers are not known for their mental stability."
The King's ear twitched and he glared at her from the corner of his eye as he rocked the child in his arms. A rather flustered and subdued looking nurse (no pointy ears I noted curiously) gathered the (THANKFULLY!) sleeping child from her father's arms. He dismissed the entourage with a flick of his wrist and then turned banefully glittering green cat's eyes on a slight golden haired boy who appeared no more than fourteen.
"Prince Meddwl I entrusted your sister to you" the King began firmly "I asked you to keep her calm."
"It was the fact that you refused to take me that upset her" Prince Meddwl returned smoothly. There was no accusation nor defensiveness but under the serene calm of his voice was an undercurrent of steel.
The King sighed "Meddwl I think that we are in complete agreement that you are no warrior and I will NOT allow you into situations in which a warrior's skills are likely to be required."
"And were a warrior's skills required tonight?" the Prince retorted still calm but clearly displeased "Ab-El needed me, Ab-El called for me. I know the two of you trust each other not at all but she is both my mentor and my friend. You know just how potent a seer Aisling is she insisted that I go but your fear held me here, likely to the detriment of all. I have no desire to risk myself foolishly, Tada, but just because I haven't been drenched in blood since dewy youth doesn't make me a coward."
The King flinched as if he'd been slapped and one of the twins gasped but his voice while firm held no rage "I have no doubts about your courage Meddwl."
"Just about my competence" a thread of resentment colored the younger elf's tone.
"I have none within your chosen vocation" the King turned and waved to Methos. "Your friend has entrusted him to you. Why don't you show our guests to their rooms and give me your evaluation of his condition?"
It wasn't really a request but Prince Meddwl gave his father a sweeping, courtly bow before turning toward us as his father went after the nurse with his daughter. Of the five children I'd met so far Meddwl was the first that wasn't a proverbial 'chip off the old block' as far as build and features went. Lord knows the hair colors were just wild. I had thought the King's hair was black but looking at the twins silver-blue flowing locks and Aisling's electric blue mop I was beginning to revise that thought given its distinct bluish cast even tightly braided. Meddwl's hair was only a shade or two paler than his brother Aneirin's but the similarities between them ended there. Aneirin was the spitting image of his father with the same high sculpted cheek bones, large eyes (though of very different colors), chiseled chins, and angular jaws. The noses where a bit different and Aneirin was a touch stockier than his father. Meddwl was the most slightly built kid I had ever seen and the first elf I had seen that looked, well, elf-like. Fine boned, fine featured, and so delicate in appearance that it looked like a stiff wind would break him. I had never had the opportunity to raise a child but if I had had one like this I would be tempted to house him in a bubble too.
He gave a command to a regiment of little bearded guys all in yellow and green that stood about halfway to my knees and with a precision my squad in basic had never achieved they picked up Methos' stretcher and headed out chanting a song in voices so deep they reverbed. I was vaguely disappointed that there wasn't a single hi-ho.
The twins came with us while Meddwl led the way through the strange twilight. Everything looked odd and it took me several minutes to figure it out. Nothing here cast a shadow, the light was completely ambient with no apparent source. Weird really really weird. Weirder than dragons being real. The lack of shadows threw off my depth perception and only the fact that one of the twins had threaded her arm through mine kept me on my feet several times.
We followed Meddwl through a half dozen corridors carved in colorful bas-reliefs of creatures that until a few hours ago I would have sworn existed only in old wives tales. He paused before a section of corridor that featured what I assumed was a phoenix all in blues backlit by a blazing noonday sun. Here there were actually some shadows. I suppose given how the day had been going I should have expected it when he stepped through the wall with the little chanting dwarves following closely behind in double time. The twin (since I could only tell them apart when they spoke though I suspected it was the quieter one) who had my arm followed briskly taking me along for the ride. I could actually see the crystal structure of the rock as we walked through it. From the prevalence blue and gold and the lightening and phoenix motif we were being housed in my favorite arrogant, know-it-all sob's rooms. The whole place went down several notches in my opinion.
