Chapter 6: A Fight Amongst Friends
The next morning Gandalf wakes everyone one but Legolas, Vywien, and Aragorn. Vywien had decided to go for a walk amongst the old trees, to which she's accustomed, pondering the past days events. The two old friends, Aragorn and Legolas, had gone out to find breakfast for the rest of the group. "What do you make of this Aragorn?" They walk through Rohan, "Not sure. It's not unlike Gandalf to expect a lot from people. Even if they don't know it yet."
Legolas nodded, swinging his bow over his shoulder. "Yeah, I know what you mean. I haven't known Gandalf as long as you...there is a reason for all of this?"
Aragorn laughed, as his eyes scanned the empty plain. "If I know Gandalf, he's has a reason for everything." His eyes spotted something moving, and he stuck his arm out to halt Legolas. He pointed to the wild boar that was sniffing around some grub a few yards away. Legolas nodded, and they went after breakfast.
* * *
Zayn nervously looked around the small cozy camp they were using. The dwarf Gimli was playing with his axe in an open area, the two hobbits Merry and Pippin were smoking with their long pipes, occasionally commenting to each other how hungry they were. The wizard, Gandalf, was starting another roaring fire. Zayn looked down at the weapons by her feet, and suddenly wondered what exactly she was doing here. She couldn't fight, and they didn't know she was a thief. If they found out about her past, they would probably kick her out for good. It would be better to leave, then be thrown out on threat of death. She slowly stood up, and noticing that she wasn't drawing much attention she slowly inched her way out of the clearing.
"There, cozy warm." Gandalf dusted his hands off. "Oh Zayn, I was wondering if you could help me set up the area for breakfast?" Gandalf called over his shoulder to the 'almost gone' girl. Zayn froze in her tracks, eyes wide as if she had just seen an Orc pass by wearing a dress. She glanced around behind her, then back to Gandalf who was just turning around.
"Um...yeah." Zayn replied reluctantly. She inched her way forward.
"Good." Gandalf smiled at her, and together they prepared for breakfast.
* * *
Legolas and Aragorn made their way back toward the forest, and the camped clearing. Aragorn had the wild boar, not so wild now, slung over his shoulders for breakfast. Between the two hunters, it had been easy to get the boar, and now breakfast was on the way. He knew of two happy hobbits that would be ecstatic about the prospect of food. The elf and the man were talking between the two of them about whatever came up...but mainly about this new quest that Gandalf wanted them to accomplish. Aragorn had a vague idea about what the quest was about, but wasn't going to say anything until he was for certain.
"Look!" Legolas cried out. "There is the elf Vywien!" Aragorn followed his friend's gaze, and saw the fair female elf walking amongst the forest trees hair hanging down her back unbraided. The two men quickened their pace to catch up to their new friend. "Hello." Legolas said from behind her.
Vywien jumped slightly, still not used to the sound of another human...or elf's voice. She turned around, and smiled up at the blonde elf. "Hello." She turned toward Aragorn, and the two of the nodded at each other. "I was just heading back to the camp, had quite a walk."
"What a coincidence." Aragorn smiled, and hefted the boar on his shoulders. "We have breakfast."
* * *
The two fair elves and the ranger walk through the forest heading back toward camp. Aragorn in the front, Legolas following behind looking for other small game, and Vywien staring off into the forest deep in thought. Vywien looked at the two, "Do you know why Gandalf has called us to save Middle Earth?" Aragorn spoke, shifting the boar high on his shoulder, "I do not, though Gandalf has his own reasons. No one could possibly know what he's up to, but him." Contented with this, she turned her head back toward their destination and kept walking. Shortly afterward the group entered the campsite to find Gandalf and Zayn preparing for the meal. Gimi was off in a clearing practicing with his axe, and the two young hobbits were smoking a pipe somewhat contentedly.
Legolas walks over to his friend practicing his axe and converse with him, while Vywien sits on a rock near the fire. Aragorn carries the large boar over to Gandalf, "Where should I put him?" Gandalf, looks over and motions to a leather cloth on the ground. "That'll do for now." Striding over to the large cloth, he sets the boar down laying it next to the fire. As he turns, Gandalf speak to the girls. "After we are finished eating, I'd like you two ladies show me how much you know about using your weapons so we know how far we have to go." The fair elf, and golden haired human looked at each other with a look of worry. Zayn looks to Gandalf, "Will we be attacking each other, or following Gimli's example and wielding the weapons?" Without a thought or pause, "You'll be attacking each other."
