A/n Well I just finished reading a story and thought it would be the right time to type a chapter up. I'm nice like that typing up 3 or 4 chapters a week :). Don't expect it to often though, my half term ends on Friday groan. I'm trying not to think of the essays I have yet to write as well as course work. I've made my self all depressed now, which was very intelligent on my part. Any whoo, hope you enjoy the chapter, I just have to type it up now. Yay! I'm being sarcastic by the way, I hate typing up chapters, but I'll do anything for my dear readers!
Little Elf
Chapter Six
As they were nearing the bottom of the never ending staircases Elle asked a question "Edwi? How do you know the tongue of men? Not many people in Lothlorien know it"
Edwi smiled, a wistful look on her face "When Lady Arwen came she insisted that the elves of the golden wood should be well rounded in languages and tried to teach it to us. I was one of the few that learnt it. I thought as one of the ladies maidens I should know it. Incase I ever left the golden wood. I never did."
"I'm sure you'll leave the wood one day. I know I will. For I wish to travel."
"You have not been here but a day. Is it so inhospitable here?"
"Nay. But I know that I shall travel in my heart. But not for a while at least." Elle smiled.
They reached the archery field, which was full of male elves; all of who as far as Elle could see were hitting the bulls eye. "You don't expect me to make a fool of myself in front of all of them do you?" Elle whispered eyeing the elves warily.
"Nay, you will be learning in the royal field." Answered Edwi dismissively.
"Why do they need a whole field? There aren't that many royals here. Are there?"
"Nay, only Lord Celeborn uses it regularly, the Lady does occasionally and of course the royal guard uses it for training." (A/n I see the royal guard as the elite of the Lorien guard, so there are less of them, about 20?)
"But they're the best archers in this wood."
"Do not worry, they have not scheduled a training session today." They walked into a clearing "or not." She finished.
Elle stared and made to turn around. "Lady Elle!" Elle looked to her right. Lord Celeborn was striding over to her, "I see you're here for your first archery lesson!"
Elle glanced at the group of Elves all clad in the uniform of the royal guard. "With them here I'm not."
"Why ever not?"
"Because I do have an ounce of pride, of which I don't want to lose."
"What if we practice at the other end of the field, they won't be able to see us."
"We're elves! Even a human could see that far."
"They would not dare laugh at royalty.
"But…" *I'm not royalty*
"Exactly! Edwi, you are dismissed, thank you fro bringing Lady Elle here."
Edwi gave Elle an encouraging smile. Elle turned back to Celeborn who proceeded to give her a wrist guard, a bow and placed a quiver on the ground.
He explained how to use a bow and arrow and how to stand. He showed her how to do this and his arrow hit straight centre on the target. "Now, it's your turn."
Elle grimaced but did as she was told. As soon as she let go of the string she closed her eyes. A few milliseconds later she heard the arrow hit something hard *Well at least I hit the target*
She opened her eyes to see that instead the arrow had missed the target and had hit a tree to the left of it instead *Well it reached the required length, when I was younger I couldn't even build up enough momentum to even get the arrows to reach the target*
"Elle, you're meant to look where your arrows are going."
Elle didn't answer, but picked up an arrow and strung it. It hit the target on an outer rim. On her third go it hit the target… dead centre "I knew you could do it." Celeborn exclaimed
"Fluke."
Elle strung the bow; the arrow hit the centre, slicing through the previous arrow. "Thought you were a natural when I first saw you. Now you must try from further back."
Three hours later Elle was walking through Lorien, quietly humming to herself. She eventually found a large rock by a slow running steam. She climbed onto the rock and looked around her. The lesson had gone on for about two hours, which had left Elle's arm aching, pulling the string taught until it reached her eye wasn't the easiest thing in the world.
She stared down at her nails which were a deep purple. They had caught Celeborn off guard, as he had never seen anyone with painted nails, and had insisted that she must be ill. It had taken some time for Elle to explain that she had painted her nails, which he hadn't understood either. "Why would you want to colour your nails?"
