-THE GAMES OF THE GODS-
-Disclaimer:-
CS: Nothing do I own, though wish I do that I did.
Faramir: *appears* That's very nice, but do you have a crowbar around somewhere that I could borrow?
CS: ...crowbar? How do you even know what a crowbar IS, and why do you want one?
Faramir: One picks up these sorts of things when they must spend time with Rachel. And I need one to get Nimmireth off Boromir.
CS: Heh. Boromir went out 'incognito' to get an ego boost from listening to his fans talk about him again?
Faramir: *nods* Nimmireth managed to find him, though thankfully no-one else did. She latched onto his back and won't let go, despite the best attempts of...well, just about everybody, including Sauron.
CS: Hee. Good on her! *grins*
Faramir: *blink* uh...?
CS: Oh come on, just because I'm an Author doesn't mean I'm not a fan. In fact, one HAS to be a fan to be an Author...a good Author, at any rate. Only the fact that I AM an Author is stopping me from glomping all of you right now.
Faramir: Er...right...*edges away*
CS: Actually, I feel like glomping someone anyways...*eyes Faramir*
Faramir: *runs*
CS: COME BACK HERE! I WANNA GLOMP YOU! *runs after*
-61: Annoyances-
Haldir was, I think, thoroughly creeped out when I appeared at the practice arena the next day in a cheerful mood. He eyed me warily as I skipped over to him, and then seemed to suddenly notice the extra blade on my back. Before he could comment, I whipped his blade off my back and presented it to him with a flourish.
"I believe this is yours." I said with a smile. Haldir nodded and took it, still eyeing me. He set the sword down on the side of the ring, and then returned to where I was standing.
"Let me see your weapon." he said. I arched an eyebrow, but complied - it made sense that he'd want to inspect it. But the Valar help him if he started bad-mouthing it. Which makes it a good thing that, besides an arched eyebrow when he looked at the blades, he didn't comment.
"Let us see if you can use it, then." he said, and stepped back, motioning for me to sheath the weapon and put it on my back again. When I had, he gave me a stance to end out in, and I drew the weapon, unsheathed it, and settled into the stance he'd named in what *I* thought was a smooth motion. Haldir tsked, however, and with that, began an afternoon lesson that was basically a combination of the past two days lessons - and just as aggravating, as well.
Using Boromir's advice, I ignored the fact that it was Haldir who was teaching me, and I managed to come out of the lesson only slightly annoyed. At any rate, I didn't retreat to be alone after my lesson like I had the past two days - for which, it turned out, the hobbits were very grateful. Apparently I wasn't the only one who could get bored in Lothlórien.
More days passed in Caras Galadhon, and the time for the Fellowship's departure drew near. The hobbits seemed oblivious to the impending departure, but the other of the Fellowship seemed to sense that it was nearing the time for them to move on, and quite often I would leave them at night, quietly discussing routes with each other, and sometimes Glorfindel or Celeborn, while the hobbits slept peacefully not far away.
And it was on the 13th of February that I, restless and unable to sleep for an unknown reason, wandered down to the Fellowship's pavilion. I really didn't expect anyone to be awake - I went there more by default than anything else. But when I reached the pavilion, I found, to my surprise, that Boromir was awake, leaning up against a nearby tree and staring moodily at the ground between his feet.
I considered leaving him alone, but he looked troubled, and I'd made a point of being there for Boromir and Faramir over the years. Silently, I walked over to him and crouched down at his feet. He looked up at me, mild amusement in his eyes, and then looked back at the ground. With a sigh, I realized that it might take awhile for him to say what was on his mind, and I moved and sat down next to him, also leaning up against the tree, to wait.
It seemed a long time, but was probably no more than an hour, before Boromir spoke. He asked me what Minas Tirith and Gondor were like before he was born, and I told him what I could. He asked me what I thought of Aragorn, and I told him that while I did not know the man very well, I had no doubt he would make a good King. Then he fell silent for a moment, and when he spoke again, it was at last about the heart of the matter.
