Blade Reforged

Smithy of Lorien

A large room with a dirt-packed floor and well-ventilated roof housing the many smelting furnaces and forges used to make every manner of metal good for the elves of Lothlorien. One large furnace is positioned along the northern wall of the room, and another along the southern wall, each with heavy iron kettles for smelting the various ores used. Forge areas are dispersed in the intervening space, accompanied by cooling troughs of water, metal molds, and an array of tools for handling and working the metals. Along the back walls are shelves of raw materials and hanging or laying in racks are the finished products of the smiths\' toils - glittering swords and spears, armor of various make, and other smaller items. To one side of the room, piles of grey feathers and pieces of wood show where the famed Galadhrim longbows and grey-flighted arrows are assembled.

At each corner of the bustling smithy is an arched doorway. Above each are gilded plates in Sindarin script signifying, clockwise from the northwest, Pottery Shop, Bakery, Jewelry Shop, and Wood Shop. A rope ladder rests in a nook in the middle of the back wall, leading to the crafter telain above.

Contents:

Elnara

Lorien Weapon Forge

Lorien Armor Forge

Obvious exits:

East leads to Green Roadway - Northwestern Arc - Crafters Path.

Southwest leads to Wood Shop.

Northeast leads to Bakery.

Northwest leads to Potter\'s Shop.

Southeast leads to Jewelsmith\'s Shop.

Up leads to Hall of the Crafters.

 

[Veredhiel(#22564)]

Even at this time of night the smithies of the Wood roar and the clang of metal can be heard as the crafter edhil work, for the elven-folk do not need to sleep the way those of mortal race do.

Through one of the arched entrances walks the elleth Veredhiel for a moment she seems out of place here, not being one of the forger elves, and her gray eyes scan the place as though searching for someone.

 

 [Elnara(#30361)] One elleth in particular stands out not because of any spectacular skill (or lack thereof) she possesses at the forge but because the hammer with which she strikes the hot sword on the anvil is actually connected to her arm. Elnara blows some spare strands of her black hair from her face as she brings down the hammer on the length of sword, shaping the metal. She glances over toward the door, noticing Veredhiel and nodding to her, moving with the partially finished sword to put it back in the fires, so she could continue working with it. \"Mae govannen, mellon.\"

 

[Veredhiel(#22564)]

\"Mae govannen,\" grins the other as she sets sight upon the working figure of Elnara. She takes a few light bounds over the see her fellow guard\'s progress. \"I had not know you are one of the Gwaith-i-thein, my friend,\" says Veredhiel, watching as the second elleth handles the sword. \"Ah!\" she smiles then, the look lighting her fair feature. \"Is this the blade you had lost?\"

 

[Elnara(#30361)] \"A new one. The hilt is cooling in the water.\" Elnara gestures to the cold water off to the side of the anvil, wiping some sweat from her brow. \"And I am not truly a smith... I had begun learning... Curulomion was teaching me, so I could forge his wedding band as he was mine.\" She moves over to the water and pulls out the hilt, inspecting it for a moment before placing the partially formed blade into the fire, letting it heat up. \"I am just about to connect the blade with the hilt.\" She places the hammer on a table, resting her arm for a moment as she reaches to a waterskin, taking a drink. \"What brings you down to the forges?\"

 

[Veredhiel(#22564)]

\"I see,\" Veredhiel nods. \"I am glad that in the end it was not beyond repair.\"

\"I was looking for someone with whom I had wished to speak to, and my search led me hither. She is not here is seems, but meanwhile I have found another friend instead.\" The elf-maid glances toward the unfinished pieces of the weapon, pausing too to wipe at her forehead slightly. \"I can feel the heat already, and I have only just arrived! Is there anything I can help you with in your work?\"

 

[Elnara(#30361)] \"You could put on a pair of protective gloves and hold the blade steady for me?\" Elnara suggests, pulling the blade from the fire. The flat end glows as she balances it on the anvil before turning and grasping the hilt. The hilt is dull, compared to the jewels that had covered the old one, but the starbursts etched into it suit Elnara much better. She lines up the pieces of the sword, holding onto the hilt. \"Are you ready? You will need to hold on very tightly.\"

 

[Veredhiel(#22564)]

