Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn From: B7P7 Subject: [Storm][Jiri][AU]: A Song in the Storm. Message-ID: <10APR93.22983324.0092@VM1.MCGILL.CA> Date: Sun, 11 Apr 1993 02:16:51 GMT [Admin]: When last we left Andrea, Sheryl, Carson and Jiriku, they were waiting in the Dragons Inn for the casualties to come in. Jiri had suggested joining Listener downstairs for an elven song about the Wind and Rain to ease the tensions. Meanwhile, Kyhra had been helping at the Seawall. He'd made a heroic leap to save one of his fellow Sandbaggers form being swept over the wall, but found that he had not the strength nor the time to pull the man to safety, for the Wave was coming back to claim its' victim. Thus did Kyhra stare into the eyes of Death upon the Sea, and knew that She would take him unto her dark domain under the waves... Humming a cheerful tune the Wolfmage led the Unicorn, the cat and the Thief into the cellars below, where most of the patrons of the Inn were holed up. The tension in the air was so thick that it almost seemed difficult to see across the cellar. After a moment of searching, Jiriku spotted the other elf accross the room softly strumming his lute. He made his way over as quickly as he could, for the room was indeed packed fairly tight. "Hail and well met friend," Jiriku began. "I am Jiriku Goldeies of the Sylvanwood. I noted earlier that you are one who practises the musical arts with great skill, and I thought maybe that I could add my humble voice to thine in a Song of Rain and Winds." The Sylvan smiled his peculiar smile and attempted a bow in the cramped quarters. The other smiled a return grin. "I am known as Listener. I would be happy to join you in a song, friend. It would be good for all of these worried hearts." The Wolfmage nodded. "Yes, that's what I was thinking. In the Sylvanwood we have many songs to raise the spirit, but I think the best one of all is the Stormsong. It is a Song of Wind and Rain, and many is the time that it has heartened the souls caught in a great storm. Know you it?" At the shake of the other elf's head, Jiriku smiled. "All the better. It is not diffilcult for one of your skill, and always have my people said that a Tale or Song is strengthened by adding the magic of others to it." Jiriku took a seat on top of a barrell beside the other elf and began to quietly strum his silver lute, speaking of melodies and harmonies to the bard. After a minute, Listener smiled and called for attention. "Friends and Travellers! Jiriku Goldeies and I would sing you a song to put your fears at bay and ease the tension in your hearts. It is a song of hope in the winds and rains, as sung by the people of the Sylvanwood. Please, listen and let your hearts fill with our joy." Quite a few of the other people clapped approval, but there were many still who looked none the cheered by the news. After one last final check of tuning, the two elves leapt into a strange and beautiful melody. For long minutes did they play thus, Jirikus lute seeming to sound the wind, and Listeners' the rain. The song built in power and strength, and it seemed to all that the two elves played the very storm itself- which, in a way they did, though their storm was much gentler. Now every ear in the cellar listened to the song, and all of the talk ceased as Jiriku began to sing, his sweet voice the sound of a forest brook and the gentle spring breeze at the same time. "When come the Wind, when come the Rain, The Storm that promises loss and Pain. When come the Fear that brave hearts taint, Then do we sing this sweet refrain. "When fall the Rain unto the ground, When blows the Wind with fearful sound, Then is the Song of Storming profound, And courage and hope is once again found. "I sing to you this song of Hope, So in the darkness you do not grope, Take from me this silver rope, And climb back up to the heights of Hope. "The Rain falls down to soothe the Mind The Wind blows hard to steel the Heart. Look deep within and you shall find, That the Storm outside is not as dark. Upon the forests and on the Sea, The weather comes to clense and clean. Be strong brave heart and you shall see, Upon the morrow the Sun's bright sheen. "When fall the Rain and blow the wind, Then is the time for souls to be kind. When the storm without is full of sin, Then is the time for us to unwind. "We'll sing and dance and feast all night, While outside the Storm is full of spite. We'll deny the Weather it's terrible right, And raise our hope to it's full height. "We'll laugh and smile and sing a song, And let the Weather do us no wrong. For our hope is high and our hearts are stong, And we are singing the Storming Song." (This time Listener and even some of the others joined the Wolfmage in the chorus.) "The Rain falls down to soothe the Mind, The Wind blows hard to steel the Heart. Look deep within and you shall find, That the Storm outside is not as dark..." Listener took over and made up several new verses, and the song continued for some time. Before it was finished, everybody in the cellar was singing along with a brave and cheerful voice- especially Sheryl, though only Jiriku heard her, who was in absolute heaven listening to the two elves sing and play upon their lutes. A great rousing cheer went up from the crowded cellar, and even the little brownie sleeping in the roof's eaves was awakened by the hopeful sound. Listener began another cheerful jig, and Jiriku happily accompanied him. Some people even did a bit of a dance where there was room to do so. But it was as this second song finished that the golden eyed, silver haired Sylvan suddenly dropped his lute and let forth a cry of utter despair. Everyone in the room looked worried again as Jiriku fell to his knees. "NOOOOOO!! Kyhra!" Even as the cry finished, he was on his feet and rushing for the stairs. Andrea gave Sheryl a worried look and ran after her new companion, even while Littlefair and Listener tried to get the other marrooned patrons into another song. Andrea made it up to the main floor just in time to see Jiriku draw forth a strange amulet and begin to work his magik. Even as he began, there was a pounding on the side door and several gaurdsmen poured in carrying wounded men from the Seawall. Andrea quickly directed them to the back room that the Sylvan mage had earlier prepared to deal with the injured. She tried to the best of her ability to help the men save the wounded ones. Many had had swallowed lungfulls of water and a few of them were bleeding profusely. Andrea cursed Jiriku and worried over Kyhra at the same time. She _needed_ that damn elf in there! Yet she also sent her blessings to the magik that would save the Kalnarian. As she reached to pull tight the bandage she was working on, a delicate hand stilled her arm and deftly tied the cloth around the wound. She looked up, and saw Jiriku standing there, his normally golden eyes misty and dark. Tears streamed down his delicate face, and the raven streak in his hair had grown, so that all that remained of his silver locks was a similar streak running the length of his hair. "I couldn't save him," Jiriku said brokenly. "I couldn't save him Andrea." A shocked look came upon the dark haired thiefs face, and she burst into tears as well as the elf burried his face in her shoulder and cried for the loss of his friend. --Dani Treutler. [note]: I just borrowed this address, as mine is low on funds, so if you want to respond to this, mail me at the one right above. Chris and I will welcome newcomers, so if you want to hook up with our characters, mail one of us. Oh, and if you happen to have a mage down at the 'Wall, a certain feline warrior I know would appreciate any help he can get... (just mail me first.)