Chapter Four: Of Bows and Arrows
Ionedhûr woke the next morning with a smile on his lips. He had been dreaming, but now awake he could not remember of what. It was odd, he mused, it was the happy dreams one forgot.
Sellevorn, waking nearby after a deep sleep, saw his smile and gave him one of her own. She felt happier after the ride of yesterday, and even Aylus had been passingly civil when she returned. She had spoken at length with Garonur, letting her gregarious nature out at last, and he had been nice, though he still believed that a female fighting in battle was wrong. Sellevorn was starting to wonder herself. However, she was certain she could do it, if only given a chance. She had never been given a chance back home.
Home... she missed it now. She missed her parents, and her aunt and uncle. She spoke aloud, not knowing she did so.
she said softly to herself. She needed to get it out.
Ionedhûr looked at the obviously lonely girl in sympathy, tugging at the tip of one ear thoughtfully, as he was wont to do.
Sellevorn looked up at him with a curious expression, feeling her fingers curl into fists at the strange look of the man's ears. Half-man, she reminded herself. She spoke up, trying to sound civil and afraid she was violating some rule of propriety.
How is it that you are Man and Elf, sir? she asked. What is it like? Who was your mother, and your father?
Ionedhûr hesitated, taken aback for a moment. Such questions were not usually asked of him, but then, he lived among his men as a commander, and this maiden did not see his other, sterner persona.
And then, too, there was the matter he did not wish to remember. He spoke carefully.
My mother was an Elf of Mirkwood, my father was... a Man. I think he was one of the Wildmen. He swallowed. He stopped. How could he tell this story to a child? She looked to have lived less than a score of years!
Sellevorn looked at him curiously, unblinking, and he continued despite himself.
They met but once, when the Wildmen were raiding the area around the forest. I was born after that, I do not know how it came to pass. Elves don't usually... Well, he said uncomfortably, my mother died of grief when I was quite young.
Sellevorn put a hand over her mouth.
'Tis like a sad story, she whispered.
Ionedhûr wished to steer the conversation back into less personal areas, and so said,
You like stories, do you? We have quite a collection of books Lord Faramir has brought here.
Sellevorn felt shamed.
I cannot read, she said softly.
I see, said Ionedhûr. The maiden was so innocent, or ignorant. They sat in silence a moment.
You don't have children of your own, do you? she asked him offhandedly, tired of the uncomfortable silence and thinking still of her parents.
Ionedhûr said, voice cracking a bit.
Aylus walked in from his early-morning watch duty and sat down by the fire next to Ionedhûr.
When is practice? he asked Ionedhûr, ignoring the maiden seated across from him.
Oh, I nearly forgot all about that, put in Ionedhûr sarcastically. It's this afternoon, as well you know, and if you don't wash beforehand, you'll kill us all with your stench. How long has it been, a turn of the moon? Get to the falls and bathe, and then you may join us at the archery ranges.
His eyes twinkled with mirth, and Aylus gave him a small smile and going off to do as he was bid.
Sellevorn sat, wondering why Ionedhûr only seemed happy around this sad, silent boy. She could have done with a little mirth, herself.
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As soon as Aylus was gone, Ionedhûr ran a hand over his eyes distractedly before remembering the presence of his companion, Sellevorn. She watched him eagerly, and he gave a sigh.
You want to practice, do you? he asked her.
Sellevorn was surprised. She had been thinking no such thing, and in fact her leg still ached from her wound the other day. But she was quick to give a solemn nod, and try to look the imposing warrior-maid. She would prove herself in battle, if she could be accepted among the men no other way.
Ionedhûr continued, again tugging at an ear, I suppose you may join us for archery practice, tis a useful skill for a lady to know how to hunt in these times.
Sellevorn nodded, scowling a bit to keep up appearances, but inside she was actually quite happy. At last she could prove herself! Belatedly she remembered her less-than-amazing skill at archery, and winced slightly before straightening her spine and resolving to do her best.
