Chapter 93: Music

Chapter 93: Music

In the end, none of my girls wants to miss this. Cy included. I'm somewhat certain her chaos abilities include a sort of precog ability, by the way, because her assessment is "Unca Ed saaax.1 [Uncle Ed sax.(Cy is being intentionally shorter than usual here to make it a joke, the full statement is more along the lines of 'uncle Ed is getting a saxophone')] " Which draws surprised giggles from the rest of the harem and Lily-Anne trying to admonish her while restraining the chuckles as hard as she can. Cy just grins at her and promises "Huell heer.2 [You`ll hear.] " I really should do something about her speech. Later, though. For now, we're going to go to the garden. It's pretty empty out there in the garden. I suppose it's not THAT strange, given that the weather is pretty chilly and everyone is resting, celebrating or sulking after the midterms. Alistair meets us at the gates.

"Ladies." - he proffers gallantly, as he kisses proffered (and not so proffered) hands in no particular order. Poor Bridgit, she has no idea how to handle being treated like a lady. Cy, on the other hand, is finding this eminently fun and hares off after Alistair with a battlecry of "Unca Smash!3 [Uncle Smash!] " Alistair doubletakes at this.

"Lady Gillespie..." - he ventures softly, slowing down so he is trotting next to me, while Cy gleefully hangs off his arm - "Is your daughter a seer perchance?"

"Um... Maybe. Why do you ask?" - I venture equally softly, and he shrugs with a helpless expression.

"I, uh..." - he begins sheepishly - "I have had ordered a hammer much like one I've seen you using before, and it had been delivered this morning." He pauses, groans, and forges on - "I've been tempted to take a couple swings within my room, just to check it out, and um.. well... Let's just say I'm going to be replacing two planters before I leave for the winter holidays. The important thing is, I didn't tell anyone at all about that yet, so where does the 'smash' come from?"

"Floowur go boom!4 [Flower go boom! (enthusiastic description of Alistair smashing his planters by mishap)] " - Cy confirms happily.

I facepalm. "Al, bring the hammer to my rooms tomorrow." - I tell him - "There is a secret bit about construction that you couldn't have possibly seen. The hammerhead is actually hollow and partially filled with quicksilver. Without it, the head is likely way too heavy for the thing to be properly balanced. I'll fix it for you, but I don't have any quicksilver handy, we'll need to go visit an alchemist to buy some."

He groans. "I knew there was something off about the balance!" - he moans - "I couldn't figure out how could you possibly swing it around like this. Of course there was a trick to it! I should have asked you about it to begin with."

I chuckle. "Well, yes." - I agree - "Don't worry about it, it's fixable."

He shakes his head in chagrin. "Much obliged, lady Gillespie." - he returns - "Still, I can't help but feel miffed at myself for not asking your advice before saddling blacksmith with inherently flawed order. He even told me upfront that it wouldn't be balanced, and yet I have insisted on it like an utter fool."

"Hey, you wanted to figure things out by yourself." - I object - "I can respect that. On an unrelated note, Al, when are you going to start using my name? We're friends by now, I dare hope, are we not?"

"Old habits die hard, lady Gillespie." - he retorts - "Oh, very well. Just do not expect me to do it in public, Alyssa. Proprieties have to be observed, after all."

I divest him of giggling kid, absentmindedly swinging her up to sit on my shoulders and proceed into the gardens, where I can already see Selene setting up. She had gathered a bunch of chairs together, arranged in a crude semi-circle around the two in the middle. Ed is sitting on one with a somewhat discomfited expression. He brightens up noticeably when he sees us.

"Alistair, ladies." - he offers, standing up to greet us all - "So you're the mysterious audience Selene was talking about when she said she's ready to play her uh... hurdee-gurdee? I admit, it's a bit of relief to see well familiar faces."

Al pats him on the shoulder. "Chin up, Edward." - he proffers happily - "I'm sure lady Selene's music will be eminently enjoyable."

