"What is this, this gold water. It is neither ale nor wine. Elves...nothing is as it should be" Leof drained his fourth drink and picked up a leaf from his plate and stared at it. Willing it to turn into meat in his hand.
"It may not be ale, but it's strong. I can feel it warming my bones!" Boromir seemed to be warming up to the drink and the company.
Leof was about to initiate a conversation with the man from Dale to his left in the Great Hall when a vision in green silk passed by him. He may not like Elvish manners, he thought to himself, but they were the most beautiful beings. He watched as the dark haired elf passed him. Regal looking, nose high in the air. She carried herself with the grace and dignity he had seen in all Elves over the course of the day. He didn't think it seemed fair, that such agility and fluid motions should come naturally to one race, when he found it hard enough not to trip over his own feet most of the time. Then he laughed heartily as she tripped over a chair and sprawled to the floor. When she got up she kicked the chair in anger, hopping from foot to foot as it clearly had hurt her toes more than the chair. She caught his eyes, hers widening in surprise.
"Sir, it is impolite to laugh at a Lady's misfortune"
"My apologies my lady -may I offer my service. Perhaps I could remove all the chairs from this hall so as not to obstruct you further?" He stifled a laugh, eyes bleary.
Shocked at this disrespect for her rank and her race, Santiel straightened her back and squared her shoulders.
"Perhaps, my Lord, you should consider minding your courtesy. Or do you need to be taught basic manners when addressing your superiors?" Coolly she looked at him.
Leof pushed back his chair and stood, unsteadily. Who was this woman to speak to him so? A decorated knight. A warrior of Gondor.
"Perhaps you were not raised in such a way where you understood your place!" He hissed, unused to being spoken to in such a fashion and unaware of the strength of the Elven wine he had consumed.
Icily she replied "Sir, you appear unable to handle your wine. Should you wish to continue this conversation, I am happy to demonstrate my place to you. Perhaps in the training grounds outside? Sun up tomorrow?" She gave him one last look of contempt before walking away.
"Tell me, Ilune, why did we come to their aid?" She muttered to her companion as she took her seat next to Arwen under the canopy, "And tell me, am I the only clumsy elf?"
Boromir had pulled his friend back to his seat, unable to contain his mirth.
"My friend I hope you are not considering attending this meeting tomorrow? We are here to gain allies not beat little girls in the gardens" Laughing at the look on Leofs face, the incredulous disbelief at the conversation he had just had, Boromir recommended he retire for the evening and sleep off his wine.
Leof stood, swaying slightly, glaring over at the two women talking animatedly on the raised dais. The woman in green looked so familiar, but he couldn't place her in his memory. Some handmaiden belonging to the Lady Arwen, he assumed. She glanced up at him, he scowled in return, a headache descending over him already. He stumbled off to find a bed to collapse in.
Birds were singing. Leof opened one eye to see Boromir standing over him. He groaned and sat up, anticipating a sore head. However he was surprised to find that he felt well rested and refreshed. Opening his eyes fully he looked at the man in front of him.
"I have to go and meet a woman, who wishes to fight with me, because I insulted her by accident, do I not?" A vague memory of the conversation came back to him.
"Aye, you were not yourself. But I suggest you do not insult her further by not going. Go, let her hit you once maybe twice. Then leave. You owe her that much. And then hurry back. The Council begins after lunch" He threw Leof his clothes and his sword and waited for him to dress. Sighing, he took them and was just strapping his sword to his side when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in"
In strolled an Elf, tall, striking but clearly battle worn, with a merciless glint in his eye.
"My lord I am come to escort you to the training area, it would be unfortunate if you did not know where it was and disappointed our mutual friend, she awaits you"
"Thank you, umm..."
"Ilune, my Lord"
"Thank you Ilune. Please, just call my Leof. Lead the way" Looking helplessly at Boromir, Leof followed the Elf outside.
"Tell me Ilune, have I met you before?"
"I shall await such a time as your memory returns to you, before I answer that" Ilune walked on ahead, apparently not willing to enter a conversation.
