(Disclaimer: Yup, most of this is not mine, just thought I'd let you know
that I knew)
*For my own purposes, Legolas is equal to about 7 years old in our standards (about 400 in his world); Sildulin is 14 (900) and Kaimelar is 16 (1100), but it's all relative, just wanted to kind of give reference points*
It was quite a sight to behold, the great dark haired elven warrior, and the little blond one marching at his side; each with a bow slung over their shoulder, and a full quiver of arrows strapped to their backs. But for as out of place as the time seemed, when taking them in, one had to admire the sight and find it, strangely, quite natural a thing to regard.
Up to this point the young elf had remained quiet, trying to mimic the dignified stride of the elder warrior, but now, feeling he had succeeded in his attempt, he wanted to get down to serious matters: firing his first arrow, the act he had been eagerly awaiting for, for sometime. But this walk, as walks normally seemed to do, was taking far too long for the little one's patience. Where was Verya taking him? Rivendell? Although the thought of playing with the twin's seemed inviting enough, but no, not today, not when he was going to finally be able to learn how to be an archer.
"Ver?" The elder warrior looked down quizzically at his young protégé, he lifted an eyebrow.
"Yes?"
"Do you think we are there yet?" Legolas asked, looking up with eyes pleading. Verya shook his head, no matter how old this one got, he retained such an aura of innocence about him, it was something the warrior very much admired. He himself, having no children, he felt a certain tenderness to the young one, well in fact all Thranduil's children; he felt somewhat like a surrogate uncle. Which was nice, this way he could have all the fun he wished with the children, and enjoy most of their antics, without the responsibility of a reprimand afterwards. "When do you think we will be there?"
"When we arrive." Legolas furrowed his brow; unable to hide the fact this answer perturbed him, just like an adult to speak in codes. He let out a breath and contended himself with the fact he could be walking forever, at least he didn't give him the dreaded answer of, we are almost there, when in fact they were not.
"Did Kai hit the target in the center his first time? Cause he told me he did." Legolas asked, showing some of the apprehension he had been feeling. For the night before, when he had spoken to his older brother, he was told of how Kaimelar had been the only elf in recorded history to hit the target dead center his first time. Legolas now felt pressure to perform just as well.
"Is that what Kaimelar told you?" the elder raised his eyebrow once more, it was funny that he had told his brother that since it was the farthest thing from the truth. Kaimelar was notorious for his poor nerves, once the slightest bit of pressure was placed on him, Kaimelar would crack. Perhaps he was just too smart for one his age, to perceptive to the failure that could occur; he and Legolas were polar opposites (not that Legolas was dull minded, in fact he was quite clever when he wanted to be), but Legolas was much more carefree, slightly less understanding of the ways of the world then his slightly on edge brother. It was all circumstances, Verya thought, as he watched the little elf march on beside him.
"Do you think I hit the target in the center too?" he asked with his gaze remaining forward, for that was how it seemed to him warriors talked; he thought it funny that they would not turn their heads to look at the person, but if that's what warriors did then he too would.
"I do not doubt for a moment that you will prove to be skilled at archery."
"Why?" Even though it made Legolas proud to hear that, he wondered what he had done previously to gain Verya's confidence.
"Because I know you, and I've learned you to be a very determined and strong young elf. Those are traits that are required when learning such a thing as this." It also helped that the young one had spent the greater part of his days watching the older elves as they trained, Verya assumed he had picked up on a few pointers in watching, as well as through the advise he had gotten from the older elves when he would bombard them with questions during breaks. They were all more than willing to aid the prince in his quest for knowledge, enjoying the attention and admiration the little on so willingly gave.
They continued walking in silence once again, Verya noticed that the small elf had put a strand of his blond hair in his mouth; as was his custom when he did not understand something, or was upset by something, Thranduil was hastily trying to break his son of that habit. But no matter how often they tried, it seemed to persist through the years, Verya didn't mind so much, for now he was warned that another question was about to come.
"Ver?"
"Yes?"
"How come I don't learn with the other elves my age?" The question had been bothering him for quite some time, especially since he was eager to meet more elves to play with, not that he didn't love spending time with his family, but now that he was older he wished to make more friends.
"Because other elves your age are not learning how to use a bow and arrow yet, but when they begin you will enter classes with them." Even since certain events had occurred in the past years, Thranduil had begun to insist his youngest son learn some way to defend himself, learning he could not force him, even if he tried, to stay within the safe haven of home. So, if danger were to occur, he wanted his son to be protected; Verya agreed, it seemed with a child so apt to get himself in to trouble it would be necessary to teach him a way to get out of it.
"That will be fun." Legolas said, it would not be too much longer till that day came; and soon the excitement of being so young and learning archery took hold of him again. He only hoped he could prove to be as good as his brother. The two entered a clearing, it was not the archery fields he had frequented when he was younger; the targets were much closer, the field clearer, less to intercept your arrow before it reached the target. But Legolas did not mind, cause they had finally gotten to the place where he was going to be taught to be an archer.
