Axe 02 - Video- Open to Both

[gloinul]

[He really doesn't like using this thing for anything more than responding to others but. Well.

Gimli starts the feed up and he has three of his five axes out in front of him, sharpening a fourth.]

Thought I might as well let the world at large know that if you are at all interesting in helping to rebuild the gates of the Cothromach, I'm the Dwarf you should speak to. I'm fairly certain anyone interested is already here, but. [And he shrugs] I hope you have people to vouch for you if you're interested. I do not tolerate slackers or liars on my jobs, nor do I tolerate saboteurs.

[Well, that explains the show of axes.

And he is done with this very painful task. The feed just cuts out]

Comments

[steeledskin]

What a shame that is. [ her smile is small -- and only barely sly. ] You ought to have told me so before we struck our deal, Master Gimli, else I would have offered instead to pay you only in honeyed praise.

[gloinul]

Honeyed praise won't keep my axes sharp!

[But he laughs]

Might work on my cousins, though. They've always been weak for pretty faces and prettier words.

[steeledskin]

I will keep that well in mind. [ a contented pause: it's such a relief that he is easy to speak with. ] Will you tell me more about your kin? Only if you wish to.

[gloinul]

My cousins, you mean? There's not much to tell. Fili is the eldest, Kili is reckless, and they're typical brothers. I am currently twice Kili's age, thanks to the faeries taking me from eighty years after they took them, and they are still terrors.

[steeledskin]

Younger family can be a trial for anyone's patience -- [ she's barely a woman herself and yet she tries to sound so sagely when she claims this experience. after all, she has arya for a younger sister. ]

[gloinul]

Especially when they are technically your elders. It is very confusing.

[steeledskin]

-- Do not tell me they expect you to obey them because of it.

[ she tries to imagine with considerable horror what life would be like if arya was suddenly her elder. ]

[gloinul]

Oh, no, they've never been like that, aside from a brief moment of "we're princes" when they were children. But it is very strange!

[steeledskin]

..And are they?

[ princes? yikes. ]

[gloinul]

Princes? Aye, they are direct descendants of Durin. I am from a branch family, third or fourth in line to the throne. But do not worry, none of us harp on it whatsoever and I, at least, prefer to be treated as normally as possible.

[steeledskin]

[ even so, her at-last warm and friendly demeanour suddenly stiffens. sansa becomes drawn -- perhaps distant. ]

I...I had no notion of it. Apologies, Master Gimli. Had I known your cousins were princes--

[ what? perhaps she might have dined with them more spectacularly or made some better effort to reach out and welcome them. she can ill afford the disappointment of royalty. ]

[gloinul]

[He waves her off]

If we did not make a spectacle of it, I assure you that we are perfectly fine. You are a wonderful host, Lady Stark, and we are feeling quite welcome in your city. Do not worry.

[steeledskin]

I have lived in a royal palace for some time -- back in Westeros. I know these offerings are paltry in comparison. But you are very sweet to tell me otherwise. Then again, I am led to believe dwarven royalty is a different matter entirely.

[gloinul]

I do not know how it works here, but the Dwarves of Middle-earth do have a different system of government compared to Men and our royals are not so...obviously royal to outsiders, at least in my opinion.

[steeledskin]

-- A different system, Master Gimli?

[gloinul]

Aye, and to explain it would require a history lesson I have neither the time or permission to give you.

[Really, it's probably not that different but. Well. Dwarves.]

[steeledskin]

Permission! Are the dwarves of your lands so secretive?

[ she's a respectful lady; she will not press. ]

[gloinul]

Aye, we are. No one outside of our people can speak our language. Most do not even know we have one.

[steeledskin]

I imagine I can appreciate such discretion in a whole people. I pray such a policy has done well by you and yours.

[gloinul]

So far! Others may disagree, but us Dwarves are quite content.

[steeledskin]

I feel some kinship to this sentiment, Master Gimli. My people are not always well understood outside their own lands -- a fact I did not know until I travelled South myself.

[gloinul]

Your people?

[steeledskin]

Northerners. In the North of Westeros, we claim kinship not with the same Andal bloodlines in the south -- but we descend from the First Men. We keep different gods and we keep different ways, few of which exist at all in the South.

[gloinul]

Ah. I imagine these Southerners do not like your claims of being descended from these first men.

[steeledskin]

I assure you, Master Gimli: that the blood of the First Men flow in our veins is undeniable, even to Southrons. Though there are token gestures of respect for the old ways even below the Neck. Many Southron cities have a godswood within their borders, though none with proper heart trees and none go to pray there any longer.