Sorry for the long wait... but I hope I made it up with this long[ish] chapter!

The video above is truly amazing...

"Get up!" Braiglach yelled, her dark, almost black, brown hair bounced slightly. I groaned on the grass covered ground. Let me tell you, being thrown onto the ground hurts.

"Get up!" she repeated, advancing.

I took in shallow breaths, clutching at my side, "I can't," I grunted.

"Yes. You can," she stated, walking ever closer, "If you can't get up now, how are you going to make it out there, huh? You can't. So. Get. Up." She takes the last step so she is towering over me.

I sighed and with a grunt sat up. I clutched at my rib and glared at Braiglach, "I think I broke a rib."

%#Flash Back to three days ago#%

I sensed a figure sit next to me on the log.  I looked the opposite direction, towards the overlook that had a fantastic view of the forest, the tree tops the color of gold.

"Amin merna quen" (I wish to speak) I sighed and looked to Galadriel. Her white dress billowed in the wind around her feet.

"You may... You don't have to ask, you are the Lady of the Forest," I looked to her and forced a smile, but then dropped my gaze back to the jewel in my hand.

"I try to be polite," I heard the smile in her voice.

"What did you have to say?" I ask, running my finger over the smooth surface of the stone.

"That stone in your hand is very special. It was given to Legolas by his mother, and her mother before her. It has been passed down from generation to generation."

I looked up at her in surprise, "then why has he given it to me?"

She looked at me, "I will leave that up to Legolas" I huffed as I saw the twinkle in her eyes. I don't know why he gave this to me... But maybe at the back of my mind I do know.

"I am having one of my best warriors train you. She will pick you up at your talan in one hour. I have had someone drop off some proper training garments at your talan." 

I furrowed my eyebrows, "Why are you doing this? Helping me, that is."

Galadriel smiled and put a reassuring hand on my arm, "I am helping you because you are my daughter and because I believe you can make a difference in Middle-Earth. I know that you think that you are not going to make it, out there in the world. And I know that you want to learn how to help in this oncoming war of this age," her smile disappeared and her expression turned serious, "Just know that you fight not for harming, but for the people behind you who need protection. You do it so the common people are safe."

I looked thoughtfully up at her, "thank you." I bow my head in respect.

#% %#

I sat on the table in the Infirmary, "Judging by how your breathing is not too labored, I assure you that your rib is indeed not broken. Perhaps only bruised," I breathed out in relief and a little in disappointment at the healers words. I slightly wish I did have a broken rib so that I wouldn't have to practice with Braiglach. The past three days has labored my body very much; ever since the first practice my body has ached. 

"Have my ears deceived me, or was that a sigh of disappointment?" Braiglach laughed, her loose curls bouncing on her back and torso. Despite her grueling coaching, she is actually a friendly person. I believe that I can become her friend, if given enough time.

"Well... uh--yes, but--" I'm lost for words, mostly out of shyness. After three days, I'm still not fully comfortable around her, still shy. I know she means no harm, she really is lovely, but I'm just not able to bond with strangers well. 

Braiglach laughed again at my disgruntled face, "No worries, for the next two days, including today, we will try and work on that power of ours," she smiled brightly and went to exit but stopped and looked over her shoulder, "meet me on the training fields in an hour, that'll give you time to rest and ready yourself."

After the Infirmary I quickly went to my talan, just a raised platform in the trees with a house that blended in with the trees. I didn't even bother cleaning up before I collapsed on the bed, muscles burning, and I fell asleep before I even hit the bed.

It seemed like I had only closed my eyes for a second before a feverish knock sounded on the door.

Before I could respond, Braiglach opened the door and stood over me, "What are you doing?! You're twenty minutes late!"

I groaned and and rubbed my eyes, feeling dried saliva on my cheek. Suddenly Braiglach smiled, "you look ridiculous," she rolled her eyes, "come on, get up. And wipe the saliva off your face."

Although sleepy, I retorted back, "I think I've had enough with you telling me to get up."

For the first time, we smiled together.  

