[Nerindel]

Ok, I tried to edit the post, but as I thought, it will only let Mod's edit while the Thread is closed [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]

So I will put it here so Eladain can see it, and will paste it on when the thread re-opens, or maybe Pio would be so kind as to paste it on the end of my post dated July 26, 2003 09:22 AM ** [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

It wasn't long before she felt someone beside her watching her work, she inclined her head and found herself looking straight into the soft blue-gray eyes of Gilbereth, he tensed slightly at her gaze, she smiled and he relaxed instantly. "Would you like to try?" she asked indicating the knife and the half whittled shaft in her hands, his eye's widened in mild surprise, "I don't think ...." he began, "Nonsense, it's easy" she interrupted pleasantly as she pressed the knife and branch into his hands.

The deer handled knife sat comfortably in his right hand, but he looked nervously at the half whittled branch in his left, awaiting her instruction. "Follow the grain and let the wood be your guide," she whispered softly as she put one hand round his and the handle of the knife and used the other to help him steady the branch , she closed her eyes and lovingly ran the blade down the length of the branch, in one fluid stroke, again and again she repeated the strokes slowly turning the branch in their hands. "see!" she smiled opening her eyes and looking down at the straight shaft that sat in their hands. She then lifted one of the silver arrow heads and showed him how to bind it to the shaft.

He watched intently as she showed him how to cut the feathers into flights and how to attach them to the other end of the shaft, he then handed her back her knife and took out a narrow bladed dagger of his own, He picked up a fresh branch and began to whittle it down for himself.

Taurëwen watched Gilbereth work the wood in his hands, the young noble seemed to take a great pride in his work, She nodded her approval as he held a finished arrow in his hand, as Gilbereth picked up another branch, she thought about the fact that he had no bow, it was then that she remembered the large branch that she and Reynion had brought to Ceros.

As she looked around the camp she saw the branch at Eurwen's feet she walked over and smiled at the elven woman, as she gently picked up the branch and took it back to her seat, the large branch would make an average sized bow, crude though it would be. Her hands worked lovingly carving the bow shape, as she worked she thought of those who had been lost to the growing shadows. Without realising it she had carved the image of the trees that had been damaged into either end of the bow, majestic and proud as they were before their marring. she then searched in her pack for the spare bow strings she carried.

After stringing the bow she picked up an arrow and nocked it to make sure they would fit, it felt comfortable in her hands almost as if the wood itself approved of her work. The bow was only waist high, but sturdy and durable. She turned back to Gilbereth and looked at him trying to find something unique to him to add to the bow, her eyes fell across the crest on his buckler, she delicately carved the hand bearing a branch, then underneath it she carved the sword bearing the delicate elven script " Do not draw me without reason, do not sheath me without honour." This carving sat just below the tree at the top end of the bow and at the bottom she carved the Elven runes of friendship and protection and also the elven words *"Nailya pilind rip linta'ar anwa." then down the length of the bow she carved the leaf pattern that she had seen on his court finery, the few times she had ventured to the courts of their realm.


Once finished she took out a small pouch of green powder and mixed it with a little water , she then dipped her knife point into the green liquid and traced the tip around the intricate carvings. The design on the bow now stood out a vibrant green against the slivery grey of the wood. She wiped the knife clean on her green skirts and slipped it back into its sheath.


She smiled approvingly as she turned back to Gilbereth, the young elven noble had managed to whittle and fletch fifteen arrows for himself, some of them could have been better, but this was his first attempt she reminded herself. "Is this enough" he asked uncertainly, "Yes, I think so" she smiled. She noticed Gilbereth staring at the bow in her hands, "Do you like it" she asked holding it out for him to examine, "It is wonderful " he replied taking it from her, and examining the design, his eyes widened as they fell on the crest at the top end of the bow, "this is the crest of my house!" he exclaimed.

"Only fitting for a bow belonging to one of that house" she chuckled lightly.

"for me!" he exclaimed, His thanks shining on his elven face.

"It is crude by elven standards and I do not have any wax with which to add as a protective finish," she replied frowning slightly.

"Do not frown my lady, I can only but hope that I can learn to use it with as much skill as the hand that made it" he smiled genuinely.

"for that you will require the aid of another for my bow is used only to stop those who would think to destroy or mar our woodland realm," she told him, not at all abashed at her words.

"I understand and would not trouble you further, Ihwesta has offered to teach me" he replied.
"yes, I think the bowers daughter would make an excellent teacher," she smiled back at him, "she may even have wax with which to finish the bow and maybe even something with which to make a quiver for your arrows." she told him.

Taurëwen and Gilbereth talked together for sometime, he told her tales from the courts and she spoke of the simple pleasures of the woods surrounding their home, others joining the conversation when they had something to add or to object.

ok!ok! I know I said this was an edit, but I got carried away [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]