"So, this is our newest apprentice, my lord?"
Aegrod, respected jewelsmith of the Gwaith-i-Mírdain, could not contain the proud smile when he looked upon his daughter, still yet to reach her majority - but a child in the eyes of her soon-to-be peers. "Yes," he replied to his friend, colleague, and lord, Celebrimbor. "This is my daughter, Calidis. I believe she is more than ready to begin her formal apprenticeship within Tham Mírdain."
Both Celebrimbor and Aegrod looked to the young elleth, who was not quite fifty years of age, before them. Calidis, perfectly postured, black eyes glimmering, and garbed in stately attire, made a deep curtsey before the both of them.
"She is yet very young, my friend," remarked the leader of the Mírdain, pressing two fingers to his chin as he regarded her, though the smile on his face belied that he was far from casting any doubts upon her skill. If her own father, known for preciseness in his craft, believed her to be ready, then there was no reason at all to question his assessment.
Aegrod matched his friend's smile and motioned for his quiet daughter to come closer, taking one of her hands within his own as she obeyed, moving gracefully as ever. "Young she is; that much is true. However, I believe Calidis has taken it upon herself to bring latest work to you so that you might examine and appraise it as you desire. She was quite insistent upon proving her skills to you first, though I thought it unnecessary."
Celebrimbor raised his brows and looked to his colleague's daughter, both impressed and curious. "Well then, if she so desires, I will see it done. Come now, my lady, show me what you have brought."
A small smile appeared upon the elleth's fair face as she reached behind her neck with both hands and unclasped the small necklace that hung about her own neck, careful to not get the delicate chain tangled within her raven tresses. She held the trinket out to Celebrimbor by the chain, allowing it to dangle within his grasp until he took it gently in hand.
It was a deceptively simple bauble. A very small, cut sapphire set into an equally small pendant of silver. But, with his trained eye, the lord of the Mírdain could see the intricately small details etched into the silver inlay about the gem, made to look like the points of a star. He turned the necklace over in his hand twice and then closed his eyes for a brief moment, as if listening for something. Time seemed to stand still until at last he opened his eyes, a genuine smile gracing his lips.
"Why, this is expertly made, my lady. You certainly spared many thoughts for details," said Celebrimbor, handing the necklace back to her. "The connection between both metal and gem is very well done and the tranquility felt within my mind upon contact was both welcome and exquisite. It is quite perfect."
Aegrod beamed proudly, as any father and mentor would, but then noted that his daughter was frowning slightly. Such an expression was also noted by his friend who tilted his head slightly in confusion.
"Does Lord Celebrimbor's words of praise not please you, daughter?" her father asked her, not unkindly at all, but rather curious.
Calidis looked between the two of them and shook her head, clasping the bauble about her neck once more. "I am not displeased with the words so kindly given to me. Only that... I wish the work of my hands would not be called 'perfect'. I am to be a student under your wings. There is still much I have to learn. It is for that reason that such a thing cannot be truly perfect... Even if I should exhaust all learning, who is to say that there will be no new discoveries of better means and methods for our craft? What I mean to say, my lords, is that I believe there is always room for improvement."
The founder of the Mírdain blinked. And then, he laughed, echoing through the halls of Tham Mírdain and, perhaps, Calidis thought, through the entire city itself. Her father, for his part, merely chuckled, resting a proud hand upon her shoulder.
"That is my daughter for you, my friend."
"She speaks with all of your candor, Aegrod," replied Celebrimbor once his mirth had died down a little. "Her father's daughter indeed. Ah, but that look--" He gestured to the genuine smile appearing on her face. "That is all of your lady wife, Calidhriel, if I'm not mistaken... Excellent! She will be a fine addition to our school and a welcome face among the guildhall. I look forward to seeing her further her skills and what she will bring forth with the work of her hands."
"As do I, my lord," agreed Aegrod, giving the ringmage a grateful bow.
"Welcome, Lady Calidis," declared Celebrimbor with a twinkle in his eye. "I look forward to the day you complete your apprenticeship and join your father and I within the Gwaith-i-Mírdain."
Calidis curtseyed deeply again, happy smile still upon her face and lights like little stars shining within her dark gaze. "Thank you, my lord," she replied. "But, I expect that will not be for some time yet."
So began Calidis' apprenticeship under the tutelage of her father and the Mírdain, hundreds of years before treachery and war came to Ost-in-Edhil...