My body burned as I sat up on the edge of the silky soft bed. I ran my hand over the sheets, admiring the work. In Mirkwood, my family didn't have silk sheets, but I've had my fair share of looking at it--mother had used it to make garments for the higher-up elves.

"Would you like to change into fresher garments?" she asks. I look down at my 'new' garments. I had on a tunic, the color of dark leaves during the summer, it fit tight around my torso and was laced up on the sides with thick brown laces, it had no sleeves and the collar folds outwards around my neck. The tunic went down like a V to a bit under the middle of my thigh. It did the same on my front and back, leaving the sides of my thighs open. Under neath the tunic I had a long-sleeve white shirt that fit loosely. On my forearms I had leather vambraces that criss-crossed. On my legs I had brown trousers and on my feet I had boots made of thick leather. 

Already, my trousers looked worn on the knees from me falling so much, same goes for my elbows. I had some blood on my tunic from when Braiglach managed to nick my cheek with her sword. Other than that, I just have dirt covering me and I few leaves in my hair from the morning run through the trees.

"No, I'm just going to get dirty again aren't I?" I look up at Braiglach.

She smiles, "That depends on how well you do." I roll my eyes and head to the training fields with Braiglach following.

Once we get to the training fields I find that, as per usual, some elves are already there. Everyday while training I saw the elves looking curiously over at us between the strokes of their swords, the fly of their arrows, and between sparing.

I stand several feet in front of Braiglach, spread my feet apart, and ask, "okay, how do I do this?" 

I raise my hands and look at them, wandering how I used my 'ability,' or whatever it is, the first time.

"I was going to ask you the same thing."

I look up at her and narrow my eyes, then return them to my hands. "The first time I did it, I was about to push Legolas."

I look up at her and she thinks, "well, go ahead. Push me," she spreads her feet and puts her hands at her side. I take a couple steps towards her, "are you sure?"

"Yes. Get on with it," she grits her teeth in anticipation, not knowing what to expect.

I take another couple steps, right up until I'm in front of her, "If this goes terribly wrong, I'm sorry," with that I close the distance, raise my hands, and--push her. My hands touch her tunic, nothing happens. I take my hands off of her and try again, nothing happens.

I let out a groan of frustration, "It's not working!"

She frowns, "I can see that." I scowl at her. I look around us to see that the surrounding elves have all of their attention on us, more accurately--me. On the edge of the forest nearby, I see a girl with pale blonde hair that reminds me of Legolas' and pale blue eyes. She has her arms folded over her chest, leaning against a tree, watching me. She seemed out of place here, although she is in fact an elf.

I look back at Braiglach, "try again," she commanded. I took a step back, breathing deeply, and raised my hands. I closed my eyes, and pushed forwards with all my might. She did take a step back, by it was by my hands, not from the same force that came out of me all those days ago.

"Ugh! I can't do this!" I heave. I look at Braiglach and at all the other elves around us. They are counting on me, but I can't do anything for them.

I look at the soft grass at my feet, "I'm going for a walk." With that, I stalk into the cover of the trees, trying to ignore the incoherent mumbling coming from behind.

I crash through the underbrush, not even flinching as some twigs snapped at me, slicing at my face and neck. I'm no use to anybody if I can't figure out how to use this power... or what ever it is.

I come to a giant tree in front of me, with thickets all around it, blocking my path. My frustration and anger take over and I begin to punch and kick the tree, using all the techniques Braiglach taught me, my knuckles become bloody.

"You'll never get past that tree punching it," I whip around at the hard, yet soft, voice. The elleth from before is leaning against a nearby tree, her blue eyes calculating. Her pale blonde hair rests on her shoulders and it moves slightly as she walks slowly to me, "close your eyes."

I back away from her, "why?" I ask cautiously. 

"I'm trying to help you control your power. I know you are the one the prophecy speaks about, the air around you is different; it seems lighter, yet thicker, and it seems to gravitate to you. You are it's master, and it will listen to your call." Her eyes bore into mine, she uncrosses her arms, which have intricate vambraces on them.

Her words intrigue me, but I also find fault in them, "I don't think it's the air, more like energy... I—I can feel it at times; crackling and bouncing off of me," I say, surprised that I'm giving this information to a stranger.

