Graceful

[Gwaihir]

That morning Gwaihir woke up as he did every morning, he heard the birds twittering, scratched his head, fell out of bed and groan at the conversations they had. Usually the birds would be finches or sparrows and their words would be trivial to the utmost, however, this time the conversation struck a chord. One bird, a rather scruffy looking male bluejay said "You know, I think the reason I never get the girls is my looks. No matter what I do my tuft always sticks up the wrong way!

His companion looked older and clearly had seen his share of females and chicks too. He was dapper looking and had no problems keeping his feathers straight. He made a jay equivalent of a nodding motion. "Yep, grace is what it's all about. But you're wrong about the tuft. If you can't make it behave then just make that part of your style. Clearly you want it to look just that way. Fly like the best and woo them when the winds' coming in from the west."

 

Here the conversation turned to a discussion of wind patterns and their effects on jay behavior, but Gwaihir had heard what he needed to. It was time to become graceful!

He pondered what that meant...well, it probably started with matching clean clothes so he spent all morning washing stains off his clothes. It hadn't ever occured to him to do stain-removal before, so many of them were utterly beyond help, but some of them came out and certainly his wardrobe was improved.

 

What else was graceful? Well, certainly dancing was and he remembered somethign about dancing...ah yes, that fairy tale his mom had always told about that elven prince who danced...and Ah yes, she had taught him the dance to go with the tale, because she said every elven man should know it.

 

What else would seem impressive? Certainly a smoothly given gift could help. There was no question who he would give the gift too. The lovelorn suitor had one prize in mind, never mind that she probably had no interest in him. But, whath could he give Zariah?

 

He pondered, but nothing occured to him. So, who to ask? A king, they have everything after all! One of the pen's resident Kings. He decided on Ozymandias and trotted over to his room.

 

However, when he knocked Ozy answered the door, but didn't open it. "Hello? Yes, well very good to talk to you Gwaihir, but my carriage is broken, so I can't lend it to you. Carriage rides are always good with women, however. I can't even talk to you very well, because my door's broken, so I can't get to the pen. You don't know how frustrating it is to not be able to get to the pen. Occasionally I go out and then use someone else's entry to the pen, but that just isn't the same. Speaking of which, could you please give Zariah a nice promotion ceremony?"

 

Gwaihir left disappointed, but then he got to thinking. Well, a promotion wasn't what he had been thinking of, but perhaps it was all he could get. It was a gift...sort of.

 

He brushed his hair happily with Gyrfalcon's hairbrush (hopefullly he won't mind) and then borrowed Regel's cologne after brushing his teeth with....someone's toothbrush (possibly his own, but he wasn't sure.) There all was ready and he headed to Zariah's room.

 

When she opened her door, he had his speech ready. "Greetings, most wonderful madam! I hope thou art not overmuch angered with me, because my heart dost go out to you. I have brought a gift to soothe your heart though can not be truly as romantic as one might wish. I would'st make you a full member of the pen, for muchly dost thou deserve it. Might it please you to be a troubador?

Also, this lowly elf brings a favor close to mine heart unto you. Perhaps you might be persuaded to take me to meet thy graceful friends, the crows?"

 

OOC: Congrats, Zariah. The promotion is well deserved. You've been working and writing at the pen for quite a while, and I particularly wanted to make this post, congratulating you.

[Ayshela]

YAYS!!!

*tacklehugs Zariah, pulling her into a happydance*

[Peredhil]

Huzzah!

 

*joins in happy dancing*

[Zadown]

Congratulations, Zariah! It takes dedication to reach the full member status. *two thumbs up*

[Zariah]

A knock at her door startled Zariah, for she was deep into one of her many novels. Wander was perched on her window, and he was taking a nap in the warm sun.

Zariah quickly threw down her book, and walked to the door. When she opened it, it was no other than Gwaihir. He was different today, dressed nicely, and his cologne was very, very strong.

He spoke in old English, and presented her with shocking news.

 

“Wow! Me? A troubadour? Well…I accept. As for greeting my friends, I’m sure they’d fancy meeting you. I’m sure you will be able to correspond with them, but mind you they have unusual accents and I sound pretty funny when I speak to them. In fact, Wanderer is right here at the window. Come in-Um, actually I’ll bring him out. We’ll have to go to the forest, because they usually don’t like to leave except when I ask them for a big favor.”

