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Iron Secrets (me and TheDuchess)

Raziel99

Raziel99

Pulsar
Joined
Jan 15, 2009
Today was a important day for the lowly knight that was dismounting his horse in front of the blacksmith's shop. This was his first assignment as a Knight, and from the sound of it, it was important. His lord's son needed a new set of armor made for him, and there were several Blacksmiths that had a order made, looking for the best quality smithing. Needless to say, he was hopeful that he was sent to the right place instead of the others. It would be a boost to him for when he became more well known, even getting his own fiefdom.

He slowly walked into the place, seeing the Blacksmith hard at work. At first glance, he confused the person for a male, but after calling them over and getting a better glance, he saw it was a female, and he was instantly shamed mentally. It was a honor to be given the job, and angering the person that was to do the work would not help him at all. Indeed, it may cost him his head if he butchered a order from the King. He was known to be a little temperamental.

"Excuse me." He said, pulling out a scroll of parchment that had everything written on it in terms of size for the prince. "I am Armand, a knight sent by the King. The King is looking for a suit of armor for his son, these are the sizes for him." He tapped the scroll of parchment, almost impatiently with his haste for the order. "His majesty would like it to be done promptly, and can pay anything for it. But he needs to know when and how much immediately."
 
The day was hot and she was sweating like a pig at christmas, she had been busy at work filling orders and taking them as they came her way and she tried to look like a serious blacksmith red hair pulled up to not show the length or fullness of it, and she had done well to smooth out the large curls that were usually there, she had slight tanned skin and hid away her body, she wasn't to tall standing at a good 5`6 but by the look of her arm told that she was sculpted and strong possibly intimidating for any man to possibly approach, beneath the black soot that was on her face laied a beautiful woman with light green eyes that shone when she looked up towards the light.

She approached him wiping her hands and looked down over the order taking it from him and reading it over quickly before handing it back to him " i can do it, but would have to delay my other orders in the mean time, if its for the prince then i would gladly do it for him for....." she thought about the numbers off the top of her head, she wasn't going to take advantage of the fact that he was a prince and had large amounts of wealth to his name, she was going to give him the same price as all the others for this type of order " possibly around 6 gold and 3 silver, since its a rush order i have to charge a fee of 2 gold, and i can have it done by tomorrow afternoon" she said and watched him rubbing the back of her neck.
 
Armand was struck rather speechless by her proclamation. "T-t-tomorrow?" Holy hell, that was fast, even for some of the best or shoddiest blacksmiths of the area. Either she was very talented... or completely crap at her work. Either way, he hoped that she knew what she was doing. "Then tomorrow I will return with the payment, and I hope that the prince and King is happy with the speed." He bowed, leaving the request with her as he left. He had no need for it, the prince had no need for it, and certainly the King didn't have a need for it. He jumped onto his horse outside and rid off towards the castle, to get her payment and to rest for the night.

-------

It may have been a annoyance to be out that way twice in two days, but he had to work with it: it was his way of work, his job, and his head if he didn't do it. The King was getting grouchy in his old age. So it was another hour's ride - though in his haste it took half that time - and this time his horse had 8 bags of gold and 2 of silver. His horse strained somewhat the way there, but it was happily neighing as he took the bags off. God, the Prince was expensive.

He carried the bags as far as the doorway of the Smithy before putting them down, going forward. "I'm here for the Princes armor." He said, in a rather strong voice, strained from having to carry the weight of the gold and silver she wanted.
 
She was very lucky that she had metal on hand that was ready to be customized, she had it sitting up and was polishing it when he came in, she was tired and very edgy at the moment, she turned back and went wide eyed at all the gold she dropped her cloth and came around looking at the bag before getting an angry look on her face, she bent down and too 8 pieces of gold and the two silver and placed it on the counter " take it back i dont want the king's charity!" she yelled and left the bags alone and started to wrap the armor up carefully, it was good quality armor she had an order canceled on her a while back that had alot of the prince's same measurements so she just had to finish and adjust a few things to make it fit like a glove.

" and since you have to tote the gold back, i will close up today and deliver the armor myself if thats a problem?" she asked eyeing him, she was truly tired and wasn't up for this trip but it had to be done and she might as well do it, she started to close up and went around back and started to saddle up her own horse and load the armor up onto it.
 
