Eiki the Blacksmith

chapter 2

The next afternoon came by all too quick for the currently late Balin. It seemed he had a bit too much joy the night before and was now scurrying down the hidden entrance into the cliff town where our favorite blacksmith worked putting the finishing touches on her latest order, as she had finished his axe early that morning. Having expected Balin hours ago she began to worry, and so to halt such thoughts she busied herself with her work, after checking on her father's health of course.

Hearing the bell upon the shop door chime, announcing the presents of customer, her attention snapped to the front as she set down the hunk of metal she was preparing to melt down. Balin always did have a way of catching her right before she started a new project. Peaking around the corner to confirm her suspicions on who it was that entered her shop she was greeted by the sight of a stumbling old dwarf still regaining his motor skills from a night of drinking.

"Las I deeply apologize for my lateness, however it took longer to drop my buzz than originally anticipated." he scratched the back of his head leaning against the wall for support. "Oh how rude of me forgetting my manners," he gave a deep bow nearly sending him tumbling to the floor "Balin, son for Fundin, At your service Milady."

I couldn't help but laugh at his ridiculousness. "Now my friend i know perfectly well who you are, after all what kind of lady would i be if i couldn't recognize my best customer." Dropping my Lady facade i added on just for fun "and seeing as it is you in my store it would appear that you are in need of my service, dear Balin, not the other way around." he chuckled and used me as support while i took pity on the poor bloke and led him to one of the few chairs i keep in the shop.

Once seated he let out a long sigh, finally being off his feet after his hurried run from the next town over, He made a mental note not to be late again. Upon examining his wobbly state and the smell of mead on his breath i ventured to say, "Now old friend you wouldn't have been out drinking last night would you?"

"Me, never!" he playfully defended, "Its rude not to invite such a lovely lady to join me, opposed to drinking myself." he glanced at me wiggling his eyebrows in the most telling why he could. Now to most outsiders this interaction could be taken in the wrong light, However this seemed to be routine for the two of us. Balin was, first and foremost, like the elder brother i never hand; anything else would just be awkward for the both of us.

Though he has , on many an occasion, hinted ever so subtly at the fact that his younger brother was readily available and then if that were the case we really would be family. I would humor him as he spoke of his warrior brother and all his accomplishments, as well as bringing up his single status whenever the opening arose; I swear i knew more about Dwalin, son of Fundin, than i did about my father, whom i have been caring for longer than half my life.

Though the only son of Fundin i know personally is Balin, that fact is quite easy to forget from all the information said dwarf all but hammered into my skull. After a few minutes, or possibly half the hour, of talking and catching up on things since we had last seen each other i reminded myself that he was not here for a simple friendly chat. Pushing myself off the wall that had been supporting me I made my way back to retrieve Balin's axe.

As per usual I picked said weapon up and gave it a good swing. This i guess is what you could call, my last goodbyes to each masterpiece i create before handing them off to there new caretaker. I gripped it in my right hand before tossing it to my left; There are somethings you 'ot to realize about smithing, any ol' dwarf could melt down a block of metal and pour it into a mold,no matter how mediocre they may be. No the thing myself and my father had always taken pride in was the balance of the weapon in hand, if the balance is off, is heavier on one side, or is to long or too short, it is the wielder who must compensate for the difference.