Author Notes: Hello again! I should be revising but here I am writing for you. I would REALLY appreciate reviews, even if you don't like it! Please! gets down on knees and begs. Anyway, meet Chapter 5, my solution to not making my character that annoying perfect and skilful girl.
Chapter 5: Gifts of Protection
Raven was fuming, but all the more determined for it. Stupid sexist pigs, she was so going on this Quest. Raven was so absorbed in her mental rants that she literally collided with Falcon. The boy was about a head shorter than Raven and wore a tunic akin to what Raven wore, only black. As she picked herself up, going red with embarrassment, she was very annoyed to see a huge smirk plastered over the boy's face. "Had a fun Council Rave?"
"Falcon I presume, and for your information no I didn't. I'll also have you know I've known my name little longer than I've known you, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't shorten it."
Falcon's smirk grew, "Who said I was shortening it? It's been my nickname for you since I heard about that incident at your friend's eighteenth."
"How the hell do you know about that?" She had now gone even redder.
"You're my big sis. I made a point of looking over you so I would have lots of dirt when we finally met."
Raven gave in, "Alright, let's start over. Hi, I'm Raven, I'm your big sister and once this Quest is over, if I ever get on it that is, I will make your life a living hell."
"Pleased to meet you, I'm Falcon, I'm your little brother and once this big mess of a war is over, I intend to make up for all those years I missed when I could have been annoying you. Come on, I'll show you back to the garden, you are so obviously lost"
It was back to seriousness. Raven sighed, "They won't let me on this journey. I'm beginning to think they're right, I can't even protect myself."
They had made it to the garden and Falcon led her into the room. "Ah, you see that is why I'm here, you think this is a social visit? I've seen you in P.E, you're appalling, and you have no hand-to-eye coordination what so ever."
That pulled Raven out of her worries, "YOU WHAT! You've seen me in P.E? You little sod!"
Falcon took a step back as his sister took on a maniacal, murderous look, "Hey! We agreed you'd make my life a living hell after this mess, not before. Calm down!"
Raven decided to bide her time and instead contented herself with glaring at her newly acquired brother. "Fine, so how are you going to remedy my awful physical skills?"
"Well, to start with we need to make a decent impression on those guys, and you're not going to do that in a dress." Falcon beckoned to Raven and went over to an inbuilt wardrobe, which contained one set of clothes. "Don't worry, I won't look, that would just be wrong on so many levels. In fact, think I'm going to sort out your skill problem. Falcon went over to a door nearby and disappeared.
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"I'm done!" called Raven. She was dressed in travelling clothes a lot like those that Legolas wore. It was a simple tunic, of dark colours to allow her to blend in. In addition to the tunic, she was very pleased to have a mithril shirt hidden underneath. It was almost identical to the one Frodo would receive and it gave Raven comfort knowing that if she was stabbed, she at least had a chance. She tucked the Eye under everything so that it came into contact with her skin and threw on a long dark green cloak around her shoulders, fastening it with a small silver clasp.
Falcon returned and smiled, "Please take two side steps to your left."
Confused, Raven complied. About a split second later, lots of pedestals bearing various objects flashed into being right where she had been standing, "Jesus! Are you trying to kill me before I even get going?"
"Don't whine. I'm glad you got the tunic on right."
"Yeah, it's great, thanks for the chain mail. I just have one complaint." Falcon raised an eyebrow inviting her to continue, "If you think I'm running around Middle Earth barefoot, you've got another thing coming."
"Would I be that cruel? Okay, so don't answer that one. I know for a fact your speed, endurance levels and agility in general leave much to be desired, so ordinary boots would not suit you." Falcon led his sister over to a pair of ankle high boots resting on one of the pedestals, "These boots are specially crafted. They're dragon skin, so you'll find them both durable and comfortable. They are from dragons not like Smaug, the one Bilbo met; they are from dragons of another world entirely. These dragons shed their skins for the people of their world, giving them the gifts of silence, endurance and making them very light and fast on their feet."
"Sweet, and I thought you wanted me to be killed by orcs." Raven slipped on the boots with ease. "What else?"
"Well, you are gonna need weapons." He handed her a small, plain knife, "Even you can't mess up using this one. There's a small inbuilt sheath in your right boot for it. If you're weaponless and cornered, that's what it's for."
