*Disclaimer* Please refer to first chapter for it. I rather *try* and write
witty remarks instead.
Enelya and Legolas sat at the end of a square table in the King's anteroom. Gandalf sat tall next to Thranduil, pausing a moment before starting the small Council. Enelya fiddled with the end of her sleeves of her blue dress. She was nervous and hated being left in the dark. Thranduil cleared his throat, glancing at Gandalf who nodded to him.
"We have summoned you here to ask for your help Enelya,' Thranduil began. 'a threat has risen from the bowels of Moria, a creature of considerable size and power. We do not know his true name. But what we learned from captured orcs, they call him Maergod. He is a Balrog, but knows magicks of a wizard. He already has a large army at his disposal in Moria. Using the mine as a fortress, he is untouchable. We fear his greed for power will continue to grow until he grasps Middle Earth. Enelya, we need your magick and abilities to learn what we can of this pure evil and destroy it with the untold power you have in possession. We are prepared to send you out with a guard of the finest warriors, including my son. Gandalf will help you understand your magick, help you to control it."
Enelya sat in her seat stunned. She stared blankly at the table, thinking about all the possible dangers she would be going through if she accepted. But then realized she had left her home to find adventure. *But it found me.* Legolas touched her shoulder. Enelya looked back up to Thranduil and Gandalf.
"Enelya? Will you help us?" Legolas asked.
"I will. It sounds like a fool's errand, but I will."
Thranduil let out a sigh and Gandalf smiled from behind his pipe.
"Excellent, you will start learning what you can from Gandalf tomorrow."
"How long do I have before we set out?" Enelya asked.
"We will need to leave as soon as possible, so you will be under hard and rigorous training for a month. Maergod's forces will still be growing, so we must strike before his power is too great for even you,' Gandalf explained 'It will take much effort from you to gain control, to hold the power against Maergod. You must welcome it and not hold back the energy."
"And I can teach you to fight, teach you to defend yourself in battle." Legolas said.
Enelya only nodded, feeling diminutive compared to the task she was asked to take. Thranduil stood and nodded his head at everyone.
"Thank you Enelya, your bravery is great and our faith is in you."
With that Thranduil left the room with Gandalf leaving after him.
"Tomorrow we begin Enelya and today you start with Legolas." Gandalf said as he disappeared out the door.
Legolas stood up and looked down at Enelya.
"Shall we start now?"
Enelya looked down at her hands and tried to take a clearing breath.
"OK."
Enelya followed him out the room wondering if she would understand any of what had just happened.
* * * * * * * * *
Enelya had changed into a lightweight dress suitable for training with Legolas and now stood in a clearing of trees near the Cave with the handsome elf.
"We will start with blocking." Legolas said as he handed her a curved scimitar.
It was beautifully crafted with intricate detail engraved into the blade itself. Legolas held up his own long knife, one of a pair. He swung his blade through the air in an upward angle.
"This is the move I'll do first against you. When My blade comes to here,' Legolas motioned about half way up his swing, 'You will block by swinging you blade down into my cut and moving your body into a twist like this."
Legolas slammed his knife down in the air and spun around in a full circle until he was facing her again. Enelya watched thoughtfully, trying to pinpoint his exact movements.
"OK, are you ready?" He asked.
Enelya nodded and barred herself for the move. Legolas sliced upwards at her and she hammered her blade into his, stopping his move as she swung her boy in a circle which flung his sword outwards and left him unbalanced. Legolas stood there and smiled broadly.
"Very good Enelya. You learn quickly."
"Well I'm not a novice at swordplay. We can move onto something more difficult." She replied. Legolas nodded.
"OK, why don't we just play off each other for practice and I can give you pointers along the way?" Enelya nodded and smiled at the thought of bringing him down.
"You can make the first move." She said flatly, eager to prove her ability.
