Chapter 7
*DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of Tolkien's characters and am not, in any way, making money off of this story. There, any other bad news I can report?
Legolas lay on his bed. A large, dusty book lay open in front of him. It was a book out of the king's library and it told the story of the Great War that occurred when Sauron tried to over-throw Middle Earth. Legolas had read it dozens of times before, but he loved it so much he would read it dozens more. A soft knock sounded at his door. He turned for a moment before simply saying, "Enter." He then turned his back on the visitor and went back to his book.
Arwen stepped quietly into the room. Her heart was pounding and yet she couldn't quite figure out why. She looked up at the young prince who lay sprawled out on his stomach on the vast bed that lay in the center of the room. It was even bigger than her bed she had at home, she noticed. He was reading a book, she could see, and thought now that perhaps she'd better just leave him to it. He would probably be angry enough with her as it was, (though, inside she knew she was simply making excuses so she would not have to do this). As she turned to go his soft voice spoke from behind her, "Why did you just come in here?"
She turned. His back was still to her and he slowly turned a page of the book. She stood there a moment amid the awkward silence before summoning up all the courage she could muster, (or, perhaps all the humility she had) and said,
"I-I came to apologize," she stumbled, "for snapping at you like that."
"And so you should," he answered coolly, not yet turning.
"I really don't hate you that much, you just angered me, that's all," she said. He didn't answer for a moment. She could hear him reading under his breath and she began to grow angry with him once again, wondering if he was even listening to her. However, she reminded herself that getting angry and impatient would only start this whole thing over again, and she certainly did not want to do this a second time.
He slowly turned another page in his massive book before saying, "If I was in the situation where I had to complete one task, any task, and do it well else I be slain I would choose angering you, my Lady, for it is the easiest task I can possibly come up with." This took Arwen quite by surprise and she stood there a moment, not knowing how to respond. She was about to become angry again but before she could, laughter bubbled up from within her and came flowing from her lips. She laughed and laughed and laughed. She wasn't sure why she found what he'd just said so funny, but somehow she did.
Now Legolas turned and faced her. His piercing eyes stared at her a moment, baffled. This was the last thing he'd expected from her. He thought for sure that she was going to come up from behind him and slap him upside the head.
"You have quite the sense of humour, my Lord," she said then, once she had somewhat regained her composure, "a pity I didn't realize it before!" Now Legolas was completely and utterly confused. Relieved, yes, but confused. A smile slowly spread itself across his face then, and he too, began to laugh. Rising from his place on the bed he stood and faced her.
"I see you aren't angry with me, anymore," he told her, laughter still hanging in his voice, "for this I am greatly relieved. I apologize for offending you, my Lady." Arwen smiled.
"It's alright, my Lord, you can just call me Arwen."
"Only if you call me Legolas," he replied.
"It's a deal then," she said happily. She looked past him to the bed then and focused on the book. "What's that?" she asked.
"Oh, that's the story of the Great War against Sauron," Legolas answered, "do you know of the Great War?"
"Yes, yes I know," she replied, "my father fought in it after all."
"Oh yes! Of course! How could I forget?" he exclaimed, "I was indeed really excited to meet your father, him being such a warrior as he is." Arwen blushed and smiled. She was proud of her father.
"I'm sure your father is a great warrior as well," she answered. Legolas smiled slightly.
"Yes, he is a warrior. I only wish I was a warrior as well."
"You cannot expect to become a warrior that fast!" Arwen said suddenly, "you're only ten!" Legolas shot a glare in her direction.
"I can become a warrior! My father even said so!" he cried defensively.
"Well, of course you can, just not now," she said matter-of-factly.
"I can so! What would a maiden know of such things?" he shouted, leaping off the bed to stand tall beside it. Arwen got up uneasily, then fixed her eyes on his. Though, she admitted, his stare was formidable.
"Plenty!" she shouted back, "just because I am a maiden does not make me weak! I could beat you any day in a fighting match!"
"Fine! If you're so strong, prove it!" he shouted back at her, "you want to fight me? Let's go!" Arwen was taken aback.
"What? Here? Now?"
"Yes, why not? Are you afraid, my Lady?"
"No! It's just that, well, what if we break something?"
"What if we break something?" he repeated her mockingly, "you are afraid, admit it! I don't care if I break something! I break things all my life!"
"I'd believe that," Arwen thought to herself, beginning to fume. "Fine!" she shouted back then, "you want to fight? Then come on! I do not fear you! I do not fear anyone!" And with that she set herself in a traditional ready stance that most young elven fighters would set themselves in before a match. Her left foot was extended, her toes pointing toward him. Her right leg was bent dramatically so that her body sat low to the ground, her torso only a foot or so from the floor. She set her hands out in front of her in a defensive fashion, shielding her face and torso from an oncoming attack.