***Hope you enjoyed that short start of the story. I would love it if you reviewed, but if you do, please do be kind, criticism is totally welcomed, just not meanness.***
*For my own purposes, Legolas is equal to about 7 years old in our standards (about 400 in his world); Sildulin is 14 (900) and Kaimelar is 16 (1100), but it's all relative, just wanted to kind of give reference points*
It was quite a sight to behold, the great dark haired elven warrior, and the little blond one marching at his side; each with a bow slung over their shoulder, and a full quiver of arrows strapped to their backs. But for as out of place as the time seemed, when taking them in, one had to admire the sight and find it, strangely, quite natural a thing to regard.
Up to this point the young elf had remained quiet, trying to mimic the dignified stride of the elder warrior, but now, feeling he had succeeded in his attempt, he wanted to get down to serious matters: firing his first arrow, the act he had been eagerly awaiting for, for sometime. But this walk, as walks normally seemed to do, was taking far too long for the little one's patience. Where was Verya taking him? Rivendell? Although the thought of playing with the twin's seemed inviting enough, but no, not today, not when he was going to finally be able to learn how to be an archer.
"Ver?" The elder warrior looked down quizzically at his young protégé, he lifted an eyebrow.
"Yes?"
"Do you think we are there yet?" Legolas asked, looking up with eyes pleading. Verya shook his head, no matter how old this one got, he retained such an aura of innocence about him, it was something the warrior very much admired. He himself, having no children, he felt a certain tenderness to the young one, well in fact all Thranduil's children; he felt somewhat like a surrogate uncle. Which was nice, this way he could have all the fun he wished with the children, and enjoy most of their antics, without the responsibility of a reprimand afterwards. "When do you think we will be there?"
"When we arrive." Legolas furrowed his brow; unable to hide the fact this answer perturbed him, just like an adult to speak in codes. He let out a breath and contended himself with the fact he could be walking forever, at least he didn't give him the dreaded answer of, we are almost there, when in fact they were not.
"Did Kai hit the target in the center his first time? Cause he told me he did." Legolas asked, showing some of the apprehension he had been feeling. For the night before, when he had spoken to his older brother, he was told of how Kaimelar had been the only elf in recorded history to hit the target dead center his first time. Legolas now felt pressure to perform just as well.
"Is that what Kaimelar told you?" the elder raised his eyebrow once more, it was funny that he had told his brother that since it was the farthest thing from the truth. Kaimelar was notorious for his poor nerves, once the slightest bit of pressure was placed on him, Kaimelar would crack. Perhaps he was just too smart for one his age, to perceptive to the failure that could occur; he and Legolas were polar opposites (not that Legolas was dull minded, in fact he was quite clever when he wanted to be), but Legolas was much more carefree, slightly less understanding of the ways of the world then his slightly on edge brother. It was all circumstances, Verya thought, as he watched the little elf march on beside him.
"Do you think I hit the target in the center too?" he asked with his gaze remaining forward, for that was how it seemed to him warriors talked; he thought it funny that they would not turn their heads to look at the person, but if that's what warriors did then he too would.
"I do not doubt for a moment that you will prove to be skilled at archery."
"Why?" Even though it made Legolas proud to hear that, he wondered what he had done previously to gain Verya's confidence.
"Because I know you, and I've learned you to be a very determined and strong young elf. Those are traits that are required when learning such a thing as this." It also helped that the young one had spent the greater part of his days watching the older elves as they trained, Verya assumed he had picked up on a few pointers in watching, as well as through the advise he had gotten from the older elves when he would bombard them with questions during breaks. They were all more than willing to aid the prince in his quest for knowledge, enjoying the attention and admiration the little on so willingly gave.
They continued walking in silence once again, Verya noticed that the small elf had put a strand of his blond hair in his mouth; as was his custom when he did not understand something, or was upset by something, Thranduil was hastily trying to break his son of that habit. But no matter how often they tried, it seemed to persist through the years, Verya didn't mind so much, for now he was warned that another question was about to come.
"Ver?"
"Yes?"
"How come I don't learn with the other elves my age?" The question had been bothering him for quite some time, especially since he was eager to meet more elves to play with, not that he didn't love spending time with his family, but now that he was older he wished to make more friends.
"Because other elves your age are not learning how to use a bow and arrow yet, but when they begin you will enter classes with them." Even since certain events had occurred in the past years, Thranduil had begun to insist his youngest son learn some way to defend himself, learning he could not force him, even if he tried, to stay within the safe haven of home. So, if danger were to occur, he wanted his son to be protected; Verya agreed, it seemed with a child so apt to get himself in to trouble it would be necessary to teach him a way to get out of it.
"That will be fun." Legolas said, it would not be too much longer till that day came; and soon the excitement of being so young and learning archery took hold of him again. He only hoped he could prove to be as good as his brother. The two entered a clearing, it was not the archery fields he had frequented when he was younger; the targets were much closer, the field clearer, less to intercept your arrow before it reached the target. But Legolas did not mind, cause they had finally gotten to the place where he was going to be taught to be an archer.
***Hope you enjoyed that short start of the story. I would love it if you reviewed, but if you do, please do be kind, criticism is totally welcomed, just not meanness.***