When Will the Sun Shine Again?
Chapter 11- Skill
If 'twas possible, the archery tournament was even more eagerly anticipated than the first task. This may have been because of Elladan and Elrohir's advertisement of the competition or it may have just been because now Legolas was taking part and everyone was eagerly awaiting a show of skill.
A few careless elves bumped past Arwen in their haste and she frowned, placing a hand on her stomach tenderly, conscious of her baby's growth inside her.
Legolas, with his ever watchful eyes saw her holding her stomach and was beside her in an instant.
"The babe, does it stir?" He asked anxiously.
"Nay, some younger elves pushed me a little, I suppose I am just more wary now as it grows, I am not really being as careful in my lifestyle as I could be, I worry for it sometimes."
"It will be strong, like its parents." Legolas smiled reassuringly and put his hand over her own, still on her stomach.
"Take care." He said as a warning before leaving to talk to the ever mischievous twins.
He found them by the trees, Elladan rubbing his hands in glee and Elrohir trying to remain inconspicuous and aloof.
"Swindled another fool from their money have you?" Legolas asked with a smirk.
"Perhaps, should you not be getting ready for the competition, both of you?" Elrohir frowned.
"Aye, I came to fetch this trouble monger to come with me. We'll see you after the competition." Legolas pulled Elladan off to walk up to the targets with him.
"Yes?" Elladan asked expectantly, he knew Legolas must have had something of great import to say.
"I have done something that you may not like." Legolas said quietly.
"You have sold your soul for a night of passion with my sister?!" Elladan teased, trying to feign horror. Legolas glared.
"Nay, fool. I have made a bet with Astalder."
"Is that a bad thing? Might be good for you to rob him of some coins."
"He did not wish to bet with money." At this Elladan became serious, and frowned.
"So, pray tell, what did he wish to wager?"
"He said if I won he would leave Arwen and I alone for the rest of the competition with no more trouble."
"Well that's good, an easy way to solve our problem then." Elladan nodded.
"Aye, but if I lose, he will spend the entire night alone with Arwen, I am not allowed to be near her."
"What?!" Despite his elven grace Elladan almost tripped over a tree stump in his surprise. "And you bet on such a thing?"
"Well what was I supposed to say? He would have wondered why I would not partake in a friendly enough wager, and I thought it a good way to make good on our bargain, as you said."
"But you would leave him alone with her?!" Elladan said in disbelief.
"Of course not!" Legolas snapped, which was most unusual, but his patience was severely frayed at this moment. "But he angered me to a quick decision, and I felt confident enough I could best him, I have had almost three millennia to practise."
"I know, I know." Elladan nodded, calming back into the elven look of serenity. "There is no reason you should not win, but I told you, I do not trust him, do you not think he may try something underhanded to best you?"
"I cannot see why he would need to, it is not as if he has any great interest in Arwen, he just wishes to show off to impress her, and make me look foolish." Legolas knew this was a lie, but did not mention the last thing Astalder had whispered to him before he left, he knew it would only worry Elladan and make him act rashly, and he decided he would handle Astalder in his own way.
"I suppose." Elladan sighed.
"Worry not, we shall both best him, and Haldir shall too." Elladan seemed reassured but Legolas knew he was still worried inside, probably because he himself was worried.
They made their way to the clearing where the tournament would be held, and already numerous elves from every colony were gathered in the area around the targets, their melodically sweet voices intermingled in a swirl of sound as they waited for the contestants. As Legolas and Elladan made their way into the clearing Elrond stood on the newly constructed stage waiting for silence.
"My friends, a most entertaining spectacle this promises to be. It is known that elves are skilled in archery, but to some it is an art, to these assembled it is so, some are well known for their skill, and others keep their talents hidden, but today we shall see who is the best archer in Middle Earth. Those competing today are Astalder of Eryn Vorn, Elladan of Rivendell, Haldir of Lorien, Heleghwest of Harlindon and Legolas of Mirkwood. These five are all skilled in their craft, and time will tell who will be triumphant. The competition follows thus, each contestant will have three shots, one for each position the target is in. The targets will be placed firstly in the position you see before you, then many metres away, and a greater distance still for the last, the archer with the most points at the end will win. There are nine rings on the target, the centre of the target is worth ten points, and the very outer ring is worth one, the next one in is worth two and so on. The archers will be awarded however many points, depending on which ring they hit. Are we clear?" Everyone cheered in response.
The order of contestants had already been decided before breakfast, with Heleghwest first, Haldir second, Elladan third, Legolas fourth and Astalder fifth, so the five lined up in that order, Heleghwest taking his place on the marked line first.
"To make sure there is no foul play or cheating, all the contestants will use the same bow, and arrows provided." Elrond motioned to the quiver of arrows that stood by the white line, with a well crafted bow lying next to it. Heleghwest picked up the bow and felt it for a few seconds, getting a grip for it. He pulled out a sleek arrow from the quiver and fitted it carefully to the string, pulling his arm back and waiting a moment to size up the target, then he released the string and the arrow whistled through the air to land with a thwap in the eighth ring from the outside, gaining eight points.
There was clapping and cheering from the Harlindon elves, and polite claps from the rest.
Haldir came forward next and slowly picked the bow up, gripping it tightly in his fist, he too was methodical in his approach but his arrow flew forth and embedded itself in the ninth ring, just a little off centre. There was a collective ooh of appreciation and Haldir nodded gracefully as he stepped back.
