[Plot] Things they would not teach me of in college

[Narrator]

Angharad has been busy while Vivienne has been away. She's already prised the stone from the ring, the setting sitting off to the side. A smelting pot is positioned by the forge, cold for the moment but ready to be heated.

Angharad right now has a jeweler's loupe on as she carves a small piece of wax.

[Vivienne Chinnoir]

It took some time but Vivienne made her way back to the campus and away again without notice. She stepped lightly into the forge, hopeful she chose the right items.

“Forgemistress, I have returned.”

[Narrator]

"Ah, this is good," she says, not looking up from her work.

"I am nearly done carving the new ring."

[Vivienne Chinnoir]

She placed her items on a table and walked closer.

“May I?”

[Narrator]

"I'd say this fits the story, wouldn't you?"

She holds out the sculpted wax, and the band is now two wolves circling around a raven. The raven itself will serve as the setting, its wings wrapping around where the stone would go.

[Vivienne Chinnoir]

“You truly are beautifully skilled. I have the items you requested. I hope the will be what’s needed.”

She moved to the table where she left the wrapped items. She unwrapped them and took out a small bundle of silver dust and three embroidered patches.

[Narrator]

"Something that could actually hurt you," she says, holding up the satchel of dust.

[Vivienne Chinnoir]

"It self, no. Why it came to be, yes. Now, just a memory."

[Narrator]

"So this isn't just silver?" She quirks a meaty brow.

[Vivienne Chinnoir]

"It is complicated. Long ago I made a child's oath to the Raven Queen. After I came of age I was summoned to the Grey Court and in true innocence took a second oath to serve them thinking them fair. It quickly became a truly foul thing to bare. In time I met mortal vessel of the Morrigan, Samantha. She made a bracelet for me and opened herself to the Raven to take a hold of my first oath and ease some of the pain of the Grey Lord's hold on me."

[Narrator]

"A very good choice," she nods, emptying the sachet into the cold smelting pot.

"Tell me about these," she gestures to the patches.

[Vivienne Chinnoir]

"These I made for myself, Samantha and Tereza. My way of showing them that I saw them and loved them. A promise made that I would always come back to them, no mater how long it took."

She placed the badges down one by one.

"The Raven...and her wolves of silver...and gold. Samantha, Tereza and me."

[Narrator]

"Then I think I have everything I need. You may stay to watch if you wish, but some of it won't be terribly exciting."

[Vivienne Chinnoir]

“If you do not mind. I promise to stay out of your way.”

[Narrator]

"By all means, then."

It takes awhile for Angharad to make a mold around the wax she'd sculpted, but then things pick up pace. She smelts the silvery dust with the original ring and setting, then pours it into the mold. After a bit of cooling, she breaks the mold apart, and starts filing away at the ring to refine it. Ultimately she melts down the badges and does the silver and gold work on the band, leaving the raven in the center a darker metal.

Now, she stands before Vivienne with the band and setting in one hand, and the stone in the other.

"You may find this last a bit... disorienting, as the new story settles upon you."

[Vivienne Chinnoir]

Vivienne sat silently, her eyes closed. She focused her mind on her intentions, weaving her will into the story of her life, their lives. Pulling the magic from the inky darkness into the light.

[Narrator]

The troll carefully sets the stone into the ring, the aspects of the story coming together as it's fully fixed into the setting. Vivienne is the Morrigan's wolf now, for good or ill.

"That about does it," she murmurs, rising from the workbench with the completed ring in the palm of her hand.

[Vivienne Chinnoir]

"Your work is greatly appreciated. If you ever wish to see the Eastern coast, I will happily provide you with hospitality."

She held out her hand for the ring as she spoke.

[Narrator]

"It's your mother I owe the debt to, for providing sanctuary," she says as she hands Viv the ring.

"She's invited me to dinner this night. Something about wanting to eat more oranges? I confess, I didn't get what she was on about."

[Vivienne Chinnoir]

"Oh?" Vivienne's expression mirrored Angharad confusion, but only for a moment.


"Oh! Oh my. Well then. Trees and apples. If all offered is to your liking you should have a very delightful evening."

[Narrator]

"I'm not usually one for your mother's fetes, but she said this would be private," she shrugs.