Dwarf Jewelry Chapter 2
From Grigbertz
Once Eloina had decided to go looking for Geitre, it didn't take such a long time before she was on the road. Eloinas employer didn't let her keep her borrowed clothes and she couldn't get much of her old wardrobe on anymore, but the mistress of the house gave her an apron as a gift so she could cover herself a little atleast. Eloina appreciated the gesture but didn't think she'd keep it very long. She'd either get something a bit more covering, or, and she blushed when she thought about this, she'd walk naked. It was summer and the air was warm, it'd be no problems.
Her mistress talked her into waiting till the next day before she left, so that she could leave early and avoid the people of the town. Eloina agreed, partly because she didn't want to shame her employers in any way. former employers, she corrected herself - she didn't work for anybody anymore.
That evening she ate at the main table along with the family. They were all friendly and wished her a safe journey and that she'd find the dwarf. Eloina could really take the time to appreciate the fine diningroom and the other perks the family enjoyed, when she'd been a maid here she'd been too busy to have a look around. Actually, she got help from the staff cutting her food before they left, but she still couldn't use the cutlery... so a little undignified, she had to bend forward and eat directly from her plate. This drew a few smiles from the family, but everyone was polite and it wasn't mentioned. At first...
Durban was the eldest son in the family, and mostly kept to himself and a few close friends. There were whispers among the servants that these friends were not respectable citizens, but nothing was ever said to Durbans face, or his fathers for that matter. Now Durban had been eyeing Eloina for the entire evening and finally spoke up.
"Doesn't she look like a dog, eating like that? I think she does! Why are we serving her at the table? Come here Eloina, and eat at my feet as is becoming."
And he put down a plate beside his chair and beckoned for her. Eloina blushed and didn't know what to do but the mistress came to her rescue before she had to respond.
"Durban! That was entierly out of line! Now you apologize right this moment!"
"But why mother? Look at her! Why should I apologize? I'm the eldest son, remember? And I'd really like to see her eating at my feet..."
"Enough! Durban, you apologize or leave this room right now."
Durban rose from his seat, eyes blazing. He eyed his parents and siblings but found no support there, so he turned on the spot and left the room. But not before muttering:
"I'll have her, I swear..."
Eloina was a bit taken back by this, but the rest of the family assured her that Durban had just been letting the wine speak, and that she should pay it no attention. Besides, she was leaving in the morning and noone knew her destination. Not even Eloina herself, she noted.
The rest of the evening went smoother and Eloina soon forgot Durbans words and their implications. Her sleep though was a bit uncomfortable since she wasn't used to sleeping in chains... she woke up several times during the night when she tried to shift around but couldn't.
"Oh, I hope I will get used to them if I'm going to be stuck with them for a while", Eloina said as she watched her anklechain in the moonlight at one time during the night. She eventually fell asleep again, and actually felt rested in the morning in spite of the many awakenings.
That morning, she left the village behind her. She wasn't born there, her parents lived elsewhere and so she didn't leave any relatives behind.
Soon, the village could not be seen anymore. Eloina actually enjoyed the new adventure before her and walked barefoot on the road towards the mountains. Her chains didn't hinder her as much as could be expected, since Eloina was very agile and had grown somewhat accustomed atleast to the anklechains. It was still a nuisance not to be able to do what she wanted with her hands, like shield her eyes from the sun or brush away a bug. Or adjust her apron, wich her (now former) mistress had given her this morning to preserve what modesty she could now that the chains wouldn't come off. However, this didn't affect her good mood as she walked along the road.
After walking for almost the entire day without meeting anyone, Eloina could see a small dustcload behind her getting closer. After a while she could se a wagon approaching and she stopped by the side, thinking that just maybe she could get directions or even catch a ride. When the wagon got closer she recognized the spice merchant from her former village and she couldn't help trying to shield herself a little as he stopped his wagon where she stood. But then she remembered that the merchant had mentioned dwarfish craftmanship when he had seen her the other day and instantly got curious about what he knew about these kind of things.
He spoke first. "Hello Eloina, how nice to see you here instead of the regular wanderers. Would you like a ride, that is ofcourse if you are going the same way as I am?" Eloina said she'd like that, and that she was going the same way. She was determined to talk to the merchant about her chains, but it could wait a little. And it'd be a nice to rest for a while. Eloina climbed up on the wagon with a little help from the merchant, and sat down next to him. "That will never do" the merchant said, "You will get splinters from my poorly sanded bench. You had better sit down in my lap."
