An: Hiya all! It's Tuesday so it's time for another update. Actually, today in school was Tuesday-Monday. Yes, it's as weird as it sounds. Since we didn't have class Monday, today we had Monday classes even though it's Tuesday. Half my classes were empty today because people were confused. Thankfully, I managed not to get confused and get to my classes in (mostly) one piece. I hope everyone's having a good time with their classes and things of that nature. I'm having this slight issue with my Creative Writing class. We have to workshop two things we've written. That is, submit them to the class and have them critique them. The bad thing is I'm not allowed to submit anything fan fiction related. Anywho! Thanks for the reviews. They're always a shock to get and they make me feel better after my days at school. You party people are the best and keep those reviews coming!
Ms. Unknown: She's fought before, just not in Middle Earth. All her "fighting" has been contained to the Muggle World and to her Tae Kwan Do classes. This will be her first challenge in Middle Earth with a being that's lived in that world. I hope you like the "fight."
et-spiritus-sancti: Yeah, Niphredil and Fire are going to have a little altercation and it may come to a shock for everyone around. After all, princesses aren't supposed to fight with elven rangers, no matter how bad their attitudes are. If her parents were to see her fighting...well, the consequences would be interesting to say the least. Neither of them has seen her fight either. They know she can but they've never seen her fight.
IrethAncalime3791: No need to apologize! I was late updating last week. The blasted "real world" tends to get in the way sometimes. You shall soon see how this challenge is going to turn out for Niphredil and Fire as well as anyone who just happens to be watching at the moment.
sunni07: Chemistry can be tricky, especially the inorganic variety. Everything seems to be the same thing and ever answer seems right. It's a devilishly tricky subject, really. The best you can do, where Chemistry's concerned, is to try your best. Anywho, Fire and Ice aren't characters from the books at all. Fire's based on my younger sister and Ice is just her opposite character. As for their given names, Ice's is Litsetaure and Fire's given name is Marille. I'm glad you liked the chapter and that you're not confused anymore.
Midnight-Insomniac1532: WOW! Good timing! I got your review just as I was writing this chapter! Oh my! I hope everything's better now because that doesn't sound like a good time at all. It's alright, really. The "real world" seems to try its darndest to throw challenges at everyone, even when they don't want them. As for your former boss, it's always fun to put people like that in stories and have them meet...interesting...ends. Here's the confrontation between Niphredil and Fire...fresh of my computer!
Disclaimer: I own nothing except for a handful of made up characters. Tolkien thought up the concept and, as such, it belongs to him. I'm just playing in his world. I'm broke and in college. All I own are Pointe Shoes.
"You are willing to do fight Fire?" Elladan asked his tone slightly incredulous.
"Dressed as you are?" Elrohir added his tone quite similar to his brother's.
They had posed the idea only as a suggestion, not expecting Niphredil to actually take them up on it. It spoke volumes about her bravery or insanity. Both admirable qualities, in their humble opinions, though not something they wanted to deal with now.
The last thing they needed was to admit to their father they had gotten his granddaughter hurt.
Of course, that thought was overridden by their innate curiosity about her strange skills- skills she had mentioned in passing when she explained who and what she was to them- and a need to see if those skills could match the fighting style of the elves. Plus, there was the added bonus of Fire being knocked down a few peg holes if Niphredil were to successfully show her up.
They still had to make sure she wanted to do this. That they weren't exerting a force over her and making her do this; undertake this challenge.
"Yes, I'm very willing to fight Fire. I'm not scared of her at all. She might be all talk like some of the people who use to come into class, stay awhile, and leave but I seriously doubt that. And, yes, I'll fight her in a dress. This shouldn't restrict my range of motion too much," Niphredil stated, her voice not exactly unsure but not wholly sure either.
Fire didn't seem to be all talk, as she had told her uncles. She looked to have the ability to back her words up with physical force. If she was a warrior of some type, she was also versed in the use of weapons. A wide range of them. Probably more than Niphredil knew how to use. She was best versed in the use of the sword and that was only in Tae Kwan Do style. A style she figured was very impractical in a fight with someone like Fire.
Seeing the perplexed looks on her uncle's alike faces, Niphredil added, "I'm serious. I'll be fine. Just take me to her."
Even with the resignations they were harboring, Elladan and Elrohir took Niphredil through the labyrinthine passageways of the citadel. Through side doors and back tunnels they took her, turning her around so badly that she feared she was never going to see the light of day again.
