The Guardian Of Nature ~The Rise Of A Heroine

Royal Rebel

~~~~~~~~M's Notes~~~~~~~~
WARNING: Pretty dark chapter, also some curses.
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I narrowed my eyes under the bright sun, took another arrow from my quiver and positioned it on my bow. I pulled the string backwords with a calm breath, fired, but missed the center of the target yet again.

Itarille called from behind me. "Again."

I repressed a growl that was threatening to escape my lips and repeated the process. Alas, no bullseye.

"Again." She said once more.

It was Wednesday, midway through my first week training and that woman had really started to irritate me more than usual. She was the most strict trainer I had and mind you I was trained by a fair amount of Elves, but she took the cake! Obviously the greatest archer there, and though I loved it that the daughter of two of my favourite characters was training me, she was so demanding always drove me to my limits, saying that I could do better.

"My father always said that Humans have more strength hidden away, than what they let the world see. But I don't see that in you." She told me that the second day of training, shattering my confidence with one strike. She then looked me with a smile and crossed her hands. "So prove me wrong, why don't you?" And just like that she picked all the pieces and renewed my confidence. Ever since I was working hard to do just that, exercising my arms to pull the string easier, faster and when given the weapons always made sure to follow her instructions to the letter. It paid off, cause every once in a while she would say 'Good job.', 'That's it.' or 'You almost got it.'.

But for some reason that Wednesday, she was almost uninterested in the lesson. Something wasn't right. I glanced at her over my shoulder. "Don't stare, it's rude." She said but was not even looking at me! Just sat crossed legged on the ground, sharpening an arrowhead with a flat rock.

"How did she know? She has a sixth sense, ain't no other explanation."

I scoffed. "So is not paying attention to your trainee. I mean what are you even doing here?" I fully turned around to face her. "I have been firing arrows for at least the past hour and you've just-"

"You've been here only 39 minutes, don't overreact." She blew the arrow tip and placed the arrow inside her quiver before taking another to sharpen. "I'm here to make sure you keep firing arrow after arrow and not get bored or give up."

"Who said I'd give up?" I placed one hand on my hip.

"I did the same when I was your age."

I huffed. "Where you ever my age Itarille?"

"Ughhh..." She threw her head back, bored of this conversation. "Yes, Hawkeye, I was at some point your age. I wasn't born 5.860 years old you know." You can see that 'Hawkeye' stuck after the first lesson. "But even at the age of 12 I was more mature than you are now." Pointed out with that a-matter-of-fact tone that I hated.

I growled loudly, which for a moment seemed to grab her attention, but I've had enough of her at that point. "Crystallia, please train me solo for today! Please!"

Crystallia was standing some meters behind us, back straight, observing and patiently waiting to offer any assistance. Her lips pushed in a thin line as she looked Itarille, maybe waiting a reaction, but to no avail. With a calm voice She spoke to Itarille in Sindarin, but this time I understood almost everything. 'You don't have mind for training today. Ego to Ithilwen and look after her. An ngell nin?'

Yes, apparently my powers had extented to Sindarin by that point! Who knew right? Understandably, Elves much like Humans belong to the Animal Kingdom, meaning my powers extend on them too. I once asked Crystallia if that meant I could transform to one using the Necklace, but she looked at me with a horrified expression and frantically shook her head repeating over and over to never even try it. Wouldn't tell me why no matter how many times I asked, so I dropped the mater. At the time, I still didn't fully understand the language, but all those days amongst Elves I was starting to pick it up and admirably faster than any other language I had ever learned. Weird, even for me.