Completed [Sultros Blades] Steeling {Ethan}

[Hadyn Skellig]

24th of Fall
513 AV
Late Night

"Gods petch it," the woman hissed as her hand jerked away from the cooling blade. It wasn't hot enough to liquefy skin but it smarted something fierce. A narrow strip of skin along the side of her left hand screamed obscenities as she cupped the wrist and patiently walked herself to barrel of water. After a deep breath she sunk the injured hand into the water, the coldness incurring minimal relief. It was her own damn fault, as were most injuries in the forge. Not the worst burn she'd suffered - not by far. But it was worsened by self condemnation for her stupidity.

Shrugging strands of hair from her eyes with a brush of her shoulder the weaponsmith squinted in the low light to see how badly the skin was skin. Nothing too bad but yet another reminder against carelessness in the forge. Shyke did it burn. Plunging the hand back into the water Hadyn inhaled slowly, awaiting each transition of pain until finally it dulled. She was alone in smithy tonight, preferring to work alone these days. It was enough that the other smiths teased her under normal circumstances but now... now they were just in her way. Obnoxious and overly protective. Admittedly this burn wasn't doing her any favors but at least there was no chastising man jumping to scold and help her.

Her situation seemed to bother everyone else more than it bothered her - at least as far as work was concerned. She was still entirely capable of functioning though it seemed to her coworkers she was incapable of even the lightest hammer. Rolling her eyes at the memory the brunette glanced down, the slowly growing bump of her abdomen barely discernible beneath the leather apron. Indeed, one could hardly tell a difference about her. Not one patron mentioned a change and her work hadn't suffered. Yet.

Resting her forearms on the lip of the barrel Hadyn rested her upper body against the weight of her arm, head dropped close to the water. The cooling sensation on the burn gave her a reprieve from returning to work. Her feet were starting to ache as she shifted her weight to cross one foot over the other at the ankle, her lower back arching as the vertebrae cracked.

So absorbed in her own thoughts the woman didn't pay mind to the sound of another in the forge. The furnace burned quietly, the dying candles providing a pathetic sheen of light and raising shadows from every corner. Flexing her hand in the water Hadyn turned her head to the side, the muscles in her neck expressing soreness as her forehead touched the water. Seemingly alone in the smithy she closed her eyes and resigned herself to another precious moments of rest.

[Ethan Ironhorse]

Ethan had been training at the Pits going over the hand-to-hand fighting techniques and in the afternoon sword and shield basics with the Spatha. He had wanted to purchase the blade from Hadyn, but she had been busy that day and Ethan didn’t have the money for Hadyn’s type of craftsmenship. Besides after Hadyn had told Ethan about her unborn child, their relationship had cooled down. At first, a small glimmer of hope that it was his had made him excited and wanting to scream at the top of his lungs in joy. Then when Hadyn had told him that it wasn’t, Ethan had felt like Hadyn had put a sword through his belly. They were friends and Ethan was still getting to know her, but the fact that she was having a child and only wanted to have Ethan be a friend instead of a father, hurt. Ethan shook his head and stopped by the carpenter, he had wanted to do something for Hadyn, besides be there as a friend. Ethan wasn’t really sure if he was trying to bid to be the father or just trying to be a friend. Either way, Ethan had commission a Carpenter to make a crib for Hadyn, inside small carvings of anvil’s, hammers, and blacksmiths at work were put in place for the baby to few. They were crude, but then again Ethan didn’t pay for some elaborate carving. He had even gone so far as to visit with his mother and talk to her about what Hadyn would need. Of course, Ethan couldn’t have taken any of the baby things from his own childhood. It all went to his brother, the perfect one and speaking with his mother made him realize that she wanted Ethan to have children. It was a day of talking about Hadyn and how sad that his mother was about her losing her parents. At times it put Ethan’s teeth on edge, his mothers small comments about a woman smith and that there was a girl down the hall that she could have come over made Ethan want scream and fight. However, that didn’t happen till after his father came home. Good old dad came in with horseshyte on his boots and the smell of ale on his breathe, the only thing he could say to Ethan was hello and have you seen what your brother has done? Ethan had engraved a warhammer for Ser Titus, the knight himself bellowed it out to the whole city, and Ethan’s father only wanted to talk about how his brother had bought a traveling anvil. Ethan thanked his mother and father and left before he was ready to hit the man between his eyes. Sometimes, Ethan thought he could become Grandmaster of the Order and they the both of them would talk about his brother’s kids, and his mother! Ethan’s mother… if Ethan had married Isabelle Belmont herself, his mother would be asking if he couldn’t do better. Still Ethan paid ten gold miza’s for the crib and left the shop. The crib was polished and stained dark, and as Ethan lifted it up under his arms, he started walking down the great bazaar to head to Hadyn’s apartment. As he passed Sultros Blades, Ethan saw that the forge was still running. Ethan shook his head, Hadyn had always been one to take her duties seriously, and since she had been put in charge of the shop, she had been working later and later. Ethan had a sweat soaked shirt as he carried the crib was allowing his leather armor to dry out instead of training in it again. However, he wore his sword the Spatha to go through drills. Gerald’s swords were balanced poorly, so for conducting drills, Ethan trained with his Ironworks purchase steel. For sparing, he used the dulled nick blades in the stands. Ethan went around the shops back to the forges entrance. It was there that he saw Hadyn, her hand in the water barrel and cracking her back. She was beautiful… Ethan wanted to go over to her tear off her clothes and petch again. Even the small additional of a bump to her belly made Ethan want to kiss it tenderly and whisper encouraging things to the baby. Yet he couldn’t… it wasn’t his and Hadyn had told him that she didn’t need his help with the child. She just needed help getting through the pregnancy. “Steel delivery, need some help!” Ethan called out from the entrance. Smiling as it was that very phrase that had brought Hadyn back into his life.

