My lessons started immediately

My lessons started immediately. Randir taught me the basics every spare minute I had, not wanting to leave his sister unprepared. I caught on quickly, to his delight. We grew closer than we had ever been in those few days.

The third day, there was a sense of urgency to my lessons as Rand drilled me on how to combat multiple opponents. Enlisting the help of some of his friends, I struggled to meet the blades of each. As the sun set, I disarmed the last of my five opponents and collapsed on the forest floor. Rand offered a hand, and I gladly allowed him to pull me up. Sheathing my sword, I turned to find Marin and saw the prince coming towards us.

"You fight well," he commented to me. I raised an eyebrow and dipped a curtsy. He bowed in return. "I am no longer as troubled that you will be joining us on our journey to Imladris."

"I do not want to be a burden during the journey, your highness. Therefore, knowing the art of swordsmanship was obligatory." He seemed to take this as an invitation to continue.

"Well, your footwork is good; you think on your feet, an excellent trait. However, your blocks seem to come at odd angles. You'll tire your arms." He began a long lecture on some techniques of blocking, and then moved on to talk of battle strategies as I took Marin's reins and we began to walk from the practice fields. We then moved on to topics not related to fighting at all; talk of the upcoming winter festival and ball. When we came upon my family flet, I curtsied graciously, and he bowed in return. I then walked to my room, reflecting on the afternoon.

The next morning, an hour before dawn, I woke and reluctantly got out of bed. I jotted down letters to both Naneth and Randir, wishing them safety and telling them I'd see them soon. I then checked my bag, making sure I had everything I needed. I thought for a second and then fetched the book on Gondolin from my bedside and placed it at the top of my bag. Changing into a pair of leggings, a split riding skirt, a silver tunic and an olive green leather vest, I sheathed my sword at my belt and took my bag. Emerging from my room, I made my way to the kitchen, picking up the bundle containing lembas bread my mother had made the night before. A smaller sack was next to the lembas, and I opened it to find a half dozen seedcakes. I smiled at my mother's thoughtfulness and picked the two sacks up, walking out the door.

It took me a little while to saddle Marin; neither of us was used to riding with a saddle, but a long journey called for its use. Dropping my baggage and provisions into saddlebags, I mounted Marin and bid her canter to the palace.

Only two of the four guards were there when I arrived, talking in earnest to the prince. I dismounted Marin and led her to where everyone was assembled. I nodded acknowledgement to the prince and joined in the conversation as we waited on the other two guards. They came along shortly, and we all rode out of the city.

The prince was riding at the head of the column, I behind him. Although we had been conversing merrily as we rode from the palace, we all fell deathly silent as soon as we exited the gates, wary for spider and orc attacks. We did not speak until nightfall, when we only talked long enough to set up camp and establish watches. We all decided it would be best to have two elves take watch at a time, and I took first watch with a guard named Feredir, and it went by without any disturbance. The next two guards came to relieve our watch, and I was soon fast asleep by the dying fire.

When morning came, I was the first up, so I set about preparing breakfast and being careful not to wake the others. It wasn't quite dawn yet; it was probably twenty minutes before. Just as I had finished heating water to make tea, I heard a rustle to my left and turned around to watch as the prince woke.

It was endearing to watch, actually; his eyes focused slowly as he sat up, blinked, and looked around. Although he had been quite talkative the day before, he seemed like less of a morning person this day. I had to laugh, for it reminded me terribly of Randir when he was about sixty and still a child in so many ways. He became more alert as he heard me and walked over to the fire. Mumbling a morning greeting, he ate a piece of the lembas I had heated and buttered, staring off into the distance and brooding. Once he had eaten, he seemed a little more awake and assisted me in waking the rest of the company.

Two weeks of journeying passed in a similar fashion. Somewhere in the midst of all of it, as the company grew closer, Legolas had started to call me pîn gwathel, or little sister, and I, in return, had begun referring to him as Leaf. The guards were greatly amused at this, naturally, and jested about it many a time around the fire; that is, until Legolas and I decided to give each of them nicknames, all of them of a most unsavory nature. All I will say is that each and every one of the names sprung from orch, the Sindarin word for the vulgar creature known as an orc.

At last, we arrived at our destination. There had been only two orc attacks, both while we were in the forest and to be expected, but we were glad to see safe walls nonetheless. It was mid afternoon when our horses were led to the stables. Legolas and the guards were led to guest quarters while I was led to the home of my grandparents.

I had expected my father's family to be stern and cold; the letters I had received throughout my childhood had been very formal. I was greatly surprised. Two elves emerged from the house I was led to. They were smiling serenely, if not a little sadly, and seemed kind. As I dismounted Marin and thanked my guide, the elleth briskly walked over and enveloped me in a hug. The ellon soon followed suit.

"I'm glad you made it safely, Caladhiel. Your mother sent word ahead that you were coming in the company of several capable guards, but we were worried," my grandmother gushed. "Come inside, you look famished. I'll draw you a bath while you eat, as well." Bewildered, I was lead inside. Grandmother disappeared down a hallway and Grandfather beckoned for me to follow him to the kitchen. I sat down at the table as he brought over seedcakes and jam. I thanked him profusely and ate; I was relieved to have something besides the lembas I had been living on for two months. Grandmother swept in just as I took my last bite and took me by the arm, leading me to the back of the house. My pack had somehow gravitated to a spare bedchamber, and I was instructed to bathe and dress. Washing quickly, I retrieved a charcoal black gown with silver detailing and dressed. I fetched my book as well. After asking Grandmother for directions to the House of Elrond, I jogged to the gardens there and read for the rest of the afternoon.