rose & the forgemaster

your name

At the sound of clanking metal, both Rose and Akila stepped to the last of the steps together. From above they watched the forgemaster sling his hammer against the glowing dome at the center table.

"What a man." Akila murmured behind Rose's left shoulder, who stared stoically upon the mighty back of the forgemaster. Shirtless with just a few black necklaces over the front of his strong neck, his sweating body worked hard in the confines of his loud workspace.

"Akila, do you know how he has hair like snow? I've never seen hair like that anywhere." Rose said, briefly glancing over his tall figure when he swung the hammer through a faint grunt.

"Some say he's of angel decent. Nephilim. I've heard rumors over the span of his stay here. But nothing is confirmed. The forgemaster speaks to no one." Akila told.

Picking up the train of her split skirt, Rose began down the stairs, "Well.. today he will speak to me. Allow no one else down here, Akila." She instructed.

"Of course. Be careful, Rose."

Down below, he was just about to swing his hammer again- when his golden eye caught the beautiful Queen coming down the slanted staircase against the far wall. He straightened up slowly at her presence, his strong nose turned up and his chin as well. Golden like the sun, his eyes shifted upon the cap of the room where Akila turned to leave.

He took just a brief glance over to a smiling Rose, then looked away quickly.

"Good morning, forgemaster." She greeted from the bottom of the staircase.

Nodding once, he sat his hammer down and began to clean it off, little specks of electricity bolting off of the metal.

"Your highness. This isn't a place for you to be in." He said.

Her hands came upon the table right before his hammer, and up close she smiled at him- but he wouldn't look her in the eye, instead kept cleaning off his hammer.

"It is now," she began, looking up to say, "I- I've come to thank you, forgemaster."

Off of the table she slightly removed her hands when he turned away to continue his work.

"It was human decency- the least I could have done." He replied.

She smiled to herself while lifting her fingers to remove her heavy golden headpiece with a nod. Gently she sat it to his table, "Take this as my gratitude..," lifting only her eyes she added, "This and, please- tell me your name."

Over his shoulder he looked to the shining headpiece atop the work table.

"Forgemaster." He told.

"Your real name.." she clarified.

Eyes on the dome centered at the room, he watched the glowing mist spiral in vigorous shapes and twirls under the glass.

"My name is Sutekh." He said, his voice low.

"Sutekh. What a beautiful name." She complimented while going to stand at his side. Instead of gazing at the dome before her, she looked up at him to her right.

"Sutekh, won't you look me in the eye? All this time we've spoken and not once-"

"I'm not worthy, your highness." He interrupted softly.

"Not worthy?" She asked, following close behind him across the room with her hands linked behind her sleek back, "You are more than worthy, Sutekh. And you know- I feel awful this is only our first time speaking when you've been here for a year." she admitted.