She had taken the same precautions as many years. The forest,
unusually silent, stood farther away from the young elf-girl. Her
stallion, once wild and unruly, snorted softly while Teleri hummed a
soft elven tune. She grasped the reigns lightly, enjoying the soft
swaying of the leaves beneath Xanr's hoofs.
The path had been found by accident, outside the borders of the
forest. It seemed like weeks ago that she stumbled on the small stone
building. Her father's horse had lost a shoe and peered inside for
someone to assist her. Thinking that it was an outpost outside the
territory she entered. She gasped and almost screamed when she came
to her first contact with the human named John. She had never seen a
human, and all the tales of rape and murder came to no help at this
moment. The human regarded her with amusement when she galloped away.
Mid-mile away, she stopped. Tanis, her old friend, was half human,
and he was the most decent individual she had met. She went back,
apologizing for her ignorance.
John, a smithy, had made a living by helping travelers' with any armor or horse wear needs. He had been 29 years old, enchanted with Teleri's re-appearance, speaking in elven, then switching to a heavily accented common. "I must apologize, sire, for this is the farthest I have made it outside my home. I have never come in contact with one of you..." She was stopped, rudely, by his laughter. " Do not worry, my lady, I will not bring down the cataclysm." She suddenly looked confused. He continued, "I know that elves always say that when they see a human. We brought down the cataclysm, etc. No harm done, my name is John." He extended his hand. Teleri produced her small hand, palm down, like she had been taught in her house. He shook it , not minding the traces of metal and grease left on her fingers. Then, realizing he might have not done the right thing took her hand, and kissed it like he had seen in Palanthas." She just frowned and went on, slightly annoyed by this human. "My mount has lost his foot covering..." she stumbled on the words. Once again, John laughed harder than previously. "It is called a shoe." She nodded, the heat of embarrassment rising to her face. He mended her horse shoes, while she asked questions on the weapons he made. She shared her wine flask with this new friend while he praised her weapons. That has been 30 years ago, and Teleri saw her friend fall to the weakness of human years. His thick brown curls were now replaced by a shining bald spot on his scalp, his hands were still strong but his skin, once tanned and youthful, resembled now old stretched leather. Unlike him, Teleri's only visible change was that she had grown leaner because of the exercise training of her brothers.
John waited outside admiring the elf woman's fiery locks. Had this been different times? Would he have wooed her, would he had dared touch the sky near Solinari, asking that bright moon for the strength of the love he had for this young one. She had been ignorant of his eyes, on how they watched her every move. Her laughter and skill with the sword made him wake up at night and wonder, why he had not been born inside that wretched forest, a gallant elflord? "If you grow weary of using your head for thinking, you might want to start working on a piece of armor for me" She jumped out her stallion. "You are a demanding wench. But since your gold has been good for awhile, I could spare my time." He ushered her inside. Friends they might have been, but elves and humans do not even go as far as talking politely. They had joked like this for years. "I need something made. I know you are fast and your skill cannot be compared, not even to the smith's in Qualinost. It has to be a breastplate to fit me, but it has to measure from the top of my chest to my waist. It needs to be able to be light enough to hide inside my dress." She unlaced her boots, the day had been unusually hot. "I could do that, but I do not know how prudent and proper I could be. To measure this task, you will_" He looked away, wishing not to disrespect her. "need to unrobe." She nodded soberly. "I need this more than ever. I do not care about your thoughts. I can pay." She produced her coin bag. "You know I will not leave, and cannot have the smith's at my father's estate see me wearing this." "Fine. " He was angered that he would have to be tormented with her beauty once again. "You are a loyal friend John. I honor you because of that."
He measured her, trying not to stare at the slim piece of cotton fabric that covered her chest. She remained, motionless, knowing the correct procedure the smith's used to measure armor.
While she robbed herself once again, she asked him what it was on his mind. The middle age human began feeding the flames with bits of dried wood, towards the fire.
"Would you have loved me, when I was young? If I have had the courage to throw my restraints away?" He looked at the confusion of her eyes. "I might have, but then again, I am young, I have never loved, save for my brothers and my family. Maybe elves do not feel the love in their hearts the way humans do." Her smile stabbed at his human hearts. How could she smile? Each week, she came to talk to him of unimportant nonsense, with a light, unburdened heart, while his soul wretched and died each time her braid became unfastened, or her hands patted his back.
