Chapter Two - The Lessons Begin
Early in the morning, a shaft of light shining through the window on her face waked Elemmire. She sat up and leant back against the cushions behind her. Today was the day of her first archery lesson with Haldir. She had avoided him since their encounter in the garden. Elemmire was hesitant to go to the lesson, but determined not to let Haldir intimidate her. She rose and donned the outfit the Lady had sent to her. It was similar to the clothes worn by the other archers, with a few changes. They felt a little uncomfortable at first, but she was soon used to them.
When dressed, Elemmire walked into the hallway and closed her door behind her. There was no going back now. She turned into a rather large room filled with elves breakfasting in the morning sun that filled the room. The two side walls were lattices of creeping vines in full flower, but in front of her, the room opened onto a balcony that looked out over Lórien. Walking over to a table laden with fruits, Elemmire took her fill and joined a group of elves on the balcony. "You start archery today, right Elemmire?" asked one of the elves. "Indeed I do. But Haldir will not be too impressed if I am late. I'd best be off. I shall talk with you later this evening." She met Haldir on her way to the door. "I see you are properly attired, dearest elfling. Good, good. Now let us be off." Upon exiting the elven dwelling, they took a trail through the Mellyrn. At last they came to a large clearing fashioned for archery students. The tall trees formed a roof over the clearing and at one end a number of targets had been planted.
The first archery lesson went quite smoothly. Surprisingly, Haldir acted as though nothing had happened. He was the teacher and Elemmire was his student. She decided to play along, there was no need to remind him of what had transpired. He taught her about the bow and how to use it so as to get the furthest distance or the hardest hit. He introduced her to different types of arrows and the correct way to use them. After a quick demonstration, Elemmire was ready to begin shooting. She stood at the marker and loaded the arrow. Taking aim, she pulled the bowstring taut. Haldir watched her closely. She released the string and the arrow whizzed through the air. It pierced the target near the middle. "A fair try, elfling. You just need to fix up your technique." He moved to stand behind her. Elemmire placed the arrow on the string and started to take aim. "Not yet." Haldir commanded. He put his foot in between hers and pushed the right one aside with a gentle nudge. "Have your feet a little distance apart, so you can balance." He came closer and placed his hands on hers. Haldir's head rested on her shoulder and he spoke into her ear. "Relax and focus, elfling, let me help you." He drew her left arm up to take aim. "Look directly at the centre and align the arrow like I showed you." He pulled her right hand back gently, pulling the string. They let go together and the arrow pierced the centre of the target. "See what you can do when you are focussed?" He took a step back. "Now try with out my help."
At the end of her first lesson, Elemmire had progressed quickly, beyond what Haldir had expected. "You have learnt quickly, young elfling." "I had a good teacher." She flashed a quick smile, wishing she hadn't spoken. The last thing she wanted was for Haldir to think she was flirting with him. "A teacher is only as good as his student," he grinned slyly, "or so I've heard." Elemmire grew uneasy. "I must be going now, things to.do." She started to stammer under the gaze of his platinum eyes. "Going so soon? Please, will you not stay for a morsel to eat?" he gestured towards a table set with food. "No, I really must be going. Thanks for the lesson, I'll see you again tomorrow." "I'll be waiting." His reply followed as Elemmire she hurried away from the archery range.
Haldir sat down at the table, grabbing a piece of fruit from the platter on the table. Feeling rather pleased with himself, he hungrily devoured it. The lesson had gone well, he knew she would come around, eventually. There was no way for her to resist his charm. Admittedly, his behaviour in the garden had been wrong, totally unbecoming of him. Something had taken control of him. Or was it that he hadn't been able to control himself. Well he had almost blown it, almost. However, Haldir was confident that he was back in her good books. In the garden he had scared her with his masculine strength. He was determined never to let his desires get the better of him again. He would control himself and wait for his chance. Yes, Elemmire would be his.
Back in the safety of her room, Elemmire changed out of her archery garments into a simple silver gown. Sitting at her window she stared at the sky. The sun was shining brightly and the sky was cloudless. Soon she was deep in thought. Any who looked upon her from below would have beheld what looked to be a statue, for Elemmire did not stir. Her thoughts revolved around Haldir and his bizarre behaviour. She couldn't understand what had happened. In the garden he had acted like an orc pawing over a potential meal. It had frightened her how strong he was. But it was like he had become a totally different person. Their archery lesson had gone very well, he had been an almost perfect gentleman. The thing that annoyed her most was the way he always called her 'elfling'. He never called her by her name. If only it were possible to see into his mind. To know what he was thinking. To know why he did what he did. But she would just have to deal with his unpredictable nature. Elemmire wondered how many more lessons she would need. After all, he had told her that she was a quick learner. Perhaps she wouldn't need too many more lessons. The quicker she mastered archery, the less time she would have to spend with Haldir. She found it odd that despite her strong feelings of dislike towards Haldir, Elemmire found herself looking forward to the next lesson.
