The Outskirts of Dol Amroth
Present Day.
@Rillewen
It was Fuins turn to be shocked as she learned their names "Cali and Iuldir" She paused for a moment their last name rolling in her mouth as it had not for many ages. "Dringolben" She stood up to her full height and blinked and then smiled a little sad. "I can say I have heard that name, I have heard it many times." She said softly as Iuldir spoke of his father making armor and weapons for the war and then speaking about him being the second best smith he knew.
Fuin caught the glance and gave a small sad nod, she missed her friend Calaerdris, and she could see so much of her in this young boy, perhaps even more in Cali if she were not so afraid or perhaps because she was afraid. Her foremother had been once upon a time too and Fuin had taught her smithing and told her to put her hammer on the table and tell them to do a better job if they thought they could, Fuin knew none that would be able to, she had named her elf friend and given her her Dringolben as a title that became her name. "I say it counts if you want it to." Cali instructed the boy to show her some of the things he'd made and Fuin stood looking at Cali while the boy ran and fetched so many items and Fuin looked them all over inspecting them as she would her own apprentices work.
"These are good they do a great service to the person who earned your last name." She said calmly "Especially as you've been learning from such a young age." She said with a smile. The knives where not well balanced but they were well shaped, and she rang the blade of on over a file, hardened properly. "Calaerdris would be proud of this knife." She said figuring perhaps it was time to let them know.
Ithilien, Pelargir, The Southern Fiefdoms (Free RP)
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Laurelin the Golden
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@Raisins i
Calithildis (Cali) and nephew, Iuldir
Inside an outbuilding, at a small homestead on the outskirts of Dol Amroth
Current year
Iuldir looked quite pleased by her appraisal of his work, and might have actually glowed if it were possible. Cali couldn't help a tiny smile, watching her nephew beam happily. "You heard of my grandfather then?" He asked, very eager to hear more, perhaps tales of what a good smith he was had spread as far as this Imladris place she spoke of! He grinned at Cali, excited, but she was more intrigued by the other statement, about the person who earned them their name. What did that mean? She gazed thoughtfully at the elf, suspecting that she knew more than she had yet told them, but wasn't sure how to go about asking.
Hearing the unfamiliar name, Iuldir looked up inquisitively. "Who is Calaerdis?" He wondered, then tilted his head. "Her name sounds sort of like yours, aunt Cali." He mentioned. "Is she a friend of yours from your forge in Imladris?" He asked Fuin, setting his knives and things aside. Cali had never heard that name either, but had a vague suspicion it was not someone Fuin knew from her elven home. "Is she one of the smiths who helped remake the king's sword?" Iuldir wondered, still quite intrigued by that tale.
Calithildis (Cali) and nephew, Iuldir
Inside an outbuilding, at a small homestead on the outskirts of Dol Amroth
Current year
Hearing the unfamiliar name, Iuldir looked up inquisitively. "Who is Calaerdis?" He wondered, then tilted his head. "Her name sounds sort of like yours, aunt Cali." He mentioned. "Is she a friend of yours from your forge in Imladris?" He asked Fuin, setting his knives and things aside. Cali had never heard that name either, but had a vague suspicion it was not someone Fuin knew from her elven home. "Is she one of the smiths who helped remake the king's sword?" Iuldir wondered, still quite intrigued by that tale.
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The Outskirts of Dol Amroth
Present Day.
@Rillewen
Fuin smiled as Iuldir asked her so many questions, and she could feel the piercing gaze of Cali upon her. "No my young friend she is no friend of mine from Imladris. She is much much more important than that, she is far more important to Gondor than forging even the Kings sword. Especially to the both of you." Fuin said softly putting the boys blade down and taking her breath.