Legolas was taken aback by Arwen's ferocity. Her once soft violet eyes were now hard as rocks and flaming with anger. Her face was set and she did not look afraid at all. The young prince truly believed from then on that she really did not fear anything, that she really did not fear anyone, and that she really would go to the ends of the earth just to prove herself worthy. He was scared of her then for a moment, but he gathered his courage and set himself in a similar stance, determined to prove himself against this girl.
She looked at him hard then for a moment. His flawless face was grim and set. His icy blue eyes were fixed on hers, unblinking, unwavering. She fixed her eyes on his just as he had on hers and adopted the same determined set.
She made the first move. Shifting her weight from her right foot to her left she let a high kick fly for his face with her right foot all in one smooth motion. He leapt back from the attack smoothly and quickly fell to the ground in a drop kick. She felt her legs swept from under her and found herself on her back. Legolas smiled, thinking her defeated, but just as quickly she leapt directly from her back to her feet. She spun and let a punch fly aimed for his jaw. She did not miss. He clutched his jaw for a moment but quickly recuperated as she lunged at him a second time. He raised his arm to block the following punch that came flying at him. Back and forth across the room they went. Legs shoulder-width apart, moving in long, fluent strides. Punch after punch flew and block after block stopped them. None of the attacks hit their opponent and after a while, Legolas tired of this same routine. He decided a change was necessary. He took a step backward and the thought that he was afraid crossed Arwen's mind. However, that thought quickly evaporated as Legolas back-flipped from her and took up that same ready stance. She was taken off guard for a moment at this unexpected skilled move, but that didn't faze her for long. She half- turned twice and let a right kick fly once more. She wasn't quite fast enough. He snatched her foot and flipped her onto her back. She lay stunned for a moment, in which she heard his voice declare triumphantly,
"You fought well, my Lady, but I fear you are defeated."
"Not yet," she uttered under her breath just loud enough for him to hear. She flicked her legs up and brought them down fast bringing her to her feet. This, too, was an advanced move. It also gave her the advantage: her legs came down so fast Legolas did not see them. They came down right on his head, bringing him to his knees. She smiled triumphantly but he dashed her hopes as he rolled out of the way of another oncoming attack and leapt to his feet just as fast.
They now found themselves facing each other. Legolas' jaw was now turning black and blue from Arwen's first punch and his head pounded. Arwen's back and bottom were so sore she was certain that they were bruised. However, despite these attacks they were still just as determined to win, just as determined to beat the other down.
Legolas spun quickly then and let his own kick fly. Arwen blocked it and threw a punch with her right, making to hit his jaw once more. Just as fast, though, she saw his own fist flying for her face and something made her stop just short of her target. She immediately regretted it as she saw his powerful fist nearing her face. She screwed her eyes shut and winced against the oncoming blow.
It never came. Slowly and cautiously she opened her eyes. His fist, too, had stopped short of her face. Both were now staring dumbfounded at the other's fist, neither knowing why they had stopped short. Something inside of them had told them to.
They stood there motionless for a moment, neither speaking.
"I guess we are both equally matched," Arwen spoke at last.
"Yes, I suppose so," Legolas agreed. He saw no point in continuing. They were equally matched and equally skilled. There would only be a victor when one or the other tired and lost out because of exhaustion. He had been taught that this was never a true victory and he did not desire to win this way, let alone lose. They let their arms fall to their sides and faced each other again.
"Would you like to call a draw?" Arwen asked, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth at the thought of this prince considering her an equal. Legolas paused.
"Yes," he answered, "I would."
"So, we're even then?" she inquired further.
"Yes, Arwen," the prince answered back, "we are." They paused another moment.
"Your lip is bleeding," Arwen told him then, gesturing toward his mouth, "sorry about that." He raised his hand to his face and brushed his lip. He glanced at his fingers and saw that there was blood on them. She thought then for a moment that he would grow angry again, but he simply laughed as though it was nothing, and she admired this, even though she really didn't want to admire anything about him.
"It's alright," he answered back, "all is forgotten and forgiven now." Arwen was surprised at this response as well. How anyone could forget a bloody lip intentionally given that fast she did not know. But she smiled at him anyway and said the least thing she had expected to say in the world,
"You fight good."
*Author's Note: Hey, sorry that chapter was a little long. I got a bit carried away.^.^ anyway, what do you think so far? That's the first fight scene I've ever written and I wasn't originally going to put it in but in the end I kind of wanted to include it because the story ended up flowing a little too fast otherwise (and to slip in a bit of elvish fighting ability.~.^). Chapter 8 is coming soon, I promise!
*DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of Tolkien's characters and am not, in any way, making money off of this story. There, any other bad news I can report?
Legolas lay on his bed. A large, dusty book lay open in front of him. It was a book out of the king's library and it told the story of the Great War that occurred when Sauron tried to over-throw Middle Earth. Legolas had read it dozens of times before, but he loved it so much he would read it dozens more. A soft knock sounded at his door. He turned for a moment before simply saying, "Enter." He then turned his back on the visitor and went back to his book.
Arwen stepped quietly into the room. Her heart was pounding and yet she couldn't quite figure out why. She looked up at the young prince who lay sprawled out on his stomach on the vast bed that lay in the center of the room. It was even bigger than her bed she had at home, she noticed. He was reading a book, she could see, and thought now that perhaps she'd better just leave him to it. He would probably be angry enough with her as it was, (though, inside she knew she was simply making excuses so she would not have to do this). As she turned to go his soft voice spoke from behind her, "Why did you just come in here?"
She turned. His back was still to her and he slowly turned a page of the book. She stood there a moment amid the awkward silence before summoning up all the courage she could muster, (or, perhaps all the humility she had) and said,
"I-I came to apologize," she stumbled, "for snapping at you like that."
"And so you should," he answered coolly, not yet turning.
"I really don't hate you that much, you just angered me, that's all," she said. He didn't answer for a moment. She could hear him reading under his breath and she began to grow angry with him once again, wondering if he was even listening to her. However, she reminded herself that getting angry and impatient would only start this whole thing over again, and she certainly did not want to do this a second time.
He slowly turned another page in his massive book before saying, "If I was in the situation where I had to complete one task, any task, and do it well else I be slain I would choose angering you, my Lady, for it is the easiest task I can possibly come up with." This took Arwen quite by surprise and she stood there a moment, not knowing how to respond. She was about to become angry again but before she could, laughter bubbled up from within her and came flowing from her lips. She laughed and laughed and laughed. She wasn't sure why she found what he'd just said so funny, but somehow she did.
Now Legolas turned and faced her. His piercing eyes stared at her a moment, baffled. This was the last thing he'd expected from her. He thought for sure that she was going to come up from behind him and slap him upside the head.
"You have quite the sense of humour, my Lord," she said then, once she had somewhat regained her composure, "a pity I didn't realize it before!" Now Legolas was completely and utterly confused. Relieved, yes, but confused. A smile slowly spread itself across his face then, and he too, began to laugh. Rising from his place on the bed he stood and faced her.
"I see you aren't angry with me, anymore," he told her, laughter still hanging in his voice, "for this I am greatly relieved. I apologize for offending you, my Lady." Arwen smiled.
"It's alright, my Lord, you can just call me Arwen."
"Only if you call me Legolas," he replied.
"It's a deal then," she said happily. She looked past him to the bed then and focused on the book. "What's that?" she asked.
"Oh, that's the story of the Great War against Sauron," Legolas answered, "do you know of the Great War?"
"Yes, yes I know," she replied, "my father fought in it after all."
"Oh yes! Of course! How could I forget?" he exclaimed, "I was indeed really excited to meet your father, him being such a warrior as he is." Arwen blushed and smiled. She was proud of her father.
"I'm sure your father is a great warrior as well," she answered. Legolas smiled slightly.
"Yes, he is a warrior. I only wish I was a warrior as well."
"You cannot expect to become a warrior that fast!" Arwen said suddenly, "you're only ten!" Legolas shot a glare in her direction.
"I can become a warrior! My father even said so!" he cried defensively.
"Well, of course you can, just not now," she said matter-of-factly.
"I can so! What would a maiden know of such things?" he shouted, leaping off the bed to stand tall beside it. Arwen got up uneasily, then fixed her eyes on his. Though, she admitted, his stare was formidable.
"Plenty!" she shouted back, "just because I am a maiden does not make me weak! I could beat you any day in a fighting match!"
"Fine! If you're so strong, prove it!" he shouted back at her, "you want to fight me? Let's go!" Arwen was taken aback.
"What? Here? Now?"
"Yes, why not? Are you afraid, my Lady?"
"No! It's just that, well, what if we break something?"
"What if we break something?" he repeated her mockingly, "you are afraid, admit it! I don't care if I break something! I break things all my life!"
"I'd believe that," Arwen thought to herself, beginning to fume. "Fine!" she shouted back then, "you want to fight? Then come on! I do not fear you! I do not fear anyone!" And with that she set herself in a traditional ready stance that most young elven fighters would set themselves in before a match. Her left foot was extended, her toes pointing toward him. Her right leg was bent dramatically so that her body sat low to the ground, her torso only a foot or so from the floor. She set her hands out in front of her in a defensive fashion, shielding her face and torso from an oncoming attack.
