Disclaimer: Anything from Lord of the Rings, or Ocean's 11, I do not own. This is all for fun, and I am not making any money on it.
Note to Readers: Thanks to Hobbit Eyes, Judy Greenleaf, The Invisible Vixen, Elf of Sirannon, Wilwarin, Elvish Fairy, Lone Songbird, and In Dreams, for the reviews and support. And to anybody else who has given this story a look. It means a lot, and I look forward to any comments, or suggestions you can give me.
Strider's Dozen - Chapter Three - Target Practice
"Okay now pull back," Legolas instructed to the five hobbits, whom were readying their bows. The day had been a long one, and so far, not a single halfling had managed to hit the target that the elf had plastered to the side of the oak tree a metre away from them.
On his count, the arrows flew, and once again, strayed as far as possible from their intended goal, causing sighs to erupt from each of them. "This is useless!" said Merry Brandybuck, the tallest of the shire folk in today's lesson.
With a shake of his fine head, Legolas glided over to him, and coaxed the hobbit closer to the tree. "You're holding the shaft too tightly," Legolas began, as he demonstrated with his own elven crafted bow, that seemed to come alive in his hands. "You have to be gentle, or your arrows will fly astray" he continued, as he released his arrow, and sent it sailing into the centre of the target.
The other hobbits, who had by now, also turned their full attention to the elf, positioned next to Merry, and in unison let their arrows fly, this time, follow the direction that Legolas had given to them. And though the arrows did not have the same accuracy of the sylvan elf, they did manage to nail their objective.
"An improvement," Legolas appraised, as he eyed the arrows, with a critical eye, "now you must learn to perfect it."
The elf was a good teacher, the hobbits had to give him that, but his method of teaching was always on topic, and never strayed from his serious attitude. "Archery is an art form. It must be learned with precision and dedication," is what the elf could be quoted saying numerous amounts of times, during the two months he had spent living in the Shire.
As Legolas, put his hand through his golden hair, and stopped when it reached the back of his ear, four out of the five halflings, ran over to him, hoping to get some more pointers out of him, before he called it quits for the day.
"Watch this!" They heard the high-pitched voice of Pippin, call out to them, as he again readied an arrow to his small bow. A look of horror crossed Legolas' face, when he saw that the hobbit's aim was off target, and he realized that the arrow would certainly head in their direction.
"Pippin. No!" Sam yelled out, but too late, it was released, and sent flying towards them.
As quickly as possible, Legolas additionally shot an arrow of his own, and sent to soaring with a direct purpose. To collide with the one of the halfling, and pin it to the tree. Legolas' aim never failed, and this time was no exception, it fulfilled it's objective, and prevented the danger.
With a breath of relief, Pippin lowered his bow, as he noticed the others were glaring back at him. With a shrug, he forced a smile, as Legolas walked over to the tree, to which the two arrows were attached. He was irritated, everyone knew this, but he kept it to himself, and said nothing about it. Whether that was a blessing or not, the hobbits could not decide.
As he pulled the projectiles from the bark, a recognizable voice caught his attention, but he refused to turn around, knowing full well, that once he did, jeopardy and possible death would follow.
"Lesson six," The voice spoke loudly, causing the halflings to turn their eyes to the man who stood a few steps from them, a fixed bow in hand, directed right at the elf, who still had yet to turn around. "Never turn your back to your enemy" Aragorn finished, as he let the arrow fly, and sent it strait towards Legolas' unshielded back.
A smile now crossing his fine face, Legolas picked up the sound of the weapon coming towards him, and readied himself for it. As soon, as it came close enough, his fast cat like abilities, allowed him to spin, and catch the arrow with his bare hands, and faster than he had caught the weapon, he readied it to his own bow, and shot it back at the man who had started the whole thing.
Unfortunately, Aragorn was not as swift as the elf was, and could do nothing but duck out of the arrows path, just in time. "Lesson seven," Legolas jested, as Aragorn rose to his feet. "Never underestimate your target, no matter how easy they may seem."
The hobbits were in total awe of what they had just witnessed, and stood in silence as the two beings approached each other, smirks of both faces. "I've missed your proud remarks" Aragorn joked, as the two gripped arms.
"When did you escape?" the elf replied, enlarging his grin. A hurt look crossed the man's features, but the enjoyment was still clearly shown, "I'm a free man now" he responded, as Pippin, and Sam approached them
"Who is this Legolas?" Sam asked, eyeing the man suspiciously, as the other hobbit quietly laughed at his constant questioning behaviour. The elf also joined in in Pippin's laughter, and could not help, but add to Sam's mistrust, much to Aragorn's displeasure.
"This here is, Strider," Legolas began, calming down Aragorn's belief that he was going to tell the hobbits his true identity. Something the elf, was know for doing, whenever he was upset, or in a joking mood. "He's just been released from prison," he continued, causing Sam's glare to darken, and Pippin's jaw to drop.
"Prison?" Pippin clarified, earning himself a nod from both the elf and the man, who kept eye contact with one another.
"That's a wrap for today" Legolas called out to the other hobbits, as he and Aragorn walked away from the field, and left Sam in perplexity.
They walked for over an hour over the grassy hills of the Shire in silence, and it wasn't until the elf's curiosity got the best of him that he finally broke it. "What are you planning?" he asked, knowing that whatever the human had schemed up this time, must be pretty big, for him to come and see him, right away.
Aragorn at first hesitated, but he knew that Legolas already had an idea of what he was going to say. The two had known each other for years, and the elf could read him like a book, something he had learned a long time ago.
"When was the last time you were in Ithilien?"
*Sorry but this will be the last one for a while. But please, R&R and let me know what you think. Thanks*
