Gendry I

Gendry woke up to the sound of Tobho's door opening, which had become a familiar occurrence. He used to wonder what business Tobho had attending to so late at night, but after asking the blacksmith about it, Tobho sternly told him to mind his own business. Gendry mostly forgot about it after that, until the past week when it happened three times.

He lay in bed disappointed that he couldn't hear the sound of the blacksmiths hammering away into the night. It was a common complaint among newer apprentices, but Gendry had grown used to the noise over the years. He resorted to envisioning the sound in his head, reciting a mantra of Twang Bang Twang and Twing, Twang, Bang, Bang Bang Bang. But he wasn't satisfied with the sound in his mind, so he delved deeper, thinking about the black hands that gave steel a soul. Soon, the hammering and mantra seemed to drone unceasingly in his mind.

As he looked over at the newest apprentice, Feryn, who a few moons past frequently complained about the noise, now was no doubt thinking of it as well, Gendry smiled at the thought that the call of the hammer had taken another. As he lay there, lost in his own thoughts, Gendry felt a sense of contentment wash over him. Finally, closing his eyes letting the pull of sleep take him.

Gendry groaned as he rolled over in bed, his body still heavy with sleep. He rubbed his eyes and sat up, yawning. His cot was small and lumpy, but he had grown used to it over the years. He swung his legs over the side of the cot and stretched, feeling his muscles protest at the sudden movement.

He glanced around the dimly lit room, taking in the sleeping forms of the other apprentices. Some were snoring softly, while others tossed and turned in their sleep. Gendry envied them for the ability to sleep through anything. He knew from experience that it would take him a while to fall back asleep if he woke up in the middle of the night.

With a sigh, Gendry got to his feet and stretched again. He reached for his tunic and trousers, which were neatly folded on a nearby chest. He dressed quickly, his movements practiced and efficient. He had been getting up at the same time every day for years, and his body had grown accustomed to the routine.

Once dressed, Gendry splashed some water on his face and ran a hand through his hair. He felt a pang of longing as he thought of the forge, and the sound of metal on metal. He missed the work already, even though he had only been asleep for a few hours.

He gathered his tools and headed out of the sleeping quarters, making his way to the forge. The streets were still quiet, the sun just beginning to rise in the east. Gendry enjoyed the early morning hours, before the noise and bustle of the city began in earnest.

When he arrived at the forge, he found a few other apprentices already there, hard at work. Feryn was hammering away at a piece of metal, his face twisted in concentration. Gendry nodded in greeting and set to work himself, his hands automatically reaching for the tools he needed.

Once in his work space, he got to work, priming the forge and gathering all the necessary tools and materials for the day's projects. He carefully inspected each piece of equipment, making sure everything was in working order. Gendry picked up a thick, lightly jagged, heavy piece of copper and examined it closely, running his rough and calloused fingers over its surface. He placed it on the anvil and reached for his hammer, the weight of it feeling familiar and comfortable in his grip.

With a practiced motion, he began to strike the copper, the sound of the hammer ringing out through the workshop. He continued to strike the metal, each blow carefully aimed to thin it down to the desired size.

As the copper became thinner, Gendry reached for a pair of tongs and carefully guided it into the forge, heating it until it glowed a bright orange. He removed it from the fire and placed it back on the anvil, continuing to shape it with his hammer.

After several rounds of heating and hammering, the copper began to take the form of a long, thin wire. Gendry carefully coiled the wire, testing its strength with his fingers. Satisfied with his work, he set the wire aside, ready to be hammered through the block of hardened metal, to decrease its size to reach the specified size requested by the customer.

The process was repetitive and put some strain upon his arm, but Gendry took pride in the precision and care he put into each piece he created. As he finished up the first copper wire, he looked forward to the more challenging projects that awaited him later in the day.

He began to pound another copper wire into yet another hole to make it thinner, it was a relatively simplistic project but it was also boring work. Thus he wanted it out of the way.

Some other apprentices began to arrive later, as his focus was on the copper he heard the sounds of footsteps approaching. He glanced up to see two of his fellow apprentices, Alric and Soren, making their way towards him.

"Morn, Gendry," Alric said with a yawn. "Looks like a couple of you are already hard at work."

Gendry nodded in greeting, his eyes flicking briefly towards the newcomers before returning to his task.

"What are you working on there?" Soren asked, peering over Gendry's shoulder to get a better look at the copper.

"Just thinning it down for now," Gendry replied, his voice slightly muffled by the sound of the hammer striking the metal.

"Sounds like boring work," Alric remarked, stifling another yawn.

"It is," Gendry admitted with a small grin. "But it's got to be done."

The three apprentices fell into a comfortable silence, broken only by the rhythmic sound of the hammer. Gendry could feel the weight of the copper beginning to take a toll on his arms, but he didn't let up. He was determined to finish the piece as quickly and efficiently as possible.

