Truth or Tale? A Smith's Blood.

[E]

Novus paused at the great doors noticing the crack in the hinges with the keen eye of a metal smith. Frowning at them, he decided that Kate could wait for her meal and walked over to the door frame. The giant of a man was dwarfed in the Hold’s entrance and he found himself in awe. Running a hand down the immense framework, he marveled at the metal used by the ancients. The metal work was alien to him and yet he found some subtle similarities.

Finding the flaw he had seen, he ran his large hand over it, testing how much it had actually been weakened. Surprise found its way to the dark brown eyes as the metal bit into his well calloused hand. As careful as Novus has learned to be with edges, he was surprised that the crack was in fact sharp enough to cut thru his tough skin. A frown formed on his face knowing very well that he’d have to fix it, rather than reporting it to Lord Dorin. He couldn’t leave it for a possible hazard to the children…

Turning, the tall man held his hand palm up, hoping to keep the majority of the blood in his palm as he walked to the nearest person. “Excuse me can you point me to the infirmary?” he asked politely, hoping not to scare the women with his size. He found that he was often avoided simply because of it. The women turned and frowned as she found herself looking nearly straight up to see his face. After giving him directions he thanked her and followed them carefully.

Walking thru the told doorway, Novus found himself in what was obviously the healers domain. The smell of numbweed was in the air as well as other medicines and he did not have to ask if he was in the right place. Seeing the few healers there appeared to be busy, he simply stood there in conflict. Should he just go back to his room and fix it himself? Even if he was talented with metal, he was far too clumsy with the fragile skin that made up the human body. He’d just have to wait.

[ladycessa]

Yeleeve smiled down at her patient, "There now, that wasn't bad at all." The little girl smiled shee;ishly up at the healer. She examined her hand, "It doesn't look so big now." Yeleeve tousled her hair, "You be more careful from now on, k?" The girl smiled big and nodded her head, causing her curls to bounce.

She watched the girl leave and noticed another person waiting. She walked up to him and the closer she got the taller he got. Soon she was standing in front of him with her head craned up looking at him. "H...Hello." She cleared her throat and then noticed his hand. Yeleeve took it into both of hers and gently examined it. "Come with me." She led him to a table and pulled out a chair for him. "Please, sit down." She walked over to a counter and soaked cloth into sanitized water and grabbed a jar of numbweed.

Yeleeve sat down at the table opposite of him and started to clean his hand. After a bit she looked up at him and blushed, "I'm sorry. I totally forgot to introduce myself. I'm Journeywoman Yeleeve."

[E]

Novus watched, a smile on his lips as one particular healer helped a curly-haired girl. The child was a darling and he found himself happy that the healer was so kind to her. Watching the child leave, he was even more surprised to find the same blonde-haired women walk up to him.

“Hullo…” he said in answer to her stammered greeting, holding back a sigh as he found yet another person who appeared intimidated by his size. Finding his giant hand in her two, he was surprised at her soft touch. Then he smiled, he was so use to being around the Smith Hall he had forgotten that not everyone’s hands were calloused from the heat.

Following her directions, he sat down in the chair she had indicated and let his hand lay atop the table in front of him. Watching her, he remained silent, not wanting to interrupt. Slightly amused with how gentle she was being with his hand, he was startled to find her blushing as she looked up at him and introduced herself.

Smiling with many of his teeth, he held back his laughter. “Hullo Journeywomen Yeleeve. Name’s Novus.” pausing, he added as an after thought, “I’m a Journeyman Smith.”

[ladycessa]

A smiled played on her lips, "Tell me Novus, how does a Journeyman Smith cut himself?" She quircked an eyebrow at him, "Especially one who must be as talented as you?" She saw the question and smiled big, "The calluses on your hand gives you away. One who works so much must be talented."

After fully cleaning his hand she starts placing numbweed onto his hand, all the while examing the cut. She furrowed her brow as she tried to determine just how deep the cut was. "Looks like you're going to need stitches..."

[E]

Novus’ mouth had dropped open ever so slightly at her guess of his talent. With his question answered before he even had to ask, he couldn’t help but let out a short laugh as he slapped his knee with his free hand. “Your good.” he said with a smile. “I cut it on the hall’s great door. There was a break in the hinge that is plan as a dragon in a herdbeast pasture.”

Suddenly aware of the terms he had just used, he dropped his eyes and muttered an apology. “Sorry miss… I didn’t mean…” he wasn’t sure how she felt about the dragon riders and their disappearance, but he hadn’t wanted to step on any toes.

Hearing about possible stitches brought his head back up. “What? I can’t have stitches.” he complained, sounding like the children he adored. “How am I suppose to work?”

