The Tales of a Smith [Buliwyf Jarhulda]

[Coci Heavenshield]

[SIZE=20pt]Midvinter[/SIZE]​

Forest of the Smith Grey Beard​

Spoiler

​

Last eve I passed beside the blacksmith’s door
And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;
When looking down I saw upon the floor
Old hammers worn with use in former time.​

"How many anvils have you used", said I,
"To wear and batter all these hammers so?"
"Just one!", said he, and then, with twinkling eye,
"The anvil wears the hammers out, you know."​

Just so, I thought, the anvil of God’s Word,
For ages sceptic blows have beat upon;
Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,
The anvil is unharmed, the hammers gone.​

- Anon​

​

​

Aerin remember the words from a poem she had heard in her youth. Which am I? the Anvil or the Hammer?

A strong woman with a formidable prowess with the long blade, deadly accurate with the bow and courage enough to wield them with their purpose, to kill. The Midvinter warriors of old and present are steeped in legend of brave deeds and courage, a propensity to charge into battle without fear coupled with a ferocity that knows no bounds. Sheildmaidens, more so.

Female warriors that fight more then foe, the women of Midvinter are set to the ‘limits’ of their gender, at least in the eyes of the men folk. They are never consulted to council but deemed to follow, considered possession or worse chattel, and therefore to be protected, never the protector. Aerin, stubborn and bold will never permit to be locked in the cage, to bow to the whims of men who hold her with little regard. For the most part, she considers them dullards, retracted, insular and superstitious believing in Gods that do not exist.

For these things and more she is shunned. Aerin Firebrand different to most, physically and her thoughts and ideas .. are ‘unnatural’. She constantly looks to the skies, she knows her destiny is among them. However, before she departs she has to prepare. Midvinter, of late, has seen a sudden influx of Offworlders, this double edged sword, now see Midvinter as less isolated but at what cost? A hidden treasure known only to those born to it’s soil now revealed. In some cases it is good, but Aerin is not so sure.

There is ill whispering on the winds .. she has felt it, heard it … an unspoken evil rides forward and one day she will have to return to fight for Midvinter. One must leave in order to walk the path to return.

… and so, to the Smith she travels.

[member="Buliwyf Jarhulda"]

 

[Not Ordo]

"No matter the trial or course you dare,​

You must handle all alike.​

When you find yourself the anvil -bare,​

and when the hammer -strike."​

-Kal​

​

The sinewy hands of the wide shouldered man were active once again. With tongs in one hand he held a glowing flat of steel, while the other hand held a hammer with a black metal head on a dark wooden shaft. His arms bare to his shoulders in the frigid forest he called home seemed to be no more concerned with the cold than the anvil was the hammer. His eyes focused on the steel as if by will and not strikes it would be molded and how true it was. Any arm and hand could swing a hammer. Any man could strike the steel, but would they last? Would they see it trough? Would they tire before the work found its completion?

Buliwyf had worked long at the forge. He knew the sound of the bellows roar and the anvils ring. He knew the heat each metal desired and how to quench it after it was complete. He stayed far from the towns, alone, but the forest always knew when he was at work. The steady ring of hammer and anvil beat out a rhythm that it seemed to be a heartbeat for the little homestead. His stone house with thatched roof. The small stables for his animals. The mountain nearby brought water near and the forest yielded it's bounty. He wanted for nothing and yet every month he would ride to town carrying his wares and sell them at the market. He bought cheeses and wine and took orders for customers that had a need, then he went back to the forge. He had many secrets, the man, but he kept to himself and was friend to most. He was a warrior once, strong, proud, deadly, but he, like any man who truly knew war, always prayed for peace.

He struck and struck the steel. Sparks flying from its orange glowing form. He knew it was time as the edge took shape to heat it once again, and so he placed it in the coals. Then with steady hand he worked the bellows again and again they made their roar. Soon the steel drew near white and with tongs returned to the anvil.

'CHING CHING CHING CHING' the ringing began anew.

