Disclaimer: I don't own anything LotR. But I do own the made up characters and my friends. Shhh... don't tell them! -
The next morning came early and rudely with the blaring of an elf war horn echoing in the trees. I was jolted awake, but my eyes were still heavy. I rubbed my eyes and sat up as the horn sounded off again. My hair was mousey and had a few knots, but before I could brush them out someone came to the door for me. I opened it to see yet another drop-dead gorgeous elf man standing before me.
Whassat noise for? I croaked groggily.
He nodded at my guard uniform, and I quickly grabbed my cloak and wrapped it around my shoulders.
Is this all I need? I asked.
Instead of answering he took my arm and led me down the hall where a few other people were gathered. Megan was one of them, and she didn't look too happy about the awakening either. The elf who got me went to the front and began speaking.
Those of you who I just woke up are to go to the talans outside the city. The horn you just heard will be your alarm as it were. I ask that you follow me closely as Haldir does not allow for tardiness, he announced as he turned. All of us followed him while dragging our feet. I looked around at the others. They were mostly boys, but a spare few others were girls. Megan yawned, but she and I kept our eyes on our leader and grinned at each other.
The walk to the talans didn't seem quite as long this time. The sun had barely come up, and it was still quite chilly out. At least this time I had a cover for warmth. We came to a stop as someone from above us called out something in elvish. Our leader replied back in the same language and left us. All of us looked up to see multiple elves' faces peeping down at us from the trees. Each of us was pulled up by one of them. I think I was pulled up by Rumil but I wasn't sure. I didn't really care either. All of us sat wearily on the talan floor while the elves conversed with each other briefly. Then they broke away and faced us all. A few of us shifted uneasily as Haldir's gaze fell over each of us. Megan stifled her yawn this time while I tried to keep my eyelids pried open.
I see not many of you deal with mornings well, Haldir said. Some of the braver souls shook their heads.
I wouldn't worry, as that will change with time, he added. Do any of you know any form of martial skills at all?
Megan and I shook our heads with most of the group. Only a few nodded.
And those would be? asked Haldir.
I've taken archery for half a year now, said one girl. Haldir nodded.
I'm working toward my red belt in karate, said another boy.
I don't know what that is, but I'll assume it counts, said Haldir.
I'm on my college fencing team, another girl piped up. A few of the elves nodded at this too.
The rest of you don't know anything then? Rumil asked this time. We all shook our heads. I lowered mine.
Rub it in, why don't you, Megan muttered under her breath.
Haldir and his brothers whispered to each other for a moment.
Not all of you will be suited for certain weaponry, Orophin told us. Some may be, others may not. We'll decide that now.
The three of them and the rest of the elves began walking around us, looking us up and down like we were awaiting to be judged for the afterlife. Orophin stopped near me and told me to stand up. My wobbly legs forced me up, and he began looking me over. After about a minute he called Rumil and Haldir over too. That made me gulp. Oh God, there's a problem, I know it,' I thought as my stomach began to fall. The three of them whispered back and forth some more before Haldir and Rumil went off for more investigations.
What's wrong? I asked Orophin, who remained.
Nothing. We've just decided that you may be able to handle all the different types of weaponry, he told me with a mild pat on the shoulder as he went off again. I think all the blood drained from my face as I felt lightheaded. I sat back down as Megan just did the same.
They think I can do all of them too! she whispered excitedly. I just whimpered again.
The investigation didn't last much longer after that.
It seems most of you are suited for all the types of fighting, Haldir said with a slight hint of surprise in his tone. To those of you who aren't, it is nothing to feel disgraced about. You will all have a half hour to get properly dressed. Basic training begins today, he finished. All of us left the talan and went back toward the city.
As I got into my guardian tunic, I began wondering whether or not elves needed glasses. First Galadriel says I should be a warrior, then Orophin tells me that I'm able to do all of the fighting styles. I'd never used a sword or bow and arrow in my life, and the only time I'd ever used knives was for cutting food! I sat on my bed to put on my boots now. This is just crazy,' I thought. I tied them up all the way, quickly pulled my hair back into a low pony tail, and left my room.
All of us gathered at the talan again, but the elves were all on the ground this time. Haldir, Rumil, Orophin, and two other elf wardens stood in a line before us as we all gathered.
I know some of you aren't in the best shape, began Haldir, and I swore he was eying me when he said it, and this will be difficult for you for a while. Don't be afraid to sit down if you cannot go on. If this is everyone, then we'll begin now.
