U.O.T.W. Chapter 19 Spirit Re-Forged

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    By midafternoon Sotek arrived at the Skyforge and placed all the required items on the workbench. He then apologized for the length of time it actually took him to collect them.

    “There you go. Sorry it took so long”.

     

    Aela who was still feeling somewhat guilty over the gold, shrugged it off.

    “Oh that’s fine. Now your second part is… To make an axe, a Skyforge steel one”. She stated smiling as she spoke. “Eorlund won’t mind helping you”.

     

    “Oh I’m busy with this lot. Besides he don’t need my help with that” Eorlund explained, showing he had complete faith in Soteks smithing skills.

     

    Sotek smiled at the comment as he laid out the items on the workbench. As he worked, Aela sat on the edge of the forge watching him. She couldn’t but help notice how well he hammered and worked the metals and the care he used with the leather bindings. He even made her a scabbard for it. A few hours later he finished however instead of handing it straight to her, he added a small snake on the axe head in the shape of an ‘S’.

     

    “What’s that?” She asked.

     

    Before Sotek could answer, Eorlund did.

    “That’s his mark. All blacksmiths have one. We chose that one for him”.

     

     “We?”

     

    “Yup, me and the others. You know, Arcadia, Adrianne. Hell even the mage Farengar put in ideas. Eventually we all decided on a snake in the shape of an ‘S’”

     

    With that Sotek got up.

    “Finished… It just needs sharpening”.

     

    “Here you go”. Eorlund said as he handed over a steel bar to him.

     

    Sotek thanked him as he took the bar and went to the grinding stone to sharpen it. Almost immediately after he started, he stopped. He cast a glance over to Aela then threw a question to her.

    “Can you sharpen weapons?”

     

    Caught completely off guard Aela stammered in response to Sotek’s sudden question.

    “Wh.. What?... No, no I don’t”

     

    Sotek just looked at her blankly.

    “Why not?”

     

    She took a breath and composed herself.

    “Well… I don’t know how to. And what if I do it wrong”.

     

    “Doing things wrong?... No…” With that Sotek slyly shook his head.  “That’s my job”. He gave her a reassuring smile then beckoned her over to the grinding wheel.

     

    She nervously approached Sotek and sat down on the wooden seat facing the stone wheel. Sotek sat behind her and put his arms around her to help her hold the axe while he taught her how to sharpen it. While they both sat there they talked about him making the axe and what Aela saw that day. On a few occasions she actually laughed with him. After they finished sharpening it she got up, took the scabbard and attached it to Sotek’s waist. Then she picked up the axe.

    “What you gonna call it?”

     

    With that Sotek looked at the heart of the forge where he threw his old axe. Eorlund watched him for a few seconds before making a suggestion.

    “Don’t think that the Harbinger only ever named one sword. Every time I made him a new one, he gives it the same name”.

     

    With that Aela placed the axe carefully in the scabbard.

    “Spirit it is then. I don’t want this one in the furnace”. Her voice was soft and timid as she stood back to look at Sotek. As quick as a flash she snapped out of it. She poked Sotek in the chest hard as she stated in no uncertain terms to him.

     

    ‘“Else there’s gonna be trouble”. Her eyes glared at him then she went off down the path to Jorrvaskr.

     

    Eorlund glanced at Aela and laughed.

    “That’s a good axe. Much better than the other one”.

     

    Sotek was watching Aela as well. He smirked as he turned to Eorlund.

    “Much better”. With that he followed Aela but he stayed a good few paces behind.

     

    Aela walked into the main hall and practically bumped into Vilkas. She scrutinized his armor and noticed a small ‘S’ on his gauntlets.

    “New gauntlets?” She asked wearing  a big grin across her face. 

     

    “Yup. The old ones were getting stiff”.

     

    “Who made them?” She knowingly enquired. 

     

    “Who? The blacksmith Eorlund”. Vilkas stated as he side stepped around her.

     

    “Oh of course”. She exclaimed as she walked off laughing. Vilkas just looked at her walking away. He shook his head at her as she went off.

     

     

Comments

5 Comments   |   SpookyBorn2021 and 1 other like this.
  • SpookyBorn2021
    SpookyBorn2021   ·  August 17, 2017
    Hah yes,  that's what I was waiting for :D This was just a nice chapter, lots of niceness going around.
  • Relycs
    Relycs   ·  March 28, 2016
    Idesto said it all.
  • FlameLord
    FlameLord   ·  September 14, 2015
    Great job, Impressed every time :) +1
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  August 10, 2015
    Thanks Idesto.
    I had two objectives when I started writing UOTW. I didn't want a 'god' character and I wouldn't rush throwing S&A together. I'm glad you approve. 
  • Idesto
    Idesto   ·  August 10, 2015
    I like the way you're bringing S &A together slowly and surely but reluctantly, nicely done Sotek! 
    “Doing things wrong?... No...That’s my job" made me smile. I'm really enjoying your story mate, good stuff