Concentrate. Draw a deep breath. Raise the bow, draw the string. Hold. Release. Again. Concentrate. Feel the bow. Draw a breath, raise the bow. Draw the string. Hold.
Ellanore's breath misted in the crisp air as she worked on her archery practice. Just the basics. Just the very basics. But strangely, she felt much calmer than she ever had with the sword. This came naturally to her, it flowed out almost effortlessly. Mr Arandant said she had a gift for it, and had become much friendlier towards her since she had said she was giving up the sword. She supposed she had been the only one who didn't see how it did not fit her in the slightest. But this, this was her skill. She had found it, she was at peace. Even though it had been only three months ago she had desperately wanted to learn the sword, she now hardly ever thought about it. Even the rare instances she did, it was only to think how foolish she had been. Draw a breath, raise the bow. Feel it, feel the way the bow had enough power to send forth a deadly missile, small and light but made powerful by the force of the bow.
She sighed happily and lowered the bow once again.
"You look happy." She blinked and looked to the side. She hadn't noticed anyone had approached her, she had been too concentrated on her practice.
"I guess I am." The person observing her was Endahren. Lately, she had felt a lot more ambivalent towards him. Not that she had ever hated her, she was quick to correct herself, but sometimes, having him around had been bothersome. Now, though... Ever since he had given her that piece of advice about going on her own path and not being too caught up with dreams of grand swordsmanship, her thoughts on the matter had been more confused. She glanced above towards the window of her room distractedly. On that table, in a special box that also housed several of her other treasures, was the compound eye circlet he had given her that day. She had had to ask her father what it was exactly, if it had any magical properties. Just a slight little enchantment, barely detectable. Even so, she treasured it. It was a thoughtful gift. "You should not be hopping here all the time. Don't you have a store to look after?"
Endahren chuckled. "Father really takes care of it most of the time. My time to be busy will come yet, but it's not just yet. Mostly I just help out when it gets busy or he has other business to take care of." Ellanore nodded slowly. She hadn't really thought before of how he lived his life, what he did with his days. But this kind of arrangement made sense. Nothing could have two leaders, really, there was only one sovereign.
"Well then, what are you doing here?"
"Just felt like seeing you. And to ask if you would like to come to out family's traditional Starlight Celebration dinner, on the 25th. Lots of good food and all!" Ellanore stared at him. This was certainly new. She generally didn't have too much to do with the Merchells, and they not with her family.
"...Come on now, you don't have to be so shocked. It's a very simple question." She couldn't quite identify the emotion in his voice. He was looking at her earnestly, but there was something she could not quite place.
"Well. I...I suppose. Since there's the engagement and all." The thought filled her with confusion, still. She had always known the time for the two of them to get to know each other better would come eventually, but she hadn't thought it would be any time soon. A family dinner, now?
"Great! Well, I'll be seeing you then, if not earlier! Mother has the specifics, you should work it out with her." Endahren smiled brilliantly, turned, and left without even a goodbye. Ellanore stared after him. That had been...sudden. Then she frowned. Knowing him, it could be a prank. She growled under her breath and started packing away her bow. Dishonorable lout. Then she stopped. He had mentioned to get in contact with his mother. It didn't really sound like it was just a prank. Suddenly, Ellanore felt like crying.
Ellanore bit her lip and looked at the sword in her hand. It just wouldn't cooperate with her. She was of half mind to claim the sword faulty and demand a new one. It was simply too long for her to handle comfortably. But then again, there was the possibility she simply wasn't good enough. But who ever heard of an elvaan who couldn't handle a sword in battle? She took a deep breath and concentrated. Drew a pose she thought she should know well by now, a standby pose, ready for opponents. Now, to hold it... Her teacher Mr Arandant had told her this was the best way to get in contact with her sword. If there was no contact, there was no flow. If there was no flow, she would be defeated in battle instantly.
"Hey, Ella. What on Vana'diel are you doing?" The puzzled voice broke her concentration, and she sagged, drained. She knew that voice well. It was a nuisance. And couldn't he see what she was doing?
"I am practicing my sword, naturally. Can you not see it? That I'm holding a sword?" She waved said item in front of the newcomers face. Endahren Merchell, her fiancé. He always had a habit of showing up at the worst times. They had been promised to each other since long before she could remember. She could not rememember seeing him around much when se had been but a mere child, but lately, he had been dropping by quite often. It was confusing, and more than a little embarrassing. She didn't really know how to treat him.
"Whoa, easy there! Didn't mean to offend or anything. You just looked a bit... err..." His voice faded out, probably a wise precaution. She didn't really feel like knowing what he thought she looked like. "Not that it has anything to do with me. Hold your sword whichever way you want to." Ellanore whirled around, not feeling like giving him the courtesy of being face to face with him anymore. He never understood, and always, always caught her at the worst moments. This world was not a fair place for Ellanore Delouvien. The good things and the interesting ones always seemed to happen to someone else.
"...you don't have to do this, you know." She stiffened. Now what was he going on about? "It's quite natural for you to want to learn something like swordfighting, but it's not for everyone. In this world, we all have paths we must follow. And sometimes, those paths don't coincide with what we would want ourselves. But you know..." He hesitated at that point. Ellanore was confused. What had happened to the arrogant teasing boy he usually was? She was so curious she turned halfway back to him, and even looked at him from the corner of her eye. "It'll be alright in the end. When you follow your own path, it will reward you plenty. Sometimes, all it takes is a little perspective."
She looked down at her sword, the tip now leaning on the ground. She didn't know what to feel or think about his words. "Whichever path you follow, you should know I wouldn't take it away from you. Here," Endahren said, showing her a package he had brought with him. She hadn't noticed it until now. "Came here to bring this to you, since you've been down lately and all." Ellanore, now even more confused, hesitantly took the package from him. It seemed to be something thin, for the package wasn't too thick, but it was bigger in other dimensions.
"I need to be heading back to take care of the store now. Take care." With that, Endahren made a little bow and walked away. Ellanore was left at the yard, even more confused, wondering what she was supposed to do now.
When she finally opened the package it turned out to be a beautiful circlet with turquoise decorations.
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