"What if we kill one another, or become seriously injured. We would be of no use to you then," replied Vywien with a curious expression. "You won't kill each other, and if you don't know how to wield a weapon then it is the same as if you were injured."
Gandalf had Aragorn spear the boar so they can roast the large animal on the fire. Not ten seconds after they put it above the fire, to the two hobbits come running to the fire. "Wow, that boar is huge! How long did it take you to catch that thing?" Pippin questions. "How long until it is done? Will there be enough for seconds?" "Do we have any ale to wash it down with?" Several moments pass as the two hobbits exclaim how hungry they are, asking when the food is done, what amounts are going to be dealt out, until Gandalf becomes irritable. "ENOUGH! It will be about a half an hour. Find something to occupy yourself with, rather than pestering me...' as he thinks a smile spreads across his lips, ' on second thought we'll start training now. Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, Zayn, Vywien, Pippin and Merry! We'll begin training now. I want you, Zayn, and Vywien to stand in the field over there and practice with your swords. Legolas and Aragorn will meditate. Pippin, Merry you will help me with the food you're so intent on, and Gimli you'll help with the practice. Now go!"
The two ladies walk across the field and stand opposite each other. Zayn draws out her Elvish sword and prepares by swinging the sword a few times, while Vywien braids and ties back her hair. Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas watch from the grass closer to the camp fire. Vywien tentatively withdraws Elrond's old sword, following Zayn's example she lashes at the air. Both concentrate on their opponent and wait for one of them to begin.
* * *
"After you." Zayn motions a bit nervously. "I never attack first." Vywien replied, forgetting her first meeting with Legolas. "I only defend myself." Zayn answered. And so the two stood. Elf and Human, swords ready to strike...but neither with any intention to start the training.
Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas sat on the ground, anticipating who was going to start the fight. Legolas and Gimli were even making wagers on who would be better with the sword. "This is the part where you train!" Aragorn yelled out across the distance to the two ladies. They both glanced over at him, then back to each other and shrugged.
"This is going nowhere." Gimli voiced what everyone had been thinking. Just then Gandalf comes over to the watching group.
"How are they fairing?"
"We'll let you know when they begin." Legolas answered, glancing up at Gandalf, then quickly back to the 'sword wielders', hoping that he hadn't missed anything. The four watched the non-moving figures, occasionally glancing back at the two hobbits who were clanking away, getting the boar ready for eating.
"Everyone is staring at us." Zayn whispered frightfully to Vywien. "I don't want to attack you."
"Nor I you." Vywien replied. She too felt uneasy with everyone staring so concentrated on them. Both of their hearts were racing so fast, and they were so nervous that their sword hands were shaking uncontrollably. They glanced to the group briefly, and noticed Gimli walking towards them.
"Gimli is coming to assist you." Gandalf called out. "Perhaps he can get you started." Both Vywien's and Zayn's eyes went wide at the site of the stalwart dwarf stalking toward them. Zayn, improvising, suddenly lunged at Vywien. The site of Gimli angry frightened her into complying. Though if either of the two ladies knew Gimli even for a day, they would have noticed the twinkle in his eye, and the slight twitching of his lips into a smile. Vywien's eyes barely blinked, and she started to defend herself.
"At last!" Legolas raised his arms in triumph. "The first blow is struck!" The group now watched intently as Vywien lunged into action and swung blindly with the weapon. Zayn, thoroughly scared now, literally threw her sword at Vywien, and ran to, and behind Gimli. She clutched the dwarf's shoulders, and bent down a bit behind him. Gimli half tuned around, a bit confused as to her 'hiding' tactic. Vywien, meanwhile, looked toward Zayn, and lowered her sword toward the ground, the point digging into the soft dirt. Gandalf started chuckling, Legolas stared at the shortcomings with a confused expression on his face, And Aragorn fell backward onto the soft grass, and groaned. He closed his eyes, and thought of the many hours of work they were going to have to work on. What warrior would run from a fight? Aragorn slowly opened his eyes, and jumped a bit when he saw a hobbit standing there. He looked at Merry upside down.
"Sorry to disturb this 'peaceful moment'," Merry laughed at Aragorn's disgruntled expression. "But breakfast is ready."