driftfleet | voice;

In my country we have a lot of stories of famous historical figures - some whose tales have grown as they have become more legend than person.

Take, for example, the Tale of Musashino Benkei. He was a rugged monk and ascetic who grew to a monstrous height. Benkei was famed for his feats of strength and decided to gather 1,000 swords by defeating 1,000 samurai as they crossed a bridge. He fought day after day, defeating famous, feared warrior after warrior and collecting 999 swords.

But then, one day, a young man came across his bridge. Benkei challenged him to a duel as he had with countless braver, bigger men before him. The boy took out a flute and accepted the challenge.

And soundly beat Benkei.

The boy was Minamoto no Yoshitsune, who having been raised by the tengu, was endowed with their skill in the sword. Benkei was so taken in by the young man that he pledged his loyalty to him forever. Benkei and Lord Yoshitsune fought many trials together as they tried to reclaim the Minamoto's birthright.

However, the Lord and his retainer were betrayed by Yoshitsune's older brother, Yoritomo, who feared Yoshitsune's popularity and skill would cost him power. He chased Lord Yoshitsune and Benkei across Japan, cornering them in a mountain castle. Knowing that there was no escape, Yoshitsune retreated to the innermost castle to commit seppuku while Benkei, ever loyal and fierce, guarded the only entrance - a single bridge.

He killed dozens of men trying to cross and take Lord Yoshitsune's head. Defeating each as easily as he had back on that fateful day when he first met his young lord. Lord Yoritomo's forces grew afraid and were ordered to take Benkei down the only way they knew how - with arrows. They loosed flight after flight at him, enough to darken the sky, and yet he still stood, his weapon at his side to protect the bridge.

It wasn't until they ran out of arrows that they realized...

Benkei had died long ago, but his valor and his loyalty had kept him upright, giving Lord Yoshitsune time to commit seppuku rather than be taken by the enemy. His story is still told today, in my time, as a symbol of true loyalty and devotion to a cause a person.

[He takes a deep breath after speaking for so long. It whistles a little in his lungs, but he manages not to cough.]

Do you have any such stories? Famous people or groups? I'd love to hear them. It would be a nice break from all the loud music.

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Even so! I will miss the world that was, but I look forwards to what it will become.

And perhaps I will finally have a chance to travel.

Oh you should! I've heard wonderful things about traveling. The furthest I've gone is from Edo to Kyoto. And I suppose after that a few trips about for various things, but the world seems so fascinating now that I know about it.

Where do you wish to go?

What was your journey like, between Edo and Kyoto?

As for myself... well I know the lands of Middle-earth very well now, so I am hoping to go further. Across the western deserts to Rhun and Khand and Harad, maybe, or seek for the lost lake of Cuivienen, where my people first awoke.

It was loud. [He laughs.] We went in a large group and marched from Edo to the capital city. With so many of us together, people were boisterous and singing or joking most of the way there.

[And there was so much hope. The Shieikan had finally made its mark on the world, and everything laid in front of them was full of possibilities. They didn't know yet that the Roshigumi would go through such growing pains and that the Shinsengumi would begin its life soaked in the blood of their own leaders. For the briefest of moments, he was truly weightlessly happy.]

Do you know what to expect in those new lands? The people or the terrain?

To travel with friends makes a road shorter.

[ Wryly he adds ]

Of course, depending on the nature of your friends it might make it longer, too.

[ He shakes his head ]

Not really - being at war for so long, only the bravest of traders have dared the desert sands, which pass far too close to the Black Gate for most people's liking, and are risky at the best of times.

I wouldn't mind it so much, if the road had been longer.

[Thinking of what has happened since then, it might have been nicer to spend a little more time being so carefree.]

But now that the danger has passed, there should be more trade and travelers along those routes, yes?

Ah, the best kind of friends, eh?

[ Maglor hums softly ]

Aye - I hope so! There will always be war. But the Shadow has been defeated, and we can hope for peace now, without His meddling.

Mm.

[Thinking of them makes his heart hurt. He misses them more and more as the days pass since he last saw them or heard any of their voices. It's getting harder to remember the little things about them and it worries him.]

I hope your world finds a long lasting peace at last, Maglor-san.

I hope yours will as well.

[ Maglor smiles ]

I think we will do well. For as long as Aragorn is king, anyway. And after that... who knows!

[He just smiles in return and nods his head once.]

Hopefully a good king will train his successor to be as good as he or better.

Let us hope so! Tis not a guarantee, of course. But a good chance, if Elessar raises his successor right.

Elessar...? Oh! Is that another name for him?

Sorry, yes! [ Maglor shakes his head in fond memory ] That boy has almost as many names as one of my folk. But in the Annals of the Kings they will call him Elessar, and his house will be Telcontar, until the day it fails.

[He laughs.] All these names! I thought we had a lot sometimes, but I think you and your people win.

[ Maglor echoes the laugh sheepishly ]

Not for nothing is our name for ourselves Quendi, the Speakers! We are a talkative people, as a whole. Naming things is half the fun!

[He laughs again and nods.]

Well, lucky for you that you have so many opportunities then. The only thing I've ever named is Saizou.

Your little pig? [ He smiles ] Does the name mean anything?

It does and it doesn't. I named him after someone in a roundabout way.

[Someone he misses so much that it feels like he might someday die of it.]

A nickname particular to someone dear to you?

[ Maglor murmurs softly ]

I am sorry to have touched a painful memory.

[The edges of pain in his face are gone immediately, replaced with smiles and him waving his hands in front of him.]

No no! It's no problem at all.

[He forgets sometimes that he has to be more guarded here. He's already useless to so many. If they saw him as unhappy or melancholy, they might leave him further behind.]

Just a friend of mine who is also particularly grumpy. I thought they suited each other.

[ Uh huh ]

One special to you all the same, eh?

[ But he'll obligingly follow the subject shift ]

Did they know that you named your pig after them?

Well, of course my friends are special to me, silly.

[let's not talk about this ever because he hates talking about things that make him sad and abandoned]

And yes, he knows. He hates it.

[which just makes Okita laugh about it even more]

[ Aw sweetheart.

But Maglor will allow the subject change ]

Which makes you call your little one all the more frequently in his hearing, hm?

[ Maglor has brothers. He knows how it goes ]

Honestly, I don't have to do it much.

[Saizou was a terror all on his own.]

He likes to get into everyone's business when he's not with me, so it's more like everyone says his name all the time.

[ An amused twitch of his lips ]

Did he ever get confused because you were calling your pet and not him?

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