Ch.104 Arathar the Blacksmith

Ch.104 Arathar the Blacksmith

The group was getting ready to eat breakfast as Quinus sat next to Rya's left while Nieren sat to her right.

"Good morning, everyone! Breakfast is served!" A servant announced cheerfully as they brought out their plates.

"You know, Prince Quinus, this is the first time I've met a human that I can actually speak to," Nieren commented.

"Really? Did you only talk to the dwarves?" Quinus asked curiously.

"Yes. I guess when my kingdom fell at the hands of humans. I started to fear them and so I stopped talking to anyone. Even when I met the dwarves I was reluctant to talk to them. But I decided to try again. So far, I haven't been bothered by any of the dwarves either," Nieren explained.

"Sorry to hear that Lady Nieren. Were there no other elven villages nearby?" Quinus asked sympathetically.

"No. There were many, but none of the elf's villages survived," she sadly responded. "I fear that most of the wood elves have been enslaved or are in hiding. My mother thought Ironside to be the safest place for us."

'Grrah! I'll be there to help free them Nieren. I won't rest until all the slavers are dealt with.' Rya thought as she was getting worked up from her own experience of getting collared.

Rya put her hand on hers and squeezed gently. 'It's okay, I'm here now,' she comforted.

Nieren was taken aback by the gesture and blushed.

'They all said dark elves were evil. They're all wrong! Rya is the best! She's going to be my best friend!' Nieren thought excitedly.nÊw stories at no/vel/b/i/n(.)com

"Well, what will you be doing today?" Quinus asked politely as he picked up his fork.

"I was going to tell my mother that I'm going to be Lady Rya's, lady-in-waiting and retainer. I don't know how she is going to take it?" Nieren replied anxiously.

"Hmm? Well, if she's fine with you working with Rya she can come with us. It's never a bad thing to have a Noble elf to teach Rya in the ways of etiquette," Quinus said reassuringly.

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Nieren said happily.

"Hey! Do I really need to learn etiquette? I mean I've been around you guys and you didn't seem to care about it too much," Rya joked with a smile.

"Oh, I think the most important part of being a noble is knowing the proper way to act, dress, and speak when in public," Lady Fyrella said as she look at Rya from across the table.

"What are you saying?! I'm not noble enough?!" joked Rya.

"You need to stop taking this lightly! You're going to be our future Queen and you need to act as such," Lady Fyrella argued.

'Damn! This old dwarf woman is going to make me behave like a noble? But I don't care about this noble crap! Haah... Fine! I'll do it for Quin's sake,' Rya thought as she started to get annoyed.

"Okay, okay... I'll try to learn the rules of etiquette. Although, I am not sure if I'll be able to pass it since I don't know if I'll care about such things," Rya replied sarcastically.

"You'll learn! Just trust me and follow your Lady in waiting's advice... You'll do great as long as you give us some effort," Lady Fyrella said smiling.

Rya sighed out loud in annoyance.

'Well, he's a eccentric one? I wonder what he needs to get measured?' Rya thought to herself.

Arathar turned to Rya, "And who is this lovely creature you brought with you, your Highness?"

'Creature? I'm not a creature!' Rya thought to herself as she furrowed her brow.

"Oh, this is Lady Rya. She's a powerful earth mage and a healer, she's saved my life more times than I can count. And I plan on marrying her," Quinus said with pride.

Rya blushed as Quinus admitted that he intended to take her hand in marriage.

"She's saved us from Rodulf... For a second there, I thought we were done for. But that's why you don't make enemies of Dark Elves," Hajdah said as he nodded his head while looking at Rya.

"Hmm... Who would have thought a dark elf would become an ally of the humans and dwarves," Arathar said as he walked around Rya. Examining her from multiple angles.

'What is he doing? I'm getting the creeps from this guy,' Rya thought as she tried to ignore the man as he was approaching her private spaces.

"Alright! So, you want me to make a sword for her with the Liquid Ether? Are you sure, Quinus? It's not every day you get to make a legendary weapon for yourself." Arathar asked as he eyed Rya.

'What? This guy does think I can handle a sword? He can go and fuck himself!' Rya thought as she was getting annoyed with Arathar.

"Father! Please, don't anger her now. That's the last thing we need right now," Zellin said as he noticed Rya's temper rising.

Hajdah scoffed, "You shouldn't judge her, Arathar. Otherwise, you'll have to deal with not only the prince's wrath, but her's as well."

Quinus was looking at Arathar. Wondering if he should reprimand him or not. He handle his tongue for now.

"Haah... Yes, I want you to create a legendary weapon for Rya. And stop acting like she isn't here. Rya doesn't need my help to end you, Arathar. So don't push your luck." Quinus warned him.

Arathar took a deep breath and stepped back from Rya, "Alright! Fine! I'll respect your wish," He then looked at Rya again. "Alright then! Let's see what you got!"

Rya was confused as to why Arathar was acting so strange.

"Go on... Stand up, now... I need to see you handle a weapon so I can make you a fitted sword perfectly for your style of fighting." Arathar ordered as he gestured for Rya to stand.

"Hmph! If I use one of those swords, I'll destroy them all. I can't trust these things to hold up." Rya said as she crossed her arms.

"Oye! I like to see you try Lassy! And if you do break them, it's fine. They're meant to be a base sword for measurement purposes only. After I can see how you like to use a sword, I will make the perfect blade for you." Arathar said as he pointed towards the pile of steel swords he brought.

"Fine, whatever. Just don't get mad after I break these weapons... Just know that I warned you," Rya said as she stood up and picked up a short sword.

'Hmm. I haven't used Dark Earthly Blade in a while. I wonder if I can hit all the candles in this room?' Rya thought as she lined her sword up with the candles.

"Haah... What's she waiting for?" Arathar sighed as he watched Rya trying to cut through one set of candles sitting in the middle on the table.

"Dark Earthly Blade!" Said Rya as she channeled her mana inside the sword before swinging it.