Twin arrows nocked and aimed at their targets.
Twin pairs of blue eyes narrowed slightly in concentration and twin blond heads held still.
They waited calmly, patiently, as they listened for the command to loose their arrows. Their instructor gently, yet firmly, adjusted their stance, grips, and posture, with lessons and brief stories of his own prowess filling their heads. When he was satisfied with them, they waited again, until he called “fire!” and they let their arrows fly.
Twin arrows flew straight and true.
Twin arrows with fletching of brilliant white whistled toward their marks.
Twin arrows struck the targets with a soft thud, but neither shaft hit the bull’s eye.
Twin blond heads bowed with disappointment even as they heard soft laughter from behind them.
“Come, my girls. It takes hours of practice to become true archers,” their teacher said when he laid a comforting hand upon each small shoulder. “When I was your age, my arrows had yet to even scratch the target!”
“You’re just saying that to make us feel better,” one said, still looking disheartened.
“We will never be great archers,” the other whispered dejectedly. “We will never be as great as you, Ada.”
Legolas stole a glance back at his wife and father before turning back to his daughters. He knelt and took them in his arms, bows and all.
“You will be as great as me, if not better,” he reassured them. “But even if you aren’t, I’ll still love you with all my heart.” He held them close and tight, feeling the thrill of fatherhood stealing through him again when twin pairs of arms wrapped around him to hold him just as tight. He kissed each golden head and then stood.
“Shall we try again?”
Twin heads nodded emphatically and twin smiles beamed up at him.
They took their bows, turned and positioned themselves, waiting for his word to loose their arrows. Legolas couldn’t help grinning with pride while he adjusted their stance, grip, and posture again. These were his children, his legacy, and one day they would indeed be great archers, if not better, than he.
Quietly, he gave the order. “Fire.”
Twin arrows flew straight and true.
Twin arrows with fletching of brilliant white whistled toward their marks.
Twin arrows struck the targets with a soft thud, and both shafts hit the bull’s eye.