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Buliwyf Jarhulda"]

BlackWings hooves plowed through the freshly fallen snow, Aerin knew the path to the Capital well enough but that is not her destination. The fork in the road showed the way to the deep forest and she turned her horses head. More recent times had seen her there, the arrival of a stranger from distance lands beyond the stars had guided her to his forge and to his company. Moreover, she had heard of him, some men in the mead halls of the capital speaking of a Smith deep in the forests, a loner but a craftsman of great quality.

Like all that appear strange to the towns folk, he is only mentioned in whispers.

The sky is clear after the great dump of snow and beat a sliver of warmth to her, her pale face lifted to soak up the rays a pleasure only very rare and fleeting to Midvinter. And so on into the forest, the trees thick heavy with snow on their limbs. It is almost silent as no creatures stirred in the cold, preferring to remain hidden in their dens or borrows. A loud snort issued from BlackWings nostrils, giving her a warning that something different is near by.

"Steady BlackWing, we approach the Smith", she gave him a reassuring pat on his thick neck. Ahead the clearing and into it they rode. The small stone thatched house stood hardened against the winter, smoke uncurling from the chimney and the sound of a Smith at the forge rang around the forest. Her head turned to see the man bare chested, hammer raised to strike the metal, again the and again. A quick pulled on the reins turned BlackWing right.

BlackWings heads swished from side to side and tossed up with a whinny .. something had his attention and soon the call was answered by another horse from the stables. Aerin chuckled as they approached. Sliding off the saddle Aerin walked to the forge, pulling off her thick gloves to shake the hand of the man.

"Well met Buliwyf the Grey", as she now called him. "Winter is hard upon us, but the days clear, spring is riding the path to us soon".

 

[Not Ordo]

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]
He heard the crunching of snow long before the rider and stead were in view. His hammer continued to ring out until his Horse whinnied in response to the rider's mount. Buliwyf plunged the newly formed blade into a bucket of water cracking the ice that had formed on the surface. He lay down his tongs and his Hammer as he lifted a rag to wipe those heavy hands. He cold sense the woman at this proximity, and sensing wasn't really his strongest skill. He avoided using the Force. It wasn't understood here as it was in other places in the galaxy. Oh yes he had seen other parts of the galaxy, though they held for him a much different life, and not one of happiness. His heavy ring he still wore and his dear wife he missed but for now this was where he needed to be.

He turned and offered the woman a smile as she dismounted, a thing the women of Midvinter were not always accustomed too, then moved out from under the cover of his forge.

"Vell met daughter of midvinter." he said in his slow deliberate accent, "Too vhat do mine eyes owe ze pleasure?"

He stuck out a hand to shake with the woman.

"Tie yourn mount vhere you see fit."

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Buliwyf Jarhulda"]

"If I may, I should like to stable my stallion, he has walked far and in need of rest", she began as she took to outstretched hand of the grey bearded smith. It had been some time since her first encounter with the men from Mandalor and she now knew more of the significance of the hand shake. She giggled slightly as she took it, it would indeed look odd if she was to walk around holding the smith's hand. His smile however, peaked her brow, a warm smile which only caused a reaction for her to smile back.

"I have come to ask for the skills Grey Bread, much I have learned in recent time and .. seen. My armour, I believe to be lacking and I wish to ask you to fashion me a new armour. If is so pleases you", she said with a small bow of her head, a bow one of noble background gives to someone they respect. At this point Aerin released his hand .. a strong and worn hand harden to the cold and the hammer. But something spoke to her that those hands have seen much more .. done much more then the hard life of a Smith.

She walked to the bucket of water and took hold of the now cold metal of the newly forged blade, no hilt adorned the blade as yet, so she held firm the tang. Lifting it high and in front of her face she inspected the full length of the blade, she could see a long deep fuller taping to the tip and the gleam of the metal sparkled with the chilled sun rays. Her felt for the balance, placing the blade in her other hand just off center toward the hilt. With a practiced flick of her strong wrist, the blade rose into the air and she took it once more by the tang. A couple of 'strikes' through the air and she smiled.

