The Road to Middle-Earth

A fanfiction by MushrooomsPTook

Disclaimer: I own nothing. You might as well say it owns me!

Chapter Twenty-Two: Training

I woke up feeling the cold of steel against my throat. I tried to turn over, push the dream out of my mind but the point pressed against my skin lightly. I opened my eyes and saw the silhouette of a man looming over me, a sword in his hands. I startled and slunk into the pillows with a gasp. Who was this man and how did he get here?

"The hour is late," he said. I knew the voice.

"Robin! What are you doing?"

"Proving a point. A true warrior is always on alert, no matter if asleep or awake. If I were your enemy, I could have slit your throat without your knowing."

I swallowed. "Well, thank you for not doing that."

He sheathed the sword and extended his hand towards me. "Come. Let us begin your training."

I looked around me in disappointment. It was still dark out and I was sure it wasn't past five in the morning. He was insane if he expected me to get up and start learning before dawn. "Now? But I'm still tired. I can't possibly learn anything at this hour!"

There was a pause and then, "How badly do you want to rescue your cousin?"

I glared. How dare he pull that trick on me! But I knew, deep down, that he was right, and I was prepared to do anything to see her safely. I took his hand and he pulled me up to my feet. He said nothing, but helped me climb down the ladder and saw that I was safely on the ground. He led me out of camp and deep into the forest. It was a good ten minute walk before we reached a second clearing. There was some kind of training area already in place. A dummy with a target on its chest was set between two trees and there was another larger target in the opposite direction. Several weapons were set to the side, including a bow and arrow, a sword, and a staff. Robin picked up the bow and walked towards me.

1"The bow and arrow," he said, "is the quickest way to take out your opponent from great distances. The arrowhead is made out of stone to ensure a deadly attack. The fletching," he continued while running his thumb over the feathers, "provides high velocity, stability, guidance, and accuracy. If used correctly, one man can hold his ground against ten others." He handed me the bow and arrow. "Let's see what you've got."

I felt rather nervous when I lifted the bow and nocked the arrow into place, aiming at the target on the dummy. I could see Robin watching me from the side, a hand resting against his chin in focus. Just the fact that he was there made me want to scream, it was so distracting. I pulled the arrow against the center string shakily and released. The arrow bounced off and landed on the ground not even two feet away. I curled up my lip and sheepishly forced my eyes to look at Robin. He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his forefinger.

"Right," he said softly. He came up behind me and put his hands on my shoulders. "First of all, I can tell you're ridiculously tense. Relax." He pushed down gently on my shoulders and I took a deep breath. "Secondly, your stance needs some correction. Your feet should be shoulder width apart and you want to try and maintain an equal amount of weight on both." He put his hands on my waist to encourage a shift in my position. "Now, the reason your arrow didn't fly far was because you were pinching the nock. Act like you're going to fire another arrow." I obliged and prepared the arrow, aiming at the target. "You must relax your fingers, but not so much that you don't have any grip on the string." He took my hand and adjusted my fingers so that the index was above the arrow and my second and third were below. "When you lift the bow, it should be lifted up as naturally as possible, not like...this." He took my left arm and relaxed it out of the twisted position it was in. He made some more corrections, mostly in my stance, noting how my back was not straight and how I shouldn't feel a sharp pain below my neck as how I did. My arms were getting tired holding the bow and arrow and I wanted more than anything to go back to sleep, but I knew that would be out of the question. Finally, after a few more adjustments, Robin had me fire another arrow. The arrow went farther this time, but it didn't reach the target. He had me relax my arms for a bit, and asked me some questions about how I felt when I shot the arrow. After correcting my mistakes, he had me lift the bow again, pushing down on my shoulders and saying, "relax," as he did so. I fired the arrow and it went past the dummy. This made me more hopeful, for at least I knew how to increase the arrow distance.

"Here, watch," he instructed. He gently moved me out of the firing line and readied his own arrow. I felt like a shrimp when I noted every detail in his perfect stance. His legs were firmly set in place on the ground, the arrow nocked into a steady position, his arms lifted in such a magnificent warrior style that I couldn't help but stare at the muscles that formed underneath his shirt. He started speaking to me about how I shouldn't do this, or I shouldn't do that, and something about my bow arm, and I nodded occasionally, still watching the muscles.

"Got it?" he asked, looking at me, and breaking my trance.

"Oh! Um, yeah."

He released the arrow and it flew with a speed that caught me off guard and hit the target square in the chest. I gulped nervously. It was my first day and I hadn't even hit a thing. He had me resume my original position and made some adjustments before I fired the arrow. This time it hit the tree to the right of the dummy. I looked over at Robin with a grin. He did not return the smile but proceeded to tell me my mistakes, just what I wanted to hear.

