The First Trial of Single Combat

[Envin]

~ The First Trial of Single Combat ~

Upon a plain of the Pelennor, south of the White City, a large space of grass had been plowed under into a rectangle of soft, brown sand. About this sand was set a fence of white wood, and flags and streamers ran from the poles of the fence. Pavilions and tents clustered round the field, and within the high pavilion at the center of the field's side sat the Lord Aragorn, here to moderate this the first event of the Trial of Lords. At his right hand sat his bride, the Fair Arwen Evenstar, come hither to observe the match, to have a glass of winel with her husband, and to offer advice should the match prove difficult to judge. This is the first of the trials in single combat, and the contestants of this event are to be the Lord Ash Leafbow, noble ruler of Elven Lothlorien, and the hardened Lady of barren Enedwaith, Ilmare. Even now they enter the field at opposing ends, and now the crowds assembled cheer for them. Bowing to one another at distance, they make their way to the Pavilion of Lords to take the Cup of Tournament, and to pay homage to the Lord of the Trials ere the event begins. Aragorn rises, and all follow his lead as the contestants draw nigh. Aragorn proffers them the Cup, they drink, and bow to all assembled, and then walk to their places at opposite ends of the field.

Aragorn drops his hand and sits, and the First Trial is begun.

[Ilmare]

Lady Ilmare proofed her weapons a last time. She loosed her sword "fate"

in its sheet on her left side, looked for bow and arrows and made her knifes in her chestbelt ready to pull. Than she loosed the long dagger in its sheet near her Armpit at the right. As everything was ready she came slowly towards Lord Leafbow and bowed again before him. "I am honoured, my lord. I heared about your fine art in single combat and be proud to proof my own skills with you", she said and draw her sword slowly out of its sheet. She greeted the Lord with her blade and took her position, every muscle tense and in awaiting of the battle.

[Faron]

Ashuron drew the curved blade of his "Golden Fang" and took a few practice swipes in the air. "It will be an honor to hone my skills in combat against you," he said and bowed, waiting for Ilmare to make the first move. "Ladies first."

[Ilmare]

Ilmare smiled. "Thank you my Lord." She swung her blade, during swift surrounding her combatant, in a halfshaped circle side-upwards to let "fate" come down again towards Lord Leafbows Swordarm.

[Faron]

Ash stuck his left arm in the way of the blow, allowing it to place a small cut. "Had fun? That's the best you'll be doing this round." He swung his blade with the broad side facing Ilmare, so the broadsword could slam into her head.

[Ilmare]

Ilmare ducked quickly before the blade and parried with her sword. His strike was strong and hit her nearly from her feet. Her iron met his golden weapon and they glid down against each other, until their hands nearly met. Ilmare backed off, withdrawing her sword and falling out, aimed to his waist. "I had luck indeed." she said. "But nevertheless, I keep trying."

[Faron]

Ash leaped backward a few feet and quickly judged the angle of the sun. His golden blade reflected the sun's rays into his opponent's eyes and then quickly the Elvish Lord angled his sword so the tip pointed towards Ilmare and charged.

[Ilmare]

The light beam hit Ilmares eyes and she couldn't see the sword coming, but she let herself drop down to the ground and rolled over her shoulder, receiving a bloody cut at her shoulder. The pain was good. It made her feeling alife and strong. She jumped back to her feet and sweeped her own blade for Lord Leafbows knees.

[Faron]

Ash leaped back again, but recieved a cut on the lower part of his leg. He stuck the handle of his blade into his mouth and bit down, holding it there as he drew his bow, took a few more steps back, nocked three arrows at once, and fired, sending one at Ilmare, one to her right, and one to her left. Then he quickly put away his bow, removed his sword from his mouth, and preparing to parry Ilmare's next attacks.

[Ilmare]

Ilmare was hit by one of the arrows in her left forearm while she was pulling out with that hand a knife of her chestbelt, to throw it at Lord Leafbow. The arrow hit her lower arm right in her move to the belt and stuck between the bones in her flesh. Ilmare dropped her sword ripped the arrow out of her arm and throw the knife towards Ashuron. In that move she bowed down and took her sword up again. Blood stained shoulder and arm, but that didn't bother Ilmare. Indeed, the sweet ironlike smell aroused her and she laughed quietly. The pain was sweet to her and her exitement overcame the slight weakness in her arm.

[Faron]

As Ilmare bowed down to take up her sword, Ash charged forward to strike her what could be a winning blow on the back, but then again, this Ilmare seemed to be more skilled then he had first assumed. Her dagger struck his left shoulder, but he did not stop his charge. He would have to remove the dagger later.

[Ilmare]

From below Ilmare conteed Ashs strike with her sword. Her left hand draw her dagger and while their swords stuck together she aimed with the dagger for Ashs knees.

[Faron]

With a burst of reflex, Ash's left arm dropped down and blocked the dagger with his mithril arm guard. Then he pressed down with his sword, trying to flatten Ilmare to the ground.

[Ilmare]

Ilmare fellt the preassure and instead to hold against, she withdraw her blade and the push of Lord Leafbow went into empty space. Than Ilmare jumped back draw another knife and throw it at Ashuron.

[Faron]

Ash leaped into the air, and the knife struck his foot. He seemed to fly over Ilmare, rolling through the air as he went, until he was right over her, his foot about level with her head. He angled his sword downwards and let the force of gravity add to his strike. "Do you really think you can win by just sticking me full of daggers?"