Chapter 11

Feran had been a bit surprised with his arrival to Dale. The city, though quite a ways from being fully restored, seemed to be faring better than he had imagined. However, nothing surpassed the surprise he received when the Lord of Dale informed him that he and his men would assist in training the men of Dale for a period of three months.

" Three months! It is ridiculous to even conceive learning to fight in such a short time" An elf had spoken as they settled down in their lodgings. They had all imagined handling a different task altogether, Feran on his part blamed Thranduil for this situation as he had not given any information they could work with.

" Aye, Three months is but a moment in passing however, we cannot disregard our king's orders" Feran said. His dark brown hair swept behind him, styled with braids to show his status. He looked over his warriors with a look that told them to behave accordingly. He spotted one who had not spoken since their arrival with his gaze currently looking out the window, his eyes roving about as though in search of something.

" It would appear the rumors are true, there is a white rose in Dale after all" Haelros turned to his captain who had moved to stand beside him. " Though the part about her aiding in the slaying in the dragon is doubtful still" Fernas looked at his most skilled warrior in the group, his brown eyes observing him as he spoke.

" Maybe, but one thing is certain, she is as skilled as they say she is, perhaps it is wise not to underestimate her Feran" Haelros said, moving from the window to arrange his weapons in the corner.

Feran looked to the back of Haelros who was inspecting his weapons at the bed sight. He was concerned for him to a degree. He and a number of their kin had returned from the battle with injuries, some deeper than others. Haelros on the other hand, would not say much of what had happened. Feran would not press him any more on the matter than he had to, he would see for himself what this talk of a fierce warrior from Dale was about.

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Bard had assembled both the guards of Dale along with a number of men to inform them of the presence of Woodland elven warriors and the purpose of their arrival in Dale. Volunteers who offered to be trained under the tutelage of the elves signed their names down at the desk where Percy oversaw their registration.

"Eighty men…to ten elves" Bard murmured as he looked over the paper with both Leanna and Feran present in the study. He looked up to them and while he ignored it, he could feel the thick tension in the air. From who it was emanating from he could not tell.

"Eight men to an instructor, that doesn't seem so bad…But I would ask that you be patient with the men, master Feran" He addressed Feran who remained silent as Bard continued to speak. "…while they are eager to learn how to wield a sword skillfully, most of them have known any cause to hold one for a good part of their lives"

"I shall see to it that my kin act accordingly Lord Bard" Feran said stiffly, to which Bard nodded then turned to Leanna who had been watching the elf in the room. Bard sighed and braced himself.

"Lady Leanna you will also join the men in training" At this, Leanna turned her head sharply towards Bard in shock.

"My Lord?" Her tone sounded strained as she reigned in her annoyance at his words. There was no need for training from the elves on her part and they both knew it.

"It would be a good exercise to learn more about our guests no? That and a little more training wouldn't hurt" Bard said as he picked up a scroll from his desk to scribble on.

"But my Lord! You can't seriously think-" Leanna protested to which Bard cut in swiftly.

"-You shall begin training starting tomorrow morning. That would be all Lady Leanna" Bard looked at squarely and spoke in a tone of finality. Leanna knew then there would be no disputing this. She swallowed thickly and bowed before the leaving the study room.

Leanna walked briskly to her chambers, angry with the turn of events and how they were certainly not in her favor. She knew he had been upset over the deal she struck with Thranduil but did he really have to go this far with his punishment? Either way, he was Lord of Dale now and try as she wanted to, she could not say no but there was also another matter she had to deal with.

With the news of her magic abilities spreading far and wide, she had to be cautious especially around the new visitors in Dale. She would only use her magic on the occasion it was dearly needed.

The next morning Leanna rose before sunrise and wore her training attire. She went down to the training grounds to find the men and elves already gathered and preparing to begin.

"Good day Master Feran" She nodded to the elven captain who nodded to her in return.

"Lady Leanna" Feran responded before his began dispersing them equally to their various instructors. Leanna waited but it seemed she would not be given an instructor to work with. Feran ensured all the men belonged to a training unit before turning to face the woman who had been silently watching him since her arrival.

"You will train with me" to this, Leanna arched her eyebrow and nodded.

"Very well"

They began with basic training, Feran giving the overall instructions to ensure order within the units including his own. Giving the nature of their trainees, they conducted extensive endurance training every morning before moving on with the real training. Leanna had readily complied with the instructions giving, admiring the grace and mastery of swordsmanship by the elves.

However, that did not mean the elves in question shared the same views.

" They are a hopeless bunch, at this rate one cannot imagine they would be any better in three months' time" One of the elves instructing a unit spoke up while they took a break.

