Black Magic

[altariel]

Oh yes, still drabbling. Enchantment is found in familiar places.

Black Magic

Ithilien, in the Fourth Age

Wizards and monsters may have left the world, but enchantment remains, found suddenly in familiar places.

The forge stands at the foot of the hill. Morwen has passed by most days, but never before entered. Today she stands for a spell on the threshold, watching the smith at work, and each morning thereafter she comes back, mesmerised by his elemental craft. Metal bends to him; fire obeys him; air and water do his will.

After a week, he offers her the hammer. A shaky first attempt. So he teaches patience, respect for skill and tool, the humility of true mastery.

Comments

[katlinel.livejournal.com]

That is very satisfactory. It reminds me of when I went on a welding course. There were lots of shaky attempts.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I'd love to do a welding course, although I'd be terrified.

[katlinel.livejournal.com]

It was a lot of fun. Go for it! I did one weld that the tutor passed as "not too bad" in twelve weeks, which was high praise indeed.

I suspect Morwen got better at smithing more quickly than I did welding.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Every girl should have a trade. I've always fancied plumbing. There's an all-female plumbers round here called - ho ho - Girls on Tap.