Disclaimer: Not a part of LotR, TTT, or RotK. I do not own any rights to the characters.
I would like to thank each and every person who reads and reviews my story. It means a lot to me when you take time out of your schedule to explore my thoughts. Thank you.
This was a difficult chapter for me; I rewrote it at least twice because I did not like the swordplay. I'm still not too certain if I am happy with this one. I hope you enjoy.
Chapter 4
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The next morning dawned too soon for Melayren. She slowly opened her eyes as laughter came from the courtyard below her window. She rubbed at her sticky lids and attempted to focus on the stone ceiling. It had been a troublesome night, as images of Legolas' haunted eyes preoccupied her rest. She wanted to know more about him and she wanted to see him smile, particularly smile at her.
She turned over onto her side and tried to recall each time she had actually looked into his eyes. It was rare that an elf would carry sorrow of the heart with him throughout his long life.
A soft knock at her door roused her to a sitting position. "Enter," she called out and she saw her mother's lovely face peer around the doorframe.
Saradell came forward holding a folded cloth in her hand, "I brought you a small breakfast. You had better make haste. The archery contest will begin shortly. You have been placed in the second group. There are many warriors, are you certain that you want to do this? You won't find the respect you deserve if you shame each of those eligible for your affection." She placed the food bundle on a short table and opened Melayren's wardrobe. "I think it best if you choose a hunter's attire. It will soften the blow if you look a little more like them."
Melayren sighed, purposefully ignoring her mother's suggestions as to an eligible mate. "Aye, I think that the hunter attire is for the best," she said, her tone a forced acceptance of her mother's words. Saradell left Melayren to finish dressing and Melayren nibbled on some of the fruit that was in the cloth on the table.
She soon found her stomach aflutter with miniature, baby butterflies as she pulled on her doe-skinned tights and blue tunic. She had Arwen's help to braid her hair back, coiling it on top of her head so that it would be out of the way.
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The outside was bustling with activity. Merchants had taken advantage of the tournaments to silicate their merchandise to the royals and peasants alike. Melayren breathed in the fresh smells of the air as she walked down the cobbled street leading toward the first tournament place: the arena for swordplay.
Melayren slowly walked to the registration table and reached for a quill to sign her name to each of the events, save one. She left her name out of the riding competition. That event would be more suited for land-goers. Her life at sea had prevented her from ever taking up horse riding.
It wasn't difficult to overhear the shocked whispers from some of the observers and fellow contestants. Most of the Elves from Rivendell and Lorien knew that Melayren would be competing. Yet, some of the local villagers and soldiers were appalled that a female would dress as a man (human or elf) and wield swords against a stronger gender.
Melayren sighed in satisfaction and turned to stand near the arena with the others that had entered. Among the crowd of spectators stood Gandalf. Melayren knew that at least he supported her. She approached him with a warm smile and Gandalf held a hand out for her.
"I was beginning to wonder if you declined the match. Your mother looks beside herself, you know." Gandalf's face was radiant with amusement.
Melayren nodded her head, "Well, if I triumph in any of these matches perhaps she will welcome me back into her grace." Gandalf's laughter brought renewed confidence in herself and she hugged him in reply. She stole a look around and scanned the crowd for Legolas.
As if Gandalf could read her mind, he touched her arm and pointed his staff in the direction over her left shoulder. Turning, she caught sight of Gimli and Legolas standing in front of a cart aliened with, what looked to Melayren as, sweet breads.
Gimli was holding two large yellow squares in one hand. Legolas was taking in all the activity of the arena while finishing his sweet bread and mug of water. He placed the mug on the cart and turned in time to see Melayren watching him. Gandalf was standing with her but his attention was directed at Aragorn, who had just entered the arena.
Melayren's eyes searched Legolas' for a brief moment and then she averted her stare.
Aragorn raised the horn of attention and waited for all to take notice. He stood on top of an overturned barrel and raised both arms to the sky. "I wish all of you a good morn and I hope that there will be great joy this day. You know that the first event is the Swordplay. We don't want anyone to depart from us today, so we shall all use these wooden swords and well as a wooden dagger." He held up a sturdy wooden sword that was identical, in shape and size, as the standard war sword. The dagger was a good weapon to be held upside down for blocking an opponent's cut action.
"Each sword and dagger will be dipped in tar so that a count of the strikes given to each contestant will determine the winner. If an opponent has not been disarmed," continued Aragorn, "within the set of 3 tars to either the front or back midsection, the one with the most amount of tar on his, or her, body will be disqualified," Aragorn smiled as he sought Melayren's eyes. She was the only female that was entering this event. "Since I will not be participating in these games today, everyone here will have a fair chance to win."
