Tzoli's Red Leather Journal

The Song of the Sea - The Beginning

The Song of the Sea
Told by Tzoli Kita, recorded by Pernaval the scribe

**My name is Pernaval and I am a Scribe. It was late on the eve of the 11th Day of the End of Darkfall when a woman came to me. I must admit that it took me a moment to realize it was a woman, but when I did, I smiled as broadly at her as she did at me. I am not a great Scribe, nor am I a poor one, but what the lady suggested intrigued me. She said she wanted to have her stories recorded, but that she, herself was poor at writing and it was a laboured effort.

She was not a pretty woman, but she was pleasant, friendly to say the least. There was something strange about her though, like she was not in complete faculties of her mind. Maybe it was pity that led me to record her story, maybe boredom.

I kept this rendition as close to her tale as posible, save for her strange dialect and thick accent. I pray to Melchior that I do it justice, for she may not have been as smart as most women, but her story was beautiful.**

((A bit has been tacked on to the end of this page in a messy, large script.))

Mistar Pernaval gave me this copy of my storee to keep with me. I am putting it in my journil so later I can shar it with my frends.

This is the story of an ancient song that all men bore upon their hearts at one time. The ancient song that has faded into myth and rhyme and grand stories told by people like me and people like you. Before man bore the gifts of Elbahn on his heart, the gifts of Ylessa, the Gifts of the Gods, this song was born with them, like a silent mother buried deep within them.

Maybe, because of this, the sea has always been called a woman. I tend to think she is a Lady because no man has ever truly tamed her fickle heart. She draws men in and swallows them. She draws men in and takes everything from them. She draws men in and sends them home with the world in their hands. She is a mother and a mistress, a princess and a queen, a crone and a wise woman. She is a Lady, for she is versatile like a woman and her heart is free.

She gave man the Song of the Sea when they were new, a gift to them that only a mother can give. But, like a spoiled child, as time wore on, man forgot their gift and struck it from their hearts. Over the years, the words of the song have been lost to the dark recesses of the hearts of men. Pushed aside by love, by fear, by hate, by things less pure, by things more worthy. Those who recall the song are said to be pure, are said to be holy. Yet, even those who recall it as babes, oft forget it by the time they utter their first word, for it is pushed aside by all the emotions we bare as children on our hearts.

This is the story of a boy who bore the song upon his heart. But more, it is the story of his brother who fought the Lady of the Sea to get his brother back and, in the process learned the song all over again to bare upon his heart with all the emotions he had come to bare as a child and as a man. He learned the song and placed it on his heart with all the emotions that had made him forget in the first place.

In a time before the darkness, before the Twilight fell on the land, yet really, in a time not so long ago that it has been forgotten; there was a pair of brothers: Jiri and Randi. They were good boys, but strange boys. Jiri, the elder, was oft compared to the Golden Sun, for his features were all that can be called Radiant and Pure. His brother Randi was oft called the Blue Sun, for he was small and shy and hid behind a door that could not be seen, nor felt.

Randi was gifted by the Lady of the Sea. He bore her song upon his heart. Maybe this is why he remained so far away. He never loved, but he also never fought. He never feared, but he also never tried. He never said an ill word toward anyone, but he also spoke no good. He was very far away.

Despite this, Jiri adored him, he loved him more than the sun and the stars in the sky, more than the grass beneath his feet. He fawned on him day and night, spoke overflowing praises, did what his parents could not: get close. Jiri was a good man and everyone knew it.

When Randi ran off to the sea, no one said a word, for somewhere, deep down, they all knew he was a child of the Sea. Only Jiri was left open and wanted. Only Jiri was stunned and shattered. Only Jiri wept, for he was alone. His heart ached when he thought of the song his brother would sing in the deep of night when he thought the entire world was dreaming, Jiri used this song to comfort himself for the first month his brother was gone, trying to remember the words, but being unable. The dream of it, the memory of it haunted him to the deepest core of his being.

One night, he had a dream. A dream that his brother was being pulled into the Sea. A woman of Water and woe opened her arms and took his brother into her, not only as a mother, but also as a Mistress. "I have waited long for you Randi of the Sea. You are the boy who is alone, yet comforted. The boy who is my destined lover. I will take everything from you and we will be one," the Lady sang this in such a voice that it pierced into the sky. "Randi, my love, my life, stay with me and I shall give you everything. I shall teach you to love and to laugh. I shall teach you to forget. I shall teach you to sing." Jiri saw his brother in her arms and his breath stopped for a moment. He was scared. He did not want his brother born away by this woman, this beast. His breath was stopped in the eiderdowns of he water, he was pulled under and away from the light.

When his breath once again started to come, he awoke and sword he heard his brother singing to him, calling to him. Yet, no one was there. He resolved then and there to go after his brother. No woman should bare him away. No woman should have such power of him.

When the sun rose, he went to his family and told them of his dream. His mother's face fell ashen, his father could only purse his lips and nods. He told them he would go and search for his brother and bring him home. His mother begged him not to go. "Son, you can not bare away from the Sea what is already hers. She will swallow you and then I will have no sons left. Stay with your mother and get married to a fine girl and raise some grandchildren so that I may see them before Morhaig takes me."

But, Jiri would not be swayed, if anything he was headstrong and heartsure. "Mother, I cannot ignore the warning sent to me. I know Randi wishes me to take him away from the Lady of the Sea and bring him home. I know Randi has many shadows cast over him, but I know he should not be forced to forget us. I will go out and bring him home. Any woman who makes him cry, is not worthy to be with him, Lady of the Sea or otherwise." He picked up his pack that he had prepared in the deep of night when sleep would not retake him. He had no weapon save a small knife he used for killing chickens. He had only a change of clothes, a fishing pole, flint and tinder, and enough money to bare him passage upon a boat. "Mother, I swear upon the Rising Sun Cymur that I will return to you. When I do, I will marry any girl of your choosing, but now, I must do this."

His mother assented to his wish, for she knew she could not persuade him other wise. "Fine son, but take this with you so you do not forget your home and your promise," she said, taking the pendant of Cymur she wore around his neck, "It will hold you to your oath and keep you safe." She placed the pendant round his neck and kissed her son on each of his cheeks as a mother tends to do when wishing him the best.

Jiri walked out the door, followed by his father. "Come with me son, I have some things for you now that you are a man." He led his son into the barn. He opened up a floorboard and brought out a large cloth. He held it out to him and smiled, "This is the sword I got from my father on the day I married your mother. I was saving it for the day you married, but I think now is a better time." He unwrapped the cloth, showing a sturdy sword with a hilt of gold, the pommel bore the symbol of Cymur. His father spoke honestly, "I cannot say if this is a magic sword or not, but I do know that it has always brought our family good health and good fortune, even in the bad times. Keep it with you through the bad times and surely you will make it through."

Jiri hugged his father as he took the sword, but no words came to his head as being right to say, so he just smiled and bowed. He turned and walked away, knowing that the first steps were always the hardest, but that he must take them with his head held high. And that is what he did.

[End Part One]

**It was here that we ended for the night for it had grown still and dark and my hand was slowing with weariness. We agreed that she would come back in the morning and finish her tale.**

Posted by Tzoli at November 4, 2004 03:56 PM