Completed [Sultros Blades] Steeling {Ethan}

[Hadyn Skellig]

A feeble smile touched her lips as he voiced his concern. Waiting he settled himself the weaponsmith stared at her hands folded carefully in her lap. The last thing Hadyn Skellig ever did was disclose her feelings and she wasn't terribly thrilled at the prospect of explaining anything, even if it was to sweet Ethan. Allowing the moments to pass between them in silence the woman's eyes rose as she prepared to speak.

"Baby's fine, far's I can tell," she assured him. "Aside from turnin' me into the most captious of eaters, he's not done much 'cept grow. No. I think you deserve some... light shed on this situation."

It was a serious topic - as such she found the necessity to adopt a circumspect tone, the accent slipping in and out of her words with more care than usual. Whenever Liam had something of a dire matter to talk about he almost entirely lost his accent, becoming somber and well spoken, as if he'd just left the university in Zeltiva. For her part Hadyn could never speak as lucidly or poignantly as her brother but a certain weight was placed in both voice and words.

"The baby's father is vexed with responsibilities of his own. He has a young child from 'nother relationship who has recently come under his care. Not to mention the duties he must undertake as a Knight-in-trainin'."

Hadyn paused. She was loathe to admit Orion was a squire, the thought conjured in most folks' minds that of a young boy or capricious teenager. She couldn't decide which was more awkward - that Orion was a squire or that he was near thirty. But she continued on.

"Came to the Knights later than most, he did. He's 'round our age I suspect. Neither of us are particularly keen on the other. Less so now," this comment was muttered more for her than Ethan. "I can't fault him for bein' indecisive. But I don't honestly know where he stands on the matter. Orion's not the most garrulous of men."

Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear the brunette turned her gaze to Ethan - addressing him directly. She hoped her words would help him understand, at least partially, why she was so uncertain. As much as she would love to give up and allow herself to entertain the emotions roiling in her heart she had to balance Orion herself and Ethan. He'd been so visibly distraught to learn the baby belonged to another man. And although he pledged to help her child it was clear he harbored envy.

"Ethan, I appreciate everythin' you've done. You've gone above an' beyond for us. An' I really don't know how to thank you. I've no talent in expressing my emotions - you know this. But just... thank you. I don't mean to shut you out or leave you confused. Most of the time I can barely tolerate m'own doubt. Must be a bitch from your end."

Hadyn cracked a small smile, unsure of how he'd respond. She hadn't meant to name Orion as the father but seeing as the damage was done she hoped Ethan either didn't know of him or wasn't aware of his reputation.

[Ethan Ironhorse]

