It was strangely quiet in the clearing, the great trees muffling even the calls of the birds just beyond them. Landrín eyed her suspiciously, his face set in stone as he took in her features. "So you are the one who was chosen?" he demanded, his voice strong and intimidating. "Speak quickly so that we may start!" he said when Leah hesitated.

She shifted in the new leggings and long-sleeved tunic she had been provided for practice sessions, their size fitting her somehow perfectly. "I suppose—" she started, but then she was cut off.

"It is either 'yes' or 'no'. Do not tarry with such imprecise answers." He said.

Leah jumped at his bluntness, and answered more promptly this time. "Yes, I am." She began to wonder how she would ever survive training as he started to pace around her, his voice emotionless as he spoke aloud of what he thought.

"Ah, but how could the fate of Middle Earth be borne by such a thin and strenghtless girl? Why you and not one of the stronger, and wiser of the elves was chosen I do not know, but for now, let us see how well you can handle a sword with naught but your own instincts to guide you." With that he left her and went to an intricate chest at the far end of the clearing and opened it, pulling out two wooden swords.

He came back and handed one to her, and she saw that the edges were rounded, and the wood polished until it shone in the light that filtered through the tree tops. Even though it was not metal, it had a great amount of beauty to it, as did all things that the elves made, delicate carvings swirling up the center of the blade. She handled it awkwardly at first, the gripping feeling wrong in her hand. "I've never handled a sword before," she confessed.

"That is of little consequence. Now come! I wish to see your most primitive skills," and with that he stepped back and assumed a fighting stance.

Leah mimicked him, not quite sure what she was expected to do until he began to swing his sword. She blocked it just barely, and he swung again. She did her best to parry his attacks, but soon he began to advance, his movements easily becoming swifter and harder. He thrust the point of his sword towards her and she jumped out of the way, stumbling and falling as she did so. She attempted to roll over onto her back so that she could get up, but found the point of his sword now inches from her neck.

She looked up at his smirking face as he as he lowered his sword, her breathing hard from the exertion but no sign of slowing showed in his face. "You would be dead," he said and he pulled her to her feet by her arm. "Try it again."

She swallowed hard and readied herself. This time she struck first, swinging her sword clumsily in his direction. He parried it easily and he stepped forward, beginning to advance again. She began to panic as she barely blocked each of his blows and he started to quicken his speed. Finally he got through her feeble defenses and struck her on her bad arm. She let out a short cry but then it happened again.

The pain dissipated from her arm as her vision darkened, Landrín suddenly standing out, almost illuminated from the rest of her surroundings. She saw the detail of his movements more clearly and her mind subconsciously calculating how he would move. She felt energy begin to course through her limbs as she lunged forward, her sword swung in a more trained fashion this time. His eyes widened as he blocked her blow, but then he began to fight back, determination burning in his eyes. They were matched for a long time, neither advancing nor scoring blows on the other.

But then Leah could see his arms begin to strain in her heightened state, and she pushed even harder, moving quickly, her feet barely touching the forest floor. He thrust his sword out at her and she jumped up, easily clearing his head and landing behind him. She whipped around before he could face her and swung her blade at his head, stopping just inches before she made contact. Landrín stood shocked for a moment, but then laughed, driving the tip of his sword into the ground.

Leah lowered her blade, the darkness already beginning to fade. She felt suddenly weak and her face paled, disbelief washing over her as she realized what she had done. "This," he said as he turned on his heel, "is why you were chosen."

Leah panted, her vision spinning and her head pounding as she sat down, shaking her head. "No, no. I couldn't—I couldn't have…." Her breathing was short and rapid as she closed her eyes, trying to stop the trees from spinning. Landrín kneeled down beside her, his face now kinder as he spoke.

"You have fought well, far beyond my expectancies. Come, you shall adapt to the energy you put out when you are in your states." He offered her a hand to help her up, but she hesitated.

"Wait, how did you know—?" she was confused and her head continued to pound as she looked up at him.

He smiled warmly, no longer the harsh elf who had been there moments before. "I could see it in your eyes," he said. "They changed the moment I hit you, and after that you came back far stronger than I would ever have thought possible for someone your size. I could see an ambition, a strength, that was not there before. But now I see that you need rest. Change out of your training attire and then we may together go and see Elrond. I am sure he would be surprised to hear how well you have done, having defeated a four thousand year master of the sword arts!"

Leah blinked. "You're four thousand years old?" she took his hand and he helped her to her feet. "You look as if you could be less than thirty!"

"Elves are not bound to the years of men. As time comes and goes we do not feel its passing, and we live on immortally." He began to leave the clearing and she followed close behind, finding a new respect for Landrín, making sense of the profound wisdom she saw in even Legolas's eyes, even though he looked to be her own age.

Once they were back in the city Leah quickly changed into the elegant blue dress that was provided for her. She combed out her hair, and then decided to wear it down as opposed to tying it back as she had always done. She let it fall down to her shoulders and she proceeded to comb out the tangles she had accumulated during training. Her hands still shook slightly from what she had just done, and she was still shocked from seeing what she could do. But she could not worry about that now.

She had to confront Elrond next, and if that would prove to be a happier experience, she did not know.