What was clearly another (and so far the oldest looking Ellyllon I had seen) member of the King's brood of sons was waiting for us giving Ari-El a run for his money in the arrogance department. He was actually a shade shorter than Duncan but was doing his best to stare down his arrow straight nose at us.
He inclined his head the merest fraction of an inch "I am Iorworth firstborn of His Majesty's sons. It is my privilege to welcome the illustrious Lord of Aratta's emissaries to my" his face twisted ever so slightly "father's realm" oh, ho somebody wanted to be king. "If my younger" clearly younger meant so inferior as to be dust underfoot. Ari-El was beginning to look good in comparison. "siblings prove inadequate" In Iorworth's purple eyes that was inevitable "you may of course call upon me though I do ask that if you find my assistance useful that you speak well of me to your Lord."
What a little s.o.b., at this moment I liked Ari-El better than this little prick "Until later" he swept past us casting a lingering glance at the twin on my arm that if I'd been on the receiving end of I would have slapped him for.
"Ungrateful git" Meddwl said. Iorworth's step hesitated just enough that there was no doubt he'd heard before he swept out.
"Meddwl" the twin beside me chided softly, the quite one then, "you shouldn't antagonize him."
"It's therapeutic, at least for me."
She pulled the boy around until they were face to face "Do NOT provoke Iorworth."
"If he even dreams about touching me Tada will rip him apart."
"Don't underestimate him. He's a cunning weasel. There was always something off about Morherwr's death."
"What's mysterious about a German torpedo?" Meddwl protested with a frown. He clearly wasn't as vain as his father and elder brother, he didn't bother trying make it as pretty as possible.
She shook her head "You weren't much older than Aisling."
"I was nearly forty."
"Tada has always sheltered you more" Morcana chimed in from the far side of me "So you likely never knew that Morherwr and Adyrin had announced plans to wed and that Tada planned on naming them his heirs. Odd isn't it that they both died in the war?"
Meddwl shook his head "A fluke, he couldn't have, not without Tada finding out about it."
Damn, but I felt a wave of sympathy for the elf King. Losing a couple of your kids sucked, losing them and being forced to wonder if it was at the hands of another one of your kids just….God.
Morcana shrugged "You have a patient to see to" she reminded and giving us a more gracious bow than her brother had managed turned to leave but glanced at her sister when she failed to immediately follow.
"I will remain here in case my assistance is required."
Morcana looked briefly annoyed but swept out with the little chanting dwarf regiment in tow.
"How was Ab-El?" the boy was worried, practically begging his elder sister for reassurance.
"Aneirin went to help, I'm certain he'll do all can to see to it that Ab-El recovers." She nodded to Methos "And she entrusted someone she cares enough about to die for into your care."
"The traitor" he said frowning at Methos before kneeling and gently cupping his hands a few inches above his forehead. The tableau held long enough for my stumps to inform me that it had been a very long day.
"Please sit" the twin (I really did need to figure out her name) offered me a deep blue vaguely throne like chair. I wasn't certain if I'd be to get back out of it but it looked comfortable enough to sleep in if push came to shove. I settled down with a sigh. Amanda gave my shoulder a squeeze before finding a chair of her own.
The twin spoke gently and what I had taken to be a really ugly piece of modern art blinked at me.
"Cymorth, this is Joe Dawson, Duncan MacLeod, Amanda, and Methos. The King requires that you and your bwca serve them as you would one of us. If you need anything, just let the bwca know." Great room service by the world's ugliest garden gnomes. "For security reasons it would be best if you didn't leave this suite unescorted. I will speak to Tada about Iorworth but please do be careful. The walls have ears and not everyone in Avalon loves the Lord of Aratta, or outlanders, or those who carry the life force of an outcast alien. The Lord of Aratta has a long history of supporting House Penthalion and there those among the cyfae with memories as long the Lord's and some of them aren't pleased to have been ruled for millennia by what they consider usurpers placed in power by the machinations of 'an alien parasite clothed in human flesh'. There are cyfae that will be tempted to dare the King's infamous Wrath for the opportunity to strike a blow against the Lord of Aratta."
