A/N: Whoohoo! 11 reviews!! Yall make us so happy!!! Sasha wanted to have a party when we got 10 reviews, but we got eleven before we could. So here are some virtual cupcakes for yall. Distributing cookies to: Leumio, christa, Angels' Mercy, justice, Crazy Lunar Maiden, Leah, Brooke, Laura, Angelchild, ellie, and Foxtrot_Xray.
Anyway, thank you to our new reviewers! Ellie, you're gonna have to wait a little while for Sasha and Legolas to show up again. Foxtrot_Xray, thanks for the chapter title idea! That's going to be used for next chapter, when Isis really discovers her bloodlines.
Y'all know something? I need to stop writing such long author's notes, but right now I am uninspired so I need to aw what-the-hell-ever. I'm going to start writing now.
Chapter 9
Starting Lessons
"Now that you have finished making friends," Elrond began, "we can start with your training."
"Right." Isis sat down on a stool near the racks of swords and looked up at Elrond expectantly.
"Don't just sit there, child," Elrond said impatiently, "get up! You must choose your sword. Take this one," he continued, bringing one down and offering it to her.
"But" Isis said, confused. "I never really did any fighting. I mean, I've done Stage Combat for the past two years, but that doesn't really count does it?"
"But you also learned karate for eight years," Elrond parried, "and the stage combat helped in that it taught you the positions in swordfighting."
Isis was immediately suspicious. "How do you know about the karate?" she demanded.
"We watched," said Elrond simply.
"What do you mean?"
"You are a natural child of this earth, and so we had a perfectly good reason to keep an eye on you, Alasse," Elrond said wth an impatient sigh.
Isis was still suspicious. "What did you just call me?"
Elrond sighed again. "Alasse. It is your true name that your parents -- your true, Middle-earth parents -- gave you
when you were born. It means 'joy.' If anyone asks your name, you must always give that, for it is your true name. However," he continued, changing the subject, "you need to start your
training soon. Meaning today."
Isis sighed. "Okay. What am I going to be doing?"
Elrond placed the sword carefully on a banch and drew a sheet of parchment out of his pocket and peered at it. "Hmmm. This says that you need to learn: swordfighting, archery, horseback riding --"
"I did fine yesterday!" Isis interrupted.
"For an inexperienced rider," Elrond shot back, "yes, you did fine. However, you should be an experienced rider, and we will make you be one, come hell or high water. Now if you will allow me to continue?"
"Yeah, yeah, go on."
"Healing, Sindarin, Quenya, the Tengwar, and the history of Arda. Also, though they are not listed here, taletelling, singing, poetry, and hand-to-hand fighting." He looked over the top of the parchment at Isis, who was aghast.
"And you expect me to learn all this in how long?"
"If you study all of the fighting in three lessons per day, and the others at least four times a week, you should have a more than passable knowledge of Middle-earth in approximately a year or more. But for now, begin by finding a sword." Elrond picked up the sword that he had put down earlier, and offered it to Isis. "Use what you remember from karate to know if it is the right sword for you," he advised. "It should feel like an extension of your arm."
Isis took the sword and held it for a moment, then shook her head. "No," she said, "it's too heavy." Elrond took it back and handed her another. This one was too light, until at last Isis spotted one that was a ways above her head. "That one!" she said, pointing to it.
"You get it," said Elrond. "That one I cannot touch."
Isis didn't hear him, though, but climbed up onto the bench and grabbed the sword. Hopping back down, she held the sword aloft for a moment, then proclaimed the verdict.
"Yes. This is the sword."
"Here," said Elrond, handing her a scabbard. "Put it in, then run."
"Why?"
"Because your history lesson begins in five minutes, and it's with me. The instructor may be late for the class, but not the student."
"But --"
"Go!"
She ran.
***
"Hmmph," Isis muttered, running down the hallway. "How rude!" She turned the corner and heard someone call, "Watch out!" It was too late. She slammed into someone, and both fell back, Isis swearing a bit more than she needed to.
"Ow! Freaking bloody shit!" Isis got up slowly and looked around for the person she'd bumped into. She stretched out a hand for the girl who was lying on the floor, holding her nose. "Are you all right?"
"Ouch yes, thank you," said the girl. "Could you help me get my stuff up?"
"Sure," said Isis agreeably, and as she deposited the last pile of parchment into the girl's arms, she asked, "Where are you going, on a trip?"
"No," the girl sighed. "I'm going to Master Elrond's history class."
"So am I!" Isis exclaimed. "Let's go together."
"All right."
"What's your name?" the girl asked, as Isis followed her down the hall.
"Is- I mean, Alasse," Isis answered.
"My full name's Celebfalasien," answered the girl, "but my friends call me Falasien."
A moment later, the two girls arrived at the library, where, as Falasien had explained, most lessons were held.
"There are a lot of young people who are sent to Rivendell for training, or for schooling, or just because their parents can't bear being around them anymore." They both giggled, but stopped as they entered the palatial room.
Shelves lined every square yard of vertical space, from floor to forty-foot-high ceiling, and ten-foot-high windows filled the room with light. Isis felt that she had never been in such a magnificent place. But she was drawn from her dreamworld when Falasien tugged on her sleeve.
There were three tables over in the corner, where Isis could see five no, six children, from their looks all between the ages of twelve and seventeen. And Elrond, who was not looking particularly happy at seeing his new student come in late.
"Good morning, Alasse and Celebfasien. So nice to have you here with us at last."
"Sorry, Master Elrond," said Fasien, leading Isis toward one of the tables. "We bumped and all my materials went flying."
"Not a very good excuse," Elrond said thoughtfully, "but since you are a new student, Alasse, and Fasien helped you get here, neither of you will be punished."
Both girls grinned at each other, and Elrond introduced Isis to her new classmates.
Meneëldaien, an elf from Fasien's home of the Grey Havens, who was good friends with Fasien; Pennthulë, another elf from the outskirts of Mirkwood; Thalionhisiel from Mirkwood proper; her friend, Nurfânien, also from Mirkwood; and two humans, sister and brother, from Ithilien -- Vicuion and Iarcristiel.
For three hours, Isis perused the enormous, ancient books that Elrond had lent her while the others worked out complicated-looking charts with strange letters on them.
Then after the class was over, Elrond had Isis stay so as to give her some extra homework, and direction to get to old Bilbo Baggins, who could give her some pointers and the materials she needed. After which, she went to lunch.
A/N: OK, this chapter was absolute crap, in my opinion. Too choppy. Like I said earlier, I am uninspired right now.
Oh yes, and JSYK (just so yall know) I will be going on holiday again sometime this coming week, this time to Plum Island. Whenever I do go, I won't be back until 31st August. I will try to update tomorrow, too. Sorry about so many author's notes.
XoXoX Isis