Maybe not the light of day. More like her room and her parents. Especially if her two guides decided it would be amusing to leave her stranded in the passages.
Much to Niphredil's relief, they didn't. She blinked a few times as the trio emerged into a sun drenched courtyard. She knew she was in part of the citadel she'd never see before- the gardens around her were very much unfamiliar- though she knew she was on the same level as her home. Counting the rings of the city below here attested to that fact.
A clanging sound, the familiar clash of metal on metal, split the air combining with the yelling and cheering of an obviously excited crowd.
"We must have come at a good time," Elladan commented, seeming to follow the sounds riding high on the air.
"Perhaps," Elrohir added, "but if she is already eager for confrontation. It may not turn out as well as it could."
"They're training?" Niphredil asked, interjecting herself into the conversation.
No matter how interesting it was to watch her uncles banter back and forth between each other- Seemingly riding the same train of though and picking up on hanging bits of conversation the other left. - Niphredil wanted to know what was going. It was important, essential even, given what she was planning on doing. To have full knowledge of what she was walking into was important, like studying before a big exam. No one- Well, one in their right mind anyway. - walked into to take a final, especially ones like math and science, without studying before hand.
In Niphredil's mind, this situation was sort of similar. It's just that she didn't have a week's knowledge to study for her "test."
"Yes, they are. That is the noise we are hearing," Elrohir answered, "they need to keep their skills as sharp as possible."
"What for?" Niphredil asked.
Middle Earth seemed a safe enough place. Roving warriors, as she assumed Ice, Fire and the rest of their merry band were, looked to her like left over antiquities from some by-gone age.
"To keep prepared for any threat," Elladan stated, answering in his brother's stead, "Though this city seems safe enough to you, Niphredil, there are still many threats that lay beyond those gates. Ice, Fire, and the rest of their band keep those threats at bay when, and if, they encounter them."
Niphredil nodded, lapsing into silence. She was processing all the information she had just acquired, trying to see how best she could use it. They were skilled warriors with many more hours, days, lifetimes of practice under their belts then she had. There was sill the all important element of surprise. That she still possessed for her skills were something unheard of, unseen in Middle Earth.
There was a small knot of figures, all elvish by the looks of it, arranged in a vaguely circular shape. They were dressed in drab colors, browns, greens, and grays.
"Forest colors," Niphredil decided, "something like Middle Earth camouflage."
She bit back a laugh at that thought. What she had learned was camouflage was something very different and looked nothing like that these figures were wearing. In her opinion, their clothing, their mode of dress, was much nicer and more earthly. Somehow more appropriate for what they did.
The twins insinuated themselves in the circle, standing on either side of a tallish elf with ancient looking, dark eyes and cropped short- shorter than any elf she'd had occasion to see- dark hair.
Elladan, seeing that Niphredil was standing back from the gathered group, turned and stated, "Come, you may find this very interesting and very much to your liking."
He offered her a hand, which she gladly took, and pulled her into the circle. Standing in between her uncle and the ancient looking elf, Niphredil's eyes went wide as saucers.
With swords in hand, were two other figures, neither recognizable to her. The taller of the pair, currently on offensive, was clad in mostly browns and greens. His muddy colored hair brushed his shoulders as he moved. The other pair was smaller an gave the impression of being younger- even if Niphredil knew better than to trust that impression. Apparently, elves didn't age in any ways she understood. He wore all gray and had a shock of nearly snow colored hair. At the moment, he was defending himself against the taller one's attacks.
They moved like nothing Niphredil had ever seen, twisting, turning, flowing in a way she couldn't imagine ever being possible. Sure as anything, she couldn't do what they were doing. It was like poetry in motion to her, something alive in its own right and quite powerful.
More than anything she wanted to get involved in some way. She hadn't realized how much she missed her Tae Kwan Do lessons, with their familiar forms and spars, until now. This was dredging up those feelings as she watched the pair of elves spar with each other.
Their spar, insofar as Niphredil could define their actions, ended in a rather abrupt, surprising manner. The taller elf, thinking his smaller opponent was beaten, went to mock a killing shot. The smaller, moving like a blur caught the taller by surprise, warding off the shot and knocking the taller off balance. The taller went down in a heap.