As he worked, he could feel the presence of his fellow apprentices around him. Despite the silence, there was a sense of shared purpose that ran through the forge. They were all here for the same reason: to learn the craft and become skilled smiths in their own right.

With a final, satisfying blow, Gendry finished the final copper wire and set it aside. He turned to his companions and grinned.

"Anyone want to help me with the next project?" he asked, gesturing to a pile of steel that lay nearby.

Alric and Soren exchanged a look before nodding in agreement. As Feryn briefly glanced their way. They gathered around Gendry, ready to tackle the next challenge of the day. Steel swords to replenish some of the Lannister soldiers armaments.

"Hey Gendry, what's this?" Alric asked, holding up a piece of parchment.

Gendry squinted at the parchment, trying to make out the details. As he approached, he could see that it was a crudely drawn copy, of another drawing, the one made by the very person who hired Tobho to produce these wires in fact.

"Oh, that's just a little drawing the Tobho quickly drew as a copy of what a new customer gave him," Gendry said, shrugging. "That new minstrel in the city customers talk about time to time well her sister commissioned these wires." Instinctively he looked downwards to ensure his embarrassment a few days prior was not relived.

The other apprentices gathered around, inspecting the drawing with interest. Gendry could sense their surprise at the level of detail in the sketch.

"Wow, if this is an accurate copy she really captured every step," Feryn said, peering closely at the parchment. "I had no idea the bard even had a sister, which is odd considering how much we've heard talk of her on the street."

Gendry felt a flicker of curiosity at their reaction. He knew little of Devola other than her beauty and singing, he heard in echo through the streets in passing when she performed near here. He like Feryn had no knowledge of a sister until she came in to hire Tobhos, expertise for such a cheap, relatively simple task. The commission even had Tobho scratching his head.

"It's just a drawing," Gendry said, shrugging. "I didn't think much of it."

But as he spoke, he realized how odd it was that a bard's sister or a woman in general would take such an interest in something as simple as making copper wires. His curiosity piqued, As someone invested in blacksmithing himself Gendry began to wonder just where she learned such. Perhaps thats why Tobho felt the need to make the imitation.

Alric spoke up, "I didn't even know we had a new bard until Tobho mentioned the sister yesterday."

Gendry raised an eyebrow, looking at a few of the other apprentices who shared his glance. He let out a chuckle before turning to Alric, "Well, if you spent more time out in the forge doing your job and less time lounging around in Tobho's house, you might know a thing or two about what's going on around here."

Alric froze for a moment at Gendry's words before gathering himself to respond.

"I do a lot of important work with Tobho," he said, his tone defensive.

Feryn leaned forward, curious. "What kind of work?" he asked.

Alric hesitated, glancing into Tobho's house towards his office door. "It's...complicated," he said finally.

Gendry stood there for a moment, admiring the Weirwood and Ivory door of Tobho's office himself. The intricate carvings and delicate details were a testament to the master blacksmith's wealth and skill, but to Gendry, it always seemed a bit too much. He preferred a more practical approach to things, something that got the job done without any fuss and less frills.

As he looked at the door, he couldn't help but wonder what Alric and Tobho did together there. He knew that Tobho was a stern master, and he often demanded a lot from his apprentices. But Gendry had never heard of Tobho taking on an apprentice in any capacity other than blacksmithing.

He glanced over at Alric, who was still standing there, looking uncomfortable. "So, Alric," he said, trying to sound casual. "What exactly do you do with Tobho in his office?"

Alric shifted uncomfortably, his gaze still fixed on the door. "Oh, just some... errands, I guess," he said vaguely.

Feryn raised an eyebrow. "Errands?" he repeated. "What kind of errands?"

Alric shrugged, still not meeting anyone's eyes. "Just... things," he said. "I help him with some of his personal projects, that's all."

Gendry gave Alric a skeptical look but decided not to push the issue further. He had more pressing matters to attend to, like finishing the swords for the men with deep pockets. "Well, whatever it is, you should make sure it doesn't interfere with your apprenticeship," he said firmly. "We all have work to do, and we can't afford to slack off."

Alric nodded quickly, looking relieved that the conversation had shifted away from his activities with Tobho. Gendry couldn't help but wonder what was really going on behind that Weirwood and Ivory door briefly, but he had to focus on his work besides it did not concern him anyways.

He set aside the drawing and returned to his work briefly admiring the soot covering his hands he readied to tackle the next job on his list. He could feel the weight of the unfinished steel swords calling out to him, and he was eager to see it through to completion. With a sense of determination, he set to work, the hammer striking the steel with a steady rhythm.