Her eyes search the air around me, almost as if she is trying to see what I'm talking about, "hmm..." Her eyes flicker back to mine, "close your eyes."

I surprise myself yet again by following her command. I shut my eyes to the world, "listen to your surroundings. Feel the air around around, feel it caress you. Feel the energy in the drafts of air, feel it pouring out of the organisms around you. It is part of you, and you are part of it."

She hesitates, "do you have anyone special in your life? A lover perhaps?" Her question catches me off guard and I open my eyes, but she commands me to close them again.

"N-no." I say.

"A close friend, maybe?"

"Uh... yes," I suck in a breath, waiting for her next question or command.

"What is her name?" I could here her voice closer to me.

"It's not a her, but a him. His name is... His name is Legolas," my words seem to echo around the trees. I hear the elleth's feet take a step back, "Okay, imagine Legolas. Imagine him in front of you. Imagine the tree in front of you is an orc. And that orc is about to slay our Legolas. That orc comes behind Legolas and slices his throat, his blood spilling everywhere, his blood pooling around your feet. Hear the sound of him choking on his own blood. Feel your anger for the orc coursing through your veins," she stops for me to take in the image at first I'm confused at why she's even saying this, but then I decide to let my mind take control and imagine that I'm really in this scenario.

My body shakes in anger and in... something else. It was like my body was taking in the particles around me... like the air... but it crackled, like energy. I clenched and un-clenched my fists, the feeling of my body being a sponge very uncomfortable, my body wanted to tense, and it did, but it shook when it did and relaxed, against my will, for more particles to enter. 

I moaned in distress and the elleth spoke up, farther away this time, "now, imagine all your anger surging towards the orc, imagine your anger consuming the orc and felling it."

I shakily raised my arms with clenched fists, I could feel power circling through me, wanting to tear me apart, it seemed to circle around in the inside of my fist, the only thing keeping it in me was my clenched fists.

With my arms raised, I pointed my fists at the orc; the tree.  I opened my fists, allowing the energy to flow from me. The energy surged out of my palms, creating a gust of wind with it, blowing my hair into my face. I imagined the energy to be a golden, sparkly color, but when I opened my eyes, I saw nothing. But I could tell it worked.

The tree in front of me cracked loudly, echoing through-out the forest, and it fell backwards, the sound was deafening. The leaves all around were disturbed by the draft of wind the tree caused, and some of the energy that hit the tree bounced off, disturbing the underbrush surrounding us and the trees behind us. The left-over energy that bounced off of the tree pushed us back, I was able to tolerate it better so I only staggered a couple steps backwards, whereas the elleth fell on her bum.

The blast of energy that came out of me tired me immensely.

"Whoa," I moved the hair that had gotten stuck in my lashes as I heard the echoing of the tree. I suddenly smiled widely, completely discarding the image of Legolas dead and my fatigue.

I turned to the elleth, who was slowly getting up off the ground, "I did it! Thank you so much!" I engulfed her in a hug in my excitement, but I quickly pulled back flustered.

"Uh... sorry." I watched as she wiped the dirt off her clothing.

She looked up at me, "you did well." She cracked a smiled.

"Thanks," I said sheepishly.

I then realized something, "Goheno nin (forgive me), I haven't introduced myself. Im Lumornel eston, a len? (I am called Lumornel, and you?)"  

The elleth raised a fist over her heart and bowed, I mirrored her actions.

"I eneth nin Kaylessa, (my name is Kaylessa)" she smiled, "It is nice to meet the Nirrin Min."

I hesitated, "Goheno nin, but what does Nirrin Min mean?"

"It means 'Forceful One.'" I froze in my spot. 

Breathe in. Breathe out.

"Oh. Well... I really must be going, I shouldn't have stormed out of the training fields like that," I started to walk away, out of the forest. I yelled over my shoulder, "Novaer! (farewell!)"

"Tenn' enomentielva (until we meet again)," She calls out.

I walk back to the training fields deep in thought, I have barely known that I am the one that the prophecy talks about and they already have a name for me?! The Forceful One?! 

Wait, isn't that what Ammë—I mean Galadriel—called me? Does everyone know?!

