THIS IS LOVE?

Azure smiles wistfully as she draws her mandolin close. Her violet eyes are bright when she looks up to gaze at you. Her deft fingers drape over the frets of the instrument and the bardess strums across silvery strings, filling the area with a gentle melody. The bardess glances to her left where an elven piper steps from the crowd. He is dressed in simple attire with a badge from the house of Loenthra. He lifts his pipe to his lips and the sweet music of his instrument harmonizes with Azure's. Moments pass as they play and the area grows darker, until candles begin to light in a circle about Azure, seemingly from nowhere.

Azure sings:

This, then, is truly love?
As it is ordained from above?
Is each day a celebration?
For love is true in creation.

Azure's eyes return to center on you as though she asks you the question, but then her eyes turn to gaze over the crowd, giving the impression that she asks it of each person present.

Azure asks softly, "Tis truly love?

Azure sings:

Out of the stars comes a gift,
Surely, tis bright in the gilt.
A mystery from high above,
It is only a simple love.

The candlelight flickers while the music flows softly into filaments of fine silver and gold which are spun into threads, one from Azure's mandolin, the other from the piper's instrument. Slowly the music weaves a mystical tapestry, elegant of design yet also simple.

Azure sings:

A treasure lies deep within,
A message, tis gently sent.
Turmoil and struggle fall away,
When love imposes its sway.

A joy fills sadden hearts,
Through love's light it starts.
Cholen's laughter rings its blessing,
When love's voice is singing.

This, then, is truly love,
As is ordained from above.
Each day is a celebration,
For love is true in creation.

Now you hear no question in the bardess' voice. The exquisite singer's skillful hands continue to draw a haunting melody from her instrument. The woven cloth begins to turn gracefully in space, keeping rhythm with the music. The piper's song, softly in the background, seems to add power to Azure's and the cloth bursts into a breathtaking display of dancing pinpoints of lights.

Azure sings:

Draw close for communion,
Two hearts join in this union.
A moment that is enduring,
Binds a love that is insuring.

Circle within a circle,
Love needs no oracle.
When a light is found to follow,
Love becomes tomorrow.

For a moment, the twirling lights seem to hover, then as though directed by the beautiful song, they begin to form two circles, one within the other. The rings of light flash silver, white, then gold.

Azure sings:

Ties to earth and water,
Unbind, as they falter.
Broken by a faith born higher,
Love's faith needs no other fire.

The rings turn and you can see they are, indeed, joined together. Runes appear within the rings, then all the lights wink out, one at a time, as though unbinding and breaking away. The music grows softer and becomes only a sound in the background that enhances Azure's crystal voice.

Azure sings:

This, then, is truly love,
As is ordained from above.
Each day is a celebration,
For love is true in creation.

Azure draws her song to a close and nods at the piper. His song fades into distinction and when you look, again, he is gone. With a bright smile and flourish, Azure silences her mandolin with the touch of her hand and the circle of candlelight is extinguished.

From the darkness you hear Azure's clear voice, "Tis the hour and the time, for creation.

Lady Azure Ru'Thorn

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