II.II. Tune

The memory always was static. She remembered walking up on her parents talking, but the words were always a buzz in her ear. She could never remember what they were saying. She remembered how cold the wood floors were, how the winter seemed to chill the entire building, despite the numerous torches burning within. It was dreadfully cold that night, the sky black with a storm threatening. She could remember that, even through the static.

She could remember her mother smiling and beckoning her over. She could remember that, she could hear that, even over the static.

"Come here, little bird" She called. "Come here, little bird"

That was her special name for Claire. Little bird, for how well she sung, for the songs she wrote about knights and ladies and dragons and the great warrior who died to protect the village long, long ago. She sung the songs she wrote and her mother praised her. That was the only reason she sung at all.

Her mother spoke to her and she listened but she did not hear. She could not hear her over the static that pressed ever closer. She could hardly see her mother's form because of it. She saw her stomach though, bulging with the new life within.  A sibling for her to watch over, is what they told her. A sibling for her to sing with someday.

The snow reflected the torch light and it seemed bright. She watched him walk out the door. She watched and she stood, feeling a few flakes land in her hair. She stood close to the door, so close she could have stopped him but her arms felt as heavy as her stomach. She watched him leave. She watched. She did nothing.

---

Claire woke in a cold sweat, her body trembling, her eyes snapping open in a moment. She felt sick to hers stomach. She felt shaky, almost as if she were fighting off a bad sickness. She was not sick in the common way though. 

She found herself heaving her guts into the chamber pot though. Her dream made her physically ill, as it nearly always did. It always left her feeling like she had swallowed a dozen or more stones. Soon though, her retching stopped and she was able to wash her mouth out and returned into her room to get ready for the day. It was not out of the ordinary for her to start her day this way. She had grown used to it over time. 

When she had prepared herself for the day, she sat down to write a little bit. She did not want to forget how to write or read so she practiced every day. Even if for only an hour, it kept her mind sharp. She felt it was a good exercise for her and an excellent way to start her day.

After eating a quick breakfast, she headed to the Faire to play her guitar that day. She had not seen hide nor hair of that strange man since she encountered him in the park and that had been near three months ago.  Perhaps he had left.

She set herself up not far from the entrance or where many families set to eat, hoping to attract a large crowd today. She was surviving, but barely. Savings were hard to come by for her. There had to be something more to life than this, but she couldn't figure out what would change it for her. Music was all that she wanted to do with her life, but she was barely able to make ends meet. If only she had her own home. If only she had some money saved, perhaps she would be able to do better for herself.

She was able to attract some attention that day. Two of the many elves that now lived in Dragon Valley. They nearly out numbered the humans now, but they were such graceful beings that Claire could only envy them. Most of them were kind and some didn't even seem to mind marrying humans. Some were pretty strict about that but Claire expected that was something that would happen anywhere. As long as there wasn't another war over it, she didn't really care.

By midday she noticed she had another admirer. It was that boy, humming along with her words, tapping his hip in time to her beat. She looked straight at him and him at her and he smiled. She felt her lips turn down into a frown. 

She saw him start coming towards her. "Hey, lady!" He called as he got closer.

"Who me?" She asked, hoping he might be talking to anyone else.

"Who else?" He grinned at her.

"You're a wonderful musician and I have this idea that will make us both happy, perhaps." His words were fast and rushed, excited almost and Claire found herself nodding before she could think to ask what he meant by "make us both happy".

"What if we play together? The people would give some money to one talented musician but to two?" He was grinning as if this were the best idea he had ever presented. Claire gave him a strange look.

"What do you mean?"

"We play together. You're better than me but I'm improving. Come on, let's play!" And he turned walking closer to the water and retrieving his guitar.

He began to play a tune that she knew very well. It was a song praising the Great Dragon Slayer, she who gave her life to protect Dragon Valley from the flames. It was one of her favorite songs. She was surprised he knew it.

"Come on" He called again and she finally realized what he wanted her to do.

She began playing alongside him, adding her voice to the sweet melody they both plucked from the strings. They actually played very well together and that was something that surprised her greatly. She had always played alone, since she had gotten the guitar. Even whens she was younger and she sang, neither of her parents were much for that so they were wont to let her sing alone.

They played together most of the day, raking in much more money than she ever had before. She actually even enjoyed herself. He knew many tunes that were common to be sung in Dragon Valley and she thought that it might even be easy to teach him some that she knew as well. While the guitar was not as graceful, as say the harp, the melody still had a beautiful flow to it. 

When they called it quits for the night, she couldn't help but let out a little laugh. "That was amazing!" She practically sang to him. She saw the amused smile on his face and worked to control her expression. "I mean...that was really good. We should do that again"

"I would like that as well, lady" 

"My name isn't lady, my name is Claire Silverthorn" She told him. She realized that she had never learned his name.

"It is good to meet you, Claire" He said with a charming smile. "Officially, I mean. My name is Song"

"It's a pleasure to meet you Song. I have a feeling this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship" He grinned again, that charming smile on his face and she couldn't help but smile back. He wasn't so bad, now that they agreed to work together. Perhaps her luck was finally turning around.