An hour later an elegant maiden had come to draw a bath for her and Ellawyn had requested some training clothing to be delivered to her room. Exiting the bathing chamber, she examined the finely made tunic and leggings laid out on her bed. The tunic was a deep blue, close to black. The seams were stitched in thin, silver thread that contrasted beautifully with the soft fabric. Intricate, yet simple designs of leaves and abstract lines were embroidered across the chest in the same silvery floss. She ran her hand across it in awe at the beautiful garment, her simple black tunic from home seemed awfully plain in comparison. She allowed her mind to abandon the task of dressing herself, muscle memory continuing the task for her. Gandlaf had said that Lord Elrond would know of her identity, that she should ask him rather than the wizard. That had puzzled her at first, but she chalked it up to her family having at one time resided in the lands of Imladris, meaning that Lord Elrond would have likely known them. That led to an idea that darkened her hopeful mood. Elrohir had claimed to be nearly three thousand years old, had he not? She removed that thought forcefully from her head as she finished dressing and began braiding her hair into a single plait down her back. No, she would choose not to believe that her new friend, her first friend really, had knowingly deceived her.
As she finished preparing for the day, she debated going right away to find the Lord Elrond. Eventually deciding against it as she knew that the White Counsel would be meeting today, and that the Lord had Gandalf's company to entertain as his guests. It could wait until the evening or following morning she shrugged. Eyes catching her weapons, she chose to heed Gandalf's advice regarding her fighting and seek training. She was extremely proficient with a bow, and her speed and stealth were surely unmatched. She had spent her years mainly scouting and reporting back to Beorn and Radagast, occasionally engaging as support from a distance with her good marksmanship. Although she knew that her hand-to-hand and sword combat was severely lacking. She could manage most of the time with orcs, as they were sluggish and stupid, but they greatly outweighed and outmuscled her. She was too easily overwhelmed. With the darkening of their world she figured some elven training would probably do her some good.
She had made it halfway across the large mansion before realizing that she had no destination. There was no possible way she would be able to remember the maze of corridors Elrohir had dragged her down only the day before to his brother's chambers. Looking left and right she caught the eye of a tall blond elf, standing tall and regally at the opposite end of the hallway, seemingly reading a report of some kind. Clasping her hands behind her back she walked towards him with purpose, lifting her chin ever so slightly as he watched her with a bemused expression.
"Pardon me My Lord, I was wondering if you could point me to where I may find Lords Elladan and Elrohir." He searched her face curiously as if surprised by what he saw. Without looking away from her, he called to an elf nearby who swiftly came to a halt beside them.
"Lindir, please show the Lady to the twins chambers." His voice was steady and smooth, the dark haired elf nodding in agreement to his request. The blond elf broke her gaze before returning his eyes to the papers he had previously been reading in dismissal.
"Thank you." She quietly said to the peculiar elf before following the second through the corridors of the house. It took less time than she anticipated for the elf, Lindir, to stop by a pair of carved wooden doors she immediately recognized. He gestured to the doors,
"the left belongs to Elladan, the right to Elrohir, My Lady." With a quick bow of his head he was once again marching down the same corridor they had come down. She turned to the matching doors once more, suddenly feeling intrusive as she debated walking away after a few moments passed. Before she could change her mind, she decided quickly to knock softly on the right one that Lindir had said belonged to Elrohir.
Elladan and Elrohir sat across from each other in front of Elrohir's fireplace, both twins hunched over a chess board between them.
"Do you give up little brother?" Elladan teased, leaning back against the plush blue cushions of his chair. His cheeky grin only widening at the glare his brother sent him. Just as Elrohir lifted his rook to make a move, his hand paused mid-air. A soft knock echoed through the sitting room and both identical faces turned toward the sound.
"I'll get it," said Elladan as he rose to his feet. Swinging the door open, he found himself looking down at a blushing Ellawyn. Masking his surprise he placed a warm smile on his face.
"Good morning." Returning his smile Ellawyn nodded, "good morning, Elrohir." He frowned at her misidentification before remembering that he had indeed answered his brother's door. Yet before Elladan could correct her a voice called from behind him. "You wound me Elly!" She leaned into the doorway peering around the eldest twin, noticing the second ellon in the room. Catching her eye, Elrohir continued from his seat with a hand to his chest in mock pain. "I am not nearly as ugly as Elladan here." He gestured to his brother, the latter rolling his eyes in his direction.