"I know the wisest of the lands have said that this quest is the best path. That only with the destruction of the One can Sauron be defeated." he said with a sigh. "But day by day, I cannot help but wonder about the fate of Gondor. Even if the Fellowship succeeds, will any be left to celebrate the victory? Even when we departed from Minas Tirith, the vices of Mordor were beginning to close on us, and they will not take long to crush us completely. And every day I cannot help but wonder if that crushing could be averted, or at least delayed, by judicious use of that which we seek to destroy." I looked at him steadily for a moment.
"If we use it, we become him." I said quietly. "In the same way that if you fight with the cruelty of Orcs, and do as they do, you will soon become one of them. Evil is a parasite, Boromir, and if you give it a foothold - any foothold, even one given to help defeat it - it will hold on with all it's might, and it will be bound to you for all your life. It will take you down with it when it goes, or take you with it as it rises.
"Using the Ring could only cause more trouble for the peoples of Middle-Earth, believe me, Boromir." I said, looking at him earnestly. "The only way Sauron can be destroyed forever is through its destruction, and if it is used, it will not be destroyed. For it makes all men - and other creatures - covet it. Once held for long by one being, they are unable to release it. Even Frodo may, in the end, be unable to summon the will to destroy it and need the help of the Fellowship to do so." Silence for a moment, and then Boromir sighed.
"This I know, and yet...I can not help but wonder." he said with a shrug.
"It is calling to you." I said with a sad smile. "As it calls to all Men. It has survived once because of Men, and seeks to do so again."
"You speak as if Men are the only ones affected. Does it not call to you?" Boromir asked me curiously.
"In the manner that it's a sparklie thing and I'm a pack rat, yeah." I said with a brief grin, and then turned serious. "But I know what it would do if it survived, and I know its evil. I would not see that continue, no matter how tempting the power it offers might be." Boromir nodded, a thoughtful look on his face. Silence fell again, and I sensed that the conversation was at a close. I reached over and gave Boromir a hug, which he absently returned, and then I stood and made my way back up to my flet. Inside, I collapsed onto my bed with a tired sigh, and stared up at the ceiling for a few moments, thinking, before I decided that I could think about this all tomorrow, and cleared my mind and went to sleep.
The next morning I spent in my flet, reading and thinking on my conversation with Boromir. I knew I could not prevent Boromir's temptation by the Ring, but I couldn't help by try to think of something to say to him to stop it. I wanted to help him, even though I knew that it would be best to leave it alone. Eventually, around lunch time, I shut my book with a sigh and decided that that was enough thinking for the day, changed into my trousers and tunic, grabbed my sword, and went down to the Fellowship's pavilion for some lunch before my lesson with Haldir.
Only the short members of the Fellowship were in attendance for lunch, and we had a merry old time of it. The hobbits, and Gimli, quickly distracted me from my troubled thoughts, and when Haldir finally arrived, he found me on the ground, laughing so hard I was crying, while Merry and Pippin continued along in their funny tale about their exploits in the Shire. I calmed myself when I noticed Haldir, and when I finally stopped laughing, I realized that something was different today.
"The Lady Galadriel wishes to speak with you, Lady Asira." Haldir informed me formally, confirming my suspicions. I arched an eyebrow, but didn't ask questions, instead saying a quick goodbye to the hobbits and motioning for Haldir to lead the way. He did, setting a brisk pace, and we were soon at a familiar door. He knocked, and was told to enter, and so I was let into the room where, oh so long ago, I'd been informed of Kari's little memory-wipe. And not only was Galadriel there, but Celeborn and Kari, as well.
"Thank you, Haldir. You may go." Galadriel said, and Haldir bowed and left. Once the door had shut, Celeborn motioned for me to take a seat next to Kari, across from himself and Galadriel, and I did so politely. Kari shot me a curious look, obviously asking if I knew why we were here. I gave a small shrug.
