Disclaimer: All characters except Eomai belong to JRR Tolkien

Chapter 3: The Archer

Aragorn awoke to hear birds singing and water falling. He could not believe that he had only arrived yesterday. It already felt like he had lived here his entire life. He got out of bed and crossed to the small balcony from which he had seen so much last night.

Rivendell was even more lovely in the daylight. The waterfalls and small tributary streams that ran around the river sparkled in the morning sun. The boy stretched and yawned. Tired as he was, he knew his purpose.

He found some clothes draped across the same chair he had sat upon last night. They were elven clothes, with fabric so soft that it felt like a cloud might feel. Aragorn put them on and looked into the looking glass on the wall. He looked like an elf already.

Aragorn heard someone coming up the stairs leading to his corridor. He stood in the center of the room, ready to meet anyone who might enter.

It was a tall brown-haired elf, with a comely face and a gleam in his hazel eyes. Aragorn did not know what to say or do, so he simply nodded his head in greeting. The elf smiled and said:

"I am Eomai, son of Elrond. I am here to help you with your training. My friend, Haldir, will be learning as well. Haldir of Lorien, this is Aragorn."

A blond haired elf boy who looked about his age stepped forward and surveyed Aragorn with great distaste. Aragorn nodded to him as well, but Haldir merely sneered. "Well? Where are you from?" Haldir asked in a rude voice.

Aragorn found it hard to meet his haughty gaze as he said:
"I...don't know."

Eomai obviously noticed the discomfort that Aragorn was feeling, because he hurriedly spoke "Outside now with both of you! As you are both beginners, I-."

The elf boy called Haldir interrupted angrily,
"I am no beginner like this one! I am ready to be a guard of LothLorien. You mistake yourself in making me learn all over again with this-"

But now it was Eomai's turn to interrupt. He spoke calmly to the infuriated Haldir.
"There is no doubt that you have great skill in many methods of defense..."

At these words, Haldir stood up a little taller and looked at Aragorn triumphantly.

Eomai continued. "However, you lack many things that a warrior of Lorien cannot be without...kindness, humility, and, indeed, courage...Therefore you are to learn anew the ways of the Elendil. Now, if you two will follow me to the courtyard, we will begin your first lesson."

Haldir glared at Aragorn as though it was his fault. Aragorn simply looked at him. He sensed that Haldir was embarrassed, and would stop at nothing to prove Eomai wrong.

Down in the courtyard, Eomai had set up a small target along with a bow and quiver. Aragorn at once felt nervous. What if he made a fool of himself in front of Haldir? The proud elf would be quick to laugh at his mistakes. Aragorn suddenly felt himself tremble.

Eomai handed him a bow along with a quiver of arrows. Aragorn had never before in his life used one of these silent and dignified weapons. He had, however, seen the guards of Lorien handle them effortlessly. He had always been a fast learner, and he would try to the best of his abilities to master the weapon of the elves.

He put an arrow to the bowstring pulled back, letting go of the arrow. It sung through the air and stuck into the front of the target. Aragorn looked over at Eomai and Haldir to see them watching him.

Eomai stared at the target for a moment, then quietly turned to look at Aragorn.
"That is the first time you have used a bow and arrow?" he asked

"Yes...why?" Aragorn replied.

Eomai looked at Haldir and they shared a secret glance. Aragorn sensed that they were astonished. He must have done something right.

Eomai turned back to Aragorn.
"You do not realize that you just shot into the 300 pt circle? A circle that is only one away from hitting the center?"

Aragorn looked at the two of them.
"No, I didn't know that."

Eomai gestured towards the quiver and bow.
"Try it again."

Aragorn did as he was told. He took an arrow and placed it across the bowstring and let go. However, the arrow shot into a nearby tree.

Haldir put on a smug smirk as though he had just won.
"I knew it was only beginner' s luck." he said, as he took an arrow and shot it into the exact center of the target.

Aragorn couldn't help himself. He glared at Haldir. Who did this elf think he was? Aragorn turned to Eomai to find a similar glare upon his face. It took him a moment to realize that Eomai was glaring at him, and not Haldir. He sensed that Eomai was ashamed that Aragorn was sinking to Haldir's level, and becoming angry at the slightest thing. He sighed. It was going to be hard to ignore the elf boy's snide comments.

But Aragorn was determined to succeed. He took up his bow and arrow again, hoping to prove that he was not incapable of becoming a warrior of the Elendil.

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