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“Daro, Estel! Not like that!” The golden-haired elf laughed. “You’ll miss for certain if you try to shoot so.” Gently, he laid his hand on the wrist of the dark-haired youth. The boy lowered his empty bow and looked up at him. Estel's dark eyes were confused and, the elf thought, a bit frustrated. “You held the arrow too long,” the elf replied to their unspoken question. “But Legolas, I was trying to make sure my aim!” he protested. “Ai! A fine goal, but you will not achieve it in such manner,” Legolas told him. “It is true you must be careful of your aim, yet if you wait too long, your hand will will grow unsteady with the strain.” “Then how am I...?” “Sidh, Neth Meen. Try it and see.” “Be iest lîn,” Estel said with a slight sigh. He drew an arrow from his quiver, and carefully placed it against his bow. As he stared at the far-off target, he bit his lip in concentration. “Feel the arrow,” Legolas told him. “Now. Let it fly!” At his words, Estel released the arrow. The two archers—young and old, human and elf—watched as it flew across the clearing, its path graceful in the golden light. Soon it was lodged in the target—not in its center, yet closer than any of the boy’s arrows had come all morning. Though he tried to conceal his joy, Estel was not quite successful. Legolas saw the light in his eyes; heard the slight intake of breath. “Alae,” he said. “An arrow is like a tuillinn. Don’t hold it captive. It is only happy when you let it fly.” “Like a bird,” Estel echoed and nodded. “I will remember.” And Legolas had no doubt he would. Once the young heir of Isildur learned a thing, it was not soon forgotten by him. ~~~~~ The Elvish (Sindarin): Daro (Dah-roh)=Halt/Stop Ai (eye)=Ah Sidh (seeth)=Peace Neth Min (nehth meen)=Young One Be iest lîn. (Be yest leen.)=According to your wish. Alae (Ah-lye)=Behold tuilinn (too-ee-linn)=swallow [bird] Review: | |||||
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