The old man nodded. "Why, I thank thee, kind sir." he drank his water as if it were every bit alcoholic as Durian's flagon.

He then turned his eyes back to the women at the table with him and awaited her response.

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Mariel had been looking past the old man and into the grain of the wooden beams, as if they held memories of her past. She blinked and shook off her thoughts as she heard the occupants raise their glasses to the King, but instead of saluting him as well, she rolled her eyes and let out a sigh.
"The King is not so great as you'd think." She muttered, then glanced up at the old man with a question in her eyes.
"So, you cannot see any music in me? Well, I definitely saw something...can you tell me about it?"

The old man lost all expression when Mariel said she had seen something. "You... saw something?" he asked. "This is... unexpected." he rubbed his chin and a thoughtful expression came over him. "Only those with great peril in their future or great adventure have ever made such claims."

He sat for a moment and then a smile came over his face once more as he leaned forward and whispered. "The music is faint and subtle... I can not hear it but perhaps we can learn to hear it. I've heard tell of a... prophecy of sorts." he shrugged. "That those with grand adventure will hear the music and unlock it's secrets. If we can unlock those secrets I am sure I can explain to you what you saw and what it means."

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Mariel leaned forward and listened with curiosity as the old man spoke of music and unlocking secrets.
"Wait, are you saying that you want me to 'listen' to this mysterious music which you yourself cannot even hear? What if...what if it doesn't even exist? And....well, what if I saw a little...bit of both when you played?"
Her voice was just above a whisper, but there was a clear uncertainty about this in her voice.

"We can discover the secret together. There is a place we must go to do this, however... it is not a welcoming place. If we go, however, I will be able to learn and we can both hear the music. All my life I have longed to hear this music as my parents did before me... I have only recently discovered the source of this secret but now I am too old to make the travel on my own."

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Mariel raised a brow at the old man.
"Not a welcoming place? Well, I've been to worse." She chuckled at a distant memory.
"But you are avoiding my question. What if someone sees both peril and adventure in their vision?"

The old man sighed. "Well... then most likely your adventure will come through great peril. You did not see yourself die, did you?"

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Mariel glanced down at the table before clearing her throat.
"I...couldn't tell...it looked like I was lying on The side of the road. But I felt like I was still breathing."

"Then you have nothing to worry about," the man said with a confidence. "If you were not dead you will not die in your adventures. Of this much I am certain."

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"How reassuring to know that I won't die, even though I saw myself LYING ON THE GROUND!"
Mariel widened her eyes and leaned towards the old man as she said this. It was only after a moment before she realized what she had said and....how loudly she had spoken. She cleared her throat then leaned back and continued in a whisper.
"Forgive me, sir....that was rude." She took a breath and shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"Where should we begin on this journey?"

The old man didn't miss a beat. After all he was used to such reactions and this wasn't the first time he had been down this road. It seemed, however, that this young women might be willing to venture further than any others.

He smiled his toothy smile and pulled out a map, rolling it out on the table. "It starts here," he pointed to a spot in the lone lands... the words were written over a small building and said, "The forsaken Inn."

He chuckled and traced his finger up the hill to the north. "And it ends here. His finger landed on some old ruins in the Midgwater Marshes. "Spider infested ruins," he admitted. "But spiders are not intelligent. I am confident we can overcome them. Deep inside these ruins there lies a piece to our puzzle. Once we have the pieces to reconstruct the ancient artifact... then the hard part comes. We need an elf. Only elven magic can reforge the parts to one and endow the artifact with the magical ability to teach to the soul the music."

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As the old man talked, Mariel couldn't help but feel as if something were amiss....as if there were something that he wasn't telling her. She sighed and raised a brow as she looked at the map. It was then that she caught the word she hated.
"Spiders?" Her eyes widened and she shook her head. "No. I don't do spiders. Ever." She crossed her arms and looked at the old man.
"If you want this piece of the puzzle you'll have to find another way in....because I am not fighting with stupid spiders."

"They are but spiders... easily dispatched even by a man of my age. I'm afraid there is no other way in." The old man sighed and looked to the bar. "Are there any other adventurers who would aid an old man on his dying quest?" He glanced at Durian.

He looked back to Mariel and added. "If we find the pieces we can know for certain what you saw and what it means. Otherwise, you are left to wonder. I myself desire to know... but to know the songs my parents knew. We both have a vested interest."

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"You're dying...?"
Mariel's whole demeanor changed from that of smugness to one of sorrow and compassion.
"I...." She nodded her head. "I will go with you, old man. I will face my fears and fight these spiders right alongside you.....although don't expect me to enjoy it."

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Hanasian
Annalist, Physician, & Historian
of The Black Company of the Dúnedain,
The Free Company of Arnor
~ ~ ~
Durian: Dúnedain Ranger of the North: Rhudaurian Lineage
- - - -
Roleplay Repository

"I have seen better days," the old man told Mariel. "But my strength these past few years has been waxing less and less. You would do me great honor for your company and though you will not enjoy it I am certain it will be worth your time."

Just then Durian approached the table.

"Aye, it does," the old man said, pulling a strange looking... key of sorts out of his pocket. "I've made this myself after having opportunity to examine the real key. I'm certain it will open the door to the ruins."

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