Post by Elrohir on Jan 11, 2005 17:37:45 GMT -5
Elrohir walked through the streets of Caras Eithel with his hood down and his cloak sweeping in the wind.
His head was held high and his strides were light yet long. From the corner of his eye he saw a small shop.
'Black Books' It was written in old ornate text, flowing yet broad and strong. The background was black but the letters themselves were white with golden lining. The windows at the front were slightly dirty and it was hard to see through, but it gave the shop an rustic style that appealed to Elrohir.
He walked over to the door and pushed it open. He smiled as he entered at the old man behind the counter. He had silvery hair, and was short, far shorter than Elrohir. He did not speak, he did not change his facial expression, but no matter what this man was, he looked friendly. Seldom had Elrohir seen someone who he had such an instnt feeling of warmth towards.
He could tell this shop did not get many visitors. For some reason it was slightly invisible to the eye, and only the keenest of eyes could see it.
He looked at all of the books on the shelves, and as he reached the back he looked on the wall at the paintings. Pieces made a long time ago. Casual excercises by the owner, perhaps. Elrohir continued to look around, all the time fascinated by what he saw. Old books, older than any he had ever seen, in every colour. Bund in leather, felt, in ribbon. It was truly magical to behold. He took one book from the shelf, and glanced at the owner, as if to ask his permission. He nodded, ever so slightly and with a hint of a smile. There may even have been a subtle bow in there but it was so discreet you could not be sure.
Elrohir took the book on his hands, and read the writing on the cover. "Forgotten Tengwar of the Malari"
he opened the book and it was in a language he could not tell. But every single letter was in the shape of some form of animal. He had seen Teleri texts before, that were incredible and held a certain dream-like style. Each of those letters was shaped like a swan. But these writings were unlike anyhting he had ever seen before. However some letters were still distnguishable from the Tengwar he knew. Obviously they had the same roots.
He looked at the book for a long time, before taking it to the counter. The man spoke "Thirty gold pieces, sire" he said. Elrohir had expected to pay more. For certain thirty gold pieces was a lot, but for a book of this sort he could not believe his ears.
"Thank you," he said "Thank you so much." THe man simply bowed gently. It wa definitely a bow this time. Elrohir smiled, and set towards the door. Then he stopped, the book in his hand and his coin-pouch slightly lighter than before.
Then he turned to the man, who was smiling at him, in a way that sugested he knew what was coming.
"I'm sorry" Elrohir said "but I truly love this shop. You have a huge number of books, and I see a great number of paintings. I dont suppose.." he boke off, but then pulled himself back "I dont suppose you could sell me this shop?" he felt a fool for asking. He was dure nobody had ever asked such a ludicrous question before.
"Well....." the man said.
"Please" said Elrohir "I have sought somewhere like this in my dreams for more moons than I remember. I want somewhere to stop, and to rest, and to paint, and read. This shop is perfect. It's peaceful, and safe. I will give you all I have in this land for it. Save one maiden I have been getting to know" he said coyly.
"It is interesting you should ask..." said the man "for I have been looking to move on for a long time now. To travel. It seems interesting that you, clearly well travelled wish to trade places with me." he gave a slight laugh to himself. "So be it. You may have my shop."
Elrohir was taken aback. "Have?!" he exclamied "I'm willing to pay y.."
"No" the old man cut in. It is yours. I look at you and I see someone I once knew. I see someone I trust. I do not know why. One day I will return, and perhaps you will give me back this old shop of mine. But until that day, take care of it, and treat it with the love, care and attention I have. Now. Go and collect some things to make it your own. I will be gone when you return. I have no time to waste!"
And with that he walked into the bac room. Elrohir called to him "Thank you, kind sir. I am forever indebted to you"
"No you aren't" he replied "You can repay me by continuing what I have preserved. I shall see you again one day!"
With that Elrohir turned. He laughed to himself and walked out of the shop, his book still in his hand. He returned to the castle and collected some of his things. He colected a set of canvasses and brushes, as well as some old cloaks.
he left the castle, walking faster than he might normally have done but carried a fire within himself. When he reached the shop the man was indeed gone, and a note sat written on old parchment on the side.
"Black Books. May it treat you as well as it has treated me"
Elrohir smiled and set up his paintings on the counter lying flat. He sat on the chair behind the counter and looked at his new shop.
