"This is a war-trained dog. But that reminds me: I still need a saddle for Brutus." Searching his memories he doesn't come up with a shop offering that. "Would you know where to get one?"
"100 gold should be no issue, if you can have them done for me by tomorrow dawn." Jimmy says, "Half up front and the rest tomorrow when I collect the bracelets? I need to be on my way you see. If you cant make them I'll just take the gold back when I vome by in the morning." Jimmy says, handing Torbin 5 platinum pieces. "Thank you once again!" Jimmy says shouting over his shoulder as he trots off to see where Gwen is.
"No, I don't. But you could ask a smith if he could make a light base frame. And then you could go to a tailor for the padding and such stuff." Niamh suggests.
As Jimmy is gone Torbin shouts into the workshop "Das, here was some lovesick guy who needs silver bracelets and pays more for them than we earn with three weeks of farmtool repair. You better got some tools to do them."
"What silver do we have? Or are we going to melt coins?"
As Das shouts back asking for the amount of money Torbin replies
"100 gold for four bracelets and he payed the half up front. You better get your ass out of the office for we have to deliver tomorrow morning or he will take his business elsewhere."
So together they start collecting tools and silver and start making the bracelets from scratch. First they met silver coins and casting them into silver sticks.
Then the sticks are burred the edges rounded an then Torbin spreads the text over the length in pencil on all four and as he finally is satisfied with the result he starts engraving them about one millimeter deep and tapered.
This is then carefully oxidized over the fire to get a black patina. and finally they are bent into three quarter of a circle and polished so only the engraving stays black.
Resulting in four tremendously beautiful bracelets reading 'My Loyalty Is Yours'.
The sun long gone and the stars and the moon shining in the sky the two leave the workshop around midnight. But with the good feeling of having accomplished something.
"That's much too complicated. I want just someone, who drags that thing out of a shelf and slaps it on the dog. Where in this jerkwater town will I find that?" Abomentolor replies inhis usual gruffly tone.
"You could ask at the Goblin Squash Stables where they get their saddles. I guess you will like Daviren Hosk a lot." Gwenhwyfar suggests.
"Daviren, sure I already had a few ales with him. His attitude toward goblins makes him quite likeable." Abomentolor responds.
"But that idea is quite good. I'll try that. And even if he can't help he'd appreciate a good story about burned goblins any day."
Jimmy finds him making his way to the temple. He plans to ask around there if anybody knows where she is today so he can find her.
As Jimmy enters the cathedral and looks around he neither finds Gwenhwyfar nor Fiona. But standing there he catches the eye of Abstalar Zantus.
He approaches Jimmy "Welcome young man, can I help you?"
"Good day sir. I was wondering if you had seen Gwen today? I was hoping to find her here, or if she wasn't here if her mum could point me to her?" Jimmy explains to the priest.
"Yes they both were here earlier. And you are?" Abstalar asks.
"I am Jimmy Fiddle. I suppose you could say I am courting Gwen." Jimmy says blushing
"Ah, yes. I've heard about you." Abstalar replies with a smile at Jimmy.
"Gwenhwyfar was here with Fiona Samsley to say her goodbye, as she leaves for Magnimar tomorrow. But you surely know that already. They were with Hannah before and wanted to have lunch after they were here. But as it's already well past noon they are propably done with that."
"Fiona took the day off, so I would try it at their home." Abstalar suggests.
"Thank you very much. I didn't know she had decided to leave actually so that's news to me. I should find her soon I suppose. She might want to talk to me about this." Smiling at the priest he rushes out of the temple and across the street where he knocks loudly
Fiona opens the door of the cottage "Hello Jimmy. I suppose you are here for Gwen? If so I have to disappoint you. She went to the Rusty Dragon to talk to Mrs. Heidmarch and to your group."
"But if you're actually here to visit me you are welcome of course." Fiona says with a smile.
"I just heard that Gwen said yes to going to Magnimar. I am actually wondering how you are feeling? I was looking for her but while I'm here."
"I'm trying to be happy for her. I postpone the other feelings until tomorrow when she is gone." Fiona answers with quite the sad expression on her face.
"Would it help you to tell you I promise to look after her?" Jimmy says smiling with as much warmth as he can muster
"Not really." Fiona replies.
"She told me about your promise and it is good to know she is not alone out there. But that is not really a consolation if your only child leaves you with a day notice."
