Good Solstice, milliways_bar

[jack_inthegreen]

In the gray pre-dawn light, the man in green has been busy.

There are rows of trestle tables set up by the lake--far from the new grave as well as anything else that might be disturbed by such things--and on the central table he sets up the horn of plenty he carved the day before. Now he lays a hand on the wood and quietly asks the elements around it to fill the horn and assemble themselves, so that there will be plenty to eat and it will all be nourishing and tasty. When he has done this the horn begins to fill and soon food is spilling out: fruit and bottles of wine and loaves of bread and slabs of cold cooked meats and wheels of cheese and whatever else a patron might think to ask for.

At the end of the rows of tables there is a wooden platform, with a small raised stage for musicians and plenty of room for dancers. Jack has found no one to play pipes but no matter, there are still musicians aplenty should anyone wish to dance. And he hopes they will, for what's a celebration without dancing?

Beyond the tables there is a small course set up for races, just a starting- and finish-lines marked off. There is a large rope for tug-of-war, various props like sacks for sack races and spoons for an egg-and-spoon race, and a pitch for bowls and another for playing horsehoes. He thought about playing tossing the caber but decided that might be pushing things a bit, even here.

Farthest from the bar proper is the bonfire, currently unlit. He pauses there and asks the fire within the wood to do no harm to anyone, that there will be no stray sparks or wayward ash to burn.

There is a great deal of magic at Milliways for him to draw upon and soon the party preparations meet with his satisfaction. He blesses the area before he goes back inside for some more rest before the party begins: that no one will be hurt in play or eat themselves sick, that not even a dancer's ankle be turned.

When he is done the morning fog is just beginning to burn off. It's going to be a beautiful day.

Comments

[theravenboy]

"I've been well. Reading. And you?"

[jane_drew]

*She nods.* The same, really.

Reading and meeting new people. Along the way I was invited to this party, and I certainly had nowhere else to be tonight. *She shrugs, smiling.*

*She glances at the harp.* Are you going to be providing the music, tonight, then?

[theravenboy]

"I provided some. There are many musicians here tonight. And much to sing about."

[jane_drew]

There is much to celebrate, after all. Different things for different people. There was a birthday party, too, I heard.

[theravenboy]

"I said much to sing about. Singing is not always celebrating, although it can be." Bran's right hand rests on the horn, as his left grips the harp.

[jane_drew]

*She blinks at him.* Hopefully the singing today would be celebratory. It is a celebration.

[theravenboy]

"Of course." The muscles in Bran's arms relax.

After a moment, though, he says, "I have been thinking about...anniversaries."

[jane_drew]

*quietly* Many people have, for different reasons.

[theravenboy]

Bran's eyes rest on Jane's face for a long moment. "Are you all right, Jenny-oh?"

[jane_drew]

*She smiles slightly.* I'm alright. I'm just...
...worriedscareddon'twanttothinkaboutit...
...reflecting the general mood of the other people in the bar, I guess. Everyone has been so down lately, for one reason or another, and then there's this celebration out of nowhere. They need the cheer, but it was a bit sudden, is all.

[theravenboy]

"I see." Bran raises an eyebrow. "It's not out of nowhere, you know. Will would say that Midsummer and Midwinter and All Hallows' Eve come every year, and they deserve to be honoured in their own way, every year, whatever else happens."

[jane_drew]

*She sighs.* Not 'out of nowhere' like that. I mean, it's just that everyone was looking so sad and gloomy lately, and suddenly they're enjoying a party, while the doom and gloom is still going on. Those I saw in the bar as I came out here still looked like someone had died.

I guess it's just that I feel odd celebrating while things are left unsettled.

[theravenboy]

At this moment, Bran looks very like Arthur, and even (although, if told, he would hotly deny it), a little like Merriman.

"If we waited for things to settle, Jane," Bran says quietly, "no one would ever celebrate."

[jane_drew]

*Jane looks away, towards the sunset, and is silent for a long time.*
I don't need this from you, too, Bran.
What, then, is the anniversary we are celebrating?

[theravenboy]

"And the new sun rose, bringing the new day," Bran quotes softly. "I wish I knew, Jane."

[jane_drew]

We were celebrating getting things settled, finally, I thought. That is what Gumerry's smile said to me, at least.
And he so rarely smiles.
*She watches the people dancing. Her smile is gone.*

[theravenboy]

Bran watches Jane watching the dancers. "Things aren't settled, Jane. That's why we're here. I finally realized."

[jane_drew]

*not looking at him* I had felt it too, but I didn't want it to be true. Some of the people I've met say that those who are Bound are Bound for a reason...

But I wanted things to be done with, to be finished.

[theravenboy]

"When does a story ever end, Jane?" Bran answers her gently.

After a moment, he adds, "That is why I couldn't go with him. My lord Arthur. His story is over, up there in the lands beyond the North Wind. You and I, we have roles yet to play out there in the world."

[jane_drew]

No, I just...
...want to go home.
*She sighs.*

...thought that chapter was done with. You know.

"...and then she woke up."

[theravenboy]

"The chapter is done. We're simply on the next one."

He laughs suddenly. It isn't a happy laugh. "Listen to me, I sound like Merlion. For all their symbols and their goals and their destinies far ahead, the Old Ones do not know very much about mortals waiting for the destinies to appear."

[jane_drew]

They, at least, know where they are bound.

*her small sad smile meets his laugh.* Of course, I know where I am Bound, too.

[theravenboy]

Bran tilts his head towards her. With no real hope, he asks, "Have you tried the door lately?"

[jane_drew]

*She shrugs, as if it didn't bother her.* I try it every so often. Last I tried was a week and a half ago.
I want to go home.
*She's stopped actually gathering the things she came here with, before trying the door. She doesn't expect it to open.*

[theravenboy]

"I see." Bran is angry, and not with Jane.