"Admirable try, Spike," the ancient looking elf commented, eyes moving towards the taller elf being helped by the smaller to his feet, "It will do you well not to underestimate Bass again. He may be young but he does have some skill."
The smaller, Bass Niphredil guessed, looked away but answered, "I still have very much to learn, Captain. I am just a beginner to this."
Captain, the ancient elf standing next to Niphredil, shook his head and called, "Is there no one else who wishes to take part today?"
For a handful of moments, no one moved or spoke. They were sizing each other up, looking for who would provide the greatest challenge. Many of them threw questioning glances at the princess standing with among their numbers. Her being there was highly unusual to say the least.
Fire, between her sister and an elf known as Mac, spotted the princess. She moved toward the center of the circle, ignoring her sister's protests. Ice knew full well what her younger sister was going to do and knew she had no way to control her. True enough Fire was a loyal warrior but her hot headed nature got in the way nearly all the time.
"I see we are being joined by the little princess," she called, taking her place at the center of the ring, "we should all feel honored, I deem."
Fire bowed a mocking motion really, in Niphredil's general direction.
That done, she continued, "One must wonder if the little princess is just here to watch. Does she have nerve enough to challenge in the sword ring? I highly doubt it."
"Fire," Captain admonished, "You have not the rank to challenge someone from the ruling family. We are here to defend them, not to harm them."
Fire didn't seem to hear Captain or, is she did, she was actively choosing to ignore him. Her honor had been infringed upon twice, or so she perceived. This was the best and only way she could see to reclaim that loss, to heal that hurt.
"I challenge Princess Niphredil," she stated, drawing a sword from her side, "If she does not accept my challenge, she has no honor and I will tell her father that fact."
"My lady," Captain said, "you do not have to do this. Fire is just angry and is speaking without thinking. I will tell your father that."
"Sir, I am here to challenge Fire. I would not want my family's honor disgraced because I wasn't strong enough to take a challenge. Don't worry; I know what I'm doing. I just need to be armed," Niphredil assured Captain, trying to ignore the worried look in the ancient elf's eyes.
Fire was angry, seething with rage. She appeared to be willing to hurt the Niphredil if she could but Niphredil knew she couldn't turn back, turn away from this challenge. It was her test, after all.
"Are you sure, my lady?" Captain asked, his voice concerned.
"Sir, I am sure. I've trained in the other world for these sorts of things," Niphredil replied, "I just require a sword."
For a moment, she lamented the fact her own weapon brought with her from the Muggle World was stowed away in her room. Nothing she could do about it now. She was just going to have to use what they supplied her with and do her best with that.
"Bass, give Princess Niphredil your sword," Captain ordered the male elf a few paces over, "I know you favor a lighter blade."
Blade passed over, Niphredil found herself standing face to face, nose to nose with Fire.
The weapon felt odd in her hands, not as comfortable as the ones she had used back in the Muggle World. It was light enough for her to swing without being thrown off balance but the odd curve in the blade puzzled her, slightly. It seemed to cut the air improperly because of the curve. She felt her hands slip along the grip as she took a few experimental swings with the blade. She was going to have to compensate for that somehow. It would do her no good to have the weapon slip out of her grasp in the course of events.
"Now that you have had all the pomp and splendor you feel you are due, are you prepared, little girl?" Fire asked, staring down Niphredil.
As strange as the blade felt in her hands, Niphredil had to admit there was something very comfortable about having a weapon in her hands. It seemed like a lifetime ago that she and Sid had sparred with swords and fists and feet in their presentation for Doc. It was a feeling she missed, one of the few things about the other world she missed.
This though was helping her greatly. In a world where everything was new and strange, this was a familiar constant. Something well within her comfort zone.
"I'm more prepared then you know," Niphredil responded, her voice calm and even, "Let's dance you and I."
Falling back on her marital arts training, Niphredil briefly saluted Fire with her blade. It was a respectful motion, one Niphredil was pretty sure she didn't have to give to Fire. It was inbred in her, part of her training. Before each spar, they'd have to bow to each other. Show each other a sign of respect, trust, and honor.
Even if Fire was a nasty, mean elven warrior-female, she was still owed some respect.
Fire, feeling as if she owed Niphredil nothing, assumed her stance, preparing to strike first if need be.
It was Niphredil, trying to get, keep, and use the element of surprise, who struck first. She was in her zone, Tae Kwan Do training coming to the fore of her mind.