"Indeed her name is much like Cali's and I think it is closer than you might think. Her full name is Calaerdis Dringolben, though it was not always so. Your family was struggling in ages long past that I would dare say your grandfather would not even remember young Iuldir." Fuin said clasping her hands together. "And she had decided to try to learn smithing to change the fortunes of her line and she was smart and learned so much on her own but indeed there were few that would teach her the full skills she needed." Fuin took a look at Cali, who the more she looked at indeed the more she reminded her of Cala. "She sold nails and basic tools and indeed her family was doing better, they didn't hunger for bread or worry about clothing themselves but... Cala was hungry. She knew full well what smiths could do and sought to learn endlessly despite the refusals of those that should have taught her. When I met her she had an argument with another smith that would not teach her and I was on my way in to that smith for I needed a repair to one of my daggers that had broken in the breast plate of an orc." Fuin gave a smile. "Cala was so angry and practically knocked me off my feet storming from the smithy but she took the time to apologize and she was upset so I spoke with her."
"She told me she just wanted to learn how to make more than nails and basic pieces and that she had a smith but no teacher because she was a woman." Fuin looked at Cali matching the piercing gaze that had once rested on her. "I was but a Master Smith at the time, in line to become the Grandmaster when he left the shores of Middle Earth and Cala drank deep from the knowledge I was willing to give until there was no smith in Gondor that could rival her. You." Fuin looked at Cali firmly and then switching her gaze to Iuldir so that perhaps the boy would not pick up that she was infact speaking to his Aunt. "Are her legacy and Dringolben is the name I gave her." Fuin wished beyond anything now that she had her weapons. Indeed the blade that had fated her so was still normally one she wore on her person, the blade bore a small makers mark that Fuin had demanded be put upon it. The makers mark of Dringolben.
Present Day.
@Rillewen
Fuin smiled as Iuldir asked her so many questions, and she could feel the piercing gaze of Cali upon her. "No my young friend she is no friend of mine from Imladris. She is much much more important than that, she is far more important to Gondor than forging even the Kings sword. Especially to the both of you." Fuin said softly putting the boys blade down and taking her breath.
"Indeed her name is much like Cali's and I think it is closer than you might think. Her full name is Calaerdis Dringolben, though it was not always so. Your family was struggling in ages long past that I would dare say your grandfather would not even remember young Iuldir." Fuin said clasping her hands together. "And she had decided to try to learn smithing to change the fortunes of her line and she was smart and learned so much on her own but indeed there were few that would teach her the full skills she needed." Fuin took a look at Cali, who the more she looked at indeed the more she reminded her of Cala. "She sold nails and basic tools and indeed her family was doing better, they didn't hunger for bread or worry about clothing themselves but... Cala was hungry. She knew full well what smiths could do and sought to learn endlessly despite the refusals of those that should have taught her. When I met her she had an argument with another smith that would not teach her and I was on my way in to that smith for I needed a repair to one of my daggers that had broken in the breast plate of an orc." Fuin gave a smile. "Cala was so angry and practically knocked me off my feet storming from the smithy but she took the time to apologize and she was upset so I spoke with her."
"She told me she just wanted to learn how to make more than nails and basic pieces and that she had a smith but no teacher because she was a woman." Fuin looked at Cali matching the piercing gaze that had once rested on her. "I was but a Master Smith at the time, in line to become the Grandmaster when he left the shores of Middle Earth and Cala drank deep from the knowledge I was willing to give until there was no smith in Gondor that could rival her. You." Fuin looked at Cali firmly and then switching her gaze to Iuldir so that perhaps the boy would not pick up that she was infact speaking to his Aunt. "Are her legacy and Dringolben is the name I gave her." Fuin wished beyond anything now that she had her weapons. Indeed the blade that had fated her so was still normally one she wore on her person, the blade bore a small makers mark that Fuin had demanded be put upon it. The makers mark of Dringolben.
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Laurelin the Golden
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@Raisins
Calithildis (Cali) and nephew, Iuldir
Inside an outbuilding, at a small homestead on the outskirts of Dol Amroth
Current year
Stunned wasn't quite the right word to describe Cali at the moment. Shocked perhaps, astonished maybe. She hardly realized that she was staring at the elven smith as information was revealed which Cali herself would have never guessed..never would have fathomed, in fact. How long ago did this Calaerdis live, she wondered? She almost didn't believe it, but then... what reason would Fuin have to lie about it? She found herself leaning back on a part of the furnace hearth that was cool enough to do so, hands gripping the stones that bordered it. "You..taught her.." Not only the fact that she was learning information that had been forgotten through time, but to think that this person had been alive that long ago! She knew elves lived forever, or so she had been told, but to actually meet one... and one that had known a member of her ancestry!
