"Again!", the elf shouted at the mortal pointing at his blade, which was lying down on the ground. "What kind of swordsman loses his sword so easily. Pick it up, come on!"
Angelnarth obeyed and stood across his tutor ready for another spar. For another training day's end, he has once again lost count of their spars since they started. The man sighed in disappointment, looking over to the elf "Better call it a day, master Rhithalion? It is getting dark already, I cannot.."
-"See?", the elf interrupted him.
-"Well, yes.", Angelnarth complained.
-"And remind me my mortal student, when did I mention that my plan was for you to see?"
Angelnarth was displeased. "Come on, Naegilrond, this is just hopeless! You have been knocking this sword out of my hand the whole time we've been training under the sun. This will only make it worse for me.."
"Much worse, Angelnarth of the Dunedain. But things have to be much worse before they can get better, some day you will know that as well. Now, the darkness of the night sure reduces your ability to see, worsens your reflexes. It is tough, and furthermore you are mortal, your eyes are no good as they are either."
Naegilrond offered Angelnarth a friendly smile."Think of it though. get used to fighting in the dark, and you will improve tenfold. Your eyesight shall become keener and you might finally start using your other senses too. It is only natural.."
"Aye", said Angelnarth, "everything you elves do, no matter how difficult, is only natural."
"Enough talk for now, Angelnarth. Position!". Angelnarth sighed in doscomfort and raised him blade, ready to defend. Naegilrond lunged forward, his sword's edge aiming for his apprentice's neck. The young man made his blade meet with his mentor's quickly enough to defend, but the experienced elf changed his angle and halted his swing right before meeting Angelnarth's flesh in a heartbeat's motion.
The elf backed off. "Too little effort, Angelnarth. Come on, show me more!", he shouted and kept assaulting his mortal apprentice again and again, exploiting a flaw in his defense for every couple of swings he was making, and punishing the man with a blow of his hand to the unguarded side each time.
Angelnarth could tolerate the beating. His body was already excessively strong as it was large, and he was used to much worse bruises than these. Not to mention, Naegilrond did not wish to hurt the young man, clearly holding back his own strength. What trully pained Angelnarth was his ego. Was he trully that useless..?
He stepped back from Naegilrond and forcefully threw his sword on the ground in indignation. With a furious red face, he charged at his own mentor with a closed fist. Naegilrond stepped aside and with an ever so graceful move gripped Angelnarth's shoulder, avoiding his extended fist and making him fall on the soft grass, unable to move his arms with the grip he was applying.
Angelnarth writhed and moaned in anger like a caged beast, while his tutor would not let go. "Easy now, let go...it is over."
Moments later, the elf let go as Angelnarth was shaking his anger off. They both got up on their feet, sweaty and covered in grass and leafs.
Angelnarth stood straight, avoiding eye contact with his mentor. "Look me in the eye!", Naegilrond said in a tone quite unfamiliar for him. Angelnarth's eyes met his. It felt like they were piercing him, as if the mortal standed in lack of any secrets in front of Naegilrond's light-green eyes.
"Not good at all, Angelnarth. I must say. You do not try enough, you lack passion and you lack conviction.And when I finally make you try, you are as good as a savage."
The mortal let out a heavy sigh, averting his eyes from his mentor's once again. The elf continued: "What is wrong in your head, Angelnarth? You clearly carry a burden, and you cling to it too strong! You know the form, and I know it. Let go of the burden, of this...anger. Your body and mind must be like water, your movement must flow, not be forced."
Angelnarth made a jeering sound with his mouth. "Easy for you, Naegilrond. I am not gifted as your kindred is though. Perhaps I should save the lord of Forlindon the trouble of tutoring a lowly mortal, a useless one too."
He turned his back and walked a step away from Naegilrond. The elf closed his eyes and yelled at him, his usual tranquil tone long gone: "You are better than them, you fool!". Angelnarth turned slowly. "These warriors you think so highly of, the Noldo, the Teleri..they cultivate their skill and discipline over decades of training, the way you already fight in a month's work. But you are so immovable, so consumed in your angered mortal mind! You are not the only one who has it difficult, boy!"
Naegilrond took a couple of deep breaths, as his expression and tone of voice softened. "Your time is sort, let go of the anger and embrace faith. Faith in yourself and faith in others. You are only as great of a man and warrior as you allow yourself to be. Consider it, Angelnarth."
The young Dunadan lowered his gaze in shame of his earlier actions. Naegilrond approached him, patting him on his shoulder."No matter what, you have a friend in me, Angelnarth. Perhaps I am not fit to educate you, that is all. Tomorrow you will have to decide. Leave here with your anger, or stay without it. I will see you in the morning.", he said and made his way to the littoral manor.
Angelnarth walked to the seashore, and let the nightly sea breeze cool off his face. He looked at the sea, as the full moon was drawing a silver path on its surface. He sat on the soft sand, and as he closed his eyes, he whispered at the wind: "How could I ever let go.."