"I can understand that to a degree. I know she will come back here to see you as often as she can. I hear Magnimar is very close."
"Yes, I hope so. That would be a promise to comfort me. A visit every second weekend! How about that?" Fiona jokes.
"I cant promise that, but I can promise that whenever we are nearby or have down-time between whatever quests we get sent on I'll drag her back here kicking and screaming if I have to" Jimmy says grinning
"The day you have to drag her here would really be a sad day. But I appreciate the intention. Now stop reminding me of my misery and go to Gwenhwyfar already."
"Of course ma'am. But before I go, thank you." Jimmy says stepping towards her to give her a hug.
Surprised Fiona asks "What for?"
"For raising an amazing daughter. For supporting her and for caring about her, and for her. She is who she is because of you, so you are to thank for who she is." Jimmy smiles at her and turns around to head to the Rusty Dragon
Baffled Fiona watches Jimmy run away "Wow." After he is out of sight, she goes back inside and closes the door.
Jimmy arrives at the Rusty Dragon and steps into the common room, eyes open for any signs of Gwen
Gwenhwyfar sits together with Abomentolor, Tauriell, Niamh and Oz at a table. They are talking about something while Brutus watches Niamh as if he'd expect to get something.
Jimmy sneaks up to the table behind Gwen indicating for the others to stay quiet if they see him,
If Gwen doesn't notice him he stands behind her and covers her eyes with his hands
Gwenhwyfar is completely unaware of Jimmy.
Jimmy sneaks up behind her and places his hands over her eyes. Not saying a thing. Not being forceful either, just blocking her view
Brutus notices a suspicious figure trying to approach unnoticed and barks "Woof! Woof!"
Startled by the hands and the bark of the dog she kind of jumps and falls over backwards with her chair letting out a shrill shriek.
Jimmy tries to quickly catch Gwen and stop her from falling over completely
He manages to catch her before she hits the floor and helps her up, "I didn't mean to startle you that badly, just to give you a surprise." Jimmy smiles at her, "Am I interupting something?" he says to the group at large
Gwenhwyfar starts laughing. "Well, then next time you should tell the dog to stay quiet."
"Abomentolor just wants a saddle for his huge dog and asks if someone knows where to buy one." Niamh says "So far Gwenhwyfar has the best idea!"
"Who wants the rest of the cauliflower? If not I'll give it Brutus."
"Maybe if I got him a saddle he liked he wouldn't ruin my plans." Jimmy says kneeling down on one knee giving the dog a big scratch behind the ear.
Gwenhwyfar gets her chair again, sits down and jealously watches Jimmy pet the dog. "You could try that, but you only have half a day to do that, and so far no one of us knows where to buy one."
Niamh looks around and as it seems that nobody wants the cauliflower she takes the plate and holds it in front of Brutus face.
Jimmy wipes the slobber off his hands and pulls up a chair next to Gwen. "Does anyone know where to get a saddle for a tiny horse or pony, they would probably have some?"
Brutus is really happy to get more of this vegetable with cheese stuff and inhales all of it immediately. Then he really thoroughly licks the plate clean.
"I already suggested to ask at the Goblin Squash Stables. But Jimmy, could we please talk in private upstairs?" Gwenhwyfar asks.
"Of course Gwen. After you." Jimmy says standing and waiting for her before following up the stairs
Getting up she leads the way up until they are out of sight of the others. "You have a room here, don't you?"
"Indeed I do. It's this one here." Jimmy says leading the way to the room and opening the door for Gwen, "What do you want to talk about?
Gwenhwyfar walks in and waits for Jimmy to close the door.
"It's embarrassing. I'm sorry. But I decided that I want to accept the offer from Mrs. Heidmarch."
Biting her lip and avoiding Jimmy's eyes she adds "I haven't talked to you about it before and already told almost everyone. You're the last one to know. I'm sorry."
"I am also the last person you have seen today, so there is no reason to be sorry. So you have decided to become a pathfinder then? I may have to go speak to Mrs. Heidmarch..." Jimmy says trailing off in thought. He quickly comes back to the present and grabs Gwen in a big hug. "I'll be coming with if you don't stop me" He says looking into her eyes
"Why would I? I knew you would come, you promised it to me. That is the one reason I dare to do that. That's why I think I should have talked to you first. Or at least after mum. But I have to tell Mrs. Heidmarch too. So we could visit her together now? Gwenhwyfar asks.