Disclaimer: LOTR belongs to the creative genius of JRR Tolkien, not me.
Chapter 2. Bows and Arrows
Arwen had remained in Rivendell whilst her father and brothers had travelled to Mirkwood for the Council meeting. Normally she would have gone with them, but Aragorn was due back any day and she had hoped to have some time alone with him before her father returned. Elrond loved Aragorn as if he was his own son, but he did not approve of his daughter's love for a mortal. Arwen could not obey her father in this, it was a matter of the heart and hers belonged to Aragorn.
Her heart skipped a beat as she saw horses approaching, but her excitement was short-lived as she realised it was Elrond's party returning, not her beloved. As they rode under the arched gateway, she was pleased to see that Legolas was with them. The Prince of Mirkwood was one of her favourite elves and she ran to greet him, nearly causing him to lose his balance as she threw herself into his arms.
"Legolas, I am so happy to see you, it has been such a long time."
"Greetings, Lady Arwen" he replied formally "may I say that you grow more beautiful as time passes."
"Why thank you, handsome Prince," came the cheeky response, "What brings you here?"
"We have found you a new archery tutor, sweet sister" Elladan said before Legolas could speak.
"Perhaps this one will be more to your liking," teased Elrohir. They both started laughing as she blushed with embarrassment. They could see she was furious with them and that only made them laugh more.
"Well, at least Legolas will be able to demonstrate how to hit the target, unlike some others I could name," she retorted angrily. Glaring daggers at her brothers she took Legolas by the arm and lead him to the guest room. Elrond smiled, he was used to such behaviour, and the twins were always teasing their sister. No wonder she liked to cause them trouble at every opportunity.
"If I were you" he warned his sons "I would keep out of your sister's way until she settles down."
******
The balcony of guest room that Legolas used in Rivendell overlooked the whole valley. The sound of the waterfalls echoed off the side of the ravine providing relaxing background music. "I take it that Aragorn has not yet returned," said Legolas as he watched Arwen gazing out the opening that served as a window.
"No, but he should be back soon," she answered turning to face him. "Tell me, what mischief have my brothers been up to and how it is that you are to teach me archery." Legolas smiled and said,
"As a matter of fact, the twins did not cause the mischief this time, Lord Elrond and my father did." Her eyes widened in disbelief and by the time he had finished telling her the story, she had turned pale and appeared to be more than a little angry.
"Father could have been killed!" she said her eyes sparking with anger. "What was he thinking?"
"Do not fear, I doubt that either of them was in any real danger, I am sure the Lady Galadriel would have intervened to prevent it. They are both such fearsome warriors, Arwen, such experts with the sword, it was a truly amazing spectacle to see a battle between two elven warriors in the prime of their life."
"That's as may be, but I also object to being the subject of a wager. My brothers had no right to do that and I release you from your obligation."
"My dear Arwen, it is not an obligation, it would be my pleasure to teach you to shoot," he said gallantly, "besides your were right when you said that neither of them could hit the target." Arwen laughed at that,
"All right, I'll meet you at the archery range this afternoon. Right now I have to go and see my father and my brothers. I have much to discuss with them." She was still very angry and Legolas was glad he had her favour.
******
Later that day Arwen found Legolas waiting for her at the archery range. He was practicing and she watched as he swiftly drew a succession of arrows and fired them, each hitting the centre of the target. "How do you do that?" she asked, very impressed with his ability.
"Do what?"
"Hit the centre every time. You make it look so easy."
"Once you know the technique, you practice until it becomes second nature to draw and shoot in one simple movement," he explained. He handed her his bow and said, "Why don't you show me how much you have learned." He watched as she tentatively held the bow and tried to nock her arrow. When she released the string the arrow barely went halfway to the target. This was going to take come time he thought to himself. To Arwen he said, "the first thing we need to do is to tie your hair back so that there is no danger of catching it in the bowstrings and it will also improve your stance.
"Oh, I did not realise" she said. She quickly braided her hair in a similar fashion to those Legolas wore and tried again. There was a marked improvement in distance, but her accuracy was still off. They spent the rest of the afternoon practicing and Legolas was pleased to see her improving slowly. He assessed her ability as average, but even that would be good enough if she needed to defend herself. Arwen was a model student and he began to suspect that she only misbehaved to torment her brothers.
"Can we stop soon? Legolas? My fingers and shoulders are getting very sore."
"Of course, why didn't you say something sooner. We only need practice for a couple of hours each day, you know. Come, I will help you hit a bullseye so that you can tell your brothers how to do it."
"Oh, yes please, that would keep them quiet for a while." When she had taken her stance, Legolas came up behind her and put his hands over hers and set them in the correct position. Together they drew the string and sent the arrow directly into the target. Arwen was ecstatic and hugged Legolas wildly. Suddenly a second arrow flew through the air and split the one they had fired. In a split second Legolas was ready to fire in the direction the stray arrow had come from. There was no need, however, as the assailant turned out to be none other then Aragorn. Arwen ran to his arms and Legolas allowed them a moment of privacy before he spoke,
"Aragorn, do you realise how close you came to being shot?" asked Legolas.
