Chapter 30
It was fascinating to watch. Though the boy may claim that he could not fight well, Thranduil had known that his son was not one to over exaggerate things. Yet, nothing could have prepared him to see the child actually fight. Nothing could ever really. He may not have expected the boy to win, but he had not exactly expected him to last all that long either, despite knowing that Legolas would have had to hold him in high regard for his fighting style should he compliment him in such a manner. Still, it was such a wonderful thing to truly behold. The boy was good, though untrained.
Anyone could see that he was untrained. As beautiful as his fighting was, he could not have picked up a blade many times. Yet he was good, he was really good and his fighting was quite stunning to watch take place. He was by no way on par with the elf that he was fighting against. Then again, Thranduil would give the other a bit of mercy in that regard. That elf had been training from a young age, and Elves naturally lived longer than others, and had years upon years of training in the highest forms. They were formidable creatures even at their worst. This boy was managing to keep up with the elf quite well, despite the fact that his prowess was not quite the same.
IT was interesting to see the fighting style which he used. Though the boy could not hold the skills that the Elf he was fighting against held, he did not seem to see it as a disadvantage. It would seem as though the boy had gone into the fight with that realization and had decided that he would need to find a different way to win the Elf. It was a dance. Thranduil could recognize that much. The boy may not be as skilled as the Elf, but he was not trying to be either, which was something which was clear. This was where he bettered himself. Many would panic and then it would lessen their abilities, but not so with this boy.
It seemed as though the challenge made him more determined to win. He did not want to loose, and it was clear that he was not going to go out without trying absolutely everything that he could to win. The Elf recovered quite quickly, and the boy seemed to have realized that would happen as well. He was determining the moves of the Elf before the Elf was doing them.
And that was why he won, Thranduil mentally thought to himself, as the boy stood before the elf, blade to his throat. He had managed to get under the Elf's skin by being better than the Elf had anticipated, thinking several steps before the elf was, and managing to calculate what the other was going to do.
Thranduil then realized that though this boy may not be as powerful or as skilled in the art of fighting, he understood what had drawn his son to the boy. He was not strong, but he worked with that and worked with what he did have, molding it to fit his circumstances. It would seem as though the wider the margin of success was the more stubbornly determined it was that the boy was to get through to the side and succeed. Thranduil knew that he had not given the he boy much time to really prepare and yet that did not stop him from trying everything that he could do to win the fight. It would seem the realization that Thranduil did not really expect the other to manage to win also stirred the anger in the other.
Thranduil could only stare as the boy breathed heavily, flipping the blade in his hand around to give it to the Elf, and mutter an apology. Something which really shocked the King. he did not expect the other to apologize for beating him.
"There is no need for apology." The elf spoke swiftly, speaking with a small smile to the other boy. "You did well. Better than I would have expected from someone with so little experience with a blade and yet you did admirably."
Thranduil definitely agreed with that assessment. The boy was quite good, and would be downright dangerous should he ever manage to really get familiar with a blade. it was something that somewhat frightened the King. he would ask Legolas to give the other decent lessons so that he could at least be more proficient in using the blade. he did not want the other to be in danger, and he had a feeling that the boy would try and learn more now that he had been forced into a duel. It would be best to have Legolas watch over him as he did so.
"My Lord," Draco addressed the prince, "Your Majesty." The boy bowed slightly for the both of them. He seemed somewhat nervous, but determined to keep them from knowing it. He was good at controlling his expressions, it was something that Thranduil was beginning to notice about the other boy. "I apologize. I am not all that great with a blade. I did my best, however," the boy seemed somewhat nervous, though Thranduil supposed that was to be expected considering what had happened earlier.
"You did surprisingly well. My son does not exaggerate when it comes to the skill of a fighter, still, you managed to surprise me." Thranduil admitted. The boy's eyes widened ever so slightly in surprise, before being concealed once more.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." The boy proclaimed.
"I will have Legolas teach you some more of the basics. I am curious to see just how good you shall become given the proper training."
"Your Majesty, I assure you that is not necessary. I do not deserve such a thing."
"Perhaps not," Thranduil said simply. "But I wish for it, so it shall happen. Unless you would deny me?"
"Of course not, Your Majesty."