To pass the time in line, I tell the tale of Elsildra, a tale well known in my (former) tribe. In the tale, it is ages ago before the parting of the Sea from the Elves. In those days, the Sea and Elven folk formed an easy coterie. The Sea allowed the Elven folk to walk as easily on its surface as a man might walk on land, and the Elven folk sang of the Sea's beauty in strains so elegiac that all who heard them wept and their tears refilled the Sea daily. During the day of her coming of age, an Elven maiden spent a day and night walking the surface of the Sea, singing to it of its own beauty. But Elsildra was an elf of uncommon beauty, and on seeing her walking its surface, the Sea knew it must have her. She sank beneath the waves. Her betrothed, Geldren was, as tradition dictated, sitting on the beach and meditating on the horizon when he saw his love sink. He raced to the waters edge drawing his sword. He could hear Elsildra's song still, though muted in the water. He struck he water again and again, cursing the Sea for a jealous and debauched god. His sword slashed opened wounds in the Sea, and thus were waves first made on the previously becalmed surface, which has never been still since. The Sea struck back, but Geldren was unrelenting and the battle lasted 7 days and 7 nights. Finally, the Sea brought up Elsildra. She sang still as the water moved through her lungs. She had barnacles in her hair, and starfish on her hands. She recognized Geldren not, but clambered urgently to try to again get below the water's surface, singing her watery song all the while. The Sea told Geldren that, she was his no longer. The Sea was sad but unrepentant, saying that Geldren's wounds could not be forgotten or healed. Never again would an Elf walk upon the waves unfettered - they would require a layer of the Land to barter safe passage across the Sea (thus were boats presaged). And when the Sea felt its price was due, the edges of Geldren's own inflicted wounds would rise up and claim that price. And thus all the great songs of the Sea were lost. And it has become the jealous and debauched god that Geldren named it. But on the rare becalmed night, one may still hear Elsildra's song if one has the courage to lower your head below the surface the Sea, and breathe deeply."
