An Elven Bard

[Nim_White]

My name is Mezereon, Mezereon Thymelaea. I was named for a flowering bush that my mother is particularly fond of. I have two younger brothers.

I have been singing and playing music for almost as long as I can remember. My mother has a very fine singing voice, and my father makes and plays many different musical instruments, so I grew up with music, and indeed music is my life, and my life is music.

My parents taught me when I was young, and were able to obtain expert tuition for me from their musical friends as I grew older, but my song writing seems to come from inside me. Even when very small I was always making up little rhymes and jingles, and now I often find a situation, or even someone's chance remark, will start off a couple of lines of verse in my head, and then I just have to develop the theme to see what will come of it.

Now I have reached my majority, and having been taught about as much as I can use at home, I have left Evermeet to travel the world, to see new things and learn other musical traditions.

One day, I expect, I will return to Evermeet and settle down to composing serious music. But for now I am happy to write my songs and ballads, and to perform them before such audiences as I find. Oh, and to meet all the interesting people in the world!

[Nim_White]

A letter home:

Dear Mother and Father,

I am settling in here at Isinhold, and beginning to make a mark as a bard. A number of folk have asked me to sing for them, and I have made a good few coins for performing.

There are a number of elves here, and also dwarves and halflings and gnomes. Some of the halflings are very comical (I didn't know that halflings were obsessed with cheese - or at least some of them). The dwarves seem a bit stand-offish, perhaps they are not very musical? But one or two I have met have been nice, especially when they have had a drink or twelve.

The humans here - well they are of all sorts and from all over the world, so some are nice and some aren't. Which is what was to be expected, I suppose.

I have met several nice young elven fellows, but I have followed your advice and been wary of flattery and blandishments. But isn't it easy to feel romantic on a pleasant evening with the chorus in the background
'of the crickets
in the thickets
and the frogs
on the logs' !

My love to Tanacetum and Morus - if they decide to travel when they are older this might well be a good place for them to start.

I will write again soon, until then I will always be thinking of you, and thankful for the good start you have given me in life

Your loving daughter,
Mezereon

[Nim_White]

A letter home:

Dear mother and father

We have had some stirring times here recently. First there was a series of earth tremors, and when I went with a party to seek the cause, we found a strange circle burnt into the floor of one of the caverns beneath the town.

One of the party, a valiant paladin, tried to investigate the portal and it struck him down dead! Then a terrible demon appeared, and we were lucky to defeat it, several of the party being badly hurt. (I just stayed back and fired arrows at it, so I was all right).

A War Wizard answered our call for help, and came to examine the phenomenon, which closed up of its own accord. But in the meantime we had found several more, scattered about the caves. There was a lot of talk amongst the magic users as to what the thing was and how it was formed, but even the most advanced of them didn't seem sure. It was certainly not like anything I have ever heard about in ballads or bardic lore. Perhaps grandfather might be able to tell?

Since then more of these circles have appeared - one right in the centre of Isinhold, from which some sort of giant Fiend emerged. That too was only defeated after a hard fight. So now everyone is on the lookout, and we have tried to spread the word that they seem to appear after earth tremors are felt, so any such tremors should be investigated.

Otherwise life here is going well. I have earned some good coin from singing and playing, and made some good friends. One thing I don't really understand, though, is why half the women here seem to wear very revealing clothing, and yet half the men go round dressed like gravediggers. (It's not hard to get dye for clothing, or even armour).

My love to Tanacetum and Morus, and I'll write again soon.

Mezereon

[Nim_White]

A letter home:

Dear Mother and Father

I hope you are sitting down when you read this. I have met my soul-mate! He's a very sweet and gallant elf called Takumi. He was orphaned when very young, and did not have an elven upbringing, and so he is rather reserved and shy. But our love is very real and very deep.

So now I would like to bring him home to Evermeet so he can get to know you - and so you can get to know him. He is a little doubtful of how he might be received there, but I am sure you will love him too. And I am sure Tanacetum and Morus will like him, and be interested in his tales of adventuring in Cormyr. He is, incidentally, a brave warrior, so that when I go with him into the wilds about Isinhold, I feel quite safe in his company.

We would like to get married soon. He respects my desire to be wed properly before we -- well you know -- but I don't want to keep him waiting too long.

It's a funny thing, but since Takumi and I have been courting, I don't seem able to compose anything other than love songs!

So - I hope to hear from you soon - perhaps grandfather can help speed a message?

