1 Chapter 4: Training Begins
The head elf gave a nod, a sign that gave those in the room permission to eat. Joslyn grabbed a bread roll from the tray in front of her and began to pick at it keeping her eyes on her plate.
"Tardiness is not the manner of a lady nor a respectable elf." This was one of the times Josie hated that her mother could talk to her inside her mind. Jo resisted the urge to talk back or even to look at Galadriel across the table. Instead, she turned to Bilbo saying, "I am glad that I am not destined to be a real lady."
Bilbo gave her a questioning look. "I am afraid I do not completely understand what you are meaning to say."
"My future lies fighting rather than remaining in one place learning to keep the house like a proper mistress should. I will be able to travel across vast lands, explore uncharted areas, slay my opponents with one deadly stroke, and never know what tomorrow will bring."
The reply she received from the old hobbit was puzzling. "Beware what you wish for." Josie continued to pick at her bread thinking about Bilbo's words.
Again Galadriel spoke inside Jo's head, "Very impressive. Now, please eat something more than a roll of bread, Elrond says you may need your strength when you begin your training today." Josie piled vegetables that grew in the Havens onto her plate, then ate in silence the rest of the meal. No longer did she feel like a rebel teenager, but at mention of her training, she felt more like a nervous blob waiting reformation.
Soon the meal ended and the dishes were cleared. Many elves dispersed to do other activities though some remained to continue conversing with one another. Joslyn looked to her mentors for direction. "It is not far to where you will train each day after noon. Today we will accompany you, but for the most part you will be on your own." Elrond's eyes glistened as he spoke. Apparently he was anxiously waiting to see what skill his daughter had. Gandalf looked that same way, but Galadriel showed no signs of this.
They all rose and Joslyn followed suit. They exited the hall and continued walking till they reached the forest. They stepped inside and followed a newly made path through the trees. Soon they came to a rectangular clearing with only two decorations. Two wooden staffs leaned against an outside tree and a bench on a far side sat out of the arena. With her keen elven sight, Jo could see through the trees a hut and a figure walking towards the group. As the figure came closer she could see he was an elf clad in all green and had long flowing blonde hair. As he stepped into the clearing she noticed he was very muscular and well built (and not to mention good looking.)
The elf strode forward to greet the small band of elves awaiting him. He smiled when he saw Jo and said, "I assume that you are my student, Jo." She nodded letting him continue. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Asilen and I came from the Land of Mirkwood. I will be training you in the fighting arts. Is there anything else you wish to know or shall we begin?"
"There is nothing, we may start my training."
"Alright then, take this." He handed Jo one of the wooden staffs that had been leaning against a tree. Elrond, Gandalf, and Galadriel sat down on the bench to watch.
Asilen began by teaching Jo to keep a center of balance. Then, he went through a series of hits and blocks with the staffs to get her familiar with face to face combat. Josie often got hit, but she quickly learned to block Asilen's easy strikes. This went on for well over two hours, the moves getting progressively harder. After the drill, Josie sat down to stretch and rest while her trainer went to talk with the spectators. "I'm very impressed with her work. For a beginner she has a tuned natural instinct to fight. All she really needs is a variety of skill, strength, and some fine-tuning. Your successor is well on her way to becoming a great warrior." With that he turned back to the girl sitting on the ground.
"One more exercise and then you may return to your rooms. Stand up and achieve balance."
Joslyn did so and Asilen began to circle her. Naturally she never let her back face him, treating him like an opponent. Without warning he gave Jo a swift to her lower legs. Immediately she fell to the ground, bruising one side of her body. Instead of complaining about the pain, she moved to where Asilen was standing and tried to do the same thing to him.
Her kick was slow as he easily got out of its way. He helped her up explaining the importance of falling correctly and how to do this. Then he started the drill again. He circled her and this time when she feel she rolled to the side and stood right back up. Asilen was waiting for her and tried to kick her again. This time she was ready for him and dodged his first attempt, but his second brought her to look at the ground again.
The hard drill went on like this for another quarter-hour until Asilen sent Josie back home. "You will have no practice tomorrow for you will be very sore. After this though, no more breaks for me." He handed he one of the staffs again. "Practice." He waved by to the others and walked back to his hut. Jo looked at the stick in her hands and sighed, exhausted. When she looked up, her family was waiting at the edge of the clearing. Together they walked back to the estate.
"Asilen was pleased with your progress for someone starting for the first time."
