To Tame A Fire

7. Crossing Blades

For a month every morning at sunrise Legolas and Rhavaniel occupied the training grounds. Legolas pushed her to limits she never knew she had. He trained her hard and when she gave him an attitude, Legolas reminded her what it was she could achieve if she followed his instructions. He challenged her, and she could not back down.

In the past month, she noticed her body grew stronger. Her mind too grew and was filled with various techniques involving combat and stealth.

Her skill with her swords greatly improved, and even Legolas was impressed.

She was very good at the bow now, and Legolas expected excellence in every shot. It angered her. She was fed up with letting him boss her around.

Throwing her training bow on the ground, she turned to Legolas. "I'm finished," she hissed.

"Are you?" Legolas arched an elegant brow and crossed his arms. "Do you think you can just walk away from the battlefield?"

"No, but I can run," Rhavaniel shot back but didn't mean it. She was obviously enjoying this.

Legolas gawked. How did she always manage to twist his words against him? She always managed to overrule him and get under his skin. "Fine. Be a coward then," Legolas shot back.

"Just because I said it doesn't mean I meant it," she pointed out.

"It came from your mouth didn't it?" Legolas glared at her.

"Not all words are the truth," Rhavaniel shot back and placed her hands on her hips.

Legolas ran a hand over his face and groaned in frustration.

Rhavaniel smirked. She was proud she could get under his skin. It was most amusing really. Reaching behind her back, she drew her swords and spun them in her hand. "A duel, Thranduilion?" She taunted. "I believe we have had enough bows and arrows for the day."

Without a moment's procrastination, Legolas unsheathed his knives. He leaped into the air, his blades extended like a hawk's talons towards its prey. In this case, Rhavaniel.

Rhavaniel twisted away, her blades parried the onslaught. She ducked his next attack. Their blades clashed and for a moment they stood still, staring each other down.

With astonishing speed, Rhavaniel struck at Legolas who parried off the attack and kicked Rhavaniel's feet out from under her.

She thudded to the ground.

Legolas went to strike, but she rolled out of harm's way. She grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it into Legolas' face. She grinned when he let out a startled sound and tried in vain to remove the offending dirt.

Rhavaniel wasted no time and tackled Legolas to the ground. She straddled his waist and brought her blades mere inches from his throat. "Yield, Prince," she couldn't hide the satisfaction in her voice. Her eyes momentarily lowered to his lips. She was tempted to kiss him again, to feel that sensation of serenity yet again. However, she shook herself to clear her mind and was glad he was momentarily blind from the dirt in his eyes.

Finally, Legolas blinked the dirt out of his eyes. In truth, he was surprised she bested him. "You play dirty," he said, amusement in his voice; he began to laugh.

"So will the enemy," she raised a dark brow; trying to hold in her own laughter. She loved seeing him laugh. He looked so carefree and... Get it together, Rhavaniel! She scolded herself and gripped her blades tighter. "Lle lava?."

Legolas simply lay there, enjoying the feel of her body pressed against him. He promised himself that one day he would get her to smile or even laugh. When her blades pressed downward he compiled. "I yield, Fëanára."