Chapter Six - A Stroll at Twilight

"Keep both eyes on the target," Legolas instructed the young girl who stood beside him. "Your hand must be steady." The girl raised her bow and took aim. Legolas stepped back, so that he did not obscure her field of vision.

"Visualise the path your arrow will take on the journey to the heart of the target. Imagine the air which it cuts through and the sound which it makes." She took a deep breath and released the arrow. She sighed as it laded with a soft thud in the outer target along with all of the others from that morning.

Legolas looked to the ground. He was disappointed for his pupil. He knew from experience how disheartening it was when it took so long to perfect things which seem so simple.

"I am sorry Your Highness," she said quietly, herself looking to the ground. Legolas quickly realised that she had taken his look of disappointment as disappointment with her not for her.

"What are you sorry for Thrimalia?" He said, trying to make out that he didn't understand her comment.

"I try so hard to get this right, but no matter what I do I fail."

"You have not failed!"

"But..."

"But nothing. You must realise that you cannot expect to perfect an art that takes most elves decades, in just a few sessions. I have no doubt as to your talents. You will be great, but as with all great things it will take time. "He turned and pointed to the hill under which the City spread. "Take, for example, the Palace pf my Father. Do you doubt it to be the most solid and beautiful dwelling of Middle Earth?"

"No Your Highness. Not Even the Last Homely House or Caras Galadhon can rival it. It is the image of Menegroth and does that long forgotten place great justice."

"Yes and it was not built in just a few days. Many score winters passed before the last caves were opened and the doors were put in. The carvings on those doors tell our history and are still, as yet, incomplete. The best things take time to accomplish, your skill with a bow will be all the better for you having taken that time."

Thrimalia tried to look more cheerful at these words, but Legolas could tell that it was just an act to please him.

"Do not despair young warrior, we are immortal, time is our friend. You will learn your craft. Besides, you are prodigiously talented with a sword. Think of how the hours of practise have helped you there."

"Thank you sire, your words are most kind."

"No Thrimalia, they are not. My words are nothing but the truth." She smiled, a little more genuinely this time, and went to take another arrow from her quiver. "That is enough practise with the bow for today."

"Are you sure sire, I am willing to spend longer on it if you wish."

"No, I do not wish to rush your training. We have many years ahead of us to have long sessions. We should move onto the sword, the hour grows late and I wish to be finished before twilight."

"Certainly Sir." She walked over to the side of the practice arena and set down her bow and her quiver. She removed her archery glove and neatly set it down. Legolas silently regarded his most elegant pupil for a moment. Two days after his return to the city, Legolas had invited her to practise with him in the weapons arena. She was his new project. As Thranduil's successor and future King of Northern Eryn Lasgalen, it was his duty to choose a young elf and personally instruct them in the art of war. One day this pupil would become the King's closest advisor and general of the armies of the woodland realm.

Thrimalia was known to her people as Hyarmenohtar. For Legolas she had been the natural choice. He had been meaning to accept her as his general-in-waiting for many years but circumstances had forced his hand and made him delay this move. Her name had been earned centuries ago when she was wounded trying to take Dol Guldur. Her skills had been little more than those of a child, but Legolas had noticed her on that battle field. She conducted herself with the grace and decorum befitting a warrior of the woodland realm. He had closely watched her progress ever since.

She returned to the centre of the ring and faced her teacher. She put her hand to her hip and removed her sword from its beaten leather scabbard. The beauty of the weapon still took Legolas' breath away. The blade of Baleariel had been passed down to her by her Grandfather, another great warrior, who had given his life at Dol Guldur to save his most beloved Granddaughter. It had been proudly wielded in battle by many members of their family. It had slain more orcs than Orchrist and Glamdring put together. It had always shocked Legolas to see that there wasn't a scratch on it.

Thrimalia then held her sword in front of her face and spoke. "Legolas, son of Thranduil, King of the Elves of the North, I invite you to duel. Do you accept this challenge?"