Elladan was more confident in his preparation as he was familiar with the Rivendell make of bow-of course- and had used many bows in this design before.
He let his shot ring forth and it embedded itself into the centre, not quite dead on, but close enough to win ten points for Rivendell.
He grinned at Haldir and Legolas who smiled back in appreciation, and there was a loud burst of applause and cheers for the home representative.
Legolas went next, and there was a collective holding of breath as he readied himself. Gripping the bow confidently enough, and holding it up to his eye level so he could see how it looked when he aimed, he delicately drew an arrow and fitted it to the string, and released it with a flourish. It sang through the air and burst dead centre, shuddering slightly with the impact.
There was a loud cheer of appreciation and Legolas inclined his head slightly, and saw Astalder looking at him with malice. Legolas nodded back coolly, and threw the bow to the newcomer with a smirk, slightly harder than he needed to, which Astalder caught, though just barely.
With a glare the final competitor strolled forth, and held up the bow confidently fitting the arrow, and barely looking at the target he released it, the arrow humming into the target within the centre too, just next to Legolas', but not right in the middle, as Mirkwood's heir had achieved. There was clapping for him too of course for the achievement, but not as much as the preceding two had received. Haldir, Legolas and Elladan shot each other knowing glances, and all shook hands with each other, waiting for the target to be moved back.
"Harlindon, eight. Lorien, nine. Rivendell, ten. Mirkwood, ten. Eryn Vorn, ten." The scorer announced the points so far.
The target was placed about two hundred metres back, which was not much to the elves with their keen sight, but it would require much more skill to fire an arrow as far as their eyes could see, and the contestants knew this. On the second try Heleghwest only scored six, Haldir eight, Elladan found a nine, and Legolas and Astalder both scored ten again, causing quite a commotion among the audience.
"Your brother is doing well, gwanur (kinswoman- relative*)" Galadriel commented in her musical tone, and Arwen nodded as she watched on. "As is Prince Legolas." Galadriel said, with a knowing spark in her eye. Arwen turned to look at her and Galadriel offered a good natured smirk, before turning her wise eyes back to the competition.
"Harlindon, fourteen. Lorien, seventeen. Rivendell, nineteen. Mirkwood, twenty. Eryn Vorn, twenty." It was proclaimed, and most of the assembled were whispering, wishing they had placed bets on one of the two leaders, or were grinning because they had indeed placed their money on the right archers.
There was a definite tension in the air now, as the targets were moved a final time, almost double the distance they were moved the second time. It was unlikely for Harlindon to win now, and Heleghwest only scored a three. Haldir did slightly better with a five, and Elladan also managed a five.
Legolas stepped to the line, fixing his cerulean eyes on the small target before him. He had indeed had plenty of practise, striking Wargs and Orcs in targets smaller than this on his journey with the Fellowship and thereafter, he knew he could win this, though it would take considerable skill to make sure the wind did not blow the arrow off course and angle it just right to reach the centre. He allowed the wind to brush against his face for a moment, trying to get a feel for how it was directed, before grasping up the bow, and fitting the arrow.
He glanced at the target one more time before raising the arrow at a slight angle up in the air, which-if he was correct- would bring his arrow dead centre. He waited, listening to the trees and the wind that whistled through them, and setting his face in his customary focused squint of concentration he loosed his arrow with a thwip. It curved in a wide controlled arc, descending straight down towards the target.
Then somehow, just as the arrow was about to land right in the core of the target, something changed. Whether if it was the wind, the target or the arrow, we can only guess, but the arrow suddenly veered so it was vertical a path no longer, and it turned almost horizontal as it blew into the eighth ring and stuck there, almost like the hand of a clock, except it was not central. There was a collective gasp, it was a great feat indeed to even be that close in the spectators' views, but to Legolas it was a most annoying event, he knew he angled the shot perfectly, and the wind had been just right to aid its course as the arrow was let fly.
He glanced at Elladan who was glaring angrily at the smug look on Astalders face.
The Mirkwood prince frowned and Astalder smiled cockily as he grabbed the bow from Legolas' hands.
"Watch and learn." He murmured, for Legolas' ears only.
With a look of anger, Legolas went to stand next to Haldir and Elladan who clapped him on the back, but then focused their attention back to boring holes in the back of Astalder's cocky head.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Elladan whispered and Legolas nodded.
Astalder took the last arrow from the quiver and raised it in the air, in a show of confidence. Then he fitted it to the bow, tilted it slightly, and waited for a moment, sizing up the target. Then, he let go.
*
Dum, dum, duuum!
*Ducks flying garbage.* You guys are all gonna kill me now aren't you, leaving you in suspense like that? You may want to kill me, but if you send an angry lynch mob after me, I won't be able to write the next chapters and you'll never know who wins or who gets the girl! And that… well it wouldn't really be a crime against humanity, but you might not have something to pass the time while you're waiting for the better stories to be updated hehe! So review please, don't hurt/kill/flame me, I was just feeling mischievous and it is pretty late, but don't worry, to make up for how awful I am, the next update will be within the next two days, so you won't have any time to wait! So review please, it's more time to guess who will win! Place your bets with Elladan and Elrohir at the review page, tee hee! Thanks for reading! Oh and if you have time, or like Legolas angst, go read Darkness in the Deep, which has two chapters up now!
*Oh and the reason Galadriel called Arwen gwanur was because there is no elvish word for Granddaughter, and kinswoman is the closest!
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