The Pillars Of The World

hand.
    Sinking into the chair beside Ari’s, Dianna exchanged a look with Lyrra, who grinned. Yes, the evening was going well, despite its surprises.
    “Why don’t you play us a song, Aiden?” Lucian said.
    “The Lover’s Lament,” Dianna said. A moment later, seeing the way Lyrra’s eyes widened, she realized it might not have been the best song to request. Then again, maybe it would help Ari understand a man’s feelings where the custom of gifting was concerned.
    After a slight hesitation, Aiden began to play the introduction. He glanced at Lyrra, who nodded. She would sing the woman’s responses to her lover.
    I gave my love a string of pearls
    As fine as they could be.
    She gave me back the string of pearls.
    “These aren’t the jewels for me.”
    I gave my love a sapphire fair,
    ‘Twas bluer than the sea.
    She gave me back the sapphire fair.
    “ ‘Tis not the jewel for me.”

    I gave my love a diamond rare,
    ‘Twas beautiful to see.
    She gave me back the diamond rare.
    “ Tis not the jewel for me.
    ‘Tis not the jewel for me.“
    Dianna looked out of the corner of her eye at Ari. The girl didn’t seem caught up in the feelings of a lover
    ’s sadness that his gifts were never sufficient; she seemed puzzled.
    “Didn’t you like it?” Aiden asked.
    “It’s lovely,” Ari said, “and you both sing it very well. But—” She struggled for a moment, then added, “I wondered why you didn’t sing the last two verses. The song is very sad this way.”
    Dianna stiffened. She looked anxiously at Aiden, whose eyes had changed to a piercing blue.
    “You know other verses?” Aiden demanded.
    Aiden, she’s not an apprentice bard. Don’t take that tone with her.
    “Umm . . . well . . . yes,” Ari stammered, then added hurriedly, “But it might be that it’s not usually sung with the other verses. It’s just the way I learned it.”
    “Then you can sing them?”
    Lucian straightened up in his chair in response to the sharpness in Aiden’s voice.
    “Aiden,” Lyrra said, giving him a gentle nudge, “sometimes you let your quest for songs ride roughshod over your manners.” She gave Ari her best smile. “Don’t pay attention to him. I would like to hear the other verses.”
    “Oh ... I don’t sing very well.”
    “That doesn’t matter,” Aiden said. He huffed when the next nudge Lyrra gave him wasn’t so gentle. “
    Please sing them. Start with the last verse we sang and go on.”
    He started playing the verse. Ari didn’t sing. She just chewed on her lower lip and hunched in her chair.
    Aiden took a deep breath—and let it out slowly. “What?”
    “Well, it’s not really two more verses. There’s a ... a ... transition verse—”
    “A bridge.”
    Ari nodded. “A bridge, and then the last verse.”
    “I think I can follow along,” Aiden said dryly. When he started to play again and she still didn’t sing, he stopped. “Something else?”

    “The version I know isn’t played quite so mournful.”
    Aiden played a verse through at a slightly increased tempo, then glanced at Ari. When she nodded, Dianna sighed in relief.
    I gave my love a diamond rare,
    ‘Twas beautiful to see.
    She gave me back the diamond rare.
    “ ‘Tis not the jewel for me.”
    I wandered through the days and nights
    And finally I did see
    What jewels it was my lady fair
    Was looking for from me.
    I gave her kindness, courtesy.
    Respect, and loyalty.
    I strung them on the strands of love.
    “These are the jewels for me.
    These are the jewels for me.“
    Aiden finished the song with a repeat of the introduction. When he finished, there was silence.
    An uncomfortable, almost painful, silence.
    None of them dared look at Lucian.
    Oh, Lucian , Dianna thought. If that’s what she’s expecting from a lover, she’s more of a starry-eyed romantic than any human I've met. No wonder your gifts meant so little .
    “That was lovely, Ari,” Lyrra said.
    Ari mumbled a “thank you” and looked out at the meadow.

    A drum beat. Stopped.
    They all turned toward the sound.
    Six of the Small Folk were standing nearby. Three men and three women. They all wore surly, suspicious expressions. Two of the men carried drums.
    “Blessings of the day to you,” Ari said, smiling. “Come and be welcome.”
    One man came forward. “We came for the dance,” he said gruffly, looking at Dianna. “We always come for the dance. ‘Tis a custom.”
    “The dance?” Dianna asked quietly, leaning toward Ari.
    “Yes,