Great right back into the lion's den, thank you very much Ari-fing-El.
"Meddwl may very well be the only one other than Ab-El that can help your friend but that doesn't make Avalon or even this Citadel safe."
Meddwl picked that moment to raise his head, "I good news and… less good news."
"I could use some good news" for the first time the kid really looked at me and Sweet Jesus those eyes. I guess they were cat-slit like the rest of the family but you just sank into them. Kol-Tec had claimed he was a cup with no bottom (yeah right we'd seen how well that had worked out) I could believe it of this boy. Irises of deep velvety purple-blue drew you in and funneled you into a starry night that went on forever.
"I'm about 99.9 percent certain that he isn't going to wake up as Death."
I sagged against the chair. And wondered how the kid had known.
"And the less good news?" Mac said with that 'of the Clan MacLeod' voice.
"I'm not certain he's going wake up, at least not without help" he rose and ran his hand through his golden hair "Damn it Tada why didn't you bring Ab-El back with you? He couldn't have been in any shape to resist. And Draigs, Tada, this one is wreckage. Ab-El Called for ME. I needed to be THERE. You are my father and my King but don't you dare ever hold me prisoner here again."
The King gave his son a milder glance than I would have expected "Aneirin is watching over the Dark Lady and I have done all that could be done swiftly toward healing her, him, whatever." he said with a wave of his bejeweled hands. Amanda looked positively mesmerized. "Meddwl you are a child, if you chose to leave this sanctuary when you come of age" the King swallowed "then I won't stop you, but you are only a hundred and six years old"
"I doubt you were stuck being molly coddled when you were my age" the boy interrupted.
I swear the temperature dropped thirty degrees "No, I was buried alive in the Depths in a two by two by two alabaster box at 106. I had been locked away there utterly alone with the exception of the occasional visit by difaenaid for over thirty two years. I would remain there for an additional forty five." The twin didn't look surprised at revelation but Meddwl's jaw had sagged and he'd gone several shades past pale.
"No, I'm reasonably certain I've never been 'molly coddled' in my life. Trained as a torturer and an assassin from the age of three, a killer from the age of five. Hunted and under threat all of my days, from birth and likely to the grave. Your pardon if I have striven for something kinder for my children."
Meddwl had opted to study his toes. 106 and he looked about twelve at the moment. At least now I had a gauge for everyone else. Then softly "Please Tada you're smothering me."
A sigh from the Elven King "Your friend nearly gave his life to save him. He has been entrusted to my protection and your care, is there anything you need?"
He got crossed arms and teenaged angst "You mean my opinion actually matters?" No wonder the Elf Queen was rumored to be short tempered. If I'd had to put up with centuries of teenagers I'd be homicidal or suicidal. The twin shot her brother a 'you are SO dead meat' glance only to blink in resigned annoyance when the King didn't rip into him.
"Just because you don't always get what you want doesn't mean I'm not listening" the King shot back "and I am not a fool. You and Aisling have gifts completely outside of my ken and the Dark Lady herself vouches for your skill. In this" he bowed gracefully "you are the reigning monarch. Again, is there aught thou dost require of thy less than humble servant?"
Meddwl shook is head "Not tonight."
The King gave a sweeping bow, turned to go, paused and glanced back at the twin with just a touch of a sardonic grin, "Princess Aisling, Lady of the Third Eye is demanding a meeting with the Prince of Molten Earth. I sent the Prince of Air and Darkness to fetch him home."
The twin put both hands to her mouth and laughed.
"I don't think anyone will need to worry Iorworth for at least a fortnight. Pleasant dreams."
