The next day, Tara and Faedra were at the shooting range. Faedra was trying to teach Tara how to shoot, but like their mother, she was terrible at teaching. Faedra tried her best to give her proper instructions, but it only seemed to confuse Tara.
"My Lady Faedra," Lindir entered the shooting area, "Someone is here who wishes to see you."
Faedra, looking confused, nodded her head, "Thank you, Lindir. I will be there in a moment."
She looked at Tara and pointed her finger at her.
"Keep practicing," Faedra said.
"You need to work on your teaching skills," Tara said.
Faedra just rolled her eyes, smiling, before walking off. Tara nocked an arrow and aimed it at the target. Releasing the arrow, it hit the end of the target.
"Better than not hitting the target," She muttered in elvish.
She nocked another arrow and aimed.
"Relax," She heard a voice say.
She spun around, pointing her arrow at the voice. It wouldn't have been much protection, considering she probably wouldn't have been able to hit him if he stood a foot away from her. She relaxed and dropped the bow and arrow at her side, still holding it. Kili was leaning against a tree, his arms and legs crossed. He had a smirk on her face and Tara wanted to just slap it off so badly.
"Need some help?" He asked, gesturing to the bow in her hand.
She nodded and said, "Faedra isn't the best teacher in the world."
"I can see that," Kili said, looking at all the arrows that didn't hit the target.
"She's good at teaching with a sword, but a bow is another level for her," Tara said, "She prefers fighting with a sword and only uses the bow when she knows she needs it."
Kili just nodded and walked up so he stood next to her. Tara pulled back the arrow and aimed it at the target.
"Stop," He said, "We'll start by fixing your form. Your elbow shouldn't be sticking so high in the air. It should be level with your shoulder. Feet should be shoulder width apart and make sure your back is straight. Chest out and the arrow should be pulled back at least to your cheek...or ear. Whatever makes you more comfortable."
As he spoke he fixed everything wrong with her form. She started repeating what he was saying in her head so she could remember.
"There we go," Kili said, "Now to work on your aim. The farther the target the higher the bow should be. Be sure to keep a steady hand and keep your eyes on the target."
He came up behind her, each hand over hers. His breath tickled her neck and she started to blush. Her mind was starting to wander and she couldn't stay focused.
"A little higher," He said, guided her hand up, "Now release."
After letting the arrow fly it hit the target dead center. She was stunned for a second before a huge grin crossed her face.
"I did it," She murmured, "I did it!" This time yelling.
She started jumping up and down, giving Kili a big hug. When she looked into his eyes, her smile melted. His hands were on her hips, hers around his neck, and they were so close they were practically breathing the same air.
She looked into his eyes and she felt like she was watching an endless story. Looking down at his lips, she wanted to kiss them so badly. After thinking that she smacked the thought out of her head, denying she could have such feeling to a dwarf, much less a troublemaker dwarf. Tara then looked down and untangled herself, much to Kili's disappointment.
"I think I should try again," She said, picking up her bow, "This time by myself."
Kili nodded as he stood off to the side, while she started to shoot.
Faedra walked through the halls of Rivendell, towards Elrond's studies. She knocked and heard someone mutter 'enter.' When she opened the door, she saw a figure with their back turned towards her. It was obviously an elf, by the way he stood. His long orange hair reached down his back with small braids at the top, to keep the hair out of his face. When he turned Faedra gasped.
"Faren!" She practically screamed, jumping on him.
Faren let out an 'oof' and stumbled a little after Faedra deciding to give him a jumping hug.
"I've missed you so much," Faedra said with a smile.
"Same here, dear sister," Faren said, "Same here."
They walked out of Elrond's study room and just roamed around Rivendell.
"So how do you like being Captain of the Guard?" She asked.
He laughed, of course that would be her first question, considering they practically fought for the title when they were younger.
He finally said, "It's actually been quite tiring. There have been a number of orcs straying closer and closer to the borders, so I've been kept busy."
"That's strange," Faedra said and a thought struck her mind, "Oh, that may have been us."
Faren eyed her with curiosity and she scratched the back of her head.
"Well I don't know if you have heard," Faedra said and started explaining the entire story to him.
He laughed at the part where the dwarves had trapped her in the water and her revenge afterwards.
"It wasn't funny," She said, "It was embarrassing and terrible."
"Terribly hilarious," He said and burst out laughing again.
She slapped his head and he turned it down to a chuckle.
"You should have seen what I saw yesterday," Faedra said.
She explained Tara's embarrassing moment and Faren started laughing again, this time Faedra joined in.
"Why do I always miss out in all the fun?" Faren asked.
"Like you already haven't had your share of fun in your lifetime," Faedra reminded him.
Faren just shrugged and they continued to walk.
"Thorin Oakenshield," Faren said, "Where have I heard that name before?"
"Remember the arranged marriage I was forced into," Faedra said and a lightbulb clicked inside of Faren's head.
"Oh," Faren said, "That was the dwarf?"
"You met him before," Faedra said, rolling her eyes.
Sometimes her brother had the worst memory Middle-earth has ever seen.
Faren nodded and said, "Nope still can't remember ever saying hi to him."
"I'm pretty sure I haven't hit you that hard in the head," Faedra said.
"How would you know," Faren said, "You weren't the one getting slapped twenty times a day. I think you put a dent in my head."
Faedra laughed, rolling her eyes once again.
"So how's the wife and kids?" She asked, "I haven't seen them all day today, which is surprising. It feels rather quiet without them even if they are now grown up."
"Lia is doing great," Faren said, "She went to visit some friends in Rohan. She should be back my mid-day. The eldest, Elphir, went to Mirkwood to be a guard, Erchirion went to teach sword fighting at one the assassin hideouts and Amrothos went to learn healing magic at Lothlórien."
"And Lothiriel?" Faedra asked.
"She is now a ranger," Faren said, a bit worried, "She is known as Shadow in the wild, because she sticks with another ranger known as Strider. I wish she went to do something like her brothers, so I at least knew she was safe."
Faedra put a hand on his arm and she had a caring look in her eyes.
"She is fine, Faren," Faedra reassured him, "As long as she stays with her cousin, Aragorn, she will be safe."
Faren nodded and an elf, dressed in armor, approached him. Apparently, another pack of Wargs have come through the border. He give Faedra a kiss on the cheek before heading off.
"Be safe," Faedra called out, "And stay out of trouble."
"Please when have I gotten into trouble?" Faren asked.
"Should I make a list?" Faedra asked with a smile, "It will probably take days before I finish."
It was Faren's turn to roll his eyes and he walked towards the stables.