*。☆。
★。＼｜／。★
˚ ₊ ♡ ❰  BALLAD OF BROKEN SWORDS ❱
*✧ ─── ❝ ❪ IT'S ALWAYS A BATTLE ❫ ❞
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˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ ACT ONE ── ad melinora 🏹 ⁺⑅

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CHILDREN OF ARDA DUOLOGY ⋆ ☄.
♯ ❝ I DO NOT BROOD ❞
CHAPTER FOUR ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
˚ ₊ ♡ the third age ─── year 2949
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━━ ˚ ₊ ♡ 🏹
❝ 𝘴𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝙚𝙭𝙝𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 ❞

*✧ ─── "YOU STILL FORGET TO PLANT YOU FEET." GYDA RUMBLES IN ANNOYANCE AS ELGARAIN FALLS TO THE GROUND, WORN LEATHER PANTS AND COTTON TUNIC smeared with dirt. "When will you remember aranel?" She mocks.

Elgarain glares at her from her position on the ground, green eyes narrowing in slits as she coughs.

"Stand back up." Gyda demands in a strong voice, leisurely twirling her practise sword between nimble fingers.

The princess groans, pushing herself back up, chest heaving and hair a wild mess. The younger elf holds her dull sword with both hands, still slightly shaking under its weight.

A small irritated battle cry escapes her chapped lips, as she storms towards Gyda, but the brunette easily sidesteps the princess, sticking out her leg and tripping Elgarain. The elf stumbles again, falling forward, and Gyda reaches out to grasp the back of her tunic and hauls her back on her feet.

"Don't fight with anger." She nudges her back to her place, "keep your balance."

"Come on aranel!" Galion suddenly exclaims from where he is seated above on the ledge of his balcony and Gyda watches Elgarain furiously blush under his expectant gaze. "Knock her on her arse!"

Taking Elgarain's distraction, Gyda jabs the hilt of her sword against Elgarain's shoulder. The princess hisses in pain, left hand coming up to rub the sore spot. "Don't get distracted during battle."

"It's practise!" Elgarain exclaims exasperated.

Galion tuts from the balcony, "It is never not a battle with our dear Gyda, aranel."

"Come on, get back in position." Gyda encourages, wiping the back of her wrist across her sweaty forehead. "We're not done yet."

Gyda can hear Elgarain complaining under her breath, cheeks reddening as Galion's laughter rings out before raising her sword again, and finally placing her feet in a good position. Even after all these years of training, the princess still seems barely able enough.

"Now, focus." Gyda instructs as she rises her own sword in her right hand.

She watches Elgarain take in a steady breath, a moment's pause before Gyda moves forward precipitously, arms rising to strike with force. A flicker of fear appears in Elgarain's eyes as she braces herself for the attack. At the last second, Elgarain lifts her sword up, dull steel meeting dull steel with a loud bang.

They move in a blur, as Gyda relentlessly attacks Elgarain, who steps, ducks and sometime lifts her sword to defy her attack. She is breathing heavy by the time Elgarain's back slams against one of the tall pillars in the courtyard. The princess bounces back forward in surprise and Gyda rises her sword to Elgarain's neck. "You're dead again." Gyda breaths out, her own chest heaving.

Elgarain pushes Gyda away, with more force than the brunette expects but her feet remain firmly planted on the ground. Balanced.

"It's not a real battle!" The princess thunders, throwing her own sword on the ground. "I have had enough for today." She states and Gyda nods with a smirk. "You held out longer than normal." She shrugs, "progress I guess."

Turning on her heel, Gyda, throws the practise sword on the stone ledge of the fountain, where two canteens of water are waiting for them. Grasping the cold canteen, she turns back to a defeated looking Elgarain staring at her sword with an expression the brunette can't decipher. "Here."

The princess looks back up again, hesitantly looking up to Gyda's offering.

"Don't worry it isn't poisoned!" Galion suddenly calls out again, "I watched her fill it myself."

"And that should make me feel better?" Elgarain shouts back.

"I'm not in the business for regicide." Gyda jests, quite surprised by her own laid back words.

Elgarain turns to look at Gyda. "Maybe the sword is the problem."

Gyda frowns at her. "What do you mean?"

The princess takes a breath. "I want to try a spear. I used to watch my father train with his, maybe I could try it as well."

A solemn smile manages to finds it way on her face. "It is the weapon of our ancestors." She nods and Elgarain lightens up at her words, "but you must finish the training with the sword first. The spear acquires more balance, more patience and precision. You haven't mastered those. They are easiest mastered with a sword."

For a moment she seems to think, before finally nodding. "Alright," she walks over to where she threw her sword on the ground. "Then let's go again."

A cheer comes from Galion on the side lines. "This should be good!"

Gyda smirks, eyes momentarily flicker to a smug Galion sitting crossed legged on the balcony. "As you wish aranel."

