Re: A Long Awaited Vacation - 119 4A

by **Kara Winters** Mon Sep 07, 2015 9:28 pm

"I remember being told that years ago when Haven first started," Donovan commented softly, "About Aliya and Amdir's talent with horses. It's always been a joy to ride horses from here."

Though he had always found these horses slightly bigger than the ones he was use to from his family's stables.

"Ride? Dadee ride a horse?" Hope pointed to the big creatures.

She didn't seem to believe him because they were so huge and how would he get on?

by **Nara-pyon** Mon Sep 07, 2015 9:48 pm

Elrohir chuckled. "Many people ride horses," he told Hope. "Big people, small people - even children as small as you, though usually they're with their parents."

It took a while, but eventually they made it to where a few of the horses were standing together. Elrohir approached them first and caught one of them by the reins. Rather than having the others join him and risk spooking the other horses it was with, he led the horse over to where the others were waiting.

"Here," he told the twins, stopping just in front of them. "You can pet their faces, just watch out for their eyes. And not too soft. They don't like soft touches."

by **Kara Winters** Tue Sep 08, 2015 11:27 pm

The twins didn't even know it was possible to go too soft, often they were too rough (especially around cats). Deciding the neck looked like a good place to pet, the two started to pet there.

"Soft orsey," Hope smiled at it as she spoke softly.

She would like to get on one of these big creatures.

"Softer than Wish?" Kara asked.

Faith shook her head, and replied certainly, "Wish softer!"

by **Nara-pyon** Tue Sep 08, 2015 11:35 pm

Elrohir chuckled. He let the girls pet the horses a bit longer before he and Haradhel led them all back out of the pasture and towards the field that was behind the houses - since they were already on that side of the houses anyways. He explained to them just how large the fields had gotten - huge, by any standard - though they were covered in snow; and then he and Haradhel brought them further south, around the houses. There, in two neat rows as if on either side of a street, were buildings that were used for trades rather than for living in.

"We have almost everything we need here," Elrohir explained as they approached. "Blacksmith, tanner, butcher, tailor ... you name it. We have to go to the city for some things, like candles or ... well, things we can't make ourselves here, at least not yet - and we send south for things like sugar. But we're pretty independent now."

by **Kara Winters** Wed Sep 09, 2015 8:24 pm

"So really, nearly anything can be made here and what gets sent for is area specific," Donovan murmured.

He was quite impressed, even though his children had always figured that would happen.

"It's all very amazing," Kara admitted, "Hard to imagine this is the same place. So things here are brought in goods and services?"

Since this place didn't exchange money when it started. People earned wages, but rarely used them unless they wanted something from the city.

by **Nara-pyon** Wed Sep 09, 2015 8:39 pm

"Not bought, just traded or given," Elrohir explained. "For example, Gwaethir does a lot of the hunting, but he pretty much insists on doing everything for himself - he does his own tanning, makes his own clothes, cares for his own weapons ... people who have a certain skillset provide for those who need it, and it just goes around that way. There's no keeping tabs or owing anyone anything."

Despite the fact that it was winter and that it was snowing, the blacksmith was outside, working at an outdoor forge. The constant, rhythmic clanging of his hammer led the group towards him. He wore long sleeves, but no cloak to protect him against the cold. Then again, the fire of his forge was quite enough to keep him warm, especially as he worked. His blond hair was pulled back in a low ponytail, and through his shirt, his muscles rippled with each blow of his hammer.

by **Kara Winters** Wed Sep 09, 2015 10:04 pm

The clanging might have been a bit too much for the girls, because both of them hide behind their parents. It was quite noisy to them.

"Are you scared?" Donovan asked.

He found he could never predict what young children were afraid of. Faith and Hope, being his and Kara's daughters had no fear of most animals, floating objects, insects, sharp objects and the occasional explosion from upstairs. They were however, afraid of moths, and being sucked down the bathtub drain.

by **Nara-pyon** Wed Sep 09, 2015 10:12 pm

"There's nothing to be scared of," Haradhel assured the girls. "It's loud, certainly, but he's just making shoes for the horses."

She waved to the man, who stopped his hammering to wave back.

by **Kara Winters** Thu Sep 10, 2015 9:56 pm

Kara waved and Donovan nodded in turn. Though the girls were still hiding, so Donovan tried to nudge them from where they were hiding.

"Just wave, it's fine."

He wondered if it was more than the noise that was bothering them.

by **Nara-pyon** Thu Sep 10, 2015 10:28 pm

"Are they typically shy?" Haradhel asked as Elrohir hurried ahead to talk to the blacksmith. "They certainly didn't seem shy in the house."