"This is a very good sword", she simply said, as she took the blade in both hands and presented Grey Beard with the 'hilt'.

 

[Not Ordo]

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

"Of course." he said kindly, "let ze animal take its rest."

His grey-green eyes were filled with a bit of good cheer as he listened to the young woman speak. He didn't get many guest, especially ones that were force sensitive. He nodded as she mentioned her armor. He could tell at a glance that it was sound and durable, but if he knew at all what she was referring to then he knew it wouldn't stand to the armors of the greater galaxy. It would stop a blaster bolt and a sword or dagger, but the gaps were wide and the steel would rend like chaff if hit by a vibroblade or worse. He couldn't tell her that but he had seen armor get hit by starship weapons and survive their owners. The galaxy was far more dangerous than the wonderful folk of midvinter knew.

He watched as she walked to the bucket and took the unfinished sword from the water and hefted it. The shine and edge from the repeated folding of the blade needed very little to make it the equal of any he had made. Although, the steel was not as strong as some materials he had worked with it was as good as any needed on this world.

He reached out and accepted the blade and set it down. Then went to his small bench for the hilt and looked at the small blue crystal that sat beside it. He thought about what the woman wanted, the galaxy that she seemed intent to face one day, and he made a decision.

"Vill you stay and see it made, daughter?" he said taking the hilt and crystal in hand, "Or vill you come when it is finished? I don't vish to hinder your duties."

He walked over to the sword and slipped it into the hilt and lay it on the anvil before tapping the pins in place. He carefully wrapped the hilt with the thin animal hide then fixed it at the bottom where he finished it with the pommel. The small blue pontite crystal he placed in the fixture in the pommel and held it up to the light. In another persons hands the crystal would act as a focus for a lightsaber, but only some one who had seen the things made would ever recognize it as more than a pretty bauble. However, a force sensitive would likely feel the difference especially when held. He held the sword and slashed it once through the air and nodded.

"You should take zis veapon." he said, "it is special. You should try it if you have time."

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Buliwyf Jarhulda"]

She smiled at the Smith, "My duties are not pressing, I would like to stay witness a Master at work, I thank you", she said for his kind hospitality. "I too shall make myself useful and prepare a meal for just at night fall", among many things, Aerin had brought cured and fresh meat for the Smith as part of her payment for his skills.

As Grey Beard continued with his work on the sword she had handed him, Aerin moved back to her stallion. She took all the burden off his back and placed the bags near the front door of the Smith's home. Loosening the saddle she removed it along with the reins and housed them in the stables. BlackWing now standing free of his restraints whined and kicked up his back legs, the want of rolling in the snow to much for him and he bent his knees and laid down .. the sight wonderful to see as he rolled around kicking legs snorting with delight. Springing to his feet and shaking off the clinging snow he poured at the ground. Full of renewed energy. BlackWing is Aerin's war horse, much fighting has he seen, but soon his days of combat will come to an end, as Aerin will set him free.

As Aerin walked from the stables, to see the sight of her big black horse she laughed. "Snow is his favourite thing, which is just as well". She walked to her horse and whispered in his ear, she did not hide this there was no need to, Run, expend your energy and return to me. Soon the black horse disappeared into the forest.

She turned back to Grey Beard and approached just as he finished his work. He had placed the final touch to the sword, the Hilt. He surprised her by offering the sword to her again, and more so with his words. She had not come for a sword, considering her to be fine enough, in fact it too is strong, but as she looked once more over the blade and up to the hilt, she noticed the jewel inset in the pommel.

"If the blade is special, you should offer it to someone of a more higher standing then myself", she said but she could not take her eyes of the sword. She had means enough to pay for it that was true and he had offered for her to try it and so she would.

"I would be honoured to try the blade", yes the man was truely a master, the sword a thing of beauty.