She whisks her sword from the ledge she placed it at, twirling it around in her hand before she circles the princess. Her face morphs back to its serious expression. "Watch you feet." Gyda notes again and Elgarain moves into a more steadfast position.

Elgarain watches Gyda closely, a more focused look on her face than before, as if a sudden fire had been lit inside of her. Slowly they circle around each other, measuring the other, before Elgarain makes a sudden move to attack Gyda on her right. But the elf blocks her move easily.

Instead of drawing back however, Elgarain immediately goes in for another attack, her fighting style more aggressive than before. But again the blow is blocked by Gyda.

But Elgarain refuses to rest and keeps coming, blow after blow and only when Gyda blocks the fifth does she realize what the Aranel is trying to do. Force someone to defend themselves until they make a mistake and an opening presents itself.

Gyda tries to twirl out of range but it seemed Elgarain anticipated this, moving quickly after her. She aims for her back but Gyda manages to catch the blow by moving the sword over her shoulder. She then lets herself fall to the ground, throwing out her leg and kicking Elgarain to the ground. The Princess goes down, but this time she manages to hit her sword against Gyda's thigh before she's down completely.

"That won't kill me, Aranel," Gyda breathes, standing over the princess with her sword aimed her throat.

"No," Elgarain says, but still a smile plays on her lips. "But it would definitely wound you and I'll count that as a win."

"It won't help you to count those when your enemy decides to go for the kill instead." She scolds.

"Alright," Elgarain says and moves her leg faster than Gyda can see it coming, bringing her down to the ground. "You also taught me to never be distracted."

Galion's laugh echoes over the training grounds.

A grunts leaves her lips as her back makes contact with the stone floor. "I never am." Gyda grins and the brunette elf watches as Elgarain's eyes settle on a second small dagger in her left hand. The tip just barely poking through the princess's tunic in her side.

Retracting her dagger, and ignoring Elgarain's surprised face, she pushes herself back up to her feet, before holding her hand out for Elgarain to take. "Now stand back up."

Elgarain grasps her hand, hauling herself to her feet.

"I didn't expect this to be so entertaining." Galion calls out once more.

Gyda suppresses a groan, tilting her head to glare up at her friend. "Do you want to try your own luck down here?"

"I rather keep all my fighting long-distance if you don't mind." The honey haired elf states, twirling one of his arrows in his hand.  "Less of a hassle."

Elgarain mumbles, flashing a smile at Gyda while taking a sip of her water. "I'm going to take a rest from all your teaching." With one last look at Gyda, Elgarain disappears from the training grounds.

"Still got the stamina of a tiny elfling." Gyda mutters.

"She's getting better though." Galion offers, as he maneuverers himself down the balcony to join her by the fountain. "She couldn't even hold the sword up the first few months of training. And when she managed that, you knocked it out of her hand so hard, she ran away from every attack for two weeks straight."

"I did tell her I wouldn't take it easy on her. I don't care if she is the aranel. If she wants to learn, she shall learn it the way we all have."

"She surprised you today though." He nudges her shoulder with his, a large grin overtaking his face. "It looked glorious."

"She did better than normal." Gyda admits.

"I know you actually like the aranel Gyd." He jests. "The world won't end if you try to get to know her."

Gyda shrugs, "It doesn't matter. I'm doing my duty just fine."

"True, but befriending Elgarain might make it a lot more enjoyable. You brood to much Gyda."

The brunette scoffs, pushing her hand against Galion's smiling face, making the elf almost tip over in the fountain. "I do not brood."

"What do you call angrily staring out into the abyss?"

"Contemplating how to murder you."

"Ouch, Gyda." Galion mutters, "That hurts my feelings."

"I didn't know you had any of those."

"Alright." Galion jumps back to his feet, "that's enough of that. Let's get going to the courtyard. Elladan and Elrohir should be back from patrolling the borders with Cirdan and Daros."

*。☆。
★。＼｜／。★
𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝘰𝘳
𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝙪𝙨

─ mahmoud darwin

ᵒ .༄ ࿐ ࿔* 🏹🌋🪨
⋆⋅ ━━━━ ‧ ༻✩༺ ‧ ━━━━ ⋅⋆

third age ━━ year 2949

LIKE GALION SUSPECTED, THE TWINS, CIRDAN AND DAROS HAD RETURNED FROM PATROLLING THE EASTERN BORDER, roaring with laughter and comradery as they sat in the dining hall, having a well-deserved meal. It was nearing the evening, and the cooks in the kitchen had been nice enough to bring a plate to Gyda and Galion too when they sat down with their friends.

"I heard you were training again with the aranel today." Elladan inquires, after taking a big gulp from his cup. "she knock you down yet?" Elrohir adds.

"As a matter of fact, she actually did." Galion tells them before Gyda gets the chance. "I was witness to it all. It was the most magnificent moment of my life."

