Forging of a Friendship [Elenora & Elyan]

[Lady Elenora]

Nora hummed happily as she made her way through the lower towns, to the forge. She had heard from one of the maids that Gwen's brother had returned to Camelot-- which was very mysterious according to the maids, but Nora did not care for gossip -- and had opened up the forge once again. And she was pleased for it was her father's 50th birthday and she wanted to have something special made for him. Though she has never met Elyan; his late father was a great blacksmith and while he was not the Royal Blacksmith, her father had commissioned many swords from him and found them to be quite extraordinary. So she figured that since Elyan was Tom's son he must of inherited his father's talent.

Eventually she made it to the forge -- she did get caught up with looking at all the stalls as it was market day -- and she peeked under the roof to see if he was there. He was, as it turns out and Nora sighed a little -- thankful he was there. He was by the fire, stoking some metal into the flames so he could meld it into a sword Nora supposed, she knew nothing about making swords. Or wielding them for that matter.

"Ahem..." Nora muttered out politely in hopes of getting his attention -- which it did. He turned around and Nora could see a strong resemblance between him and his sister Gwen. Especially in the eyes.

"Sorry to interrupt you, Elyan. My name is Lady Elenora and I was hoping that I could commission you to make a gift for my father's Birthday." She smiled warmly at him, before she continued, "I heard that you had opened up the forge once again and that you are very talented." Nora added on the end because she felt a little nervous approaching someone out of the blue to make her a gift for her father. Not only that, but she had never met him, though she knew his sister a little. So she felt the need to explain why she was there.

Time line: During series 3, some time after episode 3x07.
Time of Day/Setting: Mid morning/early afternoon - Elyan's forge. Might move around a bit (maybe )
Tag: Elyan

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[cherryblossom131]

Elyan was in his father's forge, or rather his forge now. It would no doubt take a while for him to get used to that. It was odd for him to use the tools that were once used by his father, it almost felt wrong somehow, like he had no right. But what better way to celebrate the memory of his father than open his forge up once again? His sister had been happy with the idea of him opening up the forge again, probably because no one had stepped foot in it since his father's death. A time he should have been there for her and helped her through. Their relationship had been rather tense lately and it showed no sign of getting better. He sighed; he should probably just be patient, although patience was not something Elyan was ever really good at.

He'd been getting quite a lot of customers since he opened up the forge, from people who used to go to his father. But at the moment he was planning for the blunt metal in his hands to be a sword for the prince. It would be a gift or more like a thank you for saving my life. He knew it wasn't nearly enough to thank him for what he did, but it was a start. He put the metal in the flames to make it more malleable so that Elyan could mould it into the shape he wanted. It would still take a few more days before it was ready and sharp.

Hearing a cough behind him he turned around, his attention off the sword in the flames for the moment. He listened intently as she introduced herself and smiled back at her. She already knew his name it seemed. "I heard that you had opened up the forge once again and that you are very talented." He chuckled lightly at her last comment. "Well I wouldn't say very talented," he said modestly. "But I am pretty good," he jested and smiled back at her. He was still nowhere near as good as his father though and he probably never would be.

"I would of course love to make the gift for your father." It would be his honour. "What were you planning on this gift to be exactly?" A sword, a dagger, or maybe something that was not a weapon. He was still curious to how she knew about him, but then he supposed news of his return to his sister would be all around Camelot by now. But the Lady Elenora was obviously a noble, so he wondered how the news might have gotten to her. After his revelation of how close his sister had gotten to the prince, he supposed it wasn't such an outrageous thought after all.

[Lady Elenora]

Elyan chuckled lightly at her last comment. "Well I wouldn't say very talented," he told her modestly, then he jested, "But I am pretty good," and smiled back at her.

"I'm sure you are," Nora returned his humor and laughed at his response. He surely had a sense of humor which was good. Nothing like having a good sense of humor to lighten up the place. In that respect he reminded her of her sister Anne, who always managed to make her smile and laugh when she was in foul mood -- which was not often mind you. "I would of course love to make the gift for your father." Nora smiled brightly at him, "Thank you! I truly appreciate it." She told him sincerely. Then he asked her the most important question, "What were you planning on this gift to be exactly?"

"Well, my father is a retired knight so I did think of getting him a sword. And then I realized he already has many swords at home on display, so he does not need another sword. So I was hoping that instead you could possibly make him a dagger or something along those lines?" Nora asked curiously, wanting Elyan's creative input because quite honestly when it came to swords, daggers and anything along those lines she had no idea. Which was exactly why she had come here in the first place. She had seen a sword that he had made Sir John (one of her father's old friends) and the design on the hilt was truly exquisite and nothing like she had ever seen before. "Quite possibly with a similar design on Sir John's sword," Nora quickly added so that Elyan knew what type of detail she wanted on her gift. Though she had no idea what kind of gift it was going to be as of yet.