Raven slid it in as Falcon moved on. She was pleased to note that although it came out easily with her touch, the boot seemed to grip onto it tightly when she moved. Falcon lifted up a bow and a quiver full of arrows, "It will be impossible for you to miss with these, they will always find their mark, even if you're mile off, with no exceptions. The bow is made of Ravenwood, which is just your size and you will have the strength to pull it. The arrows are fletched with raven feathers, so as long as you wear the Raven's Eye, they will go where you want them to, right down to the millimetre."
"I don't know how to shoot a bow though, even if those arrows of yours are magical."
"Here, I'll show you." First he helped Raven attach a vambrace to each of her arms, which would protect them while firing and from some attacks. He then drew an arrow from the quiver and placed it in its correct position on the bow string. He then handed it to Raven, "Draw it up so that the arrow is around your eye level and pull the string back with the arrow until it reaches your cheek. Good. Now focus completely on the centre of the door knob of the wardrobe and release both the string and arrow in one quick motion.
Raven did as she was instructed. Just before she released the arrow, she felt the Eye grow warm for a second. Her shoulders slumped as the arrow clearly sailed off in the completely wrong direction; Falcon must have been mistaken. Then, about a metre into the flight, the arrow drastically changed direction and, defying the laws of physics, landed slap bang in the middle of the handle. "Whoa."
"Glad you like it sis."
"How, how…?"
"I don't ask, I just agree. Your arrows won't run out, the Watchers will see to that, but you should try to retrieve them where possible." Falcon returned the arrow to the quiver and proceeded in showing Raven how to secure it in an easy to reach position, and how to sling the bow over her shoulder without damaging it.
"Here's your last weapon, a sword. It is named Peyjis, after its first owner. In our tongue, it means 'Tiny Army'; you'll understand why when you first wield it. It has belonged to every one of the Watchers born like you and was last used trying to defeat Sauron on the slopes of Mount Doom. You will be able to use it, trust me."
Raven lifted the sword; it was long and had twice the width of a dagger. The hilt was gold and fitted easily into Raven's palm, while the blade was silver with strange symbols engraved down it, presumably saying Peyjis; it looked extremely sharp as it glinted in the bright white room. Falcon took it back and slid it into its sheath, then attached it to Raven's belt securely. Finally, he led her to the last pedestal. "Right, the last thing you need is a small pack."
"Are you trying to be funny? I can't carry any more!"
"You do love complaining don't you? Here," Falcon produced a small satchel which he gave to Raven. She took the strap over her head, beneath the bow and quiver, and fastened it over one shoulder. In the end, it rested slightly behind her on the opposite side to her sword. "In there you'll find the basics. A clean shirt right at the bottom and a bar of soap – not that you'll get much of a chance to use it, or even change your clothes. Our mother is a great lover of elven culture, so she has packed you some lembas bread for emergencies. Only eat it if you can't get any food elsewhere. There is a tin of salve for cuts and also treatment for your sword and bow, all three are labelled, don't worry, and there are some pieces of cotton either for your sword or to bind wounds. You will also find a brush and some sugar- neither are for you. I would advise you to keep your hair braided back. Oh, and here's a water skin, the water around here's clean, so fill it up at every opportunity." Falcon attached the skin to Raven's belt.
For the first time, Raven was truly sincere, "Thanks Falcon, you've been a great help."
Falcon smiled, "You're very welcome sis. Now a few last points, firstly, seven days have passed and it's about a half an hour before sunrise, so the Fellowship will be leaving today. Secondly, the Watchers have given you a horse, a white mare and she's in the stables with the other horses. She's as strong and brave as a Rohan bred horse and as trustworthy and fleet of foot as a horse trained by elves. In fact, she's the offspring of both Mum and Dad's horses; like I said Mum likes elves. You'll know her name when you see her; you are bound to each other, with tempers to match. Lastly, I wish you all the luck in the world, and try not to die." Without warning, Falcon pulled her into a hug and almost pushed her out of the door.
Before she was turfed out, Raven turned to her brother, "When I get back, will I see all of you again, even Dad?"
"I'll make sure of it, I know you're the one who'll do this and remember, if all else fails, lie out of your teeth and deceive to your full potential, you are an actor after all, albeit a poor excuse for one."
Playfully hitting her brother, Raven hugged him once more, checked that all of her new belongings were secure, and turned out into the garden in search of the stables.
To Be Continued…
