The bridge was really taking shape now, and Phoebe was proud of the progress they had made in such a short time. Now it was high time for some combined teamwork.
"Hadama, could you bring the bridge over here so Ronin and I can tie off the ends?" Phoebe called. She would have told Jude to help but the bridge would be heavy and she didn't trust he could withstand the current of the Stone Symphony.
Once the bridge was brought over, she set to tying one of the ends of rope through the bottom hole of the first post. "While Ronin and I do this, can you tie the support ropes to the bottom rope?" Phoebe asked Hadama. This task required being in the water and he was best equipped for the task.
"Jude, watch how Ronin ties the rope so you can learn how." Phoebe instructed her son. From here on out it would be adult work but he could still learn a lesson or two.
@Ronin - time to tie the bottom ropes to the posts!
@Jude - watch and learn how to tie strong knots!
@Hadama - bring the bridge portion over to the group then tie off the support lines to the bottom rope!
GO TEAM GO!
Hadama was gratified with how the bridge came together and he tilted his head in acknowledgment of @Jude's compliment. "You will be able to as well, when you are older," he reassured the boy. If he had even a fraction of his mother's strength he would grow into a strong man indeed one day.
But that mother was ready to finish the bridge's construction, it seemed, as the poles looked properly and firmly set. The mermanta gathered the long stretch of wood and rope and swam with it over to where Phoebe waited. He watched her thread the end of the rope and then nodded at her instruction, pulling himself partially out of the water so he could comfortably follow suit with the ropes that attached the plank-side of the bridge to the lower portion of the support posts.
Hadama brings the bridge over and ties off the bottom ropes!
Already crouched and ready for more rope-bridge-action, Ronin also can't resist a soft smile to himself to see the construction begin to come together. [say]"Made many bridges before?"[/say] he calls to @Hadama, his tone jovial and light. He wonders how many bridges existed underwater, given the whole ability to swim and not fall to one's death thing.
Enough of that, though; there's rope to tie and young ones to teach. [say]"Alright,"[/say] he says to @Jude, holding the material in his hands and moving slowly so the boy could take note. [say]"You'd think that just tying a bigger and bigger knot would make it stronger, right? But knots are pretty sneaky things, and there's a lot of different types. The sailors in Torchline probably know every type of knot there is."[/say]
Ronin ties rope and teaches Jude!
When he's older. It seems all of his peers, family, friends, they are obsessed with this notion of 'older'. Jude had done it himself as a child, though he doesn't remember the specifics, only a vague wanting that had been fulfilled. He has entertained doing it again, but he doesn't truly mind being young. So he smiles at Hadama, content, and pleased to be the recipient of such wisdom.
It seems there is wisdom abound to be imparted, because he is called away back to Ronin's side, eyes wide with a slight worry that he won't recall the way it's shown. Still, he is an eager pupil, and Ronin has displayed himself to be a wonderful teacher, so Jude perches at his side and tries to focus harder than he ever has. [say]"Do you think they'd teach me after this, if I forget?"[/say] Though he stares unblinking, comically conspicuous, to try and ensure he doesn't.
- - -
Jude sponges some knowledge!
With knots tied tight the bridge was finally assembled. It was a simple bridge, but effective. Now it was time to test it.
Phoebe straightened and looked the bridge over. It seemed she would be the best tester given her ability to teleport should anything go awry. Taking the first step, she carefully made her way across the bridge, which did sway with her steps but held up strong. Reaching the side Ronin and Jude were on she beamed brightly.
"It's perfect!" She said with a delighted clap of her hands. "Thank you everyone for all of your help." She said, looking to Ronin, Hadama, and Jude.
The bridge is done! Congratulations! I will leave this thread open for final comments if you wish for a short period of time.
"Yes," the merman called back to @Ronin, mischief gleaming in green eyes as he finished his own knots. "Though not like this one." His bridges had been of a more metaphorical nature since taking the crown, but he'd helped sink a few bridge supports across canals, too.
His well-intentioned words to Jude were those of an adult who had not been a child in a very long time (and one who wasn't used to the rapid aging so common among the human youth), but he was content to let the boy watch his knots and tied them slowly as much so that Jude could learn as to ensure that they were as secure as he could make them.
The finished product was not something he foresaw himself ever needing to use, but meeting more inhabitants of the Greatwood had been worth the time. "You are welcome," he offered to Phoebe, inclining his head. "I hope I will see you and your son again." Either here or on the coast of Torchline.
Hadama out!
Straightening up and stretching out his arms and shoulders, Ronin is grinning to see Phoebe march across the bridge without getting dunked into the Stone Symphony, and he inclines his head to her in response to the thanks. [say]"It was a pleasure,"[/say] he says, raising a hand to wave goodbye to Hadama as the Mer makes his departure. [say]"Besides, it's been a long time since I was in the Greatwood. It was nice to spend some time here again."[/say]
It had been where he'd lived and was (by and large) the happiest he'd been with Remi leading up to the war. Alas, things always change, but it's with a pleasant sense of nostalgia that he glances around at the trees. [say]"If you need a hand with anything else, letters always reach us,"[/say] he says, knowing Phoebe already knows but feeling like he has to say it anyway. [say]"And you make sure you look after your mother, okay?"[/say] he adds, flashing a smile at Jude.
A little more light conversation and testing of the bridge, and it's time for Ronin to take his leave as well, the Huntsman disappearing into the forest like he is still very much a part of it.
Ronin out!
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