" It does not matter whether they are good or not, Nirdan, the sooner we finish this foolishness the sooner we can return home" Another elf commented, his face twisted in disdain while watching the pitiful lot they were forced to train.

" The woman seems to be faring better than the others" Nirdan commented to which Haelros' attention perked up, he too had been watching her under Feran. He almost felt sorry for her. Feran was not kind to those he trained, he would know since he had been his student as well.

" Aye, she's not bad with a sword but how long do you think she will last under Feran?"

" Who knows, a month?"

" You think too highly of the mortal if you believe she'd last one whole month before Feran breaks her"

" She is fair for a mortal, though this city doesn't really have beauties to begin with" The elves laughed as they mocked their trainees who were clumsily clutching and swinging their weapons.

Leanna had been swinging her sword up and down as part of Feran's instruction. She could hear them and though she did not understand elven tongue, she had an idea from the laughter and jeers, what they were saying. She gripped the handle tightly and swung down hard continuously, what did she expected from creatures that were said to be immortal and fair? She shook herself from those thoughts and tried to concentrate, she would not let them get to her and she would not let them win.

The first month had passed quicker than she expected but Leanna was more determined to prove her point, practicing beyond the scheduled hours for training. However, the mockery and slander grew much more evident as they continued to train and it was clear that they were not taking them seriously enough.

Her fury burned through her blue eyes and it made Feran arch his brow in amusement. What did she think she could do in this situation? He wondered. They were mortal after all, there was never much to expect from them in the first place. He stood over her form and watched her indifferent to the snickers and jeers of his comrades, he would not hold fault over them not when he was equally bitter about the arrangement they were in.

Feran summoned the other warriors and ordered them to gather everyone round. Today he would give a lesson to explain to the lady and the people of Dale why all this was a futile mission.

"Today's lesson will involve sparring matches, you will spar against each other with each of your instructors watching by the sidelines" He said and nodded to his elves as they began pairing them and thus the exercise began.

Leanna's silent and cold gaze remained on the ground, she had promised to cooperate and yet she had watched the discouraged men trying their best to train under ridicule. She looked off and ignored the captain who had been overseeing the exercise that is until said captain approached her.

"You are not sparring" Feran said in a clipped tone and Leanna turned to him smiling, though it did not reach her eyes.

"You did not pair me with a partner" Leanna's cold voice caught the attention of some of the elves and men nearby, curious at the exchange happening between the lady and captain. Feran smirked and unsheathed his sword.

"Very well, I will be your opponent for the day" Feran said and positioned himself in a stance.

Leanna blinked at the stance, exhaling out and in one fluid motion, she moved. Feran held his sword in one hand and parried against her oncoming attack, dodging and twirling around her as she failed to make a connection. Feran kicked her feet from the ground and moved to pin her with his sword but Leanna kicked her feet up quickly. Jumping back on her feet she parried her sword against his and moved on the offensive.

" She's quick on her feet but she's still no match for Feran" Nirdan said, as they all gathered to watch the fight. Haelros however, thought differently as he watched the woman's movements. The woman he saw before him was not a frail and clumsy warrior.

Leanna felt her blood boil with anger as she began striking at him for every angle that presented the slightest opening, the anger serving as a strength she leaned into. Feran held his sword up in defense, blocking at every strike she made. She struck heavily at him and Feran felt himself pushed back. He looked into her eyes and the clear controlled fury he saw there made him reconsider his seriousness about this match.

Leanna would not give him a chance to recover as she stuck at him only to be met with a quick parry, Feran equally looking for an opening to best her. Feran struck back at her and they clashed swords. Feran found it unreal that a mortal and a seemingly woman at that, would stand toe to toe with him in a fight. Leanna did not care he was the captain or their instructor, today she would show him and his kin that though they were Thranduil's warriors and guests in Dale, she would not let them get away with what they had done.

With a slash, she cried out as they pushed away from each other. Feran clutched his sword in a tight grip, they had been at it for some time and yet the woman not tired out, it was irritating that he had not yet knocked her to the ground. He grounded his teeth in wounded pride and without warning moved to strike at her.

"He will hurt her if this continues on!" Bain shouted to the elves nearby, his eyes shining with plea to end the match. One of the elves spoke up and responded to his cry.

"Issuing a challenge to our captain will not be taken lightly and for that she will not be spared" Nirdan looked on as he responded coldly.

"But that's not her fault! He chose to spar with her!" Bain yelled out to the elves in anger, he had endured the ridicule and mockery they had dished at them ever since the training started but this was taking things too far.

"Then she should not have requested our King have us train you" Nirdan said as he looked his nose down on Bain who stared back in disbelief. They wanted this to happen, they wanted to punish Leanna because she made them come here.