Legolas swung at her sideways with his knife and Enelya blocked it easily. He rounded around and came down on her right shoulder but she sidestepped and his move only left him unbalanced and open. Enelya took the chance and swung her blade so it was even with his neck. Enelya let her blade just barely touch his skin. Legolas let out a sigh and looked up at her.
"You are very good Enelya, you have beaten me the first try." Enelya smiled proudly and dropped her scimitar to her side.
"Maybe we should move onto something else." Legolas chuckled lightly and conceded that was best.
Legolas went over to a nearby tree and picked up a bow and a quiver of arrows.
"Let's try this."
Legolas handed her the bow and an arrow. Enelya held the bow firmly in her grasp and pulled the string tight. The arrow shot through the trees. Legolas peered through the trees and saw that she had felled a large stag. He looked back at her with pure amazement.
"How did you know it was there?" he asked bewildered. "You didn't even look at anything before you shot it."
Enelya smiled sheepishly.
"I think it's my new powers. I saw the deer in my head and something told me to just fire the arrow, so I did."
"That shall come in handy Enelya." Legolas stated still amazed.
The day went on quickly until dusk, with Legolas and Enelya sword fighting, practicing archery and trying hand to hand combat. Enelya was a quick study and picked up most of Legolas's moves with ease. Her powers certainly helped her. She seemed to know all the moves and gained reflexes as though it was common knowledge or sheer instinct. Legolas reported to Gandalf later in the evening, after their well deserved meal. The elf told him of Enelya's quickness and excellent abilities. Gandalf nodded along, thinking it appropriate that the gem that she wore would enhance every aspect of her being. The wizard could only piece together what he learned from Enelya's experiences, what the pendant truly was, for the tales of the pendant had been lost in the ages past. As far as Gandalf could discern, the pendant had been born with the ages and kept a balance between the powers of good and evil. He knew enough to never let the pendant fall into the wrong hands and tip the balance. He wouldn't tell anyone of this, especially Enelya. Gandalf realized she needed to feel safe with it, to grasp the powers welcomingly and to not fear what may come. He needed more time to understand himself.
Enelya and Legolas sat at the end of a square table in the King's anteroom. Gandalf sat tall next to Thranduil, pausing a moment before starting the small Council. Enelya fiddled with the end of her sleeves of her blue dress. She was nervous and hated being left in the dark. Thranduil cleared his throat, glancing at Gandalf who nodded to him.
"We have summoned you here to ask for your help Enelya,' Thranduil began. 'a threat has risen from the bowels of Moria, a creature of considerable size and power. We do not know his true name. But what we learned from captured orcs, they call him Maergod. He is a Balrog, but knows magicks of a wizard. He already has a large army at his disposal in Moria. Using the mine as a fortress, he is untouchable. We fear his greed for power will continue to grow until he grasps Middle Earth. Enelya, we need your magick and abilities to learn what we can of this pure evil and destroy it with the untold power you have in possession. We are prepared to send you out with a guard of the finest warriors, including my son. Gandalf will help you understand your magick, help you to control it."
Enelya sat in her seat stunned. She stared blankly at the table, thinking about all the possible dangers she would be going through if she accepted. But then realized she had left her home to find adventure. *But it found me.* Legolas touched her shoulder. Enelya looked back up to Thranduil and Gandalf.
"Enelya? Will you help us?" Legolas asked.
"I will. It sounds like a fool's errand, but I will."
Thranduil let out a sigh and Gandalf smiled from behind his pipe.
"Excellent, you will start learning what you can from Gandalf tomorrow."
"How long do I have before we set out?" Enelya asked.
"We will need to leave as soon as possible, so you will be under hard and rigorous training for a month. Maergod's forces will still be growing, so we must strike before his power is too great for even you,' Gandalf explained 'It will take much effort from you to gain control, to hold the power against Maergod. You must welcome it and not hold back the energy."
"And I can teach you to fight, teach you to defend yourself in battle." Legolas said.