[Hadyn Skellig]

The sound startled her, heart beat speeding as she managed to compose herself and stand, ready to greet the visitor. It took her half a tick to think, a confused expression painting her weary features as she turned to the back entrance of the forge. Steel? Who was delivering steel at this bell? Bemused the woman crossed the floor to see a smiling Ethan. She met his smile with one of her own, eyebrow raised as she nodded to the indiscernible bulk of wood beneath his arm.

"Y'been drinkin', Ironhorse?" she inquired playfully with a grin as she swiped up a rag from the table nearby. She may be pregnant and emotionally distraught but she wasn't about to lose her sense of biting humor. "Ain't any kind o' steel I've e'er seen there."

Hadyn wiped the water from her hand gingerly as she tried not to stare. Gods, he was handsome, especially with the muted light from the forge cast across his strong features. Not attempting to pry she avoided staring at the item he carried. It wasn't her business to go poking around. Likely he was just in the area and saw the furnace alight. Swallowing a wince as too much pressure from the rag caused a spike of pain from her hand the brunette smiled affectionately at the man.

It'd been intolerably difficult telling him she was with child. Especially when it was clear he thought it was his. She felt like she was breaking his heart. But she couldn't be dishonest with him. When she gave it thought she decided he would be a much better father than Orion. He was a hard working kind man with steady job and aspirations. What was Orion? A twenty-something squire with no emotional compass. Hardly fitting of a father. Not to mention he was already saddled with a little one from a previous dalliance.

Sure picked a winner, she thought sourly. Yes, Ethan would raise a child with more integrity than Orion. But she couldn't lie. It would hurt worse than the look in his eye when she'd been honest. But there was no reason she couldn't ask him to help her rear the child. He had the income and ties with her family Orion couldn't even begin to understand. And they were exceptionally compatible. But that was morally troublesome too. Hadyn considered letting Ethan take on the fatherly duties he seemed to want. In the end, however, it would be wrong. Orion deserved a chance, even if - thus far - he proved hopeless.

"Come in, why don'tcha," she bade him welcome with a nod. "Don't have much t'offer you. Water, fruit," she jerked her head in the direction of the shoppe where the food was stored. She doubted he wanted anything to eat but ever polite she couldn't very well ignore formalities.

"What brings y'round tonight?"

[Ethan Ironhorse]

