How does one worship their Ancestors? This would be considered a stupid question to a dwarf when asked by someone older then a stoneling. Something along the lines of asking which way you swing a one-sided axe, or how to swing a pick. It was so stupid, any fullbeard who heard would no doubt grumble harder then a mountain during an avalanche, let alone what an elder would do to you! Yet, it was this question that Dolgi had to ask himself as he looked down at his two new joys in this world. Sigrun and Jolla. His two
TWIN DAUGHTERS. His clan had feasted, his hold had celebrated, and he had done both the hardest and barely remembered only the breast of glimpses! Yet he now stood here… Wondering how he could ever repay Valaya for such a boon.
What had he done to deserve such? Daughters were not uncommon but joyful comings. Twins were rarer than that. But twin daughters?! They were rarer then… Well, he actually didn't know… But rarer then something he was sure!
He jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder, so deep in his thoughts he didn't notice Klorah had come up beside him. No doubt if Master Snorri heard, he'd be sent back to being an apprentice! But he pushed that thought aside as he turned to look at his love.
She gazed at him with eyes that understood what he was thinking. No doubt she wondered the same thing? He did not know. His brow furrowed as he looked down at his daughters. She gave his arm a tug, that he resisted only long enough to plant two kisses down on each of his children, he went with his loving wife out of the nursery and into the hall where she turned and confronted him.
"You need to stop worrying so much Dolgi. Valaya is blessing us, and it's not something you have to repay." Klorah spoke. He looked down to find her taking his hands in hers. Even as his brow furrowed deeper as he ran his thumb over her knuckles, she no doubt continued to give him that smile that made his heart flutter like a beardling's first love.
"I can't stop it Klorah… I feel like if I don't repay this, I'll not forgive myself…" He looked up into his love's eyes, showing all of his love and exasperation's to her. Not above a whisper, he spoke as if the Ancestors' gave him praise. "
Daughters Klorah…
Twins…" He squeezed her hands. "I've always wished for children, yet to have multiple daughters? at once?! I must repay this Klorah... I must."
She gave him a long look, before raising one her hands away from his and rubbed his cheek. "Aye, I knew you'd say that…" She gave him a joking smile. "Well, if you must do this, very well, I'll not stop you. Just don't end up in one of her beds when you're done, you hear?"
He huffed good naturedly, before smiling. "Aye, aye. I'll not repeat Master Snorri's last visit with Moira." They chuckled to each other, before leaving hand in hand.
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He walked down the stone halls of Master Snorri's workshop, passing by Karstah and Nain who for once weren't being run all over the hold and were hard at work with their runes. Not that it stopped both of them from giving him a, what they thought was a stealthy, look as he passed, to which he politely didn't acknowledge.
He did not see Snerra, but he did see Fjolla who looked up from the necklace she was looking over with a raise of her brow, no doubt guessing already what he was going to do. He would have swore she read him like an open book sometimes. Nonetheless, he met her with a determined nod which in turn was met by her scoffing before going back to her work.
Finally, he came to Master Snorri's solar, where he sat grumbling the way all elders do. No doubt having to do with the letter he was writing, as those had been met with much grumbling since he first got a reply. He barely had entered the doorway before Master Snorri was in his face, his face looking like he might grumble the hold down.
"Dolgi! You're late! You think just because you had twins you're allowed to be so late! Why, I outta make you restart your journeyman trials! Nay! Your apprenticeship for that disrespect!" And so Master Snorri went, yelling his anger at Dolgi out. Now, if Dolgi was a lesser dwarf, he would have run to do what Master Snorri said and begged forgiveness for doing so. Yet he had to do this if he was to repay his debt, so he only took two hesitant steps back when Master Snorri started.
Master Snorri must have seen the determined look in his eye, as he slowly tapered off his audible grumblings. With a furrowing of his brow, Master Snorri gave him a long hard look. Before too long, Dolgi was afraid Master Snorri might never reply, before he was met by the living ancestor's sniff of disdain. "That look doesn't suit you. BAH!" Snorri turned on his heels and threw his hands up in the air in exasperation. He made his way back to his desk before pointing angrily at Dolgi "Go! I'll not have you, if you wont stop digging that shaft you dug yourself into!" And with a wave of his hand, Master Snorri returned to his letters, grumbling louder and even more indiscernible then before.
With a nod, Dolgi turned and made his way out of the workshop, being stared at by apprentices and housecarls alike, all but Fjolla wondering what he did to anger Master Snorri.
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Dolgi stood in a closed off forge, contemplating what he was to make. Valaya was the Ancestor of many things, and his skills at most of them were quite lacking. He made Weapons and Armor, things like trinkets or banners were never his specialty. So it was a weapon or Armor he would have to make. This was not the time for shoddy work, or even his normal work. He would not accept anything less of himself for the boon Valaya had given him.
