"-And when you two plan to marry?"
Lord Tindir's question was blunt and caught Galdorion unawares. Having faced with his piercing Hammerite eyes, Galdorion first opened his mouth to reply but then shut it back. It happening all too sudden.
Lady Himwen, Galdorion and Tindir were speaking in open air moments ago and rejoicing each others company. Until now. Despite silent years of serenity and not mentioning the marriage ''issue".. It was now over. Someone did mention it now. Someone had to... And it was a lord of his house, and the other was Rainith's closest friend. It was too obviously coming and there was no escape.
Galdorion looked down. It was certainly the thing he wanted, the final destination of his heart and the very thought of being married was having his heart squeezed. Yet he didn't know when, and especially how.
"How?" was the biggest obstacle to him. Really, how could he? Galdorion was busy with a series of trades which his kindred generally scorned him with. As an artist his longest lasting achievement lasted four minutes and eighty three seconds. As an hair tender, he has recently started to earn money but compared to valiant warriors and battle-hardened hammer of his house? Would they not scorn him now if he steps forth and declares his desire for Rainith's hand in marriage? With what he would do that? Galdorion has been still pursuing a big show just for it. He had to prove himself somehow and that did not happen for so long!
Now someone was asking him "When?", a grand query from an equally grand Lord of Hammer. "When"... he said. And Galdorion found himself in the knee deep swamp of unanswered questions and he had to swallow first. He actually had no idea when! Like a promise long neglected in fullfilment... A father's promise for a toy to his child, easy to forget for the father, but hard for the kid. Galdorion heart was the child there... That question, along with the big "How" echoing in his mind since the first days he met with Rainith. And the father was his mind, making obstacles out of practical, daily trappings.
"-I.. don't know... my lord!" Galdorion replied. "-It has been an issue which troubled me for long.."
Himwen looked down in blushing. Perhaps remembering her own tale in advance. Was she not the great lover like in the tales of old whom traveled into gloom for the sake of love? Perhaps she was thinking of Rainith. It was hard to say.
Then Tindir "Humm" ed. Wise as the great ents of Fangorn and as hard to read as they are. Which forced Galdorion to reply again,
"-I'd like to! But my lord I am no warrior like yourself, nor did anything gallant to claim such a prize. What would I present in return if they... ask me a favour? What did I do for the world, or the house, or elvendom in exile? I am no such elf"
Tindir nodded, clearly he knew more than the boy did. After a brief humming and nodding he did pat on Galdorion's shoulders and added :
-"Then you should look to improve your stature!"
Galdorion suddenly looked up with full of hope. And he nodded in return. Wise lord of hammer, the one holds many victories and gallantry, and the one able to claim the heart of someone such as Himwen has shown great wisdom indeed!
-"That is a good idea my lord!" he said. "-I shall return and will do what is needed".
And returning to his workshop he opened his money box, Pouring all content of it to his table, in order to count what he already has. Weeks of hairdressing in Rivendell did earn him some coin and he was collecting these coin for a one colossal Electrum alloy statue project. Something that would earn him an undying name, but financial costs of the project was making it all go very slow. Now following Tindir's wisdom he would surely improve his statue. With all money he collected in the past seven months, he directly went to the market district and indebting heavily over his savings, bought a gigantic block of marble. Of finest quality.
Working with marble was consuming lots of time and there were little tolerance for mistakes, much to Galdorion's dislike. He working with a chisel and mallet and rubbing the surface for hours to enrich the visage of the beautiful figure, worked on it day and night. Every morning after a quick breakfast and short hair care, he was comitting himself to the best statue he was making. The figure itself was illustrious! There was a en elf lady standing, looking a fair backwards turn with an elegant posture, Noticing a kneeling straight haired male elf, holding many flowers and glancing upwards to the ladies eyes.
In the conditions of extreme secrecy Galdorion worked swiftly and made his best and long lasting piece of art ready much sooner than anyone would expect. He arranged some dwarves to carry six feet tall statue in the early dawn before anyone wakes up. They arrived in time and loaded the statue with great care to a carriage which they devised for such things. Then the company moved to main bridge of Rivendell and unloaded their burden there, the place where Galdorion chose to show it to his sweetheart, before asking an ultimate proposal under its shade.
However the bridge was a high angle arc construction and proved to be difficult for a square bottomed marble statue to stand correctly, that would became worse with the river running beneath the bridge and rattling the marble very faintly. There dwarves finished their labor and asked to Galdorion of their payment.
-"There we are master elf! Carried yer statue this far and found you that priceless piece o marble!, all would cost ye sixty silvers"
While Galdorion was reaching to his purse with a smile, dwarf master patted to the figure's shoulder in admiration. Fate was playing his role again that day. He was a dwarf after all and it was in his blood to admire good stonework. And that was one good stone work indeed.
-"You carved this thing well master Galdorion. I know when I see a good statu.. Oh..hey!"
His speech was interrupted with a loud "THUMP!" noise and a splash of water. Slowly and fearfully raising his eyes, Galdorion saw two dwarves, peeking down from the bridge interestedly. He then turned his head to right and couldn't see his statue moved there. Looking at left with an arched brow, he failed to see his masterwork there either. Then with disbelief, looked down and saw the river running with no trace from his statue, work of his very hands and heart and labour of many weeks.
-"Well ye do not need to pay after all, that was a good statue!" Dwarves said before leaving. They could not foresee that an elf statue would be that fragile and elegant perhaps.
Galdorion then sat there in disbelief. Dawn was breaking and trespassers were looking at him to see if there was anything wrong. He could not improve his statue as Tindir said, ultimately failing him but he could still improve his hair. He stood up and went directly to the house, where he would receive an eight hours of extensive hair lotions, pomades, powders and hair nets.
And if he could gather his wits and morale in the meanwhile, who knows what he could say to Rainith afterwards about all this.