"Something has happened." Celeborn said, and Kari's and my attention was immediately focused on him and his wife.
"I have felt a surge of power from the north." Galadriel elaborated. She gave Kari and me intense looks. "From Moria." Kari and I looked at each other.
"I thought that did not come until the Fellowship left?" she asked me curiously, her mind instantly latching onto the only thing Galadriel could have felt.
"No, it happens before, but doesn't get here until after they leave." I said with a light frown.
"You know what this power is from, then?" Galadriel asked Kari and I intently. We nodded.
"Yep." I said. There was a moment of silence.
"Care to share?" Celeborn asked dryly after a moment.
"We're both here because you didn't want us blurting out what we knew, why should we share?" I asked innocently. Galadriel gave me a stern look.
"She does have a point." Kari said mildly, and Galadriel frowned at her granddaughter-in-law before returning her attention to me. I swear, the elf-lady has an unnatural fixation with making my life boring or uncomfortable.
"Look at it this way - if it was big and deadly and coming to Lothlórien, we would be running the other way." I pointed out.
"I thought you had plans to leave shortly after the Fellowship?" Galadriel asked, in a manner that was almost innocent. I opened my mouth to reply, and then glanced at Kari. She shrugged.
"I hate to repeat myself, but she does have a point." she said.
"Well, aren't we a bunch of pointy people." I grumbled. "It's nothing bad, in fact, it's probably one of the best things that could happen for this whole darned quest, so stop tying your dress in knots." Celeborn and Galadriel shared a look, and then Galadriel nodded.
"Very well." she said. "Understand, however, that I only wished to be prepared should there be any danger to my people."
"And understand that I run headlong into danger." I replied.
"I thought you ran the other way?" Galadriel asked, arching an eyebrow. My right eye twitched, and I felt a surge of annoyance rising inside me. I hate people who play word games, even if - ESPECIALLY if - I walked right into them.
"Whatever way we run, it is always bound to be interesting." Kari stepped in, sensing the impending explosion. "And if that is all, Grandmother, I believe Rachel has a sword lesson to attend?" Galadriel nodded smoothly, and we all rose at one. I purposely ignored Galadriel as Kari and I gave small curtseys - small for Kari since she was related to Galadriel, and small for me because I really didn't feel like giving a deeper one and nobody seemed to notice how deep I made them anyways. Then we departed, and I was quite happy to find Haldir standing right outside.
"Come on, I want to go beat the crap out of something." I said, grabbing Haldir's arm and pulling him with me as I headed for the practice fields.
"I need to go get my sword." Haldir said, trying to pull his arm free of my grasp.
"Fine. Go get it and meet me at the fields." I told him, annoyed, then let go of his arm and continued stalking down to the practice area.
"Rachel, calm down. It's not good to spar when angry." Kari said with a light frown, concerned, as she followed me.
"I'm not angry, I'm annoyed. And the last time I fought while annoyed I fought Elladan to a draw." I did not - quite - snap at her, but my tone was sharp enough that Kari didn't comment. She did, however, disappear, and I suspected she was going to get Glorfindel, Boromir, or someone else along those lines.
At the practice field, I quickly staked out an arena, and sat down in the middle, inspecting my sword - though I knew it to have no imperfections - while I waited for Haldir. I absently noted that Legolas was on the practice grounds, but I ignored him. He was absorbed in his spar, anyways. Finally, Haldir arrived, and I noticed with amusement that he'd brought the biggest of his three double-bladed swords. It was an awkward thing, much more of a danger to an inexperienced wielder than any of the smaller double-bladed swords, but with the skill and force that Haldir put into its use, it was also very deadly. My own sword was somewhere between Haldir's smallest and medium sized double-bladed sword, but I knew by now that having a smaller weapon did not necessarily mean you would lose a fight.
