The first morning Aragorn came in and woke me up was I think the day I died a little bit inside. He yanked the shutters open, allowing cool air and light from outside to billow in. I flinched and buried myself deeper in the covers.

'What do you think you're doing?!' I shrieked

'Getting you out of bed so that I may train you' Aragorn replied 'Now get up and it will be less painful for you'

'Go away dude' I grumbled

He grabbed the quilt and yanked it away from me before grabbing my ankle and dragging me off the bed. I yelled the whole time before landing on my backside on the floor. I just sat grumbling until he threw a pile of clothes in my face.

'Get dressed and meet me in the dining hall' He ordered

I started to gather the clothes but he cleared his throat and I looked up at him. He pointed a finger at me sternly.

'Do not make me come back up here' He ordered before leaving.

I carried on grumbling to myself as I picked myself up and got dressed. I managed to tie my hair up in a ponytail and wash my face before going down to the dining hall. Aragorn was sat there with Legolas and when I sat down Aragorn pushed a bowl of porridge towards me and told me to eat quickly.

Pretty soon I found myself running around Rivendell in a warm up jog. It was hard work keeping up with his enormous strides and I developed a raging stitch quickly but I was determined to keep up with him.

'I can slow my pace' He called back once

'No' I puffed 'It's fine'

I could practically see the smug smirk on his face but I was too out of breath to put up much fight. After that he taught me a few stretches before practically throwing a familiar wooden stave at me.

I had thought Boromir was strict but Aragorn was downright harsh compared. He showed me a few defensive moves before launching me straight into a fight. He floored me almost instantly in the first round before making me get up and do more.

'You can't expect me to fight to your level' I yelled from the ground on my back for the tenth time.

'The enemy would not show you any mercy so neither shall I' He replied 'You will learn quicker this way'

By lunch time I was battered, he avoided smacking me in the head or face but everywhere else had been fair game to him. I think I only managed to hit him a handful of times.

The hobbits had taken pity on me at lunch, they had shoved a decent plateful of food at me and encouraged me to eat. I needed the energy, I had archery practice with Legolas, a history lesson with Elrond and then I had to do some studying with Gandalf still to do. I groaned and held my head, everywhere hurt.

'It's only midday, but I can't wait until I can go to bed and I'm already not looking forward to tomorrow' I complained

So Legolas and I discovered I was far better with a bow than I was with a sword but I still felt it was useless. I wasn't very good at long-range yet and since I couldn't use a sword, I had a very small window of opportunity to get rid of an enemy using a bow.

'For a beginner, it is promising' Legolas had encouraged 'You will improve this skill well'

Legolas had a very merciful teaching style, he was not heavy handed at all. Choosing to praise rather than berate me, gentle corrections to alter things. There was something calming about Legolas which made him easier to learn from than Aragorn and even Boromir.

I found the history lessons tedious but not boring. I had always enjoyed history at school and even though I had previously considered this all fiction, I was interested to learn. Elrond was, weirdly, the most normal teacher I experienced. He made me sit at a desk with paper and a pencil, I would listen to him lecture, take notes and then look up what he referenced in books. The whole thing was bizzare.

My lessons with Gandalf were still in the same, still meditating and not seeing any real results.

'You must search within yourself' Gandalf would urge 'Clear your mind and find the source of power within yourself'

I opened an eye to look at him irritably 'I don't even know what I'm looking for. I don't feel any different in myself from when I left home and arrived here…other than more patience when dealing with Pippin. I suspect from the breathing exercises'

Gandalf chuckled 'We know for sure, my dear, that the dagger Aragorn gave you was lit up with fire'

'Yeah?'

'You manifested for the first time with fire. All magic is elemental in nature, since you used fire first, perhaps your strongest magic will come from that'

'Okay' I replied

Gandalf smiled at my lack of arguing, we'd come to the agreement that if I didn't argue with him he'd dedicate more time to me and get Aragorn to ease off a bit.

'Try searching for a heat source inside your soul first. Breathe deeply and relax fully and you should have no trouble finding it' Gandalf assured me.

I sighed and went back to deep breathing with my eyes closed. This went on until dinner time in the evening, still nothing. Gandalf patted my shoulder reassuringly.

'There's time yet, my dear' He said kindly.

I rolled my eyes. Between the heavy lessons with Aragorn, archery with Legolas which was so far my favourite lesson, Elrond was moving on from history to elvish language and the geography of Middle-Earth. I was learning a vast amount from Elrond so I viewed his lessons as the most practical. Aragorn wasn't getting very far with me, I managed a three hit fight, not challenging for him at all. He was easing back on his aggression but he still firmly believed that all out fighting with me would be better than drilling moves. Even so I was still useless and with Winter moving in and the rest of the scouts planned to return in a month, I felt everything was riding on producing some magic with Gandalf.