Armand scoffed as he heard her, telling him to take back the King's 'charity.' Didn't she ask for 8 gold and 2 silver? Damn women being stubborn and not clear about what they wanted... He heard her words, that she would take the armor up to the Castle herself. Fine by him, stupid women being stubborn and not accepting what was given to them...

He went back outside, hauling two bags at a time to the horse, hearing it argue it but not doing much else about it. At least animals knew when to show that they didn't like something without yelling. At least they listened. It took maybe ten minutes before the bags were latched on right, and then he led her to the castle. It was a hours ride to make sure she didn't get lost. Not because he cared for her safety at this point, but for his own head if he didn't come back with the armor. It was a long ride in his mind, but they were finally in the stables of the castle, putting the two animals in pens and Armand taking the bags of gold and silver.

He led her to the throne room, his arms screaming in the agony of carrying so much weight on them, that when they arrived, he nearly dropped them, the pieces splattering about. Instead, he lightly put them down, and led her forward to the King. "Your Majesty, this is the Blacksmith that made the armor for the Prince. She... decided it was best if she came and gave it to him herself.

"That's quite alright." Said a voice from behind a nearby pillar. From it, out stepped a man looking the age of twenty, with his medium length hair pulled back, and his sharp blue eyes locked on the female form of the Blacksmith. He wore what normal knights wore under their armor: little more than a pair of brown pants. His upper body was toned, muscular enough to show through the skin without it bulging so much that it was grotesque.

Alexander stopped right in front of her, slowly taking the armor piece by piece, and soon he was flexing his arms, stretching and seeing how his range of movement was in it. "Hmm... Not bad, strong, durable, more open range than moving with normal armor." He turned to the King, nodding.

The King nodded back, turning to her. "While I had doubted that you made such a thing, I do not doubt anymore. It is a splendid piece of equipment, and I think the Prince will find good use of it. We need more workers like you around here. Therefore, I request that you work here, in the Castle, under the employ of the royal family."
 
Even in her tired state she was polite which would probably shock the man that rode up with her, she looked at the prince before realizing her place and turned back to the king, she wasn't of royal blood line, and there fore wouldn't have a chance with the prince, not in her wildest dreams, and she knew that so she didn't gawk at the toned arms and handsome features she ignored them...or tried to get them out of her head " Thank you very much, and in truth, i had an order cancel on me a couple days ago because the gentlemen... well is now 6 feet under now, and he just happened to be the same size as his majesty, so please do not think that i created it over night, and that is a fine offer, but..." she thought about it for a good while before answering, she would have to leave her home and the shop that her uncle had left her, she had just acquired it and wasn't sure that selling it was the best thing to do, but to work under the royal family she wouldn't be afraid of being robbed in the middle of the night , and right now she was very tired so sleep now sounded good to her now that she thought about it, she remembered where she was and snapped out of the thought of sleep and a comfy bed " i would be honored to serve under you " she said and bowed her head and was careful not to close her eyes otherwise they would think she fell over dead, but in truth she would be sleeping like death itself.
 
The Prince Alexander couldn't help but smile a little playfully as he saw her get bashful under his gaze, and he stretched in the armor. It was slightly uncomfortable, but all armor was, and this was lighter, so he couldn't argue about it. He didn't mind that this use to be a dead man's armor, but the King slightly frowned at the information. Luckily, it was Alexander's word on how he liked it, and since he showed no disapproval, the King couldn't say a thing about it. "Then Prince Alexander will show you to your room and Smithy."

Alexander bowed, leading her through a door on the side of the hall, and going down a hallway. "The castle is large, and easy to get lost in, so I would recommend calling for a maid or me if you need help." He was calm and somewhat cheerful, which was the opposite of the King at the moment. A flight of stairs downward, and he was opening up a door on the left side. The room was the Smithy, with two furnaces and two Anvils for her to do her work with forging the metals and beating them into shape. He didn't really stay at that room, heading down the hall a few more doors before opening another.

This one was to her room. The rooms was rather large, the first room holding several wardrobes, a chest, and a Canopy bed, with beddings and drapes in a nearby open dresser. The adjoining rooms were a bathroom with a empty tub for when she was to wash, and a fireplace to warm up the water that could be gotten from the nearby spring. The other room was empty, but it could become whatever she needed.
 