Eloine did as told, since the merchant was a nice man and not unattractive either. The wagon drove on and the two of them talked about this and that until Eloina brought up the subject of the dwarves and their craftmanship. "It seemed like you knew about chains like these..." Eloina said and let her anklechains jingle. The merchant thought for a while before answering "Yes I do... but I know someone who knows more, and if luck is with us we'll meet him tonight. Have you ever seen the elves, Eloina?" Eloina shook her head, and shortly thereafter the wagon left the road and turned into the woods.
They made camp in a beautiful clearing and Eloina lay down in the soft grass and closed her eyes. Her hands rested at the small of her back and didn't give her all that discomfort due to all the lush, green, soft grass. She enjoyed the feeling and drifted away in semi-sleep, basked in the sun. She couldn't remember how long she had been there when a shadow fell upon her. She opened her eyes and saw the merchant standing at her feet. "Rested, are we?" he said with a smile. "Yes" Eloina said and smiled. "It was so good to rest for a while, do you need help with the cooking?" She tried to roll over and get on her knees, but found that she couldn't! The merchant stood firmly upon her anklechain, preventing much movement of her legs. "You're standing on my chain..." Eloina hinted, smiling as she said so. The merchant smiled back as he said: "I'm quite aware of that dear Eloina, and I assure you it's intentional. But you can get up anyway, can you not?" Eloina didn't say anything, she just gave him an amused look and wondered what he was up to. She didn't feel in the least scared since the merchant was such a nice man, and instead she did her best trying to get up but it was so very difficult when she couldn't move her legs. She struggled for a very short while before the posture of the merchant suddenly changed and he shifted his look from her to something behind her. "You haven't seen an elf Eloina? Well then, now's the time to look."
Since she couldn't sit up or roll over, Eloina had to really stretch her neck to get a good look. And there, seemingly appearing out of thin air, were the elves. Eloina couldn't help but stare although she knew it was impolite - she had never seen their likes before. Elves had never ventured into town for as long as she had lived there, and Eloina hadn't been wandering through the woods all that much. The elves looked... well enchanted. They came from the woods, a few at a time, and soon they were standing in a semicircle around the merchants wagon. Most of the elves walked but some were mounted, and in the back Eloina could se a wagon or two slowly make their way into the opening on trails unseen to her before. They were differently dressed, the first ones to enter were mostly dressed in green, brown and a little yellow and red, but the others wore many different garbs and colours, and suddenly Eloina remembered she was only dressed in her apron and coif. And she was a little glad she was lying on her back now that she couldn't roll over. She tried to push gently on the merchants leg with her feet to make him step away, but he didn't notice her right now. He was watching the elves with a smile on his face.
"Terin, did you get lost in the woods on your way here? This must be the first time I've arrived before you did!" said the merchant, and Eloina could see he was very pleased with himself. One of the elves took a step forward and replied: "And greetings to you to, Marc, how nice to see you. Maybe we're a bit slow because we have no need for your goods this time, ever thought of that? But who on earth do you have there? Am I wrong, or do I sense power in her?" "She's wearing dwarven jewelry..." said Marc and Eloina could hear a murmur from the rest of the elves. The elf named Terin gave a few short commands and the rest of the elves spread out and made camp while he stepped over to Eloina and Marc, who still had not moved.
"Dwarven jewelry you say? Most interesting... I didn't know the dwarves recruited this far from their homes. Who's the maker, anyone famous?" "Actually Eloina came here to get some knowledge from you on the subject, didn't you?" said Marc, and both he and Terin looked down on her. Eloina felt herself blush and said nothing, as she couldn't think of anything to say right now. "Well" said Terin, "why don't we talk about that over some food? We have travelled all day and since you were here before us you two must have started out early. I will have Isynea come over and help Eloina get ready and then we can have a proper feast." "Fine!" Marc replied. "Eloina, I'll leave you in the care of Isynea and we'll see eachother in a short while. Now don't be afraid, these are all friends."
Eloina felt a little like she wanted to protest beeing left with strangers but Marc and Terin had already started talking to eachother, but not before Terin had made a small gesture and called an elvish girl over to them. Eloina just lay still in the grass as a tall elvish woman walked over to them with graceful strides, exchanged a few words with Terin and then came over to Eloina and looked down at her.
"So you are the girl with the dwarven trinkets. Well, indeed you are pretty enough so I can see why the dwarves picked you. What is your name?" "My name is Eloina" said Eloina, still looking up into the face of Isynea. "Greetings, I am known as Isynea. Stand up and let me have a look at you. I have been charged by Terin to take good care of you, and by the looks of it you need a bath. Luckily, so do we." said Isynea and winked. Eloina got to her feet with a little effort and walked together with the elf towards the edge of the clearing.