"Wow," Iuldir gazed in amazement at the elf, unable to imagine how old she might be. "Would you really teach me the same things you taught her?" He asked hopefully, trying his best to look like more than just a kid, like he was older than 11 years old and fully capable of learning all the things a grandmaster could hope to teach him.
With a faint smile, Cali rested a hand on his shoulder. "She already offered, remember? For the price of knowing our names, which we've given. But," She paused, leaning down a bit, "First, would you go and check on your sister? I haven't heard anything out of her in some time."
Iuldir looked a little disappointed, but nodded. "Yes ma'am." Eager to get back quickly, he hurried off to the ladder going up to the loft, where they had set up a little play area for Rissy, to keep her near enough to keep an eye on her, but occupied so she would not be getting in the way and possibly hurt.
As soon as he had gone, Cali turned to Fuin, hesitating a moment before speaking. "You.. know, don't you?" She asked softly. Of course, anyone who could claim the title of Grandmaster smith of elves must surely be able to pick up on enough little signs to know Cali's secret. Especially while they were standing there in a forge. "I suppose there's no sense in us trying to conceal the fact from you, is there?" She added, looking down at the still-glowing metal. "My father never even knew." She added with a soft laugh, mingled with a touch of sadness.
Turning to look back at Fuin, she asked, with all seriousness, "You aren't only making this up to impress Iuldir, are you? You really did know, and teach, an ancestor of ours?" Half of her wanted to feel excited and amazed, just like her nephew, but the other half tugged at her to be wary, and not to believe just anything because it sounded impressive. She'd pulled enough deceptions on others to know how easily it could be done, and wanted to protect Iuldir from such things.
Calithildis (Cali) and nephew, Iuldir
Inside an outbuilding, at a small homestead on the outskirts of Dol Amroth
Current year
"Wow," Iuldir gazed in amazement at the elf, unable to imagine how old she might be. "Would you really teach me the same things you taught her?" He asked hopefully, trying his best to look like more than just a kid, like he was older than 11 years old and fully capable of learning all the things a grandmaster could hope to teach him.
With a faint smile, Cali rested a hand on his shoulder. "She already offered, remember? For the price of knowing our names, which we've given. But," She paused, leaning down a bit, "First, would you go and check on your sister? I haven't heard anything out of her in some time."
Iuldir looked a little disappointed, but nodded. "Yes ma'am." Eager to get back quickly, he hurried off to the ladder going up to the loft, where they had set up a little play area for Rissy, to keep her near enough to keep an eye on her, but occupied so she would not be getting in the way and possibly hurt.
As soon as he had gone, Cali turned to Fuin, hesitating a moment before speaking. "You.. know, don't you?" She asked softly. Of course, anyone who could claim the title of Grandmaster smith of elves must surely be able to pick up on enough little signs to know Cali's secret. Especially while they were standing there in a forge. "I suppose there's no sense in us trying to conceal the fact from you, is there?" She added, looking down at the still-glowing metal. "My father never even knew." She added with a soft laugh, mingled with a touch of sadness.
Turning to look back at Fuin, she asked, with all seriousness, "You aren't only making this up to impress Iuldir, are you? You really did know, and teach, an ancestor of ours?" Half of her wanted to feel excited and amazed, just like her nephew, but the other half tugged at her to be wary, and not to believe just anything because it sounded impressive. She'd pulled enough deceptions on others to know how easily it could be done, and wanted to protect Iuldir from such things.
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Elder of The Mark
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The Outskirts of Dol Amroth
Present Day.
@Rillewen
Fuin smiled as Iuldir ran off to check on his sister leaving her and Cali alone. She gave a small nod, "I do." She said softly, "and probably not, though if you want to keep it secret for now I will honor that." She said calmly. "I did not know your father I must admit, so I could not attest to him have not wandered through Gondor in many years since Cala's death, that was the last time I was here to visit, she was a good friend and an excellent student."