She watched him and narrowed her eyes slightly at him, what was he doing escorting her... shouldn't he be back there with his father, being a prince and what ever the hell he did on a daily bases not escort the royal smith to her rooms, she wasn't going to fall for anything and was going to try and seclude herself away from everyone, she wasn't worthy of anyone like him at least... maybe the stable manager... when he showed her the rooms she went in and turned to look at him bowing her head" thank you very much your grace" she said and closed the door behind her looking around her room and smiled, she ran to the room where her workshop was and oggled at the different tools running her dirty fingers over the tools and sighed softly.
 
He was about to enter, to have a few words with her, but the door was promptly closed in his face, and only the short visual of the door moving made him stop in time that he didn't break his nose on the wood. He sighed for a moment, staring at the intricate etchings into the wood - which he had no idea what the idea of it was because of his proximity - before he stepped back. The next morning. Yes, he would speak to her the next morning. So he headed upstairs to his own private rooms, stripping his clothes off before laying down.

------

The sun rose in the morning for Alex, beaming into the window and blinding him in the first few moments of wakeness. He threw the blankets off of himself, standing and stretching before getting new clothing on. He went to the fallen armor, tossed asunder from stripping it off in his tiredness. He took it to a empty wardrobe and set it up, making sure none of it was damaged or scratched. When he was satisfied, Alex headed out of his room to the Dining Room.

When he arrived, breakfast was already laid out, and although it was still hot, he was sure - and found out quickly after he sat down - that his father was on his second plate of food. There was eggs, sausage, and bacon, and Alex took a plateful with grace, eating slowly and making sure to taste the food. But one thing came to mind as he scanned the room: the new girl wasn't there eating. His plate was quickly cleaned off of food, and he grabbed a second, filling it up like his was, before excusing himself. He took the plate downstairs, knocking on her bedroom door. "Hello? Breakfast."
 
She opened her eyes and looked at the door before sitting up her hair in a curly mess, she had taken advantage of the bath water and cleaned herself up to were her red hair to show almost black from the soot and grim, she rubbed her eyes before gasping and realizing she was naked, she pulled the blankets up around her and looked around for her clothes " don't come in!" she called out and scrambled to get out of bed and ended up falling to the floor in a heap of sheets and blankets, creating a loud thud that sounded painful, she popped her head out and crawled to her wardrobe finding large clothes that hid her figure and moved to the door opening it slightly and extending her arm out to where he couldn't see her " im sorry i slept late but i was so tired.... can you hand me the plate please?" she asked from behind the door and closed her eyes hoping her wouldn't see her.
 
He heard her yell out for him not to come in, followed by a loud thud which he could only assume was her falling out of bed. He snickered silently to himself, a smirk appearing on his face. So she must sleep like he does. If he was sneaky, he could probably see her figure with less in the way. Hell, if he was lucky, he may just be able to get more... intimate with her. But that was only slightly dashed as she opened the door only a crack, her hand snaking out as she asked for the plate of food. Man, she had some nostrils on her. "Sorry, I just can't give this to you. Either way, I was hoping to have a word with you while you ate."
 
She blinked slightly and leaned her head against the door " and why can't you give this to me?" she said letting her hand drop slightly to rest on the knob of the door as she stood there hidden from his few of her, there was a reason she did this, she wanted to be taken seriously for her work and not just seen as every other delicate woman that roamed around, she had blister scars on her hands and another scar somewhere else that was always hidden. "and what did you want to talk to me about your grace?"
 
She was trying to fight him off, but that wasn't going to happen. Not in her lifetime, not in his lifetime. "I would rather speak of it with you once you are fed. or at least, eating." His hand didn't let go of the food, held it out of her reach, but just by the smallest margin. "Get dressed. I'll come in in a minute."
 
She frowned and cursed in her mind, " i am dressed... you just can't see me " this sounded so childish, she looked to the ground and tapped her foot lightly " im afraid that men will not take me seriously for my work if they saw me cleaned up" she confessed and closed her eyes slightly and pulling her hand back in with her and turned her back to the door and walking away from it crossing her arms slightly as she stood tall by the window.
 