"I accept your challenge valiant Ohtar. May your sword have more mercy upon me than it may on your enemies," Legolas replied. They took the stances of those prepared to face each other in combat. It had amazed Legolas the first time they had duelled 200 years ago, when she had formally invited him to duel. He had thought this a tradition confined to a generation of elves who had already sailed. He liked it though. He liked the customs of the old world and was saddened by their passing as his kin sailed into the west. Soon there would be nothing of them left save the odd scrap like Thrimalia's call to combat.

Legolas turned his attention to the task at hand. He held his old beaten sword up and thrust it towards Thrimalia. As teacher, it was his duty to strike the first blow. Only then could combat commence. He lunged towards her throat but she parried and blocked the thrust with little effort. There was a satisfying clash as their swords met. Now that the first blow had been struck they could attack or defend as they saw fit.

Thrimalia came back at him with a flurry of quick blows, which Legolas blocked. She was giving away her moves before she did them and Legolas knew that it was intentional. Her technique was usually flawless. But he allowed her to do it for a little while longer so that he could study her form. As usual she stood proud and extended to her full height, even though she was unusually short for an elf. Her movements were graceful yet deadly. Some people had questioned his choice of pupil when he had made it known to some several years ago. If they could see her now, all questions would be answered.

"You are giving away your moves pupil," Legolas said as he blocked an overhead swing. "You must not worry about hurting me or showing me up. I have seen you duel with others and show no mercy, I want you to be like that when you fight me."

He saw her eyes light up at his words and her attack suddenly changed. Her stance closed up so that he could no longer tell what she would do next. She became even faster and more precise. This was the Thrimalia Legolas loved to spar with. This was a view of the true warrior within her.

Soon her skilled attack was forcing Legolas backwards. He may have been one of the best archers in Middle Earth, but he was no match for the young girl before him when it came to the sword. He tried to come back and offer some form of counter attack, but she would not allow it, she was displaying her superiority, as she should. He lost his footing and fell backwards, landing hard on the floor. Thrimalia placed the tip of her sword on his chest, above his heart, the traditional signal that a duel is over and a victory has been claimed.

Suddenly Legolas heard somebody clapping from behind him, and footsteps coming towards him. A shadow was cast over him and the face of Ariel appeared above him.

"Ariel! What a surprise."

"I must say, I was surprised also to see you spread-eagle across the floor in this manner." She turned her attention to the young girl in front of her, who still held her sword over the prince's heart. "I have no patience with weapons myself and know little of archery or swordplay, but even I can tell that you are prodigiously talented young warrior and I can foresee your greatness."

"Thank you, you are most kind." She removed her sword from its resting place and put it back within its scabbard. Legolas took this opportunity to retrieve some dignity and scrambled to his feet.

"Ariel, I do not believe that you have met my young charge yet," he said.

"No, our paths have not yet crossed."

"Then allow me the honour now. Thrimalia I present to you Ariel, daughter of Aaecien of the Kingdom of Rohan. Ariel, may I present Thrimalia, daughter of Caradine and General-in-Waiting of the armies of Mirkwood." Ariel curtseyed as was the custom of her people while Thrimalia bowed gently from the waist with her hand covering her heart in the elven way.

"Thrimalia is known to our people as Hyarmenohtar," Legolas added, looking proudly at his pupil.

"Warrior of the South," Ariel whispered to herself. "It truly is an honour to meet you Daughter of Caradine. I have read of your great deeds at Dol Guldur. You are a true warrior." Thrimalia did not know how to respond to such compliments so Legolas spoke.

"We have trained enough for today. The light is fading and I do not wish to face you with a sword in the dark."

"Yes Your Highness," She bowed once more to the prince and Ariel and left the training ring, picking up her bow and quiver as she left.

Legolas watched her leave before turning to Ariel. "I had not expected to see you before dinner today," he said, raising her hand to his lips.

"I had not expected to seek you out milord."

"Then to what do I owe this unexpected, but very welcome pleasure?"

"Shall we walk sire? I have yet to see the grounds surrounding the city at twilight."

"Certainly milady, I would not deny you that pleasure." He offered her his arm which she gratefully accepted. They moved unconsciously towards the orchard.

"So once again, was there a reason you sought me out?" Legolas asked.

"I had heard that you were down here with your pupil. I must confess that I wished to look upon the woman you would entrust your Kingdom to." Legolas was not entirely sure how he should react to this mention of trust, so he opted not to react at all and took the conversation in a different direction.

