The forge was hot, and the sound of a hammer banging down on metal could be heard from miles away in the still, dark night. The sound of steam hissing as hot metal hit water could be heard from within the shop after some time, before the process began anew. This was a process that went on over the course of several nights, as Jourdain worked. Nothing less than perfection would do as a gift for his friend.
In the meanwhile, Endrik, working with Jourdain, gathered parts to create the pommel, tang, grip and crossguard. With Endrik’s unique skill, he managed to procure some strong bones for this purpose. A fortnight later, Jourdain had a blade he was happy with, and took the supplies Endrik had given him to fashion the necessary pieces still needed, taking extra time to secure them tightly in place. After testing the sword, he handed it over to Endrik, and departed his castle near Wallachia, his favor complete.
Endrik studied the blade for several nights, deciding best on how to add a personal touch before gifting it. He settled on placing an eye just above the crossguard, and attaching it to the blade with sinew, before continuing to wrap sinew around the grip. From there he connected blood vessels to the eyes, spreading them out in pathways that made sense, in order to subsist on the blood it would need to be fed, before wrapping flesh around the entirety, and adding tendon and sinew on top of that at the grip.
Happily settled on things, he gathered some soil and packed it away, and made other arrangements to travel from his home near Wallachia, to Brașov, in order to hand-deliver the sword. The travel took many days, and went through a winding path through the Carpathian Mountains. Upon arrival in Brașov, Endrik was greeted warmly by his friend. Arrangements were made to dine, and he made a note to present the gift to her after he had accepted her hospitality.
When the time came, he took it from its wrappings, and presented it to her, the sword laying across his palms. Petra looked at it in awe, gently taking it from his hand and testing it.
“For me?” she asked.
“Indeed.” he smiled.
“Why?” she wondered aloud.
“I thought it to be a suitable gift for a knight, recently promoted to Prince of her own city.” he said.
Petra smiled. “Thank you, Endrik. It means much, and I shall keep it always.”
The two friends then set the sword aside, and caught up, as it had been years since they had seen one another.