Spirit Bound

A Warrior or Not?

Disclaimer: I do not own The Hobbit or any of its characters. Everything belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson. However I do own Ashlynn and her story.
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                  Chapter 2

I change into some sports clothes and step onto the mat in the middle of the room. Thomas walks over to the wall on the other side of the room where all the weapons are displayed. He takes a pair of daggers off the wall and walks back over to me and stands on the opposite side of the mat.
He says "To be a great fighter, you not only have to learn how to fight hand to hand combat but how how to fight weaponless until you have won or acquired weapons of your own that are of equal match to your opponents weapons"

I was still confused on exactly how to fight him and win if he was armed with lethal weapons and was not.Thomas must have noticed the confusion on my face because he set his weapons down on the table near the door. He sighs and explains "It means you have to fight me weaponless until you either concede or get my weapons away from me and use them as your own to win".

I nod with a determined look on my face and say "I don't concede."

Thomas smirks and asks "Are you ready?"
I nod once again. We begin our deadly dance.

After an hour of sparring, Thomas has me on the floor with his daggers held at my throat.

"Do you yield?" he asks with this unemotional expression on his face.

"I yield"I spit out. I'm lying on the mat with Thomas on top of me with a foot on my ribs. I'm covered in sweat and blood from tiny cuts where he nicked me all over my body. "So how'd I do" I ask as I crack a smile.

Thomas looks down at me. "Not bad" he replies, wiping off his daggers and placing them back on the weapons' wall.

I smile bigger because getting a complement from Thomas is like being blessed by the gods. He rarely gives complements to anyone.

Thomas continues "the only problem is that you leave both of your sides too exposed when you go on offense.

'Damn I thought I did pretty well since I've lasted longer that usual while fighting him'

"We also need to work on your defense" Thomas informs.

I glance up at him from my position on the floor and nod again.
"I was too slow" I state.

"Yes but with practice you will get better, faster and more skillful" Thomas says. He gets off of me and holds out his hand to me. I grab it and he pulls me up.

"Well, I thought you did great. You have never lasted again Thomas for that long before" Logan yells as he pulls me into a bear hug.

I laugh. "Logan I c-can't breath...oww ribs, Logan, my ribs" I yelp when he hugs me too tight.

"Oh, right sorry" he says, sheepishly putting me down.

"It's okay"I reply fixing my shirt.

"Can I see your new tattoos?"asks Logan.

"No" I deadpan.

Thomas and Logan both glance at each other and frown.

I roll my eyes "Don't take it personally it's that I just got them wrapped up. I'm not taking the bandages off just so you can see them plus they still kind of burn" I whine.

Logan looks disappointed so I say "you guys will the first ones I show my tattoos to once the bandages come off" I promise them. I turn towards the door to grab my backpack and jacket.

Thomas calls after me. "Ash, don't forget to keep practicing when your alone too. I won't always be there to tell you when you make a mistake."

I walk back over to him and nod. I turn around again.