[ AW ] Hardly a Whisper

H

e was gallant, this knight cloaked in a pelt of sand and gold, a reflection from a stretch of desert, a time long gone by, blessed only by the blue of the pristine skies. And, of course, one would think, of an oasis, fresh pools of water and greenery strewn among the forbidden earth—his clear voice, like a liquid tenor, rang among the otherwise quiet of the cloudy morning, cold and gray.

"Look to the horizon,
When the sun has gone down,
And the winter sweeps over,
This land without sound."

Besides him was his mentee and friend, the fair lady of the realm, his constant companion along this burdensome road. Still, a melodious note or two could certainly lift the drab spirits of travelers who labored from one destination to another.

The snow fell, silently, drifting in a white flurry toward the ground as they tread the unmarked path. Rafiel knew where he was going.

Well, sort of.

To be honest, Rafiel was not the sort to mind a bit of dawdling, especially if he could admire the flora and fauna along the way—only today, the scene before him was covered in a thick blanket of snow, hardly a whisper to be found. Still, he was in high spirits, and he sang the songs of his mother as they walked.

@Merrin @Nathair

art by Lunicea, code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

The soft bellowing tone that thrummed from deep within Rafiel kept her at peace as they traveled to places unknown…or at least unknown to her. And in the presence of winter, it only enhanced the bard’s sound, for what snow lay on the ground has quieted the world around them.

Winter did always seem to sweep over everything and create an expanse of silence. When once she found herself hopeless and uneasy in this season’s atmosphere, she now was able to find comfort in the presence of Rafiel’s warmth. Though he was far taller than her, she attempted to walk in time with him so that her flank touched his and they could share their body heat with one another.

Merrin looked up at him and smiled sweetly as she spoke, “That’s beautiful. Are those words your own?” Until they’d truly begun their travels, she hadn’t the slightest idea of the golden knight’s talent for song and lyrics. She thoroughly enjoyed it and she did find that it lifted her spirits enough to distract her from the anxieties of adjusting to their new home.

@Rafiel @Nathair

table by Yahtzee-Penguiduck [da], click for attributions