About an hour after we began the training, Robin had me take a break and drink some water, and I drank thirstily. I asked him if there would be time for a nap, in which he replied, "there are no times for naps when you're fighting to stay alive." I rolled my eyes. So melodramatic. About fifteen minutes later, he pulled me up to my feet and went to the pile of weapons to pull out a sword. He held it for me to take and I looked at it uneasily before gazing up at him with questioning eyes.

"What's this for?" I asked. "I thought I was only learning archery."

"In this world, a true archer is also skilled in many other areas. You need to be able to handle a sword correctly if we are to pull this off."

I reluctantly took the sword by the hilt and examined it, pulling it out of the sheath and feeling altogether nervous. He unsheathed his own and began telling me all about the details of the sword and how to hold it. I copied him, gripping my own sword in somewhat the same manner he did. He helped to adjust my hands and told me to relax my shoulders. "Put your left foot behind your right," he informed me. "This is a two handed sword. Put your right hand here, and your left hand below. Grip it your last three fingers tightly."

"Like this?" I asked.

"Yes. Now the sword is not just for attacking, but it should also act as your shield. Hold it close to your body like this." He moved his arms around me and clasped his hands over mine to guide the sword into the corrected position. Most of the training for the next half hour was like this, Robin informing how to hold the sword and what to do with the rest of my body. I had no idea that swordfighting required so much muscle work. I was getting tired nearing the end of the half-hour and Robin must have noticed, for he told me we would resume our work after breakfast. I didn't even know it had gotten light out, but the word 'breakfast' ignited a hunger within me that gave me a headache. He showed me the proper way to carry the bow and arrow and how to hold the sword when traveling, and after the weapons had been secured on my person, he took my arm and led me back to the camp.

There was a lot of commotion upon my arrival and I immediately found Charming nibbling on some bread bits that Wolf was feeding him. I ran up to him and seized him in my arms, giving him a fierce hug.

"Good morning, Charming!" I plopped down beside him and Wolf and sprawled out on my back, exhausted from my ordeal.

"What's wrong, Alayna?" Wolf asked.

"I've been training with Robin."

"Oh," Wolf replied with a nod. "I get it. I felt the same way when I learned to hold a sword."

I lifted my head in astonishment. "You can swordfight?"

"Not very well. Just a little. Father won't let me go with them when they steal food to give to the poor. He says it's too dangerous."

"That it is, lad," said a voice coming up from behind him. It was John. "You've got some growing to do still. How are you feeling, Alayna?" he asked me, handing me a plate of food, which I took eagerly.

"Hungry," I admitted. "But also tired."
"Aye, you'll be a bit sore tomorrow I imagine. But you'll get the hang of it. I'll be training you later this afternoon on handling a staff as a weapon."

I sighed. "I just wanted to learn archery, that's all."

"Can't just learn archery, little miss. Not in these times, and should something bad happen at the tournament, well, it's always good to be prepared."

Later that morning, I returned with Robin to the training area and he had me fire some more shots of archery, but of course, not before he corrected my standing position that I had easily fallen into. We trained all morning and never once did I hit the target.

We had another break at lunch time and after that, John accompanied me to train with the staff while Robin took a rest. Over all the weaponry I handled, I preferred this one by far. John was a patient teacher and he took a pride in this style of fighting. We managed to do some easy fighting after a while, although I bruised most of my fingers in the process. It was brutal, there was no doubt about it, but it seemed to be the least violent of all the forms of fighting. "You haven't seen half of it if you think that, miss," John commented.

That evening, I crawled into bed early, exhausted from all the new information my body and mind had to learn. My entire body was sore, so it took quite a while before I drifted off into the land of sleep.

The next morning, I awoke with a start, afraid Robin may have caught me by surprise a second time. But he was not there. I rose from my bed, figuring if I didn't get up now he would be in there shortly to wake me. I headed down the ladder, noticing the silence that echoed throughout the forest. When I reached the ground, I started walking in the direction of the training area, thinking how awesome I would look to arrive there before Robin. But as I passed a large bush, something snaked out from within it, tripping me and making me stumble flat onto my face. I turned around to face whatever had caused me to fall awkwardly. Robin came out from behind the bush, holding a staff in his hand.

"Didn't I say a true warrior should be on alert at all times?" he asked, a smirk plastering his face.

I glared. "But I'm not a warrior yet. It's not fair to do that to me." He pulled me up by the hand and together we walked to our destination, all the while he held a smile on his face. "Oh go on, laugh," I said. "Just you wait. I'll get you back in time."

2He stepped back to allow me to remember how to hold the bow and arrow properly. It was when Robin came forward, reaching out to correct my footing, when I caught myself and adjusted it before he could help. "Good!" he said. After some time of making sure I was relaxed and was positioned correctly, I let loose an arrow. It fell short of the target. "Again," Robin commanded. I released another arrow. Still a miss. "Again." This went on over and over until my arms grew so tired that the next time I released an arrow, it fell at my feet, just like the first time I shot one. Exhausted and discouraged, I plopped down on the soft earth, putting my head in my hands.