Fenian - the blacksmith - had noticed Elrohir approaching him quickly, and had put his hammer down, so the noise hadn't started up again, and didn't look like it was going to for the moment.

by **Kara Winters** Fri Sep 11, 2015 11:15 pm

"I don't think they're shy..." Donovan replied slowly watching them, "They've never seen a blacksmith before... and I think the noise might be bothering them...?"

He somewhat phrased it like a question because it wasn't sure. Watching the twins, he noted that they weren't watching the blacksmith but his hammer. So maybe they didn't like the noise, or maybe they didn't like the hammer. He didn't know how toddlers thought.

by **Nara-pyon** Fri Sep 11, 2015 11:29 pm

Haradhel nodded thoughtfully. "Well," she murmured, "it looks like he's not going to be starting up again anytime soon."

Even as she spoke, Elrohir started back towards them, and the blacksmith wiped his hands on his apron before turning around and fiddling with his forge so that the fire grew much smaller, less hot.

"He's going to let it be until we're finished our tour," Elrohir told the others as he approached them again. He smiled at the twins. "Better now?"

by **Kara Winters** Fri Sep 11, 2015 11:42 pm

The twins blinked, now that the blacksmith wasn't banging with that huge hammer it (and him by extension) didn't seem so frightening. They nodded together slowly. It looked like Hope wanted to say something and took a breath to do so, but then stopped. It was Faith to edged out from behind her father and towards the blacksmith.

Not too close, there was heat coming from there and they weren't allowed near the stoves, or fireplaces so it must be same thing.

She took a deep breath and exclaimed, "Thank you!"

Before running back to her father like her life depended on it.

by **Nara-pyon** Sat Sep 12, 2015 12:45 pm

The blacksmith smiled and chuckled softly to himself before waving once more to the group and calling out a warm, "You're quite welcome."

He had a nice, gentle voice, different from what his muscular and rugged appearance might have suggested.

Elrohir smiled at the girls. "Would you like to meet him?" he asked them. "He's quite nice, really."

by **Kara Winters** Sat Sep 12, 2015 10:57 pm

It was a very different voice than what the twins might have expected (not that they knew what to expect).

They looked at each other, as if to say they would if the other would too. Finally they both nodded at Elrohir.

"Okay," Hope replied softly.

by **Nara-pyon** Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:02 pm

Elrohir smiled at the girls, then at Haradhel, and the two of them led Donovan and Kara and the twins towards the blacksmith. He was now in the process of putting things away, but wen the group approached he stopped to talk to them.

Elrohir introduced the visitors, then added, "And this is Fenian, our blacksmith. He cares for our weapons, replaces them when necessary, and does all the metalwork - for furniture, building, horseshoes, carts ... everything."

The blond-haired man smiled and bowed his head modestly. "It's an honour to work in a place like this," he said sincerely.

by **Kara Winters** Mon Sep 14, 2015 11:30 pm

The twins blinked up at him, not quite understanding what he meant by that.

"I'm glad you have found a place here," Donovan grinned, "I don't think I would have imagined all of this several years ago."

"Granted that wasn't what was on your mind several years ago," Kara murmured to her husband.

Donovan coughed, "Yes, that too... at any rate, it is good to meet you Fenian. I'm Donovan, this is my wife Kara, and these are our daughters, Hope and Faith."

He paused and then pointed to the girl clinging to Kara.

"That's Hope," and then he pointed to the other child, "That's Faith."

by **Nara-pyon** Mon Sep 14, 2015 11:47 pm

Fenian smiled warmly. "Pleasure to meet you. I hope you enjoy your time here. If there's anything I can help you with, you just let me know."

"Your family at home?" Elrohir asked the man.

Fenian nodded. "Kids need their lessons, after all," he murmured with a smile.

by **Kara Winters** Tue Sep 15, 2015 10:26 pm

While Kara and Donovan were out, Miyu and Toshiro were off visiting Aragost again. Especially knowing that he would be leaving after they left.

Once they had finished breakfast they went over to where Aragost was staying was. While waiting for Aragost to open the door, Miyu couldn't help but think it was kind of sad, Lin wouldn't know until she got back from her trip.

by **Nara-pyon** Tue Sep 15, 2015 10:39 pm

It didn't take long at all for Aragost to answer the door. He smiled when he saw the two waiting for him.

"Good morning," he said in his calm, gentle voice. "Come in. I hope you rested well, I know it's often difficult to sleep in a bed that isn't yours."

by **Kara Winters** Tue Sep 15, 2015 11:11 pm

"Yes, it took a while but we did," Miyu assured him.

Toshiro shrugged but nodded along with Miyu's comment all the same. That was kind of true anyways.

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