Ch.3 Smithy

The short walk that Serena had set off on had then proved to give her many opportunities to think and to look at the scenery. The capital had many different buildings the closer you got to the capital the grander the buildings appeared, but Serena had been walking away and the more run down the buildings had started to appear and it filled her with sorrow for the families that lived in those buildings. When her walk was drawing to an end she could clearly pick out the smithery, for it was made of stone that helped it stand erect and seem to have an air of importance about it while all the other buildings were made of wood and were sagging because of the growing need for repairs.

When she sidled into the doorway of the smithery she was instantly hit with an immense wave of heat that seemed to weaken her to the point that her knees wobbled and almost gave out, but she found herself and seemed to strengthen and almost unnoticably stand straighter not to show more power than those of a lower status, but of a poise that seemed just to say, “I’m here”.

Just then she started looking around the smithery and noticed all of the tools that looked well used and well taken care of. The inside had many worn and scratched work tables with a scuffed and dull stone floor underneath. Even though the room looked old and in need of update, it was cozy and Serena was sure that was how everyone loved it.

Then Serena noticed a heavily muscular set of shoulders that faced her and just a little bit farther up, was a face that screamed loyalty and other emotions that Serena could not place but was sure they were nothing but good. And then the rich bass voice she knew so well said, “Serena it’s certainly good to see you. What could possibly bring you round my lovely princess.” “Frederick it’s always a pleasure to see you as well, I have an order to place. It’s for my warrior training...” and as she trailed off she could briefly see the pain cross Frederick's face. “As you wish what would the weapons be.” he said straight monotone. “I need the celestial bow design and Hades’ whip. I hope that’s not to much to ask, but I’ll need them in two weeks.” Serena said sadly because she knew the tone of Frederick’s voice only too well. “That’s fine ,Princess, it will be done.”

Then Serena turned to leave, but stopped herself and asked Frederick with her voice saturated in need “Frederick, you know as well as I do that my milestone ball will be in a month a-a-and I would like to have you be my escort. It would make me very happy and you are the only person I could think of for it.” “Serena I would be honored to be your escort, nothing could make me happier.” and just like that a smile appeared across his face as though nothing else had ever been there.

And as Serena had originally meant to she turned around and walked out into the fresh air that seemed to fill her lungs in an instant and revive her from unnoticably ‘drowning’. Now all Serena could think about was how Frederick would look in a new court costume. So she set off for her home, the palace, with nothing else on her mind but the ball.

If she had been more aware she would have noticed the dark shadows, where there should have been no shadows at all and they followed her as a hunting dog followed a scent...