“’lways with the sharp tongue, Haddie!” Ethan said as she talked about his bundle. Smiling, he knew that this was going to surprise her, and Ethan knew that he had gotten the perfect gift. He looked at her hand and realized that the rag was going over tender flesh. Ethan followed Hadyn into the shop and set his bundle down on work table. The gift could wait, “What y’got going on with y’hand, Haddie?” Ethan walked over to Hadyn and pulled off the rag. Taking a good look at the hand, Ethan hissed, “Wha’ y’try and do, put y’hand in the forge?” Ethan looked around a bit and saw a crude brass hilt, he reached out and cleaned the hilt off quickly with a rag and felt the cold metal in his hand. He pressed the brass hilt to the burn allowing the cool metal to pull the heat out of it. It would have been better if he had some butter or clean bandages but he used the things around him. Ethan held her hand gently as he pressed the hilt lightly to her. “I was heading to y’room and saw that the shop was still open. Got y’gift to see if I couldn’t get back in y’knickers.” Ethan made a joke, even if it had a bit of a hard edge to the end of it. Petch! She did the honest and right thing by telling you it wasn’t yours, and your more upset about her telling the truth then if she had lied. “Sorry, bad joke… It’s a true gift, didn’t mean nothin’ by it.” Feeling the hilt having heated up from each other’s hands, Ethan removed it and placed it down on the table from where he got it. Ethan looked about an saw the anvil that Hadyn had been working at, taking tongs Ethan picked up the blade and placed it back in the forge. The shape of it didn’t look quite right so he figured that Hadyn needed to work it still. Ethan pulled on the bellows of the forge, the orange flame rose lighting up the workshop. “Ye want some help, finishin’?” Ethan offered not because Hadyn couldn’t do it, but a burn needed a night before trying to do more work at the forge. Ethan remembered some of the burn he had received at the Ironworks and it was always tough allowing your hand to get close to heat again. For him it felt like he was burning the flesh anew. Ethan looked up at Hadyn, and motioned for her to head over to the crib. He wanted her to see it while the forge fire was high enough to provide some light. There were two circular carvings on the sides of head of the crib. The left one was of a blacksmith, and the other one to the right was of a weaponsmith. Ethan stayed by the forge watching the dagger heat up, making sure that he didn’t over heat the metal, and it gave Hadyn a chance to look at his gift for her and her baby.

[Hadyn Skellig]

The woman shrugged at his response, offering the hand to him when he approached. There was no pretending otherwise. May as well let him have a look-see. Her breath hitched when he pressed the cold brass to her tender flesh, glancing up at him with an appreciative nod and twitch of a smile. She didn't fancy being taken care of but she let it slide, especially after the healing effects of the brass. Her gaze shot up to his face when he mentioned a gift. Gifts were dangerous things but she stayed silent. His joke didn't garner much of a reaction not for lack of humor or wit but she was entirely too focused on the wooden object he spoke of.

Brown eyes followed his path as he took her unfinished blade and returned it to the forge. Good thing he did because she'd forgotten she left it there. Her brow furrowed when he inquired if she needed help. Standing she dropped the afflicted hand to her side, a defiant spark in her stare and lifted her chin slightly. Stubborn pride was ever her downfall.

"No," she replied a bit too stiffly. She softened it with a slight grin, joining him by the furnace. "Won't slow me none," she lifted the hand carefully in example before passing him to see the gift.

As the flames rose they bathed the wooden object in light, displaying a finely crafted cradle. Hadyn dropped to her knees before it as if it were a sacred relic, eyes widened. Her hand reached out, fingers running delicately across the inlaid carvings. She knelt there for many moments staring at the beautiful crib, somewhat at a loss for words. After a few moments she turned to look at him over her shoulder, eyes glassy.

"Ethan y'really didn't have to do this." Her voice was quiet, nearly a whisper as she returned her gaze to the cradle.

Normally Hadyn was loathe to receive gifts from a man. They always meant something. Something she wasn't willing to give. The implication following an offering was that she now owed the man. He thought of her and did something kind and she was in his debt. Hadyn didn't like being in anyone's debt if she was petching them. But this was different. Yes, it was for her. But it was moreover for her child. It went beyond her paradigm of gift giving and thus she was rendered speechless.

Her fingers reached out again to touch the image, the wood smooth beneath her skin. It was a piece of masterful work and she could think of only a handful of carpenters capable of such fine work. Ethan must've paid a pretty Miza for this piece. It touched her that he thought of her. But it also left her feeling cautious. She didn't wish to give him the wrong impression. Standing she pivoted to face him.

"It's beautiful," she breathed finally. "I don't know what else to say." A smile lit her face, creasing the edges of her eyes gently. She didn't want to come too close to him so she lingered near the crib, looking down at it. Her emotions were fighting for supremacy, one telling her to hug him, the other threatening to spill tears for no apparent reason and yet another bidding her to chastise him for bestowing her with this gift.

"I'm sorry," she murmured dumbly.