Legolas was taken aback by Arwen's ferocity. Her once soft violet eyes were now hard as rocks and flaming with anger. Her face was set and she did not look afraid at all. The young prince truly believed from then on that she really did not fear anything, that she really did not fear anyone, and that she really would go to the ends of the earth just to prove herself worthy. He was scared of her then for a moment, but he gathered his courage and set himself in a similar stance, determined to prove himself against this girl.
She looked at him hard then for a moment. His flawless face was grim and set. His icy blue eyes were fixed on hers, unblinking, unwavering. She fixed her eyes on his just as he had on hers and adopted the same determined set.
She made the first move. Shifting her weight from her right foot to her left she let a high kick fly for his face with her right foot all in one smooth motion. He leapt back from the attack smoothly and quickly fell to the ground in a drop kick. She felt her legs swept from under her and found herself on her back. Legolas smiled, thinking her defeated, but just as quickly she leapt directly from her back to her feet. She spun and let a punch fly aimed for his jaw. She did not miss. He clutched his jaw for a moment but quickly recuperated as she lunged at him a second time. He raised his arm to block the following punch that came flying at him. Back and forth across the room they went. Legs shoulder-width apart, moving in long, fluent strides. Punch after punch flew and block after block stopped them. None of the attacks hit their opponent and after a while, Legolas tired of this same routine. He decided a change was necessary. He took a step backward and the thought that he was afraid crossed Arwen's mind. However, that thought quickly evaporated as Legolas back-flipped from her and took up that same ready stance. She was taken off guard for a moment at this unexpected skilled move, but that didn't faze her for long. She half- turned twice and let a right kick fly once more. She wasn't quite fast enough. He snatched her foot and flipped her onto her back. She lay stunned for a moment, in which she heard his voice declare triumphantly,
"You fought well, my Lady, but I fear you are defeated."
"Not yet," she uttered under her breath just loud enough for him to hear. She flicked her legs up and brought them down fast bringing her to her feet. This, too, was an advanced move. It also gave her the advantage: her legs came down so fast Legolas did not see them. They came down right on his head, bringing him to his knees. She smiled triumphantly but he dashed her hopes as he rolled out of the way of another oncoming attack and leapt to his feet just as fast.
They now found themselves facing each other. Legolas' jaw was now turning black and blue from Arwen's first punch and his head pounded. Arwen's back and bottom were so sore she was certain that they were bruised. However, despite these attacks they were still just as determined to win, just as determined to beat the other down.
Legolas spun quickly then and let his own kick fly. Arwen blocked it and threw a punch with her right, making to hit his jaw once more. Just as fast, though, she saw his own fist flying for her face and something made her stop just short of her target. She immediately regretted it as she saw his powerful fist nearing her face. She screwed her eyes shut and winced against the oncoming blow.
It never came. Slowly and cautiously she opened her eyes. His fist, too, had stopped short of her face. Both were now staring dumbfounded at the other's fist, neither knowing why they had stopped short. Something inside of them had told them to.
They stood there motionless for a moment, neither speaking.
"I guess we are both equally matched," Arwen spoke at last.
"Yes, I suppose so," Legolas agreed. He saw no point in continuing. They were equally matched and equally skilled. There would only be a victor when one or the other tired and lost out because of exhaustion. He had been taught that this was never a true victory and he did not desire to win this way, let alone lose. They let their arms fall to their sides and faced each other again.
"Would you like to call a draw?" Arwen asked, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth at the thought of this prince considering her an equal. Legolas paused.
"Yes," he answered, "I would."
"So, we're even then?" she inquired further.
"Yes, Arwen," the prince answered back, "we are." They paused another moment.
"Your lip is bleeding," Arwen told him then, gesturing toward his mouth, "sorry about that." He raised his hand to his face and brushed his lip. He glanced at his fingers and saw that there was blood on them. She thought then for a moment that he would grow angry again, but he simply laughed as though it was nothing, and she admired this, even though she really didn't want to admire anything about him.
"It's alright," he answered back, "all is forgotten and forgiven now." Arwen was surprised at this response as well. How anyone could forget a bloody lip intentionally given that fast she did not know. But she smiled at him anyway and said the least thing she had expected to say in the world,
"You fight good."
*Author's Note: Hey, sorry that chapter was a little long. I got a bit carried away.^.^ anyway, what do you think so far? That's the first fight scene I've ever written and I wasn't originally going to put it in but in the end I kind of wanted to include it because the story ended up flowing a little too fast otherwise (and to slip in a bit of elvish fighting ability.~.^). Chapter 8 is coming soon, I promise!