It wasn't until we were due to leave in a week that something happened. I was fighting with Aragorn as usual but today he was being much harsher and I was stressed, the day before he'd hit my hand by accident and I was still very much in pain. Since it was the hand I gripped the stave with I wasn't holding onto it very well. He'd actually just hit me in the face with his stave and it had knocked me onto my back. We'd had a no hits above the shoulder rule which he blatantly just broken.

'Sophie, you must try harder!' He urged

I had sweat running off my face, I was covered in bruises which were in varying degrees of healing all over my arms, legs and body, my head was constantly aching these days and I looked up at him in a rage.

'I'll give you try harder!' I bellowed

I scrambled to my feet and ran at him, swinging the stave back, I had hoped he'd look frightened but instead he'd got this sort of gleam in his eye. It just made me angrier and I let out a raged scream. Suddenly it was like Weathertop and the stave lit up in flames. Aragorn's eyes widened in shock and I swung the stave down, instead of blocking it, he ducked out of the way. As soon as I actually saw what had happened I stopped swinging the stave around.

'Sophie!'

'I don't know what to do!' I yelled

The fire didn't seem to be burning into the stave, almost coating it. I held it up to inspect it.

'Sophie!'

I looked around, Gandalf stood on an overhanging balcony. That was all it took to break my focus on the stave and the fire went out. I looked back at it, slightly disappointed once I realised that my only show of my supposed power was the result of getting angry, exactly what I'd been trying to avoid. I lowered the stave, feeling my shoulders slump in disappointment as Gandalf approached. I looked around, waiting for the telling off, instead I was surprised when Gandalf strode right past me and smacked Aragorn upside the head with his staff.

'Fool! Did I not tell you that you've been pushing her too hard? Did I not tell you to keep her calm and instead you anger her?' Gandalf seethed

'She made the first fire in weeks!' Aragorn argued while rubbing the back of his head 'Is that not a result?'

'You were pushing me?' I asked

Both Gandalf and Aragorn turned to me, a look of regret crossed Aragorn's features when he saw how confused I looked.

'Sophie-' He started but I cut him off.

'No! Gandalf and I had it planned and sorted! You can't just go around trying to make me angry to get that to happen!' I looked around 'What if I'd blown this entire place up? What if I hurt you?'

'Sophie-'

'No' I threw down the stave 'I don't want to hear it'

I walked away, rubbing my cheek where Aragorn had managed to swipe me. I could see why he'd pushed me, I hadn't had any result but it had been a risk. I could've directed that fire anywhere by mistake seeing as I had no idea on how to control it once I'd conjoured it.

I found myself going to the archery field to try to find Legolas, his presence was calming and he usually had good advice. I was disappointed to find he wasn't there though. Boromir had tried to teach me how to tell the time with the sun but I could usually only estimate, even so I could see I was far too early.

I sat down, pulling an arrow off the board as I went down. I sat cross-legged with it in my hands and inspected it. The fact that I used fire was risky, how could I hurt anyone simply by shooting water at them? How hurt would anyone really be if I accidentally threw a stone at them? I grimaced at the thought of accidentally setting one of the hobbits on fire and winced, rubbing my cheek again.

'What a dick' I said outloud 'Not only did he wind me up on purpose, he rattled my teeth around to do it!'

I threw myself back to lie on the ground, still rubbing my sore cheek. Now that I wasn't in the heat of the moment, I could feel all the bumps and bruises more keenly. He'd been rougher with me today but I had to be honest with myelf, even though he'd battered me, I was more hurt by the fact that he'd done it to make me mad. I must've laid there awhile, thinking about everything before Legolas actually turned up.

'Have you been here long?' He asked, looking down at me with a perfectly raised eyebrow.

I squinted up at him, he was stood right in the sunlight 'Yeah, an hour I think'

He knelt down next to me as I sat up and bushed a finger along my bruised cheek. It was the slightest of touches but I flinched.

'Ooo, ow, don't touch it!' I scowled

'Sparring accident?' Legolas asked

'Funny you should assume it was an accident' I replied

Legolas cocked his head in confusion 'I do not understand'

'Yeah well, why don't you ask Aragorn about his wonderful idea to make me mad on purpose because he was hoping I'd make fire' I took a breath 'So he hit me in the face'

I stood up 'In fact, he hit everywhere much harder! I'm sick of aching all over, I'm pretty sure his sparring is why I'm struggling with archery'

'How so?' Legolas asked

'You said if it hurt when I stretched then I'm pulling the bow wrong and guess what? Every day it hurts, no matter how I do it. I can't find what's comfortable because everywhere is uncomfortable, every limb hurts'

Legolas stood up and blocked my pacing path, I looked up at him but he held his hand up to stop me talking.