Pleasant dreams sounded absolutely heavenly and my eyelids dropped at the suggestion but Watcher curiosity forced them back open.
"You really should get some sleep" the twin started then apparently seeing the curiosity chose to indulge it "We are all born with the potential to do magic but while talents vary, tendencies run in families. Tada is both the most powerful Ellyllon ever born and has the greatest range of gifts off all of us. Since there were no full Blood Penthalions left Tada was the first to ever marry outside the House. He, or rather his half human half brother, picked Rhiana ab Argellion of House Tirion. It made a certain political sense, they were both the last surviving members of their respective Houses except Penthalions" her face twisted "are not to marry outside the House."
"Whoa, whoa are you telling me you have to marry your siblings?"
"Long standing family tradition" Meddwl muttered at the same time the twin countered "Tada's working on it."
Royalty, made me glad I was just plain old Joe.
"Tada didn't want to be an absolute tyrant the way every other Brenin had been. He had spent his childhood in the courts of Renaissance Europe and his exile among the pirates of the Caribbean. When he took the throne 1711 he was probably the most liberal monarch in either of our races' histories but many things have changed in your world since Tada took the throne."
That might just rank as the understatement of the decade.
"Then he was a radical in both our worlds, now he would be terribly reactionary in yours."
"And in this one?" Amanda prompted.
"Still too much for many" she replied "Iorworth leads those who would go back to the old ways. No more councils, no more voting, the only voice that will matter again will be the King's and those who can manipulate him. It would be a blood bath because for every one that longs for the 'good old days' there is another who would make us a full democracy."
Meaning the King was still the King and not a paparazzi photo op.
"And even among those who are content with Tada's 'middle way' there are many who are still angry that he outlawed the taking of thralls from among your kind."
Three cheers for the Elf King. Of course I doubted anyone here would want a legless cripple as a slave but I was for any guy that outlawed slavery against the protests of his own kind. It did make me wonder though what the rest of the royal family's opinions were on the matter.
"Truly I think Tada is tired of being King and I know he misses being able to travel freely. It was not unknown in times past for the Crown Prince take a more active role in the administration so that the King could from time to time move more freely. Morherwr's betrothal to our eldest sister Adyrin made them just conservative enough for those who long for the old days while the fact that Adyrin, at least, was more radical than Tada lulled those who long for greater change."
"Wait a minute" Amanda cut in "she was a radical and she was willing to marry her brother?"
"In House Penthalion the taboo is in favor of incest and they were in love. With Tada as a hammer, Morherwr to sooth ruffled feathers, and Adyrin to agitate for change things looked very bright."
"Until they both died" Amanda observed with just a hint of an edge.
"Morherwr was about forty years Cynsieg's junior and when he was little Mor worshipped the ground Cyn walked on and Cyn adored him. They remained extremely close into adulthood and Cyn, always the hottest tempered of us, was half mad after Mor and Adyrin's deaths. He attacked Iorworth at the funerals and would have killed him if Tada had not himself intervened. Troth I feared we would loose not just the two but the other three as well for Iorworth was sorely wounded and Cyn proved that he is nigh to Tada's better in battle. When Cyn recovered he agreed not to slay Iorworth unless and until there was clear, irrefutable evidence that he was behind the death of Mor. If such evidence exists it has never come to light though there is much that is...circumstantial. Cyn has not set foot in Avalon since preferring instead to live in the Outlands as a soldier of fortune" I had the distinct impression that she missed her brother quite a bit "but enough. It is far past time for you to rest."
As if anyone could sleep after discovering they'd ended up in a nest of magical intrigue…
I shrieked like a little girl when another piece of modern art woke me from a sleep so sound I wondered if there was magic involved. I glared briefly at Amanda who was giggling at me before turning away so that I didn't have to look at ageless perfection while strapping a pair of fake legs to my stumps.
