"Hey, Era!" I smiled as I saw Merry and Pippin sparring with Boromir while receiving instruction from Aragorn. Both men looked at me as Merry spoke. "Where'd you go?" I shrugged.
"I just needed some air." Avoiding Boromir's gaze, I turned to Aragorn. "Training the hobbit?" He shrugged.
"Trying to, but they don't get it at all." Shaking his head, he was cut off by Boromir.
"You sword fight, Era?" I swallowed hard and turned to face him with a stony gaze.
"Yeah..." I pulled out my double sword and put it together right in front of him. "But, I'm told I'm better at archery." He smirked a little in a way that made me want to unsheath my claws and swipe it off his face.
"Perhaps they'd do better if they saw a demonstration..." Looking at Aragorn, I felt my stomach drop as he nodded.
"Yes, definitely! You can shift to a hobbit, right? Show them how to fight as a hobbit!" Rolling my eyes, I huffed and felt myself shrink into a hobbit.
"Fine..." Turning to Pippin, I held out my hand. "May I?" He nodded as he handed me the sword he was using. Even with the surplus of strength, I could barely hold it in my form. "Well, first of all, you need a weapon fit for your size." When Aragorn frowned at me, I huffed. "Even I can't hold the sword, and I'm supposed to be slightly stronger than a hobbit right now!" When he handed me another, much smaller sword, I checked its weight. It felt a little too light for me, so I handed it to Pippin. "How's that feel?" He smiled as he held it up proudly.
"Much better. I think it feels balanced, too!" Handing it back to me, he beamed as I turned to face Boromir.
"So, just a demonstration spar?" He nodded.
"Only enough to show them how to use their size to their advantage." I smirked and held up the sword.
"Very well..." Nodding at him, I smirked. "Ready when you are." I knew immediately I was going to have too much fun.
He swung first, and I ducked, kicking his leg out from underneath him. As soon as he hit the ground, I stood over him, my blade at his throat. Seeing he'd been defeated, he held up his hands in surrender, and I stepped back. He rose and picked up his blade, and I saw a slight glint in his eye, alerting me that he was up to something. He thrusted towards my belly. Sidestepping, I pretended to thrust my blade into his stomach, knocking him to the ground with my elbow at the last second as he attempted to deflect the blow with his blade. He doubled over and stumbled backwards. This time, he smirked at me.
"I hope you know, Era, it's nothing personal..." With that, he attacked me.
All playfulness in the sparring was gone as I crossed blades with Boromir. He pressed forward, a determine look on his face. I deflected each blow, feeling every muscle in my body scream against the restraint I displayed. Deflecting another blow, I felt his blade slip under mine and slash my wrist. I took a shaky breath as Boromir started.
"I'm so sorry, Era! Are you okay?" Backing off, I closed my eyes and focused on my wound. Feeling it close, I opened my eyes again and glared at him.
"Now, it's personal." Shifting into a human, I smirked. "You wanna go? Let's show them a real fight." With that, I lunged at him.
He deflected my first blow but got elbowed in the stomach as I ducked his blade. We crossed blades a few times before I leaped up on some rock behind me, avoiding a blow to the stomach. Stepping on his blade, I kicked him in the face. As he stumbled back, I leaped down and shouted as I lunged again. I shifted into a human in midair and swung around, dodging his blade as I smacked his hand, knocking the sword from his hand. He dropped to the ground in a desperate attempt to grab it before I towered over him. Without warning, Aragorn caught my arm before I reached Boromir.
"This is a spar, Era... Not an actual fight." Taking a deep, shaky breath, I withdrew and looked at Boromir, who was wiping the blood from his nose. Aragorn turned to face Boromir, shaking his head. "I lost an actual fight with her once... What made you think you'd win?" Boromir shrugged and shook his head.
"I just wanted to see if her training was as good as they say." I sneered in frustration at him, half tempted to attack his again, despite Aragorn standing between us.
"Clearly, my father was right about humans. They fear what they don't understand and are too arrogant for their own good." Carefully handing Pippin the sword, I glared at the humans. "Have fun training the hobbits." With that, I started to walk off. Legolas came up to me.
"Are you okay?" When I nodded, he rolled his eyes. "Your mother would be glad to know you didn't completely lose your temper in a situation when both she and your father would have." I shook my head and closed my eyes.
"I hate how arrogant he is!" Watching the hobbits try to mimic me, I couldn't help but smile. "I'm surprised they haven't..." Watching Boromir accidentally hit Pippin's hand, I tried not to laugh as I watched the 2 hobbits tackle him and knock him over. "Never mind." Legolas laughed as we headed down to break up the horse play that followed. However, I stopped short and smelled the air.
YOU ARE READING
Run It Back Again (Part 2)
ФанфикFor 45 years, Era has been alone. Upon reaching the Grayhavens, she found that she really was the last shapeshifter. When the elves leave her behind, Era decides that things were better long ago, when she had her mother and her friends. But, she...