The answer had only confused him more.
Elle sighed contentedly, inhaling the non-polluted, sweet smelling air deeply. *Wonder how long I'll be here? It's so…pleasant and…nice. Well I guess I left behind my mental thesaurus behind when I grew pointy ears. Why do I have the sudden urge to climb a tree? No, bad idea, I'd probably kill myself. Any way I'm scared of heights, I'd probably freeze half way up.*
Elle moved her hand further back on the rock. The problem was that there was no rock left and she feel down, hard.
Groaning she got up and brushed herself off "Well, at least no one saw me." She muttered under her breath.
"I'm afraid you're wrong my dear Lady."
Turning around Elle saw a tall man clad in grey. He had a wide brimmed grey hat, which looked worse for wear. He had a long grey (surprise, surprise) beard. Beneath the hat two eyes were fixed on her, full of wisdom and a trace of mirth.
Elle bristled at the thought of somebody watching her without being told "Princess actually." She looked him over "Wizards hat, dressed in grey. Should I guess Gandalf the grey?"
"Well you seem to know my name, Princess. But what is yours?"
"Princess Ellette of Abberant, north of the grey mountains."
"Even in my long years I have never heard of such a place. What is it like?"
"It is a country where both elves and man live together in harmony."
"That is a rare thing indeed."
"Indeed it is. But I do not wish to talk about Abberant."
"As the lady wishes. I mean Princess."
"So…" *Think! Think!* "…how are the hobbits?"
"The hobbits?"
"Aye, the hobbits. You know pretty short, large hairy feet, curly hair, eat loads, who could live without second breakfast? They're very good with pipe weed as well. You know what I'm talking about."
"Why an interest?"
"Celeborn said something along the lines of 'Have you meet Mithrandir?' yesterday. We were talking about Hobbits… well they came up in the conversation. I know you have an interest in them. So do i. I'm making small talk."
"Hobbits may be small but there is still a lot to talk about. They are hardly small talk."
Elle rolled her eyes. *Obviously don't know what small talk is*
They eventually reached Caras Galadhon where they parted. "Well if we do not meet again before you leave for Minas Tirith I say farewell to you and say hello to Frodo for me. Yes, I know where you're going and why you're doing it, after all the rings of power are not to be played with." Elle turned walking to her talan, Gandalf's face was one of confusion and wonder, which was quickly covered as he walked in the opposite direction.
A/n Finished! Took me long enough now I'm really hungry; the only thing I've eaten today is a yoghurt and it's now 9.35pm, so as you can tell I'm really hungry. Why haven't I been called to dinner? I won't walk off to ponder that thought just yet.
The lady sorcha of seven waters: Thanx 4 the website! I have looked at me and I hopefully should get better at Elvish!
Grim and evil: Unfortunately she didn't shoot anybody yet. About the French thing, I actually came up with that part after I'd finished my French homework. I needed to think of a name of where Elle came from and I saw my French dictionary so I thought 'what the heck!' I can't understand the language either even if I seem to be an A student in it. It's all about memorising the stuff just before the test and then forgetting it when it's finished. Thanx for saying it was a stroke of genius, I do consider myself a genius *grin* No I'm not that bigheaded, but you reviewers are going to end up giving me one!
Lucy: Nop didn't kill anybody. But I'm glad that you like the story, that's my favourite kind of review! Apart from getting any review in general… * drones on about nothing*
Fang: Well I've given you more. I should get up the next chapter in a day or two, depending on if I can be bothered to get my lazy arse out of bed- what else id half term for? Maddy is a bit insane? Never! She's a lot insane! Or outsane as she keeps on saying, I have no idea what she's carping on about. Maddy gloating? We'll see about that! How do you know her any way? Stupid girl for getting two weeks half term while us mere mortals only have one! God, she better not read this! She'll get it into her head that she's an elf again! Does she keep on going on about… No that's better left for another day!
Well those were some long answers to reviews!
Gwilwileth