[Ethan Ironhorse]

Ethan was a bit confused at Hadyn’s reply, won’t slow me none? What had he said to make her angry? Petch! I am an idiot, she is probably getting a daily dose of can I help from the other smiths. Ethan felt stupid, he would have made the offer if she was pregnant or not. After all helping each other was what friends did. Of course, Ethan wasn’t sure if he wanted to just be friends with Hadyn. They had talked several times over the course of summer and fall. He had gotten to know her and was attracted to her, but she always pushed him away from a commitment. Then on top of all of it, she told him that she was pregnant and that the father… the petcher didn’t want to deal with it. Anger, resentment, and jealousy had inflamed Ethan for ten days, and he hadn’t talked with Hadyn during that time. Even now, he was upset that she was having someone else’s child. Yet, he was also extremely happy thinking that if he could someone tame his emotions Ethan might become an Uncle for the little smith. In ways, he already planned smith puzzles for gifts, maybe even teaching the child about the anvil when they got old enough. However, he had to deal with the simple fact, that it would never be his and neither would Hadyn. Ethan tended to the blade moving it out of the fire to a distance that would keep it in steady heat. As he looked back over to Hadyn, he saw her on the floor, worried that something was wrong with baby, Ethan dropped the tongs and rushed over to her. As Hadyn turned to Ethan, he saw the near tears in her eyes, and was immediately worried that she was hurt or sick. As she said that his gift was beautiful, Ethan realized that it was for joy, but then the sorry came out and Ethan reacted without thought. He grabbed her in an embrace and brought her close to him. “Shhhhh, I am glad you like the gift. I was worried that the babe would end up sleepin’ with ya, and I know how y’toss and turn.” He rocked her softly, and then gently kissed the top of her forehead. As he gently rocked, he felt his scabbard flop against his leg. Ethan ran his hands up and down on Hadyn’s back being as comforting as he knew how. The hug and kiss felt intimate in the way of a relationship. Ethan couldn’t quite put down his feelings long enough to say if it was like a father comforting his daughter, man holding his wife, or a friend helping another friend. He would have to pray to Cheva to even figure it out, but for now he was there for her and he hoped it would be enough. “You know when I go up and marry some lass, I will want to borrow it for m’own children.”

[Hadyn Skellig]

Hadyn stiffened as his arms came around her, his words soothing against her hair. This embrace she was not familiar with. He was comforting her. But it was suffocating, the closeness of his body and sympathy in his voice turning her insides. And yet a part of her warmed to his response, reveling in his gentle touch with wonder and gratitude. Despite earlier discomfiture the woman found herself relaxing into his embrace. Never could she imagine herself tolerating - accepting even such a response from a man.

Regardless she couldn't just sit their wallowing in self pity. Pulling away gently she sat back on her heels, still close enough to catch the affection in his eyes. It made her uneasy. But she smiled and scrubbed her eyes with the back of her hand despite no tears falling. He was very kind. Too kind. But she didn't linger too long on such thoughts, instead placing a hand on his knee, a safe neutral place.

"You're too good t'me," she answered at length with another smile. "I suspect the lass you marry will want you t'make one yourself for your little 'uns."

She fell silent, staring at the ground between them. It was... awkward to say the least. Of all the things in this world Hadyn loathed feeling vulnerable. Exposed for the viewing and manipulation of those present. It made even the forge claustrophobic for her. But she knew Ethan meant no harm and was trying to help. For his sake she swallowed her uneasiness.

"You're a good man," Hadyn murmured at length as she raised her gaze to his face. "You'll make some woman very happy, I've no doubt. You're actin' like a father ought."

[Ethan Ironhorse]