Enelya only nodded, feeling diminutive compared to the task she was asked to take. Thranduil stood and nodded his head at everyone.
"Thank you Enelya, your bravery is great and our faith is in you."
With that Thranduil left the room with Gandalf leaving after him.
"Tomorrow we begin Enelya and today you start with Legolas." Gandalf said as he disappeared out the door.
Legolas stood up and looked down at Enelya.
"Shall we start now?"
Enelya looked down at her hands and tried to take a clearing breath.
"OK."
Enelya followed him out the room wondering if she would understand any of what had just happened.
* * * * * * * * *
Enelya had changed into a lightweight dress suitable for training with Legolas and now stood in a clearing of trees near the Cave with the handsome elf.
"We will start with blocking." Legolas said as he handed her a curved scimitar.
It was beautifully crafted with intricate detail engraved into the blade itself. Legolas held up his own long knife, one of a pair. He swung his blade through the air in an upward angle.
"This is the move I'll do first against you. When My blade comes to here,' Legolas motioned about half way up his swing, 'You will block by swinging you blade down into my cut and moving your body into a twist like this."
Legolas slammed his knife down in the air and spun around in a full circle until he was facing her again. Enelya watched thoughtfully, trying to pinpoint his exact movements.
"OK, are you ready?" He asked.
Enelya nodded and barred herself for the move. Legolas sliced upwards at her and she hammered her blade into his, stopping his move as she swung her boy in a circle which flung his sword outwards and left him unbalanced. Legolas stood there and smiled broadly.
"Very good Enelya. You learn quickly."
"Well I'm not a novice at swordplay. We can move onto something more difficult." She replied. Legolas nodded.
"OK, why don't we just play off each other for practice and I can give you pointers along the way?" Enelya nodded and smiled at the thought of bringing him down.
"You can make the first move." She said flatly, eager to prove her ability.
Legolas swung at her sideways with his knife and Enelya blocked it easily. He rounded around and came down on her right shoulder but she sidestepped and his move only left him unbalanced and open. Enelya took the chance and swung her blade so it was even with his neck. Enelya let her blade just barely touch his skin. Legolas let out a sigh and looked up at her.
"You are very good Enelya, you have beaten me the first try." Enelya smiled proudly and dropped her scimitar to her side.
"Maybe we should move onto something else." Legolas chuckled lightly and conceded that was best.
Legolas went over to a nearby tree and picked up a bow and a quiver of arrows.
"Let's try this."
Legolas handed her the bow and an arrow. Enelya held the bow firmly in her grasp and pulled the string tight. The arrow shot through the trees. Legolas peered through the trees and saw that she had felled a large stag. He looked back at her with pure amazement.
"How did you know it was there?" he asked bewildered. "You didn't even look at anything before you shot it."
Enelya smiled sheepishly.
"I think it's my new powers. I saw the deer in my head and something told me to just fire the arrow, so I did."
"That shall come in handy Enelya." Legolas stated still amazed.
The day went on quickly until dusk, with Legolas and Enelya sword fighting, practicing archery and trying hand to hand combat. Enelya was a quick study and picked up most of Legolas's moves with ease. Her powers certainly helped her. She seemed to know all the moves and gained reflexes as though it was common knowledge or sheer instinct. Legolas reported to Gandalf later in the evening, after their well deserved meal. The elf told him of Enelya's quickness and excellent abilities. Gandalf nodded along, thinking it appropriate that the gem that she wore would enhance every aspect of her being. The wizard could only piece together what he learned from Enelya's experiences, what the pendant truly was, for the tales of the pendant had been lost in the ages past. As far as Gandalf could discern, the pendant had been born with the ages and kept a balance between the powers of good and evil. He knew enough to never let the pendant fall into the wrong hands and tip the balance. He wouldn't tell anyone of this, especially Enelya. Gandalf realized she needed to feel safe with it, to grasp the powers welcomingly and to not fear what may come. He needed more time to understand himself.
