Chapter 23 Balance is Key

A/N: I blame this on my other passion, gymnastics. 

No one ever heard what became of Reneal after he was shown to the borders. Most assumed that he took the advice of Celeborn and disappeared in the south.

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Rumil and Orophin met Estel in the glade a few days later. "Mae Govannen, Estel. As you may notice Haldir is still away on the patrols, they ended up having to go further from the borders than was intended. So Orophin and I will take over your training until he returns. We have given it much thought and we will begin the sword part of your training first."

They led him over to a smoothed out log. "The most important part of fighting with a sword is balance and control of your feet. Once you get this control, the next part is to keep your feet moving at all times, in doing this, you give yourself the upper hand by making your opponent guess your next move."

Rumil then told Estel to stand on the log. "Now walk from one end to the other, but do not look at your feet, if you fall, you start over again." Estel managed to get halfway the first time before he lost his balance. "You continue to start over until you can make it all the way," Orophin said.

Though they were trying to be tough on him, the two Elves were already impressed with the young human's abilities. After several more falls, he finally made it all the way across the log without falling off. "Before you get down, turn around and come back this way." Estel looked down at the elf like he was crazy. "Just trust me. It will be okay."

On his first attempt, Estel tried to turn his feet too fast and immediately fell off of the log. Even when he slowed down, he still fell. Rumil could tell that he was getting frustrated so he gave him a little bit of help. "Try shifting your upper body weight the direction you want to turn BEFORE you move your feet. This will help you keep your balance better. And also remember to keep your eyes straight ahead." Estel was starting to see the logic in that approach, so he tried it and accomplished it on the first try. Rumil and Orophin applauded him.

"Now walk back to this end, turn around, and walk back again." Estel fell off again a few times in-between before he finally managed to finish the task. The Elves helped him down from the log and sat down beside him in the grass.

"You continue to amaze us, nenth min. You almost have Elven reflexes. Granted, we do not come in contact with very many humans, you have surpassed any hidden expectations we may have had and we congratulate you." Estel blushed a shade of crimson before Orophin interrupted his brother.

"Okay, that's enough of that, we don't want his head to get too big now, do we brother?" Orophin asked Rumil with a slight twinkle in his eye. "Nay, I fear that would make him unbearable to be around. But seriously, Estel, balance is an important ingredient to life as well as swordplay. Your head and your heart must balance each other out when you make decisions and if you are to ever get involved in a fight with man, elf or beast."