Thranduil walked homeward after archery practice, sighing at the thought of reciting old ballads when the day promised to be fine. He stopped, confused by Yuai and Kryn's presence at the side gate leading into the kitchen gardens; his preferred shortcut to the library.

"If we may have a minute," Kryn requested.

When Thranduil nodded, Yuai said, "You are progressing with both bow and sword far more quickly then we expected. Quite frankly, you are also showing considerable talent."

Thranduil tipped his head. "Perhaps you are better teachers then you think."

"Respectfully, my prince, Yuai and I know we have not taught you many of the skills you display," Kryn said.

Thranduil turned to Yuai. "It is Hyrondal. He asked you for an apprenticeship and you turned him down, but he is the reason why I have learned so much. We practice swordsmanship in the afternoons but much of what we do also applies to archery."

Yuai raised his golden eyebrows. "If what you say is true, Hyrondal possesses remarkable ability."

"If you know he is talented, why did you refuse to teach him?" Thranduil asked.

Yuai glanced away. "You know as well as I the rules of apprenticeships."

"How can you hope to find passionate people if it is all based off gold?" Thranduil said in disgust.

"I think it is time you wielded a true sword," Yuai replied. "Be prepared tomorrow to learn what a true warrior is."

Thranduil watched him and Kryn stride away. Realizing he would be late to the library, he hurried on, his heart thumping as he visualized the sun glinting off a sharp steel blade.

Thranduil blurted out the news to Harune at lunch. Sitting in the kitchen gardens over tomatoes and cucumbers and cheese, the summer wind kindly cooled him off.

"Owning a sword is a large responsibility," Harune said. "Are you ready for it?"

Thranduil forked a plump tomato. "I think so. I also think Yuai would have taken on Hyrondal as an apprentice if only the rules were different."

"It is not easy to break rules that go back centuries," Harune replied.

"Do you have a sword, ada?"

"Yes, and I know how to use it, though I doubt I could mimic you and Hyrondal in the field."

Thranduil grinned and swept his blond hair out of his face as the wind blew it. Harune gestured to his plate. "You will be late to the ballroom, Thranduil, if you dawdle over your food much longer."

Thranduil downed the last of his tea and swirled a square of bread in the dressing left on his plate. "I still do not like dancing."

Harune stood. "Maybe not, but the least you can do is learn it well."

After washing the dishes, Thranduil chewed on a sprig of mint as he walked to his bedchamber to change. On his bed he found a slender package.

Thranduil slid into his white silk tunic and tied the laces. He wrested his hair into a firm braid and, glancing at the clock above the bedroom door, sat down beside the package. Slim and narrow, he peeled back the paper to reveal a wooden box. He slid back the lid and stared at the leather-wrapped hilt he saw. Fine silver lines threaded through the almost-red leather and he could see the sword's pommel though not the blade.

Flat and round, two crossed horns were embossed into the pommel. Thranduil touched the cold metal and knew Oropher had held this weapon. It was not because of the numbers on the clock that he suddenly fled.

Thranduil said nothing of the blade to Hyrondal but come dinner, he could not stay silent. He bowed his head to Oropher at the table. "I thank you for your most kind gift, my king."

"That sword has graced this family for generations," Oropher replied. "As I learned to use it, I expect you to learn to use it equally as well."

"Of course, my king," Thranduil almost whispered, though the memory of the cold pommel made him shiver.

The sword went with him to the fields the next morning, strapped to his hip and, though it fit perfectly, Thranduil was aware of its strange presence with each step he took. The sun did not glint off the blade with the joy he envisioned when he unsheathed the weapon in front of Yuai.

"You hold a fine weapon," Yuai said. "Feel how perfect the balance is."

The sword moved with his arm when Thranduil swung it but it refused to be part of his arm and Thranduil felt its gross fit with him as the first true clash of steel sounded between his and Yuai's swords.

At the end of the lesson, Yuai remarked, "Either you need more time to adjust to the weight of a true blade or you are not as passionate as you were yesterday."

Thranduil sheathed his sword. "Is it possible for a sword to hate you?"

Yuai laughed. "Come now, Thranduil, do not be foolish! Now go, Kryn is waiting."

So Thranduil went. For a week he tried and practiced until Yuai proclaimed him worse then the week before and concluded, "Perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps you are not ready to wield a blade."

Knowing Hyrondal had noticed his agitation over the past few days, Thranduil brought his sword to the glen for practice. He rudely shook the naked blade but Hyrondal's face reflected in the steel and Hyrondal whispered, "It is beautiful."

"Yes, but I struggle to use it," Thranduil answered. "It is like the sword despises me."

Hyrondal's wrist trembled as he held out his hand. "May I try using it?"

Thranduil thrust the blade at him. "Please do. Where is Jailil?"

"He and Ailunai came to cheer you on, but Jailil wanted to harvest herbs and Ailunai knew of a choice patch," Hyrondal answered. Then he fell silent and Thranduil watched him swing the blade until the last sliver of sunshine in the glen glinted off the steel. He heard the sword cut the wind in Hyrondal's hand.

"I do not feel a problem with this sword," Hyrondal said at last. "It is a beautiful blade."

Thranduil twisted his fingers behind his back. "Ada says it takes time to learn something new."

"It does," Hyrondal agreed. "Come on, let us practice! We have almost made it to the last page in A Warrior's Way."

Thranduil hesitated. He had told Harune but he could not tell Hyrondal that touching the sword made him feel and think of Oropher and the bloody pasty wars this sword has spilled blood in for the wrong causes that had built Mirkwood into the present.

"You use the sword today," Thranduil said. "I think it will help if I use the wooden one for now."

He was not surprised when Hyrondal made no objection.

The heat wave has snapped where I live and we finally got some welcome rain and crashing lightening. While you are thinking about rain, think also about Thranduil, sensitive to past deeds.

Thanks so much for reading; you know I love hearing from you!

Next Chapter: There is an accident . . . almost . . .