When Malus lagged behind a bit, Gwin had a hard time keeping up her rhythm too. She was used to and always strived for harmony, but during that short moment, she had to cling to disharmony until he adjusted to her. Not the other way around. He did so quickly, despite mixing up a few beats that briefly stung in her ears. Applause came up from the background. Obviously part of the audience understood the musical challenge and cheered them on. Gwin only noticed the noise through the song they were playing though, completely throwing herself into the music. Her arms started to ache and her fingers lost their speed and flexibility bit by bit. Slowly, but surely, the effects of playing for a long time wormed their way into her body. They’d have to conclude the challenge soon… For the time being, Gwin reveled in the sad and slow quality the song had shifted to. Those were the waters she knew, lukewarm and safe, although she could tell Malus wasn’t as familiar. Her facial features relaxed a bit. The Svefra should try and explore it, squeeze out all he could learn from it. Instead he changed it once again. At first she didn’t notice, drifting in her own little world of melancholy, but then the discord reached her ears and she started to pay attention again. It wasn’t discord, not really, but rather a different way to support her voice with his ge’tear. Gwin kept up the rhythm and let the melody resonate within the hearts of their listeners, but Malus added a quality that she hadn’t intended or even heard in her slow pace and theme. Slowly, very slowly she realized it and noticed the different message trickling into her too. Once again it was the sheer fun of the free life the Svefra knew, combined with the pleasure and delicious tension of carnal desire. Gwin knew nothing of it and felt it strange to find that theme in her music. Of course, Malus had added it to their play, but once their instruments connected in harmony like they did, the song belonged to both of them. By bringing up that theme, he’d let her take part in it. With a slight frown, she wove in a little break, just a beat or two, to take a step back mentally. When she joined him again, it was on a note of parting. The violin whispered her farewell within the next beats, fading into the background. It’d be up to his ge’tear to end the song in a suitable way. After that, they were surrounded by people applauding and smiling. Once the noise subsided, Gwin tilted her head in a bit of an apology. “I’m sorry. I simply couldn’t go along with the theme you raised towards the end. It is not the kind of music I’m used to playing. I don’t even know if I want to…” Her eyes were fixed on the cobblestone sprinkled with dark drops from the fountain. Oh, part of her was annoyed that she’d given up – although she’d have denied the nature of the challenge if he’d stopped first. “Thank you for playing with me though. I learned a lot.” Those words were more sincere and with them she found the courage to look up with serious gratitude. The violin rested in her lap like a small child. |