I stood as Haldir approached, tossing my swords sheaths off to the side of the ring. Haldir did the same as he stepped into the ring - and I noticed with envy how the removal of the sheaths and their subsequent tossing to the side was barely even noticeable as he drew the weapon. It seemed as if one moment the sheaths were there, and the next they were not. I gave Haldir a sour look, but instead of smirking, he just arched an eyebrow back at me. The challenge was clear, but I wasn't about to go pick up my sheaths and try and duplicate his act. Now that I'd seen what the results of his teaching were supposed to be, however, I suspected I would be much better at it next time.
Haldir and I settled into basic sparring stances and stood watching each other for a moment. Then we set to, and I vaguely noticed that even as our blades met for the first time, Kari arrived at the edge of the arena, someone in red and someone in gold right behind her. I spared a moment for amusement at the fact that she had gotten both Boromir AND Glorfindel, and then fell into the rhythm of the fight.
I think Haldir was surprised with my skill with my weapon, but he quickly adapted. I was slightly surprised by my own skill, but realized in a brief break that I really wasn't doing anything I hadn't done before - I was using moves Glorfindel, Boromir and Elladan had taught me to use with a normal sword, but adapting them for two blades. It was as if everything I had been taught about weapons since October had suddenly sunk in, and I was able to access it and put it to the best use possible.
I was still, however, far from being a master. The spar lasted for a good time, and we disarmed each other several times - only to recover our weapons before the other could press the advantage - but Haldir was better, and eventually I found myself in a half-crouch on the ground, ready to spring for my weapon, but blocked by the Marchwarden. He, very wisely, did not press his advantage and force me to go through yielding. Instead, he bowed politely to me, then fetched my weapon and held it out to me as I stood. I took it with a brief bow of my own, and then walked over to the edge of the ring.
It was only then that Haldir and I became aware of what was going on outside the ring, and I noticed with a start that Kari, Glorfindel and Boromir had been joined in their watching by EVERYONE on the practice grounds, who were just now starting to drop away, murmuring to each other and shooting admiring glances at Haldir and I. I glanced at Haldir, and he arched an eyebrow back at me before bending to pick up his sheaths. My own sheaths were being held out to me by a stunned-looking Kari. Boromir, behind her, seemed mildly impressed, and Glorfindel...looked amused.
"And the lesson for today is - Rachel gets better at fighting when she's annoyed with one of the Wise." I announced, and Boromir and Glorfindel chuckled. Kari shook her head.
"You are insane." she said.
"That's been established many times before." I said with a grin, and then looked over at Haldir. "See you tomorrow for the usual lesson?" I asked him, and he nodded, then disappeared into the trees. Kari shook her head again, and then we went with Boromir and Glorfindel back to the Fellowship's pavilion, laughing and joking.
----To be continued...with an actually nice Galadriel!----
(*falls over in shock*)
-Authors Note:-
Uhm...some reviewers, I've noticed, are starting to comment about Rachel's reactions to Boromir again. To this I say - there's this old river in Egypt that Rachel's currently making herself very well aquainted with. But don't worry, it's going to hit Rachel eventually...and if THAT scene - actually, probably chapter - isn't enough for you, then I doubt anything will be.
Also, thinking ahead to my next FanFic (yes, I have decided to write another one after this, though how long it'll be until I start writing it is another matter entirely) I've been trying to find a name I like for one of the main characters, and I have several...well, nine possibilities, and can't decide between them. So I made a poll and stuck it up in my livejournal, and I'd like you all, being the wonderful reviewers you are, to go there and help me out. You won't have any trouble finding it, and it doesn't require any sign-ups or anything - just follow the link to my livejournal in my profile, and you should be presented with the entry with the poll on it. If it's otherwise, you're either on my friends list or something's gone screwy...
And lastly...I love all my reviewers, and FF.net seems to especially love Aztec Raven and Feather in a Pillow. It loves them to pieces, in fact. Many many pieces. Because I got about...oh, hmm, two dozen review alerts EACH for their reviews? O.o Oh look, there's another one...*prods FF.net*
See y'all again on thursday!
