Mulan signaled for Merida to stop, and the sound of singing steel died off after one last note played between their two blades.
"That was excellent." Mulan praised.
Merida grinned, happy with the progress she had made so far, and yet...she felt something stir in her at the prospect of ending their day already. She was grateful for all Mulan had shown her and clearly they had reached a good stopping point. Maybe there was a way to show her gratitude for all her help and patience?
"How'd you like to give it a go with a longbow? Try something different?" Merida offered suddenly.
Mulan paused for a moment. "I've never used a longbow before," she admitted in a measured manner.
"Well that's the idea, silly! Broaden your horizons!"
Merida raced towards the archery butts, motioning for Mulan to come with her. Merida's enthusiasm left her unaware of the small chuckle Mulan failed to conceal as she moved to follow.
It only took moments for Merida to choose a sturdy bow from the rack, and bring it along with a handful of freshly fletched arrows towards the waiting Mulan. Merida thrust the arrows down into the ground with a practiced and effortless motion in front of Mulan, before offering her the bow.
With her ever ready "can do" outlook on life, Merida mistook Mulan's moment of calculation for nerves as the warrior gingerly inspected the bow.
"It's not gonna bite ye. I promise." She grinned. "Come 'er and let me show ye how."
Mulan started slightly as Merida slid right behind her, reaching around to take her arms. She fixed Mulan's grip so she had a firm hold on the bow, before beginning to guide an arrow on to the taut string. "Hold it gently, not too rough but not too softly, either." She instructed, aiming as best she could from her angle, and pulled Mulan's arm back into a draw.
Thwack!
The shaft flew in a flash, striking the target's lower left edge.
"Not bad!" Merida hooted excitedly as she stepped back and clapped.
Mulan chuckled, and carefully nocked another arrow...
"There's no rush lassie-"
But Merida never got to finish as Mulan let off another shot, which flew straight and true.
Thwack!
The second arrow found its rest a hair to the right of the bulls-eye, leaving Merida speechless.
Mulan took the chance to watch her dumbstruck archery instructor, immensely thrilled to have rendered the usually boisterous woman silent.
"How did ye do that?" She finally asked, hands gesturing to implore an answer.
Mulan smiled slightly sheepishly. "I said I had never used a longbow before, not that I had never used any kind of bow before," she clarified in an almost impish tone.
Merida gave her a scolding glare, but could not hide the glint in her eye or the laugh that escaped her as the glare softened. She was thrilled to see a more playful side to Mulan come out, if a tad riled at being shown up.
Mulan waivered a bit under Merida's gaze, shifting her grip on the bow and turning her attention to it. "I have never tried to use a bow anywhere near this tall…" She continued on about the shorter composite bows she is used to from her homeland, but the words are lost on Merida.
You think that wee bit of wood is tall? Oh… Just you wait 'til you meet Angus… Merida thought gleefully.