Hadyn murmured one phrase that made Ethan feel like the hot dagger he had placed in the forge was plunged into his heart. ‘You’re acting like a father ought.’ That was pain, but then again what would Ethan know about hurt, he was nothing more than an actor. You’re acting? That’s right, I am reading from some script. Ethan got up, he wanted to yell at Hadyn, instead he chewed the inside of his mouth in anger. Hadn’t he offered her support and friendship; she didn’t know how he felt. In a hush tone Ethan very carefully spoke, “Hadyn,” Ethan took a deep breath, “I am tryin' to be…” Ethan closed his eyes. “Hadyn, when y'came to m' and told m' that you were pregnant, I thought that y'were tellin' me that I was the father, and I was excited, worried, overjoyed.” Ethan stopped, the next part was a fresh sore, and it was still bitter when it came to his lips. “Yet, y'had enough respect to tell me that I… wasn’t.” The pain in his voice, made it crack. It took a moment for Ethan to continue; no one had ever cut him so deep and showed him so much love at the same time. “I… this whatever is between us… is not an act. We have so much history together, that whatever this is, I know that the child y'carry is as much m'family as yours. I may marry Isabelle Belmont one day, but what I know is that when y'child picks up their first hammer and sets it to metal, I will be there. I will make sure that they have education just as much as if they were m'own. I will be there for their accomplishments and celebrations. I will be there for their problems. If for some reason y'were hurt, y'child would be fed and cared for by me.” Ethan wanted to say, that whatever had happened to your parents should happen to you, he would make sure that the child had a family. Ethan looked back at the forge and looked back at Hadyn; his anger over being called a fake to this child lost. When he turned back to Hadyn; there was a look in his eyes of determination. “Y'may not need help with that dagger or y'child, but as a friend I am tellin' y'that I ain’t offerin' and y'refusal for it isn’t gettin' rid of me. Now it’s gettin' late, and the coal is burnin', where y'want me and what tools y'need me to wield so that y' can forge this thing.” Ethan unbuckled his sword and placed it on a bench. He then went over to put on a blacksmith apron and headed over to the forge, “The steel is hot, I can prep with the tongs, if y'wish to work the hammer, Senior.” Hadyn was emotional and troubled, but if Ethan could get her working, her mind would focus and sometimes doing a task that you were familiar with help bridge that confidence gap. Ethan picked up the tongs that had been dropped to the floor, and starting pumping the bellows to turn the heat. The blade needed to be slightly hotter for when Ethan pulled it out.

[Hadyn Skellig]

She'd hurt him. Was that disbelief? anger? disappointment? It was difficult to gauge but it was evident she'd said something to set him off. Staring up at him as he spoke she tried to make sense of his words, hoping to learn from her mistake and not irritate him further. He thought the child was his. Understandable. He was struggling through this and she could only sit in silence, patiently waiting for him to finish. Twice in less than five days she'd managed to upset and confound the two men currently closest to her. Well done.

Eyebrows rose as she resisted the urge to interject. An act? Where'd he come up with that? Brow furrowed she bit her lower lip to avoid interrupting him. Her heartbeat sped up when he explained the child would be family to him. That was more than she could've asked - or would've. And it was indescribably relieving to know he felt thus. What could she say? thank you?

He seemed to want something more from their relationship. And Hadyn desperately wanted to give it to him in the moment. She just didn't know how. Standing carefully as he turned to look at the fire the brunette glanced down at the beautiful crib he'd brought her. Certainly not something Orion would've thought to do. It seemed Ethan cared for her well being rather than paying dues to responsibility.

"Thank you," she replied slowly as he set to work. It was kind of him to help her. And he was probably trying to get her hands busy to help her think. Normally it'd work. His enthusiasm was sweet and she wanted to acquiesce but she was far too exhausted. Sitting down on the bench near the furnace she looked up at him.

"S'alright, Ethan. Let it be. It's not a commission or anythin' important. You'll see it's all uneven on one side. It was simply old iron for practice. I was workin' toward a new technique but that iron's done for." Hadyn paused, brown eyes imploring as she scooted her bottom further down the length of the bench. "Why don't y'have a seat, hm? As much as I'd love t'see you forge a wee blade, I'd really like to... talk."

She winced the last word out. Hadyn didn't talk. She joked, she drank and petched. She didn't talk. And she especially didn't tell anyone she wanted to talk. It was a whole new level of vulnerability that made her uneasy but she swallowed any uncertainty. Ethan deserved to hear this, considering the lengths he'd gone through to see her well. And perhaps it would feel better to talk to someone besides Shiress, whose counsel Hadyn greatly esteemed. But she felt she owed the man before her some kind of explanation. Patting the empty space beside her she waited, hands folded in her lap.

[Ethan Ironhorse]

Ethan looked over to Hadyn as she sat, whenever a woman had asked Ethan to talk, it had never gone well. He placed the tongs back on the rack and sat down with her, his eyes went to the folded hands in her lap, She doesn’t want to be touched, was the thought that went through his mind. He wanted to put his arm around her, he wanted to be close to her and help with whatever burden she had. Yet, he could tell from her body that something was serious and that was surprising. Hadyn he had known never wanted to be serious. It was one of the few qualities about her that annoyed him. She was certainly fun and wild, but as Ethan got to know her better that lost its appeal. “’Lright Hadyn, tell m’what’s got you chewin’ up inside. Is the baby well?” Ethan waited with worried. Maybe, Hadyn was thinking about how she would a mother, or maybe she was afraid that doing it on her own would be impossible.