He looked away, fighting the tears that would come at night. Has she not seen? The years he spent pinning after her, giving the opportunity of a simple, boring but vital marriage his back each time. He could have married each woman his father suggested him. It was not Teleri's fault and he would not bother her about his feelings no longer.
"Come by in three days. I will make a breastplate for your journey." How could he know? It had been a secret to herself. He continued, with the same smile he had when he was young. " You might be older than me, but humans are wiser in the ways of the world. You will need shoulder and shin armor. I will build it light enough for it to hide."
She mounted and waved. She softly mouthed the words good bye and placing the hood of her cloak in the right place, she galloped home. He cried for her knew he had lost his elven dream, and had woken up to the bland, lonely existence that was his.
He entered his shop, and sitting down, he wrote to his sister, asking her about that farmer's daughter friend of hers. Maybe he could still find a humble woman to share his world.
Three days later, Teleri came to his shop, finding it empty with only the table, a note and a bundle wrapped in rags.
Mistress,
I require no payment to build this for you, I only ask that you remember that human love can be strong, or maybe stronger, than any elf lord can give. I know that our hearts are not destined to meet in love, but being an old man (in human years), I can attest to the fact that your spirit matches the unruly mane of red and silver hair you possess. I have known many elves that travel these roads, but I know that no one in that mysterious forest you call home will be able to make you happy. I am honored that I had known you.
John
She waited until arriving at her home to unwrap the linen in her chambers; and found herself staring at the most breathtaking piece of armor. The front had etchings in copper and a more brilliant material, to resemble the colors of her hair. The shoulder pieces were separate and made to envelop her shoulders to a fit.
She fitted herself in her armor, seeing the love and affection put in the building of such piece. She had received chain mail leggings and gloves, hidden within leather britches, a gift from her father, seeing how she had been alienated from having none while her brothers wore theirs.
She began collecting her most precious weapons, built by John, and secretly kept away from her family. He had also made her a small shield, a lance in which she refused to take as a gift, and various daggers. Another one of her treasures was a long sword that had belonged to her father, he had given that to her, for she was born to a family of warriors. She shall not wield it, but keep it as tradition he had said. Teleri had better plans for it.
He began stuffing her weapons in her pack, waiting for the time her brothers were to begin their journeys. She would follow a day later, she knew the secret trail by heart. Somehow, she knew they would need her.
John, a smithy, had made a living by helping travelers' with any armor or horse wear needs. He had been 29 years old, enchanted with Teleri's re-appearance, speaking in elven, then switching to a heavily accented common. "I must apologize, sire, for this is the farthest I have made it outside my home. I have never come in contact with one of you..." She was stopped, rudely, by his laughter. " Do not worry, my lady, I will not bring down the cataclysm." She suddenly looked confused. He continued, "I know that elves always say that when they see a human. We brought down the cataclysm, etc. No harm done, my name is John." He extended his hand. Teleri produced her small hand, palm down, like she had been taught in her house. He shook it , not minding the traces of metal and grease left on her fingers. Then, realizing he might have not done the right thing took her hand, and kissed it like he had seen in Palanthas." She just frowned and went on, slightly annoyed by this human. "My mount has lost his foot covering..." she stumbled on the words. Once again, John laughed harder than previously. "It is called a shoe." She nodded, the heat of embarrassment rising to her face. He mended her horse shoes, while she asked questions on the weapons he made. She shared her wine flask with this new friend while he praised her weapons. That has been 30 years ago, and Teleri saw her friend fall to the weakness of human years. His thick brown curls were now replaced by a shining bald spot on his scalp, his hands were still strong but his skin, once tanned and youthful, resembled now old stretched leather. Unlike him, Teleri's only visible change was that she had grown leaner because of the exercise training of her brothers.
