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crack_van2005-01-22 08:10 am
espresso-addict.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2005-01-22 08:10 am
Entry tags:
Bargaining for Beginners by Honesty (PG-13)
Fandom: SILMARILLION
Pairing: Narvi/Celebrimbor
Author on LJ: n/a
Author Website: Honesty on ff.net
Why this must be read:
Thousands of years before Gimli ever met Legolas, the first canonical friendship between Dwarf and Elf featured Narvi, maker of the west gate of Moria (Khazad-dûm), and Celebrimbor, grandson of Feanor & smith of Eregion (Hollin). Honesty has fleshed out the hints from canon about Narvi into a rich & intriguing character who feels a lot more dwarf-like than many fanfictional portrayals. She also gives us a relatively light portrait of Celebrimbor, who Tolkien describes in Unfinished Tales as 'having an almost "dwarvish" obsession with crafts', without entirely forgetting his family's dark history.
The reader is also treated to delicious details of everyday life for Elves and Dwarves, thoughts on the nature of craftsbeingship, and glimpses into the very different philosophies of the two races. Honesty was the first to write about pre-Third Age Dwarves, as far as I'm aware, and the much-recommended 'Bargaining for Beginners' is a real classic.
“Well ... that was embarrassing, wasn’t it?” Narvi was back again, his face as sullen as ever. He seemed to get some kind of twisted pleasure from Celebrimbor’s discomfort. “You people don’t make a habit of haggling, do you?”
“Well ... no."
"Why not?"
"We just don't. Among our people, the artisan charges what the goods are worth, and the buyer pays it.”
“Without question?” Narvi’s face was incredulous.
“Yes. No Elf would dream of bargaining for goods - and we would not dream of charging too much deliberately. We trust each other. It is the Elven way.”
Narvi looked horrified. “You can’t do that here. They would bankrupt you.”
“So I see,” Celebrimbor said weakly. This was ridiculous. He couldn’t do this. Maybe he’d buy the rest of his tools somewhere else. There had to be other places nearby. If only he could buy mithril elsewhere...
He became aware of Narvi’s face staring up at him intently. “You haven’t changed your mind, have you? Only I’ll have to tell Gorin and...”
“I-”
It seemed cowardly to admit that he had been contemplating it, and even more cowardly not to admit it. Judging by the nervous look on Narvi’s face, Gorin would not be pleased at the idea of a potential customer being scared off.
If he backed out now, he would be alienating his people from their nearest neighbours. He would be making it harder for them to find good tools and raw materials. He would be unable to learn more about the Dwarves, and the remarkable skills they possessed.
Not to mention the fact that he could wave goodbye to the chance of ever getting his hands on any mithril.
He became aware that Narvi was still staring up at him. “I could teach you how, if you want.” The Dwarf-boy sounded suddenly very young and uncertain. “It isn’t hard.”
“You know how? To haggle?” But he’s only a child, Celebrimbor thought. Surely nobody would expect children to haggle for goods.
Narvi scowled at him, interpreting his incredulity as a slight on his skills. “My mother taught me. She’s good.”
Celebrimbor hesitated only for an instant. “I would be glad of your help, master Narvi.”
Bargaining for Beginners
Pairing: Narvi/Celebrimbor
Author on LJ: n/a
Author Website: Honesty on ff.net
Why this must be read:
Thousands of years before Gimli ever met Legolas, the first canonical friendship between Dwarf and Elf featured Narvi, maker of the west gate of Moria (Khazad-dûm), and Celebrimbor, grandson of Feanor & smith of Eregion (Hollin). Honesty has fleshed out the hints from canon about Narvi into a rich & intriguing character who feels a lot more dwarf-like than many fanfictional portrayals. She also gives us a relatively light portrait of Celebrimbor, who Tolkien describes in Unfinished Tales as 'having an almost "dwarvish" obsession with crafts', without entirely forgetting his family's dark history.
The reader is also treated to delicious details of everyday life for Elves and Dwarves, thoughts on the nature of craftsbeingship, and glimpses into the very different philosophies of the two races. Honesty was the first to write about pre-Third Age Dwarves, as far as I'm aware, and the much-recommended 'Bargaining for Beginners' is a real classic.
“Well ... that was embarrassing, wasn’t it?” Narvi was back again, his face as sullen as ever. He seemed to get some kind of twisted pleasure from Celebrimbor’s discomfort. “You people don’t make a habit of haggling, do you?”
“Well ... no."
"Why not?"
"We just don't. Among our people, the artisan charges what the goods are worth, and the buyer pays it.”
“Without question?” Narvi’s face was incredulous.
“Yes. No Elf would dream of bargaining for goods - and we would not dream of charging too much deliberately. We trust each other. It is the Elven way.”
Narvi looked horrified. “You can’t do that here. They would bankrupt you.”
“So I see,” Celebrimbor said weakly. This was ridiculous. He couldn’t do this. Maybe he’d buy the rest of his tools somewhere else. There had to be other places nearby. If only he could buy mithril elsewhere...
He became aware of Narvi’s face staring up at him intently. “You haven’t changed your mind, have you? Only I’ll have to tell Gorin and...”
“I-”
It seemed cowardly to admit that he had been contemplating it, and even more cowardly not to admit it. Judging by the nervous look on Narvi’s face, Gorin would not be pleased at the idea of a potential customer being scared off.
If he backed out now, he would be alienating his people from their nearest neighbours. He would be making it harder for them to find good tools and raw materials. He would be unable to learn more about the Dwarves, and the remarkable skills they possessed.
Not to mention the fact that he could wave goodbye to the chance of ever getting his hands on any mithril.
He became aware that Narvi was still staring up at him. “I could teach you how, if you want.” The Dwarf-boy sounded suddenly very young and uncertain. “It isn’t hard.”
“You know how? To haggle?” But he’s only a child, Celebrimbor thought. Surely nobody would expect children to haggle for goods.
Narvi scowled at him, interpreting his incredulity as a slight on his skills. “My mother taught me. She’s good.”
Celebrimbor hesitated only for an instant. “I would be glad of your help, master Narvi.”
Bargaining for Beginners