Salle - Late morning

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

It was not often that Faramir found himself growing weary of study, but today he needed to move. His classes' syllabus was proving to be a challenge, it was a struggle deciphering the words and then he had to restart so he could grasp their meaning as well. It'd had come to a point where his dreams were filled with strange scripts that he needed to understand to avoid a great doom, usually this was an indication that he needed a rest. Resting however, did not mean that he should be idle.

Which was why he could be found in the salle, practising the moves his brother had taught him. It was a little strange without Boromir (or even one of the rangers) there to correct him, but even without their presence he couldn't afford to let his skills slip.

[Open, yep. And this totally wasn't posted in the wrong place first.]

Comments

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

"That was good," James called out as the swordsman paused. He did not want to interrupt.

He could offer some critiques (elbow dipped too low for one move) but felt that it may not be welcome.

[ Slowplay? Couldn't resist. James needs to know more sword people. :) ]

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"Thank you," Faramir said as he came to a stop, drawing to his full height as he kept his sword by his side. "Do you have experience with the blade?"

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

James grinned, placing a hand on the rapier at his side. "I have enough," he said, with a shrug.

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

Faramir nodded thoughtfully and is gaze drifted down to the sword James was carrying. "Could I have a look?" he asked curiously. "Your sword appears lighter than the blades I am used to."

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

James pulled the weapon out of the scabbard and presented it with both hands. It was a slim blade, with a basket hilt, edged in gold and silver, a weapon fit for a prince. It was well cared for and gleamed despite obvious use.

"A gift from a prince," he said. It was the truth, if the circumstances were a bit...interesting. "Most soldiers carry a blade much larger, such as yours," he said, nodding at Faramir's weapon.

"I'm James, a squire from Krondor."

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"Well met. I am Faramir, son of Denethor, Steward of Gondor," he introduced himself as he returned his own sword to its scabbard.

"Your prince must have been pleased with your services to offer such a fine sword," Faramir remarked before carefully picked up the rapier. "It is much lighter, but its balance is well," Faramir observed. This was Boromir's field of expertise, but Faramir knew it well enough.

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

"He was," James said with a slight smile. Not many thieves could claim to have a gift from royalty, much less the prince's personal weapon. This was before Arutha had cleared the blockade...

"I was also one of the few who were quick enough to spar with him," he admitted. "Lighter, yes, which requires different techniques, and more speed than a longsword."

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"Yes, I believe it'd take me a while to get used to the weight and the range," he agreed. "I can see its advantages, though, I'd rather not face a fully armoured soldier with it."

He turned the sword, offering it hilt first back to James. "Thank you."

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

James accepted it and slid it back home in the scabbard. "Oh, it won't work against full plate, but leather or chain..there are always weaknesses. This has served me well."

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"It does look like it has a bite to it," Faramir agreed, but he wasn't certain if the weapon would hold up in a fight against orcs. "How does it fare against a heavier blade?"

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

"Well. While not designed to take a direct hit like a heavier blade, if one is apt, one won't have to." It was stronger than it looked, really.

"I've put it to good use against humans, Dark Elves, and goblins, and have survived." He shrugged. Years of being a thief and (much shorter) years as a squire had jaded the youth.

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

Faramir nodded, but his interest shifted instantly away from the blade. "Dark Elves?" he asked curiously, it was such a strange name. Elves were light, they were everything fair in the world. "Why are they dark?"

[squire-hand.livejournal.com]

He tilted his head a bit. "No one knows for sure," he started; this was not the whole story. "This was years ago. There are stories and legends, that the moredhel were kin to the eledhel. They certainly look so; I've had times when I can't tell a moredhel from an elf, but thre are differences. Moredhel live in the mountains in the North, and the elves live in the forests in the West. They tend not to like each other as neighbors," he said, dryly at that last part.

[Not sure if you're familiar with Feist canon, but he borrowed some of the characteristics of the moredhel and eledhel from Tolkien. Dwarves, too.]

[inneedofcoffee.livejournal.com]

"You're good," Maladicta said, watching from the doorway. Like she was the expert in swordsmanship.

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

Faramir came to a stop and he bowed his head in greeting.

"I am well enough," he replied. "Good morning, Maladicta."

[inneedofcoffee.livejournal.com]

"Good morning," she replied. "Where I'm from, I doubt most know anything beyond the pointy part goes in the other person."

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"Sometimes I wish that was all the knowledge I needed," he admitted, glancing down at the blade. "It isn't a very uncommon skills where I'm from and if my brother were here, he'd have had me off my feet several times by now."

He shrugged a shoulder, clearly not bothered to be bested by anyone. "Which weapon then is favoured in your world?"

[inneedofcoffee.livejournal.com]

"Stupidity." A very dangerous weapon indeed. "And crossbows are rather popular, I gather. I've never had much need to use one."

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"Stupidity is a weapon used in all ages," Faramir agreed with a laugh. It was something he could imagine his brother would say as well. "I can wield a bow, but I have no heard of a crossbow before. Have you had no training then?"

[inneedofcoffee.livejournal.com]

"My family never put much stock in weaponry," Maladicta replied. "They were accessories at best. And only for men."

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"It is rather uncommon for a woman to wield a blade in Gondor," Faramir agreed, "but I have heard talk of the shieldmaidens of Rohan. Women there are taught to fight, even if they do not ride to battle."

[inneedofcoffee.livejournal.com]

Shieldmaidens? That held a certain amount of interest for Maladicta at least. "Not even if they're needed there?"

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"I don't believe so, but I'm not entirely familiar with Rohan's habits," he said and he returned his blade to its scabbard. "The Rohirrim are horsemen, their cavalry is their strength and from what I have heard, their women are as good with horses as their men. Still, I think they teach their women to fight so their homes will not be undefended when the men have left.

[inneedofcoffee.livejournal.com]

"Thoughtful of them," Maladicta muttered, giving that all due consideration. "My country would have been better to do that."

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"I do not see Gondor ever trying this," Faramir admitted, "but there is some logic in their decision. It seems easier to me to die fighting than to be faced with what happens when all defence has failed."

He hesitated before he pushed on to ask, "This happened to your country?"