 

Zariah left the door cracked, but walked over to her window as she spoke in crow language to Wanderer.

 

“Wanderer, I’ve never introduced you to anyone but Nyyark’s friend Crow. I’d like for you to meet a friend of mine, if you don’t mind. Could you then bring a message to the clan to ask them to meet at the assembly location for an introduction?”

 

“No trouble, show him to me!”

 

Wanderer perched himself on Zariah’s shoulder and headed back to the door. Gwaihir waited patiently and nervously for her return. As she approached the exit, Zariah tripped and Wanderer was startled. He flapped around as Zariah scrambled on the floor.

 

“Wander! Calm down, it’s alright. Don’t alarm him away! It’s a big deal to me that this occurs as flawlessly as possible!”

 

With that Wanderer returned to her shoulder, and Zariah made it to her door.

[Gryphon]

Well done on your promotion Zariah! That's so cool.

 

[Sweetcherrie]

Congratulations Zariah!

 

Great Job!!

 

*hugs*

 

- Sweetcherrie

[Loki Wyrd]

Congratulations. Try not to abuse your power.

[Venefyxatu]

Congratulations, Lady of the Crows! Enjoy your brand-sparkly-new title

[Shathward]

Congratulations.

 

So ... Quill-bearer is 'full member' status?

[Zariah]

Nope Quill Bearer is what I was

I am now a Troubador (They just haven't changed my name...and I still have my sig)

 

 

Fixed - Gwaihir

Edited March 3, 2005 by Gwaihir

[Nyyark]

OOC: Congrats Babe, I knew you could do it! *hugs*

[Yui-chan]

Congratulations, Zariah, both on your promotion and on your lovely Valentine's Day Ball Quill Quest. I think I can safely say that all of the Tower is pleased to see your excellent work rewarded.

 

Thanks,

~Yui

[Kasmandre]

A thousand congratulations, every one richly deserved!

[Akallabeth]

Congratulations!

[Tanuchan]

Congratulations, Zariah... sorry for not posting directly (though I helped a bit in Venefyxatu's post), but I got some trouble in the way... If I have the chance, I'll still do it.

 

*hugs*

 

You'll be a wonderful addition to the Troubadors, I'm sure of it!

 

~Tanny

[Katzaniel]

Katzaniel wanders in, looking for the toothbrush she uses to amuse herself sometimes while in cat form. She gets distracted and forgets about that, however, when she sees the newest full member.

 

Yay for Zariah!

[Appy]

Congratulations! Well deserved

[Gyrfalcon]

Gyrfalcon wanders in, cleaning the leaf fragments from the bristles of his hairbrush "Congratulations, Zariah, it was your hard work and effort that got you to the point of Troubadour, and I admire the discipline and skill that got you to that rank." he says with a broad smile. "Now, I just wonder how these leaf fragments got in my hair brush..."

[Gwaihir]

OOC: Gwaihir's mistakes at the crow language are translated into mistakes at English for convenience's sake. When he tries to speak in crow pointy brackets will be used.

 

IC:

Standing in the doorway, Gwaihir blushes shyly and waits, shifting from one foot to the other ... and then back again every five seconds. It wasn't that Zariah was taking that long, but he felt even more awkward than usual.

 

Still, things seemed to be going all right. She hadn't gotten a broom and angrily chased him out of her apartment like he feared and she hadn't said he looked like a fright the way so many people did. It sounded like she was going to introduce him to Wandering One! (Gwaihir hadn't practiced the crow language in ... a Long time.) And she just referred to him as a friend!! Surely she wasn't mad at him for being scared of her if she called him her friend.

 

Then suddenly Zariah tripped ~How utterly cute, Gwaihir thought, a woman who might be as clumsy as I!~ and the elf's white knight complex jumped in. He dove to catch her if she fell...and did a face plant himself. Fortunately, Zariah managed to catch herself and avoided falling on top of her visitor.