Hours passed as Gendry worked on the sword, carefully shaping the metal into the desired form. He moved with a grace born of long practice, each movement precise and efficient. As he worked, all he thought about was what the metal would become and what each pounding of the hammer would produce where he envisioned it all, and all that existed in those moments was the hammer and steel. The intensity of his focus seemed to catch the eye of Feryn and others from time to time.

At last, the sword was finished. Gendry held it up, inspecting it closely. It was a beautiful weapon, the steel shining in the light of the forge. He could feel a sense of pride and accomplishment welling up inside him.

But even as he admired his handiwork, his mind was already moving on to the next project. He had a long list of orders to fill, and he was eager to get started on the next one. Just in time it seemed as the man coming to collect the swords they hired Tobho for arrived seeming to eye their every move. With a sense of purpose, he set to work once more on the next sword, the hammer ringing out through the forge as he began the next stage of his work.

Feryn winced as he accidentally burned his hand on the hot metal he was working on. He quickly dropped the tongs and shook his hand, trying to alleviate the pain.

The commotion caught the attention of the man who had been waiting for the finished swords . He strode over to Feryn, his face red with anger.

"What's going on here?" he demanded. "Are you incompetent? How dare you delay the delivery of the swords!"

Feryn looked up, still wincing in pain. "I'm sorry, sir," he said. "I burned my hand. It won't take long to finish the swords."

The man snorted. "Incompetent apprentices like you are the reason this city is in such a sorry state," he spat. "These swords will be used by great men, men fighting for the better half of royalty. Its dishonorable its even being touched by such inexperienced unsure hands, My understanding was the renowned blacksmith Tobho Mott. Who's done his fair share to prove himself would be working on these, what have you done? "

Gendry, who had been working on his own project nearby, heard the commotion and walked over. He could see that Feryn was in pain and that the man was being unnecessarily rude.

"Hey, what's the problem here?" Gendry said, his voice filled with aggression. "You think it's okay to talk to his apprentices like that?"

The man looked Gendry up and down, his expression still one of disdain. "I don't care who you are," he said. "I just need those swords, and I need them now."

Gendry stepped closer to the man, his fists clenched. "You need to show some respect," he growled. "We're doing our best, and accidents happen. You're not the only one waiting for swords."

The man glared at Gendry, his face contorted with anger. But before he could say anything else, Gendry's imposing figure seemed to make him back down.

The customer sneered at him. "And who are you to tell me what I can and can't do?"

"I'm just someone who won't stand by and watch you treat another person like dirt," Gendry replied, his fists clenching at his sides.

The argument continued to escalate until Tobho stepped in, his hammer pounding loudly on the anvil. "That's enough!" he boomed. "This is a place of business, not a fighting pit. If you can't conduct yourself properly, then I suggest you leave and return when the swords are finished."

The customer grumbled and muttered, but eventually stormed out of the shop. Feryn let out a sigh of relief, and Gendry relaxed his fists, feeling the adrenaline slowly start to fade away.

Gendry turned to Feryn, who was still cradling his burned hand. "You alright?" he asked, his tone softening.

Feryn nodded, his face still twisted in pain. "Yeah, thanks," he said halfheartedly.

Gendry clapped him on the shoulder. "Always," he said. "We're like brothers, us apprentices. I'm not gonna let anyone talk to you like that."

"Thank you Master Mott…" Feryn exclaimed in thanks.

"Man was being a pompous prick about it anyways, He'll be getting chewed out by his captain later. " Tobho explained, "Besides, did not come out here for that…" With that he turned towards Alric who seemed to tense up.

Tobho approached him and gestured towards his home, quickly Alric followed Tobho to the house.

Gendry and the others couldn't hear what was being said, but they could hear raised voices and muffled yells coming from inside the house. They exchanged looks of concern, wondering what could be going on.

After several minutes, Alric emerged from the house, looking slightly pale but also determined. He went back to work immediately, putting in more effort than Gendry and the others had ever seen from him before.

Gendry raised an eyebrow in surprise and exchanged a knowing smile with Feryn. Whatever Tobho had said to Alric seemed to have made quite an impact. He must've been telling tales earlier.

As the day went on, Alric worked hard without complaint, and the other apprentices respected his newfound dedication. Gendry couldn't help but wonder what Tobho had said to him to get him to shape up so quickly. He suspected it must have been something pretty powerful to elicit such a dramatic change in Alric's behavior.

Gendry and the other apprentices were gathered around the forge, taking a break from their work except Alric who continued to hammer away. Feryn was inspecting his burned hand with a wry expression.

"Looks like you're a true apprentice now," Gendry joked. "Every blacksmith worth their salt has burned themselves on a sword at some point."

The other apprentices laughed in agreement, nodding their heads in recognition.

Feryn grinned through the pain. "I guess I've finally earned my keep then," he said stifling a chuckle. "But it still hurts like the seven hells."

"Tell me about it," one of the other apprentices said, holding up his own scarred hand. "I burned myself on a branding iron once. Thought I was going to pass out from the pain."

