Chapter 7

October 19, T.A 2940
Late Afternoon

Anariel was prepared in her armor standing nervously on the practice grounds with her bow clutched in her hand, knuckles turning white in their hard grasp.

'Well, first pointer. Relax.' Legolas called out to his sister as he walked across the field, his voice light and airy.

Anariel turned around, a smile spreading across her lips at his teasing tone, facing him she noticed that Feren was with him.

'Feren!' She called happily, glad to see a familiar face that brought her comfort.

'Ai!' Feren greeted, returning the smile.

Anariel cocked an eyebrow, 'What does that mean?'

'Hi,' Legolas greeted as he came to stand by her side, removing his cloak he tossed it to the side.

'Hi,' she returned with a chuckle. 'Are you going to tell me what you said?'

Legolas and Feren laughed lightly.

'It means "hi,"' Feren smiled as he came to stand beside her as well.

Anariel's mouth formed a small 'o' at the realization of the meaning, the three shared a small laugh before Legolas pushed on at that matter at hand.

'I asked Feren to join us, for when learning to shoot one generally falls into two categories; a pusher, or a puller. I was a pusher, Feren a puller. So I asked him to join for any pointers he may have, should you be a puller.' Legolas explained causally, confusing Anariel with the terms he used.

Her lips pursed, 'You're going to have to go through all of that again and tell me what exactly it means.'

Legolas chuckled, 'Have you ever shot a bow before?'

'Uh, no.' Anariel admitted, 'Let's just remember I worked at an inn, I'm fantastic at smiling, convincing the men to tip higher for a few extra coins, and breaking up the fights they started. If it doesn't involve one of those...' Anariel trailed off shrugging her shoulders.

'Alright, well,' Legolas nodded, Feren smiling and laughing still. 'Pullers, like Feren, tend to focus on the draw, using your back muscles for a smooth release and follow-through, without worrying about the bow arm. Pushers do the complete opposite.'

'So, what's right then?' Anariel wondered looking between the two ellyn.

Feren teasingly pointed to himself, grinning at her.

'Neither,' Legolas insisted, shaking his head at his friend. 'I don't mean that we only did one or the other it was just where our focus was. Good archers do both, even if their only thinking about one.'

'Legolas makes a point.' Feren agreed, despite his earlier teasing. 'One isn't any more important than the other, really you have to do both properly to shoot well.'

Anariel took a deep breath, nodding taking in all the information.

Legolas and Feren glanced at each other, coming to stand directly on either side of her they both nocked an arrow shooting expertly, their arrows striking the target's center.

Anariel sighed noting how easy they made it look. Together they nodded for her to shoot.

Anariel sighed nervously.

'Keep your bow arm straight and raise your elbow slightly.' Legolas commented as he watched her prepare the shot, nudging her elbow higher, 'There now, draw and shoot.'

Exhaling Anariel pulled the string taut as she released the arrow, it flew through the air before anticlimactically soaring above the target clattering to the ground behind it.

Legolas as kindly as possible pointed out a few things letting her shot again.

'Oh, fuck off!' She cursed a little louder than intended in her frustration, as she nocked another arrow shooting it quicker and rougher, 'Hmph!' She huffed out as she watched the arrow stick into the board.

True it had only gone a few inches lower, striking the targets stand and not the target itself.

Feren and Legolas glanced at each other trying to suppress a laugh.

'I am obligated to tell you not to use that language.' Legolas corrected his sister his voice still light and kind.

'You going to hit me for it too,' Anariel snapped irritably at her brother's comment.

Legolas went to speak before stopping himself, his face fell in sorrow for his sister.

Anariel picked up on the change, 'I...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken it out on you.'

'No, it's quite alright.' Legolas began as he collected his thoughts. 'You have every right to be angry. Adar isn't...has never really been one to easily show affection, especially after Nana's passing. He's changed a lot over the years, and not for the better.'

Tears shimmered in her eyes as she listened to her brother's words, 'What was he like before?' She asked following Legolas' lead and taking a seat upon the ground.