Ethan’s concern expression deepen as Hadyn took the moment to collect her thoughts. There is something wrong with the baby?! Oh what’s wrong, how much is a Rak’keli healer charge these days? Is this a sign that I did something wrong? Please, whatever I did wrong I will make right, I will do my best to balance the scales, please don’t punish this child. Ethan’s stomach started twisting it’s self in knots trying to think what he did wrong or which God or Goddess he offended. The worry grew till Hadyn finally spoke that as far as she could tell the baby was fine. Ethan let out a breath of relief, why in the word was Hadyn pausing, in the brief time they had reconnect she seemed to fire responses and crack her wit over his head. Deserved some light on the situation? Why? Ethan had never really demanded an explanation about how she got pregnant in the first place. In fact, Ethan remembered their night of lust and knew in detail how such a thing could happen. Additionally, Hadyn had told Ethan out of respect that she was pregnant and that was all Ethan needed to know. Of course, it took several days of intense soul searching and getting rid to the anger before Ethan had finally calm down. All he could figure out was, that it was Hadyn’s child and he didn’t want to stop talking with her or stop being a part of her family whether as brother or something more, so he needed to treat the child like it was family. It had been tough trying to decided that, it had been even tougher as the days continued. When Ethan had commissioned the crib for the child, he had done so in part out of love for family, but also because Hadyn needed it. She was so much more… different then the girl her remembered. At times it was unattractive, as if Ethan was trying to find the girl he knew instead of the woman in front of him, and other times, her dry wit and strong manner enflamed his passion. Ethan was truly finding out who the new Hadyn was; some of it he didn’t like, a lot of it he did. All of a sudden Hadyn went into excuses for the man who got her pregnant. He has another child from a previous relationship, he’s a squire in training, petch why was she making excuses? We all had responsibilities, just because the man was a Squire didn’t mean that he couldn’t have a family, or be there for them. Sure he traveled and at times he would be away for seasons if not years, but if he claimed Hadyn as his wife to be, she could find support from the Knighthood in an instant. The excuse that they weren’t keen on one another was just that an excuse, the man could do things to make sure that Hadyn wasn’t left out in the cold. Then she dropped sword, Orion?! Orion Michaels?! Ethan’s sat shock still, his frame straight in surprise, his cheek slightly twitching. Hadyn, then said something else that only served to confuse Ethan even more. Thank you? What was she going on about? Was she saying that she didn’t want to see him anymore…. Ethan stood up and began to pace, his body needed to do something as he thought. His right hand went to massaging his forehead and temples. “Orion Michaels…” Ethan muttered under his breath. Ethan could almost swear that the woman in front of him was Krysus trying to murder him through words. The name kept circling in his head Orion Michaels…. Orion Michaels… He got there first, mate, probably gave her a better petching then you. After all, you ain’t man enough to keep her, that’s what she is saying, thank you, but your job here is done, go the petch away. Ethan’s eyes turned towards his sword on the table, some dark thought about killing Orion came to mind, but he kept them in check, by pacing and just keeping his hands busy. Not to mention now when he trained in the pit, Ethan would have a name for the training post, and he certainly would get his work outs in now. Settle down, your upsetting Hadyn. Don’t think about Orion right now, what is done is in the past. So she petched a giant knob of a man, it’s happen before and she doesn’t need to explain why she was with him. Calm…. Calm… Ethan paced for a few more steps. Isikai, to believe in… to trust in… to have faith. Had Hadyn broken his trust, No! He was before me and that’s ok. Do you believe in Hadyn? Petch, the woman drives me crazy, I don’t know… I can believe and trust that she is my friend at the very least. “Hadyn…” Ethan’s voice seemed to break a little, “Maybe tonight, I am overly confused. Are you thanking me, because my friendship isn’t needed anymore? You said that you don’t mean to shut me out or leave me confused, and I trust you, but what are you shutting me out from? I didn’t need to know that you petched… that you had a relationship with that… person. I am here because of you and your child, that’s all I ever needed. I know, we ain’t promised to each other and this has been a bit of emotional battle, but I have kept my distance and tried not to make you feel like this needed to be anything else…” Ethan stopped talking. The one thing he had learned about Hadyn, was that anything dealing with a relationship scared her silly. Ethan pressed his hands to his face. “Hadyn, I am here because you’re a part of my family… For no other reason than because Brody and Liam, would be doing the same things for you that I am. Well… maybe not all the same things… Knowing who… extended our family doesn’t change anything or does it?” There that was the best confrontation about their relationship that Ethan could come up with. It didn’t ask Hadyn to define her feelings, it didn’t ask her to state where she that this was going. Ethan just wanted to know if he was welcomed, and if not then he might have to hunt down Squire Petching Orion himself.

[Hadyn Skellig]

Lhex curse her, he knew Orion. And had clear reservations about the man. She watched him pace trying to sort it out in his mind. It left a bitter taste in her mouth. He was no less confused than she but he seemed to be taking poorly. Hadyn waited patiently for him to finish, demure in her posture though her gaze was sharp.

"I'm thankin' you for all you've done. All you've promised to do for the child and me. You know very well I wouldn't turn you away. Ethan, I can barely understand myself right now. I just... I appreciate you."

She fell silent, feeling strange and uncomfortable. Was she so like Orion that she couldn't express herself truthfully without first throwing up a wall of anger and bullshyke? No. Though she felt the subtle tug of irritation for his reaction, annoyance that he'd even questioned her the brunette maintained strong resolve. It was alright. He had every right to react like this.