A few minutes later I was ready to bravely face whatever insanity today might hold since we already had spies, vampires, aliens, Immortals, elves, and dragons I wondered what else was possible. Actually, no, I didn't. I wanted a scorecard to keep track of the current situation. And I wanted Methos back to in his full obnoxious glory a.s.a.p. so we could get back out of the madhouse.
Amanda looked a lot more somber as I stepped out.
"The King has sent Duncan and I invitations to spar this morning" she shifted a little clearly nervous while glancing toward Methos and the still sleeping Meddwl curled by his side. I had two guns that no one had even commented on. Here we were, deep inside the royal palace, housed with the King's children and there had been no move made to disarm any of us. Did that mean that our weapons were useless or was it some sort of cultural thing? Despite the fact that we'd been whispering Meddwl woke. Amada gave me a glance and I nodded I'd keep watch.
"How is he?" I should probably be bowing or something. Bah, not in this lifetime.
"About the same as last night" I got the impression that Meddwl cared about as much for Methos as I did Ari-El.
"He's really not a bad guy once you get to know him" I said as I watched Mac and 'Manda leave.
"No he isn't" God you could get lost in those eyes "Mr, Dawson I won't malign your friend if you will return the favor."
"It's Joe."
"If you would like to sit with him" the young elf slipped out of the chair he'd slept in with a grace I hadn't had back when I still had legs and offered his seat to me. I was willing to bet a fair bit of Avalon would be utterly scandalized. I wasn't certain what I expected of royalty but Meddwl and Morwenna weren't it.
"If I speak to him will he hear me?"
Both pointed ears flicked forward as he frowned slightly in concentration "Not right now, likely not for the next few days but sometimes that is its own blessing." He gave me a graceful bow "I dare not go too far for his condition is delicate" worry in those eyes but not for Methos.
"Your brother went with him" I offered. The kid almost had me wishing that Ari-El did recover and I was uncomfortably reminded of the Keene thing. The difference was Mac had been wild with anger and grief and the man he'd killed no innocent. Ari-El had cold bloodedly set a trap sacrificing Richie like a useless pawn in supposed attempt to teach Mac a lesson. I didn't care how many apparently decent people Ari-El suckered the guy was bad news.
"I have no doubt Aneirin would defend Ab-El to the last breath but he is no mind healer. Is there anything you need?"
My fingers were yearning to play "I don't suppose you might have a guitar handy?"
"Not personally but I know someone who does" a quick inclination of the head and a flicker of a smile before he vanished through the wall himself.
One of the bits of modern furniture left me breakfast after which the room was eerily silent. It was a…watchful quiet and I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck standing at attention. I shifted a little making certain I had easy access to my gun before taking a sip of coffee and considering the Immortal before me.
"You, without a doubt, are the worst pain in the ass I have ever had the misfortune to meet but you had better wake up as you or I am never going to forgive you." You would think after a lifetime of stakeouts, peering through keyholes, and waiting to see if my 'assignments' were going to come back alive that I would be good at waiting. Truth is, I'm not. Took up drinking to kill time and it nearly killed me. Damn but I hated owing my life to Ari-El but I hated the thought of dying before my time even more. Too pale and too still. Methos had been pale since the day I met him back when he was 'shy little Adam Pierson' who was so damn awed by it all. I snorted. God but he had played us all like a bunch of violins. On one side you couldn't trust Methos as far as you could throw him but just when you had him pegged as a complete asshole he would do something so selfless you could swear he had a split personality. I glanced back as Meddwl returned with what had to be a younger sister in tow. Given the way the rest of the family was a 'chip off the old block' I was beginning to wonder if the Queen had been cheating on him when she conceived Meddwl. The dark green haired girl who looked about ten (and was probably older than I was) gave me a shy smile. Of the seven royal children I'd met this was the first one that looked shy. Morwenna was quite but it was more a 'I will speak when I have something to say' attitude than shyness. Several servants were carrying a half dozen guitars. I noted that it was Meddwl that gave the orders.