Twin daughters… He couldn't stop the giddiness feeling or his smile he received every time he thought about that. But, he put it aside. Now was not the time to act like a stoneling!
...Stoneling… Stoneling… That gave him an idea… With a prayer to Valaya, he started.
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His hammer came down with certainty, never a moment's hesitation yet never a wasted breath.
He knew not of time, for it was not needed nor noticed.
He knew not of weakness, for his will denied such things.
With a body as strong as stone, and his hammer surer than Grimmnir's axe, he struck the metal into place.
He worried not of hunger, not of thirst, not of any ache or pain. He had a debt that could never be repaid, to an Ancestor who was second only to his wife and children and who he would dedicate his entire being to attempting to repay.
She had blessed him with a boon greater than his person and he would make something greater than himself.
For that is what is deserved, for he loved his family more than his own life. To be blessed is for his love to be acknowledged.
And so, his hammer
struck.
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He ran his hand over the carvings on the axe-head. To his hand, he felt not an indent out of place, nor a single mistake in its markings, he had worked on it alone for over a year to make sure each and every strike was correct and precise. His certainty paid off he felt, as he ran it down the handle to the knob of the weapon, which he had used another year to whittle from silver Wutroth. He had designed it in her image and in the image of her weapon, on the idea of why a mother might need an axe. And this would be his answer. Yet still, this axe was something he would place all of his gratitude and love into.
He looked it over with his most critical eye he could as he took bites out of the stonebread he had seemingly appeared out of nowhere to him, and took droughts of ale that appeared much the same. No doubt from Klorah… How long was it since he last exited to see his family? Not since he started making the handle surely... It was tough for him to be this far from his family.
Yet, it was still not done. He had to strike the runes, and make sure it's something that could never be considered shoddy. He was no prodigy, like Snerra, nor was he as talented as Fjolla. He did not think for a moment he could hold a candle to those two when they truly put their minds to something. Die a shameful death the thought that he could make something comparable to Master Snorri's work. Yet, that would never stop him in this endeavor. For this singular moment, he would surpass both of his fellow smiths, and craft this axe. And when he climbs the steps of Valaya's temple, he shall give this axe to Valaya's statue and not regret a moment!
He took up the hammer again, and struck the runes with every part of his being.
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With a furrow of his brow, he thinks back to his days as a stoneling, even as his hammer chisels out the indents perfectly in time, perfectly in shape and not a scratch to ever cross those thresholds. He thought not of the songs of Thungni that were drilled into him by Master Snorri, but of Valaya and her saga's.
In the founding days of Vala-Azril-Ungol
He thinks back to his days with his mother, to her laugh at his antics, to her scolding him like a harsh but fair mother. To her worrying when he went and did something stupid. To her love she gave off like the sun gave worth.
Grungni worked and smelted.
He thinks of first son and the pride he took in their first cries and in their life. He thinks of the fool they were, and how idiotic they were as a stoneling, and how he loves them through it. He thinks of their potential growth and the great things they will do with the certainty that only comes from being a parent.
While Grimmnir slew Orc and Goblin and Monster
He thinks of his second son, and how their life has but started, and of how their legend will grow. How their potential is only limited not by restraints or burden, but by how they wish to spend it. Yet no matter if they become a runesmith or an Engineer, his love will forever be theirs.
Valaya made the home and crafted the stone bread.
He thinks of his newly born twin daughters, and with great pride and thankfulness, he thinks of his happiness. He thinks of his giddiness at the prospect of his two daughters, and how he will tear those who harm them limb from limb. He thinks of their futures and loves them for better or worse.
Valaya brew'd the ale and swept away their aches and pains.
With thoughts of his children, he took his giddiness and happiness and protectiveness and anger at them being harmed and most of all his love and worked them all into these runes. With this swirl of emotions, he etched each and everyone into his work, not leaving out a single one as his hammer struck with certainty and surety.
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When Dolgi finally left the forge, his eyes squinted at the sky in consternation. His cheeks perhaps not as full as when he entered, but certainly far from sunken or hollow. Taking a long drink of ale and belching in appreciation, He turned back and grabbed the item shrouded in cloth to hide it from view. It has been a few years since he had left the forge, only breaks to see his family and to check up on their progress, as no father should ever let their stonelings not see them for years! He wasn't Master Snorri to lock himself inside and not see anyone after all. Though, only after he finished his work. Cant leave anything half finished, else Master Snorri actually would grumble the hold down! With a merry tune on his lips, he set out to do the last part of any craftsmen's job. Delivery!