"I know I'm not the girl you remember from our youth." Eyris preserve her, she was actually going to tell him. "I ain't good at this, but I'm going to try."

She looked up at him, brown eyes fraught with nerves and fear. Hadyn would rather throw herself over a cliff than divulge her past. To anyone. But she knew it was right. She knew that for Ethan to offer his assistance and love she would have to put something of herself out for him. With a breath, the brunette stood. There was no way she could sit and ramble this off. Maintaining a polite distance from them, the woman began speaking, her voice caught somewhere between guarded and beseeching.

"After Liam died I met a man. To keep this from goin' on all night, I'll be quick. Don't suppose y'knew Liam had a gamblin' problem?" she didn't wait for a response, brow furrowed as she paced. "None of us did. Ate up a healthy servin' of his money. He... got in with a chap who ran him near dry. Wouldn't be surprised if he cheated Liam. Anyhow, after Liam passed this bloke found me. I had no idea what Liam had been up to. Not a damn clue. So this shyke of a man, he romanced me."

She stopped. She hated explaining this. Loathed allowing anyone access to her sordid past that ultimately made her the woman she was. But Ethan needed to know - if only for her own peace of mind. So she continued, hands gesturing as she spoke, eyes on everything but the man before her.

"I was young an' stupid. Whimsical an' wantin' everythin' Liam had with Elis, if you recall his sweetheart. Well I fell right into that trap. Like a damn rabbit he snared me and I was none the wiser. So then." Now the difficult part. "He wanted Cheva's mark. Doggedly. 'Round that time his mate from seasons back tipped me off that somethin' was off. He was a charlatan and thief. I confronted him. Didn't even feign surprise. He was under some ridiculous understandin' that we wealthy. Us!" she pointed emphatically to her chest, eyebrows raised to make a point. "Y'know very well we were scrappin' by with the Miza we made here. No gold mines under our arses, that's for certain. An' I told him just this. He would be inheritin' exactly nothin' if we wed. Didn't sit well with him."

Hadyn stopped herself, chewing on her lower lip before chancing a glance at Ethan. That was all he needed to know. It summed up exactly why she was the way she was. The rest was stuffing - bits he hardly needed to know.

"And that's that. Since him I've kept myself at an arm's length away. An' that's why you've had such a horrid time gettin' much from me - and for that I'm sorry. I'm not tellin' you this for sympathy or pity. Just that y'might understand why I'm not... the same. It's not because of you or anythin' you've done. I'm just... petched up."

[Ethan Ironhorse]