Selene huffs from her seat, where she's puttering with the instrument. "I'd darn well better hope so." - she grouses - "I've been practicing this for days."

"Two of them, even." - Ed quips sardonically. He raises his hands at Selene's darkening expression, hastily adding - "...Forgive me, dear. It's just that... this is an entirely new instrument. I'm having trouble grasping the idea you could master it so quickly, even though I have heard you play it already."

I shrug. "Well, Ed, you might keep in mind that while this particular instrument is new, Selene's familiarity with it is a bit longer than that." - I offer to him, and he blinks.

"But... OH. Oh, I see." - he brightens up, wagging his finger at Selene - "Naughty girl. You could have told me from the beginning you had different, uh... hurdee-gurdee before."

To be fair to Edward, he held out for the whole four seconds before sighing and taking the bagpipes. "...Please don't judge me too harshly for this." - he mutters towards us all.

Selene giggles, and settles down, pulling her hurdy-gurdy back on the lap. "Just one song, dear, that's all I ask." - she wheedles - "We'll do the easy one. Remember the 'Hornpipe'?"

Ed tilts his head, looks around, then waves his hand. "Very well, Serenity." - he says resolutely - "Start us off, please?"

The tune they play together is less active than Selene playing alone. Medieval-sounding, almost... traditional, if that adjective is even applicable. And just as Selene claims, Ed is good. He clearly doesn't think so, but as the tune progresses, I see him abstracting from the fact he has an audience in favor of music. He clearly likes what he's doing. One more reason why Selene is a much better pick for him as a wife - I wouldn't be able to do that. As in, flat out no. Maybe I could have gotten him to play bagpipes for me. Maybe. Maybe even cajoled him into making recordings, if that ever occurred to me. But to play WITH him? I am sadly unable. Unlike Selene. Who just as clearly enjoys this a lot. With that in mind, I grin. Well played, Alyssa. Well played. A point of cohesion I never expected, but it does fit into the picture. Oh, does it ever fit.

The applause they garner as a duet is different. One before was "wow, this is incredible". One now? Well, if I were to sum the sentiment in a sentence, it would probably be "this was beautiful". Both the tune and the performers. I feel absolutely no compunctions fulfilling my part of the deal.

"Edward?" - I offer in a lull of silence that follows.

"Yes?" - he retorts, both nervous and somehow... defiant?

"You should play more often." - I tell him - "You make beautiful music together."

He straightens up. Now's his turn to blush, it seems. "My thanks, Alyssa, but... That praise should go to Serenity, I believe." - he tries to demur.

I'm having none of it. "Nonsense." - I tell him bluntly - "Selene is a fine musician, of that there is no doubt. But your skill is hardly lesser. Think about it. If you were not up to the task, not even the best musician in the world could have covered up your shortcomings. There is no catching the dissonant note once it comes out. Look around yourself. Do you see anyone displeased? No. Trust me on that, you are very good."

He pinks up to his ears. "Thank you." - he offers quietly.

A bit of hubbub follows, with the rest of our group expressing similar sentiments. And then...

"Mohmee! Unca Ed! Saaaax!5 [Mommy! Uncle Ed! Sax! (Cy is reminding Alyssa that Ed should get his present)] " - Cy tugs my sleeve. Selene frowns, but before she can say anything... I sigh.

"Fair enough." - I admit, and pull up my own bag.

"I believe the prizes for such a concert are well-earned." - I continue, as I extract the contents.

"Sax...?!" - Selene breathes disbelievingly as I pull out a brand new shiny saxophone and hand it over to Edward, who takes it awkwardly.

"This is saxophone." - I continue - "Another of exotic instruments that, I believe, is not going to present much problem for a bagpipe player. Selene likely knows a couple good tunes for it. As for you..."

I glance at Selene, as I pull out the second item from the bag - "Have a melodica."

Selene accepts it tearfully and slowly proclaims - "Best. Friends. Forever."