"How is it that you came to know Thrimalia's name?"

"I have told you, I have read extensively and her name has been mentioned in several texts."

"The histories of elven battles are seldom to be found in the libraries of men."

"But there are many in the Halls of Learning at Rivendell. Her name was often mentioned in certain accounts. The idea of somebody who was little more than a child, and an elf maiden to boot, storming the keep at Dol Guldur, somewhat captured my imagination."

"You must have spent a lot of time among the elves if you know enough elvish to read the histories for they are never written in the Common Tongue."

"The skills of my mother, which are the same as my own, were often called for among the fair folk. In particular Elrond Halfelven was fond of my mother and encouraged her to journey to Rivendell often even though she had no business in the Last Homely House. He taught me much. I often asked him to tell me the tale of the Warrior of the South and her heroic storming of the tower as a bedtime story and he indulged me. Eventually he had taught me enough of his language that I might read it myself. I cannot believe that I have actually met the subject of my favourite childhood story."

"She is a remarkable girl. I was with her at Dol Guldur. She was as courageous as the histories would have you believe. I have never seen such skill with a sword, especially in one so young. She will be the finest general this land has ever seen."

"You speak much of her valour and her talent, but you seem to have overlooked something very important."

"What?" He looked perplexed. Surely he could not paint any better picture of her than he already has.

"The Warrior is not only a great fighter, she is also a woman, and a very beautiful one at that. You cannot tell me that you haven't seen it. Indeed she has the finest features and most hypnotic eyes of any lady I have seen here or indeed anywhere else on my travels."

"I confess I have not seen that. What I have seen is a child who must be protected from base urges such as those you would have me feel."

"Then you are even more blind that I had thought. Thrimalia has walked this Earth for over 1000 years. She has been of age for many winters now, longer than even your Lady Valmari."

"How do you know of Valmari?"

"You must remember Highness, I am a servant here at the palace. I eat with the others and I hear the gossip. The rumour mill is saying that you were very taken with her."

"I must admit, I thought there to be something about her which I seldom come across in a lady." They turned a corner into the orchard and walked straight into another strolling couple.

"I am most sorry Your Highness," the girl said. Ariel looked and saw two of the most striking elves she had ever come across. They both had shimmering gold hair and deep brown eyes. Their features were so fine they could have been sculpted by the hands of the Valar. They were both very tall, the girl just a little taller than Ariel and the man a head taller, taller even than the Prince.

She looked to the Prince who was smiling at the girl. It was a strange expression on his face. Part sheepish smile and part wolfish grin. Ariel knew that there was nothing the Prince would like better than to eat her alive.

"Do not apologise milady," Legolas said. He dropped Ariel's arm and took the lady's hand, raising it top his lips. "You were missed at dinner last night, I was worried I would not see you again before you returned to the West."

"It is a pleasure to see you again Highness," she said, blushing slightly. "If I may, I would like to introduce my brother, Herdrin." The male elf by her side bowed with his hand over his heart as did Legolas.

"I am pleased to have finally met you Your Highness," he said.

"Likewise. May I now present Ariel, Daughter of Aaecien, my personal aide. Ariel this is Lady Valmari, Daughter of Jardis of the Western forest." Ariel curtsied as the two elves bowed.

"What a happy meeting this is," Ariel said. "Perhaps, if Lady Valmari and Lord Herdrin have no engagements, we could walk together. I should dearly like to get to know more of the elves of the realm."

"We are not busy, we would be pleased to walk with you Lady Ariel," Herdrin said.

"Please it is just Ariel, I have no such noble titles." She turned to Legolas and gave him a smile. He knew exactly what she was up to as she took Herdrin's arm and walked off a little in front, making Legolas walk with Valmari. It was not long before she made her excuses and left, taking Herdrin with her.

"My brother always had an eye for pretty ladies," Valmari said, as she watched her brother and Ariel walk away. Legolas was not sure if he liked what Valmari was implying as his aide left his sight and crossed the bridge into the mouth of the cave, but he ignored it and turned his attention to his beautiful companion and turned what had been a fairly run of the mill afternoon, into a most enjoyable evening.