'Why did you not say anything sooner?' He asked calmly

I looked down 'I didn't want anyone to think I'm weak'

'No one would've thought that' Legolas replied

'Yes they would!' I argued 'I'm at a huge disadvantage here! Not only do I have zero combat experience, I'm also a woman! Don't think I'm naïve enough that I don't know what you're all thinking!'

Legolas shook his head 'I would not judge you by those standards. The man Boromir and the dwarf might've but no one else here will. Elven women often have the same jobs and ranks in life as men, there is no elf here that would judge you simply for your gender, Aragorn has been raised with elves, he knows better than that and the hobbits admire you for your courage'

He placed his hands on my shoulders 'There is no shame in admitting you are struggling to cope with workload, it is difficult for any beginner and everyone here has been in your place. Everyone here has experienced how you feel'

I looked down, feeling my aches and pains even more now I was calming down. Legolas must've sensed my emotional shift and he guided me to a bench.

'Sit down and rest' Legolas suggested

I didn't argue, simply sitting down and shutting my eyes to breathe. Legolas sat next to me.

'Gandalf has been meditating with you to try and help you find your power?' He asked after a while.

'Yeah, but it's not really working. I struggle with getting my mind to stop for two seconds' I replied

'You should have said, I could have helped you sooner' Legolas retorted

I opened one eye to look sideways at him 'I'm not sure'

'Explain your issue to me' Legolas tried patiently 'Elves meditate for many reasons, some more than others granted but I found it helped me focus'

I looked away and lent my elbows on my knees 'It's hard to explain…..Gandalf told me I'd feel my power, but I feel nothing. If it wasn't for the fact it was quite clearly me that made the fire earlier I'd believe he'd got the wrong person. I can feel a sort of block though when I try to look, like a wall'

Legolas nodded thoughtfully 'I have experienced that myself'

I looked back up at him and he looked at me gently.

'It is yourself who has put that there, not on purpose. It can be many things or one thing. Maybe fear, self-doubt, anger but the main thing is, is that it is a negative thing. You say you thought Mithrandir had maybe found the wrong person?'

I nodded. I felt very stripped down, trying to talk about what I was feeling. Opening up was never something I did.

'I don't feel like I'm worth what Gandalf thinks. He told me I'm supposed to be powerful, but I only ever felt powerful while I'm doing what I want, when I'm in complete control over a situation. Ever since I got here, literally the first day I've not been in control. Aragorn led me here, everyone is telling me what to do and how to do it and I can't do everything they're telling me to' I paused 'Aragorn tells me to block his attacks and I can't, Elrond tells me to memorize everything he teaches me and I can't and Gandalf is telling me it's simple to find what I'm looking for when I meditate and I can't'

Legolas held up his hand, a knowing sort of half smile on his face 'You shouldn't tell yourself that you cannot do these things. Do you think Aragorn learnt to handle a sword as he does in the time you're trying to? Do you think that I learnt to hit an arrow in the target in that time? The things Lord Elrond and Mithrandir know, they did not learn in the space you've allotted yourself'

I looked away 'Of course not, but I don't have the years that you had'

Legolas laid his hand carefully on my shoulder 'Do not be so hard on yourself. You've come so far and at an impressive speed'

I frowned but Legolas continued.

'You are learning far quicker than any of us ever did, if you want my opinion as a friend, rather than your mentor I would be happy to'

'What do you mean?'

Legolas smiled gently 'You have learnt everything quickly and with the grace of high nobility. I do not wish to offend you but the fact that you do all this as a human, let alone a human woman is impressive and between you and I; if you were an enemy, I would fear you now for what you can become'

I was slightly shocked at what he said 'You…you would fear me?'

'Yes' He answered simply 'You have the potential to be all the things they are all telling you. You just have to believe in yourself and the rest will follow. It will take time and hard work but truly, you have powerful potential'

I sat quietly before sighing 'I suppose I've been fighting against everyone as well'

Suddenly I felt very small and immature, they'd all been trying so hard to help me and I'd been too frightened to admit my doubts to anyone.

'I should apologise' I said lowly.

'There is no need to apologise unless you feel you should' Legolas replied

I cocked my head 'I feel like Aragorn owes me an apology for smacking me in the face, we've had a no above the shoulders rule and he hit me on purpose'

'He cares deeply for you, if you hadn't been found here I would believe you were his own child had someone told me that' Legolas said 'He is wanting to make sure that you can take care of yourself. No man would want to see someone they cared for hurt because they were not properly prepared'

I shook my head 'Should we get on with archery now?'

