milliways_bar | (no subject)

A faint smile back, keeping quiet for the moment. Listening. If she could really sing, or play, she'd try to join in.

*Yrael plays on, the slow melody flowing smoothly from the violin. A sinuous tune, simple at first glance, but with small details, the light vibrato that shakes each note and the layers of harmony, that make it that much deeper. Soon, Yrael begins to sing along with it. There are no words to the song, merely Music being given a voice. It carries the listener along, like a quiet stream, sending peace before it like a ripple in the water that belies the movement of the melody. Softly, almost with no change in sound, Yrael lets the violin drop out of the music.*

Svava closes her eyes, listening, with a faint smile.

Edielwiess stops her purring- ears perked to listen as well.

*Yrael stands, still singing softly the quiet song of peace. Slowly, he holds out a hand to Svava, almost as an invitation to dance. He had promised to teach her a dance from Belisaere, the next time they met.*

She chuckles, and moves (poor) Edielwiess to the arm of the chair, and stands. Svava takes Yrael's hand, listening more carefully now for the tune to set the steps against.

*There is a tune, somewhere in there. He steps in time with the music, leading Svava to the wider-open space between the couch and the fireplace, then turns to face her. The music the Bright Shiner sings is slow, flowing like water in winter, under a sheer pane of ice. His right hand holding her left, her right on his shoulder, his left on the small of her back, Yrael begins to lead Svava through the beginning movements of the dance.*

She's quick to follow. Dancing is something she's always done well, its not an Asgard thing, a Valkyrie thing... its just a Svava thing. Studious eyes on his feet, until she's seen the basic steps. Humming the melody quietly to help follow.

*He would be smiling, if he were not singing, but it shows in his eyes. He leads her slowly through the steps, following the music, through the hand changes and the side-steps, the slow, dreamlike turns and stretches where they pull apart to turn, watching each other, only to come together again for another movement in the dance. All through this, Yrael sings. His voice, holding no words, only feelings, carries them through the dance. It almost disappears once or twice, as the music dwindles to glasslike delicacy. Their steps as they move together are light upon the wooden floor, making little sound.*

*Yrael sings, not needing to pause for breath, of peace and contentment, of rest and happiness. It is quiet, though. Like happiness in winter. It is tentative, breakable, as light as the steps Yrael and Svava make in the dance. They switch hands and Yrael turns her slowly until she faces away from him. He steps with her, behind and to the side of her, his left hand holding her left, his right hand upon her right hip.*

Svava's smiling, however. She flows along to the music, (even in just a sweater and jeans), picking up the steps and motions in swift heartbeats. No sounds of foot steps, feet upon the floor so lightly that the existance of foot prints would be a debate.

Svava's danced with Yrael before. The dance is new, but the partner for it is not, and she follows his lead with practiced skill and trust. Her motions and steps graceful and light, as befits the peaceful, quiet melody.

There's a mental moment of surprise at the turn about- but she keeps following, trusting in her dancing partner.

*He leads her gently through the steps, turning as they step backwards and to the left. Were there other couples dancing this dance, there would be a large circle of dancers, all rotating around the circumfrence of the dance-circle. Then the move ends, and Yrael takes his hand from Svava's right hip and gently sends her forward, still holding her left hand. They stand apart, left hand in left hand, each facing the other's left. For one measure of the music they circle in this way, each walking forward, then they draw together again, left hands held high together. Again they circle, slowly, following Yrael's music's delicate sounds. Then they seperate, and Yrael gently pulls Svava in a small twirl that ends with a deft switch of hands.*

*His singing grows in volume, and slightly in tempo as they dance, like the awakening of the world from Winter into Spring. The song moves more freely, as does the dance, almost sinuous in its steps and movements.*

She would almost be laughing, but it would interupt the music. Svava's still beaming, however. She's caught the change in tempo, the awakening. The few holidays they had in Asgard, such as there was, were for the seasons. The return of the sun, long missed in the winter of the northern lands. Grey skies becoming blue again. The snow melting and fading away, chased by warmth and green and growing-

The long cold of winter, frozen still, gives way to life and motion.