"Make it up." Fuin chuckled. "No, hmmm if I had my weapons on me I could show you the makers mark on my dagger." Fuin blinked. "Your makers mark. It's a half moon on the water with part of it as a dark crescent with three lines of waves beneath and there is an elven star opposite the dark cresent."
This obviously was perhaps something that any could say as long as they bought an item smithed by the Dringolben family. She licked her lips. "You may have a newer one but, I would wager everything I own that you still have the original mark, the neck of it being an inch long so that it can be stamped on wider swords or in less accessible areas of armor so it is not overly noticeable. It is old, the handle is made of stained lebethron and wrapped with elven swirls that all join up at the top to make the strike plate. It hasn't tarnished yet, nor has it been refurbished ever it is probably the most precious item your family owns even if you don't know it, it's something your father would have taught his sons that they should never sell it, that you should sell everything else first, you'd have possibly heard this as well since he clearly didn't teach you but you were watching and watching well.." She said calmly "A gift for Cala upon finishing her apprenticeship the metal is Mithril and why it will not fail as a mark."
Present Day.
@Rillewen
Fuin smiled as Iuldir ran off to check on his sister leaving her and Cali alone. She gave a small nod, "I do." She said softly, "and probably not, though if you want to keep it secret for now I will honor that." She said calmly. "I did not know your father I must admit, so I could not attest to him have not wandered through Gondor in many years since Cala's death, that was the last time I was here to visit, she was a good friend and an excellent student."
"Make it up." Fuin chuckled. "No, hmmm if I had my weapons on me I could show you the makers mark on my dagger." Fuin blinked. "Your makers mark. It's a half moon on the water with part of it as a dark crescent with three lines of waves beneath and there is an elven star opposite the dark cresent."
This obviously was perhaps something that any could say as long as they bought an item smithed by the Dringolben family. She licked her lips. "You may have a newer one but, I would wager everything I own that you still have the original mark, the neck of it being an inch long so that it can be stamped on wider swords or in less accessible areas of armor so it is not overly noticeable. It is old, the handle is made of stained lebethron and wrapped with elven swirls that all join up at the top to make the strike plate. It hasn't tarnished yet, nor has it been refurbished ever it is probably the most precious item your family owns even if you don't know it, it's something your father would have taught his sons that they should never sell it, that you should sell everything else first, you'd have possibly heard this as well since he clearly didn't teach you but you were watching and watching well.." She said calmly "A gift for Cala upon finishing her apprenticeship the metal is Mithril and why it will not fail as a mark."
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Laurelin the Golden
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@Raisins
Calithildis (Cali) and nephew, Iuldir
Inside an outbuilding, at a small homestead on the outskirts of Dol Amroth
Current year
Listening to the elf, every bit of Cali's doubts and skepticism vanished like mist burning away in the sun. Fuin was right; anyone who had ever held a Dringolben made item could probably describe that mark, of course, but the tool she described... suddenly, Cali was whisked off into a memory she had nearly forgotten about, one of the times her dear twin brother had been in possibly the most trouble of his life, with their father...
Ryn had been about the same age as Iuldir, she supposed, and had 'borrowed' this precious family heirloom to show off to his friends. Before he returned home from school that day, the bully who was always picking on Iole and others had made the mistake of picking on her and Cali while the boys were not far away... there had been a fight, she recalled, and when they got home, Ryn had forgotten all about borrowing his father's tool. Mother had been quite upset to see him come home with a black eye, and it was some time before the twins became aware that their father was turning the forge inside out searching for the missing tool, even going so far as to call the guards and report a robbery! When Ryn realized he'd forgotten to slip it back into its place, he and Cali had plotted to slip it back in that night so that it would be there when father returned to the forge.
