Morwen Elensar swung Luciendar with surprising force and speed, the blade singing through the air beautifully. An elf before her dodged the blade with ease. "Come now, Morwen! Is this what I have taught you?" he taunted, his hands folded arrogantly behind his back. Morwen leapt forward and swung Luciendar once more, shouting out in victory, only to find that she had missed her target. Her trainer, Glandur Alerothi, stood behind Morwen, shaking his head in disappointment. "I expected more from you." He said in a grave tone. Morwen's sapphire eyes flashed and her feet left the ground, moving towards him in an elegant back flip. Glandur laughed and dodged easily, "impressive!" he called to her, his hand meeting her stomach and sending her to the ground. He pulled a dagger from a sheath in his black leather boot and held it to his student's throat. "You are dead." He growled, allowing her to stand. Bowing her head in defeat, Morwen sheathed her sword. Glandur placed his hand gently on her bare shoulder. "Do not worry. Your skills will improve if they are given time." "Yes, Glandur." Morwen murmured. Glandur smiled at her, but she could see in his eyes the immense disappointment he felt; it hurt her to see that in his eyes. The student and her teacher parted with no words, only a glance.
Upon leaving her teacher, Morwen walked through Lothlórien with a heavy weight on her shoulders. Luciendar padded against her hip almost comfortingly as she walked toward home. A small sigh passed her lips, and she formed them into a smile, her eyes sparkling with a false happiness when she entered the doors of her home. "Mother? I am home." Morwen called softly, her voice floating through the empty house. Her mother stepped from around the corner and smiled at her daughter, and the two embraced warmly. "How was Glandur today?" "He said that I could use improvement, but I could see in his eyes that he was disappointed... am I a bad student, mother?" Morwen's mother looked at her with shock, her eyes widening considerably. "Why... no! He did not say that you were, did he?" Morwen shook her head. "No. I just... hate it when he is disappointed with my skill." "Dear, you are skilled with a blade. These things will work themselves out, hmm?" Morwen nodded slowly in understanding. Her mother knew many things, so, it would not hurt to listen. "You have much time to improve, dear. Do not despair." "Thank you, mother..." her daughter whispered, resting her head on her mother's shoulder. With a smile, she whispered softly. "Thank you mother." "Well, that is what mothers are for, dear." Morwen's mother said calmly, her eyes sparkling. Morwen smiled softly and drew herself from the embrace. "I think... that I will go and train. I will be home soon, mother." She murmured, turning away and walking out of the door and into the sun. Stepping lightly, Morwen walked a slow pace through the woods, weighing her mother's words in her mind.
"You have much time to improve."
"Do not despair."
A tiny smile crept over the Light Elf's lips, and she set a quicker pace. Suddenly drawing Luciendar from its sheath on her hip, Morwen swung her sword in graceful arks as she moved quickly forward, imagining her teacher standing before her, easily dodging the attacks of her temporarily dulled blade. She swung again, but Glandur continued to evade her. She gritted her teeth and began to concentrate harder. Luciendar began to glow a dim white, a low hum floating through the air, and she managed to land a hit on her teacher's shoulder. Morwen's feet did not carry her any farther, and she smiled happily, sheathing her sword easily. She was pleased with herself.
((It's big because it's the first post.
My other posts will be MUCH shorter...))