Ethan calmed a little bit, Hadyn wasn’t rejecting him and she seemed to appreciate what he had done. All this was fine by Ethan, it cleared the air, Hadyn knew he was doing his best, she didn’t say that they were together but she didn’t say they weren’t, there might be hope for a relationship as long she didn’t keep dropping emotional swords. Ethan kept himself calm and when Hadyn stood, he felt that he might have pushed too hard. She was keeping her distance was the first thought that went through Ethan’s mind as she started doing her own pacing. Always keeping her distance, it was the one thing that Ethan truly hated, of all the woman that he courted and petched, it was the physical contact that he missed the most. For Hadyn, if she wasn’t drunk or in control, simply holding hands wasn’t even in her mind. For Cheva’s sake! It’s hand holding, we spend bells petching and asking for her hand to hold in simple comfort I might as well be asking for her maidenhead! Then Hadyn went into the past that Ethan had missed. Liam had a gambling debt? Liam?! The man that lectured Ethan on all the trouble that Brody and him got into? Liam, the brother the Brody said walked funny because he had a hot iron up his arse? Ethan couldn’t believe it, gambling debt? Liam had worked hard all his life to provide enough food on the table for his brothers and sister. Why had he turned to gambling? Ethan thought about his own life, before deciding to pursue something more profitable and later the idea of traveling to new cities, he had entertained girls into coming back to his apartment. Which was always an expensive , but then again he had needed it to release himself for his daily toil, Liam probably like the fights or roll of dice better. Of course thinking the Skellig’s had money was like thinking that the Wildlands were just a nice jaunt to the next town. Ethan walked over to Hadyn as she finished her story, he wanted to embrace her, but he kept his distance. “Hadyn, I didn’t know. When Brody left, I kept my distance out of respect for him, then I was away at the outpost when Liam died. By the time I came back, y'were seein' that petchin' thief and I thought that y'desired to be happy. See what I remember of you, is that girl with bows in her hair that I pulled because it was so much softer then m'own. I remembered the smile on y'face, the little dresses that y'mother made y'wear and the way y'use to scuff your shoes when y'didn’t get to do something y'wanted.” Ethan stopped. “I also remember when I was enterin' manhood you were blossomin' into a woman. You seemed untouchable,” Ethan laughed a moment, “by the Gods and Goddesses, I was nothin' more than all legs and arms, with a face that looked like awoke a beehive. I remember watching y'work with Liam, when I would come in from the fields and go to the Ironworks. You seemed so… beautiful and happy with y'brothers. Quite frankly I was intimidated by you. Then one day, Ros made m'do a delivery to Sultros Blades. I walked in through that door and thought petch it all, today is m'chance to see if the Skellig sister was interested in me. We went to the Stallion, drank way too much, I kind of remember singin', and then I remember a night that was intense and amazin'. Then afterwards, when I met with the Skellig sister, I realized she had changed, she wasn’t this untouchable demigoddess I remembered. She was a person; strong, wanting to do everythin' on her own, but still beautiful. Sure, I learned quickly that she didn’t care to hold hands or soft kisses, somethin' that made me confused and angry, but the more time I spent w'her the more I… liked the person underneath. Don’t get m'wrong Hadyn, there are days when I am this close to callin' you a brat and tannin' y'hide for some comment. Yet there are times when I am doin' somethin' and all I can think of is; I wish Hadyn was here, she would have the perfect words for this.” Ethan was quiet, seemed like a night for long talks about feelings, something that he had hoped to get around to with Hadyn, but the truth of it was this wasn’t a night to talk about them, only to talk about a small portion that hopefully led to something more. Ethan opened his arms, he wouldn’t initate the embrace, but he wanted one. “Aye, Hadyn, I know y'are petched up… but for better or worse, I like the person below that tangled mess. I just need time to figure out wha' that woman below that petchin' mess means to me. In the meantime, can I get an embrace as one friend to another?”

[Hadyn Skellig]

She stared at him, brown eyes tracking each movement he made as he spoke and gestured. There was a tug on her heart when he noted how much she'd changed. Hadyn wasn't given to speaking to many people from her past and when she did she avoided the topic of her character entirely. She knew she disappointed people. It wasn't a surprise to hear that Ethan missed the girl he'd known through their childhood. Parts of her missed that little girl.

It quite shocked her, however, to hear he thought so highly of her. As the youngest child she was always competing with her brothers yet always falling short. And though they adored their little sister Hadyn never felt capable enough to step into their shoes. And Ethan well, he was simply Brody's attractive friend. Far too embroiled in the escapades of their foolishness to pay attention to her. He was the untouchable one. But Ethan's description of her was so far from how she ever viewed herself it was astonishing.

Less astonishing, however, was his disappointment in the woman she ended up becoming. There were a few compliments thrown in here and there but the take home message was clear to the woman. He wanted the old Hadyn back. He confused her with his talk of liking her but finding her intolerable. Was it not one or the other? She didn't allow herself to consider what he meant to her. It was a little too much right now. He was there and offering comfort.

Accept it, you stupid girl!

When he approached her, arms opened Hadyn still stared. He wanted her to initiate the embrace. A sharp gaze caught his eyes, the feral animal in her feeling caged and stifled. She knew it was not his intention but there was too much vulnerability in giving a hug. The touch of skin on skin that wasn't purely carnal made her uneasy - as if he were asking for more than she could ever possibly give. And she feared disappointing him again.

