#fenixtj

A voice calls out "Piper of Rivervale?"

From the hallway

She turns, "Yeah? I mean, Speaking!"

"We need to discuss what place you'll have in the contest time wise... which slot you prefer" Constance says "Sorry to trouble you, but if you'll come with me?"

"Oh, of course. Dame Bevera, may I leave Adam in your company?" A small smile. She reaches out to nab his hand though, and gives it a quick squeeze.

"You may, I'll protect him" Bevera says "if it is needed"

A chuckle, though her forehead crinkles just a touch, and she leans in to give him a kiss. Murmured into his ear, "Come find me when you're done chatting?"

"Y... yes. Yes, sure, Piper. Uh."

Another disconnected pause, and he comes back long enough to turn and give her a kiss back.

That smooths most of the crease off her forehead, and she trots off along with Constance. Though, she does shoot at least one glance back over her shoulder, until they turn a corner and out of sight.

Adam is watching after her!

"She seems like a fine young lady. Most personable. And a damn fine singer" The Gwydion observes after Piper has withdrawn

"She is." Adam's eyes slide back to the Dame. "All that."

"She doesn't want the position at the Court, Troubadour that is. I think she has a good shot at one of the prizes," Then "She tells me you're seeking lore? I'm no bard, but may I ask why and what for?"

"I want to learn more about Fae. And, uh, Sidhe."

"What would you know? " She plucks at her lute

Adam drifts a little closer.

Her fingers dance along the lute, some old tune that might predate iron itself

"Well.... I think I know the basics? I mean.... people at Rivervale have told me a lot and I got books from the Mountain and learned more. Oh! And a Sidhe knight nearby talked to me a little. I guess I... I want to know more about how the Sidhe think about things."

"And.... I'd like to learn about music, too."

"Learn from Piper regarding the music, she'd be happy to teach you, it'd create a bond"

A grin. "Yeah. Uh, yes, yes, I plan to."

"How sidhe think? I think only other sidhe can truly understand sidhe. We are" A breath, "sometimes it's easier to sing... are you familiar with the band Queen?"

"Yeah. Freddy Mercury. There was a movie that came out, like a year ago?"

A smile "Are you familiar with a much older movie, Highlander?"

Adam thinks. "Uh. Is that 'There can be only one?'"

"That's the movie.. I am certain that mortal band while working on that movie latched onto a sidhe musing them... listen to the lyrics and you get a grasp of our story. I refuse to believe it is coincidence"

She strums the lute, "Here we are.
Born to be kings.
We're the princes of the universe!" The Gwydion's voice cuts trhough the air like a shining sword

"Here we belong.
Fighting to survive in a war with the darkest powers." As she plays, he can almost imagine horrible things in the void between dreams, and only rays of light, sidhe, having a chance to truly stop them.

"And here we are.
We're the princes of the universe.
Here we belong,
Fighting for survival.
We've come to be the rulers of your world." Oh but the shining light needs worship to shine, for light unseen, unworshiped is not light at all

"I am immortal.
I have inside me blood of kings.
I have no rival.
No man can be my equal.
Take me to the future of your world!" her voice is no Freddy, but who is? It is however surging and the images continue to dance in Adam's brain... The sidhe uniting, by FORCE if need be, the various kith. Turning 'this people, that poeple' into A People- Kiths divided into Kithain.

"Born to be kings.
Princes of the universe.
Fighting and free.
Got your world in my hand.
I'm here for your love and I'll make my stand.
We were born to be princes of the universe." Oh they need to be loved, or feared, or respected.

"No man could understand.
My power is in my own hand.
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh.
People talk about you.
People say you've had your day."

I'm a man that will go far.
Fly the moon and reach for the stars,
With my sword and head held high.
Got to pass the test first time.

I know that people talk about me.
I hear it every day,
But I can prove you wrong
'Cause I'm right first time.

Alright, let's go, let's go, ha, ha.
Watch this man fly.
Bring on the girls.
Come on, come on, come on.

Here we are. (Here we are!)
Born to be kings.
We're the princes of the universe.
Here we belong.

Born to be kings.
Princes of the universe.
Fighting and free.
Got your world in my hand.
I'm here for your love and I'll make my stand.
We were born to be princes of the universe."

Adam slowly sinks to sit, mouth slightly open, eyes wide, utterly entranced.

And yes, the people talk about sidhe, the commoners think they've had their day... and yet the elder dark is older still, and modern cynicism will not stand against them.

The song ends... and she says "Your head dances with images of the truth as we know it"

He nods, like a childling.

"Oh commoner kiths would point out that most sidhe fled, but they forget so manythings..how differently time works in the dreaming..." A sigh "it's a story that sounds like an excuse"

"Or... or the other way around?" He suggests hesitantly. "A story that sounds like an excuse? But it's really a reason?"

"Perhaps it's a reason that makes an interesting story. YOu've seen the power of oaths among kithain yes? Not just with trolls? Ever taken one?"

"Yes, Dame."

"Then you know the power of oaths.. how they compel, control... even if they empower. Now, imagine, squires sworn to barons, barons sworn to counts, counts sworn to Dukes, Dukes to King... and all to the high kings.. and then... they call, Arcadia itself...the high lords the kings over kings. And the command is 'come to arcadia'

"What do you think would have happened if all sidhe had disobeyed, oathbound and then oathbroken?"

The mortal boy looks like he's thinking about something for a bit.

"They would have... been.... well, destroyed."

"Some sidhe did stay.. some out of willful defiance and arrogance like the Scathach, a few because they loved mortals too much.. the Liam.. a few Fiona out of defiance or for a lover... and more than a few Dougal ... and what the commoners forget is how some of them acted. They claimed we trotted up the silver and closed it behind us.. no, it was crumbling behind us. Some were gracious in retreat, some cruel... but we did not sabatoge it. And they tend to ignore the noble hunts that broke out against the sidhe that did remain."

His lips quirk up for just a second during her instruction. "The.... Interregnum."

"Aye. For the sidhe in Arcadia... little is known of our life there.. our memories ripped from us, but for the sidhe that stayed? Rage ... scapegoating..death.. final death in many cases. I am not excusing the evil that sidhe did, but I do find the cries of 'vile noble' tedious..and worse, ignorant."

"Why would anyone want to stay, if that was how they got treated?"

"Honor ,dedication, pride..a nd a reludtance to let go of power.. we sidhe ARE flawed, we're too glorious to be perfect. Perfect is without flaw, and that is... boring" She says

"I don't know, Dame, you look pretty perfect to me...."

"No need for flattery" She says

"Was I lying?"