Princess of Faerl

*Hephaestus*

It was rare that any of my family came to me for weapons anymore. I forged as much as I could. Now I simply make replacements for them if they ever lose their weapons. Not that they were ever truly lost, they all came back here. To me, it simply meant they needed improvement. Selene was the one aunt that refused weapons. She saw no need for violence and her justice was served through nudging fates and manipulating outcomes. I think she is the one most should refer to as Karma, because that is how she operated. If you pleased her, she manipulated events in your favor. If you piss her off, well, not even Gaia can save you. I had to give a lot of thought to what weapon I would create that would be fitting for the Goddess of the Moon, who cherished life and wanted nothing more than peace.

I started thinking of the predominant creatures of the night. The vampires, were-creatures, and others preferred the night. I sat for quite some time, meditating on the weapon. Each one I made was distinct and for that being alone. I had never made one that would be tied to a mortal soul. Then again, I had never met a mortal soul cohabiting with five deities. She would be a force to be reckoned with beyond measure. I started to heat the metal, pondering what to make. I wanted to give this one an arsenal. Not just a weapon. I got to work, now having inspiration. Sharp, pointed claws were added to her fingertips, making her dangerous without shifting. Infusing the metal with oleander, wolfsbane, silver, and small pieces of yew wood. The parts that would touch the girl’s body were blessed with essences of healing that would never fade so the poisons would not affect her body. To secure these fingertip claws, I created a bracelet with strong but small chains connecting each claw to the bracelet. It took me hours to create this masterpiece.

Next up was a set of Sai. I had never made a weapon like this before either. I combined obsidian and adamantine, creating these weapons. I wasn’t keen on making this weapon, but it was a necessity. If there were Gods or Goddesses that were trying to uproot the balance of nature, I had to act in accordance with balance as my goal. The sharp stiletto blade of the Sai could pierce through any man-made armor and most god-made armor. It was stronger than most things I had made myself.

With the same process, I created throwing daggers and arrowheads with the poison and wood combination within them. 12 of each type of projectile sat on my bench while I crafted a pouch and quiver of leather. Each pouch was embossed with the triple moon, signifying these items were made in service of Selene. I then crafted the pouch to contain the claws when they weren’t being worn and a special sheath for the Sai. Both were embossed as well. I wasn’t sure if more would be needed or not, but this was good for now.

I spent a week on these weapons, though my space is virtually timeless. This is why I am the blacksmith God. I was fairly certain less than a day had passed on the mortal plane. This would be my gift to my sister and a gift to her Guardian to be kept within the Guardian’s bloodline for all time, never to respond to another. A smile crept over my face, and I decided to craft a simple ring of platinum, the triple moon, with a diamond for the full moon.

As I collected the items, Alke appeared. Right on time, like normal. Her stern face was unpleasant as always. Not that I was a looker. I had been cast from Olympus, damaging my legs, and my skin was tattered from the kiss of arsenic. I didn’t grow my hair as I felt it would simply burn off from the heat. “Alke, I assume you’ve come for the weapons of the Guardian?” I knew this was why she was there, but it was the only way to open a dialogue.

“That is correct. You have finished them, yes?” She was never one for small talk.

“I have, but I would like to deliver them myself.” I knew this was odd for me, but I felt it was what I needed to do.

“That is… strange. Is there a reason for this? You normally don’t leave your forge. There are so many weapons of the gods here, you’re always kept hit well hidden and well guarded. Only I know how to get to and from here, outside of yourself.” She tilted her head. “Do you… feel a connection to the girl?” Her words sounded light as if she knew a secret I didn’t.

“I do not. I simply want to give them to Selene myself. Most of the Gods and Goddesses have their weapons delivered by me. You don’t ferry all of them here for anything. This time, I would like to take them to my aunt. She has never asked me for anything before, and I feel a great honor that she would come to me in her hour of need, even if a mortal will be protecting her.” I smiled a bit, “Besides, I made too many for you to give a simple explanation. I will need to tell them about each weapon and what it contains.”

I wish I could have taken a picture. Her face was twisted in shock, “You made an arsenal for this being, didn’t you?” A headshake and laugh accompanied my own laugh. “You take eons to make arsenals for the Gods. You made one in a week for a mortal. If you don’t have feelings for this child, then I have no idea the amount of admiration you have for your aunt, which you barely know.” She opened a portal that looked like it led to the outside of a castle. “You might want to put a shirt on. Or change together. There is a banquet happening currently. The young Princess has reached some mortal milestone and they are celebrating with her. I don’t quite understand it, but I do believe it is an occasion for what mortals would say, ‘your Sunday best.’”

Nodding, I went and stripped, dumping a bucket of water over my head, washing the soot and metal shavings off of myself. My skin was still red and pocked, but at least now it was clean. I put on a pair of black pants and a black shirt. A strange feeling swept over me, but I ignored it. It was time to gift my aunt with some of the best weapons I had ever made, to be used by a mortal that surpassed the beauty of Aphrodite. To be used by a mortal I met in her past life. A mortal I had waited hundreds of years to see again.