"This is hopeless," I sighed. "At this rate I'll never get my cousin back."

Robin crouched down beside me and tilted my chin up to meet his eyes. "There is always hope," he said quietly. "I swear as long as I'm alive you will see your cousin again. This is only one way, Alayna, so don't give up now. Not on Alice, not on me." He held his hand open and with a focused stare, I gripped it, allowing him to pull me to my feet. "Now...again."

I breathed heavily, my cheeks puffing out in determination. I stared at the target, frowning at it as I tried to imagine that it was the Sheriff himself. I pulled back the arrow, judging the distance between it and the enemy, clenched my teeth as a fire awoke within me, and released the arrow. The arrow flew with a speed that I hadn't predicted and hit the target just below the neck. I blinked for a couple moments, wondering if it had been my imagination or if I had truly hit the target.

"Alayna!" cried Robin. "You did it!"

"I...I did, didn't I?" I walked up to the target and pulled out the arrow with some difficulty, looking at it in astonishment, as though it were magic.

"Well done," Robin congratulated me, clapping a hand on my back. "Well done. We can only go up from here."

I trained for the rest of the morning on archery, missing the target most of the time, but I hit it a couple of times in the chest, once in the head, and twice in the arm. My confidence had gone up a great deal from that first hit and I was determined to keep going, despite Robin's attempts to break. It was well into the afternoon when we finally took one, and I was starving. We ate a much needed meal and I eagerly told all of my new friends about my success, to which they clapped and praised me.

The next few days went by so fast, I was worried I wouldn't be ready in time for the competition. Robin spent more time watching me and letting me figure out my mistakes on my own rather than helping me. I admitted to myself deep down that I wish he wouldn't stand so far away. I was starting to like his close presence, but I discarded that thought out of my mind, instead focusing on Alice and Tom. We had continued my sword training as well and I was now able to fight Robin, although he had to take things really slow. It was difficult and many times Robin had the advantage when he disarmed me and I was either backed up into a tree or just fell over my own two feet. Robin had me fight against some of his men as well, so that I wouldn't become accustomed to his style. By the fourth day, I disarmed Wolf, but rather than being upset over it (as I would have been), he congratulated me. I fought against Robin using a staff as a weapon and he seemed to be surprised but pleased over my progress.

On the fifth morning, I got up extra early, suspecting my surroundings for any trickery from Robin. When I found none, I climbed down from the tree house, also roaming my eyes for all the places that he normally hid to ambush me with a surprise attack. When I found no sign of him, I hid behind the same bush he had hidden himself in just days before. I made sure I couldn't be detected, gripping my sword at the ready, and waited. It wasn't long before I spotted him as he came out from one tree house, crossing the bridge, and peeking into my room before entering. I smiled to myself. He had this coming and I would make sure he would know it too. Eventually, he reappeared, glancing over his shoulder every now and then as he made his way down one of the ladders. I heard his footsteps as he neared my location, obviously deciding to head off to the training area to look for me. As I caught sight of the muscular legs that passed by the bush, I let out a battle cry and pounced on him, knocking him over. I quickly got to my feet and held my sword at his throat. His eyes were wide from surprise, but there was a smile playing on his lips.

"Don't you know a true warrior should be at the ready no matter how early it is?" I asked mockingly.

He shrugged. "Apparently I needed the reminder. Won't you be a kind maiden and help a fallen man up?"

He extended his hand upward and I relented, grasping it with my own and started to pull. But he tightened his squeeze and I let out a cry when he yanked me off my feet, forcing me to tumble next to him. He quickly got up and assumed the position of victor as I ducked my head in admitted defeat. "And so do you, evidently," he smirked. "But I commend you for your effort. You're learning well."

"Didn't I say I would?" I asked.

Robin smiled. "Come." He held out his hand and pulled me up. "We still have much to do in the next two days before the tournament."

I swallowed at the thought of the contest only two days away, but Robin noticed and smiled reassuringly, taking my hand and leading me to the training area. These last days, I knew, would be the hardest, as my strength was about to be tested.

Next Chapter – Does Robin's training pay off?

GoldenStarlight – Yes. He will, in fact, be the last major character they encounter before...I mean, if they reach Middle-earth ;) Can't really give away the ending, can I?

MeandLegolasFore – Thank you! You are too kind.

B The Shadow Ninja Samurai – It's kind of hard to dissociate Robin Hood from Nottingham. ;)

seafarer – Thank you!

xXChaoticOrderXx – Awesome, I hope this version will live up to your standards.

Guest – haha, I knew that one word would be enough to give it away.

Calemireth – It's good to see you again, but don't worry. No need to apologize, it'll be here whenever you can get around to reading it. ;)

1Soundtrack Transformers (Steve Jablonsky) - "The All Spark"

2Soundtrack Transformers (Steve Jablonsky) – Arrival to Earth