Entry Thirteen: Way of the Sword
A curious thing would happen this day... One stood just beyond his home, fishing as he has done every day since coming to Falathlorn. Only to be approached by a young woman. She would speak, seeking that of the Grey Warden as she was told he could help her. Has someone found the letter one left for those of the Bloody Dawn? At first, one played coy to her line of questioning. Trying to find out who she was and if not she was a spy or member of the Bree Watch, one’s past beginning to catch up to him. She named herself Caithrin, wishing only to learn the ways of the sword. To become a warrior, in her words.
To whom would send her towards one for such, would be the next question. A man in Bree, being her only answer for now. To the unknown eye, one would clutch his dagger and ask her to discuss things further in his home. As we arrived, one further pressed questioning on who sent her. It would turn out it was the drunkard, Andelin of the Bloody Dawn. One would sigh with relief, knowing that what information left within the letter was in that of his old companion’s hands. Perhaps it had reached Fiontann and the others after all.
Why did the girl, wish to learn to fight was one’s following question. Caithrin explained that friends and family found her incapable of protecting herself, as well as being targeted by a Servant of Morgoth. She cut the fiend’s throat, with the aide of Andelin it would seem. One believes this the viable choice, the only choice that she could have made. Though she spilt the blood of one man, Caithrin was not confident in her own skills. Explaining how Andelin told her of tales he was once told of the deeds one performed amongst those of the Dawn, one would agree to train her.
A good offense is a good defence... This is where we would begin our training. Countering and parrying, strikes from all directions. At first, Caithrin was slow to grasp the aspect. Knocking her sword clean from her hands, would shaken her up somewhat. We would continue and she would begin to realize the importance of the parry. One would then instruct for her to follow her next parry with a strike of her own, countering one’s attempt.
Knowing the girl was still learning, one would attack with little force. A fantastic counter would occur, as Caithrin would block the attack and swing her sword swiftly towards my shoulder. Deflecting it with one’s own, he would drop his sword and grab Caithrin’s with his hands. Squeezing that sword allowed one to remember that blood still flows through his viens. Caithrin looked worried, fetching the correct items to dress one’s cut. One would only clench his fist, watching the blood drip and sizzle upon the firepit.
After a short break and some food, one would take the girl outside. The art of knowing her surroundings, where an attacker may hide or how to utilize them to her advantage would also be an important aspect of training. Teaching Caithrin the basics, a somewhat child’s game of Hide and Seek only with weapons would help. One would stalk Caithrin’s movement, keeping hidden in plain sight. At one’s own amazement, the girl would parry my first advance. She has been learning well, or perhaps she anticipated such after her own attack in Bree.
One would end training this day here, allowing the Caithrin to remain in his domicile to continue training tomorrow. She thanked one, wandering off back into his home. One would walk over to the lake, thinking of the past. Training Caithrin reminded him of training her... One would smile remembering such, watching as the sun would set, reflecting off the water.
