Arising in the morning

Pamela And the Blacksmith Shop

Arising in the morning, Pamela carefully folded the pallet and stored it away in the cupboard. Peeking into the adjoining room, she saw that Mistress Kizzie and her twin sister Femina were still wrapped in the arms of the sleep goddess and each other's arms too

A left over piece of chicken from the excellent meal of the night before along with a cup of coffee served as an easy breakfast for Pamela. Slipping into a light shift and tying a belt around her waist, she was out the door and into the early morning crisp air which foretold the coming of the colder seasons, but for now, the air was a welcome relief from the heat and humidity of high summer. The cool air prompted a brisk pace through the village that was just beginning to stir for the days' activities.

Disdaining the use of the bridge to cross the small stream, Pam sat on a convenient stump removed her sandals and waded across the stream, enjoying the feeling of the cold waters on her legs and feet and the smooth sands. The darting of the young trout to clear her path brought a laugh of freedom and joy to her lips and she remembered a pool upstream that looked promising to produce several larger trout for a meal one night.

Reaching the far side of the stream, a sun warmed rock provided a seat while she restored her sandals to her feet and she then continued her way up the slightly dusty road, climbing the hill to the clearing that held the Blacksmiths shop.

The shop was set on the side of the hill away from the village. The location provided a better breeze and was secluded enough that the shy customers, the Elves and Gnomes could come and go with out being seen, even during the daylight hours. They brought iron and steel to the Smithy and traded for finished goods. The iron and steel from these furnaces is imbued with magic and this has rubbed off onto the forge, anvil, and hammer and indeed even the Blacksmith himself.

Standing slightly down the road, Pam observes the shop, with the large tree standing off to the right side, it's spreading leafy limbs and boughs providing shade for a rustic table of planks and three seats consisting of stumps cut at a convenient height. The building is of unpainted planks now silver gray from the weather and entry is provided by two wide doors swung from wrought iron hinges of the Smiths' own design. The doors are adorned with knotholes and several horseshoes that hang with the opening up right to retain the good luck that they bring.
The Smith too is an early riser and the melodic ringing of the hammer against steel and anvil is clear in the morning air. The doublewide doors stand open despite the chill. Approaching the shop and looking through the doors, Pamela can plainly see the forge standing off to the right, with a large copper hood to carry away the heat and a bellows to make the furnace as hot as the sun and soften the steel. Slightly to the left stands the anvil, mounted upon a hickory stump of some dimension. Tools of all sorts adorn the walls of the shop all hung in careful array and within convenient reach of the anvil. Nearby is an oaken barrel, three quarters full of an oil to quench and temper the steel and harden its surface.

At the door of the shop, Pam stands and watches the Smith work. He is a large man, tall and well built but not fat, and has large muscles from working the steel and iron. Many fear him due to his size, but he is really a peaceable, gentle soul. His daughters, one a blond-haired little girl and the other with brown hair and a little older know this and both love their Father. The blond one likes watching him work and seeing the hammer make the sparks fly.

As Pam stands there the Smiths' cat, a female calico, with green eyes, that loves the Smith knowing too that he is a gentle man, sees Pamela. The Smithy is not yet aware of her presence until the Calico gives her a way with a pleased "Meow" and a twitch of the tail.

The Smith turns and with a wide grin, cries " My little one" and comes to give her a great hug.

Pamela does her best to hug him back and says" brother I do love thee greatly and have done so all my life.

The Smith turns away pleased, but doesn't want her to see the happy tears in his eyes at her words.

He says over his shoulder, "Come, for I have finished your sword."

As he picks up a velvet wrapped bundle tied with a satin cord, Pam remembers the day she came to the shop to commission a new sword.
She had stood looking at the steel bar stock when he told her, "No," none of this; I have special steel for thy blade. It was poured from an Elfin Wizard's furnace and contains much magic as well as a piece of a star.

There were several bars and Pamela's' hand was drawn to one. As she picked it up, a small burr pricked, her finger so that a single drop of blood fell upon the steel.

The Smithy laughed and said, "Ah, this steel has sampled you and will know your heart and spirit, for tis is indeed the piece the Wizard said would be your sword."

The sword he hands her is a fine and polished steel blade, with what appear to be waves or layers running up and down the length of the blade, a closer look shows that there are dolphins skipping over these waves. Elsewhere on the blade are markings that are mystic runes.

"Brother," asks Pamela, "did you engrave this blade with these markings?"
"Nay, " was the reply "they appeared as I polished the blade and are the Wizard's work."

Up near the handle and on both sides, is a stain that appears to be a Rose in full bloom.

Pointing to the Rose, The Smith says," that is where your drop of blood fell upon the plain bar stock and with each folding and working, the stain grew from an apparent Rosebud to the Rose in full bloom." "When the Rose appeared fully formed, I knew the blade was finished." " This blade knows you well and can never be turned against you to do you harm."

As she stands with the blade, swinging it and feeling how well it seemed to be an extension of her hand, Pamela felt a stinging slap upon her rump and quickly spun around, blade at the ready in an engarde` position.
The Smith began laughing as he had seen Pamela's twin sister, Femina, approaching and had known what was to happen.
Standing with her arms crossed and in a stern voice Femina said " Naughty girl, here you are, having sneaked away to come and get a toy to cut down the weeds in the Garden," and then can contain it no longer and bursts into laughter. " What will you name your new toy?" she asks.
With no hesitation Pamela replies, " there is a Rose on the blade, and every rose must have a thorn, and indeed this is the Thorn."
Remembering the reason for her search, Femina says" Come,"
"The Mistress knew where I would find you this morning and She has tasks for us to perform."

Bidding her brother farewell with a hug, She and Femina turn to trace their steps down the hill.

As they leave, the Smith calls, "Femina," "return soon for thy sword is nearing completion as well."
He watches fondly as the two twin sisters, one short and blond, the other tall and brunette make their way down the hill, arm in arm and laughing and joking as they walk.

Crossing the bridge and finally entering the hut, they observe that Mistress Kizzie is in tears.

"Be seated My little ones," She tells the two, "For I have sad news.
"A young one, dear to the hearts of us all has been early ripped from this life due to an accident."
"The one we knew and loved as the Dinker has been slain in an accident."

And here we must draw the curtain, for grief is a private affair and the three together must come to terms over this great loss."

Return to Start