She was moving to invisible beat, music only she could hear. She moved, twisting and turning like some sort of odd whirlwind. The fact the weapon in her hands wasn't hers didn't seem to matter. It moved like an extension of her arm. It's motions seemed almost human, not all cold metal and things of that nature. There was a natural fluidity to everything.
The fact Fire was a better trained, older elf faded from her mind. She was just another opponent in a competition. Someone she was competing with to win a trophy and a bit more respect from her peers.
It seemed her actions, the alien nature of her fighting style, caught Fire off guard. The elf's strategy was thrown, but only for a brief time.
Fire responded, going on the offensive. Trained by both elven and human hands, she sent the young half elven maiden reeling away from her. A satisfied smile crept over her face as she tried to prove her point.
Surviving the War of the Ring was no small feat. It had taken every ounce of training she had. It was all that training and experience Fire was using against Niphredil.
It was the crafty veteran, versus the young upstart. In this case, the two were locked in a battle over honor instead of prestige.
Knowing that she could no longer ride the wave of surprise she had come in on, Niphredil had to think on her feet. She was improvising now, darting here and there, trying to get under Fire's guard and take her off her feet.
She wasn't out to hurt the elven ranger. No, no, no. That was no her aim. She was only aiming to prove a point and to prevent her from brining any shame to her family's name.
Fire was too smart, though, to experience, to crafty to fall for any of her tricks. She'd seen them before in one form or another. Everything Niphredil was bringing to Fire seemed to be repelled like alike ends of a magnet repelled each other.
The loud ring of swords, caught in the fevered pitch of battle, rang through the air, catching the attention of those working in and around the training area.
Time and space forgotten, Niphredil felt she was moving in slow motion. She could almost see the ripples the pair of blades were making in the air, hear them cutting through the atmosphere as clear as a bell.
Her motions, too, seemed to be slowed. She was moving quickly, she knew that because she was still standing, but she couldn't feel that speed.
It was very much like trying to do forms in a swimming pool. The water provided a great deal of resistance, making moving quickly impossible. Everything had to be done slowly and with exacting precision.
Back and forth and back again, the pair went. Neither wanted to conceded defeat, give victory to the other.
All pretenses abandoned, Fire was coming at Niphredil with full force. She swung her blade in wide arcs, acting as if she didn't care if she injured the princess. Though, in the heat of battle, Fire was prone to using dirty tricks like hair pulling and eye gouging, she had not done anything like that yet.
That edge, the tiny space between fighting with honor and resorting to dirty tricks was coming close though. She was string to grow angry- angrier- with Niphredil. This was not what she had expected...the princess was putting up a half descent fight. She wasn't going down as easily as expected.
Niphredil, glad for her training, was beginning to wonder if Fire was ever going to tire. It was clear that anything she did, everything she did, was going to be countered by the older elven warrior. Unless, by some twist of fate something happened, Niphredil was beginning to worry that she wasn't going to be able to defeat Fire.
Fire, in Niphredil's very busy at the moment mind, was completely able to back her words up with actions. She was more then just big talk and angry words. There were actions she could take to back those words up.
It did bolster Niphredil's spirits that her more Tae Kwan Do based flurries of action were able to unnerve Fire and send her back on defense. If she were to, somehow, be able to link a few of those flurries together...well, then, she could do something.
They're spar, their obtuse dance, seemed to go on for quite sometime. It could have been days or weeks or, even, months that they wove in and out, trying to break through each other's guards.
The eyes of the gathered crowd all widened slightly when that break finally happened. Niphredil, who had been flitting here and there in a vain attempt to distract Fire, twisted out of the way of one of Fire's rushes and, with a leg sweep that was more martial arts then anything else, brought Fire down to the ground.
"Does that mean I can keep my family's honor?" Niphredil questioned, realizing just how taxing that battle was on her.
Now that the "rush" was ebbing away, she could feel the exhaustion creeping into her limbs and meandering its way through her body. Though it seemed to her that elves couldn't get tired, the human part of her could, would, and did. She was also very thirsty but she couldn't say from which side that originated be it human or elf.
Fire simply glared for a moment, at a plain loss for words. This result was unexpected and unfortunate.
"You can keep your honor, Niphredil," she conceded, "you fought bravely and did well. That does not, however, mean I will be your friend."
"I wasn't looking for friends, Fire," Niphredil retorted, "just respect. Which I hope I earned."