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It was time to practice. Aylus had been lying on the rocks outside the caves baking the last traces of moisture out of his clean hair when he heard Ionedhûr give the strident call to assemble. He and about thirty other young rangers under Ionedhûr's training jurisdiction lined up before the stuffed-straw dummies on the practice field. He noticed that there was only one empty place, and turned to see the maiden, Sellevorn, taking Tolmir's empty spot. His heart gave a lurch, and he suddenly and inexplicably thought of his little brother.
cam Ionedhûr's yell.
Aylus nocked an arrow.
came the second shout.
Aylus sighted along his bow, glancing sidelong at the maiden. She wasn't pulling back far enough, he though absently.
Concentrate on your OWN target, soldiers! said Ionedhûr. And... FIRE!
Blushing, Aylus loosed his arrow, then threw his bow to the ground in disgust as it hit the bottom edge of the dummy and glanced off.
Remember, soldiers, don't pluck the bow! See how Aylus' shot didn't have enought power or accuracy? He looked at Aylus with a raised brow. You want to get enough leverage to be able to simply release it, without twanging it and taking away some of your accuracy. Like so, watch me!
He moved forward among the rangers and demonstrated, making a perfect hit in the middle of the dummy's torso. Then he came and adjusted the soldiers' stances. He nodded at Aylus when he was done correcting him, and gave the boy an encouraging clap on the shoulder as the moved along the line to correct the others.
Aylus tensed under Ionedhûr's touch. He seethed with anger at being so insulted before his comrades, when Sellevorn had twanged her bow far more than he, and missed the target entirely. It was not fair that he was chided for this!
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Sellevorn felt a little slighted when Ionedhûr ignored her completely. However, when her arrow flew amiss, she was glad attention was not focused on her. Still, when he corrected everyone save her, she felt badly. Was she beneath his help, unworthy of even correction, just because she was female?
She was determined, now, to correct herself and make a perfect shot. At the calls of she tried to copy Ionedhûr's demonstration, but no matter how she struggled, she was unable to master the man-sized bow enough to pull it back fully, and her shot went wide and stuck, quivering, in the side of Aylus' dummy. He gave a snort, and she saw Ionedhûr walk up and whisper something in his ear. He nodded sourly, and prepared another arrow. His own last shot had stuck in the belly of the dummy.
They shot a few more rounds, and then Ionedhûr bellowed again.
COLLECT YOUR ARROWS AND MEET ME AT THE EXERCISE FIELD!
He walked off, stopping at Sellevorn's side.
You go back to the caves and give your arrows to Garonur, all right?
Reluctantly, she nodded and moved forward to find her arrows. Most of the twenty she had been issued stuck out of the ground at odd angles, but a few had landed squarely in the center of her dummy. She was congratulating herself over this when she came to collect nineteen of her arrows, and was unable to find the other. Then she remembered.
It had stuck in the side of Aylus' dummy. Sighing abashedly, she walked over to the dummy in question and began trying to extricate her arrow. It wouldn't budge. Aylus sauntered over, having pulled out all his arrows save one, and made as though to yank his last arrow out.
His would not come, either. He pulled harder, frowning and studiously ignoring Sellevorn, who was now tugging furiously at her own arrow. Suddenly, the sacking holding the straw of the dummy in place gave way, and both Aylus and Sellevorn tumbled to the ground. Sellevorn's arrow was stuck fast with one of Aylus', straight through the wood. Both arrows were now unusable.
Unexpectedly, Aylus laughed. Sellevorn joined in, glad to find some measure of joy in this dreary place at last. She was still chuckling when Aylus' laughter grew almost frantic. He gave a gasp and his laughter abruptly ceased. He stood, looking coldly down at her.
You ruined two perfectly good arrows, he said, almost no hint of emotion in his voice. The words never changed in volume. We need these for the war. To protect the city. He was gritting his teeth, he noticed. He calmed himself again, gave her a cold, uncertain look, and left, dropping the entwined arrows beside Sellevorn.
She stared at him incredulously, then picked up the arrows and pulled them apart with a swift jerk. They were not ruined, she mused, looking them over. A little sanding and straightening would fix them. She had always been good at carving and woodwork, and she knew she could mend these.
Disclaimer: I own nothing Tolkien ever wrote, and if this surprises you, you need therapy. If this surprises you because you, yourself, do indeed own Tolkien's work, would you consider selling it to me?