~Crimson Starlight
-Disclaimer:-
CS: Nothing do I own, though wish I do that I did.
Faramir: *appears* That's very nice, but do you have a crowbar around somewhere that I could borrow?
CS: ...crowbar? How do you even know what a crowbar IS, and why do you want one?
Faramir: One picks up these sorts of things when they must spend time with Rachel. And I need one to get Nimmireth off Boromir.
CS: Heh. Boromir went out 'incognito' to get an ego boost from listening to his fans talk about him again?
Faramir: *nods* Nimmireth managed to find him, though thankfully no-one else did. She latched onto his back and won't let go, despite the best attempts of...well, just about everybody, including Sauron.
CS: Hee. Good on her! *grins*
Faramir: *blink* uh...?
CS: Oh come on, just because I'm an Author doesn't mean I'm not a fan. In fact, one HAS to be a fan to be an Author...a good Author, at any rate. Only the fact that I AM an Author is stopping me from glomping all of you right now.
Faramir: Er...right...*edges away*
CS: Actually, I feel like glomping someone anyways...*eyes Faramir*
Faramir: *runs*
CS: COME BACK HERE! I WANNA GLOMP YOU! *runs after*
-61: Annoyances-
Haldir was, I think, thoroughly creeped out when I appeared at the practice arena the next day in a cheerful mood. He eyed me warily as I skipped over to him, and then seemed to suddenly notice the extra blade on my back. Before he could comment, I whipped his blade off my back and presented it to him with a flourish.
"I believe this is yours." I said with a smile. Haldir nodded and took it, still eyeing me. He set the sword down on the side of the ring, and then returned to where I was standing.
"Let me see your weapon." he said. I arched an eyebrow, but complied - it made sense that he'd want to inspect it. But the Valar help him if he started bad-mouthing it. Which makes it a good thing that, besides an arched eyebrow when he looked at the blades, he didn't comment.
"Let us see if you can use it, then." he said, and stepped back, motioning for me to sheath the weapon and put it on my back again. When I had, he gave me a stance to end out in, and I drew the weapon, unsheathed it, and settled into the stance he'd named in what *I* thought was a smooth motion. Haldir tsked, however, and with that, began an afternoon lesson that was basically a combination of the past two days lessons - and just as aggravating, as well.
Using Boromir's advice, I ignored the fact that it was Haldir who was teaching me, and I managed to come out of the lesson only slightly annoyed. At any rate, I didn't retreat to be alone after my lesson like I had the past two days - for which, it turned out, the hobbits were very grateful. Apparently I wasn't the only one who could get bored in Lothlórien.
More days passed in Caras Galadhon, and the time for the Fellowship's departure drew near. The hobbits seemed oblivious to the impending departure, but the other of the Fellowship seemed to sense that it was nearing the time for them to move on, and quite often I would leave them at night, quietly discussing routes with each other, and sometimes Glorfindel or Celeborn, while the hobbits slept peacefully not far away.
And it was on the 13th of February that I, restless and unable to sleep for an unknown reason, wandered down to the Fellowship's pavilion. I really didn't expect anyone to be awake - I went there more by default than anything else. But when I reached the pavilion, I found, to my surprise, that Boromir was awake, leaning up against a nearby tree and staring moodily at the ground between his feet.
I considered leaving him alone, but he looked troubled, and I'd made a point of being there for Boromir and Faramir over the years. Silently, I walked over to him and crouched down at his feet. He looked up at me, mild amusement in his eyes, and then looked back at the ground. With a sigh, I realized that it might take awhile for him to say what was on his mind, and I moved and sat down next to him, also leaning up against the tree, to wait.
It seemed a long time, but was probably no more than an hour, before Boromir spoke. He asked me what Minas Tirith and Gondor were like before he was born, and I told him what I could. He asked me what I thought of Aragorn, and I told him that while I did not know the man very well, I had no doubt he would make a good King. Then he fell silent for a moment, and when he spoke again, it was at last about the heart of the matter.