"I could get used to this" he laughed.
His head was held high and his strides were light yet long. From the corner of his eye he saw a small shop.
'Black Books' It was written in old ornate text, flowing yet broad and strong. The background was black but the letters themselves were white with golden lining. The windows at the front were slightly dirty and it was hard to see through, but it gave the shop an rustic style that appealed to Elrohir.
He walked over to the door and pushed it open. He smiled as he entered at the old man behind the counter. He had silvery hair, and was short, far shorter than Elrohir. He did not speak, he did not change his facial expression, but no matter what this man was, he looked friendly. Seldom had Elrohir seen someone who he had such an instnt feeling of warmth towards.
He could tell this shop did not get many visitors. For some reason it was slightly invisible to the eye, and only the keenest of eyes could see it.
He looked at all of the books on the shelves, and as he reached the back he looked on the wall at the paintings. Pieces made a long time ago. Casual excercises by the owner, perhaps. Elrohir continued to look around, all the time fascinated by what he saw. Old books, older than any he had ever seen, in every colour. Bund in leather, felt, in ribbon. It was truly magical to behold. He took one book from the shelf, and glanced at the owner, as if to ask his permission. He nodded, ever so slightly and with a hint of a smile. There may even have been a subtle bow in there but it was so discreet you could not be sure.
Elrohir took the book on his hands, and read the writing on the cover. "Forgotten Tengwar of the Malari"
he opened the book and it was in a language he could not tell. But every single letter was in the shape of some form of animal. He had seen Teleri texts before, that were incredible and held a certain dream-like style. Each of those letters was shaped like a swan. But these writings were unlike anyhting he had ever seen before. However some letters were still distnguishable from the Tengwar he knew. Obviously they had the same roots.
He looked at the book for a long time, before taking it to the counter. The man spoke "Thirty gold pieces, sire" he said. Elrohir had expected to pay more. For certain thirty gold pieces was a lot, but for a book of this sort he could not believe his ears.
"Thank you," he said "Thank you so much." THe man simply bowed gently. It wa definitely a bow this time. Elrohir smiled, and set towards the door. Then he stopped, the book in his hand and his coin-pouch slightly lighter than before.
Then he turned to the man, who was smiling at him, in a way that sugested he knew what was coming.
"I'm sorry" Elrohir said "but I truly love this shop. You have a huge number of books, and I see a great number of paintings. I dont suppose.." he boke off, but then pulled himself back "I dont suppose you could sell me this shop?" he felt a fool for asking. He was dure nobody had ever asked such a ludicrous question before.
"Well....." the man said.
"Please" said Elrohir "I have sought somewhere like this in my dreams for more moons than I remember. I want somewhere to stop, and to rest, and to paint, and read. This shop is perfect. It's peaceful, and safe. I will give you all I have in this land for it. Save one maiden I have been getting to know" he said coyly.
"It is interesting you should ask..." said the man "for I have been looking to move on for a long time now. To travel. It seems interesting that you, clearly well travelled wish to trade places with me." he gave a slight laugh to himself. "So be it. You may have my shop."
Elrohir was taken aback. "Have?!" he exclamied "I'm willing to pay y.."
"No" the old man cut in. It is yours. I look at you and I see someone I once knew. I see someone I trust. I do not know why. One day I will return, and perhaps you will give me back this old shop of mine. But until that day, take care of it, and treat it with the love, care and attention I have. Now. Go and collect some things to make it your own. I will be gone when you return. I have no time to waste!"
And with that he walked into the bac room. Elrohir called to him "Thank you, kind sir. I am forever indebted to you"
"No you aren't" he replied "You can repay me by continuing what I have preserved. I shall see you again one day!"
With that Elrohir turned. He laughed to himself and walked out of the shop, his book still in his hand. He returned to the castle and collected some of his things. He colected a set of canvasses and brushes, as well as some old cloaks.
he left the castle, walking faster than he might normally have done but carried a fire within himself. When he reached the shop the man was indeed gone, and a note sat written on old parchment on the side.
"Black Books. May it treat you as well as it has treated me"
Elrohir smiled and set up his paintings on the counter lying flat. He sat on the chair behind the counter and looked at his new shop.
"I could get used to this" he laughed.