Cheering and laughter rang out from the spectators for Aragorn's joke. Aragorn continued to explain the rules and regulations, but Legolas was not listening. He studied Melayren's every move. She resembled a very young elf warrior with feminine features. He was intrigued and wanted to see how long she lasted in the tournament. Inside, he hoped that she would actually make it at least half way through the event.
A horn sounded once more and the game was underway. There were a total of eighty contestants and they were divided up into groups of ten. Each group was given colored smocks to mark the permitted strike zones. There was to be one contestant from each color in the arena along with a judge for each group. Once all had competed, there would only be two contestants remaining in the arena, and that would be the best of the four groups. One of the two remaining would be champion of swordplay.
Melayren found herself in the white smocked group. Her opposing contestant was dressed in a bright red smock. She surveyed the other groups and saw that they were colored yellow and green; teal and light gray; light blue and beige. She saw Legolas had been placed in the green smock. He stood at the side of the arena talking with Gimli. Melayren approached them and cleared her throat, "Master Gimli, are you not joining in this fun?"
Gimli sized Melayren and said, "They would not permit my axe. My hand holds only an axe, and a wooden axe would not be suitable. I wanted to give my friend, Legolas, a chance to win something," he winked and continued, "I do wish you luck as well elf maiden."
Melayren laughed and thanked him. She then turned to Legolas and offered a friendly smile, "I wish you well, your Highness."
Legolas smiled, almost shyly, and said, "Call me Legolas. Stay safe and watch out for the sword hilts. Men are ruthless."
Gimli stood and watched the two, looking from one to the other. He saw a spark of something in the she-elf's eyes that made him smile. She was one not to be taken lightly and Gimli could see that she was going to be just as ruthless.
Melayren took no offense and gave a quick nod. She turned and stood with the rest of her group and waited for her chance to compete.
The first groups were inside the arena and with a sharp blow of the horn; the opponents began to exhibit their skills. Melayren half-heartedly watched the movements of the all that were participating. She waited in anticipation as time went on and she was the next to step into the arena.
Taking a deep breath, she moved to the center of the combat zone. She was to compete against one of the King's soldiers. He was mid-height and very broad in the shoulders. He entered the arena and smirked at Melayren. He kept his wooden sword down by his side as he slowly circled Melayren.
Melayren kept her eyes fixed on the warrior and slowly turned to keep him in front of her. She heard a couple of his friends call him by the name Keemar. Melayren ignored their snide remarks about it not being a fare fight.
The man presented himself in an invitation stance that intentionally encouraged Melayren to attack. He held up both of his hands; one with the sword and the other with the dagger, "What are you waiting for? Come and get me." His wicked smile was meant to anger Melayren, but she was wise to the trickery.
Melayren showed patience as she stood to guard. Her left foot was forward with a slightly bent knee, her left hand held her dagger shoulder high, with a bent elbow to protect her upper body. She held her right arm slightly back and twirled her wrist, causing the wooden sword to whistle as it cut through the air.
Melayren forgot about everything around her except the man before her. She could see the puzzlement in his eyes for he believed that she would cower and back down. Instead, she gave an invitation all her own.
Keemar roared and charged her in blind fury. Melayren also advanced forward but at the last moment, she made a sudden change in movement to fool the soldier into responding at the wrong time. She pivoted and came around the opposite side of his sword, enabling her to strike him between his shoulder blades and leaving a large tar mark on his smock.
The first point was Melayren's. She regained her defensive stance and watched the man from Gondor closely. Keemar's anger was apparent as his face turned a dark shade of red. He slowly crossed one leg over the other as he once again advanced upon her. She circled slightly and gave a forward hop off her leading foot, attempting to make the hit against his blade, and then passed her opponent at a run.
Keemar was once again taken by surprise. As she had passed him, her dagger left a tar streak under his left arm.
Keemar lunged, using his sword in a chopping motion. Melayren dropped her dagger; it swung down by her elbow by a strap that bound it to her wrist. She lifted her left hand and grabbed Keemar's wrist. Pivoting, she used her right hip to throw him off balance and shoved him away. Her sword found it's mark and Keemar was ruled out of the game.
Melayren was given a few moments rest and then she faced her next fight. This continued for an hour and a half, and she had only received one tar mark. She was given a clean smock and she turned only to have her heart drop to her feet. She was face to face with her next opponent: Legolas.