Taking a step toward him the brunette gave herself a mental kick before slipping herself into his arms, her own coming around awkwardly to rest on his back. She ignored the immediate urge to bristle and extricate herself, terrified if the embrace lasted any longer she might become trapped. Breathing slowly she let herself feel his warmth, coaching herself silently that he wasn't going to hurt her. Worse, however, was her fear that she would hurt him.

"I'm all kinds of broken," she murmured into his shirt. "I got nothin' but sharp edges an' you're a saint for toleratin' me."

[Ethan Ironhorse]

Softly, Ethan encompassed Hadyn in a hug, “Hadyn, I don’t know about brok’n, but if y’ask me, those sharp edges are starting to get a’bit of a bump.” Ethan smiled, and then he thought about something. Softly, Ethan drew back, breaking the embrace, “I have a’bit of a confession to make as well. I wanted to tell y’ for a while now, but when y’told m’ about the baby, and everythin’ I just kept it and then was afraid that y’would hate m’ for it.” Ethan swallowed, for his throat had become a bit dry. “Hadyn, y’know that I have been tryin’ to do something else then smithin’. I like it, and am good at it, but m’heart isn’t in it anymore. I pick up a hammer and go to work, but my father only talks about m’brother, Alek. So I decided to find somethin’ of m’own, somethin’ that I could make a stake at. I thought Philter was it, but I don’t have the money or skill to set up a shop.” Ethan swallowed, he knew that he was beating around the subject. He should just tell her, just say it, I am working magicks. “So I went to the laboratory where the Symenstrian is at, after explainin’ my dreams, he showed me how to work a defensive magick called Shieldin’.” Ethan swallowed hard, “Before y’ say anythin’, know that I am getting’ better at it, and that I am tryin’ to work it only for good. Y’remember the big Djed storms last year? Well if there had been more people knowin’ Shielding, we might have saved more people and shops.” Ethan felt slightly ashamed at his use of magicks, though Syliras allowed several, and there were even Mage-warriors like Sera Frostfawn, as a whole the general populace didn’t trust it. Ethan thought about how he had been practicing the sword as well. Quietly, he spoke, “I don’t know if anyone told y’either… At the end of summer Ser Maximus was lookin’ for some engravin’ work on his hammer. He must have talked to Ros and sought m’out. I know that I should have directed him here, but I took the job. I didn’t do too bad, Hadyn, and talking about weapons he told m’ that the University of Zeltiva might have some information about them. Well, I have been practicin’ with fists, sword and shield to start preparin’ to go to Zeltiva. Now I will be here trainin’ to survive the trip, but come spring I might seek a merchant wagon train to travel on. If… Things might be different come that time, and I can always stay, I just wanted to go look into some books… maybe try to find Brody.” Ethan said the last bit quietly. He hadn’t heard from the man in quite some time, and he knew that he joined up with a group that was based out of Zeltiva. Besides, now that the man was an uncle, he might want to come back and see his nephew. Ethan wasn’t sure what Hadyn thought, he wanted to let her think about what he said and gather her own thoughts on it. Ethan didn’t think that he would be gone for more than a season if he wanted to get books and train well enough to survive the trip out and back. After all a man without a plan in the wilderness was just considered another dead man.

[Hadyn Skellig]

The embrace was over. Good. She didn't know how much longer she could manage without bristling, which would likely offend him. Curiosity arose when he informed her he had something to confess. But she offered him a supportive smile, taking a step back so he could speak.

Hadyn listened attentively, giving him time to work his way through this. It was obviously difficult for him but she nodded when appropriate and encouraged him on with occasional smiles. An eyebrow rose when he spoke of Shielding. He was quick to qualify his statement, explaining his intent. The comment about Maximus' hammer hardly bothered her. Ethan was a smith of Ironworks. As far as Hadyn was concerned there was no harm in those smiths experimenting with weaponsmithing. In fact she felt it made for a well rounded smith. But she kept silent for Ethan was still talking but she shook her head gently to indicate she wasn't concerned by it. But then he said something that broke her congenial expression. Zeltiva. Brody.