"I know the wisest of the lands have said that this quest is the best path. That only with the destruction of the One can Sauron be defeated." he said with a sigh. "But day by day, I cannot help but wonder about the fate of Gondor. Even if the Fellowship succeeds, will any be left to celebrate the victory? Even when we departed from Minas Tirith, the vices of Mordor were beginning to close on us, and they will not take long to crush us completely. And every day I cannot help but wonder if that crushing could be averted, or at least delayed, by judicious use of that which we seek to destroy." I looked at him steadily for a moment.
"If we use it, we become him." I said quietly. "In the same way that if you fight with the cruelty of Orcs, and do as they do, you will soon become one of them. Evil is a parasite, Boromir, and if you give it a foothold - any foothold, even one given to help defeat it - it will hold on with all it's might, and it will be bound to you for all your life. It will take you down with it when it goes, or take you with it as it rises.
"Using the Ring could only cause more trouble for the peoples of Middle-Earth, believe me, Boromir." I said, looking at him earnestly. "The only way Sauron can be destroyed forever is through its destruction, and if it is used, it will not be destroyed. For it makes all men - and other creatures - covet it. Once held for long by one being, they are unable to release it. Even Frodo may, in the end, be unable to summon the will to destroy it and need the help of the Fellowship to do so." Silence for a moment, and then Boromir sighed.
"This I know, and yet...I can not help but wonder." he said with a shrug.
"It is calling to you." I said with a sad smile. "As it calls to all Men. It has survived once because of Men, and seeks to do so again."
"You speak as if Men are the only ones affected. Does it not call to you?" Boromir asked me curiously.
"In the manner that it's a sparklie thing and I'm a pack rat, yeah." I said with a brief grin, and then turned serious. "But I know what it would do if it survived, and I know its evil. I would not see that continue, no matter how tempting the power it offers might be." Boromir nodded, a thoughtful look on his face. Silence fell again, and I sensed that the conversation was at a close. I reached over and gave Boromir a hug, which he absently returned, and then I stood and made my way back up to my flet. Inside, I collapsed onto my bed with a tired sigh, and stared up at the ceiling for a few moments, thinking, before I decided that I could think about this all tomorrow, and cleared my mind and went to sleep.
The next morning I spent in my flet, reading and thinking on my conversation with Boromir. I knew I could not prevent Boromir's temptation by the Ring, but I couldn't help by try to think of something to say to him to stop it. I wanted to help him, even though I knew that it would be best to leave it alone. Eventually, around lunch time, I shut my book with a sigh and decided that that was enough thinking for the day, changed into my trousers and tunic, grabbed my sword, and went down to the Fellowship's pavilion for some lunch before my lesson with Haldir.
Only the short members of the Fellowship were in attendance for lunch, and we had a merry old time of it. The hobbits, and Gimli, quickly distracted me from my troubled thoughts, and when Haldir finally arrived, he found me on the ground, laughing so hard I was crying, while Merry and Pippin continued along in their funny tale about their exploits in the Shire. I calmed myself when I noticed Haldir, and when I finally stopped laughing, I realized that something was different today.
"The Lady Galadriel wishes to speak with you, Lady Asira." Haldir informed me formally, confirming my suspicions. I arched an eyebrow, but didn't ask questions, instead saying a quick goodbye to the hobbits and motioning for Haldir to lead the way. He did, setting a brisk pace, and we were soon at a familiar door. He knocked, and was told to enter, and so I was let into the room where, oh so long ago, I'd been informed of Kari's little memory-wipe. And not only was Galadriel there, but Celeborn and Kari, as well.
"Thank you, Haldir. You may go." Galadriel said, and Haldir bowed and left. Once the door had shut, Celeborn motioned for me to take a seat next to Kari, across from himself and Galadriel, and I did so politely. Kari shot me a curious look, obviously asking if I knew why we were here. I gave a small shrug.
