The Violinists meeting (Valan)

For Ender-Chan as I recently found out Steves a violin prodigy.

  I sit on the hill above Blacklight, overlooking the city and the sea further out. The Suns set by now and lights go on in the buildings below. It's not often we go to the mainland, and if we do it's rare we end up here. But Neloth told us to come along, and I know better than to question the man. Checking my watch I stand up and start to slowly walk back to the city, if I go missing Sam will likely get worried or something. Their like that sometimes, a worrier.

The streets are better lit here, and wider than on Azura’s coast, the area of Morrowind around Sadrith Mora where the Telvanni rule. “It's a nice change. To not be in the same old area all the time.” I think to myself as I shove the tavern door open and go inside. I hand up my coat and then walk downstairs to the main part of the tavern, taking a seat by the fire. People murmur as I walk past, “What's with that one?” One asks “Dunno?” The other shrugs. “Do you think he dyed it?” A woman asks one of her ladies, who shakes her head “No, don't look like it.” For the rest of the night I keep to myself until Neloth and Sammie show up. “Ai Sera.” Hello friend, The tavern keeper says to Neloth when he sits down. “Ai.” He replies and orders our food after scanning the menu. Then turns to me “did you get me those manuscripts and plans from the library Valan?” I place my bag with a clatter on the table “And the Dwemer parts as well.” I say with a half smile which Neloth returns. “And did you fix what ever was going on with the machine already?” He asks Sammie, who nods. Sam's a bit of our resident tech-expert, and mechanic. Not exactly what you'd expect a princess to be. But then again would you expect a fatherless, disabled, middle class kid to be a reincarnation of an ancient warlord? Yeah I didn't believe it when they told me either. The innkeeper comes back with a tray of food and leaves us to eat.

“I'm going back to the lab, don't you two get in any trouble!” Neloth shrugs on his coat and buttons it “Yes Master.” We reply and he scowls and opens the door closing it behind him. Sammie and I stay on the first floor of the tavern for a while, which functions as a common room. But as time draws on even Sam gets tired and bids me goodnight. Must be about 10:00 now, and yet I'm not tired. Then the door creaks open and I feel a rush of wind as it does. I turn around to see the door closing, and a tall man standing staring at me. “Hello Valan.” The voice says as he takes off his hood. It's Steve, what on earth is he doing here? I pull a chair up next to me and he sits next to me “I- I expect you got the news...about Caitlin.” He says softly looking at the fire. “Found out the morning Anna got back. The others know as well. And they said that if you, or Alice, or Mark, or anyone else, ever need anything, that they'll help in any way they can.” Steve attempts to smile, the corners of his mouth turn a bit before fading away to their natural position. “Did you have something specific you needed to talk to me about?” I ask smoothing my shirt and brushing some dust off it. “Actually yes. About the violin, I was a violin prodigy when I was younger. Not many people know that about me. I don't know what to do with myself, and I thought you might have some advice. Not necessarily violin related, but if you had anything I'd appreciate it.” I look around, people are starting to come upstairs after finishing dinner, and the late night drinking crowd is starting to come in. Things could get loud. “You wanna find a quieter place to talk? I have a room upstairs.” I point to the staircase that leads to the inn’s rooms. Steve nods and I lead him up the stairs, fiddle with the door knob and then gesture for him to enter into the small room. He sits at the desk chair and I sit across from him on the bed, my legs crisscrossed underneath one another. “I never would have guessed you were a violinist, but I've only known you as a brass player.” Steve shrugs “Originally I played for money, until some stuff happened to my brother, Cory, haven't played since.” I get up and go over to my bags and hold up my violin case “I have mine if you feel like playing.” Steves eyes widen and he stands up “I uh, I don't know.” I dig around up some more and find the other one I have, it's more of a fiddle than a violin, mostly I use it for plays or if I'm helping Sarah, Carmen and Lanriael with theater productions. “I'll play with you. Which do you want? Regular violin, or slightly smaller one which you can play faster with?” Steve takes the fiddle and puts it in ready position, then glides the bow across the strings quickly playing a simple rhythm. He continues playing a song unknown to my ears, his fingers moving quickly he plays. Then he stops, my jaw drops as I stare at him “How long has it been since you played?” He thinks for a moment “Since I entered sixth grade. My mother broke my violin. I started when I was three” Sixth grade?! And he started when he was three! Holy crap that's amazing. I regain my composure and clap softly “That was amazing!” I say. He grins “Your turn.”

Hmm, what to play? Ah I know. I play the song that always comes to my head when I first warm up, a song that's mysterious, even a bit dark. A song inherited along with a title and a quote. The rains of Castamere. I move the bow along the bridge of the violin, the low sounds come together smoothly going on and on until my hands stops and I put the violin down on the bed. “How was that?” Steve blinks “That was really good. How long have you been playing?” I laugh slightly at that “what?” Steve asks. I shake my hand “N-nothin’ just...nothing.” Steve gives me a look “Why are you laughing though?” I cough and that makes me stop. “Just age stuff. I started when I was five so technically 20 years ago, but I'm immortal and was born 232 years ago sooo... yeah. That's why.” I reply. “Oh. You know I always forget you guys are immortal for some reason.” Steve says, I grin at the memory of a thought “Honestly we do to.” Steve puts the fiddle down “how do you forget your immortal?” He sits in the chair and I sit on the bed “Hey I forget my address on a regular basis, and a lot of other stuff. It's not that hard.” He looks at me with a blank expression on his face, “Wow.” I open the drawer of the side table and take out some of my sheet music, Hedwigs Theme from Harry Potter. “You wanna play some of this?” I ask as I place it on the stand. “Sure.” He replies and stands at the ready position.

1,2,3,4…

We both start to play. Alternating between solos and a duet. Damn this guys good, I mean he is a prodigy but he hasn't played since he was a sixth grader, it's a rather amazing feat. Steve plays the more rapid parts while I play the slower parts that would correlate with the bell part or piano part, which my friend Anna would play if the two of us were playing it together. Our eyes scan across the sheet music as we count over and over in our heads. 1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4.

Then we stop. The song has ended and the music on the page goes on for no more. I hold my violin in one hand and the bow in the other. “Good job. That's a really fast section you played.” I congratulate him. Steve grins “you did a nice job as well.” I smile a bow slightly with a laugh “why thank you.” Steve talks again but my eyes wander over to the clock on the table. How did it get that late? “Do you have a time constraint on when you need to be back in minecraft?” I interupt looking at the clock, it's nearly one in the morning. He stops talking and looks at the clock “Uh, not really? But I understand if you want to sleep.” He places the other violin down “I can meet up with you tomorrow afternoon if you want, Steve. I'll be busy in the morning but after anytime around 1:15 I don't have anything to do. We could play more then.” He nods and writes something down “I'd like that, thanks Valan.” He walks towards the door and waves a hand as he exits. So concludes the violinists meeting, I think to myself as I clean up and fall into bed.