Welcome to the Library

[werepuppyblack]

Who: Open Post
What: Opening Post
Where: All over the library and its grounds
Warnings: [to be edited if necessary]



Today the Great Library opens its doors to all Patrons, who have come from many of the stories and books all available on the shelves.

For this first visit, Patrons will be restricted to the Library and its grounds.

Fortunate, then, that these are impressive indeed - large gardens set up for all sorts of activities, woods surrounding the area and in the Library itself? Cafes, internet access, and the best weapons in the universe: books.

Do enjoy your first visit to the Library, Patron, and always remember the rules.

The Rules of the Library
1. Patrons cannot read further ahead in their own stories than the time they have arrived from. Any attempt to do so will result in being met with blank pages.This lack of information will also occur if trying to find out spoilers online.

2. Patrons cannot tell other Patrons how their story ends. Any attempt to do so will find the Patron unable to find the words to explain it.

3. All books must be shelved correctly.

4. Do Not Harm the Books

5. Do not interfere with the nature of Narrative Causality

Comments

No kidding. An anticlimatic "...hang on, *I* was supposed to kill you all..."

[whattheydefend]

[He smiles to see her pleasure in the drink, obvious for all that she hides it. It is good to feel he has accomplished that much--a little thing, but such small things are no less worthy, he feels. Perhaps more worthy, in this gilded prison they share.]

A nation at war, then, or at great risk of it?

[He can imagine it clearly, from her words; such a place would be difficult to defend.]

XD Maglor will be strong! Or the mun will just. Dial back his time a bit =p

[bythewaves]

He smiles and grips the hand back.

"A true scholar." He approves. "You know your history! But I cannot give you more news than what I have, I fear, for that is all the Eagle has told us. But I assume that some of the kings and lords still live - which, I do not know, for I have not yet made my way to Gondor to see for myself."

He shakes his head.

"Do not apologise! The defeat of Sauron is a great joy to all in our lands."

poor sweet boy, just trying to live his best life

[importuned]

[Having a drink, thankfully, is a proper reason to take a brief pause in speaking--even just to blow lightly at the warm surface. Hopefully that excuses the slight carefulness of her features as she continues.]

A nation in constant consideration of it. The death of my dread lord the late King Hamlet death has put the whole of the kingdom in fear of it.

[And mourning, but surely that went without saying, clear enough in the careful shifting of her fingers around the cup.]

But his line is well-loved and much respected. I should think the risk no greater now than it always is.

The Library would stop him from revealing anything. It's sneaky that way. ;)

[whattheydefend]

Faramir nods. "Then I must be contented with knowing that much. And most foolish it would be to not be content, knowing that the great Enemy is at last overthrown, and the king to return to his throne! Such tidings are joyous indeed."

He does not seem contented, however. Jubilant, even buoyant, perhaps a little anxious; not content. But his expression is warm and grateful. "When we are both returned home, I hope you will make your way to Gondor, and if you do I hope you will seek out this scholar. There I might thank you properly for your news, but here I can offer only inadequate words."

Conquering a country that's just imploded is no fun.

[whattheydefend]

[Her tension is noted, and since it's no wish of his to make her uncomfortable, he backs off the subject a little, attending to his own drink.]

Perhaps such fear is the destiny of all nations, much as I would hope otherwise. I have never known a time when my own country was not at war.

GASP how sneaky!

[bythewaves]

Maglor smiles. "I am glad to have been able to give you this much, then. But I doubt that a bard will have ready access to Gondor's lords! If we meet each other there, my lord, I will play for you gladly, however."

He looks at Faramir thoughtfully. "But my lord, forgive me but... you seem a little anxious?"

is it even a country if it's just Horatio sitting in a fire saying "this is fine"

[importuned]

Perhaps so.

[At any rate, it must be the destiny of soldier and of kings. Both thoughts seemed to fit as a comfortable mantle around the shoulders of the man sitting before her.]

Does Gondor fight at home or far afield, my lord?

Don't mess with The Library, man.

[whattheydefend]

The image of Eowyn appears so strongly in Faramir's mind that he could almost swear she stands before him, beautiful enough to steal his breath and so sorrowful Nienna would weep for her. Something tightens in his chest at the thought of her standing alone on the wall, her hair blowing gently in the wind as she looks to the East.

But he shakes his head, trying to dismiss the picture. "Concern for those left behind and for my duties left undone. But there is nothing to be done about either, trapped here as we are."

He looks around with a mixture of fondness and frustration. "It is an irony. If I had heard of this place in my younger days I might have thought it my heart's desire, for I never dreamed so many books could exist, much less be accessable to me. To have endless time and freedom to read them would seem a blessing. And yet it is a cage, and one I would be free of if I could."

D= SAVE ME

[bythewaves]

Maglor is terrible at osanwe. Always has been. But he blinks briefly and politely pulls his own shields up at the image projected so strongly, thinking that the concern appears to be rather... er... individually directed, at the moment.

"No, I fear not." He says softly. "A cage's bars are wearisome, no matter how kind! I fear I have not been overly bothered about seeking an escape, but surely, if there is one, perhaps it may be found in the books?"

Horatio is an island unto himself, though not really by choice.

[whattheydefend]

[He looks grim.]

Our enemy has gradually brought the war to our own doorstep. Though we have fought him off a little, and our captains left but a few days ago to return to battle to his front door.

[He sighs and rubs his forehead, suddenly looking older than his years.]

So it is both, to answer your question, for we have traded land and lives back and forth for generations, accomplishing nothing save our own survival. Which is no small prize, it is true--but I would be grateful to see an end to it at last. I have no love for war.

Sorry. Even a librarian cannot protect you from The Library. Though we can help you navigate.