They soon reached the training area. Looking around Leof saw that quite a few people from the dinner last night had appeared. Strange that they should wish to watch the humiliation of a woman, he wondered idly. Perhaps it is as uncommon here as it is in Gondor to be called out by a woman.
Walking into the arena, he saw her immediately. Her hair was pulled back tightly and she was dressed today in supple brown leathers, accented by intricate silver work depicting trees and ivy inlaid into the forearms and shoulders and around the chest. She moved towards him.
"I see you have brought your sword? As you wish. I have no sword but I am happy for you to use yours" she stepped a few paces away from him. He was about to gallantly throw his sword to the side when she ran at him, jumping high in the air she kicked him squarely in the jaw. He fell to the ground, ears ringing. Looking up at her standing over him, she smirked. He drew his sword. Elves... He thought again, I may not be able to fly through the air, but brute strength, weaponry and skill are on my side.
He took several steps to gain his bearing, raised his sword, and charged. She sidestepped him at the last minute but not before he swung back and caught the back of her legs with his foot.
Feeling stupidly pleased with himself, and yet ashamed for flooring a woman, he stepped back, but as he turned he realised she was not on the floor. Too late, his mistake was apparent - he had let his guard down and he felt her kick to his chest before he saw her foot. Stumbling back he reached out and grabbed her foot but she twisted away, circling him, she ran at him. Inhuman in her speed - he thought quickly and as she came at him he swung his sword up and out so that she had no choice but to alter her course, she jumped up and raised both feet to his chest to knock him down, however he was too solid and she was forced to land on her feet in front of him, allowing him to lift his sword to her chest. She looked him deep in the eye, but just as he thought she was about to concede he realised she had slipped his dagger from his belt and was holding it to his neck. He lowered his sword and she sprang away, he ran at her, angry now. She jumped into the air and twisted around him knocking him to the floor. Then it was over, he had no choice but to admit defeat the moment she straddled his chest and he felt the points of two exceptionally sharp blades against his throat. Fluidly standing up, she watched him as he stood. He then noticed the two long, slightly curved blades she held in both hands. Icy white steel, with beautiful hilts. She wielded them like extensions of her own limbs. He remembered then.
"You! It was you we saw at the Greyflood!" Disbelief and shock were in his voice. Here she was, this strange being he didn't even know had been real.
She bowed slightly, mockingly.
"I believe today's lesson in manners is ended. Twice now I have shown you reason to respect me, twice more than I needed" her tone was derisive and Leof felt utterly stupid. A feeling he hated.
"Forgive me, my behaviour at dinner was most unlike my normal self. Never have I showed discourtesy to a woman - regardless of rank. Your wine is strong and I am unused to consuming wine in any quantity. I owe you gratitude for your skill on our journey and I owe you my deepest apologies for our previous encounter" He bowed stiffly.
"Your forgiveness is in today's defeat. As to the rest, you have proved to me the plague that is man. Rude and uncouth. I have no use for your words. Excuse me, I must leave"
"You speak of manners - and yet an apology is offered up and you would walk away with no acceptance? This is poor manners indeed!" Leof called out after her retreating back, feeling anger rise within him.
The noise of the crowd then started to rush in to his hearing and he remembered he was not alone. Looking over at the group of people laughing and cheering still, he hastily retreated. Red faced and with rage in his stomach.
Boromir clapped him in the shoulder.
"Come now! You did not have to let her win completely, you could have protected your reputation a little Leofred!" His mood was jovial, as if they were boys again and scuffling in the gardens.
"Boromir, I do not wish to discuss her or this topic again. Let us eat and then make towards the council. We have a long day ahead of us"
At this Boromir became somber. Remembering why they were here he looked at Leof.
"Do you think they will help us? Do you think they will have the answer to the riddle? It is my destiny to save Gondor. To seek glory for our city." He gazed across the valley. "Isildurs bane, the sword that was broken. These words have weighed heavily in my heart" he exhaled and started towards the house. Leof followed him, wondering what the day would bring next to test him.
