Heart of Maned
One day, Maned visited his followers, the dwarves, to once more teach them about the secrets of the metal and to celebrate and sing with them, as he did so many times before. But as the celebration went on, Maned noticed a dwarven maid sitting alone, in a dark corner, not touching her drink and with a sorrowful look upon her eyes.
Maned went to her, asking her to dance, but she politely declined. He laughed, thinking about how he himself was once shy about his dancing and instead offered her the best of this hall's mead but again, she politely declined. Seeing her sad look not going away, he got worried and he asked her to laugh, but she declined once more.
"What would I have to laugh for, if my life is ending?" she asked him. And Maned looked closer and realized, that she was ill, her heart was failing. Deep sadness overcame him and he decided to help this maid.
He worked tirelessly and after a week, he had created a magical metal hart. He whispered the name of the maid - Leonore - and the heart began to beat on his own. Maned went to Leonore and offered this heart to her, so that she may live a long life.
But again, she politely declined.
Maned went to her, asking her to dance, but she politely declined. He laughed, thinking about how he himself was once shy about his dancing and instead offered her the best of this hall's mead but again, she politely declined. Seeing her sad look not going away, he got worried and he asked her to laugh, but she declined once more.
"What would I have to laugh for, if my life is ending?" she asked him. And Maned looked closer and realized, that she was ill, her heart was failing. Deep sadness overcame him and he decided to help this maid.
He worked tirelessly and after a week, he had created a magical metal hart. He whispered the name of the maid - Leonore - and the heart began to beat on his own. Maned went to Leonore and offered this heart to her, so that she may live a long life.
But again, she politely declined.
"Who am I, to cheat death, even if granted by a god?"
And Maned saw the wisdom in this and this was the moment he realized he was in love with her. Because when he fashioned the heart, a part of his heart flowed into it as well. And he grew sad, that Leonore won't live as long as he would.
But as she saw his sad look on his eyes, she finally smiled and asked him to dance. And they danced and drank and laughed together and felt the deep connection of love.
Right up to her very last heartbeat.
But the Heart of Maned still pulses of its own and it will continue to do so, granting health and happiness to everybody that holds it. It will continue to do so, as long as Maned keeps the memory of Leonore.
And the memory of a god remains forever.
But as she saw his sad look on his eyes, she finally smiled and asked him to dance. And they danced and drank and laughed together and felt the deep connection of love.
Right up to her very last heartbeat.
But the Heart of Maned still pulses of its own and it will continue to do so, granting health and happiness to everybody that holds it. It will continue to do so, as long as Maned keeps the memory of Leonore.
And the memory of a god remains forever.
Excerpt from "The Book of Maned"
created around 150 AR
Etched in steel plates, sitting in the great hall of Kimanur
created around 150 AR
Etched in steel plates, sitting in the great hall of Kimanur
Item type
Unique Artifact
Rarity
Unique
Weight
1 kg
A sad story, but a touching one with a wisdom to it and a myth that stems nicely from it. Has the Heart of Maned passed through many hands? What sort of people have come across it?
Check out my summercamp by going here and checking out any of my gold-star articles!