"He made me seem weak and unpracticed."
Gandalf spoke quietly again, "As he should. He trained many fine soldiers in Mirkwood before he too journeyed to the Havens."
Reaching the estate Joslyn parted explaining that she was going riding until well after dinner. Taking of her boots, she ran into the fields to find Iffelin. Then she jumped onto her horse bareback and urged him into a gallop heading for the lake. She was in need of a swim to both relax and cleanse her body that had become covered with dust and dirt. Reaching the water's edge she stripped off her clothes and dove into the cool water.
Her head surfaced the water and she breathed deep enjoying the fresh smell of the water. She washed away entirely all the dirt and grime she had accumulated while fighting and swan around the lake a few times before getting out. It was warm enough so Jo only put back on her inner clothing that was free from the caking dust. Her outer coverings she rinsed in the water then hung them out to dry. She lay back in the grass with Iffelin near by and took a peaceful nap with her eyes open to examine the sky. This was a natural thing for an elf to do.
After some time, Joslyn awoke feeling hungry. She drank from the lake then found some edible berries. With a thick vine that she discovered in the forest, she loosely tied Iffelin to a tree. She then went exploring through the wood. Finding a nice tree, she climbed up its trunk about 20 feet high, so she could sit on a branch and overlook the forest. The forest was beautiful and peaceful with little animals scurrying here and there. She thought she saw glimpse of golden hair. Quietly as a mouse, Josie leapt into a nearby tree to get a better look. Far in the distance and elf could be seen running away. She jumped to the ground gashing her foot on a sharp rock. Ignoring the pain tearing up her body she quickly found his trail and began to pursue the creature.
He quickly sprinted further into through the trees, but Jo was more familiar with the forest and was quickly gaining on him despite her hurt foot. Getting almost close enough to touch him, she silently made a turn that would bring her quite far in front of her mysterious person. Once doing that she climbed into a tree and crouched on a branch waiting for him to pass under her. When he did, she dropped down on top of him and forcefully put her good foot under his chin, so that if he tried to attack her she could cut off his air.
She looked upon the fair face of the elf who she suspected to be Asilen (one of the few elves with hair as light as this.) She was mistaken and gasped, taken aback when she realized who it was.
The head elf gave a nod, a sign that gave those in the room permission to eat. Joslyn grabbed a bread roll from the tray in front of her and began to pick at it keeping her eyes on her plate.
"Tardiness is not the manner of a lady nor a respectable elf." This was one of the times Josie hated that her mother could talk to her inside her mind. Jo resisted the urge to talk back or even to look at Galadriel across the table. Instead, she turned to Bilbo saying, "I am glad that I am not destined to be a real lady."
Bilbo gave her a questioning look. "I am afraid I do not completely understand what you are meaning to say."
"My future lies fighting rather than remaining in one place learning to keep the house like a proper mistress should. I will be able to travel across vast lands, explore uncharted areas, slay my opponents with one deadly stroke, and never know what tomorrow will bring."
The reply she received from the old hobbit was puzzling. "Beware what you wish for." Josie continued to pick at her bread thinking about Bilbo's words.
Again Galadriel spoke inside Jo's head, "Very impressive. Now, please eat something more than a roll of bread, Elrond says you may need your strength when you begin your training today." Josie piled vegetables that grew in the Havens onto her plate, then ate in silence the rest of the meal. No longer did she feel like a rebel teenager, but at mention of her training, she felt more like a nervous blob waiting reformation.
Soon the meal ended and the dishes were cleared. Many elves dispersed to do other activities though some remained to continue conversing with one another. Joslyn looked to her mentors for direction. "It is not far to where you will train each day after noon. Today we will accompany you, but for the most part you will be on your own." Elrond's eyes glistened as he spoke. Apparently he was anxiously waiting to see what skill his daughter had. Gandalf looked that same way, but Galadriel showed no signs of this.
They all rose and Joslyn followed suit. They exited the hall and continued walking till they reached the forest. They stepped inside and followed a newly made path through the trees. Soon they came to a rectangular clearing with only two decorations. Two wooden staffs leaned against an outside tree and a bench on a far side sat out of the arena. With her keen elven sight, Jo could see through the trees a hut and a figure walking towards the group. As the figure came closer she could see he was an elf clad in all green and had long flowing blonde hair. As he stepped into the clearing she noticed he was very muscular and well built (and not to mention good looking.)
