Hi! I'm reasserting the ascendency of the bell curve yet again. Again, molto mega thanks to Laufey, who's been extremely helpful, kind, generous, and patient in beta-ing for me.
Hope all y'all don't mind...
Tiziana looked up from her giggling friends, her eye drawn heavenwards by the sun's sinking trajectory. Darn it! She was going to be late, and he never abided by tardiness; and to be late today, of all days…! “Um, I'm sorry, but I've got to go,” Tiziana apologized while simultaneously launching herself to her feet and grabbing her short bow.
Rivulina cast her a knowing grin. “Still trying to shag your sister's boyfriend?” They snickered some more.
Tiziana shook her head exasperatedly but deigned not explain. Why bother? She hadn't managed to convince them yet: they still assumed she must have some ulterior motive for hanging out with him beyond that of archery lessons. Of course, it didn't help that she once had held such aspirations.
The youngster crept carefully through the forest and met him by their usual tree. He grunted, as per his customary wordless salutation and motioned towards a familiar knot. She nodded once in understanding. She broadened her stance, nocked one of his arrows, concentrated on the target, (hoped for Solonor Thelandira's favor,) and released her arrow.
She missed.
He silently handed her another arrow.
She repeated the process with the same result.
And again.
And yet again.
As her failures mounted, so did her frustration. She barely restrained herself from cursing out her bow and slamming it into the nearest tree. Creating a commotion by disabling one's weapon while alone in the forest struck the youth as a singularly bad idea for some reason, however.
Her older colleague shook his head after her last shot -- her aim had worsened, Tiziana conceded -- but he appeared too … what? self-conscious? … to criticize her performance aloud. One of those traits her sister found so endearing, Tiziana mused, but his shyness would not aid her shooting prowess.
“What am I doing wrong?” she finally asked.
Her instructor blinked as she shattered the silence. “The hands,” he murmured. “Aim,” he told her, and she assumed her shooting position. His eye flickered across her form. After a pause, he awkwardly nudged at her left foot, so she adjusted her pose. Then he slid her hand down the wood and stepped away.
Immediately she noticed a difference in the bow's balance. She flashed him a grin and aimed for her target … almost! Another arrow, and another attempt -- yippee! She did it! She capered silently in place, ever mindful of alerting potential predators.
Satisfaction glowed in her mentor's eyes. When she tacitly motioned for another arrow, he shook his head. “It is time for us to rest,” he intoned. Now that he mentioned it, she did feel a bit winded. She leaned against a nearby trunk.
“There you are!” a soft, high pitched voice announced. “I've been looking all over for you two!”
Tiziana tilted her head up and beamed at her sister. “Heya, Day! I was just getting in some last-minute archery practice before your trip.” She peered back towards her target.
Her sister followed Tiziana's glance. “Very well done!” she jostled her sibling affectionately.
This praise whipped the younger lass into an even higher level of ebullience. “Kivan's a great teacher,” Tiziana gushed. She gave him an impromptu hug. “I'm so glad he's my brother … er, not just because of the lessons,” she appended with a flush.
The tinkle of elven laughter, and the elder sister ruffled Tiziana's hair. “That's alright, kiddo; we understand.” The woman slid her arm around the archer's waist and pecked him on his cheek. “I'm sort of attached to him myself.”
Kivan blushed slightly, but his mouth twisted upwards into a rare smile. “Deheriana,” he breathed huskily.
Tiziana looked away. That intimate gaze … no, she felt very much the intruder, watching her sister and her mate. “So, um, I'll be seeing you. Have fun!” Her face blazed when she realized her inadvertent entendre, but thankfully the adults remained oblivious.
“You don't think I'm going to let you off so easily, now, do you?” Tiziana found herself embraced and bussed by her sister. “That's better,” Day asserted. She then assumed a brisk tone. “I fed the cats, so they shouldn't be hungry until around sunup.” She looked questioningly at Kivan, who grunted affirmatively.
The couple walked her back to their cabin. En route, Deheriana reiterated her customary set of instructions and injunctions. Tiziana nodded and mumbled her assent at the proper intervals without actually listening.
“And one more thing: we don't want you out in these woods alone,” Deheriana warned, uncharacteristically sober. Kivan nodded once and folded his arms. Tiziana made to protest, but the older lass waved her silent. “I know you're getting handy with that bow, but … you're my sister. I -- we -- love you and don't want to lose you.”
That one entreaty, that one expression of tenderness, convinced a mutinous Tiziana where logic could not. “Alright, Day; I promise.” The girl shivered unaccountably.
“Good. Take care! See you in a tenday.” Deheriana stared into Kivan's eyes. “More or less,” she amended, her voice pitched sultrily low.
The youngster reddened again. “Um, yes, so, ah, farewell!” Tiziana and Kivan exchanged nods. Before she could stop herself, she blurted, “I love you, Day.” Why had it seemed so important to say this?
A surprised look, a gratified smile. The younger elf's uncharacteristic declaration clearly touched her sister. “I love you too, Tiz. Farewell!”
Tiziana lifted her hand to wave, but the couple had already sunk into the shadows.
