A Breeze on the Water

[Regulus Grey]

Regulus gently squeezes her hand to try to impart some measure of comfort.

"A story...let me see. I know a few different ones..."

Spending a few moments humming, when he begins his voice has deepened to a pleasent tone. One that would be well used in telling a story on a cold winter night.

"Once a young man walked through the forest with a quiver and hunting bow. He heard a young girl singing and followed the sounds. Under a willow in a ring of red toadstools lay a woman with beautiful red hair. He called to her and she listened, he said she had captured his heart and asked if she would return to his home with him. The girl shook her head."

He draws in another breath, a frown crossing his forehead.

"He returned the next day with a bunch of flowers, asking the girl if she would come and be his wife. Thrice he asked her and was refused so he departed. The next day he returned with a sharp axe, cutting down the willow tree he pulled the sobbing girl from the ring of toadstools. He told her that she now belonged to him and started for his home, dragging her by the hair. She followed him from the forest then collapsed upon the earth. She turned into a flower that bloomed for bright eve."

Regulus shakes his head.

"One cannot take from the land what is never meant to leave."

[Christine Daye]

Christine shakes her head sadly.

"...and the thing our tales have in common is the theme of those with power taking from those who have none... is this truly the world that we live in? ...yes... I am afraid so..."

She squeezes her eyes shut and starts to sing.

"The maiden sat on a soft green branch,
To watch the world go by - oh
Her hair was brown, her dress so green,
Her eyes blue as the sky – oh
Sky – oh, as the sky
Her hair was brown, her dress so green,
Her eyes blue as the sky – oh.

A knight he rode down the winding path,
With armour shining fairly,
He saw her there, his heart did stop,
Because he loved her dearly.
Dearly, so dearly,
He saw her there, his heart did stop,
Because he loved her dearly.

The knight he called to the maiden fair,
With courtesy most noble,
With a start she vanished into air,
And he was left alone – oh.
Lone – oh, so alone,
With a start she vanished into air
And he was left alone – oh.

The knight he cried to the blue blue sky,
“Oh where has my love gone – oh?”
A bird flew down to the soft green branch
And there began its song – oh.
Song – oh, oh its song,
A bird flew down to the soft green branch
And there began its song – oh.

The bird did change to become the maid
All on the branch so green – oh.
“Kind sir,” she said, “both bird and maid,
I am as you have seen – oh.”
Seen – oh, as you’ve seen
“Kind sir,” she said, “both bird and maid,
I am as you have seen – oh.”

“For I am enchanted, sir,
bound in this shape forever,
‘ til a knight should come to free me, sir,
by plucking all my feathers
Feathers, all feathers,
‘ til a knight should come to free me, sir,
by plucking all my feathers”

The knight he cried “Oh I’ll free thee love,
I’ll pluck from you your feathers,
And together in my castle strong,
We’ll live in joy forever.
Ever, all forever,
And together in my castle strong,
We’ll live in joy forever.”

The maid she said “Oh, I thank thee sir,
For your kind and noble wishes,
But I’ll not change my strong brown wings
For any love nor riches.
Riches, oh riches,
But I’ll not change my strong brown wings
For any love nor riches.

The maid she sat on a soft green branch,
To watch the world go by – oh,
And she sang of love and the joy of flight,
With her eyes up to the sky – oh.
Sky – oh, to the sky
And she sang of love and the joy of flight,
With her eyes up to the sky – oh."

[Regulus Grey]

"It is a sad truth Ms Melody, and likely a truth that shall not change."

A frown flits across Regulus's face.

"Let's see, your mention of Selkies reminds me of another story I heard...how did it go..."

He hums for a few moments

"A maiden fair stood upon the shoreline...and a Selkie Lord came up from the see and asked the maiden to wed him. For though he would die come morning it would be worth it to be the maiden's husband for a night. The maiden refused, stating she would not watch her lover die..."

He closes his eyes, thinking hard.

"The maiden said that they should go to her grandmother who has ever lived beside the sea, that she may know some trick or treasure to allow them to wed. The grandmother could see the love the maiden held for the Selkie...and so have gave her magic seal coat that would turn the maiden into a maid Selkie."

Another few moments humming

"Dawn was breaking and the seal Lord was getting weak by the time they made it back to the shoreline. Donning her magic seal coat the maid became a Selkie, both returned to the Selkie's watery kingdom."

[Christine Daye]

Christine listens intently to Regulus' story, and relaxes a little as it ends.

"...perhaps... love truly can prevail... when all else fails... and we are not running... perhaps... there still is hope... for there is still love..."

...meet me on the battlefield...

"...do you know aught of the Kindred history of this area?"

[Regulus Grey]

"People will go to greater lengths for those they love than for those they hate. It's a faint hope, but hope is hope."

Regulus blinks slowly.

"I have a very broad knowledge, somewhat out of date and vague. But I am learning more the longer I spend in the area. Is there something you wish to know? If I don't know it I'm sure I can find out?"

[Christine Daye]

"...yes... and no matter their reasons... there are many who will gather round... now... it remains to be seen... if I can find a way to make such disparate instruments play in harmony... but it only needs to be for a short time... at the right time..."

A soft, wry laugh, of the sort you get when the choice is to laugh, or to weep.

"...and I attempt the role of conductor... such arrogance! ... but I cannot do otherwise... a faint hope, true... a single candleflame in the darkest tomb.... I pray it will be enough... "

She murmurs words in a language that he doesn't recognise.

"Sé do bheatha, a Mhuire,
atá lán de ghrásta,
Tá an Tiarna leat.
Is beannaithe thú idir mná,
Agus is beannaithe toradh do bhroinne; Íosa.
A Naomh-Mhuire,
a Mháthair Dé,
guigh orainn na peacaigh,
anois, agus ar uair ár mbáis.
Amen."

She blinks, refocusing on the Gangrel.

"I would know of Elisheba... she of the harp and song... a Seer and childe of Vortigern... if you know anything..."

[Regulus Grey]

"Our Elders have attempted the role of conductor for years, and look where it has placed this fair city. I highly doubt that your conduction could be more awful than theirs. You are a likeable woman Ms Melody, I'm sure you will do well."

He smiles, then frowns.

"Elisheba? Vortigern? I'm afraid I do not know these names...I will ask Lady Esme upon her return and pass on what I know Ms Melody."

[Christine Daye]

"... no... please do not trouble her on my account... I have other resources yet to investigate... if the weather does not take another turn..."

She pauses for a moment, considering.

"...what then do you know of Arthur...? ... not just Malory's romance... but the man...?... rex quondam, rexque futurus...?"

[Regulus Grey]

"Very well Ms Daye, though if anything comes to my ears I will pass it along to you."

Regulus nods

"Arthur...as in King Arthur? The tales of Camalot and such like? I have not done extensive research...or in fact any research into the man himself. I have done some digging into Merlin at the command of Rosalie Langdon, but it was a grand waste of time."

He tilts his head

"I am also passingly familiar with the song 'The Kingsword' what with it being the song I spoke at the latest Masked Ball."

[Christine Daye]

"Thank you, you are most kind!"

She nods at his request for clarification about Arthur, then frowns.

"...oh, that is a pity that your research into Merlin came to naught, for that is also a subject of interest... would you be so good as to remind me of the lyrics of that song? I'm afraid that I was too worried about the dancing to have much memory of it... I am sorry!"