 

The whole proceedings naturally surprised Wanderer and he flapped, startled. Between the fall and his imperfect language skills, Gwaihir missed most of his host's calming words, but he did hear the word important and it warmed him. ~What's important? Wanderer's important or dare I think it I am. Perhaps it's important that he look calm or not make her look bad...as if anything could, must practice my crow ASAP~

 

Quickly he picked himself up with a grace that was more elf than Gwaihir. My apologies, oh my! and I mean I mean

[Zariah]

Zariah suppressed a giggle as Gwaihir attempted to converse with Wanderer. She was pleased that he was attempting to interact and honored that he would use crow language (even if it was a bit out of form).

 

Wanderer bent his head to the side, in curiosity and tried to understand what Gwaihir had said. He, for some reason, became shy and nuzzled closer to Zariah’s collar, whispering something in her ear.

 

“You can tell him I said hi, and that I apologize but I must go to the forest to congregate the others. And…and…he’s nice.”

 

Wanderer flew out the window before she could persuade him to speak for himself.

A bit embarrassed that he exited so impolitely, Zariah’s cheeks flushed a bright pink.

 

“He likes you! He’s bashful because the only non-crow he’s ever spoken to is me, and well, now that I know I’m a crow, I guess he’s only spoken with them. But he said to tell you he was pleased to meet you and you seem nice; he’s off to the forest for preparations. Sorry that he darted out so abruptly. If you’d like, I’d love to take you to the assembly place where you can meet all my friends. Would you care to escort me?”

[Mynx]

Congratulations.

A job very well done indeed.

*smiles and hugs Zariah*

 

 

(OOC: would write something a little more inspiring here but my brain is fried...the joys of University...)

[Lady Celes Crusader]

*jumps up and down happilly* Congrats, Zariah!

[Gwaihir]

*Gwaihir grinned like a sugar crazed boy at a desert buffet*

How wonderful, I'd absolutely love to come!

"But...your friends are all crows...umm, is their meeting place someplace I can walk to?"

 

Here Zariah smiled and started to answer, but like many people this elf talked too much when he was nervous, so he didn't notice and went on.

 

"I mean I do green magic, but I've never really tried changing my form into that of any animal, so I can't fly. I've always wondered what it's like to be a bird and how birds think...well not the mm meat eating birds" *here he shuddered a bit* I do not want to know about them, but most birds at the worst just eat bugs. How does one think about other creatures when one's a bird. Maybe they ignore all of us but for all I know they keep encyclopedias on the two-legged non-flying nutty things down here ...... Um, I'm rambling aren't I."

 

Zariah laughed cheerfully. "Yes you are, but that's okay."

 

OOC: I'm going to stop here, because Rachel doesn't know enough about the assembly place to explain it in Zariah's words. .

[Zariah]

Zariah replied, “Oh, we are walking. I JUST found out about my nature recently, so I’ve always walked in the forest. It’s only about a ten minute walk, and I bet you’ve been there before without even knowing it. It’s not “owned” by anyone, we just congregate there about once every two weeks or so. I’m excited to be able to introduce you. It’s great to incorporate my friends. I get lonely sometimes, even with fellow crow friends, for I want Pennite friends as well. Not that I don’t have friends here, but I don’t interact with them on a personal level. So I’m glad to have you. Anyways, shall we go? I’m sure they’re all waiting."

 

With that, they headed into the forest and made it through the tall trees to the place. Wanderer was chatting with the others, and was startled with their approach. Zariah extended her arm and he came to her. "Friends, I’d like to introduce you to a dear friend of mine, Gwaihir. He can communicate with plants and animals and he can try to talk with you if you so wish. Be polite and patient. Gwai, I’ve given them their names, since they only have ones in the ancient tongue. Feel free to speak to whomever you wish, or not. We have about ten minutes or so before they depart."

 

(OOC: You can speak to any you want and make up their responses. For the sake of time consumption, you can feel free to end with Gwai and Zariah returning when he feels ready. Thanks for participating, I had fun! And the names of some of the crows are: Wanderer (male), Brown Beak (male), and the three brothers: Bright Eyes, Long Legs, and Tip (males), and The four female Crows: Serene, Beauty, Harmony, and Fiery. )