My love to all of you

Mezereon

[Nim_White]

I Will Always Remember

(A translation of extracts from a love song, written in the elven tongue, by Mezereon for her husband Takumi shortly after their marriage. The original is written in an ancient and intricate verse form, and no attempt has been made to reproduce this in this version in the common tongue)

I will always remember how we arrived in Evermeet, and my Grandfather was there looking pleased because his spell had succeeded so well, and my parents, with welcoming smiles stood ready to greet us, and my two brothers, who looked excited to meet a warrior from the lands outside Evermeet.

And my parents led us to a table set outside their house, beneath the leaves of the orchard trees, and bade us sit and be at ease. And you spoke shyly at first, my love, but the welcome was so warm and genuine that I could see you were relaxing, gradually, and your honest replies to their questions, your frankness about your upbringing, soon made a deep and favourable impression upon them.

And I will always remember my mother dabbing a tear from her eye at the picture of a babe abandoned to be brought up by monks and not learning much of his elven heritage. And my father saying that he thought that the monks had done well if your modest and truthful ways were learnt from them. And my two brothers whispered between themselves, and then announced that if you were agreeable to the idea, they would represent your unknown family at our wedding, and I will always remember your look of surprised pleasure, and your warm acceptance of their offer.

.......

I will always remember, Takumi, how we waited at the sides of the Grove of Celebration until the signal should be given, and I guessed you were as nervous as me. And then the new moon rose above the tree tops, and I heard the voice of my mother raised in a hymn of praise to Corellon, and the liquid notes of the Great Harp, played by my father, accompanying her. And this was the signal, and we walked from opposite sides of the grove towards each other, between the gathering of wedding guests, and I was accompanied by my two bridesmaids, and you by my two brothers, the groomsmen. And then I could see you and I wanted to run to you.

I will always remember how we met at the centre of the grove, and turned towards my grandfather, who was waiting in his robes of office as priest of Corellon, and wearing the simple circlet of his position as a Keeper of Evermeet. And I placed my hand upon your arm and we walked side by side the few short paces to where he stood.

And Grandfather invoked Corellon as witness to this wedding; and then he bade us turn towards each other, each holding the other's two hands. And then. looking into each other's eyes we spoke the simple vows of marriage. Then we knelt and Grandfather blessed us in the name of Corellon.

Then we rose and turned to face the wedding guests, and Grandfather spoke in a clear and carrying voice that we were now wed, and that Corellon was our witness. And my parents spoke, saying that they were witnesses, and then my brothers and my bridesmaids spoke similarly, and finally the assembled guests also repeated the words of witnessing.

Then many voices were raised in a song of good wishes and celebration. And coloured lanterns were lit in all the trees around the grove, and the wedding guests were revealed in all their finery. And I will always remember, Takumi, how you looked in wonder at the myriad lanterns in the tree and the beauty of all the fair folk there assembled, but constantly your gaze returned to me.

And there was feasting, and music and dancing, and we walked together Takumi, greeting the guests and thanking them for their company and for witnessing our marriage. And finally we reached the place where my - our - family was waiting. And there were pleasant words, and my brothers whispered something to you which made you laugh and blush at the same time, and then they went off to dance with my bridesmaids. And my father embraced you as he would a son, and my mother whispered a few last words of wisdom in my ear, and then we stole away from the grove, hand in hand. And I think my Grandfather may have cast a spell, because no-one impeded our going.

.....

I will always remember, Takumi, our wedding night. I was nervous, as you were too, but you were so gentle, your touch was so deft and delicate, that all my fears soon left me. And so we made love, at last, beneath the new silver moon, now setting, and the scintillating stars.

Yes I will always remember.

Oh Takumi, I love you so!

[Nim_White]

A letter home:

Dear Mother and Father

Thank you so much for the lovely wedding you arranged. And I have written to Grandfather thanking him for officiating, and to Tanacetum and Morus for their wonderful gesture in standing for Takumi's family during the ceremony. And thank you most of all for your warm reception of Takumi - he was so nervous about meeting you, but you made him feel at home so quickly and naturally.

We had such a good time in Evermeet, it was a wrench to leave. But Takumi and I have our goals in life to aim for, so we had to come back to Cormyr.

And now we spend as much time together as we can. Takumi often has to be away, but I know he will always come back, and when he does our reunion is so sweet. Perhaps our love is strengthened by the separations, if that is possible.

We love to walk together in the woods and glades, gathering berries and mushrooms. I am afraid we don't gather as many as we might, because we get distracted - you know what I mean!

Takumi joins me in sending you our love as well as our thanks.

Your loving daughter
Mezereon

ps Takumi bought me the wedding ring he promised - a simple ring of gold, but infused with his love. He makes me so happy!