"It was once." Gyda grumbles, stabbing her fork into her food, "besides I still had my dagger pressed to her side. It's not like she won."

"I bet the aranel took it as a victory." Cirdan pipes up as Daros nods along.

"To be fair, it should be seen as a victory." Elladan shrugs, looking at his twin brother, "how long did it take you to get a hit in against the Captain?"

"You did you best mellon." Gyda smiles at the broad shouldered elf. "Galion doesn't even dare try."

"it's not that I don't dare try." Galion begins, "it's just that I know a lost battle when I see one."

"You stick to your little arrows, mellon." Elrohir roars with laughter, clapping the honey haired elf on the back with more force than the Noldorian elf expected as he coughs.

"Can you two even use a bow?" Galion mutters in defeat, when even Gyda doesn't jump in to defend him.

"Of course we can. But I like the hilt of a sword in my hand better. Makes battle more exciting." Elladan shrugs, taking another bite of the supple meat on his plate.

"Barbaric." Galion shakes his head, holding back the laughter that threatens to escape, "The whole lot of you."

"Oh come on Galion." Gyda smirks, "a wise elf once told me not to brood so much."

Galion's eyes narrowed, "Well stop using this handsome wise elf's own words against him."

"Your ego is larger than a dwarves need for jewels."

"Don't insult my ego like that Gyda."

"I see you are all enjoying yourselves this evening." Gyda tenses for a moment as Lord Elrond's voice sounds from behind the group. "I especially appreciate the fact my own sons decide to see the cook before their own father."

"Adar." The twins chorus together, sheepish smiles on their chiseled faces. "We thought you would be incredibly busy today. We didn't want to impose on your time." Elladan adds.

"How considered of you. " Elrond monotonously answers before his gaze sets on Gyda. "May I have a word captain?"

Gyda swallows the bite of food she had taken, nodding as she does. "Of course lord Elrond." She stands up from the bench before glancing at the elves under her command. "Please for the valar's sake, behave yourselves."

Following after lord Elrond, his dark maroon robe fluttering behind him as they walk towards his study. After the years spend in Imladris, navigating the hallways, corridors and hidden pathways have become second nature to Gyda. She could walk them blind and still end up where she needs to be.

She wonders if she remembers the halls of her own home as good as she knows Imladris. It makes her heart ache at the thought. The idea of forgetting her homeland. But she tries not to dwell on the memories of home too much lately. Instead she focuses on her duties in Rivendell. On patrolling borders, shadowing Elgarain's steps when she tries to avoid her own duties by painting instead.

"There has been word on a gathering group of Orcs near the east border." Elrond states as soon as they enter his study. "I have already discussed it with the captain of my own guard. He thought it would be wise to consult you on this too."

Gyda doesn't know what to say at first. Surprised by the fact she would get included in the strategic talks. At home it would be expected of her as the Captain of the guard. It would her duty to form a plan and execute it. But here? Here she was just another foot-soldier trying to make herself useful while Elgarain had her lessons.

"He wanted my opinion?" She queries unsurely, suddenly a bit shy.

"Callon, expressed to me that you have shown great improvement with the strategies for those under your command." Elrond replies, "He thought it might help you. Learning while practicing."

Pride swells in her chest at the words. "Thank you." She breaths out.

"Aranel Elgarain should not be the only one returning wiser to Lindon dear Gyda."

She nods, before going to stand next to Elrond, peering down at the map displayed on the oak desk. Her eyes travel across the paper, taking in the marked down places. "I didn't realize there had been so many sighting of Sauron's old followers."

"We have tried to keep it quiet. I did not feel like courting fear through my home."  He points one slender finger at the map, close to the river Bruinen. "but sadly, they are coming closer to our border than I'd like."

Her eyes flicker around the map, trying to see something that might explain it but her head comes up empty. "there is no logic." She mutters. "the way they have traveled, it is complete disorganized."

"Orcs have never been known to be very pragmatic Gyda."

"I know. But still." She tilts her head. "It's almost frantic. And I know we have been chasing them around since Sauron fell. It just looks wrong. I can't explain it. It's like they're chasing something that just disappears and pops up at random."

Elrond doesn't say anything in reply, and Gyda takes that as her que to silence her words and change the subject "are we sending out a party? To stop them from getting closer to the valley?" 

"That was Callon's suggestion. What do you think?"

"I think it's best. We have no idea what they're trying to accomplish. It might be better to stop them before they achieve whatever they have set out to do." She explains, clasping her hands behind her back. "but we should keep it small. We can travel faster that way. Give them less of a chance to get away before we reach them."

"Can you manage that Gyda?"

"You want me to go?"

"Well it is your idea is it not." Elrond quips.

"True, but--."

"Then it's settled. Tomorrow you will set out for you journey east."

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ELVISH TRANSLATIONS
aranel— princess
mellon.— friend