"Something has happened." Celeborn said, and Kari's and my attention was immediately focused on him and his wife.
"I have felt a surge of power from the north." Galadriel elaborated. She gave Kari and me intense looks. "From Moria." Kari and I looked at each other.
"I thought that did not come until the Fellowship left?" she asked me curiously, her mind instantly latching onto the only thing Galadriel could have felt.
"No, it happens before, but doesn't get here until after they leave." I said with a light frown.
"You know what this power is from, then?" Galadriel asked Kari and I intently. We nodded.
"Yep." I said. There was a moment of silence.
"Care to share?" Celeborn asked dryly after a moment.
"We're both here because you didn't want us blurting out what we knew, why should we share?" I asked innocently. Galadriel gave me a stern look.
"She does have a point." Kari said mildly, and Galadriel frowned at her granddaughter-in-law before returning her attention to me. I swear, the elf-lady has an unnatural fixation with making my life boring or uncomfortable.
"Look at it this way - if it was big and deadly and coming to Lothlórien, we would be running the other way." I pointed out.
"I thought you had plans to leave shortly after the Fellowship?" Galadriel asked, in a manner that was almost innocent. I opened my mouth to reply, and then glanced at Kari. She shrugged.
"I hate to repeat myself, but she does have a point." she said.
"Well, aren't we a bunch of pointy people." I grumbled. "It's nothing bad, in fact, it's probably one of the best things that could happen for this whole darned quest, so stop tying your dress in knots." Celeborn and Galadriel shared a look, and then Galadriel nodded.
"Very well." she said. "Understand, however, that I only wished to be prepared should there be any danger to my people."
"And understand that I run headlong into danger." I replied.
"I thought you ran the other way?" Galadriel asked, arching an eyebrow. My right eye twitched, and I felt a surge of annoyance rising inside me. I hate people who play word games, even if - ESPECIALLY if - I walked right into them.
"Whatever way we run, it is always bound to be interesting." Kari stepped in, sensing the impending explosion. "And if that is all, Grandmother, I believe Rachel has a sword lesson to attend?" Galadriel nodded smoothly, and we all rose at one. I purposely ignored Galadriel as Kari and I gave small curtseys - small for Kari since she was related to Galadriel, and small for me because I really didn't feel like giving a deeper one and nobody seemed to notice how deep I made them anyways. Then we departed, and I was quite happy to find Haldir standing right outside.
"Come on, I want to go beat the crap out of something." I said, grabbing Haldir's arm and pulling him with me as I headed for the practice fields.
"I need to go get my sword." Haldir said, trying to pull his arm free of my grasp.
"Fine. Go get it and meet me at the fields." I told him, annoyed, then let go of his arm and continued stalking down to the practice area.
"Rachel, calm down. It's not good to spar when angry." Kari said with a light frown, concerned, as she followed me.
"I'm not angry, I'm annoyed. And the last time I fought while annoyed I fought Elladan to a draw." I did not - quite - snap at her, but my tone was sharp enough that Kari didn't comment. She did, however, disappear, and I suspected she was going to get Glorfindel, Boromir, or someone else along those lines.
At the practice field, I quickly staked out an arena, and sat down in the middle, inspecting my sword - though I knew it to have no imperfections - while I waited for Haldir. I absently noted that Legolas was on the practice grounds, but I ignored him. He was absorbed in his spar, anyways. Finally, Haldir arrived, and I noticed with amusement that he'd brought the biggest of his three double-bladed swords. It was an awkward thing, much more of a danger to an inexperienced wielder than any of the smaller double-bladed swords, but with the skill and force that Haldir put into its use, it was also very deadly. My own sword was somewhere between Haldir's smallest and medium sized double-bladed sword, but I knew by now that having a smaller weapon did not necessarily mean you would lose a fight.
