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Our Nilme, by Allye
Sung at Nilme's Surprise Birthday Party, held by the Tavern Troupe 439 AV (October 4, 2021)
(Allye plucks a series of quiet notes on her cedar lap harp, nodding to herself when she finds it's tuned to her liking. She places her flat palms over the strings to dampen their vibration.)
Allye says, "This is called, 'Our Nilme.'" She turns to smile joyfully at the Elven woman herself. "To celebrate one of the most marvelous people I've ever met."
Allye says, "I hope you will enjoy it."
(Allye draws her hands up to take their position once more over the lap harp, leaning back to lightly brace the instrument between her shoulder and thigh. With a deep breath, she begins to pluck a gentle melody, lifting her voice simultaneously to sing.)
Allye sings in a soprano voice:
"She's the brightest, most welcoming smile
That invites you to join, to belong for a while.
A beacon of joy and camaraderie:
The most amiable of all is Nilme."
Allye smiles a soft smile, her gaze lowered to the strings of her instrument. A delicate glissando bridges from one iteration of the repeating refrain to the next as the plinking tune continues.
Allye sings in a soprano voice:
"She's the soft, pure voice that fills your ears,
Beguiles you, delights you, and moves you to tears.
With prowess of words and melody:
The most brilliant of all is Nilme."
(Allye's fingers move across the strings, each meticulous placement resulting in a sweet plucked note. Her voice grows quiet as she proceeds to the next verse.)
Allye sings in a soprano voice:
"She's the hand that finds yours when you're scared,
Such soul-kindling warmth in times of despair.
With generous spirit and hale empathy:
The kindest of all is Nilme."
Allye smiles with fond affection. The melody slows for a moment, only to almost immediately pick back up and drive forward once more.
Allye sings in a soprano voice:
"She is friendship most dear, brimming with love,
A bright, shining star that gleams from above.
She's all this and more, I know you'll agree:
The most wonderful of all, our Nilme!"
(Allye bows her head as the final notes linger upon the vibrating strings of her instrument. She allows the sound to simply fade, only leaning forward a moment later when all that remains is silence.)
A Song for Nilme, by her Mother, Bardess Achrennight Filanti
Sung at Achrennight's Concert as part of the Arthe Dale Concert Series, 375 AV (March 27, 2004)
You see Achrennight Filanti of Therengia, an Elf.
She has pointed ears and jade eyes. Her black hair is very long and thick, and is worn in a tousled mass of locks that tumbles over her shoulders. She has rosy skin. She is young for an Elf.
She is wearing a tall pewter tankard, an open front-laced white silk shirt, a delicate ivory collar with a dangling pink heart, a shadowy black silk handfasting cord adorned with ebony beads carved to resemble a pair of sleek wolves, a wooden arrow pendant engraved with a howling wolf, a willow backpack, a tiny nightingale charm, an enticing gypsy skirt of gold and crimson gauze over black gossamer, a beaded crimson silk corset with tightly drawn ivory laces, a pale green spidersilk pouch pinned with a golden phoenix charm, a supple black leather flute pouch, a velvet-lined crimson sack embroidered with a fiery phoenix, a soft gold suede garter with a ruby phoenix buckle, a delicate twisted gold hip-chain, a low-slung leather hip belt, a crimson brocade cloak trimmed with plush white ermine, a lacquered scarlet instrument case painted with golden wrens, a flute-shaped ivory hairpin and some sleek red leather thigh boots laced up the back with steelsilk laces.
Achrennight says, "Well, while I figure out which fun song to sing, I might as well sing a song written about my daughter Nilme. I really should get around to titling this song.. but here it is. A song for Nilme"
Achrennight quietly sings in a mezzo-soprano voice:
"She was sitting in the guild, quiet and forlorn.
I sat down, smiled and asked her tale.
A tale of sorrow she did weave, like I've heard before,
But only in the ballads from the days of yore."
Achrennight sadly sings in a mezzo-soprano voice:
"And in her eyes, I saw hope,
That chased away her fears.
Her song, taken from her heart,
And all her tender years."
Achrennight longingly sings in a mezzo-soprano voice:
"For all her years, she'd been through much.
It made my heart ache and yearn,
To give her something to smile for,
Just like in the ballads from days of yore."
Achrennight wistfully sings in a mezzo-soprano voice:
"And in her eyes, I saw fears,
That brought back memories old.
Her song, I had taken to heart,
And it made me grow bold."
Achrennight tenderly sings in a mezzo-soprano voice:
"I offered her a place in my family,
A place in my heart and soul.
She smiled and is alone no more,
Her song became a ballad of days of yore."
Achrennight lovingly sings in a mezzo-soprano voice:
"And in her eyes, I see love,
That chased away her strife.
In her I feel naught but pride,
That will last me all my life."
Achrennight gazes down at the floor.
Achrennight blushes, the tips of her ears turning a delicate scarlet hue.
Achrennight says, "I just wish I had half her talent in writing songs as she"
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