"Joe this is my sister Morfran" a nervous smile and a flash of blue/green/silver eyes, maybe they were the family equivalent of hazel but a whole lot more striking "Morfran, Joe Dawson. Morfran is the family musician" he gave her the slightest shove forward.
"Tada plays and sings better than I do and Serena and Iorworth are just as good" she protested.
"Getting Tada to play requires a death threat, Iorworth does it only to impress and Serena merely dabbles. NONE of them does more than play" Meddwl shot back with a touch of impatience.
She studied the floor for a second "Would you like to play with me?" You can't do proper puppy dog eyes when you have pupils like a cat but she gave it a very good try and it would take a much more heartless guy than me to refuse. I got a bright smile and a gesture toward the guitars before I could actually say yes. I wandered over. They ranged from gaudy enough to match the elven king himself to simple elegance. Every one of them looked like a work of art but it didn't matter how pretty an instrument was if it didn't play well. They were all made of a strange dark wood I'd never seen before. I chose one decorated with silver knot work birds that didn't seem too ostentatious and ran through a few chords. Perfection. I closed my eyes and played a few more notes. It was as if the guitar shifted to meet me halfway molding to fit my hands, as if it whispered soft suggestions, as if it leapt for joy at being played. Hell maybe it did.
"She likes you."
"Does she?" I wasn't certain if I liked the idea or not.
"They're lledriths. Her name is Miri."
"Morfran makes them" Meddwl put in as he checked on Methos "she makes the finest instruments in all of Avalon."
She flushed nearly purple but didn't protest this time "She's been looking for a cymar for years."
I played a riff, I'd never sounded so good. I decided not to ask what a cymar was, "Your father must be proud of you."
"Tada insists that we all learn to play passably" Meddwl offered "but Tada doesn't really consider music…." He let the thought trail off. Ah, the Elf King was one of those 'practical' types that didn't consider music a 'real' job. Putz. I wasn't certain how to respond since I didn't particularly want to get either of us in trouble no matter how annoying I found the attitude.
"You know Stand by Me?"
She pulled her own guitar around from behind her back. I noted the stylized waves and wondered if her gifts were water oriented. She did indeed know Stand by Me and every other popular song I could think of better than I did. I taught her a few of mine and she shared some of her own. The kid (who was probably older than me and hadn't hit puberty yet) had talent to burn. When she finally hit her 'teens' she could write her own ticket to anywhere. The Elf King was a deaf fool.
Time flows oddly in a place without sun or shadow and I lost myself in the joy of playing with another extremely talented musician. A third player slipped in so subtly that I nearly missed him joining as the music swelled. I didn't even open my eyes to see who, what was happening was too good to let myself be distracted. Gradually the third player took lead. It took my breath away and my fingers faltered as the third player really opened up. Guy had chops to spare and then he started singing.
Please don't make me choose
Either way it's more than I could bear to lose
Oh this son of mine I love so welland all the toil it takes
I'd give to him a gardenand keep it clear of snakes
But the one thing he most treasuresis to make his own mistakes
He goes charging on the cliffs of life,a reckless mountaineer
I could help him not to stumble; I could warn him what to fear
I could shout until I'm breathlessand he'd still refuse to hear
But you cannot close the acorn once the oak begins to grow
And you cannot close your heartto what it fears and needs to know
That the hardest part of loveis the letting go
As a child I found a sparrow who had fallen from its nest
And I nursed him back to health'til he was stronger than the rest
But when I tried to hold him he would peck and scratch my chest
'Til I let him goand I watched him fly away from me
With his brightened self resolveand part of me was cursing
I had helped him grow so strong
And I feared he might go hungry,
I feared he might go wrong
But I could not close the acorn once the oak began to grow
And I cannot close my heart to what it fears and needs to know
That the hardest part of loveis the letting go
It's only in Eden grows a rose without a thorn
And your children start to leave youon the day that they were born
They will leave you there to cheer for them
They will leave you there to mourn
Like an ark on uncharted seas their lives will be tossed
And the deeper is your love for them the crueler is the cost
And just when they start to find themselvesis when you fear they're lost
But you cannot close the acorn once the oak begins to grow
And you cannot close your heartto what it fears and needs to know
That the hardest part of love
And the rarest part of love
And the truest part of love
Is the letting go
I waited a couple of breaths after the last note before opening my eyes and looking at the elven king in his common 17th century sailor guise. I wanted to hit him (a notion that was easier to entertain with him looking like a complete scallywag). How could you have talent like that and ignore it, think that music wasn't important? If 'Ahriman' had offered me that instead of legs I think I might have taken it, probably would have taken it except I very much doubted it was something Ari-El could give. The tender care with which he set the cetera he'd been playing aside was not the act of a man that had no respect for music. His green gaze went to his daughter first.