"I'm sorry, I but you were busy hugging my lady, I had to get your attention somehow."
Chapter 2. Bows and Arrows
Arwen had remained in Rivendell whilst her father and brothers had travelled to Mirkwood for the Council meeting. Normally she would have gone with them, but Aragorn was due back any day and she had hoped to have some time alone with him before her father returned. Elrond loved Aragorn as if he was his own son, but he did not approve of his daughter's love for a mortal. Arwen could not obey her father in this, it was a matter of the heart and hers belonged to Aragorn.
Her heart skipped a beat as she saw horses approaching, but her excitement was short-lived as she realised it was Elrond's party returning, not her beloved. As they rode under the arched gateway, she was pleased to see that Legolas was with them. The Prince of Mirkwood was one of her favourite elves and she ran to greet him, nearly causing him to lose his balance as she threw herself into his arms.
"Legolas, I am so happy to see you, it has been such a long time."
"Greetings, Lady Arwen" he replied formally "may I say that you grow more beautiful as time passes."
"Why thank you, handsome Prince," came the cheeky response, "What brings you here?"
"We have found you a new archery tutor, sweet sister" Elladan said before Legolas could speak.
"Perhaps this one will be more to your liking," teased Elrohir. They both started laughing as she blushed with embarrassment. They could see she was furious with them and that only made them laugh more.
"Well, at least Legolas will be able to demonstrate how to hit the target, unlike some others I could name," she retorted angrily. Glaring daggers at her brothers she took Legolas by the arm and lead him to the guest room. Elrond smiled, he was used to such behaviour, and the twins were always teasing their sister. No wonder she liked to cause them trouble at every opportunity.
"If I were you" he warned his sons "I would keep out of your sister's way until she settles down."
******
The balcony of guest room that Legolas used in Rivendell overlooked the whole valley. The sound of the waterfalls echoed off the side of the ravine providing relaxing background music. "I take it that Aragorn has not yet returned," said Legolas as he watched Arwen gazing out the opening that served as a window.
"No, but he should be back soon," she answered turning to face him. "Tell me, what mischief have my brothers been up to and how it is that you are to teach me archery." Legolas smiled and said,
"As a matter of fact, the twins did not cause the mischief this time, Lord Elrond and my father did." Her eyes widened in disbelief and by the time he had finished telling her the story, she had turned pale and appeared to be more than a little angry.
"Father could have been killed!" she said her eyes sparking with anger. "What was he thinking?"
"Do not fear, I doubt that either of them was in any real danger, I am sure the Lady Galadriel would have intervened to prevent it. They are both such fearsome warriors, Arwen, such experts with the sword, it was a truly amazing spectacle to see a battle between two elven warriors in the prime of their life."
"That's as may be, but I also object to being the subject of a wager. My brothers had no right to do that and I release you from your obligation."
"My dear Arwen, it is not an obligation, it would be my pleasure to teach you to shoot," he said gallantly, "besides your were right when you said that neither of them could hit the target." Arwen laughed at that,
"All right, I'll meet you at the archery range this afternoon. Right now I have to go and see my father and my brothers. I have much to discuss with them." She was still very angry and Legolas was glad he had her favour.
******
Later that day Arwen found Legolas waiting for her at the archery range. He was practicing and she watched as he swiftly drew a succession of arrows and fired them, each hitting the centre of the target. "How do you do that?" she asked, very impressed with his ability.
"Do what?"
"Hit the centre every time. You make it look so easy."
"Once you know the technique, you practice until it becomes second nature to draw and shoot in one simple movement," he explained. He handed her his bow and said, "Why don't you show me how much you have learned." He watched as she tentatively held the bow and tried to nock her arrow. When she released the string the arrow barely went halfway to the target. This was going to take come time he thought to himself. To Arwen he said, "the first thing we need to do is to tie your hair back so that there is no danger of catching it in the bowstrings and it will also improve your stance.
"Oh, I did not realise" she said. She quickly braided her hair in a similar fashion to those Legolas wore and tried again. There was a marked improvement in distance, but her accuracy was still off. They spent the rest of the afternoon practicing and Legolas was pleased to see her improving slowly. He assessed her ability as average, but even that would be good enough if she needed to defend herself. Arwen was a model student and he began to suspect that she only misbehaved to torment her brothers.
"Can we stop soon? Legolas? My fingers and shoulders are getting very sore."
"Of course, why didn't you say something sooner. We only need practice for a couple of hours each day, you know. Come, I will help you hit a bullseye so that you can tell your brothers how to do it."
"Oh, yes please, that would keep them quiet for a while." When she had taken her stance, Legolas came up behind her and put his hands over hers and set them in the correct position. Together they drew the string and sent the arrow directly into the target. Arwen was ecstatic and hugged Legolas wildly. Suddenly a second arrow flew through the air and split the one they had fired. In a split second Legolas was ready to fire in the direction the stray arrow had come from. There was no need, however, as the assailant turned out to be none other then Aragorn. Arwen ran to his arms and Legolas allowed them a moment of privacy before he spoke,
"Aragorn, do you realise how close you came to being shot?" asked Legolas.
"I'm sorry, I but you were busy hugging my lady, I had to get your attention somehow."