Post by darinder on Jul 11, 2011 9:06:06 GMT -5
At the sound of a polite cough, Talbot looked up from cleaning his bar to see a vision in pink and white. Holding an old but obviously well-looked after harp, the young woman stammered out a request to sing in his establishment. Hearing her inability to speak even two words, he was dubious - afraid she'd drive away his paying customers.
It took several minutes of persuasion (yes, gentle reader, still stammered) to even get him to listen to a sample of her songs. He was pleasantly surprised when he did so for her voice was clear and sweet when she sang; a change she either could not or would not explain to him.
And so it was that a young bardling made her first public performance in Talbot's common room...
Her bejewelled hoop earrings jingled softly as she moved across the floor to stand near the piano. She strummed a series of languid notes upon her harp, inviting the pianist to join in once his ear had caught the melody. Turning to the few assembled customers, she began to sing in a ponderous, almost ominous tone.
Gather ye my friends and a tale I'll share.
For tales aplenty I've heard in my days,
Of the mightiest heroes, those who dare,
Of villainous rogues and their evil ways,
Of a silver-hair'd Elf on a golden dragon,
But my song this day is not of those,
My song this day is of a little red wagon...
At this point, her expression changes to a broad grin as her hands dance lightly back and forth across the harp in a livelier and uplifting melody. The abashed pianist is caught completely unprepared but laughs softly at the unexpected turn of the song; a reaction repeated by most of the audience.
Adventures bold, my mum and my dad,
Sent me into the world my mark to make,
To me they said "Songs to write, and fun to be had,"
"Friends to meet and chances to take."
"Find your best, find what is good"
But ne'er did they say
"Find a wagon of wood"!
Young Alenda started to move through the crowd. As she passed some tables, she leant down and sang a line or two directly to a patron. On one occasion, she had to perform a quick backstep to avoid a too-familiar gesture from one fellow who'd sunk too low in his cups.
'Twas in the Griffon, some months past,
I chanced to meet darling Isabel.
When what should appear, moving none-too-fast?
You know already, I need not tell.
'Twas her wagon of wood, all painted in red
Four wheels, four sides, a handle too
I tell you friends, I nearly stopped dead
When to me it moved, as if on cue.
"He started to follow me" Isabel said,
"I've no idea from where he came",
"But he's so cute all painted in red"
"I had to keep him because he's so tame"
"He's handy and he's fun"
"When he runs off on his own"
"All he needs when he's done"
"Is oil for wheels... to silence the groan"
I've sung of a wagon, all red and cute.
Some may think I've sung mere lies
But know my song is beyond repute,
Believing me not is most unwise.
So many tales of woe and despair,
But for once, lift up your hearts
For a wagon cute and a woman fair
And pray you see them in these parts.
She bowed with a flourish as her song came to a rather sudden stop instead of the slow winding down that is more commonly used. The applause was generous and her smile broadened further. When she thanked the crowd, there were looks of some astonishment as she stammered out her words.
As she left the Inn, the only farewell she gave Talbot was a wink and the same shy smile she'd given on arriving.
It took several minutes of persuasion (yes, gentle reader, still stammered) to even get him to listen to a sample of her songs. He was pleasantly surprised when he did so for her voice was clear and sweet when she sang; a change she either could not or would not explain to him.
And so it was that a young bardling made her first public performance in Talbot's common room...
Her bejewelled hoop earrings jingled softly as she moved across the floor to stand near the piano. She strummed a series of languid notes upon her harp, inviting the pianist to join in once his ear had caught the melody. Turning to the few assembled customers, she began to sing in a ponderous, almost ominous tone.
Gather ye my friends and a tale I'll share.
For tales aplenty I've heard in my days,
Of the mightiest heroes, those who dare,
Of villainous rogues and their evil ways,
Of a silver-hair'd Elf on a golden dragon,
But my song this day is not of those,
My song this day is of a little red wagon...
At this point, her expression changes to a broad grin as her hands dance lightly back and forth across the harp in a livelier and uplifting melody. The abashed pianist is caught completely unprepared but laughs softly at the unexpected turn of the song; a reaction repeated by most of the audience.
Adventures bold, my mum and my dad,
Sent me into the world my mark to make,
To me they said "Songs to write, and fun to be had,"
"Friends to meet and chances to take."
"Find your best, find what is good"
But ne'er did they say
"Find a wagon of wood"!
Young Alenda started to move through the crowd. As she passed some tables, she leant down and sang a line or two directly to a patron. On one occasion, she had to perform a quick backstep to avoid a too-familiar gesture from one fellow who'd sunk too low in his cups.
'Twas in the Griffon, some months past,
I chanced to meet darling Isabel.
When what should appear, moving none-too-fast?
You know already, I need not tell.
'Twas her wagon of wood, all painted in red
Four wheels, four sides, a handle too
I tell you friends, I nearly stopped dead
When to me it moved, as if on cue.
"He started to follow me" Isabel said,
"I've no idea from where he came",
"But he's so cute all painted in red"
"I had to keep him because he's so tame"
"He's handy and he's fun"
"When he runs off on his own"
"All he needs when he's done"
"Is oil for wheels... to silence the groan"
I've sung of a wagon, all red and cute.
Some may think I've sung mere lies
But know my song is beyond repute,
Believing me not is most unwise.
So many tales of woe and despair,
But for once, lift up your hearts
For a wagon cute and a woman fair
And pray you see them in these parts.
She bowed with a flourish as her song came to a rather sudden stop instead of the slow winding down that is more commonly used. The applause was generous and her smile broadened further. When she thanked the crowd, there were looks of some astonishment as she stammered out her words.
As she left the Inn, the only farewell she gave Talbot was a wink and the same shy smile she'd given on arriving.