#snipperss

"And... in the streets," he held the note, strumming several times until an abrupt epiphany spurred the verse to completion.

"In the streets I found My beloved, Who loved me like no other would."

He felt as if there was more to the song, but for now that was enough. His sense of accomplishment was interrupted when a sudden, soft clapping broke the silence the final note had left.

"I did not realize you could play," Eli smiled as he turned, recognizing the voice before he had even set his eyes upon the face. Julian walked leisurely towards him, his waistcoat put away but his thick coat heavy on his shoulders to protect him from the slight chill of the night air.

"I don't think you could call that mess 'playing'," he replied, mouth set into a frown as his frustrated fingers strummed against the lute's wood. "I kept forgetting the bridge, and the last verse was at my fingertips but I could barely play it out."

Julian came to sit behind him, settling against Eli's back. "Would you play another?" asked Julian, settling the back of his head against Eli's shoulder, "If it's amiable to you."

"Want a private performance, eh?" Eli chuckled, which grew into a laugh as Julian coughed in embarrassment, "What did you have in mind?" "What about, uhh..." Julian trailed off, circling his hand in the air to drum his memory. He was finding himself unable to recall a single song from all the dances and all the taverns he had visited in his entire life.

"Hmm, seems like I'm not the only one with memory problems," Eli's toothy grin seems to shine in the light of the moon, and when he turned his head towards Julian he did not fail to notice the red glow growing upon his cheeks.

"I-I was thinking! There are plenty of songs that would do your voice well... ah, or rather, your voice would do them the honor?" Julian stammered, embarrassment leaking into his words.

"My apologies," Eli chortled, "I might have a melody in mind, should you be 'amiable' to it."

Julian hummed his approval as he relaxed fully into Eli's back, his weight a comforting assurance. Strumming the lute's strings, Eli began to sing, rich and mellow into the night.

"What star can I pluck from the sky That may illuminate our fortune?  What light may lead us away, away"

His fingers itch to strum out the forgotten notes, but his mind ran blank. Eli stopped with a grunt of irritation, knocking against the lute's wood.

"It's alright," Julian encouraged, "If you'd like, we could head back inside?"

"No, no," he reassured, taking a deep breath to focus. It felt frustrating, to think he had it when it only slipped through his fingers. But Julian waited patiently as Eli collected himself, keeping the good sense to let him find his way in the peace of quiet. Finally, Eli turned his head to the side Julian had laid his shoulder on, hoping he could see his reassuring smile, "I got this."

He started again, hoping to jog any instinct that solid memory could not provide. Suddenly, he had something. Grabbing upon the thread in his mind, he followed it though.

"Take this flame into your hands, And light a fire in four directions If we are on a distant road,  Would it be a shame?"

It was if a dam had broken, suddenly it felt so easy. He could not see it, but Eli could feel the edge of Julian's smile against the skin of his shoulder.

"Begone the tolls of foresight Do not tell me how you may forget me, For now is my delight Now is my delight."

The final note hung in the air, and Eli held still for Julian to share his thoughts. When the note had rung through its final echo, he turned his head uncertainly.   "Julian?"