"Leave?" her voice was small, uncharacteristically unsure. For some reason the thought of him going to Zeltiva didn't sit well with her. Perhaps it was the thought of losing a new-found friend. Or perhaps it was because she wanted to join him but didn't have the stones to actually do it. More likely, however, was the prospect of abandonment. Though she was loathe to admit it the heap of emotions Orion Michaels had left her only a few days prior seriously rattled her self worth. He'd petched off and reopened a wound she was far from ready to confront. The thought of Ethan taking off - leaving her just as Brody and Ioan did was distressing.

Pulling further from him she went to sit again. Against her better judgement she'd allowed her distress to show in her expression, however briefly. Seating herself carefully Hadyn waited to respond. All his explanation of magic and whatnot left her mind. She knew it was rude and she ought to be proud of him but she was wrapped up in the idea of him departing. It annoyed her how much it hurt. Looking up at him she forced a smile.

"I'm glad y'found somethin' you enjoy," she stated earnestly. "Magick and the like don't bother me none, long as you're usin' it for a proper purpose. As for Brody," Hadyn paused, hesitating to find the right words. "I don't know if he's still there. Haven't heard much. You know him. If he don't want to be found, it's near impossible to hunt him down."

Hadyn fell silent. She would give anything to see her beloved brothers again. Especially in light of her current situation. Ioan's steadfast comfort, Brody's boisterous attempts to cheer her up. Liam's patient wisdom. Life had been so bleak without them but she pushed on. She knew Ethan - Brody's closest friend, felt his absence as well. In that quiet moment she wondered if they both grieved for the loss of the Skellig boys. Turning her face up to look at him she cast a small smile.

"Think you'll find him?"

[Ethan Ironhorse]

Leaving, the sound of that one word as Hadyn said it, Ethan knew that that was what hurt her the most. Ethan went over to her giving her space on the bench, making sure to stand a few paces off. He knew that if he kept up as a farrier or even a philter that he would have to venture off to the wilderness, but if he could advance his knowledge of weapons and magic, it was possible that he could become a weaponsmith for the Knighthood. Aye Hadyn was a good weaponsmith, but Ethan thought about the weapons they must have had before the Valterrian and if he could began making them for the knighthood, they expand further and safer than ever before. When Hadyn, looked up and smiled, Ethan seemed to relax, she seemed to gloss over the idea that he had learned magic. Perhaps she knew that Eanos used it? The first time he had met, Ethan felt the Djed alteration in the room, and it had been coming from Eanos, for what reason Ethan was grateful that she accepted him and his use of magick. He would just have to make sure that he didn’t misuse it, or try to reach beyond his limits. He had experience overgiving and it had taken a time to heal, he still had nightmares about the leather strap bound face. In fact, he was careful to make sure that he didn’t over use magic without testing his own strengths or slowly making sure that his understanding of what he was trying to do was sound. Ethan let Hadyn finish and thought for a moment, “I don’t know. Like y’said, if Brody don’t want to be found, he won’t be. What I do know, is that staying here for answers that aren’t coming isn’t finding him. Besides Hadyn, I won’t leave if you want me to stay, I… might be able to talk to a merchant to get m’copies of the books and information I need. Or come late spring, we could take a trip together…?” Ethan let it hang out there for a moment. Travelling was dangerous enough, but with a babe a lot of things could happen. Still, the road and mountain passes would be cleared and the babe should be reasonably healthy by the time they left. It wasn’t impossible, but he wanted to share this experience with Hadyn. Looking at Hadyn, she was beautiful in that glow, if Ethan wasn’t carefully he might just try and get her into his bed tonight. “Y’know what, how about a magic trick? Show you a bit of wonder?” Ethan smiled but didn’t want to press his luck with Hadyn.

[Hadyn Skellig]

Her? Leave Syliras? The thought was laughable only because she'd never gone farther than the Outpost. Unlike Ioan and Brody the youngest Skellig was far more comfortable in her tiny windowless apartment than traveling the great world of Mizahar. Like Liam. She admired the thought of someone pursuing their dreams and Ethan seemed to be doing just that. Far be it from her to hold him back.