[whattheydefend]

Faramir smiles again. "Such is my hope--or at least, such is my excuse for all the reading I have done since my arrival! And to a bard, I imagine this is a wondrous resource for tales and songs hereto unknown."

A little shyly, he adds, "I would be honored to hear you play, if you are willing. In good time."

and tragic mind islands are such a pain to conquer

[importuned]

[Now that is a familiar look. It had been replaced, lately, with faces of mourning for the king, but Ophelia had known that exact sort of tired for years before then.

Ducking her head into a sip of her drink is instinctive. Men like Hamlet didn't particularly enjoy being observed in their long moments of quiet.]

Wise men never do. And I am certain, my lord, that it is-- no small prize for men to be wise before their hair has turned grey.

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[bythewaves]

"Even so." Maglor smiles, his eyes bright with real interest.

"There are many tales that I do not know - some from far distant lands that I can scarce comprehend, others much closer to what I know."

I could be happy here, Maglor thinks, Of a sort.

"My lord honors me with his request." Maglor says softly and bows, a pleased crinkle to his eyes.

"I would be glad to play for you, any time you wish."

Bwahahaha. Also I got blocked, so let's timeskip over some small talk.

[whattheydefend]

Faramir too could be happy here of a sort, and perhaps half an hour passes pleasantly as they discuss tales found and stories told. Faramir recommends a particular book of poetry he has found here, by one named John Donne; Eldinn recites softly in Quenya, and Faramir stands transfixed by the beauty of his voice, the rhythm of the syllables.

Eventually they find their way to a garden, and Faramir's heart lifts as he turns his face to the daylight. "I am glad, at least, that our cage is not wholly indoors," he says softly. "Much would I miss the sun!"

\o/ oh good that way I don't have to make up stuff lol

[bythewaves]

Maglor lifts his face to the sun as well and hums happily.

"Aye. I will miss the sea, but sunlight does a body good, and I think I would struggle, trapped away from the stars. I wish we had more space than this, but it will do!"

we'd better think of a direction/goal for these two's interaction though, or I will flail

[whattheydefend]

Faramir nods. "I have seen the sea, though not for many years. Often does it find its way into my dreams! But it is the forest I yearn for. We are surrounded by trees, but..." He shakes his head. "No animals live there, nor birds or even insects. It feels too unnatural, as though someone saw a picture of a forest and hoped to recreate it."

And it is unnavigatable, with no landmarks holding their place, and whatever one does, whatever direction one choose, leads only back to here. If this place is a cage, those trees are the bars.

HM. Well Faramir could be nosy and try and ferret out "Exile"'s true name?

[bythewaves]

"Into your dreams?" Maglor raises an eyebrow at him. "You are a little far inland, I would have thought, to know the wavesong so! But your mother was from Dol Amroth, if I am remembering my genealogies aright. Perhaps... "

Alas, he doesn't do nosy. Especially not with an elf! Drat. At least they're introduced.

[whattheydefend]

"She was," Faramir confirms, "and several times have I visited my kin there. I cannot say I share the longing she felt, or that I have heard your folk sometimes fall prey to, but I can at least understand it. It is beautiful, both terrible and majestic, and never failed to fill me with awe."

Poor Horatio. He deserves so much better.

[whattheydefend]

[His attention returns to her, and he smiles, lifting his cup in a toast to her for her courtesy.]

You are gracious, my lady, and I thank you for it. Will you tell me more of yourself, Ophelia of Elsinore? Have you been here long?

Damn. Uhhhh. HM. I NEED TO PONDER but damn Farry be a bit more nosy XD

[bythewaves]

"In the sea there lives yet the echo of the Music of the Ainur more than in any substance else that is in this Earth; and many of the Children of Ilúvatar hearken still unsated to the voices of the Sea, and yet know not for what they listen." Maglor quotes and smiles a little.

"Although some of us know it a little better than others, I suppose." He says quietly.

"But then the tales are true, that the lords of Dol Amroth can name as ancestress one of the Galadhrim! That is well - it is hard to not be certain of the fate of those who ran afoul of the enemy in those dark days."

quick, to the fanfic mobile!

[importuned]

[Every smile on a quiet face is a victory. That, as much as anything, has Ophelia lifting her cup in the man's direction.]

Not long. [Although long enough, apparently, not to be so terribly off-put by oddities in the world of the Library--particularly not delicious ones like this chai.] Although I must say I-- should not mind terribly lingering here for some time. The grounds alone seem worthy of a week's study, before one even reached the books.

Amazing how many stories there are where he marries Ophelia, who's pregnant with Hamlet's son...

[whattheydefend]

And the books would take more lifetimes than I think I can count to read, so numerous they are.

[He looks around with an emotion somewhere between wonder and wistfulness.]

I too would be happy to stay, were it not for my duties and my worries about those left behind. I had rather be a scholar than a soldier, given my choice. This--this seems a wondrous dream of a place, beyond my imagining.

Oh, he's curious as hell, he's just also subtle. 'Eldinn' is a walking riddle, can't resist that.

[whattheydefend]

Faramir raises an eyebrow, his eyes drifting to the harp still held in Eldinn's hands. "Have you never thought to cross the water yourself?" he asks. "Or is it enough to capture what you may of the lost music with harp and string?"

lol well he can have another clue then

[bythewaves]

Maglor does not flinch, but he looks down, and for a moment his left had curls on itself, as if hurting.

"I am Exile in more ways than one." He says softly. "The Road West is closed to me."

damn it I only just got to Feanor in Silm, I have NO idea what Faramir might know. Phooey. Will BS.

[whattheydefend]

Faramir's eyes narrow, almost imperceptively, as another piece falls into place. "I am sorry," he says quietly. "Such a sundering must be a source of great pain, and I apologize for reminding you of it."