I stood as Haldir approached, tossing my swords sheaths off to the side of the ring. Haldir did the same as he stepped into the ring - and I noticed with envy how the removal of the sheaths and their subsequent tossing to the side was barely even noticeable as he drew the weapon. It seemed as if one moment the sheaths were there, and the next they were not. I gave Haldir a sour look, but instead of smirking, he just arched an eyebrow back at me. The challenge was clear, but I wasn't about to go pick up my sheaths and try and duplicate his act. Now that I'd seen what the results of his teaching were supposed to be, however, I suspected I would be much better at it next time.
Haldir and I settled into basic sparring stances and stood watching each other for a moment. Then we set to, and I vaguely noticed that even as our blades met for the first time, Kari arrived at the edge of the arena, someone in red and someone in gold right behind her. I spared a moment for amusement at the fact that she had gotten both Boromir AND Glorfindel, and then fell into the rhythm of the fight.
I think Haldir was surprised with my skill with my weapon, but he quickly adapted. I was slightly surprised by my own skill, but realized in a brief break that I really wasn't doing anything I hadn't done before - I was using moves Glorfindel, Boromir and Elladan had taught me to use with a normal sword, but adapting them for two blades. It was as if everything I had been taught about weapons since October had suddenly sunk in, and I was able to access it and put it to the best use possible.
I was still, however, far from being a master. The spar lasted for a good time, and we disarmed each other several times - only to recover our weapons before the other could press the advantage - but Haldir was better, and eventually I found myself in a half-crouch on the ground, ready to spring for my weapon, but blocked by the Marchwarden. He, very wisely, did not press his advantage and force me to go through yielding. Instead, he bowed politely to me, then fetched my weapon and held it out to me as I stood. I took it with a brief bow of my own, and then walked over to the edge of the ring.
It was only then that Haldir and I became aware of what was going on outside the ring, and I noticed with a start that Kari, Glorfindel and Boromir had been joined in their watching by EVERYONE on the practice grounds, who were just now starting to drop away, murmuring to each other and shooting admiring glances at Haldir and I. I glanced at Haldir, and he arched an eyebrow back at me before bending to pick up his sheaths. My own sheaths were being held out to me by a stunned-looking Kari. Boromir, behind her, seemed mildly impressed, and Glorfindel...looked amused.
"And the lesson for today is - Rachel gets better at fighting when she's annoyed with one of the Wise." I announced, and Boromir and Glorfindel chuckled. Kari shook her head.
"You are insane." she said.
"That's been established many times before." I said with a grin, and then looked over at Haldir. "See you tomorrow for the usual lesson?" I asked him, and he nodded, then disappeared into the trees. Kari shook her head again, and then we went with Boromir and Glorfindel back to the Fellowship's pavilion, laughing and joking.
----To be continued...with an actually nice Galadriel!----
(*falls over in shock*)
-Authors Note:-
Uhm...some reviewers, I've noticed, are starting to comment about Rachel's reactions to Boromir again. To this I say - there's this old river in Egypt that Rachel's currently making herself very well aquainted with. But don't worry, it's going to hit Rachel eventually...and if THAT scene - actually, probably chapter - isn't enough for you, then I doubt anything will be.
Also, thinking ahead to my next FanFic (yes, I have decided to write another one after this, though how long it'll be until I start writing it is another matter entirely) I've been trying to find a name I like for one of the main characters, and I have several...well, nine possibilities, and can't decide between them. So I made a poll and stuck it up in my livejournal, and I'd like you all, being the wonderful reviewers you are, to go there and help me out. You won't have any trouble finding it, and it doesn't require any sign-ups or anything - just follow the link to my livejournal in my profile, and you should be presented with the entry with the poll on it. If it's otherwise, you're either on my friends list or something's gone screwy...
And lastly...I love all my reviewers, and FF.net seems to especially love Aztec Raven and Feather in a Pillow. It loves them to pieces, in fact. Many many pieces. Because I got about...oh, hmm, two dozen review alerts EACH for their reviews? O.o Oh look, there's another one...*prods FF.net*
See y'all again on thursday!
~Crimson Starlight