Traveling with a child, however, was so far from her potential to process at the moment she could hardly react. Hadyn could barely make it through a day without feeling overwhelmed or distressed. The thought of leaving her home, baby in tow and journeying to Zeltiva - even if it was for Brody - made her feel ill. But she swallowed it down, aware Ethan was only trying to comfort her.

Eyebrows rose at his offer to show her a trick. Generally uncertain on the topic of magic the woman neither sought nor shied from the practice. But she'd never been witness to it close up. With a tentative smile the weaponsmith gave a shrug.

"Couldn't stop you if I tried," she replied with a cant of her head. But she remained cautious. While she trusted Ethan not to do anything reckless or stupid his offer to perform magic made her wary. After his generous gift of a cradle and the tepid emotions she was beset with she wasn't sure how much she could handle. But she waited patiently, brown eyes alight with undisguised interest.

OOCSorry that took forever! Better posts to follow

[Ethan Ironhorse]

Ethan smiled at Hadyn and then realized that he needed to do a trick now. Well that’s what you get when trying to impress a girl, Ethan thought. Ethan went over to the rack of tongs and picked up one to handle the small blade that Hadyn had been working on. He picked up the bladed that Hadyn was working on and placed it in the forge. Smiling Ethan spoke, “Give m’ a few chimes… Takes m’ a while to do somethin’ simple.” As the blade heated up, Ethan started to go through the breathing mantra that Devandil had taught him. Ethan slowly inhaled, feeling the stress in his shoulders and arms relax. Exhaling, he allowed all the thoughts that made those areas tighten go away. With each breathe he cleared his mind a little more, even the tightness in his lower back, jaw, and neck that Hadyn often gave him when they talked, went away. Granted it took several deep breathes to calm himself over the knowledge that Orion was the father of Hadyn’s baby. Hadyn struggled with their relationship and was trying to be just friends and nothing more. Ethan was successful in allowing the thoughts to calm themselves in his mind and for a chime or two to allow him to perform magic. As Ethan opened his eyes he saw the blade, had heated up to a red orange. Focusing, Ethan tapped a finger in the middle of the air and the mental image of steel ring came to mind. To Ethan this was his anchor point, though in truth Ethan began to realize that this was a perception of his own, Ethan saw a small spark like dot appear on the blade. In his mind, he took the feeling of heat and the perception of fire from the forge and placed them into ring. His thoughts and perceptions began to funnel into the ring and slowly bright glowing writing began to encompass the ring. The writing was like Nader-Canoch and as Ethan began to slowly expand the shield over the blade, the writing began to look like flowing script on the leather attached to the ring. Slowly Ethan pushed and pulled the strands of the shield creating lines and eventually a plane of force, but Ethan could see the shield struggle to remain up in the heat and fire. Certain planes needed to be reinforced and Ethan, added more anchors and straps to the areas. Slowly the shield became ugly and lopsized as it stabilized, but feeling that it would have the effect he wanted, Ethan slowly moved the tongs into the forge and pulled out the blade. As the blade come out of the forge, Ethan could see that the blade edge stressing the shield and taking a moment Ethan began reinforce the blade edge against the heat that was trying to escape. Holding the shield in place, Ethan reached out with his hand and gentle approached the blade. He got no closer than an inch from the blade before he felt like his hand was in luke warm water. The blade kept his glow for another chime, when normally the edges and center of the blade would become dark from the cooling. Instead it keep its orange glow, except in a few places that were slowly beginning to soften its glow. Ethan was surprised at his first attempt of tasking a shield, it was strong enough to block most of the heat and kept the blade hotter for longer. It was a practical example of Shielding, of course, it had taken Ethan fifteen chimes to do so. “Sorry for the wait, but look Hadyn.” The blade was still hot and it would take a while it to cool. Of course, Ethan had no idea what it would do if struck and forged.