Author's Note: Sorry again for the delay. I just got my computer back from
the shop, and hopefully (knock on wood) it shouldn't take so long to update
chapters from now on. I also appologize for the shortness of this chapter –
I figured it was better to get this up and let you know that I hadn't lost
interest in writing this story. Also, please keep those reviews coming –
they help to keep my creative juices flowing. ;o)
Chapter 8: Captured!
Our break between training sessions went by far too quickly – I felt like I'd only just managed to get cleaned up and had sat down for a bite to eat when we were being hussled off to archery practice with Haldir. As I got up, I grabbed a peach to eat along the way and noticed Alex sneaking a couple of the ripe fruits into his pockets.
Haldir led us to a field on the outskirts of Lorien where he had already set up targets for us to aim for. He started off by showing us the proper stance, having us use twigs from the forest instead of real arrows. "I thought you elves used arrows in your bows, not twigs," Alex muttered. I had to admit, I was somewhat surprised too, but tried not to let it show.
Haldir laughed. "Aye, we do Alex. I must now admit that I spied on the first half of your sword lesson, and thought it would be safer for you both if we started off with blunt sticks rather than pointed arrows."
I blushed, feeling thoroughly embarrassed. 'It's not my fault no one taught me how to fight with a sword before,' I thought. I knew Alex was never going to let me forget about that morning's incident, but now it looked like Haldir would also be able to use it as blackmail material. I half wondered who else may have watched us…
Surprisingly, I turned out to be better with a bow than I was with a sword, and was soon able to make the arrow fly to the center of the targets some 50 paces away. Unfortunately, it took a little longer for Alex to get the hang of it. He winced as the string released unexpectedly and vibrated, barely missing his ear. It didn't miss his pocket, though, and soon the juice from his pocketted peaches was seeping down the front of his leg.
I couldn't help myself when I noticed it and burst into a fit of giggles. Haldir looked at me questionningly, but the glance went unnoticed as I clutched my sides. Alex, with a pained expression on his face, spoke quietly, "Is it alright if I, umm, go and change into some clean leggings Haldir?"
Finally noticing the darker blotch on Alex' jeans, Haldir gave a nod. "I will take you back – there are many unseen sentinels guarding Lothlorien, and without an elf for company, you are likely to be their target practice." Haldir then turned to me, and as he did so, I saw the glint of laughter in his eyes threatening to overflow – I knew he was having a hard time keeping a straight face. "I will be back soon to continue the lesson, Sarah. Until then, keep practicing."
I nodded, and waved to Haldir and Alex as they strode off back in the direction we had come. Instead of practicing, I opted to walk to the edge of the woods and sit down in the shade of a nearby tree. 'My arms ache, and besides, it's not like anyone is here to force me to keep practicing,' I thought as I picked a daisy. 'It's so peaceful here – learning to fight seems so out of place…' Yawning, I felt my eyes droop and smiled as I felt myself being taken to the land of nod.
A bird call woke me up, and I looked up to see a large blackbird in the boughs of the tree above me. As it looked at me, I couldn't help but feel uneasy. "This is stupid," I whispered to myself, "you're getting freaked by a bird for goodness sake!"
It was then that I saw them – hideous creatures that I instinctively knew could only be Orcs. I froze in terror as four of them surrounded me, and recoiled as one of them reached out to grab me. Too late I realized the big problem with shrinking away when one is surrounded – you only end up being closer to whatever else is blocking your retreat. I was grabbed from behind, and everything went black as I felt something hard and solid hit my skull.
I'm thinking of starting to do chapters (or sections of chapters) devoted to different characters points of view (so Haldir and Alex remain in the story). You've been forewarned! ;o)
Chapter 8: Captured!
Our break between training sessions went by far too quickly – I felt like I'd only just managed to get cleaned up and had sat down for a bite to eat when we were being hussled off to archery practice with Haldir. As I got up, I grabbed a peach to eat along the way and noticed Alex sneaking a couple of the ripe fruits into his pockets.
Haldir led us to a field on the outskirts of Lorien where he had already set up targets for us to aim for. He started off by showing us the proper stance, having us use twigs from the forest instead of real arrows. "I thought you elves used arrows in your bows, not twigs," Alex muttered. I had to admit, I was somewhat surprised too, but tried not to let it show.
Haldir laughed. "Aye, we do Alex. I must now admit that I spied on the first half of your sword lesson, and thought it would be safer for you both if we started off with blunt sticks rather than pointed arrows."
I blushed, feeling thoroughly embarrassed. 'It's not my fault no one taught me how to fight with a sword before,' I thought. I knew Alex was never going to let me forget about that morning's incident, but now it looked like Haldir would also be able to use it as blackmail material. I half wondered who else may have watched us…
Surprisingly, I turned out to be better with a bow than I was with a sword, and was soon able to make the arrow fly to the center of the targets some 50 paces away. Unfortunately, it took a little longer for Alex to get the hang of it. He winced as the string released unexpectedly and vibrated, barely missing his ear. It didn't miss his pocket, though, and soon the juice from his pocketted peaches was seeping down the front of his leg.
I couldn't help myself when I noticed it and burst into a fit of giggles. Haldir looked at me questionningly, but the glance went unnoticed as I clutched my sides. Alex, with a pained expression on his face, spoke quietly, "Is it alright if I, umm, go and change into some clean leggings Haldir?"
Finally noticing the darker blotch on Alex' jeans, Haldir gave a nod. "I will take you back – there are many unseen sentinels guarding Lothlorien, and without an elf for company, you are likely to be their target practice." Haldir then turned to me, and as he did so, I saw the glint of laughter in his eyes threatening to overflow – I knew he was having a hard time keeping a straight face. "I will be back soon to continue the lesson, Sarah. Until then, keep practicing."
I nodded, and waved to Haldir and Alex as they strode off back in the direction we had come. Instead of practicing, I opted to walk to the edge of the woods and sit down in the shade of a nearby tree. 'My arms ache, and besides, it's not like anyone is here to force me to keep practicing,' I thought as I picked a daisy. 'It's so peaceful here – learning to fight seems so out of place…' Yawning, I felt my eyes droop and smiled as I felt myself being taken to the land of nod.
A bird call woke me up, and I looked up to see a large blackbird in the boughs of the tree above me. As it looked at me, I couldn't help but feel uneasy. "This is stupid," I whispered to myself, "you're getting freaked by a bird for goodness sake!"
It was then that I saw them – hideous creatures that I instinctively knew could only be Orcs. I froze in terror as four of them surrounded me, and recoiled as one of them reached out to grab me. Too late I realized the big problem with shrinking away when one is surrounded – you only end up being closer to whatever else is blocking your retreat. I was grabbed from behind, and everything went black as I felt something hard and solid hit my skull.
I'm thinking of starting to do chapters (or sections of chapters) devoted to different characters points of view (so Haldir and Alex remain in the story). You've been forewarned! ;o)