"We are twins Elrohir, you are equally as ugly as I." Ellawyn laughed at the exchange between the brothers before meeting Elladan's eyes once more.
"Good morning Elladan, my apologies." Patting her shoulder he gestured for her to enter, closing the door behind her and returning to his seat. She stood awkwardly a few feet from their chess table as the identical pairs of eyes watched her patiently. Elladan noticed her lift her chin slightly as if gathering herself before speaking.
"It was suggested to me that I should seek your assistance during my visit to Imladris." The twins looked at each other before returning their focus to her curiously, prompting her with their eyes to speak.
"Gandalf seems to think that my skill with the sword is lacking… Well, skill. He recommended that I ask the two of you if you would be willing to help me improve." Elrohir nodded his head as she finished her sentence, excited at the thought of spending time with her and Elladan, as well as evaluating her fighting. Since discovering she was their sister, neither brother was overly fond of the idea that she would return to the wild alone upon her departure. He had discussed the few moments that he witnessed of Ellawyn's brief fight with the orc last night with Elladan. SHe was speedy and smart, but her arms were far too skinny to hold up against the brute strength of the beasts.
"When would you like to start?" He asked, earning a beaming smile from her.
"Thank you!" Before she could answer his question about starting Elladan cut her off, gesturing to her sword at her hip.
"Looks like right now."
The twins had led Ellawyn to the practice fields to a secluded spot by a small fountain, Elrohir disappearing shortly after their arrival. Elladan found him studying the girl who was fidgeting with the leather belt at her hips. She had not spent much time with this twin. Her long brown waves were loosely braided behind her back, a few shorter hairs had already escaped and framed her pale, slim face. She wore an Imladris-made deep blue tunic with silver embroidery paired with charcoal grey leggings, he chuckled inwardly at her seeming distaste for elleth clothes. Dirty old brown boots were on her feet, and a belt of similar color held her sword at her hip. He wondered what had made her take to fighting, and he dearly hoped that it was not out of necessity.
Shaking himself from his thoughts he strode up to her, waiting for her to meet his eyes. When blue met grey, he nodded, "show me your ready stance." Obeying quickly, Ellawyn staggered her left foot slightly behind her right, bending her knees and widening her stance past the width of her shoulders. She lifted her arms to her right side as if wielding an invisible sword. His eyes traveled slowly, analyzing every aspect of her position before humming to himself. "Where did you learn to stand like that?" He asked. She looked surprised at his question, taking a moment to think about an answer. She had learned the basics of wielding a sword from Beorn, but her stance?
"I believe I just imitated what I saw from Beorn and the few Rangers I have met." Elladan nodded his head in understanding as if her explanation had answered a question he had not yet voiced.
"Here," he copied her stance. "With my feet placed slightly wider than my shoulders, my balance is centered and I am able to move quickly in any direction. See?" He demonstrated a few quick movements, pushing hard off the ground. She nodded, listening intently while waiting eagerly for him to continue. Still in her stance, he approached her again, this time placing a hand on her right shoulder. She looked at him in confusion as he gave her a light shove backwards, forcing her to step back a step to regain her balance. Extending one leg, his foot tapped the side of her lower leg, "narrow your stance to shoulder width." She did as he asked, and braced herself again as his hand once again flew to her shoulder, shoving her again. She swayed, but did not need to step back this time. Elladan grinned triumphantly at her when he saw her look of amazement at the difference made by the simple change.
"Very good. Elrohir tells me you are light and quick on your feet in combat, a narrower stance will help you be faster." Standing straight once more Ellawyn looked down to his feet, then returned her eyes to his, "you said that a wider stance was good for you though? Why is it different for me?" He once again nodded, finding himself quite pleased at the eagerness to learn his new student was displaying.
"You are shorter, smaller than I am, certainly more so than Beorn." A light chuckle left his lips at the thought of the lumbering changeling before continuing. "You are also an elleth. Your center of balance is here," he placed his hands on his hips, "while an ellon's is here," his arms crossed in front of his chest to rest on his shoulders. "A lower center of balance means you do not need to compensate as much with a wide, low stance." Ellawayn looked delighted at his explanation, more excited than before to learn from the two knowledgeable Lords.