The pace started at walking. Megan and I walked side by side over logs, bushes, and small rocks on the forest floor. But soon the terrain became more hilly, and the pace quickened. The leaders were nimbly leaping ahead of us like this was a stroll in the park while the rest of us were having trouble going up the hills. I was already feeling a burning sensation in my legs, but there was no way I was sitting down after such a short time. Occasionally Haldir or Rumil would stop to look back at us and wait for us to catch up before continuing on.
The terrain grew rockier as we went on, causing some of the people to trip or fall. I managed to slip on a loose rock and nearly do a face plant, but one of the elves grabbed my arm and pulled me back up. Megan seemed to be doing fine until she bumped her foot on a boulder and fell into Haldir, who caught her with his arm. She just hung there for a while with a weird grin on her face.
You can let go now, he said with a raised eyebrow.
Megan blinked and shook her head.
Sorry, I have a fetish for guys with muscles, she replied.
I slapped my forehead while Rumil and Orophin started snickering. Haldir shot them one of his and Rumil immediately stopped while Orophin quickly turned his into a fake cough. Megan, still grinning, stood up straight and continued on. Orophin winked at her while Rumil patted her on the shoulder. The rest of the way Haldir made sure there was someone between himself and Megan though. I managed to catch up with her, and she was still smiling. I groaned.
Did you have to do that? I asked her with a slight slap on the arm.
She grinned at me and raised her eyebrows.
Of course. You've seen his arms, she answered.
I know the guy's ripped, I said, but for pete's sake, save the drool for Legolas.
It was a little past the halfway mark when my legs finally gave out from underneath me. I slumped down onto a log and sighed with exhaustion. Rumil noticed and called out to Haldir, who had gone ahead. A few passing people snickered at me, but a quick stern look from Rumil silenced them immediately. Megan stopped too and sat next to me.
You okay? she asked.
Even though I was still panting I nodded in the affirmative.
I tried... to tell... Galadriel... I wasn't... cut out for... this...I breathed while clasping my chest.
Rumil stood with us as a few others sat down to rest too. And you were all laughing at me? Well HA to you,' I thought with a grin. Then I winced as my legs continued burning, so I rubbed them for a while. Megan arched her back and stretched out. I looked at Rumil. He was probably wondering why we were having problems; never mind the fact that he's done this for thousands of years. I heard some boys across the way whispering and snickering about something while some girls were complaining about the trek and how tired they were. I just rolled my eyes. I had my complaints too, but I didn't whine. Haldir and Orophin returned from scouting ahead and muttered something to Rumil, who nodded. They and the other two elves began pulling us to our feet and began walking again.
As our group continued on I heard odd noises coming from the trees, which made me feel uneasy. Our five elf guards looked uneasy too, and they ordered us to stand behind them. Haldir approached the trees and peered through the leaves. The noises then stopped, but he kept looking around. Suddenly he gasped and pulled his head back just as four thick arrows shot out and whizzed past our heads. He ordered us to get down while he and the rest of the elves drew their arrows and shot back into the trees. Loud screeches and roars cried out as orcs and goblins fell dead around us. Then the ambush grew as three other orcs came up from behind and grabbed me, Megan, and the karate boy into strangling headlocks. I screamed as I kicked mine in the shins. Haldir and Orophin spun around and threw themselves into the orcs, pinning them long enough to swipe their heads off. Haldir then pulled the three of us away while Orophin and Rumil slashed back two more goblins who had the same idea in mind. The rest of the elves continued shooting and slashing at the creatures until the ground was drenced in black reeking blood. Another orc tackled me this time and drew its sword to trim me down a few sizes, and without thinking I reached up and wrenched its head to snap its neck. It worked, but then it fell on me with its dead weight, and I couldn't budge it.
Help! I'm trapped! I cried out as another orc came by to try and do the same. Orophin shot that one and jerked the dead one off me and pulled me back to my feet.
I looked around and saw Megan, who was surrounded by a few goblins, punching their lights out and kicking up a storm. The karate boy was doing some serious damage of his own. Everyone else was hiding in a group.
Finally the last orc fell, and none of us were injured at the end. All the elves pulled their arrows from the corpses and replaced them in their quivers. Then they went around to us to make sure we were all right and in some cases compliment us.
That was a wise move breaking that orc's neck, one of them said to me, panting a little. Megan was getting her fair share of pats and praises too, as was karate boy.
Are you all right? Orophin asked me urgently as he grabbed my shoulders.
Fine, I'm fine, I replied, just a little shaken.
Looking at the carnage I estimated we were ambushed by about thirty or so orcs and goblins. A few of the elves cursed at the bodies, Haldir looking especially enraged.
We must hurry home, he called to us. There may be more out there.
With that we quickly left.