\"All right, I shall try,\" answers the other then, moving to slip the mentioned gloves on over her hands. After the blade is placed onto the anvil, Veredhiel moves closer, and reaching out her guarded hands, places them over the hot surface to try and hold it in place. \"Like this?\" she asks, gaze flitting up in uncertainty. Better safe than sorry, afterall. \"How dangerous is this? I hope there is not a risk of the blade shattering.\"

 

[Elnara(#30361)] Elnara looks up, nodding. \"Yes, that is correct. And you will be fine. This is how long blades are repaired. One to hold the hilt, one to hold the blade. Most would have been able to forge a sword on their own, but my hilt is different, so it had to be done carefully.\" She balances the hammer on the blade, where it glows white hot, then raises it up. She actually jumps a little as she brings it down, throwing her body weight into it. The sword reverberates a little with the blow, though it begins to mold together as she continues to strike it. \"Let go of it for a moment,\" Elnara says breathlessly, flipping the blade quickly, then motioning for Veredhiel to take it again. Once more, she strikes the sword, pausing as she finishes. \"Alright, you can let go,\" she says with a smile, the blade hissing as she puts it into the bucket of water. She takes another drink before offering it to the other elleth.

 

[Veredhiel(#22564)]

Veredhiel gives a silent nod, shifting between grasping and releasing the sword when she is bidden. “I have never done this before,” she laughs a little, feeling the blade vibrate beneath her fingers as the great hammer connects. As the blows come to an end, she lets go of the sword, watching the thing as it is plunged into the liquid. “That is harder than it looks thank you,” Veredhiel says, gladly taking the drink and tilting back her raven head to sip at it. “Well, I hope the sword serves you as well as the other one did.”

.

[Elnara(#30361)] Elnara nods at Veredhiel\'s assessment of the smithwork, chuckling a little. She twists the hammer off of her harness, pulling the sword from the bucket of cold water. She inspects the blade and hilt for a moment before attaching it in, smiling a little. “Perfect fit.” Her voice is soft as she inspects it, hands running over the starburst design on the hilt. “Strange to look down and not see jewels at the hilt... But This is a little more inconspicuous for traveling.”

 

[Veredhiel(#22564)]

“Indeed,” smiles the second elleth, “you do not have to worry about stray rays from the sun or moon glinting off jewels and betraying your position. I like the design...it seems to be deeper than a beautiful pattern.” Veredhiel pauses, searching for the right words. “I like the think it possesses a personality, catching a little of the spirit of who repaired it. You are happy with in, I can see,” she nods as Elnara attaches the sword on the wondrous harness. “It looks perfect, my friend. You should head for the training grounds some time soon, to see how it feels.”

 

[Elnara(#30361)] “It is for both me and Curulomion... He admired Feanor\'s skill as a smith, so his personal signature on his pieces was a star similar to his... The bit for me is just my name.” Elnara gives a slight swing of the sword, away from Verehdiel, testing the weight. “I think this one is lighter than the other. Hopefully stronger. Were we fighting orcs, I would have had more injuries than a hurt arm.”

 

[Veredhiel(#22564)]

“Even if it is less strong, the lightness might aid you in performing many successful and swift strike upon your foes.” Veredhiel looks onward as her companion swipes the air with the new blade. “The star makes me think of hope shining even in the darkest of moments: the light can be found if only one searches hard enough for it.”

She gestures toward the entrance to the smithies. “Will you come and try it out on the field? I would very much like to see. We can escape the heat of this forgery at the same time, and still make it back for the changing of the guard.”

[Elnara(#30361)] Elnara smiles and nods, the blade finding its home in her scabbard. “I would enjoy that. I do hope I do not hurt you with it as we practice... Perhaps I should have made something to fit a wooden practice blade on to...” She bites her bottom lip, considering for a moment, then takes her pack. “Another day. For now, we can be careful. I did not injure the Marchwarden that day when I practiced with him at the Beorning camp.”

 

[Veredhiel(#22564)]

“Yes, we can be careful for now,” replies Veredhiel. “But, I shall have to borrow a practice sword for now if you wish the spar, as I have but a bow.” The elleth heads toward the entrance, turning around to wait for Elnara. “And along the way I can share some poetry I wrote the other day.”