Early in the morning, a shaft of light shining through the window on her face waked Elemmire. She sat up and leant back against the cushions behind her. Today was the day of her first archery lesson with Haldir. She had avoided him since their encounter in the garden. Elemmire was hesitant to go to the lesson, but determined not to let Haldir intimidate her. She rose and donned the outfit the Lady had sent to her. It was similar to the clothes worn by the other archers, with a few changes. They felt a little uncomfortable at first, but she was soon used to them.
When dressed, Elemmire walked into the hallway and closed her door behind her. There was no going back now. She turned into a rather large room filled with elves breakfasting in the morning sun that filled the room. The two side walls were lattices of creeping vines in full flower, but in front of her, the room opened onto a balcony that looked out over Lórien. Walking over to a table laden with fruits, Elemmire took her fill and joined a group of elves on the balcony. "You start archery today, right Elemmire?" asked one of the elves. "Indeed I do. But Haldir will not be too impressed if I am late. I'd best be off. I shall talk with you later this evening." She met Haldir on her way to the door. "I see you are properly attired, dearest elfling. Good, good. Now let us be off." Upon exiting the elven dwelling, they took a trail through the Mellyrn. At last they came to a large clearing fashioned for archery students. The tall trees formed a roof over the clearing and at one end a number of targets had been planted.
The first archery lesson went quite smoothly. Surprisingly, Haldir acted as though nothing had happened. He was the teacher and Elemmire was his student. She decided to play along, there was no need to remind him of what had transpired. He taught her about the bow and how to use it so as to get the furthest distance or the hardest hit. He introduced her to different types of arrows and the correct way to use them. After a quick demonstration, Elemmire was ready to begin shooting. She stood at the marker and loaded the arrow. Taking aim, she pulled the bowstring taut. Haldir watched her closely. She released the string and the arrow whizzed through the air. It pierced the target near the middle. "A fair try, elfling. You just need to fix up your technique." He moved to stand behind her. Elemmire placed the arrow on the string and started to take aim. "Not yet." Haldir commanded. He put his foot in between hers and pushed the right one aside with a gentle nudge. "Have your feet a little distance apart, so you can balance." He came closer and placed his hands on hers. Haldir's head rested on her shoulder and he spoke into her ear. "Relax and focus, elfling, let me help you." He drew her left arm up to take aim. "Look directly at the centre and align the arrow like I showed you." He pulled her right hand back gently, pulling the string. They let go together and the arrow pierced the centre of the target. "See what you can do when you are focussed?" He took a step back. "Now try with out my help."
At the end of her first lesson, Elemmire had progressed quickly, beyond what Haldir had expected. "You have learnt quickly, young elfling." "I had a good teacher." She flashed a quick smile, wishing she hadn't spoken. The last thing she wanted was for Haldir to think she was flirting with him. "A teacher is only as good as his student," he grinned slyly, "or so I've heard." Elemmire grew uneasy. "I must be going now, things to.do." She started to stammer under the gaze of his platinum eyes. "Going so soon? Please, will you not stay for a morsel to eat?" he gestured towards a table set with food. "No, I really must be going. Thanks for the lesson, I'll see you again tomorrow." "I'll be waiting." His reply followed as Elemmire she hurried away from the archery range.
Haldir sat down at the table, grabbing a piece of fruit from the platter on the table. Feeling rather pleased with himself, he hungrily devoured it. The lesson had gone well, he knew she would come around, eventually. There was no way for her to resist his charm. Admittedly, his behaviour in the garden had been wrong, totally unbecoming of him. Something had taken control of him. Or was it that he hadn't been able to control himself. Well he had almost blown it, almost. However, Haldir was confident that he was back in her good books. In the garden he had scared her with his masculine strength. He was determined never to let his desires get the better of him again. He would control himself and wait for his chance. Yes, Elemmire would be his.
Back in the safety of her room, Elemmire changed out of her archery garments into a simple silver gown. Sitting at her window she stared at the sky. The sun was shining brightly and the sky was cloudless. Soon she was deep in thought. Any who looked upon her from below would have beheld what looked to be a statue, for Elemmire did not stir. Her thoughts revolved around Haldir and his bizarre behaviour. She couldn't understand what had happened. In the garden he had acted like an orc pawing over a potential meal. It had frightened her how strong he was. But it was like he had become a totally different person. Their archery lesson had gone very well, he had been an almost perfect gentleman. The thing that annoyed her most was the way he always called her 'elfling'. He never called her by her name. If only it were possible to see into his mind. To know what he was thinking. To know why he did what he did. But she would just have to deal with his unpredictable nature. Elemmire wondered how many more lessons she would need. After all, he had told her that she was a quick learner. Perhaps she wouldn't need too many more lessons. The quicker she mastered archery, the less time she would have to spend with Haldir. She found it odd that despite her strong feelings of dislike towards Haldir, Elemmire found herself looking forward to the next lesson.