[Aylwen Dreamsong]

“What a coincidence!” Arethin exclaimed, but Jadae could hardly notice the slight sarcasm.

Jadae’s eyes widened as she took in the smithy with what little light she had. Arethin brushed himself off and composed himself as Jadae looked about the smithy in wonder. It was so much larger than her own, and Jadae couldn’t help but wander away from her companion as she explored the chamber. Turning back around to face Arethin, Jadae was surprised to see that in her haste and excitement, she had left him in the dark.

“Sorry, Arethin. It’s just…” Jadae trailed off, and was at a loss for words. Sweeping her arms up as if to make up for her silence, Jadae then spun around, for this was her place. Then she noticed Arethin’s stare and stopped. “Sorry! If you wish to leave, we always could. I know you want to find the book as quickly as possible…” Jadae would readily leave for the kind man, but she really didn’t want to.

“It’s so...warm in here,” Arethin said again. Jadae had become so used to the warm temperatures of her work environment that she could hardly notice the stuffy heat of the room. Jadae took a deep breath and smiled. She had missed home, though she would hardly mention it to anyone. It felt good to get some memory of home while on the journey.

“If you don’t mind, I’ll only look around for a few minutes, then we can leave.” Jadae commented, and handed Arethin the candle as she got out one for herself. He nodded, and Jadae was glad that he would wait for her.

“And if you don’t mind, may we leave in a less ‘adventurous’ way than the ducts? If there is one, of course,” Arethin asked in return, and Jadae nodded absent-mindedly.

Jadae strode over to the forge, and was a bit confused and befuddled to find that some of the coals were still simmering. The bellows was in place, the hammer was left on a bench nearby, and molds lay scattered across the floor. Sheets of paper lay on the worktable, and on them were sketches and mathematical equations involving the amounts of chemicals and ingredients of some such ornament. Jadae could recognize several symbols, though a few elvish characters would remain unknown to her.

“These are so advanced! These equations and proportions and…and…” Jadae didn’t finish her sentence, as she began rolling up a few of the top papers and storing them in her pack.

Arethin, however, had gone to investigate already finished works. He found several cups and pots in pewter, gold, silver, and other metals he could not recognize. Another shelf held designs and pieces of art. A pewter dragon glared at Arethin through inlaid ruby eyes. A silver-wrought wizard thrust his staff towards a perplexed Arethin. The intricate design on the old man’s cloak surprised Arethin, and the wondering gaze of the aged face bemused him. Arethin lifted a finger to touch the metal man, but before he could, a loud sweeping noise caught his attention.

“Arethin!” He heard Jadae cry, and spinning around, Arethin barely caught a glimpse of a large log flying towards him. The log had been connected to a sturdy rope, which was in turn connected to the ceiling of the rock chamber. It had been triggered when Arethin stepped too close to the shelf of metal creations. Arethin was knocked in the stomach by the strong, wood log, and was sent flying backward into a shelf full of metal working tools.

As the stirred dust settled, Jadae ran to see if Arethin was all right. Arethin lifted an arm to signal he wasn’t dead, for he was too out of breath to speak, and as he lifted an arm, he accidentally and unknowingly set off another trap. Soaring through the air in the same way the log had, was a finished and polished spear. It flew low as opposed to Arethin’s log, and lodged itself into Jadae’s thigh, towards her knee. Jadae gasped, and could barely let out a cry of pain. The daring log swung slightly back and forth still near Arethin, and the provoking spear had lost its metal head to Jadae’s leg, thus is swung harmlessly to and fro.