Winter Wonderland [Event]

[voidtreckermods]

”Good Morning passengers. Today is day Twenty Four of the month of Catfish. You may wish to look out of the window.”

As passengers wake in their beds they will indeed notice something different about the light. If they look out of the window, instead of the ever changing void they will see white slopes of mountains, flakes of snow alling down around them and frost covered trees zipping past the windows. If they glance at the ICP on the table they will see a message.

Investigating the dressing cart they will find the drawers and cupboards unlocked once again. However, instead of the fantasy-esque clothing of world #25768 they will find thick winter coats, hats, gloves and scarves. There are heavy fur lined boots and even some ice skates.

Entering the garden carriage they will see that the glass dome of the roof has opened, leaving the carriage exposed to a bright blue sky. Any nonsense of the past few weeks has vanished, leaving the carriage pristine. Not that that is easy to notice as it is covered in a thick layer of snow. The paths are clearer, a light dusting of snow but easy to talk through. Around the paths the drifts are high, perfect for snowman building or a snowball fight.

The streams and the pond in the centre are solid ice. Anyone brave enough to try to find the ice holds their weight for ice skating.

And the ICP message was correct. There is hot chocolate in the stores.

Comments

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Oh! Okay!" No problem there: Edge's mind immediately leaped to the small people that composed some of Mythril Village's population. "Now I think I'm getting it. So none of them can come to your lands except by special permission... is it sealed, then?"

[marriedanidiot]

"Aye. We didn't use to be. But after Numenor invaded the Valar removed us from the world. You can't get there from here, as it were. Not without permission."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Oh, it was sealed away!" Yes, Edge understood this. The Underworld had been similarly sealed off, right until the series of events that led to the opening being restored, then exploded shut, then drilled open again.

[marriedanidiot]

"Aye." She nods. "If one has the blessings of the Valar, the Straight Road is still able to be found but... for all intents and purposes, we are removed entirely from the world."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Hmm. You know, I'm not sure history says that's such a good thing." The dwarves had begun truly prospering with opened ties to the surface, after all! And their help had been invaluable when the Giant began its march as well.

[marriedanidiot]

"Perhaps, and perhaps not!" She lifts a hand then drops it - a small shrug.

"It cannot be changed now, though."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Edhe laughed, lifting one fist in recalled triumph. "Hey, the last time I heard that, we mounted a drill to the front of an airship! Don't underestimate what necessity and determination can accomplish!"

[marriedanidiot]

She chuckles.

"That may be true for Men! But Elves and especially the Valar are very slow to change. We were removed from Arda for good reason, and the road I think will remain shut."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Time will tell. I guess you have plenty of that, huh?" How long did she have before she even put on a wrinkle or the like?

[marriedanidiot]

"Until world's end, or so they say." She nods. "And after that... who knows?"

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Well, your husband is the luckiest of men to get to spend eternity with you." His mind flashed briefly to a girl he'd have no time with at all, whose own days would pass as years to him.

[marriedanidiot]

She smiles a little sadly.

"Maybe. If they ever release him from the Halls..."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"But didn't you say he was..." Edge pointed a finger over his shoulder to the train at large.

[marriedanidiot]

"Here, on this train, yes." She smiles sadly. "But at home, my husband has been dead now two Ages of the world, and dwells in Mandos' Halls. Rumor says he will not be released until the end of days, although what the truth is I do not know. The other Reborn do not speak of him."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Wait, but he's --" Edge looked back and forth, trying to put this together. "Hold on, how does that even work?"

[marriedanidiot]

"I don't know." She shakes her head. "But he is here, and he is alive, my Feanaro. Death does not quite mean the same thing to us as to you, but even so, his spirit should be fast within Mandos' Halls, and not here. And yet..."

And yet, he is here, and she can feel him, even without trying, the warm lick of his spirit next to hers.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"This train is weird."

And terrifying, because if someone can come back from death --

No. No, he wasn't even going to think about that. Wrong on too many levels. Instead, he conks his temple with the heel of his hand to knock that idea out.

[marriedanidiot]

"Very." She sighs, and does not mention that of the rest of her family on board, only her and Maglor have not actually died.

"Tis best not to think about it too hard, I feel."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"And yet here we all are. Are we sure we can avoid it?" Edge was the last person who wanted to Think About Things, and yet.

[marriedanidiot]

"Perhaps not! But there is no point in borrowing trouble for tomorrow today, I think."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"If today weren't so boring, maybe." Not this specific day, which at least offers some chances at entertainment. But in general, this whole trip was misery.

[marriedanidiot]

"Well, if you consider being kidnapped onto a void train boring..." She points out, amused.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"It really kind of is. Something can be weird and strange and intolerable, and still really really boring." Edge heaved quite the sigh, then.

[marriedanidiot]

She laughs.

"Each to their own! I've found plenty enough to do for myself."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"With family around, I can't imagine how you wouldn't!"

Especially a reunion like the one she must have had. How could such moments be dull for her?