*The dance is smooth, still, though faster. The movements are simpler, easily made and smoothly accomplished. His singing is otherworldly, very little like a voice at all, really. He sings the dance of life, of the reawakening of the world to the rising of the sun. He sings movement, a piece of Kibeth's song, which given voice by her leads all to dance and step where she wills. They turn together, swifter now, and Yrael sends her out into a turn of her own before gently drawing her in again, their hands returning to the original positions they held at the beginning of the dance. With a faster tempo, the dance begins again. The music, however is different, instead of cold, tentative peace, the sounds of joy can be heard in the song. Joy awakening to the touch of the sun upon the earth. With the quicker tempo, the same movements as before take on a different feel to them, coming smoothly and more readily to the feet of the dancers.*

And finally, she's laughing with the joy of it, spinning and whirling in the smooth pattern drawn by the music. She follows the lively pace, feet moving lightly, hardly touching the floor. Later, when the seasons outside have caught up to this, when the slush and rain and mud and gloom have caught up to this, this life and sun and spring- Svava will have him take her outside, to dance this.

In the sun. In the morning. In the spring.

*And he will. He will dance with her in the springtime, in the new grass that will grow out by the lake. He will move with her as he does now, whirling with the growing joy of living, of the return of life to the world. They go through the steps again, just that much faster, pulling away and circling, then together again, circling still. His eyes are on her, holding every detail (her laugh, her smile, the way her eyes hold that joyful half-focus of a dancer, the light movement of her steps) in case when the time comes, she does not come back. He knows she will go, for that is the kind of person she is. It might not be what he wants, but he will not hold her back. Yrael had his choice made for him, so long ago, and he would not do that to her, however much it hurts him. Barely, he keeps his song from faltering. In a quick moment, he gives her a briliant white smile.*

If she knows his thoughts, it doesn't show. If its crossed her mind that there may not be a 'next time' for the dancing, that she may not see the green and the spring outside, it doesn't show.

She's already adding to her treasure of memories of this place. Remember.

This step here, this turn of the music here, Yrael catching her hand and spinning her here. His voice providing the music and the flash of his smile. And because this is a happy memory, Svava smiles back.

*Yrael continues singing as they dance, always gaining a little speed. The notes soar high, smooth as the dancesteps themselves, spiraling downwards as the two of them turn upon their impromptu dancefloor. With the speed of the music as fast as it is now, quick twirls are introduced to the dance, little movements added in that keep the smooth movements of the dance from happening too fast.*

*When they come together again at the end of the cycle of the dance, he leans her back in a smooth dip, his hand supporting her back.*

She finally, quietly laughs, bent back in perfect balance and trust in his support. There's still no words at this moment. When Yrael pulls her back upright, Svava lets go of his hands and pulls him into a hug.

*Yrael hugs her back, holding her. He closes his eyes and lets the song end. It fades like the light at sunset, that is still on the edge of ones vision for a long time after the sun is down and the song is ended.*

*After a long moment, he pulls away, and smiles slightly.*

"Thank you, Yrael." Its for more than the dance. Svava tiptoes up and kisses him on the cheek.

"The singing and dance were beautiful."

*He smiles more.* No, my friend. Thank you. Thank you for the dance, and for giving me reason to Sing.

*That second holds more than just the song he just let end.*

"Always reasons to sing, I think." She smiles faintly at Yrael. "Specially for one with a vioce such as yours."

*He grins.* Perhaps. Different reasons to sing cause different songs, of course. You cause a pretty song, indeed, my friend. *he runs a hand back through his hair.* A good tune to dance to.

She laughs, and nods. "You said it was for a spring celebration, back in your siblings' world? It would be lovely, seeing a whole group dancing in time to it."

It is quite lovely to see. All the different colors, whirling in the dance. It is a celebration of the renewal of the world. Kibeth used to frequent them, long ago. I attended a few, through the years, with whatever Abhorsen was alive at the time.

*He grins.* Today was the first time I had the opportunity to actually dance it, though.

"It seems many worlds celebrate the returning of springtime and the sun." She smiles faintly. "There were many sorts of festivals for it back in my world. Mostly on Midgard, but we had our own on Asgard as well. I think its just that people prefer the light and the warmth, no matter where they're from."

"I'm glad you managed to learn that dance, Yrael. Even if you never had a chance to dance it before. You did quite well. For a beginner." She grins.