Ithilhin's performance

Aldarwen grins and says, "The first performer we will hear now, is from the Order of Lorien: Knigh-Bachelor Ithilhin o Daernoss Aderthad." She looks towards him and says softly, "Ithilhin, please?"

Ithilhin stands slowly, moving towards the stage with his usual stride now.

Aldarwen goes to a corner of the stage and watches Ithilhin grinning wide.

Ithilhin bounds up to the stage, smiling. He glances over the audience a moment before starting to sing softly, quite a gloomy song. You catch the first few words, "Beneath the stars and silver moon..." His voice seems to fade slightly, and instead he seems to be singing images, pictures of the past. The images are not happy ones. His voice calls, unbidden, the memories of orcs in the past, running freely through Middle-earth. Kingdoms falling from power. The Dark One nearly conquering all. His words make you chill.

Terridan listens intently to Ithilhin's song, sitting up in his seat as the Bachelor begins to voice the images of the past. He sudders slightly at the thoughts that the images bring.

Half-knowing what to expect, Earsul is less surprised by the theme of the song than perhaps some of the other audience members are, but he is no less affected by it, and his smile fades at the song's images.

Suddenly, Ithilhin's words take predominance over sight once again. His voice rings out like a Herald's, as if proclaiming good news. "Gil-Galad and Elendil, in the last pact of war, united, and brought warriors to the dark kingdom's door. Orc legions strong came forth from the gate...." Foul, uncouth warriors clad in black armor seem to march fearlessly through the thoughts before being swept away by the voice. "... But were swept away from the land like the wind, scattering away to meet their cruel end." The din of battle seems to rage in your ears, and the cries die down as the once-might armies are broken and scattered. "They dethroned the Dark Lord, but in the act, met their fate." An elf a man seem to stand before a mighty castle, entirely dark. Coming forth from the gate was an evil surpassing description. As they fight, all three seem to be cast down in defeat. The tower behind is razed.

Young Aelin, who has plopped himself in a chair, lights up with excitement as the words of Ithilhin's song conjure up images of the great Quendi of the Age before.

Aldarwen closes her eyes and lets herself be enraptured by the images ithilhin brings.

Earsul smiles at the tale of the last pact of edhel and edain, and the brighter times it brought about.

Terridan sits up in his chair fully, a slight smile coming to his face as Ithilhin brings forth images of history. He closes his eyes, allowing himself to fully listen to the song.

Ithilhin's voice falls into the background as he sings of pleasant times. Images of elves roaming freely in the woods, men farming without fear of nearby foes. An age of light, where darkness is vanquished, seems to be forming. Very gradually, the song begins to turn dark, so gradually you do not realize it is dark until it comes to passages similiar to the first. The same fell warriors are seen roaming the countryside. Elves are seen wandering the woods, but now with bows in hand and wearing armor. No men are seen in far countrysides; they have all been vanquished by raids. Men live in kingdoms always ready for war, while elves must patrol their realms endlessly to stop the constant onslaught. Ships of black sail to coastlands, assailing their foes and slaying many. In woods long thought safe, evil takes shape. The Tower of Darkness is seen in the background again, fully rebuilt.
With quite a shock, you realize Ithilhin is now speaking of the present. No longer historical, the song speaks of the here and now.

Terridan reels back slightly as if he has been physically struck as Ithilhin continues, and the smile that was there but a moment before is now gone, replaced by a slight frown.

Creeping doubt seems to manifest itself in sound as Ithilhin speaks of the coming darkness, an evil on the edge of sight that is coming, slowly but surely. Evil beasts roam, while orcs multiply. The elves, caught on the wane, must protect themselves as well as they can. Unable to act against their mighty foe, the Armies of Good can only protect themselves, unwilling to unite from petty strifes in the past. A white tower, rising high above the realm of the Edain, is cast down as if it was a sapling. Everything standing for light and joy recedes, retreating from the seemingly invincable foe before them. All seems lost.

Loria listens, enthralled and captivated by the song.

Suddenly, the Knight-Bachelor's voice changes pitch and grows deeper, almost powerful. He speaks of sudden strikes, quick victories. The Wood, once besieged, sends forth armies against foes. The Edain stem the coming tide and turn it, their armies thundering over the lands of the Enemy. The creeping Darkness, once a tangible thing itself, is thrust aside and dissipated by the wind as rays of light shine through. Through the captivating pictures, Ithilhin's song comes through. "The future is grim, the past is dark. Whatever lies ahead, we must embark, on a Quest of protection, for all good lands. The darkness will fall, the light will shine, the unholy will wither against the divine, the evil will scatter in the wind like the sounds." Suddenly, all sights fade, and silence reigns. The only vision left before you is Knight-Bachelor Ithilhin, stepping down from the stage quickly.

Terridan looks up to the stage and Ithilhin for a long while, his only movement is his eyes following the Knight-Bachelor down the steps.

Stepping down somewhat quickly, Ithilhin reseats himself among his friends and lets out a deep breath of relief, as if he had been holding it the whole song. He relaxes, and his smile grows to the full, face-covering grin it usually is.

Loria shivers and applauds at the same time.

Aldarwen claps to Ithilhin and says softly to him as he passes by her in his way down the stage, "Excellent, mellon!"

Terridan begins to applaud slowly, then a bit louder, "Well done, mellon."

Earsul smiles broadly as his friend exits the stage, and he applauds along with the rest of the audience, grinning as the Bachelor seats himself once more. "Very well sung, mellon," he smiles, offering him a small glass of Lothmiir.

Aelin leaps to his feet, and with a squeal of young laugher, he claps heartily for the Bachelor.

Ithilhin is somewhat abashed by the praise, unused to anything of the sort, and he only says softly, "Thank you, mellyn." He sighs again. Gratefully accepting the glass from Earsul, he smiles and takes a sip.

Silent, mighty mellyrn listen to the words of songs, their boughs cast deep shadows on the grass. One of the shadows suddenly shifts, wavers, and splits into two. The smaller one actually belongs to a slender elf-maid in a simple green dress. How long was she there before noticed by others is anybody's guess.
Tuonoorwen makes few steps toward Ithilhin, "You deserve the praise, mellon".