Only when he finally finished supper and went to get it from his schoolbag, they were horrified to discover that it was not still there. As she couldn't let Ryn face his trouble alone, Cali had gone with him as he sneaked out of the house and went back to search for it, assuming it must have fallen out when he flung his things down to fight with that Androllius boy, and they were just about to give up when Cali spotted it in the grass. They'd rushed back to their father's forge, sneaked in, and Ryn was just about to put the tool back into its box when a guard grabbed him, scaring the kids half to death. They hadn't known that their father had demanded a guard to watch the place during the night, and they were brought before their father. Cali had tried to spin it so as to convince their parents that they had actually went and tracked down the thief and taken it back, but they didn't accept that story, and she'd been sent to bed. But poor Ryn... he had gotten the scolding of his life... her father was so furious about Ryn's little stunt that the boy had not dared step out of line for at least a full week afterward...
This memory flashed through her mind swiftly as Fuin described the tool itself, and Cali suddenly found tears brimming in her eyes, but she laughed softly at the memory as well. Somehow she was experiencing both sorrow and joy at the same time, and didn't understand it, but she brushed her tears away and forced a smile, despite the sadness that lingered. "Yes... indeed, I.." She felt the smile fade slightly. "I have it here, in fact. I insisted my mother send it to me, as a memento of my father when he died, I told her... because she was going to rent the forge and the shop out to another..." She sighed. At least she'd talked her mother out of selling it, anyway.
Iuldir climbed back down, rejoining them with a puzzled look at Cali. "Are you alright, aunt Cali?" He looked at Fuin and back at Cali, wondering if the elf had somehow caused his aunt to cry. But then, she often seemed like she might cry any moment, only she never did. "Rissy's asleep by the way." He reported, explaining why the small child had been so quiet for so long.
Cali nodded quickly. "I'm alright, yes. And I'm quite eager to see what lady Fuin has to teach us." She added with a smile at the elf. "We needn't hide my secret from her any more, Iuldir. She knows." She added.
Iuldir looked surprised, then grinned. "Good! I don't like having to keep it secret. You're really good at it, I wish you could let everyone know."
Calithildis (Cali) and nephew, Iuldir
Inside an outbuilding, at a small homestead on the outskirts of Dol Amroth
Current year
Listening to the elf, every bit of Cali's doubts and skepticism vanished like mist burning away in the sun. Fuin was right; anyone who had ever held a Dringolben made item could probably describe that mark, of course, but the tool she described... suddenly, Cali was whisked off into a memory she had nearly forgotten about, one of the times her dear twin brother had been in possibly the most trouble of his life, with their father...
Ryn had been about the same age as Iuldir, she supposed, and had 'borrowed' this precious family heirloom to show off to his friends. Before he returned home from school that day, the bully who was always picking on Iole and others had made the mistake of picking on her and Cali while the boys were not far away... there had been a fight, she recalled, and when they got home, Ryn had forgotten all about borrowing his father's tool. Mother had been quite upset to see him come home with a black eye, and it was some time before the twins became aware that their father was turning the forge inside out searching for the missing tool, even going so far as to call the guards and report a robbery! When Ryn realized he'd forgotten to slip it back into its place, he and Cali had plotted to slip it back in that night so that it would be there when father returned to the forge.
Only when he finally finished supper and went to get it from his schoolbag, they were horrified to discover that it was not still there. As she couldn't let Ryn face his trouble alone, Cali had gone with him as he sneaked out of the house and went back to search for it, assuming it must have fallen out when he flung his things down to fight with that Androllius boy, and they were just about to give up when Cali spotted it in the grass. They'd rushed back to their father's forge, sneaked in, and Ryn was just about to put the tool back into its box when a guard grabbed him, scaring the kids half to death. They hadn't known that their father had demanded a guard to watch the place during the night, and they were brought before their father. Cali had tried to spin it so as to convince their parents that they had actually went and tracked down the thief and taken it back, but they didn't accept that story, and she'd been sent to bed. But poor Ryn... he had gotten the scolding of his life... her father was so furious about Ryn's little stunt that the boy had not dared step out of line for at least a full week afterward...