Legolas chuckled at my obvious change in subject 'I think you've had enough for today, go and get that cheek seen to, have something to eat and get some rest'

I nodded and got up to make way back leaving Legolas behind. I looked back once I got to the edge of the archery field in time to see him hit a perfect bullseye.

'Show off' I muttered under my breath but for once I didn't feel jealous of his obvious skill.

He was teaching me himself so what better teacher could I have?

Once I'd got back to the house, Arwen was waiting for me. She got up and jogged her way to me, lifted her skirt out of her feet and everything. Once she got to me she bent slightly and cupped my face with both hands.

'Oh Sophie, we have all been so worried!' She told me frantically before engulfing me in a hug.

'What? Why?' I asked

'I heard about your argument with Aragorn, we were worried you had run away!'

'No, I've been on the archery field with Legolas' I replied

She released me from the overly long embrace and bushed my hair away from my face to inspect my cheek and her eyes darkened.

'I cannot believe he struck your face!'

I looked up sharply 'It was an accident' I replied firmly 'These things happen if we're going to be trying to hit one another with sticks'

'That is not what Aragorn told me' She replied

I shook my head 'He's got it wrong then. Where is he?'

Her eyes softened slightly 'Come with me'

She led me through lots of corridors until we came to Aragorn's room and she lightly tapped on the door. Almost immediately it was thrown open and Aragorn's worried expression turned to one of relief.

'Sophie!'

I held my hands up and walked past him inside 'I'm fine, I'm fine! I didn't run away, I didn't go and do anything stupid and I won't'

I looked back at Arwen 'Can we talk privately please?'

She shifted 'Of course, I will wait for you in the infirmary, your cheek needs seeing to'

'I know' I replied 'Thank you Arwen'

She nodded, threw a stern glare at Aragorn and left. Aragorn shut his door before turning to me. I had crossed my arm and stood looking at him hard, I softened though once I saw his guilty expression.

'Really mate, you didn't need to smack me in the face' I said 'But on the other hand I've not exactly been an easy student'

Aragorn walked up to me and took one of my hands 'Sophie, I am very sorry for the way I treated you today. I should never have provoked you'

'There's some stuff I should talk to you about' I told him

XxXxX

I sat in the infirmary while Elrond poked and prodded around my face. Arwen stood to the side and Gandalf was there too. I huffed impatiently, getting agitated at the discomfort it caused. Finally though, Elrond seemed satisfied.

'It will bruise and of course it will hurt for a while but thankfully your bones are unharmed so it will heal quickly' He said

'What about my teeth? I'm pretty sure he must've loosened a few' I replied half-jokingly. I'd worn braces for most of my life as a teenager; I didn't want all that to have been ruined.

Elrond smiled 'You teeth are perfectly fine'

'Good'

He handed me a small bottle 'This is witch hazel tincture, it'll make the bruise develop faster which will disperse it faster'

'You will look very pretty for a few days my dear' Gandalf joked

I raised an eyebrow at him 'Thanks'

Elrond turned more serious 'Now about today's incident'

'I've already talked with Aragorn, it's sorted' I replied quickly 'It was an accident anyway'

'My dear, I know it wasn't an accident but I can also see from this that he wasn't trying to hurt you. He would have fractured your cheekbone and he possibly would have knocked some of your teeth loose' Elrond said

I sighed and looked towards Gandalf 'I want to focus more time on meditating, I think that's the way forward'

Gandalf glanced at Elrond who looked back at him questioningly, I cleared my throat hoping to prompt either of them to reply. Gandalf cleared his throat eventually.

'It is my belief that although it isn't ideal it is clear that your powers are triggered by extreme emotion such as anger. Indeed most of my more powerful feats of magic are evoked by stressful situations' Gandalf approached and gently placed a hand on my shoulder 'My dear, it is no fault of your own and it does not make you a bad person. All we do now is figure out a way for you to trigger those feelings for yourself'

'We have little time, it appears as though she will have to learn as you travel' Elrond pointed out.

I looked up at Gandalf, his expression was gentle but sure and I nodded.

'I trust Gandalf, and I trust he will do all he can but I need more time with him to accomplish this. Legolas is going too, he can continue to teach me elvish when we leave and I can continue everything else while we travel too, I know Boromir is hoping to continue with the hobbit's lessons as we go. Aragorn will have to do the same with me'

'Then it is decided' Gandalf said happily.

I rolled my eyes, he sounded far too happy for my liking.

XxXxX

Sorry it took so long to update. Review please! Thanks for reading!