Chapter 5: Training day

Selina stood there in the middle of the court totally motionless, enjoying the sensation of the rays of the rising sun, that warmed her skin. After a few seconds she drew in a deep breath and started her training. She had to be in best shape if she wanted to have at least the ghost of a chance against Tulrah.

Selina stretched and started to move her body in a slow and fluent motion, that would have looked to any spectator as a mixture of fighting and dancing. She finished her warming up routine and was now ready for the actual training.

The Selvadage'tok woman looked around and nodded in approval. Rivendell had the most ideal surroundings for the workout she was planning. There was pavilion and around it, positioned in a circle, in a distant of about three meters or so, several stable looking columns.

She took a short start up and jumped against the middle of one of the columns, then swiftly pushed herself off from it and flipped in the air to land gracefully on top of the pavilion. Her steps were sure and she never faltered for a second. She leaped over the gap between the pavilion and on top of a column, jumping then from one to the other with the grace of a dancer.

Selina suddenly felt a presence, her hypersensitive sense of hearing and smell reacting immediately. She froze in motion and stood still like a statue.

Legolas and Aragorn appeared in the court, apparently they both also wanted to train, as they carried their weapons with them.

"So what do you think about our new companion?", Aragorn asked the elf.

"Her story is truly a sad one! And her people seem to be quite intriguing, other than that I can tell no more, for I know her too little.", Legolas answered.

"Yes, but do you think we can trust her?", the man asked.

"If Gandalf does, we have no reason to question his judgement.", Legolas replied.

"Nevertheless I'm going to keep an eye on her!", Aragorn added.

Selina squinted her eyes together. She didn't like to eavesdrop, but this time it had been inevitable, as everything had happened very quickly.

So winning their trust wouldn't be a walk in the park! Well, she wouldn't have it any other way! It only showed her that they were careful and considerate, which was all the more reason to earn their respect.

She finally decided to make her presence known, jumping down from the column and jogging over to the two men.

"Greetings Aragorn and Legolas! Mind if I join you in training?", she asked them friendly.

"No not at all, because it is necessary to know each other abilities, as we are going to go on this mission to together.", Aragorn answered.

He unshedded his sword and took his fighting stance. "Lets start right now, if you don't mind!"

"Not at all!", she answered and drew her twin daggers.

He attacked her and she could tell immediately by looking at the way he moved that he was a skilled warrior. She blocked his blows and staggered a few steps back, unprepared for the force of them.

So she had to be careful! He was fast, well trained and strong. She had to make up for this with her swiftness and her dexterity. It was challenging and it would be fun!

Selina grinned and cocked her head, motioning him to attack anew. This time she was prepared and evaded his strike with a role. She came to her feet immediately after.

She whirled her daggers around, using them as the naturally extension of her arms. Aragorn blocked her every strike with his sword. They were quite evenly matched.

Their little match seemed to stretch on forever and was still undecided.

"Do you give up?", Aragorn asked panting heavily.

"No, do you?", Selina asked whipping the sweat from her forehead.

Legolas, who had been watching their training fight the whole time, decided to intervene. "How about you call this even?", he tried to mediate.

"No! ", they both shouted in unison.

The elf shrugged his shoulders and crossed his arms over his chest. Let them have their way! What did he know? After all he had just a few thousand years worth of experience to offer.

After a few minutes the situation hadn't changed much except for the fact that both of them looked even more exhausted.

In the meantime Gimli had entered the court and now stood beside Legolas to watch their match.

"What are they doing?", he asked curiously.

"Since the last few minutes they have been more sweating and panting for air than they have been fighting, so it is up to the spectator to decide in which of both things they are actually competing.", Legolas answered with a raised eyebrow.

Selina's headed whipped around. "I heard that! ", she protested sourly.

"I thought you were fighting! If you want to win you have to focus all your concentration on that and not on what your audience is talking about! ", the elf answered unimpressed by her murderous glare.

"Selina I think you have proven to be a skillful fighter I think we should finally call this even! ", Aragorn said in between heavy breaths.

"Yes, we should! Thank you very much, Aragorn!", Selina smiled "I can only give back the compliment."

They shedded their weapons and shook hands.

"It was about time you both were acting your age! ", the dwarf exclaimed.

"Look who's talking! ", Selina muttered under her breath and saw a smile flit over Legolas face.