I stomp back onto the training field, immediately feeling eyes on me.

My green eyes swipe across the field, looking for my trainer and almost friend. I find her talking to Haldir. They seem to be in deep discussion but I walk right up to them without waiting at respectful distance.

Braiglach turns to me, "Good, your back. I got worried when I heard a tree fall," her eyebrows furrow and Haldir nods respectfully to me, I do the same.

"I've figured it out," I state.

"Figured what out?" She tilts her head to the side.

"How to use my ability. The tree that you heard fall, I caused it. I met an elleth named Kaylessa, she helped in accessing my ability,"

Braiglach eyes widened and Haldir spoke up, "Ah, I see you have met our guest. She is picking up supplies and had to have a word with our Lady of Light. She'll return to her mother soon."

"Mother?" 

"Yes, her mother. I have never met her mother, nor do I know her name. Lady Kaylessa comes every now and then to have a word with Galadriel."

I nod, excepting this new information.

"Lumornel, I have spoken to Haldir and he has agreed to take you on the early morning patrol tomorrow," Braiglach sounds proud.

"Tomorrow?! Do you think I'm ready for that?" I ask, seriously doubting my fighting skills.

"Of course I think you're ready! Never have I met anyone who hasn't even touched a bow be able to shoot one so accurate as you have. Same goes for sparing, swords, and daggers! I would swear that you've been practicing for years, although you say you haven't used one before your journey here."

I blush and look away at her complement.

"I'm not that good," I say, still looking away. Yes, it's true that I've gotten some bulls eyes and a couple good hits in with a sword and a punch... but still....

"So, you say that you've felled a tree? With your ability?" She asks, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, it was... a bit more than I expected it to be... so I don't want to hurt you," I say tentatively. 

"You are not going to hurt me. I promise you, just put your mind to it," she took a couple steps back and uncrossed her arms, closing her eyes, and gritting her teeth, waiting for my 'punch.'

I breathe out and crack my knuckles, here goes nothing. I close my eyes and imagine the orc that hurts the people I care about, I feel the anger it causes in me. I feel the air around me, pressing in on me on all sides. I feel the crackling and static of the energy around me... I let my emotions pull it in, but only a little of it; not as much as last time. 

I can feel it running down to my clenched fists and before anymore can come to me, I raise my arms and open my fists.

I opened my eyes to see Braiglach flying back in the air several feet. I watch as she lands on her back with an 'oomph.' 

But then my body started to sag with major fatigue. It was like my body's energy had been drained away from that energy blast.

My knees buckled and I couldn't help but close my heavy eye lids as I fell onto the hard ground.

.........

"For Frodo!"

           -Aragorn

OKAY, BEFORE I SAY ANYTHING ELSE, I NEED TO GET THIS OUT.  Okay, so I wasn't planning on publishing this chapter yet, but I just got very good news so I felt like we should all celebrate. I got accepted into an ACTS leadership program. Only two students get picked for it from the county... Or is it from each school? I don't know, but still, there was a huge chance that I wouldn't get pick aND I GOT PICKED. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! But now since the tears and shaking have passed, I'm just SUPER nervous. I have to do public speaking and stuff. Plus I'm pretty sure I have to pick a mission for myself to make a difference in my community. But you know what, I want to make a difference, I don't know how I'm going to do it, but I will do it. Hopefully when this epic journey God sent my way is over, then I will have gained some new skills and my community will be a better place. I'll make sure to keep you all updated, you all are my life! I would be very pleased if you all could offer encouragement or advice! If you have ideas that could make a difference, please let me know!

Anyway... Onto the normal end-of-chapter greeting.... Thanks for tuning into my story once again! And, again, sorry for the long wait. I hope you watched the video at the top of the chapter, I absolutely love it!

Pls comment and tell me what you think so I can improve as a writer... and some votes wouldn't hurt anybody...

Here is how to pronounce the names:

Lumornel:  loom-or-nell

Braiglach:   Br-eye-g-lawch  (not ch as in chapter but as in loch or bach, you know, that throaty sound)

Any other names or words?

Until next time! Novaer melloneamin!