[cherryblossom131]

He listened to her explain what she wanted for her father, about how she did not want a sword but rather a dagger. He noticed the way she finished her explanation and realised she wanted his input. He nodded with a smile, reassuring her. A dagger was an excellent choice for a gift in his opinion, especially for a retired knight. "A wise choice, my lady." And a popular one, it seemed as well, since quite a lot of the people that had come to him had asked for daggers too.

"Quite possibly with a similar design on Sir John's sword," Ah Sir John, he'd been one of the first to come to the forge after it opened. He'd been a regular customer to his father, and was a kind man. Which is why he'd worked particularly hard on the knights sword. The design was something he'd learnt from an old man from the east he'd said, in a village somewhere in the north of the land; it had been at least two years so he couldn't really remember where. But the design had been unlike anything he'd seen before and so he'd been eager to learn and eventually use it in his forgery. "Maybe we could try something a little different, but with the same sort of style." The design on Sir John's sword had only been one of the patterns he'd been taught. "What is your father's name?" He already had a small idea brewing in his mind.

"I also wanted to ask," he began. "How exactly did you know who I was?" He did not say it in an accusatory tone, he was just genuinely curious. "Has news of my return really reached the nobles of the castle?" He jested and chuckled lightly. He didn't really believe that news of a commoner blacksmith coming back to Camelot would be the stuff of gossip among the nobles in court. He wondered if he might be prying a little too much, after all he'd only just met her and she was his customer. But he couldn't help his curiosity, which he knew would be the death of him someday. He sighed inwardly remembering his father saying those words to him.

[Lady Elenora]

Nora was glad when Elyan nodded and smiled at her suggestion. Even more so when he told her, "A wise choice, my lady." Especially since she knew nothing when it came to weaponry. She smiled back up him. Then he went on on to explain to her that maybe that could try a something a little different to Sir John's design, but with a similar sort of style, which Nora nodded and agreed to. She was already very much impressed with his creativeness.

"What is your father's name?" He asked her and Nora could see that he had ideas forming in his head already -- further impressing her. "My Father is Sir Anthony," Nora responded eagerly, intrigued to find out what he had in mind for her father's gift.

Elyan then looked at Nora as he began talking, his face looking slightly nervous, "I also wanted to ask, how exactly did you know who I was?" Though Nora was at first afraid that he was angry with her for knowing his name, he did not say it in an accusatory tone, rather he was just genuinely curious. "Has news of my return really reached the nobles of the castle?"

"Well, do not tell anyone for I'm not known for engaging in gossip, but I overhead some of the maids talking about your sister and how you had returned to Camelot. And then Sir John, who is a great friend of my family, came to me and showed me his sword. And well I was utterly impressed with it that I knew that there was no one else I could go to to make my father's gift." Nora told him enthusiastically, for she was excited to have found someone has talented as Elyan, even if he did not think so.

Nora could not stop herself from asking, her mind full of curiosity, "So what do yuu have in mind for him?" Then she smiled up at him brightly, eager to hear his thoughts.

[cherryblossom131]

"My Father is Sir Anthony," A good name. It wasn't too short nor too long, perfect. He could already picture the pattern he was planning to put on the handle and on the blade itself. It would be a bit tricky but Elyan was more than up for the challenge. He was thinking of engraving her father's name into the blade with the intricate patterns to border it. He did not want it to be overly complicated, in this case he was thinking simple was best; simple but with a silent beauty. It was truly an art in his eyes. It also kept his mind off things that he'd rather not think about. He felt like he could just be in his own world where the only thing he'd have to concentrate on was moulding the metal in the hot coals into a blade.

He smiled as he listened to her explain how she'd heard of him and his eyes perked up when she mentioned his sister. Did she know her then? He looked down with a smile on his face when Elenora complimented him once again on Sir John's sword. It had, if he had to admit, been one of his best pieces of work. "Well I must say I'm quite honoured that you would choose to come to me, and I will do all I can to make the dagger perfect for your father's gift." He did feel a little flattered that she would choose to come to him rather than the royal blacksmith. It made him feel less guilty about taking over his father's forge. "So what do you have in mind for him?" He saw how eagerly she asked the question, but instead of telling her he had another idea in mind. "If you don't mind my lady, I think I might just leave it as a surprise." He couldn't help the grin that appeared on his face then. He put the cloth that had been in his hands down on the table behind him. "You mentioned my sister before," he began hesitantly. "Do you know her?" It would be nice to know that his sister had many friends. Although with her caring nature, everyone probably loved her.