The elf strode forward to greet the small band of elves awaiting him. He smiled when he saw Jo and said, "I assume that you are my student, Jo." She nodded letting him continue. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Asilen and I came from the Land of Mirkwood. I will be training you in the fighting arts. Is there anything else you wish to know or shall we begin?"
"There is nothing, we may start my training."
"Alright then, take this." He handed Jo one of the wooden staffs that had been leaning against a tree. Elrond, Gandalf, and Galadriel sat down on the bench to watch.
Asilen began by teaching Jo to keep a center of balance. Then, he went through a series of hits and blocks with the staffs to get her familiar with face to face combat. Josie often got hit, but she quickly learned to block Asilen's easy strikes. This went on for well over two hours, the moves getting progressively harder. After the drill, Josie sat down to stretch and rest while her trainer went to talk with the spectators. "I'm very impressed with her work. For a beginner she has a tuned natural instinct to fight. All she really needs is a variety of skill, strength, and some fine-tuning. Your successor is well on her way to becoming a great warrior." With that he turned back to the girl sitting on the ground.
"One more exercise and then you may return to your rooms. Stand up and achieve balance."
Joslyn did so and Asilen began to circle her. Naturally she never let her back face him, treating him like an opponent. Without warning he gave Jo a swift to her lower legs. Immediately she fell to the ground, bruising one side of her body. Instead of complaining about the pain, she moved to where Asilen was standing and tried to do the same thing to him.
Her kick was slow as he easily got out of its way. He helped her up explaining the importance of falling correctly and how to do this. Then he started the drill again. He circled her and this time when she feel she rolled to the side and stood right back up. Asilen was waiting for her and tried to kick her again. This time she was ready for him and dodged his first attempt, but his second brought her to look at the ground again.
The hard drill went on like this for another quarter-hour until Asilen sent Josie back home. "You will have no practice tomorrow for you will be very sore. After this though, no more breaks for me." He handed he one of the staffs again. "Practice." He waved by to the others and walked back to his hut. Jo looked at the stick in her hands and sighed, exhausted. When she looked up, her family was waiting at the edge of the clearing. Together they walked back to the estate.
"Asilen was pleased with your progress for someone starting for the first time."
"He made me seem weak and unpracticed."
Gandalf spoke quietly again, "As he should. He trained many fine soldiers in Mirkwood before he too journeyed to the Havens."
Reaching the estate Joslyn parted explaining that she was going riding until well after dinner. Taking of her boots, she ran into the fields to find Iffelin. Then she jumped onto her horse bareback and urged him into a gallop heading for the lake. She was in need of a swim to both relax and cleanse her body that had become covered with dust and dirt. Reaching the water's edge she stripped off her clothes and dove into the cool water.
Her head surfaced the water and she breathed deep enjoying the fresh smell of the water. She washed away entirely all the dirt and grime she had accumulated while fighting and swan around the lake a few times before getting out. It was warm enough so Jo only put back on her inner clothing that was free from the caking dust. Her outer coverings she rinsed in the water then hung them out to dry. She lay back in the grass with Iffelin near by and took a peaceful nap with her eyes open to examine the sky. This was a natural thing for an elf to do.
After some time, Joslyn awoke feeling hungry. She drank from the lake then found some edible berries. With a thick vine that she discovered in the forest, she loosely tied Iffelin to a tree. She then went exploring through the wood. Finding a nice tree, she climbed up its trunk about 20 feet high, so she could sit on a branch and overlook the forest. The forest was beautiful and peaceful with little animals scurrying here and there. She thought she saw glimpse of golden hair. Quietly as a mouse, Josie leapt into a nearby tree to get a better look. Far in the distance and elf could be seen running away. She jumped to the ground gashing her foot on a sharp rock. Ignoring the pain tearing up her body she quickly found his trail and began to pursue the creature.
He quickly sprinted further into through the trees, but Jo was more familiar with the forest and was quickly gaining on him despite her hurt foot. Getting almost close enough to touch him, she silently made a turn that would bring her quite far in front of her mysterious person. Once doing that she climbed into a tree and crouched on a branch waiting for him to pass under her. When he did, she dropped down on top of him and forcefully put her good foot under his chin, so that if he tried to attack her she could cut off his air.
She looked upon the fair face of the elf who she suspected to be Asilen (one of the few elves with hair as light as this.) She was mistaken and gasped, taken aback when she realized who it was.