Feren smiled, nodding his head as he pointed to the side implying that he was going to leave for now, Legolas nodded in understanding.

Legolas smiled at the thought as he remembered back to when he was a young elfling.

Thranduil slipped into the training grounds early for Feren's and Anariel's lessons but he had decided to come down earlier to see how her archery with Legolas was going. He paused as he saw the two of them sitting on the ground instead of training, he was about to head over and tell them to get back to work when he caught Legolas' words.

'Ada, he was always so full of kindness, and generosity. Endlessly, understanding. Rightfully, he'd earn the title of the Greatest Elven King. When I was younger, I used to think, hope I would grow up and just be half the elf he was. If I could, I'd be someone I could proud of, an elf who cared and was always there. Now, I don't want to be any of him, never had he even raised a hand to me and I can't even begin to imagine the pain and sorrow he feels to have found himself do such...I am sorry. He was always there, there was never anything more important than Nana and me and you as he spent his time devoted to searching for you as well. Honestly, I was surprised to hear he promised to teach you Sindarin and kept to it, he's been distant lately. He is trying, though, that I have noticed. There's this small part of me that still holds hope for the elf he once was, that still he's there somewhere. Perhaps, you coming home will be for the better.' Legolas admitted, speaking open-heartedly to his sister as he twirled an arrow between his fingers.

Anariel nodded her head, 'I may not know him, at all really but it felt like he was trying in our lessons and before. I don't think he's being unreasonable in some sense, now. Perhaps, I could try a little more too. It was, is still, so much to get used to. So much changed so quickly, not but a few weeks past before Feren had come to bring me back a dear friend of mine had passed. I wasn't prepared, it was too much at once. Feren had said, when we spoke in the kitchen's last night that the king had built a few walls around himself, knows pain like few others do as he pushes those away as not to let them too close, he had suggested I to be the same. Told of how he found his wife and since never stopped looking for me, I thought over everything he said. Feren is right I do block people out sometimes, but living around the race of men, always growing close to them even as children just to see them grow and leave this world so often sick and in pain is and was exhausting yet I could never pick up the courage to leave them behind no matter how often I thought of doing so. I saw the look in his eyes, all the pain they beheld a look I know so well for I've seen it on my own, I've seen it in yours.'

'Then perhaps, Feren coming for you was a bit of a blessing in disguise, maybe this will be good for all of us,' Legolas suggested holding back a sad smile.

'Perhaps,' Anariel shrugged lightly. 'You know, I always wondered when I was younger what it would be like to have a family, not to always be this lone wander. Now that I have you and...' Anariel paused unsure suddenly, 'It feels almost wrong in a sense.'

'Well, I can't say that I understand your pain. I cannot even fathom what it must have been like to care for so many only to lose them so quickly. I can only promise you that I am here for you, should you need anyone and I believe I would not be overstepping by saying Feren is too. One day I hope you come to feel that this is right,' Legolas offered kindly.

Anariel nodded, glancing behind her where Feren was still in the training grounds preparing for their own lessons. She smiled lightly at him as their eyes met briefly.

'Thank you.' She spoke out loud to both Feren and Legolas, Feren caught the words and bowed his head in return.

Thranduil stood still listening, completely hidden. He could feel his own heart breaking for both of his children. Legolas was right, confused and broken inside as was Anariel. Thranduil swallowed roughly as he watched his two children confiding in one another, Legolas' word cut him deeply as did his daughter's, how perceptive she was, how much pain they've both known...know. Thranduil ran a hand over his face, he needed to find the strength and the courage somewhere to be that ellon for his children once more.

Following Anariel's gaze, he saw Feren, the smile that he sent her way. Thranduil nodded to himself and took his leave of the training grounds. He trusted him, and Anariel was comfortable with him, as she began to find a way to be with Legolas. Thranduil would hold hope that she would be that way with him too, but he knew that would take some work on his part.