John waited outside admiring the elf woman's fiery locks. Had this been different times? Would he have wooed her, would he had dared touch the sky near Solinari, asking that bright moon for the strength of the love he had for this young one. She had been ignorant of his eyes, on how they watched her every move. Her laughter and skill with the sword made him wake up at night and wonder, why he had not been born inside that wretched forest, a gallant elflord? "If you grow weary of using your head for thinking, you might want to start working on a piece of armor for me" She jumped out her stallion. "You are a demanding wench. But since your gold has been good for awhile, I could spare my time." He ushered her inside. Friends they might have been, but elves and humans do not even go as far as talking politely. They had joked like this for years. "I need something made. I know you are fast and your skill cannot be compared, not even to the smith's in Qualinost. It has to be a breastplate to fit me, but it has to measure from the top of my chest to my waist. It needs to be able to be light enough to hide inside my dress." She unlaced her boots, the day had been unusually hot. "I could do that, but I do not know how prudent and proper I could be. To measure this task, you will_" He looked away, wishing not to disrespect her. "need to unrobe." She nodded soberly. "I need this more than ever. I do not care about your thoughts. I can pay." She produced her coin bag. "You know I will not leave, and cannot have the smith's at my father's estate see me wearing this." "Fine. " He was angered that he would have to be tormented with her beauty once again. "You are a loyal friend John. I honor you because of that."
He measured her, trying not to stare at the slim piece of cotton fabric that covered her chest. She remained, motionless, knowing the correct procedure the smith's used to measure armor.
While she robbed herself once again, she asked him what it was on his mind. The middle age human began feeding the flames with bits of dried wood, towards the fire.
"Would you have loved me, when I was young? If I have had the courage to throw my restraints away?" He looked at the confusion of her eyes. "I might have, but then again, I am young, I have never loved, save for my brothers and my family. Maybe elves do not feel the love in their hearts the way humans do." Her smile stabbed at his human hearts. How could she smile? Each week, she came to talk to him of unimportant nonsense, with a light, unburdened heart, while his soul wretched and died each time her braid became unfastened, or her hands patted his back.
He looked away, fighting the tears that would come at night. Has she not seen? The years he spent pinning after her, giving the opportunity of a simple, boring but vital marriage his back each time. He could have married each woman his father suggested him. It was not Teleri's fault and he would not bother her about his feelings no longer.
"Come by in three days. I will make a breastplate for your journey." How could he know? It had been a secret to herself. He continued, with the same smile he had when he was young. " You might be older than me, but humans are wiser in the ways of the world. You will need shoulder and shin armor. I will build it light enough for it to hide."
She mounted and waved. She softly mouthed the words good bye and placing the hood of her cloak in the right place, she galloped home. He cried for her knew he had lost his elven dream, and had woken up to the bland, lonely existence that was his.
He entered his shop, and sitting down, he wrote to his sister, asking her about that farmer's daughter friend of hers. Maybe he could still find a humble woman to share his world.
Three days later, Teleri came to his shop, finding it empty with only the table, a note and a bundle wrapped in rags.
Mistress,
I require no payment to build this for you, I only ask that you remember that human love can be strong, or maybe stronger, than any elf lord can give. I know that our hearts are not destined to meet in love, but being an old man (in human years), I can attest to the fact that your spirit matches the unruly mane of red and silver hair you possess. I have known many elves that travel these roads, but I know that no one in that mysterious forest you call home will be able to make you happy. I am honored that I had known you.
John
She waited until arriving at her home to unwrap the linen in her chambers; and found herself staring at the most breathtaking piece of armor. The front had etchings in copper and a more brilliant material, to resemble the colors of her hair. The shoulder pieces were separate and made to envelop her shoulders to a fit.
She fitted herself in her armor, seeing the love and affection put in the building of such piece. She had received chain mail leggings and gloves, hidden within leather britches, a gift from her father, seeing how she had been alienated from having none while her brothers wore theirs.
She began collecting her most precious weapons, built by John, and secretly kept away from her family. He had also made her a small shield, a lance in which she refused to take as a gift, and various daggers. Another one of her treasures was a long sword that had belonged to her father, he had given that to her, for she was born to a family of warriors. She shall not wield it, but keep it as tradition he had said. Teleri had better plans for it.
He began stuffing her weapons in her pack, waiting for the time her brothers were to begin their journeys. She would follow a day later, she knew the secret trail by heart. Somehow, she knew they would need her.