"Nonsense!" He said, seeing her hand pull back. "After what I have seen of your work, I doubt it." He opened the door and pushed through, noticing that there was no resistance. By now, she was already at the window. He moved to a side table, putting her plate down and sitting nearby. "Now come eat. I have a request for you."
 
She pursed her lips and sighed turning to him and coming over sitting down on the bed and pulled her legs up to sit indian style before grabbing the plate and looking up at him with those light green eyes of hers,"what request is that?" she was quite attractive without the dirt and grim from the shop on her face and body, she had light skin and almond shaped eyes, her hair was red and apparently curly from how it stuck out on her head, she had full lips and a narrow nose, she was almost sweet looking but then turned her head down to look at the food that was on her plate, she couldn't eat all of it but she was hungry, she took the fork gently and dipped it into the sausage and took a bite chewing slowly to savor the taste.

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She was truly stunning, the way that she moved like a whisper along the ground, sitting down eloquently for someone that did a man's work. She was taking rather small bites, daintily taking pieces of egg and sausage, though he didn't doubt that she was ravished with hunger by now. But she was eating, and that was good. He moved closer, sitting on her bed, but away from her by at least a few feet. She was a delight to drink in with his eyes, but he thought that it wasn't fully proper for him to be there at all.

"I have a few things, actually. But to start, I have a request for a sword to match that armor that you made me."
 
She did look at him and continued to eat quietly listening to him and nodding slowly when he asked for a sword, she swallowed her food and turned her eyes up at him " alright what kind of sword would you want... great sword... short sword" she asked and sat up holding her plate gently as she watched him waiting for an answer from him.
 
Well, that was easy enough. "Longsword." He said simply, offering her a small smile. "With some obsidian in the hilt jewel." He stood, but didn't move away, turning to face her. "Another thing: My father is holding a ball today for most of the Lords of the area, and I am without a escort. I was hoping that you would give me the honor for this?"
 
She looked at him and blinked " as much as i am flattered your grace, i do not think that to be appropriate for your status, i am a blacksmith and will always be one " she stood easily and set her food down on the table, she looked at him now before moving past him " i will have your sword ready within the week, and i will request your Jewels when i am ready for them " she stood a few feet from him and bowed her head in respect before moving through the door towards her shop walking around and gathering the materials for him sword.
 
Alexander followed her out of her room. It was obvious that he would not give up so easily on this. "Don't give me such a open answer such as 'station' or 'status.'" He retorted, eventually catching up to her, grabbing her lightly by the arm and turning her around. "I highly doubt that anyone would recognize you, and even if they do, you have amnesty in my presence. Nobody would lay a finger on you if it was by my grace that you were there." He took her hand lightly and kissed the back gently, his eyes never straying from hers, trying to hold some sort of allurement to get her to agree with him. "And after making such a wonderful piece of equipment, you need to take a break."
 
She turned her eyes up at him and stayed where she was watching him, he didn't hold that allurement that he had before, she was over it and now she pulled her rough hand back and tilted her head up at him " you can take any woman you want your grace, and what would people think if they found out i was a worker, they can tell by my rough skin and hands... and not to mention something else... but thats not the point, the point is that i don't belong in your society i will be shunned your father doesn't like me, he just likes what i do."
 
"It is not my father that you should worry about." He said, his eyes narrowing as she once again denied her. Had he been any other man, she wouldn't be alive at the moment to speak again. "The old coot won't life a finger against me as his Heir. I practically run the castle as it is. You should have taken the honor as it was." He left her to stand bewildered, or however she felt. At the moment, he didn't care. He was seething that someone would have turned him down that way. What a folly on her part.
 
She watched him and stood straight before turning around and rubbing her arms lightly before looking back at the door, she wanted him, but it could never be... maybe a fling but never in her right mind would she ever consider attending a ball, she was a damaged woman and not someone that was greeted into society looking the way she does, she then sighed and rubbed her head before going after him, he had forgotten to give her measurements that she needed, she looked around before seeing him, she called out letting her voice carry slightly " your grace...."
 
He had stormed out in his anger, his face slightly squished as his eyes ere so narrowed in his heated mind. When he heard her voice, thinking that she had changed her mind, he was halfway up the stairs, and he turned, looking much bigger than he was from hi vantage. He slowly stepped down to stand in front of her. "What can I do for you?"

(sorry I took so long and for the shoddy post. Bad weekend, bad week.)
 
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