This memory flashed through her mind swiftly as Fuin described the tool itself, and Cali suddenly found tears brimming in her eyes, but she laughed softly at the memory as well. Somehow she was experiencing both sorrow and joy at the same time, and didn't understand it, but she brushed her tears away and forced a smile, despite the sadness that lingered. "Yes... indeed, I.." She felt the smile fade slightly. "I have it here, in fact. I insisted my mother send it to me, as a memento of my father when he died, I told her... because she was going to rent the forge and the shop out to another..." She sighed. At least she'd talked her mother out of selling it, anyway.
Iuldir climbed back down, rejoining them with a puzzled look at Cali. "Are you alright, aunt Cali?" He looked at Fuin and back at Cali, wondering if the elf had somehow caused his aunt to cry. But then, she often seemed like she might cry any moment, only she never did. "Rissy's asleep by the way." He reported, explaining why the small child had been so quiet for so long.
Cali nodded quickly. "I'm alright, yes. And I'm quite eager to see what lady Fuin has to teach us." She added with a smile at the elf. "We needn't hide my secret from her any more, Iuldir. She knows." She added.
Iuldir looked surprised, then grinned. "Good! I don't like having to keep it secret. You're really good at it, I wish you could let everyone know."
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Elder of The Mark
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The Outskirts of Dol Amroth
Present Day.
@Rillewen
Fuin could see the mention of the mark had brought a memory to bear on Cali as she brushed away tears and forced a smile. "I am glad to hear it is here and safe." She said softly, if it were Cala she would hug the woman but she did not know Cali that well so she stayed put even as Iuldir joined them again and he smiled exclaiming how he disliked having to keep the secret.
"Perhaps she will eventually tell everyone" Fuin said with a smile and a laugh, "I may have to make more visits here to make sure that you are both as well learned as Cala, preferably when I'm not on the run from the House of Healing and my family." Fuin headed for the forge. "So what is it that you were making?" She asked looking at the billet of metal that had been heating as well as the tools that were out. It clearly wasn't the shield that Iuldir had shown her earlier, there was too much for a toy shield, and she doubted that Cali would be willing to waste that much metal on a toy. It seemed like it was going to be fairly large from what Fuin could tell but it... it didn't seem like Cali had tools out for a sword, perhaps armor? No. She was certain of that. "Perhaps that will be a good place to start for teaching since I am not clearly having to teach either one of you how to be a smith from the very start."
She debated on if she should continue on tonight, or if she should stay and teach Cali and Iuldir as much as she possibly could before her family found her and dragged her back to the House of Healing. She'd see how much she was able to teach them for now then she'd decide she figured, Cala her good friend would be happy to see her once again with her family that thought alone was enough to keep Fuin smiling.
Present Day.
@Rillewen
Fuin could see the mention of the mark had brought a memory to bear on Cali as she brushed away tears and forced a smile. "I am glad to hear it is here and safe." She said softly, if it were Cala she would hug the woman but she did not know Cali that well so she stayed put even as Iuldir joined them again and he smiled exclaiming how he disliked having to keep the secret.
"Perhaps she will eventually tell everyone" Fuin said with a smile and a laugh, "I may have to make more visits here to make sure that you are both as well learned as Cala, preferably when I'm not on the run from the House of Healing and my family." Fuin headed for the forge. "So what is it that you were making?" She asked looking at the billet of metal that had been heating as well as the tools that were out. It clearly wasn't the shield that Iuldir had shown her earlier, there was too much for a toy shield, and she doubted that Cali would be willing to waste that much metal on a toy. It seemed like it was going to be fairly large from what Fuin could tell but it... it didn't seem like Cali had tools out for a sword, perhaps armor? No. She was certain of that. "Perhaps that will be a good place to start for teaching since I am not clearly having to teach either one of you how to be a smith from the very start."
She debated on if she should continue on tonight, or if she should stay and teach Cali and Iuldir as much as she possibly could before her family found her and dragged her back to the House of Healing. She'd see how much she was able to teach them for now then she'd decide she figured, Cala her good friend would be happy to see her once again with her family that thought alone was enough to keep Fuin smiling.
