"Good," said Legolas, watching as the arrow you had unleashed impaled itself into a nearby tree.
You smiled and threaded another arrow. Archery lessons with Legolas were the highlight of your day, even though his superiority with a bow made you feel incredibly inept with it. Although, for the first time today, you had actually managed to hit something, so you figured you must be improving.
Your next arrow flew straight from your bow, borrowed from Legolas, and thudded depressingly into the soft ground, far away from your target.
"Drat," you sighed, disheartened, kicking the grassy floor with your foot.
"No, don't stop," urged Legolas, coming up to stand beside you, "Try again."
You rolled your eyes, but threaded the bow anyway, following his orders.
"Now aim," he said, looking at you.
You had to admit, his close proximity to you was a bit distracting, but you tried to ignore it, and sighted down the shaft of the arrow with one eye, aiming at the large tree before you. You exhaled slowly, and let go of the string, firing straight.
A loud thud filled the forest as your arrow shot into the thick trunk. You let out a surprised laugh and turned to Legolas, grinning, to see him looking at you, also smiling.
"Well done," he said, taking the bow from you and placing it on the floor, "I think that's enough for today.
"Yeah, I guess so," you replied, rubbing your hands together to get the blood flowing back into them.
"You are a good student," Legolas told you.
"Well," you chuckled, walking past him and giving him a friendly slap on the butt, "You're a pretty good teacher."
Legolas froze, his eyes widening as you sauntered off.
"Have I offended you, (your name)?" he called to you.
"What?" you replied, walking back to him.
"You, you hit me. Have I offended you in any way? I assure you, I am terribly sorry if I did…"
Your mouth quirked up as you realised what he was talking about.
"Oh, no, no. That's just like, a way of saying well done…"
"You hit your friends to congratulate them?" he enquired, one eyebrow raising in confusion.
You giggled and put your hand on his shoulder, "I guess when you put it like that… it sounds pretty weird, huh?"
"Weird." agreed Legolas, still trying to comprehend what had just happened.
"Well," you said, stepping back and putting your hands on your hips, "You know how guys pat each other on the backs as a greeting? It's kind of like that."
"Really," mused Legolas, beginning to comprehend your meaning, "I see."
You bent down to pick up the bow, which was lying on the floor next to a full quiver of arrows, and stood up, facing to go back to base camp, where Aragorn and Gimli sat warming themselves by the dwindling fire.
"Hungry?" you asked, setting off.
"Starving," Legolas replied, following behind you.
"Oh, and by the way," he added, catching up with you, "Good shooting today, you're improving."
You were about to say "Thanks," when you felt Legolas' hand connect firmly with your backside, leaving it stinging. You stopped walking, eyes wide, as you watched Legolas saunter off in front of you, walking towards Aragorn and Gimli.
"We can practice again tomorrow," he called behind him, as you blinked ferociously, and began to follow him, convincing yourself that, yes, that had actually happened.
"Wow," you breathed to yourself, as you finally shook yourself out of shock and stepped towards the sound of conversation and laughing coming from the small fire surrounded by your friends.
You had an idea that tomorrow's archery lesson would be very interesting…