"Annwyl" I knew just enough welsh to guess that was an endearment "Do not make the mistake of thinking that because I have no passion for music that I think less of those who do. I have long wished that I could bestow this particular talent upon someone who would give it the time and attention it deserves. Ere your birth the fact that every child to whom I had passed the gift had also inherited my indifference to it was a great grief. I had long hoped that at least one of my children would have a passion for music coupled to my skill." He tilted her head up so he could brush a kiss across her forehead "my thanks, drud." I hoped that was a second endearment. She blinked at him in shock.
"But Tada, you" she flushed and couldn't meet his gaze. Meddwl looked quite pleased with himself. So, he'd known the truth and arranged matters to make certain things clear to his sister. It was a very Methosian move which both had undoubtedly picked up from Ari-El. Sneaky bastards all.
"Don't appear particularly enthused even when politics permits me to attend your recitals?" a flicker of a rueful grin and a self-deprecating shrug "It's music, dear heart."
"And you keep that….thing" she waved at the cetera with what had probably been a white dragon once upon a time across its front but it had yellowed with age. Not that the instrument looked abused by any stretch of the imagination but it was clearly old and rather well used for someone that 'required a death threat' to play. Something dangerous flashed in those green eyes and in a flicker of an instant he once more appeared the king. Damn shame I would have liked to talk to him and it was tough not to be blinded by the regalia. Morfran charged on clueless since she was looking her precious guitars but the entire audience of little fairies I hadn't noticed we'd gathered gave a collective gasp scattering like leaves before a hurricane and the room temp dropped a good ten degrees.
"You make very fine instruments" the King allowed in a tone that could chill molten lava and Morfran finally realized she'd stuck her foot in it "but this one is far too precious to me to part with." He sighed clearly not please to have been so harsh but also having no intention of yielding. Settling himself in one of the blue chairs he removed that confection of a crown from his head. It was clear that unlike most rulers the thing wasn't just for ceremonies but day to day wear. It had to weigh ten pounds or more. He wasn't quite as reverent with it as he had been with the cetera and I thought I detected a hint of resentment as he turned it so the central ruby faced him. He spent a moment staring into its slightly baneful looking depths.
"History is an obstinate beast and song is worse. One would think as, theoretically, a god-king of hypothetically unlimited legal power, at least until I managed to force a constitution and a bill of rights on my poor flabbergasted subjects" a flicker of an amused grin that faded rapidly "that if one decreed that one was not perfect and that one did NOT come to the throne completely on one's own nor did one spring like Athena into being already in possession of great wisdom" from the eye roll that accompanied the last made his personal opinion quite clear "that those to whom one tried to give the credit due them would actually receive it. But then the people of Avalon persist in the mistaken impression that I am a great king."
"But Tada" Morfran gasped "you are the greatest Brenin in the history of Avalon."