Leanna had heard the commotion from the sidelines and kept her cool. She had guessed this was their plan, what better way to humiliate her than to degrade her skill as a warrior and a woman.

Leanna smirked at her opponent for the first time since they had begun training, they were skilled beyond measure and the only reason she suspected was even able to keep up with the strength of the elf, was the magic in her blood. However, the only person to ever beat her skill in the sword, was the one who had trained her to begin with…Cor Alvaron's only Sword Master.

' And I'm not about to lose today' Leanna thought as she pooled her strength into her feet and arms. If he did not leave an opening, she would create one. She flew at him and clashed her sword heavily against his, hitting with brute force as she pressed on the offensive. Feran felt himself pushed back and pressed back, he brought his knee up to her stomach and in a flash Leanna twirled to his side, her sword instantly at his neck.

There was absolute silence in the field. The men were in disbelief at the sight, their lady had won. The elves were stunned more so for no one expected the outcome to be this. Leanna kept her blade at Feran's neck, her chest breathing heaving hard from the fight. It was by the skin of her teeth, but she had won this match. She withdrew her sword and sheathed it.

"The men of Dale are a gentle folk, fishermen, hunters and simple people. Yet in one night their world was burned down" the anger which she had struggled to squash down, shook her voice as she spoke loudly "…they are men with no experience who were forced to face a dragon and braved war all at once, all to survive and struggle still to do so, yet! You in your vain pride and legendary strength stand before these men who have done what your kind could never do and you mock them! You laugh as though you are better!" Leanna walked to the elves that stood on the sidelines, her voice raised for all in the training field to hear and witness.

"How dare you, any of you?!" Leanna raged as she faced Feran who remained silent at her impassioned speech. She walked to him, facing him dead in the eye.

"I had imagined your discourtesy, counted on it even. But if you will not take us seriously then return back to the Woodland realm and inform your king that if this is the best he can offer in payment of his debt, then it is worthless to me" And with that, Leanna left the field to her chambers, no one dared to approach her for the rest of the day for fear of her wrath.

Word had spread throughout the city of what transpired at the training field that afternoon and Bard summoned Leanna to his study. He cringed at the sight of her bruised cheek, he didn't need to ask what happened. He could tell she had been in a serious tussle, Leanna sighed as she felt Bard look her over.

"You look terrible" Bard stated as a matter of fact once he decided to break the silence. To this Leanna smirked.

"You should have seen the other guy" Leanna said walking towards Bard. "You were right…" she said as she sat down on the chair by the wall.

"What was I right about?" Bard asked. Leanna saw that he would not make this easy for her, not that it bothered her. She had never been the one to beat around the bush.

"I shouldn't have made the deal with King Thranduil…if I knew things would turn out this way, it would've been better to try and do this on our own" Leanna said. She was still raw from the anger she felt from earlier.

"Well if it's any consolation, I heard you won your match against a warrior of The Woodland Realm, which should count for something" Bard nodded his head towards her as he lifted his mug of ale to his lips. Leanna stood up with the intention to leave. She still had wounds to tend to.

"It doesn't matter, by tomorrow the elves will be gone and all of this would be over" Leanna said, bowing and then exiting the room. She closed the door with a thud on her way out.

"I wouldn't be so sure of that my dear Leya" Bard said, slurping his mug. He did not tell her what had transpired after she left the training grounds. The elves had come to him to offer their apology for their uncharitable actions and while he appreciated the gesture, it was not him they owed their apology to.

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Leanna groaned lowly as she rubbed the crushed herbs unto her injuries. In the midst of the match, she had received several injuries over her body. Her body was sore all over as well. She sighed and stared at the night sky, the stars were creeping out from above the clouds. She was caught up in her thoughts and did not hear the figure approaching.

"Good evening to you my lady" Leanna startled jumped to her feet and turned to the voice behind her. The fear seeped from her eyes as she recognized the figure before her, it was one of the elves.

"Good evening to you as well" Leanna could not care for pleasantries, but she could at least return his greeting. She eyed him wearily and stiffened as he came closer. The elf held a small cup in his palms in a gesture of peace.

"Athelas, for your wounds my lady…" the elf said, extending the cup to her. Leanna eyed it before looking at him, to which he smiled, understanding her suspicion.

"We elves are far too honorable to result such petty tactics my lady, I assure you this is just a healing salve"

"And why would you offer me this Sir…?" Leanna arched her brow in curiosity at his gesture.

"Haerlos, you may call me Haerlos, my lady" Haerlos bowed his head as he formally introduced himself for the first time. Looking at him clearly, Leanna realized this elf to be the one she saw last time when Thranduil had come to Dale.

"Very well Haerlos, I am Leanna…you already knew that didn't you?"