[Lady Elenora]

"Well I must say I'm quite honoured that you would choose to come to me, and I will do all I can to make the dagger perfect for your father's gift." Nora could tell that Elyan was genuinely flattered that she would choose to come to him to make her father's gift rather than the Royal Blacksmith. Nora returned Elyan's warm smile with her own, "I'm sure you will." She told him confident in his talent to make her father a gift that he will always treasure for many years to come.

Nora could not help the huge giggle that escaped her when he told her it would be a surprise, "Well then I look forward to the day when you show it to me." She then noticed Elyan placing the cloth that was in his hands down on the table behind him before he began to speak hesitantly that she had mentioned that she knew his sister.

"Do you know her?" He finally asked her, curiously and Nora could understood for she heard that Elyan had been away for a number of years and most likely wanted to know more about his sister. Nora could understand this very well for she was the same with her younger sister.

"Yes I know her a little," Nora began to explain, "Gwen has served me on a few occasions when my own maid has been otherwise occupied when my family have stayed at the castle. I found her to have a very gentle, caring soul." Nora could not help but compliment his sister though she did not know her very well. But from the time she spent with her when she served her she could see how gentle-hearted she was. There was just a warm about her that you felt whenever she was around, which Nora felt here too.

[cherryblossom131]

"Yes I know her a little," He listened as she continued to explain. He smiled at her last words. "That does sound like Gwen." Although, he hadn't been there for her for four years so how on Earth should he know. She could have changed as far as he knew. He didn't know when the heavy guilt that weighed down on him would cease. But how could it, he'd been a terrible brother. He couldn't just say sorry and then everything would be fine like he'd never ran away and abandoned his family. When she had needed him most he hadn't been there. He wasn't really sure what to do or how to fix it. He didn't even know if he could fix it.

He was hesitant again before he asked his next question. "Is she...well when you see her does she look...happy?" He wanted to know, he needed to know that his sister had been alright while he was gone. He didn't know why he was asking a complete stranger but whenever he asked Gwen she would put on a smile and just say yes, just to make him happy which isn't what he wanted. She had lost so much and lived alone for a long time while he had been miles away. She's the strongest person he knew but even her heart could only take so much. He didn't know everything that had happened in Camelot while he was away but from what he'd heard it was a wonder the city hadn't been ravaged by devastation.

[Lady Elenora]

Nora noticed him smiling at her last words,"That does sound like Gwen." She nodded her head in perfect agreement. Then she saw his expression change and Nora had a feeling that it had to do with the fact that he had left Camelot for a few years abandoning his father and sister -- according to the maids that worked in the castle. And Nora knew he obviously felt guilty at having done so. Especially when their father had died and Gwen was left alone. Nora knew what it was like to lose a parent, but at least she had her father and sister, where as Gwen had no one. So she could understand why Elyan would be feeling guilty but did not comment on it for it felt out of place for her to do so.

Well that was at least before he asked her a little hesitantly, "Is she...well when you see her does she look...happy?" Nora found that a hard question to answer as she did not live in Camelot full-time or spend much time with Gwen (as she was a servant and she was a noblewoman), so she tried the best she could to give him a answer that was honest but would not make him feel so bad. "Honestly, I do not live in the castle full-time, but whenever I see her she always looks happy with her life. Though, of course we all have our moments when we are not so happy," She told him honestly, before adding, "But overall your sister always seems to make the best of everything." Nora hoped that what she said was alright and did not make him feel so bad. She knew that nothing anyone could say could ease his guilt for leaving his family, but she hoped that maybe after some time he would feel less guilty and make the best of his life here.

Nora looked up at him a little unsure if she had a right to ask this question, but feeling like she should -- for some unknown reason, "How are things with your sister since you have returned to Camelot?" Nora asked him gently, before she added, "If you don't mind me asking that is."

[cherryblossom131]

He felt a little relieved when he heard Elenora's answer. Gwen was always naturally optomistic and just overall strong. It was that strength that Elyan couldn't help but be glad of. It was probably what helped her through the years where he failed to be there for her. Only Gwen could wake up every morning with a smile on her face despite everything she had gone through. "But overall you sister always seems to make the best of everything." He smiled at Elenora as she once again described the Gwen he knew. "She always has and I'm very glad of it." Gwen had never really envied people who were better off; she'd always been grateful for everything she had. She'd often scolded Elyan in their youth when he hadn't had quite the same train of thought; she always tried to keep him in line. He still felt the guilt of leaving her heavy in his heart, but at least she hadn't fallen apart or been completely miserable in his four year absence. That was definitely something, he guessed.