'Changing to something on a more positive note,' Legolas began leaping up once more, 'You're a pusher, like me. We have a minute before Feren will be done, did you want to shoot again?'

'Without the cursing?' Anariel teased, trying to make light of the situation.

Legolas let out a light chuckle, 'Yes, preferably.'

Nodding, Anariel stood. 'Any other pointers then?'

'Always,' Legolas teased his sister his voice returned to his kind, light tone, 'First thing first, aside from simply relax, don't grip the bow and adjust your feet slightly...I could go on but we'll start there.'

'Well, thank you.' Anariel rolled her eyes, 'How does not gripping the bow make sense, and what do my feet have to do with anything?'

'I mean, you don't need to keep your fingers around the bow, especially at a full draw the action itself and the pressure created keeps it in your hand. If you do grip your bow, the pressure of your fingers can and will deflect your shot by even a fraction and it won't be going where you think it is; the second you let go of the string your bow will start to turn and point in the direction the pressure of your hand dictates. Which should always be the target, but I can assure you, personally, it won't be if you pushing on your bow.'

'Okay, honestly. Not sure, if I should be impressed or stare at you dumbfounded.' Anariel shrugged feeling lost. 'And my feet...' she asked with slight hesitation wondering if she really wanted that answer or not.

Legolas quirked an eyebrow at his sister, 'Simple, your feet are the foundation of your entire shot. They should be positioned about hip width from each other placing slightly more weight on your front foot. Toes of each foot should be aligned with one another in a neutral position. Stand too open or closed to the target you will have to twist your torso to get your pin on the target. Upon release, your body will recover to your static position causing you to pull shots right and left. With the toes, even you are in a neutral position and your body will remain quiet upon execution of the shot.'

'That both makes sense and yet ridiculous.' Anariel laughed lining her feet up.

'Good, now prepare to shot again and remember to try to focus some on the draw.' Legolas reminded her lightly as he nocked his own bow, shooting he struck the target.

Anariel nodded, suppressing another sigh. 'You must make everyone look like a fool.'

'Why?' Legolas demanded to know, 'I would never set out to do such.'

'Hmm, stand beside one and shoot and you've already done that.' Anariel breathed out as she raised her own nocking an arrow she began to draw back not noticing Legolas wave Feren to come back.

'Your elbow's too high now,' Feren noted as he came back, Legolas turned back to look at his sister nodding in agreement.

'Nice to see you too, Feren.' Anariel quipped.

Feren smiled, looking to Legolas expecting him to correct her instead Legolas waved a hand, 'You corrected her, you can show her. Besides, this will be her last shot before she moves on to swordplay, we wasted some time talking. I'm taking off.' Legolas smiled as he flipped his bow over his shoulder.

Feren nodded coming to stand behind Anariel, he placed a gentle hand upon her elbow guiding it down. 'Remember, relax your grip.' Feren breathed from behind as

Anariel adjust her fingers slightly. He smiled gently bring his left arm forward nudging her fingers up he left his own upon hers keeping the bow held properly by them both.

Legolas gathered his cloak from the ground as he was about to say good-bye to his sister and take his leave when he notices the way Feren stood so close his hand lingering, he stood watching with raised eyebrows.

'Slowly, draw the string back,' Feren reached around entwining his finger with hers pulling back, 'The fletching should just brush the corner of your lips, like a lingering breath upon your lips, felt before the kiss.'

Anariel's heart felt like it was going to burst from her chest as she heard his words, felt his own breath linger so near her ear, her grip loosened upon her bow as she swallowed roughly.

'And when the moment is right...just let it all go,' he whispered, as he pulled his fingers away, Anariel following his movements.

The arrow struck the center of the target though Anariel didn't celebrate she stood looking straight ahead her heart pounding in her chest, Feren's hands still lingering on hers.

Legolas shook his head lightly as he slipped away deciding to forgo the good-bye to spare both Anariel and Feren the inevitable embarrassment of being seen together so closely. Legolas suppressed a light chuckle as he moved away.