Soren chimed in. "I got a nasty burn on my arm from a spark that flew off the forge. It blistered up so bad I couldn't work for a week."

Gendry nodded sympathetically. "Burns are part of the job, unfrotunately" he said. "But we learn from them and become better for it."

Feryn sighed. "I just wish it didn't hurt so damn much," he said.

Gendry clapped him on the back. "Don't worry, Feryn," he said. "You'll toughen up in no time. And next time, you'll know how to avoid making the same mistake again. Soon enough you'll have hands like these"

Gendry held out his own hands in emphasis,

"Nah they'll be more like these" Soren held out his hands mocking the bravado Gendry put on.

Feryn chuckled at his antics, and Gendry couldn't help but feel grateful for the comradery he had with his fellow blacksmiths. Despite the pain from accidents, he knew he was in the right place, surrounded by people who understood the trials and tribulations of the forge.

As the apprentices continued to swap stories of their various injuries, Gendry caught sight of a small water barrel nearby. He couldn't resist the opportunity reminding him of antics he'd get into back when he was a boy in flea bottom. One of the few good memories he had of that place.

"Hey, watch this," he said, grinning mischievously as he grabbed a nearby bucket.

The other apprentices turned to look at him just as he scooped up a bucketful of water and doused Feryn, who was still nursing his burn.

"Hey!" Feryn exclaimed, sputtering and shaking the water from his hair. "What was that for?"

Gendry just laughed. "Lighten up, Feryn," he said. "It's just a bit of water."

Feryn scowled playfully, then lunged at Gendry, grabbing the bucket and trying to retaliate. Soon the other apprentices joined in, splashing and dodging and laughing.

Unknown to them Tobho had just stepped into the workshop when he noticed the horseplay between the apprentices. "What's going on here?" he asked, his voice stern.

Gendry and the other apprentices immediately stopped their antics and stood at attention. "Nothing, master," Gendry said quickly. "Just blowing off some steam."

Tobho didn't look convinced. "You should know better than to act like children in a forge," he said. "I expect better from all of you."

Gendry hung his head, feeling ashamed. He knew Tobho was right. The last thing they needed was an accident in the forge. He just wanted to lighten the mood.

Tobho glared at them for a few moments longer before turning his attention to Gendry. "Speaking of accidents," he said, his tone softening slightly. "Why don't you tell these newer apprentices how you got that burn on your arm?"

Gendry's face flushed with embarrassment. He had been hoping Tobho would forget about that incident. "Do I have to?" he asked, hoping to avoid reliving the embarrassing memory.

Tobho nodded. "I think it's important for them to understand the dangers of working in a forge," he said. "And how even the most experienced apprentices can make mistakes."

Gendry sighed and took a deep breath. "Alright," he said reluctantly. "But you guys have to promise not to laugh."

The other apprentices nodded, intrigued by Gendry's story.

"Okay, so it was my first week here," Gendry began. "And I was working on a sword. I was so focused on getting it right that I didn't realize I had accidentally backed up into the forge until it was too late."

The other apprentices listened with rapt attention, waiting for the embarrassing part of the story.

"So there I was, my ass on fire," Gendry continued. "I tried to put it out by slapping it, but that just made it worse. I ended up having to jump into a water barrel to put out the flames."

The other apprentices couldn't help but burst out laughing at the mental image of Gendry jumping into a barrel of water to put out the flames.

Gendry glared at them good-naturedly. "I told you not to laugh," he said, but he was smiling too.

Tobho cleared his throat. "As amusing as that story may be," he said. "It's important to remember that burns can be serious. Always be aware of your surroundings and never let your guard down in the forge."

The apprentices nodded, sobered by Tobho's words. They knew they had a responsibility to take their work seriously, even when they were just blowing off steam.

WIth one final nod Tobho, retreated back into the confines of his house.

With their masters retreat the tense atmosphere quickly faded and they all loosened up. A glance at Alric revealed he was still working, even harder than he was before Tobho's intervention. It was almost inspiring.

A.N. Well there is chapter 5, hope everyone liked the new POV, I feel its a considerable shift in tone to the POV of the twins. That's intentional but I hope its well received.

Any thoughts on the chapter, and/or the accuracy of the POV and OC characters is appreciated. I did try to really portray Blacksmithing somewhat accurately without it being boring. I hope I accomplished that. Curious what speculations and thoughts arise from this new POV, and this chapter. It will not be the only new POV, but as I said last chapter it's one of the ones I was more excited about writing.

Quite curious what everyone thinks of the accuracy of Gendry and if I missed the mark in any way.

Plan on going back and editing the first 3 chapters before I update again, but please review, comment, reply. As they are a big help on motivation for me.

P.S. Is the preference to underline and bold POV signifiers or should I stick to just bolding them?