Elyan tried to pull himself from his thoughts. He was with a customer after all, but he'd been caught slightly off guard by her question. "No I don't mind," he began. He thought to himself for a moment, how had things been with Gwen. A little tense to say the least. He'd settled in Camelot somewhat but at their home things were still a little strained. He had yet to talk to her, really talk to her properly to release the tension that had built in their relationship since he'd come back. He was too afraid that it would just make things worse and just turn into an argument that he really didn't want to have. "Umm, it's a little strained now but I think it'll get better." He paused for a moment. "I hope it'll get better. Quite frankly I'm not quite sure." It was still early days but whenever they were in a room together and he'd find something that belonged to his father no matter how small and insignificant he'd see the pain on his sisters' face. Even when she tried to hide it. He sighed to himself, he wasn't sure what he was supposed to do or how he could help when he knew that if he tried he'd surely just make everything worse. It seemed it was what he was good at.

[Lady Elenora]

Nora watched Elyan's face as she talked about his sister and she knew that her words were having a positive affect on him and she was glad. He smiled at her as she described Gwen and agreed, "She always has and I'm very glad of it." Nora smiled back at him and nodded her head, "I imagine that she was always like that. Grateful with anything and that is a truly commendable trait."

She could tell that he had been caught a little off guard with her question and Nora began to feel very guilty for asking such a personal question of him. Since he had only just met her. But she was quickly reassured when he told her it was fine for her to ask such a question. "Umm, it's a little strained now but I think it'll get better." He paused for a moment. "I hope it'll get better. Quite frankly I'm not quite sure."

Nora heard the sadness in his voice and could understand why his relationship with his sister would be strained. Nora touched his arm gently, "Well give it some time. I'm sure that while your sister may still be angry with you, it will settle. For a sister's love holds steady and fast even when it does not seem that way. Believe me I know this very well." Nora tried to reassure him, for she only knew too well what it was like having a sibling. Though, they never had the issues like Elyan and Gwen, she did have her moments with her sister when she was so stubborn and Nora thought that they would never speak to each other again. But eventually they did and put water under the bridge, for nothing was worth losing her sister over.

[cherryblossom131]

Elyan wasn't sure why he was telling Elenora so much. But he just felt like he trusted her. Elyan liked to think that he was a good judge of character, and Elenora seemed like a very kind and caring person, so he didn't have any quarrels with her asking personal questions. She seemed genuinely nice, which wasn't always the case with nobles, he'd seen. It was actually quite refreshing to see the change. He'd had experiences with nobles who thought nothing more of him than a lowly commoner. He smiled at the thought that not all nobles were like that. He'd already seen that Arthur wasn't since he'd risked his life to save him, although he wasn't sure how much of that was for him or for his sister Gwen, he smiled inwardly. He was still extremely grateful no matter what the reason was. He owed Arthur a great debt that he would find a way to repay.

He smiled warmly at Elenora when she attempted to comfort him about his sister. She was so sincere with her words, Elyan couldn't help but smile. "Thank you," he said sincerely. "I guess I should just be patient then?" He valued her words now. "It was never a strong point of mine," he added, chuckling. He'd never really been awfully good at staying patient. However, in this case if it meant mending the relationship between him and his sister, he could make an exception. "I'm just not sure what to say to her sometimes, should I broach the subject or wait for her to?" He wasn't asking Elenora directly, more to himself. He also didn't mean to dump so much of his personal problems out in the open in front of someone he'd only just met. He thought about her last words for a moment. "Do you have a sister?"

[Lady Elenora]

Elyan smiled warmly at Nora as she tried to comfort him about his sister. "Thank you," he said to her sincerely and Nora smiled. "I guess I should just be patient then?" He asked and Nora was going to answer him, until he went on. "It was never a strong point of mine," he added, chuckling and Nora giggled too. She decided to let him speak some more till he felt comfortable and give advice accordingly.

That didn't turn out to be too long as he asked her, "I'm just not sure what to say to her sometimes, should I broach the subject or wait for her to?"
"Um" Nora though for a few seconds before she continued, "It is a difficult to know what to do and say in these situations. It depends on your sister and her temperament. You could wait a little till she broaches it, and if not, give her time and maybe bring it up gently." Nora sighed a little as family issues are always difficult to handle. Especially issues like Elyan and his sister had. There was never one course of action. Sometimes it needed a few solutions to fix it and even then it might still never be as it was before. For you can ever have what you had in the past, but something different. Something better and Nora hoped that this would be the case with Elyan and his sister.

"Do you have a sister?" Elayn asked her and Nora laughed, "Yes I do indeed. Her name is Anne and she is 5 years younger than me. But our mother died not long after she was born, so I pretty much raised her with the help of father and the maids and nurses. It was hard raising her for she very much has boisterous personality, meaning she was always getting into many scrapes." Nora stopped as she realized that talking about it was getting her a little upset. They rarely talked about the effect her mother's death had on the family. They instead focused on the positives.