The Long and Winding Road

[anasa]

Jess stopped on a street corner, set out her hat, and began singing. To suit her mood concerning the past events, she decided to sing the song of Changing and Passing from Spring to Summer.

"The birds chirp,
cheep cheep,
leafs usurp,
cheep cheep,
the branches once with flowers belaid.

The sun,
cheep cheep,
becomes,
cheep cheep,
she grows from a maiden to a maid.

And so, you see,
my love and me,
our friends and we
are people of the sun and shade.
Who dance and sing,
and twist and bring,
a new place for ourselves to stay.

Until the day the sun will stray,
we say
'cheep cheep,
cheep cheep!' "

[Gwydion Nefarine]

((Whoa. I could never make up a song. I'm not creative enough. That kinda sounds like something Led Zeppelin would write (and I mean the band. I know that there is no actual person named Led Zeppelin), except for the 'cheep, cheep' part))

Eilonway eventually came across Jess's voice. Is that Jess? she wondered. Whoever that is has a great voice. She finally saw Jess on the street corner and gaped. She was attracting quite a crowd. Even some people from the caravan who had abandoned their various stands came over to hear her sing. They, too, were awed with her voice. Eilonway walked over to the street corner, getting a few coins out of her leather pouch. She went up to Jess's hat and dropped them in, noticing she wasn't the first to do so.

[anasa]

"Oh, thank you!" Jess said at the sound of the coins being dropped, "Is there anything you-oh, Elionway! Hi! Since you paid, do you have any requests?"

[anasa]

((Ha ha! I have a hard time imaging Led Zeppelin with a song that says "cheep cheep" in it. As far as song-writing goes, I can only write lyrics. Music theory still manages to escape me.))

[Gwydion Nefarine]

((arghh, when I try to think up a tune, it usually ends up like something that already exists and I've heard before. and I think "cheep cheep" is more along the lines of The Beatles, who are, in my opinion, amazing, hence, the name of the thread))

Eilonway thought about it. She had no knowledge of human song. Finally, she thought about an easy way out of her situation. "Why don't you sing one of your favorites, Jess? You have quite a voice."

[anasa]

Jess giggled anbd blushed at the compliment.

"I'll do that later," she said, noticing another listener dropping money into her hat, "Thank you, ma'am! Do you have any requests?"

The young woman thought for a moment before answering, "How about the song of Liat and Drenguu?"

"Ah, yes, of course!" Jess answered. Women her age usually liked that song.

[Gwydion Nefarine]

((I'm gonna skip a couple hours if ya dont mind... if not, I can change it))

Eilonway went over to a nearby stand and bought a mug of hot apple cider to shake off the early spring cold. She sat alone at a nearby table, listening Jess sing. Her mind started to wander. I wonder if Cambion and the others are finished with their job yet. Ah, on second thought, how could they be? It's only been a day, though it doesn't seem like it. Still, they might be finished... She also couldn't help but wonder about the voice she had heard earlier. Her thoughts continued in the same dreary manner until she fell asleep.

She woke up a couple of hours later to the sound of applause. The sun had now completely set and lanterns will now lit next to the streets. A larger crowd was now gathered around Jess. She walked over and eventually forced herself through the crowd. In a low voice, she told Jess, "I suggest that you get back to the inn pretty soon. We have alot more traveling to do tomorrow. But you can stay here as long as you like. Be careful if you wait though, it can be dangerous here at night."

[anasa]

"If you say it's best to go back, then it probably is," Jess replied at the same tone before projecting her voice for the crowd, "Thank you all for your patronage! I wish you a good night!"

The crowd began breaking up and going their own seperate ways and Jess practically skipped towards the inn. It had been a very good day! She wasn't accustomed to getting this much attention! Perhaps the people in these parts were naturally friendlier?

[Gwydion Nefarine]

Eilonway had to jog a bit to catch up with her. "Congratulations, Jess. They obviously like your singing. You'll be famed throughout the land in a few weeks," she smiled. "You're very deserving of every coin they gave you." She yawned. "We better get to bed," she said when they had arrived at the inn. "Good night, Jess." She started towards her small room in the inn.

[anasa]

Jess's face burned with the compliment. She practically floated into the inn, glowing with happiness.

She went to the innkeeper and payed for her room.
"Don't you know?" he said, "That good-looking lady you were just with said that she had already paid for your room."
"No, that's alright," Jess said, shaking her head, "Give that room to some other guest. I'll take whatever this'll buy."
She slid about half of her coins forward. Once the innkeeper counted them, he directed her to another room on the first floor.

"It's a bit frightening, how giddy she is," he muttered to himself, "I'm almost afraid she's going to slit my throat in the night."

[Gwydion Nefarine]

((is it alright with you to skip to morning))

[anasa]

((Go for it, Timemaster!! ))

[Gwydion Nefarine]

((ok, thanks))

Despite her long day of odd happenings, Eilonway slept well. She got up at the crack of dawn and went down to the tavern in the inn. "I'd like to have a cup of coffee," she said to the bartender, who had her drink in a few moments. She liked waking up in the mornings with coffee, though sometimes, it could be hard to find. She happened to know that this particular inn did have coffee. She sipped the hot liquid and went outside to watch the sun rise. Her mind wandered again, and not for the last time, to the job that the Gortek Empire was having the rebellion carry out. She also wondered about the voice she had heard the previous day. Perhaps it was all in her mind.

[anasa]

((I can't think of anything to type! 0_0 When do we get attacked by ninja clowns with a vengeance??))

[Gwydion Nefarine]

((hmmm... probably after we leave town if that's alright with you...))

In a few minutes, Eilonway saw Laurel in the distance, in hawk form. Eilonway quickly went to the nearest deserted alley, where Laurel came and changed into human form. "Eilonway, Cambion will meet you in Alodale, at the usual inn. Any message you need me to carry back to him?" Eilonway shook her head. "No Laurel, thank you. Go get some rest." Laurel nodded respectfully and went off into the waking town.

Eilonway went back to the inn tavern and noticed most of the caravan were ready to leave. She was pleased at this, for most of the time, she had to knock on several doors and wake people up, who were always very grumpy in the morning. She realized Jess was not among the caravan's number and went to her room and knocked on the door. "Jess, are you ready to go, yet?"