[ladycessa]

The term caused her to laugh, "I haven't heard that one before." Yeleeve shook her head at him and just smiled, "Don't worry about it. No offense taken." A sigh escaped her lips as she looked down at his hand, "Seems a lot of people take offense at the mention of dragonriders. It wouldn't surprise me if they suddenly came back." She tilted her head and paused, then continued, "In fact, I hope they do. It would solve a lot of problems."

At his comment about stitches she stared him down, "You need stitches and you will get them. As for work, you probably could use a day or two off. And if you are really worried about work then I could always use a hand or two."

"What, and keep him all to yourself?" Yeleeve turned around to find Salyn standing behind her with her arms crossed. "Well I found him first," she replied. "Hey ladies, Yeleeve found a man that she wants to keep him to herself!" The other healers looked up and started playfully complaining. Yeleeve then turned back to Novus, "Seems you won't have to worry about work." She leaned in close to him, "So how 'bout them stitches."

[E]

Novus found himself raising an eyebrow at her words. The dragonriders come back? But they were gone, gone from this world. How could they come back? Surely no one would be able to hide a dragon!

Finding a sudden stare looking him in the face, Novus almost jumped in surprise. Hearing her words, he smiled and opened his mouth to reply. His words were paused, however, as he tilted his head slightly to see around the healer to her counterparts. Mouth still slightly agape, he couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows in surprise at their words.

Closing his mouth, he sat in his usually slump again, but with a smile playing on his lips. He was surprised to see so many women being so playful with each other, and with him in the room at that. Having never had much contact with women at all, he couldn’t help but find himself with a slight warmth in his cheeks.

“Don’t sound much like any sayings would have much to do with this bunch, aye?” He said with his silly smile firmly planted on his face. “As well as I can still do me work… Ye might as well do’em up.” A look of playful defeat took over his features as he slumped down a little more for added effect. “Won’t hurt will it?” he decided to add along with a fake pout.

[ladycessa]

She smiled softly at him and let her Istan accent come out, "Now don't ye worry none. This here numbweed will numb yer skin so's that ye don't feel none a thing." She winked at him and went back to the Benden accent. "Just let me stitch you up and you'll be good to go." Reaching into her bag she pulled out a sterilized needlethorn with some thread connected to it. Yeleeve laid it next to the numbweed jar and then applied numbweed to his cut. "You really did a number, you know that? I haven't seen a cut this bad since I left home." After his hand had numbed she started stitching him up. "If you feel any pain, any pain at all, let me know and I'll add more numbweed."

She finished stitching him up and smiled up at him, "Now that wasn't so bad, was it?" The women behind her giggled. "Maybe you should take a break and let us clean him up," one of them teased. Yeleeve spoke over her shoulder and winked at Novus again, "Not a chance. I wouldn't dare leaving him alone with the lot of you." Another healer placed her hands on her hips and playfully asked, "Now what is that supposed to mean?" Yeleeve laughed and replied, "You know full well what it means!" The women laughed and waved her off. Salyn placed her hand on Yeleeve's shoulder, "All the same, you should take a break. Go home Yeleeve."

Yeleeve looked up at her and smiled, "Thank you." Looking back to Novus she added, "Where are you staying? I'll help you get there."

[E]

(((Oh my gosh I had forgotten about this thread… I’m soooo sorry.)))

Novus found himself watching those gentle hands carefully as they led the needlethorn to puncture his skin. Between the numbweed and the thick calluses on his hands, Novus didn’t feel a thing as she completed her work. Seeing her head tilt back up to see his face, he found himself backing up again. He hadn’t noticed how close he had gotten to see more clearly.

“N-no Ma’am. Was gentle as water.” He said returning the smile with his own child-like one. Hearing a giggle, Novus’ eyes shot to the woman in behind the small healer. He listened quietly to the conversation, a slight blush on his cheeks as it was unmistakenably about him. Unsure if he liked so much attention from woman, he tried hard to keep his hands from fidgeting.

“Stay’n? Umm…” A puzzled and thoughtful look overcame the giant’s face as he tried to remember exactly where it was that they had placed him for the time being. “It was a small room… small bed too… Kates there… uh…” pausing again the found himself looking around the room carefully. “Not too sure… The sun woke me this mornin’ tho… So its east… whichever way it is.”

[ladycessa]

Yeleeve stared at the man in front of her, "They placed you in a small room?" 'Either the person didn't see how tall he was or they don't have much respect for his rank.' She shook her head and quickly finished gathering her things, "I'll see if I can get you moved to better living quarters. A man of your size deserves something that can accomodate your needs. Also a journeyman should receive moderately well quarters, not something befitting an apprentice. Oh yes, I will definately be looking into the matter."

She placed her bag over her shoulder and placed both hands on her hips. "Do you remember who placed you in your current room?" She waved her hand as if brushing the question aside, "Never mind, I'll find the Head Mistress and see if she can do anything about it."