"Given that measure mere competent mediocrity was all that was required" the words were self-deprecating but I was willing to wager that he didn't think of himself as a 'mediocrity' at anything. "And while the demands of the shambles I inherited have occasionally forced me beyond that I have rarely even flirted with greatness and certainly never attained it though in my youth it was my privilege to be the strong left hand of two the greatest. This cetera was the gift of my dearest friend, the greatest king I have ever met, and one of the best men I have ever known. He is also the man responsible for browbeating me into honing my musical talent and if it wasn't for him I would not have survived to take the throne. That… thing is all I have left of a man who died for me and I intend to play it until the day I die."
"Sorry Tada" she whispered studying her toes.
He tilted her head up "You didn't know. Now you do" he turned his head slightly away and given how suspiciously bright his eyes were I suspected he was trying to compose himself.
"Would you mind if I wrote a song about him?"
"Of course not" the King's gaze shifted to Meddwl "There are a lot of songs sung about the night my sire sent Brenin Lladdededig to kill me and I nearly slew him but they all leave out one very important detail. I died in that battle. The only reason I'm here, the only reason either of you are here is because your grandfather saved my life that night after Brenin Lladdededig left thinking the job was done. And when the time came to return the favor I wasn't fast enough. I know you aren't Argellion but you are the only one of my children to have his skills and his mien. You are his legacy and all that remains of him. I could not bear to lose that, not after failing him so utterly." He swallowed "I know I hover and I'll try to do better. At least I've given you both of you the freedom to follow your dreams." He glanced up and sighing settled the crown back on his head "Duty calls."
Meddwl blinked, stunned "You never wanted to be king."
"In a perfect world it wouldn't have been my first choice, or even my second but there are decidedly worse jobs and the perks and fringe benefits are pretty impressive. In a perfect world I would have had a dozen siblings and been a healer."
He waved a stocky blond Ellyllon over and gracefully presented Amanda with something very slinky made of a strange charcoal colored fabric. "Please accept my humble apologies for my less than gentlemanly conduct earlier."
Amanda held up the dress clearly liking what she saw "Darling be as rough as you like."
The King rolled his eyes and swept out. The siblings looked at each other and slipped into one of the other rooms in our suite.
With the King gone I finally really looked at Mac and 'Manda "I thought it was supposed to be a friendly bout" Amanda was sporting a long slash across her mid-drift and Mac looked like someone had used him as the human equivalent of a pin cushion.
Amanda shrugged "Apparently his Highness's idea of 'friendly' is anything that leaves the combatants still alive."
I noted the Elf King's servants hadn't come bearing Mac any gifts "Was it a friendly bout?"
"Amanda's was" Mac allowed wincing a little.
I glanced at Amanda since Mac didn't seem inclined to talk.
She shrugged a little "Boy will be boys" while all but rolling her eyes at Mac who stomped off undoubtedly looking for a shower. She nibbled her lip clearly trying to decide if she should go after him or give him some space. She finally opted to lounge in the chair opposite.
"So?"
"So they got into a pissing match and Rhys is a better swordsman than Mac. Then Duncan seemed to think that since he couldn't win on skill he'd beat him on endurance. With even worse results."
"He kicks like a mule" Mac commented as he reappeared in a slightly less ventilated shirt "and he's even better than I remembered."
"About that" I started and then stopped when the King's electric blue haired wild-eyed daughter blinked up at Mac from out of nowhere.
"It isn't a stupid rule and you shouldn't break it" she seemed more than a little annoyed with Mac but at least she wasn't shrieking this time.
"What isn't a stupid rule?" Mac asked dropping down on her eye level.
"Duh, Holy Ground" she retorted rolling her silver eyes "all you'll do is get both of you hurt. He's forgotten something, something important and it changes EVERYTHING. You gotta help Starkindler remember before" she trailed off nibbling her lip and then started shrieking again.
Meddwl was back and beside her like a shot, holding her head between his hands, and murmuring in elvish as he backed her out of the room.
"Planning on getting into a fight on Holy Ground?" I asked Mac who shook his head "Of course not!"
"Been wondering something" I began.
Mac arched a brow.
"So when did you run into his Highness before?"
8