Childhood

"Again", voice of Harondred sounded in his ears, as Eldbodred slowly stood up from the ground. Dirt stuck to poor quality, leather armour, landing in mud, time after time didn't make it look any better. He glanced at his sister getting up from the puddle she landed in, her eyes focused on eldest brother, thinking about cunning plan to best him. Harondred was fit and well trained man, he just turned 18, but his childhood ended when parents were killed, hard work to get some food and shelter for Eldbodred and Cyndreda made him strong as Araw Ox and same resilent.
Cyndreda picked her wooden Two-handed sword, she was tough, 11 years old girl, beating most of local kids, stupid enough to cross her path. Eldbodred picked his spear, grabbed the strap of his shield and nodded at sister. They come up with few ideas of tactics while fighting older brother, so far all failed, now was the time for another one. He charged while Cyndreda started to run around to flank Haronderd. Wooden shields crashed, for brief moment the smile of satisfaction was dancing on Eldbodred's lips, as he felt brother beeing pushed backwards. Suddenly, he relealised that it was not due to his well timed strike, Harondred quickly turned to the side and used momentum of reckless charge, against hasty youngster, letting him go past. What was worse he changed direction of Eldbodred's movement, just enough to force him to bump into Cyndreda and yet again, they landed in mud.
"Think, start to cooperate and don't loose your heads." words of Harondred were calm, he wasn't even breathing faster than usual, making failure even more painful. "My weapon is shorter then any you two are using, make that range count, move slower, try flanking me, attack from sides while staying out of my reach", preaching voice of older brother made them both blush. Cydreda moved closer, "C'mon bro, let's flank him i'll go right you go left".
Eldbodred stood up again, now moving slowly he got close to his brother but stayed at spears reach and jabed. Spear bumped off shield as Haronderd covered the blow. "Yes, that really helped" thought Eldbodred with resignation. His sister started moving right slowly, he moved left still keeping enough distance. Angle became wider and Harondred had to move left and right to keep trace of them, both siblings attacked at the same time, spear was parried by sword and sister's blow landed on shield, but this time it was not efortless. Youngsters doubled their efforts attacking more fircely, Harondred moved, getting out of range and narrowing angle again. "Good" he said, this time breathing heavily "keep your calm, don't let the guard down, wait for mistake". Speaking that he stumbled and rolled over his back, Eldbodred's heart pounded faster, he wanted to rush in, but Cyndreda stopped him, "It's a trap, shield up".
Instinctively he raised shield just in time to hear handful of mud splashing against it, if he charged he would have been blinded. Harondred landed backs to the wall, and they pointed weapons at him, keeping him pinned. "Good, I have to give up, cool head wins most battles" he smiled to Cyndreda, "At least one of you kept it". Eldbodred grumbled knowing he did not, but Harondred smiled at him "Your combat reflexes are incredible, brother, i wouldn't move fast enough to cover that mud, good job.", that made him feel better, and he also smiled slightly. "Yeah Haron, Don't be too hard for Dumbo." giggled Cyndreda and started running away. Eldbodred blushed and wanted to chase her, but he saw an Elf leaning against a tree nearby, apparently watching their training. How long did this elf watch them and why, he saw few elves so far and none of them seem to even notice his existence, let alone watching him.
Elf noticed he is no longer hidden in the shadow of a tree, he moved towards Eldbodred and stepped out in the open, at that moment Harondred spotted him as well and turned towards him. "Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo!" said El, but seeing bothe brothers just watching him with dumb faces he added in common speach "Star shines upon the hour of our meeting, that was what i said in Sindarin, My name is Durvenel.". Harondred looked confused for a moment, but after while he answered "Greetings, I'm Harondred Strongshield and this is my brother Eldbodred", Elf smiled and looked at Eldbodred almost ignoring Haron. "I have never seen Man having such combat reflexes, they are matching Elven, almost, but alas, you are still very young, a child even.". Eldbodred gasped and turned to look at his older brother but Harondred looked about same confused as he did. "I'm 12 years old, I'm not a child." Eldbodred's voice shook a bit speaking to Elf.
Without hesitation Elf turend to Harondred, "can i borrow your sword?" he asked and before realizing what is he doing Haronderd handed him training sword he was using. Durvenel weighted sword in hand and smiled, "rise your shield Eldbodred, focus only on defending blows, i want to see you in action". Eldbodred gripped strap of his shield and his fingers clasped hard on the spear, he took a battle stance and watched the elf. First strike was quick, and Eldbodred barely managed to catch it, but he did, Elf smiled and renewed the attack sword singing through the air, but every time it landed on a shield, Eld didn't see strikes coming but he seem to instinctively know where would they land. "I will not survive long, he is fast, too fast" thought Eldbodred, he gripped his spear and as soon as sword hit shield, he swiped spear low, feeling it hit something and looked up, Elf swirled on one leg trying to regain balance, Elbodred bashed him with his shield and watched him backflip landing few meters away from him. "I told you to defend" smiled Elf, "but i think you learn faster than I predicted", he lowered sword and handed it back to Harondred. "You will not be able to train your brother further, he will not reach his potential that way. You know that?" words sounded in Eldbodred's ears, and he started thinking what do they mean. Harondred understood them however "Now, seeing that, I know. I would not have parried all those blows, counting on my armour to hold them, but he did, I haven't seen anyone moving that fast." he answered. "I think you have some proposition, am I right?" continued Elbodred's brother. Durvenel smiled "Indeed, I do, I want him to travel with him to Eregion, there is marchwarden willing to teach a Man, if there is one quick enough, I beleive your brother is". Harondred nodded "When do you want to go?", Elf smiled, "As soon as he gets ready". Hrondred turned to his brother "Pack your stuff Eld, i will get you some provisions for your journey and will find Cyn to say good bye".
Eldbodred blinked, "Pack? Travel? Eregion? Really?", Haronderd smiled sadly "Yes brother, your future is in your hands now. Grab your chance". Eldbodred could swear he saw tear dancing in the corner of Older brother's eye. "I will" he said and rushed to their tent. "My Future, in my hands" he thought, "I will not fail your trust brother".