Nightstar: a Tenth Walker story

The Last of Lothlórien

Legolas.point of view

I awoke early long before dawn, but found that Tempest had already begun training before I even reached the grounds.

"It is still dark yet it seem you have been here already quite awhile", I said to get her attention.

"It hasn't been that long, I just got here and was doing some warm-ups", she returned.

"Well then are you prepared to start", I said drawing my daggers.

"Always", she answered.
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Tempest Ankareeda.point of view

I woke up to the ringing of my alarm, I had set it for 5 am, and got ready. I was at the training grounds within 20 minutes of waking up, and was stretching where Legolas showed up.

"It is still dark yet it seem you have been here already quite awhile", he said to get my attention.

"It hasn't been that long, I just got here and was doing some warm-ups", I returned.

"Well then are you prepared to start", he said drawing his daggers.

"Always", I answered doing the same. We trained for hours, and as the sun rose what was originally just training had become a sword dance. Our blades moving in perfect rhythm, the sound of their clash becoming our music.

"You are very good", he whispered softly as I blocked his blade.

"As are you", I whispered in return. We kept "training" until even other elves would tire, but we were having to much fun to stop. When we finally stopped, it was to a draw. After that we stood there just starring at one another, we had trained until the impossible happened, we were both completely covered in sweat. Legolas' elvish shirt clung to his body like he had been doused in water, and his sweat dripped slowly down his blonde hair, but this only stood to make him more appealing. Wait what, no no no, Tempest what are you thinking?
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Legolas.point of view

I stood there just starring at her, even though we both still stood with our daggers at the others neck. I could not move my eyes from her, her cheeks were tinted red from the length of our training, and her sweat held the short hairs that did not reach her braid to her face, seeing her sweat follow her hair down her neck I dared not look any lower. We stood there for an uncountable number of minutes before we were woken from our trance by a small cough. We turned our heads to face both Aragorn and Gimli standing there with somewhat teasing looks on their faces.

"Lass, I thought you said it was only training", said Gimli trying to hide a smirk.

"W-what do you mean", she asked looking completely embarrassed as she fiddle with her braid. "We have only been training", she stated.

"Lass we have been here for quite awhile we saw what you called training", stated Gimli this time not even trying to hide his smirk. She looked at Aragorn as if for help.

"She is right, it was training", he said," if for a sword dance."

"Well I got to go", she said as if it was not to escape their teasing. "I didn't know it was possible to sweat this much", she stated to explain her leaving.

"I as well", I said before walking in the other direction.
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Tempest Ankareeda.point of view

Even after what happened we continued training together in the mornings though none of them were as intense as the first, and finally the day came for us to leave. That morning, as we were beginning to pack our few items, Elves that could speak our language came to us and brought us many gifts of food and clothing for the journey. The food was mostly in the form of very thin cakes, made of a meal that was baked a light brown on the outside, and inside was the colour of cream. Gimli took up one of the cakes and looked at it with a doubtful eye.